SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
This
Settlement Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and entered into as of July
31,
2007,
by and among
Breeze-Eastern Corporation (the "Company"), Tinicum Capital Partners II,
L.P.,
and
Tinicum
Capital Partners II Parallel Fund, L.P. (collectively “Tinicum”) and the persons
and entities listed on Exhibit
A
hereto
(collectively, the "Stockholder Group") (each of the Company, Tinicum and the
Stockholder Group, a "Party" to this Agreement, and collectively, the
"Parties").
RECITALS
A. The
Stockholder Group beneficially owns, in the aggregate, 3,206,007 shares of
the
Company's outstanding common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Common
Stock"), and on June 18, 2007 filed a preliminary proxy statement with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) in connection with its
intention to solicit proxies (the "Proxy Solicitation") to elect four
individuals to the Company’s Board of Directors (the "Company Board" or “Board
of Directors”);
B. Tinicum
beneficially owns, in the aggregate, 2,471,067
shares of Common Stock;
C. After
discussions between representatives of the Company Board and the Stockholder
Group, the Company Board has determined that it is in the best interests of
the
stockholders of the Company to nominate for election to the Company Board at
the
Annual Meeting a slate of eight persons who have been agreed upon by the
Company, Tinicum and the Stockholder Group (the “Nominees”), with the identity
of such persons set forth on Exhibit
B
hereto;
D. In
return, the Parties have agreed that the Stockholder Group shall withdraw its
nominees to the Company Board and terminate the Proxy Solicitation and that
neither the Stockholder Group nor Tinicum will present any nominees or proposals
at the Company's 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (including any adjournment
or postponement thereof, the "Annual Meeting");
E. The
Stockholder Group and Tinicum have each agreed that they shall refrain from
submitting any stockholder proposal or director nominations at the Annual
Meeting or at any other meetings of stockholders which may be held prior to
the
end of the No Solicitation Period (as defined below) and shall
vote
all of
their respective Voting Securities and Tinicum Securities (each as defined
below), as the case may be,
in favor
of the Nominees at the Annual Meeting; and
F. The
Company, Tinicum and the Stockholder Group desire, in connection with the
foregoing, to make certain covenants and agreements with one another pursuant
to
this Agreement.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the recitals set forth above and the covenants
and agreements set forth below, the Parties hereby agree as
follows:
1.
Termination of Proxy Solicitation. The Stockholder Group hereby withdraws its
nominees to the Company Board identified in the Stockholder Group’s preliminary
proxy statement and shall immediately terminate the Proxy
Solicitation
and the
Agreement entered into as of April 2, 2007, by and among, inter alia, Wynnefield
Partners Small Cap Value, L.P., and Xxxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx Incorporated in
connection with the Proxy Solicitation. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, not later than three business days
after the execution of this Agreement, the Stockholder Group shall notify the
staff of the Commission in writing that it has terminated the Proxy Solicitation
and will
not
be disseminating, or soliciting proxies based off of,
the
Stockholder Group’s preliminary proxy statement filed in connection with the
Proxy Solicitation. Promptly following the execution of this Agreement, the
Stockholder Group and Tinicum shall each cause its Schedule 13D with respect
to
the Company to be amended consistent with the terms of this Agreement
(the
"Schedule 13D Amendment").
2.
No
Solicitation at Annual Meeting and Prohibition on Other Actions.
No
member
of the Stockholder Group or Tinicum shall, directly or indirectly:
(a)
become a "participant" (as such term is defined in Instruction 3 to Item 4
of
Schedule 14A promulgated under the Securities
Exchange
Act
of 1934
(the "Exchange Act"))
in or
assist any third party in any "solicitation" of "proxies" (as such terms are
defined in Rule 14a-1 promulgated under the Exchange Act) for use at the Annual
Meeting (whether or not the solicitation is subject to the provisions of Rules
14a-3 to 14a-15 and specifically including any solicitation pursuant to Rule
14a-2(b)(1)), make any exempt communication pursuant to Rule 14a-1(l)(2)(iv)
or
otherwise seek to advise or influence any person or entity or assist any third
party in so advising or influencing any person or entity with respect to the
giving or withholding of any proxy or vote at the Annual Meeting, other than
in
favor of the election of the
Nominees;
(b)
assert, commence or maintain or assist any third party in asserting, commencing
or maintaining any claim, action or proceeding before any court, agency or
other
governmental authority (including, without limitation, the Commission and any
state securities commissioner) (i) seeking to enjoin, delay or accelerate the
Annual Meeting, (ii) seeking to enjoin the solicitation of proxies by the Board
of Directors for use at the Annual Meeting, or (iii) alleging that the
definitive proxy statement of the
Company in connection with the Annual Meeting (the "Company Proxy Statement")
or
any additional Company soliciting materials violates Rule 14a-9 promulgated
under the Exchange Act or
contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material
fact necessary to make the statement contained therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(c)
other
than as expressly provided herein, grant any proxy with respect to the Annual
Meeting or deposit any of the Company securities held by the Stockholder Group
in a voting trust or subject them to a voting agreement or other arrangement
of
similar effect with respect to the Annual Meeting;
(d)
make
any proposal (whether
pursuant to Rule 14a-8 or outside of Rule 14a-8) for
consideration at the Annual Meeting;
or
2
(e)
participate in or assist any third party in any solicitation of written consents
with regard to the
Company prior to the Annual Meeting.
