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SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. 3)
Filed by the Registrant / /
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant /X/
Check the appropriate box:
/ / Preliminary Proxy Statement
/ / Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
14a-6(e)(2))
/X/ Definitive Proxy Statement
/ / Definitive Additional Materials
/ / Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section240.14a-11(c) or
Section240.14a-12
TSI INCORPORATED
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(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
JJF GROUP, INC.
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
/X/ No fee required.
/ / 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:
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(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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(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):
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/ / Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
/ / 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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(4) Date Filed:
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John J. Fauth
JJF Group, Inc.
333 South Seventh Street 31st Floor
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402
Dear Fellow TSI Shareholder:
As an investor, I am concerned with TSI's future and its performance as an
investment--concerns I believe we share. I make investments with a goal of
maximizing shareholder value based on total return. For the last three fiscal
years ending March 31, 1999 TSI has produced a total return of -5.1%. For the
same three year period, the Russell 2000 index returned 25.3%; the S&P 500
returned 110%; and the NASDAQ Composite index returned 125.9%. With these kind
of returns, TSI's Board should be actively searching for shareholder value
enhancement ideas.
Since last fall, I have spoken with TSI's CEO twice, and once with two board
members about how TSI's shareholders might realize the full value of their
investment after so many years of stock underperformance. Although I have asked
several times, the full TSI Board has declined to discuss these issues with me,
even after I made a cash offer to buy the company at $12.50 per share. I HAVE
PREPARED THE ATTACHED PROXY STATEMENT AS A WAY TO PUT THESE ISSUES BEFORE
YOU--TSI'S REAL OWNERS.
I BELIEVE TSI SHOULD:
- BECOME A PRIVATE COMPANY. TSI's stock has underperformed the S&P 500,
NASDAQ and the Russell 2000 indexes over the past 3 years. Moreover, I
believe increased global competition for capital makes it even more
unlikely that TSI, on its own, can command a valuation in the public
markets we shareholders deserve going forward. If TSI's stock doesn't
perform with the market and the company doesn't need public equity capital
to meet its growth goals, why remain a public company?
- PRESERVE WHAT'S GOOD. I prefer to grow this business...in Minnesota...with
an enhanced team including existing employees. I have purchased 19
companies over the past 14 years, and founded 10 additional companies. My
businesses, wherever located, have always been headquartered in Minnesota.
I have never uprooted a company from its hometown. I provide resources to
help build these companies. I have never sold a business against the
wishes of the management team.
I have been a Minnesota businessman for over 20 years. I have successfully
purchased, owned and operated 29 companies with annual revenues ranging from $1
million to over $90 million--including two public companies purchased in
friendly transactions. I have served on the Board of Children's Hospital in
Minneapolis, and in fundraising and giving to several local charities and
organizations. In addition to helping create jobs in Minnesota, I am proud of
the community work and service provided by those employees in their communities.
I also serve on the Board of Governors of Georgetown University, and have been
involved in education issues for a long time.
I HAVE NEVER LAUNCHED A PROXY BATTLE IN MY CAREER. THE "JUST SAY NO" APPROACH OF
TSI'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS FORCED MY HAND. IMAGINE THE TECHNIQUE OF REFUSING
TO DISCUSS AN OFFER OF A PREMIUM ABOVE THE EXISTING SHARE PRICE. THEIR REFUSAL
TO SPEAK TO A POTENTIAL BUYER WOULDN'T MAKE SENSE EVEN IF THEY OWNED THE
COMPANY. IN THIS INSTANCE, I FEEL MY INVESTMENT OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, AND THE
TENS OF MILLIONS OF THE COLLECTIVE SHAREHOLDERS, REQUIRES A BETTER ANSWER THAN
NO ANSWER AT ALL!
I urge you to consider my proposals in the enclosed proxy materials: the
election of three new outside directors to the eight-person Board, the
ratification of the existing auditing firm AND the passage of six proposals
designed to strengthen your rights to control our mutual investment in TSI.
I look forward to seeing you at the TSI Annual Meeting on July 22, 1999.
Sincerely,
John J. Fauth
Chairman
JJF Group, Inc.
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SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
1999 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
OF
TSI INCORPORATED
PROXY STATEMENT
OF
JJF GROUP, INC.
This proxy statement (the "Proxy Statement") and the enclosed GREEN proxy
card are being sent to holders of the common stock, par value $.10 per share
(the "Shares"), of TSI Incorporated, a Minnesota corporation, (the "Company" or
"TSI") by JJF Group, Inc., a Minnesota corporation ("JJF") formed by Mr. John J.
Fauth (Mr. Fauth and JJF are sometimes referred to collectively as the "JJF
Group"). Mr. Fauth is a Minneapolis businessman and a shareholder of TSI. The
JJF Group is soliciting proxies from the Company's shareholders to be voted at
the annual meeting of shareholders of the Company, which is expected to be held
at the Company's executive offices, which are located at 500 Cardigan Road,
Shoreview, Minnesota 55126, at 9:30 a.m. (local time) on Thursday, July 22,
1999, including any adjournments or postponements, continuations or
reschedulings thereof (the "Annual Meeting"). This Proxy Statement and the GREEN
proxy card are first being sent to the Company's shareholders on or about July
2, 1999. The Company has set May 27, 1999 as the record date for determining
shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting.
THIS SOLICITATION IS BEING MADE BY THE JJF GROUP AND NOT ON BEHALF OF THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY. THE ADDRESS OF THE JJF GROUP IS 333 SOUTH
SEVENTH STREET, SUITE 3100, MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA 55402; TELEPHONE (612)
673-6700.
INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY
Mr. Fauth is a shareholder of the Company and JJF has offered to enter into
a cash merger with the Company in which Company shareholders would receive
$12.50 per Share. The JJF Group is soliciting your proxies to elect three
individuals (the JJF Nominees) to the eight-person Board. If elected, each of
the JJF Group Nominees has indicated that he intends to support a sale of the
Company to maximize current shareholder value, whether the sale is to the JJF
Group or another purchaser. Election of the JJF Nominees will not give the JJF
Group the power to control the actions of the Board, but will provide three
directors who intend to work to develop a plan to maximize shareholder value.
The JJF Group is also soliciting your proxies to amend the Company's bylaws and
Articles of Incorporation to preserve and enhance shareholders' corporate
governance rights and to prevent the Board from establishing entrenchment or
other obstacles to any proposals that would maximize shareholder value.
WHY YOU SHOULD VOTE FOR THE JJF GROUP PROPOSALS
- To elect directors who are committed to maximizing shareholder value
- To adopt amendments to the Company's bylaws and Articles of Incorporation
that will preserve your right as a shareholder to decide the Company's
future
- To prevent the current Board from implementing policies or adopting
strategies that could limit the value of your Shares by creating obstacles
to a sale of the Company
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND MAIL (OR FAX BOTH
SIDES OF) THE ENCLOSED GREEN PROXY CARD TO VOTE FOR THE JJF NOMINEES AND THE
BYLAW AND ARTICLE PROPOSALS.
The JJF Group believes that, to date, the public stock market has not
responded to the Company's past performance or its future prospects. The
Company's stock has failed to generate substantial investor interest and has not
generated a material investment return for shareholders. The JJF Group believes
that
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this will continue due to a variety of factors, including the Company's historic
performance, the limited number of financial analysts following the Company and
general market conditions for the Company and other small public companies. Mr.
Fauth has offered to enter into a merger with the Company in which the Company's
shareholders would receive a cash price for the Shares which is higher than any
price ever paid for the Shares in the public market. The Board of Directors has
rejected Mr. Fauth's cash offer without negotiation. The JJF Group believes
shareholders should have an opportunity to consider and accept or reject his
offer.
In the Fall of 1998, Mr. Fauth identified the Company as an attractive
investment. On November 25, 1998, Mr. Fauth met with two members of the
Company's Board of Directors to discuss his interest in the Company, and he
began acquiring Shares on November 30, 1998. As of the date of this Proxy
Statement, Mr. Fauth and the JJF Group own 652,000 shares, which constitutes
approximately 5.8% of the total outstanding shares of the Company's common
stock.
