- Additional Proxy Soliciting Materials - Non-Management (definitive) (DFAN14A)
June 03 2010 - 1:57PM
Edgar (US Regulatory)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN
PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. __)
Filed by the Registrant [ ]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [X]
Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted byRule 14a-6(e)(2))
[ ] Definitive Proxy Statement
[X] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to § 240.14a-12
BLOCKBUSTER INC.
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(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
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GREGORY S. MEYER, CFA
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)
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Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X]
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Presentation to Blockbuster Shareholders*
by Gregory S. Meyer, CFA
2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Blockbuster, Inc.
June 3, 2010
*Excerpted from 6/1/10 presentation to RiskMetrics Group
Notice to Stockholders
All stockholders of Blockbuster, Inc. are advised to read Gregory S.
Meyer’s definitive proxy statement because it contains important
information, including information relating to the solicitation of
proxies in support of Meyer for use at the 2010 annual meeting of
stockholders of Blockbuster, Inc.
The definitive proxy statement and
GOLD proxy card will be mailed to the stockholders of Blockbuster,
Inc. and are also available at no charge on the Securities and Exchange
Commission’s website at www.sec.gov.
1
Summary
§
Situation Summary:
Opposing Gary J. Fernandes
§
Change is warranted at Blockbuster (“BBI”)
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Poor stock performance
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Poor financial performance
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Poor operational performance:
failed execution of multi-channel strategy
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Blockbuster’s Board has failed to protect shareholders
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Low stock ownership of current directors
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Lack of relevant industry expertise
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Fernandes:
History of Failure to Add Value and Poor Judgment
§
Meyer is a highly qualified, industry relevant, stockholder-aligned, independent
candidate
–
Background/Industry Experience/History of Sound Strategic Advice
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Greater stock ownership = greater aligned interests with shareholders
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Actively working on plan to address BBI’s challenges/3-Phase Plan for Turnaround
§
We asking shareholders to return a GOLD proxy card and vote for Meyer
Situation Summary
§
Annual Meeting of Shareholders:
June 24, 2010 (delayed from
original date of May 26, 2010)
§
Meyer initially identified two Blockbuster directors who did not
appear to serve the best interests of shareholders:
James W. Crystal
and Gary J. Fernandes
§
Meyer initially opposed Mr. Crystal.
Blockbuster Board announced on
May 21, 2010 that Crystal would not stand for re-election
§
Meyer revised proxy materials to oppose Gary J. Fernandes due to:
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5 years of failure to produce shareholder value
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Low share ownership
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Lack of relevant industry experience
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Overly cozy relationship with Blockbuster CEO/Chairman Jim
Keyes
CHANGE IS WARRANTED AT
BLOCKBUSTER
Gary J. Fernandes has sat on Blockbuster’s board for 5+ years during a
period of significant market share erosion and financial underperformance
We ask all shareholders to return a GOLD proxy card and vote for Meyer
Blockbuster Stock Performance Since 2005
§
Equity Market Cap of Blockbuster was > $1.6 billion when Fernandes
joined the board in 2004.
Today the equity market cap is < $75
million
.
This represents a loss of over $1.5 billion to shareholders
in Blockbuster since Fernandes joined the Board.
§
$1 invested in Blockbuster stock in 12/04 is worth $.05 today
§
$1 invested in Netflix stock in 12/04 is worth > $9.00 today
§
$1 invested in the Hemscott Group Index* in 12/04 is worth $1.30
today
§
Board accountability would suggest that the status quo is not serving
the interests of BBI shareholders.
§
The Hemscott Group Index consists of the following issuers: Blockbuster Inc. (Class A common stock); Hastings Entertainment, Inc.; Interlink-US-Network, Ltd.; Netflix, Inc.;
Trans World Entertainment Corporation; and Xinhua China Ltd.
