The Lamson & Sessions Co. PRE 14A
UNITED
STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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 þ
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o
Check the appropriate box:
þ Preliminary Proxy Statement
o Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
o Definitive Proxy Statement
o Definitive Additional Materials
o Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-12
The Lamson & Sessions Co.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
þ No fee required.
o Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
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Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: |
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Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: |
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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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Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: |
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Total fee paid: |
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
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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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Amount Previously Paid: |
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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
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Filing Party: |
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Date Filed: |
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25701 Science Park Drive
Cleveland, Ohio 44122
(216) 464-3400
November ___, 2006
To Our Shareholders:
On behalf of the Board of Directors and management of Lamson & Sessions, I cordially invite
you to attend a Special Meeting of Lamsons shareholders to be held on Friday, December 15, 2006,
at 9:00 a.m., local time, at the Cleveland Marriott East Hotel, 26300 Harvard Road, Warrensville
Heights, Ohio 44122.
The only matter to be considered at the meeting is a proposal to amend Lamsons
Amended Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized common shares.
It is extremely important that your shares be represented at the meeting. Whether or not you
plan to attend the Special Meeting in person, you are requested to mark, sign, date and return the
enclosed proxy promptly in the envelope provided or give your proxy by telephone or over the
Internet by following the instructions on the proxy card.
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Sincerely, |
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JOHN B. SCHULZE |
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Chairman of the Board |
25701 Science Park Drive
Cleveland, Ohio 44122
(216) 464-3400
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
December 15, 2006
Notice is hereby given that a Special Meeting of Shareholders of The Lamson & Sessions Co.
will be held at the Cleveland Marriott East Hotel, 26300 Harvard Road, Warrensville Heights, Ohio
44122 on Friday, December 15, 2006, beginning at 9:00 a.m., local time, for the purpose of
considering and acting upon a proposal to amend Lamsons Amended Articles of Incorporation to
increase the number of authorized common shares from twenty million (20,000,000) to forty million
(40,000,000).
The Special Meeting may be adjourned or postponed from time to time (including to obtain a
quorum or solicit additional votes in favor of the proposal), and at any reconvened meeting action
on the proposed amendment to the Amended Articles of Incorporation may be taken without further
notice to shareholders unless required by our Amended Code of Regulations.
If you were a shareholder of record at the close of business on November 7, 2006, you are
entitled to notice of and to vote at the Special Meeting and any adjournment or postponements
thereof.
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By order of the Board of Directors. |
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JOHN B. SCHULZE |
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Chairman of the Board |
November ___, 2006
IMPORTANT: Whether or not you plan to attend, so that your vote will be counted at the Special
Meeting, please mark, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy promptly, using the return envelope
enclosed, or give your proxy by telephone or over the Internet by following the instructions on the
proxy card.
3
25701 Science Park Drive
Cleveland, Ohio 44122
(216) 464-3400
PROXY STATEMENT
SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON DECEMBER 15, 2006
Date of the Proxy Statement November ___, 2006
GENERAL INFORMATION
Information About the Special Meeting
The Special Meeting will be held on Friday, December 15, 2006 at 9:00 a.m., local time, at the
Cleveland Marriott East Hotel, 26300 Harvard Road, Warrensville Heights, Ohio 44122.
Information About this Proxy Statement
We sent you this Proxy Statement and the enclosed proxy card because Lamsons Board of
Directors is soliciting your proxy to vote your shares at the Special Meeting. If you own Lamson
common shares in more than one account, such as individually and also jointly with your spouse, you
may receive more than one set of these proxy materials. To assist us in saving money and to
provide you with better shareholder services, we encourage you to have all your accounts registered
in the same name and address. You may do this by contacting Lamsons Shareholder Relations
Department at (216) 464-3400. This Proxy Statement summarizes information that we are required to
provide to you under the rules of the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the SEC) and which is designed to
assist you in voting your shares. On or about November ___, 2006, we began mailing this Proxy
Statement and the enclosed proxy card to all shareholders of record at the close of business on
November 7, 2006.
