All Three Independent Proxy Advisory Firms Support Murchinson’s Case for Further Board Change at Nano Dimension
26 Noviembre 2024 - 8:00AM
Business Wire
ISS, Glass Lewis and Egan-Jones Each Conclude
Shareholders Should Oppose the Election of CEO Yoav Stern to the
Board, Reject Mr. Stern’s Compensation Package and Support
Murchinson’s Proposal to Declassify the Board
Proxy Advisory Firms Highlight Nano’s Negative
Enterprise Value, Rapidly Dwindling Cash, Disregard for
Shareholders and Corporate Governance Failures as Rationale for
Urgent Change
Murchinson Encourages All Shareholders to Vote
TODAY For Both of its Independent, Highly Qualified Nominees, Ofir
Baharav and Robert Pons
Murchinson Ltd. (collectively with its affiliates and funds it
advises and/or sub-advises, “Murchinson” or “we”), a significant
shareholder with approximately 7.1% of the outstanding shares of
Nano Dimension Ltd. (NASDAQ: NNDM) (“Nano” or the “Company”), today
announced that all three independent proxy advisory firms –
Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), Glass, Lewis &
Co. (“Glass Lewis”), and Egan-Jones Ratings Company (“Egan-Jones”)
– have now recommended that Nano shareholders support further
boardroom change at the Company’s 2024 Annual General Meeting of
Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”), scheduled for December 6,
2024. Notably, all three proxy advisory firms recommend
shareholders vote against the election of CEO Yoav Stern to the
Board of Directors (the “Board”) as well as reject Mr. Stern’s
proposed compensation package.
Murchinson stated:
“The recommendation from all three independent proxy advisory
firms that further change is needed at Nano – and specifically that
CEO Yoav Stern does not have a place in the boardroom – validates
our multi-year campaign. Nano’s negative enterprise value, stagnant
share price, misguided M&A strategy and inability to grow
revenue or deliver synergies on past acquisitions are all evidence
of a Board that does not hold management accountable and cannot be
trusted to preserve shareholder value without the addition of more
independent voices. Notably, General Michael Garrett has apparently
not taken any actions to address these issues since he joined the
Board more than a year ago and did not even participate in the
Company’s engagement meetings with the proxy advisors. We are
confident that in order to ensure there is real independence on the
Board and that the status quo does not continue, shareholders must
vote for both our nominees – Ofir Baharav and Robert Pons – who are
ideally suited to address the issues holding Nano back from
reaching its full value creation potential.”
In its report, ISS concluded that further boardroom change is
needed:1
- “The track record to date does not inspire confidence, nor does
the failure to receive market validation. Coupled with ongoing
corporate governance deficiencies, and concerns about the
willingness and ability of board leadership to effectively oversee
management, it is clear that additional board change is
necessary.”
- “…there is an elevated possibility both dissident directors
are elected due to the nature and extent of NNDM's
deficiencies, particularly with corporate governance…”
- “…although the board was reshaped after the September 2023 AGM,
it continued to be dominated by the legacy directors (alongside
Stern), and it continued to support concerning corporate
governance. With that said, the addition of the two dissident
nominees, and the departure of Stern, did not address all critical
issues.”
- “…it is clear that additional board change is necessary
to ensure effective and independent oversight of management during
the joint integration of DM and MKFG, which will be the next
decisive challenge for NNDM, and to ensure that future capital
allocation decisions align with the best interests of
shareholders.”
Regarding Nano’s failed capital allocation and M&A strategy,
ISS noted:
- “The fact of the matter is that NNDM is in the fourth year of
the acquisition strategy, and all past acquisitions should be fully
integrated, yet NNDM remains unprofitable. This is
concerning in itself, but is also troubling because of the
challenge that lies ahead with the DM and MKFG
acquisitions.”
- “Ultimately, the inability to translate past integration
efforts into the TSR performance expected by shareholders
creates concerns about the ability to successfully do so with DM
and MKFG, which will be the largest acquisitions in company
history.”
- “NNDM's track record with smaller acquisitions does not
necessarily inspire confidence, and ongoing concerns with
valuation since announcement of the deals suggests that the
market is skeptical as well.”
- “NNDM first began trading at a negative enterprise value in
October 2021. Since then, NNDM has also consistently traded at a
discount to cash value. These are troubling facts, because the
implication is that at no point in the past three years has the
market expected NNDM's strategy to deliver value.”
Regarding Nano’s worst-in-class corporate governance, ISS
noted:
- “Similarly, the board is recommending that shareholders vote
against the dissident's proposal to declassify. The decision to
contest such an important corporate governance improvement is
unacceptable, and amounts to evidence of an ongoing
disconnect with shareholders.”
- “…before his removal was confirmed by the Israeli court, Stern
served on the board for over three years, and served as chair from
May 2021 to September 2023, without once standing as a nominee
before shareholders at a meeting called by the board.”
