SPINNAKER INDUSTRIES INC
PRE 14C, 1997-12-08
CONVERTED PAPER & PAPERBOARD PRODS (NO CONTANERS/BOXES)
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                                  SCHEDULE 14C
                                 (RULE 14C-101)

                  INFORMATION REQUIRED IN INFORMATION STATEMENT

                            SCHEDULE 14C INFORMATION

                    PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(C)
             OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO. )

Check the appropriate box:

         /X/      Preliminary Information Statement
         / /      Definitive Information Statement
         / /      Confidential,  for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
                  Rule 14c- 5(d)(2))


                           SPINNAKER INDUSTRIES, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  (Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)


         Payment of filing fee (check the appropriate box):

         /X/      No fee required.
         / /      Fee computed on table below per  Exchange  Act Rules  14c-5(g)
                  and 0-11.
         (1)      Title  of  each  class  of  securities  to  which  transaction
                  applies:


         (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:



         (3)      Per  unit  price  or other  underlying  value  of  transaction
                  computed  pursuant  to  Exchange  Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the
                  amount on which the filing fee is calculated  and state how it
                  was determined):





<PAGE>

         (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:



         (5)      Total fee paid:



         / /      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.

         (1)      Amount Previously Paid:


         (2)      Form, Schedule or Registration Statement no.:


         (3)      Filing Party:


         (4)      Date Filed:


                                       -2-

<PAGE>
                        PRELIMINARY INFORMATION STATEMENT
                  SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED DECEMBER 8, 1997


                           SPINNAKER INDUSTRIES, INC.
                               600 N. PEARL STREET
                                   SUITE 2160
                               DALLAS TEXAS 75201
                          ----------------------------

                              INFORMATION STATEMENT
                          ----------------------------

                Pursuant to Regulation 14C Promulgated Under the
                  Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

         This Information Statement,  which is being mailed on or about December
__,  1997 to holders of record on  December  __,  1997,  of shares of the Common
Stock, no par value (the "Common Stock") and shares of the Class A Common Stock,
no par value (the  "Class A Common  Stock") of  Spinnaker  Industries,  Inc.,  a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"),  is being furnished in connection with the
proposed adoption of a Certificate of Amendment to the Company's  Certificate of
Incorporation  (the "Amendment")  pursuant to the written consent of the holders
of a majority of the  Company's  outstanding  shares of Common Stock and Class A
Common Stock.

         On December  __, 1997,  the Board of Directors of the Company  approved
and recommended  that the Company's  Certificate of  Incorporation be amended to
create a "blank  check"  preferred  stock,  consisting  of  2,000,000  shares of
Preferred Stock having the terms set forth in Exhibit A (the "Preferred Stock").
Also on December __, 1997 (the "Record  Date") Lynch  Manufacturing  Corporation
("Lynch"),  which is the  holder  of more  than a  majority  of the  issued  and
outstanding  shares of Common Stock and Class A Common Stock (voting together as
a class) executed a written Consent to Corporate Action (the "Written  Consent")
pursuant to which such holder  approved the Amendment.  The Written  Consent has
since been filed with the Company.  Such  approval by the Board of Directors and
by the holder of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock
and  Class A Common  Stock  (voting  together  as a class) is  sufficient  under
Delaware law to cause the  Amendment to be adopted.  The  Amendment  will become
effective  upon the filing of the  Amendment  with the Secretary of the State of
Delaware.  The  Company  anticipates  such  Amendment  will be  filed  with  the
Secretary of State of Delaware on or about December __, 1997.

         This Information Statement is being provided for informational purposes
only.  WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU FOR A PROXY AND YOU ARE  REQUESTED NOT TO SEND US A
PROXY.


