DEFA14A 1 d738471ddefa14a.htm DEFINITIVE ADDITIONAL MATERIALS - SUPPLEMENTAL INVESTOR PRESENTATION Definitive Additional Materials - Supplemental Investor Presentation

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

SCHEDULE 14A

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.     )

 

 

Filed by the Registrant  x                             Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  ¨

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

ValueVision Media, Inc.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

(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 Rules 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 was 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:

 

     

 

 

 


On May 30, 2014, ValueVision Media, Inc. (“ValueVision”) provided Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”) with a slide presentation (the “Supplemental Presentation”) pertaining to certain matters to be voted upon at ValueVision’s 2014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders scheduled for June 18, 2014. The Supplemental Presentation (i) responds to certain statements included in the Clinton Group’s presentation to ISS on May 27, 2014 and (ii) supplements the presentation made by ValueVision to ISS on May 28, 2014. A copy of the Supplemental Presentation is filed herewith.

Important Information

This filing and its exhibit may be deemed to be solicitation material in respect of the solicitation of proxies from shareholders in connection with one or more meetings of the Company’s shareholders, including the Company’s 2014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. On May 9, 2014, the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) a proxy statement and a WHITE proxy card in connection with the Company’s 2014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The Company, its directors and certain of its executive officers and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from shareholders in connection with the Company’s 2014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Information concerning the interests of these directors and executive officers in connection with the matters to be voted on at the Company’s 2014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders is included in the proxy statement filed by the Company with the SEC in connection with such meeting. In addition, the Company files annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy and information statements, and other information with the SEC. The proxy statement for the 2014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders is available, and any other relevant documents and any other material filed with the SEC concerning the Company will be, when filed, available, free of charge at the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov. SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ CAREFULLY THE PROXY STATEMENT FILED BY THE COMPANY AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION, INCLUDING INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO PARTICIPANTS.

 

 


SUPPLEMENTAL INVESTOR
PRESENTATION
May 30, 2014
ValueVision Media
(NASDAQ: VVTV)
SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON
CLINTON GROUP’S MISLEADING MESSAGING


2
SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON
CLINTON GROUP’S MISLEADING MESSAGING
Clinton Group’s Selection of a Variety of Baseline Comparisons for Operating Performance and
Shareholder Returns is Self-Serving and Misleading
Contrary to the Clinton Group’s Assertions, ValueVision’s Strategy is Working:
Enhancing the Customer Experience and Creating Value for Shareholders
Clinton Group Continues to Misunderstand or Intentionally Misrepresent
ValueVision’s Programming and Merchandising Strategy
Clinton
Group’s
“First
Ninety
Days”
Plan
is
Poorly
Conceived
and Risks Derailing the Company’s Momentum
Clinton Group has Omitted Material Facts about the Board that Shareholders Should Consider
Clinton Group’s May 27, 2014 Presentation to ISS Included Multiple
Inaccurate and Misleading Statements


VALUEVISION SHARE PERFORMANCE:
SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT
Clinton Group’s Comparisons to a 10-Year Average Share Price During Another Management Team’s Tenure are Misleading
3
Clinton Group’s
Misleading
Portrayal of
ValueVision’s
Stock
Performance
(As Shown on Page 5 of
Clinton Group’s
Presentation)
VVTV Share Price Performance
ValueVision
Reality
Clinton Group Selects Returns Dating Back to 1999, More Than Nine Years
Before Mr. Stewart and Current Management Joined the Company…
ValueVision has Delivered Strong Returns Since
Mr. Stewart Became the CEO…
69.5%
Decline
From
10-Year
Average
10-Year Average: $14.77
145.9%
Increase
Since
Q2
2012
(1)(2)
765.4%
Increase
Since
Mr.
Stewart
Became
CEO
(1)
…as well as in the Last 2 Years Since the Q2 2012 Announcement
of Returning to Growth.
Only One Member of Current Executive Management and the Board was at the Company Prior to October 2008
…and Shows that Prior Management Took
ValueVision to its Lowest Share Price in 15 Years.
(1)
As of market close on May 29, 2014.
(2)
Performance since Q2 2012 Earnings Announcement on August 15, 2012.
(1)
20.00
40.00
60.00
80.00
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
(400.0%)
0.0%
400.0%
800.0%
1200.0%
1600.0%
2000.0%
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
(50.0%)
0.0%
50.0%
100.0%
150.0%
200.0%
250.0%
300.0%
2012
2013
2013
2013
2014


