MINNEAPOLIS - May 16, 2017 - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc. (NASDAQ:BWLD) today announced that it has released an investor presentation in connection the company's upcoming 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders ("Annual Meeting") to be held on June 2, 2017. Buffalo Wild Wings shareholders of record at the close of business on April 13, 2017 are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.
The 93-page presentation and other important materials related to the Annual Meeting can be found on the company's website at http://www.buffalowildwings.com/en/2017-annual-meeting/ and have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). The presentation highlights the importance of electing the Buffalo Wild Wings' nominees at the upcoming Annual Meeting and discarding the proxy cards being mailed by Marcato Capital Management, L.P. ("Marcato").
As highlighted in Buffalo Wild Wings' presentation, one of Marcato's own nominees for the Board of Directors, Emil Lee Sanders, has given Buffalo Wild Wings shareholders one of the best reasons to vote against Marcato and for the Board's nominees. Marcato nominated Mr. Sanders and has published two full pages of materials strongly advocating for the election of Mr. Sanders because of his supposed knowledge of restaurants. Yet it was Mr. Sanders himself who wrote that Marcato's plan for Buffalo Wild Wings - which presumably Mr. Sanders would carry out if he were elected to the Board - involves:
"Massive G & A cuts and layoffs… Let's hope the lights are left on."
Buffalo Wild Wings - one of the most successful restaurant companies in the United States - believes that its shareholders should not have to "hope" that their healthy, multi-billion dollar company survives. Do Marcato and Mr. Sanders really think that Buffalo Wild Wings shareholders, who have been rewarded with compounded returns of 24% per year since the company's 2003 IPO, should voluntarily elect a slate of directors who will risk the company's survival, just so short-term performance can be enhanced?
The Buffalo Wild Wings Board of Directors encourages all shareholders to protect their investments by voting the YELLOW proxy card "FOR" the election of all nine of the Board's experienced and highly-qualified director nominees: Cynthia L. Davis, Andre J. Fernandez, Janice L. Fields, Harry A. Lawton, J. Oliver Maggard, Jerry R. Rose, Sam B. Rovit, Harmit J. Singh and Sally J. Smith.
In its detailed presentation, Buffalo Wild Wings also demonstrates:
*Buffalo Wild Wings Has Delivered Superior Value to Shareholders.
*Buffalo Wild Wings Is Successfully Executing Its Unique Strategy Driven by Innovation, Differentiation and Financial Discipline.
*Buffalo Wild Wings Is Taking Proactive Steps in Response to the Current Operating Environment.
*Buffalo Wild Wings Has the Right Board and Leadership and Compensation Is Aligned with Shareholder Interests.
*Marcato's Criticisms Are Unfounded, and Certain Proposals are Reckless and Would Be Damaging to Buffalo Wild Wings' Future.
*Marcato's Nominees, Other than Sam Rovit, Would Not be Helpful Additions to the Buffalo Wild Wings Board.
We encourage all shareholders to carefully review Buffalo Wild Wings' proxy statement and the investor presentation, which is available at http://www.buffalowildwings.com/en/2017-annual-meeting/.
The company urges shareholders to vote "FOR" each of Buffalo Wild Wings' nine nominees today by telephone, by Internet or by signing and dating the YELLOW proxy card and returning it in the postage-paid envelope provided. No matter how few shares they own, it is important that all shareholders have their voices heard in this critically important decision regarding shareholders' investment. The company further encourages shareholders to discard any proxy materials sent to them by Marcato.
Lazard Ltd is serving as financial advisor and Faegre Baker Daniels is serving as legal advisor to the company.
If you have any questions or require any assistance with voting your shares, please contact the company's proxy solicitor listed below:
MacKenzie Partners, Inc.
105 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10016
Call Collect: (212) 929-5500
or
Toll-Free (800) 322-2885
Email: proxy@mackenziepartners.com
Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc., founded in 1982 and headquartered in Minneapolis, is a growing owner, operator and franchisor of Buffalo Wild Wings(R) restaurants featuring a variety of boldly-flavored, made-to-order menu items including its namesake Buffalo, New York-style chicken wings. The Buffalo Wild Wings menu specializes in 21 mouth-watering signature sauces and seasonings with flavor sensations ranging from Sweet BBQ(TM) to Blazin'(R). Guests enjoy a welcoming neighborhood atmosphere that includes an extensive multi-media system for watching their favorite sporting events. Buffalo Wild Wings is the recipient of hundreds of "Best Wings" and "Best Sports Bar" awards from across the country. There are currently more than 1,220 Buffalo Wild Wings locations around the world.
To stay up-to-date on all the latest events and offers for sports fans and wing lovers, like Buffalo Wild Wings on Facebook, follow @BWWings on Twitter and visit www.BuffaloWildWings.com.
This communication contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Such statements include statements concerning anticipated future events and expectations that are not historical facts. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statement that could be deemed forward-looking statements. Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements based on a number of factors, including the factors described under "Risk Factors" in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 25, 2016, as updated or supplemented by subsequent reports we file with the SEC. We do not assume any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement after they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc., its directors and certain of its executive officers and employees are participants in the solicitation of proxies from Buffalo Wild Wings shareholders in connection with its 2017 annual meeting of shareholders to be held on June 2, 2017. Information concerning the identity and interests of these persons is available in the definitive proxy statement Buffalo Wild Wings filed with the SEC on April 20, 2017.
Buffalo Wild Wings has filed a definitive proxy statement in connection with its 2017 annual meeting. The definitive proxy statement, any amendments thereto and any other relevant documents, and other materials filed with the SEC concerning Buffalo Wild Wings are (or will be, when filed) available free of charge at http://www.sec.gov and http://ir.buffalowildwings.com. Shareholders should read carefully the definitive proxy statement and any other relevant documents that Buffalo Wild Wings files with the SEC when they become available before making any voting decision because they contain important information.
1Source: Company filings and FactSet. Note: Market data as of April 28, 2017. BWLD became publicly traded on November 21, 2003. Casual dining peers index represents median total shareholder return of the peer set. BBRG, BLMN, CHUY, TXRH and IRGT included as of respective IPO date. California Pizza Kitchen and PF Chang's data included until buyouts in July 2011 and July2012, respectively. Casual dining peers include BBRG, BJRI, BLMN, CAKE, California Pizza Kitchen, CBRL, CHUY, DENN, DIN, DRI, EAT, IRGT, PF Chang's, RRGB, RT and TXRH.
View source version on businesswire.com: [http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170516005962/en/].
Heather Pribyl
Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc.
Investor Relations
952-540-2095
Bob Marese/Paul Schulman
Additional Investor Contacts
MacKenzie Partners, Inc.
212-929-5500
Joele Frank
Media Relations
Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
Meaghan Repko / Nick Lamplough
212-355-4449
SOURCE Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc.
Buffalo Wild Wings® restaurants features a variety of boldly-flavored, made-to-order menu items including its namesake Buffalo, New York-style chicken wings.