Le Lézard
Classified in: Covid-19 virus
Subjects: Letter, Proxy/Proxy Vote

Comtech Files Definitive Proxy Materials and Mails Letter to Stockholders


November 11, 2021-- Comtech Telecommunications Corp. (NASDAQ: CMTL), a leading global provider of next-generation 911 emergency systems and secure wireless communications technologies, today announced that it has filed definitive proxy materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") in connection with its upcoming Fiscal 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

In conjunction with the definitive proxy filing, Comtech is mailing a letter to stockholders highlighting the meaningful steps the Company has taken, and continues to take, to enhance corporate governance, strengthen financial performance and flexibility, and create significant near- and long-term value for all stockholders.

The full text of the letter follows:

PROTECT THE VALUE OF YOUR INVESTMENT BY VOTING THE ENCLOSED BLUE PROXY CARD TODAY FOR COMTECH'S HIGHLY QUALIFIED DIRECTORS

Dear Fellow Shareholder:

Your Board and management team have taken decisive action over the past several years to create long-term stockholder value and address stockholders' feedback. We have made significant progress in advancing our strategic plan ? designing and delivering innovative communication solutions, investing in growth, and strengthening our portfolio by acquiring and integrating complementary technologies and capabilities. Today, we seek your support in voting FOR your Board's highly qualified nominees using the enclosed BLUE proxy card.

Our strategic plan has enhanced our position as a secure wireless technology leader and already delivered strong results for stockholders, including:

As you may know, one of our stockholders, Outerbridge Capital Management ("Outerbridge"), has nominated its own director candidates for election to Comtech's Board. After extensive dialogue with Outerbridge, we have concluded that the Outerbridge campaign is value-destructive, self-serving, and a distraction for the following reasons:

Please do not return or otherwise vote any White proxy card you may receive from Outerbridge.

Your Board recommends that you promptly vote "FOR" the election of Comtech's two director nominees ? Judy Chambers and Lawrence J. Waldman ? on the BLUE Proxy Card.

COMTECH HAS TAKEN AND CONTINUES TO TAKE DECISIVE ACTIONS TO DELIVER RESULTS FOR ALL STOCKHOLDERS

Comtech's Board and management team are taking steps to capitalize on significant growth in the markets we serve and position the Company for future success. These actions include, but are not limited to:

White Hat has been an investor in our Company, and we have been engaged in regular dialogue with them for more than a year. Their willingness to commit significant capital demonstrates conviction in the long-term prospects of our business. This investment more than doubles our accessible capital to pursue growing market opportunities. The proceeds will be applied to a range of initiatives to further accelerate Comtech's growth and profitability, including completing the build out of our new technology centers mentioned above and further pursuing a pipeline of capital-intensive next-generation 911 market opportunities.

Outerbridge has wildly mischaracterized the nature of this $100 million strategic growth investment, and we would like to set the record straight about what it really represents and includes:

YOUR CURRENT BOARD HAS THE RIGHT SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE TO DRIVE SHAREHOLDER VALUE

Over the past two years, Comtech has been enacting transformative and thoughtful enhancements to our Board composition and structure.

The sum of these activities will result in a more diverse and lower-tenured Board. In fact, as a result of the changes, Larry Waldman's six year tenure will be the longest of all our independent directors, and only one other independent director has a tenure of more than two years.

2018 Board

2022 Board

# of Directors

6

7

Average Age

78 years

64 years

Average Tenure of Independent Directors

10 years

3 years

% Racially / Ethnically Diverse

?%

14%

% Women

?%

29%

Note: 2022 Board assumes election of Comtech's director nominees at the 2021 Annual Meeting and includes the additions of Mark Quinlan and Michael Porcelain that were previously announced

Our current directors have a strong mix of skills, experience, diversity, and viewpoints, which they are bringing to bear as they actively work with the management team to implement a highly effective strategy to enhance financial performance, accelerate growth, and drive shareholder value. For more information on our directors' broad mix of skills and experiences, please visit www.comtechcreates.com/board-of-directors.

Comtech's two directors standing for election at this Annual Meeting demonstrate the strong backgrounds and diversity of perspectives on our Board. Judy Chambers is Managing Principal and a member of the Board of Meketa Investment Group. Ms. Chambers brings extensive experience in the investment advisory services industry and corporate finance. Larry Waldman has significant experience providing financial and business advisory services to technology companies, serving on public company boards, and leading public accounting firms. Mr. Waldman serves as the non-executive Chairman of the Board and Chairman of the Audit Committee of CVD Equipment Corporation, a technology company listed on NASDAQ, and as Lead Independent Director and Audit Committee Chairperson of APYX Medical. He is the only Board member that our Board has determined to be an audit committee "financial expert" pursuant to SEC rules.

In contrast, Outerbridge's proposed nominees lack relevant skills and experiences. Electing either of the directors from the Outerbridge slate would not be additive to the Board and would ultimately be detrimental to shareholder value creation.

OUTERBRIDGE'S INTERESTS ARE NOT ALIGNED WITH THE INTERESTS OF COMTECH AND ITS OTHER STOCKHOLDERS

While your Board and management team have taken decisive action to execute our strategic plan to create stockholder value, Outerbridge has readily admitted that its objective is to bolster its reputation and aid fundraising efforts.

During an initial meeting with management, Outerbridge founder Rory Wallace made clear it was important for the reputation of Outerbridge to "put a stake in the ground" with this campaign. And Outerbridge has not been shy about publicizing its objectives. As part of a recent interview Mr. Wallace conducted with Activist Insight, he noted that he "hopes to grow assets under management by at least 20%-30% in the very near term." Even the outlet observed, "Such ambitions may be one reason Outerbridge is employing a far harder activist style" at Comtech.

