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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by
the Registrant o
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Preliminary
Proxy Statement
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Definitive
Proxy Statement
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Definitive
Additional Materials
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Soliciting
Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-12
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Angelica
Corporation
(Name
of
Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
Pirate
Capital LLC
Jolly
Roger Fund LP
Jolly
Roger Activist Portfolio Company LTD
Thomas
R. Hudson Jr.
Christopher
Kelly
(Name
of
Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
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PRELIMINARY
COPY
SUBJECT
TO COMPLETION
DATED
SEPTEMBER 18, 2007
ANNUAL
MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
OF
ANGELICA
CORPORATION
October
30, 2007
PROXY
STATEMENT OF
PIRATE
CAPITAL GROUP
To
Our
Fellow Angelica Corporation Shareholders:
This
proxy statement and the enclosed WHITE
proxy
card are being furnished to shareholders of Angelica Corporation (“Angelica” or
the “Company”) in connection with the solicitation of proxies by Pirate Capital
Group to be used at the 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Angelica,
including any adjournments, postponements, reschedulings or continuations
thereof and any meeting held in lieu thereof (the “2007 Annual Meeting”). The
2007 Annual Meeting is scheduled to be held at [•] (local time) on October 30,
2007, at the Saint Louis Club, 14th
Floor,
7701 Forsyth Boulevard, Clayton, Missouri. The principal executive offices
of
Angelica are located at 424 South Woods Mill Road, Chesterfield, Missouri
63017-3406. This proxy statement and the WHITE
proxy
card are first being furnished to shareholders on or about September [•],
2007.
Angelica
has disclosed that the record date for determining shareholders entitled to
notice of and to vote at the 2007 Annual Meeting is September 10, 2007 (the
“Record Date”). Shareholders of record at the close of business on the Record
Date will be entitled to vote at the 2007 Annual Meeting. According to
Angelica’s proxy statement for the 2007 Annual Meeting (the “Company Proxy
Statement”), as of the Record Date there were [•] shares of the Company’s common
stock, $1.00 par value per share (the “Shares”), outstanding and eligible to
vote at the 2007 Annual Meeting.
This
solicitation is being made by Pirate Capital Group and not on behalf of the
board of directors of the Company (the “Board”). Pirate Capital Group is
currently the Company’s second largest shareholder and beneficially owns an
aggregate of 935,147 Shares, which represents approximately 9.8% of the issued
and outstanding Shares.
Pirate
Capital Group consists of Pirate Capital LLC (“Pirate Capital”), Jolly Roger
Fund LP (“Jolly Roger”), Jolly Roger Activist Portfolio Company LTD (“JR
Activist”), Thomas R. Hudson Jr.
and
Christopher Kelly (collectively,
“we” or “Pirate Capital Group”).
We
are
soliciting your proxy for the 2007 Annual Meeting in support of the following
proposals:
1. |
To
elect two nominees, Thomas R. Hudson Jr. and Christopher Kelly (our
“Nominees”), to the Board to serve until Angelica’s next annual meeting
and until their successors are elected and qualified;
and
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2. |
To
ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as Angelica’s
independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year
2007.
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Through
the attached proxy statement, we are soliciting proxies to elect not only our
two Nominees, but also the candidate nominated by the Company other than Mr.
[•]
and Mr. [•]. This gives shareholders who wish to vote for our Nominees the
ability to vote for three directors, the total number up for election at the
2007 Annual Meeting.
We
are
NOT seeking authority to vote for and will NOT exercise any authority to vote
for Mr. [•] and Mr. [•], two of the Company's three nominees. There is no
assurance that the Company's other nominee, Mr. [•], will serve if elected with
our Nominees.
You
should refer to the Company Proxy Statement and form of proxy distributed by
the
Company for the names, backgrounds, qualifications and other information
concerning the Company's nominees.
If
we
determine that our Nominees are unable or otherwise unavailable to serve as
director, we reserve the right to designate replacement candidates for election
as director. In any such case, the WHITE
proxy
card will be voted for each such substitute nominee.
Pirate
Capital Group intends to vote the Shares it beneficially owns FOR the election
of our Nominees and the candidate nominated by the Company other than Mr. [•]
and Mr. [•] and FOR the other proposal described herein.
WE
BELIEVE THAT YOUR OPINION ON THE FUTURE OF ANGELICA CAN BEST BE EXPRESSED
THROUGH THE ELECTION OF OUR NOMINEES. ACCORDINGLY, PIRATE CAPITAL GROUP URGES
YOU TO VOTE YOUR WHITE
PROXY CARD FOR
OUR NOMINEES.
We
urge you not to sign any proxy card sent to you by the Company. If you have
already done so, you may revoke your previously signed proxy by delivering
a
later-dated WHITE proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided, by voting
in
person at the 2007 Annual Meeting or as otherwise described
herein.
HOLDERS
OF SHARES AS OF THE RECORD DATE ARE URGED TO SUBMIT A WHITE
PROXY
CARD TODAY EVEN IF YOUR SHARES WERE SOLD AFTER THE RECORD DATE.
We
intend
to deliver a proxy statement or form of proxy to the holders of at least the
percentage of the Company's outstanding capital stock required to elect our
Nominees or otherwise to solicit proxies from shareholders in support of our
nominations.
IMPORTANT
Your
vote
is important, no matter how many or how few Shares you own. We urge you to
sign,
date and return the enclosed WHITE
proxy
card today to vote FOR the election of our Nominees.
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If
your Shares are registered in your own name, please sign, date and
mail
the enclosed WHITE
proxy card today in the postage-paid envelope provided. You may also
vote
your Shares by toll-free telephone or over the Internet. If you choose
to
do so, please refer to the enclosed WHITE
proxy card for the instructions and your control
number.
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· |
If
your Shares are held in the name of a brokerage firm, bank nominee
or
other institution, these proxy materials, together with a WHITE
voting instruction form, are being forwarded to you by your broker
or
custodian. You are considered the beneficial owner of the Shares,
but only
your broker can sign a WHITE
proxy card with respect to your Shares. You must instruct your broker
how
to vote. Accordingly, please sign, date and mail the enclosed WHITE
voting instruction form in the postage-paid envelope provided. To
ensure
that your Shares are voted according to your instructions, you should
also
contact the person responsible for your account and instruct that
person
to execute and return on your behalf the WHITE
proxy card as soon as possible. Depending upon your broker or custodian,
you may be able to vote either by toll-free telephone or over the
Internet.
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Since
only your latest dated proxy card will count, we urge you not to return any
proxy card you receive from the Company. Please do not return the Company’s
proxy card marked “withhold” as a protest against the incumbent directors, as it
will revoke any proxy card you may have previously sent to Pirate Capital Group.
Remember, you can vote for our Nominees only on our WHITE
proxy
card. So please make certain that the latest dated proxy card you return is
the
WHITE
proxy
card.
Pirate
Capital Group has retained The Altman Group, Inc. (“Altman”) to assist in
communicating with shareholders in connection with the proxy solicitation and
to
assist in efforts to obtain proxies. If you have any questions about executing
your WHITE
proxy
card or require assistance, please call:
The
Altman Group, Inc.
1200
Wall
Street West, 3rd
Floor
Lyndhurst,
New Jersey 07071
Call
Toll-Free: (800) 622-1678
GENERAL
According
to the Company Proxy Statement, [•] directors are to be elected to the Board at
the 2007 Annual Meeting to hold office until the next annual meeting and until
their successors have been elected and qualified. The Company has nominated
[•]
individuals to stand for election at the 2007 Annual Meeting.
We
are
seeking your vote for the election to the Board of two individuals - Thomas
R.
Hudson Jr. and Christopher Kelly. Under Angelica’s By-Laws, a majority of the
directors constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting
of
the Board. If a quorum is present when a vote is taken, the affirmative vote
of
a majority of the directors present constitutes the act of the Board. If our
Nominees are elected to the Board, they will constitute a minority of the Board
and would be unable to take Board action at a meeting of the full Board without
the approval of additional directors.
