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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
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
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant þ
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o
| Check the appropriate box: | ||||||||
þ
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Preliminary Proxy Statement | o | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted | |||||
o
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Definitive Proxy Statement | by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) | ||||||
o
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Definitive Additional Materials | |||||||
o
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-12 | |||||||
MESA AIR GROUP, 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):
| þ | No fee required. | |
| o | 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)
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Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: | |
3)
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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)
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Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: | |
5)
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Total fee paid: | |
o
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials: | |
o 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: |
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MESA AIR
GROUP, INC.
410 North 44th Street, Suite 100
Phoenix, Arizona 85008
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF
SHAREHOLDERS
To Be Held on May 13,
2008
To Our Shareholders:
The Special Meeting of Shareholders of MESA AIR GROUP, INC., a
Nevada corporation (the “Company”), will be held at
the Company’s headquarters, which are located at 410 North
44th Street, Suite 100, Phoenix, Arizona 85008 on
May 13, 2008, at 10:00 a.m., Arizona time, for the
following purposes:
| 1. | To approve the issuance of such number of shares of the Company’s common stock as may be necessary to repurchase all of its outstanding Senior Convertible Notes due 2023 if the Company is required by noteholders to repurchase the Notes in accordance with the Indenture dated June 16, 2003, and if the Company elects to satisfy its repurchase obligation by issuing shares of common stock; and | |
| 2. | To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any postponement(s) or adjournment(s) thereof. |
Management of the Company cordially invites you to attend the
special meeting and vote on this important matter. The attached
Proxy Statement explains the reasons for the proposal and why
the Board of Directors encourages you to vote for approval of
the proposal.
The Company’s Board of Directors has fixed the close of
business on April 8, 2008, as the record date for the
determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote
at the special meeting or any postponement or adjournment
thereof. Shares of the Company’s common stock may be voted
at the meeting only if the holder is present at the meeting in
person or by valid proxy.
By Order of the Board of Directors
JONATHAN G. ORNSTEIN
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
Phoenix, Arizona
April [ ], 2008
IMPORTANT: IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOUR STOCK BE REPRESENTED AT
THIS MEETING. PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND PROMPTLY MAIL THE
ENCLOSED PROXY CARD IN THE ACCOMPANYING ENVELOPE WHICH REQUIRES
NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.
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| PROXY STATEMENT | ||||||||
| QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THIS PROXY STATEMENT | ||||||||
| RECENT EVENTS | ||||||||
| PROPOSAL NO. 1 TO BE VOTED ON | ||||||||
| SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT | ||||||||
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MESA AIR
GROUP, INC.
410 North 44th Street, Suite 100
Phoenix, Arizona 85008
The Board of Directors of MESA AIR GROUP, INC., a Nevada
corporation (the “Company”), is soliciting proxies to
be used at a special meeting of shareholders of the Company to
be held on May 13, 2008, at 10:00 a.m., Arizona time,
at the Company’s headquarters, which are located at 410
North 44th Street, Suite 100, Phoenix, Arizona 85008,
and any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof (the
“Special Meeting”). This Proxy Statement and the
enclosed form of proxy will be mailed to shareholders beginning
[April 14], 2008.
QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS ABOUT THIS PROXY STATEMENT
| Q: | What am I voting on? | |
| A: | You are voting on one proposal: | |
| Issuance of such number of shares of the Company’s common stock as may be necessary to repurchase all of its outstanding Senior Convertible Notes due 2023 if the Company is required by noteholders to repurchase the Notes in accordance with the Indenture dated June 16, 2003, and if the Company elects to satisfy its repurchase obligation by issuing shares of common stock. | ||
| For a detailed description regarding the number of shares that may ultimately be issuable if the proposal is approved, see the Section of this Proxy Statement entitled “The Effect of the Common Stock’s Market Price.” | ||
| Q: | Why does the Company Need to Hold this Vote? | |
| A: | Holders of the Company’s senior convertible notes due June 16, 2023 have the right to require the Company to repurchase the notes on June 16, 2008 at a price of $397.27 per $1,000 note plus any accrued and unpaid cash interest. While the Company cannot predict if some or all of the noteholders will exercise their right to require the Company to repurchase the notes, if all of the holders of the outstanding notes exercise their right to require the Company to repurchase the notes the Company will be required to repurchase the notes for approximately $37.8 million in cash, Common Stock, or a combination thereof. If the Company elects to use shares of Common Stock to satisfy its repurchase obligations, Nasdaq rules require that it not issue more than 20% of its Common Stock without shareholder approval. Without shareholder approval, the Company would only be able to issue up to 5,375,265 shares of Common Stock to satisfy its Note repurchase obligations. As an example, if the trading price of the Company’s Common Stock as calculated under the Indenture was $1.40 per share, the Company could only issue enough stock to satisfy approximately $7.5 million of its note repurchase obligations and would be forced to use $30.3 million in cash. The Company is seeking shareholder approval for the issuance of additional shares of Common Stock in the event it elects to use such additional shares to satisfy its repurchase obligations. | |
| Q: | Who Can Vote? | |
| A: | Shareholders of record as of the close of business on April 8, 2008 (the “Record Date”), may vote at the Special Meeting and at any adjournment or postponement of the meeting. Each shareholder has one vote for each share of Common Stock held of record on the Record Date. On the Record Date, 26,889,770 shares of the Company’s Common Stock, no par value per share (the “Common Stock”), were issued and outstanding. | |
| Q: | How Can I Vote? | |
| A: | All valid proxies received by the Secretary of the Company before the Special Meeting and not revoked will be exercised. All shares represented by proxy will be voted, and where a shareholder specifies by means of his or her proxy a choice with respect to any matter to be acted upon, the shares will be voted in accordance with the specifications so made. If you do not specify on your proxy how you want to vote your shares and authority to vote is not specifically withheld, your shares will be voted as follows: (i) “for” the approval of the issuance of such number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock as may be necessary to repurchase all of its |
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| outstanding Senior Convertible Notes due 2023 if the Company is required by noteholders to repurchase the Notes in accordance with the Indenture dated June 16, 2003, and if the Company elects to satisfy its repurchase obligation by issuing shares of Common Stock (“Proposal No. 1”); and (ii) to transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any postponement(s) or adjournment(s) thereof. Shareholders who hold their shares in “street name” (i.e., in the name of a bank, broker or other record holder) must vote their shares in the manner prescribed by their brokers. If you attend the meeting, you may deliver your completed proxy card in person or you may vote by completing a ballot, which will be available at the meeting. | ||
| Q: | Can I Revoke My Proxy? | |
| A: | You can revoke your proxy at any time before it is exercised in one of three ways: | |
|
(1) by delivering to the Secretary of the Company a written
instrument of revocation bearing a date later than the date of
the proxy.
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(2) by duly executing and delivering to the Secretary of
the Company a subsequent proxy relating to the same shares.
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(3) by attending the meeting and voting in person, provided
that the shareholder notifies the Secretary at the meeting of
his or her intention to vote in person at any time prior to the
voting of the proxy.
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| Q: | What is the Quorum Requirement of the Meeting? | |
| A: | A majority of the outstanding shares on April 8, 2008, constitutes a quorum for voting at this Meeting. If you vote, your shares will be part of the quorum. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted in determining the quorum, but neither will be counted as votes cast. On April 8, 2008, there were 26,889,770 shares outstanding. | |
| Q: | What Vote is Required? | |
| A: | Under Nasdaq rules, the affirmative vote of a majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy is required to approve Proposal No. 1. Abstentions are treated as “shares present” at the meeting for purposes of determining if a quorum exists but will have no effect on the results of this vote. | |
| Brokers holding shares for beneficial owners must vote these shares according to specific instructions they receive from beneficial owners. If specific instructions are not received, brokers may be precluded from exercising their discretion, depending on the type of proposal involved. Shares as to which brokers have not exercised discretionary authority or received instructions from beneficial owners are considered “broker non-votes,” and will be treated as “shares present” for purposes of determining whether there is a quorum, but will have no effect on the result of the vote. | ||
| Q: | Are there any Dissenter’s Rights or Appraisal Rights? | |
