Stockholder Vote AGAINST Three Long-Tenured Directors is a Referendum on the Company Running a Strategic Review Process to Maximize Stockholder Value
Visit www.UnlockWT.com to View ETFS Capitalโs Supplemental Presentation and Other Important Materials
NEW YORK, May 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ETFS Capital Limited (โETFS Capitalโ), the largest combined owner of common stock, $0.01 par value (the โCommon Stockโ), and Series A Non-Voting Convertible Preferred Stock (the โSeries A Preferred Stockโ) of WisdomTree, Inc. (โWisdomTreeโ or the โCompanyโ) (NYSE: WT), with ownership of approximately 10% of the outstanding Common Stock, which together with its Series A Preferred Stock would represent approximately 18% of the Companyโs outstanding Common Stock on an as-converted basis, today responded to WisdomTreeโs May 23, 2024 investor presentation, with a supplemental presentation entitled โSetting the Record Straightโ, which can also be viewed at www.UnlockWT.com.
Graham Tuckwell, ETFS Capital Chairman, commented:
โWisdomTreeโs board of directors (the โBoardโ) and management team continue to avoid addressing the central issue of ETFS Capitalโs campaign โWisdomTreeโs significant discount to the value of the core ETF business according to our calculations.
Our campaign is a referendum against long-tenured directors and to demonstrate stockholder support for a truly independent process to maximize stockholder value, by retaining a reputable bank to evaluate all options to unlock value for stockholders. We have no agenda other than unlocking value for ALL WisdomTree stockholders.
As the largest stockholder of WisdomTree, we have assumed the responsibility of advocating on behalf of all stockholders, at our own expense. Over the past few years, we have engaged with the Board in good faith and were successful in nominating and electing individuals to the Board, replacing the Companyโs long-tenured former Chairman, and pushing the Company into making much needed improvements to its approach to corporate governance.
However, WisdomTree has repeatedly found ways to contain and dilute independent voices on the Board and defy the will of stockholders. As one example, following the Companyโs 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the Board appointed another long-tenured director, Win Neuger, as the new Chair, notwithstanding the fact that Mr. Neuger received the most withheld votes of any incumbent director apart from former Chair Frank Salerno โ who was voted off the Board by stockholders.
In addition, despite WisdomTree spending millions of dollars on DeFi initiatives, stockholders have been given no information about critical metrics including the number of paying customers, revenue generation, asset acquisition, or any other meaningful data points, as discussed in more detail in our prior soliciting material.
This year, we engaged privately with the Board in the hopes of โlowering the temperatureโ and finding a path to unlocking value at WisdomTree. The Board responded to our private proposals by issuing a public press release and reverting to a familiar playbook โ distract, deny and demonize.
It is clear to us that WisdomTreeโs May 23, 2024, presentation to stockholders was a continuation of its playbook and continued to avoid engaging with the central issue of our campaign, a flawed and value destructive approach to capital allocation that has led to a significant undervaluation of the Companyโs core-ETF business.
We invite you to review our presentation to investors and the supplemental presentation we have published today for additional details and determine if stockholders can afford to lose another year of business-as-usual under this Board and management team.โ1
A copy of ETFS Capitalโs presentations, letter to stockholders, definitive proxy statement, and information on how to vote AGAINST the re-election of the Chairman Win Neuger, Director Anthony Bossone, and CEO and Director Jonathan Steinberg on theย GOLDย proxy card orย GOLDย voting instruction form are available atย www.UnlockWT.com.
Stockholders who have questions or require assistance in voting their GOLD proxy card, or need additional copies of ETFS Capitalโs proxy materials, are encouraged to contact Saratoga Proxy Consulting LLC at (888) 368-0379 or (212) 257-1311 or info@saratogaproxy.com
About ETFS Capital Limited
In November 2017, WisdomTree agreed to spend $611 million to acquire the European ETC business of ETF Securities Limited (now called ETFS Capital Limited) for cash and shares, becoming the largest stockholder in WisdomTree.
ETFS Capital is an Australian-based holding company with a London-based strategic investment company focused on growth opportunities across the ETF ecosystem. As part of its investment process, ETFS Capital receives and analyses many dozens of business ideas and proposals within the ETF ecosphere each year and conducts in-depth technical and commercial due diligence on the companies where it chooses to deploy capital. Thereafter it engages in a hands-on approach, as a partner to management teams and Boards bringing its unparalleled industry-specific expertise for the benefit of those companies.
Investor Contact:
John Ferguson
Saratoga Proxy Consulting LLC
Toll free (888) 368-0379
+1-212-257-1311
info@saratogaproxy.com
www.UnlockWT.com
Media Contact:
Dan Gagnier / Riyaz Lalani
Gagnier Communications LLC
+1-646-569-5897
ETFS@gagnierfc.com
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1 https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/880631/000092189524001286/ex1dfan14a13246002_052124.pdf
