The Trian Group,1 which beneficially owns over $3.5 billion of
common stock in The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS), today
announced that Egan-Jones is the second independent proxy advisory
firm, along with Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”),
to recommend that shareholders vote for change in the composition
of the Disney board. Specifically, Egan-Jones recommends that
Disney shareholders vote
“FOR” both of Trian’s
nominees, Nelson Peltz and Jay Rasulo, and
“WITHHOLD” on Maria Elena Lagomasino and Michael
B.G. Froman in connection with Disney’s annual meeting on April 3,
2024. Last week, ISS recommended that shareholders vote
“
FOR” Mr. Peltz and “
WITHHOLD” on
Ms. Lagomasino.
Egan-Jones concluded: “We see very little downside and a lot of
upsides in putting the Trian Nominees on the Board.” Among the
reasons Egan-Jones cited for the need for change at Disney
were:
- “The apparent lack of a … long-term succession plan.”
- “A Board that appears cutoff and unwilling to engage with
investors and the broader market.”
- “A business model, we believe to be built for the last decade,
but not forward looking and flexible enough to ensure success in
the next.”
- “A desire to protect the status quo for as long as possible and
at all costs.”
- “Mediocre financial performance and the resultant lower
valuation.”
Similarly, ISS concluded that “incremental change is needed at
the company due to multi-year underperformance [relative to] the
company's peers and chosen benchmark, operational challenges, and
most critically, a repeated failure on the part of the board to
oversee the cultivation of a successor…”
In supporting the election of Mr. Peltz and the withholding of
support for Ms. Lagomasino, ISS wrote that:
- Nelson Peltz is “well positioned to provide the catalyst that
this board apparently needs to improve its effectiveness.”
- "Dissident nominee Peltz, as a significant shareholder, could
be additive to the succession process, providing assurance to other
investors that the board is properly engaged this time around. He
could also help evaluate future capital allocation decisions."
- "Moreover, multi-year concerns surrounding Lagomasino's role as
a compensation committee member strengthen the case that Peltz's
addition, on balance, would appear a net positive."
To ensure the election of Nelson Peltz and Jay Rasulo, it is
essential that shareholders
vote “FOR” Nelson
Peltz and Jay Rasulo,
and “WITHHOLD” on Maria
Elena Lagomasino, Michael B.G. Froman, and all three Blackwells
Nominees. As Disney’s annual meeting is one week away, it
is important that shareholders vote TODAY. Every vote is important.
The deadline for shareholders to vote by telephone or
electronically is April 2, 2024, at 11:59pm ET.
For more information, including voting instructions, visit our
website: www.RestoreTheMagic.com.
About Trian Fund Management, L.P.
Founded in 2005, Trian Fund Management, L.P. (“Trian”) is a
multi-billion dollar investment management firm. Trian is a highly
engaged shareowner that combines concentrated public equity
ownership with operational expertise. Leveraging the 40+ years’
operating experience of our Founding Partners, Nelson Peltz and
Peter May, Trian seeks to invest in high quality but undervalued
and underperforming public companies and to work collaboratively
with management teams and boards to help companies execute
operational and strategic initiatives designed to drive long-term
sustainable earnings growth for the benefit of all
stakeholders.
Media Contacts:
Anne A. Tarbell(212) 451-3030atarbell@trianpartners.com
Paul Caminiti / Pamela Greene / Jacqueline ZuhseReevemark(212)
433-4600Trian@reevemark.com
Investor Contacts:
Matthew Peltz(212) 451-3060mpeltz@trianpartners.com
Ryan Bunch(212) 451-3176rbunch@trianpartners.com
Bruce Goldfarb / Pat McHughOkapi Partners LLC(212) 297-0720(877)
629-6357info@okapipartners.com
Edward McCarthy / Richard Grubaugh / Thomas GerminarioD.F. King
& Co., Inc. (212) 229-2634 Disney@dfking.com
Disclaimer
Except as otherwise set forth in this press release, the views
expressed in this press release reflect the opinions of Trian Fund
Management, L.P. and its affiliates (“Trian”), and are based on
publicly available information with respect to The Walt Disney
Company (“Disney” or the “Company”). Trian recognizes that there
may be confidential information in the possession of the Company
that could lead it or others to disagree with Trian’s conclusions.
Trian reserves the right to change any of its opinions expressed
herein at any time as it deems appropriate and disclaims any
obligation to notify the market or any other party of any such
change, except as required by law. Trian disclaims any obligation
to update the information or opinions contained in this press
release, except as required by law. For the avoidance of doubt,
this press release is not affiliated with or endorsed by
Disney.
