UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
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 [X]
Check the appropriate box:
[X] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ] 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 ss. 240.14a-12
FEDERAL TRUST CORPORATION
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(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
KEEFE MANAGERS, LLC
ROBERT B. GOLDSTEIN
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the
filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
5) Total fee paid:
[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[ ] 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.
1) Amount Previously Paid:
2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
3) Filing Party:
4) Date Filed:
PRELIMINARY COPY - SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
2006 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
OF
FEDERAL TRUST CORPORATION
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PROXY STATEMENT
OF
KEEFE MANAGERS, LLC
To Our Fellow Federal Trust Corporation Shareholders:
This Proxy Statement and the accompanying WHITE proxy card are being
furnished to shareholders ("Shareholders") of Federal Trust Corporation
("Federal Trust") in connection with the solicitation of proxies by Keefe
Managers, LLC ("Keefe") and the other Participants (as defined below) to be used
at the 2006 Annual Meeting (the "Annual Meeting") of Shareholders of Federal
Trust to be held at Springhill Suites, 201 North Towne Road, Sanford, Florida
32771, on Friday, May 26, 2006, at 10:00 a.m., and at any adjournment,
postponement or continuation thereof. This Proxy Statement and the WHITE proxy
card are first being furnished to Shareholders on or about April __, 2006.
At the Annual Meeting, the Participants will seek to elect Robert B.
Goldstein (the "Nominee" or "Mr. Goldstein") to the Board of Directors of
Federal Trust (the "Board"). The Nominee has consented, if elected, to serve as
a director of Federal Trust and to being named in this Proxy Statement and in
the Participants' other soliciting materials as a nominee for election as a
director of Federal Trust.
The Nominee is committed to acting in the best interest of all
shareholders. We believe that your voice in the future of Federal Trust can best
be expressed through the election of the Nominee. Accordingly, we urge you to
vote your WHITE proxy card for Robert B. Goldstein.
If your shares are held in the name of a brokerage firm, bank, bank
nominee or other institution on the record date, only it can vote such shares
and only upon receipt of your specific instructions. Accordingly, please contact
the person responsible for your account and instruct that person to execute the
WHITE proxy card on your behalf as soon as possible.
1
IMPORTANT
The election of the Nominee requires the affirmative vote of a
plurality of the votes cast by Shareholders present in person or represented by
proxy, assuming a quorum is present or otherwise represented at the Annual
Meeting. As a result, your vote is extremely important in deciding the future of
Federal Trust. We urge you to mark, sign, date and return the enclosed WHITE
proxy card to vote FOR the election of Robert B. Goldstein.
We urge you not to sign any proxy card sent to you by Federal Trust. If
you have already done so, you may revoke your proxy before it is voted by
delivering to Federal Trust a written notice of revocation, or a duly executed
proxy card bearing a later date, or by attending the Annual Meeting and voting
in person. Any shareholder holding common stock through a brokerage firm may
change or revoke previously given voting instructions by contacting the
brokerage firm, or by obtaining a legal proxy from the brokerage firm and voting
in person at the Annual Meeting. See "Voting Procedures" and "Proxy Procedures"
below.
If you have any questions about giving your proxy or require
assistance, please call:
D.F. KING & CO., INC.
48 Wall Street, 22nd Floor
New York, New York 10005
Call Toll-Free: (888) 887-0082
Banks and Brokerage Firms Call Collect: (212) 269-5550
Only holders of record of Federal Trust's common stock as of the close
of business on April 14, 2006 (the "Record Date") are entitled to notice of and
to vote at, the Annual Meeting and any adjournment, postponement or continuation
thereof. According to the preliminary proxy statement of Federal Trust filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on April 26, 2006
("Federal Trust's Proxy Statement"), as of April 14, 2006, Federal Trust had
outstanding 9,149,343 shares of common stock of Federal Trust ("Shares").
Shareholders of record at the close of business on the Record Date will be
entitled to one vote at the Annual Meeting for each Share held on the Record
Date.
As of April 14, 2006, the Participants and their affiliates
collectively may be deemed to own beneficially an aggregate of 796,635 Shares,
representing approximately 8.7% of the reported outstanding Shares. The
Participants and their affiliates intend to vote such shares FOR the election of
the Nominee.
PLEASE VOTE FOR ROBERT B. GOLDSTEIN BY RETURNING YOUR COMPLETED WHITE
PROXY CARD TODAY.
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REASONS FOR KEEFE'S SOLICITATION
Keefe, on behalf of several entities for which it provides investment
advisory services, has been an investor in Federal Trust since February 2002,
and is currently one of the largest shareholders, beneficially owning
approximately 9.6% of the outstanding Shares reported to be outstanding as of
December 31, 2005. Consistent with the leadership of Keefe's late founder, Harry
Keefe, Keefe specializes in investing in the securities of U.S. based banks and
thrift institutions. Keefe is asking for your vote in order to elect Robert B.
Goldstein to the Board. Mr. Goldstein is committed to monitoring closely and
promoting the accountability of senior management, enhancing corporate
governance and encouraging and overseeing efforts to maximize shareholder value.