On March 1, 1999, Mr. Fauth met with James Doubles, the Company's Chief
Executive Officer, to make his acquaintance and discuss Mr. Fauth's interest in
the Company. On March 11, 1999, Mr. Fauth wrote a letter to the Company stating
an interest in beginning negotiations to acquire all of the Company's
outstanding common stock. Although the letter did not state a price, Mr. Fauth
indicated that the cash offer would represent a significant premium over the
$8.00 per share average price of TSI common stock over the 52 previous weeks.
The letter also requested a meeting with the Company's Board and stated that Mr.
Fauth would consider a price higher than a 30% premium in the event that he was
permitted to conduct a due diligence review of the Company which demonstrated
that a higher price was warranted. The response to the March 11, 1999 letter
finally came on April 27, 1999, when Mr. Fauth received a letter from the
Company stating that the Board of Directors of the Company had concluded that
the Company should continue as an independent, publicly held entity.
Over the past several months, Mr. Fauth has attempted to meet with the
Company's Board of Directors to make a presentation about his proposals. After
his March 1, 1999 request was denied, Mr. Fauth, on several occasions, renewed
his request to make a presentation to the Board. The Board has either denied or
ignored each request.
On June 14, 1999, Mr. Fauth delivered a letter to the Company proposing to
acquire the Company in a merger where the Company's shareholders would receive
$12.50 per share, subject to the negotiation and execution of a definitive
merger agreement containing provisions which are customary in transactions of
this nature and approval by the Company's Board and shareholders. This price
represented a significant premium over the Company's closing stock price of
$10.00 per share on June 11, 1999, the last trading day prior to the offer, and
a 56% premium over the $8 per share stock price which prevailed before Mr. Fauth
started accumulating a significant number of shares in the spring of 1999. The
letter again requested a meeting with the Board of Directors of the Company to
discuss the proposal and also summarized the proposals of the JJF Group
contained in this Proxy Statement. Again, the Company's Board of Directors
refused to meet with Mr. Fauth.
The JJF Group believes that, to optimize shareholder value, the Company
should be privately held. The Company does not need access to additional public
capital. Its stock has not been widely followed by analysts. Most importantly,
the public stock market has not responded to the Company's past performance or
its future prospects. The Company is small relative to many public companies,
and the stock of small public companies have significantly underperformed those
of larger companies in the public market. Due to the Board of Directors' lack of
interest in Mr. Fauth's proposals and the Board's refusal to allow Mr. Fauth to
make a presentation to the Board , Mr. Fauth has decided to communicate directly
with the shareholders and let the shareholders decide the future of the Company.
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ELECTION OF DIRECTORS (PROPOSAL 1). The JJF Group is soliciting your
proxies to elect three persons to the eight-person Board. The JJF Group intends
to nominate Mr. Fauth, Joseph G. Kohler and G. Richard Haun, Jr. to be elected
to the three seats on the Company's Board currently held by John Carlson, Lowell
Nystrom and James Doubles, whose terms expire at the Annual Meeting. The persons
elected to these seats will hold three year terms expiring in 2002. The other
current members of the Board have terms that do not expire until 2000 or 2001
and thus are not subject to election at this Annual Meeting.
The JJF Group anticipates that the Company intends to nominate Messrs.
Carlson, Nystrom and Doubles for re-election for the terms expiring in 2002. The
JJF Group is opposing Mr. Doubles' re-election to the Board only because of the
limited number of Board positions that can be contested at this Annual Meeting.
The JJF Group has no current intention of replacing Mr. Doubles as Chief
Executive Officer of the Company. Even if all of the nominees of the JJF Group
are elected, they will not constitute a majority of the Board and will not be
able to control the Board's decision making process. However, they would be a
significant voice for actions to maximize shareholder value.
APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS (PROPOSAL 2). The JJF Group is soliciting your
proxies to ratify the appointment of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP as the Company's
independent auditors for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2000. This proposal
will be presented at the Annual Meeting by the Company and the JJF Group
supports the proposal.
PROPOSALS TO AMEND THE BYLAWS AND ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION (PROPOSALS
3-8). The JJF Group is also soliciting your proxies with respect to the
following six proposed amendments to TSI's bylaws and Articles of Incorporation,
which are all designed to maximize the opportunity for shareholders to consider
directly proposals for an acquisition of the Company by the JJF Group or any
other acquirer. The JJF Group's six proposals (the "Bylaw and Article
Proposals") are:
- Proposal 3--THE EQUAL VOTING RIGHTS PROPOSAL to "opt out" of Minn. Stat.
Section 302A.671, so as to allow any potential acquirer the same voting
rights for the Shares it acquires as other shareholders have for their
Shares.
- Proposal 4--THE DEFENSIVE ACTIONS PROPOSAL to amend the Articles of
Incorporation to prohibit the Board from adopting various Defensive
Actions (as defined) whose primary purpose is to prevent a change in
control of the Company unless the Defensive Action is approved by the
unanimous vote of the Board of Directors.
- Proposal 5--THE MEETING DATE PROPOSAL to require that the annual meeting
of shareholders for the year 2000 be held not later than July 20, 2000.
- Proposal 6--THE BYLAW REPEAL PROPOSAL to repeal any Bylaw changes adopted
by the Board between May 29, 1999 and the date of adoption of this
proposal by the shareholders.
- Proposal 7--THE BYLAW AMENDMENT PROTECTION PROPOSAL to prevent the Board
from amending any bylaws adopted by the shareholders.
- Proposal 8--THE ANTI-POISON PILL/DILUTION PROPOSAL to amend the Articles
of Incorporation to prohibit, during the period from the Annual Meeting
until December 31, 2000, the adoption of a shareholder rights plan (also
known as a "poison pill") or the issuance of securities which would
increase the number of outstanding shares of capital stock to more than
11,500,000 shares of common stock, unless approved by the unanimous vote
of the Board of Directors.
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YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
NO MATTER HOW MANY OR HOW FEW SHARES YOU OWN, WE URGE YOU TO PROMPTLY SIGN,
DATE AND MAIL (OR FAX BOTH SIDES OF) THE ENCLOSED GREEN PROXY CARD TO VOTE FOR
THE PROPOSALS.
VOTING "STREET NAME" SHARES: If you hold your Shares in the name of one or
more brokerage firms, banks or nominees, only they can exercise voting rights
with respect to your Shares and only upon receipt of your specific instructions.
So it is critical that you promptly sign, date and mail the enclosed GREEN proxy
card in the envelope provided or contact the person responsible for your account
and give instructions to sign, date and mail the GREEN proxy card representing
your Shares. JJF urges you to confirm in writing your instructions to the person
responsible for your account and to provide a copy of those instructions to JJF
in care of Beacon Hill Partners, Inc., who is assisting in this solicitation, at
the address and telephone numbers set forth below and on the back cover of this
Proxy Statement, so that JJF will be aware of all instructions and can attempt
to ensure that such instructions are followed.
The JJF Group is not aware of any proposals other than the proposals
contained in the Company's proxy materials to be brought before the Annual
Meeting. However, should other proposals be brought before the Annual Meeting,
the persons named as proxies on the enclosed GREEN proxy card will vote on such
matters in their discretion.
If you have any questions regarding your proxy, or need assistance in voting
your Shares, please call:
BEACON HILL PARTNERS, INC.
90 BROAD STREET, 20TH FLOOR
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10004
(212) 843-8500 (CALL COLLECT) OR
CALL TOLL-FREE (800) 475-9320
FAX (212) 843-4384
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PROPOSAL 1 (ITEM 1 ON PROXY CARD)
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
SUMMARY: PROPOSAL TO ELECT JOHN J. FAUTH, JOSEPH G. KOHLER AND G. RICHARD HAUN,
JR. TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE TERMS EXPIRING IN 2002.
Members of the Company's Board of Directors hold staggered three year terms.
Thus in any given year only a portion of the Board faces election. At the Annual
Meeting, the shareholders will elect three directors to serve a three-year term
ending at the 2002 Annual Meeting or until their respective successors are duly
elected and qualified. The directors will be elected by a majority of the Shares
voting at the Annual Meeting for the election of directors.
The JJF Group intends to nominate John J. Fauth, Joseph G. Kohler and G.
