UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. 2)
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MGP INGREDIENTS, INC.
July 22, 2013
The following materials (the "Amended Filing") amend the definitive revised materials (the "Original Filing") filed by MGP Ingredients, Inc. (the "Company") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") under the form code DEFR 14A on July 16, 2013. This Amended Filing should be read in conjunction with the Company's definitive proxy statement filed on April 11, 2013.
This Amended Filing addresses the comments to the Original Filing received from the staff of the SEC. For the convenience of the reader, this Amended Filing sets forth the Original Filing in its entirety, but amends the following items:
The sections of the Original Filing that are not amended are unchanged and continue in full force and effect as originally filed. This Amended Filing speaks as of the date of the Original Filing.
MGP Ingredients, Inc.
Cray Business Plaza
100 Commercial Street
Atchison, Kansas 66002
Dear Stockholder:
On behalf of the Board of Directors and management of MGP Ingredients, Inc. (the "Company" or "MGP Ingredients"), we are writing to provide you with important additional information regarding our 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Annual Meeting"). On May 23, 2013, the Board of Directors called to order the Company's Annual Meeting, but had to adjourn the meeting due to a lack of quorum caused by the revocation of proxies by certain preferred stockholders. While there was a quorum of common stockholders at the Annual Meeting, a quorum of preferred stockholders was also required in order to continue the Annual Meeting.
While the Annual Meeting was adjourned, the group of stockholders who revoked their proxies and prevented the Annual Meeting from going forward has created a dissident group and filed proxy materials seeking, among other things, changes in the Company's board membership and its chief executive officer. The dissident group includes Karen Seaberg, Laidacker M. Seaberg, Cloud L. Cray, Jr., Cray Family Management LLC, and Cray MGP Holdings LP (the "Cray Group"). We strongly believe that the initiation by the Cray Group of a costly and disruptive proxy contest interferes with the progress our Company is making and is not in the best interests of all MGP Ingredients stockholders. MGP Ingredients is implementing and executing a solid strategic plan to improve the Company's performance and enhance value of all stockholders. The current Board and the CEO are transitioning the business into manufacturing higher margin premium distilled spirits and specialty food ingredients. We believe that Cray Group's proposals will disrupt these critical efforts by allowing the preferred stockholders to gain even greater control of the Company.
You recently received a proxy statement dated April 11, 2013 (the "Proxy Statement") in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of the Company to be voted at the Annual Meeting. Enclosed is a supplement to the Proxy Statement that provides additional information regarding the Company's solicitation.
In addition to the proxy statement supplement, you will find enclosed a WHITE proxy card that sets forth our director nominees at the Annual Meeting. Your Board has nominated John R. Speirs, John E. Byom, and Cloud L. Cray. The director nominees were carefully chosen and have strong backgrounds, which will benefit the Company and its stockholders. Your Board recommends that you support the election of our highly-qualified directors and discard any proxy cards you receive from the Cray Group.
We urge you to vote your shares FOR the Company's nominees and its other proposals and AGAINST the Cray Group's proposals by voting the enclosed WHITE proxy card today, whether or not you intend to attend the meeting. As always, your vote is very important.
If you need any assistance in voting, you should contact our proxy solicitor, Innisfree M&A Incorporated, by calling (888) 750-5834. Banks and brokerage firms should call Innisfree at (212) 750-5833.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, we appreciate your support at this important juncture.
Sincerely,
John R. Speirs
Chairman of the Board
Atchison, Kansas, July 12, 2013
MGP INGREDIENTS, INC.
2013 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
The 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Annual Meeting") of MGP Ingredients, Inc., a Kansas corporation ("MGP Ingredients" or the "Company") was called to order on May 23, 2013 for the following purposes:
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote "FOR" the election of each of the director nominees, "FOR" the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2013, and "FOR" the compensation of our named executive officers.
The Annual Meeting was adjourned due to a lack of quorum. Once the date for the reconvened Annual Meeting is established, you will be notified about the date, time and place of the reconvened Annual Meeting.
Holders of Common Stock and Preferred Stock of record on the books of the Company at the close of business on April 3, 2013 will be entitled to vote at the reconvened Annual Meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof.
Your vote is important. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, please vote your WHITE proxy card.
If you hold the shares in your own name: (1) use the toll-free telephone number shown on your WHITE proxy card; (2) visit the website shown on your WHITE proxy card to vote via the Internet; or (3) mark, sign and return the enclosed WHITE proxy/voting instruction card in the postage-paid envelope provided.
If your shares are held by a broker, bank or nominee, please follow the voting instructions it provides for your vote to count.
If you have any questions or need assistance in voting your shares of MGP Ingredients stock, please contact our proxy solicitor, Innisfree M&A Incorporated, by calling (888) 750-5834. Banks and brokerage firms should call Innisfree at (212) 750-5833.
Important Notice regarding the availability of proxy materials for the Annual Meeting: The Company's Proxy Statement, its Annual Report to stockholders, this Notice, and the attached Supplement to the Proxy Statement are available at http://ir.mgpingredients.com/annuals.cfm. You will need to input the Control Number, located on the WHITE proxy card, when accessing these documents.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
John
R. Speirs
Chairman of the Board
SUPPLEMENT TO THE PROXY STATEMENT OF
MGP INGREDIENTS, INC. DATED APRIL 11, 2013
July 12, 2013
The following information (this "Supplement") is provided to supplement and amend the proxy statement dated April 11, 2013 (the "Proxy Statement") of MGP Ingredients, Inc. ("MGP Ingredients" or the "Company") furnished to stockholders in connection with the solicitation of proxies on behalf of the Board of Directors of MGP Ingredients (the "Board") for use at the 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Annual Meeting"). The Company expects to mail this Supplement on or about July 12, 2013.