Keefe believes that the following examples demonstrate neglect on the part of
Federal Trust with respect to corporate governance, accountability and the
maximization of shareholder value:
o Federal Trust's operations are overseen by a six-person Board,
one member of which, James V. Suskiewich, is Federal Trust's
Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President.
Another director, George W. Foster, who is 77 years of age, is
the former chief executive officer of Federal Trust Bank. A
third director, A. George Igler, chairs the Company's
Compensation Committee and we understand is, and has been
since August 1988, corporate counsel to the Company. Mr. Igler
has also been the subject of a cease and desist order from the
Office of Thrift Supervision, which is the primary federal
regulator of Federal Trust Bank. The biography in Federal
Trust's Proxy Statement for Federal Trust's newest director,
Eric J. Reinhold, age 41, who was appointed by Federal Trust's
Board, does not indicate that Mr. Reinhold has any experience
as a director or executive officer of a banking institution.
In our opinion, this six-person Board would benefit to a
significant extent from the addition of a director with
significant banking experience and with no prior business
relationships with Federal Trust.
o In 2004, Federal Trust's proxy statement reported that James
Suskiewich, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and
President, received a salary of $250,000, a bonus of $150,861,
directors fees of $32,000 plus other annual compensation of
$221,762 for a total of $654,623. For a financial institution
that, in Keefe's professional opinion, exhibits significantly
underperforming results of operations, this compensation level
seems excessive. For instance, according to SNL Financial
DataSource, for 2005, the median performance for publicly
traded banks and thrifts in Florida between $700 million and
$5 billion in assets showed the following attributes as
compared to Federal Trust:
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Peer Group Federal Trust
Return on Assets 1.19% 0.64%
Return on Equity 14.95% 10.75%
Non Performing Assets to Total Assets 0.15% 0.36%
Price to Tangible Book Value 266.8% 212%
o Mr. Suskiewich receives a bonus payment according to his
contract, which is a portion of the bonuses for which he is
eligible, for any quarter in which Federal Trust Bank's
after-tax earnings are at least 0.50% of its average quarterly
assets on an annualized basis, a return that Keefe believes is
exceptionally low for banks such as Federal Trust Bank when
compared to its peer group. For instance, according to SNL
Financial DataSource, for 2005, the median return on assets
for publicly traded banks and thrifts in Florida with between
$700 million and $5 billion in assets was 1.22%. The threshold
for Mr. Suskiewich's bonus is less than half of this median.
o Mr. Suskiewich recently renegotiated his employment contract
with Federal Trust and now receives a base salary of $325,000
(compared to $250,000 in 2004). In the event of a change of
control, Mr. Suskiewich will receive a severance payment equal
to 2.5 times his base annual salary and his bonus in the last
fiscal year, which Keefe believes is not unusual, and a change
in control performance --- bonus of 3.0 times the premium
multiple paid for Federal Trust over book value times
$250,000, which in Keefe's experience is extraordinarily high
and, Keefe believes, a waste of corporate assets. In other
words, if Federal Trust were to be sold for 3.0 times book
value, which Keefe believes would be a reasonable sale price
for a banking institution in Federal Trust's market, Mr.
Suskiewich would receive 3.0 times 3.0 times $250,000 or
$2,250,000 plus a "gross up" to pay certain excise taxes
arising from such payments. Keefe believes this benefit is
unreasonably large.
For comparison, the following are summaries of the severance
payments, or closest equivalent in Keefe's estimation, due
upon a change in control to the chief executive officers of
all other publicly traded banks and thrifts domiciled in
Florida with assets of between $700 million and $5 billion
based upon information contained in proxy statements for those
entities filed with the SEC in 2006; please note these
banks and thrifts constitute the higher performing peer group
listed above:
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Name of Registrant Change of Control Payment
------------------ -------------------------
Fidelity Bankshares Inc Three times salary and bonus
Harbor Florida Bancshares, Inc. Three times salary and bonus
Capital City Bank Group, Inc. Additional two years of credited service towards retirement
plan
Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida Salary and bonus for change of control period (120 days)
TIB Financial Corp. Three times salary plus gross-up for excise tax
Commercial Bankshares, Inc. Three times salary plus cash incentive compensation
Florida Community Banks, Inc. Immediate vesting of options
CenterState Banks of Florida, Inc. 2.99 times base salary
Federal Trust 2.5 times base annual salary and bonus and a change in control
performance bonus of 3.0 times the premium multiple paid for
Federal Trust over book value times $250,000
o At Federal Trust's 2005 Annual Meeting, the 2005 Federal Trust
Corporation Directors Stock Plan (the "Directors Stock Plan")
received the following vote:
For the Plan: 2,964,721 shares
Against the Plan: 2,257,429 shares
Withheld: 1,964,362 shares
Based upon the results above, 31.4% of the shares represented
on the issue in person or by proxy voted against the Directors
Stock Plan and another 27.3% withheld their votes. In other
words, almost 59% of the shares present did not vote in favor
of the Directors Stock Plan. Federal Trust's Board, to the
derogation of our interests as Shareholders, nevertheless
implemented the new plan.
Keefe believes that Federal Trust's Shareholders need someone in the
boardroom who will work to address:
o the accountability of senior management,
o enhancement of corporate governance; and
o maximization of shareholder value.
