Just Tell Me What You See

"Just tell me what you see." That simple phrase came from my former boss late one night, as I laid out every possible outcome the data suggested for the stock we were analysing. It grounded me instantly. It is a lesson I have carried throughout my career, because it captures the one thing every client ultimately wants to know: What is happening in my stock, who is behind it, and should I be worried?

I began my career in equity surveillance, tracking capital flows as a form of insurance ensuring nothing out of the ordinary occurred without notice. It wasn't until I entered the world of proxy and governance that my perspective fundamentally shifted. I came to understand that surveillance doesn't just provide comfort; it directly dictates the success or failure of a proxy campaign.

The power of exclusive data

At Sodali & Co, our scale provides a vantage point that simply cannot be replicated. Each year, our firm is engaged across some of the most complex M&A and contested situations, SPACs, and annual meetings on the global stage. The breadth of that exposure generates data that is genuinely invaluable.

By marrying deep surveillance experience with evolving voting ownership trends, we produce insights that others cannot. We have access to client voting data available only to the retained solicitor. But it is what we do with that data that makes the difference. By housing and indexing complex custodial relationships, we make our advice more accurate, more actionable, and our expertise genuinely unparalleled.

Transparency in an accelerated market

Activists have become increasingly sophisticated in how they initiate positions — but structural market shifts are working in our favour. The settlement lag has shortened significantly. We have moved from a three-day cycle (T+3) to just one (T+1). In the past, a buy order placed on Monday wouldn't be visible until Thursday. Now, we see it on Tuesday.

This speed allows us to alert clients days or even hours before a 13D filing hits the tape. Whether an activist builds a position through common stock or through complex derivatives designed to obscure economic exposure, we have seen it and tracked it. We connect the dots, so our clients are never blindsided.

AI-driven precision

The transition into the AI-driven era has fundamentally changed the quality of our output. Rather than mining raw data manually, we now use AI to surface actionable intelligence instantly. This liberates our team from the weeds and allows us to focus entirely on what matters: delivering a clear, concise answer to those three foundational questions: what is going on, who is it, and should you be worried?

Building the path to victory

Once a record date passes and a situation becomes contested, our team already has the intelligence needed to construct a path-to-victory model. We know the shareholder base, the influence of proxy advisors, where the shares are held, and when each holder typically votes. In a world where decisions are made based on vote progress rather than the final tally, you need the same team that tracked your stock from day one advising you through the final stretch.

We know whether you are winning handily or whether the result is so close that retail shareholders will have the final say on your Board's composition. At the end of the day, what matters is who owns the stock, and where you are going to find the support.

The time to act is on a clear day

The time to start watching your stock is before anything happens, not three days after a 13D filing has already been made. When the moment comes to tell your Board that you have done everything possible to prepare, will you be able to answer that question honestly?

Bring us on board now, and we will be the eyes and ears you need to know exactly what is happening in your stock - every single day.

"Just tell me what you see." It's a line I've never forgotten, and it's the promise we deliver to our clients every day.