The following constitutes Amendment No. 2 to the Schedule 13D filed by the undersigned (“Amendment No. 2”). This Amendment No. 2 amends the Schedule 13D as specifically set forth herein.
Item 2. | Identity and Background. |
Items 2(a), (b), (c) and (f) are hereby amended to add the following:
(a) This statement is filed by Benchmark Plus Institutional Partners, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (“BPIP”), Benchmark Plus Management, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (“BPM”), Scott Franzblau and Robert Ferguson (together with BPIP, BPM and Mr. Franzblau, the “Benchmark Entities”). Each of the foregoing is referred to as a “Reporting Person” and collectively with the other Reporting Persons, as the “Reporting Persons.”
WILLC provides recommendations from time to time to BPIP with respect to purchases and sales of Shares of the Issuer, pursuant to an oral agreement between WILLC and BPIP.
BPM is the managing member of BPIP, and Messrs. Franzblau and Ferguson, in their roles as managing members of BPM, have sole voting and investment control over BPIP’s security holdings.
Each of the Reporting Persons is party to a Joinder to that certain Joint Filing and Solicitation Agreement, dated February 26, 2010 (the “Joint Filing Agreement”) as further described in Item 6. Accordingly, the Reporting Persons are hereby filing a joint Schedule 13D.
(b) The principal business address of each of BPIP, BPM, Mr. Franzblau and Mr. Ferguson is 820 A Street, Suite 700, Tacoma, Washington 98402.
(c) The principal business of BPIP is acquiring, holding and disposing of investments in various companies. The principal business of BPM is acting as the managing member of BPIP. The principal occupation of Mr. Ferguson is acting as a managing member of BPM. The principal occupation of Mr. Franzblau is acting as a managing member of BPM.
(f) Messrs. Franzblau and Ferguson are citizens of the United States of America.
Item 3. | Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration. |
Item 3 is hereby amended and restated to read as follows:
The aggregate purchase price of the 488,919 Shares beneficially owned by WILLC is approximately $7,209,501. The Shares beneficially owned by WILLC consist of 1,000 Shares that were acquired with WILLC’s working capital, 162,675 Shares that were acquired with WIHP’s working capital, 162,644 Shares that were acquired with WITRP’s working capital and 162,600 Shares that were acquired with WITRL’s working capital.
The aggregate purchase price of the 500 Shares directly owned by Mr. Lipson is approximately $7,095. The Shares directly owned by Mr. Lipson were acquired with personal funds.
The aggregate purchase price of the 32,000 Shares beneficially owned by BPM is approximately $472,412. The Shares beneficially owned by BPM consist of 32,000 Shares that were acquired with BPIP’s working capital.
The aggregate purchase price of the 1,000 Shares beneficially owned by Mr. Daniels is approximately $11,839. The Shares beneficially owned by Mr. Daniels were acquired with personal funds.
Item 5. | Interest in Securities of the Issuer. |
Item 5(a) is hereby amended and restated to read as follows:
(a) The aggregate percentage of Shares reported owned by each person named herein is based upon 5,955,698 Shares outstanding, which is the total number of Shares outstanding as of December 31, 2009, as reported in the Issuer’s Annual Report to Stockholders on Form N-CSR, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 4, 2010.
As of the close of business on May 7, 2010, WIHP, WITRP and WITRL beneficially owned 162,675, 162,644 and 162,600 Shares, respectively, constituting approximately 2.7%, 2.7% and 2.7%, respectively, of the Shares outstanding.
As the investment manager of WITRL and the general partner of each of WIHP and WITRP, WILLC may be deemed to beneficially own the 487,919 Shares owned in the aggregate by WIHP, WITRP and WITRL, constituting approximately 8.2% of the Shares outstanding, in addition to the 1,000 Shares it holds directly.
As the managing member of WILLC, Mr. Lipson may be deemed to beneficially own the 488,919 Shares beneficially owned by WILLC, constituting approximately 8.2% of the Shares outstanding, in addition to the 500 Shares he holds directly.
As members of a group for the purposes of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), the Western Entities may be deemed to beneficially own the 33,000 Shares owned by the other Reporting Persons. The Western Entities disclaim beneficial ownership of such Shares.
As of the close of business on May 7, 2010, BPIP beneficially owned 32,000 Shares, constituting less than 1% of the Shares outstanding.
As the managing member of BPIP, BPM may be deemed to beneficially own the 32,000 Shares owned by BPIP, constituting less than 1% of the Shares outstanding.
As managing members of BPM, Messrs. Franzblau and Ferguson may each be deemed to beneficially own the 32,000 Shares beneficially owned by BPM, constituting less than 1% of the Shares outstanding.