Richard Haun, Jr. for election as directors for the three-year term (the "JJF
Nominees"). Mr. Fauth currently owns approximately 5.8% of the Company's common
stock. Messrs. Kohler and Haun are employees of Mr. Fauth, and each has
extensive experience in acquisitions of public and private companies.
The JJF Group believes that the election of the JJF Nominees to the Board is
in the best interests of the shareholders and is necessary for maximizing
shareholder value. Although no one can predict the future of the stock market,
the JJF Nominees believe that it is unlikely that the public stock market will
properly reward the Company's shareholders in the future. If elected, each of
the JJF Group Nominees has indicated that he intends to support a sale of the
Company to maximize current shareholder value, whether the sale is to the JJF
Group or another purchaser. Although the JJF Nominees may have a conflict of
interest as a result of their relationship with Mr. Fauth if the Board is
confronted with an offer by Mr. Fauth or a competing offer to acquire the
Company, the JJF Nominees intend to fulfill their fiduciary obligations as
directors of the Company. If elected, the JJF Nominees will not control Board
decisions, because they would constitute only three of eight directors, and will
work to maximize shareholder value consistent with their fiduciary obligations
to the Company. If Proposals 4 or 8 discussed below are adopted, then any of the
JJF Nominees or any other member of the Board of Directors could block certain
actions by the Board of Directors. See the discussion below of Proposal 4 and
Proposal 8.
The following table sets forth the name, age, present principal occupation
and business experience for the past five years, and certain other information,
with respect to each of the JJF Nominees. This information has been furnished to
JJF by the respective JJF Nominees. Each of the JJF Nominees has consented to
serve as a director and, if elected, would hold office until the expiration of
his term or until his earlier death, retirement, resignation or removal. The
business address of each nominee is 3100 Metropolitan Centre, 333 South Seventh
Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402.
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NOMINEES FOR TERM EXPIRING IN 2002:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
John J. Fauth (54) Mr. Fauth has served as the Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer of Churchill Industries, Inc.
(an industrial holding company based in Minneapolis,
Minnesota) since he founded that company in 1982. He has
also served as the Chairman of Churchill Capital, Inc.
(an investment management firm based in Minneapolis)
since 1987. He is also the President and Chief Executive
Officer of JJF. Mr. Fauth serves on the Board of
Directors of Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
and John G. Kinnard & Co. (a publicly held investment
banking firm based in Minneapolis, Minnesota). From 1994
to 1997, he was a member of the Board of Directors of
Minneapolis Children's Medical Center (now Children's
Healthcare), located in Minneapolis and St. Paul,
Minnesota.
Joseph G. Kohler (52) Mr. Kohler has served as the General Counsel of
Churchill Industries since 1995. Prior to joining
Churchill Industries, Mr. Kohler was a partner and of
counsel in the law firm of Lindquist & Vennum PLLP in
Minneapolis, Minnesota from 1977 to 1995.
G. Richard Haun, Jr. (42) Mr. Haun has served as Managing Director of Churchill
Industries since December 1998. Mr. Haun served as
President of Sterner Holding Company, a company owned by
Churchill Industries, and Chief Executive Officer of
Sterner's subsidiaries from August 1995 to December
1998. From 1991 to 1995, Mr. Haun was the Chief
Financial Officer of Churchill Industries.
</TABLE>
Mr. Fauth has been a Minnesota businessman for over 20 years. He has
successfully purchased, owned and operated 29 companies with annual revenues
ranging from $1 million to over $90 million--including two public companies
purchased in friendly transactions. He has never launched a proxy battle in his
career. He served on the Board of Minneapolis Children's Hospital and is active
in fundraising and giving to several local charities and organizations. He also
serves on the Board of Directors of Georgetown University, and has been involved
in education issues for a long time.
Other than the compensation regularly paid by the Company to its Board
members, the JJF Nominees will not receive any compensation from JJF for their
services as directors of the Company. Information about compensation paid by the
Company to directors is available in the Company's proxy materials. JJF has
agreed to indemnify all of the JJF Nominees against any costs, expenses and
other liabilities associated with their nomination and the election contest.
None of the JJF Nominees is adverse to the Company or any of its subsidiaries in
any material pending legal proceedings.
The JJF Group does not expect that any of the JJF Nominees will be unable to
stand for election. However, if a vacancy among the JJF Nominees should occur,
the Shares represented by the enclosed GREEN proxy card will be voted in each
such case for a substitute nominee selected by JJF. In addition, the JJF Group
reserves the right to nominate substitute or additional persons if the Company
makes or announces any changes to its bylaws or takes or announces any other
action that has, or if consummated would have, the effect of disqualifying any
or all of the JJF Nominees. In any such case, Shares represented by the enclosed
GREEN proxy card will be voted for all such substitute or additional nominees
selected by JJF.
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In accordance with applicable regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, the GREEN proxy card affords each shareholder the opportunity to
designate the names of any of the JJF Nominees whom he or she does not desire to
elect to the Board. The JJF Group urges shareholders to vote FOR all of the JJF
Nominees on the enclosed GREEN proxy card. The persons named as proxies on the
enclosed GREEN proxy card will vote, in their discretion, for each of the JJF
Nominees who is nominated for election and for whom authority has not been
withheld.
THE JJF GROUP URGES ALL SHAREHOLDERS TO VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF THE JJF
NOMINEES ON THE ENCLOSED GREEN PROXY CARD.
------------------------
PROPOSAL 2 (ITEM 2 ON PROXY CARD)
APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS
The Company's Board of Directors has appointed KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, who
served as independent auditors of the Company for the fiscal year ended March
31, 1999, as the independent auditors for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2000.
The Company is seeking shareholder ratification of the appointment at the Annual
Meeting. The JJF Group supports the Company's proposal to ratify the appointment
of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP as the Company's independent auditors for the fiscal
year ending March 31, 2000 and recommends a vote "FOR" such appointment. The
affirmative vote of shareholders holding at least a majority of the Shares
voting in person or by proxy on the appointment of auditors at the Annual
Meeting is necessary for approval. Unless otherwise specified, proxies solicited
by the JJF Group will be voted "FOR" the appointment. According to the Company's
proxy materials, a representative of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP will be present at
the Annual Meeting and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
THE JJF GROUP RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS ON THE
ENCLOSED GREEN PROXY CARD.
------------------------
PROPOSAL 3 (ITEM 3 ON PROXY CARD)
EQUAL VOTING RIGHTS PROPOSAL
SUMMARY: PROPOSAL TO ADOPT A BYLAW PROVISION TO ALLOW POTENTIAL ACQUIRERS TO
ENJOY THE SAME VOTING RIGHTS AS OTHER SHAREHOLDERS.
Shareholders are asked to approve the following proposal (referred to as the
"Equal Voting Rights Proposal") to amend the Company's bylaws:
RESOLVED, that the existing text of Article II, Section 6 of the Bylaws
of the Company be designated as Section 6(a) and that a new Section 6(b)
be added as follows:
"(b) EQUAL VOTING RIGHTS. The provisions of Section 302A.671 of the
Minnesota Business Corporation Act shall not apply to acquisitions of
shares of this corporation."
THE JJF GROUP IS SOLICITING YOUR PROXY TO "OPT OUT" OF MINNESOTA STATUTES
SECTION 302A.671, KNOWN AS THE CONTROL SHARE ACQUISITION ACT, SO THAT ALL
SHAREHOLDERS HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE THEIR SHARES, REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF
SHARES THEY OWN OR HOW SUCH SHARES WERE ACQUIRED. THE CONTROL SHARE ACQUISITION
ACT IS AN ANTI-TAKEOVER MEASURE ADOPTED BY THE STATE OF MINNESOTA WHICH SEVERELY
LIMITS THE ABILITY OF A STOCKHOLDER TO ACQUIRE MORE THAN 20% OF THE OUTSTANDING
SHARES OF A CORPORATION UNLESS CERTAIN PROCEDURES (DESCRIBED BELOW) ARE
FOLLOWED. IF THE PROCEDURES ARE NOT FOLLOWED, THEN ALL SHARES OVER THE 20%
VOTING THRESHOLD LOSE ALL VOTING RIGHTS UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE SHARES ARE SOLD
TO AN UNRELATED PERSON IN A TRANSACTION WHICH DOES NOT ITSELF CONSTITUTE A
CONTROL SHARE ACQUISITION. THE JJF GROUP BELIEVES THAT BOARDS OF DIRECTORS OFTEN
USE THESE STATUTES TO ENTRENCH THEMSELVES AND PREVENT TAKEOVER ATTEMPTS THAT MAY
BE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE SHAREHOLDERS. THE STATUTE SPECIFICALLY ALLOWS
CORPORATIONS TO "OPT OUT" OF THE CONTROL SHARE ACQUISITION ACT SO THAT THE
SHAREHOLDERS CAN REMAIN IN CONTROL, RATHER THAN THE STATUTE.
