-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, ErG5jwespmW60mMVGMQe32KQsBI+GDIeC18rz6lAYWL6jk/UreQNwE0e5jaFHqSR XuLMbxOuT84JDYU9vIhFmQ== 0000892251-10-000136.txt : 20100702 0000892251-10-000136.hdr.sgml : 20100702 20100702125959 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000892251-10-000136 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: SC 13D/A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 FILED AS OF DATE: 20100702 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20100702 GROUP MEMBERS: JOHN C. LAME SUBJECT COMPANY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: FIRST FRANKLIN CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000742161 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: SAVINGS INSTITUTIONS, NOT FEDERALLY CHARTERED [6036] IRS NUMBER: 311221029 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13D/A SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 005-39273 FILM NUMBER: 10934951 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 4750 ASHWOOD DR STREET 2: FRANKLIN SAVINGS CITY: CINCINNATI STATE: OH ZIP: 45241 BUSINESS PHONE: 5134695325 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 4750 ASHWOOD DR CITY: CINCINNATI STATE: OH ZIP: 45241 FILED BY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Lenox Wealth Management, Inc. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001464332 IRS NUMBER: 311445959 STATE OF INCORPORATION: OH FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13D/A BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 8044 MONTGOMERY ROAD STREET 2: SUITE 480 CITY: CINCINNATI STATE: OH ZIP: 45236 BUSINESS PHONE: 513-618-7080 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 8044 MONTGOMERY ROAD STREET 2: SUITE 480 CITY: CINCINNATI STATE: OH ZIP: 45236 SC 13D/A 1 sc13dno21.htm SCHEDULE 13D AMENDMENT NO. 21 sc13dno21.htm
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
SCHEDULE 13D
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
(Amendment No. 21)
 
First Franklin Corporation
(Name of Issuer)
 
Common Stock
(Title of Class of Securities)
 
320272107
(CUSIP Number)
 
Jason D. Long
Lenox Wealth Management, Inc.
8044 Montgomery Road, Ste 480
Cincinnati OH 45236
(513) 618-7080
 
Copy to:
 
F. Mark Reuter, Esq.
Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
One East Fourth Street, Suite 1400
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
(513) 579-6469

 
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)
 
July 2, 2010
(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.   o
 
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.
 
*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).
 

Page 1 of 5
 
 

 

 
CUSIP No. 320272107
   
1
NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
 
Lenox Wealth Management, Inc.  IRS Identification Number:  31-1445959
 
 2
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
 
(a)  x
(b)  o
 
 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)         o                                  
 
 
 6
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
 
Ohio
 
 
 
NUMBER OF
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY
EACH
REPORTING
PERSON WITH
 
 7
SOLE VOTING POWER
 
167,265
 
 8
SHARED VOTING POWER
 
0
 
 9
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
167,265
 
10
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
0
 
11
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
 
167,265
 
12
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES
CERTAIN SHARES*  o
 
 
13
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
 
9.952%
 
14
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
 
CO
 

Page 2 of 5
 
 

 


1
NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
 
John C. Lame
 2
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
 
(a)  x
(b)  o
 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)   o
 
 6
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
 
United States
 
NUMBER OF
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY
EACH
REPORTING
PERSON WITH
 
 7
SOLE VOTING POWER
 
167,265*
 8
SHARED VOTING POWER
 
0
 9
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
167,265*
10
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
0
11
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
 
167,265*
12
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES
CERTAIN SHARES*   o
 
13
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
9.952%
 
14
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
 
IN

*.  Mr. Lame may be deemed to have voting and dispositive power over these shares as a result of his position as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Lenox Wealth Management, Inc.; however, Mr. Lame disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.


Page 3 of 5
 
 

 

This Amendment No. 21 (this “Amendment”) amends and supplements the Statement on Schedule 13D (as amended by Amendment Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 filed on or about June 26, 2009, October 7, 2009, November 9, 2009, December 9, 2009, February 16, 2010, February 24, 2010, March 26 2010, April 5, 2010, April 13, 2010, April 15, 2010, April 19, 2010, April 23, 2010, May 7, 2010, May 7, 2010, May 11, 2010, May 14, 2010, June 7, 2010, June 11, 2010, June 18, 2010 and June 23, 2010, respectively, the “Schedule 13D”) relating to the shares of the common stock, par value, $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”) of First Franklin Corporation, a Delaware corporation whose principal executive offices are located at 4750 Ashwood Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45241 (the R 20;Issuer”), previously filed by Lenox Wealth Management, Inc. (“Lenox”) and John C. Lame.  Lenox and Mr. Lame are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Reporting Persons.”
 
Unless otherwise indicated, all capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Schedule 13D, and unless amended or supplemented hereby, all information previously filed remains in effect.
 