                                       -3-

<PAGE>
OUTSTANDING STOCK AND VOTING RIGHTS

         As of the Record  Date,  there were  6,684,749  shares of Common  Stock
issued and  outstanding,  consisting of 3,347,181 shares of Common Stock, no par
value, and 3,337,568  shares of Class A Common Stock, no par value.  Each holder
of a share of Class A Common Stock is entitled to one vote per share, while each
holder of a share of Common Stock is entitled to 1/10 of a vote per share. These
two classes of common stock vote together as a class on various  matters such as
adoption of the Amendment.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

         The following  table sets forth  information  concerning the beneficial
ownership  of the capital  stock of the Company by each person known to own more
than  5%,  and by  each  director,  as well as by all  directors  and  executive
officers as a group,  as of December  __,  1997.  For the  purposes of reporting
beneficial ownership,  a person is considered the beneficial owner of the shares
over which such person holds or shares voting or investment power, including the
power to direct the disposition of such shares,  or over which such a person can
acquire such power within 60 days by, for example,the  exercise of stock options
or the conversion of securities.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

I.       GREATER THAN 5% HOLDERS

                                           Class A Common Stock            Common Stock
                                           --------------------            ------------
                                                  Amount of                  Amount of
Name and Address                         Beneficial       Percent    Beneficial      Percent
of Beneficial Owner                      Ownership        of Class   Ownership       of Class
- -------------------                      ---------        --------   ---------       --------

<S>                                      <C>                <C>      <C>               <C>
Lynch Manufacturing Corporation(1) . . . 2,259,063(1)       67.7%    2,237,203(1)      66.8%
  100 Douglas Street
  Yankton, S.D. 57078

Boyle, Fleming & Co., Inc.(2) . . . . . .  659,045(2)(3)    18.5%      659,045(2)(3)   18.4%
  600 N. Pearl St., Suite 2160
  Dallas, Texas 75201
</TABLE>

- -------------------
(1)      Mario J.  Gabelli,  of  Corporate  Center at Rye,  Rye, New York 10580,
         Chairman  of the Board and Chief  Executive  Officer of Lynch,  through
         LMC,  by  virtue  of his and  certain  affiliated  parties'  beneficial
         ownership of 23.1% of the shares of common stock of Lynch. Mr. Gabelli,
         however,  specifically  disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares of
         the  capital  stock  of the  Corporation  held by Lynch  and  LMC.  See
         "Certain Circumstances".


                                       -4-

<PAGE>
(2)      Includes  228,499  shares  of Class A Common  Stock and  Common  Stock,
         respectively,  issuable upon exercise of the A Warrant (as defined) (as
         adjusted for two 3-for-2  stock splits that  occurred in December  1994
         and  December  1995,  respectively,   and  the  Stock  Split).  BF,  an
         investment and management firm, is an affiliate of Richard J. Boyle and
         Ned N. Fleming,  III who each own 50% of the outstanding  capital stock
         of BF.  Messrs.  Boyle and  Fleming  may be deemed to share  voting and
         dispositive power over these shares; however, Mr. Fleming and Mr. Boyle
         specifically disclaim beneficial ownership of such shares. See "Certain
         Transactions".

(3)      Determined in accordance  with Rule  13d-3(d)(1)(i)  of the  Securities
         Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.


II.  DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AS A GROUP
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                               Amount of Class A                     Amount of Common
                                                              Common Stock Shares                   Stock Beneficially
                                                                  Beneficially                         Owned (1)(2)
                                                                  ------------                         ------------
                                                                  Owned(1)(2)
                                                                  -----------

                                                      Number                                 Number
NAME                                                  OF Shares                 Percent      of Shares              Percent
- ----                                                  ---------                 -------      ---------              -------

<S>                                                   <C>                        <C>         <C>                     <C>
Richard J. Boyle...................................   659,045(3)                 18.5%       659,517(3)              18.4%

Ned N. Fleming, III................................   659,045(3)                 18.5%       659,045(3)              18.4%

Philip Wm. Colburn.................................   10,000(4)                    *         10,000(4)                 *

Robert E. Dolan....................................   1,225                        *         1,225                     *

Anthonie C. van Ekris..............................   10,000(4)                    *         10,000(4)                 *

Joseph P. Rhein....................................   12,250(4)                    *         12,250(4)                 *

Frank E. Grzelecki.................................            --                 --          5,000(5)                 *

All Directors and Officers of the
   Corporation as a group (twelve
   persons, including those named
   above)..........................................   692,520(3)                 19.3%       697,992                 19.3%
</TABLE>

- -------------------------
*Less than one percent.

(1)      A person is considered to "beneficially own" the shares over which such
         person holds or shares voting power or  investment  power or over which
         such person can acquire such

                                       -5-

<PAGE>

         power  within 60 days  (for  example,  through  the  exercise  of stock
         options or conversion of securities).

