Additional Proxy Soliciting Materials - Non-management (definitive) (dfan14a)
June 10 2022 - 7:31AM
Edgar (US Regulatory)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14a-101)
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the
Registrant ☐
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☒
Check the appropriate box:
☐ |
Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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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 §240.14a-12 |
AEROJET ROCKETDYNE HOLDINGS, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
COMMITTEE FOR AEROJET ROCKETDYNE SHAREHOLDERS AND VALUE MAXIMIZATION
comprised of the following individuals
speaking individually and not as or on behalf of the company:
GAIL BAKER
MARION C.
BLAKEY
MAJ. GEN. CHARLES F. BOLDEN, USMC (RET.)
GENERAL KEVIN P. CHILTON, USAF (RET.)
THOMAS A. CORCORAN
EILEEN P. DRAKE
DEBORAH
LEE JAMES
GENERAL LANCE W. LORD, USAF (RET.)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
☐ |
Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
☐ |
Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules
14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
The Committee for Aerojet Rocketdyne Shareholders and Value Maximization (the Committee) is
disclosing the following investor update, which is also available at https://maximizeajrdvalue.com/, as additional soliciting materials.
Correcting the Many Misstatements and Fabrications in the Lichtenstein / Steel Report June 10th, 2022
Important: These materials are provided by Eileen P. Drake, General Kevin Chilton, USAF (Ret.), General Lance Lord, USAF (Ret.) and Thomas Corcoran on their own behalf, and not on behalf of Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc.
Important Information, Forward Looking Statements and Non-GAAP Measures
These materials are provided by Eileen P. Drake, General Kevin Chilton, USAF (Ret.), General Lance Lord, USAF (Ret.) and Thomas Corcoran (the Non-Steel Directors) on their own behalf, and not on
behalf of Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc. (the Company). On June 1, 2022, the Non-Steel Directors filed a definitive proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
SEC) in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the Companys special meeting of stockholders. Stockholders are advised to read the proxy statement because it contains important information. Stockholders may obtain a free
copy of the proxy statement, any amendments or supplements to the proxy statement and other documents that the Non-Steel Directors file with the SEC from the SECs website at www.sec.gov. These materials
contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements in these materials are based on current expectations and are subject to risks,
uncertainty and changes in circumstances, which could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from anticipated results, performance or achievements. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in
nature are forward-looking and the words believe, could, expect, and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. A variety of factors could cause actual results or outcomes
to differ materially from those expected and expressed in the forward-looking statements. Financial data presented is derived from audited financial statements. These materials also contains non-GAAP financial
measures. A reconciliation of these financial measures to the nearest GAAP measure is included in these materials.
Aerojets Value Creation Has Been Driven Mainly by Ms. Drake, Not Mr. Lichtenstein
Mr. Lichtensteins presentation included a slide touting value creation during his tenure
When in fact
More than two-thirds of the value generated during
Mr. Lichtensteins tenure was created after Ms. Drake became CEO Of the 287% TSR since Mr. Lichtenstein joined the Board in March 2008 (~10% CAGR), ~193% was created after Ms. Drake became CEO in June 2015 (~17% CAGR)
Source: FactSet, Steel Partners investor presentation title The Path to Improved Value Creation at Aerojet Rocketdyne (page 49) 1
Mr. Tucker Does Not Have the Experience or Expertise to Serve as Aerojets CEO
Mr. Lichtensteins presentation included a slide touting Mr. Tucker as a great CEO candidate
When in fact
Mr. Tucker spent the last 2 years since leaving Aerojet Rocketdyne as a consultant to a Steel Partners
affiliate He has not been hired by any company as an executive since leaving Aerojet Rocketdyne He has also never served as a director of any public company While Mr. Tucker had been with the Company since 2013, the Board
conducted an external CEO search in 2015 and ultimately hired Ms. Drake. Mr. Tucker was never considered by the Board Source: Steel Partners investor presentation titled The Path to Improved Value Creation at Aerojet Rocketdyne (page
27) 2
After Serving on the Board for 16 Years, Mr. Lichtenstein Now Has a Plan for Aerojet
Rocketdyne Mr. Lichtensteins presentation included a slide touting his plan to create value
When in fact
Mr. Lichtenstein has never presented a strategic plan to the Board during his time as a director,
and has collected ~$7mm per year as Executive Chair without proposing a plan Releasing $150 million of excess working capital is not an operational improvement The Board and the Independent Slate have previously
identified potential real estate assets that could be monetized Mr. Lichtensteins plan includes a mysterious 3x multiple expansion with no basis or support Source: Steel Partners investor presentation titled The Path to
Improved Value Creation at Aerojet Rocketdyne (page 33) 3
Mr. Lichtensteins Stewardship of the Companys Pension Fund Has Been Disastrous
Mr. Lichtensteins presentation attempts to blame Ms. Drake for deterioration in the pension
When in fact
Since Mr. Lichtenstein began overseeing the Companys pension fund in 2008 on the Benefits