Item 4.
Purpose of Transaction
 
Item 4 is hereby amended and supplemented by adding the following paragraph after the twentieth paragraph thereof:
 
On July 2, 2010, the Reporting Persons sent to Mary W. Sullivan and Steven R. Sutermeister, members of the Board of Directors the Issuer, a letter regarding Senator Richard Finan’s purported status as an independent director under applicable guidelines, which letter is filed as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
 
Item 7.
Material to Be Filed as Exhibits
 

Item 7 is hereby amended and restated as follows:
 
99.1           Letter sent by the Reporting Persons to Mary W. Sullivan and Steven R. Sutermeister on July 2, 2010.
 

Page 4 of 5
 
 

 


 
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
 
 
 
Lenox Wealth Management, Inc.
 
 
       
 
By:
/s/ F. Mark Reuter  
    Attorney-in-Fact for John C. Lame  
    Chief Executive Officer  
    Date: July 2, 2010  
 
 
 
John C. Lame
 
 
       
 
By:
/s/ F. Mark Reuter  
    Attorney-in-Fact for John C. Lame  
    Date: July 2, 2010  
 
 
The original statement shall be signed by each person on whose behalf the statement is filed or his authorized representative.  If the statement is signed on behalf of a person by his authorized representative (other than an executive officer or general partner of the filing person), evidence of the representative’s authority to sign on behalf of such person shall be filed with the statement: provided, however, that a power of attorney for this purpose which is already on file with the Commission may be incorporated by reference.  The name and any title of each person who signs the statement shall be typed or printed beneath his signature.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Page 5 of 5

EX-99.1 2 ex991amendno21.htm EXHIBIT 99.1 ex991amendno21.htm
Exhibit 99.1
 
 LENOX
  Wealth
Management
   
8044 Montgomery Road
Suite 480
Cincinnati, Ohio   45236
Office    (513)  618-7080     (800)  472-5734      Fax   (513)  618-7079
   financial solutions since 1887


 

 
July 2, 2010
 
First Franklin Corporation Board of Directors
Attn:  Mary W. Sullivan and Steven R. Sutermeister
4750 Ashwood Drive
Cincinnati, Ohio  45241
 
Dear Ms. Sullivan and Mr. Sutermeister:
 
As you know, Lenox Wealth Management Inc. (“Lenox”) is a stockholder in First Franklin Corporation (the “Company”), and, like other stockholders, maintains significant interest in matters regarding the regulatory compliance and corporate governance of the Company.
 
Consistent with its fear that the Company’s Board has lost its independence, Lenox has become increasingly concerned with certain disclosures contained in the Company’s proxy materials provided in connection with the 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) surrounding Senator Richard H. Finan’s purported status as an independent director.  Specifically, on page 11 of the proxy materials the Company suggests that the Board of Directors has determined, after supposedly considering the relationships between Senator Finan and the Company and between Senator Finan and The Franklin Savings and Loan Company (“Franklin”), that Senator Finan is independent for purposes of satisfying the independence standards of the Nasdaq Stock Market:
 
“The Board has determined that Mr. Finan, Ms. Sullivan and Mr. Sutermeister, who comprise a majority of the Board, are “independent directors” under NASDAQ independence standards. In determining their independence, the Board concluded that there are no relationships between such persons and the Company or Franklin that would interfere with their exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. In making its independence determination, the Board determined that there are no relationships or transactions between the Company or Franklin and our independent directors that are not disclosed under Item 404 of SEC Regulation S-K.”
 
However, the Company’s proxy materials fail to disclose the extent to which the Board has considered relationships that may exist between Senator Finan and Thomas H. Siemers, presently a “Special Advisor” to your Board. As you well know, Mr. Siemers is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, positions he held from the Company’s formation until his retirement in March 2010. Lenox understands that Mr. Siemers has been a director of Franklin since 1953, served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Franklin from 1968 until July 2006, and as Chairman from July 2006 until March 2010. Mr. Siemers also  is the father of Ms. Gretchen Schmidt, the Secretary and Treasurer of the Company and the President, Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of Franklin. As you also well know, Senator Finan has served as a director of Franklin since 1968 and as a director of the Company since 1987 and you have named him “Lead Independent Director.”
 
Whether you have received access to or reviewed all relationships and transactions between Senator Finan and Mr. Siemers remains far from clear to Lenox. We are afraid that if you have, in fact, examined all relationships and transactions between Senator Finan and Mr. Siemers, your Board’s affirmative independence determination regarding Senator Finan may be different.
 
Nasdaq Rules.
 
