The following constitutes Amendment No. 3 to the Schedule 13D filed by the undersigned (“Amendment No. 3”). This Amendment No. 3 amends the Schedule 13D as specifically set forth herein.
Item 2. | Identity and Background. |
Item 2 is hereby amended and restated to read as follows:
(a) This statement is filed by Western Investment LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“WILLC”), Western Investment Hedged Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“WIHP”), Western Investment Activism Partners LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“WIAP”), Western Investment Total Return Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“WITRP”), Western Investment Total Return Fund Ltd., a Cayman Islands corporation (“WITRL”), Arthur D. Lipson (together with WILLC, WIHP, WIAP, WITRP and WITRL, the “Western Entities”), Benchmark Plus Institutional Partners, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (“BPIP”), Benchmark Plus Partners, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (“BPP”), Benchmark Plus Management, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (“BPM”), Scott Franzblau and Robert Ferguson (together with BPIP, BPP, BPM and Mr. Franzblau, the “Benchmark Entities”), Gregory R. Dube, Richard A. Rappaport and Robert A. Wood. Each of the foregoing is referred to as a “Reporting Person” and collectively as the “Reporting Persons.”
WILLC provides recommendations from time to time to BPIP and BPP with respect to purchases and sales of Shares of the Issuer, pursuant to an oral agreement between WILLC and BPIP and WILLC and BPP.
WILLC has sole voting and investment power over WIHP’s, WIAP’s, WITRP’s and WITRL’s security holdings and Mr. Lipson, in his role as the managing member of WILLC, controls WILLC’s voting and investment decisions. BPM is the managing member of each of BPIP and BPP, and Messrs. Franzblau and Ferguson, in their roles as managing members of BPM, have sole voting and investment control over BPIP’s and BPP’s security holdings.
Each of the Reporting Persons is party to that certain 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 WILLC, WIHP, WIAP, WITRP and Mr. Lipson is 7050 S. Union Park Center, Suite 590, Midvale, Utah 84047. The principal business address of WITRL is c/o dms Management, P.O. Box 31910, dms House, 20 Genesis Close, Grand Cayman KY1-1208, Cayman Islands. The officers and directors of WITRL and their principal occupations and business addresses are set forth on Schedule A annexed to the initial Schedule 13D (“Schedule A”) and incorporated by reference in this Item 2.
The principal business address of each of BPIP, BPP, BPM, Mr. Franzblau and Mr. Ferguson is 820 A Street, Suite 700, Tacoma, Washington 98402.
The principal business address of Mr. Dube is 873 East Saddle River Road, Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey 07423.
The principal business address of Mr. Rappaport is c/o Cohne, Rappaport & Segal, P.C., 257 East 200 South, Suite 700, Salt Lake City, Utah 84111.
The principal business address of Professor Wood is c/o Fogelman College of Business & Economics, The University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee 38152.
(c) The principal business of WILLC is acting as the investment manager of WITRL, the managing member of WIAP and the general partner of each of WIHP and WITRP. The principal occupation of Mr. Lipson is acting as managing member of WILLC. The principal business of each of WIHP, WITRP, WIAP and WITRL is acquiring, holding and disposing of investments in various companies.
The principal business of each of BPIP and BPP is acquiring, holding and disposing of investments in various companies. The principal business of BPM is acting as the managing member of each of BPIP and BPP. 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.
Mr. Dube is the managing member and Chairman of Roseheart Associates, a private company that invests in securities and real estate. Mr. Rappaport is an attorney. Professor Wood is Emeritus Professor of Finance at the University of Memphis.
(d) No Reporting Person, nor any person listed on Schedule A annexed hereto, has, during the last five years, been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors).
(e) No Reporting Person, nor any person listed on Schedule A annexed hereto, has, during the last five years, been party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.
(f) Messrs. Lipson, Ferguson, Franzblau, Dube and Rappaport and Professor Wood are citizens of the United States of America.
Item 3. | Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration. |
Item 3 is amended and restated to read as follows:
The aggregate purchase price of the 1,328,513 Shares beneficially owned by WILLC is approximately $13,958,197. The Shares beneficially owned by WILLC consist of 500 Shares that were acquired with WILLC’s working capital, 505,548 Shares that were acquired with WIHP’s working capital, 141,884 Shares that were acquired with WIAP’s working capital, 171,489 Shares that were acquired with WITRP’s working capital and 509,092 Shares that were acquired with WITRL’s working capital.
The aggregate purchase price of the 210 Shares directly owned by Mr. Lipson is approximately $1,693. The Shares directly owned by Mr. Lipson were acquired with personal funds.
The aggregate purchase price of the 481,004 Shares beneficially owned by BPM is approximately $ $4,804,026. The Shares beneficially owned by BPM consist of 480,904 Shares that were acquired with BPIP’s working capital and 100 Shares that were acquired with BPP’s working capital.
The aggregate purchase price of the 2,000 Shares directly owned by Mr. Rappaport is approximately $22,420. The Shares directly owned by Mr. Rappaport were acquired with personal funds.
