Stokes to break silence on WAN tilt

Seven Network Ltd chairman Kerry Stokes plans to break his silence on his challenge to the board of West Australian Newspapers Holdings Ltd, agreeing to speak exclusively at a WA Business News' Success and Leadership breakfast.

Mr Stokes has not spoken publicly since last month's shock announcement that Seven Network wants WAN's non-executve directors dumped, and Mr Stokes and his lieutenant Peter Gammell elected in their place.

In what will effectively be a public campaign launch, Mr Stokes intends to address a WA Business News function in Perth on Wednesday 2 April.

He will personally outline for the first time why Seven believes the existing directors, comprising chairman Peter Mansell and directors Eric Fraunschiel, Jenny Seabrook and Mel Ward, should be removed.

The issue will come to a head on 23 April, when the meeting requisitioned by Seven has been scheduled.

Seven has nominated Mr Stokes and Mr Gammell, who is also managing director of Mr Stokes' private company Australian Capital Equity, for election.

WAN has characterised Seven's move as an attempt to gain control of the company without paying an appropriate premium to all of its shareholders.

Apart from Messrs Stokes and Gammell, nine other individuals have nominated for election to the newspaper publisher's board.

The most well-known candidates include University of Western Australia deputy vice-chancellor Margaret Seares, internet entrepreneur Aidan Montague, shareholder activist and journalist Stephen Mayne, and the former editor of Melbourne newspaper The Age, Steve Harris.

Other nominees are Busselton newsagent Sharon Armour, media representative Kevin O'Keeffe, engineer, telco executive and pieNETWORKS Ltd director Peter Abery, former News Corporation Ltd executive Keith Bales and former WAN employee Mervyn Brewer.

For information about Mr Stokes' breakfast, email lisa@wabusinessnews.com.au or phone 9288 2120.