What You May Vote On at the Special Meeting
The amendment of our Amended Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized
common shares from twenty million (20,000,000) to forty million (40,000,000). The Board recommends
that you vote FOR the amendment.
Pursuant
to Article I, Section 2 of our Amended Code of Regulations
(the Regulations), only business specified
in the notice of the Special Meeting may be considered at the Special Meeting. Accordingly, no
business will be considered at the Special Meeting other than the proposed amendment.
Information About Voting
Shareholders can vote on matters presented at the Special Meeting in four ways:
(a) By Proxy. You can vote by signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card. If
you do this, the proxies will vote your shares in the manner you indicate. If you do not
indicate instructions on the card, your shares will be voted FOR the proposed amendment.
(b) By Telephone. After reading the proxy materials and with your proxy and voting
instruction form in front of you, you may call the toll-free number 1-888-693-8683 using a
touch-tone telephone. You will be prompted to enter your Control Number from your proxy and
voting instruction form. This number will identify you and the Company. Then you can follow the
simple instructions that will be given to you to record your vote.
4
(c) Over the Internet. After reading the proxy materials and with your proxy and voting
instruction form in front of you, you may use your computer to access the Web site
http://www.cesvote.com. You will be prompted to enter your Control Number from your
proxy and voting instruction form. This number will identify you and the Company. Then you can
follow the simple instructions that will be given to you to record your vote.
(d) In Person. You may attend the Special Meeting and cast your vote in person.
The Internet and telephone voting procedures have been set up for your convenience and
have been designed to authenticate your identity, allow you to give voting instructions
and confirm that those instructions have been recorded properly.
You may revoke your proxy at any time before it is exercised by sending a written notice (or
other verifiable form of communication) notice of revocation to Lamsons Secretary, James J. Abel,
prior to the Special Meeting, or by submitting a later-dated proxy to the Company.
Each Lamson common share is entitled to one vote. As of the record date, November 7, 2006,
there were ___ common shares outstanding.
Information Regarding Tabulation of the Vote
Lamsons policy is that all proxies, ballots and votes tabulated at a meeting of the
shareholders are confidential. Representatives of National City Bank will tabulate votes and act
as Inspectors of Election at the Special Meeting.
Quorum Requirement
A quorum of shareholders is necessary to hold a valid meeting. Under the Regulations, holders
of common shares entitled to exercise two-thirds of the voting power of the Company, present in
person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum. Abstentions and broker non-votes, if any, are
counted as present for establishing a quorum.
The holders of a majority of the voting power represented at the Special Meeting, whether or
not a quorum is present, may adjourn the meeting without notice other than by announcement at the
meeting of the date, time and location at which the meeting will be reconvened.
Information About Votes Necessary for Proposal to be Adopted
Approval
by holders of two-thirds of the outstanding common shares will be required to approve the
amendment to increase in the authorized common shares from twenty
million (20,000,000) to forty million (40,000,000). Abstentions and broker non-votes, if any, will be
counted as votes against the amendment.
Revocation of Proxies
If you give a proxy (either by mailing your proxy card, by telephone or over the Internet),
you may revoke it at any time before it is exercised by giving notice to Lamsons Secretary in
writing or by means of other verifiable communication prior to the Special Meeting or by submitting
a later-dated proxy to the Company.
Dissenters
or Appraisal Rights
The
Companys shareholders are not entitled to dissenters or
appraisal rights under Ohio law in connection with the amendment.
Costs of Proxy Solicitation
Lamson will pay all the costs of soliciting these proxies. In addition to solicitation by
mail, proxies may be solicited personally, by telephone or personal interview by an officer or
regular employee of the Company. Lamson will also ask banks, brokers and other institutions,
nominees and fiduciaries to forward the proxy materials to their principals and to obtain authority
to execute proxies, and reimburse them for expenses. In addition, Lamson has also retained
Georgeson Shareholder Communications, Inc. to aid in the distribution and solicitation of proxies
and has agreed to pay Georgeson a fee of approximately $6,500, plus reasonable expenses.
