By: Lucia Moses Traditionally a perfunctory affair, Freedom Communications Inc.'s annual shareholders' meeting on Friday and Saturday will deal with dissent over its board's recent decision to explore a possible sale of the family-owned company. This dissent led to the recent resignation of company Director John F. Bitzer Jr., an advocate of family-owned newspapers, who cited a "lack of fairness" in the decision-making process.
In an April 3 letter obtained by
E&P, Bitzer, an outside director since 1995, wrote to the board's nominating committee that he does not "endorse the process" of a special committee that was "unfairly biased in favor of a sale of the company."
The board had based its decision to explore such a transaction on the fact a majority of shareholders support a possible merger or sale of the parent of
The Orange County Register in Santa Ana, Calif., and 27 other daily newspapers. Bitzer, a member of the family that owns
The Press of Atlantic City in New Jersey, wrote that the margin of this support is "razor-thin."
In a statement faxed to
E&P Friday, Freedom's special committee responded that it has sought advice from top outside experts and has confidence in the process to date.
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