0001571049-14-001221.txt : 20140417 0001571049-14-001221.hdr.sgml : 20140417 20140417155605 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001571049-14-001221 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: SC 13D/A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 3 FILED AS OF DATE: 20140417 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20140417 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: 14770071 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 t1400690_sc13d.htm AMENDMENT NO. 5 TO SCHEDULE 13D

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13D

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. 5)*

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)

April 17, 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. 5 (this “Amendment”) amends and supplements the Schedule 13D filed on February 7, 2014, as amended on February 28, 2014, March 7, 2014, March 14, 2014 and March 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 April 14, 2014, the Issuer filed a complaint against the Reporting Persons in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. The Reporting Persons believe that the allegations in the complaint are meritless and will contest them vigorously. The complaint is attached to this Statement as Exhibit 7 and incorporated herein by reference.

On April 17, 2014, Vintage Capital submitted a letter to the Board of Directors of the Issuer. In the letter, Vintage Capital withdrew its proposal to acquire the Issuer for $30.50 per share of Common Stock. Also on April 17, 2014, Vintage Capital issued a press release containing the full text of such letter. The press release is attached to this Statement as Exhibit 8 and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7. Material to be Filed as Exhibits.

Item 7 is amended to add the following:

 

Exhibit Number

Description

7 Complaint, filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia on April 14, 2014.
8 Press Release of Vintage Capital Management, LLC, dated April 17, 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: April 17, 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.*
5 Press Release of Vintage Capital Management, LLC, dated March 14, 2014.*
6 Press Release of Vintage Capital Management, LLC, dated March 28, 2014.*
7 Complaint, filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia on April 14, 2014.
8 Press Release of Vintage Capital Management, LLC, dated April 17, 2014.

_____________________________

* Previously filed.

 

 

Page 7 of 7

 

 

EX-99.7 2 t1400690_ex7.htm EXHIBIT 7

 

Exhibit 7

 

 

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA

 

 

AARON’S INC.,

 

Plaintiff,

 

v.

 

VINTAGE CAPITAL, MANAGEMENT, LLC, KAHN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC, AND BRIAN R. KAHN

 

Defendants.

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

CIVIL ACTION NO. __________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMPLAINT

 

Plaintiff Aaron’s, Inc. (“Aaron’s” or the “Company”) alleges as follows:

 

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

 

Defendants Vintage Capital Management, LLC (“Vintage”), Kahn Capital Management, LLC (“Kahn Capital”) and Brian R. Kahn (“Mr. Kahn”) (collectively, “Defendants”) are trying to obtain control of Aaron’s through an illusory proposal to acquire the Company in a transaction that they cannot finance, and which they have not properly disclosed in order to garner support for the election of their slate of director candidates at the Company’s 2014 annual meeting. For example, Defendants have trumpeted to shareholders that they have put forth “a fully-financed transaction that has the full support of [their] lenders,” but have never disclosed the required information supporting that claim as required by Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 78m(d), and Regulation 13D. In addition to being required, disclosure of this information is particularly important since Vintage is a small private equity fund, whose financial wherewithal and limited partners, if they even exist, are not publicly disclosed. It is critical for Aaron’s shareholders and the market generally to know and understand the terms and conditions of Defendants’ debt financing and the sources and identities of their equity investors. Vintage falsely states that it “has made Aaron’s aware of the financing commitment,” but in fact, Vintage has never provided any evidence that it actually has committed financing—either publicly through the disclosure mandated by law or in private conversations with Aaron’s or its representatives.

 

-1-
 

 

Defendants have further violated the federal securities laws by soliciting Aaron’s shareholders for support for their dissident director slate based on an undisclosed plan that allegedly will be overseen and monitored by a former Company director, even as they fail to disclose, as required, the details of that supposed plan or that said former director is contractually barred from any future business affiliation or relationship with Aaron’s. By this action, Aaron’s seeks declaratory and injunctive relief against Defendants in an attempt to curb these violations of the federal securities laws.