As members of a group for the purposes of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) of the Exchange Act, the Benchmark Entities may be deemed to beneficially own the 490,419 Shares owned by the other Reporting Persons. The Benchmark Entities disclaim beneficial ownership of such Shares.
As of the close of business on May 7, 2010, Mr. Daniels directly owned 1,000 Shares. As a member of a “group” for the purposes of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) of the Exchange Act, Mr. Daniels may be deemed to beneficially own the 521,419 Shares beneficially owned in the aggregate by the other Reporting Persons. Mr. Daniels disclaims beneficial ownership of such Shares.
Mr. Dube does not own directly any Shares. As a member of a “group” for the purposes of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) of the Exchange Act, Mr. Dube may be deemed to beneficially own the 522,419 Shares beneficially owned in the aggregate by the other Reporting Persons. Mr. Dube disclaims beneficial ownership of such Shares.
Mr. Chelo does not own directly any Shares. As a member of a “group” for the purposes of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) of the Exchange Act, Mr. Chelo may be deemed to beneficially own the 522,419 Shares beneficially owned in the aggregate by the other Reporting Persons. Mr. Chelo disclaims beneficial ownership of such Shares.
Item 5(c) is hereby amended to add the following:
(c) Schedule A annexed hereto lists all transactions in securities of the Issuer by the Reporting Persons since the filing of Amendment No. 1 to the Schedule 13D. All of such transactions were effected in the open market.
Item 6. | Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships With Respect to Securities of the Issuer. |
Item 6 is hereby amended to add the following:
On May 10, 2010, BPIP, BPM, Messrs. Franzblau and Ferguson and WILLC executed a Joinder Agreement to the Joint Filing and Solicitation Agreement whereby the Benchmark Entities agreed to be bound by the terms of the Joint Filing and Solicitation Agreement dated February 26, 2010. The Joinder Agreement is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 7. | Material to be Filed as Exhibits. |
Item 7 is hereby amended to add the following exhibit:
| 99.1 | Joinder Agreement by and between Western Investment LLC and Benchmark Plus Institutional Partners, L.L.C., Benchmark Plus Management, L.L.C., Scott Franzblau and Robert Ferguson, dated May 10, 2010. |
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: May 10, 2010 | WESTERN INVESTMENT LLC |
| | |
| By: | |
| | Name: | Arthur D. Lipson |
| | Title: | Managing Member |
| WESTERN INVESTMENT HEDGED PARTNERS L.P. |
| | |
| By: | Western Investment LLC |
| | General Partner |
| | |
| By: | |
| | Name: | Arthur D. Lipson |
| | Title: | Managing Member |
| WESTERN INVESTMENT TOTAL RETURN PARTNERS L.P. |
| | |
| By: | Western Investment LLC |
| | General Partner |
| | |
| By: | |
| | Name: | Arthur D. Lipson |
| | Title: | Managing Member |
| WESTERN INVESTMENT TOTAL RETURN FUND LTD. |
| | |
| By: | Western Investment LLC |
| | Investment Manager |
| | |
| By: | |
| | Name: | Arthur D. Lipson |
| | Title: | Managing Member |
| |
| ARTHUR D. LIPSON As Attorney-In-Fact for Robert H. Daniels, Gregory R. Dube and Neil Chelo |
| BENCHMARK PLUS INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS, L.L.C. |
| | |
| By: | Benchmark Plus Management, L.L.C. |
| | Managing Member |
| | |
| By: | |
| | Name: | Robert Ferguson |
| | Title: | Managing Member |
| | |
| By: | |
| | Name: | Scott Franzblau |
| | Title: | Managing Member |
| BENCHMARK PLUS MANAGEMENT, L.L.C. |
| | |
| By: | |
| | Name: | Robert Ferguson |
| | Title: | Managing Member |
| | |
| By: | |
| | Name: | Scott Franzblau |
| | Title: | Managing Member |
SCHEDULE A
Transactions in the Shares Since the Filing of Amendment No. 1 to the Schedule 13D
Date of Purchase | Shares of Common Stock Purchased | Price Per Share ($) |
WESTERN INVESTMENT TOTAL RETURN FUND LTD.
4/5/2010 | 10,800 | | 15.9687 |
4/6/2010 | 100 | | 15.9425 |
4/6/2010 | 600 | | 15.9385 |
4/30/2010 | 12,400 | | 16.0012 |
5/5/2010 | 10,300 | | 15.4090 |
5/6/2010 | 24,700 | | 14.9186 |
BENCHMARK PLUS INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS, L.L.C
5/6/2010 | 20,900 | | 14.9189 |
5/7/2010 | 11,100 | | 14.4691 |