SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
Filed by the registrant / /
Filed by a party other than the registrant /X/
Check the appropriate box:
/X/ Preliminary Proxy Statement
/ / Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)2))
/ / Definitive Proxy Statement
/ / Definitive Additional Materials
/ / Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14(a)-12
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(Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
THE FULL VALUE COMMITTEE
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(Name of Person(s) filing Proxy Statement, if other than 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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(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
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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:
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(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement no.:
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(3) Filing Party:
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(4) Date Filed:
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CONSENT SOLICITATION STATEMENT
OF
THE FULL VALUE COMMITTEE
This Consent Solicitation Statement (the "Consent Statement")
and the accompanying form of written consent are furnished by The Full Value
Committee (the "Committee") in connection with the solicitation by the Committee
of written consents from the holders of common stock, $1.00 par value per share
(the "Common Stock"), of Aydin Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), to take the following action (the "Proposal"), without a meeting of
stockholders, as permitted by Delaware law:
(1) Remove all of the incumbent members of the Company's Board
of Directors without cause, other than I. Gary Bard, including
the removal of Ira Brind, Dr. Nev A. Gokcen, and Harry D.
Train, II, and any person or persons elected to the Board of
Directors by the Directors to fill any vacancy arising since
the last annual meeting of stockholders, or newly created
directorship;
(2) Elect the Committee's nominees (Warren G. Lichtenstein,
Robert Frankfurt and Mark E. Schwarz) to the Company's Board
of Directors.
Approval of the Proposal requires the written consent of a
majority of the holders of Common Stock as of September 9, 1998 (the "Record
Date"). Stockholders of record as of close of business on the Record Date will
be entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock (the "Shares"). The
Committee has set October 15, 1998 as the goal for the submission of written
consents; however, the last day for the submission of written consents to the
Company under Delaware law will be November 9, 1998. Based on publicly available
information filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "SEC") as of July 31, 1998, there were 5,209,800 shares of Common Stock
issued and outstanding.
On the Record Date, the Committee was the beneficial owner of an
aggregate of 620,700 shares of Common Stock which represented approximately
11.9% of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock.
THE COMMITTEE BELIEVES THAT THE PLAN OUTLINED ABOVE AND DESCRIBED
FURTHER HEREIN WILL DELIVER MAXIMUM VALUE FOR YOUR SHARES OF COMMON STOCK,
ALTHOUGH THERE CAN BE NO ASSURANCES THAT THE PLAN WILL RESULT IN MAXIMUM VALUE;
TO CARRY OUT THE PLAN THE COMMITTEE'S NOMINEES BELIEVE THAT THE INCUMBENT
MEMBERS OF THE COMPANY'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS OTHER THAN MR. BARD MUST BE
REPLACED. REPRESENTATION BY THE COMMITTEE'S NOMINEES CAN BE ACHIEVED ONLY IF THE
PROPOSED CORPORATE ACTIONS ARE
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ADOPTED. ACCORDINGLY YOU ARE URGED TO CONSENT TO THE REMOVAL OF THE INCUMBENT
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OTHER THAN MR. BARD AND TO THE ELECTION OF THE
COMMITTEE'S NOMINEES (MESSRS. LICHTENSTEIN, FRANKFURT AND SCHWARZ) TO CONSTITUTE
A MAJORITY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS BY MARKING, SIGNING, DATING AND RETURNING
PROMPTLY THE ENCLOSED WHITE CONSENT CARD IN THE POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE PROVIDED.
Because a Consent to corporate action is effective only if executed by
holders of record of a majority of the total number of shares outstanding on the
Record Date, the failure to execute a consent has the same effect as a
withholding of Consent for any proposal.
If your shares of Common Stock are held in the name of a brokerage
firm, bank nominee or other institution, only such entity can execute a Consent
with respect to your shares. Accordingly, please mark, date, and sign the
enclosed WHITE Consent Card and return it to your broker or bank.
The principal executive offices of the Company are located at 700
Dresher Road, Horsham, Pennsylvania 19044 and its telephone number is (215)
657-7510
This Consent Statement, the accompanying letter to
stockholders and the WHITE Consent Card are first being furnished to
stockholders on or about September [ ], 1998.
IMPORTANT
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Carefully review the Consent Statement and the enclosed materials. YOUR
CONSENT IS IMPORTANT. No matter how many or how few shares you own, please vote
FOR the removal of the stated members of the Company's Board of Directors and
the election of the Committee's nominees for director by so indicating and by
signing, marking, dating and mailing the enclosed WHITE Consent Card promptly.
If you own shares of the Company but your stock certificate is held for
you by a brokerage firm, bank or other institution, it is very likely that the
stock certificate is actually in the name of such brokerage firm, bank or other
institution. If so, only such entity can execute a BLUE Consent and vote your
shares of Common Stock. The brokerage firm, bank, or other institution holding
the shares for you is required to forward consent materials to you and solicit
your instructions with respect to the granting of consents; it cannot vote your
shares unless it receives your specific instructions.
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If you have any questions about giving your consent or require
assistance in voting your shares, please call:
MACKENZIE PARTNERS, INC.