Mr. Goldstein has significant community bank experience and has a
demonstrated record of maximizing shareholder value. As such, he is well suited
to work with and monitor Federal Trust and its management. While Mr. Goldstein
has no current plans to propose any specific actions or initiatives, if elected,
Mr. Goldstein will closely examine and bring financial analysis to all
initiatives proposed by management and directors of Federal Trust, and if
appropriate, will propose his own initiatives concerning Federal Trust,
including among other matters, executive compensation, corporate governance and
the best uses of Federal Trust's resources. While no assurance can be made that
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the election of Mr. Goldstein will make senior management more accountable,
enhance corporate governance or maximize value, Keefe expects that Mr. Goldstein
would help bring more accountability and discipline to the way Federal Trust is
managed.
For example, Federal Trust recently issued 850,000 shares of common
stock in a private placement transaction managed by Ryan Beck & Co. ("Ryan
Beck"). This placement was priced at $10.00 per share when the stock was trading
on the American Stock Exchange at $11.15 per share. Federal Trust also paid a
fee of 6.5% of the gross proceeds raised in the offering to Ryan Beck. The
shares of common stock sold in the placement must be registered under the
Securities Act of 1933 within 45 days of the closing of the placement. Keefe,
Federal Trust's largest outside shareholder, was never contacted by Ryan Beck to
solicit Keefe's interest in participating in this offering. Keefe regularly
participates in bank securities transactions with Ryan Beck. If Mr. Goldstein
had been a director at the time that this transaction was under consideration by
Federal Trust's Board, he would have suggested, at least, that all logical
potential purchasers should be contacted to assure the best possible pricing.
Furthermore, due to Mr. Goldstein's substantial active bank management
experience, Mr. Goldstein would have required a complete analysis from Federal
Trust's management and from the selected investment banking firm as to the
efficacy of issuing common stock which, of course, dilutes the voting power of
shareholders at the time of the issuance, rather than a non-dilutive alternative
to accomplish management's expansion goals.
Mr. Goldstein intends, if elected to the Federal Trust Board, to share
his considerable banking experience with his fellow Board members, suggesting
alternative capital raising strategies and sharing branch office expansion
strategies that have proven effective in banks that Mr. Goldstein has managed.
Mr. Goldstein, in a cooperative fashion, will assure that the Federal Trust
Board fully considers all aspects of expansion strategies and other appropriate
Board considerations possibly overlooked by the existing directors not
possessing his background and experience. Mr. Goldstein will seek to persuade
open-minded fellow directors as to the wisdom of his questions and suggestions.
As is the case with other boards of directors on which he serves around the
country, Mr. Goldstein will attend Federal Trust Board meetings in person.
Keefe believes that Mr. Goldstein will provide a voice completely
independent of Federal Trust. Mr. Goldstein will, if elected, constitute a
minority of the Board. Accordingly, Mr. Goldstein will not currently be able to
adopt any measures without the support of at least some members of the current
Board. Nevertheless, Mr. Goldstein will have the opportunity to articulate and
raise his concerns about Federal Trust's business activities with the rest of
the Board members.
BACKGROUND
Keefe, on behalf of entities for whom it acts as investment adviser,
first purchased Shares that it currently beneficially owns in February 2002 and
by November 1, 2004 had acquired approximately 8.0% of the then outstanding
6
Shares. Beginning in November 2004, Keefe became increasingly concerned about
Federal Trust's performance and about the make-up of its Board.
On or about April 15, 2005, Federal Trust mailed its Proxy Statement
for its 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Among the proposals were the
election of two directors to serve for three-year terms, including James V.
Suskiewich, Federal Trust's Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive
Officer, and a proposal to adopt the Directors Stock Plan. Prior to the 2005
Annual Meeting, Keefe contacted approximately six institutional investors that
owned Federal Trust common stock and informed them that Keefe would be
withholding its votes for the election of Mr. Suskiewich and voting against the
Directors Stock Plan. At the 2005 Annual Meeting, by proxy, Keefe withheld its
votes for the election of Mr. Suskiewich and voted against the Directors Stock
Plan.
In November 2005, Keefe began to consider the nomination of a candidate
for election as a director who would represent the interests of all of Federal
Trust's Shareholders. Keefe's consideration of this alternative arose from its
concern about Federal Trust's performance and what Keefe perceived to be
self-interested decisions made by Federal Trust's Board with respect to
executive officer compensation and the Directors Stock Plan, all as described
under "Reasons for Keefe's Solicitation". In November 2005, John J. Lyons,
Keefe's President, called Mr. Suskiewich to suggest the nomination of an
independent director without any past business relationship with Federal Trust.
Prior to making the suggestion, Mr. Suskiewich informed Mr. Lyons that no
further verbal communications would be forthcoming between Federal Trust
management and Keefe (its largest outside shareholder). Mr. Lyons had previously
regularly met with Mr. Suskiewich to discuss Federal Trust's performance, as Mr.
Lyons does with management of other financial institutions in which Keefe
maintains investments. On November 28, 2005, Keefe sent a letter to Federal
Trust's Board regarding a request that the Board consider the appointment or the
nomination for election of Robert B. Goldstein to Federal Trust's Board not
later than the Annual Meeting and, if such request was denied, Keefe's
reservation of its rights to take any action necessary to assure that the
Shareholders would have the right to consider the candidacy of Mr. Goldstein,
including directly nominating him for director in accordance with Federal
Trust's established procedures and engaging in a proxy contest. A copy of this
letter was filed with a Schedule 13D filed by Keefe with the SEC on November 30,
2005.