3.
No
Public
Statements or Other Actions Prior to the Completion of the Annual Meeting.
(a)
Prior
to the completion of the Annual Meeting, except with respect to the press
release provided in Section 10 hereof, neither the Company nor any of its
officers, directors, employees, affiliates or agents shall make any public
announcement or statement
directly
relating
to the Stockholder Group or Tinicum, or the Stockholder
Group's
Proxy
Solicitation, other than (i) to describe the terms of this Agreement,
including, without limitation, in a Current Report on Form 8-K, the Company
Proxy Statement and an amendment to Tinicum's Schedule 13D,
or (ii)
as may be required to comply with applicable Federal and State securities laws,
rules and regulations or the rules and regulations of any stock exchange or
stock market on which the Company's securities are then listed, quoted or
admitted to trading. A draft of any such press release shall be provided to
the
Stockholder Group and Tinicum for review and comment within
a
commercially
practicable
period
of time prior to publication;
provided, however, that nothing herein shall be deemed to cause the Company
to
delay the public dissemination or filing with the Commission of information
otherwise required for compliance with applicable law or regulation, including
the federal securities laws and the rules of the American Stock Exchange or
any
other exchange on which the securities of the Company are listed.
(b)
Except
as
may be required by their Schedule 13D Amendments, prior to completion of the
Annual Meeting, no
member
of the Stockholder Group or Tinicum nor any of their respective partners,
officers, directors, employees, affiliates or agents shall make any public
announcement or statement with respect to, or submit a proposal for, or offer
of
(with or without conditions) any extraordinary transaction or
businesses combination transaction involving,
the Company, its directors or officers, or any of its securities or assets
or
form, join or in any way participate in a "group" as defined in Section 13(d)(3)
of the Exchange Act in connection with any of the foregoing.
(c) Nothing
in this Agreement shall prohibit or be construed to prohibit the Company,
Tinicum or the Stockholder
Group from making any filings with the Commission which any
of
the foregoing parties
reasonably determines it is required to make.
4.
Election of Company Nominees.
(a)
Each
member of the Stockholder Group shall cause all voting securities held of record
or
beneficially by
it or
any affiliate on the Record Date (as
defined below) or
over
which it has or shares voting power,
whether
through beneficial ownership or by means of a proxy provided to such member
or
affiliate by the beneficial owner thereof or by means of such member or
affiliate serving as a trustee of a voting trust with respect to which shares
of
Common Stock are subject
(the
“Voting Securities”) and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause all
voting securities over which it shares investment discretion and
does
not have sole voting power (the
“Investment Securities” with the Voting Securities, collectively, the
"Securities") to be present at the Annual Meeting for quorum purposes and to
be
voted at the Annual Meeting (i)
in
favor of election of the Nominees; and (ii)
against
approval of any proposal made in opposition to, or in competition with, any
proposal or Nominee recommended by the Company Board at the Annual Meeting.
For
purposes of this Agreement, "affiliate" has the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2
promulgated by the Commission under the Exchange Act.
3
(b)
Each
Tinicum entity shall cause all voting securities held of record or beneficially
by it or any affiliate on the Record Date (as defined below) or over which
it
has or shares voting power (the "Tinicum Securities") to be present at the
Annual Meeting for quorum purposes and to be voted at the Annual Meeting (i)
in
favor of election of the Nominees; and (ii) against approval of any proposal
made in opposition to, or in competition with, any proposal or Nominee
recommended by the Company Board at the Annual Meeting.
5.
Proxy.
In
order
to assure the performance of the obligations of the Stockholder Group and
Tinicum hereunder, if
requested by the Company, each
member of the Stockholder Group
and each
Tinicum entity shall provide
the
Company with an irrevocable proxy authorizing the Company to vote the Voting
Securities
and the
Tinicum Securities, as applicable,
as
described above at the Annual Meeting (the "Proxy") in the form of Exhibit
C
hereto.