156 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10010
(212) 929-5500 (Collect)
or
CALL TOLL FREE (800) 322-2885
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THE FULL VALUE COMMITTEE AND ITS SLATE
The Full Value Committee is composed of Warren G. Lichtenstein, Robert
Frankfurt and Mark E. Schwarz, Warren G. Lichtenstein, Robert Frankfurt and Mark
E. Schwarz constitute its slate (the "Slate") for election to the Company's
Board of Directors. Biographical data on the Slate is set forth below. The
Committee was formed on or about September 3, 1998 to make the Proposal and
undertake this consent solicitation. The Committee is an unincorporated
association with its office at 150 East 52nd Street, 21st Floor, New York, NY
10022. Its telephone number is (212) 813-1500. The Committee's officers are
Messrs. Lichtenstein, Frankfurt and Schwarz.
Warren G. Lichtenstein (33) is one of the Committee's nominees for
director. Mr. Lichtenstein has been the Chairman of the Board, Secretary and the
Managing Member of Steel Partners, L.L.C. ("Steel LLC"), the general partner of
Steel Partners II, L.P. ("Steel") since January 1, 1996. Prior to such time, Mr.
Lichtenstein was the Chairman and a director of Steel Partners, Ltd. ("Former
General Partner"), the general partner of Steel Partners Associates, L.P.
("Associates"), which was the general partner of Steel since 1993 and prior to
January 1, 1996. For information regarding Steel and Steel LLC, see below under
"Other Participants, Certain Agreements and Related Additional Information." Mr.
Lichtenstein was the acquisition/risk arbitrage analyst at Ballantrae Partners,
L.P., a private investment partnership formed to invest in risk arbitrage,
special situations and undervalued companies, from 1988 to 1990. Mr.
Lichtenstein is a director of the following publicly held companies: Gateway
Industries, Inc., Rose's Holdings, Inc. and Saratoga Beverage Group, Inc. As of
the Record Date, Mr. Lichtenstein beneficially owned 492,600 shares of the
Common Stock of the Company, all of which were owned by Steel. The business
address of Mr. Lichtenstein is 150 E. 52nd Street, 21st Floor, New York, New
York 10022. For information regarding Mr. Lichtenstein's purchases and sales of
shares of the Common Stock of the Company during the past two years, see
Schedule I.
In late 1995, Steel commenced a proxy solicitation to replace the
incumbent directors of Medical Imaging Centers of America, Inc. ("MICA").
Thereafter, MICA initiated an action against Steel, Warren Lichtenstein, and
others in the United States District Court for the Southern District of
California, Medical Imaging Centers of America, Inc. v. Lichtenstein, et al,
Case No. 96-0039B. On February 29, 1996, the Court issued an Order granting, in
part, MICA's motion for a preliminary injunction on the grounds that plaintiff
had demonstrated a probability of success on the merits of its assertion that
defendants had violated Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Under
the Court's preliminary injunction, defendants in the action were enjoined from
voting certain of their shares at MICA's annual meeting of shareholders, except
pursuant to a formula under which they would be voted in the same proportion as
other votes cast at the meeting. The Court declined to adjourn the annual
meeting of shareholders. At the meeting, Steel received sufficient votes to
elect its nominees to the Board of MICA, after giving effect to the Court's
preliminary injunction. The parties thereafter settled their differences
pursuant to an agreement under which MICA agreed to initiate an auction process
which, if not
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concluded within a certain time period, would end and thereafter the designees
of Steel would assume control of the Board of MICA. MICA was ultimately sold for
$11.75 per share, as contrasted with the price of $8.25 per share, representing
the closing price on the day prior to the initiation of Steel's proxy
solicitation.
Robert Frankfurt (33) is one of the Committee's nominees for director.
Mr. Frankfurt graduated from the Wharton School of Business in 1987 with a B.S.
in Economics. Mr. Frankfurt began his career as a financial analyst in the
mergers and acquisitions department of Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc. In 1989, Mr.
Frankfurt joined Hambro Bank America as an associate focused on micro-cap and
cross-border merger and acquisition transactions. In 1992, Mr. Frankfurt began
consulting with various entities on proposed international and domestic
transactions including a number of acquisition projects for Steel LLC. Mr.
Frankfurt joined Steel LLC in 1995 after completing his MBA at the Anderson
Graduate School of Management at UCLA, where he was a Venture Capital Fellow. As
of the Record Date, Mr. Frankfurt does not beneficially own shares of the Common
Stock of the Company. The business address of Mr. Frankfurt is 150 E. 52nd
Street, 21st Floor, New York, New York 10022.
Mark E. Schwarz (37) is one of the Committee's nominees for director.
Mr. Schwarz is Vice President and Manager of Sandera Capital, L.L.C. ("Sandera
L.L.C."), a private investment firm, since 1995. Prior to such time Mr. Schwarz
was a securities analyst and portfolio manager for SCM Advisors, L.L.C. a
registered investment advisor, from 1993 to 1996. Mr. Schwarz is also the sole
general partner of Newcastle Partners, L.P. ("Newcastle"), a private investment
firm, since 1993. As of the Record Date, Mr. Schwarz beneficially owned 128,100
shares of the Common Stock of the Company. The business address of Mr. Schwarz
is 1601 Elm Street, Suite 4000, Dallas, Texas 75201. For information regarding
Mr. Schwarz's purchases and sales of shares of the Common Stock of the Company
during the past two years, see Schedule I.