On December 20, 2005, Federal Trust sent Keefe a letter indicating that
Federal Trust would not be nominating Mr. Goldstein as a director.
On January 24, 2006, Keefe sent a letter to Federal Trust requesting an
opportunity to inspect and copy Federal Trust's record of Shareholders. On
February 27, 2006, Mr. Lyons and Mr. Goldstein visited Federal Trust's corporate
headquarters and Mr. Lyons was provided with a copy of the record of
Shareholders. During this visit, Mr. Goldstein met with Mr. Suskiewich and
Gregory E. Smith, Federal Trust's Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer.
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On March 16, 2006, Keefe sent a letter to Federal Trust's Board
requesting that the Board again consider the nomination of Mr. Goldstein for
election to Federal Trust's Board at the Annual Meeting and, if such request was
denied, Keefe's intention to nominate him for director in accordance with
Federal Trust's established procedures. A copy of this letter was filed with a
Schedule 13D/A filed by Keefe with the SEC on March 16, 2006.
On April 21, 2006, a notice was sent to Federal Trust for the purposes
of nominating Mr. Goldstein for election as a director of Federal Trust at the
Annual Meeting. A separate notice was sent to Federal Trust on April 21, 2006
proposing that the Shareholders consider an amendment to Federal Trust's Amended
and Restated Bylaws at the Annual Meeting. The purpose of the amendment was to
make ineligible to be elected as a director of Federal Trust any person who has
been the subject of a cease and desist order issued by a federal bank regulatory
agency or who has paid or been subject to a civil money penalty imposed by a
federal bank regulatory agency for personal or professional conduct involving a
banking institution insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Federal Trust has stated in Federal Trust's Proxy Statement that the
bylaw proposal was not timely noticed and will not be placed on the agenda for
the Annual Meeting. Keefe continues to believe that this amendment is important
for corporate governance purposes to assure that only the most appropriate
candidates for director are considered by the Shareholders. Accordingly, if the
proposal is not made earlier by Federal Trust's Board, Keefe currently intends
to reintroduce the proposal at Federal Trust's 2007 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders.
PARTICIPANTS IN SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
In addition to the Nominee, Robert B. Goldstein, Keefe is a participant
in the solicitation of proxies (together, the "Participants"). Keefe-Rainbow
Partners L.P. ("Rainbow"), an investment fund and a Shareholder executing the
notice to Federal Trust of the nomination of Mr. Goldstein, may also be deemed
to be a Participant. Keefe, a Delaware limited liability company, is a
registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as
amended, that acts as investment adviser to Rainbow and other investment funds
and managed accounts under its respective investment advisory contracts. Rainbow
explicitly disclaims that it is a Participant in the solicitation of proxies,
and Rainbow will not engage in any solicitation activities.
The principal business address of Keefe as well as the record address
of Rainbow is 375 Park Avenue, 23rd Floor, New York, New York 10152.
Information concerning Mr. Goldstein, including his age and business
background, may be found below under the heading "PROPOSAL I: ELECTION OF
DIRECTORS." Mr. Goldstein's business address is 49 Turkey Hill Road South,
Westport, CT 06860.
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OWNERSHIP OF FEDERAL TRUST STOCK BY PARTICIPANTS
Rainbow owns directly 442,430 Shares. Pursuant to an investment
advisory contract, Keefe has sole voting and sole dispository power with respect
to such Shares.
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the
Shares of the Nominee and Participants that may be deemed to be the beneficial
owner (as that term is defined in 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, or the "Exchange Act") of more than 5% of the reported outstanding Shares.
Number of Shares Percentage of
Name Beneficially Owned Shares
---------------------------------- ------------------ -------------
Keefe Managers, LLC 795,835(1) ___%
375 Park Avenue, 23rd Floor
New York, New York 10152
Robert B. Goldstein 800 *
49 Turkey Hill Road South
Westport, CT 06860
* Less than 1%
(1) Keefe, by virtue of its relationship with investment funds and
managed accounts as disclosed herein, has sole voting power and sole dispositive
power with regard to the 795,835 Shares owned by the investment funds and
managed accounts and is deemed to be the beneficial owner, as that term is
defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act of such Shares.
Except as otherwise noted herein, all Share amounts set forth in this
Proxy Statement are reported as of the close of business on April 14, 2006.
Except as noted above, none of the Participants or their associates is
a record or beneficial owner of the Shares. Except as noted above, none of the
Participants owns beneficially, directly or indirectly, securities of any parent
or subsidiary of Federal Trust.
For the purposes of this Proxy Statement, the term "associates" shall
have the meaning as that term is defined in Rule 14a-1 of Regulation 14A under
the Exchange Act.
Except as disclosed in this Proxy Statement (including Appendix I
attached hereto), none of the Nominee, Keefe, Rainbow or any of their affiliates
or associates has any substantial interest, direct or indirect, by security
holdings or otherwise, in any matter to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting.
