According to a study by the London Business School in 2007, Guy Wyser-Pratte was Europe’s most activist investor, racking up 22 engagements in 2000-07 and 70 since he set up in 1992. He had already been an activist since 1974, when he worked at US broker Prudential Bache.

The firm claims to have generated about $40bn (€30bn) in additional shareholder value between 1992 and 2001, although throughout the financial crisis, in common with most other activists, its returns suffered. Wyser-Pratte's assets under management are also down, from a height of about $500m to about $200m today.