For further information concerning the plans of the Full Value
Committee and its Slate, see "The Plans of the Full Value Committee."
The Full Value Committee, together, beneficially owned 620,700 shares
of Common Stock as of the Record Date, representing 11.6% of the issued and
outstanding shares of Common Stock.
Each of the nominees has consented to serve as a director and, if
elected, intends to discharge his duties as director of the Company in
compliance with all applicable legal requirements, including the general
fiduciary obligations imposed upon corporate directors. By executing a WHITE
Consent Card, each Stockholder will revoke any prior consent and will not be
voting his or her shares for the nominees of the Company's management.
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THE PLANS OF THE FULL VALUE COMMITTEE
The Committee was formed to solicit consents to elect a slate of
candidates to replace the current directors of the Company other than I. Gary
Bard, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Members of the
Committee have beneficially owned shares of the Company's common stock since
July 1996. In making their initial investment, the members of the Committee
believed there were unexploited opportunities to increase the value of these
shares. The members of the Committee now believe that the Company's business
strategy, including its recent efforts to evaluate strategic alternatives, is
not the best course of action for the Company's stockholders.
Accordingly, the Committee believes that the market price of the Common
Stock does not reflect the underlying value of the Company and believes that the
sale of the Company may be in the best interests of the Company's stockholders.
For example, on September 8, 1998, the closing price of the Company's Common
Stock was $8.1875 per share, while the book value of the Company at June 30,
1998 was more than $12.50 per share, according to Company's Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q. In May, 1996, when I. Gary Bard was hired as Chairman of the Board
and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, the Company's Common Stock was
trading at over $14.00 per share. Based on the closing price of the Company's
common stock as of September 8, 1998, it has declined over 40% in value since
that time. In addition, the Company has shown a net loss of almost $24,000,000
for the first half of 1998, as well as a 15% decline in net sales revenues from
the same period in 1997.
For these and other reasons, the Committee has concluded that the most
attractive opportunity for increasing the value of the Company's Common Stock,
on a present value basis, is through the sale of the Company. The only means by
which the Committee can ensure the Board of the Company acts to pursue this
objective is to have certain directors of the Company removed and replaced with
a majority of directors committed to pursuing the sale of the Company in a
manner which will give the Company's stockholders the greatest return on their
investment. In that regard the Committee was formed to seek the removal of Ira
Brind, Dr. Nev A. Gokcen and Harry D. Train, II., without cause, and the
election of Warren G. Lichtenstein, Robert Frankfurt and Mark E. Schwarz in
their place. Upon the consummation of such actions, the Slate will take all
necessary action to pursue the sale of the Company.
The Committee believes that the sale of the Company will produce more
favorable financial results to the stockholders of the Company than the
continued operation of the Company by current management. No assurance can be
given that a sale of the Company can be accomplished or would produce more
favorable financial results or result in achieving full value for stockholders.
The Committee has not made any contact with any potential acquirors of the
Company or solicited any offers from any potential acquirors of the Company. Nor
has it conducted an appraisal of the assets of the Company in order to determine
a fair price for such a sale.
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In the event the Proposal is passed and the Slate is elected, the Slate
has committed to use its best efforts, among other things, to effectuate a sale
of the Company. No assurance can be given that the Slate will be able to
implement its plan. The Committee could, however, in the future, based upon an
evaluation of the Company's operations and future plans, decide to pursue
another course of action. It is not currently contemplated that any of the
Committee's nominees for director or any of their affiliates will participate in
any transaction with the Company other than in their capacity as a stockholder.
If the Committee's nominees are elected, they have no current plans to
terminate the employment of any of the Company's current officers. The Committee
is not aware of any employment agreement or material agreement to which the
Company is a party, the termination or terms of which would be adversely
affected by the election of the Slate or sale of the Company, except for the
termination provisions as set forth in "Other Matters - Employment Agreements."
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Employment Agreements
The following description of certain employment agreements between the
Company and its executive officers is summarized in the Company's proxy
statement dated May 1, 1998 and other publicly available documents.
I. GARY BARD
On July 25, 1996, the Board of Directors approved the recommendations
of the Executive Compensation Committee regarding an Employment Agreement
between the Company and Mr. Bard, effective as of May 6, 1996, employing Mr.
Bard as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The
terms of the agreement is for five years and, unless notice of termination is
given by either party within six months prior to its termination date, is
automatically extended for an additional one-year term. The Company has the
right to terminate the agreement during its term but only for "cause (as defined
in the Agreement), and Mr. Bard may terminate his employment during its term for
"Good Reason" (e.g. a change of his position as Chairman and CEO without his
consent) or in the event of a "Change in Control" (e.g., merger, consolidation,
reorganization, sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of Company assets or
capital stock of more than 50%, other than to or with EA Industries, Inc.
The Company agreed to (i) pay an annual base salary of $290,000; (ii)
review the base salary at the end of each fiscal year and increase it as the
Board may determine; (iii) pay a bonus of 20,000 Shares in consideration of Mr.
