Institutional Shareholder Services Recommends That Simon Worldwide Shareholders Vote for Everest's Nominees and Recapitalization
16 7월 2007 - 9:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
ISS Notes Management's Failure to Create Shareholder Value and the
Company's Dismal Corporate Governance Practices in its Analysis NEW
YORK, July 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Everest Special Situations Fund L.P.
("Everest") announced today that the nation's leading proxy
advisory service, Institutional Shareholder Services ("ISS"), has
recommended that Simon Worldwide, Inc. (OTC:SWWI) (BULLETIN BOARD:
SWWI) shareholders vote FOR the Everest nominees, Elchanan Maoz and
Meron Mann, to Simon's Board of Directors. ISS, whose clients
include thousands of institutional investors throughout the world,
also recommended that shareholders vote FOR Everest's
recapitalization proposal that is designed to align the interests
of all Simon Worldwide shareholders. Everest urges all Simon
Worldwide shareholders to vote the GOLD proxy card before the
Company's Annual Meeting that is scheduled to be held on July 19,
2007. In its analysis, ISS stated that, "Management has not taken
proper steps to improve shareholder value, as Simon Worldwide has
acted as a shell company generating zero revenues for almost six
years now." ISS also condemned Simon's disregard for shareholder
democracy by noting "that Simon Worldwide has not called a
shareholder meeting since 2001 and that its board is classified,
non-majority independent, has not established a formal nominating
committee, and includes insiders and affiliated outsiders on its
other key board committees." Recognizing the need for oversight of
the current board, ISS concluded that Simon Worldwide should vote
FOR Elchanan Maoz and Meron Mann on the GOLD proxy card. Speaking
on behalf of Everest, Elchanin Maoz said, "We are happy that a
respected independent proxy advisory service like ISS has
recognized that a shareholder voice is needed on the Simon
Worldwide Board in order to promote the creation of value for ALL
shareholders and to end the needless squandering of assets on
excessive executive and board compensation at a company that
generates zero revenue. The fact that the incumbent board failed to
accept ISS's invitation to present their case for reelection
further bolsters our conviction that they lack the energy and
vision necessary to create shareholder value and that fresh views
and voices are desperately needed on the Board. Both Meron Mann and
I look forward to working with the current board to promote the
creation of shareholder value at our Company." Shareholders are
reminded that the Annual Meeting is scheduled to be held on July
19, 2007 and are urged to call Everest's proxy advisors, MacKenzie
Partners, Inc., Toll-Free at 800-322-2885 of 212-929-5500 (call
collect) if they have any questions or need assistance in voting
their GOLD proxy card. DATASOURCE: Everest Special Situations Fund
L.P. CONTACT: Dan Burch or Bob Marese, both of MacKenzie Partners,
Inc., +1-212-929-5500, for Everest Special Situations Fund L.P.
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