All transactions in the securities of Federal Trust effected within the
past two years by the Nominee, Rainbow and Keefe are described in Appendix I
attached to this Proxy Statement.
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PROPOSAL I: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
According to Federal Trust's Proxy Statement, one Class I director is
to be elected to Federal Trust's Board at the Annual Meeting. The Participants
propose that the Shareholders elect Robert B. Goldstein as a director of Federal
Trust at the Annual Meeting. Mr. Goldstein, if elected, would hold office until
the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until a successor has been duly
elected.
Background information about Mr. Goldstein is set forth below. The
Nominee is not receiving any compensation from any of the Participants or any of
their affiliates in connection with this proxy solicitation. The Nominee nor any
associate of the Nominee has received any cash compensation, cash bonuses,
deferred compensation, compensation pursuant to other plans or other
compensation from, or related to, services rendered on behalf of Federal Trust,
or is subject to any arrangement described in Item 402 of Regulation S-K. If
elected by the Shareholders at the Annual Meeting, it is expected that the
Nominee could receive compensation similar to the compensation received by the
other independent directors of Federal Trust.
Robert B. Goldstein, 65, has served as Chairman of Bay View Capital
Corporation ("BVCC") since October 2002. Mr. Goldstein joined BVCC in March 2001
as President, Chief Executive Officer and a director. In October 2002, he
resigned as President and, in December 2002, he resigned as Chief Executive
Officer. Prior to joining BVCC, Mr. Goldstein served as President of the
Jefferson Division of Hudson United Bank in Philadelphia from 2000 to 2001, when
Hudson United Bancorp acquired Jeff Banks, and was President of Jeff Banks Inc.,
from 1998 to 2000. Prior to these positions, Mr. Goldstein held several
President and Chief Executive Officer positions with banks in Pennsylvania and
Connecticut. Mr. Goldstein currently also serves on the boards of directors of
F.N.B. Corporation, Hermitage, Pennsylvania; Luminent Mortgage Capital, Inc.,
San Francisco, California and RS Group Holdings, Inc., a privately owned trust
services company in New York City, New York.
The Nominee does not anticipate that he will have any conflicts of
interest with respect to Federal Trust, if elected, and recognizes his fiduciary
duty obligations to all Shareholders. The Nominee has no contract, arrangement
or understanding, including, without limitation, any agreement regarding
indemnification, with Federal Trust or Keefe, and no other financial interest
concerning Federal Trust other than through the beneficial ownership of Shares
disclosed in this Proxy Statement. Approximately once a month, Keefe makes
available space at its offices for Mr. Goldstein's use.
WE STRONGLY URGE YOU TO VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF ROBERT B. GOLDSTEIN BY
SIGNING, DATING AND RETURNING THE ENCLOSED WHITE PROXY CARD IN THE POSTAGE-PAID
ENVELOPE PROVIDED TO YOU WITH THIS PROXY STATEMENT. IF YOU HAVE SIGNED THE WHITE
PROXY CARD AND NO MARKING IS MADE, YOU WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE GIVEN A DIRECTION
TO VOTE ALL THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THE WHITE PROXY CARD FOR THE ELECTION OF
ROBERT B. GOLDSTEIN.
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The Participants do not expect that Mr. Goldstein will be unable to
stand for election, but, in the event that he is unable to serve or for good
cause will not serve, the Shares represented by the enclosed WHITE proxy card
will be voted for a substitute nominee of the Participants. The Participants
reserves the right to nominate substitute or additional persons as nominees for
any reason, including in the event that (1) the Board is expanded beyond its
current size and/or (2) Mr. Goldstein is unable for any reason, to the extent
permitted by applicable law, including by reason of the taking or announcement
of any action by Federal Trust that has, or if consummated would have, the
effect of disqualifying Mr. Goldstein to serve as a director.
PROPOSAL II: RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
At the Annual Meeting, the Shareholders will be asked to ratify the
appointment of Hacker, Johnson & Smith, P.A., as the independent auditors for
Federal Trust for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2006. Federal Trust's
board of directors recommended a vote in favor of this proposal. In order to be
adopted, this proposal must be approved by the holders of a majority of the
outstanding shares of Federal Trust's common stock present or represented by
proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. If the Shareholders do not
vote in favor of the appointment of Hacker, Johnson & Smith, P.A., Federal
Trust's Board will consider the selection of another registered public
accounting firm. Please refer to Federal Trust's Proxy Statement for a detailed
discussion of this proposal, including various arguments in favor of this
proposal. The Participants recommend that Shareholders vote FOR this proposal.
IF YOU HAVE SIGNED THE WHITE PROXY CARD AND NO MARKING IS MADE, YOU WILL BE
DEEMED TO HAVE GIVEN A DIRECTION TO VOTING ALL THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THE
WHITE PROXY CARD FOR THIS PROPOSAL.
The accompanying WHITE proxy card will be voted in accordance with your
instruction on such card. You may vote for or vote against, or abstain from
voting on, Proposal II described above by marking the proper box on the WHITE
proxy card.