 

NATURE OF THE ACTION

 

1.                 The federal securities laws are premised on the notion that filers will provide full, complete and truthful disclosures to shareholders so they will be in a position to make informed choices concerning their investment. The rules promulgated under Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act require the disclosure of any plans or proposals that the reporting persons may have that relate to or would result in, among other things: (i) the acquisition by any person of additional securities of the issuer, or the disposition of securities of the issuer; (ii) an extraordinary corporate transaction, such as a merger, reorganization or liquidation, involving the issuer or any of its subsidiaries; (iii) a sale or transfer of a material amount of assets of the issuer or any of its subsidiaries; (iv) any change in the present board of directors or management of the issuer; (v) any material change in the issuer’s business or corporate structure; or (vi) any action similar to any of the foregoing.

 

-2-
 

  

2.                 Defendants are attempting to influence and obtain control of Aaron’s without complying with these rules and regulations. Defendants’ Schedule 13D filing and subsequent amendments omit important material information. For example, Defendants have not disclosed the nature, terms or any conditions to their purported equity and debt financing arrangements or commitments, or even the names of their supposed equity investors in connection with their plan to acquire control of Aaron’s as required by Items 3 and 6 of Schedule 13D. Defendants are using press releases to suggest to the market and Aaron’s shareholders that their offer is “bona fide” while simultaneously ignoring the federal disclosure requirements that require them to support any such claim. If Vintage has not secured sufficient equity and debt financing to acquire Aaron’s, Defendants cannot use press releases or SEC filings to mislead the market and Aaron’s shareholders into believing that their acquisition proposal is bona fide. Aaron’s shares are currently trading in the market and investors are making investment decisions based on disclosure regarding the Company’s future—including whether they believe there is a bona fide offer to acquire the Company on the table.

 

-3-
 

 

3.                 Defendants also have not disclosed any aspect of their plans for the Company as required under Item 4 of Schedule 13D. In an April 3, 2014 conversation with the Company’s financial advisors, Mr. Kahn referenced certain plans he has for the Company, which he said include plans to manage the Company differently. Item 4 of Schedule 13D requires the disclosure of plans or proposals that relate to or would result in, among other things, any change in the board of directors or management of the issuer or any material change in the issuer’s business or corporate structure.

 

4.                 Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act and Rule 14a-9 promulgated thereunder provide that “[n]o solicitation subject to this regulation shall be made by means . . . containing any statement which . . . is false or misleading . . . or which omits to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not false or misleading.” 17 C.F.R. § 240.14a-9. If Vintage had not secured committed equity and debt financing sufficient to acquire Aaron’s at the time the Defendants made statements that they had financing to support their acquisition proposal, then such statements were materially false and misleading in violation of Rules 14a-9 and 10b-5. Defendants have violated Section 14(a) and Rule 14a-9 by soliciting Aaron’s shareholders for support for their board nominees, while failing to disclose that one of their candidates, W. Kenneth Butler, Jr., is contractually prohibited from serving as a director of Aaron’s based on a separation agreement between with Aaron’s that precludes him from “inquir[ing], seek[ing], or accept[ing] employment, contract work, temporary work or any other business association” with the Company.

 

-4-
 

 

5.               The declaratory and injunctive relief sought in this action is necessary both to provide Aaron’s and Aaron’s stockholders with complete, accurate and truthful disclosures so that they can make informed decisions regarding Vintage’s financing, and evaluate Vintage’s plans for the Company. Aaron’s seeks declaratory and injunctive relief requiring Defendants to comply with the federal securities laws.

THE PARTIES

 

6.               Plaintiff Aaron’s is a NYSE-listed, publicly traded company incorporated under the laws of Georgia with its principal place of business at 309 East Paces Ferry Road, NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30305. Aaron’s is a lease-to-own retailer specializing in the sales and lease ownership of residential furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories.

 

7.               Defendant Vintage is a Delaware limited liability company, which serves as an investment adviser to investment funds and managed accounts.

 

8.               Defendant Kahn Capital is a Delaware limited liability company, which serves as a member and majority owner of Vintage.

 

9.               Defendant Kahn is an individual who serves as the manager and a member of Vintage, and the manager and sole member of Kahn Capital.

