Elliott Seeks Southwest Shareholder Meeting in Proxy Battle (1)

Elliott Investment Management has informed Southwest Airlines Co. that it’s requesting a special shareholder meeting, according to people with knowledge of the matter, officially kicking off the firm’s first US proxy fight since 2017.

The activist investor nominated eight directors to the Southwest board and is seeking to replace the same number of board members, said the people, asking not to be identified discussing private information. Elliott has requested that the meeting take place Dec. 10, the people said.

The notice is Elliott’s first for a special meeting, as well as its first proxy battle since 2017, when it nominated ...