Engine Capital Comments on Dye & Durham’s Decision to Unduly Delay Special Meeting to December
September 25 2024 - 6:00AM
Business Wire
Urges the Board to Commit to Hold its 2024
Annual General Meeting Before Year-End Per Company Historical
Practices and TSX Regulations
Indicates Engine Will Withdraw Its Special
Meeting Requisition in Such Event to Avoid Unnecessary Costs of
Convening Two Shareholder Meetings in Quick Succession
Exposes the Company’s Wasteful Use of Resources
to Unjustifiably Threaten Holders of Nearly 40% of its Shares
Engine Capital LP (together with its affiliates, “Engine” or
“we”), which owns approximately 7.1% of Dye & Durham Limited’s
(TSX: DND) (“Dye & Durham” or the “Company”) outstanding
shares, today issued the below statement following the Company’s
rescheduling of a Special Meeting of Shareholders (the “Special
Meeting”) to December 10, 2024, less than two weeks before the date
the Company has historically held its annual general meetings
(“AGM”).1
Engine requisitioned a Special Meeting in March 2024 because it
was the fastest path to empower shareholders to vote for
much-needed change at the Company. The Special Meeting was
originally scheduled for August 2024 before it was postponed due to
the Company’s litigation with a shareholder. Once the litigation
concluded last week, the Board chose to further delay the Special
Meeting by nearly another three months – a total of nine months
after we requisitioned it – instead of promptly scheduling it for
the end of October.
While we would have preferred the Special Meeting to have been
held in a timely manner, in light of the significant delay and
redundant cost that would be borne by shareholders, we no longer
find the Special Meeting necessary or advisable. Since the Company
holds its AGM each December, we believe the Company should proceed
with historical practices rather than hold two separate meetings in
a short period of time and push this year’s AGM past 2024, which
would violate Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) rules.2 We find it
shocking that Dye & Durham’s directors appear to be planning to
run afoul of TSX rules that were specifically established to ensure
good governance and protect shareholders. We remind shareholders
that these are the same independent directors, including Chair
Colleen Moorehead and former Chair Brian Derksen, who have proven
themselves unable to stand up to CEO Matthew Proud and to push back
against the dubious M&A strategy, increasing leverage, dilutive
equity issuances, and the Company’s attempts to prevent investors
from having a say.
If the Company schedules its 2024 AGM in December per its usual
practices, Engine will withdraw its request for a Special Meeting
and instead seek Board changes at the AGM. If the Company is not
willing to make this commitment, that should tell shareholders
everything they need to know about this Board and its misaligned
priorities.
Shareholders should also know that this past Friday – the same
day we sent a private letter to the Board raising concerns
regarding its scorched earth tactics – we received a legal letter
threatening investors who collectively represent nearly 40% of the
Company’s shares based on completely frivolous claims. The Board
appears to have directed its legal advisors to pepper us with U.K.
and Australian regulatory questions which are entirely irrelevant
to our valid shareholdings under Canadian law. This is yet another
example of the Board’s level of entrenchment and only underscores
the urgent need for change.
No Solicitation
This press release does not constitute a solicitation of a proxy
within the meaning of applicable laws, and accordingly, DND
shareholders are not being asked to give, withhold or revoke a
proxy.
About Engine Capital
Engine Capital LP is a value-oriented special situations fund
that invests both actively and passively in companies undergoing
change.
_____________________________ 1 The Company’s last three AGMs
were held on December 19, 2023, December 19, 2022, and December 21,
2021. 2 “Every company having securities listed on the Exchange
must hold its annual meeting of shareholders within six months from
the end of its fiscal year, or at such earlier time as is required
by applicable legislation.” Source: Sec. 464, TSX Company
Manual.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240925981475/en/
For Investors: Engine Capital LP 212-321-0048
info@enginecap.com
For Media: Longacre Square Partners Charlotte Kiaie /
Bela Kirpalani, 646-386-0091 ckiaie@longacresquare.com /
bkirpalani@longacresquare.com
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