- “Notwithstanding the potential for an appeal, [the Israeli
litigation] outcome is incontrovertible evidence that the board
attempted to circumvent the will of shareholders…”
- “…the engagement between ISS and NNDM was led by Stern…The
lack of participation by new directors, such as Garrett, does
little to address the perception that NNDM may be unwilling to
fully break from the past…”
- “…there is strong evidence that [the legacy directors]
cannot be trusted to fully support the best interests of
shareholders. This cohort, which continues to dominate the
board's leadership positions, has been party to a litany of
corporate governance failures, and the Israeli court's ruling
confirms that its members are comfortable disenfranchising
shareholders.”
In its report, Egan-Jones concluded that:2
- “Despite a series of acquisitions since 2021, Nano Dimension’s
enterprise value has significantly declined. The Company’s
negative enterprise value and persistent underperformance are
alarming.”
- “In our view, the dilutive impact of these acquisitions,
combined with the current Board’s lack of strategic direction, has
led to the depletion of the Company’s cash reserves and a
challenging position within the struggling 3D printing
industry.”
- “At this critical juncture, we believe that fresh
perspectives are necessary to execute strategies that will drive
value creation rather than continue with the status quo of cash
depletion.”
- “The election of Murchinson’s nominees, Pons and Baharav, would
bring the necessary strategic insight and corporate governance
improvements to help Nano Dimension overcome its current
challenges and unlock shareholder value.”
In its report, Glass Lewis concluded that:3
- “While we believe the foregoing development ultimately
represents a favorable turn for investors and a fundamental
validation of the shareholder franchise … bearing in mind the
possibility of a further legal appeal by Nano, we share
Murchinson's view that there remains sound cause for shareholders
to support the election of additional independent board members
at this time.”
- “These conditions leave us with the strong impression that
shareholders would not be well served endorsing Nano’s
nominees, particularly given the presence of alternate
candidates which, Nano’s claims to the contrary, appear both
credible and suitably independent.”
- “We take this position emphasizing our belief that Murchinson
has nominated two credible, independent candidates we consider well
suited to representing shareholders' interests and
addressing Nano's extensive and long-standing performance and
corporate governance issues.”
Murchinson encourages shareholders to vote by November 27th to
ensure their votes are counted. Information on how to vote for
Murchinson’s nominees is available at
www.SaveNanoDimension.com/how-to-vote.
About Murchinson
Founded in 2012 and based in Toronto, Canada, Murchinson is an
alternative asset management firm that serves institutional
investors, family offices and qualified clients. The firm has
extensive experience capturing the best returning opportunities
across global markets. Murchinson’s multi-strategy approach allows
it to execute investments at all points in the market cycle with
fluid allocation between strategies. Our team targets corporate
action, distressed investing, private equity and structured finance
situations, leveraging its broad market experience with a variety
of specialized products and sophisticated hedging techniques to
deliver alpha within a risk-averse mandate. Learn more at
www.murchinsonltd.com.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements
This press release contains forward-looking information within
the meaning of applicable securities laws. In general,
forward-looking information refers to disclosure about future
conditions, courses of action, and events. All statements contained
in this press release that are not clearly historical in nature or
that necessarily depend on future events are forward‐looking, and
the use of any of the words “anticipates”, “believes”, “expects”,
“intends”, “plans”, “will”, “would”, and similar expressions are
intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements
are based on current expectations of Murchinson and currently
available information. Forward-looking statements are not
guarantees of future performance, involve certain risks and
uncertainties that are difficult to predict, and are based upon
assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate.
Murchinson undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise
any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by
applicable securities legislation.
Disclaimer
The information contained or referenced herein is for
information purposes only in order to provide the views of
Murchinson and the matters which Murchinson believes to be of
concern to shareholders described herein. The information is not
tailored to specific investment objections, the financial
situations, suitability, or particular need of any specific
person(s) who may receive the information, and should not be taken
as advice in considering the merits of any investment decision. The
views expressed herein represent the views and opinions of
Murchinson, whose opinions may change at any time and which are
based on analyses of Murchinson and its advisors. In addition, the
information contained herein is being publicly disclosed without
prejudice and shall not be construed to prejudice any of
Murchinson’s rights, demands, grounds and/or remedies under any
contract and/or law.
1 Permission to quote from ISS was neither sought nor obtained.
2 Permission to quote from Egan-Jones was neither sought nor
obtained. 3 Permission to quote from Glass Lewis was neither sought
nor obtained.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241126443652/en/
Okapi Partners LLC Bruce Goldfarb / Chuck Garske 212-297-0720
info@okapipartners.com Longacre Square Partners Ashley Areopagita
murchinson@longacresquare.com
Nano Dimension (NASDAQ:NNDM)
Gráfica de Acción Histórica
De Nov 2024 a Dic 2024
Nano Dimension (NASDAQ:NNDM)
Gráfica de Acción Histórica
De Dic 2023 a Dic 2024