PENNSAUKEN, N.J., Nov. 25, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RCM Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:RCMT), a premier provider of business and technology solutions designed to enhance and maximize the operational performance of its customers through the adaptation and deployment of advanced information technology, engineering and specialty healthcare services, today announced that it has mailed a letter to stockholders comparing the qualifications of RCM's Board nominee, Michael E.S. Frankel, with those of the Legion Group's Board nominee, Bradley S. Vizi.
In its letter, RCM shows the stark comparison between the two decades of experience that Michael E.S. Frankel would bring to the RCM Board, including service as a public company board member, chairing a board's nominating and governance committee, experience running an operating company with profit & loss responsibility, experience as an M&A advisor, experience serving as an advisor or executive for some of the country's most prominent public and private companies and experience serving the best interests of public company stockholders, and Mr. Vizi's lack of any similar experience in the seven years since he received his undergraduate degree, including never serving on a public company's board of directors. Mr. Frankel's impressive resume includes experience at some of the country's most prestigious and well-known firms, including serving as an M&A attorney at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, an M&A investment banker at Merrill, Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc., a corporate development executive at G.E. Capital and the Senior Vice President for M&A at Reed-Elsevier's Lexis-Nexis Division.
As previously announced, the Legion Group is a dissident stockholder group that is pursuing a proxy contest to elect its two handpicked nominees to the RCM Board at the 2013 Annual Meeting to be held on Thursday, December 5, 2013, at 6:00 p.m., local time, at the offices of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. RCM has established October 18, 2013 as the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the 2013 Annual Meeting.
RCM's Board of Directors unanimously recommends that stockholders vote to elect RCM's highly-qualified and very experienced director nominees –Michael E.S. Frankel and Robert B. Kerr – by voting the WHITE proxy card by telephone, Internet or mail.
RCM strongly urges stockholders to vote only the WHITE proxy card and discard the gold proxy card they may receive from the dissident stockholder group led by Legion Partners Asset Management LLC.
RCM is being advised in connection with the proxy contest by Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP and Alston & Bird LLP. MacKenzie Partners, Inc. is serving as RCM's proxy solicitor.
The full text of RCM's letter to stockholders is included below:
Dear Fellow RCM Stockholder:
We have previously mailed you management's proxy materials for the 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of RCM Technologies, Inc. to be held on December 5, 2013. Since this is an important meeting, we encourage you to read these materials carefully. As you are aware, a dissident stockholder group led by Legion Partners Asset Management, LLC is waging a proxy contest against RCM in an effort to have two of its handpicked nominees, Bradley S. Vizi and Roger H. Ballou, elected to your Board. As you decide how to vote at the upcoming 2013 Annual Meeting, we ask you to consider the following question:
HOW DO THE QUALIFICATIONS OF RCM'S NOMINEE MICHAEL E.S. FRANKEL COMPARE WITH THE LEGION GROUP'S NOMINEE BRADLEY S. VIZI?
Late last week, ISS Proxy Advisory Services, a leading independent proxy advisory firm, issued a recommendation to its clients that stockholders withhold their votes for Mr. Vizi's election to your Board at the 2013 Annual Meeting. In its report, ISS indicated that, between Michael E.S. Frankel, one of the two highly-qualified nominees recommended by your Board, and the Legion Group's Mr. Vizi, ISS believes that Mr. Frankel is the more "compelling" nominee for election to your Board. ISS' view on Mr. Frankel was also shared by the two other leading independent proxy advisory firms, Glass Lewis & Co. and Egan-Jones Proxy Services, who both recommended that stockholders reject the Legion Group's nominee Mr. Vizi and vote the WHITE proxy card to elect Mr. Frankel to your Board.
When comparing the qualifications of Mr. Vizi and Mr. Frankel, all three leading independent proxy advisory firms have indicated that Mr. Frankel is the preferred candidate for election to your Board. In its report recommending that stockholders vote the WHITE proxy card in favor of the election of Mr. Frankel, Egan-Jones took note of "Mr. Vizi's apparent lack of public company board or public company management experience." Egan-Jones further indicated that it believes that "voting FOR the management ballot and the Company's nominees is in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders" and that the election of the RCM Board's nominees will "enable the Company to continue to build on its strong record of increasing stockholder value."
While all three of the leading proxy advisory firms have compared the backgrounds, qualifications and experiences of Mr. Frankel with those of Mr. Vizi and have determined that Mr. Frankel is the nominee who should be elected to your Board, you can see for yourself how these two nominees compare. We believe the choice is obvious and that you should vote the WHITE proxy card to elect Michael E.S. Frankel to your Board.
