Harley-Davidson Sends Letter to Shareholders

Core Viewpoint - Harley-Davidson emphasizes the importance of its Board's skills and experience in selecting the next CEO and driving future growth, while criticizing H Partners' campaign as harmful and disingenuous, potentially jeopardizing shareholder value [1][3][4]. Group 1: Board and Management - The Board and management are dedicated to preserving Harley-Davidson's legacy and are actively transforming the business to enhance shareholder value [2]. - Each Director nominee possesses critical skills and institutional knowledge necessary for selecting a strong CEO, with experience in leadership, manufacturing, and successful business transformations [6][9]. - The current Board has a well-defined CEO search process and is committed to governance best practices, ensuring a smooth leadership transition [19][30]. Group 2: H Partners' Campaign - H Partners has been accused of launching a misleading campaign that undermines the Board's efforts and shareholder interests, particularly after their preferred CEO candidate did not gain majority support [4][19]. - The campaign is characterized as lacking constructive solutions and primarily aimed at gaining control over the Board rather than benefiting shareholders [15][19]. - H Partners previously supported the current CEO and Board decisions, raising questions about the motivations behind their recent actions [3][19]. Group 3: Company Performance - Despite facing one of the most challenging operating environments in its history, Harley-Davidson has outperformed its peers, with operating margins of 13% and free cash flow as a percentage of EBITDA at 70% [19][30]. - Recent product upgrades have led to a 12% increase in retail sales for certain models through the first nine months of 2023, indicating successful management execution [20].