VALUEVISION REVENUE PERFORMANCE:
SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT
Clinton Group’s Claim that ValueVision Lost Market Share During Our Executive Management’s Tenure is Misleading
4
Clinton Group’s
Misleading
Portrayal of
ValueVision’s
Operating
Performance
(As Shown on Page 6 of
Clinton Group’s
Presentation)
Historical Revenue
ValueVision
Reality
ValueVision has Advanced its Share Since 2009…
(Mr. Stewart’s First Fiscal Year as CEO)
VVTV
5.0%
Revenue
CAGR
We
Typically
Gauge
Our
Share
Against
the
Broader
Retail
Environment,
but
Clinton
Group’s
Selective
and
Incomplete
Data
Warrants
Correction
Revenue Share
This Data Is Also Outside the Scope Of the Existing
Management Team and Nearly the Entire Board
$692
$640
$1,857
$2,312
$4,640
$5,844
(7%)
+22%
+26%
HSN
Segment
26%
QVC US
67%
2007 Revenue Share
VVTV
10%
QVC US
66%
2013 Revenue Share
HSN
3.6%
CAGR
QVC
4.0%
CAGR
VVTV
9.4%
Revenue
CAGR
HSN
2.9%
CAGR
QVC
3.5%
CAGR
+17%
+5%
+6%
The Clinton Group Fails to Include 2008–2012 and, Again,
Includes Performance Prior to Our Team’s Tenure
HSN
Segment
24%
…and has Grown Nearly 3x Faster
than its Peers Since Q2 2012
2005
2006
2007
2013
VVTV
2005
2006
2007
2013
HSN Segment
2005
2006
2007
2013
QVC US
VVTV
7%
$528
$562
$558
$574
$640
F09
F10
F11
F12
F13
$2,008
$2,116
$2,160
$2,265
$2,312
F09
F10
F11
F12
F13
$4,987
$5,235
$5,412
$5,585
$5,844
F09
F10
F11
F12
F13
$554
$649
TTM Q2 2012
TTM Q1 2014
$2,196
$2,307
TTM Q2 2012
TTM Q1 2014
$5,508
$5,852
TTM Q2 2012
TTM Q1 2014


VALUEVISION MERCHANDISING &
DISTRIBUTION STRATEGY:
SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT
Clinton
Group
has
Failed
to
Express
Any
New
or
Unique
Ideas
with
Regard
to
ValueVision’s
Merchandising
Strategy
5
We Aim to Generate Shareholder Return through Prudent and Opportunistic Merchandising and
Programming Strategies that will Resonate with Both Our Vendors and Customers
Clinton Group
Claims
“[ValueVision] has failed to develop
proprietary brands”
“Few successful proprietary brands”
Clinton
Group
Presentation
Reference:
Page
3
ValueVision
Reality
ValueVision has a compelling and
developing proprietary portfolio
Revenue from proprietary brands grew 67%
in the last two fiscal years: 17% of our
product mix in fiscal 2011 and 25% in fiscal
2013
A growing selection of ValueVision’s
proprietary brands include:
Home: Cozelle Linens, North Shore
Linens Cook’s Tradition Cookware,
Cook’s Companion and Grand Suites
Fashion: Kate and Mallory, OSO Casuals,
Geneology, Addressing Woman,
Glitterscape and Affinity for Knits
Jewelry: Gem Treasures, NYC II, Adair,
Gems En Vogue II, Briliante, Portofino,
Diamond Treasures, Toscana, Dine
Spirit, Gem Insider and Passage to Israel
Proprietary Brands
Clinton Group
Claims
“The Invicta, Skinn and Waterford
brands (and many of their products)
are available elsewhere”
“We believe viewers may be buying
elsewhere…”
“Viewers [on QVC and HSN] cannot
price compare…”
Clinton
Group
Presentation
Reference:
Page
9
Exclusive Products
ValueVision
Reality
A vast majority of ValueVision’s
television product and
configurations are exclusive during
the time we are selling it
Long or short-term agreements
allow ValueVision to sell through its
unique inventory on its television
programs without competition
To Use Mr. Bozek’s words, “They
can’t be found elsewhere.”
Clinton
Group
Presentation
Reference:
Page
3