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RCM'S BOARD NOMINEE |
LEGION GROUP'S BOARD NOMINEE |
|
MICHAEL E.S. FRANKEL |
BRADLEY S. VIZI |
NUMBER OF PROXY ADVISORY FIRMS THAT HAVE INDICATED THAT, BETWEEN MR. FRANKEL AND MR. VIZI, NOMINEE IS THE PREFERRED CANDIDATE |
ALL THREE LEADING PROXY ADVISORY FIRMS HAVE INDICATED THAT MICHAEL FRANKEL IS THE PREFERRED CANDIDATE AND ISS CALLS HIM "COMPELLING" |
ABSOLUTELY NONE! |
AGE |
45 |
29 |
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND |
FOUR DEGREES, INCLUDING THREE ADVANCED DEGREES |
ONE DEGREE |
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Masters of Business Administration; Juris Doctorate (Law Degree); Masters of Arts, International Relations; Bachelor of Arts, Political Science |
Bachelor of Science, Economics |
YEARS OF WORK EXPERIENCE |
TWO DECADES |
SEVEN YEARS SINCE COLLEGE GRADUATION IN 2006 |
EXPERIENCE SERVING ON A PUBLIC COMPANY BOARD |
YES |
ABSOLUTELY NONE! |
EXPERIENCE LEADING A PUBLIC COMPANY BOARD'S GOVERNANCE AND NOMINATING COMMITTEE |
YES |
ABSOLUTELY NONE! |
EXPERIENCE SERVING ON A PUBLIC COMPANY BOARD'S COMPENSATION COMMITTEE |
YES |
ABSOLUTELY NONE! |
EXPERIENCE DIRECTLY DEVELOPING OR IMPLEMENTING STRATEGIES TO ENHANCE LONG-TERM STOCKHOLDER VALUE |
YES |
ABSOLUTELY NONE! |
EXPERIENCE COMPLYING WITH FIDUCIARY DUTIES TO PUBLIC COMPANY STOCKHOLDERS |
YES |
ABSOLUTELY NONE! |
EXPERIENCE AS A PUBLIC COMPANY BOARD MEMBER EVALUATING POTENTIAL VALUE-MAXIMIZING OPTIONS |
YES |
ABSOLUTELY NONE! |
EXPERIENCE OVERSEEING THE MANAGEMENT OF A PUBLIC COMPANY AND HOLDING MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTABLE |
YES |
ABSOLUTELY NONE! |
POTENTIAL CONFLICTS IF ELECTED TO THE RCM BOARD |
NO CONFLICTS WHATSOEVER |
POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT CONFLICTS |
AGENDA IN SEEEKING ELECTION TO THE RCM BOARD |
NO SELF-INTERESTED, UNDISCLOSED AGENDA |
?????? |
ABILITY TO INVEST IN RCM SHARES -- "SKIN IN THE GAME" -- IF ELECTED TO YOUR BOARD |
YES |
ABSOLUTELY NONE! |
PREVIOUS RELATIONSHIP TO THE BODY RECOMMENDING NOMINEE |
NO PREVIOUS RELATIONSHIP TO ANY RCM BOARD OR MANAGEMENT MEMBER; INTRODUCED TO RCM BY RCM'S SPECIAL PROXY CONTEST COUNSEL WHO HAD NO RELATIONSHIP TO RCM BEFORE ACTIVIST SITUATION BEGAN |
COMPENSATED EMPLOYEE OF LEGION PARTNERS ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC |
EXPERIENCE SERVING AS AN M&A LAWYER, INVESTMENT BANKER, CORPORATE / BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER |
YES |
ABSOLUTELY NONE! |
EXPERIENCE WORKING AT SKADDEN, ARPS, SLATE MEAGHER & FLOM LLP (LAW FIRM), MERRILL LYNCH (INVESTMENT BANKING DIVISION), G.E. CAPITAL, VERISIGN, REED ELSEVIER (LEXIS-NEXIS GROUP), AND CHICAGO MERCANTILE EXCHANGE |
YES |
ABSOLUTELY NONE! |
EXPERIENCE RUNNING OPERATING BUSINESSES WITH P&L RESPONSIBILITY |
YES |
ABSOLUTELY NONE! |
NUMBER OF BOOKS WRITTEN AND PUBLISHED ON MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS |
TWO EXCELLENT BOOKS ON M&A – YOU CAN PREVIEW HIS BOOKS ON M&A AT AMAZON.COM!! |
ABSOLUTELY NONE! |
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YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT!
SUPPORT A BOARD THAT HAS A DEMONSTRATED RECORD OF CREATING AND RETURNING VALUE TO STOCKHOLDERS BY ELECTING YOUR BOARD'S HIGHLY-QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED NOMINEES
This proxy contest ultimately comes down to a simple choice – electing either:
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RCM's highly-qualified and very experienced Board nominees who will allow RCM to continue to build on its strong record of increasing stockholder value by approximately 587% over the past five years (not including the $1.00 per share special cash dividend that was distributed to RCM stockholders in December 2012) and, since 2010, returning close to $20 million in value to our stockholders without compromising our strong balance sheet, financial flexibility and strategic growth trajectory;
OR
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The handpicked, problematic nominees of a dissident stockholder group led by Legion Partners Asset Management LLC, an activist investor, which has no significant direct economic interest in RCM.