| A: | Pursuant to applicable Nevada law, there are no dissenter’s or appraisal rights relating to the matters to be acted upon at the Special Meeting. | |
| Q: | Who is Soliciting my Proxy to Vote on this Proposal? | |
| A: | The Company’s Board of Directors is requesting your proxy to vote on this proposal. | |
| Q: | What is the Voting Recommendation of the Board? | |
| A: | The Board recommends a vote FOR this proposal. | |
| Q: | Will any other Matters to Be Acted Upon at the Meeting? | |
| A: | The Company does not know of any matters other than the proposal relating to the authorization to issue shares of Common Stock that are expected to be presented for consideration at the Special Meeting. If any other matters are properly presented at the meeting, the shares represented by proxies will be voted in accordance with the judgment of the proxyholder voting those shares. |
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| Q: | Who is Paying for this Solicitation? | |
| A: | The cost of soliciting proxies, including the cost of preparing and mailing the Notice and Proxy Statement, will be paid by the Company. Solicitation will be primarily by mailing this Proxy Statement to all shareholders entitled to vote at the meeting. Proxies may also be solicited by officers and directors of the Company personally or by telephone or facsimile, without additional compensation. The Company may reimburse brokers, banks and others holding shares in their names for others for the cost of forwarding proxy materials and obtaining proxies from beneficial owners. | |
| The Company has engaged The Altman Group, a professional proxy solicitor, to solicit proxies on its behalf. The Company anticipates that the cost for the Altman Group’s proxy solicitation services will be approximately $5,500 plus certain additional fees the Company incurs relating to contacting shareholders and out of pocket costs. | ||
| Q: | Who Should I Contact if I Have any Questions? | |
| A: | If you have any questions before you vote, please contact the Company’s proxy solicitor, The Altman Group, toll-free at 1-800-314-9816, and state that you are calling about Mesa Air Group, Inc. |
RECENT
EVENTS
On March 28, 2008, Delta Air Lines, Inc.
(“Delta”) notified the Company of its intent to
terminate the Delta Connection Agreement among Delta, the
Company, and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Freedom Airlines, Inc.
(“Freedom”), dated as of May 3, 2005 (as amended,
the “Connection Agreement”). Delta seeks to terminate
the Connection Agreement as a result of Freedom’s alleged
failure to maintain a specified completion rate with respect to
its ERJ-145 Delta Connection flights during three months of the
six-month period September 2007 through February 2008.
If Delta is successful in terminating the Connection Agreement,
the Company cannot predict as of the date of this proxy
statement the total severity or extent of the combined impact of
a termination upon the Company’s operations, revenues,
employees or ability in the future to operate as a going
concern. The ERJ-145 Delta Connection flights Delta is seeking
to terminate generate in excess of $20 million per month in
revenue for the Company and employ approximately 340 pilots, 170
flight attendants, 150 mechanics and 100 other support positions.
If Delta is successful in its efforts to terminate the
agreement, the Company may be unable to redeploy the
ERJ-145
aircraft in a timely manner or at the lease rates the Company
receives under the Delta Connection Agreement.
The Company denies there is any basis for terminating the
Connection Agreement and on April 7, 2008, the Company
filed a lawsuit against Delta alleging breach of the Connection
Agreement and seeking specific performance by Delta of its
obligations under the Connection Agreement.
PROPOSAL NO. 1
TO BE VOTED ON
ISSUANCE OF SUCH NUMBER OF SHARES OF THE COMPANY’S
COMMON STOCK AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO REPURCHASE ALL OF ITS
OUTSTANDING SENIOR CONVERTIBLE NOTES DUE 2023 IF THE
COMPANY IS REQUIRED BY NOTEHOLDERS TO REPURCHASE THE
NOTES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INDENTURE DATED JUNE 16, 2003,
AND IF THE COMPANY ELECTS TO SATISFY ITS REPURCHASE OBLIGATION
BY ISSUING SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
Introduction
On June 16, 2003, the Company issued senior convertible
notes due June 16, 2023 (the “Notes”), which
resulted in gross proceeds of $100.1 million. Pursuant to
the indenture (the “Indenture”) dated June 16,
2003, among the Company, certain subsidiaries of the Company as
guarantors, and US Bank N.A. as trustee (the
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“Trustee”), the holders of the Notes have the right to
require the Company to repurchase the Notes on June 16,
2008 at a price of $397.27 per $1,000 Note plus any accrued and
unpaid cash interest. As a result of prior conversions of the
Notes by the holders, at April 8, 2008, there were approximately
$37.8 million (carrying value) in Notes outstanding. If all
of the holders of the remaining outstanding Notes exercise their
right to require the Company to repurchase all of the
outstanding Notes, the Company will be required to repurchase
the outstanding Notes for approximately $37.8 million in
cash, Common Stock, or a combination thereof. The Company has
the right to elect whether to use cash, stock, or a combination
thereof to repurchase the Notes. If the Company elects to use
shares of Common Stock to satisfy its repurchase obligations,
Nasdaq rules require that it not issue more than 20% of its
Common Stock without shareholder approval. Unless the Company
obtains shareholder approval, it would only be able to issue up
to 5,375,265 shares of Common Stock to satisfy its Note
repurchase obligations. As an example, if the trading price of
the Company’s Common Stock for purposes of the Indenture
was $1.40 per share, the Company could issue stock to repurchase
approximately $7.5 million in notes. The Company is seeking
shareholder approval for the shares of Common Stock issuable in
the event it elects to use additional shares of Common Stock to
satisfy its repurchase obligations. The terms of the Notes are
described in greater detail below in the section entitled
“Material Terms of the Notes.”
