Unassociated Document
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
(Amendment
No. 1)
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Filed by the Registrant:
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Filed
by a Party other than the Registrant:
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Check the appropriate
box:
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Preliminary
Proxy
Statement
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Confidential,
for Use of the
Commission only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
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Definitive
Proxy
Statement
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Definitive
Additional
Materials
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Soliciting
Material Under Rule
14a-12
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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)
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Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate
box)
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No
fee required.
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Fee
computed on table below per
Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
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(1)
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Title of each
class
of securities to which transaction applies:
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(2)
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Aggregate number
of
securities to which transaction applies:
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(3)
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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):
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(4)
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Proposed maximum
aggregate value of transaction:
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(5)
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Total fee
paid:
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Fee
paid previously with preliminary
materials.
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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.
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(1)
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Amount Previously
Paid:
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(2)
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Form, Schedule
or
Registration Statement No.:
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(3)
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Filing
Party:
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(4)
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Date
Filed:
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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
16, 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
proposal:
(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.
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 WHITE PROXY CARD SENT TO YOU BY THE
COMPANY. IF YOU HAVE ALREADY VOTED THE COMPANY’S WHITE 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
1%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. Following the
public filing of our preliminary proxy statement with the SEC, in which we
focused attention on the lack of disclosure of the legal fees the Company paid
to Rogers & Hardin, the Company’s definitive proxy statement for the 2007
Annual Meeting now states that Mr. Fox has notified the Company that he will
resign from the Compensation Committee immediately following the annual meeting
if he is re-elected to the Board.
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.
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Name,
Age and Business Address
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Present
Principal Occupation or Employment and Business Experience During Last
Five Years; Current Directorships
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Nelson
Obus 60 years old c/o Wynnefield Partners Small Cap Value,
L.P. 450 Seventh Avenue New York, New York 10123
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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
|
|
|
|
Name,
Age and Business Address
|
|
Present
Principal Occupation or Employment and Business Experience During Last
Five Years; Current Directorships
|
|
|
|
|
|
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. As
part
of the relief sought in the civil action, the Securities and Exchange Commission
is seeking a final judgment prohibiting Mr. Obus from acting as an officer
or
director of any public company. Mr. Obus intends to continue to contest the
case
and would challenge the granting of such relief. In what the Wynnefield
Group believes is the unlikely event that there is an adverse
non- appealable ruling in the civil action barring Mr. Obus from serving
as a
director of a public company, Mr. Obus would comply with such order and resign
from the Company’s Board.
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, Nelson Obus 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.
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 contains 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 $325,000 of which
approximately $150,000 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 WHITE proxy card. If you have already returned the
Company’s WHITE 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 WHITE proxy card (even if it is to withhold
authority to vote for the Company’s nominees), 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 WHITE 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 Room 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
|
WYNNEFIELD GROUP
PROXY
VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD
CONTROL NUMBER:
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.
Enter the Control Number shown aboveand follow the instructions to vote via
the
internet.
By
Phone
Using a touch-tone telephone
to vote by phone from the U.S. or Canada toll free. Have your proxy card ready.
Simply dial 1-888-693-8683, enter the Control Number shown above 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 Daylight Time on
Monday,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. 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 Nelson Obus, 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:
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, DATE AND
MAIL THIS PROXY CARD TODAY
(continued and to be signed on reverse side)
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:
(1) Nelson Obus, (2) 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) on the line above.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.
IF NO DIRECTION IS
INDICATED WITH RESPECT TO PROPOSAL 1, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION
OF NOMINEES DESCRIBED IN PROPOSAL 1.
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 BELOW.
Dated:________________________________,
2007
___________________________________________
Signature
___________________________________________
Signature if jointly held
Title:______________________________________
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.