PROPOSAL III: ADJOURNMENT OF ANNUAL MEETING
At the Annual Meeting, Federal Trust's Board is seeking your approval
to adjourn the Annual Meeting in the event that there are not a sufficient
number of votes at the Annual Meeting to approve Proposal I or II, as submitted
to the Shareholders by Federal Trust. If it is necessary to adjourn the Annual
Meeting and the adjournment is for a period of less than 30 days, no notice of
the time or place of the reconvened meeting will be given to Shareholders, other
than an announcement made at the Annual Meeting.
The Participants recommend that Shareholders vote AGAINST this
proposal. IF YOU HAVE SIGNED THE WHITE PROXY CARD AND NO MARKING IS MADE, YOU
WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE GIVEN A DIRECTION TO VOTING ALL THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY
THE WHITE PROXY CARD AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL.
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The accompanying WHITE proxy card will be voted in accordance with your
instruction on such card. You may vote for or vote against, or abstain from
voting on, Proposal III described above by marking the proper box on the WHITE
proxy card.
OTHER PROPOSALS
The Participants and their affiliates know of no other business to be
presented at the Annual Meeting. If any other matters should properly come
before the Annual Meeting, it is intended that the persons named on the enclosed
WHITE proxy card will vote that proxy on such other matters in accordance with
their judgment. The Participants will not use such discretionary authority to
vote the proxies for matters of which the Participants had knowledge a
reasonable time before the Annual Meeting.
VOTING PROCEDURES
According to Federal Trust's Proxy Statement, the voting procedures for
the Annual Meeting are as set forth below.
Only holders of record of Federal Trust common stock at the shareholder
record date will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. Record holders
representing a majority of Federal Trust's outstanding common stock present in
person or represented by proxies constitutes a quorum. The Articles of
Incorporation of Federal Trust do not provide for cumulative voting.
Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each share owned.
In accordance with Florida law and Federal Trust's Amended and Restated
Bylaws, directors will be elected at the Annual Meeting by a plurality of the
votes cast. Any other matter on which shareholders vote at the Annual Meeting
will be determined by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast. A
Shareholder may abstain or withhold a vote with respect to any matter submitted
for shareholder approval. "WITHHELD" votes will be counted as being present for
purposes of determining the existence of a quorum, but will be counted as not
voting in favor of any proposal brought before the Annual Meeting.
The manner in which Shares may be voted depends on how your shares are
held. If you own shares of record, meaning that your shares of common stock are
represented by certificates or book entries in your name so that you appear as a
shareholder on the records of Federal Trust's stock transfer agent, a Proxy Card
for voting those shares will be included with this Proxy Statement. You may vote
those shares by completing, signing and returning the Proxy Card in the enclosed
postage pre-paid, pre-addressed envelope.
If you own shares through a brokerage firm (e.g., shares held in
"street name"), you may instead receive a voting instruction form with this
Proxy Statement that you may use to instruct how your shares are to be voted. As
with a Proxy Card, you may vote your shares by completing, signing and returning
12
the voting instruction form in the envelope provided. Many brokerage firms have
arranged for internet or telephonic voting of shares and provide instructions
for using those services on the voting instruction form.
If your shares are held by a brokerage firm, under certain
circumstances, the brokerage firm may vote your shares. Such entities have
authority to vote their customers' shares on certain routine matters, including
the election of directors. When a firm votes its customers' shares on routine
matters, these shares are also counted for the purpose of establishing a quorum
to conduct business at the meeting. A brokerage firm cannot vote its customers'
shares on non-routine matters. Accordingly, these shares are not counted as
votes against a non-routine matter, but rather not counted at all for such a
matter.
Whether or not you are able to attend the Annual Meeting, you are urged
to complete the enclosed WHITE proxy card and return it in the enclosed
self-addressed, prepaid envelope. All valid proxies received prior to the
meeting will be voted. If you specify a choice with respect to any item of
business by marking the appropriate box on the proxy, the Shares will be voted
in accordance with that specification. If no specification is made, the persons
named on the enclosed white proxy card will vote your shares "FOR" Robert B.
Goldstein with respect to Proposal I , "FOR" Proposal II, and "AGAINST" Proposal
III. The Participants and their affiliates know of no other business that will
be presented at the Annual Meeting. If, however, other matters are properly
presented, the persons named in the enclosed WHITE proxy card will vote the
Shares represented thereby in accordance with their best judgment pursuant to
the discretionary authority granted in the proxy.
PROXY PROCEDURES
WE STRONGLY URGE YOU TO VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF ROBERT B. GOLDSTEIN.
IF YOU WISH TO DO SO, PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED WHITE
PROXY CARD IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PREPAID ENVELOPE.
If you have any questions about giving your proxy or require
assistance, please call:
D.F. KING & CO., INC.
48 Wall Street, 22nd Floor
New York, New York 10005
Call Toll-Free: (888) 887-0082
Banks and Brokerage Firms Call Collect: (212) 269-5550
The accompanying WHITE proxy card will be voted at the Annual Meeting
in accordance with your instructions on such card.
Any Shareholder who has mailed a proxy card to Federal Trust may revoke
it before it is voted by delivering to Federal Trust a written notice of
revocation, or a duly executed proxy card bearing a later date, or by attending
the Annual Meeting and voting in person. Any shareholder holding common stock
through a brokerage firm may change or revoke previously given voting
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instructions by contacting the brokerage firm, or by obtaining a legal proxy
from the brokerage firm and voting in person at the Annual Meeting.