For your convenience, we have enclosed an additional WHITE proxy card with this Supplement. Please note that the WHITE proxy card that accompanied the Proxy Statement previously mailed to you with the Notice of Annual Meeting remains valid. If you previously submitted a validly executed proxy card for the Annual Meeting, which proxy has not been subsequently revoked, and you were a stockholder of record as of the close of business on April 3, 2013 (the "Record Date"), your vote will be recorded as indicated on your proxy card.
You may vote:
Shares represented by proxy will be voted as directed on the proxy form and, if no direction is given, will be voted as follows:
1. FOR all the persons nominated by the Board as directors;
2. FOR ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2013;
3. FOR the resolution to approve compensation of the Company's named executives;
4. If properly raised at the Annual Meeting, AGAINST the Cray Group's proposal to amend the Company's Bylaws to provide for confidential voting at the Annual Meeting and at future stockholder meetings;
5. If properly raised at the Annual Meeting, AGAINST the Cray Group's proposal requesting the Board of Directors to approve an amendment to the Company's Articles of Incorporation to de-stagger the Board which would have the effect of requiring the annual election of all directors and allowing any director to be removed with or without cause by stockholders holding a majority of the voting power required to elect such director, and to submit such amendment to the Company's stockholders for approval;
6. If properly raised at the Annual Meeting, AGAINST the Cray Group's proposal to amend the Company's Bylaws to provide a right for stockholders holding 10% or more of the outstanding common stock or outstanding preferred stock to call a special meeting of stockholders.
7. If properly raised at the Annual Meeting, AGAINST the Cray Group's proposal to amend the Bylaws to require any vacancies on the Board to be filled only by the stockholders and not by the Board.
8. If properly raised at the Annual Meeting, AGAINST the Cray Group's proposal to repeal any provision of or amendments to the Bylaws adopted by the Board without the approval of a majority of the shares of common stock and preferred stock voting thereon after April 3, 2013 and on or before the date of the Annual Meeting.
9. In their discretion the proxies will vote upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
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How You Can Vote
If your shares are registered in your own name or if you hold shares in the Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan, you may simplify voting and save the Company expense by voting by telephone or by Internet. Telephone and Internet voting information is provided on your proxy card. A Control Number on the proxy card is designed to verify your identity and allow you to vote your shares and confirm that your voting instructions have been properly recorded. If you vote by telephone or Internet, you need not mail back your proxy card.
If you choose to vote by mail, please return your proxy card, properly signed, in the postage-paid envelope provided.
If you hold your shares through a broker, bank or other financial institution, please follow its directions for how to vote. Your broker will not be permitted to vote on your behalf for any proposal other than the proposal to ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm unless you instruct your broker as to how to vote your shares. For your vote to be counted, you will need to communicate your voting decisions to your broker, bank or other financial institution. Voting your shares is important to ensure that we meet the minimum quorum requirements for the meeting. If you have any questions about the voting process, please contact the broker, bank, or other financial institution where you hold your shares.
Contested Solicitation and Voting Matters
If you have already delivered a properly executed WHITE proxy, you do not have to do anything unless you want to change your vote or want to specify your preferences as to the Cray Group proposals 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. In the event you do not execute a new proxy, you will be disenfranchised as to the Cray Group proposals 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 to the extent that we will not have specific instructions concerning your preferences and so the persons indicated as proxies on the WHITE proxy card will, using the proxy you have already submitted, excercise their discretion and vote AGAINST each of the Cray Group proposals 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. If you have not previously voted or if you wish to revoke or change your vote, please complete, date, sign, and return the enclosed WHITE proxy card.
Any proxy given by a stockholder may be revoked at any time prior to its use by execution of a later dated proxy, by a personal vote at the meeting, or by a timely written notice of revocation to the Corporate Secretary of the Company. If voting in person, please bring written evidence confirming your ownership of the shares you wish to vote.
You may be solicited by or on behalf of Karen Seaberg, Laidacker M. Seaberg, Cloud L. Cray, Jr., Cray Family Management LLC, or Cray MGP Holdings LP (the "Cray Group"), in an attempt to get you to sign their proxy card. We urge you not to sign any proxy card or other materials you may receive from the Cray Group. Only your latest dated proxy card will be counted, and any proxy card sent in for any reason could invalidate previous WHITE proxy cards sent by you to support the Company's position. Our Proxy Statement was previously mailed to you and we urge you to review it carefully, together with this Supplement.
The Company is not responsible for the accuracy of any information provided by or relating to the Cray Group contained in any proxy solicitation materials filed or disseminated by, or on behalf of, the Cray Group or any statements the Cray Group may otherwise make. The Cray Group chooses which of our stockholders will receive its proxy solicitation materials.
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How Votes are Counted and Voting Requirements
Holders of a majority of the shares of each class of stock entitled to vote at the annual meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, will constitute a quorum for the meeting. Abstentions and "broker non-votes" (defined below) are counted as present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining if a quorum for the annual meeting exists. A broker non-vote occurs when a broker submits a proxy card with respect to shares of common stock held in a representative capacity (typically referred to as being held in "street name"), but the broker cannot vote on a particular matter because the broker has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner.
Generally, holders of Common Stock and Preferred Stock each vote separately as a class with respect to each matter that the class is authorized to vote on, with each share of stock in each class being entitled to one vote. Election of directors is determined by a plurality vote, and the candidates for office who receive the highest number of votes will be elected. Because it is a plurality vote, abstentions and withheld votes will have no effect on the election of directors.
The affirmative vote of holders of a majority of shares of Common Stock and a majority of shares of Preferred Stock entitled to vote that are present in person or by proxy is required for the approval of the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm, the approval of executive compensation, and any item raised by the Cray Group (specifically including items 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 on the Company's WHITE proxy card). Abstentions with respect to the advisory vote on executive compensation, on ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm, and any item raised by the Cray Group (specifically including items 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 on the Company's WHITE proxy card) will have the same effect as a vote against the proposal.
