SCHEDULE
14A
(RULE
14a-101)
INFORMATION
REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE
14A INFORMATION
PROXY
STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE
SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Filed
by
the registrant o
Filed
by
a party other than the registrant x
Check
the
appropriate box:
x
Preliminary proxy
statement.
o
Confidential, for use of the Commission
only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)).
o
Definitive proxy statement.
o
Definitive additional
materials.
o
Soliciting material under Rule
14a-12.
CROWN
CRAFTS, INC.
--------------------------------------------------------------
(Name
of
Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
WYNNEFIELD
PARTNERS SMALL CAP VALUE, L.P.
WYNNEFIELD
PARTNERS SMALL CAP VALUE, L.P. I
WYNNEFIELD
SMALL CAP VALUE OFFSHORE FUND, LTD.
WYNNEFIELD
CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
WYNNEFIELD
CAPITAL, INC.
CHANNEL
PARTNERSHIP II, L.P.
NELSON
OBUS
JOSHUA
H.
LANDES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name
of
Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if Other Than the Registrant)
Payment
of filing fee (check the appropriate box):
x
No fee required.
o
Fee computed on table below per Exchange
Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
(1)
Title
of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
(2)
Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
(3)
Per
unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to
Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is
calculated and state how it was determined):
(4)
Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
(5)
Total
fee paid:
o
Fee paid previously with preliminary
materials.
o
Check box if any part of the fee is
offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing
for
which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing
by
registration statement number, or the form or schedule and the date of its
filing.
(1)
Amount Previously Paid:
(2)
Form,
Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
(3)
Filing Party:
(4)
Date
Filed:
PRELIMINARY
COPY SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
DATED
JULY 10, 2007
ANNUAL
MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF
CROWN
CRAFTS, INC.
_______________________________________________
PROXY
STATEMENT OF THE
WYNNEFIELD
GROUP
To
Our
Fellow Stockholders:
This
proxy statement and the enclosed [GOLD] proxy card are being furnished
to
stockholders of Crown Crafts, Inc. (the “Company”) in connection with the
solicitation of proxies by the Wynnefield Group (“the Wynnefield Group”, “we” or
“us”) to be used at the 2007 annual meeting of stockholders of the Company,
including any adjournments or postponements thereof and any meeting held
in lieu
thereof (the “2007 Annual Meeting”). The
2007
Annual Meeting is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, August 14, 2007 at 10:00
a.m.
central daylight time at the Company’s executive offices, located at 916 South
Burnside Avenue Third Floor, Gonzales, Louisiana 70737. This proxy
statement and the [GOLD] proxy card are first being furnished to stockholders
on
or about July __, 2007.
THIS
SOLICITATION IS BEING MADE BY THE WYNNEFIELD GROUP AND NOT ON BEHALF OF THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY (THE “BOARD”).
We
are
soliciting your proxy for the 2007 Annual Meeting in support of the following
proposals:
(1) |
To
elect Nelson Obus and Frederick G. Wasserman (collectively, the
“Nominees”) to serve as Class I Directors of the Company until the 2010
annual meeting of stockholders or until their respective successors
have
been duly elected and qualified;
and
|
(2)
|
To
consider and act upon such other matters as may properly come before
the
2007 Annual Meeting or any adjournments, postponements or continuations
thereof.
|
Stockholders
who own shares of the Company’s Series A common stock, $0.01 par value per share
(the “Series A Common Stock”) at the close of business on June 15, 2007, the
record date for the 2007 Annual Meeting (the “Record Date”), as determined by
the Company’s Board, and as set forth in the Company’s proxy statement for the
2007 Annual Meeting, will be entitled to vote at the 2007 Annual Meeting.
Each
stockholder is entitled to one vote for each share of Series A Common Stock
the
stockholder owned as of the Record Date.
According
to the Company’s proxy statement for the 2007Annual Meeting, as of the Record
Date, there were 10,005,192 shares of Series A Common Stock outstanding
and
entitled to vote at the 2007 Annual Meeting, held by approximately 640
holders
of record.
As
of the
Record Date, the Wynnefield Group is the Company’s largest stockholder and
beneficially owns and/or has the right to vote, in the aggregate, 1,463,335
shares of Series A Common Stock, representing approximately 14.6% of the
Company’s outstanding Series A Common Stock. The Wynnefield Group intends to
vote such shares of Series A Common Stock FOR the election of our Nominees,
and
FOR the candidates who have been nominated by the Company other than William
T.
Deyo, Jr. and Steven E. Fox.
OUR
NOMINEES ARE COMMITTED TO ACTING IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF ALL STOCKHOLDERS.
WE
BELIEVE THAT YOUR VOICE IN THE FUTURE OF THE COMPANY CAN BEST BE EXPRESSED
THROUGH THE ELECTION OF OUR NOMINEES. ACCORDINGLY, THE WYNNEFIELD GROUP URGES
YOU TO VOTE YOUR [GOLD] PROXY CARD FOR
OUR
NOMINEES.
As
explained in the detailed instructions on your [GOLD] proxy card, there are
three ways you may vote. You may:
1.
If
your shares are registered in your own name, sign, date and return the enclosed
[GOLD] proxy card directly to the Wynnefield Group in the enclosed postage-paid
envelope, or to the Company, with a photostatic copy to the Wynnefield Group,
c/o MacKenzie Partners, Inc., at the address set forth on the back cover.
We
recommend that you vote on the [GOLD] proxy card even if you plan to attend
the
2007 Annual Meeting.
If
your
shares are held in the name of a brokerage firm, bank, or nominee on the
Record
Date, only such brokerage firm, bank, or nominee can vote such shares and
only
upon receipt of your specific instructions. Accordingly, please promptly
contact
the person responsible for your account at such institution and instruct
that
person to execute and return the [GOLD] proxy card on your behalf. Please
do
this for each account you maintain to ensure that all of your shares are
voted.
The Wynnefield Group urges you to confirm your instructions in writing to
the
person responsible for your account and to provide a copy of such instructions
to the Wynnefield Group at the address set forth on the back cover, so that
we
are aware of all instructions and can attempt to ensure that such instructions
are followed.
2.
Vote
in person by attending the 2007 Annual Meeting. Written ballots will be
distributed to stockholders who wish to vote in person at the 2007 Annual
Meeting. If you hold your shares through a bank, broker or other custodian,
you
must obtain a legal proxy from such custodian in order to vote in person
at the
meeting
3.