The Nasdaq Listing Rules obligate the Company’s Board to make an affirmative determination that Senator Finan has no relationship which, in the opinion of the Board, would interfere with the exercise of his independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director.  Consequently, for the Board of Directors to discharge its fiduciary duties with respect to an affirmative independence determination applicable to Senator Finan, the Board must consider all relationships that may be brought to bear on S enator Finan’s independence.  This includes any relationships between Senator Finan and Mr. Siemers.  Further, Nasdaq rule interpretations instruct the Board to consider all relevant facts and circumstances when evaluating such relationships. It is also worth noting that Nasdaq’s standards are stricter than, and therefore, not completely governed by the disclosure requirements of Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation S-K Item 404.
 
 
 
 

 
 
Independence Questions.
 
Have you considered any of the following in connection with the Company’s statements on page 11 referenced above?
 
1.           What is the nature and duration of any and all personal relationships between Senator Finan and Mr. Siemers and any of their respective family members? Do you truly believe that their personal relationship since childhood does not impair Senator Finan’s exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director?
 
2.           Would the co-ownership by Senator Finan and Susan Siemers of a residence located at 26000 Hickory Boulevard, Bonita Springs, Florida 34134-3713 constitute a relationship or transaction which individually or in the aggregate with other relationships and transactions could compromise, or at least appear to compromise, the ability of Senator Finan to exercise independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director? Does it make a difference if Mr. Siemers transferred the property to Susan Siemers?
 
3.           What is the history of any business relationships or transactions between Senator Finan and Mr. Siemers? Were they ever co-incorporators or partners in any enterprises such as HBC Distributing Company, Inc. or did they ever share other business interests in real estate or other investments, such as Valley View Shopping Center? Could any such relationships or transactions individually or in the aggregate with other relationships and transactions compromise, or at least appear to compromise, the ability of Senator Finan to exercise independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director?
 
4.           Have Senator Finan and Mr. Siemers ever engaged in private transactions with one another involving Company or other securities? Could any such transactions individually or in the aggregate with other relationships and transactions compromise, or at least appear to compromise, the ability of Senator Finan to exercise independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director? Perhaps related to these questions, is there any relationship between Senator Finan’s Form 4 Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership dated April 20, 2009 reporting a disposition of 2,500 Company shares at $4 per share and Mr. Siemers’ Form 4 Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership dated April 23, 2009 reporting a purchase of 2,500 Company shares at $4 per share? (Separately, is Senator Finan’s disposition disclosed appropriately to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and Company stockholders in the Company’s proxy materials under the section captioned “Participant Transactions in Company Securities”?)
 
5.           What are the nature and amounts of political contributions, if any, involving Mr. Siemers, Senator Finan and any other candidates for public office? Have Company or Franklin directors or officers ever made contributions for the benefit of any political campaign or candidates for public office and did Senator Finan ever have a direct or indirect role or interest in such contributions? Could any such contributions individually or in the aggregate with other relationships and transactions compromise, or at least appear to compromise, the ability of Senator Finan to exercise independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director?
 
6.           Have any of Senator Finan’s family, friends or law partners ever received any payments (as employees, consultants or otherwise) or loans from the Company, Franklin or any of their affiliates? We understand that the largest outstanding amount on Franklin’s first mortgage on the principal residence of one of Senator Finan’s children since January 1, 2009 was $142,112 but that the balance of the mortgage was $0 as of February 28, 2010. Did Senator Finan recently arrange for payment of this balance to Franklin perhaps as a result of suddenly being sensitized to Lenox’s concerns about his independence? We understand that another child of Senator Finan has a first mortgage on her principal residence with the largest outstanding balance since January 1, 2009 of $198,832. We also understand that such loans may have been “modified” in 2002. Could any such payments or loans individually or in the aggregate with other relationships and transactions compromise, or at least appear to compromise, the ability of Senator Finan to exercise independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director? Would it make a difference if any of such loans failed to comply with applicable banking regulations?
 
Possible Violation of Nasdaq Rules; Securities Regulation Disclosures.
 
Lenox considers the issue of whether Senator Finan meets the Nasdaq director independence requirements to hold extraordinary importance to the governance of the Company. If Senator Finan fails to meet these requirements, the Company could be in violation not only of the Listing Rule requiring that the Company’s Board be comprised of a majority of independent directors, but also of various other Listing Rules pertaining to audit committee member independence, independent director oversight of executive compensation and independent director oversight of director nominations.  Additionally, if Senator Finan is not independent, are the Company’s proxy materials false or misleading in any way to the SEC or Franklin stockholders and was the stockholder vote at the Annual Meeting accordingly disenfranchised?
 
Consequently Lenox requests that the Board disclose to all stockholders a description of all relationships considered in connection with the Board’s affirmative determination that Senator Finan is an independent director in accordance with Nasdaq director independence standards.
 
Please also be advised that Lenox has contacted Nasdaq regarding its concerns about Senator Finan’s independence and requested that Nasdaq conduct a thorough investigation of this matter and take any and all actions which it deems necessary or appropriate based on the findings of its investigation.
 
Sincerely,



John C. Lame
President and Chief Executive Officer
 


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