SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
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SCHEDULE 13D
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. 9)(1)
RONSON CORPORATION
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(Name of issuer)
COMMON STOCK
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(Title of class of securities)
776338 20 4
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(CUSIP number)
STEVEN WOLOSKY, ESQ.
OLSHAN GRUNDMAN FROME ROSENZWEIG & WOLOSKY LLP
505 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10022
(212) 753-7200
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(Name, address and telephone number of person
authorized to receive notices and communications)
June 10, 1999
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(Date of event which requires filing of this statement)
If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G
to report the acquisition which is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is
filing this schedule because of Rule 13d-1(b)(3) or (4), check the following box
/ /.
Note. six copies of this statement, including all exhibits, should be
filed with the Commission. See Rule 13d-1(a) for other parties to whom copies
are to be sent.
(Continued on following pages)
(Page 1 of 8 Pages)
Exhibit Index on Page 6
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1 The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting
person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of
securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would
alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required on the remainder of this cover page
shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that
section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act
(however, see the Notes).
<PAGE>
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CUSIP No. 776338 20 4 13D Page 2 of 8 Pages
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================================================================================
1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS
STEEL PARTNERS II, L.P.
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2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) / /
(b) / /
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3 SEC USE ONLY
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4 SOURCE OF FUNDS
WC
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5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED
PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e) / /
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6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OR ORGANIZATION
DELAWARE
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NUMBER OF 7 SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY 316,199
OWNED BY -----------------------------------------------------------------
EACH
REPORTING
PERSON WITH
8 SHARED VOTING POWER
-0-
-----------------------------------------------------------------
9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
316,199
-----------------------------------------------------------------
10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
-0-
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11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
316,199
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12 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES / /
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13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
9.9%
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14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
PN
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<PAGE>
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CUSIP No. 776338 20 4 13D Page 3 of 8 Pages
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1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS
WARREN LICHTENSTEIN
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2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) / /
(b) / /
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3 SEC USE ONLY
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4 SOURCE OF FUNDS
00
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5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED
PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e) / /
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6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OR ORGANIZATION
USA
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NUMBER OF 7 SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY 316,199
OWNED BY
EACH -----------------------------------------------------------------
REPORTING
PERSON WITH
8 SHARED VOTING POWER
- 0 -
-----------------------------------------------------------------
9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
316,199
-----------------------------------------------------------------
10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
- 0 -
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11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
316,199
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES / /
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13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
9.9%
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14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
IN
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<PAGE>
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CUSIP No. 776338 20 4 13D Page 4 of 8 Pages
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The following constitutes Amendment No. 9 to the Schedule 13D filed by
the undersigned (the "Schedule 13D"). Except as specifically amended by this
Amendment No. 9, the Schedule 13D remains in full force and effect.
Item 4 is hereby amended to add the following
Item 4. Purpose of Transaction.
On June 10, 1999 the Reporting Persons sent a letter to Louis
V. Aronson, II, the Issuer's Chief Executive Officer and President the Issuer,
expressing the Reporting Persons' continued dissatisfaction with the performance
of the Issuer and requesting a meeting with the Issuer's Board of Directors to
discuss the reasons behind the Board's rejection of Steel Partners' proposal to
acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock (other than
shares of Common Stock owned by the Reporting Persons) for $5.25 per share. The
letter is filed as Exhibit 7 to this Amendment No. 9 to Schedule 13D and
incorporated herein by reference.
Item 7 is amended to read as follows:
Item 7. Material to be Filed as Exhibits.
1. Joint Filing Agreement
2. Letter dated August 14, 1998 from Steel Partners II, L.P. to
the Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors of the
Issuer
3. Letter dated December 15, 1998 from Steel Partners II, L.P. to
the Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors of the
Issuer
4. Letter dated December 22, 1998 from Steel Partners II, L.P. to
Louis V. Aronson, II, the Chief Executive Officer and
President of the Issuer
5. Text of Press Release issued by Steel Partners II, L.P. on
January 27, 1999
6. Letter dated May 13, 1999 from Steel Partners II, L.P. to
Louis V. Aronson, II, the Chief Executive Officer and
President of the Issuer
7. Letter dated June 10, 1999 from Steel Partners, L.P. to Louis
V. Aronson, II, the Chief Executive Officer and President of
the Issuer
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CUSIP No. 776338 20 4 13D Page 5 of 8 Pages
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SIGNATURES
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of his knowledge and belief,
each of the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this
statement is true, complete and correct.
Dated: June 14, 1999 STEEL PARTNERS II, L.P.
By: Steel Partners, L.L.C. General Partner
By: /s/ Warren G. Lichtenstein
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Warren G. Lichtenstein
Chief Executive Officer
/s/ Warren G. .Lichtenstein
--------------------------------------
WARREN G. LICHTENSTEIN
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CUSIP No. 776338 20 4 13D Page 6 of 8 Pages
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Exhibit Index
Page
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1. Joint Filing Agreement (previously filed) -
2. Letter dated August 14, 1998 from Steel Partners, -
to the Chief Executive Officer and Board of
Directors of the Issuer (previously filed)
3. Letter dated December 15, 1998 from Steel Partners -
II, L.P. to the Chief Executive Officer and Board of
Directors of the Issuer (previously filed)
4. Letter dated December 23, 1998 from Steel Partners -
II, L.P. to Louis V. Aronson, II, the Chief
Executive Officer and President of the Issuer
(previously filed)
5. Text of Press Release issued by Steel Partners II, -
L.P. on January 27, 1999
6. Letter dated May 13, 1999 from Steel Partners II, -
L.P. to Louis V. Aronson, II, the Chief Executive
Officer and President of the Issuer
7. Letter dated June 10, 1999 from Steel Partners II, 7
L.P. to Louis V. Aronson, II, the Chief Executive
Officer and President of the Issuer
<PAGE>
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CUSIP No. 776338 20 4 13D Page 7 of 8 Pages
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STEEL PARTNERS II, L.P.
150 East 52nd Street
21st Floor
New York, New York 10022
June 10, 1999
Louis V. Aronson, II
Chief Executive Officer and President
Ronson Corporation
Corporate Park III, Campus Drive
P.O. Box 6707
Somerset, NJ 08875-6707
Dear Mr. Aronson:
In response to your letter of June 1999 and as you know, Steel Partners
II, L.P. ("Steel Partners") is the second largest stockholder of Ronson. Steel
Partners is of the belief that the Ronson Board should accept its all-cash offer
of $5.25, which is not subject to financing and which you mischaracterize as
conditional and contingent in your letter of June 3, 1999. All conditions can be
satisfied by a negotiated transaction approved by the Board of Ronson.
Your letter further expresses the unconditional support of the Board
for its business plan which has to date failed to improve the Company's
performance or enhance stockholder value. Accordingly, we again request a
meeting with the Board so that we can understand why the Board believes its
ongoing strategic plan envisioned for the Company as expressed in the Company's
annual report is in the best interest of its Company and its stockholders. We
continue to be concerned about environmental cleanup matters, the aviation
business and the Company's inability to capitalize on its core business segment.
<PAGE>
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CUSIP No. 776338 20 4 13D Page 8 of 8 Pages
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We trust then that rather than continuing an ongoing letter writing and
press release campaign against Steel Partners, as we have previously stated,
that we schedule a face to face meeting in the best interest of the Company and
all of its stockholders.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Warren G. Lichtenstein
Warren G. Lichtenstein
Managing Member of General Partner
cc: Board of Directors
- Robert A. Aronson
- Erwin M. Ganz
- Gerard J. Quinnan
- Justin P. Walder
- Saul H. Weisman
- Albert G. Besser