Only Shareholders of record as of the close of business on the Record
Date will be entitled to vote. If you were a Shareholder of record on the Record
Date, you will retain your voting rights at the Annual Meeting even if you sell
such Shares after the Record Date. Accordingly, it is important that you vote
the Shares held by you on the Record Date, or grant a proxy to vote such Shares
on the WHITE proxy card, even if you sell such Shares after the Record Date.
IF YOUR SHARES ARE HELD IN THE NAME OF A BROKERAGE FIRM, BANK, BANK
NOMINEE OR OTHER INSTITUTION ON THE RECORD DATE, ONLY IT CAN VOTE SUCH SHARES
AND ONLY UPON RECEIPT OF YOUR SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS. ACCORDINGLY, PLEASE CONTACT
THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR ACCOUNT AND INSTRUCT THAT PERSON TO EXECUTE THE
WHITE PROXY CARD ON YOUR BEHALF AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
OTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING PARTICIPANTS
Other than as disclosed in this Proxy Statement, none of the
Participants is, or was within the past year, a party to any contract,
arrangement or understanding with any person with respect to any securities of
Federal Trust, including, but not limited to, joint ventures, loan or option
arrangements, puts or calls, guarantees against loss or guarantees of profit,
division of losses or profits or the giving or withholding of proxies.
None of the Participants has any position or office with Federal Trust,
and Mr. Goldstein has no arrangement or understanding with any other person
pursuant to which he was selected as a nominee. None of the Participants nor any
of their associates have any arrangement or understanding with any person with
respect to (A) any future employment by Federal Trust or its affiliates or (B)
any future transactions to which Federal Trust or any of its affiliates will or
may be a party. None of the Participants or their associates has a material
interest in any transaction or series of transactions engaged in by Federal
Trust since the beginning of Federal Trust's last fiscal year. None of the
Participants has been convicted in a criminal proceeding, excluding traffic
violations or similar misdemeanors, during the past ten years.
None of the entities referred to in this Proxy Statement with which the
Participants have been involved during the past five years is a parent,
subsidiary, or other affiliate of Federal Trust.
Except as disclosed in this Proxy Statement, including in Appendix I to
this Proxy Statement, neither the Nominee nor any of the other Participants: (i)
has engaged in or had a direct or indirect interest in any transaction, or
series of similar transactions, since the beginning of Federal Trust's last
fiscal year, or any currently proposed transaction, or series of similar
14
transactions, to which Federal Trust or any of its subsidiaries was or is to be
a party, in which the amount involved exceeds $60,000; (ii) borrowed any funds
for the purpose of acquiring or holding any securities of Federal Trust; (iii)
is presently, or has been within the past year, a party to any contract,
arrangement or understanding with any person with respect to securities of
Federal Trust or (iv) will receive any special compensation in connection with
the proxy solicitation. No Participant or any associate of a Participant has,
since the beginning of Federal Trust's last fiscal year, been indebted to
Federal Trust or any of its subsidiaries.
COST AND METHOD OF SOLICITATION
Keefe has retained D.F. King & Co., Inc. ("D.F. King") to conduct the
solicitation, for which D.F. King is to receive a fee not to exceed $75,000,
exclusive of out-of-pocket expenses. Keefe has agreed to indemnify D.F. King
against certain liabilities and expenses. As part of the solicitation, the
Nominee and D.F. King may communicate with Shareholders of Federal Trust by
mail, courier services, Internet, advertising, telephone or telecopier or in
person, but it is not anticipated that Shareholders will be asked to submit
proxies by telephone or internet. It is anticipated that D.F. King will employ
approximately 50 persons to solicit proxies from Shareholders for the Annual
Meeting. Although no precise estimate can be made at the present time, the total
expenditures in furtherance of, or in connection with, this solicitation is
estimated to be $250,000 in total. As of the date hereof, Keefe has incurred
approximately $50,000 of solicitation expenses.
Costs related to this solicitation of proxies, including expenditures
for attorneys, accountants, public relations and financial advisors, proxy
solicitors, advertising, printing, transportation and related expenses will be
borne by Keefe. Keefe intends to seek reimbursement for the costs and expenses
associated with the proxy solicitation in the event that the Nominee is elected
to Federal Trust's Board. Keefe does not currently intend to submit the question
of such reimbursement to a vote of the Shareholders.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Federal Trust's principal executive offices are located at 312 West
First Street, Suite 110, Sanford, Florida 32771. Certain information regarding
the securities of Federal Trust held by Federal Trust's directors, nominees,
management and 5% Shareholders is contained in Federal Trust's Proxy Statement.
Information concerning the date by which proposals of Shareholders intended to
be presented at the next annual meeting of Shareholders of Federal Trust must be
received by Federal Trust for inclusion in Federal Trust's Proxy Statement and
form of proxy for that meeting is also contained in Federal Trust's Proxy
Statement. This information is contained in Federal Trust's public filings. The
Participants assume no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such
information.