BACKGROUND
TO THE SOLICITATION
Pirate
Capital Group is currently the beneficial owner of 935,147, or approximately
9.8%, of Angelica’s issued and outstanding Shares.
On
August
30, 2006, the Company and Pirate Capital, Jolly Roger and Jolly Roger Offshore
Fund LTD (collectively, "the Pirate Capital Entities") entered into a Settlement
Agreement (the “Settlement Agreement”). Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement,
the Pirate Capital Entities agreed, among other things, to vote all of their
Shares for the election of the Board's director nominees at Angelica’s 2006
Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “2006 Annual Meeting”) and to certain other
limitations on actions, including: soliciting and similar activities in
connection with the 2006 Annual Meeting; forming a group (as defined by the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) with respect
to the Company’s voting securities; and participating in certain transactions
involving the Company or its assets or voting securities. Except for selected
provisions relating to litigation and confidentiality, the provisions of the
Settlement Agreement terminated upon conclusion of the 2006 Annual
Meeting.
On
July
2, 2007, Pirate Capital delivered a letter to the Board (the “July 2 Letter”)
expressing, among other things, its disappointment with the Company’s operating
results and encouraging the Board to take immediate steps to unlock long-term
shareholder value by retaining an investment banking firm to explore all
strategic alternatives for Angelica outside the ordinary course of business,
including a sale of the Company, a sale of assets or another extraordinary
transaction. In the July 2 Letter, Pirate Capital also indicated that it might
have no recourse other than to nominate a slate of directors at the 2007 Annual
Meeting. Pirate Capital asked for the Board’s “full cooperation in effecting the
best outcome for shareholders.”
Also
on
July 2, 2007, Jolly Roger notified the Company of its intent to make a proposal
at the 2007 Annual Meeting pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act (the
“Rule 14a-8 Proposal”). The Rule 14a-8 Proposal would have sought a nonbinding
resolution by Angelica Shareholders that “the Board of Directors immediately
engage a nationally recognized investment banking firm to explore all strategic
alternatives (outside of the ordinary course of business) to increase
shareholder value, including, but not limited to, the sale of Angelica
Corporation, sales of assets or another extraordinary transaction.”
Also
on
July 2, 2007, Jolly Roger, as a record and beneficial owner of Shares, delivered
a letter to Angelica requesting, pursuant to Section 351.215 of the Missouri
Revised Statutes and the Missouri common law, a complete list of the Company’s
shareholders and other corporate records, in order to allow Jolly Roger to
communicate with Angelica shareholders and beneficial owners on matters relating
to their interests as such including, without limitation, to facilitate and
support a proxy solicitation to elect directors at the 2007 Annual Meeting
(the
“Books and Records Demand”).
On
July
9, 2007, Pirate Capital delivered a letter to the Board (the “July 9 Letter”)
reiterating is disappointment with Angelica’s operating results and the
performance of its Shares. In the July 9 Letter, Pirate Capital urged focus
on
“following the most optimal strategy to unlock value for shareholders.” Pirate
Capital also expressed its consternation regarding acquisitions Angelica engaged
in between 2003 and 2006, and their effect on the Company’s market valuation.
Pirate Capital went on to indicate its expectation that Company management
would
announce strategies to further shareholder value and also indicated its
intention, as a significant holder of Shares, to “continue to be vigilant in
support of shareholder interests.”
On
July
12, 2007, Pirate Capital delivered a letter to the Board (the "July 12 Letter"),
that, among other things, reiterated its demand that the Company “promptly
retain the services of a nationally recognized investment banking firm for
the
purpose of effecting a sale of the Company, through sales of assets, an
extraordinary transaction or otherwise, and to publicly identify the investment
banking firm and its mandate.” Pirate Capital indicated its intention to
nominate one or more persons for election as director at the 2007 Annual Meeting
if that demand was not promptly met.
On
July
17, 2007, the Company delivered a letter to Jolly Roger (the “July 17 Letter”)
and publicly disclosed in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC (the
“July 17 8-K”) that Angelica, since February 21, 2006, had retained investment
banking firm Morgan Joseph & Co. Inc. (“Morgan Joseph”) “to assist the
Company's board of directors with a review and exploration of strategic
alternatives.” The range of such alternatives considered, according to the
Company, “included all of the alternatives referenced in the Jolly Roger Fund
LP's shareholder proposal.” The Company also indicated that, on July 17, the
Board approved the continued engagement of Morgan Joseph, and requested that
Jolly Roger withdraw its Rule 14a-8 Proposal. Failing such a withdrawal, the
Company indicated that it would submit to the SEC a request for a no-action
letter allowing the Company to exclude the Rule 14a-8 Proposal from the Company
Proxy Statement for the 2007 Annual Meeting.
On
July
18, 2007, Pirate Capital sent a letter to the Board (the “July 18 Angelica
Letter”) that, among other things, questioned Angelica’s re-engagement of Morgan
Joseph as its strategic advisor and expressed its view that no clear mandate
was
given by Angelica in either Morgan Joseph retention. In the July 18 Angelica
Letter, Pirate Capital questioned Morgan Joseph’s extended retention in light of
what Pirate Capital believes to be that firm’s failure to benefit the Company in
spearheading, apparently since February 2006, what Pirate Capital views as
a
failed initiative and apparent failure to move Angelica closer to a transaction.
Pirate Capital also reiterated its view that “[t]he investment banking firm
engaged by the Company should focus on extraordinary
transactions . . . such as a sale . . .” in
contrast to Morgan Joseph’s apparent general advisory role. In addition, Pirate
Capital sought further public disclosure from the Board on Morgan Joseph’s
specific instructions and called on the Board to provide its “full cooperation
in effecting the best outcome for shareholders.”
On
July
18, 2007, in a letter (the “July 18 SEC Letter”) to the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the “SEC”), Angelica sought concurrence of the SEC Staff that it
would take no action if Company excluded the Rule 14a-8 Proposal from its proxy
statement for the 2007 Annual Meeting (which the SEC Staff, on August 20, 2007,
granted to Angelica). The basis of the request to exclude this proposal was
Rule
14a-8(i)(10) of the Exchange Act, which permits a registrant to omit proposals
that have been “substantially implemented,” as that term has been interpreted by
the SEC. In the July 18 SEC Letter, Angelica reiterated facts it set forth
in
the July 17 Letter and the July 17 8-K. In the July 18 SEC Letter, the Company
also acknowledged that “Morgan Joseph and the Company’s chief executive officer
held informal discussions with potential financial and strategic acquirers” but
that ultimately “the Board of Directors decided not to conduct an active market
canvass at that time” in favor of seeking a sale in the future after Company
performance improves. The July 18 SEC Letter indicated that the range of
alternatives to be considered by Morgan Joseph comprises “all strategic
alternatives, including a sale of the Company and other extraordinary
transactions.” However, Pirate Capital Group believes the July 18 SEC Letter
left ambiguous whether the proscription against an active market canvass will
continue to define Morgan Joseph’s engagement, which “maintains the same scope”
as its prior engagement, and whether such “extraordinary transactions” have been
determined to be a principal objective of such engagement or, after nearly
18
months of advice, simply remain one alternative of many.
On
July
18, 2007, the Company delivered to Pirate Capital Group’s Missouri counsel a
letter attaching the July 18 SEC Letter and reiterating the position Angelica
took in a telephone call with such counsel of that date that the “no action
letter request submission deadline in Rule 14a-8” necessitated the timeframe in
which the July 18 SEC Letter was filed.
On
July
19, 2007 the Company delivered a letter (the “July 19 Letter”) to
representatives of Jolly Roger indicating that the Company was providing certain
materials to Jolly Roger in response to the Books and Records Demand and
undertaking to provide certain other materials to Jolly Roger if and when they
become available to the Company. In the July 19 Letter, the Company also
identified three candidates it intended to nominate for director at the 2007
Annual Meeting and indicated its intent to seek ratification of the appointment
of its independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal
2007.
