0001571049-14-000722.txt : 20140307 0001571049-14-000722.hdr.sgml : 20140307 20140307170128 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001571049-14-000722 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: SC 13D/A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 FILED AS OF DATE: 20140307 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20140307 GROUP MEMBERS: BRIAN R. KAHN GROUP MEMBERS: KAHN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC, SUBJECT COMPANY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: AARON'S INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000706688 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: SERVICES-EQUIPMENT RENTAL & LEASING, NEC [7359] IRS NUMBER: 580687630 STATE OF INCORPORATION: GA FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13D/A SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 005-35010 FILM NUMBER: 14678103 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 309 E. PACES FERRY ROAD, N.E. STREET 2: (NONE) CITY: ATLANTA STATE: GA ZIP: 30305-2377 BUSINESS PHONE: 404-231-0011 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 309 E. PACES FERRY ROAD, N.E. STREET 2: (NONE) CITY: ATLANTA STATE: GA ZIP: 30305-2377 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: AARON RENTS INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19920703 FILED BY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Vintage Capital Management LLC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001511498 IRS NUMBER: 272297824 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13D/A BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 4705 S APOPKA VINELAND ROAD SUITE 210 CITY: ORLANDO STATE: FL ZIP: 32819 BUSINESS PHONE: 407-909-8015 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 4705 S APOPKA VINELAND ROAD SUITE 210 CITY: ORLANDO STATE: FL ZIP: 32819 SC 13D/A 1 t1400375_sc13da.htm AMENDMENT NO 2 TO SCHEDULE 13D

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13D

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. 2)*

Aaron’s, Inc.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock, par value $0.50 per share

(Title of Class of Securities)

002535300

(CUSIP Number)

Vintage Capital Management, LLC

4705 S. Apopka Vineland Road, Suite 210

Orlando, FL 32819

(407) 909-8015

With a copy to:

Bradley L. Finkelstein

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

Professional Corporation

650 Page Mill Road

Palo Alto, CA 94304

(650) 493-9300

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to

Receive Notices and Communications)

March 7, 2014

(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 which 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.

* 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).

 

 

 
 

 

CUSIP No. 002535300 13D
(1) NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
Vintage Capital Management, LLC

(2) CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (see instructions)

(a)  £                    (b)  £

(3) SEC USE ONLY
(4) SOURCE OF FUNDS (see instructions)
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 SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH (7) SOLE VOTING POWER
0 shares
(8) SHARED VOTING POWER
7,277,000 shares
(9) SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
0 shares
(10) SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
7,277,000 shares
(11) AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
7,277,000 shares
(12) CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (see instructions)
(13) PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
10.1%*
(14) TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (see instructions)
OO
     

 

 

* Percentage calculated based on 71,977,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.50 per share, outstanding as of February 10, 2014, as reported in the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 of Aaron’s, Inc.

 

Page 2 of 7
 

  

CUSIP No. 002535300 13D
(1) NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
Kahn Capital Management, LLC

(2) CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (see instructions)

(a)  £                 (b)  £

(3) SEC USE ONLY
(4) SOURCE OF FUNDS (see instructions)
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 SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH (7) SOLE VOTING POWER
0 shares
(8) SHARED VOTING POWER
7,277,000 shares
(9) SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
0 shares
(10) SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
7,277,000 shares
(11) AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
7,277,000 shares
(12) CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (see instructions) £
(13) PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
10.1%*
(14) TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (see instructions)
OO
     

 

 

* Percentage calculated based on 71,977,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.50 per share, outstanding as of February 10, 2014, as reported in the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 of Aaron’s, Inc.

Page 3 of 7
 

  

CUSIP No. 002535300 13D
(1) NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
Brian R. Kahn

(2) CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (see instructions)

(a)  £                      (b)  £

(3) SEC USE ONLY
(4) SOURCE OF FUNDS (see instructions)
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
United States of America
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH (7) SOLE VOTING POWER
0 shares
(8) SHARED VOTING POWER
7,277,000 shares
(9) SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
0 shares
(10) SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
7,277,000 shares
(11) AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
7,277,000 shares
(12) CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (see instructions) £
(13) PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
10.1%*
(14) TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (see instructions)
IN
     

 

 

 

* Percentage calculated based on 71,977,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.50 per share, outstanding as of February 10, 2014, as reported in the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 of Aaron’s, Inc.