In case of a broker non-vote, brokers may vote on routine matters but cannot vote on non-routine matters or matters that are contested. Ratification of the independent registered public accounting firm is considered a routine matter and is not contested by the Cray Group. The other proposals are not considered routine matters and are contested, and without your instructions, your broker cannot vote your shares.
Other Voting Matters
The holders of record of Common Stock and Preferred Stock of the Company at the close of business on April 3, 2013 (the "Record Date") are entitled to notice of and to vote at the annual meeting. As of April 3, 2013, there were 17,934,233 shares of Common Stock outstanding and 437 shares of Preferred Stock outstanding. As of July 2, 2013, there were 17,924,700 shares of Common Stock outstanding and 437 shares of Preferred Stock outstanding. You are entitled to one vote for each share owned of record on that date.
All shares that have been properly voted and not revoked will be voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance with your instructions. If you sign your proxy card but do not give voting instructions, the shares represented by the proxy will be voted by those named in the proxy card in accordance with the recommendations of the Board of Directors.
If any other matters are properly presented at the Annual Meeting for consideration, the persons named in the enclosed proxy card will have the discretion to vote on those matters for you. Kansas law governs how a shareholder may properly raise an item at the Company's annual meeting of stockholders. At the reconvened annual meeting, stockholders may raise items (i) regarding a matter that can be acted upon by stockholders at the meeting, (ii) at an appropriate time during the meeting as provided by the meeting agenda, and (iii) once the proponent is recognized by the Chairman of the meeting pursuant to rules published at the meeting. As of the printing of this Supplement, we do not
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know of any other matter to be raised at the Annual Meeting other than the matters discussed in this Supplement and the Proxy Statement.
If you should have any questions about the Proxy Statement, this Supplement or the Annual Meeting, please do not hesitate to contact Innisfree M&A Incorporated ("Innisfree") by calling (888) 750-5834. Banks and brokerage firms should call Innisfree at (212) 750-5833.
On June 6, 2013, Karen Seaberg, Laidacker M. Seaberg, Cloud L. Cray, Jr., Cray Family Management LLC, Cray MGP Holdings LP (the "Cray Group") filed a preliminary proxy statement on Schedule 14A nominating Cloud L. Cray, John P. Bridendall, and M. Jeannine Strandjord for election to the Company's Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting. The Cray Group also filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (i) a revised preliminary proxy statement on Schedule 14A June 13, 2013 and (ii) a definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A on July 10, 2013, of its intention:
1. To elect to the Board of Directors of MGP Ingredients each of John P. Bridendall, M. Jeannine Strandjord and Cloud L. Cray, Jr.;
2. To ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the year ended December 31, 2013;
3. To oppose the Company's proposed resolution endorsing, on an advisory basis, the compensation paid to the Company's named executive officers, as disclosed in the Company's proxy statement;
4. To vote for the Cray Group's proposal to amend the Company's Bylaws to provide for confidential voting at the Annual Meeting and at future Stockholder meetings;
5. To vote for the Cray Group's proposal requesting the Board of Directors to approve an amendment to the Company's Articles of Incorporation to de-stagger the Board, which would have the effect of requiring the annual election of all directors and allowing any director to be removed with or without cause by Stockholders holding a majority of the voting power required to elect such director, and to submit such amendment to the Company's Stockholders for approval;
6. To vote for the Cray Group's proposal to amend the Company's bylaws to provide a right for Stockholders holding 10% or more of the outstanding common stock or outstanding preferred stock to call a special meeting of Stockholders;
7. To vote for the Cray Group's proposal to amend the Bylaws to require that any vacancies on the Board be filled only by the Stockholders and not by the Board; and
8. To vote for the repeal of any provision of or amendments to the Bylaws adopted by the Board without the approval of a majority of the shares of common stock and preferred stock voting thereon after April 3, 2013 and on or before the date of the Annual Meeting.
The Cray Group have reported that, as of the Record Date, they beneficially owned an aggregate of 4,940,101 shares of Common Stock of the Company, representing approximately 27.5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, and 404 shares of Preferred Stock, representing approximately 92.4% of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock.
You may receive an opposition proxy statement and proxy card as well as follow-up solicitation material from the Cray Group. Your Board of Directors urges you to DISCARD any proxy card sent to you by the Cray Group.
The Cray Group proposals (items 4 through 8) are not included in the Company's proxy solicitation materials as items to be voted upon at the Annual Meeting. The Cray Group proposals are
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not on the agenda for the Annual Meeting. If the Cray Group properly raises their proposals at the Annual Meeting, such proposals will be voted upon. In order to facilitate the voting of your proxies in such event, the Company has included the Cray Group's proposals on the WHITE proxy card attached to this Supplement as Proposals 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.
If Proposals 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 are not properly raised at the Annual Meeting, there will be no vote with respect to Proposals 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 and your proxies will not be voted with respect to these proposals. If the Cray Group Proposals are properly raised at the Annual Meeting, your WHITE proxy will be voted in accordance with your instruction on the WHITE proxy card as to Proposals 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.
If you have previously voted a WHITE proxy card, which accompanied the Company's Proxy Statement sent to you with the Proxy Statement on April 11, 2013, the persons named as proxies on the WHITE proxy card intend to exercise their discretion to vote with respect to these proposals and will vote AGAINST Proposal 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. If you would like the persons named as proxies to vote differently, you can change your vote by voting the WHITE proxy card attached to this supplement.
BOARD PROPOSAL 1.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors urges you to vote "FOR" our director nominees, John R. Speirs, John E. Byom, and Cloud L. Cray, Jr. The Board's director nominees have significantly more industry and Company experience than the nominees of the Cray Group.
