Two proxy advisory firms, Glass Lewis and Egan-Jones, support H Partners' recommendations, while Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) backs the current board. H Partners criticizes Zeitz's leadership and compensation, while ISS credits him with stabilizing the company during a period of decline.

The conflict centers on board control and the succession process for outgoing CEO Jochen Zeitz, with both sides vying for shareholder support.

Influential proxy advisory firms recommended divergent paths for Harley-Davidson investors ahead of a shareholder vote that could shape the motorcycle maker’s future. ISS said in a report this week that an activist investor,