On
August
30, 2007, Jolly Roger notified the Company, in accordance with Company By-Laws,
of its intent to nominate Thomas R. Hudson Jr. and Christopher Kelly to the
Board at the 2007 Annual Meeting and to solicit proxies on behalf of such
nominations.
In
addition, from time to time representatives of Pirate Capital have engaged
in
phone conversations with officers of Angelica regarding various operational
and
strategic matters.
REASONS
FOR PIRATE CAPITAL GROUP’S SOLICITATION
We
believe that the Board has failed to take the actions necessary to enhance
shareholder value appropriately. For the past several years, Angelica's
management has failed to improve its operating results. In fact, net income
has
declined precipitously, from approximately $11.0 million in fiscal year 2003
and
$10.7 million in fiscal year 2004 to approximately $2.3 million and $3.6
million, respectively, in fiscal years 2005 and 2006. We believe this failure
has significantly hampered value generation for shareholders. In this regard,
we
note what we believe to be the significant underperformance of Angelica's stock.
Since the current management team took control on September 15, 2003, Angelica
share prices through September 13, 2007 have had a cumulative annual
depreciation rate of 35 basis points, or 0.35%, versus a cumulative annual
appreciation rate of 10% for the Standard and Poor’s 500 Index, and since the
beginning of 2007 through September 13, 2007, Angelica’s share price has fallen
by 30.4% while the Standard and Poor’s 500 Index has risen over 4.6% -
A
PERFORMANCE GAP OF OVER 3,500 basis points, or 35%.
The
lack
of success in generating operating results and the poor return on Angelica
shareholders’ investment in the Company, accompanied by what we believe to be
management’s lack of any plan or vision clearly articulated to the shareholders
for delivering necessary organic growth in the future, is in our opinion simply
unacceptable. In an effort to enhance shareholder value, we are proposing the
election of two nominees - Thomas R. Hudson Jr. and Christopher Kelly - whose
biographical information is set forth below under “Pirate Capital Group’s
Nominees.” Each of Messrs. Hudson and Kelly has significant financial expertise
and, as representatives of one of the largest shareholders of the Company,
would, if elected, imbue the Board with a heightened level of financial and
strategic thinking with a focus on driving long-term shareholder returns by
maximizing the value of the Company’s assets.
While
our
Nominees, if elected, would represent only a minority of the Board, their clear
focus on driving shareholder value, through improved operating efficiencies,
a
possible transformational transaction and otherwise, would make them a voice
that is likely to be respected and reflected in Board decisions going forward.
With two Board votes, our Nominees, if elected, will be required to convince
only three of the other directors to form a majority block on any particular
issue or initiative. We would be disingenuous, however, to suggest that we
can
simply implement new policies. While we will have the authority to propose
new
ideas to the Board, we will not be able to guarantee that it will act on
them.
Through
their work at Pirate Capital, our Nominees, together with other Pirate Capital
professionals, have significant experience working with other companies to
improve operating efficiencies, shareholder value and other corporate metrics,
and our Nominees will apply such experience to the issues facing the Company.
In
particular, our Nominees will assess the Company’s current operations and, based
on the results of such assessment, propose measures to streamline them. We
will
work on behalf of shareholders to advocate that the Board ensures that the
Company is getting optimal sales coverage across each of its eight operating
regions. We want to ensure that, given the close proximity of the Company’s
disparate facilities, the Company will maximize sales by utilizing a streamlined
(but highly qualified) sales force across the broadest coverage territory.
We
will also work to keep expenses under control. We will support the negotiation
of natural gas contracts on the most optimal terms. We believe that the Company
has not executed optimally on these contracts given that utility costs as a
percentage of revenues have risen over the last three years, and we will apply
our experience following the commodities markets to work to improve the
situation. Our Nominees will also evaluate, together with other Board members,
potential transformational transactions that will drive shareholder
value.
Pirate
Capital Group also believes that the proposed Board changes will more closely
align the interests of Board members with those of the Company’s non-management
shareholders. Along these lines, Pirate Capital Group beneficially owns
approximately 935,000, or almost 10%, of the Company's Shares. On the other
hand, the Company reports that executive officers and directors beneficially
own
just over [•] Shares (including restricted stock units), collectively, and have
been granted, without purchase, just over [•] options. Based on this ownership,
we believe that our interests are far better aligned with those interests of
our
fellow shareholders than are the interests of Angelica's
management.
Relative
Underperformance and Volatility of Angelica Stock
We
feel
strongly that the Company’s lagging share price performance alone justifies
material changes at the Board level. Since Stephen O’Hara assumed the office of
Chairman and CEO of Angelica on September 15, 2003 through the close of trading
on September 13, 2007, an investment in the Company’s Shares declined
approximately 1.4% in value, compared to a 46% appreciation in the Standard
and
Poor’s 500 Index over the same period. Along with the underperformance of the
Shares, the variance in Angelica’s stock price is nearly 2.5 times that of the
Standard and Poor’s 500 Index.
Failure
of Management’s Acquisition Strategy to Deliver Value
From
the
fiscal fourth quarter of 2003 through the fiscal fourth quarter of 2006,
Angelica undertook a large number of acquisitions to grow its textile services
business. Specifically, it purchased businesses and assets that cost
shareholders in excess of $125 million, an average purchase price of
approximately 1x sales. However, we contend that these acquisitions did little
or nothing to enhance shareholder value, as the Shares continue to trade well
below 1x sales at approximately 0.5x sales. Moreover, the Company’s operating
metrics continue to decline. As illustrated below, both Angelica’s gross and
EBITDA margins have deteriorated over the most recently completed five-year
period and between each of those years except when 2005 is compared to 2006,
when gross and EBITDA margins grew by an anemic 1.6% and 0.7%,
respectively.
Failed
Strategic Review Process
Representatives
of Pirate Capital Group have consistently conveyed to Company management our
belief that a transaction of a transformational nature was, and remains,
critical to the long-term success of Angelica, given our view of what we believe
is a highly competitive and fragmented industry. On July 17, 2007, the Company
announced that the investment banking firm Morgan Joseph & Co. Inc. had been
under retainer for over two years to assist in the Company’s review of strategic
alternatives, including a potential sale of the Company. This review of
strategic alternatives has not, however, yet produced an outcome that has
visibly positioned the Company to achieve operational success and financial
prosperity, and we are skeptical that it will.
Pirate
Capital Group believes that the failure of this review process to yield an
attractive bid for the Company is largely attributable to management’s failure
to retain, under a clear mandate for action, a nationally recognized investment
banking firm to assist in delivering the best value proposition for
shareholders. We believe that, since his ascent to the rank of Chief Executive
Officer, Mr. O’Hara and his current management team have been ineffectual in
righting Angelica’s course. As such, the Shares have languished, declining 1.4%
at September 13, 2007 from their September 15, 2003 closing price of $18.05
per
share. If elected, Pirate Capital Group’s Nominees, subject to their fiduciary
duties as directors, intend to act as watchdogs for our fellow shareholders
and,
among other things, to advocate for just such a retention with the solitary
goal
of maximizing shareholder value. Pirate Capital Group’s Nominees are committed
to maximizing long-term shareholder value and to holding management accountable
for its actions and, if elected, they will bring leadership and operational
expertise in the execution of their fiduciary duties as directors.
PROPOSAL
NO. 1
ELECTION
OF DIRECTORS
(Proposal
No. 1 on Proxy Card)
Effective
as of August 30, 2006, the Company amended its By-Laws
to
declassify the Board on the “phased-in” basis described below. The amended
By-Laws
provide
that directors elected prior to the 2007 Annual Meeting may continue to serve
for the remaining duration of their respective three-year terms. Directors
elected at or after the 2007 Annual Meeting will be elected for one-year terms.
The effect of the amendment is that, as of Angelica’s
2009
Annual Meeting of Shareholders and thereafter, the Board will be completely
declassified and all directors will be elected annually to one-year terms.
The
Company also agreed with its largest shareholder that the number of directors
serving on the Board will not exceed eight prior to the conclusion of
Angelica’s
2008
Annual Meeting of Shareholders. According
to the Company Proxy Statement, [•] directors are to be elected to the Board at
the 2007 Annual Meeting, to hold office until the next annual meeting and until
their successors have been elected and qualified.
