A proxy contest is a struggle for control of a company where opposing factions of shareholders seek to gather enough proxy votes to win a corporate election or effect significant corporate decisions. This often occurs during annual meetings when shareholders vote on the election of directors or other major corporate issues.
The 2008 proxy contest between activist investor Carl Icahn and Yahoo's board of directors.
The 2009 proxy fight at Canadian Pacific Railway led by hedge fund Pershing Square Capital Management.
The battle for control of Procter & Gamble in 2017, where Trian Fund Management sought to place its nominee on the board.