Cable One Provides Update on Annual Meeting of Stockholders

Rhea-AI Summary

Cable One, Inc. (NYSE:CABO) held its 2021 annual meeting where Thomas S. Gayner failed to secure a majority vote and submitted a resignation offer. The Board rejected the resignation, contingent upon Gayner reducing his board commitments by March 31, 2022. The decision was influenced by feedback from stockholders and concerns over 'overboarding' policies affecting voting outcomes. Cable One plans to amend its Supermajority Vote Requirement and enhance stockholder engagement for the 2022 meeting.

Positive

• Board rejected Gayner's resignation, reflecting confidence in his contributions.
• Majority voting policy supported by stockholder feedback indicating willingness to retain Gayner.
• Strategic plans to amend voting requirements to improve governance.

Negative

• Gayner's failure to secure majority votes raises governance concerns.
• Continued scrutiny over 'overboarding' policies that could impact Board dynamics.

On May 21, 2021, Cable One, Inc. (NYSE:CABO) (the “Company” or “Cable One”) held its 2021 annual meeting of stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”). The Company’s Amended and Restated By-laws (the “By-laws”) provide for majority voting in uncontested director elections, and any incumbent director who does not receive a majority of the votes cast must submit an offer to resign from the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) no later than two weeks after the Company certifies the voting results. As previously disclosed, at the Annual Meeting, Thomas S. Gayner received less than a majority of the votes cast and, as a result, Mr. Gayner submitted to the Company an offer to resign from the Board in accordance with the By-laws.

The voting results at the Annual Meeting with respect to Mr. Gayner were apparently primarily due to the “overboarding” policies of certain institutional investors and third-party corporate governance firms that set limits on the number of public company boards of directors on which a nominee for director may serve, and often include more stringent requirements for nominees serving as a chief executive officer of a public company. These “overboarding” policies are general policies that various institutional investors and corporate governance firms apply to all public companies, often without regard to individual circumstances. In addition to serving as a member of the Board, Mr. Gayner currently serves on the boards of Colfax Corporation, Graham Holdings Company (Cable One’s parent company prior to the Company’s July 2015 spin-off), The Davis Series Mutual Funds and Markel Corporation (“Markel”). Mr. Gayner is also the co-chief executive officer of Markel. In considering Mr. Gayner’s offer to resign from the Board, the Board was to determine, under the majority voting policy as provided under the By-laws, and based on the individual circumstances of the Company and Mr. Gayner, whether Mr. Gayner may or may not be capable of adequately fulfilling his responsibilities to the Board and the Company’s stockholders, notwithstanding his commitments to other companies.

In accordance with the Company’s majority voting policy as provided under the By-laws, the Board considered Mr. Gayner’s offer to resign from the Board and determined that it was in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to reject Mr. Gayner’s resignation offer, subject to Mr. Gayner reducing the number of public company boards on which he serves by one prior to March 31, 2022 (and in the event Mr. Gayner does not so reduce the number of public company boards on which he serves by such date his offer to resign will be deemed accepted by the Board). Mr. Gayner did not participate in the Board’s review of, or determination with respect to, his tendered resignation offer.

In connection with the Board’s review and consideration of Mr. Gayner’s resignation offer, the Company conducted stockholder outreach. Specifically, the Company contacted stockholders estimated to hold over 86% of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock to solicit feedback as to whether, with certain changes, those stockholders would support Mr. Gayner continuing to remain on the Board. As a result of the outreach efforts, the Company received feedback from stockholders estimated to hold over 66% of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock.

The Board’s decision to reject Mr. Gayner’s resignation offer was based on a number of factors, including, but not limited to:

