DALLAS, June 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Blockbuster Inc.
(NYSE: BBI, BBI.B) welcomed the recommendation from a leading
independent proxy advisory firm, Glass, Lewis & Co., that
stockholders vote for all seven of Blockbuster's 2010 director
nominees – Edward Bleier,
Kathleen Dore, Gary Fernandes, Joseph
Fitzsimmons, Jules Haimovitz,
James Keyes, and Strauss Zelnick –
on the WHITE proxy card for the Company's 2010 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders, which will be held on June 24,
2010. Glass Lewis further recommended that Blockbuster
stockholders vote "For" each of the Company's other proposals as
well.
In its analysis, Glass Lewis stated:
"...we believe the Dissident has largely failed to provide
shareholders with a cogent, practicable plan... and, by extension,
has failed to establish that his plans are superior to those
disclosed and undertaken by the board."
Regarding the dissident's suggested removal of director
Gary Fernandes, who sits on a
special board committee tasked with reviewing efforts to reduce the
Company's debtload:
"In our view, such a committee would be in a considerably better
position, with greater access to key information and parties,
including Blockbuster's debtholders, to determine the best possible
strategic alternative available to the Company."
Glass Lewis concludes:
"...based on a lack of concrete plans and adequate support, we
find the election of the Dissident to the board to be unwarranted
at this time."
Jim Keyes, Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of Blockbuster Inc. stated, "We are pleased to
receive the support of Glass Lewis. We respect their thorough
analysis and candid report, and appreciate their confidence in
finding that the incumbent board and management are in the best
position to evaluate and implement strategic options for the
Company."
Blockbuster strongly encourages its stockholders to support the
Company by voting the WHITE proxy card and discarding any Gold
proxy card provided by Gregory
Meyer. Even if a vote on a Gold proxy card has
previously been cast, it is not too late to change that vote by
voting a WHITE proxy card as only the latest dated proxy card will
be counted.
If you have any questions on how to vote your
shares,
please call our proxy
solicitor:
MORROW & CO., LLC AT
(800)
969-2372
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Company Statement
Stockholders are urged to read Blockbuster's definitive proxy
statement because it contains important information regarding
Blockbuster's annual meeting of stockholders to be held on
June 24, 2010. Stockholders and
other interested parties may obtain, free of charge, copies of the
proxy statement, and any other documents filed by Blockbuster with
the SEC, at the SEC's Internet website at http://www.sec.gov/.
The proxy statement and these other documents may also be
obtained free of charge by contacting Morrow & Co., Inc., the
firm assisting Blockbuster in the solicitation of proxies,
toll-free at 1-800-607-0088.
Blockbuster and certain of its directors and executive officers
may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed to be "participants" in
the solicitation of proxies from Blockbuster's stockholders in
respect of the 2010 annual meeting of stockholders.
Information regarding the interests of such persons,
including such persons' beneficial ownership of Blockbuster common
stock is set forth in Blockbuster's definitive proxy statement,
filed with the SEC on May 21, 2010,
with respect to the 2010 annual meeting of stockholders.
Note: Permission to use quotations from Glass, Lewis & Co.
was neither sought nor obtained.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within
the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Forward-looking statements may also be included from time to time
in our other public filings, press releases, our website and oral
and written presentations by management. Specific forward-looking
statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate
strictly to historical or current facts and include, without
limitation, words such as "may," "will," "expects," "believes,"
"anticipates," "plans," "estimates," "projects," "predicts,"
"targets," "seeks," "could," "intends," "foresees" or the negative
of such terms or other variations on such terms or comparable
terminology. Similarly, statements that describe our strategies,
initiatives, objectives, plans or goals are forward-looking. These
forward-looking statements are based on management's current
intent, belief, expectations, estimates and projections. These
statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve
risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that are
difficult to predict. Therefore, actual results may vary materially
from what is expressed in or indicated by the forward-looking
statements. The risk factors set forth under "Item 1A. Risk
Factors" in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K and other matters
discussed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, including the "Disclosure Regarding
Forward-Looking Information" and "Risk Factors" sections of our
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, among others, could affect future
results, causing these results to differ materially from those
expressed in our forward-looking statements. In the event that the
risks disclosed in our public filings cause results to differ
materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements,
our business, financial condition, results of operations or
liquidity could be materially adversely affected and investors in
our securities could lose part or all of their investments.
Accordingly, our investors are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on these forward-looking statements because, while we
believe the assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are
based are reasonable, there can be no assurance that these
forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. Further, the
forward-looking statements included in this release and those
included from time to time in our other public filings, press
releases, our website and oral and written presentations by
management are only made as of the respective dates thereof. Except
as otherwise required by law, we undertake no obligation to update
publicly any forward-looking statement in this release or in other
documents, our website or oral statements for any reason, even if
new information becomes available or other events occur in the
future.
About Blockbuster Inc.
Blockbuster Inc. is a leading global provider of rental and
retail movie and game entertainment. The company provides customers
with convenient access to media entertainment anywhere, any way
they want it - whether in-store, by-mail, through vending kiosks or
digitally to their homes and mobile devices. With a highly
recognized brand and a library of more than 125,000 movie and game
titles, Blockbuster leverages its multichannel presence to serve
nearly 47 million global customers annually. The company may be
accessed worldwide at www.blockbuster.com.
Contacts:
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Media – Craig Bloom
of Hill and Knowlton, + 1-212-885-0585,
Craig.Bloom@hillandknowlton.com, for Blockbuster Inc.
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Investor Relations –
Kellie Nugent, Director, Investor Relations of Blockbuster Inc.,
kellie.nugent@blockbuster.com
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SOURCE Blockbuster Inc.