WYNNEFIELD SEEKS TO REBUILD TECHPRECISION CREDIBILITY FOR ALL STOCKHOLDERS
Rhea-AI Summary
Wynnefield Partners, the largest stockholder of TechPrecision (NASDAQ: TPCS), has launched a campaign to rebuild the company's credibility. They are nominating two new directors, General Victor Eugene Renuart Jr. and Robert D. Straus, for election at the upcoming 2024 Annual Meeting. Wynnefield cites TechPrecision's poor stockholder returns, recent M&A failures, and lack of transparency as reasons for change.
The group highlights TechPrecision's underperformance compared to the Russell Micro Index, with a -37.7% 5-year return versus the index's 30.1%. They criticize the failed Votaw acquisition and the underperforming STADCO acquisition, which resulted in significant stockholder dilution. Wynnefield emphasizes the need for new independent voices, increased transparency, and disciplined business judgment on the board to enhance stockholder value.
Positive
- Wynnefield Partners, owning 7.0% of TechPrecision, is actively seeking to improve company performance
- Nomination of two experienced directors with military, financial, and corporate governance expertise
Negative
- TechPrecision's 5-year total stockholder return of -37.7% significantly underperforms the Russell Micro Index (+30.1%)
- Failed Votaw acquisition resulted in a share-based M&A break-up fee and additional capital raise at $3.45 per share
- STADCO acquisition remains underperforming after nearly three years
- Lack of transparency in company reporting and failure to timely file SEC reports
News Market Reaction 1 Alert
On the day this news was published, TPCS gained 8.21%, reflecting a notable positive market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
WYNNEFIELD HIGHLIGHTS TWO DIRECTOR NOMINEES TO ADDRESS TECHPRECISION'S DISMAL STOCKHOLDER RETURNS, RECENT M&A DEBACLES AND LACK OF TRANSPARENCY
Launches Campaign Website at www.rebuildTPCScredibility.com
Dear Fellow TechPrecision Stockholders:
We are writing to you as the largest collective stockholders of TechPrecision Corporation ("TechPrecision" or the "Company"), owners of approximately
On July 2, 2024, the Group delivered a letter to the Company notifying it of Wynnefield's intention to nominate and seek to elect General Victor Eugene "Gene" Renuart, Jr.,
We believe new independent voices are needed on TechPrecision's Board as we seek better transparency and disciplined business judgement.
- NEW INDEPENDENT VOICES on the Board to give stockholders the ability to express concerns and objectives, and to effectuate change.
- TRANSPARENCY to allow stockholders the opportunity to assess the Company's investment risks and the Board's performance.
- DISCIPLINED BUSINESS JUDGEMENT to avoid poorly conceived and costly strategies like the recently failed acquisition of Votaw Precision Technologies, Inc. ("Votaw") and to enhance stockholder value.
The Group believes the Company and the Board have failed its stockholders, and their decisions have resulted in the Company significantly underperforming the market over the past five years.
- TechPrecision's total stockholder returns are unfavorable in absolute and relative terms:
Russell | Relative | |||
Metric | Time Period | TPCS | Micro Index | Performance |
Proposed Votaw Acquisition | 11/29/23 to 07/02/24 | -47.1 % | 13.1 % | -60.2 % |
STADCO Acquisition | 08/25/21 to 07/02/24 | -41.5 % | -19.0 % | -22.5 % |
2024 Performance | 12/29/23 to 07/02/24 | -33.6 % | -2.0 % | -31.6 % |
1-Year | 07/03/23 to 07/02/24 | -53.2 % | 4.0 % | -57.2 % |
3-Year | 07/03/21 to 07/02/24 | -31.2 % | -22.2 % | -9.0 % |
5-Year | 07/03/19 to 07/02/24 | -37.7 % | 30.1 % | -67.8 % |
- M&A Debacles Resulted in Significant Stockholder Dilution.