Bard's execution of the Agreement; (iv) loan Mr. Bard an amount sufficient to
pay all income taxes payable by him in respect to issuance of the 20,000 bonus
shares by the Company, with interest at the lesser of 10%or prime, repayable in
five years, secured by a pledge of the 20,000 shares; (v) grant him a stock
option to purchase up to 150,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock, with an
exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Company's Stock on the date
the option was granted by the Board; (vi) permit him to participate in a bonus
plan to be established by the Company and,pending adoption of such a bonus plan,
pay him a bonus of up to 80% of his base salary upon satisfaction of
Board-approved objectives; (vii) permit him to participate in the Company's
insurance, health, stock option and other employee benefit plans; and (viii)
provide Mr. Bard with an automobile or a monthly car allowance at the Company's
option.In the event the agreement is terminated by the Company, other than for
"Cause" or Mr. Bard terminates the agreement within one year after an event that
would constitute "Good Reason" or a"Change in Control", the Company is obligated
to pay (i) the pro-rata portion of any bonus due and (ii) the then base salary
for the shorter of three years or until the initial term of the agreement
expires. All obligations of the Company terminate upon the death of Mr. Bard
except for the payment of any accrued and unpaid compensation at time of death.
In the event of his total disability, as determined under the agreement, the
Company's obligations under the agreement terminate upon the payment to Mr.Bard
of one-half of his then annual base salary.
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On February 6, 1998, the Board of Directors approved the recommendation
of the Executive Compensation Committee and extended Mr. Bard's contract for an
additional two years.
JAMES R. HENDERSON
On July 25, 1996, the Board of Directors approved the Employment
Agreement between the Company and Mr. Henderson, effective as of July 8, 1996,
employing Mr. Henderson as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the
Company. The agreement provides (i) a term of two years; (ii) an annual base
salary of $135,000; (iii) review of base salary at the end of each fiscal year;
(iv) a grant of an option to purchase Company Common Stock, the amount and terms
as determined by the Board of Directors; (v) participation in an incentive bonus
plan to be established by the Company, with the opportunity to earn up to 50% of
his base salary, with a guarantee of at least $30,000 in the first year; (vi)
reimbursement of relocation expenses, including closing costs on the sale of his
out-of-state home and the purchase of a similar home in Pennsylvania, mortgage
placement points, real estate transfer taxes and moving expenses; and (vii)
participation in the Company's insurance, health, stock option, and other
employee benefit plans. In the event the agreement is terminated by the Company
prior to the expiration of two years as a result of any merger, acquisition
diversification, reorganization or similar circumstances, the Company is
obligated to pay the then base salary until the initial term of the agreement
expires.
H. BARRY MASER
On October 25, 1996, the Board of Directors approved the Employment
Agreement between the Company and Mr. Maser, effective November 4, 1996,
employing Mr. Maser as Vice President of Business Development of the Company.
The agreement provides (i) a term of two years; (ii) an annual base salary of
$175,000; (iii) a grant of an option to purchase up to 50,000 shares of the
Company's Common Stock, with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of
the Company Stock on the date the option is granted; (iv) participation in an
incentive bonus plan with the opportunity to earn up to 70% of his base salary,
with a guarantee of at least $75,000 in the first year; (v) payment of a bonus
of 10,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock, vesting on a pro-rata basis over
a four-year period, in consideration of Mr. Maser's execution of the agreement;
(vi) a monthly car allowance; and (vii) participation in the Company's
insurance, health, stock option, and other employee benefit plans. In the event
the agreement is terminated by the Company prior to the expiration of two years
as a result of any merger, acquisition, diversification, reorganization, or any
other similar circumstances, the Company is obligated to pay the then base
salary until the initial term of the Agreement expires or 12 months from the
date of termination, whichever is longer.
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CONSENT PROCEDURES
General; Effectiveness of Consents
The Company is a Delaware corporation and is, therefore, subject to the
Delaware GCL. Section 228 of the Delaware GCL provides that, unless otherwise
provided in the certificate of incorporation of a corporation, any action
required to be or that may be taken at meeting of stockholders may be taken
without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if written consents,
setting forth the action so taken, are signed and delivered to the corporation
by the holders of outstanding shares having not less than the minimum number of
votes that would be necessary to take such action at a meeting at which all
shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. The Charter of the
Company does not prohibit stockholder action by written consent. While Article
II, Section 11 of the Bylaws of the Company purport to prohibit stockholder
action by less than unanimous written consent, the Committee has been advised by
counsel that in the absence of a corresponding charter provision, the
restriction in the Bylaws is superfluous and of no legal effect.
The Proposal will become effective when the Committee submits to the
Company properly completed, unrevoked and effective WHITE Consent Cards (or
other forms of consent) indicating consent to the Proposal, signed by the
holders of record on the Record Date of a majority of the Shares outstanding as
of the Record Date. Under Section 228 of the Delaware GCL, such consents must be
delivered within 60 days of the earliest dated consent delivered to the Company,
which was September 9, 1998; accordingly, this consent solicitation must be
completed by November 9, 1998. However, the Committee has established October
15, 1998 as the goal for the submission of written consents to the Committee. If
the Proposal is adopted pursuant to this consent solicitation, prompt notice
will be given pursuant to Section 228(d) of the Delaware GCL to stockholders who
have not executed and returned a WHITE Consent Card.