Page 4 of 7
 

Explanatory Note

This Amendment No. 2 (this “Amendment”) amends and supplements the Schedule 13D filed on February 7, 2014, as amended on February 28, 2014 (as amended, the “Schedule 13D”), by the Reporting Persons relating to the Common Stock of the Issuer. Information reported in the Schedule 13D remains in effect except to the extent that it is amended, restated or superseded by information contained in this Amendment. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Amendment have the respective meanings set forth in the Schedule 13D. All references in the Schedule 13D and this Amendment to the “Statement” shall be deemed to refer to the Schedule 13D as amended and supplemented by this Amendment.

Items 4 and 7 of the Schedule 13D are hereby amended as follows:

Item 4. Purpose of Transaction.

Item 4 is hereby amended to add the following:

On March 7, 2014, Vintage Capital submitted a letter to the Issuer (the “Nomination Letter”) nominating W. Kenneth Butler, Jr., Matthew E. Avril, Spencer S. Smith, Thomas R. Bernau and Brian R. Kahn (collectively, the “Nominees”) for election to the Board of Directors of the Issuer at the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. In its Nomination Letter, Vintage Capital also reserved the right to further nominate, substitute or add additional persons in the event that (a) the Issuer purports to increase the number of directorships; (b) the Issuer makes or announces any changes to its bylaws or takes or announces any other action that purports to have, or if consummated would purport to have, the effect of disqualifying any of the Nominees; or (c) any of the Nominees is unable or hereafter becomes unwilling for any reason to serve as a director.

On March 7, 2014, Vintage Capital issued a press release regarding the submission of the Nomination Notice. The press release is attached to this Statement as Exhibit 4 and incorporated herein by reference

Item 7. Material to be Filed as Exhibits.

Item 7 is amended to add the following:

 

Exhibit Number

Description

4 Press Release of Vintage Capital Management, LLC, dated March 7, 2014.

 

 

Page 5 of 7
 

 

SIGNATURES

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.

Dated: March 7, 2014 

  VINTAGE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
   
  By: /s/ Brian R. Kahn
    Name: Brian R. Kahn
Title:   Manager

 

  KAHN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
   
  By: /s/ Brian R. Kahn
    Name: Brian R. Kahn
Title:   Manager

  /s/ Brian R. Kahn
  Brian R. Kahn
   

 

Page 6 of 7
 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit Number

Description

1 Joint Filing Agreement.*
2 Letter to the Board of Directors of Aaron’s, Inc., dated February 7, 2014.*
3 Letter to the Board of Directors of Aaron’s, Inc., dated February 28, 2014.*
4 Press Release of Vintage Capital Management, LLC, dated March 7, 2014.

 

_____________________________

* Previously filed.

 

 

 

 

Page 7 of 7
EX-99.4 2 t1400375_exh-4.htm EXHIBIT 99.4

Exhibit 4

Aaron’s Second Largest Shareholder Nominates Five to Company’s Board

—Nominees Include Former Aaron’s Executive Ken Butler
and Two of Aaron’s Largest Franchisees—

Orlando, FL – March 7, 2014 – Vintage Capital Management, LLC (together with its affiliates, “VCM”) has notified Aaron’s, Inc. (NYSE: AAN) that five candidates are being submitted as nominees for the Board of Directors of Aaron’s at the 2014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held in May. The five nominees are W. Kenneth Butler, Jr., formerly the Chief Operating Officer of Aaron’s and a member of the Board of Directors; Matthew E. Avril, the retired President, Hotel Group of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.; Spencer S. Smith, a major veteran Aaron’s franchisee; Thomas R. Bernau, another major veteran Aaron’s franchisee; and Brian R. Kahn, Managing Member of VCM and former Aaron’s franchisee. (Full biographies of the nominees are included below).

