Trian Comments on Preliminary Results of Disney Annual Meeting
April 03 2024 - 1:25PM
The Trian Group,
1 which beneficially owns over $3.5
billion of common stock in The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS),
today commented on the preliminary results from Disney’s 2024
Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which indicated that Nelson Peltz
and Jay Rasulo were not elected to Disney’s Board of Directors.
Trian issued the following statement on today’s results:
“While we are disappointed with the outcome of this proxy
contest, Trian greatly appreciates all of the support and dialogue
we have had with Disney stakeholders. We are proud of the impact we
have had in refocusing this Company on value creation and good
governance. Since we re-engaged with the Company in late 2023,
Disney has announced a host of new operating initiatives and
capital improvement plans. The Board has been refreshed with two
new directors. Over the last six months, Disney’s stock is up
approximately 50% and is the Dow Jones Industrial Average’s best
performer year-to-date.
We thank Trian’s investors for the confidence they have placed
in our efforts. And, we wish the best for all of the Company’s
stakeholders, including Disney’s Board and management team. We will
be watching the Company’s performance and be focusing on its
continued success.”
About Trian Fund Management, L.P.
Founded in 2005, Trian Fund Management, L.P. (“Trian”) is a
multi-billion dollar investment management firm. Trian is a highly
engaged shareowner that combines concentrated public equity
ownership with operational expertise. Leveraging the 40+ years’
operating experience of our Founding Partners, Nelson Peltz and
Peter May, Trian seeks to invest in high quality but undervalued
and underperforming public companies and to work collaboratively
with management teams and boards to help companies execute
operational and strategic initiatives designed to drive long-term
sustainable earnings growth for the benefit of all
stakeholders.
Media Contacts:
Anne A. Tarbell
(212) 451-3030
atarbell@trianpartners.com
Paul Caminiti / Pamela Greene / Jacqueline Zuhse
Reevemark
(212) 433-4600
Trian@reevemark.com
Investor Contacts:
Matthew Peltz
(212) 451-3060
mpeltz@trianpartners.com
Ryan Bunch
(212) 451-3176
rbunch@trianpartners.com
Bruce Goldfarb / Pat McHugh
Okapi Partners LLC
(212) 297-0720
(877) 629-6357
info@okapipartners.com
Edward McCarthy / Richard Grubaugh / Thomas Germinario
D.F. King & Co., Inc.
(212) 229-2634
Disney@dfking.com
Disclaimer
Except as otherwise set forth in this press
release, the views expressed in this press release reflect the
opinions of Trian Fund Management, L.P. and its affiliates
(“Trian”), and are based on publicly available information with
respect to The Walt Disney Company (“Disney” or the “Company”).
Trian recognizes that there may be confidential information in the
possession of the Company that could lead it or others to disagree
with Trian’s conclusions. Trian reserves the right to change any of
its opinions expressed herein at any time as it deems appropriate
and disclaims any obligation to notify the market or any other
party of any such change, except as required by law. Trian
disclaims any obligation to update the information or opinions
contained in this press release, except as required by law. For the
avoidance of doubt, this press release is not affiliated with or
endorsed by Disney.
This press release is provided merely as
information and is not intended to be, nor should it be construed
as, an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any
security nor as a recommendation to purchase or sell any security.
Funds, investment vehicles, and accounts managed by Trian currently
beneficially own shares of the Company. These funds, investment
vehicles, and accounts are in the business of trading – buying and
selling – securities and intend to continue trading in the
securities of the Company. You should assume such funds may from
time to time sell all or a portion of their holdings of the Company
in open market transactions or otherwise, buy additional shares (in
open market or privately negotiated transactions or otherwise), or
trade in options, puts, calls, swaps or other derivative
instruments relating to such shares.
Some of the materials in this press release
contain forward-looking statements. All statements contained herein
that are not clearly historical in nature or that necessarily
depend on future events are forward-looking, and the words
“anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “potential,” “could,”
“opportunity,” “estimate,” “plan,” “once again,” “achieve,” and
similar expressions are generally intended to identify
forward-looking statements. The projected results and statements
contained herein that are not historical facts are based on current
expectations, speak only as of the date of these materials and
involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause
actual results, performances or achievements to be materially
different from any future results, performances or achievements
expressed or implied by such projected results and statements.
Assumptions relating to the foregoing involve judgments with
respect to, among other things, future economic competitive and
market conditions and future business decisions, all of which are
difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of which are
beyond the control of Trian.
The estimates, projections and potential impact
of the opportunities identified by Trian herein are based on
assumptions that Trian believes to be reasonable as of the date of
this press release, but there can be no assurance or guarantee (i)
that any of the proposed actions set forth in this press release
will be completed, (ii) that the actual results or performance of
the Company will not differ, and such differences may be material,
or (iii) that any of the assumptions provided in this press release
are accurate.
1 Please refer to the definitive proxy statement,
filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission by
Trian Fund
Management L.P. and certain of its affiliates and other persons
(the “Definitive Proxy Statement”) for information regarding the
members of the “Trian Group.” Nelson Peltz beneficially owns Disney
shares worth approximately $3.5 billion and Jay Rasulo owns Disney
shares worth approximately $800,000, in each case as further
detailed in the Definitive Proxy Statement. Note that ownership
position values are based on Disney’s share price at the close of
business on April 2, 2024.
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