Because the Proposal will become effective only if executed consents
are returned by holders of record on the Record Date of a majority of the Shares
then outstanding, the following actions will have the same effect as withholding
consent to the Proposal: (a) failing to execute and return a WHITE Consent Card
or (b) executing and returning a written consent marked consent "WITHOUT
CONSENT" or "ABSTAINS" as to each Proposal. If returned WHITE Consent Cards are
executed and dated but not marked with respect to the Proposal, the stockholder
returning such card will be deemed to have consented to the Proposal.
Procedural Instructions
If a stockholder is a record holder of Shares as of the close of
business on the Record Date, such stockholder may elect to consent to, withhold
consent to or abstain with respect to a Proposal by marking the "CONSENTS",
"WITHHOLDS CONSENT" or "ABSTAINS" box, as applicable, underneath the Proposal on
the accompanying WHITE Consent Card and signing, dating and returning it
promptly in the enclosed postage-paid envelope.
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UNDER THE DELAWARE GCL, ONLY STOCKHOLDERS OF RECORD ON THE RECORD DATE
ARE ELIGIBLE TO GIVE THEIR CONSENT TO THE PROPOSAL. THEREFORE, EACH STOCKHOLDER
IS URGED, EVEN IF SUCH STOCKHOLDER HAS SOLD ITS SHARES SUBSEQUENT TO THE RECORD
DATE, TO GRANT ITS CONSENT PURSUANT TO THE ENCLOSED WHITE CONSENT CARD WITH
RESPECT TO ALL SHARES HELD AS OF THE RECORD DATE. A STOCKHOLDER'S FAILURE TO
CONSENT MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO BE STOCKHOLDERS. IN ADDITION,
ANY STOCKHOLDER OWNING SHARES BENEFICIALLY (BUT NOT OF RECORD), SUCH AS A PERSON
WHOSE OWNERSHIP OF SHARES IS THROUGH A BROKER, BANK OR OTHER FINANCIAL
INSTITUTION, SHOULD CONTACT THAT BROKER, BANK OR FINANCIAL INSTITUTION WITH
INSTRUCTIONS TO EXECUTE THE WHITE CONSENT CARD ON SUCH STOCKHOLDER'S BEHALF OR
TO HAVE THE BROKER, BANK OR FINANCIAL INSTITUTION'S NOMINEE EXECUTE THE CONSENT.
EACH STOCKHOLDER IS URGED TO ENSURE THAT THE RECORD HOLDER OF SUCH STOCKHOLDER'S
SHARES MARKS, SIGNS, DATES AND RETURNS THE ENCLOSED WHITE CONSENT CARD AS SOON
AS POSSIBLE. EACH STOCKHOLDER IS FURTHER URGED TO CONFIRM IN WRITING ANY
INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN AND PROVIDE A COPY THEREOF TO THE COMMITTEE IN CARE OF
MACKENZIE PARTNERS, SO THAT THE COMMITTEE MAY ALSO ATTEMPT TO ENSURE SUCH
INSTRUCTIONS ARE FOLLOWED.
Revocation of Consents
Executed written consents may be revoked at any time, provided that a
written, dated revocation which clearly identifies the consent being revoked is
executed and delivered either to (a) the Committee in care of MacKenzie
Partners, 156 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010, or (b) the principal executive
offices of the Company at 700 Dresher Road, Horsham, Pennsylvania 19044 prior to
the time that the Proposal becomes effective. A revocation may be in any written
form validly signed by the record holder as of the Record Date as long as it
clearly states that the written consent previously given is no longer effective.
The Committee requests that a copy of any revocation sent to the Company also be
given to MacKenzie Partners at the above address so that the Committee may more
accurately determine if and when written consent to each Proposal has been
received from the holders of record on the Record Date of a majority of the
Shares then outstanding. THE COMMITTEE URGES YOU NOT TO SIGN ANY REVOCATION OF
CONSENT CARD WHICH MAY BE SENT TO YOU BY THE COMPANY. IF YOU HAVE DONE SO, YOU
MAY REVOKE THAT REVOCATION OF CONSENT BY DELIVERING A LATER DATED WHITE CONSENT
CARD TO THE COMMITTEE, C/O MACKENZIE PARTNERS, OR TO THE SECRETARY OF THE
COMPANY.
OTHER MATTERS
Participant Information
Mr. Lichtenstein beneficially owns 492,600 shares of Common Stock; Mr.
Frankfurt does not beneficially own any shares of Common Stock; Mr. Schwarz
beneficially owns 128,100 shares of Common Stock and the Committee beneficially
owns 620,700 shares of Common Stock. Collectively, the Committee beneficially
owns 11.9% of the Shares. No
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participant owns any securities other than shares of Common Stock and no
participant owns any such shares of record but not beneficially.
The costs of the Committee's consent solicitation will be borne by
Steel. The Committee presently intends to seek reimbursement from the Company
for its reasonable expenses in connection with this Consent solicitation and
does not expect to submit such matter to a vote of security holders, unless
required by law.
