Panelists: Activist Investing

Guy P. Wyser-Pratte
Founder
Wyser-Pratte & Co.

Born in Vichy, France, on June 21, 1940, GWP migrated to the United States in March 1947. He received a BA in History from the University of Rochester in June 1962 and an MBA in Finance from New York University in June 1971. From June 1962 through June 1966, he served on active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps, attaining the rank of Captain.

His firm, Wyser-Pratte & Co., was originally opened by his father in 1929 in Paris, France. The firm was re-opened on Wall Street in 1948, and was eventually merged into what was then Bache & Company in July 1967. In January 1971, GWP was selected to head the Arbitrage Department at Bache & Company where he presided until January 1991. In February of that year, he resurrected the family firm Wyser-Pratte & Co.

GWP has authored two monographs for the New York University Salomon Brothers Center: Risk Arbitrage and Risk Arbitrage II. Since 1974, he has been one of the leaders of the Corporate Governance movement, having been involved in many initiatives and proxy battles both in the U.S. and abroad. GWP is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Ingenico, S.A. and Prosodie, S.A.

In addition, GWP serves on the Board of Directors of both the International Rescue Committee and The Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation. He is President of the U.S. Marine Corps University Foundation and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

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