Activist investor Elliott nears settlement with PepsiCo, WSJ reports

Dec 4 (Reuters) – Activist investor Elliott Management is close to striking a settlement agreement with PepsiCo, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. Details of the settlement could not be learned, according to the report. Elliott had taken a roughly $4 billion stake in the beverage and snacks giant in September, and urged PepsiCo to boost its share price, revive its soda business and become more competitive. PepsiCo did not respond to a Reuters request for comment, while Elliott Management declined to comment. In October, PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said the company's interactions with Elliott had been collaborative and that he agreed with the activist investor about the stock's undervaluation. Laguarta added at the time that many of Elliott