Deliver your voting instructions by telephone or over the Internet. Instructions
for voting by telephone or over the Internet may be found on the
[GOLD] proxy card.
WE
URGE
YOU NOT
TO SIGN
ANY PROXY CARD SENT TO YOU BY THE COMPANY. IF YOU HAVE ALREADY VOTED THE
COMPANY’S PROXY CARD, YOU MAY REVOKE YOUR PREVIOUSLY SIGNED PROXY BY SIGNING AND
RETURNING A LATER-DATED [GOLD] PROXY CARD IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE,
OR BY DELIVERING A WRITTEN NOTICE OF REVOCATION TO THE WYNNEFIELD GROUP OR
TO
THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY.
HOLDERS
OF SHARES AS OF THE RECORD DATE ARE URGED TO SUBMIT A [GOLD] PROXY CARD EVEN
IF
YOUR SHARES WERE SOLD AFTER THE RECORD DATE. IF YOUR SHARES ARE HELD IN THE
NAME
OF A BROKERAGE FIRM, BANK, BANK NOMINEE OR OTHER INSTITUTION ON THE RECORD
DATE,
ONLY THAT INSTITUTION CAN VOTE THOSE SHARES AND ONLY UPON RECEIPT OF YOUR
SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS. ACCORDINGLY, PLEASE CONTACT THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE
FOR
YOUR ACCOUNT AND INSTRUCT THAT PERSON TO SIGN AND RETURN ON YOUR BEHALF THE
[GOLD] PROXY CARD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
The
Wynnefield Group has retained MacKenzie Partners, Inc. to assist us in
communicating with stockholders in connection with the proxy solicitation
and to
assist in efforts to obtain proxies. If you have any questions about executing
your [GOLD] proxy, or if you require assistance, please contact:
MacKenzie
Partners, Inc.
105
Madison Avenue
New
York,
NY 10016
Call
Collect: (212) 929-5500
or
Call
Toll−Free: 1-800-322-2885
E-Mail:
proxy@MacKenziepartners.com
INTRODUCTION
The
Company has a classified board, currently consisting of three (3) Class I
directors, two (2) Class II directors and two (2) Class III directors. At
each
annual meeting of stockholders, directors are duly elected for a full term
of
three years to succeed those whose terms are expiring. At the 2007 Annual
Meeting, three persons will be elected as Class I directors of the Company.
Each
person elected as a Class I director is elected to hold office until the
2010
annual meeting and until his or her respective successor shall have been
duly
elected and qualified. The Class II and Class III directors currently serve
until the annual meetings of stockholders to be held in 2009 and 2008,
respectively.
We
have
provided written notice to the Company of our intent to nominate two directors,
Nelson Obus and Frederick G. Wasserman, for election to the Board as Class
I
directors at the 2007 Annual Meeting, and are soliciting your proxy in
support
of their election. We believe our Nominees are highly qualified individuals
based on their extensive business and professional experience. A quorum
of
stockholders is necessary to transact business at the 2007 Annual Meeting.
The
presence, in person or by proxy, of shares of Series A Common Stock representing
a majority of the shares of Series A Common Stock outstanding and entitled
to
vote on the Record Date is necessary to constitute a quorum at the 2007
Annual
Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes count as present for establishing
a quorum. If a quorum is present at the 2007 Annual Meeting, our Nominees
will
be elected if they receive the affirmative votes of a plurality of the
votes
cast. The three nominees receiving the highest number of votes cast will
be
elected to the Board.
In
the
event the Company purports to increase the number of directorships pursuant
to
its bylaws, or otherwise increases the number of directors to be elected
at the
2007 Annual Meeting, we reserve the right to nominate additional persons
as
directors to fill any vacancies created by the increase or to fill any
additional positions on the Board which the Company’s stockholders shall vote on
at the 2007 Annual Meeting.
REASONS
TO VOTE
FOR
THE WYNNEFIELD GROUP’S NOMINEES
For
the reasons set forth in detail below, the Wynnefield Group has lost confidence
in the ability and willingness of the Company’s Board to develop and implement
an effective business plan, grow the Company’s business and to generate greater
value for the benefit of all its stockholders. We are nominating Nelson Obus
and
Frederick G. Wasserman as directors because we believe that they will act
to
maximize stockholder value in the best interests of all stockholders, rather
than allowing the Company to drift along with revenues that continue to decline
and allowing stockholder value to languish. The background of our Nominees
is
included in the section of this proxy statement entitled “Proposal 1: Election
of Directors.”
We
are,
and have been for eight years, the Company’s largest stockholder, currently
holding approximately 14.6%
of the Series A Common Stock. As such, we are proposing to elect two
independent directors to the Company’s Board to represent the interests of all
stockholders, not just management who, collectively with the incumbent
Board,
own only approximately 12.2% of the outstanding common stock. As a significant
long-time investor, the Wynnefield Group believes that it is appropriate
for it
to have representation on the Board so it can protect the interests of
all of
the Company’s outside stockholders.
The
Wynnefield Group has been concerned for some time with the failure of
management, under the direction of the Company’s Board, to generate any
long-term growth and build stockholder value. Over the past few years, as
the
most significant stockholder, we have had discussions with the Company in
which
we have requested representation on the Board, which requests have been
consistently rebuffed by the Company. In November of 2005, we entered into
an
agreement with the Company which allowed one of our proposed Nominees, Frederick
G. Wasserman, to attend and act as a non-voting observer at Board meetings
and
its committee meetings on behalf of the Wynnefield Group. The Wynnefield
Group,
through Mr. Wasserman and otherwise, has attempted to instill some new thinking
with respect to a number of strategic and other matters as further discussed
below. The Board and the Company’s management, however, remain non-responsive
with respect to the expressed concerns of the Wynnefield Group. On June 28,
2007, the Board terminated Mr. Wasserman’s observer status. In light of the
Company’s continued sub-par revenue-generating performance, deteriorating
stock price and the Board’s intransigence to change, we believe that at the
present time it is in the interests of all of the stockholders that our Nominees
be elected to the Board in order give you a voice and a vote.
In
our
opinion, the current Board has failed to establish and implement a plan
to
systematically and organically grow the Company’s business. During fiscal year
2006 and again in fiscal year 2007, the Company’s sales continue to shrink.
