0001188112-12-001946.txt : 20120613 0001188112-12-001946.hdr.sgml : 20120613 20120612185218 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001188112-12-001946 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: DFAN14A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 3 FILED AS OF DATE: 20120613 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20120612 EFFECTIVENESS DATE: 20120613 SUBJECT COMPANY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: QUALSTAR CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000758938 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: MAGNETIC & OPTICAL RECORDING MEDIA [3695] IRS NUMBER: 953927330 STATE OF INCORPORATION: CA FISCAL YEAR END: 0630 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: DFAN14A SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-30083 FILM NUMBER: 12903952 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 3990-B HERITAGE OAK COURT CITY: SIMI VALLEY STATE: CA ZIP: 93063 BUSINESS PHONE: 805-583-7744 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 3990-B HERITAGE OAK COURT CITY: SIMI VALLEY STATE: CA ZIP: 93063 FILED BY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: BKF CAPITAL GROUP INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000009235 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: INVESTMENT ADVICE [6282] IRS NUMBER: 360767530 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: DFAN14A BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 225 N.E. MIZNER BOULEVARD, SUITE 400 CITY: BOCA RATON STATE: FL ZIP: 33432 BUSINESS PHONE: 561 362-4199 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 225 N.E. MIZNER BOULEVARD, SUITE 400 CITY: BOCA RATON STATE: FL ZIP: 33432 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: BAKER FENTRESS & CO DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19970829 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: BAKER FENTRESS & CO ET AL DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19940714 DFAN14A 1 t73865_dfan14a.htm SCHEDULE 14A t73865_dfan14a.htm


UNITED STATES
 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
 
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
 
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 o
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant x
 
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o Preliminary Proxy Statement
o Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
o Definitive Proxy Statement
x Definitive Additional Materials
o Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a­-12
 
QUALSTAR CORPORATION
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
 
BKF Capital Group, Inc.
Steven N. Bronson
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
 
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GRAPHIC
 
 
June 12, 2012
 
Dear Fellow Qualstar Shareholders:
 
As you know, BKF Capital Group, Inc. is conducting a proxy contest to replace the Board of Directors of Qualstar Corporation at a Special Shareholders Meeting on June 20, 2012.
 
Institutional Shareholders Services, Inc., one of the preeminent independent proxy advisory services to the world’s largest investment funds, has recommended to its clients that they support BKF’s proposals. The current Board has generated a good deal of noise designed to confuse and frustrate your voting decision. ISS was not confused, and neither should you be.
 
 
You know how poorly Qualstar stock has done, dropping over 60% in the last ten years.
 
 
You know how poorly Qualstar has performed, losing money every year since 2003, with revenues just 58% of what they were 8 years ago.
 
 
You know that the current Board (not including Mr. Gervais, who is leaving) has approximately a 1% equity stake in the Company.
 
 
You know that the current Board has just hired one of its own, Larry Firestone, as the new CEO, someone who has no experience as a chief executive officer; has received what we believe is an outsized compensation package for a Company the size of Qualstar; will be paid 18 months’ severance and more if he is fired after a change of control, regardless of how he performs; and unlike you, has none of his own money invested in the Company
 
 
You know that the current Board cannot be trusted when it tells you, “Now, we are finally going to turn things around!”
 
Like you, BKF’s investment is on the line.  BKF, with Steve Bronson its controlling stockholder and a nominee, owns 18.7% of the Qualstar shares.
 
Our slate includes three present or former CEOs of small cap technology companies, and other candidates with investment and financial expertise, who can make the hard choices needed to turn Qualstar around and make it profitable.  If elected, our nominees intend to make an immediate distribution to shareholders of excess cash that we believe is not needed to turn the Company around.
 
 
No matter how many shares you own, your vote is extremely important.
You can take control of your Company’s future, but for democracy to work you have got to vote.
We need an absolute majority to win.
Doing nothing is the same as a vote for a Board that has failed you in the past.
 
Please vote your GOLD proxy card and support the BKF slate.
Do not return a WHITE proxy card or any other card sent to you on behalf of the current Board.
 
 
If you have any questions, please contact our proxy advisors—
 
PHOENIX ADVISORY PARTNERS
110 Wall Street
27th Floor
New York, NY 10005
Call Toll Free: (877) 478-5038
Banks And Brokers Call Collect: (212) 493-3910
 
We look forward to your support.

 
    BKF Capital Group, Inc.  
    graphic  
   
Senior Vice President
 
 
 
 
BKF Capital Group, Inc., 225 N.E. Mizner Boulevard, Suite 400 Boca Raton, Florida 33432 (561) 362-4199
 
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