Southwest Airlines struck a truce with Elliott Investment Management, giving the activist a significant presence on its board but not the majority control the hedge fund initially sought. The settlement announced Thursday deflects a potentially rancorous proxy fight and ends the acrimonious four-month battle over whether Southwest’s management is capable of pulling the airline out of a funk.

Southwest Airlines has given in to demands from Elliott Investment Management after months of an ongoing battle and agreed to restructure board leadership in a new settlement. Longtime CEO and executive chairman Gary Kelly and six directors will accelerate their retirements to Nov.

Elliott Investment Management and Southwest Airlines Co. are nearing a settlement that would avoid a proxy fight for control of the carrier’s board, according to people familiar with the matter.

Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) announced early Oct. 24 an agreement with activist investor Elliott Investment Management that will reshape the Dallas-based airline's board and avert a proxy fight.

Activist investor Elliott Investment Management and Southwest Airlines are in talks to settle their months-long battle, according to reports Sunday, with a potential deal that would give Elliott representation on the budget airline’s board.

After more than four months of waging a public battle with activist investor Elliott Investment Management, low-cost pioneer Southwest Airlines. may

This could end a months-long struggle between the Dallas-based airline and the West Palm Beach-based hedge fund.