UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)
INFORMATION
REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant þ
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o
Check the appropriate box:
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
Crown Crafts, Inc.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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No fee required. |
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2)
and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the
previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its
filing. |
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For immediate release
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June 29, 2007 |
Crown Crafts Acknowledges Filing of Wynnefield Form 13D
Gonzales, Louisiana Crown Crafts, Inc. (OTCBB: NASDAQ-CM) (the Company) announced today that
Wynnefield Partners Small Cap Value, L.P. (Wynnefield), which, together with its affiliates, owns
14.6% of the Companys outstanding shares, filed an amended Form 13D with the SEC announcing its
intention to nominate to the Companys Board of Directors (the Board) Mr. Nelson Obus, one of
Wynnefields principals, and Mr. Frederick G. Wasserman, who has served since November 2005, on
behalf of Wynnefield, as an unpaid, non-voting Board observer. The
Company yesterday terminated Mr.
Wassermans status as an observer.
The Board has guided the Company through a very difficult period in which the Company has reduced
debt from $48 million in 2001 to $5.8 million and improved stockholders equity from ($16.8
million) in 2001 to $36.8 million. During this same period, the Companys market capitalization
has increased from $1.7 million to $41.9 million.
The Board intends to nominate three current directors for re-election at its 2007
annual meeting of stockholders: E. Randall Chestnut, the Companys Chairman of the Board, President
and Chief Executive Officer and a Board member since 1995; William T. Deyo, a principal of Goddard
Investment Group, LLC and a Board member since 2001; and Steven E. Fox, a partner with Rogers &
Hardin LLP and a Board member since 2001. The Company intends to make a preliminary filing with
the SEC of its proxy materials with respect to the annual meeting as soon as practicable.
The Company strongly advises all stockholders to read the Companys proxy statement in its entirety
when it becomes available because it will contain important information. The Company will send its
proxy statement, together with its annual report, to all stockholders of record, and the proxy
statement will also be available at no charge on the SECs
website at www.sec.gov. In addition,
the Company will provide copies of the proxy statement and annual report without charge upon
request. Request for copies should be directed to the participants proxy solicitor, Georgeson
Inc., at its toll free number: 1-800-223-2064.
The participants in the anticipated proxy solicitation are the Company and its directors, who
beneficially own the number of outstanding shares of the Company indicated below. Additional
information regarding the participants will be included in the Companys proxy statement.
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E. Randall Chestnut |
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781,102 |
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Donald Ratajczak |
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33,001 |
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William T. Deyo, Jr. |
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13,001 |
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Steven E. Fox |
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13,001 |
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Sidney Kirschner |
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13,001 |
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James A. Verbrugge |
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13,001 |
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Zenon S. Nie |
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6,001 |
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Crown Crafts, Inc. designs, markets and distributes infant and juvenile consumer products,
including bedding, blankets, bibs, bath items and accessories, and luxury hand-woven home décor.
Its subsidiaries include Hamco, Inc. in Louisiana, Crown Crafts Infant Products, Inc. in
California, and Churchill Weavers, Inc. in Kentucky. Crown Crafts is Americas largest producer of
infant bedding, bibs and bath items. The Companys products include licensed and branded
collections as well as exclusive private label programs for certain of its customers.
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Contact:
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Chris Hayden |
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Georgeson Inc. |
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(212) 440-9850 |
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or |
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Olivia Elliott |
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Secretary Treasurer |
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(225) 647-9124 |