Relational Investors To Wind Down Operations

Relational Investors LLC, a $6 billion activist fund, plans to wind down its operations and dissolve its current funds by the end of 2015, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal.

The decision was likely due to the recent news that Ralph Whitworth, a founder of Relational Investors, had a recurrence of his throat cancer. This follows his announced leave of absence in July.

Plans are still emerging, with the ultimate wind down and position liquidations likely to take place over the next year or so, said the sources. The firm may relaunch a new fund with the same name in 2015, though without founders Whitworth and David Batchelder. This new fund may include both existing and new investments.

Some of Relational Investors top holdings:

• Hewlett Packard Company (NYSE: HPQ) (~27.8 million shares): down 2.6 percent
• SPX Corporation (NYSE: SPW) (~6.3 million shares): down 4.2 percent
• Mondelez International Inc (NASDAQ: MDLZ) (~15.1 million shares): down 1.5 percent
• Hologic, Inc. (NASDAQ: HOLX) (~18.7 million shares): down 2.01 percent
• Bunge Ltd (NYSE: BG) (~5.4 million shares): down 1.7 percent
• Manitowoc Company, Inc. (NYSE: MTW) (~11.5 million shares); down 3.8 percent