Box Announces Agreement With Starboard

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Box, a leader in cloud content management, today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Starboard Value LP (together with certain of its affiliates, “Starboard”), an investment firm which owns approximately 7.7% of the Company’s outstanding common stock.

Under the terms of the agreement, three new independent directors will join the Box Board of Directors prior to the company’s 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders in June 2020 (“2020 Annual Meeting”), two incumbent directors will not stand for re-election to the board at the 2020 Annual Meeting and one incumbent director will retire from the board effective as of the 2020 Annual Meeting. The board will be set at 9 directors following the 2020 Annual Meeting.

Jack Lazar, formerly chief financial officer of GoPro and Atheros Communications, will join the Box Board of Directors immediately. In addition, a second new director will be selected from a list of candidates provided by Starboard or will otherwise be mutually agreed. A third new director will be selected by the board prior to the 2020 Annual Meeting.

“We are pleased to welcome Jack to our board,” said Aaron Levie, Box Co-founder, CEO, and Chairman. “He brings valuable experience in both the enterprise and consumer technology markets, along with a strong track record of helping companies drive disciplined growth and profitability as both a leader and board member. I look forward to working with Jack and our other new independent directors to continue to create value for stockholders. We are also pleased to continue our collaboration with Starboard and appreciate the constructive approach they have taken.”

“I’m thrilled to join the Box Board of Directors. Aaron, Dylan, and the entire leadership team at Box have pioneered cloud content management and the company has a massive opportunity to define the future of work around the world,” said Mr. Lazar. “I’m honored to be joining an experienced board and look forward to helping Box drive sustainable and profitable growth.”

Rory O’Driscoll will not stand for re-election and Josh Stein will retire from Box’s Board of Directors at the time of the 2020 Annual Meeting. Box co-founder Dylan Smith will continue in his role as CFO but will not stand for re-election as a director at the 2020 Annual Meeting.

“We thank Rory and Josh for their many contributions as directors and early investors in Box,” Mr. Levie added. “Rory has served on our board for 10 years, and Josh has served for nearly 14 years. During that time, they have played a critical role in the growth of Box, and we have benefitted greatly from their valuable insight and support.”

In addition, Box today announced the formation of an Operating Committee of the board. This committee will work with Box’s CEO, CFO, and management to identify and recommend opportunities for further improvement in growth and margin performance. Mr. Lazar and the new independent director chosen in collaboration with Starboard will join existing directors Sue Barsamian and Kim Hammonds on the committee. Ms. Barsamian has served on the board since 2018 and brings several decades of enterprise software experience from HP and Mercury Interactive. Ms. Hammonds has served on the board since 2018 and brings leadership experience from her previous roles as the Group COO of Deutsche Bank AG and the CIO of The Boeing Company.

Peter Feld, Managing Member of Starboard, said, “We are pleased to have worked constructively with the Box board and management team to reach this agreement to strengthen the board with new independent directors and to create a new Operating Committee. We see a number of opportunities for substantial shareholder value creation and look forward to seeing the Company execute on opportunities to drive profitable growth towards a best-in-class financial profile. We are confident the addition of three new independent directors will add tremendous value to the board, and we also share the board’s appreciation for Rory and Josh’s years of service.”

The agreement with Starboard includes other customary provisions. Additional information about today’s announcement will be filed on a Form 8-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC is serving as financial advisor to Box and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation is serving as legal advisor.