The general partner of Steel is Steel LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company. The principal business of Steel is investing in the securities of
micro-cap companies. The principal business address of Steel and Steel LLC is
150 East 52nd Street, 21st Floor, New York, New York 10022. Warren G.
Lichtenstein is Chairman of the Board, Secretary and the Managing Member of
Steel LLC. As of the Record Date, Steel was the beneficial owner of 492,600
shares of the Common Stock of the Company. Steel LLC does not beneficially own
any shares of the Common Stock of the Company on the Record Date, except by
virtue of their role in Steel. For information regarding Steel's purchases and
sales of shares of the Common Stock of the Company during the past two years,
see Schedule I.
Sandera L.L.C. is the general partner of Sandera Capital Management,
L.P., ("SCM") a Texas limited liability company. SCM is the general partner of
Sandera Partners, L.P. ("Sandera"), a Texas limited partnership. Newcastle is a
Texas limited partnership. The principal business of Sandera L.L.C., SCM,
Sandera and Newcastle is the purchase, sale, exchange, acquisition and holding
of investment securities. The principal business address of Sandera L.L.C., SCM
and Sandera is 1601 Elm Street, Suite 4000, Dallas, Texas 75201. The principal
business address of Newcastle is 4650 Cole Avenue, Suite 331, Dallas, Texas
75205. Mark E. Schwarz is the Vice President and manager of Sandera L.L.C. and
the sole general partner of Newcastle. As of the Record Date, Sandera was the
beneficial owner of 125,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company and Newcastle
was the beneficial owner of 3,100 shares of Common Stock of the Company. Sandera
L.L.C. does not beneficially own any shares of the Common Stock of the Company
on the Record Date, except by virtue of its role in Sandera. For information
regarding the purchases and sales of shares of the Common Stock of the Company
during the past two years by Sandera and Newcastle, see Schedule I.
The Board of Directors of the Company has a single class of directors.
At each annual meeting of Stockholders, the directors are elected to a one-year
term. The slate of nominees proposed by the Committee, if elected, would serve
as directors for the term expiring in 1999 or until the due election and
qualification of their successors. The Committee has no reason to believe any of
its nominees will be disqualified or unable or unwilling to serve if elected.
The Committee has agreed to indemnify the members of the Slate, and to reimburse
each of them for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for each of their
efforts in connection with the solicitation.
Except as described herein and in the attachments hereto, no member of
the Committee, the Slate of nominees or any of their associates, (i) has engaged
in or has a direct
-12-
<PAGE>
or indirect interest in any transaction or series of transactions since the
beginning of the Company's last fiscal year or in any currently proposed
transaction, to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party where
the amount involved was in excess of $60,000, (ii) is the beneficial or record
owner of any securities of the Company or any parent or subsidiary thereof,
(iii) is the record owner of any securities of the Company of which it may not
be deemed to be the beneficial owner, (iv) has been within the past year, a
party to any contract, arrangement or understanding with any person with respect
to any securities of the Company, (v) has any arrangements or understandings
with any nominee pursuant to which such nominee was selected as a nominee and
there exist no such agreements or understandings between any nominee and any
other person, or (vi) has any agreement or understanding with respect to future
employment by the Company or any arrangement or understanding with respect to
any future transactions to which the Company will or may be a party.
See Schedule II for information regarding persons who beneficially own
more than 5% of the Common Stock and the ownership of the Common Stock by the
management of the Company.
SOLICITATION EXPENSES
Consents may be solicited by members of the Committee and by its Slate
by mail, telephone, telegraph and personal solicitation. Banks, brokerage houses
and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries will be requested to forward
solicitation material to the beneficial owners of the Common Stock that such
institutions hold of record. The Committee will reimburse such institutions for
their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.
The entire expense of preparing and mailing this Consent Solicitation
Statement and any other soliciting material and the total expenditures relating
to the consent solicitation (including, without limitation, costs, if any,
related to advertising, printing, fees of attorneys, financial advisors,
solicitors, consultants, accountants, public relations, transportation and
litigation) will be borne by the Committee, with funds provided by Steel.
The Committee has retained MacKenzie Partners, Inc. ("MacKenzie
Partners") to assist in the solicitation of consents and for related services.
The Committee has agreed to pay MacKenzie Partners a fee estimated at [$25,000]
and has agreed to reimburse it for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.
Approximately [35] persons will be used by MacKenzie Partners in its
solicitation efforts.
The Committee estimates that its total expenditures relating to the
solicitation of consents will be approximately [$100,000]. Total cash
expenditures to date relating to this solicitation have been less than $5,000.
In addition to the use of the mails, consents may be solicited by the Committee
and MacKenzie Partners by telephone, telegram and personal solicitation, for
which no additional compensation will be paid to those persons engaged in such
solicitation. The Committee presently intends to seek reimbursement from the
Company for its reasonable
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<PAGE>
expenses in connection with this solicitation and does not expect to submit such
matter to a vote of security-holders, unless required by law.
-14-
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE I
Transactions in the Shares for the Last Two Years
Shares of Common Price Per Date of
Stock Purchased/(Sold) Share Purchase/Sale
- ---------------------- ----- -------------
STEEL PARTNERS II, L.P.
