-----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, AlIvQEfsve5/c2/i250UiV13Dwe7UTqHMZ4jay1XyieD8AZr6qwQ3nrDRxnsDiLK /ShfVfUj0rOPW+PGOVO+Dw== 0001193125-06-007629.txt : 20060118 0001193125-06-007629.hdr.sgml : 20060118 20060118070044 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-06-007629 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: DFAN14A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 FILED AS OF DATE: 20060118 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20060118 EFFECTIVENESS DATE: 20060118 FILED BY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: LIBERATION INVESTMENT GROUP LLC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001259272 IRS NUMBER: 000000000 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: DFAN14A MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 11766 WILSHIRE BLVD., STREET 2: SUITE 870 CITY: LOS ANGELES STATE: CA ZIP: 90025 SUBJECT COMPANY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: BALLY TOTAL FITNESS HOLDING CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000770944 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: SERVICES-MEMBERSHIP SPORTS & RECREATION CLUBS [7997] IRS NUMBER: 363228107 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: DFAN14A SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-13997 FILM NUMBER: 06534348 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 8700 WEST BRYN MAWR AVENUE STREET 2: SECOND FLOOR CITY: CHICAGO STATE: IL ZIP: 60631 BUSINESS PHONE: 773-380-3000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 8700 WEST BRYN MAWR AVENUE STREET 2: SECOND FLOOR CITY: CHICAGO STATE: IL ZIP: 60631 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: BALLYS HEALTH & TENNIS CORP DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19940526 DFAN14A 1 ddfan14a.htm DEFINITIVE ADDITIONAL MATERIALS Definitive Additional Materials

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 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  ¨                            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 §240.14a-12

 

 

 

BALLY TOTAL FITNESS HOLDING CORPORATION


(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

 

 

LIBERATION INVESTMENTS, L.P.

LIBERATION INVESTMENTS LTD.

LIBERATION INVESTMENT GROUP, LLC

EMANUEL R. PEARLMAN

GREGG E. FRANKEL


(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

 

 

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

 

x No fee required.

 

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¨ 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.

 

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On January 18, 2006, Liberation Investments, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“LILP”), and Liberation Investments Ltd. (“LILTD”), issued a press release (a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 1) in which they, among other things, responded to a report issued by Institutional Shareholder Services and certain statements made by Bally Total Fitness Holding Corporation (the “Company”).

 

As previously disclosed under cover of Schedule 14A, LILP and LILTD intend to present a stockholder proposal (the “Proposal”) at the annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders slated for January 26, 2006. In accordance with Instruction 3 of Item 4 of Schedule 14A, LILP, LILTD, Liberation Investment Group, LLC (“LIGLLC”), Emanuel R. Pearlman and Gregg E. Frankel are deemed to be participants in the solicitation in connection with the Proposal. The number of shares of the Company’s common stock beneficially owned by these persons as of January 18, 2006 is as follows: LILP (2,848,213), LILTD (1,536,237), LIGLLC (4,384,450), Mr. Pearlman (4,419,450), Mr. Frankel (0).

 

STOCKHOLDERS ARE STRONGLY URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE SOLICITATION OF PROXIES BY THE REPORTING PERSONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSAL AS THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. A DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT AND A FORM OF PROXY ARE AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE ON THE WEBSITE OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION AT HTTP://WWW.SEC.GOV.

EX-1 2 dex1.htm PRESS RELEASE Press Release

Exhibit 1

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

 

LIBERATION INVESTMENT GROUP, LLC

11766 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 870

Los Angeles, CA 90025

Contact: Emanuel Pearlman

Tel: 310.479.3434

Fax: 310.479.3363

 

 

ISS CRITICIZES BALLY MANAGEMENT AND RECOMMENDS

SHAREHOLDERS NOT VOTE ON BALLY PROXY CARD; LIBERATION

RESPONDS TO BALLY STATEMENTS AND ISS REPORT

 

LOS ANGELES, CA – January 17, 2006 – Investment funds Liberation Investments, L.P. and Liberation Investments Ltd. (“Liberation”) responded to recent statements by Bally Total Fitness Holding Corporation (“Bally”), as well as the report issued last week by Institutional Shareholder Services (“ISS”) regarding Bally’s proxy contest.

 

Emanuel Pearlman, Chief Executive Officer of Liberation Investment Group LLC, stated, “We are appalled to see Bally’s public relations machine continuing to churn out ‘spin’ as management desperately tries to divert the focus away from the need for real change at Bally. Bally’s public relations campaign misses the point we’ve repeatedly made: Let the shareholders vote on Paul Toback’s record. Let’s see what the shareholders really think of the success of his self-hyped ‘turnaround.’ Paul Toback should welcome a referendum on his performance if he actually believes his own press.”

 

In its report, ISS soundly criticized Bally management and its Board of Directors in a number of areas: corporate governance concerns, a series of failures to file financial statements, questionable operating decisions or events, adoption of a “poison pill,” executive stock sales, award of increased equity incentives, resignation of independent directors and the timing of recent corporate governance changes. Liberation, as a major shareholder, has long objected to Bally’s mismanagement and the corporate governance failings that were chronicled by ISS in its report.

 

ISS concluded that “given the series of potential concerns that have been raised, we believe there is a clear argument for fresh views and ideas on the Bally board.” In a strong rebuke to Bally, ISS recommended that shareholders not vote on Bally’s proxy card, but rather vote on Pardus’ proxy card for the election of their dissident slate of directors.

 

With regard to Liberation’s shareholder proposal to directly remove Paul Toback as the Chief Executive Officer of Bally, ISS concluded that “the board represents shareholders and this is where any dissident focus should be for change” and “…ultimately, the criticism falls at the board’s feet for overseeing poor performance and not making changes to solve management issues.”


Liberation said that it agreed that the Board is the usual focal point of shareholder reform efforts, but noted that the Bally Board has “shown itself over the past 18 months to be singularly unwilling to take shareholder democracy seriously, rejecting virtually every reform we have proposed or adopting watered-down alternative measures under intense pressure.” Liberation also said that Bally had erected multiple structural barriers to change, making shareholder reform through Board elections ineffectual in this special situation. According to Liberation, these structural barriers at Bally include the existence of a staggered Board, the adoption of a “poison pill” (which Bally is using to prevent shareholders from expressing their concerns in a coordinated way), and the fact that the offices of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board are jointly held by one individual.

 

Gregg Frankel, President of Liberation Investment Group LLC, commented, “ISS clearly articulated that there are serious problems with the management and corporate governance at Bally. While we are pleased that ISS supports the need for change at Bally, we obviously are disappointed that they did not go further in supporting our shareholder proposal to remove Paul Toback. Nevertheless, we expect that a large number of shareholders will support our proposal because they understand that direct shareholder action is necessary in this unique situation.”

 

Liberation Investments, L.P. and Liberation Investments Ltd. are private investment funds managed by Liberation Investment Group LLC. Emanuel R. Pearlman is the majority member and general manager of Liberation Investment Group LLC, and as such may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the shares of Bally owned by the Liberation Funds.

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