Mr. Speirs, who is a Group A nominee for election by common stockholders, has been a director since 2004. He is currently Chairman of the Board. As Chairman, Mr. Speirs draws on his wealth of experience developed through over 35 years in senior leadership positions across leading companies in the food and alcohol industries including, Diageo PLC, Pillsbury and Lever Brothers. Mr. Speirs is the Chairman and co-founder of Stellus Consulting, a Minneapolis, Minnesota-based strategy consulting firm formed in 2001 that specializes in business strategy, strategic visioning, merger and acquisition support and branding strategy. Mr. Speirs' expertise has been a critical factor in setting the strategy that is driving MGP's success.
Mr. Byom, who is a Group B nominee for election by preferred stockholders, has been a director since 2004. Mr. Byom brings to the Board his background in finance, IT and internal audit, his experience with consumer product manufacturing companies both as a chief financial officer and on the board of directors of public companies. Mr. Byom is an owner and the CEO of Classic Provisions, Inc., a specialty foods distribution company based in Plymouth, Minnesota. He is the former Chief Financial Officer of International Multifoods Corporation. He left that company in March 2005 after 26 years with the company, including four years as Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer, from March 2000 to June 2004. After the sale of Multifoods to The J.M. Smucker Company in June 2004, he was President of Multifoods Foodservice & Bakery Products. Prior to his time as CFO, Mr. Byom was President, US Manufacturing from July 1999 to March 2000, and Vice President of Finance and IT for the North American Foods Division from 1993 to 1999. Mr. Byom held various other positions prior thereto, including Controller of the Bakery Products Division from 1990 to 1991 and Internal Auditor and Supervisor of Audit from 1979 to 1981. Mr. Byom is also a director of Prestige Brands Holdings, Inc.
Mr. Cray, who is a Group B nominee for election by preferred stockholders, is one of the dissidents and is nominated for a director position by the Cray Group as well. He brings to the Board his long history with the Company, including more than 50 years of service as an officer or director, his knowledge of the Company, its industries and its personnel.
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Your Board of Directors believes the nominations of John P. Bridendall and M. Jeannine Strandjord by the Cray Goup are NOT in your best interest and strongly urges you NOT to sign or return any proxy card sent to you by the Cray Group. If you have previously signed a proxy card sent to you by the Cray Group, you can revoke it by signing, dating, and mailing the enclosed WHITE proxy card in the envelope provided.
Karen Seaberg and Cloud L. Cray, Jr. are current Board members. As Board members, they voted in favor of the proposals presented to you by the Board for vote at the 2013 Annual Meeting. But now acting as stockholders, Mrs. Seaberg and Mr. Cray oppose their prior vote and are soliciting you to vote against the Board nominees that they, as Board members, supported. The Board believes that this costly and disruptive proxy contest interferes with the progress our Company is making and is not in the best interests of all MGP Ingredients' stockholders.
The Board of Directors is divided into two groups, with the holders of Common Stock being entitled to vote for the persons nominated for the Group A position and the holders of Preferred Stock entitled to vote for the persons nominated for the Group B positions. A plurality of the votes cast is required for the election of directors. Abstentions and withheld votes will have no effect on the outcome. In case of a broker non-vote, your broker may not vote your shares.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote "FOR" each of the nominees to the Board of Directors on the WHITE proxy card.
BOARD PROPOSAL 2.
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Board of Directors, upon recommendation of its Audit Committee, recommends that you ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm to audit the books, records and accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013. The Cray Group does not oppose this proposal.
For the ratification of the Audit Committee's selection of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2013, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Preferred Stock and of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock, present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at the meeting, is required. Abstentions with respect to the advisory vote on ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm will have the same effect as a vote against the proposal. In case of a broker non-vote, your broker may vote your shares.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote "FOR" the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company's independent registered public accountant on the WHITE proxy card.
The Cray Group recommends that you vote against this proposal to approve, on advisory basis, compensation paid to the Company's named executive officers. As the Board members, both Mr. Cray and Mrs. Seaberg voted in favor of the compensation paid to the Company's named executive officers not just once, but twice, the most recent vote being on July 11, 2013. Now, as stockholders, they recommend you vote against the approval of the compensation.
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The Board of Directors believes the compensation paid to the Company's named executive officers is appropriate:
For the advisory vote seeking approval of named executive officer compensation, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Preferred Stock and of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock, present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at the meeting, is required. Abstentions with respect to the advisory vote on executive compensation will have the same effect as a vote against the proposal. In case of a broker non-vote, your broker may not vote your shares.
The Board of Directors recommends an advisory vote "FOR" the following resolution: "RESOLVED, that the stockholders of MGP Ingredients, Inc. approve, on an advisory basis, compensation paid to the Company's named executive officers, as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including the Compensation Overview, compensation tables and narrative discussion" on the WHITE proxy card.
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In their proxy solicitation materials, the Cray Group have briefed additional items (the "Cray Group Proposals"). The Cray Group Proposals are not included in the Company's proxy solicitation materials as items to be voted upon at the Annual Meeting. The Cray Group Proposals are not on the agenda for the Annual Meeting. If the Cray Group properly raises their proposals at the Annual Meeting, such proposals will be voted upon. In order to facilitate the voting of your proxies in such event, the Company has included the Cray Group Proposals on the WHITE proxy card attached to this Supplement as Proposals 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8:
For the stockholders to approve the Cray Group Proposals, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Preferred Stock and of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock, present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at the meeting, is required. Abstentions on the Cray Group Proposals will have the same effect as a vote against the proposal. In case of a broker non-vote, your broker may not vote your shares.
Your Board urges you to vote AGAINST the Cray Group Proposals 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.
CRAY GROUP PROPOSAL 4.
