dfan14a
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
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Soliciting Material Under Rule 14a-12 |
Equus Total Return, Inc.
(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
J. Philip Ferguson
Lance T. Funston
John D. White
Charles R. Ofner
Dr. Francis D. Tuggle
John P. Wade
Dr. Charles M. Boyd
Jonathan H. Godshall
Paula T. Douglass
Sam P. Douglass
Douglass Trust IV FBO S. Preston Douglass, Jr.
Douglass Trust IV FBO Brooke Douglass
Tiel Trust FBO Sam P. Douglass
Tiel Trust FBO Paula T. Douglass
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
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The Committee to Enhance
Equus
SEC SUBPOENAS INFORMATION ON TRADING IN EQUUS STOCK BY
COMPANIES TIED TO WHITE CARD DIRECTOR NOMINEES
INVESTIGATION INTO POSSIBLE VIOLATIONS OF FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS
VOTE THE COMMITTEES GOLD PROXY CARD TODAY
May 3, 2010
Dear Equus Stockholder,
With the 2010 Annual Meeting of Equus Stockholders only days away, The Committee to Enhance
Equus, which collectively owns approximately 11.4% of the outstanding shares of Equus and is
the Companys largest stockholder, urges you to consider the facts:
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FACT: |
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THE SEC HAS SUBPOENAED INFORMATION REGARDING TRADING IN EQUUS STOCK BY
VERSATILE SYSTEMS REPRESENTED BY FOUR NEW DIRECTOR NOMINEES OF THE HOLDOVER 5
MAJORITY IN CONNECTION WITH POTENTIAL SECURITIES LAW VIOLATIONS |
On April 26, 2010, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued a subpoena and notice that
it was conducting an investigation into possible violations of federal securities
laws in connection with trading in Equus stock by certain companies, including
Versatile Systems, Inc. This is particularly troubling since four new director nominees
Benedetti, des Pallieres, Hardy and Atkinson (the Versatile 4) who have been proposed
by the current five-member majority of the Board (the Holdover 5 Majority) are either
directors or officers of Versatile Systems.
Equus stockholders should ask themselves: Why hasnt the Holdover 5 Majority
disclosed this
troubling subpoena to stockholders who are currently casting their votes?
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FACT: |
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PUBLIC COURT RECORDS CITE ARREST FOR FALSE ACCOUNTING AND INCARCERATION OF
HOLDOVER 5 MAJORITY NOMINEE ALESSANDRO BENEDETTI |
Equally alarming, Alessandro Benedetti, one of the Versatile 4 director nominees proposed by
the Holdover 5 Majority, was also the subject of a criminal investigation which led to his
arrest on charges including false accounting for which he subsequently pled guilty and
accepted a sentence of imprisonment, according to a Justice on the High Court of Justice
Chancery Division of the United Kingdom. The Holdover 5 Majority and Mr. Benedetti recently
published a narrow, obscure denial attempting to argue that the arrest and imprisonment were
somehow not criminal in nature. We strongly disagree and ask that you read what Justice
Patten of the High Court wrote about Mr. Benedettis previous attempts to make this
argument:
Although when asked about this in cross-examination [Mr. Benedetti]
suggested that this did not amount to and should not be treated as a
criminal conviction, it seems obvious to me that the opposite is the
case. (emphasis added)
Equus stockholders should ask themselves: Is this who you want representing your
interests on the Equus Board of Directors? The Committee believes stockholders deserve a
Board with integrity and has put forth nine highly qualified, principled nominees. Vote the
Committees GOLD proxy card today.
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FACT: |
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EQUUS HAS SUFFERED A 65% DECLINE IN STOCK PRICE
OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS |
Equus stockholders should demand core change in the Board. From June 2005 until June 2009,
during the time that Moore, Clayton Capital Advisors, Inc. (MCCA) was Equus investment
adviser, Equus stock price declined 61%. The downward spiral continued to a total decline
of 65% as of March 26, 2010.1 Kenneth Denos was the President and CEO of MCCA,
and is CEO of MCC Global N.V. MCC Global introduced the Versatile 4 to Equus, and Mr.
Denos, a member of the Holdover 5 Majority, nominated them to the Board. A 65% decline in
stock price should be more than enough for stockholders to suffer.
We believe core change on the Equus Board is necessary. We also believe that returning the
Holdover 5 Majority is NOT core change.
The Holdover 5 Majority is also asking you to support the Versatile 4, the four new director
nominees who represent the interests of only ONE stockholder, Versatile Systems.
In contrast, the Committees candidates would bring a desperately needed fresh perspective
to Equus and would oversee the implementation of disciplined strategies designed to enhance
and sustain value for all Equus stockholders. For continuity, our nominees include two
current members of the Board and a former officer of Equus.