Under the direction of the current Board, the Company has failed to develop
significant new products that have been successful in the marketplace or
to make
any meaningful
improvement in the Company’s market penetration for its existing
products, including making inroads with any major new customers. In fact,
as the
Company remains unable to capitalize on market opportunities, the Company’s
sales performance continues to stagnate. Specifically, net sales, after
falling
by 13.4% from fiscal year 2005 to fiscal year 2006, continued their seven-year
decline and fell once again in fiscal year 2007. Operating
income has been essentially flat over the past four years ($7.4 million,
$6.2
million, $7.0 million and $7.9 million in fiscal years 2004, 2005, 2006
and
2007, respectively) and has trended down over the last six months of fiscal
year
2007 as compared to the comparable period in fiscal year
2006. In our opinion, the Board has failed to develop an
appropriate business plan to reverse the continued decline in net sales
and
revitalize the Company’s moribund business performance.
While
the
Company successfully completed its 2006 financial restructuring, an improved
capital structure is not a panacea for poor operating performance and a
stock
price that has declined by roughly 35% over the past four months. Though
the
stock price responded positively to the Company’s financial restructuring,
peaking at $6.10 on February 2, 2007, the stock has fallen significantly
since
then, and has traded in a narrow range around $4.00 for the past few months.
While reflecting, in part, investor concern about a recall in early 2007
of
certain baby bibs produced by the Company due to lead levels, we believe
the
stock price decrease illustrates the operational vulnerability of the
Company.
The
Company currently faces a number of significant hurdles in its business.
The
infant consumer products industry remains highly competitive. The relative
small
size of the Company, in contrast to its larger, more heavily capitalized
competitors, puts the Company in a significant disadvantage when competing
with
respect to customer shelf space. The Company has historically faced significant
problems in terms of achieving market penetration, a situation which in
our
opinion the Company has not effectively addressed. The Company derives a
large percentage of its revenues from a small number of customers and has
been
unable to successfully expand its customer base. In fiscal year 2007,
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Toy R Us, Inc. and Target Corporation accounted
for 39%,
23% and 16% of the Company’s gross sales, respectively. Such an unhealthy
concentration of the top three customers representing 78% of gross sales
obviously results in significant business risk. The Company acknowledges
that a
loss of one or more of these customers would result in a material decrease
in
revenue and operating income. In addition, the Company is heavily dependent
on
the sale of licensed products, which represented 39% of the Company’s gross
sales in fiscal year 2007. The Company acknowledges that if it is unable
to
renew its major licenses or obtain new licenses, the Company could experience
a
material loss of revenue.
In
light
of these circumstances, we have urged the Company to fully explore strategic
alternatives to maximize stockholder value, including possible strategic
combinations or a sale of all or part of the Company’s business, if appropriate.
In this regard, we believe that the Company should immediately retain a
recognized investment banking firm to analyze the Company and assist the
Board
in exploring and evaluating alternatives to maximize stockholder value. Despite
our urging on this point, the Company has refused to comprehensively review
its
strategic options. Our Nominees will seek to enhance stockholder value by
diligently exploring and, if appropriate, recommending consideration of a
potential strategic transaction. We are a long-term value investor in the
Company, not short-term speculators. We have a lengthy history of making
long-term investments in companies and building long-term stockholder value
for
all stockholders. Nonetheless,
we question the wisdom of Crown Craft remaining an
independent company.
During
the past two years, while our Nominee, Mr. Wasserman, has served as a non-voting
observer to the Board, we have repeatedly recommended to the Board and
management that they adopt a repurchase program for the Company’s common
stock, as
one way to increase the price of its shares. After the announcement of the
recall program for the Company’s bibs in February, 2007, after the price of the
common stock lost roughly 35% of its value, we again urged the Board to
adopt a
stock repurchase program, but to no avail. On June 29, 2007, shortly after
receiving our letter confirming our intent to nominate our Nominees for
election
to the Board, the Company issued a press release announcing that it had
formed a
Capital Committee “authorized to cause” the Company to spend up to $6 million to
repurchase its common stock between July 1, 2007 and July 1, 2008.
While
we
are pleased that the Company has finally taken our advice and initiated
steps to
adopt a buy-back program which we have long championed, if we were cynical,
we
might suspect that the timing of the announcement had more to do with
trying to
defeat our nomination by currying favor with stockholders then the Board’s
sudden
conversion to increasing stockholder value. Nonetheless, after ignoring
our
request to implement a stock buy-back program during the years prior
to our
nomination letter, now, with the Board's formation of the Capital Committee,
we
believe that our nomination
of Messrs. Obus and Wasserman has already borne fruit. However, the
Company’s action only “authorizes” the newly-created Capital Committee “to
cause” the Company to repurchase some of its shares; it does not require the
Capital Committee to take any action. Our Nominees, if elected, are committed
to
making sure that this is not a tactic which may never be executed and
may be
abandoned by the Board after the 2007 Annual Meeting, and to fully
implementing the buy-back, together with other strategic plans we have
recommended.
The
Wynnefield Group is also concerned about deficiencies in the Company’s corporate
governance practices. We believe that the Company’s staggered Board structure
serves only to entrench the existing directors and is not consistent
with modern
trends in corporate governance. Members of a staggered board may be less
accountable to the stockholders of a corporation than directors who are
elected
on an annual basis since they only face re-election once every three years.
We further believe that, for the same reason, having a staggered board
serves to
protect the interests of management rather than serving the interests of
the stockholders. Leading independent stockholder advisory services have
long
debunked the rationale for staggered boards as preserving director continuity.
We believe that modern governance thinking now recognizes staggered boards
for
what they are — an old style entrenchment technique protecting the incumbent
board at the expense of stockholder democracy. The Company’s Board should be
fully accountable to the stockholders of the Company, which accountability
is
best served by annual elections of a complete Board. Our Nominees will
support
annual elections of the entire Board and push for repeal of the staggered
board
in the Company’s charter.
We
are
further troubled by the lack of transparency in the financial arrangements
between certain members of the Company’s Compensation Committee and the
Company’s executive officers. Steven E. Fox, a Company nominee for director to
the Board and long-term director of the Company, is a member of the Board’s
Compensation Committee, which is responsible, among other things, for
determining the compensation of Mr. E. Randall Chestnut, the Company’s CEO. In
turn, Mr. Chestnut has selected the Company’s outside counsel, which for years
has been the law firm of Rogers & Hardin, LLP, of which Mr. Fox is a
partner. The governance policy of the Compensation Committee requires that
its
members be independent — neither officers nor inside directors — in order to
avoid conflicts of interest or the appearance of conflicts of
interest.