CONFIDENTIAL VOTING
The Cray Group Proposal 4 would amend the Company's Bylaws to provide that all proxies, ballots, and vote tabulations that identify the particular vote of a stockholder shall be kept confidential from the Board of Directors and from officers and employees of the Company except in certain limited circumstances. We believe the Cray Group Proposal 4 is not in the best interests of the Company's stockholders for the following reasons:
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employee of MGP Ingredients may own shares of the Company. It is the policy of the Company not to interfere with an employee-shareholder's exercise of voting rights. The Cray Group appears to be searching for a costly and burdensome solution to a problem that our stockholders do not face.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote "AGAINST" the Cray Group Proposal 4 for confidential voting on the WHITE proxy card.
Proxies solicited by the Board will be voted "AGAINST" the Cray Group Proposal 4 for confidential voting unless stockholders specify a contrary vote.
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CRAY GROUP PROPOSALS 5, 6 and 7
ANNUAL ELECTION OF THE BOARD
STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS TO CALL SPECIAL MEETINGS
STOCKHOLDER RIGHT TO FILL BOARD VACANCIES
The Cray Group Proposal 5 would request the Board of Directors to approve an amendment to the Company's Articles of Incorporation to de-stagger the Board which would have the effect of requiring the annual election of all directors and allowing any director to be removed with or without cause by the stockholders holding a majority of the voting power required to elect such director and to submit such amendment to the Company's stockholders for approval. The Cray Group Proposal 6 would amend the Company's Bylaws to provide a right for stockholders holding of record, in aggregate, 10% or more of the outstanding common stock or outstanding preferred stock to call a special meeting of stockholders. The Cray Group Proposal 7 would amend the Company's Bylaws to provide that any vacancy in a Group A or Group B director position shall be filled, within 60 days of the vacancy arising, solely by the Company's common stockholders, in the case of Group A directors, or by the Company's preferred stockholders, in the case of Group B directors.
We believe the Cray Group Proposals 5, 6, and 7 are not in the best interests of the Company's stockholders for the following reasons:
The Board of Directors recommends a vote "AGAINST" the Cray Group Proposals 5, 6, and 7 on the WHITE proxy card.
Proxies solicited by the Board will be voted "AGAINST" the Cray Group Proposal 5, 6, and 7 unless stockholders specify a contrary vote.
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CRAY GROUP PROPOSAL 8
REPEAL OF BYLAW AMENDMENTS BETWEEN RECORD DATE AND THE DATE OF THE ANNUAL MEETING
The Cray Group Proposal 8 would repeal any Bylaw amendments adopted by the Board without shareholder approval between the Record Date and the date on which the Annual Meeting is reconvened. We believe the Cray Group Proposal 8 is not in the best interests of the Company's stockholders for the following reasons:
The Board of Directors recommends a vote "AGAINST" the Cray Group Proposal 8 to repeal Bylaw amendments on the WHITE proxy card.
Proxies solicited by the Board will be voted "AGAINST" the Cray Group Proposal 8 to repeal Bylaw amendments unless stockholders specify a contrary vote.
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INFORMATION CONCERNING PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOLICITATION OF PROXIES BY MGP INGREDIENTS, INC.
Under the Securities and Exchange Commission proxy rules, members of the Company's Board of Directors, director nominees, and certain officers of the Company are deemed to be "participants" with respect to the Company's solicitation of proxies in connection with the Annual Meeting. Additionally, the following are deemed "associates" of the participants: (i) any corporation or organization in which a participant is an officer or a partner or is (directly or indirectly) the beneficial owner of 10 percent or more of any class of equity securities; (ii) any trust or estate in which a participant has a substantial beneficial interest or as to which a participant serves as a trustee or other fiduciary; and (iii) any relative or spouse, or relative of that spouse, who has the same home as a participant or is a director or officer of the Company or a subsidiary. Certain information about the persons who are deemed "participants" and their associates is provided below.
Names and Principal Occupations of Participants
The names of the Company's directors and nominees are set forth below and the business address for all the directors and nominees is c/o MGP Ingredients, Inc. Cray Business Plaza, 100 Commercial Street, Atchison, Kansas 66002. The principal occupations of the Company's directors and director nominees who are deemed participants in the Company's solicitation are set forth in Proposal 1 under the "Proposal 1-Election of Directors" section of the Company's Proxy Statement.
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Name | |
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---|---|---|---|---|
John E. Byom | ||||
Michael Braude | ||||
Cloud L. Cray | ||||
Gary Gradinger | ||||
Linda E. Miller | ||||
Timothy W. Newkirk | ||||
Daryl R. Schaller | ||||
Karen Seaberg | ||||
John R. Speirs |
The principal occupations and business addresses of the Company's executive officers who may be deemed "participants" in the Company's solicitation of proxies, are set forth below. The principal occupation refers to such person's position with the Company, the principal address of which is Cray Business Plaza, 100 Commercial Street, Atchison, Kansas 66002.
Name
|
Principal Occupation | Business Address | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Timothy W. Newkirk | President and Chief Executive Officer | MGP Ingredients, Inc., Cray Business Plaza, 100 Commercial Street, Atchison, Kansas 66002 | ||
Donald P. Tracy | Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer | MGP Ingredients, Inc., Cray Business Plaza, 100 Commercial Street, Atchison, Kansas 66002 |
Information Regarding Ownership of Company Securities by Participants
The number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by the participants is set forth in the "Principal Stockholders" section of the Proxy Statement, as of March 1, 2013, as updated by the "Principal Stockholders" table below. None of the Company's directors, director nominees or executive officers own any of the Company's securities of record which they do not own beneficially.
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Darryl R. Schaller is a beneficial owner of Daryl R. Schaller Revocable Trust, held at Livingston Securities LLC, 825 Third Avenue 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10022. The trust is deemed an associate of Mr. Schaller under the proxy rules.
