Additional Proxy Soliciting Materials - Non-management (definitive) (dfan14a)
May 04 2023 - 5:29PM
Edgar (US Regulatory)
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14A
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment
No. )
Filed by the Registrant |
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Filed by a Party other than the Registrant |
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Check
the appropriate box:
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Confidential, for Use of
the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material under
§240.14a-12 |
Global
Net Lease, Inc.
(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Blackwells
Capital LLC
Blackwells Onshore I LLC
Jason Aintabi
Related Fund Management, LLC
Jim Lozier
Richard O’Toole
(Name
Of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)
Payment
of Filing Fee (Check all boxes that apply):
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No fee required |
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Fee paid previously with
preliminary materials |
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Fee computed on table in
exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11 |
On May 4, 2023, Blackwells
Capital LLC (“Blackwells Capital”) began sending a letter to the stockholders of Global Net Lease, Inc. (“GNL”).
The letter to stockholders highlights the decision from a federal court in New York to deny GNL’s motion for a preliminary injunction.
On the same day, Blackwells Capital issued a press release that included the letter, a copy of which is filed herewith as Exhibit 1. A copy of the full opinion denying GNL’s motion is also filed herewith as Exhibit 2.
Exhibit
1
Blackwells Capital
Issues Letter to Shareholders of Global Net Lease, Inc.
New York Federal
Court Denies GNL’s Entrenched Efforts to Prevent Blackwells from Soliciting Proxies
Current Board has
Failed Shareholders by Presiding Over the Destruction of Value by AR Global, Abysmal Financial Results and Industry-Worst Corporate Governance
Shareholders are
Fully Able to Vote on Blackwells’ WHITE Universal Proxy Card
Encourages Shareholders
to Review Blackwells’ Presentation: The Case For Change - Global Net Lease, Inc. & The Necessity Retail REIT, Inc. - at www.StopARGlobal.com
NEW YORK, May 4,
2023 – Blackwells Capital LLC (together with its affiliates, “Blackwells”), today issued a letter to fellow shareholders
reminding them to vote on the WHITE Universal Proxy Card to support the urgent need for boardroom change at Global Net Lease,
Inc. (“GNL”) (NYSE: GNL).
The full letter to
shareholders has been reproduced below:
Dear Fellow Shareholder:
At the upcoming annual
meeting of shareholders on May 18, 2023, shareholders will have an opportunity to halt the ongoing destruction of value at Global Net
Lease, Inc. (“Global Net Lease” or “GNL”) by electing two highly qualified and independent director candidates,
Jim Lozier and Richard O’Toole (together, the “Blackwells Nominees”), by voting on the WHITE Universal
Proxy Card.
Blackwells’ WHITE
Universal Proxy Card has been cleared by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Shareholders are fully able to
vote on our WHITE Universal Proxy Card. No court has ordered otherwise.
Yesterday, a federal
judge in New York DENIED a request by GNL to prevent Blackwells from soliciting proxies. The judge denied GNL’s motion
for a preliminary injunction in its entirety (shareholders can read the judge’s full opinion online1).
It is, in our view, alarming that, within hours of the judge’s decision, GNL perpetuated its waste of shareholders’ capital
by filing an appeal. We question whether the board of directors of GNL (the “GNL Board”) even took the time to meet to discuss
whether continuing this spurious litigation is in the best interests of shareholders. Blackwells will continue to fight back against all
improper efforts by AR Global’s CEO, Michael Weil, and his lieutenants to misuse the court system and corporate machinery as a means
to silence the voices of GNL’s shareholders.
Voting “FOR”
all of the Blackwells Nominees on the WHITE Universal Proxy Card will remind the GNL Board that using intimidation techniques–including
leveraging cost-prohibitive litigation–will not prevent shareholders from exercising their fundamental right to nominate directors.
