MILWAUKEE, Wis., Aug. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Harley-Davidson, Inc. ("Harley-Davidson" or the "Company") (NYSE: HOG) today announced that its Board of Directors ("Board") has appointed Artie Starrs as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective October 1, 2025. Artie joins Harley-Davidson from Topgolf Callaway Brands, where he served as CEO of the Topgolf International, Inc. ("Topgolf") subsidiary. "Artie is an accomplished business leader who brings extensive experience managing strong brands and glob ...

Core Points - Harley-Davidson confirmed the election of all nine Director nominees at the 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders [1] - The search for Harley-Davidson's next CEO is ongoing, led by the search committee [1] - CEO Jochen Zeitz expressed gratitude to shareholders and emphasized the company's commitment to long-term value creation [2] Company Overview - Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the parent company of Harley-Davidson Motor Company and Harley-Davidson Financial Services, aiming to be the most desirable motorcycle brand globally [3] - The company has a controlling interest in LiveWire Group, Inc., the first publicly traded all-electric motorcycle company in the U.S., focusing on urban adventure and electric motorcycle innovation [3]

Core Points - Harley-Davidson shareholders have elected all of the company's Director nominees during the 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders [1] - The Board expressed gratitude to shareholders for their trust and support, emphasizing ongoing engagement and commitment to shareholder interests [1] - Preliminary voting results indicated that shareholders approved all other proposals submitted for a vote at the Annual Meeting [1] Company Overview - Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the parent company of Harley-Davidson Motor Company and Harley-Davidson Financial Services, aiming to lead the motorcycle industry through innovation and emotional connection [2] - The company has a controlling interest in LiveWire Group, Inc., the first publicly traded all-electric motorcycle company in the U.S., focusing on urban adventure and electric motorcycle branding [2]

Urges Shareholders to Vote "FOR ALL" Harley-Davidson Director Nominees on the WHITE Proxy Card MILWAUKEE, May 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Harley-Davidson, Inc. (the "Company" or "Harley-Davidson") (NYSE: HOG) today urged shareholders to vote their shares ahead of the Company's 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which is scheduled to be held on May 14, 2025. Time is short, and shareholders should cast their vote NOW by telephone or online "FOR ALL" the Company's highly qualified and experienced director nomin ...

Core Viewpoint - Harley-Davidson urges shareholders to vote "FOR ALL" of its director nominees, emphasizing the company's progress under the Hardwire strategic plan and strong governance, while criticizing the reports from Glass Lewis and Egan-Jones for failing to recognize these achievements [1][2]. Group 1: Company Performance and Strategy - Harley-Davidson has outperformed its peers during challenging macroeconomic conditions, achieving a total shareholder return (TSR) approximately 10 percentage points higher than the peer median since Jochen Zeitz became CEO [8][20]. - The company reported operating margins around 4 percentage points above the peer median from 2022 to 2024, and free cash flow as a percentage of EBITDA was 70%, more than double the peer median [8][21]. Group 2: Board Governance and Director Nominees - The Board of Directors emphasizes its strong oversight of the Hardwire strategic plan and the importance of retaining experienced independent directors during the CEO transition process [2][9]. - The Board believes that removing two independent directors would introduce significant risk and jeopardize shareholder value, as these directors possess critical institutional knowledge [2][9]. Group 3: Response to H Partners' Campaign - Harley-Davidson criticizes H Partners' campaign as lacking substantive alternatives and introducing unnecessary uncertainty at a crucial time for the company [4][2]. - The company asserts that H Partners had opportunities to address their concerns while having a representative on the Board but failed to do so, indicating that their campaign is misguided [2][9].

Core Viewpoint - Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (ISS) has recommended that shareholders vote "FOR ALL" of Harley-Davidson's director nominees, concluding that H Partners has not made a compelling case for change and that their campaign has likely hindered the ongoing CEO search process [1][2]. Group 1: Harley-Davidson's Strategy and Performance - The strategy introduced by CEO Jochen Zeitz has positively impacted Harley-Davidson's trajectory, reversing a decline that occurred prior to his leadership [4]. - Harley-Davidson has kept pace with its peers, a significant improvement compared to its prior underperformance before the Hardwire strategy was implemented [4]. - The board's actions in initiating the CEO search process were timely and appropriate, accommodating the dissident's preferences without dismissing them outright [4]. Group 2: Board and Governance - ISS acknowledges the strength of Harley-Davidson's board and governance structure, emphasizing the board's role in overseeing the execution of the Hardwire strategic plan [2]. - The board believes that H Partners' intentions are to undermine corporate governance practices by seeking to appoint unelected directors to influence the CEO search process [2]. - The criticisms against CEO Zeitz are considered overstated, with evidence suggesting his tenure has been more beneficial than detrimental [4]. Group 3: Shareholder Engagement - Harley-Davidson urges shareholders to protect their investment by voting "FOR ALL" of the company's nominees on the WHITE proxy card [5]. - The company has provided resources for shareholders needing assistance with the voting process, including a dedicated proxy solicitor [5].

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].