RiskMetrics Group Recommends Keweenaw Board Nominees
12 6월 2009 - 3:57AM
PR Newswire (US)
IRONWOOD, Mich., June 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- RiskMetrics
Group (RMG), formerly Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc.
(ISS), and Glass Lewis & Company (GL&C), both providers of
proxy advisory services to institutional investors, recommend a
vote "FOR" Keweenaw Land Association (Pink Sheets: KEWL), Limited
Board nominees Mr. James P. Totten and Mr. David E. McDonald, Sr.
at the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on June 23, 2009. In
addition, both proxy advisory services recommend to vote "AGAINST"
the Dissidents' proposal to require the Company to register under
the Securities Exchange Act. In their June 10, 2009 report, RMG
stated, "Our analysis indicates management continues to operate the
Company for long-term appreciation of its timber and mineral
assets. Based on TSR (total shareholder returns) relative to its
peers and indices, this has proven to be a successful strategy."
RMG added, "ISS (RMG) does not see convincing evidence that the
company has been mismanaging its operations by neglecting
opportunities to maximize the value of its assets while still
maintaining the sustainable forestry business model." They
concluded, "In sum, given the company's strong relative
performance, the lack of compelling evidence that the company has
been neglecting its assets, and the dissidents' lack of relevant
experience, RMG believes that the dissidents have not met the
burden of proof that changes to the Board are preferable to the
status quo and that the dissident nominees are more likely to
create long-term shareholder value than the incumbent directors."
Likewise, GL&C, in their June 9, 2009 report supporting
management's nominees, concluded that, "We believe the Dissident
has again failed to show that the current board has mismanaged the
Company or failed to create shareholder value. KLA's share price
has fallen over the past year. However, it has performed largely
in-line with the S&P 500 and its competitor, Pope Resources, LP
("Pope"). Further, over the prior two-year period, KLA's share
price outperformed the S&P 500 Index and Pope by 62.3% and
69.2%, respectively." Mr. David Ayer, Chairman of the Board of
Directors, commented, "It is gratifying that these independent
proxy advisory firms have recognized the quality leadership and
strong performance of this Board of Directors to achieve the
Company's strategic objective of long-term value creation and an
acceptable rate of return for Keweenaw shareholders through
sustainable forest management of the Company's timberland assets.
We would like to thank Keweenaw's shareholders for their continuing
support for the current Board to achieve these objectives."
Keweenaw shareholders may voice their support for the Company by
voting FOR Mr. Totten and Mr. McDonald and by voting AGAINST the
Dissidents' shareholder proposals on the Green Proxy Card. If you
have questions about voting or need a replacement proxy card,
please contact Mr. Charles Garske of Georgeson, Inc., the Company's
proxy representative, at (212) 440-9916. For further information
about Keweenaw or this article, contact Robert M. Davenport at
(906) 932-3410. Permission to quote from RiskMetrics and Glass
Lewis reports was neither sought nor obtained. DATASOURCE: Keweenaw
Land Association CONTACT: Robert M. Davenport, +1-906-932-3410; or
Charles Garske of Georgeson, Inc., +1-212-440-9916
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