- FAILED Votaw transaction resulted in the Company paying a share-based M&A break-up fee to Doerfer Corporation, Votaw's parent company. The Company paid M&A advisory fees with borrowings from its revolver, necessitating the Company to then raise additional capital in order to repay such loans. On July 8, 2024, TechPrecision sold shares and warrants at
per-share.$3.45 - AGREEING TO PURCHASE Votaw without an assured financing commitment in place violated fundamental M&A practices and basic process tenets.
- LAGGING STADCO acquisition is still not fully integrated and remains an underperformer after nearly three years, per Company SEC filings. In August 2021, the STADCO acquisition was funded by an equity capital raise at
per-share, which is$4.40 27.5% higher than the recent raise.
- FAILED Votaw transaction resulted in the Company paying a share-based M&A break-up fee to Doerfer Corporation, Votaw's parent company. The Company paid M&A advisory fees with borrowings from its revolver, necessitating the Company to then raise additional capital in order to repay such loans. On July 8, 2024, TechPrecision sold shares and warrants at
- Transparency & Governance.
- LACK OF transparency prevents stockholders from reasonably valuing the Company's investment risks.
- FAILURE to timely file SEC reports demonstrates the Board's poor oversight and management of the Company.
- LACK OF transparency prevents stockholders from reasonably valuing the Company's investment risks.
Wynnefield's Statement of Beneficial Ownership on Schedule 13D
Please see Wynnefield's Statement of Beneficial Ownership on Schedule 13D relating to TechPrecision's common stock, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 2, 2024, a copy of which can be found at: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1251565/000110465924077375/tm2418446d1_sc13d.htm
2024 Annual Meeting
According to information provided from bank and broker intermediaries, the Company has tentatively scheduled the 2024 Annual Meeting for Wednesday, October 2, 2024, and the record date for the 2024 Annual Meeting has been tentatively scheduled for August 13, 2024. Owners of TechPrecision's common stock as of August 13, 2024 will be entitled to vote at the 2024 Annual Meeting.
Biographies
General Victor Eugene "Gene" Renuart, Jr.,
Robert D. Straus is an institutional portfolio manager with 25 years of proven experience investing in and serving as an advisor to C-suite executives of public and private companies. His expertise includes evaluating business and capital allocation strategies as well as advising on executive compensation structure, strategic initiative analysis and corporate governance best practices. The Group believes that Mr. Straus' extensive investment, financial, capital allocation and strategic initiative analysis expertise, as well as his significant corporate governance experience serving as a director and board committee member of publicly traded companies, provide him with unique skills, insights and qualifications to serve as a member of the Company's Board and any of its committees.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND WHERE TO FIND IT
Wynnefield Partners Small Cap Value, L.P. I; Wynnefield Partners Small Cap Value, L.P.; Wynnefield Small Cap Value Offshore Fund, Ltd.; Wynnefield Capital, Inc. Profit Sharing Plan; Wynnefield Capital Management, LLC; Wynnefield Capital, Inc.; Nelson Obus; Joshua Landes; and Robert D. Straus (collectively, the "Group") together with General Victor Eugene "Gene" Renuart, Jr.,
The Group may be deemed to beneficially own 633,606 shares of the Company's common stock, representing approximately
Promptly after any filing of its definitive 2024 Proxy Statement with the SEC, the Group intends to mail the definitive 2024 Proxy Statement and an accompanying universal proxy card to some or all stockholders pursuant to applicable SEC rules. STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE 2024 PROXY STATEMENT (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT THE GROUP WILL FILE WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Stockholders may obtain, free of charge, copies of the definitive 2024 Proxy Statement and any other documents filed by the Group with respect to the Company with the SEC in connection with the Annual Meeting at the SEC's website (http://www.sec.gov).
You may stay abreast of information about our director nominees and the Group's campaign by visiting our campaign website at www.rebuildTPCScredibility.com.
Respectfully yours,
Nelson J. Obus Robert D. Straus
Founder Portfolio Manager
Media:
Daniel Yunger
Kekst CNC
Daniel.yunger@kekstcnc.com
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SOURCE Wynnefield Capital