Miscellaneous Information Concerning Participants
Except as set forth below, no participant has purchased or sold Company securities within the past two years, nor engaged in any transaction with respect to personal ownership of securities of the Company other than grants of stock awards, or grants or forfeitures of restricted stock and options or warrants pursuant to the Company's equity based compensation plans or employment agreements.
Name
|
Shares of Common Stock |
Purchased or Sold | Date | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
John E. Byom |
3,908 | RSU Award | 06/01/2012 | ||||||
|
2,066 | Restricted Stock Award | 10/21/2011 | ||||||
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|||||||||
Michael Braude |
3,908 | RSU Award | 06/01/2012 | ||||||
|
2,066 | Restricted Stock Award | 10/21/2011 | ||||||
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|||||||||
Cloud L. Cray |
36,000 | Gift/Disposition | 12/31/2011 | ||||||
|
2,555,967 | Gift/Disposition | 12/16/2012 | ||||||
|
17,400 | Gift/Disposition | 12/31/2012 | ||||||
|
3,908 | RSU Award | 06/01/2012 | ||||||
|
335,314 | Gift/Acquisition | 03/09/2012 | ||||||
|
475,530 | Gift/Disposition | 03/09/2012 | ||||||
|
18,000 | Gift/Disposition | 12/31/2012 | ||||||
|
2,066 | Restricted Stock Award | 10/21/2011 | ||||||
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2,000 | Stock Options Exercised/Acquisition | 09/23/2011 | ||||||
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Gary Gradinger |
3,908 | RSU Award | 06/01/2012 | ||||||
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2,066 | Restricted Stock Award | 10/21/2011 | ||||||
|
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Linda E. Miller |
3,908 | RSU Award | 06/01/2012 | ||||||
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2,066 | Restricted Stock Award | 10/21/2011 | ||||||
|
|||||||||
Timothy W. Newkirk |
3,680 7,078 |
Payment of tax liability by delivering or withholding securities | 06/30/2013 06/30/2013 |
||||||
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15,000 | RSU Award | 11/29/2012 | ||||||
|
18,250 | RSU Award | 03/01/2012 | ||||||
|
16,500 | Restricted Stock Award | 08/25/2011 | ||||||
|
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Daryl R. Schaller |
721 | Gift/Disposition | 01/11/2013 | ||||||
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500 | Gift/Disposition | 12/19/2012 | ||||||
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625 | Gift/Disposition | 12/20/2012 | ||||||
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1,225 | Gift/Disposition | 12/20/2012 | ||||||
|
3,908 | RSU Award | 06/01/2012 | ||||||
|
1,000 | Gift/Disposition | 01/31/2012 | ||||||
|
250 | Gift/Acquisition | 01/31/2012 | ||||||
|
250 | Gift/Acquisition | 01/31/2012 | ||||||
|
500 | Gift/Acquisition | 01/31/2012 | ||||||
|
2,066 | Restricted Stock Award | 10/21/2011 | ||||||
|
1,000 | Purchase | 09/08/2011 | ||||||
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Name
|
Shares of Common Stock |
Purchased or Sold | Date | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Karen Seaberg |
12,910 | Acquisition | 12/12/2012 | ||||||
|
5,090 | Acquisition | 12/21/2012 | ||||||
|
18,000 | Disposition | 12/30/2012 | ||||||
|
2,573,967 | Acquisition | 12/30/2012 | ||||||
|
3,910 | Sale/Disposition | 12/12/2012 | ||||||
|
9,000 | Disposition | 12/12/2012 | ||||||
|
40,621 | Gift/Disposition | 12/25/2012 | ||||||
|
600 | Gift/Acquisition | 12/25/2012 | ||||||
|
600 | Gift/Acquisition | 12/25/2012 | ||||||
|
3,908 | RSU Award | 06/01/2012 | ||||||
|
52,931 | Gift/Disposition | 12/25/2012 | ||||||
|
600 | Gift/Acquisition | 12/31/2011 | ||||||
|
1,800 | Gift/Acquisition | 12/31/2011 | ||||||
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2,066 | Restricted Stock Award | 10/21/2011 | ||||||
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96,000 | Stock Options Exercised/ Acquisition | 05/31/2011 | ||||||
|
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John R. Speirs |
3,908 | RSU Award | 06/01/2012 | ||||||
|
2,066 | Restricted Stock Award | 10/21/2011 | ||||||
|
|||||||||
Donald P. Tracy |
15,000 | RSU Award | 11/29/2012 | ||||||
|
18,250 | RSU Award | 03/01/2012 | ||||||
|
16,500 | Restricted Stock Award | 08/25/2011 | ||||||
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No part of the purchase price or market value of any of the shares specified in the table above is represented by funds borrowed or otherwise obtained for the purpose of acquiring or holding such securities by such participant.
Miscellaneous Information Concerning Participants
Except as described in this Supplement or otherwise disclosed in the Annual Meeting Proxy Statement, to the Company's knowledge:
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Except as otherwise disclosed in the Proxy Statement and in this Supplement, (a) no occupation carried on by any director or director nominee during the past five years was carried on with any corporation or organization that is a parent, subsidiary or other affiliate of the Company, (b) there are no family relationships among any of the directors, any of the director nominees and any executive officers of the Company, nor is there any arrangement or understanding between any director, director nominee, executive officer and any other person pursuant to which that director, director nominee or executive officer was selected as a director, director nominee or executive officer of the Company, as the case may be, and (c) there are no material proceedings in which any director, director nominee or executive officer of the Company is a party adverse to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or has a material interest adverse to the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
The Company will bear the cost of the solicitation, which will consist primarily of printing, postage and handling, including the expenses of brokers, nominees and other fiduciaries in forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners.