The
total
amount of legal fees the Company pays to Rogers & Hardin LLP for legal
services is
not
disclosed in the Company’s proxy statement for the 2007 Annual Meeting. The
Company simply discloses that the amount paid to Rogers & Hardin for
services rendered to the Company in fiscal year 2007 did not exceed 5%
of Rogers
& Hardin’s gross revenues during that time. Since the financials of Rogers
& Hardin are not publicly available information, such disclosure is of
limited value. While the actual legal fee information may not
technically be required by the SEC’s disclosure rules, the Wynnefield Group
believes that, under the circumstances, for the sake of complete transparency
given Mr. Fox’s role in fixing the CEO’s compensation, the amount of fees
payable to the director’s law firm should be fully disclosed.
Lastly,
we are concerned that the Company has not publicly disclosed any succession
plan
that would address the possibility of the current CEO being unable to carry
out
any of his duties and obligations. We believe that it is consistent with
prudent
corporate practice for the Company to publicly disclose and implement a viable
succession plan. Failure to do so, we believe, is evidence of the Board’s
failure to fulfill its fiduciary duty to the stockholders. By creating a
succession vacuum, the Board essentially prevents stockholders from challenging
the actions of the CEO for fear that he would resign, leaving the Company
leaderless.
Our
Nominees, if elected, will constitute a minority of the Board. Accordingly,
the
Nominees, even if voting together, will not be able to adopt any measures
without the support of other members of the current Board. Nevertheless,
the
Nominees will have an opportunity to articulate and raise their concerns
about
the Company’s business practices and strategic plans with the rest of the Board
members.
The
Wynnefield Group believes that the current Board has grown stale and needs
an
infusion of new blood and fresh thinking. The election of our Nominees to
the
Board will add to the Board persons with the financial expertise, business
acumen and commitment to stockholders, necessary to provide new
ideas for improving the Company’s performance and building stockholder
value.
WE
BELIEVE THE ELECTION OF THE WYNNEFIELD GROUP’S NOMINEES WILL PROVIDE THE COMPANY
WITH ABLE PERSONS TO ASSIST AND ADVISE MANAGEMENT IN ADDRESSING CONCERNS
IN THE
AREAS OF STRATEGIC PLANNING AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE. ELECTION OF THE WYNNEFIELD
GROUP’S NOMINEES WILL SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE TO THE COMPANY’S BOARD THAT THEY MUST
TAKE IMMEDIATE STEPS TO INCREASE STOCKHOLDER VALUE.
In
moving
forward with their nominations of the Nominees to the Board, the Wynnefield
Group is seeking to bring a level of accountability and focus to the Board
that has been lacking, and increase value for all of the stockholders of
the
Company.
Our
Nominees are committed to work constructively with the Board to promptly
address the critical issues facing the Company and, if elected, will take
the
steps necessary to enhance value for all stockholders. Given the Board’s
disappointing track record, we believe that it is in the best interest of
all
Company stockholders that the Wynnefield Group’s Nominees be elected at the 2007
Annual Meeting so that they may promptly begin working constructively with
management and the Company’s other directors to deliver improved financial
results, implement best practices in corporate governance and adopt a strategy
to enhance value for all stockholders.
We
believe that your voice in the future of the Company can best be expressed
through the election of our Nominees. Accordingly, we urge you to vote your
[GOLD] proxy card FOR the election of Nelson Obus and Frederick G. Wasserman
to
the Board.
YOUR
VOTE IS IMPORTANT.
IN
ORDER TO CONVINCE MANAGEMENT TO FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE OUTSIDE
STOCKHOLDERS TO CONSIDER A VIABLE STRATEGIC PLAN AND ADOPT BEST PRACTICES
OF
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE, WE URGE YOU TO ELECT OUR NOMINEES TO THE BOARD. WE
URGE
THE OUTSIDE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE TO ELECT THE NOMINEES BY AS LARGE A VOTE AS
POSSIBLE SO YOUR VOICE WILL BE HEARD.
THE
WYNNEFIELD GROUP STRONGLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE TO PROTECT YOUR INTEREST
AS A
STOCKHOLDER OF THE COMPANY BY SIGNING, DATING, AND RETURNING THE [GOLD] PROXY
CARD TODAY.
About
the Wynnefield Group
The
solicitation of proxies is made by the Wynnefield Group and the Nominees.
The
business address of the Wynnefield Group is 450 Seventh Avenue, Suite 509,
New
York, New York 10123.
The
Wynnefield Group consists of Wynnefield Partners Small Cap Value, L.P., a
Delaware limited partnership (“Wynnefield Partners LP”); Wynnefield Partners
Small Cap Value, L.P. I, a Delaware limited partnership (“Wynnefield Partners
I”); Wynnefield Small Cap Value Offshore Fund, Ltd., a private investment
company organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands (“Wynnefield Offshore”);
Wynnefield Capital Management, LLC, a New York limited liability company
that is
the general partner of Wynnefield Partners LP and Wynnefield Partners I (“WCM”);
Wynnefield Capital, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“WCI”) that is the sole
investment manager of Wynnefield Offshore; Channel Partnership II, L.P.,
a
limited partnership (“Channel”); Joshua H. Landes, as vice-president of WCI
and co-managing member of WCM; and Nelson Obus, individually and as president
of
WCI, co-managing member of WCM and general partner of Channel.
Additional
information concerning the Wynnefield Group is set forth below under the
heading
“Certain Information Regarding the Participants and Nominees.”
PROPOSAL
1
ELECTION
OF THE WYNNEFIELD GROUP’S NOMINEES
The
Company has a classified board, currently consisting of three (3) Class I
directors, two (2) Class II directors and two (2) Class III directors. At
each
annual meeting of stockholders, directors are duly elected for a full-term
of
three years to succeed those whose terms are expiring. At the 2007 Annual
Meeting, three persons will be elected as Class I directors of the Company.
Each
person elected as a Class I director is elected to hold office until the
2010
annual meeting and until his or her respective successor shall have been
duly
elected and qualified. The Class II and Class III directors currently serve
until the annual meetings of stockholders to be held in 2009 and 2008,
respectively.
At
the
2007 Annual Meeting, the Wynnefield Group will seek to elect two (2) Class
I
directors - Nelson Obus and Frederick G. Wasserman, each of whom has consented
to being named in this proxy statement and to serving as a director, if
elected,
to fill two (2) of the three (3) open director seats, in opposition
to William T. Deyo, Jr. and Steven E. Fox, two of the Company’s
nominees. Nelson Obus and Frederick G. Wasserman will be elected if they
receive
a plurality of the votes cast. The three persons receiving the highest
number of
votes will be elected to the Board. The Company’s proxy statement for the
2007 Annual Meeting provides that abstentions and broker non-votes are
counted for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum
for the
transaction of business. Proxies withholding authority to vote for the
Nominees
and broker non-votes will not count as affirmative votes for the Nominees.
