News & Publications
MRC Global Announces Agreement with Engine Capital and Appointment of Daniel Silvers to the Board of Directors
Press Release from MRC Global Inc., April 2, 2024
"MRC Global Inc. (NYSE: MRC) (“MRC Global” or the “Company”), the leading global distributor of pipe, valves and fittings (PVF) and other infrastructure products and services to diversified gas utility, energy and industrial end-markets, today announced that Daniel Silvers has been appointed to the Company’s Board of Directors, effective immediately. Mr. Silvers will serve on the Board’s Compensation and Environmental, Social, Governance and Enterprise Risk Committees."
Engine Nominates Two Highly Qualified Candidates for Election to MRC Global’s Board of Directors
Press Release from Engine Capital, March 19, 2024
"Engine Capital, L.P. (together with its affiliates, "Engine"), a significant shareholder of MRC Global Inc. (NYSE: MRC) ("MRC" or the "Company") and the owner of nearly 4.3% of the Company’s outstanding common stock, today announced it has filed a preliminary proxy statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with its nomination of two highly qualified candidates for election to the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) at the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”): Brad Favreau and Daniel Silvers."
Ensysce Biosciences Closes Merger with Leisure Acquisition Corp.
Press Release from Ensysce Biosciences, June 30, 2021
"Ensysce Biosciences, Inc. ("Ensysce" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: ENSC) (OTC: ENSCW) today announced that it has closed its previously announced merger with Leisure Acquisition Corp. (“LACQ”). The combined company, Ensysce Biosciences, Inc., will commence trading its common stock and warrants under the ticker symbols “ENSC” and “ENSCW,” respectively, on The Nasdaq Capital Market and OTC Market July 2, 2021. The merger was approved by LACQ’s shareholders on June 28, 2021.."
"LACQ’s former Executive Chairman Lorne Weil and Chief Executive Officer Daniel Silvers jointly commented: 'We are delighted to close our merger with the Ensysce team as it seeks to accelerate its growth and ultimately bring about highly novel science to improve the safety of prescription drugs, as a publicly listed company.'”
Leisure Acquisition Corp. Announces Entry Into Definitive Agreement for Business Combination
Press Release from Leisure Acquisition Corp., February 1, 2021
"Leisure Acquisition Corp. (“Leisure”) (NASDAQ: LACQ, LACQU, LACQW), a special purpose acquisition company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, acquisition or similar business combination, announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Ensysce Biosciences, Inc. (together with its affiliated entities, “Ensysce” or the “Company”). The transaction reflects an enterprise valuation for Ensysce of $207 million, including the Company’s existing convertible indebtedness, but excluding transaction expenses as well as the impact of Leisure’s sponsor shares and subject to certain closing adjustments."
Matthews Lane Capital Partners Invests in ThuderAct
Press Release from ThunderAct, September 15, 2020
"ThunderAct, a San Francisco based startup announced a new round of funding to help propel its AI-powered customer-interaction analysis for enterprise companies. ThunderAct is the only tool enabling enterprise organizations to automatically and continuously analyze the impact and performance of their business with their aggregate customer data.
This investment will allow the startup to continue to enhance its B2B solution. The round of funding was led by Heroic Ventures with participation from Xplorer VC, Matthews Lane Capital Partners LLC, and other top investors."
Leisure Acquisition Corp. Announces Entry Into a Definitive Agreement for Business Combination
Press Release from Leisure Acquisition Corp., December 27, 2019
"GTWY Holdings Limited (“GTWY”), the holding company for Gateway Casinos & Entertainment Limited (together with affiliates, “Gateway” or the “Company”), one of the largest and most diversified gaming and entertainment companies in Canada, Leisure Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: LACQ, LACQU, LACQW) (“Leisure”), a special purpose acquisition company, and The Catalyst Capital Group Inc. (“Catalyst”), the current majority owner of Gateway, jointly announced today that Gateway and Leisure have entered into a definitive agreement for a business combination (the “Transaction”) whereby Leisure will merge into a wholly-owned subsidiary of GTWY in a transaction with a pro forma enterprise valuation of approximately US$1.115 billion (C$1.463 billion)."
Avid Technology, Inc. to Add Daniel Silvers as New Independent Director
Press Release from Avid Technology, Inc., February 21, 2018
"Avid Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: AVID) ("Avid" or the "Company"), a leading global media technology provider for the creation, distribution and monetization of media assets for global media organizations, enterprise users and individual creative professionals, today announced that it would add a new independent director, Daniel B. Silvers, Managing Member of Matthews Lane Capital Partners LLC, to the Company's Board of Directors."