The Company has retained Innisfree M&A Incorporated ("Innisfree"), a professional proxy solicitation firm, to assist in the solicitation from brokers, bank nominees and institutional holders. The cost of the services provided by Innisfree is expected to aggregate up to approximately $150,000 including expenses, of which $70,000 has been spent to date. The Company also has agreed to indemnify Innisfree against certain liabilities arising under federal securities laws. Innisfree has informed the Company that it expects that approximately 40 of its employees will assist in the solicitation. In addition to sending the Proxy Statement and this Supplement, some of the Company's directors and executive officers may contact stockholders by telephone, mail, e-mail or in person. Stockholders may also be solicited by means of press releases issued by the Company postings on its web site, www.mgpingredients.com. Unless expressly indicated otherwise, information contained on the Company's website is not part of the Proxy Statement or this Supplement. None of the Company's officers or employees will receive any extra compensation for soliciting stockholders. The Company's total expenses related to the solicitation (in excess of those normally spent for an annual meeting with an uncontested director election and excluding salaries and wages of the Company's regular employees and officers), are expected to aggregate up to approximately $500,000, of which approximately $250,000 has been spent to date.
The Company requests persons such as brokers, nominees, and fiduciaries holding stock in their names for the benefit of others, or holding stock for others who have the right to give voting instructions, to forward proxy material to their principals and to request authority for the execution of the proxy, and the Company will reimburse such persons for their reasonable expenses.
On June 14, 2013, the Company filed a petition for declaratory judgment in the District Court of Johnson County, Kansas, against Richard B. Cray, Cloud L. Cray Jr., Karen Seaberg, Laidacker M. Seaberg, and Timothy Newkirk, as co-trustees of the MGP Ingredients Inc. Voting Trust. The Company has requested a declaratory judgment determining the parties' legal rights and obligations in the context of proxies for the Annual Meeting and the status of the Voting Trust.
On July 10, 2013, Cloud L. Cray, Jr. and Karen Seaberg filed a petition for inspection of corporate records pursuant to K.S.A. §17-6510 by a shareholder in the District Court of Atchison County. On July 11, 2013, Cloud L. Cray, Jr. and Karen Seaberg filed a petition for an order requiring the Company to conduct the Annual Meeting on or before August 12, 2013 in the District Court of Atchison County, Kansas.
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Under the heading "Corporate Governance and Committee Reports," "The Board; Standing Committees; Meetings; Independence," the Company inadvertently stated that "Mr. Newkirk, Chief Executive Officer and President, is the only non-independent member of the Board." The current directors and dissidents, Ms. Karen Seaberg and Mr. Cloud L. Cray, Jr., are not independent by virtue of their significant company stock ownership.
Under the heading "Principal Stockholders," the Company provided the number of shares beneficially owned and the percentage of ownership of the Company's Preferred Stock and Common Stock by (i) each person who is known by the Company to own beneficially more than 5% of either class of the Company's capital stock outstanding, (ii) each director of the Company, (iii) each of the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table, (iv) all directors and executive officers of the Company as a group. After the filing of the Company's Proxy Statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Mrs. Karen Seaberg and Mr. Cloud L. Cray, Jr. filed Section 16(a) reports amending their reported beneficially owned shares. The table below provides the corrected ownership numbers for Mrs. Seaberg and Mr. Cray as of March 1, 2013.
The table below provides the ownership numbers as of March 1, 2013 and does not reflect any purported changes to the MGP Ingredients, Inc. Voting Trust described in the proxy statement filed by the Cray Group on July 10, 2013 with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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Shares Beneficially Owned(a) | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Common Stock | Preferred Stock | |||||||||||
Stockholder
|
No. of Shares |
% | No. of Shares |
% | |||||||||
Michael Braude |
37,731 | * | |||||||||||
John E. Byom(b) |
81,832 | * | |||||||||||
Cloud L. Cray, Jr.(b)(d) |
1,061,417 | 5.9 | |||||||||||
Richard B. Cray(c) |
0 | * | 334 | 76.4 | |||||||||
Gary Gradinger(b) |
77,829 | * | |||||||||||
Linda E. Miller |
39,262 | * | |||||||||||
Tim Newkirk |
127,008 | * | |||||||||||
Daryl Schaller, Ph.D.(b) |
96,855 | * | |||||||||||
Randy M. Schrick(e) |
193,393 | 1.1 | |||||||||||
Ladd Seaberg(c) |
984,852 | 5.5 | 404 | 92.4 | |||||||||
Karen Seaberg(c)(f) |
4,378,511 | 24.4 | 404 | 92.4 | |||||||||
John R. Speirs(b) |
105,010 | * | |||||||||||
Donald P. Tracy |
35,781 | * | |||||||||||
MGP Ingredients Voting Trust(c) |
| | 333 | 76.2 | |||||||||
All Executive Officers and Directors as a Group (18)(b)(g) |
6,677,110 | 37.2 | 404 | 92.4 | |||||||||
SEACOR Holdings Inc.(h) |
1,145,000 | 6.4 | |||||||||||
Dimensional Fund Advisors LP(i) |
914,906 | 5.1 |
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disclaim beneficial ownership in the shares described in the footnotes as being "held by" or "held for the benefit of" other persons.