Every action Outerbridge has taken throughout our engagement has been consistent with an objective of building its reputation as an activist shareholder ? not improving the Company for the benefit of all of its shareholders. Consider the track record of bad faith engagement and the revolving door of director candidates that Outerbridge has presented, which have hindered any attempts at achieving a constructive resolution:

Further, we do not believe Outerbridge's actions are supported by any relevant experience in our sector. In conversations with management and the Board, Outerbridge has exhibited little understanding of Comtech's business and the significant strategic actions the Company has taken to enhance stockholder value while successfully navigating the impact of the pandemic on the business and its end markets. Outerbridge has not presented new ideas to improve Comtech and instead appears to be focused on bolstering its reputation as an activist.

PROTECT THE VALUE OF YOUR INVESTMENT: VOTE THE BLUE PROXY CARD TODAY

Your Board is committed to acting in the best interests of all Comtech stockholders, and we are on track to deliver higher growth and higher value. We are highly confident in the Company's strategy, and we look forward to driving shareholder value for all shareholders.

Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, you have an opportunity to protect your investment in Comtech by voting the BLUE proxy card today. Your vote is extremely important, no matter how many or how few shares you own.

Thank you for your support,

Board of Directors
Comtech Telecommunications Corp.

 

YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT!

 

To ensure your shares are represented, please follow the easy instructions on the enclosed BLUE proxy card to vote by telephone, by internet, or by signing, dating and returning the BLUE proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided. If you received this letter by email, you may also vote by pressing the BLUE "VOTE NOW" button in the accompanying email. Please simply disregard any White proxy card you may receive from Outerbridge.

 

If you have any questions or require any assistance with voting your shares, please call Comtech's proxy solicitor, Innisfree M&A Incorporated:

 

Toll-Free: (877) 750-8198 (from the U.S. and Canada)

 

Or +1 (412) 232-3651 (from other locations)

 

Comtech's definitive proxy materials and other materials regarding the Board's recommendation for the Fiscal 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders can be found at www.comtechcreates.com.

About Comtech

Comtech Telecommunications Corp. is a leading global provider of next-generation 911 emergency systems and secure wireless communication technologies to commercial and government customers around the world. Headquartered in Melville, New York and with a passion for customer success, Comtech designs, produces and markets advanced and secure wireless solutions. For more information, please visit www.comtechtel.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information in this press release contains statements that are forward-looking in nature and involve certain significant risks and uncertainties, including about our business trajectory, future revenue and sales, acquisition strategy, management and governance changes, and growth. Actual results could differ materially from such forward-looking information. Risks and uncertainties that could impact these forward-looking statements include: the possibility that the expected synergies and benefits from recent acquisitions will not be fully realized, or will not be realized within the anticipated time periods; the risk that the acquired businesses will not be integrated with the Company successfully; the possibility of disruption from recent acquisitions, making it more difficult to maintain business and operational relationships or retain key personnel; the risk that the Company will be unsuccessful in implementing a tactical shift in its Government Solutions segment away from bidding on large commodity service contracts and toward pursuing contracts for its niche products with higher margins; the nature and timing of receipt of, and the Company's performance on, new or existing orders that can cause significant fluctuations in net sales and operating results; the timing and funding of government contracts; adjustments to gross profits on long-term contracts; risks associated with international sales; rapid technological change; evolving industry standards; new product announcements and enhancements; changing customer demands and or procurement strategies; changes in prevailing economic and political conditions; changes in the price of oil in global markets; changes in foreign currency exchange rates; risks associated with the Company's legal proceedings, customer claims for indemnification, and other similar matters; risks associated with the Company's obligations under its Credit Facility; risks associated with the Company's large contracts; risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and related supply chain disruptions; and other factors described in this and the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We assume no obligation and do not intend to update these forward-looking statements or to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in our expectations.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

Comtech has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and mailed to the Company's stockholders a definitive proxy statement, an accompanying BLUE proxy card and other relevant documents in connection with the Company's Fiscal 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "2021 Annual Meeting"). THE COMPANY'S STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT, THE ACCOMPANYING BLUE PROXY CARD AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMPANY'S 2021 ANNUAL MEETING OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THE PROXY STATEMENT BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY'S 2021 ANNUAL MEETING AND THE PARTIES RELATED THERETO. The Company's stockholders may obtain a free copy of documents filed with the SEC at the SEC's website at https://www.sec.gov or the Company's website at www.comtechcreates.com.

Participants in the Solicitation

The Company, its directors, and certain of its executive officers are, and certain other members of management and employees of the Company may be deemed, "participants" in the solicitation of proxies from stockholders in connection with the matters to be considered at the 2021 Annual Meeting. Information regarding the direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, in the Company of the persons who are or may be, under the rules of the SEC, considered participants in the solicitation of the stockholders of the Company in connection with the Company's 2021 Annual Meeting are set forth in the Company's definitive proxy statement filed in connection with the Company's 2021 Annual Meeting and other relevant documents filed with the SEC. You can also find information about the Company's executive officers and directors in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2021, the Company's and such persons' other filings with the SEC.

PCMTL

_____________________________
1
Total shareholder returns assume dividends are reinvested at the risk free rate.
2 Peers consist of Elbit, Gilat, KVH Industries, ST Engineering, and Viasat.


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