If
elected, the Nominees would be entitled to serve until the annual meeting
of the
Company’s stockholders to be held in 2010.
You
must sign and return the Wynnefield Group's [GOLD] proxy card to vote for
Messrs. Obus and Wasserman.
Name,
Age and Business Address
|
Present
Principal Occupation or Employment and Business Experience During
Last
Five Years; Current Directorships
|
Nelson
Obus
60
years old
c/o
Wynnefield Partners Small Cap Value, L.P.
450
Seventh Avenue
New
York, New York 10123
|
Mr.
Obus has co-managed Wynnefield Partners Small Cap Value, L.P. since
its
inception in November 1992, Wynnefield Partners Small Cap Value,
L.P. I since its inception in July 1997, and Wynnefield Small
Cap Value Offshore Fund, Ltd. since its inception in January 1997.
Mr. Obus has served as president of Wynnefield Capital, Inc. and as
co-managing member of Wynnefield Capital Management, LLC since 1992.
From February 1990 until September 1992 he was Research Director
of
Schafer Capital Management, Inc., and Schafer Cullen Management,
Inc.
Prior thereto, Mr. Obus worked at Lazard Freres & Co. for eight years
as an analyst, account executive, and research director in its
institutional sales department. He received a B.A. from New York
University and an M.A. and A.B.D. from Brandeis University in Politics.
Before working in the financial sector, Mr. Obus worked as an
educator and land manager in the environmental field. He currently
serves
on the board of directors of Layne Christensen Company and is also
a
member of its Compensation Committee and Audit Committee of the
board of
directors. Mr. Obus has been nominated to serve as a member of
the board
of directors of Gilman + Ciocia, Inc., a regional tax preparation
and
investment advisory company subject to approval by that company’s
stockholders of a pending financing transaction. He previously
served as a
director of Sylvan Food Holdings,
Inc.
|
Frederick
G. Wasserman
52
years old
4
Nobadeer Drive
Pennington,
NJ 08534
|
Mr.
Wasserman is currently a financial management consultant. Until
December
31, 2006, Mr. Wasserman was the Chief Operating/Financial Officer
for
Mitchell & Ness Nostalgia Co., a privately-held manufacturer and
distributor of licensed sportswear and authentic team apparel.
Prior to
Mitchell & Ness, Mr. Wasserman served as the President of Goebel of
North America, a U.S. subsidiary of the German specialty gift maker,
from
2001 to 2005. Mr. Wasserman held several positions, including Chief
Financial Officer and President with Goebel of North America in
2001.
Prior to Goebel, Mr. Wasserman held several positions, including
Interim
President and full-time Chief Financial Officer with Papel Giftware
from
1995 to 2001. He has also served in senior executive and managerial
roles
at both Chelsea Marketing and Sales and The Score Board, Inc. Mr.
Wasserman spent the first 13 years of his career in the public
accounting
profession, serving at Most, Horowitz & Company; Coopers &
Lybrand; and Richard A. Eisner & Company. Mr. Wasserman also serves as
a director of Acme Communications, Inc., Allied Defense Group,
Inc., and
Teamstaff, Inc. and has been nominated to serve as a member of
the board
of directors of Gilman + Ciocia, Inc., a regional tax preparation
and
investment advisory company subject to approval by that company’s
stockholders of a pending financing transaction. Mr. Wasserman
received a
B.S. in Economics from The Wharton School of the University of
Pennsylvania in 1976 where he majored in Accounting.
|
In
April
2006, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed a civil action alleging
that
Nelson Obus, the Wynnefield Capital investment funds, and two other individuals,
in June 2001 engaged in insider trading in the securities of SunSource, a
public
company that had been in the portfolio of the Wynnefield Capital investment
funds for years. Mr. Obus, the Wynnefield Capital investment funds, and the
other defendants emphatically deny the allegations and are vigorously contesting
the case, which remains in the early stages of discovery.
Each
of
the Nominees has consented to serve as a director until the expiration of
his
respective term and until such Nominee’s successor has been elected and
qualified or until the earlier resignation or removal of such Nominee. We
have
no reason to believe that any of the Nominees named above will be disqualified
or unable or unwilling to serve if elected. However, if either of the Nominees
is unable to serve or for good cause will not serve, proxies may be voted
for
another person nominated by us to fill the vacancy.
In
the
event the Company purports to increase the number of nominees to be elected
at
the annual meeting pursuant to its bylaws, we reserve the right to nominate
such
number of additional persons as directors as necessary to fill any vacancies
created by the increase and to vote the [GOLD] proxies in favor of the election
of such nominees.
There
is
no assurance that any of the Company’s nominees will serve as directors if
Messrs. Obus or Wasserman are elected to the Board. In the event that
one or
more of the Wynnefield Group’s Nominees is elected and that one or more of the
Company’s nominees declines to serve with such Nominee or Nominees, the Bylaws
of the Company provide that director vacancies may be filled by majority
vote of
the directors then in office.
If
either of Messrs. Obus or Wasserman are unable to serve as directors, Max
W. Batzer and Jeffrey S. Tullman, the named proxies on the attached [GOLD]
card, or their designees, will vote for the election of an alternative nominee
as may be proposed by the Wynnefield Group.
PROPOSAL
2
OTHER
MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED
AT
THE 2007 ANNUAL MEETING
We
are
not aware of any other proposals to be brought before the 2007 Annual
Meeting. Should other proposals be brought before the 2007 Annual Meeting,
the persons named as proxies in the enclosed [GOLD] proxy card will vote
on such
matters in their discretion.
CERTAIN
INFORMATION REGARDING THE PARTICIPANTS AND NOMINEES
On
November 4, 2005, Wynnefield Capital, Inc., Frederick G. Wasserman and the
Company entered into an agreement whereby Frederick G. Wasserman, one of
the
current Nominees to the Board, was given the right on behalf of Wynnefield,
to
participate in all meetings of the Company’s Board and Committees, as a
non-voting observer. This agreement was terminated by the Company on June
28,
2007, following the Wynnefield Group delivering its nomination letter to
the
Company with respect to the Nominees.