Equus stockholders should ask themselves: Isnt it time for a core change in the
Equus boardroom? Vote the Committees GOLD proxy card today.
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FACT: |
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COMMITTEE NOMINEES PLAN TO REVERSE DAMAGE INFLICTED ON EQUUS STOCKHOLDERS |
The Committees nominees plan to reverse the course of Equus and put our company back on
track to increasing value for all Equus stockholders. The Committees nominees, if elected,
intend to implement a variety of strategies to enhance stockholder value, including:
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Initiating a formal search for and installing a CEO a vacant position
with fund management experience; |
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Establishing a committee to critically assess past investments, particularly
those originated by MCCA, and immediately implementing preservation of value
strategies; |
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Returning Equus to a principled investment approach by investing in profitable
companies with a history of earnings, while also pursuing secured mezzanine
opportunities for both current income and dividend yields; and |
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Restoring sound corporate governance practices to the boardroom. |
Equus stockholders should ask themselves: Would you rather that Equus execute a
thoughtful plan designed to enhance value for all Equus stockholders OR continue to pursue a
hollow, undefined investment strategy that has failed? Vote the Committees GOLD
proxy card today.
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FACT: |
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THE COMMITTEE TO ENHANCE EQUUS OWNS 11.4% OF EQUUS STOCK AND IS CLOSELY
ALIGNED WITH THE INTERESTS OF ALL EQUUS STOCKHOLDERS |
The Committee and its highly qualified, talented and experienced nominees collectively own
11.4% of Equus stock making us the Companys largest stockholder. Our slate of director
nominees is comprised of widely respected, well-connected leaders in their respective
communities and industries. If elected, our nominees have the motivation and experience to
act in the best interests of all Equus stockholders.
The Holdover 5 Majority and the Versatile 4 collectively own ONLY ONE HALF OF ONE PERCENT of
Equus common stock personally.
Richard Bergner, the current Chairman of the Board and a member of the Holdover 5 Majority,
has NEVER OWNED A SINGLE SHARE OF EQUUS STOCK.
Equus stockholders should ask themselves: Wouldnt you rather have a Board comprised
of directors with a meaningful stake in the Companys future? Vote the Committees
GOLD proxy card today.
THE ANNUAL MEETING IS ONLY DAYS AWAY
VOTE THE COMMITTEES GOLD PROXY CARD TODAY
The Committees nominees will bring integrity, discipline, experience and principled
investment strategies back to Equus, for the benefit of ALL stockholders. Weve
provided you with the facts, now it is time to vote vote the Committees GOLD
proxy card today.
We encourage you to read our proxy statement and related materials, which are available at
no cost at www.ourmaterials.com/enhanceequus. If you have any questions, or need assistance
voting your GOLD proxy card, please contact MacKenzie Partners, Inc., which is
assisting us in this solicitation, at (800) 322-2885 (toll-free) or (212) 929-5500 (call
collect) or by email at enhanceequus@mackenziepartners.com. You may also be able to vote by
telephone or internet by following the instructions on the enclosed vote form.
Sincerely,
THE COMMITTEE TO ENHANCE EQUUS
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The last trading day before members of the Committee announced their
intention to launch a proxy contest |
If you have any questions, require assistance in voting your shares, or need
additional copies of The Committee To Enhance Equus proxy materials, please call
MacKenzie Partners at the phone numbers listed below.
105 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
enhanceequus@mackenziepartners.com
(212) 929-5500 (call collect)
Or
TOLL-FREE (800) 322-2885
THE COMMITTEE TO ENHANCE EQUUS HAS FILED A DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT AND OTHER DOCUMENTS WITH
THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ CAREFULLY THE
DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT BECAUSE IT CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THE SOLICITATION OF
PROXIES FOR USE AT EQUUS TOTAL RETURN, INC.S ANNUAL MEETING, INCLUDING INFORMATION RELATING TO THE
COMMITTEE, OUR NOMINEES AND THE PARTICIPANTS IN THIS SOLICITATION. THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT
AND A FORM OF PROXY ARE AVAILABLE TO EQUUS STOCKHOLDERS FROM THE PARTICIPANTS AT NO CHARGE AT
WWW.OURMATERIALS.COM/ENHANCEEQUUS AND ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE AT THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSIONS WEBSITE AT WWW.SEC.GOV. THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT AND A FORM OF PROXY
WERE DISSEMINATED TO SECURITY HOLDERS ON OR ABOUT APRIL 15, 2010.
This letter includes forward-looking statements. Except for the historical information contained
herein, the matters discussed in this letter are forward-looking statements that involve certain
risks and uncertainties such as the Committees plans and expectations regarding Board initiatives.
These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, market and economic conditions. If any
of these risks or uncertainties materializes, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect,
actual results or outcomes may vary materially from those expected. The Committee disclaims any
intention or obligation to update publicly or reverse such statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.