Barington Capital Responds to Matthews International's Desperate Effort to Manipulate Board Election

Core Viewpoint - Barington Capital Group criticizes Matthews International Corporation's recent governance changes as insufficient and a reaction to Barington's push for reform, urging shareholders to support Barington's nominees in the upcoming election [1][2][4]. Group 1: Governance Changes - Matthews International's recent governance changes are viewed as a desperate attempt to maintain the status quo, with Barington asserting that these changes are too late to address ongoing issues [2]. - Barington highlights that one of the insiders, Greg Babe, remains on the board despite his dual responsibilities, which raises concerns about governance effectiveness [2]. - The announcement of a potential sale of SGK Brand Solutions is seen as a further indication of Matthews' desperation ahead of the annual meeting [3]. Group 2: Shareholder Recommendations - Barington urges shareholders to vote for all of its nominees using the GOLD proxy card, emphasizing that this will enhance accountability and oversight in the boardroom [4]. - The firm believes that electing its independent nominees will lead to improved corporate governance and increased shareholder value [4]. Group 3: Proxy Solicitation - Barington has filed a definitive proxy statement with the SEC to solicit votes for its director nominees at the upcoming annual meeting [7]. - Shareholders are encouraged to review the proxy materials for important information regarding the election [7].