Sec Form 13D Filing - STEEL PARTNERS HOLDINGS L.P. (SPLP) filing for STEEL CONNECT INC (STCN) - 2022-03-28

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13D

(Rule 13d-101)

INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT

TO § 240.13d-1(a) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED PURSUANT TO

§ 240.13d-2(a)

(Amendment No. 27)¹

Steel Connect, Inc.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

(Title of Class of Securities)

858098 10 6

(CUSIP Number)

Warren G. Lichtenstein

Steel Partners Holdings L.P.

590 Madison Avenue, 32nd Floor

New York, New York 10022

(212) 520-2300

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person

Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

 

March 24, 2022

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of This Statement)

 

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of §§ 240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the following box ¨.

Note:  Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits.  See § 240.13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.

 

 

1              The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
				HANDY & HARMAN LTD.
	2		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP															(a) ☐
																		(b) ☐
	3		SEC USE ONLY
	4		SOURCE OF FUNDS
				WC, AF
	5		CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)															☐
	6		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
				DELAWARE
NUMBER OF				7		SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY							- 0 -
OWNED BY				8		SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING							8,436,715
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							8,436,715
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				8,436,715
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				14.0%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				CO

  

< td style="border-top: Black 1pt solid; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle">10

1

NAME OF REPORTING PERSON

WHX CS CORP.

2

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

(a) ☐

(b) ☐

3

SEC USE ONLY

4

SOURCE OF FUNDS

OO

5

CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)

☐

6

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

DELAWARE

NUMBER OF

7

SOLE VOTING POWER

SHARES

BENEFICIALLY

- 0 -

OWNED BY

8

SHARED VOTING POWER

EACH

REPORTING

5,940,170

PERSON WITH

9

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

- 0 -

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

5,940,170

11

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

5,940,170

12

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

☐

13

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

9.8%

14

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

CO

  

 

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
				STEEL EXCEL INC.
	2		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP															(a) ☐
																		(b) ☐
	3		SEC USE ONLY
	4		SOURCE OF FUNDS
				AF
	5		CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)															☐
	6		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
				DELAWARE
NUMBER OF				7		SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY							- 0 -
OWNED BY				8		SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING							8,436,715
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							8,436,715
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				8,436,715
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				14.0%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				CO

  

 

1

NAME OF REPORTING PERSON

STEEL PARTNERS, LTD.

2

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

(a) ☐

(b) ☐

3

SEC USE ONLY

4

SOURCE OF FUNDS

WC

5

CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)

☐

6

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

DELAWARE

NUMBER OF

7

SOLE VOTING POWER

SHARES

BENEFICIALLY

- 0 -

OWNED BY

8

SHARED VOTING POWER

EACH

REPORTING

60,000

PERSON WITH

9

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

- 0 -

10

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

60,000

11

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

60,000

12

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

☐

13

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

LESS THAN 1%

14

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

CO

  

 

1

NAME OF REPORTING PERSON

STEEL PARTNERS HOLDINGS L.P.

2

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

(a) ☐

(b) ☐

3

SEC USE ONLY

4

SOURCE OF FUNDS

WC, AF

5

CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)

☐

6

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

DELAWARE

NUMBER OF

7

SOLE VOTING POWER

SHARES

BENEFICIALLY

- 0 -

OWNED BY

8

SHARED VOTING POWER

EACH

REPORTING

42,333,555*

PERSON WITH

9

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

- 0 -

10

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

42,333,555*

11

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

42,333,555*

12

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

☐

13

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

50.0%

14

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

PN

  

* Includes 17,857,143 Shares underlying the currently convertible Preferred Stock and 6,293,707 Shares underlying the currently convertible 2024 Note.

 

1

NAME OF REPORTING PERSON

SPH GROUP LLC

2

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

(a) ☐

(b) ☐

3

SEC USE ONLY

4

SOURCE OF FUNDS

AF

5

CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)

☐

6

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

DELAWARE

NUMBER OF

7

SOLE VOTING POWER

SHARES

BENEFICIALLY

- 0 -

OWNED BY

8

SHARED VOTING POWER

EACH

REPORTING

34,833,555*

PERSON WITH

9

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

- 0 -

10

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

34,833,555*

11

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

34,833,555*

12

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

☐

13

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

41.2%

14

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

OO

  

* Includes 17,857,143 Shares underlying the currently convertible Preferred Stock and 6,293,707 Shares underlying the currently convertible 2024 Note.

 

 

1

NAME OF REPORTING PERSON

SPH GROUP HOLDINGS LLC

2

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

(a) ☐

(b) ☐

3

SEC USE ONLY

4

SOURCE OF FUNDS

WC

5

CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)

☐

6

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

DELAWARE

NUMBER OF

7

SOLE VOTING POWER

SHARES

BENEFICIALLY

- 0 -

OWNED BY

8

SHARED VOTING POWER

EACH

REPORTING

34,833,555*

PERSON WITH

9

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

- 0 -

10

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

34,833,555*

11

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

34,833,555*

12

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

☐

13

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

41.2%

14

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

OO

  

* Includes 17,857,143 Shares underlying the currently convertible Preferred Stock and 6,293,707 Shares underlying the currently convertible 2024 Note.

 

1

NAME OF REPORTING PERSON

STEEL PARTNERS HOLDINGS GP INC.

2

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

(a) ☐

(b) ☐

3

SEC USE ONLY

4

SOURCE OF FUNDS

AF

5

CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)

☐

6

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

DELAWARE

NUMBER OF

7

SOLE VOTING POWER

SHARES

BENEFICIALLY

- 0 -

OWNED BY

8

SHARED VOTING POWER

EACH

REPORTING

42,333,555*

PERSON WITH

9

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

- 0 -

10

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

42,333,555*

11

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

42,333,555*

12

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

☐

13

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

50.0%

14

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

CO

  

* Includes 17,857,143 Shares underlying the currently convertible Preferred Stock and 6,293,707 Shares underlying the currently convertible 2024 Note.

 

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
		&#x A0;
				WARREN G. LICHTENSTEIN
	2		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP															(a) ☐
																		(b) ☐
	3		SEC USE ONLY
	4		SOURCE OF FUNDS
				AF, OO
	5		CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)															☐
	6		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
				USA
NUMBER OF				7		SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY							1,556,765
OWNED BY				8		SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING							60,000
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							1,501,525
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							60,000
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				1,616,765
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				2.7%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				IN

  

 

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
				JACK L. HOWARD
	2		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP															(a) ☐
																		(b) ☐
	3		SEC USE ONLY
	4		SOURCE OF FUNDS
				WC, OO
	5		CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)															☐
	6		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
				USA
NUMBER OF				7		SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY							833,694
OWNED BY				8		SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING							- 0 -
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							778,454
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				833,694
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				1.4%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				IN

  

The following constitutes Amendment No. 27 to the Schedule 13D filed by the undersigned (“Amendment No. 27”). This Amendment No. 27 amends the Schedule 13D as specifically set forth herein.

Item 3.

Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.

Item 3 is hereby amended and restated to read as follows:

The aggregate purchase price of the 2,496,545 Shares owned directly by HNH is approximately $9,109,689, including brokerage commissions. The Shares owned directly by HNH were acquired with the working capital of HNH.

The 5,940,170 Shares owned directly by WHX CS were transferred to WHX CS by its parent HNH.

The aggregate purchase price of the 2,245,990 Shares owned directly by SPHG Holdings is approximately $4,013,692, including brokerage commissions. The aggregate purchase price of the 35,000 shares of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock of the Issuer (the “Preferred Stock”) owned directly by SPHG Holdings is $35,000,000. The aggregate purchase price of the 2024 Note (as defined in Item 4) owned directly by SPHG Holdings is $14,940,000. The Shares, Preferred Stock and 2024 Note owned directly by SPHG Holdings were acquired with the working capital of SPHG Holdings.

The aggregate purchase price of the 7,500,000 Shares owned directly by Steel Holdings is $30,000,000. Such Shares were acquired with the working capital of Steel Holdings.

The aggregate purchase price of the 60,000 Shares owned directly by SPL is approximately $411,192, including brokerage commissions. The Shares owned directly by SPL were acquired with the working capital of SPL.

Mr. Lichtenstein directly beneficially owns 1,556,765 Shares (including 55,240 unvested restricted Shares) awarded to him in his capacity as a director of the Issuer.

The aggregate purchase price of 10,000 Shares owned directly by Mr. Howard is approximately $68,530, including brokerage commissions. Mr. Howard directly beneficially owns an additional 823,694 Shares (including 55,240 unvested restricted Shares) awarded to him in his capacity as a director of the Issuer.

Item 4.

Purpose of Transaction.

Item 4 is hereby amended to add the following:

On March 24, 2022, Steel Holdings delivered a revised expression of interest in a potential combination of Steel Holdings and the Issuer (the “Enhanced Proposal”) to the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of the Issuer, which altered and increased the consideration proposed in its November 19, 2020 proposal (filed as an exhibit to Amendment No. 24). Under the Enhanced Proposal, the stockholders of the Issuer would receive cash consideration of $1.30 per share, representing a premium of approximately 10% over the closing price of the Issuer’s common stock on March 23, 2022 and about an 83% premium over the closing share price on November 18, 2020. The summary above is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Enhanced Proposal attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto.

Item 5.

Interest in Securities of the Issuer.

Item 5(a) is hereby amended and restated to read as follows:

(a)       The aggregate percentage of Shares reported owned by each person named herein is based upon 60,457,720 Shares outstanding, which is the total number of Shares outstanding as of March 1, 2022, as disclosed in the Issuer’s Form 10-Q filed on March 17, 2022.

As of the close of business on the date hereof, HNH owned directly 2,496,545 Shares, constituting approximately 4.1% of the Shares outstanding. By virtue of their relationship with HNH discussed in further detail in Item 2, each of Steel Holdings, SPHG, SPHG Holdings, Steel Holdings GP and Steel Excel may be deemed to beneficially own the Shares owned directly by HNH.

As of the close of business on the date hereof, WHX CS owned directly 5,940,170 Shares, constituting approximately 9.8% of the Shares outstanding. By virtue of their relationship with WHX CS discussed in further detail in Item 2, each of HNH, Steel Holdings, SPHG, SPHG Holdings, Steel Holdings GP and Steel Excel may be deemed to beneficially own the Shares owned directly by WHX CS.

As of the close of business on the date hereof, SPHG Holdings owned directly 2,245,990 Shares and beneficially owned an additional (i) 17,857,143 Shares underlying the currently convertible Preferred Stock owned directly by SPHG Holdings and (ii) 6,293,707 Shares underlying the currently convertible 2024 Note owned directly by SPHG Holdings, constituting approximately 31.2% of the Shares outstanding. By virtue of their relationship with SPHG Holdings discussed in further detail in Item 2, each of Steel Holdings, SPHG and Steel Holdings GP may be deemed to beneficially own the Shares, including the Shares underlying the Preferred Stock and 2024 Note, owned directly by SPHG Holdings.

As of the close of business on the date hereof, Steel Holdings owned directly 7,500,000 Shares, constituting approximately 12.4% of the Shares outstanding. By virtue of its relationship with Steel Holdings discussed in further detail in Item 2, Steel Holdings GP may be deemed to beneficially own the Shares owned directly by Steel Holdings.

As of the close of business on the date hereof, SPL owned directly 60,000 Shares, constituting less than 1% of the Shares outstanding. By virtue of his relationship with SPL discussed in further detail in Item 2, Warren G. Lichtenstein may be deemed to beneficially own the Shares owned directly by SPL.

As of the close of business on the date hereof, Warren G. Lichtenstein directly beneficially owned 1,556,765 Shares (including 55,240 unvested restricted Shares), constituting approximately 2.7% of the Shares outstanding.

As of the close of business on the date hereof, Jack L. Howard directly beneficially owned 833,694 Shares (including 55,240 unvested restricted Shares), constituting approximately 1.4% of the Shares outstanding.

This statement reports an aggregate of 44,784,014 Shares, including 17,857,143 Shares underlying the currently convertible Preferred Stock and 6,293,707 Shares underlying the currently convertible 2024 Note, constituting approximately 52.9% of the Shares outstanding on a fully diluted basis.

Item 5(c) is hereby amended to add the following:

(c)       On January 1, 2022, the Issuer awarded to each of Messrs. Lichtenstein and Howard, in his capacity as a director of the Issuer, 17,105 restricted Shares, which vest on January 1, 2023, provided that he remains a director of the Issuer on such vesting date. There have been no transactions by the Reporting Persons in the securities of the Issuer during the past 60 days.

Item 7.

Material to be Filed as Exhibits.

Item 7 is hereby amended to add the following exhibit:

99.1

Proposal letter from Steel Partners Holdings, L.P. to the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Steel Connect, Inc. dated as of March 24, 2022 (filed herewith).

SIGNATURES

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of his knowledge and belief, each of the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Dated: March 28, 2022	HANDY & HARMAN LTD.
	By:	/s/ Jason Wong
		Jason Wong Senior Vice President

 

 

	WHX CS CORP.
	By:	/s/ Jason Wong
		Jason Wong Senior Vice President

 

 

	STEEL PARTNERS, LTD.
	By:	/s/ Jack L. Howard
		Jack L. Howard President

 

 

	STEEL PARTNERS HOLDINGS L.P.
	By:	Steel Partners Holdings GP Inc. General Partner
	By:	/s/ Jack L. Howard
		Jack L. Howard President

 

 

	SPH GROUP LLC
	By:	Steel Partners Holdings GP Inc. Managing Member
	By:	/s/ Jack L. Howard
		Jack L. Howard President

  

	SPH GROUP HOLDINGS LLC
	By:	Steel Partners Holdings GP Inc. Manager
	By:	/s/ Jack L. Howard
		Jack L. Howard President

 

 

	STEEL PARTNERS HOLDINGS GP INC.
	By:	/s/ Jack L. Howard
		Jack L. Howard President

 

 

	STEEL EXCEL INC.
	By:	/s/ Jason Wong
		Jason Wong Senior Vice President

 

 

	/s/ Jack L. Howard
	JACK L. HOWARD as Attorney-In-Fact for Warren G. Lichtenstein

 

 

	/s/ Jack L. Howard
	JACK L. HOWARD