• The Board’s understanding that the voting results with respect to Mr. Gayner were driven primarily by voting policies under which Mr. Gayner is considered to be “overboarded”;
• The Board does not believe Mr. Gayner’s service on other public company boards, or as co-chief executive officer of Markel, has adversely affected his service to the Company in his capacity as a director, noting in particular:
  • Mr. Gayner’s consistently high level of commitment towards the Company and regular engagement with management; and
  • Mr. Gayner’s perfect attendance record for Board and Board committee meetings during the past three years;
• Certain stockholders and corporate governance firms had applied their most restrictive “overboarding” standards to Mr. Gayner because they consider his service as co-chief executive officer of Markel as the equivalent to service as a chief executive officer of a public company, despite the fact that Mr. Gayner shares his duties at Markel with another co-chief executive officer and, accordingly, has a different role at Markel than a typical public company chief executive officer;
• The feedback received from stockholders as a result of the Company’s outreach efforts, including feedback from certain stockholders who voted against the election of Mr. Gayner at the Annual Meeting that indicated a potential willingness to support Mr. Gayner remaining on the Board if he were to step down from at least one of the other public company boards on which he currently serves;
• Mr. Gayner has indicated his intention to reduce the number of public company boards on which he serves by one by March 31, 2022;
• The Company derives numerous benefits from Mr. Gayner’s service on the Board, including his:
  • Experience, perspective and insights which align with the Company’s focus on long-term results;
  • Deep understanding of, and long-standing connections to, the Company’s business, both as a member of the Board and as a member of the Board of Directors of Graham Holdings Company (Cable One’s parent company prior to the Company’s July 2015 spin-off), where he has served as a director since January 2007;
  • Years of service and leadership as the Company’s lead independent director, which has provided stability and continuity during the shift in the Company’s strategic focus to being a broadband-centric connectivity provider;
  • Capital allocation expertise and related contributions to support the Company’s growth strategy, which has included numerous acquisitions, strategic investments and capital raising transactions since the Company’s July 2015 spin-off from Graham Holdings Company;
  • Focus on increasing the gender and racial diversity of the Board while serving as Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee. His efforts have resulted in the addition of only diverse directors (three directors in total), the Board now being comprised of 60% female directors, and female directors serving as Chair of the Board, Chair of the Audit Committee and Chair of the Compensation Committee; and
  • Understanding of, and involvement with, various stakeholders stemming from his roles at other companies, which provides a unique and valuable resource to the Company; and
• The feedback received from some of the Company’s stockholders that such stockholders had also voted against Mr. Gayner, as the Chair and member of the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board, because of certain provisions included in the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated By-laws which require the approval of the Board or the affirmative vote of stockholders holding at least 66 2⁄3% of the combined voting power of the outstanding shares of the Company’s capital stock entitled to vote in the election of directors, voting as a single class, to alter, amend or repeal, or adopt any new provision in, the Company’s Amended and Restated By-laws (collectively, the “Supermajority Vote Requirement”).

After inquiries from the Board, Mr. Gayner has confirmed that he is willing to continue to serve on the Board. As a result of the Board’s determination to reject Mr. Gayner’s resignation offer, Mr. Gayner is expected to continue to serve as a member of the Board until the Company’s 2022 annual meeting of stockholders or until his successor is elected and qualified, if he reduces the number of public company boards on which he serves by one prior to March 31, 2022.

The Company will engage in additional stockholder outreach and will assess the feedback received in determining whether to nominate Mr. Gayner for election at the Company’s 2022 annual meeting of stockholders.

The stockholder outreach conducted to date has provided the Company with new opportunities to engage with the Company’s stockholders and hear their views on important topics aside from Mr. Gayner’s continued service on the Board. After taking into consideration the feedback provided by stockholders during the outreach, the Company intends to take the following two actions in connection with the 2022 annual meeting of stockholders:

• The Company intends to seek stockholder approval at the Company’s 2022 annual meeting of stockholders to amend the Supermajority Vote Requirement included in the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation in order to reduce the required stockholder vote from a 66 2⁄3% of the combined voting power standard to a majority of the combined voting power standard (and a similar amendment would be made to the Company’s Amended and Restated By-Laws if the proposed amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation is approved at the Company’s 2022 annual meeting of stockholders); and
• If the Company conducts an online annual stockholders meeting in 2022, it intends to do so in an interactive manner in which stockholders may vote and submit questions while attending the meeting via the internet.

About Cable One

Cable One, Inc. (NYSE: CABO) is a leading broadband communications provider serving more than 1.1 million residential and business customers in 24 states through its Sparklight® and Clearwave® brands. Sparklight provides consumers with a wide array of connectivity and entertainment services, including high-speed internet and advanced Wi-Fi solutions, cable television and phone service. Sparklight Business and Clearwave provide scalable and cost-effective products for businesses ranging in size from small to mid-market, in addition to enterprise, wholesale and carrier customers.

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FAQ

What happened at Cable One's 2021 annual meeting regarding Thomas S. Gayner?

At the 2021 annual meeting, Thomas S. Gayner did not receive a majority of votes and offered to resign from the Board.

Why did the Cable One Board reject Thomas S. Gayner's resignation?

The Board rejected Gayner's resignation based on stockholder feedback and his significant contributions to the Company.

What actions will Cable One take regarding its Supermajority Vote Requirement?

Cable One intends to propose an amendment to reduce the Supermajority Vote Requirement from 66 2/3% to a majority at the 2022 annual meeting.

When must Thomas S. Gayner reduce his board commitments?

Gayner must reduce his board commitments by one public company board by March 31, 2022.

How did stockholders respond to Cable One's outreach regarding Gayner's Board position?

Feedback indicated that over 66% of stockholders were willing to support Gayner's continued service if he reduced his other commitments.