Why the
Company is Seeking Shareholder Approval
As explained in additional detail below, if the Company elects
to use shares of Common Stock to satisfy its repurchase
obligations, it is subject to the following limitations:
| • | Pursuant to NASDAQ Rules (as defined below), the Company is required to obtain shareholder approval to issue shares of Common Stock equal to 20% or more of the Common Stock outstanding before the issuance for less than the greater of book or market value of the stock. | |
| • | As of April 1, 2008, the Company had outstanding 26,889,770 shares of Common Stock. Accordingly, unless the Company obtains shareholder approval, it will only be able to issue up to 5,375,265 shares of Common Stock to satisfy its Note repurchase obligations. Assuming the trading price of the Company’s Common Stock (as calculated under the Indenture) was $1.40 per share, the Company could issue stock to repurchase approximately $7.5 million in notes. Please note that this trading value is an assumption and that the Common Stock’s average market price and the resulting actual maximum value that the Company would be able to satisfy by issuing shares of Common Stock will ultimately be based upon the Common Stock’s average market price for the five trading day period ended June 11, 2008 pursuant to the formula set forth in the Indenture. | |
| • | If all holders of Notes exercise their right to require the Company to repurchase all of their Notes and the Company is not able to issue more than 5,375,265 shares of Common Stock because shareholders do not approve Proposal 1, and assuming a trading price of $1.40 per share, the Company would be required to use cash to satisfy approximately $7.5 million of its Note repurchase obligations. A requirement to fund such amount in cash would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition. | |
| • | If the Company does not have adequate cash resources to make any required cash repurchases of Notes in the event it does not receive shareholder approval to issue additional Common Stock, the Company may not be able to satisfy its Note repurchase obligations, in which case the Company could be in default under the Indenture and the Company’s business and operations could be materially adversely affected. |
Applicable
NASDAQ Rules
The Marketplace Rules of the NASDAQ Stock Market (the
“NASDAQ Rules”) require shareholder approval in
connection with a transaction for the sale, issuance or
potential issuance by the Company of shares of Common Stock (or
securities convertible into or exercisable for Common Stock)
equal to 20% or more of the Common Stock outstanding before the
issuance for less than the greater of book or market value of
the stock. Based on how the value of shares of Common Stock used
in connection with a repurchase is calculated under the
Indenture and on the current book and market value of our Common
Stock, our use of Common Stock to satisfy our Note repurchase
obligations could result in the issuance of shares for less than
the greater of book or market value. As of April 1, 2008, the
Company had 26,889,770 shares of Common Stock outstanding.
Accordingly, in connection with any
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Note repurchase, based on its recent stock prices, unless the
Company obtains shareholder approval, the Company may only issue
up to 5,375,265 shares of Common Stock to satisfy its
repurchase obligations without prior shareholder approval.
The
Effect of the Common Stock’s Market Price
If the Company uses shares of Common Stock to satisfy its Note
repurchase obligations, it will be required to issue that number
of shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing
(i) the amount of cash to which holders of the Notes would
have been entitled had the Company elected to pay all or a
specified percentage, as the case may be, of the repurchase
price in cash by (ii) the market price of a share of Common
Stock. The “market price” of Common Stock means the
average of the closing sale price of its Common Stock for the
five trading day period ending on the third business day (if the
third business day prior to June 16, 2008 is a trading day
or, if not, then on the last trading day) prior to June 16,
2008, appropriately adjusted to take into account the
occurrence, during the five trading day period, of certain
events (i.e. stock splits, rights issuances and other
distributions).