 

10.            The principal place of business for Vintage, Kahn Capital, and Kahn is 4705 S. Apopka Vineland Road, Suite 210, Orlando, Florida 32819.

 

-5-
 

 

JURISDICTION AND VENUE

 

11.            This action arises under Sections 10(b), 13(d), 14(a) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 78j(b), 78m(d), 78n(a), 78t(a) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the SEC.

 

12.            Jurisdiction over the subject of this matter is based on 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1367 and Section 27 of the Exchange Act, 15 U.S.C. § 78aa.

 

13.            Venue in this District is proper pursuant to Section 27 of the Exchange Act, 15 U.S.C. § 78aa, and because a substantial part of the events giving rise to this action occurred, are occurring, and unless enjoined, will continue to occur in this District.

 

14.            Declaratory relief is appropriate pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2201 because there is an actual controversy between the parties regarding Defendants’ violations of and/or non-compliance with Section 10(b) and its corresponding Rule 10b-5, Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and its corresponding Regulation 13D-G, and Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act and its corresponding Rule 14a-9.

 

FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS

 

15.            On February 7, 2014, Vintage sent an unsolicited letter to the members of Aaron’s board of directors (the “Board”) in which Vintage proposed to acquire 100% of Aaron’s common stock in an all-cash transaction. See Exhibit 1.

 

16.            On that same day, Defendants filed a Schedule 13D with the SEC disclosing for the first time that Vintage and its affiliates had acquired 9.5% of the outstanding shares of Aaron’s common stock. See Exhibit 2.

 

-6-
 

 

17.            On February 28, 2014, Defendants filed Amendment No. 1 to their Schedule 13D, attaching another letter to the Board. The letter states that Vintage had not received any response to its proposal and that it was “uniquely positioned to acquire Aaron’s on an accelerated basis” and that it was “proposing a fully-financed transaction that has the full support of our lenders” without providing any information about that alleged financing. See Exhibit 3. In violation of Item 3 and Item 6 of Schedule 13D, Defendants’ Schedule 13D and Amendment No. 1 thereto failed to contain any disclosure regarding the nature, terms or conditions of Vintage’s financing and/or the identity of the particular lenders and equity investors that supposedly “support” Vintage’s efforts to acquire Aaron’s in the proposed transaction or provide the necessary financing for such a transaction.

 

18.            In the February 28, 2014 letter, Defendants also state that they “are ready and willing to share with [Aaron’s] the details of how [their] proposal will deliver immediate and certain value to Aaron’s stockholders.” However, in violation of Item 4 of Schedule 13D, Defendants’ SEC filings do not contain any disclosure regarding the substantive aspects of Defendants’ plans for the Company.

 

19.            On March 7, 2014, Defendants filed Amendment No. 2 to their Schedule 13D and issued a press release nominating five candidates to serve as members of the Board. In that release, Kahn criticized management and the Board and attempted to “offer shareholders a way to clearly express their dissatisfaction with the changes” current management has made. See Exhibit 4. However, in violation of Rule 14a-9, Defendants failed to disclose that at least one of their candidates is contractually prohibited from “inquir[ing], seek[ing], or accept[ing] employment, contract work, temporary work or any other business association” with Aaron’s. See Exhibit 5.

 

-7-
 

 

20.            On March 14, 2014, Defendants filed Amendment No. 3 to their Schedule 13D, attaching another letter, this one addressed to the independent members of the Board. The letter states that the Board members’ “priority as independent directors must be to either bring in a new management team to stabilize and improve the business or sell the company to someone who is better able to run it.” See Exhibit 6. However, in violation of Item 4 of Schedule 13D, Defendants’ SEC filings do not contain any disclosure regarding the substantive aspects of their plan for the Company.

 

21.            Kahn is further quoted in an April 2, 2014, MergerMarket article as saying that he has “a financing commitment in place” and that he is “not planning to team up with another private equity firm or other investors to acquire” Aaron’s. See Exhibit 7. In violation of Item 3 and Item 6 of Schedule 13D, Defendants’ SEC filings do not contain any disclosure regarding the details of Vintage’s supposed “financing commitment,” and in violation of Item 7 of Schedule 13D, Defendants did not attach any agreements or understandings related to such “financing commitment.”