Brian R. Kahn, Managing Member of VCM, made the announcement and expressed concern about poor recent financial results and continued decline of store traffic, especially the precipitous loss of what is estimated to exceed another 50,000 customers so far this year under current management. He noted that the customer losses follow 27 years of continuous growth under former management that included Mr. Butler.

“It has become clear to us that immediate and decisive action is needed to stabilize Aaron’s and preserve shareholder value,” said Brian R. Kahn, Managing Member of VCM. “Changes to Aaron’s senior management team over the last two years have resulted in the implementation of the wrong strategies for the business. By our estimates, Aaron’s has lost an additional 50,000 customers just since January 1, 2014—a truly staggering number for a period of only two months and an extremely worrisome indicator of the current state of the company. Aaron’s shareholders need a Board of Directors that can stand up to current management as well as develop and implement a sound strategy for Aaron’s to create shareholder value instead of watching the company continue to decline. For far too long, shareholders have suffered under the failed leadership of a conflicted Board that has lacked the independence and skills necessary to properly act as our fiduciaries.

“Aaron’s incumbent directors—particularly Ron Allen and Ray Robinson, the two Class I directors expected to stand for election at the 2014 Annual Meeting—have a well-established and public track record of failing shareholders by pursuing ill-advised strategies that have soured relationships with Aaron’s customers, franchisees and employees.

“In nominating candidates for the Board of Directors, we offer shareholders a way to clearly express their dissatisfaction with the changes that Ron Allen has made at Aaron’s over the last two and a half years,” said Mr. Kahn. “Ken Butler, one of our nominees, was a senior executive at Aaron’s for many years and served on the Board for over 10 years. Ken is universally regarded as a leader in the Rent-to-Own industry, and for over 30 years served as the face and voice of Aaron’s, connecting with everyone from customers to Board members. We are confident that returning Ken to the Board,

 
 

with his unique insight on Aaron’s heritage and business, will be instrumental in helping the Board remedy the failed initiatives put in place by Aaron’s current management team.”

Demonstrating the extent to which all of Aaron’s stakeholders support change, two of VCM’s nominees, Spencer Smith and Tom Bernau, are two of Aaron’s largest franchisees. “We are gratified that these two highly respected and knowledgeable franchisees have expressed their support for change at Aaron’s. Both Spencer and Tom have made substantial investments in Aaron’s. They deal with Aaron’s customers and employees on a daily basis and understand just how damaging the changes made over the last several years have been to Aaron’s core business,” said Mr. Kahn.

VCM also called on Aaron’s to immediately explain to shareholders why Aaron’s has chosen to violate its bylaws and Georgia law, which unambiguously requires directors on a classified board such as Aaron’s to be divided into classes that have an equal number of directors. “Under Aaron’s own bylaws and Georgia law, Aaron’s staggered, nine member Board of Directors should have the same number of directors in each class. Instead, for reasons that Aaron’s has not explained, the Board is divided into classes of four directors, three directors and two directors. We ask the Board to immediately remedy this substantial disenfranchisement of shareholders so that each director class is composed of three directors. We will monitor this ongoing violation of law and will take all appropriate action to ensure that shareholders have an opportunity to elect three directors at the 2014 Annual Meeting,” said Mr. Kahn.

Mr. Kahn concluded, “As one of Aaron’s largest shareholders, the rapidly accelerating decline in the company’s business has become so troubling that we feel we must take this action. Customers are leaving in droves while Ron Allen and his management team waste time and shareholders’ money changing all facets of a business that was not broken. Numerous Aaron’s stakeholders—from shareholders to franchisees to employees—have told us that they are concerned about the health of Aaron’s and want a change in the company’s leadership. Our purpose in this proxy contest is to enable Aaron’s shareholders to raise their voice in favor of change, and to provide capable directors who will hear them.”