The below table illustrates the effect of the market price for
the Company’s Common Stock and the resulting amount of
Common Stock which may be issued without shareholder approval.
|
Maximum Value of |
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Number of Shares |
Notes that Newly |
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Issuable Without |
Issued Common Stock |
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Market Price
|
Shareholder Approval | can Repurchase | ||||||
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$3.50
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5,375,265 | $ | 18,813,427.50 | |||||
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$3.00
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5,375,265 | $ | 16,125,795.00 | |||||
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$2.50
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5,375,265 | $ | 13,438,162.50 | |||||
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$2.00
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5,375,265 | $ | 10,750,530.00 | |||||
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$1.50
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5,375,265 | $ | 8,062,897.50 | |||||
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$1.00
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5,375,265 | $ | 5,375,265.00 | |||||
The Company cannot predict what the applicable market price will
ultimately be, but has used the above table for illustrative
purposes. Each increase/decrease of $.50 per share would result
in an increase/decrease of $2,687,632.50 in the amount of Notes
that the Company could repurchase using Common Stock. The
Company has considered the possible impact of a decline in the
price of its Common Stock from its current level and is seeking
approval to issue such number of shares of the Company’s
Common Stock as may be necessary to repurchase all of the
outstanding Notes if the Company is required by noteholders to
repurchase the Notes and if the Company elects to satisfy its
repurchase obligation by issuing shares of Common Stock.
The below table illustrates the effect of the market price for
the Company’s Common Stock and the resulting amount of
Common Stock that the Company must issue if all noteholders
require the Company to repurchase the Notes and if it elects to
satisfy its repurchase obligation solely by issuing shares of
Common Stock.
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Number of |
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Maximum Note |
Shares of Common |
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Repurchase |
Stock that the |
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Market Price
|
Obligation | Company Must Issue | ||||||
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$3.50
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$ | 37,834,000 | 10,809,714 | |||||
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$3.00
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$ | 37,834,000 | 12,611,333 | |||||
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$2.50
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$ | 37,834,000 | 15,133,600 | |||||
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$2.00
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$ | 37,834,000 | 18,917,000 | |||||
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$1.50
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$ | 37,834,000 | 25,222,666 | |||||
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$1.00
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$ | 37,834,000 | 37,834,000 | |||||
The Company wishes to retain the flexibility to use all cash,
all stock or a combination thereof to satisfy its repurchase
obligations in the event that holders of Notes exercise their
right to demand repurchase. Moreover, if the Company does not
obtain shareholder approval of this Proposal, it will not be
able to issue more than 5,375,265 shares of Common Stock in
connection with any repurchase of Notes and would be forced to
use cash to satisfy the remainder of its repurchase obligations.
There can be no guarantee that the Company would have
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adequate cash resources to satisfy the remainder of its Note
repurchase obligations when they become due. Any such failure to
have the ability to issue shares or have adequate cash could
result in a default under the Indenture.
Limitation
on Stock Issuances
In no event will the Company elect to satisfy its Note
repurchase obligation by issuing shares of Common Stock or a
combination of shares of Common Stock and cash if such election
would cause any “person” or “group” (as such
terms are defined in Section 13(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934) to become the “beneficial
owner” (as such term is defined in
Rule 13d-3
promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), directly
or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, of more than
35% of the voting power of the outstanding voting stock of the
Company.
Effect on
Outstanding Common Stock
The issuance of shares of Common Stock to satisfy the
Company’s repurchase obligations with respect to
outstanding Notes could have a dilutive effect on its earnings
per share and on each shareholder’s percentage voting
power. In addition, such issuance could, under certain
circumstances, have the effect of delaying or preventing a
change in control of the Company by increasing the number of
outstanding shares entitled to vote and by increasing the number
of votes required to approve a change in control of the Company
or remove incumbent directors from office.
Material
Terms of the Notes
Interest. Cash interest is payable on the
Notes at a rate of 2.4829% per year on the principal amount at
maturity, payable semiannually in arrears on June 16 and
December 16 of each year, beginning December 16, 2003,
until June 16, 2008. After that date, the Company will not
pay cash interest on the Notes prior to maturity, and the Notes
will begin accruing interest at a rate of 6.25% until maturity.
Maturity. On June 16, 2023, the maturity
date of the Notes, the principal amount of each Note will be
$1,000. Due to prior conversions, the aggregate amount due at
maturity, including interest accrued from June 16, 2008,
will be $95.2 million ($37.8 million current carrying
value).
