Ready For A Fight

Proxy fights are likely to surge this year as investors demand leaner, meaner companies. What are your best plays as companies and activists battle for control?

I love a good fight says Karen Finerman. I spoke to one of the leading proxy advisory firms and they said they have already signed up 24 proxy fights. They normally do about 12. That makes me think it will be an active proxy season.

(Proxy season runs from now until spring or early summer when many companies hold their annual meetings.)

I recommend Broadridge (BR) as a pure play on the coming surge in proxy fights.

Or you could look at Lazard (LAZ), Greenhill (GHL) or Goldman Sachs (GS) as an M&A play.

I also like Lazard, adds Guy Adami.

I’m getting interested in Wendy’s (WEN) for similar reasons, says Jeff Macke.

	Price		Change	%Change
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LAZ		---
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Trader disclosure: On Jan 31, 2008, the following stocks and commodities mentioned or intended to be mentioned on CNBC’s Fast Money were owned by the Fast Money traders; Macke Owns (YHOO), (EMC), (INTC), (ATVI); Najarian Owns (BR), (C), (CSCO), (EMC), (MS), (MSFT), (YRCW); Najarian Owns (EBAY) Calls, (CMC) Calls, (GOOG) Calls, (YHOO) Calls; Finerman Owns (GS); Finerman's Firm Owns (PZN), (TSO), (VLO), (YHOO), (BR); Finerman's Firm And Finerman Own (CROX); Finerman's Firm Is Short (SPY), (IYR), (IJR), (MDY), (CME), (WFC), (COF); Finerman's Firm And Finerman Own (HD); Finerman's Firm Is Short (LEH) And Owns (LEH) Puts