The Company shall have the right to deliver the Proxy on behalf of the members
of the Stockholder Group and
Tinicum in
the
event that any member of the Stockholder Group or
Tinicum does
not
perform its obligations hereunder. Each member of the Stockholder Group
and
Tinicum hereby
agrees that any
Proxy
so
delivered shall be
coupled
with an interest and therefore shall
be
irrevocable. Each member of the Stockholder Group and
Tinicum hereby
irrevocably revokes any and all proxies given or granted with regard to the
Securities other than as provided in this Agreement or the Proxy
and,
except to comply with its voting obligation under Section 4 hereof, will not
grant any proxy to any third party in connection with the Annual
Meeting.
In no
event shall the Company request a proxy to vote the Voting Securities without
requesting a proxy for voting the Tinicum Securities, and vice versa.
6.
Annual
Meeting.
(a)
The
Company Board shall (i) set a date for the Annual Meeting, which date is
intended to be within sixty (60) days of July 25, 2007, the record date
(the
"Record Date") established
by the Company Board
for the
Annual Meeting,
and
provide notice of said date to its stockholders; (ii) nominate for election
at
the Annual Meeting the Nominees; (iii) not change the number of Company
directors, which
is
currently
set
at
eight;
and
(iv) shall not by its action present
any issues at the Annual
Meeting
other than the election of the Nominees and stockholder ratification of the
selection of the Company’s
independent auditors.
(b)
The
Company shall (i) prepare the Company Proxy
Statement,
which
Company Proxy
Statement
will set
forth the Nominees as the persons nominated by the Company Board
for
election to the Company Board; (ii) recommend, and reflect such recommendation
in the Company Proxy
Statement,
a vote
"for" the Nominees at the Annual Meeting; (iii) shall
include
in the Company Proxy Statement
the
proposal to elect the Nominees and no other proposals, with the exception of
a
proposal for stockholder ratification of the selection of the Company’s
independent auditors, which proposal may be made in the discretion of the
Company Board; and (iv) provide each of the Stockholder Group and Tinicum a
commercially
practicable period of time
to
review and comment on the Company Proxy Statement prior to its distribution
to
the Company’s stockholders and filing with the Commission.;
provided, however, that nothing herein shall be deemed to cause the Company
to
delay the public dissemination of information or filing with the Commission
otherwise required for compliance with applicable law or regulation, including
the federal securities laws and the rules of the American Stock Exchange or
any
other exchange on which the securities of the Company are listed.
4
7.
Board/Committee Appointments. The Parties hereby agree that the Nominees, if
elected to the Board, at the first meeting of the Board of Directors following
the Annual Meeting, which will be held immediately following the conclusion
of
the Annual Meeting, shall, acting as a Board, take all actions necessary and
appropriate (a) to effectuate the appointment of (i) each Nominee set forth
on
Exhibit
D
to the
offices and positions indicated next to such person's name, and (ii) Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxx as a consultant to the Board of Directors for the purpose of assisting
the Board and the Company in the transition of audit firms for a term of six
(6)
months with compensation of not less than $15,000; and (b) to revise the
compensation of the non-employee members of the Board of Directors so that
effective immediately non-employee members of the Board shall receive as their
sole and total compensation for service on the Board annual compensation in
the
form of restricted Company stock the number of shares of which shall equal
the
number of shares determined by dividing $30,000 by the closing price of the
stock on the date of the annual meeting. In furtherance of the covenants set
forth in this section 7, the Parties shall undertake the execution and delivery
by the Nominees, and each of them, of a letter addressed to the Company in
the
form of Exhibit
E.
8.
No
Solicitation Period.
