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Reform at Station Casinos |
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"In our view, Station Casinos has too many corporate governance structures that restrict shareholder rights. It is time for the company to modernize its corporate governance profile and create a more appropriate balance of power between the board and shareholders," said Chris Bohner, a UNITE HERE research director. The proposals by UNITE HERE--adopt simple majority voting by shareholders instead of requiring a supermajority, require annual election of directors, and let shareholders vote on the company's "poison pill" anti-takeover device--"are consistent with the proxy voting guidelines of major institutional shareholders and corporate governance organizations like the Council of Institutional Investors," said Bohner. "These proposals are particularly important given the unprecedented merger-and-acquisition activity in the gaming industry," added Bohner. In 2004, there were over $22 billion in deals in the gaming industry, including Boyd Gaming's $1.4 billion acquisition of Coast Resorts, a major Station Casinos competitor. "If there is an offer for the company, we believe that shareholders should have the ability to make their own decision. Unfortunately, Station's current corporate governance rules give too much power to the board at the expense of shareholders in the context of a merger or acquisition," Bohner said. In 2003, UNITE HERE led shareholder opposition to Station Casinos' stock compensation program, citing the excessive use of stock options. In 2004, the company told investors that "we have listened to shareholders and are relying more now on restricted share awards as well as cash compensation." "We are glad that the company heeded our call on reforming its excessive use of stock options," said Bohner. "We hope the company adopts our common sense corporate governance proposals as well," Bohner added. UNITE HERE, the textile, laundry and hotel industry union, represents approximately 440,000 active members and more than 400,000 retirees throughout North America. UNITE HERE is a member of the Council of Institutional Investors, a corporate governance organization with over 140 pension fund members whose assets exceed $3 trillion. |
| Contact: UNITE HERE Ken Liu Telephone: (702) 386-5231 |