THE JJF GROUP URGES THE SHAREHOLDERS OF TSI TO OPT OUT OF THE CONTROL SHARE
ACQUISITION ACT TO PREVENT THE BOARD FROM THWARTING THE VOTING RIGHTS OF
SHAREHOLDERS.
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Investors who are otherwise interested in purchasing a significant number of
Shares at a premium over the current price may be unwilling to do so if the
Shares are subject to the loss of voting rights pursuant to the Control Share
Acquisition Act. Upon shareholder approval of the proposed bylaw amendment, the
Company's shareholders will have access to offers to acquire their Shares
without the obstruction created by the Control Share Acquisition Act.
If this proposal is approved by the shareholders, Mr. Fauth would have the
ability to acquire in excess of 20% of the Shares in the open market or in a
tender offer and to use the voting rights of those shares, like all other
shareholders, to nominate and elect additional directors at the Annual Meeting
of Shareholders in 2000, which could influence the decisions of the Board and
the shareholders, including decisions regarding a sale or merger of the Company.
The JJF Group believes that all public company shareholders, including the
Company's shareholders, should have equal voting rights, regardless of the
number of shares owned. The JJF Group further believes that the Control Share
Acquisition Act decreases the value of the Shares in the public market and may
limit the ability of a shareholder to receive a premium for his or her shares.
Mr. Fauth does not intend to purchase a significant number of Shares or offer a
premium for the Shares unless he is certain to be able to exercise full voting
rights for such Shares.
By voting for the adoption of the Equal Voting Rights Proposal, you will be
sending the Board a message that the shareholders of the Company, as the true
owners of the Company, demand that every shareholder be entitled to equal rights
to vote their shares.
YOU ARE URGED TO VOTE FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE EQUAL VOTING RIGHTS PROPOSAL
ON THE ENCLOSED GREEN PROXY CARD.
------------------------
PROPOSAL 4 (ITEM 4 OF PROXY CARD)
DEFENSIVE ACTION PROPOSAL
SUMMARY: PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE COMPANY'S ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION TO PROHIBIT
THE BOARD FROM ADOPTING VARIOUS DEFENSIVE ACTIONS WHOSE PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO
PREVENT A CHANGE IN CONTROL OF THE COMPANY, UNLESS THE DEFENSIVE ACTION IS
APPROVED BY THE UNANIMOUS VOTE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
Shareholders are asked to approve the following proposal (referred to as the
"Defensive Action Proposal") to adopt an amendment to the Articles of
Incorporation, which would prevent the Board from adopting Defensive Actions (as
defined) unless the Defensive Action is approved by the unanimous vote of the
Board:
RESOLVED, that the Articles of Incorporation of this corporation are hereby
amended to add a new Article XIII, which shall read as follows:
"Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in the
corporation's By-laws, the Board shall not adopt a Defensive
Action (as defined herein) unless the Defensive Action is approved
by the unanimous vote of the Board. "Defensive Action" shall mean
any action by the Board with the primary purpose or effect of
impeding a change in control of this corporation or increasing the
Board's power to impede such a change in control in the future;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if an offer is made to acquire this
corporation or all of this corporation's Shares, and the Board
determines by a majority vote that such offer will maximize this
corporation's value at a sale for the shareholders' benefit, no
action taken by the Board by a majority vote to facilitate such
offer shall be deemed a Defensive Action within the meaning of
this Article XIII."
The Defensive Action Proposal seeks to prevent the Company's Board from
adopting or implementing any measures intended to thwart or impede a change in
control of the Company. This will give shareholders an improved ability to
determine for themselves how to respond to any offer, solicited or unsolicited,
that might be made. Defensive Actions include, but are not limited to, the
issuance of the corporation's securities or options to purchase the
corporation's assets on favorable terms, adoption of bylaw amendments and
adoption of long term employment or "golden parachute" agreements with the
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corporation's executives, if the primary purpose or effect is to impede a change
in control of the Company or to increase the Board's power to impede such a
change in control in the future. The JJF Group believes that such actions may be
used to block an offer which shareholders may find attractive, or may be used
for an undesirable purpose, such as entrenchment of the board or management of
the Company.
If adopted, the Defensive Action Proposal would require the unanimous vote
of the Board of Directors of the Company to approve the adoption of a Defensive
Action. This proposal would give each director (including Messrs. Fauth, Kohler
and Haun, if they are elected) the ability to block an action which is approved
by the remainder of the Board. While adoption of this proposal may limit the
Board's flexibility in fending off some offers, this proposal does not limit the
Board's ability to seek offers from other acquirers. The proviso contained in
the proposal specifically provides that if a majority of the Board determines
that an offer to acquire the Company would maximize shareholder value, then the
Board can take action to facilitate the offer. The JJF Group believes that the
Defensive Action Proposal would ensure that the Board of Directors consider the
interests of the shareholders, rather than any self-interest of the Board or
management, when considering Defensive Actions. The JJF Group believes that the
shareholders are entitled to determine for themselves whether an acquisition
offer is appropriate.
The JJF Group believes that the intent of this proposal to prohibit the use
of Defensive Actions is clear. It is possible that litigation over the scope of
the term, "Defensive Actions," may occur if this proposal is adopted and
subsequently challenged by the Company's Board.
YOU ARE URGED TO VOTE FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE DEFENSIVE ACTION PROPOSAL ON
THE ENCLOSED GREEN PROXY CARD.
------------------------
PROPOSAL 5 (ITEM 5 ON PROXY CARD)
MEETING DATE PROPOSAL
SUMMARY: PROPOSAL TO REQUIRE THAT THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
FOR THE YEAR 2000 BE HELD NOT LATER THAN JULY 20, 2000 AND THAT THE DATE OF THE
MEETING BE PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED BY JUNE 20, 2000.
Shareholders are asked to approve the following proposal (referred to as the
"Meeting Date Proposal") to amend the TSI bylaws:
RESOLVED, that Article II, Section 1 of the bylaws of the Company is hereby
amended by removing the period from the end of the first sentence and adding
the following:
"; provided that the annual meeting of stockholders for the year
2000 shall be held not later than July 20, 2000 and the Board of
Directors shall give public notice of that meeting on or before
June 20, 2000."
The purpose of the Meeting Date Proposal is to prevent the Board from unduly
delaying the year 2000 annual meeting in an effort to thwart Mr. Fauth's ability
to nominate three more directors for election. If Mr. Fauth proposes candidates
for election at the 2000 Annual Meeting, who together with the JJF Nominees
would constitute a majority of the Board, shareholders will have an opportunity
at that time to determine whether electing any such additional Fauth nominees is
in the best interests of the Company. The shareholders have the right to elect
directors and the Board should be prevented from entrenching themselves by
delaying the election of directors.
Article II, Section 1 of the bylaws currently provides that the Company's
annual meeting shall be held on the third Thursday in July each year, OR AT SUCH
OTHER DATE AS THE BOARD MAY DETERMINE. Therefore, in the absence of the adoption
of the Meeting Date Proposal, the Board could delay the 2000 annual meeting for
the purpose of delaying the election of directors to prevent nominations by
shareholders such as Mr. Fauth. Under Minnesota law, if a corporation fails to
elect directors within 15 months after the last election of directors, holders
of 3% of the voting power of the corporation may demand a regular meeting and
call such a meeting if the board of directors fails to call a shareholder
meeting. The effect of the Meeting Date Proposal would be to eliminate the
Board's discretion to move the date of the 2000 annual meeting past July 20,
2000 and to require the Board to set the date on which the meeting will be held
and
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give notice of such meeting to the shareholders of the Company by June 20, 2000.