 

22.            In an April 3, 2014 telephone conversation between Kahn and representatives of Goldman Sachs and The Blackstone Group (Aaron’s financial advisors), Kahn stated that Vintage has a commitment letter from Jefferies LLC and that the equity component of Defendants’ financing is being provided by unnamed limited partners who have supposedly committed to invest in a special purpose vehicle. Any contracts or agreements with Jefferies LLC with respect to this engagement, including any financing papers and any engagement letter that may have been entered into, must be disclosed under Item 6 of Schedule 13D and attached as exhibits pursuant to Item 7 of Schedule 13D. Additionally, in the same April 3 telephone conversation with Aaron’s financial advisors, Kahn noted that Vintage has developed a plan for Aaron’s, which includes plans for managing Aaron’s differently. However, in violation of Item 4 of Schedule 13D, Defendants’ SEC filings do not contain the required disclosure regarding the substantive aspects of their plan for the Company.

 

-8-
 

 

23.            Despite Kahn’s numerous public and private statements that he has a financing commitment in place, neither Defendants’ Schedule 13D filed on February 7, 2014, nor any of the amendments thereto (filed on February 28, 2014, March 7, 2014, March 14, 2014 and March 28, 2014) disclose any relevant information regarding this financing, the sources for the various components of the financing, or any agreements, arrangements or commitments relating thereto, all in contravention of Item 3 and Item 6 of Schedule 13D.

 

THE FALSE AND MISLEADING SCHEDULE 13D

 

24.            Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act was enacted as part of the Williams Act of 1968, which amended the Exchange Act “to provide for full disclosure in connection with cash tender offers and other techniques for accumulating large blocks of equity securities of publicly held companies.” Section 13(d), in particular, was designed “to alert the marketplace to every large, rapid aggregation or accumulation of securities, regardless of technique employed, which might represent a potential shift in corporate control.”

 

-9-
 

 

25.            More specifically, Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder, require Defendants, and each of them, to provide complete, accurate and timely disclosure of their purposes, plans and intentions with respect to their acquisition of Aaron’s shares of common stock and to provide full, complete and truthful information critical to shareholders so shareholders can make informed investment decisions about the future direction of the Company. The rules and regulations further require that the reporting persons disclose “such further material information” as is necessary to make the other information provided in their disclosure not misleading.

 

26.            Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act mandates that “any person” who becomes “directly or indirectly the beneficial owner of more than 5 percent” of a class of securities of an issuing corporation, within 10 days after such acquisition, file a statement setting forth certain information with the SEC and send the statement to the issuer.

 

27.            As alleged herein, Defendants, and each of them, violated Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules promulgated thereunder by failing to fully, truthfully and accurately disclose required information regarding:

 

(i)the details of the nature, terms or any conditions of their supposed equity and debt financing arrangements, in contravention of Item 3 of Schedule 13D;
(ii)W. Kenneth Butler, Jr.’s contractual prohibition from serving as a member of the Board, in contravention of Item 4 of Schedule 13D;

 

-10-
 

 

(iii)their plans for the Company, in contravention of Item 4 of Schedule 13D;
(iv)the details of their relationship with their investment banker, Jefferies LLC, in contravention of Items 3 and 6 of Schedule 13D;
(v)the agreement between Defendants and Jefferies LLC regarding their purported equity and debt financing, in contravention of Items 3 and 6 of Schedule 13D; and
(vi)arrangement or arrangements with limited partners of Vintage or other investors who purportedly are providing equity financing for the transaction, in contravention of Items 3 and 6 of Schedule 13D.

THE FALSE AND MISLEADING SOLICITATION

 

28.            Section 14(a), and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder, also apply to Defendants’ public statements. As Defendants concede in their SEC filings, Defendants’ statements constitute a “solicitation” under Rule 14a-1.

 

29.            Rule 14a-9 provides that “[n]o solicitation subject to this regulation shall be made by any means . . . which omits to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements not false or misleading.”

