The Stride Rite Corporation will add another independent director to its eight-member Board and work with Barington Capital Group, L.P. to identify a mutually acceptable independent director by April 30, 2006. Barington represents a group of investors that are significant shareholders of the company.
The new ninth director will be appointed to the Board as a Class II director and would stand for reelection in 2007. Stride Rite's Committee on the Board, which is responsible for identifying and evaluating prospective directors, will review candidates including three proposed by Barington.
David Chamberlain, Chairman and CEO of Stride Rite, said, “We have had a productive ongoing dialogue with Barington for several years. We value input from our shareholders and look forward to working with Barington to select an additional independent director with the right mix of experience and expertise that will benefit our distinguished Board of Directors.”
Stride Rite's Committee on the Board, which is made up entirely of independent directors, has begun evaluating potential nominees in accordance with the Committee's established criteria and processes.
Stride Rite's 2006 Annual Meeting of shareholders will take place as scheduled on April 6, 2006, and Barington has agreed to vote its Stride Rite shares for reelection of the Company's three Board nominees. Stride Rite's proxy materials, which will contain important information about the Company, will be distributed shortly.