Blockbuster has Significantly Underperformed Peer Group
Since Fernandes Joined the Board in December 2004
6
*
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The Hemscott Group Index consists of the following issuers: Blockbuster Inc. (Class A common stock); Hastings Entertainment, Inc.; Interlink-US-Network, Ltd.;
Netflix, Inc.; Trans World Entertainment Corporation; and Xinhua China Ltd.
Table and graph taken from Blockbuster Inc.’s 10-K filed 3/16/10.
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12/04
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12/05
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12/06
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1/08
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1/09
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1/10
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Blockbuster Inc. Class A common stock
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100.00
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39.48
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55.69
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36.00
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13.68
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7.05
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Hemscott Group Index*
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100.00
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91.46
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91.15
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78.67
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75.74
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130.31
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S&P 500 Index
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100.00
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104.91
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121.48
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128.16
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80.74
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102.11
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Poor Financial Performance and Forecasting = Missed
Guidance and Loss of Credibility, but Not Loss of Bonus
§
Overall consumer spending on DVD and Blu-ray rentals was
up
in 2009. Rentrak Corp. reports rental
spending having increased 4.2 percent to $6.5 billion for the year
§
However,
in 2009 BBI
twice
missed guidance, even after re-affirming such guidance to investors just
months before period end
§
2009 EBITDA Guidance Missed
Twice:
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March 2009:
2009 Fiscal EBITDA Guidance originally set at $305 to $325 million
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May 2009:
Guidance re-affirmed
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Aug 2009:
Guidance lowered to $270-$290 million
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Nov 2009 :
Guidance re-affirmed
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Jan 2010:
Guidance lowered drastically to $195-$205 million
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Credibility crisis at the financial controls level
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Despite missing guidance twice, the Compensation Committee, chaired by Gary Fernandes, awarded
CEO Jim Keyes 80% of his target bonus and CFO Thomas Casey 100% of his target bonus for the
year 2009.
§
Additionally, in 2010 CFO Casey’s salary was
increased
from $500,000 to $650,000 and he was
granted a $400,000 retention bonus, despite continued weak financial performance and a plunging
stock price.
Bonus partially awarded upon completion of ‘restructuring’ regardless of outcome to
stock price (single performance metric not aligned with shareholder interests).
Poor Execution of its Multi-Channel Distribution Strategy
§
While Blockbuster’s base of brick-and-mortar stores have suffered, it’s
multi-channel strategy has been poorly executed:
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Online/By Mail Subscribers:
As of December 31, 2005, there were
approximately 1.2 million BLOCKBUSTER Online subscribers vs. 4.2
million for Netflix, a difference of 3 million.
As of December 31,
2010, Netflix had grown to over 12 million subscribers while
Blockbuster had last reported just 1.6 million subscribers as of October
2009.
For every one subscriber Blockbuster added during that time
period, Netflix added 20.
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Kiosks:
Redbox locations grew from <200 in early 2005 to 24,000+
kiosks during Fernandes’ tenure on the Blockbuster Board, generating
$773.5 million in revenue in 2009 from kiosks.
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To date, Blockbuster has not reported a single dollar of revenue from
its kiosk deal with NCR, due to poorly negotiated terms- yet these very
kiosks are competing with Blockbuster’s own stores.
Blockbuster Directors Have Extremely Low Stock
Ownership
§
Stock Ownership of Non-Management Blockbuster Director Nominees
is shockingly low
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The average stock ownership of Blockbuster’s six non-management
director nominees is 169,511 ‘A’ shares.
This represents < 28% of the
stock owned by Mr. Meyer’s 620,000 ‘A’ shares.
The current market
value of this average 169,511 shares is less than $60,000 at the current
share price of $.35 per share.
§
How can shareholders feel that the interests of this Board are aligned
with their interests with such low stock ownership?
9
We ask all shareholders to return a
GOLD proxy card and vote for Meyer
Fernandes has No Relevant Home Entertainment
Industry Experience
§
Fernandes has no operating experience in the video rental industry nor
in the broader home entertainment industry
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BBI proxy statement claims “Mr. Fernandes brings technology
expertise to the Board through his executive management experience
at several technology-based companies, including EDS,”
a firm he left
over 12 years ago.