The
Company has nominated [•] individuals to stand for election at the 2007 Annual
Meeting. Pirate Capital Group is seeking your support at the 2007 Annual Meeting
to elect our Nominees, Thomas R. Hudson Jr. and Christopher Kelly, in opposition
to two of Angelica’s nominees.
Each
of
Messrs. Hudson and Kelly has consented to being named as a Nominee in this
proxy
statement and to serve if elected. Pirate Capital Group does not expect that
either of our Nominees will be unable to stand for election, but, in the event
that either of them is unable to serve or for good cause will not serve, the
Shares represented by the enclosed WHITE
proxy
card will be voted for substitute nominees designated by Pirate Capital Group.
Pirate Capital Group reserves the right to nominate substitute or additional
persons for any reason, including in the event that (1) the Board is expanded
beyond its current or proposed size and/or (2) any of our Nominees is unable
to
serve for any reason, including by reason of the taking or announcement of
any
action by the Company that has, or if consummated would have, the effect of
disqualifying any of our Nominees to serve as a director. If Pirate Capital
Group decides to add nominees because the Company expands the size of the Board
subsequent to the date of this proxy statement, Pirate Capital Group intends
to
supplement this proxy statement as appropriate. If, however, the Company does
not leave reasonable time before the 2007 Annual Meeting to supplement this
proxy statement, Pirate Capital Group reserves the right to nominate substitute
or additional nominees and to use the discretionary authority granted by the
proxies it is soliciting to vote for such additional or substitute
nominees.
Pirate
Capital Group’s Nominees
Thomas
R. Hudson Jr., 41.
Mr.
Hudson is and has been since 2002 the Manager of Pirate Capital LLC, an
investment manager, which he founded. Immediately prior to organizing Pirate
Capital LLC, Mr. Hudson was a private investor. From 1999 to 2001, Mr. Hudson
served as a Managing Director at Amroc Investments, LLC, an investment
management firm, where he directed all distressed research and managed the
bank
loan trading desk. From 1997 to 1999, he served as a Vice President and
Portfolio Manager at Goldman, Sachs & Co. and was responsible for investing
and trading a $500 million portfolio of distressed domestic and international
private assets. Mr. Hudson currently serves as a director of The Brink’s
Company, a provider of security and cash management services, The Allied Defense
Group, Inc., a defense contractor, and The PEP Boys - Manny, Moe & Jack, an
automobile parts retailer. Mr. Hudson
earned a B.S. in 1988 from Babson College, majoring in Entrepreneurial Studies.
He earned an M.B.A. in 1993 from the Tuck School at Dartmouth
College.
Christopher
Kelly, 49.
Mr.
Kelly is the General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of Pirate Capital
LLC.
He joined Pirate Capital LLC in February 2006. From October 2004 to January
2006, Mr. Kelly was General Counsel of Gilman & Ciocia, Inc., a broker
dealer holding company. From April 2003 to October 2004, Mr. Kelly served as
Managing Director, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of Cypress
Associates LLC, a New York-based investment bank focused on mergers,
acquisitions, restructurings and corporate finance. From May 2000 to March
2003,
Mr. Kelly was engaged in the practice of law with Proskauer Rose LLP, and prior
thereto with Silver, Freedman & Taff, LLP and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher
& Flom. At each of these law firms, Mr. Kelly handled a variety of corporate
and securities matters, including mergers, acquisitions and restructurings.
Mr.
Kelly earned a B.A. in 1979 with High Honors from the University of Virginia
and
a J.D. in 1983 from the University of Virginia School of Law.
None
of
our Nominees is, or has been employed by an entity that at the time of his
employment was, a parent, subsidiary or affiliate of the Company.
Our
Nominees would not be barred from being considered independent under New York
Stock Exchange Listed Company Rule 303A.02(b) and are independent under the
applicable standards of the New York Stock Exchange and the independence
standards applicable to Angelica under paragraph (a)(1) of Item 407 of
Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act.
Our
Nominees will not receive any compensation from Pirate Capital Group for their
service as directors of the Company if elected. If elected, our Nominees will
be
entitled to such compensation from the Company as is consistent with the
Company’s practices for compensation of non-employee directors, which is
described in the Company Proxy Statement.
For
additional information regarding our Nominees, please see Appendix I to this
proxy statement. The
information herein and in Appendix I with respect to our Nominees has been
furnished to Pirate Capital Group by our Nominees. Except as disclosed in this
proxy statement (including Appendix I attached hereto), none of the members
of
Pirate Capital Group or any of their affiliates or associates have any
substantial interest, direct or indirect, by security holdings or otherwise,
in
any matter to be acted upon at the 2007 Annual Meeting.
We
urge you to vote FOR
the election as directors of Thomas R. Hudson Jr. and Christopher
Kelly.
PROPOSAL
NO. 2
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
(Proposal No. 2 on Proxy Card)
As
discussed in greater detail in the Company Proxy Statement, the Board seeks
ratification by Angelica’s shareholders of its selection of Deloitte &
Touche LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for
the 2007 fiscal year. We
do not
make any recommendations regarding this matter but, if you provide instructions
regarding this matter on the enclosed WHITE
proxy
card, we will vote your Shares as you direct.
We
do not object to the ratification of the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP
as Angelica’s independent registered public accounting firm for the 2007 fiscal
year.
* * *
CHANGE
IN CONTROL PROVISIONS
Each
Angelica compensation plan, employment agreement and stock award agreement
discussed below has its own definition of a “change in control,” and whether a
change in control has occurred may be ambiguous, subject to interpretation
or,
in some cases, subject to actions that the Board may take. In the event such
a
change in control is deemed to occur, we believe that in most cases no effect
material to the Company would result absent an additional triggering event
such
as the termination without cause of a covered executive (which our Nominees
would not on their own have the power to cause). If a change in control (and,
if
applicable, a triggering event) were deemed to have occurred, certain Angelica
employees and non-employee directors would be variously entitled to a range
of
benefits that include cash payments, vesting of options, lapse of restrictions
on restricted stock awards and stock units being deemed earned.
Based
on
our review of materials publicly filed by Angelica, we do not believe that
the
election of one of our Nominees at the 2007 Annual Meeting will have an effect
on any plans, agreements or securities of the Company. The election of both
of
our Nominees, however, could be deemed to comprise a change in control under
certain of Angelica’s compensation plans, employment agreements and stock award
agreements, and we believe that the election of both of our Nominees would
likely be deemed to comprise a change in control under the stock option
agreements with Mr. O’Hara, the Amended and Restated Angelica Corporation 1999
Performance Plan and the Angelica Corporation 2004 Equity Incentive Plan for
Non-Employee Directors discussed below. In each case, we assume unanimous
nomination by Angelica of each incumbent director with a term ending at the
2007
Annual Meeting, election of our two Nominees in place of Messrs. [Ÿ]
and
[Ÿ],
and no
other changes in composition of the Board.
Set
forth
below is information on the material effects if a change in control (and, if
applicable, a triggering event) were deemed to have occurred pursuant to the
following plans and agreements publicly filed by the Company based upon what
we
believe to be the best interpretation of these instruments.
Based
upon publicly available information, we do not believe that the election of
one
or both of our Nominees would have an effect on the
following:
Angelica
Corporation 1994 Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan
If
a
change in control occurs, restrictions on Shares granted or purchased thereunder
terminate and options granted become immediately exercisable.
Angelica
Corporation Supplemental Plan (for Select Management
Employees)
Angelica
Corporation Deferred Compensation Option Plan for Selected Management
Employees
Angelica
Corporation Supplemental and Deferred Compensation Trust
If
a
change in control occurs, plan participants would be entitled to cash payments
if, within two years, the participant’s employment terminates other than upon
death or “retirement,” by action of Angelica or its subsidiaries for “cause” or
“disability,” or by action of the participant for other than “good reason” (as
each quoted term is defined in the applicable plan).
Under
the
Supplemental Plan, the cash payment would be 150% of the present value of the
participant’s then vested benefit (or, for a former participant no longer
employed by Angelica currently receiving, or entitled to receive, benefits,
100%
of the present value of any benefits then unpaid). Under the Deferred
Compensation Option Plan, the cash payment would be the greater of (i) 150%
of
the sum of the present values of all “normal retirement benefits” under a
participant’s deferred compensation agreement reduced by compensation elections
not yet made as of the termination date and (ii) 150% of the balance of the
participant’s account as of the date of termination.
Under
each of the Supplemental Plan, the Deferred Compensation Option Plan and the
Trust, upon a change in control Angelica must deposit into trust an amount
equal
to the excess of (i) the aggregate maximum amount payable under the applicable
plan upon termination of employment within two years after a change in control
over (ii) the amount of assets held by the trustee that are allocable to the
applicable plan.
Each
of
the Supplemental Plan, the Deferred Compensation Option Plan and the Trust
also
provides for a “potential change in control” which, if triggered, would require
that the plan be funded as above. If a change in control does not occur within
90 days after funding, the Company may direct the trustee to release such funds
back to the Company. A potential change in control includes a public
announcement of any person’s “intent to take or consider taking actions which,
if consummated, would result in” a change in control. Angelica has not announced
that any such event has occurred or that any such funding obligation has
arisen.
Employment
Agreements
Angelica
has entered into employment agreements with each of Stephen M. O’Hara, Steven L.
Frey, James W. Shaffer, W. Russell Watson, Edward M. Davis and Richard M.
Oliva.
Under
these agreements, if (i) a change in control occurs during the employee’s term
of employment and within a specified period of time thereafter (a) Angelica
terminates the employee’s employment without “cause” or (b) the employee
terminates his employment for “good reason” (as such quoted terms are defined in
the employment agreement) or (ii) either (i)(a) or (i)(b) occurs, among other
things, in the six months prior to the earlier of a change in control, then
the
employee shall become entitled to the payment of certain benefits, including
a
severance payment equal to a percentage of his annual salary (200% in the case
of Mr. O’Hara, 150% in the case of Messrs. Frey and Shaffer and 100% in the case
of Messrs. Watson, Davis and Oliva), and all stock options that have not expired
and restricted stock held by the employee will vest. Mr. O’Hara would also
receive a payment of twice his then-current target bonus as well as a gross-up
payment, and each of Messrs. O’Hara, Frey and Shaffer would also receive certain
medical, health and other benefits.
Based
upon publicly available information, we believe that an election of both, but
not one, of our Nominees would be deemed a change in control under the
following:
O’Hara
Nonqualified Stock Option Agreements
Pursuant
to two option agreements, dated as of September 15, 2003, that were filed with
the SEC, Mr. O’Hara was awarded options to purchase 100,000 Shares and 50,000
Shares at strike prices of $19.66 and $25.00, respectively. Under each
agreement, upon a change in control (if Mr. O’Hara is employed by Angelica), all
options not then exercisable would become immediately exercisable.
Amended
and Restated Angelica Corporation 1999 Performance Plan
Angelica
Corporation 2004 Equity Incentive Plan for Non-Employee
Directors
If
a
change in control occurs, restrictions on Shares granted or purchased thereunder
terminate, options granted become immediately exercisable and stock units
awarded thereunder immediately vest.
Because
whether a change in control has occurred may be ambiguous, subject to
interpretation or, in some cases, subject to actions that the Board may take,
the Participants reserve their right to contest any assertion by Angelica,
its
Board or any of its employees that a change in control has
occurred.
For
further information on the plans and agreements discussed above, other
agreements with Angelica’s named executive officers and rights of certain
Company executives that may arise upon a change in control, including the
relevant definitions of terms such as “change in control,” as well as
information the Company reports on options outstanding under its plans, you
should carefully read the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended January 27, 2007, the plans and agreements discussed therein, the
Company Proxy Statement and the text of referenced documents as filed with
the
SEC.
PARTICIPANTS
This
proxy solicitation is being conducted by Pirate Capital Group, which is
comprised of Pirate Capital, investment funds managed by Pirate Capital, each
of
which is described below, and each of our Nominees. Pirate Capital Group is
the
beneficial owner of approximately 9.8% of the issued and outstanding Shares.
Each of the members of Pirate Capital Group and each of our Nominees is a
participant in this proxy solicitation and they are sometimes collectively
referred to herein as the “Participants.”
Jolly
Roger, a Delaware limited partnership and an investment fund, is the record
and
beneficial owner of 100 Shares, and beneficial owner of an additional 148,090
Shares. Pirate Capital, a Delaware limited liability company whose principal
business is providing investment management services, is the general partner
of
Jolly Roger. Thomas R. Hudson Jr., a United States citizen, is the Manager
of
Pirate Capital. Pirate Capital is also the investment advisor to, and Mr. Hudson
is a director of, JR Activist, a Cayman Islands exempted company and an
investment fund, which is the beneficial owner of 786,957 Shares. Pirate Capital
and Mr. Hudson, as the Manager of Pirate Capital, may be considered to be the
beneficial owners of the 935,147 Shares that are collectively owned by these
investment funds. The principal business address for Pirate Capital is 200
Connecticut Avenue, 4th
Floor,
Norwalk, Connecticut 06854. The business address of the investment funds in
the
United States is c/o Pirate Capital at such address. The business address of
JR
Activist is c/o Walkers SPV Limited, Walker House, PO Box 908GT, Mary Street,
George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.
All
transactions in the securities of Angelica effected within the past two years
by
the Participants are set forth in Appendix I to this proxy statement. For
additional information regarding the Participants, please see “Additional
Participant Information.”
Pirate
Capital Group has retained Altman to serve as its advisor and to provide it
with
consulting, analytic and solicitation services in connection with this proxy
solicitation. Altman is a proxy solicitation company. It mails documents to
shareholders, responds to shareholder questions and solicits shareholder votes
for many clients. Pirate Capital Group anticipates that certain of its and
Altman’s employees may communicate by mail, courier service, Internet,
advertising, telephone, facsimile or in person with institutions, brokers or
other persons that are shareholders of the Company for the purpose of assisting
in the solicitation of proxies. Employees of Pirate Capital Group will receive
no additional consideration if they assist in the solicitation of proxies.
Altman does not believe that any of its directors, officers, employees,
affiliates or controlling persons, if any, is a “participant” in this proxy
solicitation. Altman’s business address is 1200 Wall Street West, 3rd
Floor,
Lyndhurst, New Jersey 07071.
OTHER
MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED AT THE 2007 ANNUAL MEETING
Other
than the proposals addressed in this proxy statement, Pirate Capital Group
is
unaware of any matters to be considered at the 2007 Annual Meeting. Should
other
matters that Pirate Capital Group is not aware of a reasonable period of time
before this solicitation be brought before the 2007 Annual Meeting, the persons
named as proxies on the enclosed WHITE
proxy
card will vote Shares for which they have received executed WHITE
proxy
cards on such matters in their discretion.
PROXY
INFORMATION
The
enclosed WHITE
proxy
card may be executed only by shareholders of record of Shares on the Record
Date. If you were a shareholder of record on the Record Date, you will retain
your voting rights at the 2007 Annual Meeting even if you sell your Shares
after
the Record Date. Accordingly, it is important that you vote the Shares you
held
on the Record Date, or grant a proxy to vote your Shares on the WHITE
proxy
card, even if you sell your Shares after the Record Date.
The
Shares represented by each WHITE
proxy
card that is properly executed and returned to Pirate Capital Group will be
voted at the 2007 Annual Meeting in accordance with the instructions marked
thereon, and will be voted in the discretion of the persons named as proxies
on
whatever other matters may properly come before the 2007 Annual Meeting as
described above. Executed but unmarked WHITE
proxy
cards will be voted FOR the election of our Nominees and the candidate nominated
by the Company, other than Mr. [Ÿ]
and Mr.
[Ÿ],
as
directors and FOR the approval of the other proposals set forth in this proxy
statement.
If
your
Shares are held in the name of a brokerage firm, bank nominee or other
institution, these proxy materials, together with a WHITE
voting
instruction form, are being forwarded to you by your broker or custodian. You
are considered the beneficial owner of the Shares, but only your broker can
sign
a WHITE
proxy
card with respect to your Shares. You must instruct your broker how to vote.
Accordingly, please sign, date and mail the enclosed WHITE
voting
instruction form in the postage-paid envelope provided. To ensure that your
Shares are voted according to your instructions, you should also contact the
person responsible for your account and instruct that person to execute and
return on your behalf the WHITE
proxy
card as soon as possible. Depending upon your broker or custodian, you may
be
able to vote either by toll-free telephone or over the Internet.
REVOCATION
OF PROXIES
If
you
give a proxy and wish to revoke it, you may do so at any time before it is
voted
on your behalf. You may do so in three ways:
· |
By
delivering a later-dated proxy either to Altman or to the secretary
of the
Company;
|
· |
By
delivering a written notice of revocation to Altman or to the secretary
of
the Company; or
|
· |
By
voting in person at the 2007 Annual Meeting (although attendance
at the
2007 Annual Meeting will not in and of itself constitute revocation
of a
proxy).
|
We
urge
any shareholder who has mailed a proxy card to the Company to revoke it before
it is voted on your behalf by mailing a properly executed WHITE
proxy
card to Pirate Capital Group c/o The Altman Group, Inc., 1200 Wall Street West,
3rd
Floor,
Lyndhurst, New Jersey 07071, bearing a date later
than the
proxy card delivered to the Company. Any revocation may be delivered either
to
Pirate Capital Group c/o The Altman Group, Inc. at 1200 Wall Street West,
3rd
Floor,
Lyndhurst, New Jersey 07071, to the Corporate Secretary of the Company at 424
South Woods Mill Road, Chesterfield, Missouri 63017-3406, or any other
address provided by the Company. Although a revocation is effective if delivered
to the Company, Pirate Capital Group requests that either the original or a
copy
of any revocation be mailed to Pirate Capital Group c/o The Altman Group, Inc.,
1200 Wall Street West, 3rd
Floor,
Lyndhurst, New Jersey 07071, so that Pirate Capital Group will be aware of
all
revocations and can more accurately determine if and when the requisite proxies
for the election of our Nominees as directors and the other proposals described
herein have been received. Pirate Capital Group may contact shareholders who
have revoked their proxies.
If
you previously executed and returned a proxy card to the Company, Pirate Capital
Group urges you to revoke it by signing, dating and mailing the
WHITE
proxy card in the envelope provided. No postage is required for mailing within
the United States.
QUORUM
AND VOTING
Based
on
the Company Proxy Statement, there were [•] Shares outstanding and entitled to
vote on the Record Date. Only shareholders of record at the close of business
on
the Record Date will be entitled to vote at the 2007 Annual Meeting.
Shareholders who sell Shares before the Record Date (or acquire them without
voting rights after the Record Date) may not vote such Shares at the 2007 Annual
Meeting. Shareholders of record on the Record Date will retain their voting
rights in connection with the 2007 Annual Meeting even if they sell their Shares
after the Record Date. Based on publicly available information, we believe
that
Angelica’s only outstanding class of securities entitled to vote at the 2007
Annual Meeting is the Shares. Shareholders of the Company will not have rights
of appraisal or similar dissenter’s rights with respect to any matter to be
acted upon at the 2007 Annual Meeting.
According
to the Company Proxy Statement, the Angelica Board intends to nominate [•]
candidates for election as directors at the 2007 Annual Meeting. This proxy
statement is soliciting proxies to elect not only our two Nominees, but also
the
candidate nominated by the Company other than Mr. [•] and Mr. [•]. This gives
the shareholders who wish to vote for our Nominees the ability to vote for
three
directors, the total number up for election at the 2007 Annual Meeting. Under
the SEC’s proxy rules, we are required to solicit proxies either:
· |
for
our two Nominees only
(which
could result in limiting the ability of shareholders to fully exercise
their voting rights with respect to Angelica’s nominees),
or
|
· |
for
our Nominees and
fewer
than all of the Company’s nominees (which enables a shareholder who
desires to vote for our Nominees to also vote for the Company’s nominee
for whom we are soliciting proxies).
|
The
names, backgrounds and qualifications of the Company’s nominees, and other
information about them, can be found in the Company Proxy Statement. There
is no
assurance that any of the Company’s nominees will serve as directors if our
Nominees are elected.
Shares
represented by properly executed WHITE
proxy
cards will be voted at the 2007 Annual Meeting as marked and, in the absence
of
specific instructions, will be voted FOR
the
election of our two Nominees, FOR
the
candidate nominated by the Company other than Mr. [•] and Mr. [•], FOR
the
ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s
independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2007 and in the
discretion of the persons named as proxies on all other matters as may properly
come before the 2007 Annual Meeting.
Quorum
A
majority of the Shares entitled to vote must be represented at the meeting
in
person or by proxy in order to establish a quorum. A designation on the proxy
that you are voting “FOR”, “AGAINST” or “ABSTAIN” (or “WITHHOLD AUTHORITY” in
the election of directors) will be counted for purposes of determining Shares
“represented” at the meeting to establish a quorum, but broker “non-votes” will
not be counted (unless voted on one or more proposals). A broker “non-vote”
occurs when a nominee, such as a broker, holding Shares for a beneficial owner
does not vote on a particular proposal because the nominee does not have
discretionary voting power with respect to that item and has not received
instructions from the beneficial owner.
Votes
Required for Approval
Election
of directors.
If a
quorum is present at the meeting, then the affirmative vote of a majority of
Shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the
election of directors is required to elect directors. As a result, a designation
on your proxy that you are “withholding authority” for a nominee or nominees
will have the effect of a vote against the nominee or nominees. Broker
“non-votes” are not counted for the purpose of determining the number of Shares
present in person or represented by proxy on the election of directors and
do
not have an effect on the results of the vote for the election of directors.
Ratification
of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP. If
a
quorum is present at the meeting, then ratification of the appointment of
Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent registered public
accounting firm for fiscal year 2007 requires the affirmative vote of a majority
of the Shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote
on
the proposal. An abstention will be counted as, and will have the effect of,
a
vote cast against the proposal. A broker non-vote will have no effect on the
proposal to ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s
auditors.
Your
vote is extremely important. We urge you to sign, date and return the enclosed
WHITE
proxy card and vote FOR
the election of each of our Nominees.
COST
AND METHOD OF SOLICITATION
Pirate
Capital Group has retained Altman to serve as its advisor and to provide it
with
consulting, analytic and solicitation services in connection with this proxy
solicitation. For these services, Altman is to receive a fee of up to
approximately $50,000, plus reimbursement for its reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses. Pirate Capital Group has agreed to indemnify Altman against certain
liabilities and expenses, including certain liabilities under the federal
securities laws. Proxies may be solicited by mail, courier services, Internet,
advertising, telephone, facsimile or in person. It is anticipated that Altman
will employ approximately 15 people to solicit proxies from shareholders for
the
2007 Annual Meeting. In addition, it is anticipated that certain employees
of
Pirate Capital Group, without any additional compensation, will participate
in
the solicitation of proxies. The business address of each Altman or Pirate
Capital Group employee is the same as that of his or her respective employer.
Although no precise estimate can be made at the present time, the total
expenditures in furtherance of, or in connection with, the solicitation of
shareholders is estimated to be $500,000 in total. As of the date hereof, Pirate
Capital Group has incurred approximately $[•] in 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
Pirate Capital Group. To the extent legally permissible, Pirate Capital Group
will seek reimbursement from the Company for those expenses if any of our
Nominees are elected. Pirate Capital Group does not currently intend to submit
the question of such reimbursement to a vote of the shareholders.
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
Certain
information regarding the compensation of directors and executive officers,
the
securities of the Company beneficially owned by the Company’s directors,
nominees, management and 5% shareholders, and certain other matters regarding
the Company’s officers and directors is required to be contained in the Company
Proxy Statement. Certain other information regarding the 2007 Annual Meeting,
as
well as procedures for submitting proposals for consideration at the Company’s
2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, is also required to be contained in the
Company Proxy Statement. Accordingly, reference is made to the Company Proxy
Statement for such information. Pirate Capital Group does not make any
representation as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained
in the Company Proxy Statement.
Members
of Pirate Capital Group have filed with the SEC a statement on Schedule 13D,
which contains information in addition to that furnished herein. 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 and others
that file electronically with the SEC, including our Schedule 13D, as amended,
may be obtained free of charge.
IF
YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR REQUIRE ASSISTANCE, PLEASE CALL:
The
Altman Group, Inc.
1200
Wall Street West, 3rd
Floor
Lyndhurst,
New Jersey 07071
Call
Toll-Free: (800) 622-1678
ADDITIONAL
PARTICIPANT INFORMATION
Except
as
set forth in this proxy statement or in Appendix I attached hereto, to the
best
knowledge of Pirate Capital Group:
(i)
no
Participant owns any securities of the Company or any parent or subsidiary
of
the Company, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, or has purchased
or sold any securities of the Company within the past two years, and none of
their associates beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, any securities
of
the Company;
(ii)
no
Participant has borrowed or otherwise obtained any funds for the purpose of
acquiring or holding any securities of the Company;
(iii)
no
Participant or any associate of any Participant has any arrangement or
understanding with any person (a) with respect to any future employment by
the
Company or its affiliates or (b) with respect to future transactions to which
the Company or any of its affiliates will or may be a party;
(iv)
no
Participant or any associate of any Participant is either a party to any
transaction or series of transactions since the beginning of the Company’s last
fiscal year, or has knowledge of any currently proposed transaction or series
of
proposed transactions, (a) to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries
was
or is to be a participant, (b) in which the amount involved exceeds $120,000
and
(c) in which any Participant or any associate of any Participant had, or will
have, a direct or indirect material interest;
(v)
no
Participant is, or was within the past year, a party to any contract,
arrangement or understanding with any person with respect to any securities
of
the Company, 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;
(vi)
no
Participant has any arrangement or understanding with any person pursuant to
which a nominee for director is proposed to be elected;
(vii)
none of the corporations or organizations in which any of the Participants
is
conducting or has conducted his principal occupation or employment during the
past five years is a parent, subsidiary or other affiliate of the Company;
(viii)
there is no family relationship (as defined in Section 401(d) of Regulation
S-K)
between any of our Nominees and (a) any other Nominee or (b) any director of
the
Company, executive officer of the Company or person nominated by the Company
to
become a director or executive officer;
(ix)
there is no event that occurred during the past five years with respect to
any
of our Nominees required to be described under Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K;
(x)
there
are no relationships involving any of our Nominees or any of their associates
that would have required disclosure under Item 402(j) of Regulation S-K had
our
Nominees been directors of the Company;
(xi)
no
Nominee or any associate of a Nominee is a party adverse to the Company or
any
of its subsidiaries or has a material interest adverse to the Company or any
of
its subsidiaries in any material proceeding;
(xii)
no
Nominee has any business relationship that is required to be disclosed pursuant
to Item 404(b) of Regulation S-K;
(xiii)
no
Nominee has ever served on the Board or been employed by the Company, and no
Nominee or any associate of any 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 the Company,
or
is subject to any arrangement described in Item 402 of Regulation
S-K;
(xiv)
no
Participant has any substantial interest, direct or indirect, in any matter
to
be acted upon proposed in this proxy statement aside from its interest as a
shareholder of the Company; and
(xv)
no
Participant has, during the past 10 years, been convicted in a criminal
proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors).
For
the
purposes of the foregoing, the term “associates” shall have the meaning as that
term is defined in Rule 14a-1 of Regulation 14A under the Exchange
Act.
APPENDIX
I
ADDITIONAL
PARTICIPANT INFORMATION
Shares
of Angelica Corporation
Bought
or Sold by the Participants in the Last Two Years
Set
forth
below are the dates and amounts of each Participant’s purchases and sales within
the past two years of Angelica’s issued and outstanding common stock, par value
$1.00 per share (the “Shares”). Except as otherwise disclosed herein, none of
the Participants have purchased or sold any Shares or any other securities
of
the Company within the past two years.
ACCOUNT
NAME
|
TRADE
DATE
|
QUANTITY
|
|
|
|
JOLLY
ROGER FUND LP
|
11/22/2005
|
(11000)
|
JOLLY
ROGER FUND LP
|
12/2/2005
|
(34200)
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
8/17/2005
|
1000
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
8/18/2005
|
5400
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
8/25/2005
|
10900
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
9/8/2005
|
3200
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
9/9/2005
|
29000
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
9/12/2005
|
1600
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
9/12/2005
|
3400
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
9/13/2005
|
7300
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
9/14/2005
|
14600
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
9/15/2005
|
6200
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
9/16/2005
|
21700
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
9/28/2005
|
5000
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
10/3/2005
|
5000
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
10/10/2005
|
25000
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
10/12/2005
|
1400
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
10/17/2005
|
7600
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
1/30/2006
|
7400
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
1/31/2006
|
10000
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
2/1/2006
|
400
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
2/2/2006
|
38600
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
2/3/2006
|
23800
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
2/6/2006
|
9200
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
2/7/2006
|
3700
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
2/8/2006
|
6200
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
2/9/2006
|
5800
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
2/10/2006
|
4000
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
2/16/2006
|
2600
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
2/17/2006
|
10100
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
2/21/2006
|
2900
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
2/22/2006
|
18400
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
2/24/2006
|
49000
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
2/24/2006
|
1400
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
2/27/2006
|
16800
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
2/28/2006
|
3800
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
3/15/2006
|
5100
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
3/31/2006
|
1000
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
4/3/2006
|
8097
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
4/13/2006
|
3700
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
4/25/2006
|
1500
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
4/27/2006
|
4906
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
5/1/2006
|
11300
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
5/3/2006
|
13200
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
5/5/2006
|
12000
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
5/8/2006
|
2300
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
5/10/2006
|
3640
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
5/11/2006
|
25000
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
5/12/2006
|
17854
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
5/15/2006
|
7150
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
5/16/2006
|
5900
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
5/23/2006
|
10000
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
6/14/2006
|
8600
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
6/15/2006
|
5400
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
6/19/2006
|
200
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
6/20/2006
|
1300
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
6/28/2006
|
11600
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
8/3/2006
|
5000
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
9/8/2006
|
400
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
9/11/2006
|
2500
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
9/28/2006
|
1000
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
10/6/2006
|
2000
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
4/11/2007
|
(11000)
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
4/20/2007
|
(5000)
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
4/25/2007
|
(6400)
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
4/27/2007
|
(3000)
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
4/30/2007
|
(900)
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
5/2/2007
|
(15000)
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
5/3/2007
|
(8700)
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
5/4/2007
|
(3000)
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
5/8/2007
|
(1000)
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
5/9/2007
|
(5000)
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
5/18/2007
|
(11200)
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
5/21/2007
|
(29800)
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
5/22/2007
|
(30000)
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
6/5/2007
|
(7606)
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
6/6/2007
|
(17394)
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
6/15/2007
|
(100)
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
6/25/2007
|
(5600)
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
6/26/2007
|
(5000)
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
6/27/2007
|
(114300)
|
JOLLY
ROGER OFFSHORE FUND LTD
|
7/6/2007
|
(786957)
|
JOLLY
ROGER ACTIVIST PORTFOLIO LTD
|
7/6/2007
|
786957
|
IMPORTANT
Please
review this proxy statement and the enclosed materials carefully. YOUR VOTE
IS
VERY IMPORTANT, no matter how many or how few Shares you own.
1. |
If
your Shares are registered in your own name, please sign, date and
mail
the enclosed WHITE
proxy card today in the postage-paid envelope provided. You may also
vote
your Shares by toll-free telephone or over the Internet. If you choose
to
do so, please refer to the enclosed WHITE
proxy card for the instructions and your control
number.
|
2. |
If
your Shares are held in the name of a brokerage firm, bank nominee
or
other institution, these proxy materials, together with a WHITE
voting instruction form, are being forwarded to you by your broker
or
custodian. You are considered the beneficial owner of the Shares,
but only
your broker can sign a WHITE
proxy card with respect to your Shares. You must instruct your broker
how
to vote. Accordingly, please sign, date and mail the enclosed WHITE
voting instruction form in the postage-paid envelope provided. To
ensure
that your Shares are voted according to your instructions, you should
also
contact the person responsible for your account and instruct that
person
to execute and return on your behalf the WHITE
proxy card as soon as possible. We urge you to provide a copy of
those
instructions to Pirate Capital Group, in care of Altman, at the address
below so that we will be aware of all instructions given and can
attempt
to ensure that those instructions are followed. Depending upon your
broker
or custodian, you may be able to vote either by toll-free telephone
or
over the Internet.
|
3. |
If
you have previously signed and returned a proxy card to Angelica,
you have
every right to change your vote. Only your latest dated proxy card
will
count. You may revoke any proxy card already sent to Angelica by
signing,
dating and mailing the enclosed WHITE
proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided. Any proxy may be
revoked
at any time prior to the 2007 Annual Meeting by delivering a written
notice of revocation or a later dated proxy for the 2007 Annual Meeting
to
Altman, our proxy solicitor, by voting in person at the 2007 Annual
Meeting or as otherwise described in this proxy
statement.
|
4. |
After
signing the enclosed WHITE
proxy card, do
not sign or return Angelica’s proxy card
unless you intend to change your vote, because only your latest dated
proxy card will be counted.
|
If
you
have any questions concerning this proxy statement, would like to request
additional copies of this proxy statement or need help voting your Shares,
please contact Altman:
The
Altman Group, Inc.
1200
Wall Street West, 3rd
Floor
Lyndhurst,
NJ 07071
Call
Toll-Free: (800) 622-1678
PRELIMINARY
COPY
SUBJECT
TO COMPLETION
DATED
SEPTEMBER 18, 2007
PLEASE
SEE THE REVERSE SIDE
FOR
THREE EASY WAYS TO VOTE!
ANGELICA
CORPORATION
Proxy
for 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
PROXY
SOLICITED BY PIRATE CAPITAL LLC, JOLLY ROGER FUND LP, JOLLY ROGER ACTIVIST
PORTFOLIO COMPANY LTD, THOMAS R. HUDSON JR. AND CHRISTOPHER KELLY (COLLECTIVELY,
“PIRATE CAPITAL GROUP”) AND NOT BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF ANGELICA
CORPORATION (“ANGELICA” OR THE “COMPANY”)
October
30, 2007 at [ •
]:[
•
]
[ •
].m.
The
undersigned hereby appoints Thomas R. Hudson Jr. and Christopher Kelly, and
each
of them, with full power of substitution, as proxies for the undersigned and
authorizes them to represent and vote, as designated, all of the issued and
outstanding shares of common stock (the “Shares”) of Angelica that the
undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally present at Angelica’s 2007
Annual Meeting of Shareholders, including any adjournments, postponements,
reschedulings or continuations of such meeting or any meeting held in lieu
thereof (the “2007 Annual Meeting”), for the purposes identified in this proxy
and with discretionary authority as to any other matters that may properly
come
before the 2007 Annual Meeting, including substitute nominees, if any, if the
named nominees for director should be unavailable to serve for election, or
additional nominees, if any, in accordance with and as described in Pirate
Capital Group’s proxy statement.
If
you validly execute and return this proxy card it will be voted as you direct.
If you return this proxy card, validly executed, without direction, it will
be
voted FOR Pirate Capital Group’s named
nominees for director, FOR the
nominee of the Angelica Board of Directors (the “Board”) specified on the
reverse side and FOR the other proposal specified on the reverse side. This
proxy will revoke any previously executed proxy with respect to all
proposals.
YOUR
VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT - PLEASE VOTE YOUR PROXY TODAY!
(CONTINUED
AND TO BE SIGNED AND DATED ON THE RESERVE SIDE.)
THERE
ARE THREE WAYS TO DELIVER YOUR PROXY
TELEPHONE
|
INTERNET
|
MAIL
|
This
method is available for residents of the U.S. and Canada. On a touch
tone
telephone, call 866-458-9860
TOLL FREE,
24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You will be prompted to provide your
unique
“Control Number” and “Check Digit ID” shown below. Have your WHITE
proxy card ready, then follow the prerecorded instructions. Available
until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, October 29, 2007.
|
Visit
the Internet website at www.myproxyonline.com.
Enter the unique “Control Number” and “Check Digit ID” shown below and
follow the instructions on your screen. You will incur only your
usual
Internet charges. Available until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday,
October 29, 2007.
|
Simply
complete, sign and date your WHITE
proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope provided. If
you are
delivering your proxy by telephone or the Internet, please do not
mail
your WHITE
proxy card.
|
CONTROL
NUMBER
CHECK
DIGIT ID
TO
DELIVER YOUR PROXY BY MAIL, PLEASE DETACH PROXY CARD HERE AND RETURN IN THE
POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE PROVIDED
.....................................................................................................................................................................................
Please
mark your votes using dark ink only.
PIRATE
CAPITAL GROUP STRONGLY RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR
THE NOMINEES LISTED BELOW IN PROPOSAL 1.
1. Proposal
1 —
To
elect Thomas
R. Hudson Jr.
and
Christopher
Kelly to
the
Board.
□
FOR
ALL
NOMINEES
|
□
WITHHOLD
AUTHORITY
FOR
ALL
NOMINEES
|
□
FOR
ALL
NOMINEES
EXCEPT
AS
WRITTEN
BELOW
|
Pirate
Capital Group intends to use this proxy to vote (i) “FOR” Messrs. Hudson and
Kelly and (the “Pirate Capital Group Nominees”) and (ii) “FOR” the candidate who
has been nominated by the Company to serve as director other than Mr. [•] and
Mr. [•]. We are
not
seeking,
and will
not
exercise, any authority to vote for Mr. [•] and Mr. [•]. There is no assurance
that the Company’s other nominee, Mr. [•] (the “Company Nominee”), will serve if
elected with the Pirate Capital Group Nominees. If elected, Messrs. Hudson
and Kelly will serve until Angelica’s next annual meeting and until their
successors are elected and qualified.
If
you
wish to vote for the election of less than all of the Pirate Capital Group
Nominees, check the “FOR ALL NOMINEES EXCEPT AS WRITTEN BELOW” box above and
write the name of the Pirate Capital Group Nominee you do not
wish to
elect in the box below.
Your
Shares will be voted for the remaining Pirate Capital Group
Nominee.
If
you
wish to withhold authority to vote for the Company Nominee, write the name
of
the Company Nominee in the box below.
PIRATE
CAPITAL GROUP MAKES NO RECOMMENDATION ON PROPOSAL 2.
2. Proposal
2 —
To
ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as Angelica’s independent
registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2007.
□
FOR
|
□
AGAINST
|
□
ABSTAIN
|
3. Other
Matters — In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such
other business as may properly be presented to the meeting or any adjournment,
postponement or rescheduling thereof and is unknown to Pirate Capital Group
and
its representatives a reasonable time before the commencement of Pirate Capital
Group’s solicitation of proxies.
IMPORTANT:
THIS PROXY MUST
BE
SIGNED
TO BE VALID.
Dated:
______________, 2007
_______________________________
Signature
_______________________________
Title
or
Authority
_______________________________
Signature
(if held jointly)
Please
sign exactly as name appears hereon. If Shares are registered in more than
one
name, the signature of all such persons should be provided. A corporation or
other company should sign in its full company name by a duly authorized officer,
stating his or her title. Trustees, guardians, executors and administrators
should sign in their official capacity, giving their full title as such. If
a
partnership, please sign in the partnership name by an authorized person. The
proxy card votes all Shares in all capacities.