NEW YORK, April 18, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- VIEX Opportunities Fund, LP – Series One ("VIEX"), the largest stockholder of YuMe, Inc (NYSE: YUME) owning approximately 15.8% of the outstanding stock of YuMe, announced today that it has filed its definitive proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission and mailed a letter to YuMe stockholders, both of which are available at www.sec.gov,  in connection with its campaign to elect two highly-qualified directors and approve its non-binding proposal to declassify the Board at the Company's upcoming May 27, 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

The text of the letter is as follows:

YuMe's Board Has Eroded Your Investment and Now Intends to Spend Upwards of $1.1 Million of Your Money to Fight an Almost 16% Holder for 2 of 8 Board Seats  

Vote the GOLD Proxy Card Today to Hold the YuMe Board Accountable for Over $20 million in Cumulative Losses Since YuMe's IPO

Key Developments Due to Our Involvement: Stock Buyback Program and Support for our Proposal to Declassify the Board

Dear Fellow Stockholders:

VIEX Opportunities Fund, LP – Series One, together with its affiliates (collectively, "VIEX"), is the largest stockholder of YuMe, Inc. ("YuMe" or the "Company"), owning approximately 15.8% of the Company's outstanding common stock.  As the largest stockholder, our interests are directly aligned with all YuMe stockholders to maximize long-term value of YuMe shares.  Since we initiated our campaign to create value for YuMe stockholders, we have stated, to both senior management and the YuMe Board of Directors (the "Board"), our belief that YuMe's stock was materially undervalued primarily due to the Company's disastrous operational performance, poor capital allocation, undisciplined cost structure and failure to properly align management's interests with YuMe stockholders.  Despite our repeated efforts to engage with management and the Board to tackle these fundamental problems, the Board and management have been largely unresponsive and appear more focused on self-preservation than increasing their accountability to stockholders.   We are therefore seeking your support to elect our two highly-qualified, independent nominees to the Board and approve our non-binding proposal to declassify the Board at the Company's annual meeting of stockholders scheduled for May 27, 2016, in an effort to end the erosion of stockholder value. 

Since the IPO, while the NASDAQ Index Has Soared, YuMe's Stock Has Plummeted.

On August 7, 2013, YuMe began trading at $9.00 per share.  From that date until October 6, 2015, one trading day prior to the filing of our Schedule 13D, YuMe's stock price had declined by 68%.

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In addition, since the IPO through December 31, 2015, YuMe has significantly underperformed against the NYSE Composite Index, S&P Information Technology Index and the S&P Internet Software & Services Index.

In Its First 30 Months, YuMe's Operational Performance Has Catastrophically Deteriorated.

Since September 30, 2013, YuMe's first quarter following its IPO, through December 31, 2015, YuMe's retained earnings have fallen over 40%.  YuMe has also incurred approximately $20.1 million in cumulative losses over the same time period.

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Despite incurring over $20 million in cumulative losses since the IPO, to add injury to insult, YuMe has now disclosed its intention to waste between $800,000 and $1.1 million of stockholder resources to oppose our nominees.  This waste becomes even more egregious since we are merely asking for 2 seats on an 8 person Board.  In addition, the Company's second largest stockholder, who owns approximately 10.5% of the Company's outstanding stock, recently publicly announced its support for our nominees.  Despite our efforts to avoid a costly proxy fight through a settlement with the Company, the Company would not consider the addition of Mr. Singer as part of any settlement offer.  It is not unreasonable for VIEX (an almost 16% stockholder) to want its founder and managing member (Eric Singer) to be appointed to the Board of which it holds such a large stake.  What does this Board have to hide that it is so opposed to the addition of a stockholder representative to the Board?  While we are forced to spend our own money for a chance to obtain a minority position on the Board, management and the Board, whose ownership in YuMe has largely come from stock awards and not from their own investment, are wasting your money for their own self-preservation. 

Management Has Repeatedly Missed Self-Imposed Financial Targets.

Since the IPO, CEO Jayant Kadambi has consistently missed guidance and self-imposed financial targets with respect to the Company's programmatic business.  The following excerpts are from transcripts from YuMe's earnings calls and, when compared to actual results, paint a picture of a problematic culture desperately in need of accountability.

 

Given this disastrous track record, what did Kadambi have to say for himself for repeatedly missing guidance?

