Masimo prepared to provide one board seat if activist Politan drops proxy contest
By Christy Santhosh and Pratik Jain
(Reuters) -Masimo said on Thursday that it is prepared to appoint Politan Capital Management's nominee William Jellison as a director on its board, if the activist investor withdraws its other nominee and drops its proxy contest.
Quentin Koffey-owned Politan has long criticized Masimo's capital allocation and board oversight and expressed particular concern about its $1 billion purchase of consumer audio products maker Sound United in 2022.
In a letter addressed to Koffey, Masimo's director Craig Reynolds said a settlement would ensure that the company isn't distracted by a proxy contest as it evaluates the proposed separation of its consumer business announced on March 22.
The proposal falls well short of resolving the fundamental governance problems at Masimo, Koffey said in his response addressed to Reynolds.
In late March, Politan, which owns a near 9% stake in Masimo, had nominated Jellison, former CFO of Stryker, and Darlene Solomon, former CTO of Agilent Technologies, as its candidates to Masimo's six-member board.
"Masimo needs a majority of truly independent directors. There is a straightforward and clear solution, add Darlene Solomon and Bill Jellison to company's board immediately", the veteran fund manager's letter stated.
Politan had said it supported the separation of the consumer business, but was seeking the two seats, in addition to the two seats it won last year, for more oversight over the process.
Koffey said on Thursday that adding the two Politan nominated directors would avoid a deadlocked board and finally fulfill Masimo's promise to expand it to seven members.
Politan will not oppose the re-election of Joe Kiani, chairman & CEO of Mamiso, to the board, the activist investor added.
"We have a clear path towards maximizing stockholder value through a separation of the consumer business approved by an independent board, 50% of which (3 of 6 directors) would be Politan-nominated directors" Masimo said in its letter.
The consumer business includes Masimo's consumer health and audio products.
Shares of Irvine, California-based Masimo rose 3.5% in extended trading.
(Reporting by Christy Santhosh and Pratik Jain in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)