5
INFORMATION ABOUT LAMSON COMMON SHARE OWNERSHIP
Beneficial Ownership of Shares
The following table sets forth as of September 30, 2006 (except as otherwise noted), all
persons (including any group as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (the Exchange Act)) we know to be beneficial owners of more than five percent of Lamsons
outstanding common shares, other than directors or officers of Lamson. This information is based
on reports filed with the SEC by each of the individuals or
firms listed in the table below. If you wish, you may obtain these
reports from the SEC by visiting the SECs website at www.sec.gov.
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Amount and |
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Nature |
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Name and Address |
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Percent of |
of Beneficial Owner |
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Ownership(1) |
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Class |
Farhad Fred Ebrahimi 205
Newbury Street Boston,
MA 02116
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1,409,000 |
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8.9 |
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Bear Stearns Asset Management Inc. 383
Madison Avenue New
York, New York 10179
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1,322,553 |
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8.4 |
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Beneficial Ownership is a technical term broadly defined by the SEC to mean more than
ownership in the usual sense. So, for example, you beneficially own Lamson common shares
not only if you hold it directly, but also if you indirectly (through a relationship, a
position as a director or trustee or a contract or understanding), have (or share) the power
to vote the stock, or to sell it, or you have the right to acquire it within 60 days. |
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Farhad Fred Ebrahimi and Mary Wilkie Ebrahimi reported shared beneficial ownership of such
shares as of January 20, 2006 on Amendment No. 5 to Schedule 13D, filed with the SEC on July
11, 2006. |
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Bear Stearns Asset Management Inc. reported the ownership of such shares on a Schedule 13G,
which was filed with the SEC on February 14, 2006. |
Security Ownership of Management and Directors
The following table sets forth, as of September 30, 2006, the beneficial ownership of Lamsons
common shares by each of its five most highly-compensated executive officers as of December 31,
2005 (the Named Executive Officers) and each director individually, and the percent of cumulative
beneficial ownership of all executive officers and directors as a group.
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Amount and |
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Nature |
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of Beneficial |
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Percent of |
Name |
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Ownership(1)(2) |
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Class |
John B. Schulze |
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421,862 |
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2.6 |
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James J. Abel |
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528,190 |
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3.3 |
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Donald A. Gutierrez |
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119,444 |
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Norman P. Sutterer |
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31,777 |
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* |
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Norman E. Amos(3) |
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35,958 |
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* |
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James T. Bartlett |
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54,384 |
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* |
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William H. Coquillette |
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19,626 |
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* |
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John C. Dannemiller |
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97,361 |
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* |
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George R. Hill |
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84,855 |
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* |
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Michael J. Merriman |
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3,919 |
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* |
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A. Malachi Mixon, III |
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79,017 |
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* |
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D. Van Skilling |
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66,251 |
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All executive officers and directors as a group (16 persons)(4) |
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1,679,356 |
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10.2 |
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Less than 1 percent. |
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Includes the following number of common shares which are not owned of record but which could
be acquired by the individual within 60 days after September 30, 2006 upon the exercise of
outstanding options under the Companys stock option plans: Mr. |
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Schulze 171,600; Mr. Abel 306,000; Mr. Gutierrez 95,000; Mr. Sutterer 8,333; Mr. Amos
-0-; Mr. Bartlett 4,000; Mr. Coquillette
12,000; Mr. Dannemiller 20,000; Dr. Hill
4,000; Mr. Merriman -0-; Mr. Mixon 20,000;
Mr. Skilling 16,000; and all other executive officers as a group
120,750. |
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Includes shares held jointly or in the name of the directors spouse, minor children, or
relatives sharing his home, reporting of which is required by applicable rules of the SEC.
Unless otherwise indicated, or in the case of joint ownership, the listed individuals possess
sole voting power and sole investment power with respect to such shares. The figure for Mr.
Schulze includes 700 shares owned by his wife, to which he has disclaimed beneficial
ownership. No other director or executive officer has disclaimed beneficial ownership of any
shares. |
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Beneficial ownership information is included for Mr. Amos as he was a Named Executive Officer
of the Company as of December 31, 2005. However, effective August 7, 2006, Mr. Amos was no longer employed by the Company.