 

30.            In disseminating the false and misleading communications described herein, Defendants made untrue statements of material facts and omitted to state material facts necessary to make the statements that were made therein not misleading in violation of Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act and Rule 14a-9 promulgated thereunder.

 

-11-
 

 

31.            Defendants have publicly announced that they will submit five candidates for election to the Board at the 2014 annual meeting of shareholders and therefore are subject to the SEC’s proxy rules. One of those candidates is W. Kenneth Butler, Jr. Mr. Butler, however, by virtue of a separation agreement entered into with Aaron’s on May 1, 2013, is precluded from seeking or accepting any “employment, contract work, temporary work, or any other business association” with the Company. See Exhibit 5. Defendants, in their communication with shareholders, omitted this material fact. In addition, if the Defendants do not have fully committed financing to support their acquisition proposal, then Defendants have intentionally misled the shareholders and the investing public and have violated Rules 10b-5 and 14a-9.

 

32.            A reasonable shareholder would consider these false and misleading statements and omissions to be important in deciding how to vote on the subject issues, and reasonable investors would consider such omissions important in deciding whether to invest in or sell Aaron’s securities. The omissions and misstatements significantly alter the “total mix” of information made available to Aaron’s shareholders.

 

COUNT I

(Violation of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act by All Defendants)

 

33.            Aaron’s repeats and realleges the allegations of Paragraphs 1-32 as if set forth fully herein.

 

34.            The omissions and misrepresentations in Defendants’ Schedule 13D, including the amendments thereto, concern information that is material to Aaron’s shareholders and to the investing public.

 

-12-
 

 

35.            By reason of the foregoing, Defendants have violated Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

36.            Aaron’s has no adequate remedy at law, and the investing public will be irreparably harmed in the absence of the declaratory and equitable relief as prayed for herein. Injunctive relief also is appropriate to deter Defendants from continuing their misconduct.

 

COUNT II

(Violation of Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act by All Defendants)

 

37.            Aaron’s repeats and realleges the allegations of Paragraphs 1-36 as if set forth fully herein.

 

38.            A reasonable shareholder would consider the false and misleading statements and omissions described above as important in deciding how to potentially vote on the subject issues. The omissions and misstatements significantly alter the “total mix” of information available to Aaron’s shareholders.

 

39.            By reason of the foregoing, Defendants have violated Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act and Rule 14a-9(a) promulgated thereunder.

 

40.            Aaron’s has no adequate remedy at law and the investing public will be irreparably harmed in the absence of the declaratory and equitable relief as prayed for herein. Injunctive relief also is appropriate to deter Defendants from continuing their misconduct.

 

-13-
 

 

COUNT III

(Violation of Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act by all Defendants)

 

41.            Aaron’s repeats and realleges the allegations of Paragraphs 1-40 as if fully set forth herein.

 

42.            A reasonable investor would consider the false and misleading statements and omissions described above as important in deciding whether to invest in or sell Aaron’s securities. The omissions and misstatements significantly alter the “total mix” of information made available to Aaron’s shareholders.

 

43.            By reason of the foregoing, Defendants have violated Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder.

 

44.            Aaron’s has no adequate remedy at law and the investing public will be irreparably harmed in the absence of the declaratory and equitable relief as prayed for herein. Injunctive relief also is appropriate to deter Defendants from continuing their misconduct.

 

COUNT IV

(Violation of Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act by Kahn Capital Management and Brian R. Kahn)

 

45.            Aaron’s repeats and realleges the allegations of Paragraphs 1-44 as if fully set forth herein.

 

46.            Defendants Kahn Capital and Kahn possess the power to direct or cause the direction of the management, and did in fact direct or cause the direction or management, of Vintage, including Defendant Vintage’s actions and omissions in violation of Sections 10(b), 13(d) and 14(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

-14-
 

 

47.            Defendants Kahn Capital and Kahn are controlling persons within the meaning of Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act and are liable for the violations of Sections 10(b), 13(d) and 14(a) of the Exchange Act as set forth above.