Subsidiary Guarantors; Subordination. Each of
the Company’s wholly owned domestic subsidiaries is a
guarantor of the Notes on an unsecured basis. The Notes and the
Note guarantees are senior unsecured obligations and rank
equally with the Company’s existing and future senior
unsecured indebtedness. The Notes and the Note guarantees are
junior to any of the Company’s secured obligations and any
of the Company’s wholly owned subsidiaries to the extent of
the collateral pledged.
Convertibility of the Notes. The Notes are
convertible into shares of the Company’s Common Stock at a
conversion rate of 39.727 shares per $1,000 in principal
amount at maturity of the notes which equals an initial
conversion price of approximately $10.00 per share. This
conversion rate is subject to adjustment in certain
circumstances. Holders of the Notes may convert their Notes if:
(i) after June 30, 2003, the sale price of the
Company’s Common Stock exceeds 110% of the accreted
conversion price for at least 20 trading days in the 30
consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the
preceding quarter; (ii) prior to June 16, 2018, the
trading price for the Notes falls below certain thresholds;
(iii) the Notes have been called for redemption; or
(iv) specified corporate transactions occur.
Redemption of the Notes at the Company’s
Option. The Company may redeem the Notes, in
whole or in part, beginning on June 16, 2008, at a
redemption price equal to the issue price, plus accrued original
issue discount, plus any accrued and unpaid cash interest.
Purchase of the Notes by the Company at the Option of the
Holder. The holders of the Notes may require the
Company to repurchase the Notes on June 16, 2008 at a price
of $397.27 per Note plus accrued and unpaid cash interest, if
any, on June 16, 2013 at a price of $540.41 per Note plus
accrued and unpaid cash interest, if any, and on June 16,
2018 at a price of $735.13 per Note plus accrued and unpaid cash
interest, if any.
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Events of Default. In the event of a default
on the Notes, the due date of the Notes may be accelerated if
demanded by the Trustee or by holders of at least 25% of the
principle amount of the Notes, subject to rescission of the
acceleration by holders of 51% of the Notes if the rescission
would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all
existing events of default have been cured or waived. The due
date of the Notes is automatically accelerated without further
action by holders of the Notes if certain bankruptcy-related
events of default occur, subject to rescission of the
acceleration as described in the previous sentence.
Registration of Notes. Pursuant to a
registration rights agreement entered into in connection with
the Note Purchase Agreement, the Company filed a shelf
registration statement on
Form S-3
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (File
No. 333-108490),
which became effective on November 24, 2003, covering the
resale of the Notes and the underlying Common Stock. The Company
subsequently amended the shelf registration statement on two
occasions, which amendments became effective on
February 11, 2004 and November 18, 2004, respectively.
Further Information. The terms of the Notes
are complex and only briefly summarized above. For further
information on the Notes and the rights of the holders of the
Notes, please refer to the descriptions contained in the
Company’s Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q
for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2003, and the
Indenture and the Form of Note, which contain a complete
statement of the terms and conditions of the Notes, and are
filed as exhibits to such report.
Shares of
Common Stock Issued in Exchange for Notes will be Registered
Securities
Pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by
Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the “Securities Act”), shares of Common Stock that
the Company uses to satisfy our Note repurchase obligations will
be deemed registered securities under the Securities Act upon
consummation of the exchange.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THIS
PROPOSAL TO APPROVE THE ISSUANCE OF SUCH NUMBER OF SHARES
OF THE COMPANY’S COMMON STOCK AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO
REPURCHASE ALL OF ITS OUTSTANDING SENIOR CONVERTIBLE
NOTES DUE 2023 IF THE COMPANY IS REQUIRED BY NOTEHOLDERS
TO REPURCHASE THE NOTES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INDENTURE
DATED JUNE 16, 2003 AND IF
THE COMPANY ELECTS TO SATISFY ITS REPURCHASE OBLIGATION BY
ISSUING
SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
7
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SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the
beneficial ownership of Common Stock as of April 1, 2008 by
(i) each director of the Company, (ii) each of the
Company’s officers named in the Summary Compensation Table
(collectively, the “Named Executive Officers”),
(iii) each person who is known by the Company to be the
beneficial owner of more than five percent of the Company’s
outstanding Common Stock, and (iv) all directors and
executive officers as a group. Except as otherwise indicated
below, each person named has sole voting and investment power
with respect to the shares indicated.