During
the period commencing with the execution of this Agreement and ending on the
earliest to occur of (each, a “Termination Date”)(a) the date of the Company's
2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “2008 Annual Meeting”)
and
(b)
a
material breach by the Company, the Stockholder Group or Tinicum, or any member
thereof, of their respective obligations under this Agreement (the "No
Solicitation Period"), provided however that the breaching party shall continue
to remain subject to the obligations and restrictions set forth herein, neither
the Stockholder Group nor Tinicum,
or
any
member thereof, nor
any
of their controlled affiliates shall, directly or indirectly:
(a)
become a "participant" (as such term is defined in Instruction 3 to Item 4
of
Schedule 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act) in
or
assist any third party in any "solicitation" of "proxies" (as such terms are
defined in Rule 14a-1 promulgated under the Exchange Act) for use at the 2008
Annual Meeting (whether or not the solicitation is subject to the provisions
of
Rules 14a-3 to 14a-15 and specifically including any solicitation pursuant
to
Rule
14a-2(b)(1)), make any exempt communication pursuant to Rule 14a-1(l)(2)(iv)
or
otherwise seek to advise or influence any person or entity or assist any
third
party in
so advising or influencing any person or entity with respect to the giving
or
withholding of any proxy or vote at any meeting of the Company’s stockholders
held after the Annual Meeting and prior to the Termination Date (each, a
“Subsequent Stockholder Meeting”) , other than in favor of the election of the
nominees selected
by the Board of Directors of the Company for
election at the 2008 Annual Meeting;
5
(b)
assert, commence or maintain or assist any third party in asserting, commencing
or maintaining any claim, action or proceeding before any court, agency or
other
governmental authority (including, without limitation, the Commission and any
state securities commissioner) (i) seeking to enjoin, delay
or
accelerate the 2008 Annual Meeting, (ii) seeking to enjoin the solicitation
of
proxies by the Board of Directors for use at the 2008 Annual Meeting, or (iii)
alleging that the definitive proxy statement of the Company for mailing to
stockholders in connection with the 2008 Annual Meeting (the "2008 Company
Proxy
Statement") or any additional Company soliciting materials violates Rule 14a-9
or contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material
fact necessary to make the statement contained therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(c)
other
than as expressly provided herein, grant any proxy with respect to the 2008
Annual Meeting or deposit any of the Voting Securities or the Tinicum Securities
held
by the
Stockholder Group or Tinicum, as the case may be, in a voting trust or subject
them to a voting agreement or other arrangement of similar effect with respect
to a Subsequent Stockholder Meeting;
(d)
make
any proposal (whether
pursuant to Rule 14a-8 or outside of Rule 14a-8) for
consideration at Subsequent Stockholder Meeting;
or
(e)
participate in or assist any third party in any solicitation of written consents
with regard to the Company prior to Subsequent Stockholder Meeting.
9.
Mutual
Release. In consideration of the mutual promises and covenants contained herein,
and after consultation with their respective counsel, the Company, Tinicum,
the
Stockholder Group, and each of them, on behalf of themselves and for all of
their past and present affiliated, associated, related, parent and subsidiary
companies, joint venturers and partnerships, successors, assigns, and the
respective owners, officers, directors, partners, agents, employees,
shareholders, consultants and attorneys of each of them (collectively
"Affiliated Persons"), irrevocably and unconditionally release, acquit and
forever discharge each of the others and all of their Affiliated Persons, from
any and all causes of action, claims, actions, rights, judgments, obligations,
damages, demands, losses, controversies, contentions, complaints, promises,
accountings, bonds, bills, debts, dues, sums of money, expenses, specialties
and
fees and costs (whether direct, indirect or consequential, incidental or
otherwise including, without limitation, attorney's fees or court costs, of
whatever nature) incurred in connection therewith of any kind whatsoever,
whether known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, in their own right and
derivatively, in law or in equity or liabilities of whatever kind or character
(the "Claims"), which the Parties have or may have against one another based
upon events occurring prior to the date of the execution of this Agreement
arising out of or related to the proxy solicitations being conducted by each
of
the Company and the Stockholder Group in connection with the Annual Meeting,
as
well as the purchase and ownership of the Common Stock by each of Tinicum and
the Stockholder Group (the "Released Matters"). The Parties acknowledge that
this general release of claims includes, but is not limited to, any and all
statutory and common law claims for, among other things, fraud and breach of
fiduciary duty based upon events occurring prior to the date of the execution
of
this Agreement. The Parties intend that the foregoing release be broad with
respect to the Released Matters, provided, however, this release and waiver
of
Claims shall not include claims to enforce the terms of this Agreement; and
provided further that nothing in the foregoing release shall be deemed or
construed, now or hereafter, as limiting in any manner any right of
indemnification inuring to the benefit of any director or former director of
the
Company arising under the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, of the
Company, the Company’s by-laws or otherwise.
6
10.
Press
Release.
(a)
Promptly following the execution of this Agreement, the Company, Tinicum and
the
Stockholder Group shall jointly issue a mutually agreeable press release
announcing the terms of this Agreement, in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit
F.
