Investor Eyes Sybase Shakeup

SAN FRANCISCO -- A key investor in Sybase(SY Quote) is moving to put its own slate on the board of directors in an attempt to boost the company's share price.

Hedge fund Sandell Asset Management notified the company Friday it will name three independent nominees for director at the next annual meeting, which has not been scheduled.

With 5.4 million shares, or 6% of Sybase, Sandell was the second-largest investor at the end of September, behind Lord, Abbett, which owned 8 million shares, according to Thomson Financial. In October, the hedge fund's CEO, Thomas Sandell, urged Sybase in a letter to boost its share buyback program, sell off its mobile software, or put the whole company in play.

"Since that time, the company has taken no discernable action on any of these initiatives, nor has it taken any of its own actions to improve value," said the hedge fund's statement on Friday. ...