Rogers Communications Says Won't Appeal Court Ruling On Reconstituted Board

(RTTNews) - Rogers Communications Inc. (RCI.TO, RCI) said Sunday that it will not seek an appeal of last week's British Columbia Supreme Court ruling that upheld reconstituted board of Edward Rogers, who is son of the company's founder.

The Court on Friday affirmed Edward Rogers's authority to make changes to the board without holding a shareholder meeting.

Edward had used his authority as head of the family trust to replace several board members with his own hand-picked directors after he was ousted as chairman.

But, Edward Rogers was appointed as chairman of Rogers Communications at a meeting on 24th October, according to a statement by a group that had said it represented the "reconstituted board" of the company.

Edward Rogers then said he planned to initiate proceedings in the British Columbia Supreme Court to confirm and implement the Shareholder Resolution.

However, Rogers Communications then said that the meeting was not valid, the board's membership hasn't changed at all and John MacDonald remains the chairman.

Rogers Communications's board voted out Edward Rogers on 21st October, after he tried to replace Chief Executive Officer Joe Natale with another executive. The company had appointed John MacDonald as chairman. MacDonald had been a member of the Rogers Board of Directors since 2012 and held the role of Lead Director and Chair of the Corporate Governance Committee.

Edward Rogers' mother and sisters, who are fellow board directors of the company, had said they support Joe Natale as CEO and support his management team. They remain as duly elected members of the Rogers Communications Board and represent the majority of the Board members of the company. No other group of individuals has any authority to purport to act as the Board of Directors of Rogers Communications Inc.

Last Friday, Edward Rogers said the company requires an effective board that shares a strategic vision for the business, is open, deliberate, consistent in its decision making, independent of management, and that always acts in the best interests of the corporation.

Edward noted that Joe Natale remains CEO and a director of Rogers Communications and has the Board's support.

Edward said his family has disagreements like every other family and he would resolve those differences privately.