Exhibit 3
Founder Raises Questions about Consulting Agreement between Guidance Software, Inc. and Former Director
PASADENA, CA —(Marketwired—February 25, 2016)—On February 10th, 2016, Shawn H. McCreight, the founder and largest shareholder of Guidance Software, Inc. (the “Company”), delivered a stockholder nomination letter to the Company seeking to replace all of the current directors. In that letter, among other issues, Mr. McCreight expressed concerns regarding the oversight and governance failures of an entrenched Board. In connection with that letter, Mr. McCreight is sending an open letter to the stockholders of the Company, a full text of which follows, expressing concerns stemming from a consulting arrangement between the Company and a former director that was orchestrated by the current Board and CEO.
OPEN LETTER TO STOCKHOLDERS OF GUIDANCE SOFTWARE, INC.
Dear Fellow Shareholders,
I founded Guidance Software, Inc. (“Guidance” or the “Company”) in 1997 with the goal of creating new technologies to help forensic and cyber-security investigators work with unprecedented power and speed. Thanks to the employees of Guidance and the tireless efforts of law enforcement, we and our children are all safer as a result. Guidance’s enterprise products now reach over 25 million endpoints, and our software and methods are the gold standard for forensic, cyber-security and eDiscovery investigations worldwide. I am also the Company’s largest shareholder, owning approximately 30% of the outstanding shares.
On February 10th, 2016, I delivered a stockholder nomination letter to the Company seeking to replace all of the current directors. In that letter, among other issues, I expressed concerns regarding the oversight and governance failures of an entrenched Board. My concern stems from a consulting arrangement between the Company and a former director that was orchestrated by this Board and CEO.
In May 2015, a director completed their service to the Board and did not stand for reelection. Several months later, this director, despite a reminder notification from the Company, failed to exercise stock options with a value of $45,000 in capital gains. They then called the lead independent director to complain. Soon thereafter, the compensation committee met with the CEO and approved a “consulting” contract with the director in question in the amount of $45,000 to address the situation described above. There were no minutes kept from that meeting.
When I found out about this contract, I sent an email to the lead director expressing my shock at this attempt to circumvent firmly established compensation rules. I insisted that the full Board vote on this arrangement, even though the money had already been paid. I alone voted against the resolution at the November 2015 Board meeting.
Despite repeated requests for information, I have seen no evidence that supports a bona fide consulting arrangement. I am not aware of any work done by the director in question to justify a payment of $45,000. To date, I have not been provided a proper recording in the minutes of this Board decision. When I raised the issue to external company counsel, I was told that the Board can create a special arrangement if it likes: “This is not a material contract. It is not a big deal.”
Fellow stockholders, it is a big deal. I take seriously my fiduciary duties of loyalty and care. We sell our products to law enforcement agencies worldwide. We sell to enterprises seeking to protect their endpoints from dishonest behavior. Nothing is more important to me than the integrity of a firm I founded almost 20 years ago. One of the reasons I have undertaken this proxy contest is because I do not trust this Board, and neither should you. In the world of business, it is the Board’s job to ensure ethical practices for itself and management, but in our case the Board IS the problem. Any board that would participate in what I have described above cannot be trusted to oversee your investment in Guidance.
No doubt this Board will seek to divert your attention from this matter by attacking me. But no amount of spin can cover up this arrangement. In my opinion the Board circumvented Company policy and accounting regulations with a questionable consulting contract with a former director. Behavior like this ultimately leads to allegations of misconduct, lawsuits, and loss of value to shareholders.
I encourage you to simply ask for the facts, and decide for yourself whether this Board has demonstrated the necessary integrity to run our Company. It is a matter of trust!
Additional Information and Where to Find It
Shawn H. McCreight is the largest stockholder and founder of Guidance Software Inc. (the “Company”). Mr. McCreight, John P. Colbert, Jonathan R. Mather, Michael J. McConnell and Roberto Medrano (together, the “Participants”) intend to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a proxy statement and accompanying form of proxy card to be used in connection with the Participants’ solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of the Company for use at the Company’s 2016 annual meeting of stockholders (the “Proxy Solicitation”). ALL STOCKHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY ARE ADVISED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THE PROXY SOLICITATION, WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION, INCLUDING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RELATED TO THE PARTICIPANTS. The proxy statement and an accompanying proxy card will be, along with other relevant documents, available at no charge on the SEC’s website athttp://www.sec.gov/.
Information about the Participants and a description of their direct or indirect interests by security holdings is contained in Exhibit 2 to the Schedule 14A to be filed by the Participants with the SEC on February 25, 2016. This document can be obtained free of charge from the SEC’s website athttp://www.sec.gov/.
Contacts (Investors or Press):
Please send your name and contact information to
Shawn H. McCreight
shawn.mccreight@gmail.com
Contacts (Investors or Press):
Please send your name and contact information to
Shawn H. McCreight
shawn.mccreight@gmail.com