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What good has Mr. Fernandes’ ‘technology expertise’ done for BBI
stockholders who have watched the company lose significant market
share to competitors that
outmaneuvered it using innovative
technologies
such as DVD rental kiosks (Redbox) and streaming video
(Netflix)?
§
Any expertise Fernandes had in applied software from his EDS days
has clearly not translated into an ability to intelligently navigate the
home entertainment sector not to add value for BBI shareholders
10
Fernandes and Keyes Relationship: Too Cozy
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Mr. Fernandes was on the Board of 7-Eleven, Inc. the entire time that
Jim Keyes was CEO of that company from 2000 to 2005
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Fernandes and Keyes, among others, were named defendants in several
2005 shareholder lawsuits regarding 7-Eleven alleging breach of
fiduciary duties owed to shareholders in connection with an inadequate
offer price for a going-private transaction
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Mr. Fernandes was a member of Blockbuster’s Nominating Committee
during the search that resulted in Mr. Keyes being appointed CEO of
BBI in 2007
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Fernandes was Chair of BBI’s Compensation Committee in 2009 when
Keyes was awarded 80% of his target bonus despite financial results
that missed guidance
twice
and a stock price that was down 50% on
the year
§
Is Fernandes able to be objective with respect to Keyes given their past
history and close personal relationship?
Fernandes:
History of Value Destruction or Stagnation
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Mr. Fernandes is the longest serving director candidate up for re-election on
the Blockbuster Board, having overseen more destruction in shareholder value
than any other director nominee
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Other companies affiliated with Mr. Fernandes have not faired very well
either:
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Mr. Fernandes joined the Board of Computer Associates, now CA
Technologies, in May 2003
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Since that time, the stock price of CA has shown roughly a 0% return
compared to +40% return for IBM, +181% return for ORCL and +250%
return for HPQ
§
Per Blockbuster’s proxy statement, in November 1998, Fernandes founded
Voyagers The Travel Store Holdings, Inc., a chain of travel agencies, and was
President and sole shareholder of Voyagers.
Voyagers filed a petition under
Chapter 7 of the federal bankruptcy laws in October 2001.
Fernandes Repeatedly Exhibited Questionable Judgment
§
Fernandes on Board when Meyer sent 2005 letter (Exhibit 1) urging
Blockbuster to develop a kiosk strategy to save the Company $140 million
per year
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Recommendation was ignored to the detriment of Blockbuster
shareholders in the ensuing years
§
Fernandes was on the Blockbuster Board that gave ‘full support’ of offer to
buy failed electronics chain Circuit City in 2008 at a time when
Blockbuster should have been focusing on its core operations
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An expensive and distracting decision at a critical time when Netflix
and Redbox were gaining significant market share in the DVD rental
segment
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Related Party Transaction:
Fernandes holds interest in 2 real estate
partnerships that lease buildings to Blockbuster
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Despite the closing of thousands of BBI locations over the past several
years, the stores owned by Fernandes’ partnerships have remained
open
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Material or not, this exhibits poor judgment
Diversity of Age on BBI Board is Lacking
§
6 of the 7 Netflix directors are ≤
52 yrs of age
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0 of the 7 Blockbuster director nominees are < 52 yrs of age
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Average age of BBI Board candidates is 61.7 vs. 51.4 for NFLX and
53.71 for CSTR
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This is inconsistent with Blockbuster’s Nomination Committee Charter
which states:
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The Nominating Committee has the responsibility to “review with
the Board the current composition of the Board in light of the
characteristics of independence, diversity,
age
, skills, experience,
availability of service to the Company and tenure of its members,
and of the Board’s anticipated needs”
Reason for the Solicitation
§
Board has not acted in the best interests of its stockholders
§
Board lacks sufficient expertise and alignment of interest w/stockholders
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Current board has presided over massive destruction of shareholder value
and is asking shareholders to support the status quo
§
To replace a director with minimal home entertainment industry
