<p>Following news of the Institutional Shareholder Services’ recommendation in favor of Dole’s merger agreement with David H. Murdock, Dole’s Chairman and CEO, Glass Lewis, another leading proxy advisory firm, issued its own recommendation that Dole shareholders should support the merger.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Glass Lewis found that “the all-cash buyout in fact represents the best alternative available to unaffiliated shareholders at this time,” and felt that “Mr. Murdock has put forth a compelling argument that the best strategic alternative for all shareholders is the going-private transaction,” according to a press release.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Last August, Dole announced that the company and Murdock jointly entered into a definitive merger agreement, to which Murdock will acquire for cash all of the outstanding shares of Dole common stock not currently beneficially held by him. Dole stockholders will receive $13.50 in cash for each share of Dole common stock that they hold, in a transaction which places the total enterprise value of Dole at nearly $1.6 billion, according to a press release. A special meeting between stockholders to approve the merger will be held on October 31, 2013. Dole expects to close the transaction later that day or the next day, assuming receipt of the requisite shareholder vote.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> All shareholders as of September 27, 2013 are strongly encouraged to vote their shares for the merger transaction as soon as possible to be sure their shares are represented at the Special Meeting. Shareholders are being asked to vote by internet, telephone, or mail.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for more news on Dole’s merger.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href=" http://investors.dole.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=231558&p=irol-irhome" target="_new"> Dole Food Company </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