Despite admitting to "taking [his] eye off the ball," the Board compensated Mr. Kadambi $1.72 million in 2015.  Clearly this Board just doesn't get it.  VIEX firmly believes there is an urgent need for a reconstituted Board that will hold itself and management accountable to stockholders and establish appropriate return on investment metrics to justify the significant spending on the Company's programmatic business and international operations, which have not translated into any stock price appreciation. 

The YuMe Board Has Failed to Align Management's Interests with Stockholders.

The YuMe Board has awarded management excessive compensation despite unacceptable performance.

• From 2013 to 2015, CEO Jayant Kadambi has been paid almost $5 million, while the Company has suffered approximately $20.1 million in cumulative losses since its IPO in August 2013.  Mr. Kadambi's compensation packages over the past 3 years have also included more than $725,000 in non-equity incentive plan compensation and discretionary bonuses which were not tied to any specific performance targets.   To date, the Company has failed to disclose any performance metrics to justify paying Mr. Kadambi such substantial compensation packages.  
• In 2015, the Company's three named executive officers were paid, in the aggregate, approximately $3.94 million, despite the Company suffering net losses of approximately $16.75 million.  Similarly, in 2014, the Company's three named executive officers were paid, in the aggregate, approximately $2.9 million, while the Company suffered net losses of approximately $8.75 million.  

The YuMe Board has approved excessive grants of stock to management which has significantly diluted YuMe stockholders.

• Despite abysmal fiscal 2015 operating performance, a period during which all of the analysts following YuMe downgraded the Company's stock, financial targets were missed and the stock declined by nearly 50%, the Board shockingly rewarded management by granting nearly 2% of the Company's stock to its top five executives.
• And this was on top of similar inexplicable equity grants during the prior fiscal year.  We believe any rational investor would question these egregious grants.  Let us be perfectly clear on this point: The Board approved stock grants as a reward for destroying stockholder value, failing to achieve stated milestones, and having analysts issue downgrades.  For these glaring, and unquestionable failures, management has received nearly 4% of the Company for free in addition to cash compensation.
• Since the IPO, YuMe has registered approximately 10.1 million shares of common stock subject to options or other equity awards issued or reserved for future issuance under the Company's equity incentive plans, constituting almost 30% of the Company's outstanding stock as of February 29, 2016.

We Need Stockholder Representatives on the Board to Truly Represent Your Interests.

We believe the Board has failed to demonstrate a stockholder-focused mindset, has failed to hold management or itself accountable, and has failed to place the best interests of its stockholders ahead of the personal interests of Company insiders, because it has no "skin in the game."  Based upon our review of the Company's public filings, the Board's six independent directors own approximately 1.6% of the Company's outstanding stock, which stock was primarily acquired through equity awards granted to such directors in their capacities as directors of the Company and not through direct investment.  VIEX, on the other hand, owns approximately 15.8% of the Company's outstanding stock.  It seems apparent to us that with so little at personal stake, the Board does not have the same commitment to stockholder value as we do.

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We note further that 50% of the shares owned by all independent directors, are owned by just one director, Daniel Springer (the Lead Independent Director). This leaves the remaining five independent directors owning just 0.82% of the shares outstanding.

We Need a Proactive Board at YuMe – Not a Reactive Board.

The Board has taken action only when faced with significant stockholder pressure.  Only after we repeatedly called upon the Company to return value to stockholders, which was echoed by other stockholders publicly, did the Board approve a $10 million stock buyback program.  We believe that the program falls short in size and timing. If the Board was quicker to act, it could have taken advantage of an even lower stock price than today, making its buyback more efficient.  Further, at the size approved by the Board, the Company will remain overcapitalized. 

Most recently, due to our involvement, the Board agreed to accept our non-binding resolution requesting that the Board take all necessary steps to declassify the Board.

We need a Board that feels a sense of urgency to act to address the significant challenges facing the Company, not a Board that takes action only when challenged with a proxy fight.   

Real Change and Board Accountability is Needed Now!

In order to properly address the Company's prolonged underperformance, we have strongly, and repeatedly, expressed to management our view that the Company must:

• reduce its cost structure;
• implement stringent metrics to ensure that operating expenses conform to realistic revenue opportunities;
• utilize the Company's overcapitalized balance sheet to increase value for all stockholders;
• revise compensation practices to align executive interests with those of the stockholders; and
• improve its corporate governance.