Neither
any Wynnefield Group member nor any Nominee, nor any associate of any Wynnefield
Group member or any Nominee has any interest in the matters to be voted upon
at
the 2007 Annual Meeting, other than an interest, if any, as a stockholder
of the
Company or, with respect to the Nominees, as a nominee for
director.
Except
as
otherwise described herein, neither any Wynnefield Group member, any Nominee
nor
any associate of any Wynnefield Group member or any Nominee is now, or within
the past year has been, a party to any contract, arrangement or understanding
with any person with respect to any securities of the Company (including,
but
not limited to, joint ventures, loan or option arrangements, puts or calls,
guarantees against loss or guarantees of profit, division of losses or profits,
or the giving or withholding of proxies).
Except
as
otherwise described herein, neither any Wynnefield Group member, any Nominee,
nor any associate of any Wynnefield Group member or any Nominee: (1) has
engaged in or has a direct or indirect interest in any transaction or series
of
transactions since the beginning of the Company’s last fiscal year, or in any
currently proposed transaction, to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries
is a party where the amount involved was in excess of $120,000; (2) has
borrowed any funds for the purpose of acquiring or holding any securities
of the
Company; (3) has any arrangement or understanding with any person regarding
any future employment by the Company or its affiliates, or any future
transaction to which the Company or any of its affiliates will or may be
a
party; or (4) is the beneficial or record owner of any securities of the
Company or any parent or subsidiary thereof.
Additional
information concerning the Wynnefield Group and the Nominees, including,
but not
limited to, beneficial ownership of and transactions in the Series A Common
Stock, is set forth in Appendices A and B hereto. Each of the individuals
listed in Appendix A is a citizen of the United States.
OTHER
MATTERS
The
Company’s proxy statement, when mailed, is expected to contain information
regarding: (1) securities ownership of certain beneficial owners and
management; (2) meetings and committees of the Board; (3) the
background of the Company’s nominees for the Board; (4) the compensation
and remuneration paid and payable to the Company's directors and management;
(5) voting procedures, including the share vote required for approval or
election, at the 2007 Annual Meeting; (6) the submission of stockholder
proposals at the Company’s next annual meeting of stockholders; and (7)
information regarding fees and services of the Company’s independent auditors.
The Wynnefield Group has no knowledge of the accuracy or completeness of
the
Company’s disclosures in its proxy materials.
SOLICITATION;
EXPENSES
Proxies
may be solicited by the Wynnefield Group by mail, advertisement, telephone,
facsimile, and personal solicitation. Banks, brokerage houses, and other
custodians, nominees, and fiduciaries will be requested to forward the
Wynnefield Group’s solicitation material to their customers for whom they hold
shares and the Wynnefield Group will reimburse them for their reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses.
The
Wynnefield Group has retained MacKenzie Partners, Inc. to assist in the
solicitation of proxies and for related services. The Wynnefield Group will
pay
MacKenzie Partners, Inc. a retainer of $25,000, subject
to final agreement, for its services and has agreed to reimburse
it for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. The Wynnefield Group has agreed
to
indemnify MacKenzie Partners, Inc. against certain liabilities and expenses,
including certain liabilities under the federal securities laws. The Securities
and Exchange Commission deems such indemnification to be against public policy.
Approximately twenty-five employees of MacKenzie Partners, Inc. will be involved
in the solicitation of proxies.
The
entire expense of preparing, assembling, printing, and mailing this Proxy
Statement and related materials and the cost of soliciting proxies will be
borne
by the Wynnefield Group.
Although
no precise estimate can be made at the present time, the Wynnefield Group
currently estimates that the total expenditures relating to the proxy
solicitation incurred by us will be approximately $______, of which
approximately $______ has been incurred to date. The Wynnefield Group intends
to
seek reimbursement from the Company for those expenses incurred by us in
connection with this proxy solicitation, if any or all of our Nominees are
elected, but does not intend to submit the question of such reimbursement
to a
vote of the stockholders.
VOTING
AND REVOCATION OF PROXIES
For
the
proxy solicited hereby to be voted, the enclosed [GOLD] proxy card must be
signed, dated, and returned to the Wynnefield Group, c/o MacKenzie Partners,
Inc., in the enclosed envelope in time to be voted at the 2007 Annual Meeting.
If you wish to vote for the Nominees, you must submit the enclosed [GOLD]
proxy
card and must NOT submit the Company’s proxy card. If you have already returned
the Company’s proxy card, you have the right to revoke it as to all matters
covered thereby signing, dating, and mailing the enclosed [GOLD] proxy card.
If
you later vote on the Company’s proxy card (even if it is to withhold authority
to vote for the Company’s nominee), you will revoke your previous vote for the
Nominees. ONLY YOUR LATEST DATED PROXY WILL COUNT AT THE 2007 ANNUAL MEETING.
WE
URGE YOU NOT TO RETURN ANY PROXY CARD SENT TO YOU BY THE COMPANY.
If
your
shares are held in the name of a brokerage firm, bank, or nominee, only
such
brokerage firm, bank, or nominee can vote such shares and only upon receipt
of
your specific instructions. Accordingly, please promptly contact the person
responsible for your account at such institution and instruct that person
to
execute and return the [GOLD] proxy card on your behalf. You should also
promptly sign, date, and mail the voting instruction form (or [GOLD] proxy
card)
that your broker or banker sends you. Please do this for each account you
maintain to ensure that all of your shares are voted. If any of your shares
were
held in the name of a brokerage firm, bank, or nominee on the Record Date,
you
will need to give appropriate instructions to such institution if you want
to
revoke your proxy. IF YOU DO NOT GIVE INSTRUCTIONS TO YOUR BROKER, BANK
OR OTHER
NOMINEE, YOUR SHARES WILL NOT BE VOTED.
If
your
shares are held in the name of a brokerage firm, bank, or other
nominee, that bank, brokerage firm or nominee may allow you to deliver
your
voting instructions by telephone or over the Internet. Stockholders
whose shares are held by a brokerage firm, bank or nominee should refer
to the
voting instruction card forwarded to them by that brokerage firm, bank
or other
nominee holding their shares.
Execution
of a [GOLD] proxy card will not affect your right to attend the 2007 Annual
Meeting and to vote in person. Any proxy may be revoked as to all matters
covered thereby at any time prior to the time a vote is taken by:
(i) filing with the Secretary of the Company a later dated written
revocation; (ii) submitting a duly executed proxy bearing a later date to
the Wynnefield Group or to the Company; or (iii) attending and voting at
the 2007 Annual Meeting in person. Attendance at the 2007Annual Meeting will
not
in and of itself constitute a revocation.