-----------------------
1,200 9.92000 1/20/97
1,300 9.92000 1/21/97
500 10.58000 1/23/97
1,000 10.42500 1/23/97
7,500 10.55000 1/24/97
2,000 10.80000 1/31/97
2,700 10.92500 2/3/97
2,500 10.92500 2/4/97
20,500 11.85000 2/5/97
6,900 11.17500 2/7/97
7,000 11.30000 2/12/97
1,000 11.30000 2/13/97
1,000 11.30000 2/14/97
5,500 11.17500 2/18/97
200 11.17500 2/19/97
2,000 11.17500 2/20/97
3,000 11.00830 2/28/97
200 10.54500 4/16/97
14,000 9.02214 6/05/98
2,200 9.04500 6/11/98
24,000 8.94500 6/12/98
1,000 8.91500 6/17/98
17,800 8.90185 6/18/98
2,000 8.92000 6/19/98
4,000 8.95125 6/22/98
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<PAGE>
14,000 8.89057 6/24/98
32,000 8.85450 6/25/98
5,500 8.81230 6/26/98
29,000 8.65830 7/01/98
10,000 8.54500 7/02/98
3,000 8.58500 7/06/98
5,000 8.46000 7/07/98
15,100 8.41360 7/08/98
9,000 8.33500 7/09/98
5,000 8.29750 7/13/98
2,000 8.33500 7/14/98
84,500 7.69293 7/30/98
15,000 7.53830 7/31/98
46,000 7.57500 8/3/98
56,000 7.42990 8/4/98
12,700 7.58000 8/5/98
900 7.85250 8/6/98
2,000 7.87258 9/1/98
14,900 8.14441 9/2/98
Shares of Common Price Per Date of
Stock Purchased/(Sold) Share Purchase/Sale
- ---------------------- ----- -------------
SANDERA PARTNERS, L.P.
----------------------
500 11.71500 9/2/97
200 12.01000 9/3/97
5,000 12.31300 9/11/97
2,500 12.06600 10/6/97
49,500 8.31030 7/10/98
7,500 8.24950 7/13/98
1,600 8.31938 7/15/98
9,000 8.31167 7/16/98
3,200 8.37719 8/14/98
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<PAGE>
10,000 8.56150 8/17/98
5,000 8.62550 8/18/98
1,000 8.63750 8/19/98
5,000 8.62550 8/20/98
Shares of Common Price Per Date of
Stock Purchased/(Sold) Share Purchase/Sale
- ---------------------- ----- -------------
Newcastle Partners, L.P.
------------------------
(1,000) 9.20635 12/31/96
(500) 9.20634 12/31/96
2,000 8.18500 7/10/98
100 8.50000 8/27/98
500 7.99750 8/28/98
500 7.99750 8/28/98
WARREN G. LICHTENSTEIN
----------------------
NONE1
ROBERT FRANKFURT
----------------
NONE
MARK E. SCHWARZ
---------------
NONE2
- --------------------
1 By virtue of his position with Steel Partners II, L.P., Mr.
Lichtenstein has the power to vote and dispose of the Company's
shares owned by Steel Partners II, L.P. Accordingly, Mr.
Lichtenstein is considered the beneficial owner of the shares of
the Company owned by Steel Partners II, L.P.
2 By virtue of his position as the manager of Sandera Capital,
L.L.C., which is the General Partner of Sandera Capital
Management, L.P., which is the General Partner of Sandera
Partners, L.P., and his position as the sole General Partner of
Newcastle Partners, L.P., Mr. Schwarz is considered the beneficial
owner of the shares of the Company owned by both Sandera Partners,
L.P. and Newcastle Partners, L.P.
A-3
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE II
SHARES HELD BY COMPANY'S MANAGEMENT AND 5% OR GREATER HOLDERS
As of March 3, 1998, the directors and executive officers of the
Company beneficially owned (within the meaning of the rules under Section 13(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) 398,366
Shares (or approximately 7.6% of the Shares reported as outstanding on such
date). The foregoing information has been obtained from the Company's definitive
proxy statement dated May 1, 1998.
Based on information obtained from the Company's definitive proxy
statement dated May 1, 1998, and more recent Schedule 13D and Schedule 13G
filings, the following table shows the only entities which owned more than 5% of
the outstanding Shares as of the dates indicated.
Number of Shares
Owned Percentage of
Name and Address Beneficially and Outstanding
of Beneficial Owner of Record Shares (1)
- -------------------------- --------------------- ----------------
The Full Value Committee
150 East 52nd Street 21st Floor
New York, NY 10022 620,700(2) 11.9%
Franklin Resources, Inc.
777 Mariners Island Boulevard
San Mateo, CA 94404 499,400(3) 9.6%
Steel Partners II, L.P.
150 East 52nd Street 21st Floor
New York, NY 10022 492,600(4) 9.5%
SoGen International Fund, Inc.
1221 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020 375,000(5) 7.2%
The TCW Group, Inc.
865 South Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA 90017 373,100(6) 7.2%
Dimensional Fund Advisors, Inc.
1299 Ocean Avenue, 11th Floor
Santa Monica, CA 90401 299,150(7) 5.7%
- -------------
(1) Based on information furnished by the stockholder except as otherwise
provided.
(2) As of September 3, 1998. The Full Value Committee is deemed to have
beneficial ownership of 620,700 shares, 492,600 of which are held by
Steel Partners II, L.P.,
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<PAGE>
125,000 of which are held by Sandera Partners, L.P. and 3,100 of which
are held by Newcastle Partners, L.P.
