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SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[ ] Definitive Proxy Statement
[X] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to ss. 240.14a-11(c) or ss. 240.14a-12
THE PIONEER GROUP, INC.
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(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
n/a
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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.
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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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LENS = LESS VALUE FOR YOU
May 1, 2000
DEAR FELLOW STOCKHOLDER:
By now you may have received another letter from Lens asking you to
hand over control of your Company to the Lens dissident candidates so they
can begin the process of auctioning your Company. Your Board unanimously
believes that election of the Lens slate will only result in delay,
uncertainty and less value for you. You are strongly urged to reject this
dissident bid for control of Pioneer. DO NOT SIGN ANY GOLD PROXY YOU MAY
RECEIVE FROM THE LENS GROUP.
YOUR BOARD IS FULLY COMMITTED TO COMPLETING THE PROCESS IT STARTED
For over two months, your Board, senior management and the Company's
investment bankers have been earnestly pursuing transactions designed to
maximize value for Pioneer stockholders. The Company has received numerous
expressions of interest in acquiring Pioneer. The first phase of the
process has been completed. The process is moving forward quickly and the
second round of proposals are expected soon. We look forward to presenting
the results of our efforts to you in the near future.
FACTS ABOUT THE LENS "ANALYSIS"
In its continuing attempt to gain control of your Company, Lens
presents you with a so-called "analysis" of the price Lens believes your
Company could bring in a sale. Lens discloses that the bottom end of its
price range is $29.24 per Pioneer share - ONLY 4% HIGHER THAN PREVAILING
MARKET PRICES. In spite of their assertions about the value of Pioneer,
Lens admits that:
o ". . . WE DO NOT REGULARLY ENGAGE IN THE VALUATION OF COMPANIES
INVOLVED IN SOME OF THE INDUSTRIES THAT PIONEER IS IN . . ."
Furthermore, Lens admits that:
o "NO ASSURANCE CAN BE GIVEN THAT THE LENS GROUP NOMINEES WOULD BE ABLE TO
SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT A PLAN TO SELL THE COMPANY IF ELECTED TO THE
PIONEER BOARD."
DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO DERAIL A PROCESS WELL UNDERWAY TO ALLOW A NEW AND
UNPROVEN BOARD TO START ALL OVER AGAIN?
A WORD ABOUT RETENTION AGREEMENTS
Lens's latest letter is devoted to attacking the Compensation
Committee of your Board for approving retention agreements for the
Company's senior executives. Towers Perrin, a nationally recognized
executive compensation consulting firm, advised the Committee that
retention agreements are an appropriate and common vehicle to retain key
executives who are critical to the continuation of the Company's core
businesses while the Board explores the possible sale of the Company.
DOES IT MAKE SENSE FOR LENS TO ATTACK YOUR BOARD FOR ENDORSING RETENTION
AGREEMENTS WHEN THESE REASONABLE AND CUSTOMARY STEPS HELP ENSURE A
SUCCESSFUL SALE PROCESS - THE VERY SAME COURSE OF ACTION LENS IS PROPOSING?
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DON'T RISK THE VALUE OF YOUR INVESTMENT BY CHANGING CONTROL OF
PIONEER AT THIS CRITICAL POINT IN THE PROCESS. WE URGE YOU TO REJECT THE
LENS GROUP AND ITS DISRUPTIVE PROXY CAMPAIGN. PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR BOARD OF
DIRECTORS BY SIGNING, DATING AND MAILING THE ENCLOSED WHITE MANAGEMENT
PROXY TODAY. Since the Annual Meeting is only a short time away, it is
important to act without delay.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
John F. Cogan, Jr.
President
-IMPORTANT-
Please be sure your latest dated proxy card is a WHITE proxy card voting
FOR the management nominees. A later dated gold proxy card, even if marked
"withhold authority" to vote for the LENS group, will revoke your vote for
management. If you have any questions or need assistance in voting your
shares, please call D. F. King & Co., Inc., our proxy solicitor, at:
(800) 347-4750 (call toll-free)