Although
a revocation will be effective only if delivered to the Company, the Wynnefield
Group requests that either the original or a copy of all revocations be mailed
to the Wynnefield Group, c/o MacKenzie Partners, Inc., so that the Wynnefield
Group will be aware of all revocations and can more accurately determine
if and
when the requisite proxies for the election of the Nominees as directors
have
been received. The Wynnefield Group may contact stockholders who have revoked
their proxies.
Shares
of
Series A Common Stock represented by a valid and unrevoked [GOLD] proxy card
will be voted as specified. Shares represented by a [GOLD] proxy card where
no
specification has been made will be voted FOR the Nominees.
Except
as
set forth in this Proxy Statement, the Wynnefield Group is not aware of any
other matter to be considered at the 2007 Annual Meeting. The persons named
as
proxies on the enclosed [GOLD] proxy card will, however, have discretionary
voting authority as such proxies regarding any other business that may properly
come before the 2007 Annual Meeting. The proxies may exercise discretionary
authority only as to matters unknown to the Wynnefield Group a reasonable
time
before this proxy solicitation.
Only
holders of record of Series A Common Stock on the Record Date will be entitled
to vote at the 2007 Annual Meeting. If you are a stockholder of record on
the
Record Date, you will retain the voting rights in connection with the 2007
Annual Meeting even if you sell such shares after the Record Date. Accordingly,
it is important that you vote the shares of Series A Common Stock held by
you on
the Record Date, or grant a proxy to vote such shares on the [GOLD] proxy
card,
even if you sell such shares after such date.
The
Wynnefield Group believes that it is in your best interest to elect the Nominees
as directors at the 2007 Annual Meeting. THE WYNNEFIELD GROUP STRONGLY
RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE NOMINEES.
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
The
Wynnefield Group has filed with the SEC statements on Schedule 13D and various
amendments thereto which contain information in addition to that furnished
herein. The Schedule 13D and any amendments thereto may be accessed free
of
charge at the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov
and from
the Public Reference Section of the SEC located at 100 F Street N.E. Washington,
D.C. 20549.
If
you have any questions, require assistance in voting your [GOLD] proxy card,
or
need additional copies of the Wynnefield Group’s proxy materials, please call
MacKenzie Partners, Inc. at the phone numbers listed
below:
MacKenzie
Partners, Inc.
105
Madison Avenue
New
York, NY 10016
Call
Collect: (212) 929-5500
or
Call
Toll Free: (800) 322-2885
APPENDIX
A
BENEFICIAL
OWNERSHIP OF THE WYNNEFIELD GROUP
The
following table sets forth for the Wynnefield Group and their affiliates
the
number of shares of the Company’s Series A Common Stock (the “Shares”)
directly beneficially owned by the members of the Wynnefield
Group.
Name
|
Number
of Shares
|
Approximate
Percentage of
Outstanding
Shares(1)
|
Wynnefield
Partners LP
|
522,600
|
5.2%
|
Wynnefield
Offshore
|
335,135
|
3.4%
|
Wynnefield
Partners I
|
594,000
|
6.0%
|
Channel
|
11,600
|
0.1%
|
Total
|
1,463,335
|
14.6%
|
(1)
Based
upon 10,005,192 Shares outstanding as of May 31, 2007, as set forth in
the
Company’s report on Form 10-K for the period ended April 1, 2007, filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on June 20, 2007.
WCM
is
the sole general partner of Wynnefield Partners LP and Wynnefield Partners
I
and, accordingly, is the indirect beneficial owner (as that term is defined
under Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of the Shares that Wynnefield
Partners
LP and Wynnefield Partners I beneficially own. WCM, as the sole general
partner
of Wynnefield Partners LP and Wynnefield Partners I, has the sole power
to
direct the voting and disposition of the Shares that Wynnefield Partners
LP and
Wynnefield Partners I beneficially own. Nelson Obus and Joshua Landes are
the
co-managing members of WCM and, accordingly, each of Messrs. Obus and Landes
is
the indirect beneficial owner (as that term is defined under Rule 13d-3
under
the Exchange Act) of the Shares that WCM beneficially owns.
Each
of
Messrs. Obus and Landes, as co-managing members of WCM, shares with the
other
the power to direct the voting and disposition of the Shares that WCM
beneficially owns. WCI is the sole investment manager of Wynnefield Offshore
and, accordingly, is the indirect beneficial owner (as that term is defined
under Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of the Shares that Wynnefield
Offshore
beneficially owns.
WCI,
as
the sole investment manager of Wynnefield Offshore, has the sole power
to direct
the voting and disposition of the Shares that Wynnefield Offshore beneficially
owns. Messrs. Obus and Landes are executive officers of WCI and, accordingly,
each of Messrs. Obus and Landes is the indirect beneficial owner (as that
term
is defined under Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of the Shares that
WCI
beneficially owns. Each of Messrs. Obus and Landes, as executive officers
of
WCI, shares with the other the power to direct the voting and disposition
of the
Shares that WCI beneficially owns.
Mr.
Obus
is the sole general partner of Channel and, accordingly, is the indirect
beneficial owner (as that term is defined under Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange
Act) of the Shares that Channel beneficially owns. Mr. Obus, as the general
partner of Channel, has the sole power to direct the voting and disposition
of
the Shares beneficially owned by Channel.
Reference
is made to the Schedule 13D filing of the Wynnefield Group, as amended, for
a
more complete description of the beneficial ownership interests of the
respective parties.
BENEFICIAL
OWNERSHIP OF THE NOMINEES
The
following table contains a summary of the total number of Shares beneficially
owned by the Nominees:
Name
|
Number
of Shares
|
Approximate
Percentage of Outstanding Shares(1)
|
Nelson
Obus
|
1,463,335
(2)
|
14.6%
|
Frederick
G. Wasserman
|
0
|
-
|
|
(1) |
Based
upon 10,005,192 Shares outstanding as of May 31, 2007, as set
forth in the
Company’s report on Form 10-K for the period ended May 31, 2007, filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 20,
2007.
|
|
(2) |
Includes
(i) 522,600 Shares that Mr. Obus is the indirect beneficial owner
of (as
that term is defined under Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act)
through his
position as co-managing member of WMC, the sole general partner
of
Wynnefield Partners LP; (ii) 594,000 Shares that Mr. Obus is
the indirect
beneficial owner of (as that term is defined under Rule 13d-3
under the
Exchange Act) through his position as co-managing member of WCM,
the sole
general partner of Wynnefield Partners I; (iii) 335,135 Shares
that Mr.