Biographies

W. Kenneth Butler, Jr. served as Aaron’s Chief Operating Officer from August 2008 to May 2013. Prior to that, Mr. Butler served as President of Aaron’s Sales & Lease Ownership division since 1995. He also served as Vice President of that division from 1986 to 1995. Mr. Butler joined Aaron’s in 1974 as a store manager. From 2000 until May 2013, Mr. Butler was a member of the Aaron’s Board of Directors. Mr. Butler has served as a director of RE/MAX of Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio since 2005.

Matthew E. Avril retired from Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (“Starwood”) in December 2012, where he had served as President, Hotel Group since September 2008. Mr. Avril was responsible for hotel operations worldwide for Starwood’s nine hotel brands, consisting of approximately 1,100 properties in more than 97 countries. Mr. Avril also oversaw Starwood’s global sales organization. Mr. Avril began his career with Starwood in 1989 through Vistana, Inc., the predecessor to Starwood Vacation Ownership. Mr. Avril is a director of API Technologies Corp. and Zentila.

 
 

Spencer S. Smith is the Chief Executive Officer of Smith Group, one of the largest franchisees in the Aaron’s system. After starting with a single Aaron’s franchise, Mr. Smith now owns and operates 43 Aaron’s locations.

Thomas R. Bernau is the owner of Arona Corporation, an operator of 51 Aaron’s franchises and one of the largest franchisees in the Aaron’s system. In addition to numerous other business interests, Mr. Bernau serves on the Board of Directors of several private companies.

Brian R. Kahn founded and has served as the investment manager of VCM and its predecessor since 1998. Mr. Kahn has served as Chairman of API Technologies Corp. since January 2011; from January 2011 to August 2012, Mr. Kahn also served as Chief Executive Officer of API. From October 2011 to July 2012, Mr. Kahn was a director of Integral Systems, Inc. From September 2009 to April 2010, Mr. Kahn was the Chairman of White Electronic Designs Corporation. Mr. Kahn is also a member of the Board of Managers of Buddy’s Newco, LLC d/b/a/ Buddy’s Home Furnishings, an owner and franchisor of rent-to-own stores. Earlier in his career, Mr. Kahn was the owner of Rosey Rentals L. P., which at the time was the second-largest franchisee of Aaron’s, Ace TV Rental and Choice Rent-to-Own.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

Vintage Capital Management, LLC (“VCM”), collectively with W. Kenneth Butler, Jr., Matthew E. Avril, Spencer S. Smith, Thomas R. Bernau and Brian R. Kahn, are participants in the solicitation of proxies from shareholders in connection with the 2014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Aaron’s, Inc. (the “Company”). VCM intends to file a proxy statement (the “2014 Proxy Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the Annual Meeting.

VCM and Mr. Kahn may be deemed to beneficially own 7,277,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, representing approximately 10.1% of the Company’s common stock. None of the other participants owns in excess of 1% of the Company’s common stock. Additional information regarding such participants, including their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be included in the 2014 Proxy Statement and other relevant documents to be filed with the SEC in connection with the Annual Meeting.

Promptly after filing its definitive 2014 Proxy Statement with the SEC, VCM intends to mail the definitive 2014 Proxy Statement and a WHITE proxy card pursuant to applicable SEC rules. SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE 2014 PROXY STATEMENT (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT THE COMPANY WILL FILE WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Shareholders may obtain, free of charge, copies of the definitive 2014 Proxy Statement and any other documents filed by VCM with respect to the Company with the SEC in connection with the Annual Meeting at the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov) or by writing to Vintage Capital Management, LLC, 4705 S. Apopka Vineland Road, Suite 210, Orlando, FL 32819.

 
 

About Vintage Capital Management, LLC

Vintage Capital Management, LLC (“VCM”) is a value-oriented, operations-focused private and public equity investor specializing in the aerospace & defense, manufacturing and consumer sectors with a 15-year track record of consistently successful returns. VCM adheres strictly to a capital preservation approach defined by its commitment to control (economic or otherwise); vigilant analysis; structural advantages; and partnership with successful operators well known to VCM.

Contact

Brian R. Kahn

Vintage Capital Management, LLC

(407) 909-8015

bkahn@vintcap.com