PROTECT THE VALUE OF YOUR INVESTMENT BY SIGNING, DATING AND RETURNING THE WHITE PROXY CARD TODAY
To vote your shares, please vote TODAY by telephone, Internet or by signing, dating and returning the enclosed WHITE proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided. You may also vote by phone or Internet by following the instructions on the enclosed proxy card. If you have any questions or need assistance in voting your WHITE proxy card, we encourage you to call our proxy solicitor, Mackenzie Partners, Inc., at (800) 322-2885 (Toll Free) or at (212) 929-5500.
Your Board strongly urges you NOT to sign or return any gold proxy card or voting instruction form that the Legion Group may send to you, even as a protest vote against the Legion Group or its nominees. Even a "WITHHOLD" vote with respect to the Legion Group's nominees on its gold proxy card will cancel any previously submitted WHITE proxy card. If you do sign a gold proxy card sent to you by the Legion Group, however, you have the right to change your vote by using the enclosed WHITE proxy card. Only the latest dated proxy card you vote will be counted.
We appreciate your continued support as we work to protect your investment and continue creating value for all RCM stockholders. We look forward to communicating further with you in the coming weeks.
Sincerely,
/s/ Leon Kopyt
Leon Kopyt
Chairman of the Board of Directors and
Chief Executive Officer
About RCM
RCM Technologies, Inc. is a premier provider of business and technology solutions designed to enhance and maximize the operational performance of its customers through the adaptation and deployment of advanced information technology and engineering services. RCM is an innovative leader in the delivery of these solutions to commercial and government sectors. RCM is also a provider of specialty healthcare services to major health care institutions and educational facilities. RCM's offices are located in major metropolitan centers throughout North America. Additional information can be found at www.rcmt.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
The Statements contained in this release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These statements often include words such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "continue," "estimate," "project," "intend," "believe," "plan," "seek," "could," "can," "should" or similar expressions. In addition, statements that are not historical should also be considered forward-looking statements. These statements are based on assumptions that we have made in light of our experience in the industry, as well as our perceptions of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors we believe are appropriate in these circumstances. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those relating to demand for the Company's services, expected demand for our services and expectations regarding our revenues, the Company's ability to continue to utilize goodwill, to continue to increase gross margins, to achieve and manage growth, to develop and market new applications and services, risks relating to the acquisition and integration of acquired businesses, the ability of the Company to consummate acquisitions as to which it executes non-binding letters of intent, demand for new services and applications, timing of demand for services, industry strength and competition and general economic factors. Such statements are based on current expectations that involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual events to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Risk, uncertainties and other factors may emerge from time to time that could cause the Company's actual results to differ from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. Investors are directed to consider such risks, uncertainties and other factors described in documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligation (and expressly disclaims any such obligation) to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information or future events or developments, except as may be required by law.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
RCM, its directors and certain of its executive officers and employees are deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from RCM's stockholders in connection with the 2013 Annual Meeting. RCM filed a definitive proxy statement and WHITE proxy card with the SEC in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the 2013 Annual Meeting on October 30, 2013 (the "2013 Proxy Statement"). STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE 2013 PROXY STATEMENT (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT RCM WILL FILE WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Additional information regarding the identity of these participants and their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is set forth in the 2013 Proxy Statement. To the extent holdings of RCM's securities have changed since the amounts shown in the 2013 Proxy Statement, such changes have been or will be reflected on Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC.
Stockholders can obtain, free of charge, copies of the 2013 Proxy Statement and any other documents filed by RCM with the SEC in connection with the 2013 Annual Meeting at the SEC's website (www.sec.gov), at RCM's website (www.rcmt.com) or by writing to Mr. Kevin D. Miller, Chief Financial Officer, RCM Technologies, Inc., 2500 McClellan Avenue, Suite 350, Pennsauken, NJ 08109. In addition, copies of the proxy materials, when available, may be requested from RCM's proxy solicitor, MacKenzie Partners, Inc., 105 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016 or toll-free at (800) 322-2885.
CONTACT: RCM Technologies, Inc.
2500 McClellan Avenue
Pennsauken, NJ 08109
Tel: 856.356.4500
Fax: 856.356.4600
info@rcmt.com
www.rcmt.com
Corporate Contacts:
Leon Kopyt
Chairman, President & CEO
Kevin D. Miller
Chief Financial Officer