experience, relatively low share ownership, and a five year governance
track record of year over year dramatic share value erosion
§
Meyer seeks only one of seven board seats
§
This represents a
moderate proposal
to bring one highly qualified,
independent director with significant industry experience to act as a
shareholder advocate
to the Board of Blockbuster to replace a director who
has had over 5 years on the board, has significantly lower share ownership,
and no experience in the home entertainment industry
§
Meyer is not seeking control of the Board
Background on Gregory S. Meyer, CFA
§
Strong Industry and Financial Experience
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Founded DVDXpress in 2001
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Pioneer in DVD rental kiosk channel
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Grew to 1000 locations in 30 states and the UK, serving millions of customers
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Sold to Coinstar in 2007, Merged with Redbox division in 2009
§
Meyer headed DVDXpress line of business at Coinstar through 2009 when it was
merged with Redbox
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Experience is relevant and recent
§
Strong financial background
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Fixed income trading experience at bulge bracket investment bank- valuable
given BBI’s debt-heavy cap structure
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Dartmouth Economics Major
summa cum laude
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Dartmouth Tuck MBA with focus on Finance/Accounting
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Chartered Financial Analyst Designation
•
Qualifies as
Audit Committee Financial Expert
Meyer has Relevant Industry Experience
§
Knowledge of Kiosk Industry and how to improve the relationship with NCR to result in
an improved economic outcome for BBI
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Ability to improve structure and execution of the deal- many mistakes being made
now
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Knowledge of how to effectively address kiosk competitors
§
Broad and deep understanding of all aspects of the home entertainment retail
marketplace including:
brick-and-mortar stores, by-mail, kiosk-based, and online
distribution strategies for home entertainment products
§
International Operating Experience:
useful for kiosk/ON DEMAND expansion to
Europe and sale of European store-based assets
§
Industry Contacts:
Direct call access to C-level executives at all major home
entertainment distribution companies
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Brick-and-mortar chains (private)
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Technology providers
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Content providers
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Distributors, rack-jobbers, and salvage companies
Track Record of Sound Strategic Advice
§
In 2004, Meyer met with Blockbuster EVP, Finance, Strategic
Planning and Development Frank Paci to review the strategic case for
Blockbuster’s involvement in the DVD rental kiosk channel
§
In 2005, Meyer sent a formal letter to a key member of Blockbuster’s
Board of Directors alerting them of the need to enter the DVD rental
kiosk channel as a way to reduce costs by $140 million annually and
provide a new level of convenience for customers
§
The Blockbuster Board and management ignored the suggestion and
the channel altogether allowing competitor Redbox to expand to over
24,000 locations and an expected 2010 video rental market share
approaching 30%
§
A copy of the letter was filed as a DFAN14A by Meyer on April 12,
2010
Meyer Stock Ownership Significantly Greater than Fernandes’
19
Adding Meyer Brings Age Distribution of BBI Board
Closer to Industry Norm
Board of
Directors
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Netflix
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Coinstar
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BBI w/
Fernandes
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BBI w/ Meyer
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Average Age
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51.43
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53.71
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61.71
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57.71
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High Age
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66
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67
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80
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80
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Low Age
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42
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34
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52
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38
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20
•
