SEC Comment Letter for Veris Residential, Inc. (VRE) (CIK 0000924901) (VRE) — May 14, 2020
Veris Residential, Inc. (VRE) (CIK 0000924901)
Date: May 14, 2020 · CIK: 0000924901 · Accession: 0000000000-20-004310
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File numbers found in text: 001-13274
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
DIVISION OF
CORPORATION FINANCE
May 14 , 2020
Richard M. Brand , Esq.
Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP
200 Liberty Street
New York, NY 10281
Re: Mack -Cali Realty Corporation
DFAN 14A filed May 12 , 2020 by Bow Street LLC et al.
File No. 001-13274
Dear Mr. Brand :
We have reviewed the above -captioned filing , and have the following comment s. Our
comment s may ask for additional information so that we may better understand the disclosure.
Please respond to this letter by amending the filing and/or by providing the requested
information. If you do not believe our comment s apply to your facts and circumstances and/or
do not believe an amendment is appropriate, please tell us why in a written response.
After reviewing any amendment to the filing and any information provide d in response t o
these comment s, we may have additional comments. Capitalized terms used but not defined
herein have the same meaning ascribed to them in the filing.
1. We note the following statements:
“Lead Independent Director Alan Bernikow and Chief Executive Officer Michael
DeMarco are unilaterally seeking to replace the four highly qualified, independent
directors nominated by Bow Street and duly elected by sh areholders less than a year
ago” (emphasis added) .
“Mack -Cali’s proposed replacement directors have been hand -picked by a
subcommittee of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) led by Mr. DeMarco and its
two longest serving directors – Mr. Bernikow and Irvin Reid – both of whom have
failed to provide proper oversight throughout their res pective 16 - and 26 -year
tenures ” (emphasis added).
In light of the apparent involvement of multiple independent directors and Ferguson Part ners
in the director sel ection process, please provide us with a factual basis for the claims above ,
or file corrective disclosure.
Richard M. Brand , Esq.
May 14, 2020
Page 2
2. We note the following disclosure:
“Furthermore, in 2019, Ferguson Partners began working directly with Ms. Jones and
her sp ouse on an initiative to promote ethnic diversity on public company boards. It
was in the context of this initiative – and this context only – that Ms. Jones provided
her spouse’s name to Ferguson Partners. ”
It has come to our attention that Ms. Jones on multiple occasions recommend ed to Ferguson
Partners that her husband be considered as a candidate for the Mack -Cali board of directors ,
including as recently as March 5, 2020 , without reference to the initiative referred to above
or the existence of Ms. Jones ’s relationship with the candidate . Please clarify the above
disclosure accordingly , or advise .
We remind you that the p articipants are responsible for the accuracy and adequacy of
their disclosures, notwithstanding any review, comments, action or absence of action by the staff.
You may contact me at (202) 551 -8094 with any questions.
Sincerely,
/s/ David M. Plattner
David M. Plattner
Special Counsel
Office of Mergers and Acquisitions