(b)
During the No Solicitation Period, none of the Company, Tinicum or the
Stockholder Group, nor any of their respective affiliates will, directly or
indirectly, make or issue or cause to be made or issued any disclosure,
announcement or statement (including without limitation the filing of any
document or report with the Commission or any other governmental agency or
any
disclosure to any journalist, member of the media or securities analyst)
concerning the other Parties or any of their controlled affiliates, which
disparages such other Party or any of its controlled affiliates as individuals
(provided that each Party, after consultation with counsel, may make any
disclosure that it determines in good faith is required to be made under
applicable law).
11.
Fees
and Expenses. The Company agrees to reimburse the Stockholder Group its
documented
out-of-pocket fees
and
expenses in connection with the negotiation
of this Agreement, the preparation
and filing of the 13D
Amendment,
and
the
preparation and filing of its
preliminary proxy statement, in an amount not to exceed $125,000
in the
aggregate
and to
reimburse Tinicum its documented
out-of-pocket fees
and
expenses in connection with the review of the
Stockholder Group's preliminary proxy statement, the negotiation of this
Agreement and the preparation and filing of an amendment to its Schedule
13D
in an
amount not to exceed $25,000
in the
aggregate.
Except
as expressly provided herein, each Party shall pay its own expenses incident
to
this Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein.
12.
Miscellaneous
(a)
Each
of the Parties agrees that it will cause its controlled affiliates to comply
with the terms of this Agreement. In no event shall any member of the
Stockholder Group, or its affiliates be liable for any breach of this Agreement
by any other member of the Stockholder Group, or its affiliates.
(b)
All
notices, consents, requests, instructions, approvals and other communications
provided for herein and all legal process in regard hereto shall be in writing
and shall be deemed validly given, made or served, if (i)
given
by telecopy, when such telecopy is transmitted to the telecopy number set forth
below and the appropriate confirmation is received or (ii)
if
given by any other means, when actually received during normal business hours
at
the address specified in Exhibit
G
or such
other address as may be given pursuant to this notice provision.
7
(c)
This
Agreement (including the Exhibits hereto) constitutes the entire agreement
between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes
all
prior agreements understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with
respect to the subject matter hereof. No modifications of this Agreement can
be
made except in writing signed by an authorized representative of each the
Company, Tinicum and the Stockholder Group. This Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective
successors and assigns, and nothing in this Agreement is intended to confer
on
any person other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and
assigns, any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason
of
this Agreement.
(d)Any
provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived if, and only if, such
amendment or waiver is in writing and signed (in the case of an amendment)
by
each Party hereto or (in the case of a waiver) by the Party against whom the
waiver is to be effective. No failure or delay by any Party in exercising any
right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall
any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise
thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege.
(e)
If
at any
time subsequent to the date hereof, any provision of this Agreement shall be
held by any court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, void or
unenforceable, such provision shall be of no force and effect, but the
illegality or unenforceability of such provision shall have no effect upon
the
legality or enforceability of any other provision of this
Agreement.
(f)
Each
of
the Parties acknowledges and agrees that irreparable injury to the other Parties
hereto would occur in the event any of the provisions of this Agreement were
not
performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached
and
that such injury would not be adequately compensable in damages. It is
accordingly agreed by each of the Parties that a Party so moving (the "Moving
Party") shall each be entitled to seek specific enforcement of, and injunctive
relief to prevent any violation of, the terms hereof and the other Parties
hereto will not take action, directly or indirectly, in opposition to the Moving
Party seeking such relief on the grounds that any other remedy or relief is
available at law or in equity.
(g)
This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with
the
laws of the State of Delaware without reference to the conflict of laws
principles thereof. Each of the Parties hereto irrevocably agrees that any
legal
action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement and the rights and
obligations arising hereunder, or for recognition and enforcement of any
judgment in respect of this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising
hereunder brought by the other party hereto or its successors or assigns, shall
be brought and determined exclusively in the Delaware Court of Chancery and
any
state appellate court therefrom within the State of Delaware (or, if the
Delaware Court of Chancery declines to accept jurisdiction over a particular
matter, any state or federal court within the State of Delaware).
(h)
This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts which together shall
constitute a single agreement.
[REMAINDER
OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]
[SIGNATURES
FOLLOW ON THE NEXT PAGE]
8
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has executed this Agreement, or
caused the same to be executed by its duly authorized representative, as of
the
date first above written.
BREEZE-EASTERN
CORPORATION
By:
/s/
Xxxxxx L. G. Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
X.
X. Xxxxx
President
and Chief Executive Officer
TINICUM
CAPITAL PARTNERS II, L.P.
By:
TINICUM LANTERN, LLC
Its:
General Partner
By:
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Name:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
TINICUM
CAPITAL PARTNERS PARALLEL FUND II, L.P.