Obus is the indirect beneficial owner of (as that term is defined
under
Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) through his position as an
executive
officer of WCI, the sole investment manager of Wynnefield Offshore;
and
(iv) 11,600 Shares that Mr. Obus is the indirect beneficial owner
of (as
that term is defined under Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act)
through his
position as sole general partner of
Channel.
|
APPENDIX
B
TRADING
ACTIVITY OF THE NOMINEES AND THE WYNNEFIELD GROUP
The
following table contains a summary description of all purchases and sales
of
Shares of the Company, if any, effected within the past two years by or on
behalf of the Nominees or the Wynnefield Group.
Holder
|
No.
of Shares
|
Action
|
Date
|
|
|
|
|
Wynnefield
Partners LP
|
7,000
|
Purchase
|
7-14-06
|
|
|
|
|
Wynnefield
Partners I
|
5,000
|
Purchase
|
6-24-05
|
|
9,800
|
Purchase
|
7-14-06
|
|
|
|
|
Wynnefield
Offshore
|
12,700
|
Purchase
|
7-14-06
|
PRELIMINARY
COPY SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
DATED
JULY 10, 2007
WYNNEFIELD
GROUP
PROXY
VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD
Your
vote
is important. Casting your vote in one of the three ways described on
this
instruction card votes all shares of Series A Common Stock of Crown Crafts,
Inc.
that you are entitled to vote.
Please
consider the issues discussed in the proxy statement and cast your
vote:
By
Mail
Completing,
dating, signing and mailing the GOLD proxy card in the postage-paid
envelope
included with the proxy statement.
Via
Internet
Accessing
the World Wide Web site http://www.cesvote.com
and
follow the instructions to vote via the internet.
By
Phone
Using
a
touch-tone telephone to vote by phone toll free from the U.S. or Canada.
Simply
dial 1-888-693-8683 and follow the instructions. When you are finished
voting, your vote will be confirmed, and the call will end.
You
can
vote by phone or via the internet any time prior to 11:59 p.m. eastern
time on
August 13, 2007. You will need the control number printed at the top
of this
instruction card to vote by phone or via the internet. If you do so,
you do not
need to mail in your proxy card.
FORM
OF [GOLD] PROXY CARD
2007
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF CROWN CRAFTS,
INC.
THIS
PROXY IS BEING SOLICITED BY THE WYNNEFIELD GROUP
The
undersigned, revoking any proxy previously given, hereby appoints Max
W. Batzer and Jeffrey S. Tullman, and each of them, as attorneys and
proxies (each with the power to act alone and with the power of substitution
and
revocation) to vote in the name of and as proxies for the undersigned
at the
2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Crown Crafts, Inc. (the “Company”) to be
held on Tuesday, August 14, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. central daylight
time at the Company's headquarters, 916 South Burnside Ave, Gonzales,
Louisiana 70737 and at any adjournments, postponements or continuations
thereof, according to the number of votes that the undersigned would
be entitled
to cast if personally present on the following matter:
THE
WYNNEFIELD GROUP STRONGLY RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE
FOR
THE WYNNEFIELD GROUP’S NOMINEES LISTED IN PROPOSAL 1.
PROPOSAL
1.
ELECTION
OF DIRECTORS - To elect as Class I directors of the Company for three-year
terms
of office: Nelson Obus and Frederick G. Wasserman
FOR
___
WITHHOLD
___
FOR
ALL
EXCEPT ___
The
Wynnefield Group intends to use this proxy to vote (i) FOR Messrs. Obus
and
Wasserman, and (ii) FOR the persons who have been nominated by the Company
to
serve as directors, other than William T. Deyo, Jr. and Steven E. Fox,
for whom
the Wynnefield Group is NOT seeking authority to vote for and WILL NOT
exercise
any such authority. To withhold authority to vote for the election of Messrs.
Obus and Wasserman and all candidates nominated by the Company, other
than William T. Deyo, Jr. and Steven E. Fox, place an X next to “Withhold.”
To withhold authority to vote for the election of one or more nominees,
including Messrs. Obus and Wasserman and those candidates nominated by
the
Company, other than William T. Deyo, Jr. and Steven E. Fox, place an X next
to “For All Except” and write the name of such nominee(s) below. You should
refer to the proxy statement and form of proxy distributed by the Company
for
the names, background, qualifications and other information concerning
the
Company’s nominees.
______________________________________________
There
is no assurance that any of the Company’s nominees will serve as directors if
Messrs. Obus or Wasserman are elected to the Board. In the event that one
or
more of the Wynnefield Group’s Nominees is elected and that one or more of the
Company’s nominees declines to serve with such Nominee or Nominees, the Bylaws
of the Company provide that director vacancies may be filled by majority
vote of
the directors then in office.
PROPOSAL
2.
OTHER
MATTERS.
In
their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business
as
may be properly presented to the meeting or any adjournment, postponement
or
continuation thereof, and is unknown to the proxies and their representatives
a
reasonable time before the proxy solicitation.
IMPORTANT:
PLEASE SIGN AND DATE ON THE REVERSE
SIDE.
______________________________________________
IF
NO DIRECTION IS INDICATED WITH RESPECT TO PROPOSAL 1, THIS PROXY WILL BE
VOTED
FOR THE ELECTION OF NOMINEES DESCRIBED IN PROPOSAL
1.
This
proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein
by
the undersigned stockholder. Unless otherwise specified, this proxy will
be
voted “FOR” the election of Nelson Obus and Frederick G. Wasserman as directors
and “FOR” the persons who have been nominated by the Company to serve as
directors, other than William T. Deyo, Jr. and Steven E. Fox. This proxy
revokes
all prior proxies given by the undersigned.
Please
sign exactly as your name appears hereon or on your proxy card previously
sent
to you. When shares are held by joint tenants, both should sign. When signing
as
an attorney, executor, administrator, trustee, or guardian, please give full
title as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporation name by
the
President or other duly authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign
in
partnership name by authorized person.
|
Dated:
_______________________________, 2007
_________________________________________
(Signature)
_________________________________________
(Signature,
if jointly held)
Title:
____________________________________
|
PLEASE
SIGN, DATE, AND MAIL THIS PROXY CARD TODAY.