-----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, LICox6GHL7YSwFzf1uNleqojdI2/vs5gbfez51tLsjfUf/GlrLJl0Hg8KPKP91SR DjZRybyGK1brWNwOXUrHvw== 0000897423-99-000130.txt : 19990506 0000897423-99-000130.hdr.sgml : 19990506 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000897423-99-000130 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: DFAN14A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 FILED AS OF DATE: 19990505 SUBJECT COMPANY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: HARNISCHFEGER INDUSTRIES INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000801898 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: MINING MACHINERY & EQUIP (NO OIL & GAS FIELD MACH & EQUIP) [3532] IRS NUMBER: 391566457 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1031 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: DFAN14A SEC ACT: SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-09299 FILM NUMBER: 99611068 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 3600 SOUTH LAKE DRIVE CITY: ST FRANCIS STATE: WI ZIP: 53235-3716 BUSINESS PHONE: 4144866400 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 3600 SOUTH LAKE DRIVE CITY: ST FRANCIS STATE: WI ZIP: 53235 FILED BY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: TRINITY I FUND L P CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001002783 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: [] STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: DFAN14A BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 201 MAIN ST STREET 2: STE 3200 CITY: FORT WORTH STATE: TX ZIP: 76102 BUSINESS PHONE: 8178789238 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 201 MAIN ST STREET 2: STE 3200 CITY: FORT WORTH STATE: TX ZIP: 76102 DFAN14A 1 DEFINITIVE ADDITIONAL MATERIAL SCHEDULE 14A (Rule 14a-101) INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. ) Filed by the registrant / / Filed by a party other than the registrant /x/ Check the appropriate box: / / Preliminary proxy statement / / Confidential, For Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) / / Definitive proxy statement /x/ Definitive additional materials / / Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12 HARNISCHFEGER INDUSTRIES, INC. (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) PORTFOLIO FF INVESTORS, L.P., PORTFOLIO GENPAR, L.L.C., TRINITY I FUND, L.P., TF INVESTORS, INC., TRINITY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC. AND THOMAS M. TAYLOR (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant) Payment of filing fee (Check the appropriate box): /x/ No fee required. / / Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rule 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it is determined): (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: (5) Total fee paid: / / Fee paid previously with preliminary materials: / / Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing. (1) Amount previously paid: (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement no.: (3) Filing Party: (4) Date Filed: TRINITY I FUND, L.P. 201 Main Street, Suite 3200 Fort Worth, Texas 76102 May 5, 1999 Dear Harnischfeger Stockholder: Enclosed is a Consent Statement asking stockholders of Harnischfeger Industries to support the following three proposals which we believe will enhance long-term shareholder value: - - Amend the Bylaws to require the Board to submit all significant (generally transactions with a value of over $100 million) merger, restructuring, joint venture, or similar transactions to a vote of stockholders for their prior approval; - - Amend the Bylaws to separate the offices of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and provide that the Chairman be a non-management (i.e. not a current or former employee) director; and - - Amend the Bylaws to permit stockholders holding not less than 25% of the Company's voting stock to call a meeting in a timely and straightforward manner between all shareholders of the Company and the non-management directors. We have not, however, made any analysis or commissioned any report that would indicate that these specific proposals or similar proposals would have any effect on stockholder value. There can be no assurance, therefore, that the Company's performance will improve or that stockholder value will be enhanced as a result of this solicitation. You are most likely aware that the Company, in response to the filing of our preliminary Consent Statement, has adopted three Bylaw amendments that the Company claims differ only slightly from our own. Although these amendments are loosely based on the three proposals contained in the preliminary version of our Consent Solicitation that was submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission last month, they have been diluted to a degree that renders them, in our opinion, entirely inadequate. Our first proposal would subject transactions in excess of $100 million to a shareholder vote. In contrast, the Company's asset-driven approach would permit the Company to pursue, without a shareholder vote, transactions in excess of $700 million, based upon the Company's most recent financial statements. This equates to over 150% of Harnischfeger's equity market capitalization based on yesterday's closing stock price. With respect to our proposal to separate the offices of CEO and Chairman, the Company's proposal to review such a separation on an annual basis and to recognize the Chairman of the Corporate Governance Committee as the lead member of the non-management directors ignores the fact that the purpose of our proposal is to provide an immediate and independent check on a management team that has failed to create value for shareholders. On its face, the Company's Bylaw amendment allowing 25% of shareholders to call a meeting with non-management directors is similar to our third proposal. However, the Company's amendment contains procedural requirements, including a waiting period of as much as 45 days or more, that could greatly reduce the effectiveness of the proposal. Since shareholders are most likely to request access to the board when they feel the value of their investment is seriously threatened, the waiting period could render the proposal useless precisely under those circumstances in which it is most crucial. The goal of the Consent process and the proposals we are asking you to support is to transform the Company's newly-adopted Bylaw amendments into meaningful measures that will protect and enhance shareholder value. Our decision to put forward the three proposals described above comes after a nearly year-long effort to engage in a constructive dialogue with Harnischfeger management and the Board of Directors regarding the Company's operations and stock performance. Troubled by the approximately 65% decline in the Company's stock price during this period, members of my organization and I attempted on numerous occasions to understand the Company's long-term plans and to urge the Company to adopt reforms that we believed would help restore confidence among the shareholder base. Our written exchanges with the Company on these topics are detailed in the enclosed Consent Statement. Unfortunately, these efforts can be characterized as non-productive, at best. It was one of the more recent exchanges with management that motivated the current Consent Solicitation. After learning that the Company was in receipt of a premium-based acquisition proposal, we requested a meeting with all the non-management directors to discuss how they intended to evaluate this proposal. During this exchange I made it clear to the Company's CEO, Mr. Jeffery Grade, that unless such a meeting were arranged, we intended to proceed with a consent solicitation. A few days later, we received a letter from Mr. Grade rejecting our request for a meeting and explaining that the hiring of an outside financial advisor to help evaluate alternatives to enhance shareholder value "addresses the issues discussed" in our letter of April 6, 1999. We wholeheartedly disagree. We believe that now more than ever the non-management directors could benefit from the perspective brought by one of the Company's largest shareholders. The Company's poor performance record we believe calls for immediate and direct action by shareholders. We encourage you to send the Company's management a strong signal that it is time for the Company to assess the full breadth of its strategic options and to do so in a way that builds confidence and support among Harnischfeger shareholders. Supporting the proposals described above is an important step in this process. Please do so by signing and returning the enclosed WHITE card before May 28, 1999. For assistance or further information, call D.F. King & Co., Inc., which is assisting us in this matter, toll free at 1- 800-758-5378. Sincerely, /s/ Thomas M. Taylor Thomas M. Taylor -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----