(2)      Except as otherwise  noted,  each  director and officer has sole voting
         and investment  power with respect to the shares of common stock of the
         Corporation and Lynch.

(3)      Includes  228,499  shares  of Class A Common  Stock and  Common  Stock,
         respectively, issuable upon the exercise of the A Warrant granted to BF
         in June 1994 (as adjusted for two 3-for-2 stock splits that occurred in
         December 1994 and December  1995,  respectively,  and the Stock Split).
         BF, an investment  and  management  firm, is in affiliate of Richard J.
         Boyle  and Ned N.  Fleming,  III,  who each own 50% of the  outstanding
         capital stock of BF.  Messrs.  Boyle and Fleming,  together with former
         shareholders of BF, may be deemed to share voting and dispositive power
         over these  shares of Common Stock and Class A Common  Stock;  however,
         Mr. Fleming and Mr. Boyle specifically disclaim beneficial ownership of
         such shares. See "Certain Transactions."

(4)      Includes  10,000 shares issuable upon exercise of stock options granted
         pursuant to the Spinnaker Industries, Inc. Directors Stock Option Plan.

(5)      Includes  5,000 shares  issuable upon exercise of stock options granted
         pursuant to the Spinnaker Industries, Inc. Directors Stock Option Plan.

AMENDMENT  OF THE  COMPANY'S  CERTIFICATE  OF  INCORPORATION  TO AUTHORIZE UP TO
2,000,000 SHARES OF PREFERRED STOCK

         The Board of  Directors  unanimously  adopted,  and a  majority  of the
stockholders  acting by written  consent  have  approved  the  Amendment,  which
provides  for the  authorization  to issue up to  2,000,000  shares of preferred
stock (the "Preferred  Stock").  The text of the Amendment is attached hereto as
Exhibit A and is incorporated herein by reference.

         The Board of Directors believes that the authorization of the Preferred
Stock is in the best interest of the Company and its  stockholders  and believes
that it is  advisable  to  authorize  such  shares  and have them  available  in
connection  with possible  future  transactions,  such as financings,  strategic
alliances,  corporate  mergers,  acquisitions,  possible  funding of new product
programs or businesses and other uses not presently  determinable  and as may be
deemed to be feasible and in the best interest of the Company. In addition,  the
Board  of  Directors  believes  that is  desirable  that  the  Company  have the
flexibility  to issue  shares of Preferred  Stock  without  further  stockholder
action, except as otherwise provided by law.

         The  Preferred   Stock  will  have  such   designations,   preferences,
conversion  rights,  cumulative,  relative,  participating,  optional  or  other
rights,  including  voting rights,  qualification,  limitations or  restrictions
thereof as are  determined by the Board of  Directors,  except that the Board of
Directors will be limited in issuing any shares or series of Preferred  Stock so
long as Lynch  Corporation  directly  or  indirectly  owns  more than 35% of the
issued and outstanding

                                       -6-

<PAGE>
shares  of  Common  Stock or Class A Common  Stock of the  Corporation.  In that
event, any resolution providing for the issue of such Preferred Stock will first
be subject to the approval of the Executive  Committee of the Board of Directors
of Lynch  Corporation or a designee of such  Committee  prior to adoption of any
such  resolution by the Board of Directors of the Company.  Furthermore,  in the
event the  resolution  finally  adopted by the Board of Directors  varies in any
respect from the terms previously  approved by Lynch  Corporation,  then the re-
approval  of the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  Lynch
Corporation or a designee would then be required before that resolution could be
filed or become effective.

         It is not  possible to  determine  the actual  effect of the  Preferred
Stock on the  rights  of the  stockholders  of the  Company  until  the Board of
Directors  determines  the rights of the  holders  of a series of the  Preferred
Stock.  However,  such effects might include (i)  restrictions on the payment of
dividends to holders of the Common Stock or Class A Common Stock;  (ii) dilution
of voting power to the extent that the holders of shares of Preferred  Stock are
given voting rights;  (iii) dilution of the equity interests and voting power if
the Preferred  Stock is  convertible  into Common Stock or Class A Common Stock;
and (iv)  restrictions  upon any  distribution  of assets to the  holders of the
Common Stock or Class A Common Stock upon  liquidation or dissolution  and until
the  satisfaction  of any  liquidation  preference  granted  to the  holders  of
Preferred Stock.