VALUEVISION MERCHANDISING &
DISTRIBUTION STRATEGY:
SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT (CONT’D)
With Our Broad Product Mix, Stronger Channel Positioning and Programming, Our  Customer Base Has Grown 80%, Our
Customers Now Purchase 35% More Frequently and, since Q2 2012, We Have Grown Nearly 3x Faster than the Competition
6
Clinton Group
Claims
“Programming that is monotonous and
repetitive…”
“ValueVision is showing re-runs at night,
which dampens the connection to the
customer and removes the impulse-buy
nature of televised home shopping”
Clinton
Group
Presentation
Reference:
Page
12
and
13
“ValueVision is still broadcasting in
standard definition from outdated
studios”
Clinton
Group
Presentation
Reference:
Page
3
Clinton Group
Claims
“[ValueVision’s] product mix [is] vastly
different than competitors”
“Progress [to shift product mix] has
been extremely slow or non-existent…”
Clinton
Group
Presentation
Reference:
Page
10
ValueVision
Reality
Product Mix
Product mix is one factor ValueVision
uses to differentiate its platform
ValueVision’s customers appreciate our
unique ability to attract luxury brand
vendors
Our product mix has changed
significantly since fiscal 2008:
ASP reduction of 50%+
Jewelry
&
Watches
sales
reduced
17%
Beauty, Health & Fitness sales
increased over 200%
Fashion & Accessories sales
increased over 70%
Home & Consumer Electronics mix
shifted toward Home products
Added 250 new vendors in 2013, belying
Clinton Group’s referencing of
anonymous sources about vendor
relations
Programming and Distribution
ValueVision
Reality
ValueVision added 99 new program
and vendor concepts in 2013
ValueVision has decisively and
opportunistically expanded and
improved distribution
Decisions to improve channel
positioning and broadcast definition are
returns-driven
200%+ increase in homes
broadcasted in HD since 2012
Over 10 million homes were
repositioned below channel 50
from above channel 50 since
January 2013


7
VALUEVISION BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT
Director
What Clinton Group Stated
What the Facts Are
Randy Ronning
Former EVP and Chief
Marketing Officer,
QVC
“Ronning
served as Chief Merchandising
Officer of QVC for 18 months”
Mr. Ronning
has 37 consecutive years of retail, consumer, media and
operational experience; he has served on the board of 11 companies and
organizations
Keith Stewart
CEO, ValueVision
“Prior to joining ValueVision, Stewart was
a VP of Global Sourcing and
Merchandising at QVC”
Mr. Stewart also served as the general manager of QVC Germany where he
took the business from a start-up capacity to the #1 in country market share
Mr. Stewart has been the CEO of ValueVision
for the last 5 years
Under Mr. Stewart’s leadership:
VVTV stock has increased 765%
(1)
Adjusted EBITDA margin has increased 1199 bps
(2)
Company has returned to growth and positive adjusted EBITDA
Jill Botway
President and CRO of
Collective Media
“Botway
was EVP and Director of Sales
and Marketing for Specific
Media/MySpace”
Ms. Botway
brings 25 years in media and marketing on traditional and digital
platforms to the Board
Ms. Botway
joined the Board in 2013 and continues to offer a very fresh
perspective
John Buck
Chairman and Former
CEO, Medica
“Buck previously was CEO of
Minnesota’s second largest health
insurer”
Mr. Buck served as Former Chairman and Interim CEO of VVTV
Mr. Buck has lead director experience at his current Board seat at Patterson
Mr. Buck previously served various roles, including President & COO at
Fingerhut Companies
William Evans
Former CFO / EVP
Witness Systems
“Evans was CFO of tech company until
2007”
Mr.
Evans
offers
3
years
in
media
and
retail
as
well
as
20
years
in
technology
to
the
Board,
notably
senior
financial
management
and
accounting
expertise
gained with respect to financial reporting
(1)
As
of
from
market
close
on
January
26,
2009
through
market
close
on
May
29,
2014.
(2)
From Fiscal Year 2008 to Fiscal Year 2013.
Prior
to
serving
as
Chief
Merchandising
Officer,
Mr.
Ronning
was
EVP
at
QVC
for 6 years
Source:
SEC
filings
and
Bloomberg.


VALUEVISION BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT (CONT’D)
Director
What Clinton Group Stated
What the Facts Are
Landell Hobbs
Former CFO and
COO of Time Warner
Cable
“Hobbs was COO of Time Warner Cable”
Mr. Hobbs has 20 years of media experience and 30 years of finance
expertise
and
served
as
the
CFO
of
Time
Warner
Cable
in
addition
to
his
COO role
Mr. Hobbs joined the Board in 2014 and continues to offer a very fresh
perspective
Mr. Hobbs also served as a former SVP of Turner Broadcasting
Sean Orr
CFO, Accretive Health
“Orr is CFO of healthcare IT company
(and previous CFO of popcorn company)”
Mr. Orr has also been CFO of Maxum Petroluem, The Interpublic Group and
the Frito-Lay division of Pepsico
Mr. Orr has 25 years of consumer retail, media, finance and operations
experience: Senior executive positions at Accretive Health, Reader’s Digest
and KPMG in addition to the above
Lowell Robinson
Former CFO / COO
MIVA
“Robinson served as CFO of several
private companies”
Mr. Robinson served as CFO of four public companies, including a NYSE-
listed direct marketing company
Mr. Robinson chaired three audit committees and was Chairman of two GE
Capital companies
Mr. Robinson has 35 years of retail, consumer, media, finance and operations
experience: Senior executive positions at MIVA, HotJobs.com, Kraft Foods,
and KPMG
8
Source: SEC filings and Bloomberg.