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the sole manager and one of three members of Cray Family Management LLC. Mrs. Karen Seaberg is also a beneficial owner of 71 shares of Preferred Stock, which are owned by her husband, Ladd Seaberg. The information in this footnote is based on Mrs. Seaberg's Form 5 filed on May 14, 2013 and Form 5-A filed on May 16, 2013 and does not reflect the numbers reported in the proxy statement filed by the Cray Group on July 10, 2013 with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Supplement contains forward-looking statements as well as historical information. Forward-looking statements are usually identified by or are associated with such words as "intend," "plan," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "anticipate," "hopeful," "should," "may," "will," "could," "encouraged," "opportunities," "potential" and/or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology. They reflect management's current beliefs and estimates of future economic circumstances, industry conditions, Company performance and financial results and are not guarantees of future performance. All such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the relevant forward-looking statement. Investors should not place undue reliance upon forward-looking statements and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations include, among others: (i) disruptions in operations at our Atchison or Indiana facilities, (ii) the availability and cost of grain and fluctuations in energy costs, (iii) the effectiveness of our hedging strategy, (iv) the competitive environment and related market conditions, (v) the ability to effectively pass raw material price increases on to customers, (vi) the ability to effectively operate the Illinois Corn Processing, LLC ("ICP") joint venture, (vii) our ability to maintain compliance with all applicable loan agreement covenants, (viii) our ability to realize operating efficiencies, (ix) actions of governments and (x) consumer tastes and preferences. For further information on these and other risks and uncertainties that may affect the Company's business, see Item 1A. Risk Factors in Part II of the Company's Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.
IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Proxy Statement, this Supplement and other documents relating to the Annual Meeting can be obtained free of charge from the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. These documents can also be obtained free of charge from the Company at the Company's website at www.mgpingredients.com, under section "For Investors" or upon written request to MGP Ingredients, Inc., Cray Business Plaza, 100 Commercial Street, Atchison, Kansas 66002, Attention: Corporate Secretary.
In addition, copies of the Proxy Statement and this Supplement may be requested by contacting the Company's proxy solicitor, Innisfree, by calling (888) 750-5834. Banks and brokerage firms should call Innisfree at (212) 750-5833.
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TO VOTE BY MAIL, PLEASE DETACH PROXY CARD HERE, AND SIGN, DATE AND RETURN IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED X Please mark your vote as in this example MGP INGREDIENTS, INC. YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT PLEASE REVIEW THE PROXY STATEMENT AND THE SUPPLEMENT TO THE PROXY STATEMENT AND VOTE TODAY IN ONE OF THREE WAYS: 1. Vote by TelephonePlease call toll-free at 1-866-252-6948, on a touch-tone phone. Please follow the simple instructions. You will be required to provide the unique control number printed below. OR 2. Vote by InternetPlease access https://www.proxyvotenow.com/mgpi, and follow the simple instructions. Please note you must type an s after http. You will be required to provide the unique control number printed below. OR 3. Vote by MailIf you do not wish to vote by telephone or over the Internet, please complete, sign, date and return the proxy card in the envelope provided, or mail to: MGP Ingredients, Inc., c/o Innisfree M&A Incorporated, FDR Station, P.O. Box 5155, New York, NY 10150-5155. The Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR the nominees listed in Proposal 1. 1. Election of directors for terms expiring in 2016. 01. John R. Speirs 02. John E. Byom* 03. Cloud L. Cray, Jr.* 4. The Cray Groups proposal to amend the Companys Bylaws to provide for confidential voting. 5. The Cray Groups proposal requesting the Board of Directors to approve an amendment to the Companys Articles of Incorporation to de-stagger the Board and permit any director to be removed with or without cause. 6. The Cray Groups proposal to amend the Companys Bylaws to provide a right for stockholders holding 10% or more of the outstanding common stock or outstanding preferred stock to call a special meeting of stockholders. 7. The Cray Groups proposal to amend the Bylaws to require that any vacancies on the Board be filled only by the stockholders and not by the Board. 8. The Cray Groups proposal to repeal any provision of or amendments to the Bylaws adopted by the Board without the approval of a majority of the shares of common stock and preferred stock voting thereon after April 3, 2013 and on or before the date of the Annual Meeting. Vote FOR all nominees (except as marked) Vote WITHHELD from all nominees Date: , 2013 Signature Signature (if held jointly) Title Please sign exactly as name(s) appear(s) on Proxy. If held in joint tenancy all persons should sign. Trustees, administrators, guardians, etc., should include title and authority. Corporations should provide full name of corporation and title of authorized officer signing the Proxy. You may vote by telephone or Internet 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Your telephone or Internet vote authorizes the named proxies to vote your shares in the same manner as if you had marked, signed and returned a proxy card. (Instructions: To withhold authority to vote for any indicated nominee, write the numbers(s) of the nominee(s) on the line above.) The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR Proposals 2 and 3. 2. To ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Companys independent registered public accounting firm for the year ended December 31, 2013. 3. To approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Companys named executive officers. The Board of Directors recommends you vote AGAINST Proposals 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, if properly presented at the Annual Meeting. In their discretion the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting. FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN *John E. Byom and Cloud L. Cray, Jr. are being voted on solely by the holders of the Preferred Stock. FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN |
MGP INGREDIENTS, INC. 2013 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting: The Notice and Proxy Statement and Transition Report are available at http://ir.mgpingredients.com/annuals.cfm. TO VOTE BY MAIL, PLEASE DETACH PROXY CARD HERE, AND SIGN, DATE AND RETURN IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED THIS WHITE PROXY CARD IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS The undersigned appoints Timothy W. Newkirk, John R. Speirs and Don Tracy, or any of them, each with full power to appoint his substitute, proxies to vote, in the manner specified on the reverse hereof, all of the shares of Common Stock of MGP Ingredients, Inc. held by the undersigned at the 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or at any adjournment thereof. This Proxy is revocable and it shall not be voted if the undersigned is present and voting in person. IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN WHEN THE DULY EXECUTED PROXY IS RETURNED, THE SHARES WILL BE VOTED FOR THE NOMINEES UNDER PROPOSAL 1, FOR PROPOSALS 2 AND 3, AGAINST PROPOSALS 4, 5, 6, 7, AND 8, if proposals 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, are properly raised at the Annual Meeting. This proxy will also be voted in accordance with the discretion of the proxy or proxies on any other business. The undersigned has received the Companys Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, its Proxy Statement, and the Supplement to the Proxy Statement. (Continued, and to be signed and dated on the reverse side.) WHITE PROXY White Proxy Card |