1 | https://stoparglobal.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2023-05-03-Order-Denying-Plaintiffs-Mtn-for-Preliminary-Injunction.pdf |
We believe the case
for boardroom change is clear based on the following:
| ● | GNL trades at a significant 35% discount to its Net Asset Value and a 51% discount to peers due to its
significantly off-market management agreement with AR Global Investments, LLC (“AR Global”), the parent company of GNL’s
“advisor” and “property manager”. Since 2015, GNL has paid AR Global $383 million in fees and expenses while GNL
shareholders have suffered a 64% stock price decline, representing $2.1 billion in total value destruction. |
| ● | We believe the GNL Board and management are profoundly conflicted and have enabled GNL and AR Global to
take actions that are not in the best interest of shareholders. |
| ● | We believe that GNL needs drastic corporate governance changes, including the election of the Blackwells
Nominees and the series of changes we have recommended in its proposals. |
Blackwells recently
published a presentation – The Case For Change - Global Net Lease, Inc. & The Necessity Retail REIT, Inc. – further
detailing the case for change at GNL and why the AR Global management agreement continues to significantly harm shareholders. Shareholders
are encouraged to review the presentation for themselves at https://stoparglobal.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/GNL-and-RTL-Deck-4.25.23.pdf
Your vote is very
important. We believe that the GNL Board will continue its entrenchment by postponing, adjourning or delaying its Annual Meeting if
the court in Maryland grants the injunctive relief sought by Blackwells Onshore I, LLC. GNL has not made any disclosure about this possibility
in its proxy solicitation materials on file with the SEC. We believe GNL’s failure to make this disclosure is intentionally misleading
to shareholders and a violation of the SEC’s regulations. We have demanded GNL fix its disclosures without any further delay. GNL
continues to ignore our demands.
Shareholders should
use the WHITE Universal Proxy Card to vote FOR all of Blackwells Nominees. We are also asking
you to vote FOR each of Blackwells’ non-binding advisory resolutions on the WHITE Universal
Proxy Card. More information on voting on the WHITE Universal Proxy Card may be found in our proxy materials and in GNL’s
proxy materials. Since GNL refuses to use a universal proxy card, Voting Today on the WHITE Universal Proxy
Card is the only way to vote for Blackwells’ candidates and proposals.
If you have already
voted on the Company’s proxy card, you have every right to change your vote by (i) signing, dating and returning a later dated WHITE Universal
Proxy Card, (ii) voting via the Internet, by following the instructions on the WHITE Universal Proxy Card
or (iii) voting virtually at the Annual Meeting.
We thank our fellow
shareholders for their support and look forward to finally putting an end to the ongoing value destruction at GNL.
Shareholders who
require assistance voting their WHITE Universal Proxy Card can contact Morrow Sodali at 1-800-662-5200 or at Blackwells@morrowsodali.com.
Sincerely,
Jason Aintabi
Chief Investment Officer
Blackwells Capital LLC
IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
Blackwells Onshore I LLC (“Blackwells Onshore”),
Blackwells Capital LLC (“Blackwells Capital”), Jason Aintabi (collectively, Mr. Aintabi, Blackwells Onshore and Blackwells
Capital, “Blackwells”), Related Fund Management, LLC (“RFM”), Richard O’Toole and James L. Lozier (collectively,
Blackwells, RFM and Messrs. O’Toole and Lozier, the “Participants”) are participants in the solicitation of proxies
from the stockholders of GNL in connection with the 2023 annual meeting of stockholders (including any other meeting of shareholders held
in lieu thereof and adjournments, postponements, reschedulings or continuations thereof, the “Annual Meeting”). The Participants
have filed with the SEC a definitive proxy statement (the “Proxy Statement”) and accompanying WHITE Universal
Proxy Card to be used in connection with any such solicitation of proxies from GNL’s stockholders for the Annual Meeting. BLACKWELLS
STRONGLY ADVISES ALL STOCKHOLDERS OF GNL TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT, THE ACCOMPANYING WHITE UNIVERSAL PROXY CARD AND OTHER
DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THE SOLICITATION OF PROXIES BY THE PARTICIPANTS, AS THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION, INCLUDING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
RELATED TO THE PARTICIPANTS AND THEIR DIRECT OR INDIRECT INTERESTS, BY SECURITY HOLDINGS OR OTHERWISE. The Proxy Statement and an accompanying
WHITE Universal Proxy Card are being furnished to some or all of GNL’s stockholders and are available, along with
any amendments or supplements to the Proxy Statement and other relevant documents, at no charge on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov/.
In addition, the Participants will provide copies of the Proxy Statement without charge upon request. Requests for copies should be directed
to Blackwells Onshore.
Contacts
Morrow Sodali
(800) 662-5200
blackwells@morrowsodali.com
Gagnier Communications
Dan Gagnier
(646) 569-5897
blackwells@gagnierfc.com
Longacre Square Partners
(646) 386-0091
blackwells@longacresquare.com
Exhibit 2
Global Net Lease (NYSE:GNL-A)
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From Nov 2024 to Dec 2024
Global Net Lease (NYSE:GNL-A)
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From Dec 2023 to Dec 2024