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The beneficial ownership information for all executive officers and directors as a group does
not include beneficial ownership information for Mr. Amos as he was no longer an executive
officer of the Company as of September 30, 2006. |
PROPOSAL
The
Board of Directors has approved, subject to shareholder approval, an amendment to the Companys Amended Articles of
Incorporation to increase the number of authorized common shares from twenty million (20,000,000)
to forty million (40,000,000). The Board of Directors has determined that this amendment is
advisable and in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.
At the Special Meeting, shareholders will be asked to consider and vote upon this amendment.
The Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote FOR the amendment.
Reasons for the Amendment
Currently, the Company is authorized to issue 20,000,000 common shares. Of the 20,000,000
common shares authorized, as of November 7, 2006, there were
shares issued and
outstanding and
shares reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options, including, without limitation, the benefit plans of the Company. Consequently, the
Company has approximately common shares available for general corporate purposes. As
a general matter, the Board of Directors does not believe this is an adequate number of shares to
assure that there will be sufficient shares available for issuance in connection with possible
future awards under employee benefit plans, stock dividends, stock splits, future acquisitions,
equity and equity-based financings and other corporate purposes. Therefore, the Board of Directors
has proposed the increase in authorized common shares as a means of providing it with the
flexibility to act with respect to the issuance of common shares or securities exercisable for, or
convertible into, common shares in circumstances which it believes will advance the interests of
the Company and its shareholders without the delay of seeking an amendment to the Amended Articles
of Incorporation at that time.
The Board of Directors has no current specific plans to authorize the issuance of additional
common shares, except in connection with possible future awards under employee benefit plans.
However, the Company is considering, and will continue to consider, various financing alternatives,
including potential capital market transactions. In connection with the Companys overall
financing initiatives, from time to time, the Board of Directors has
considered and will continue to consider the issuance of
common shares or securities convertible into common shares. If shareholders approve the amendment
to the Amended Articles of Incorporation, then the Board of Directors would have more flexibility
to pursue opportunities to engage in possible future capital markets transactions involving common
shares or securities convertible into common shares, including, without limitation, public
offerings or private placements of such common shares or securities
convertible into common shares.
Ability
of the Board to Issues Shares; Certain Issuances Requiring Shareholder Approval
If
the amendment is approved by the shareholders, the additional common shares authorized by the
amendment may be issued from time to time upon authorization by the Board of Directors, without
further approval by the shareholders unless required by applicable law, rule or regulation, including,
without limitation, rules of the New York Stock Exchange. Shares may be issued for such
consideration as the Board of Directors may determine and as may be permitted by applicable law.
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Certain Effects of the Amendment
The
increase in authorized common shares is not being proposed as a means of preventing or dissuading
a change in control or takeover of the Company. However, use of these shares for such a purpose is
possible. Authorized but unissued or unreserved common shares and preferred stock, for example,
could be issued in an effort to dilute the stock ownership and voting power of persons seeking to
obtain control of the Company or could be issued to purchasers who would support the Board of
Directors in opposing a takeover proposal. In addition, the increase
in authorized common shares, if
approved, may have the effect of discouraging a challenge for control or make it less likely that
such a challenge, if attempted, would be successful. The Board of Directors and executive officers
of the Company have no knowledge of any current effort to obtain control of the Company or to
accumulate large amounts of common shares.
The holders of common shares are not entitled to preemptive rights with respect to the
issuance of additional common shares or securities convertible into or exercisable for common
shares. Accordingly, the issuance of additional common shares or such other securities might
dilute the ownership and voting rights of shareholders.
The proposed amendment to the Amended Articles of Incorporation does not change the terms of
the common shares. The additional common shares for which authorization is sought will have the
same voting rights, the same rights to dividends and distributions and will be identical in all
other respects to the common shares now authorized.
The Company could also use the additional common shares for potential strategic transactions,
including, among other things, acquisitions, spin-offs, strategic partnerships, joint ventures,
restructurings, divestitures, business combinations and investments, although the Company has no
present plans to do so. The Company cannot provide assurances that any such transactions will be
consummated on favorable terms or at all, that they will enhance shareholder value or that they
will not adversely affect the Companys business or the trading price of the common shares. Any
such transaction may require the Company to incur non-recurring or other charges and may pose
significant integration challenges and/or management and business disruptions, any of which could
materially and adversely affect the Companys business and financial results.