|
Amount and Nature of |
||||||||||||||||
| Beneficial Ownership | ||||||||||||||||
|
Options/ |
||||||||||||||||
|
Warrants/ |
||||||||||||||||
|
Convertible |
||||||||||||||||
|
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner
|
Shares(1) | Notes(1) | Total(1) | Percent(1) | ||||||||||||
|
Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc.(2)
|
2,457,498 | — | 2,457,498 | 9.0 | % | |||||||||||
|
1299 Ocean Avenue,
11th Floor
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Santa Monica, CA 90401
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Donald Smith & Co., Inc.(3)
|
3,393,181 | — | 3,393,181 | 12.5 | % | |||||||||||
|
152 West
57th Street
|
||||||||||||||||
|
New York, NY 10019
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Heartland Advisors, Inc.(4)
|
3,151,140 | — | 3,151,140 | 11.6 | % | |||||||||||
|
William J. Nasgovitz
|
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|
789 North Water Street
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Milwaukee, WI 53202
|
||||||||||||||||
|
QVT Financial LP(5)
|
50,912 | 1,469,887 | 1,520,799 | 5.6 | % | |||||||||||
|
QVT Financial GP LLC
|
||||||||||||||||
|
1177 Avenue of the Americas, 9th Floor
|
||||||||||||||||
|
New York, New York 10036
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Thompson, Siegal & Walmsley, Inc.(6)
|
2,067,915 | — | 2,067,915 | 7.6 | % | |||||||||||
|
6806 Paragon Place, Suite 300
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Richmond, VA 23230
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Directors
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Jonathan G. Ornstein
|
209,770 | 1,689,846 | 1,899,616 | 7 | % | |||||||||||
|
Daniel J. Altobello
|
9,221 | 72,457 | 81,678 | * | ||||||||||||
|
Carlos Bonilla
|
3,721 | 4,515 | 8,236 | * | ||||||||||||
|
Joseph L. Manson(7)
|
2,221 | 16,214 | 18,435 | * | ||||||||||||
|
Robert Beleson
|
2,221 | 20,302 | 22,523 | * | ||||||||||||
|
Maurice A. Parker
|
10,721 | 12,758 | 23,479 | * | ||||||||||||
|
Peter F. Nostrand
|
30,721 | 12,884 | 43,605 | * | ||||||||||||
|
Richard R. Thayer
|
6,221 | 4,515 | 10,736 | * | ||||||||||||
|
Named Executive Officers
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Michael J. Lotz
|
96,492 | 564,786 | 661,278 | 2.4 | % | |||||||||||
|
Former Chief Financial Officer, George Murnane III(8)
|
9,101 | 53,333 | 62,434 | * | ||||||||||||
|
William Hoke
|
— | — | ||||||||||||||
|
Michael Ferverda
|
— | 75,000 | 75,000 | * | ||||||||||||
|
Brian S. Gillman
|
8,135 | 88,000 | 96,135 | * | ||||||||||||
|
All directors and executive officers as a group (13
Individuals)
|
388,545 | 2,614,610 | 3,003,155 | 11 | % | |||||||||||
| * | Less than 1% | |
| (1) | Includes options and warrants exercisable or convertible notes convertible on February 4, 2008 or within 60 days thereafter. Number of shares as reported by each company’s Schedule 13G. Holdings of less than 1% are indicated by “*”. Based upon 27,227,141 shares issued and outstanding as of January 11, 2008. |
8
Table of Contents
| (2) | Based solely on the most recently available Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 9, 2007. | |
| (3) | Based solely on the most recently available Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 13, 2007. | |
| (4) | Based solely on the most recently available Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 8, 2007. Heartland Advisors, Inc. shares dispositive power over 3,151,140 shares and voting power over 2,996,140 shares with William J. Nasgovitz, its president and principal shareholder. | |
| (5) | Based solely on the most recently available Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 5, 2007. Includes 1,469,887 shares issuable upon conversion of Mesa’s convertible notes. QVT Financial LP shares voting and dispositive power over these shares with QVT Financial GP LLC, its general partner. | |
| (6) | Based solely on the most recently available Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 12, 2007. | |
| (7) | Includes 1,000 shares held by Barrow Grocery, which is controlled by Mr. Manson. | |
| (8) | Mr. Murnane was terminated by the Company on November 5, 2007. |
Shareholder
Proposals for Action at the Company’s Next Annual
Meeting
A shareholder proposal for shareholder action at the
Company’s next Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held in
2009, must be received by the Company’s Secretary at the
Company’s offices no later than November 2, 2008, in
order to be included in the Company’s proxy statement and
form of proxy for that meeting. Such proposals should be
addressed to the Corporate Secretary, Mesa Air Group, Inc., 410
North 44th Street, Suite 100, Phoenix, Arizona 85008.