By:
TINICUM LANTERN, LLC
Its:
General Partner
By:
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Name:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
WYNNEFIELD
PARTNERS SMALL CAP VALUE, L.P.
By:
Wynnefield Capital Management, LLC,
its
General Partner
By:
/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxx, Co-Managing Member
WYNNEFIELD
PARTNERS SMALL CAP VALUE, L.P., I
By:
Wynnefield Capital Management, LLC,
its
General Partner
By:
/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxx, Co-Managing Member
[SIGNATURES
CONTINUE ON THE NEXT PAGE]
9
WYNNEFIELD
SMALL CAP VALUE OFFSHORE FUND, LTD.
By:
Wynnefield Capital, Inc.,
its
Investment Manager
By:
/s/
Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxx, PresidentWYNNEFIELD
CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
By:
/s/
Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxx, Co-Managing MemberWYNNEFIELD
CAPITAL, INC.
By:
/s/
Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxx, President
CHANNEL
PARTNERSHIP II, L.P.
By:
/s/
Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxx, General Partner/s/
Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxx, Individually
/s/
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx
X.
Xxxxxx, Individually
XXXXXXXXX
& XXXXXX INCORPORATED
By:
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
X.
Xxxxxxxxx, Chairman [SIGNATURES
CONTINUE ON THE NEXT PAGE]
10
XXXXXXXXX
& XXXXXX ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC
By:
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
X.
Xxxxxxxxx, Managing Director
XXXXXXXXX
& XXXXXX CAPITAL APPRECIATION, LLC
By:
/s/
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
X.
Xxxxxxxxx, Managing Director/s/
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
X.
Xxxxxxxxx, Individually
/s/
Xxx X. Xxxxxx
Xxx
X.
Xxxxxx, Individually
/s/
Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
Xxxxxx
X.
Xxxx, Individually
11
EXHIBIT
A
STOCKHOLDER
GROUP
Wynnefield
Partners Small Cap Value, L.P.
Wynnefield
Partners Small Cap Value, L.P. I
Wynnefield
Small Cap Value Offshore Fund, Ltd.
Wynnefield
Capital Management, LLC
Stockholder
Capital, Inc.
Channel
Partnership II, L.P.
Xxxxxx
Xxxx
Xxxxxx
X.
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx
& Xxxxxx Incorporated
Xxxxxxxxx
& Xxxxxx Asset Management, LLC
Xxxxxxxxx
& Xxxxxx Capital Appreciation
Xxxxxx
X.
Xxxxxxxxx
Xxx
X.
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx
X.
Xxxx
12
EXHIBIT
B
NOMINEES
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxx
Xxx
X.
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
X.
X. Xxxxx
13
EXHIBIT
C
IRREVOCABLE
PROXY
The
undersigned hereby revokes any and all prior proxies and consents and hereby
irrevocably appoints and constitutes Xxxxxx X. X. Xxxxx, Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
and
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, and each of them, with full power of substitution, as my
proxy
(a) to vote the shares of Breeze-Eastern Corporation (the "Company") Common
Stock held of record or
beneficially by
it or
any affiliate or over which it has or shares voting power (the "Shares") held
by
the
undersigned
at the
2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company currently anticipated to
be
held on or before September 24, 2007, including any adjournments or
postponements thereof,
(the
"Annual Meeting") and/or (b) to execute and deliver any stockholder consent
in
lieu thereof, as in either case any one of them may determine in their sole
discretion in order to (i) revoke all prior proxies or consents given by the
undersigned with respect to the Shares, and (ii) to cause the Shares to be
represented at the Meeting and to be voted at the Meeting in favor of the
"Nominees" (as such term is defined in the Settlement Agreement,
dated
as of
July 31, 2007, among
the
Company, the undersigned and the other parties thereto). The proxy authority
contained herein shall be deemed to be coupled with an interest and shall be
irrevocable, subject to the terms and conditions and limitations of the
Settlement Agreement. This proxy shall survive my death or incapacity in the
case of an individual, and, dissolution, bankruptcy, liquidation or change
in
control in the case of an entity, during the term hereof, may not be revoked
by
any guardian or other personal representative in the case of an individual
or
trustee or receiver in the case of an entity, for any reason whatsoever.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this proxy or caused its duly
authorized representative to execute this proxy as of the date written below.