COMMITTED TO STRONG CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE
AND
SHAREHOLDER
STEWARDSHIP
9
Subject
Clinton Group’s Claim
The Facts
Special
Shareholder
Meeting
“[Clinton Group’s] Special Meeting request
was rejected on pretense, because of a
dropped digit on a zip code”
“Then, a second request was rejected
because we did not openly disclose three
years of compensation information about our
portfolio manager”
As Clinton Group is well aware, Clinton Group’s requests for a
Special Meeting contained multiple substantive omissions and
incomplete information
ValueVision fully engaged with the Clinton Group and exchanged
multiple correspondence in an effort to bring their request into
compliance with ValueVision’s By-laws, which Clinton Group failed
to do
Despite Clinton Group’s failure to comply with our By-laws, we
scheduled a Special Meeting for March 14, 2014 to give
shareholders an opportunity to vote on Clinton Group’s
proposals, only to have Clinton Group abandon their proposals
on February 3, 2014
Director
Compensation
“ValueVision’s Board compensation is higher
than its significantly bigger peers and a higher
percentage of compensation is cash”
Median Director compensation for
companies with a market capitalization below
$1 billion is $125,260
(1)
“By contrast, ValueVision’s Board members
earned an average of $221,231 in 2013”
Clinton Group conveniently, and inaccurately, compares a median
to an average in its materials, a meaningless comparison
Director’s compensation is directly related to their extensive service
on key committees
Median base Board compensation is in-line with the figures
cited by Clinton, with additional compensation tied to Board or
committee leadership or extensive committee involvement
(1)
Frederic
W.
Cook
&
Co.,
“2013
Director
Compensation
Report”
December
2013.
ValueVision is Committed to Strong Governance and Shareholder Accountability
“ValueVision’s Board compensation is higher
than its significantly bigger peers and a
higher percentage of compensation is cash”
Median Director compensation for
companies with a market capitalization below
$1
billion
is
$125,260
(1)
“By contrast, ValueVision’s Board members
earned an average of $221,231 in 2013”
Despite Clinton Group’s failure to comply with our By-laws,
we scheduled a Special Meeting for March 14, 2014 to give
shareholders an opportunity to vote on Clinton Group’s
proposals, only to have Clinton Group abandon their
proposals on February 3, 2014
Median base Board compensation is in-line with the figures
cited by Clinton, with additional compensation tied to Board
or committee leadership or extensive committee involvement
Clinton Group conveniently, and inaccurately, compares a median
to an average in its materials, a meaningless comparison
Director’s compensation is directly related to their extensive
service on key committees


CLINTON GROUP’S POORLY CONCEIVED & RISKY
“FIRST NINETY DAYS”
10
Clinton Group’s Poorly Conceived Ninety-Day “Plan”
Lacks Substance, Demonstrates Little Strategic Insight and
Fails to Account for the Risk and Damage That Could Derail the Company’s Ongoing Momentum
(Clinton
Group
Presentation
Reference
Page
31)
Deadline
Considerations
June 19
June 27
Interim
CEO
will
communicate
growth
strategies
to
vendors,
etc.,
and
the
Company
will
start
recruiting
new
executives
July 18
Clinton Group anticipated actions, such as opening NYC merchandising office and returning to 24/7 live programming, are completed
without any consideration of cost / benefit or positive return for shareholders
September 19
If
the
Clinton
Group
Nominees
have
already
determined
their
short-
and
long-term
goals
for
the
company,
why
haven’t
they
shared
those with shareholders?
How have the Clinton Group Nominees determined these goals without the input or involvement from the eventual permanent CEO,
who is yet to be recruited (and recruitment won’t even begin until a month later), or other senior executives?
Typically, a permanent CEO would be deeply involved in recruiting a senior executive team and communicating with vendors
It would be irresponsible to undertake these actions without considering the cost to shareholders
What permanent CEO candidate would want to join a Company whose short and long-term strategy has been predetermined and
implemented already?
On
the
first
day,
Clinton
Group
will
install
an
Interim
CEO
and
publish
short-
and
long-term
goals
Three
months
after
announcing
new
short-
and
long-term
goals,
potentially
replacing
senior
executives,
and
putting
in
place to-be-
created “new plans”
on social media, vendor relationships, proprietary brand strategy, technology and operations, they appoint a
permanent CEO who presumably had no involvement in determining any of those plans
Clinton Group’s Rushed and Frantic Timeline of Poorly Conceived Actions Reflects Irresponsible Stewardship of the Shareholders' Company
 
and Risks Derailing the Substantial Momentum Painstakingly Created Over the Past Several Years by the Current Board and Management