(3) As of January 16, 1998. According to the Schedule 13G filed by Franklin
Resources, Inc., Charles B. Johnson, Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. and
Franklin Advisory Services, Inc., these shares are beneficially owned
by one or more investment companies or other managed accounts that are
advised by investment advisory subsidiaries of Franklin Resources, Inc.
Sole voting and dispositive power is held by Franklin Advisory
Services, Inc.
(4) As of September 3, 1998. Sole voting and investment power.
(5) As of June 10, 1998. According to the Schedule 13G filed by SoGen
International Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") and its investment advisor,
Societe Generale Asset Management Corporation, these shares were
acquired by the Fund as beneficial owner for investment only. Shared
voting and dispositive power.
(6) As of February 12, 1998. According to the Schedule 13G filed by The TCW
Group, Inc. and Robert Day, these shares were acquired for investment
in the ordinary course of business. Sole voting and dispositive power.
(7) As of February 9, 1998. Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc. ("Dimensional"),
a registered investment advisor, is deemed to have beneficial ownership
of 299,150 shares of Aydin Corporation stock as of December 31, 1997,
all of which shares are held in portfolios of DFA Investment Dimensions
Group Inc., a registered open-end investment company, or in series of
the DFA Investment Trust Company, a Delaware business trust, or the DFA
Group Trust and DFA Participation Group Trust, investment vehicles for
qualified employee benefit plans, all of which Dimensional Fund
Advisors Inc. serves as investment manager. Dimensional has sole voting
power as to 198,600 of these shares, shared voting power as to 100,550
shares and sole investment power as to 299,150 shares. Dimensional
disclaims Beneficial Ownership of all such shares.
Other than as set forth in the preceding paragraph, although the
Committee does not have any information that would indicate that any information
contained in this Consent Statement that has been taken from the Company's proxy
statement dated January 30, 1997 or any other document on file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission is inaccurate or incomplete, the Committee
does not take any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such
information.
A-5
<PAGE>
IMPORTANT
1. If your shares are kept at your brokerage firm or bank, and they are
registered in your brokerage firm's or your bank's name, please send back only
the Committee enclosed WHITE Consent Card in the special envelope provided.
2. If your shares are registered in your own names, please sign, date
and return the enclosed WHITE Card to MacKenzie Partners.
3. Time is critically short. Only your latest dated WHITE Consent Card
will count.
4. If your shares are held in the name of a brokerage firm, bank
nominee or other institution, only it can sign a WHITE Consent Card with respect
to your shares. Accordingly, please contact the person responsible for your
account and give instructions for a WHITE Consent Card to be signed representing
your shares.
If you have any questions about giving your consent or require
assistance in voting your shares, please call:
MACKENZIE PARTNERS, INC.
156 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10010
(212) 929-5500 (Collect)
or
CALL TOLL FREE (800) 322-2885
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<PAGE>
CONSENT CARD
Consent by Stockholders of Aydin
--------------------------------
Corporation To Action Without a Meeting
---------------------------------------
THIS CONSENT IS SOLICITED BY THE FULL VALUE COMMITTEE
The undersigned, a stockholder of record of Aydin Corporation
(the "Company") hereby consents, pursuant to Section 228 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law, with respect to all shares of Common Stock, par value $1.00 per
share, of the Company which the undersigned is entitled to vote in all
capacities, to the following action without a meeting, without prior notice and
without a vote:
RESOLVED, that in the best interests of the Company, the
removal of all of the incumbent members of the Company's Board
of Directors without cause, other than I. Gary Bard, including
the removal of Ira Brind, Dr. Nev A. Gokcen, and Harry D.
Train, II, and any person or persons elected to the Board of
Directors by the Directors to fill any vacancy arising since
the last annual meeting of stockholders, or newly created
directorship, is hereby approved.
CONSENT CONSENT WITHHELD ABSTAINS
- ------ ------ -----
RESOLVED, that the nominees of the Full Value Committee,
Warren G. Lichtenstein, Robert Frankfurt and Mark E. Schwarz,
are hereby elected to the Board of Directors of the Company.
CONSENT CONSENT WITHHELD ABSTAINS
- ------ ------ -----
INSTRUCTIONS: To consent or withhold consent to, or abstain from, the foregoing
resolutions check the appropriate box above.
--------------------------
If no box is marked with respect to each of the above
resolutions, the undersigned will be deemed to consent to such resolutions.
(This Consent card is continued on the reverse side. Please mark, sign and date
this Consent card on the reverse side before returning the Consent card in the
enclosed envelope.)
A-7
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this
shareholder action on the date set forth below.
Date:
-------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------
Signature of Stockholder
------------------------------------------------
Signature (if held jointly)
------------------------------------------------
Name and Title of Representative (if applicable)
IMPORTANT NOTE TO STOCKHOLDERS: Please sign
exactly as your shares are registered. Joint
owners should both sign. When signing as
executor, trustee, administrator, guardian,
officer of a corporation, attorney-in-fact or in
any other fiduciary or representative capacity,
please give your full name. This consent, when
executed, will vote all shares held in all
capacities. Be sure to date this Consent Card.
**THIS IS YOUR CONSENT CARD**
A-8
