Starbucks and activist Elliott met last week to discuss settlement

Group 1 - Elliott Management and Starbucks' board of directors are in settlement talks, with discussions about a potential settlement offer that could lead to Elliott managing partner Jesse Cohn becoming a director [1][2] - The proposed settlement would allow CEO Laxman Narasimhan to retain his position and include governance improvements along with board expansion [2] - Starbucks has faced declining sales over successive quarters, particularly in China and the core U.S. market, with its stock price down 19% this year [3] Group 2 - Elliott Management has accumulated a stake in Starbucks valued at up to $2 billion, while the hedge fund is known for its activism in the technology sector [3] - The influence of Starbucks chairman emeritus Howard Schultz complicates the settlement discussions, as he has privately opposed a deal with Elliott [2] - Starboard Value has also built a position in Starbucks, but it remains unclear if they will initiate a campaign against the company [2]