If a shareholder proposal is introduced at the 2009 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders without any discussion of the proposal
in the Company’s proxy statement, and the shareholder does
not notify the Company on or before March 3, 2009, as
required by the Securities and Exchange Commission’s
Rule 14(a)-4(c)(1),
of the shareholder’s intent to raise such proposal at the
Annual Meeting of Shareholders, then proxies received by the
Company for the 2009 Annual Meeting will be voted by the persons
named as such proxies in their discretion with respect to such
proposal. Notice of such proposal is to be sent to the above
address.
Householding
of Proxy Statement
Some banks, brokers and other nominee record holders may be
participating in the practice of “householding” proxy
statements. This means that only one copy of this proxy
statement may have been sent to multiple stockholders in your
household. The Company will promptly deliver a separate copy of
its proxy statement to you if you call or write it at the
following address or phone number: Mesa Air Group, Inc., 410
North 44th Street, Suite 100, Phoenix, Arizona 85008,
602-685-4000.
If you would like to receive separate copies of annual reports
and proxy statements in the future, or if you are receiving
multiple copies and would like to receive only one copy for your
household, you should contact your bank, broker, or other
nominee record holder, or you may contact the Company at the
above address and phone number.
9
Table of Contents
Voting by
Proxy
In order to ensure that your shares will be represented at the
Special Meeting, please sign and return the enclosed Proxy in
the envelope provided for that purpose, whether or not you
expect to attend. Any shareholder may, without affecting any
vote previously taken, revoke a written proxy by giving notice
of revocation to the Company in writing or by executing and
delivering to the Company a later dated proxy.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Jonathan G. Ornstein,
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
10
Table of Contents
MESA AIR GROUP, INC.
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF MESA AIR GROUP, INC. FOR THE SPECIAL
MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
The undersigned shareholder of Mesa Air Group, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”),
hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Special Meeting of Shareholders, dated April [___],
2008, and hereby appoints Jonathan G. Ornstein or Brian S. Gillman and each of them, proxies and
attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, on behalf and in the name of the undersigned,
to represent the undersigned at the Special Meeting of Shareholders of MESA AIR GROUP, INC. to be
held at the Company’s headquarters, which are located at 410 North 44th Street, Suite 100, Phoenix,
Arizona 85008, on May 13, 2008 at 10:00 a.m., Arizona time, and at any adjournment(s) or
postponement(s) thereof, and to vote all shares of Common Stock that the undersigned would be
entitled to vote if then and there personally present, on the matters set forth below.
| 1. | ISSUANCE OF SUCH NUMBER OF SHARES OF THE COMPANY’S COMMON STOCK AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO REPURCHASE ALL OF ITS OUTSTANDING SENIOR CONVERTIBLE NOTES DUE 2023 IF THE COMPANY IS REQUIRED BY NOTEHOLDERS TO REPURCHASE THE NOTES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INDENTURE DATED JUNE 16, 2003, AND IF THE COMPANY ELECTS TO SATISFY ITS REPURCHASE OBLIGATION BY ISSUING SHARES OF COMMON STOCK. |
| o FOR | o AGAINST | o ABSTAIN |
THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED
SHAREHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED “FOR” THE ISSUANCE OF SUCH NUMBER
OF SHARES OF THE COMPANY’S COMMON STOCK AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO REPURCHASE ALL OF ITS OUTSTANDING
SENIOR CONVERTIBLE NOTES DUE 2023 IF THE COMPANY IS REQUIRED BY NOTEHOLDERS TO REPURCHASE THE NOTES
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INDENTURE DATED JUNE 16, 2003, AND IF THE COMPANY ELECTS TO SATISFY ITS
REPURCHASE OBLIGATION BY ISSUING SHARES OF COMMON STOCK, AND AS SAID PROXIES DEEM ADVISABLE ON SUCH
MATTERS AS MAY COME BEFORE THE MEETING. Dated: , 2008
| Please sign exactly as your name appears on the front of this Proxy Card. When shares are held in common or in joint tenancy, both should sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation, sign in full corporate name by President or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by an authorized person. | ||||||
| SIGNATURES: | ||||||
| Please return in the enclosed, postage-paid envelope. | ||||||
| I Will Will not attend the Meeting. | ||||||