The JJF Group believes that this requirement does not place any undue burden on
the Company.
Although adoption of this proposal could limit the Board's flexibility to
move the 2000 Annual Meeting date for a valid business purpose, the Company's
proxy materials indicate that the meeting date has not been later than July 25
for over 30 years. Any delay in 2000, therefore, would likely be for the sole
purpose of preventing the election of Mr. Fauth's nominees. You are urged to
vote for the Meeting Date Proposal to ensure that the shareholders retain their
rights to elect directors.
You are urged to vote FOR the adoption of the Meeting Date Proposal on the
enclosed GREEN proxy card.
------------------------
PROPOSAL 6 (ITEM 6 ON PROXY CARD)
BYLAW REPEAL PROPOSAL
SUMMARY: PROPOSAL TO REPEAL ANY BYLAWS ADOPTED BY THE BOARD BETWEEN MAY 29, 1999
AND THE DATE OF ADOPTION OF THIS BYLAW BY THE SHAREHOLDERS.
Shareholders are asked to approve the following proposal (referred to as the
"Bylaw Repeal Proposal") to amend the Company's bylaws :
RESOLVED, that Article V of the bylaws of the Company be amended by the
addition of the following sentence:
"Any By-Laws adopted by the Board of Directors between May 29,
1999 and the date of the adoption of this amendment to Article V
of the By-Laws are repealed."
The purpose of the Bylaw Repeal Proposal is to prevent the Board from
adopting new bylaws between May 29, 1999 and the date of adoption of this
proposal at the Annual Meeting. Minnesota law permits the Board to amend the
bylaws, subject to the power of shareholders under certain circumstances to
repeal or alter provisions adopted by the Board. The effect of the Bylaw Repeal
Proposal would be to repeal any bylaws enacted by the Board between May 29,
1999, which was the effective date of the most recent bylaws provided by the
Company to JJF, and the date of the Annual Meeting.
YOU ARE URGED TO VOTE FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE BYLAW REPEAL PROPOSAL ON THE
ENCLOSED GREEN PROXY CARD.
------------------------
PROPOSAL 7 (ITEM 7 ON PROXY CARD)
BYLAW AMENDMENT PROTECTION PROPOSAL
SUMMARY: PROPOSAL TO BAR THE AMENDMENT OR REPEAL OF BYLAWS ADOPTED BY
SHAREHOLDERS.
Shareholders are asked to approve the following proposal (referred to as the
"Bylaw Amendment Protection Proposal") to amend the Company's bylaws :
RESOLVED, that Article V of the bylaws of the Company be amended by adding
the following:
"Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of these
By-Laws, any By-Laws adopted by the shareholders of this
corporation shall not be amended or repealed by the Board of
Directors."
The purpose of the Bylaw Amendment Protection Proposal it to prevent the
Board from interfering with the implementation of any proposals voted upon and
approved by the shareholders by amending the bylaws after such shareholder
action is taken. The Company's Bylaws and Minnesota law permit shareholders to
adopt, amend and repeal bylaws. The Board should be prohibited from ignoring the
vote of the shareholders.
YOU ARE URGED TO VOTE FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE BYLAW AMENDMENT PROTECTION
PROPOSAL ON THE ENCLOSED GREEN PROXY CARD.
------------------------
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PROPOSAL 8 (ITEM 8 ON PROXY CARD)
ANTI-POISON PILL/DILUTION PROPOSAL
SUMMARY: PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE COMPANY'S ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION TO PROHIBIT,
DURING THE PERIOD FROM THE ANNUAL MEETING UNTIL DECEMBER 31, 2000, THE ADOPTION
OF A SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN (ALSO KNOWN AS A "POISON PILL") OR THE ISSUANCE OF
COMPANY SECURITIES WHICH COULD INCREASE THE NUMBER OF OUTSTANDING SHARES OF
CAPITAL STOCK TO MORE THAN 11,500,000 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK, WITHOUT THE
UNANIMOUS APPROVAL OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
Adoption of the Anti-Poison Pill/Dilution Proposal would prevent the Board
from adopting a shareholder rights plan (or "poison pill" plan) or issuing New
Securities (as defined) for the period from the Annual Meeting until December
31, 2000, without the unanimous approval of the Board. A shareholder rights plan
or poison pill is an anti-takeover device that obstructs a change in control of
a company, including a sale, without approval of the board of directors. Under
typical poison pills, "rights" are issued to current shareholders. The rights
entitle the shareholders, except the potential acquiror, to purchase or receive
one or more additional shares of common stock or preferred stock or some other
property or security issued by the company upon certain triggering events,
including an acquisition by a person of a significant block of securities. This
causes substantial dilution to the potential acquiror by allowing the company to
issue its securities or distribute other property at a price significantly below
market prices to all shareholders except the potential acquiror. Poison pills
typically provide that they may be terminated and redeemed at any time before
the "rights" under the poison pill are triggered.
While a shareholder rights plan may discourage offers for the Company or may
enable the Board to fend off an offer or seek an alternative offer for the
shareholders, the JJF Group believes such a plan could also be used by the Board
to block an offer which the shareholders may find attractive or that may be used
for an undesirable purpose such as entrenchment of the Board or management of
the Company. The JJF Group believes that the shareholders should have the
ability to consider acquisition proposals and make their own determinations as
to what is in their best interests.
This Anti-Poison Pill/Dilution Proposal would also require the unanimous
approval of the Board of Directors to issue New Securities which could increase
the number of outstanding shares of capital stock to in excess of 11,500,000
Shares. According to the Company's public filings, there were 11,232,816 Shares
issued and outstanding as of June 16, 1999 and a total of 1,566,329 shares
reserved as of March 31, 1999 under the Company's stock option and employee
stock purchase plans. The Anti-Poison Pill/Dilution Proposal does not impair the
issuance of shares for existing stock options and employee stock purchase plans,
and further allows the Board to issue a modest number of additional Shares
(approximately 267,000 Shares) by majority action. However, the issuance of
additional Shares prior to December 31, 2000 would require unanimous Board
action. This would limit the Company's flexibility during that period to issue
securities to raise capital or make acquisitions. However, the JJF Group
believes that the power of the Board of Directors to issue securities can be
used to defeat an acquisition offer which the shareholders may find attractive,
and thus the Board's power should be limited. If elected, the JJF Nominees have
advised the JJF Group that they intend to vote in favor of the issuance of
securities for a valid business purpose, and would vote against any issuance of
securities for the purposes of deterring an acquisition. If adopted, the
Anti-Poison Pill/Dilution Proposal would allow any director (including the JJF
Nominees, if elected) to block the issuance of New Securities, as defined below,
prior to December 31, 2000. However, the JJF Nominees have indicated that they
would not vote against the issuance of securities for a valid business purpose.
In this regard, the JJF Group proposes that the shareholders of the Company
adopt the following resolution:
RESOLVED, that the Articles of Incorporation of this corporation are hereby
amended to add a new Article XIV, which shall read as follows:
"A. During the period from July 22, 1999 until December 31, 2000,
the adoption of any and all shareholder rights plans (also
known as "poison pill plans") or similar
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<PAGE>
anti-takeover devices involving the issuance of rights to
purchase the corporation's securities or other property shall
require the unanimous approval of the Board of Directors of
the corporation.
B. During the period from July 22, 1999 until December 31, 2000,
the corporation shall not issue any "New Securities" in an
amount which would increase the number of outstanding shares
of the corporation's capital stock (on a fully diluted basis,
assuming the issuance of outstanding options, warrants and any
other purchase rights) to more than 11,500,000 shares of
common stock, without the unanimous approval of the Board of
Directors of the corporation. "New Securities" means any
capital stock of the corporation or other equity interest,
whether or not now authorized, and rights, options or warrants
to purchase capital stock, and securities of any kind
whatsoever that are, or may become, convertible into capital
stock; provided, however, that the term "New Securities" does
not include: (a) shares of common stock issuable to officers,
directors, employees and consultants pursuant to
shareholder-approved stock option and employee stock purchase
plans as they exist on July 22, 1999, or (b) shares issued or
issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants to purchase
shares of common stock outstanding on July 22, 1999."