 

 

PRAYER FOR RELIEF

 

WHEREFORE, Aaron’s respectfully requests that this Court enter an order:

 

(a)              Adjudging and declaring that Defendants have violated Sections 10(b), 13(d), 14(a) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder due to their failure to file timely, accurate and complete disclosures in violation of the Exchange Act;

 

(b)             Directing that Defendants file truthful and accurate Schedule 13D and Schedule 14A disclosures, in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations, forthwith;

 

(c)              Preliminarily and permanently enjoining Defendants, their servants, employees, agents and attorneys, and all persons acting for them or on their behalf or in concert or participation with them, from directly or indirectly: (i) violating Sections 10(b), 13(d) and/or 14(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; and (ii) engaging in any further activities with respect to their shares of Aaron’s common stock until they have made adequate corrective disclosures as required by the Exchange Act;

 

-15-
 

 

(d)             Enjoining Defendants from voting any proxies received prior to such time as the Court ascertains that Defendants have filed accurate and compliant Schedule 13D and Schedule 14A disclosures;

 

(e)             Ordering expedited discovery with respect to the claims alleged herein;

 

(f)             Awarding Aaron’s its costs and disbursements, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, incurred in the prosecution of this action; and

 

(g)             Granting Aaron’s such other and further relief as the Court deems just and equitable in the circumstances.

 

This 14th day of April, 2014.

/s/ Brandon R. Williams

John L. Latham

Georgia Bar No. 438675

Brandon R. Williams

Georgia Bar No. 760888

Elizabeth Gingold Greenman

Georgia Bar No. 917979

ALSTON & BIRD LLP

One Atlantic Center

1201 West Peachtree Street

Atlanta, GA 30309-3424

Tel: (404) 881-7000

Fax: (404) 881-7777

 

Charles W. Cox

(Pro Hac Vice To Be Applied For)

 

ALSTON & BIRD LLP

333 South Hope Street, 16th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90071

Tel: (2124) 922-3443

Attorneys for Aaron’s Inc.

 

-16-
EX-99.8 3 t1400690_ex8.htm EXHIBIT 8

Exhibit 8

Vintage Capital Management Responds to Latest Entrenchment Action by Aaron’s

Withdraws $30.50 Per Share All Cash Offer to Acquire Aaron’s—

Orlando, FL – April 17, 2014 – Vintage Capital Management, LLC (together with its affiliates, “VCM”), the second largest shareholder of Aaron’s, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), today announced that it has delivered a letter to the independent directors of Aaron’s. In the letter, VCM withdrew its previously-announced offer to acquire Aaron’s for $30.50 per share in cash in light of the company’s recent acquisition of Progressive Finance and continued poor performance. The letter also corrected the numerous misstatements by Aaron’s about VCM’s offer. Finally, the letter confirmed that VCM will proceed with a proxy contest at this year’s annual meeting and asked Aaron’s to allow shareholders to choose the candidates of their choice at the annual meeting.

The full text of the letter follows:

April 17, 2014

Aaron’s, Inc.

309 East Paces Ferry Road, N.E.

Atlanta, GA 30305-2377

Attn: Ray M. Robinson, Chairman

Dear Members of the Board of Directors of Aaron’s, Inc.:

We have previously written to you on several occasions urging you not to engage in short-term financial engineering or value-destructive transactions to mask Aaron’s long-term declines in system-wide profitability. For example, in our March 14, 2014 letter, we could not have been clearer that Aaron’s shareholders and franchisees expected an open and transparent strategic review process that would provide solutions for the problems in Aaron’s core business. We have also urged you to consider in good faith our offer to acquire Aaron’s for $30.50 per share in cash, and explicitly stated that following due diligence we could be prepared to pay an even higher price. Instead of constructively engaging with us about our offer, the Board of Directors has determined that it is “illusory” and decided to waste shareholders’ money and management’s time on a frivolous lawsuit concocted to try to keep a 10% shareholder from voting at the upcoming annual meeting.

Unfortunately, your recent actions confirm our worst suspicions: Aaron’s Board of Directors and management team are not interested in acting in the best interests of Aaron’s, its shareholders, franchisees or others. Your decision to reject our offer and instead spend $700 million on the acquisition of Progressive Finance without any input from shareholders appears to be a desperation move designed to do nothing but block our offer. Aaron’s does not need Progressive Finance and the $426 million in new debt incurred to finance the acquisition—it needs new directors who will install a new management team. We believe

 
 

 

that Wall Street’s reaction to the acquisition (masked though it may be by another earnings miss) clearly shows this is not the solution that shareholders wanted.

