The Kalisman Kid has beaten billionaire Ron Burkle for a third time.
Jason Taubman Kalisman’s Morgans Hotel Group said shareholders voted to elect seven of the nine board members proposed by the company, calling it a “strong show of support.”
The 34-year-old Kalisman held off a rival slate of directors nominated by Sahm Adrangi’s Kerrisdale Capital, which, along with Burkle, has been trying to unseat the board and spur a sale of the chic hotel group.
Burkle’s loss came only hours after the highly favored Pittsburgh Penguins he co-owns were ousted from the Stanley Cup playoffs by the hometown Rangers.
Burkle’s camp chose to focus on the fact that shareholders voted against two of the Kalisman candidates who also work for his investment firm, OTK Associates.
“The shareholders kicked out two of the three OTK shareholders, sending a strong message. The non- OTK shareholders voted overwhelmingly for change,” a Burkle spokesman said.
Burkle’s Yucaipa Cos. holds $100 million of preferred stock and warrants to buy about 10 percent of Morgans after he loaned the company $75 million in 2009.
Kalisman, who spoke to The Post after the company’s annual meeting at the Hudson Hotel, said Burkle violated a loan agreement that barred him from engaging in a proxy fight with the company.
Burkle, who wasn’t present at the meeting, lobbied investors to back the Kerrisdale slate. Earlier this month, he answered shareholder questions at a meeting held by Kerrisdale.
“It was a clear violation of the standstill agreement,” Kalisman said, adding that New York-based company was still weighing whether to take legal action.
Last year, Kalisman, the grandson of real-estate developer Alfred Taubman, beat back an attempt by Burkle to acquire some of Morgan’s crown jewel properties. He also ousted the board that was willing to do the deal with Burkle.
Morgans shares fell more than 3 percent, to $7.82, after the preliminary voting results were released