6 of the 7 Netflix directors are ≤
52 yrs of age
•
0 of the 7 Blockbuster director nominees are < 52 yrs of age
•
Average age of BBI Board candidates is 61.7 vs. 51.4 for NFLX and 53.71 for CSTR
•
From Blockbuster’s Nomination Committee Charter:
-The Nominating Committee has the responsibility to “review with the Board the
current composition of the Board in light of the characteristics of independence,
diversity,
age
, skills, experience, availability of service to the Company and tenure
of its members, and of the Board’s anticipated needs”
Meyer’s 3 Phase Plan for Blockbuster Turnaround
§
Phase 1:
Address
Immediate
Liquidity Challenge
–
Viable structure identified and in discussions with constituents
§
Phase 2:
Stabilize cashflows from brick-and-mortar store base
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Same Store Sales
should
be stabilizing and turning higher due to:
•
Massive reduction in Industry Capacity (Movie Gallery/Hollywood
Video store closures)
–
This represents $1.4
billion
of revenue up for grabs
•
28-day ‘exclusive’ window with Warner, Fox, Universal represents a
huge competitive advantage
•
Poorest performing stores have been closed already resulting in a
higher quality store portfolio than any time in the past few years
§
Phase 3:
Generate
meaningful revenue/EBIT
from non-store distribution
channels
•
Leverage strong brand and studio relationships
21
Phase 1:
Address Immediate Liquidity Needs
§
BBI’s biggest near term challenge is
liquidity issue
§
Meyer has developed a restructuring plan to right-size capital structure and
significantly reduce BBI’s indebtedness and annual interest obligations in a
manner that is non-dilutive to current equity
§
Plan involves participation from BBI’s key vendors who also have a vested
interest in the long-term health of one of its most important customers- BBI is
the only remaining nationwide non-discount video rental chain
§
Plan has been vetted by industry veterans, financial restructuring experts and
legal advisors, and has been deemed viable
§
Meyer is actively engaged in discussions with strategic studio partners,
financial advisory firms, law firms, subordinated noteholders, secured
noteholders, and equity investors to develop a consensus on this structure that
provides optimal value to shareholders and fair treatment of all stakeholders.
§
This outcome provides far more value to shareholders than the standard ‘debt-
for-equity’ swap on the table which may result in dilution of equity by 95%
22
Phase 2:
Stabilize Cashflow from Core Store Base
§
Drive traffic to stores via intelligent/low-cost/viral advertising.
Improve store
experience and customer service.
Optimize pricing to provide more compelling/flexible
customer value proposition.
Re-engage alienated customer base (and store employees)
to achieve organic turnaround in same store sales.
Cross fertilization of store-based best
practices from bottom up- why are some stores so profitable and others money losers?
What can BBI offer in store that Netflix and Redbox can’t?
Look at what other
successful brick-and-mortar video rentailers (such as the 600-location Family Video
chain) are doing.
§
Outsource/Optimize ordering/scheduling of independent titles to 3
rd
party to reduce
costs and improve flow of customers into stores between major releases
§
Optimize portfolio of physical stores per Movie Gallery/Hollywood Video closures and
look for lease re-negotiation opportunities, smaller footprint, retail sublease
opportunities
§
Continue to reduce costs:
SG&A in Q1 2010 > Q1 2009 despite reduced store base
§
Rationalize cost structure to reflect reduced revenue base:
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242,615 sf class A office space at Dallas HQ/850,000 sf distribution center in
McKinney, TX, 38 by mail distribution centers throughout US, country head offices
in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Toronto, Canada; Uxbridge, England; Milan, Italy;
Herlev, Denmark; and Mexico City, Mexico
23
Phase 3:
Revamp Alternative Channels to be Profitable
§
Review the NCR Kiosk Agreement for flexibility to modify/improve terms
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Review kiosk growth plans
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Review kiosk profitability plans- NCR has installed in a lot of subpar locations but
rolling contract expirations among competitors provides attractive opportunities for
securing top tier locations over next 1-3 years.
–
Inventory mix and GUI presentation can be tweaked to generate greater revenue
share for BBI
§
Review Strategy for Online/By Mail Subscription Model
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Significant 28-day window offering competitive advantage vs. NFLX should be
leveraged to grow this line of business
–
Review status of CE partnerships, especially among game console manufacturers:
Sony PS3, Microsoft X-box, Nintendo Wii
§
Review Blockbuster On Demand results
–
Position for profitable growth
–
Why are strategic partnerships in the cable sector moving so slowly?
24
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