WITNESS:
________________________ |
__________________
|
|
[name]
|
14
EXHIBIT
D
BOARD/COMMITTEE
APPOINTMENTS
Chairman
of the Board:
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxx
Governance
and Nominating Committee:
Chair:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Membership:
Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Audit
Committee:
Chair:
Xxxxxxxxx. Xxxxxxxxx
Membership:
Xxx X. Xxxxxx* and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
*Subject
to confirmation that Xx. Xxxxxx meets the requirement of independence to be
eligible to serve as a member of the Audit Committee in accordance with the
rules of the American Stock Exchange, and in lieu thereof Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Strategic
Planning Committee:
Chair:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Membership:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Incentive
and Compensation Committee:
Chair:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Membership:
Xxx X. Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
15
EXHIBIT
E
NOMINEE
LETTER
July
31,
2007
Breeze-Eastern
Corporation
000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx,
XX
00000
Attention:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, General Counsel
To
whom
it may concern:
The
undersigned hereby acknowledges that I have been or will be nominated for
election to the Board of Directors of Breeze-Eastern Corporation (the “Company”)
at its upcoming 2007 Annual Meeting (the
“Meeting”) of
Stockholders pursuant to a Settlement Agreement by and among the Company and
certain of its major stockholders (the “Agreement”).
I
hereby
consent to such nomination, to serve if elected and to the inclusion of my
name
and relevant biographical information in the Company’s proxy materials relating
to the Meeting and its other required filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. I
further
agree to vote any shares of Company common stock that I beneficially own on
the
record date for the election of the Nominees named in the Company’s proxy
materials relative to the Meeting.
I
have
reviewed the covenants set forth in Section 7 of the Agreement
(including Exhibit D thereto) with
respect to Company Board of Director appointments, committee chairs and
committee membership, the appointment of Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx as a consultant upon
the
terms set out therein, and the reduction of annual non-employee Board of
Director compensation to $30,000 payable in restricted stock of the Company.
I
hereby agree to support such appointments and actions, subject to my election
as
a director of the Company.
Sincerely,
__________________________
Name:____________________
Date:
____________________
Acknowledged
and agreed:
BREEZE-EASTERN
CORPORATION
By:
_____________________________
Xxxxxx
X.
Xxxxxx,
Executive
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
16
EXHIBIT
F
FORM
OF PRESS RELEASE
PROPOSED
PRESS RELEASE
[FOR
IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION]
Contact: |
Xxxxxx
X.X. Xxxxx
|
President
and CEO
Phone:
908/000-0000
BREEZE-EASTERN
ANNOUNCES BOARD NOMINEES FOR ANNUAL MEETING
--
Company Settles Threatened Proxy Contest
Union,
New Jersey - July 31, 2007 - Breeze-Eastern
Corporation (AMEX:BZC) today announced that it has entered into an agreement
with certain of its major stockholders with respect to the slate of nominees
to
be proposed by the company for election as directors at the company’s 2007
annual meeting. Under the terms of a Settlement Agreement dated as of July
31,
2007, by and among the company, Tinicum Capital Partners II, L.P. and its
affiliates (“Tinicum”), and a stockholder group consisting primarily of
Wynnefield Partners Small Cap Value, L.P., Xxxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx Incorporated,
and their respective affiliated entities and persons (collectively, the
“Stockholder Group”), the nominees to be named in the company’s proxy materials
for election to the company’s eight member board will be current directors
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx and Xxxxxx X. X. Xxxxx, and new nominees
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Xxx X. Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx and
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx (collectively, the “Nominees”). Messrs. Alderman, Harris,
Saracheck and Xxxxxxxxx previously had been proposed as nominees to the company
board by the Stockholder Group in a preliminary proxy statement filed with
the
Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Messrs. Xxxxx and Xxxxxxxx are
affiliated with Tinicum.
The
Agreement further provides that the Stockholder Group will withdraw its nominees
to the company Board and terminate its proxy solicitation. The members of the
Stockholder Group and Tinicum have further agreed to refrain from submitting
any
stockholder proposal or director nominations at the 2007 annual meeting and
at
any other meetings of company stockholders which may be held prior to and
including the company’s 2008 annual meeting, subject to certain conditions. As
of the date of the Settlement Agreement, the members of the Stockholder Group
beneficially owned, in the aggregate, 3,206,007 shares, or 34.4 %, of the
company’s common stock and Tinicum beneficially owned 2,471,067 shares, or 26.4%
of the company's common stock. The Company also agreed to reimburse certain
out-of-pocket expenses of the Stockholder Group and Tinicum.
17
The
Settlement Agreement provides that the company will recommend, and reflect
such
recommendation in its definitive proxy statement, a vote "for" the Nominees
at
the 2007 annual meeting which will be held within 60 days of the previously
announced record date of July 25, 2007.