Management Committee, the fund has deteriorated from an overfunded position of over $60 million to a currently underfunded position of over ($200 million) And Mr. Lichtenstein has continued to avoid an audit of the pension fund Source:
Steel Partners investor presentation titled The Path to Improved Value Creation at Aerojet Rocketdyne (page 88), JX-0710 (pages 1 and 2) 4
In His Presentation, Mr. Lichtenstein Confirms That He Does Not Understand AJRDs Business Why are
they using a picture of a Russian rocket? Do Mr. Lichtenstein and Mr. Tucker want to save Aerojet with Russian rockets rather than Aerojet Rocketdyne products? Should someone that out of touch with the business really be
leading the company? Source: Steel Partners investor presentation titled The Path to Improved Value Creation at Aerojet Rocketdyne (page 48) 5 5
Mr. Lichtensteins Slate Consists of Selected Friends Who Lack Relevant Experience and/or
Independence No prior experience serving on a public company board No prior CEO experience and since 2020 has been a paid consultant for Steel Partners Lacks any relevant A&D sector experience or public company executive
experience No prior experience serving on a public company board Personal friend of Mr. Lichtenstein1 Nelson While on CommScope board, TSR underperformed the S&P 500 by 196%2 Personal friend of
Mr. Lichtenstein1 Maguire No prior experience serving on a public company board Personal friend of Mr. Lichtenstein1 Wood No prior experience serving on a public company board Consultant to affiliates of Steel
Partners Winter While on Virgin Galactic board, TSR underperformed the S&P 500 by 79%2 Jonas Grandfather of Mr. Lichtensteins Chief of Staff at Steel Partners Sons are longtime friends of Mr. Lichtenstein1
Turchin Mr. Henderson and Ms. McNiff (two friends of Lichtenstein on the Board) continue to be named in proxy materials when they are no longer part of Mr. Lichtensteins slatedo they expect to be re-named to the Board following the Special Meeting? Source: WSJ, SEC filings, BoardEx, FactSet, Steel Partners investor presentation titled The Path to Improved Value Creation at Aerojet Rocketdyne (page 7)
1. Per Mr. Lichtensteins testimony in Delaware Court 2. Reflects performance from when nominee first joined the company board to 6/3/22 6
Mr. Lichtenstein Attempts to Criticize Ms. Drakes Leadership, But Credible Third Parties Take
the Opposite View Eileen Drake and the AJRD management team have delivered an incredible corporate turnaround since they were installed by the Chairman who is currently saying they did a terrible job. The companys financials are a
thing of beauty if you know what beauty looks like in leveraged finance. So if Drake and co emerge from the pad fire badly burned but still alive? Were in. No Drake and co? Were not in. (emphasis added) Cestrian Capital
Research, 2/16/22 Named 2022 Woman of the Year by THE MUSES of the California Science Center Foundation, which recognizes women who have made outstanding contributions in the fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) and
business In 2021 Gabelli Funds named Eileen Drake to their Management Hall of Fame for creating shareholder wealth, earning a superior rate of return over the long term, practicing the virtues of capital accumulation and enhancing
Gabellis clients investment success Recipient of the 2020 John W. Dixon Award by the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), its highest award for a leader in industry, recognizing distinguished service resulting in
outstanding contributions to national defense by a member of the industrial community Appointed in 2020 to the National Space Council Users Advisory Group (UAG), a federal advisory committee that advises the National Space Council
Recognized as one of 2019s Most Influential Corporate Directors by WomenInc. Magazine Appointed to the 2019 Executive Committee of the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), the leading U.S. aerospace and defense trade
association Presented with the 2017 CEO of the Year Award by the Federal Law Enforcement Foundation (FLEF) in honor of her service to the nation as a U.S. Army aviator and as a leader in the aerospace and defense sectors Source: Wall Street
research, Reuters, Financial Times, PR Newswire, Business Wire, GlobeNewswire, Aerospace Industries Association 5 7
Important Information
This filing is being made in the participants individual capacity, and not by or on behalf of Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc. (the
Company). No Company resources were used in connection with these materials. On June 1, 2022, Eileen P. Drake, General Kevin Chilton, USAF (Ret.), General Lance Lord, USAF (Ret.) and Thomas Corcoran (the Incumbent
Directors) filed a definitive proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) in connection with the solicitation of proxies for a special meeting of stockholders of the Company to be held on June 30,
2022.
STOCKHOLDERS ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO READ THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT BECAUSE IT CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Stockholders may obtain a free
copy of the definitive proxy statement, any amendments or supplements thereto and other documents that the Incumbent Directors file with the SEC from the SECs website at www.sec.gov. The Incumbent Directors, together with Gail Baker, Marion
Blakey, Charles Bolden and Deborah Lee James, may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from stockholders. Information about the participants is set forth in the definitive proxy statement.
Contact:
D.F. King & Co., Inc.
Edward T. McCarthy / Tom Germinario
AJRD@dfking.com
Committees Website:
https://maximizeajrdvalue.com/
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