Item 3. Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration
The 6,538,220 shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Reporting Persons were acquired from the Issuer in connection with the Issuer’s original formation, through open market transactions on the New York Stock Exchange, as dividend payments on the Common Stock and as director compensation from the Issuer. Mr. O’Shaughnessy did not acquire ownership of any shares of Common Stock with borrowed funds.
Item 4. Purpose of Transaction
Gerald O’Shaughnessy is the co-founder of the Issuer, has maintained a significant investment in the Issuer and, until very recently, served as the Issuer’s Chairman since its inception. Effective June 13, 2021, Mr. O’Shaughnessy resigned from the Issuer Board and is voluntarily filing this Schedule 13D in order to share his concerns with fellow shareholders about the high level of control that Chief Executive Officer Jim Park exerts over the Board, and the Board’s resulting lack of true independence.
In connection therewith, and with a view of enhancing shareholder value, on June 17, 2021, Mr. O’Shaughnessy delivered a letter to the Issuer Board requesting that it strengthen its ability to exercise independent oversight of management by adding three new independent nominees and Mr. O’Shaughnessy to the slate that the Issuer Board is proposing for election at the upcoming annual meeting. A copy of the letter is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference herein. If Mr. O’Shaughnessy is unable to constructively engage with the Issuer Board, Mr. O’Shaughnessy intends to explore all possibilities to address these concerns. Having carefully considered the issues facing the Issuer, Mr. O’Shaughnessy believes that there is an opportunity to significantly enhance oversight and accountability in a manner that may substantially increase long-term shareholder value.
In connection with the foregoing, the Reporting Persons and their respective representatives expect, from time to time, to engage in discussions with representatives of the Issuer Board, with other current or prospective shareholders and other third parties regarding business strategy, operating performance and corporate governance of the Issuer, including composition of the Issuer Board.
The Reporting Persons also intend to consider, explore and/or develop plans and/or make proposals with respect to, among other things, the foregoing matters, as well as pursue other plans or proposals that relate to or could result in any of the matters set forth in clauses (a)-(j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D. The Reporting Persons may exchange information with the Issuer or other persons in connection with these potential plans or proposals pursuant to confidentiality or similar agreements.
The Reporting Persons intend to review their investment in the Issuer on an ongoing basis. Depending on various factors, including, without limitation, the outcome of any discussions referenced above, the Issuer’s financial position, results and strategic direction, actions taken by the Issuer’s management and the Issuer Board, price levels of the Common Stock, other investment opportunities available to the Reporting Persons, conditions in the securities market and general economic and industry conditions, the Reporting Persons may in the future take such actions with respect to their investment in the Issuer as they deem appropriate, including, without limitation, voting shares of Common Stock (and soliciting votes from other shareholders) in favor of a change in the composition of the Issuer Board or acquiring additional shares of Common Stock or disposing of some or all the Securities beneficially owned by them, in the public market, in privately negotiated transactions or otherwise with respect to their investment in the Issuer, in each case subject to limitations under applicable law. The Reporting Persons may also take steps to explore and prepare for various plans and actions regarding the foregoing matters, before forming an intention to engage in such plans or actions.
Item 5. Interest in Securities of the Issuer
(a) Beneficial ownership:
(i) Amount:
Please refer to Item 11 on each cover sheet for each Reporting Person. Each of the Reporting Persons is controlled by Mr. O’Shaughnessy, who indirectly has voting and dispositive power over the reported shares set forth in Item 11 on the cover sheet for each Reporting Person. In addition, Rows 8, 10 and 11 of the cover sheet for Mr. O’Shaughnessy include 211,015 beneficially owned by The Timothy P. O’Shaughnessy Foundation, on the board of which Mr. O’Shaughnessy serves as a non-controlling director and as to which shares Mr. O’Shaughnessy disclaims beneficial ownership. As of December 31, 2020, 5,800,000 shares over which Mr. O’Shaughnessy has direct or indirect voting or dispositive power have been pledged pursuant to lending arrangements.
(ii) Percent of class:
Please refer to Item 11 on each cover sheet for each of the Reporting Persons. The percentages reported herein are based on the aggregate of 61,029,772 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2020.