What are activist investors attempting to achieve when they purchase Fulcrum securities?

Activist investors typically seek to influence or gain control of a company by purchasing securities, particularly when they believe that the company's management can make better strategic decisions. By acquiring a significant stake in the company, these investors aim to effectuate changes that they believe will increase the company's value. This could involve pushing for changes in management, restructuring operations, altering corporate governance practices, or advocating for strategic shifts that align more closely with their investment strategies.

The focus on gaining control allows activist investors to have a direct impact on how a company is run, which they believe will lead to improved performance and often a higher return on their investment. Thus, when referring to Fulcrum securities, the intention behind acquiring them is rooted in this desire for exerting influence or control over the direction of the company.

The other options imply various operational or financial strategies that do not align with the primary motivations of activist investors. For instance, reducing interest rates is typically a monetary policy action rather than an investor-led initiative, increasing market share relates more to company strategy than to activist investor tactics, and selling off assets may be a tactic employed under specific circumstances but is not a fundamental goal of activist investing.