As part of the Progressive Finance acquisition, Aaron’s announced yet another vague strategic plan that you would like us to believe will somehow miraculously cure all of the ills faced by Aaron’s long-suffering shareholders and franchisees, who have now endured over two years of value destruction. Meanwhile, Aaron’s management team continues to reap the rewards of lucrative compensation packages without any meaningful oversight by the Board of Directors.

After our repeated warnings, was anyone surprised when Aaron’s also announced Tuesday that it would not meet its guidance—issued in February—for the first quarter and full year 2014?

When we made our offer we were, and continue to be, Aaron’s second largest shareholder. We currently own approximately 10% of Aaron’s outstanding stock, an equity stake that is today worth in excess of $200 million. In addition, as we told you, and as you even admitted in the baseless lawsuit you filed against us, we had arranged with a nationally-recognized investment bank to provide debt financing for our proposal. As you know, the debt financing was for up to $1.85 billion, which, when combined with our available equity, could have allowed us to offer Aaron’s shareholders a substantial premium to the company’s trading price, assuming that you could demonstrate this value during customary due diligence. We stated several times that we would be prepared to share further details of these financing arrangements with you if you would agree to a simple and customary confidentiality agreement. Your refusal to take even this most basic action makes clear that you never had a good faith interest in discussing our offer, despite your public statements that the Board of Directors was undertaking a broad review of opportunities to enhance long-term value for all of Aaron’s shareholders.

Your actions have had one intended effect: we are withdrawing our offer to acquire Aaron’s. Although we continue to have a strong interest in owning Aaron’s, in light of your decision to grossly overpay for Progressive Finance, we need to evaluate how much the company is now worth. We further need to review Aaron’s operating performance and evaluate just how badly the company’s business deteriorated in the first quarter.

We acknowledge that the Aaron’s Board of Directors has been very busy. In the midst of approving a value-destroying acquisition, it was able to find time to approve the gerrymandering of the Board to eliminate the illegal unbalanced director classes that we highlighted and shrink the Board from nine directors down to eight. And yet, in typical Aaron’s fashion, even this action—which disenfranchises all shareholders and denies them the opportunity to elect three new directors at this year’s annual meeting—was done in the most shareholder-unfriendly way possible: by having Gil Danielson, Aaron’s longtime chief financial officer and a non-independent director, “resign” from the Board rather than simply creating a vacancy on the Board and allowing shareholders to fill it. It is shocking to see a board of directors that is so insistent on making sure that shareholders have no say in the direction of their company.

 

 
 

All of these actions by Aaron’s Board of Directors—from the repeated dismissals of our offers to provide shareholders with immediate and certain value to an overpriced acquisition to governance failures at every turn—demonstrate to all shareholders that Aaron’s is in desperate need of truly qualified and independent directors to provide both a fresh perspective and to roll up their sleeves and fix the business. We think it is vital that at this year’s annual meeting shareholders are able to elect the candidates of their choice—the candidates that they believe are best qualified to lead Aaron’s. It is not in anyone’s interest to use legal pretexts and baseless allegations as a way to stop a fair and impartial vote at the annual meeting. We sincerely hope that the Board will do one thing right during this sordid process and allow directors to be held accountable for their decisions. Instead of trying to hide behind lawyers, the Board should let shareholders choose the most qualified nominees to lead their company.

Over the next few months, all of our energy will be spent on making sure that shareholders have a voice in the boardroom.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Brian R. Kahn

Brian R. Kahn

Managing Member

Vintage Capital Management, LLC

Additional Information and Where to Find It

Vintage Capital Management, LLC (“VCM”), collectively with Kahn Capital Management (“KCM”), 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, KCM 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. On February 7, 2014, VCM submitted an offer to acquire the Company for $30.50 per share in cash. On April 16, 2014, VCM withdrew that offer.

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