Louis Hernandez, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Avid stated, "Dan will bring extensive Board experience to our company. With our strategic transformation complete, we are positioned to capitalize on our strong market position to generate profitable growth. We believe that Dan's experience and skills will complement the strong mix of experience and skills held by the existing Board members."
Leisure Acquisition Corp., Sponsored By Matthews Lane, Prices $200 Million IPO
Press Release from Leisure Acquisition Corp., December 1, 2017
"Leisure Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”), a blank check company formed for the purpose of entering into a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses, today announced the pricing of its initial public offering of 20,000,000 units at a price of $10.00 per unit."
Inspired Entertainment, Inc. Announces Successful Business Combination with Inspired Gaming Group
Press Release from Inspired Entertainment, Inc., December 23, 2016
"Inspired Entertainment, Inc. ("Inspired" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: INSE, INSEW) (known prior to completion as Hydra Industries Acquisition Corp.), announced today the Company's business combination with Inspired Gaming Group ("IGG") has been successfully completed."
PICO Holdings, Inc. Appoints Daniel Silvers as a Director
Press Release from PICO Holdings, Inc., March 18, 2016
"'We are pleased to welcome Andy and Daniel to the PICO Board of Directors,' said John R. Hart, PICO’s Chief Executive Officer. 'Their addition to our Board of Directors furthers our ongoing efforts to expand the depth and breadth of the PICO Board with new independent directors who will add competencies, experiences and insights that enhance the ability of the Board to create value for the benefit of all PICO shareholders.'"
“Messrs. Cates and Silvers stated, 'We look forward to serving on the Board of PICO as it implements its business plan to monetize assets and return capital back to shareholders. We look forward to working collaboratively with the rest of the PICO Board to build upon the solid foundation that is in place.'”
Central Square Reiterates Call for Daniel Silvers to be Seated as a Director of PICO Holdings
Letter from Central Square Management, November 23, 2015
"The time has come for real change at PICO Holdings, Inc. (“PICO” or the “Company”). As you know, Central Square Management LLC, together with its affiliates (“Central Square”), has been invested in the Company for more than two years and is one of the Company’s largest shareholders with current ownership of approximately 5.9% of PICO’s outstanding shares. Despite our persistent efforts to engage in a constructive dialogue with you, other members of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) and PICO’s management team over the past year to discuss our serious concerns regarding the direction of the Company, as well as the existing opportunities at PICO to create value for all shareholders, we have grown increasingly frustrated with the Board’s laissez-faire attitude toward the need for change at PICO."
"We call on the Board to immediately seat each of Anthony Bergamo, James Henderson and Daniel Silvers. These three highly-qualified individuals have the right mix of skill sets and experience to help the Board address PICO’s challenges and opportunities with an open mind and a keen sense of urgency."
Central Square Recommends Daniel Silvers as a Director of PICO Holdings
Letter from Central Square Management, October 13, 2015
"Central Square Management LLC, together with its affiliates (“Central Square”), currently owns approximately 5.7% of the outstanding shares of PICO Holdings, Inc. (“PICO” or the “Company”), making us one of the Company’s largest shareholders. We are a long-term shareholder of PICO, having initially invested in the Company in October 2013."
"We have identified three highly qualified, independent individuals, Anthony Bergamo, James Henderson and Daniel Silvers, who have the right mix of skill sets and experience to help the Board address PICO’s challenges and opportunities with an open mind and a keen sense of urgency."
Next Gen: Directors Under Age 40
NACD Directorship: Boardroom Intelligence, April 10, 2015
"The Millennials and Gen Xers with notable board service. Take a good look. These are the young, smart, and exceptionally ambitious people who represent the next generation of board leadership. And fortunately for boardrooms, the future has arrived."
"To find these new forces for change, NACD Directorship searched the S&P Large Cap 500, Mid-Cap 400, and Small-Cap 600 using the global leadership database BoardEx. We restricted this teeming pool of directors using only one filter: directors who are under age 40. Though small, the resultant list of candidates revealed a number of characteristics that distinguishes this generation of directors."
Forestar Announces Director Nomination Agreement
Press Release, February 9, 2015
"Forestar Group Inc. (“Forestar” or the “Company”) (NYSE: FOR) today announced that it has reached an agreement with Cove Street Capital, LLC and SpringOwl Associates, LLC, regarding the membership and composition of the Board of Directors of the Company. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company appointed Daniel B. Silvers of SpringOwl Asset Management LLC and David L. Weinstein, former President and Chief Executive Officer of MPG Office Trust, to serve as Directors of the Company."
Daniel Silvers Joins bwin.party Board
Press Release, June 10, 2014
"Further to the announcement made by bwin.party on 22 May 2014, the bwin.party board of directors announces the appointment of Daniel Silvers as a non-executive director of the Company with immediate effect.."