UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
PURE
BIOSCIENCE, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
Richmont
Corporation
John Rochon
Theodore Coburn
C. James Jensen
Thomas J. Reynolds
Dr. Martin Kassir
Jeffrey P. Bash
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
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STOCKHOLDER NOMINATES OPPOSITION BOARD NOMINEES
FOR ELECTION AT PURE BIOSCIENCE ANNUAL MEETING
For Immediate Release
Dallas, TX (October 31, 2011)
Richmont
Corporation, a shareholder of Pure Bioscience, Inc. (NASDAQ: PURE) announced
that it has provided notice to Pure of its nomination of a slate of candidates to stand for
election as Directors at Pures next shareholders meeting.
John Rochon, Chairman of Richmont said, At last, shareholders will have a choice: new leadership,
or more of the same. We are pleased to nominate six accomplished individuals who will bring to the
Board many years of wide-ranging experience in multiple disciplines,
and much-needed change.
Pures current Board has failed to pursue an effective strategy to successfully commercialize
the silver dihydrogen citrate molecule, and over the past decade, Pure has suffered operational
losses of nearly $50 million. Clearly, no logical relationship between the compensation awarded by
the Board to itself and management, and the performance of the company, has existed.
Richmonts notice to Pure named the following six individuals as nominees to replace the entire
incumbent Pure Board:
John Rochon, MBA: Has over 35 years of U.S. and international business experience as
a former CFO and chairman of a Fortune 500 company, company owner, and investor. He
has deep experience with businesses in a wide range of industries around the world.
Theodore Coburn, MBA: Brings 30 years of experience and success in investment
banking, including leadership positions in Prudential Securities and Merrill Lynchs
capital markets group, and his own firm, in addition to his distinguished work in
education reform.
C. James Jensen: Brings the knowledge gained from a 40-year career as a successful
executive in financial services, real estate, publishing, marketing, and sales.
Thomas J. Reynolds, Ph.D.: Brings expertise gained from decades as a marketing and
business strategy consultant to major corporations, and as a widely published
researcher and university educator.
Dr. Martin Kassir, M.D.: Brings medical and scientific expertise as a double
Board-certified dermatologist and internist who has practiced medicine and taught
and spoken at major medical centers worldwide.
Jeffrey P. Bash: Brings the skills and judgment gained from decades as a Fellow of
the Society of Actuaries and officer of the New York Life Insurance Company, as well
as the perspective of a longtime Pure shareholder with extensive knowledge of the
company.
Mr. Bash, one of the Board nominees, commented, As a long-time shareholder in Pure, I know
firsthand how frustrated shareholders are over Pures failure to achieve meaningful results year
after year. I believe the current Board and management have had more than enough time to prove
themselves. They need to be replaced to give Pure a fresh start.
Richmont has retained MacKenzie Partners Inc. to assist in the solicitation of proxies for its
nominees and for related services, and the law firm Baker Botts L.L.P. as its counsel for the proxy
solicitation effort.
Additional Information
Richmont Corporation is a Delaware corporation based in Plano, Texas, engaged in private investment
and business management services. Richmont and each of Messrs. Rochon, Coburn, Jensen, Reynolds,
Kassir and Bash (the Participants) are anticipated to be participants under the rules of the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the solicitation of proxies for the election of their
slate of nominees to Pure Biosciences board of directors. In connection with their intended proxy
solicitation, the Participants intend to file a proxy statement with the SEC to solicit
stockholders of Pure Bioscience. The Participants advise stockholders of Pure Bioscience to read
their proxy statement when it becomes available, because it will contain important information.
That proxy statement, when filed, and any other relevant documents, will be available without
charge on the SECs website at www.sec.gov. In addition, the Participants in the solicitation will
provide copies of the proxy statement and their other soliciting materials without charge upon
request. Requests for copies should be directed to the Participants proxy solicitor, MacKenzie
Partners, Inc., toll-free at (800) 322-2885 or collect at (212) 929-5500 or via email at
proxy@mackenziepartners.com. Information regarding the Participants, including their direct or
indirect interests in the solicitation, by security holdings or otherwise, is contained in their
Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on October 31, 2011, which is available without charge on the SECs
website at www.sec.gov.