         The  Board  of  Directors  is  required  by  Delaware  law to make  any
determination  to issue shares of Preferred  Stock based upon its judgment as to
the best interests of the  stockholders  and the Company.  Although the Board of
Directors  has no  present  intention  of doing  so,  it could  issue  shares of
Preferred  Stock  (within  the limits  imposed by  applicable  law) that  could,
depending on the terms of such series,  make more  difficult  or  discourage  an
attempt to obtain  control of the  Company by means of a merger,  tender  offer,
proxy  contest or other  means.  When in the  judgment of the Board of Directors
such action would be in the best interests of the  stockholders and the Company,
the  issuance of shares of  Preferred  Stock  could be used to create  voting or
other  impediments  or to  discourage  persons  seeking  to gain  control of the
Company,  for example, by the sale of Preferred Stock to purchasers favorable to
the Board of  Directors.  In addition,  the Board of Directors  could  authorize
holders of a series of Preferred  Stock to vote either  separately as a class or
with the holders of Common Stock,  on any merger,  sale or exchange of assets by
the Company or any other extraordinary  corporate transaction.  The existence of
the  additional   authorized  shares  could  have  the  effect  of  discouraging
unsolicited takeover attempts.  The issuance of new shares could also be used to
dilute the stock  ownership of a person or entity  seeking to obtain  control of
the Company should the Board of Directors  consider the action of such entity or
person not to be in the best interests of the stockholders and the Company. Such
issuance of Preferred  Stock could also have the effect of diluting the earnings
per share and book value per share of the Common Stock or Class A Common Stock.

         The Company  recently  announced  an agreement to acquire the assets of
the pressure  sensitive  division of S.D. Warren  Company.  One component of the
financing  for this  transaction  is  contemplated  to include  the  issuance of
approximately  $15 million of a new series of  Preferred  Stock,  which would be
issued to third parties. The terms of that new series of Preferred Stock

                                       -7-

<PAGE>

have not been  definitively  agreed  upon;  however,  through  the use of "blank
check"  authorization  available under the Preferred  Stock,  the Board (and the
Lynch Corporation Executive Committee or its designee) will have the flexibility
to  determine  the  actual  terms at the time  that  acquisition  is  completed.
Financial and other  information  with respect to this  transaction will be made
publicly  available  in a Form  8-K  filing  following  the  completion  of that
transaction.  There can be no assurance that any Preferred  Stock will be issued
in connection with the financing of this transaction.  Except as just described,
the  Company  has no present  plans to issue any  shares or series of  Preferred
Stock.

         Pursuant to the DGCL,  the Company's  stockholders  are not entitled to
dissenters' rights of appraisal with respect to the Amendment.



                                             By Order of the
                                             Board of Directors

                                             Richard J. Boyle
                                             Chairman of the Board



                                       -8-

<PAGE>
                                                                       EXHIBIT A


         "RESOLVED,  that in order  to  effectuate  such  amendment,  the  first
paragraph  of  Article  Fourth  of  the  Certificate  of  Incorporation  of  the
Corporation be, and hereby is, amended to read as follows:

         FOURTH:  The total number of shares that the  Corporation is authorized
to issue is twenty  seven  million  (27,000,000),  of which  twenty five million
(25,000,000)  shall  be  Common  Stock  and two  million  (2,000,000)  shall  be
Preferred Stock.

                                    * * * * *

             8.  DESIGNATION OF CLASSES, RELATIVE RIGHTS OF PREFERRED STOCK

The designation,  relative rights,  preferences and limitations of the shares of
preferred stock are as follows:

                  The shares of Preferred  Stock may be issued from time to time
in one or more  series of any  number of  shares,  provided  that the  aggregate
number of shares  issued and not  canceled of any and all such series  shall not
exceed the total number of shares of Preferred Stock hereinabove authorized, and
with all distinctive serial  designations,  all as shall hereafter be stated and
expressed  in the  resolution  or  resolutions  providing  for the issue of such
shares of  Preferred  Stock from time to time  adopted by the Board of Directors
pursuant to authority so to do which is vested in the Board of  Directors,  such
authority to be limited to the extent that for so long as the Lynch  Corporation
directly or indirectly owns more than 35% of the issued and  outstanding  shares
of Common Stock or Class A Common Stock of the  Corporation,  any  resolution or
resolutions  providing  for the  issue of such  Preferred  Stock  will  first be
subject to the approval of the Executive  Committee of the Board of Directors of
Lynch  Corporation or a designee of such Committee prior to adoption of any such
resolution  or  resolutions  by the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Corporation.
Furthermore,  in the event any such resolution or resolutions finally adopted by
the Board of Directors of the  Corporation  varies in any respect from the terms
previously  approved by the designee of Lynch Corporation,  then the re-approval
by the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of Lynch Corporation or its
designee  would then be required  before such  resolution or  resolutions  would
become effective.

                  Each  series of shares  of  Preferred  Stock (a) may have such
voting powers,  full or limited,  or may be without  voting  powers;  (b) may be
subject  to  redemption  at such  time or times and at such  prices;  (c) may be
entitled to receive  dividends  (which may be cumulative or  non-cumulative)  at
such rate or  rates,  on such  conditions  and at such  times,  and  payable  in
preference to, or in such relation to , the dividends payable on any other class
or classes or series of stock; (d) may have such rights upon the dissolution of,
or upon any  distribution  of the assets of,  the  Corporation;  (e) may be made
convertible into or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or classes or of
any other series of the same or any other class or classes of shares

                                       -9-

<PAGE>
of the Corporation at such price or prices or at such rates of exchange and with
such  adjustments;  (f) may be entitled  to the benefit of a sinking  fund to be
applied to the purchase or redemption of shares of such series in such amount or
amounts;  (g) may be entitled to the benefit of conditions and restrictions upon
the creation of  indebtedness  of the  Corporation or any  subsidiary,  upon the
issue of any additional shares (including additional shares of such series or of
any other  series)  and upon the  payment  of  dividends  or the making of other
distributions  on, and the  purchase,  redemption  or other  acquisition  by the
Corporation or any subsidiary of, any outstanding  shares of the Corporation and
(h) may have such  other  relative,  participating,  optional  or other  special
rights,  qualifications,  limitations or restrictions  thereof;  all as shall be
stated in said resolution or resolutions  providing for the issue of such shares
of  Preferred  Stock.  Shares of  Preferred  Stock of any series  that have been
redeemed  (whether through the operation of a sinking fund or otherwise) or that
if convertible or exchangeable, have been converted into or exchanged for shares
of any other class or classes  shall have the status of  authorized  an unissued
shares of  Preferred  Stock of the same  series and may be reissued as part of a
new  series  of  shares  of  Preferred  Stock to be  created  by  resolution  or
resolutions  of  the  Board  of  Directors  (in  accordance  with  the  approval
procedures  set  forth  above)  or as part of any  other  series  of  shares  of
Preferred  Stock,  all subject to the conditions or restrictions on issuance set
forth in the  resolution  or  resolutions  adopted  by the  Board  of  Directors
providing  for the  issue  of any  series  of  shares  of  Preferred  Stock  (in
accordance with the approval procedures set forth above).

                  Subject  to the  provisions  of any  applicable  law or of the
By-laws of the  Corporation  as from time to time  amended,  with respect to the
closing  of  the  transfer  books  or  the  fixing  of a  record  date  for  the
determination of stockholders  entitled to vote and except as otherwise provided
by law or by the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of any series
of shares of preferred stock, the holders of outstanding  shares of Common Stock
and Class A Common Stock shall exclusively possess voting power for the election
of directors  and for all other  purposes.  Except as otherwise  provided by the
resolution  or  resolutions  providing  for the issue of any series of shares of
Preferred  Stock,  the holders of shares of Common Stock or Class A Common Stock
shall be entitled,  to the exclusion of the holders of shares of Preferred Stock
of any and all series,  to receive  such  dividends  as from time to time may be
declared by the Board of Directors.

                  Subject to the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation
and  except  as  otherwise  provided  by  law,  the  stock  of the  Corporation,
regardless of class, may be issued for such consideration and for such corporate
purposes as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.

                                      -10-



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