This press release is provided merely as information and is not
intended to be, nor should it be construed as, an offer to sell or
a solicitation of an offer to buy any security nor as a
recommendation to purchase or sell any security. Funds, investment
vehicles, and accounts managed by Trian currently beneficially own
shares of the Company. These funds, investment vehicles, and
accounts are in the business of trading – buying and selling –
securities and intend to continue trading in the securities of the
Company. You should assume such funds may from time to time sell
all or a portion of their holdings of the Company in open market
transactions or otherwise, buy additional shares (in open market or
privately negotiated transactions or otherwise), or trade in
options, puts, calls, swaps or other derivative instruments
relating to such shares.
Some of the materials in this press release contain
forward-looking statements. All statements contained herein that
are not clearly historical in nature or that necessarily depend on
future events are forward-looking, and the words “anticipate,”
“believe,” “expect,” “potential,” “could,” “opportunity,”
“estimate,” “plan,” “once again,” “achieve,” and similar
expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking
statements. The projected results and statements contained herein
that are not historical facts are based on current expectations,
speak only as of the date of these materials and involve risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results,
performances or achievements to be materially different from any
future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied
by such projected results and statements. Assumptions relating to
the foregoing involve judgments with respect to, among other
things, future economic competitive and market conditions and
future business decisions, all of which are difficult or impossible
to predict accurately and many of which are beyond the control of
Trian.
The estimates, projections and potential impact of the
opportunities identified by Trian herein are based on assumptions
that Trian believes to be reasonable as of the date of this press
release, but there can be no assurance or guarantee (i) that any of
the proposed actions set forth in this press release will be
completed, (ii) that the actual results or performance of the
Company will not differ, and such differences may be material, or
(iii) that any of the assumptions provided in this press release
are accurate.
Trian has neither sought nor obtained the consent from any third
party to use any statements or information contained herein that
have been obtained or derived from statements made or published by
such third parties, nor has it paid for any such statements. Any
such statements or information should not be viewed as indicating
the support of such third parties for the views expressed herein.
Trian does not endorse third-party estimates or research which are
used herein solely for illustrative purposes.
Important Information
Trian Fund Management, L.P., together with Nelson Peltz, Peter
W. May, Josh Frank, Matthew Peltz, Isaac Perlmutter, James A.
Rasulo, Trian Fund Management GP, LLC, Trian Partners, L.P., Trian
Partners Parallel Fund I, L.P., Trian Partners Master Fund, L.P.,
Trian Partners Co-Investment Opportunities Fund, Ltd., Trian
Partners Fund (Sub)-G, L.P., Trian Partners Strategic Investment
Fund-N, L.P., Trian Partners Strategic Fund-G II, L.P., Trian
Partners Strategic Fund-K, L.P., The Laura & Isaac Perlmutter
Foundation Inc., Object Trading Corp., Isaac Perlmutter T.A., and
Zib Inc. (collectively, the “Participants”) filed a definitive
proxy statement and accompanying form of blue proxy card (as
supplemented and amended on February 12, 2024, the “Definitive
Proxy Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“SEC”) on February 1, 2024 to be used in connection with the 2024
annual meeting of shareholders of the Company.
THE PARTICIPANTS STRONGLY ADVISE ALL SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY
TO READ THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT AND OTHER PROXY MATERIALS
BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. SUCH PROXY MATERIALS
ARE AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE ON THE SEC’S WEBSITE AT
HTTP://WWW.SEC.GOV AND TRIAN’S WEBSITE,
HTTPS://RESTORETHEMAGIC.COM. THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT AND
ACCOMPANYING PROXY CARD WILL BE FURNISHED TO SOME OR ALL OF THE
COMPANY’S SHAREHOLDERS. SHAREHOLDERS MAY ALSO DIRECT A REQUEST TO
EITHER OF TRIAN’S PROXY SOLICITORS, OKAPI PARTNERS LLC, 1212 AVENUE
OF THE AMERICAS, NEW YORK, NY 10036 (SHAREHOLDERS CAN E-MAIL
INFO@OKAPIPARTNERS.COM OR CALL TOLL-FREE: (877) 629-6357), OR D.F.
KING & CO., INC., 48 WALL STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10005
(SHAREHOLDERS CAN E-MAIL DISNEY@DFKING.COM OR CALL TOLL-FREE: (800)
207-3158).
Information about the Participants and a description of their
direct or indirect interests by security holdings or otherwise can
be found in the Definitive Proxy Statement.
1 Source: Please refer to the definitive proxy statement, filed
with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission by Trian
Fund Management L.P. and certain of its affiliates and other
persons (the “Definitive Proxy Statement”) for information
regarding the members of the “Trian Group.” Nelson Peltz
beneficially owns Disney shares worth approximately $3.5 billion
and Jay Rasulo owns Disney shares worth approximately $800,000, in
each case as further detailed in the Definitive Proxy Statement.
Note that ownership position values are based on Disney’s share
price at the close of business on March 26, 2024.
Trian has neither sought nor obtained consent from any third
party to use previously published information in this press
release, including any quotes used in this press release.
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