If approved by shareholders, it is anticipated that the amendment to the Amended Articles of
Incorporation will become effective upon the filing of a certificate of amendment with the
Secretary of State for the State of Ohio, which filing is expected to occur as soon as practicable
after the Special Meeting.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the proposal to amend the Amended Articles of
Incorporation to increase the number of authorized common shares.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 2007 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
Any shareholder proposal intended to be presented at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be
held in 2007 must be received by the Companys Secretary at its principal office in Cleveland,
Ohio, not later than November 30, 2006 for inclusion in the Companys Proxy Statement and Form of
Proxy relating to the Annual Meeting of Shareholders in 2007. Each proposal submitted should be
accompanied by the name and address of the shareholder submitting the proposal and the number of
common shares owned. If the proponent is not a shareholder of record, proof of beneficial
ownership should also be submitted. All proposals must be a proper subject for consideration and
comply with the proxy rules of the SEC.
If a shareholder intends to present a proposal at the Companys 2007 Annual Meeting without
inclusion of the proposal in the Companys proxy materials and written notice of the proposal is
not received by the Company on or before February 13, 2007, proxies solicited by the Board of
Directors will confer discretionary authority to vote on the proposal if presented at the meeting.
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OTHER MATTERS
Pursuant to Article I, Section 2 of our Regulations, only business specified
in the notice of the Special Meeting may be considered at the Special Meeting. Accordingly, no
business will be considered at the Special Meeting, or any adjournment or postponement thereof,
other than the proposed amendment to the Amended Articles of Incorporation to increase the number
of authorized common shares.
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By Order of the Board of Directors. |
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JAMES J. ABEL |
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Executive Vice President, Secretary, |
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Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer |
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Vote by Telephone
Have your proxy card
available when you call Toll-Free number
1-888-693-8683 using a touch-tone
phone and follow the simple
instructions to record your
vote.
Vote by Internet
Have your proxy card
available when you access the
Web site http://www.cesvote.com and follow
the simple instructions to record
your vote.
Vote by Mail
Please mark, sign and date
your proxy card and return it in
the postage-paid envelope provided
or return it to: National City Bank, P.O. Box 535300, Pittsburgh, PA 152539837.
Vote by Telephone
Call Toll-Free using a
Touch-Tone phone:
1-888-693-8683
Vote by Internet
Access the Web site and
cast your vote:
http://www.cesvote.com
Vote by Mail
Return your proxy
in the postage-paid
envelope provided
Vote 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!
Your telephone or Internet vote must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time
on December 14, 2006 to be counted in the final tabulation.
If
you vote by telephone or Internet, please do not send your proxy by
mail.
Proxy
must be signed and dated below.
ê Please fold and detach card at perforation before mailing. ê
25701 Science Park Drive
Cleveland, Ohio 44122
The undersigned hereby
appoints James J. Abel and Lori L. Spencer, and each of them, as proxies,
each with the power to appoint a substitute. The undersigned hereby
authorizes the proxies to represent and to vote, as designated on the
reverse side, all the Common Shares of The Lamson & Sessions Co.
held of record by the undersigned on November 7,
2006, at the Special Meeting of Shareholders to be held on
December 15, 2006 or any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof.
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANYS BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
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Signature(s) |
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Signature(s) |
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Date:
, 2006 |
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Please sign exactly as name appears.
When signing as attorney, executor,
administrator, trustee, guardian, etc., give
full title as such. If a corporation, please
sign in corporate name by authorized officer
and give title. If a partnership, please
sign in partnership name by authorized
person. |
PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE
ê Please fold and detach card at perforation before mailing. ê
This proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned shareholder. If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted FOR the proposed amendment to the Amended Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized common shares.
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Approval of amendment to Amended Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized common shares from twenty million (20,000,000) to forty million (40,000,000).
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o FOR o AGAINST o ABSTAIN
(CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON THE OTHER SIDE)