YOU ARE URGED TO VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE ANTI-POISON PILL/DILUTION
PROPOSAL ON THE ENCLOSED GREEN PROXY CARD.
BYLAW AND ARTICLE PROPOSALS
The Bylaw and Article Proposals are designed to be mandatory, rather than
advisory. The validity of mandatory shareholder proposals for bylaw and article
amendments designed to be binding on boards of directors is unsettled under
Minnesota law. Under Minnesota Statutes Sections 302A.181 and 302A.135 and the
Company's Articles of Incorporation, the shareholders have the right to adopt,
amend and repeal articles and bylaws. On the other hand, Minnesota Statutes
Section 302A.201, vests in the board of directors the authority to manage the
business and affairs of a corporation. It is possible that the JJF Bylaw and
Articles Proposals will be challenged in a lawsuit and that the rights of the
shareholders to adopt these proposals will ultimately be decided by a court of
law.
VOTING AND PROXY PROCEDURES
Only shareholders of record on the Record Date will be entitled to notice of
and to vote at the Annual Meeting. Each Share is entitled to one vote upon each
matter presented at the Annual Meeting. Shareholders who sell Shares before the
Record Date (or acquire them without voting rights after the Record Date) may
not vote such Shares. Shareholders of record on the Record Date, will retain
their voting rights in connection with the Annual Meeting even if they sell such
Shares after the Record Date. Pursuant to Article II, Section 5 of the Company's
bylaws, the presence of holders of a majority of the Shares entitled to vote in
person or by proxy constitutes a quorum for the transaction of any business at
the Annual Meeting. Based on publicly available information, JJF believes that
the only outstanding class of securities of the Company entitled to vote at the
Annual Meeting are the Shares. According to the Company's proxy statement, as of
the Record Date there were 11,234,982 Shares issued and outstanding.
Shares represented by properly executed GREEN proxy cards will be voted at
the Annual Meeting as marked and, in the absence of specific instructions, will
be voted FOR the election of the JJF Nominees to the Board, FOR the ratification
of the appointment of the independent auditors, FOR the Bylaw and Article
Amendment Proposals, and in the discretion of the persons named as proxies on
all other matters as may properly come before the Annual Meeting.
A shareholder may revoke his or her proxy at any time prior to its exercise
by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person (although attendance at the
Annual Meeting will not in and of itself
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<PAGE>
constitute revocation of a proxy) or by delivering a written notice or
revocation. The delivery of a subsequently dated proxy which is properly
completed will constitute a revocation of any earlier proxy. The revocation may
be delivered either to JJF in care of Beacon Hill Partners, Inc. at the address
set forth on the back cover of this Proxy Statement or to the Company at 500
Cardigan Road, Shoreview, Minnesota 55126 or any other address provided by the
Company. Although a revocation is effective if delivered to the Company, JJF
requests that either the original or photostatic copies of all revocations be
mailed to JJF in care of Beacon Hill Partners, Inc. at the address set forth on
the back cover of this Proxy Statement so that JJF will be aware of all
revocations and can more accurately determine if and when proxies have been
received from the holders of record on the Record Date of a majority of the
outstanding Shares.
Assuming that a quorum is present or represented by proxy at the Annual
Meeting, election of the JJF Nominees requires the affirmative vote of a
majority of the Shares voting at the Annual Meeting for the election of
directors. The Company and the JJF Group disagree about the requisite vote for
the adoption of the Bylaw and Article Amendment Proposals. It is agreed that the
appointment of auditors (No. 2), the Equal Voting Rights Proposal (No. 3), the
Bylaw Repeal Proposal (No. 6) and the Bylaw Amendment Protection Proposal (No.
7) require the affirmative vote of a majority of the Shares present and entitled
to vote on that item of business at the Annual Meeting. According to the
Company's Preliminary Proxy Statement filed on July 1, 1999, however, the
Company is taking the position that Article VIII of its Articles of
Incorporation requires that the Defensive Action Proposal (No. 4), the Meeting
Date Proposal (No. 5) and the Anti-Poison Pill/Dilution Proposal (No. 8) must be
approved by 75% of all outstanding Shares. The JJF Group disagrees with the
Company's interpretation and believes that adoption of all Bylaw and Article
Amendment Proposals requires only the vote of a majority of the shares present
and entitled to vote on those matters.
The full text of the first sentence of Article VIII of the Articles of
Incorporation states that "The business and affairs of this corporation shall be
managed by or under the direction of a Board of Directors consisting of not more
than nine (9) persons." The next three paragraphs of that Article establish
three-year staggered terms for the directors, the procedures for filling
vacancies on the Board, and the procedure for removal of directors. The last
sentence of Article VIII states that the affirmative vote of the holders of at
least 75% of the voting power of all shares of the corporation is "required to
amend or repeal, or to adopt any provision inconsistent with, this Article
VIII." We believe that the intent of the last sentence of Article VIII is to
require 75% approval to change the number of directors, alter the staggered
terms of the Board, or change the requirement for removing directors from
office.
Apparently the Company's position is that adoption of JJF Proposals Nos. 4,
5 and 8 are inconsistent with the Board's authority to manage the Company, and
therefore approval of 75% of all outstanding Shares is required to approve those
Proposals. However, the JJF Group believes that if the Company's position was
correct, then ANY amendment to the Company's Articles or Bylaws which has ANY
impact on the actions or discretion of the Board to manage the business and
affairs of the corporation would require approval of 75% of the outstanding
Shares. The JJF Group believes that this was not the intent of Article VIII and
is not consistent with Minnesota law.
The Minnesota Business Corporation Act, like the first sentence of Article
VIII, vests in the Board the authority to manage the business and affairs of the
corporation (Section 302A.201). However, the Business Corporation Act also
specifically subjects that Board authority to the authority of the shareholders
to adopt, amend and repeal bylaws (Section 302A.181) and to amend the Articles
of Incorporation (Section 302A.135). To the knowledge of the JJF Group, there is
no Minnesota statute or reported case which prohibits shareholders from adopting
articles of incorporation or bylaws that are binding on the Board of Directors,
or which would require a 75% vote to adopt the JJF Proposals. The JJF Group
believes that the Company is simply incorrect in its interpretation of Article
VIII, and that the Company is trying to avoid majority rule by the shareholders.
If either the Company or the JJF Group initiates litigation over the
interpretation of Article VIII or the Bylaw and Article Proposals, the rights of
the shareholders to adopt the JJF Proposals may ultimately be decided by a court
of law.
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Any of the Bylaw and Article Amendment Proposals that are adopted by the
shareholders at the Annual Meeting could be repealed or further amended in the
future by the shareholders by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Shares
present and entitled to vote on that item of business.
IF YOU WISH TO VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF THE JJF NOMINEES TO THE BOARD, FOR
APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS AND FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE BYLAW AND ARTICLE AMENDMENT
PROPOSALS, PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY THE ENCLOSED GREEN PROXY CARD
IN THE POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE PROVIDED. REGISTERED HOLDERS MAY FAX BOTH SIDES OF
THE ENCLOSED GREEN PROXY CARD TO BEACON HILL PARTNERS, INC. AT THE NUMBER SET
FORTH ON THE BACK COVER OF THIS PROXY STATEMENT.
SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
The solicitation of proxies pursuant to this Proxy Statement is being made
by the JJF Group. Proxies may be solicited by mail, facsimile, telephone,
telegraph, in person and by advertisements. Solicitations may be made by certain
directors, officers and employees of the JJF Group, none whom will receive
additional compensation for such solicitation.
The JJF Group has retained Beacon Hill Partners, Inc. for solicitation and
advisory services in connection with this solicitation, for which Beacon Hill
Partners, Inc. will receive a fee of up to $80,000, together with reimbursement
of its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, and will be indemnified against
certain liabilities and expenses, including certain liabilities under the
federal securities laws. Beacon Hill Partners, Inc. will solicit proxies from
individuals, brokers, banks, bank nominees and other institutional holders. JJF
has required banks, brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and
fiduciaries to forward all solicitation materials to the beneficial owners of
the Shares they hold of record. JJF will reimburse these record holders for
their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in so doing. It is anticipated that
Beacon Hill Partners, Inc. will employ approximately 25 persons to solicit the
Company's shareholders for the Annual Meeting.