Keefe has filed with the SEC a statement on Schedule 13D, which
contains information in addition to that furnished herein. The Schedule 13D,
including amendments thereto, may be inspected at, and copies may be obtained
15
from, the public reference facilities maintained at the SEC at 100 F Street,
N.E., Washington, DC 20549. Copies of such material can be obtained upon written
request addressed to the SEC, Public Reference Section, 100 F Street, N.E.,
Washington, DC 20549, at prescribed rates. You may obtain information on the
operation of the SEC's Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at (800)
SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains a web site on the Internet (http://www.sec.gov)
where reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding
issuers that file electronically with the SEC may be obtained free of charge.
April ___, 2006 KEEFE MANAGERS, LLC
16
APPENDIX I
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Set forth below are the dates and amounts of each Participant's
purchases and sales of Shares of Federal Trust within the past two years. The
transactions were effected on the open market. None of the purchase price or
market value of those Shares is represented by funds borrowed or otherwise
obtained for the purpose of acquiring or holding such securities.
Name Date Number of Shares Transaction Type
------------------------------------ ----------- ---------------- ----------------
Robert B. Goldstein 4/7/2006 800 Purchase
Keefe Managers, LLC (1) 10/13/2004 300 Purchase
10/13/2004 700 Purchase
10/13/2004 900 Purchase
10/29/2004 4,400 Purchase
10/29/2004 6,500 Purchase
10/29/2004 9,600 Purchase
12/8/2004 1,900 Purchase
12/8/2004 3,000 Purchase
12/8/2004 3,300 Purchase
12/9/2004 100 Purchase
1/7/2005 4,200 Purchase
1/7/2005 9,100 Purchase
1/7/2005 11,500 Purchase
1/28/2005 3,900 Purchase
1/28/2005 6,200 Purchase
1/28/2005 8,600 Purchase
3/30/2005 1,700 Purchase
3/30/2005 3,400 Purchase
3/30/2005 4,400 Purchase
4/11/2005 200 Purchase
4/11/2005 200 Purchase
4/11/2005 300 Purchase
4/13/2005 7,500 Purchase
I-1
4/13/2005 9,200 Purchase
4/13/2005 12,600 Purchase
9/27/2005 1,000 Purchase
9/28/2005 700 Purchase
9/29/2005 1,100 Purchase
10/10/2005 4,200 Purchase
10/10/2005 5,800 Purchase
10/11/2005 100 Purchase
10/14/2005 2,900 Purchase
10/14/2005 4,200 Purchase
10/13/2004 2,600 Purchase
Keefe-Rainbow Partners L.P. (1) 11/11/2004 200 Purchase
12/9/2004 200 Purchase
1/7/2005 27,950 Purchase
3/30/2005 10,500 Purchase
(1) All of the transactions were undertaken by Keefe on behalf of
Rainbow or other investment funds or managed accounts for which Keefe holds sole
voting power and sole dispositive power.
I-2
PRELIMINARY COPY - SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
PROXY SOLICITED BY KEEFE MANAGERS, LLC
2006 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of
Federal Trust Corporation
May 26, 2006
The undersigned hereby appoints John J. Lyons and Robert B. Goldstein,
and each of them, proxies of the undersigned, with full power of substitution
and resubstitution, and authorizes them to represent and vote all of the shares
of common stock of Federal Trust Corporation ("Federal Trust") that the
undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally present at the 2006 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders of Federal Trust, including any adjournment,
postponement or continuation thereof (the "Annual Meeting"), for the purposes
identified in this proxy and with discretionary authority as to any other
matters unknown to said proxies that may properly come before the Annual
Meeting, including any substitute nominee for director, in accordance with and
as described in the Proxy Statement of Keefe Managers, LLC ("Keefe"). The
undersigned may revoke this Proxy at any time before it is voted by either
delivering a written notice of revocation or duly executed Proxy bearing a later
date to Federal Trust or by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person.
This proxy has been solicited by Keefe and not on behalf of Federal Trust's
board of directors.
If no specification is made, the proxies will vote your shares "FOR"
the election of Robert B. Goldstein as a director of Federal Trust, "FOR"
Proposal II and "AGAINST" Proposal III. This proxy revokes any previously
executed proxy with respect to all proposals.
(Continued and to be SIGNED on Reverse side)
FOLD AND DETACH HERE
PROPOSAL I --The election of Robert B. Goldstein as a Class I Director.
FOR WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
[ ] [ ]
Keefe recommends that shareholders vote FOR Robert B. Goldstein.
PROPOSAL II -- The ratification of Hacker, Johnson & Smith, P.A. as the
independent auditors for Federal Trust for the fiscal year ending December 31,
2006.
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
[ ] [ ] [ ]
Keefe does not object to shareholders voting FOR Proposal II.
PROPOSAL III - The adjournment of the Annual Meeting to solicit additional
proxies in the event there are not sufficient votes at the Annual Meeting to
approve Federal Trust's Proposal I or II.
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
[ ] [ ] [ ]
Keefe recommends that shareholders vote AGAINST Proposal III.
________________________________
________________________________
________________________________
Date: ____________, 2006
Note: Please sign exactly as name appears hereon. If the shares are held by
joint tenants or as community property, both must sign. When signing as
executor, administrator, trustee or other representative, please give full
title. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by a duly authorized
officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by an authorized
person.
PLEASE SIGN AND DATE THIS PROXY BEFORE MAILING THE
PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE.