Sec Form 13D Filing - STEEL PARTNERS HOLDINGS L.P. (SPLP) filing for AEROJET ROCKETDYNE HLDGS INC C (AJRD) - 2022-04-25

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. 28)¹

Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock, par value $0.10

(Title of Class of Securities)

007800 10 5

(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)

 

April 21, 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
				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
				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							3,949,496
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							3,949,496
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				3,949,496
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				4.9%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				PN

  

	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							3,949,496
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							3,949,496
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				3,949,496
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				4.9%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				OO

  

 

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

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

466,924

PERSON WITH

9

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

- 0 -

10

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

466,924

11

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

466,924

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

OO

  

 

	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							3,949,496
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							3,949,496
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				3,949,496
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				4.9%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				CO

  

 

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
				WEBFINANCIAL HOLDING CORPORATION
	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							3,482,572
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							3,482,572
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				3,482,572
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				4.3%
	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

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

465,427

PERSON WITH

9

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

- 0 -

10

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

465,427

11

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

465,427

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 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

60,546

PERSON WITH

9

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

- 0 -

10

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

60,546

11

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

60,546

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

WARREN G. LICHTENSTEIN

2

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

(a) ☒

(b) ☐

3

SEC USE ONLY

4

SOURCE OF FUNDS

OO, 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

USA

NUMBER OF

7

SOLE VOTING POWER

SHARES

BENEFICIALLY

207,953

OWNED BY

8

SHARED VOTING POWER

EACH

REPORTING

60,546

PERSON WITH

9

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

207,953

10

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

60,546

11

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

268,499

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

IN

  

 

1

NAME OF REPORTING PERSON

JAMES R. HENDERSON

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

USA

NUMBER OF

7

SOLE VOTING POWER

SHARES

BENEFICIALLY

48,107

OWNED BY

8

SHARED VOTING POWER

EACH

REPORTING

- 0 -

PERSON WITH

9

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

48,107

10

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

- 0 -

11

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

48,107

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

IN

  

 

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
				JOANNE M. MAGUIRE
	2		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP															(a) ☒
																		(b) ☐
	3		SEC USE ONLY
	4		SOURCE OF FUNDS
	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							- 0 -
OWNED BY				8		SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING							- 0 -
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				- 0 -
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				0%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				IN

  

 

1

NAME OF REPORTING PERSON

AUDREY A. MCNIFF

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

USA

NUMBER OF

7

SOLE VOTING POWER

SHARES

BENEFICIALLY

5,112

OWNED BY

8

SHARED VOTING POWER

EACH

REPORTING

- 0 -

PERSON WITH

9

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

5,112

10

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

- 0 -

11

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

5,112

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

IN

  

 

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
				AIMEE J. NELSON
	2		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP															(a) ☒
																		(b) ☐
	3		SEC USE ONLY
	4		SOURCE OF FUNDS
	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							- 0 -
OWNED BY				8		SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING							- 0 -
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				- 0 -
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				0%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				IN

  

 

1

NAME OF REPORTING PERSON

MARTIN TURCHIN

2

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

(a) ☒

(b) ☐

3

SEC USE ONLY

4

SOURCE OF FUNDS

OO, PF

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

120,566

OWNED BY

8

SHARED VOTING POWER

EACH

REPORTING

- 0 -

PERSON WITH

9

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

120,566

10

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

- 0 -

11

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

120,566

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

IN

  

 

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
				HEIDI R. WOOD
	2		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP															(a) ☒
																		(b) ☐
	3		SEC USE ONLY
	4		SOURCE OF FUNDS
	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							- 0 -
OWNED BY				8		SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING							- 0 -
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				- 0 -
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				0%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
																			;
				IN

  

The following constitutes Amendment No. 28 to the Schedule 13D filed by the undersigned (“Amendment No. 28”). This Amendment No. 28 amends the Schedule 13D as specifically set forth herein. 

Item 4.

Purpose of Transaction.

The Item 4 disclosure contained in Amendment No. 27 to the Schedule 13D is hereby amended and restated to read as follows:

As previously disclosed, on February 7, 2022, Warren G. Lichtenstein, James R. Henderson, Audrey A. McNiff and Martin Turchin (the “Director Plaintiffs”) filed suit in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware seeking, among other things, declaratory relief relating to Steel Holdings’ nomination of the Director Plaintiffs and its other nominees for election to the Board of Directors of the Issuer, a nominal party to the lawsuit, at its 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”). The Director Plaintiffs filed the lawsuit due to disagreements among the Issuer’s evenly divided eight-member Board, which consists of the four Director Plaintiffs and four other directors—Eileen P. Drake, Thomas Corcoran, Kevin Chilton and Lance Lord (the “Director Defendants”), over matters relating to Steel Holdings’ nomination and the Annual Meeting.

On February 15, 2022, the Court granted the Director Plaintiffs’ motion for a temporary restraining order subject to certain modifications and directed the parties to submit an implementing order. The parties were unable to agree and submitted competing forms of order.

On February 23, 2022, the Court issued a letter opinion granting the Director Plaintiffs’ proposed order and rejecting the Director Defendants’ proposed order. Among other things, the Court rejected the Director Defendants’ proposal to require the Issuer to fund up to $20 million of the parties’ proxy solicitation expenses. The Court also rejected the Director Defendants’ proposal to require the Issuer to reimburse the parties’ litigation costs for affirmative claims.

Consistent with the proposal made by the Director Plaintiffs, the order entered by the Court of Chancery (the “Order”) imposes the following prohibitions so long as the Board is evenly divided regarding the election contest:

·

None of the directors nor any of the Issuer’s officers, employees or anyone purporting to act on the Issuer’s behalf may make any public statement, issue any press release or make any disclosure on behalf of the Issuer in support of the election efforts of any candidate for election at the Annual Meeting without the prior written approval of the Board or a duly authorized committee; and

·

None of the directors nor any of the Issuer’s officers, employees or anyone purporting to act on the Issuer’s behalf may use Issuer funds or other Issuer resources in support of the election efforts of any candidate for election at the Annual Meeting without the prior written approval of the Board or a duly authorized committee.

Consistent with the proposal made by the Director Plaintiffs, the Order also extended the deadline for submitting director nominations imposed by the Issuer’s advance notice bylaw solely to the extent necessary to permit the Director Defendants to nominate a competing slate of directors on or before February 28, 2022 if they chose to do so.

On February 24, 2022, Steel Holdings issued a press release announcing the Court’s decision to grant the Order. The press release also includes an open letter to stockholders providing clarity and context pertaining to recent events, including Steel Holdings’ decision to spend its own resources to nominate a slate of seven highly qualified director candidates for election at the Annual Meeting. Copies of the press release and open letter to stockholders were previously filed as Exhibits to Amendment No. 27 to the Schedule 13D and are incorporated herein by reference.

Separately, on February 11, 2022, the Director Defendants brought a lawsuit directly, derivatively and purportedly by the Issuer, against the Director Plaintiffs and SPHG Holdings in the Delaware Court of Chancery. The Complaint alleged claims for breach of fiduciary duty, aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty and a violation of the Issuer’s advance-notice bylaws. The Complaint also alleged, among other things, that Mr. Lichtenstein had launched a proxy contest to gain control of the Board and that SPHG Holdings had aided and abetted his conduct.

On February 25, 2022, the Court entered an order consolidating the lawsuit brought by the Director Plaintiffs with the lawsuit brought by the Director Defendants and expedited the schedule. Trial was set for May 23-25, 2022.

On March 7, 2022, the Director Defendants voluntarily dismissed the direct and derivative claims they had previously asserted against the Director Plaintiffs and SPHG Holdings.

On April 21, 2022, the Director Defendants filed an Answer, along with Counterclaims and a Third-Party Complaint, in response to the Director Plaintiffs’ Complaint and Supplemental Complaint. The Counterclaims and Third-Party Complaint reassert many of the same allegations asserted on February 11, 2022 and dismissed voluntarily. The Counterclaims and Third-Party Complaint assert claims against the Director Plaintiffs, SPHG Holdings, Steel Holdings GP and Steel Holdings, as well as three of Steel Holdings’ director nominees—Aimee J. Nelson, Joanne M. Maguire and Heidi R. Wood (collectively the “Counterclaim Defendants”).

The Counterclaims and Third-Party Complaint assert claims for breach of fiduciary duty, aiding and abetting fiduciary breaches and fraud. According to the Counterclaims, Mr. Lichtenstein, his director nominees and Steel Holdings breached fiduciary duties by nominating a slate of directors and their failure to participate in an effort by Ms. Drake and the three directors aligned with her to oppose the nominations by Steel Holdings.  The Counterclaims and Third-Party Complaint also allege that Steel Holdings and the three Steel Holdings nominees who are not on the Board aided and abetted these alleged fiduciary breaches. The fraud claim is based on the allegation that the Counterclaim Defendants failed to disclose information regarding their proxy contest to the Issuer. The Counterclaims also allege that Mr. Lichtenstein, through the Steel Holdings entities, filed for permission under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 to acquire additional shares of the Issuer in a bid to acquire control of the Issuer and/or support Steel Holdings’ nominees. The Counterclaims and Third-Party Complaint fail to note that, on April 19, 2022, Mr. Lichtenstein represented through counsel that he intended to acquire beneficial ownership of up to an additional 5% of the Issuer’s shares and that in no event would he or Steel Holdings acquire an amount sufficient to exceed beneficial ownership of 15% of the Issuer’s shares.

Steel Holdings believes the claims brought by the Director Defendants are without merit and represent yet another attempt to distract stockholders.

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 80,544,197 Shares outstanding, which is the total number of Shares outstanding as of February 11, 2022 as reported in the Issuer’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 18, 2022.

As of the close of business on the date hereof, WebFinancial owned directly 3,482,572 Shares, constituting approximately 4.3% of the Shares outstanding. By virtue of their relationships with WebFinancial, each of Steel Holdings, SPHG and Steel Holdings GP may be deemed to beneficially own the Shares owned directly by WebFinancial.

As of the close of business on the date hereof, Steel Excel owned directly 465,427 Shares, constituting less than 1% of the Shares outstanding. By virtue of their relationships with Steel Excel, each of Steel Holdings, SPHG, SPHG Holdings and Steel Holdings GP may be deemed to beneficially own the Shares owned directly by Steel Excel.

As of the close of business on the date hereof, SPHG Holdings owned directly 1,497 Shares, constituting less than 1% of the Shares outstanding. By virtue of their relationships with SPHG Holdings, each of Steel Holdings, SPHG and Steel Holdings GP may be deemed to beneficially own the Shares owned directly by SPHG Holdings.

As of the close of business on the date hereof, SPL owned directly 60,546 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 owned directly 207,953 Shares, which, together with the 60,546 Shares owned directly by SPL that Mr. Lichtenstein may also be deemed to beneficially own, constitutes less than 1% of the Shares outstanding. An additional 526,695 Shares are held by a “rabbi trust,” the receipt of which has been deferred by Mr. Lichtenstein pursuant to the Issuer’s Deferred Compensation Plan for Nonemployee Directors. Such 526,695 Shares are not deemed to be beneficially owned by Mr. Lichtenstein.

As of the close of business on the date hereof, James R. Henderson owned directly 48,107 Shares, constituting less than 1% of the Shares outstanding. An additional 83,986 Shares are held by a “rabbi trust,” the receipt of which has been deferred by Mr. Henderson pursuant to the Issuer’s Deferred Compensation Plan for Nonemployee Directors. Such 83,986 Shares are not deemed to be beneficially owned by Mr. Henderson.

< p style="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1in">As of the close of business on the date hereof, Audrey A. McNiff owned directly 5,112 Shares, constituting less than 1% of the Shares outstanding. An additional 3,988 Shares are held by a “rabbi trust,” the receipt of which has been deferred by Ms. McNiff pursuant to the Issuer’s Deferred Compensation Plan for Nonemployee Directors. Such 3,988 Shares are not deemed to be beneficially owned by Ms. McNiff.

As of the close of business on the date hereof, Martin Turchin owned directly 108,066 Shares, constituting less than 1% of the Shares outstanding. Additionally, Mr. Turchin beneficially owned indirectly an aggregate of 12,500 Shares held in several trusts of which he is a trustee, constituting less than 1% of the Shares outstanding. An additional 5,886 Shares are held by a “rabbi trust,” the receipt of which has been deferred by Mr. Turchin pursuant to the Issuer’s Deferred Compensation Plan for Nonemployee Directors. Such 5,886 Shares are not deemed to be beneficially owned by Mr. Turchin.

As of the close of business on the date hereof, Mmes. Maguire, Nelson and Wood did not beneficially own any securities of the Issuer.

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

(c)       On March 3, 2022, the Issuer issued to Mr. Lichtenstein 5,803 Shares upon the vesting of restricted stock units previously issued to him in his capacity as a director of the Issuer. Such Shares are held by a “rabbi trust,” the receipt of which has been deferred by Mr. Lichtenstein pursuant to the Issuer’s Deferred Compensation Plan for Nonemployee Directors. There have been no other transactions by the Reporting Persons in the securities of the Issuer since the filing of Amendment No. 27 to the Schedule 13D.

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: April 25, 2022	STEEL PARTNERS HOLDINGS L.P.
	By:	Steel Partners Holdings GP Inc. General Partner
	By:	/s/ Jack L. Howard
		Name:	Jack L. Howard
		Title:	President

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

	WEBFINANCIAL HOLDING CORPORATION
	By:	/s/ Jack L. Howard
		Name:	Jack L. Howard
		Title:	Director

 

 

	STEEL EXCEL, INC.
	By:	/s/ Jack L. Howard
		Name:	Jack L. Howard
		Title:	Director

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

	/s/ Jack L. Howard
	JACK L. HOWARD as Attorney-In-Fact for Joanne M. Maguire

 

 

	/s/ Jack L. Howard
	JACK L. HOWARD as Attorney-In-Fact for Aimee J. Nelson

 

 

	/s/ Jack L. Howard
	JACK L. HOWARD as Attorney-In-Fact for Heidi R. Wood

 

 

	/s/ James R. Henderson
	JAMES R. HENDERSON

 

 

	/s/ Audrey A. McNiff
	AUDREY A. MCNIFF

 

 

	/s/ Martin Turchin
	MARTIN TURCHIN