Marcato Identifies Major Mistake In Buffalo Wild Wings Definitive Proxy Statement
BWLD Falsely Represents 5-Year Return Relative to Key Benchmark
Apr 24, 2017, 19:57 ET
SAN FRANCISCO, April 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Marcato Capital Management LP ("Marcato"), a San Francisco-based investment manager which manages funds that beneficially own approximately 6.1% of the outstanding common shares of Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc. (NASDAQ: BWLD) ("Buffalo Wild Wings"), today issued a statement in response to inaccurate information contained in definitive proxy materials filed by Buffalo Wild Wings on April 21, 2017.
In the executive summary on page 29 of its definitive proxy statement, Buffalo Wild Wings provided a chart comparing its 5-year total shareholder return (TSR) to the S&P 600 Restaurant Index, indicating that shares of BWLD had outperformed the S&P 600 Restaurant Index. In fact, shares of BWLD have underperformed the S&P 600 Restaurant Index by over 60% during the 5-year period shown.
Mick McGuire, Managing Partner of Marcato, said, "This kind of sloppy, self-serving 'analysis,' which has gone uncorrected for three full days, including a trading day, is emblematic of what we believe is management's careless approach to assessment of shareholder value. This is an astronomical error and the fact that we need to point it out should make all shareholders question many arguments management has put forth. For example, how many other mistakes have been made in management's misguided efforts to preserve the status quo? Where is Board oversight? Who on the Board is proofreading management's analysis? Where are the advisors? How much value has been destroyed thanks to sloppy 'analysis' like this? In our view, shareholders deserve board oversight and accountability, which they will get if they elect Marcato's nominees to the Board on June 2, 2017."
Marcato encourages all BWLD shareholders to visit www.WinningAtWildWings.com to review information about Marcato's investment in Buffalo Wild Wings.
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CERTAIN INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PARTICIPANTS
Marcato International Master Fund Ltd. ("Marcato International"), together with the other participants in Marcato International's proxy solicitation, have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), and are mailing to shareholders on or about April 20, 2017, a definitive proxy statement and accompanying WHITE proxy card to be used to solicit proxies in connection with the 2017 annual meeting of shareholders (the "Annual Meeting") of Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc. (the "Company"). Shareholders are advised to read the proxy statement and any other documents related to the solicitation of shareholders of the Company in connection with the Annual Meeting because they contain important information, including information relating to the participants in Marcato International's proxy solicitation. These materials and other materials filed by Marcato International with the SEC in connection with the solicitation of proxies are available at no charge on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. The definitive proxy statement and other relevant documents filed by Marcato International with the SEC are also available, without charge, by directing a request to Marcato International's proxy solicitor, Innisfree M&A Incorporated, toll-free at (888) 750-5834 (banks and brokers may call collect at (212) 750-5833).
The participants in the proxy solicitation are Marcato International, Marcato Capital Management LP, Marcato Special Opportunities Master Fund LP ("Marcato Special Opportunities Fund"), Emil Lee Sanders, Richard T. McGuire III, Sam Rovit and Scott O. Bergren (collectively, the "Participants").
As of the date hereof, Marcato International directly owns 950,000 shares of common stock, no par value, of BWW (the "Common Stock"), representing approximately 5.9% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and Marcato Special Opportunities Fund directly owns 32,600 shares of Common Stock, representing approximately 0.2% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock.
In addition, Marcato Capital Management LP, as the investment manager of Marcato International and Marcato Special Opportunities Fund, may be deemed to have the shared power to vote or direct the vote of (and the shared power to dispose or direct the disposition of) the shares of Common Stock held by Marcato and Marcato Special Opportunities Fund, therefore, may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of such shares. By virtue of Mr. McGuire's position as the managing partner of Marcato Capital Management LP, Mr. McGuire may be deemed to have the shared power to vote or direct the vote of (and the shared power to dispose or direct the disposition of) the shares of Common Stock held by Marcato International and Marcato Special Opportunities Fund and, therefore, Mr. McGuire may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of such shares.
SOURCE Marcato Capital Management LP