Under
the
Settlement Agreement, the members of the Stockholder Group and Tinicum have
agreed to cause all shares of company common stock held of record or
beneficially owned by them or any affiliate on the record date, with respect
to
which they have shared or sole voting power, to be present at the 2007 annual
meeting for quorum purposes and to be voted at the 2007 annual meeting in favor
of the election of the Nominees and against any proposal made in opposition
to,
or in competition with, any proposal or Nominee recommended by the company
Board
at the annual meeting. In addition, each member of the Stockholder Group is
obligated to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause all shares of common
stock with respect to which such member shares investment discretion and does
not have sole voting power to be present at the annual meeting for quorum
purposes and to be voted in the manner described above.
The
summary of the terms of the Settlement Agreement as set forth in this press
release is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Settlement Agreement,
a
copy of which is being filed by the company with the SEC, as an exhibit to
its
Current Report on Form 8-K, and which is available on the SEC website at
xxx.xxx.xxx and also available free of charge by directing a request to
Breeze-Eastern Corporation, 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx, 00000,
Attention: Secretary.
The
company plans to file with the SEC and mail to its stockholders a proxy
statement in connection with its 2007 annual meeting, and advises its
stockholders to read the proxy statement relating to the annual meeting when
it
becomes available because it will contain important information. Stockholders
may obtain a free copy of the proxy statement and any other relevant documents
(when available) that the company files with the SEC at the SEC’s web site at
xxx.xxx.xxx . The proxy statement and these other documents, when available,
may
also be obtained free of charge from the company by directing a request to
Breeze-Eastern Corporation, 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx, XX 00000, Attention:
Secretary.
The
company, its directors and named executive officers may be deemed to be
participants in the solicitation of the company’s stockholders in connection
with the annual meeting. Stockholders may obtain information regarding the
names, affiliations and interests of such individuals in the company’s Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007 and in the
company’s definitive proxy statement with respect to its 2006 annual meeting,
each of which is filed with the SEC, and (when available) in the company’s
definitive proxy statement with respect to the 2007 annual meeting that the
company will file with the SEC. To the extent holdings of the company’s equity
securities by such persons have changed since the information reflected in
the
foregoing documents, such changes have been reflected on Statements of Changes
in Beneficial Ownership of Securities on Form 4 filed with the SEC.
18
INFORMATION
ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain
statements in this press release constitute “forward-looking statements”
within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Acts"). Any statements
contained herein that are not statements of historical fact are deemed
to
be forward-looking statements.
The
forward-looking statements in this press release are based on current
beliefs, estimates and assumptions concerning the operations, future
results, and prospects of the company. As actual operations and results
may materially differ from those assumed in forward-looking statements,
there is no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove
to be
accurate. Forward-looking statements are subject to the safe harbors
created in the Acts.
Any
number of factors could affect future operations and results, including,
without limitation, competition
from other companies; changes in applicable laws, rules and regulations
affecting the company in the locations in which it conducts its business;
the availability of equity and/or debt financing in the amounts and
on the
terms necessary to support the company’s future business; interest rate
trends; determination by the company to dispose of or acquire additional
assets; general industry and economic conditions; events impacting
the
U.S. and world financial markets and economies; and those specific
risks
that are discussed in the company’s previously filed Annual Report on Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007
The
company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information or future
events.
|
19
EXHIBIT
G
ADDRESSES
FOR NOTICE
if
to the
Company:
Breeze-Eastern
Corporation
000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx,
XX
00000
Attention:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, General Counsel
Facsimile
No.: (000) 000-0000
Email:
xxxxxxx@xxxxxx-xxxxxxx.xxx
with
a
copy to:
Xxxx
Xxxxxx & Parks LLP
000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
0000
Xxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
F. Xxxxxx X’Xxxxx, Esq.
Facsimile
No.: (000) 000-0000
Email:
xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx
if
to
Tinicum:
Tinicum
Capital Partners II, L.P.
&
Tinicum
Capital Partners Parallel Fund II, L.P.
c/o
Tinicum Incorporated
Attention:
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
000
Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
XX 00000
Fax:
(000) 000-0000
Email:
xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx
with
a
copy to:
Skadden,
Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP
Xxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
Attention:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
Fax:
(000) 000-0000
Email:
xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx
20
if
to the
Stockholder Group:
Wynnefield
Capital, Inc.
000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxx
Xxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxxxx Xxxx
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
Email:
xxxxx@Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
with
a
copy to:
Xxxx
Xxxxxxx, P.C.
1350
Avenue of the Xxxxxxxx
00xx
Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
XX 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
Fax: (000)
000-0000
E-mail:
Xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
21