5. The proposal to ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent public accountant for 2022 was approved based upon the following votes:
| | | | |
Votes for | | | 67,810,632 | |
Votes against | | | 494,336 | |
Abstentions | | | 545,778 | |
There were no broker non-votes for this item.
6. The proposal to approve the compensation of our named executive officers was approved based upon the following advisory, non-binding vote:
| | | | |
Votes for | | | 54,651,520 | |
Votes against | | | 3,822,450 | |
Abstentions | | | 768,266 | |
Broker non-votes | | | 9,608,510 | |
On June 7, 2022, the Company issued a press release announcing the results of the Annual Meeting. A copy of this press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference.
Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement contains “forward-looking statements,” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the context of the statement and generally arise when the Company or its management is discussing its beliefs, estimates or expectations. Such statements generally include the words “believes,” “plans,” “intends,” “targets,” “will,” “expects,” “estimates,” “suggests,” “anticipates,” “outlook,” “continues,” or similar expressions. These statements are not historical facts or guarantees of future performance but instead represent only the beliefs of the Company and its management at the time the statements were made regarding future events which are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the Company’s control. Actual results and outcomes may differ materially from what is contained in such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, without limitation: (1) the inability to consummate the Merger within the anticipated time period, or at all, due to any reason, including the failure to obtain required regulatory approvals or the failure to satisfy the other conditions to the consummation of the Merger; (2) the risk that the Merger Agreement may be terminated in circumstances requiring the Company to pay a termination fee; (3) the risk that the Merger disrupts the Company’s current plans and operations or diverts management’s attention from its ongoing business; (4) the effect of the announcement of the Merger on the ability of the Company to retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with its customers, suppliers and others with whom it does business; (5) the effect of the announcement of the Merger on the Company’s operating results and business generally; (6) the amount of costs, fees and expenses related to the Merger; (7) the risk that the Company’s stock price may decline significantly if the Merger is not consummated; (8) the nature, cost and outcome of any litigation and other legal proceedings, including any such proceedings related to the Merger and instituted against the Company and others; (9) other factors that could affect the Company’s business such as, without limitation, cyclical and seasonal nature of the industries that the Company serves; foreign operations, especially in emerging regions; changes in currency exchange rates; business disruptions due to public health or safety emergencies, such as the novel strain of coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic; the cost and availability of supplies, raw materials and energy; the effectiveness of the Company’s research and development, new product introductions and growth investments; acquisitions and divestitures of assets and gains and losses from dispositions; developments affecting the Company’s outstanding liquidity and indebtedness, including debt covenants and interest rate exposure; developments affecting the Company’s funded and unfunded pension obligations; warranty and product liability claims; legal proceedings; the inability to establish or maintain certain business relationships and relationships with customers and suppliers or the inability to retain key personnel; the handling of hazardous materials and the costs of compliance with environmental regulations; extreme weather events and natural disasters; and (10) other risks to consummation of the proposed Merger, including the risk that the proposed Merger will not be consummated within the expected time period or at all.
If the proposed transaction is consummated, the Company’s stockholders will cease to have any equity interest in the Company and will have no right to participate in its earnings and future growth. These and other factors are identified and described in more detail in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, as well as the Company’s subsequent filings and is available online at www.sec.gov. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the Company’s projections and other forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date thereof. Except as required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.