These fundamental issues are central to protecting all stockholders and are key to improving stockholder value.

We believe that YuMe's corporate governance needs significant upgrade and that the Company's policies are the result of an explicit desire by the Company's leadership to suppress stockholder input and avoid accountability.  We have therefore introduced a proposal to declassify the Board that we recommend YuMe stockholders support and that we think is a necessary step in bringing some accountability to the boardroom.   We further believe that the Board must be reconstituted immediately to provide meaningful stockholder representation through new directors who will bring a fresh perspective and a strong commitment to represent stockholders' interests.

Our Nominees Will Act in Your Best Interest.

Working entirely from a stockholder perspective, our two nominees will ensure Board integrity and accountability for all stockholders. We will work diligently to prevent the abuses and incompetence that have pervaded the operations of YOUR COMPANY. We will not tolerate the mismanagement and failure that has plagued YuMe since its IPO. Rather, we will be a powerful and relentless driving force for accountability and positive change.

The VIEX nominees are:

Elias N. Nader, age 50, has served as chief financial officer and secretary of Sigma Designs, Inc. ("Sigma Designs"), a provider of intelligent media platforms for use in the home entertainment and control markets, since April 2014. Mr. Nader previously served as Sigma Designs' interim chief financial officer and secretary from March 2013 to April 2014 and as its corporate controller from October 2012 to March 2013. Prior to joining Sigma Designs, Mr. Nader served as a chief financial officer consultant with various companies in Europe and the Middle East from October 2011 to September 2012.  From June 2010 to September 2011, Mr. Nader served as group chief financial officer with Imperial Jet, a VIP business aircraft company based in Europe and the Middle East. From June 2005 to June 2010, Mr. Nader served as corporate controller at Dionex Corporation, a chromatography company.  

Eric Singer, age 42, has served as the managing member of each of VIEX GP, LLC, the general partner of VIEX Opportunities Fund, LP – Series One ("Series One") and VIEX Opportunities Fund, LP – Series Two (Series Two"), VIEX Special Opportunities GP II, LLC, the general partner of VIEX Special Opportunities Fund II, LP ("VSO II"), and VIEX Capital Advisors, LLC, the investment manager of Series One, Series Two, VSO II and certain other investment funds, since May 2014.  The principal business of Series One, Series Two and VSO II is investing in securities.  From March 2012 until September 2014, Mr. Singer served as co-managing member of Potomac Capital Management III, L.L.C., the general partner of Potomac Capital Partners III, L.P. ("PCP III"), and Potomac Capital Management II, L.L.C., the general partner of Potomac Capital Partners II, L.P. ("PCP II") and served as an advisor to Potomac Capital Management, L.L.C. and its related entities from May 2009 until September 2014.  The principal business of PCP III and PCP II is investing in securities.  From July 2007 to April 2009, Mr. Singer was a senior investment analyst at Riley Investment Management.  He managed private portfolios for Alpine Resources, LLC from January 2003 to July 2007.  Mr. Singer currently serves on the board of directors of Numerex Corp., a provider of managed machine-to-machine (M2M) enterprise solutions enabling the Internet of Things (IoT), since March 2016, TigerLogic Corporation, a global provider in engagement solutions, including Postano social media aggregation, display and fan engagement platform and Omnis mobile development platform, since January 2015, and IEC Electronics Corp., a provider of electronic manufacturing services to advanced technology companies primarily in the military and aerospace, medical, industrial and communications sectors, since February 2015.  Mr. Singer previously served as a director of Meru Networks, Inc., a Wi-Fi network solutions company, from January 2014 until January 2015, PLX Technology, Inc, a semiconductor company, from December 2013 until its sale in August 2014, Sigma Designs, Inc., a semiconductor company, from August 2012 until December 2013, including as its Chairman of the Board from January 2013 until December 2013, and Zilog Corporation, a semiconductor company, from August 2008 until its sale in February 2010.  

PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT

Vote for Change – Please sign, date and return the enclosed GOLD proxy card today.

Sincerely,

Eric B. Singer
VIEX Opportunities Fund, LP – Series One

If you have any questions, or require assistance with your vote, please contact our proxy solicitor:

 

Contact: John Ferguson 203-658-9400

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SOURCE VIEX Opportunities Fund, LP