Finance
Evotec Vows to Further Engage With Investor Mak, Who Demanded Change
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 7, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 7, 2026
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Quick Summary
Evotec has pledged to continue engaging with activist investor MAK Capital, which holds about 7% of the shares and is pushing for a carve‑out and listing of its biologics unit, faster restructuring, and a board appointment. The company also proposed Dieter Weinand as supervisory board chair as part
Evotec Engages With MAK Capital as Investor Pushes for Strategic Changes
Evotec's Ongoing Dialogue With MAK Capital and Strategic Proposals
FRANKFURT, April 7 - Evotec said on Tuesday it would continue a dialogue with investor MAK Capital, which has published a list of changes it wants the German biotech firm to make.
Company Statement on Investor Engagement
* "We have maintained a constructive dialogue with MAKCapital for some time and we look forward to continuing our engagement with them as well as with other investors," it said in a statement on Tuesday
Leadership and Supervisory Board Developments
Proposed Election of New Chairman
* Earlier on Tuesday, the biotech firm said the former head of Bayer's pharmaceutical unit, Dieter Weinand, had been proposed by its supervisory board for election as chairman.
MAK Capital's Demands and Board Appointments
* MAK on Monday called on Hamburg-based Evotec to carve out and list its contract development and manufacturing division Just Evotec Biologics, among other demands in an open letter to management.
* MAK Capital holds around 7% of Evotec shares.
* The investor also called on Evotec to accelerate restructuring and appoint industry executive Wolfgang Hofmann to the supervisory board.
Company Performance and Governance Issues
Stock Performance
* The company's stock is down more than 85% over the past five years.
Disclosure Concerns
Former CEO's Share Trade Disclosures
In early 2024, the company said that its former CEO Werner Lanthaler had for years failed to disclose share trades in the company.
(Reporting by Tom Sims Writing by Ludwig Burger Editing by Miranda Murray)
Key Takeaways
- •Evotec reiterated its constructive dialogue with MAK Capital, which advocates carving out and listing Just – Evotec Biologics, accelerating restructuring efforts and adding industry executive Wolfgang Hofmann to the supervisory board (reddit.com)
- •Earlier on April 7, Evotec’s supervisory board proposed Dieter Weinand, former head of Bayer’s pharma unit, as chairman, signaling a shift in leadership amid investor pressure (businesswire.com)
- •MAK Capital, with around 7% stake, underlines the urgency for change as Evotec’s traditional R&D segment faces headwinds while its biologics division—Just – Evotec Biologics—shows strong growth and profitability, reinforcing MAK’s carve‑out demand (ad-hoc-news.de)
References
- 🚨 EVO: Activist Investor MAK Capital Demands Biologics Carve-Out, Faster Restructuring, and Board Seat at Evotec SE
- RGENIX Announces Company Name Change to Inspirna and Expands Board of Directors with Appointment of Pharma Veteran Dieter Weinand
- Evotec Faces Shareholder Reshuffle Amid Major Restructuring
Frequently Asked Questions about Evotec vows to further engage with investor MAK, who demanded change
1What changes has MAK Capital demanded from Evotec?
MAK Capital has called for Evotec to spin off and list its contract development division, accelerate restructuring, and appoint Wolfgang Hofmann to the supervisory board.
2How much of Evotec does MAK Capital own?
MAK Capital holds around 7% of Evotec shares.
3Who has been proposed as chairman of Evotec’s supervisory board?
Dieter Weinand, former head of Bayer's pharmaceutical unit, has been proposed by the supervisory board for election as chairman.
4What issues has Evotec faced recently?
Evotec's stock is down over 85% in five years, and its former CEO failed to disclose share trades.
5How is Evotec responding to MAK Capital’s demands?
Evotec states it will continue engaging in constructive dialogue with MAK Capital and other investors.