The entire expense of soliciting proxies is being borne by JJF. JJF intends
to seek reimbursement of the costs of this solicitation from the Company only to
the extent permitted by law. JJF does not intend to seek shareholder approval of
such reimbursement unless such approval is required by law. Costs of this
solicitation of proxies, including the fees of Beacon Hill Partners, are
currently estimated to be approximately $110,000 to $130,000. The JJF Group
estimates that through the date hereof, its expenses in connection with the
solicitation are approximately $100,000.
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INFORMATION ABOUT JJF
JJF is a recently formed Minnesota corporation that was organized on June
14, 1999. Its principal executive offices are located at 3100 Metropolitan
Centre, 333 South Seventh Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402, and its
telephone number is (612) 673-6700. JJF was formed by Mr. Fauth to assist in the
solicitation of proxies at the Annual Meeting and provide a corporate entity to
participate in efforts to acquire the Company. To date JJF has not conducted any
activities that are unrelated to those purposes. Mr. Fauth is the sole
shareholder of JJF and the sole member of its board of directors.
As of the date of this Proxy Statement, JJF does not beneficially own any
Shares, and 652,000 Shares are owned beneficially by Mr. Fauth. Mr. Fauth has
made a cash offer to acquire the Company. If Mr. Fauth, Mr. Kohler and Mr. Haun
are elected to the Board of Directors, they may have a conflict of interest, if
confronted with an offer by Mr. Fauth or a competing offer to acquire the
Company. Mr. Kohler and Mr. Haun are employed by a company owned by Mr. Fauth.
However, if they are elected as directors of the Company, they intend to fulfill
their fiduciary obligatons as directors. For more detailed information regarding
the board of directors and executive officers of JJF and transactions involving
Shares by JJF, see Schedule II of this Proxy Statement.
ABSENCE OF TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN THE JJF GROUP AND THE COMPANY
Except as set forth in this Proxy Statement (including the Schedules
hereto), none of the JJF Group, or any other participant in this solicitation or
any of their respective associates: (i) directly or indirectly beneficially owns
any Shares or any securities of the Company; (ii) has had any relationship with
the Company in any capacity other than as a shareholder, or is or has been a
party to any transactions, or series of similar transactions, since the
beginning of Company's last fiscal year with respect to any Shares of the
Company; or (iii) knows of any transactions since the beginning of Company's
last fiscal year, currently proposed transactions, or series of similar
transactions, to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries was or is to be a
party, in which the amount involved exceeds $60,000 and in which any of them or
their respective affiliates had, or will have, a direct or indirect material
interest.
In addition, other than as set forth in Schedule II of this Proxy Statement,
there are no contracts, arrangements or understandings entered into by the JJF
Group, or any other participant in this solicitation or any of their respective
associates within the past year with any person with respect to any of the
Company's securities, 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.
In addition, other than as set forth in this Proxy Statement, none of the JJF
Group, or any other participant in this solicitation or any of their respective
associates has been engaged in contracts, negotiations or transactions with the
Company or its affiliates concerning a merger, consolidation, acquisition,
tender offer or other acquisition of securities, election of directors or a sale
or other transfer of a material amount of assets; or has had any other
transaction with the Company or any of its executive officers, directors or
affiliates that would require disclosure under the rules and regulations of the
Commission.
Except as set forth in this Proxy Statement (including the Schedules
hereto), none of the JJF Group, or any other participant in this solicitation or
any of their respective associates, has entered into any agreement or
understanding with any person with respect to (i) any future employment by the
Company or its affiliates or (ii) any future transactions to which the Company
or any of its affiliate will or may be a party.
OTHER MATTERS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The JJF Group is not aware of any business other than as set forth in this
Proxy Statement and the Company's proxy materials that will be presented at the
Annual Meeting. Should other proposals be
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brought before the Annual Meeting, the persons named as proxies on the enclosed
GREEN proxy card will vote on such matters in their discretion.
Shareholders are referred to the Company's Proxy Statement with respect to
other information related to beneficial ownership of the Company's securities,
any arrangements which may result in a change of control of the Company, any
change of control of the Company that may have occurred since the beginning of
the Company's last fiscal year and information regarding the Company's stock
option and other incentive compensation plans. The information concerning the
Company contained in this Proxy Statement has been taken from, or is based upon,
publicly available information.
Shareholders will have no appraisal or similar rights of dissenters with
respect to any of the proposals to be considered and voted upon at the Annual
Meeting.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 2000 ANNUAL MEETING
The JJF Group anticipates that the Company's proxy statement with respect to
the Annual Meeting will indicate when proposals of the Company's shareholders
intended to be presented at the Company's 2000 Annual Meeting must be received
by the Company in order for them to be (1) considered for inclusion in the proxy
statement and (2) timely raised at the 2000 Annual Meeting.
JJF GROUP, INC.
July 2, 1999
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SCHEDULE I
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE MEMBERS OF THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
OF JJF AND CERTAIN EMPLOYEES AND
OTHER REPRESENTATIVES OF JJF
The name and present principal occupation or employment of each member of
the board of directors and officers of JJF are set forth below. Each such person
is a citizen of the United States.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME PRESENT PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION OR EMPLOYMENT
- ------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
John J. Fauth (President and CEO of JJF) Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Churchill
Industries, Inc. (an industrial holding company based in
Minneapolis, Minnesota) and Chairman of Churchill Capital, Inc.
(an investment management firm based in Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Joseph G. Kohler (Secretary of JJF) General Counsel of Churchill Industries, Inc.
G. Richard Haun, Jr. (Vice President and
Treasurer of JJF) Managing Director of Churchill Industries, Inc.
John C. Kopchik (Vice President of JJF) Vice President, Mergers & Acquisitions of Churchill Industries,
Inc.
</TABLE>
The business address Churchill Industries, Inc. and the business address of
the persons named above is 3100 Metropolitan Centre, 333 South Seventh Street,
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE II
SHARES HELD AND TRANSACTIONS BY JJF, MEMBERS OF ITS BOARD OF
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS, AND THE JJF NOMINEES
Except for Mr. Fauth, none of the JJF Nominees or any member of JJF's board
of directors or executive officers, or any of their affiliates, holds any shares
of the Company's common stock or has purchased or sold any Company common stock
or other Company securities during the past two years. Mr. Fauth beneficially
owns a total of 652,000 Shares, constituting approximately 5.8% of the
outstanding Shares of the Company's common stock. The transactions by Mr. Fauth
during the past two years are set forth below, all of which were open market
purchases:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PRICE PER
PURCHASE DATE QUANTITY SHARE
- ------------------------------------------------------------------ --------- --------------
<S> <C> <C>
11/30/98.......................................................... 3,000 7.9375
12/01/98.......................................................... 6,500 7.9375
12/02/98.......................................................... 1,000 7.9375
12/07/98.......................................................... 4,000 7.9375
12/08/98.......................................................... 1,800 7.9375
12/09/98.......................................................... 1,500 7.9375
12/14/98.......................................................... 5,000 7.9375
12/15/98.......................................................... 6,000 7.9375
12/17/98.......................................................... 16,500 7.9375
12/18/98.......................................................... 3,500 7.9375
12/21/98.......................................................... 600 7.9375
12/22/98.......................................................... 4,000 7.9375
12/29/98.......................................................... 200,000 9.1250
01/20/99.......................................................... 9,800 7.75
02/22/99.......................................................... 5,000 8.00
02/23/99.......................................................... 3,000 8.125
02/24/99.......................................................... 12,000 8.0990
02/25/99.......................................................... 7,500 8.125
02/26/99.......................................................... 23,700 8.5691
03/04/99.......................................................... 2,000 8.500
03/05/99.......................................................... 45,000 9.0556
03/17/99.......................................................... 8,500 7.9191
03/24/99.......................................................... 2,000 8.25
03/26/99.......................................................... 5,000 7.9375
03/29/99.......................................................... 30,000 8.1921
03/30/99.......................................................... 54,000 8.5611
04/01/99.......................................................... 25,000 8.0000
04/05/99.......................................................... 20,000 8.1750
04/06/99.......................................................... 19,100 8.4836
04/16/99.......................................................... 2,500 7.6250
05/24/99.......................................................... 42,000 10.0908
05/26/99.......................................................... 2,500 10.50
05/27/99.......................................................... 80,000 10.9375
</TABLE>
The purchases referred to above were made with personal funds and funds
borrowed in a margin account. The indebtedness on this margin account related to
the Shares as of June 11, 1999, was approximately $3,227,000.
