Joseph Manko, The Horton Fund - On boards comprised of the CEOs friends

You could easily be convinced by reading The Wall Street Journal and listening to CNBC that shareholder activism is a large-cap phenomenon, but in reality the opposite is true.  Most shareholder activism is in small-cap companies, and the lion’s share of campaigns are waged due to improperly comprised boards.  When asked what most requires systemic mending in the small-cap ecosystem, Joe doesn’t hesitate; his primary focus is on boards that are principally comprised of the CEO’s friends, and his example will have every experienced small-cap investor nodding their heads in unison.

It’s one thing to have a great career in investment banking, a standout career in law, or be a long-tenured institutional investor; Joseph Manko, Jr.* has done all three. In his senior role at The Horton Fund, Joe now has a front row seat daily to the unique boardroom challenges faced by small-cap companies. SCI is confident that you’ll learn from his candid, poignant observations.