Item 4. | Purpose of Transaction. |
Item 4 is hereby amended to add the following:
WILLC is seeking representation on the Issuer’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”). On March 10, 2011, WILLC delivered a letter to the Corporate Secretary of the Issuer nominating Gregory R. Dube, Richard A. Rappaport and Robert A. Wood (the “Nominees”) to be elected to the Board at the 2011 annual meeting of shareholders of the Issuer, or any other meeting of shareholders held in lieu thereof, and any adjournments, postponements, reschedulings or continuations thereof (the “2011 Annual Meeting”).
Item 5. | Interest in Securities of the Issuer. |
Item 5(a) is amended and restated to read as follows:
(a) The aggregate percentage of Shares reported owned by each person named herein is based upon 21,842,141 Shares outstanding, which is the total number of Shares outstanding as of September 30, 2010, as reported in the Issuer’s Annual Report to Stockholders on Form N-CSR, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 1, 2010.
As of the date hereof, WIHP, WIAP, WITRP and WITRL beneficially owned 505,548, 141,884, 171,489 and 509,092 Shares, respectively, constituting approximately 2.3%, less than 1%, less than 1% and 2.3%, respectively, of the Shares outstanding.
As the general partner of each of WIHP and WITRP, the managing member of WIAP and the investment manager of WITRL, WILLC may be deemed to beneficially own the 1,328,013 Shares owned in the aggregate by WIHP, WIAP, WITRP and WITRL, constituting approximately 6.1% of the Shares outstanding, in addition to the 500 Shares it holds directly.
As the managing member of WILLC, Mr. Lipson may be deemed to beneficially own the 1,328,513 Shares beneficially owned by WILLC, constituting approximately 6.1% of the Shares outstanding, in addition to the 210 Shares he owns directly.
As of the date hereof, BPIP and BPP beneficially owned 480,904 and 100 Shares, respectively, constituting approximately 2.2% and less than 1%, respectively, of the Shares outstanding. As the managing member of each of BPIP and BPP, BPM may be deemed to beneficially own the 481,004 Shares owned in the aggregate by BPIP and BPP, constituting approximately 2.2% of the Shares outstanding. As managing members of BPM, each of Messrs. Franzblau and Ferguson may be deemed to beneficially own the 481,004 Shares beneficially owned by BPM, constituting approximately 2.2% of the Shares outstanding.
Mr. Dube and Professor Wood do not own directly any Shares. 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”), Mr. Dube and Professor Wood may be deemed to beneficially own the 1,811,727 Shares beneficially owned in the aggregate by the Reporting Persons. Each of Mr. Dube and Professor Wood disclaims beneficial ownership of such Shares.
Mr. Rappaport directly owns 2,000 Shares. As a member of a “group” for the purposes of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) of the Exchange Act, Mr. Rappaport may be deemed to beneficially own the 1,809,727 Shares beneficially owned in the aggregate by the Reporting Persons. Mr. Rappaport disclaims beneficial ownership of such Shares.
Item 5(c) is amended to add the following:
(c) Schedule B annexed hereto lists all transactions in securities of the Issuer by the Nominees during the past 60 days and by the other Reporting Persons since the filing of Amendment No. 2 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 March 14, 2011, the Reporting Persons entered into a Joint Filing Agreement (the “Joint Filing Agreement”) in which the parties agreed to the joint filing on behalf of each of them of statements on Schedule 13D with respect to the securities of the Issuer to the extent required by applicable law. The Joint Filing Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Pursuant to letter agreements, WILLC has agreed to indemnify Messrs. Dube and Rappaport and Professor Wood against any and all claims of any nature arising from the Solicitation and any related transactions. A form of the indemnification letter agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 7. | Material to be Filed as Exhibits. |
Item 7 is hereby amended to add the following exhibits:
| 99.1 | Joint Filing Agreement, dated March 14, 2011, by and among Western Investment LLC, Western Investment Hedged Partners L.P., Western Investment Activism Partners LLC, Western Investment Total Return Partners L.P., Western Investment Total Return Fund Ltd., Arthur D. Lipson, Benchmark Plus Institutional Partners, L.L.C., Benchmark Plus Partners, L.L.C., Benchmark Plus Management, L.L.C., Scott Franzblau, Robert Ferguson, Gregory R. Dube, Richard A. Rappaport and Robert A. Wood. |
| 99.2 | Form of Indemnification Agreement. |
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: March 14, 2011 | 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 ACTIVISM PARTNERS LLC |
| | |
| By: | Western Investment LLC |
| | Managing Member |
| | |
| 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 Individually and as Attorney-In-Fact for Gregory R. Dube, Richard A. Rappaport and Robert A. Wood |
| BENCHMARK PLUS 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 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 B
Transactions in the Shares During the Past 60 days by the Nominees and By the Other Reporting Persons Since the Filing of Amendment No. 2 to the Schedule 13D
Date of Purchase | Shares of Common Stock Purchased | Price Per Share ($) |
BENCHMARK PLUS INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS, L.L.C.
02/25/11 | 25,016 | | 11.3198 |
02/28/11 | 150 | | 11.5259 |
03/01/11 | 1,750 | | 11.3468 |
03/02/11 | 22,572 | | 11.2980 |
03/03/11 | 3,354 | | 11.5153 |
RICHARD A. RAPPAPORT