The executive officers of JJF are Mr. Fauth (President and CEO), G. Richard
Haun, Jr. (Vice President and Treasurer), John C. Kopchik (Vice President) and
Joseph G. Kohler (Secretary). Except as disclosed in this Schedule, none of JJF,
any members of its board of directors or executive officers, or the JJF Nominees
owns any securities of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company,
beneficially or of record, has purchased or sold any of such securities within
the past two years or was within the past year a
<PAGE>
party to any contract, arrangement or understanding with any person with respect
to any such securities. Except as disclosed in this Schedule, to the knowledge
of JJF, no associate of JJF or any members of its board of directors and
executive officers, or of the JJF Nominees beneficially owns, directly or
indirectly, any securities of the Company.
To the knowledge of JJF, other than as disclosed in this Schedule, none of
JJF, any members of its board of directors or executive officers, or the JJF
Nominees has any substantial interest, direct or indirect, by security holdings
or otherwise, in any matter to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting.
John J. Fauth, Joseph G. Kohler, Richard D. McNeil and Ralph L. Strangis
have agreed to serve as proxies on the GREEN proxy card for the Annual Meeting.
<PAGE>
IMPORTANT
Your vote is important. No matter how many Shares you own, please give JJF
your proxy FOR the election of the JJF Nominees, FOR the ratification of the
appointment of independent auditors, and FOR the approval of the Bylaw and
Article Amendment Proposals by taking three steps:
1. SIGNING the enclosed GREEN proxy card,
2. DATING the enclosed GREEN proxy card, and
3. MAILING the enclosed GREEN proxy card TODAY in the envelope provided (no
postage is required if mailed in the United States). Registered holders
may FAX BOTH SIDES of the enclosed GREEN proxy card TODAY to Beacon Hill
Partners, Inc. at the number provided below.
If any of your Shares are held in the name of a brokerage firm, bank, bank
nominee or other institution, only it can vote such Shares and only upon receipt
of your specific instructions. Accordingly, please return the GREEN proxy card
in the envelope provided or contact the person responsible for your account and
instruct that person to execute the GREEN proxy card representing your Shares.
JJF urges you to confirm in writing your instructions to JJF in care of Beacon
Hill Partners, Inc. at the address provided below so that JJF will be aware of
all instructions given and can attempt to ensure that such instructions are
followed.
If you have any questions or require any additional information concerning
this Proxy Statement, please contact, Beacon Hill Partners, Inc. at the address
set forth below.
BEACON HILL PARTNERS, INC.
90 BROAD STREET
20TH FLOOR
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10004
(212) 843-8500 (CALL COLLECT)
OR
CALL TOLL-FREE (800) 475-9320
FAX: (212) 843-4384
<PAGE>
TSI INCORPORATED
PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
JULY 22, 1999
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF JJF GROUP, INC. AND MR. JOHN J. FAUTH
The undersigned appoints John J. Fauth, Joseph G. Kohler, Richard D. McNeil
and Ralph L. Strangis, and each of them acting alone, attorneys and agents with
full power of substitution as proxy of the undersigned (the "Proxy Agents") to
attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of TSI Incorporated to be held at 500
Cardigan Road, Shoreview, Minnesota on July 22, 1999, commencing at 9:30 a.m.,
Central Daylight Time, and at any adjournments or postponements, continuations
or reschedulings thereof and any special meeting called in lieu thereof (the
"Annual Meeting") and to vote all shares of common stock of TSI Incorporated
which the undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally present at the
Annual Meeting, as follows:
THE JJF GROUP RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF ALL JJF NOMINEES NAMED
BELOW, FOR THE
APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS, AND FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE BYLAW AND ARTICLE AMENDMENT
PROPOSALS
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
1. Proposal to elect John J. Fauth, Joseph G. Kohler and G. Richard Haun, Jr.
to the Board of Directors for the term expiring in 2002.
FOR ALL JJF NOMINEES / / WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ALL
JJF NOMINEES / /
INSTRUCTION: TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ONE OR MORE INDIVIDUAL JJF
NOMINEES, MARK FOR ALL JJF NOMINEES ABOVE AND WRITE THE NAME(S) OF THE JJF
NOMINEE WITH RESPECT TO WHICH YOU WISH TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY HERE: ________.
2. Proposal to ratify the appointment of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP as the
independent auditors of TSI Incorporated for the fiscal year ending March
31, 2000.
FOR / / AGAINST / / ABSTAIN / /
BYLAW AND ARTICLE AMENDMENT PROPOSALS
3. Proposal to adopt a bylaw provision to opt out of Minn. Stat. Section
302A.671, so as to allow any potential acquirer the same voting rights as
other shareholders (the "Equal Voting Rights Proposal").
FOR / / AGAINST / / ABSTAIN / /
4. Proposal to amend the Company's Articles of Incorporation to prohibit the
Board from adopting various defensive actions whose primary purpose is to
prevent a change in control of the Company, unless the defensive action is
approved by the unanimous vote of the Board of Directors (the "Defensive
Actions Proposal").
FOR / / AGAINST / / ABSTAIN / /
5. Proposal to require the Company to hold its 2000 annual meeting not later
than July 20, 2000 and to give public notice of that meeting on or before
June 20, 2000 (the "Meeting Date Proposal").
FOR / / AGAINST / / ABSTAIN / /
6. Proposal to repeal any bylaws adopted by the Board since May 29, 1999 (the
"Bylaw Repeal Proposal").
FOR / / AGAINST / / ABSTAIN / /
<PAGE>
7. Proposal to prevent the Board of Directors from amending any bylaws adopted
by shareholders (the "Bylaw Amendment Protection Proposal").
FOR / / AGAINST / / ABSTAIN / /
8. Proposal to amend the Articles of Incorporation to prohibit, during the
period from the Annual Meeting until December 31, 2000, the adoption of a
shareholder rights plan ("poison pill") or the issuance of capital stock
which could increase the number of outstanding shares of capital stock to
more than 11,500,000 shares of common stock, without the unanimous approval
of the Board of Directors (the "Anti-Poison Pill/Dilution Proposal").
FOR / / AGAINST / / ABSTAIN / /
9. In their discretion, each of the Proxy Agents is authorized to vote upon any
other matters as may properly come before the Annual Meeting.
The undersigned hereby revokes any other proxy or proxies heretofore given
to vote or act with respect to the Shares held by the undersigned, and
hereby ratifies and confirms all actions the herein named Proxy Agents,
their substitutes, or any of them lawfully take by virtue hereof. IF
PROPERLY EXECUTED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED ABOVE. IF NO
DIRECTION IS INDICATED WITH RESPECT TO THE ABOVE PROPOSALS, THIS PROXY WILL
BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF ALL JJF NOMINEES, FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF
AUDITORS AND FOR THE BYLAW AND ARTICLE AMENDMENT PROPOSALS.
This proxy will be valid until the sooner of one year from the date
indicated below and the completion of the Annual Meeting.
IMPORTANT: PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY IN THE
ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. REGISTERED HOLDERS MAY FAX BOTH SIDES OF THIS PROXY TO
BEACON HILLS PARTNERS, INC. AT: (212) 843-4384.
DATED: ______________________, 1999
-----------------------------------
(Signature)
-----------------------------------
(Signature, if held jointly)
-----------------------------------
(Title)
Please sign exactly as name appears
on this proxy. When shares are held
jointly, joint owners should each
sign. Executors, administrators,
trustees, etc. should indicate the
capacity in which signing.
IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE WITH THIS PROXY CARD, PLEASE CALL BEACON HILL
PARTNERS, INC. TOLL-FREE (800) 475-9320 OR CALL COLLECT (212) 843-8500.
