Press
Release
Exhibit
99.1
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Joseph
Kuo
Ruth
Pachman
of
Kekst
and Company
212-521-4800
WYNNEFIELD
GROUP REACHES GOVERNANCE AND VOTING
AGREEMENT
WITH CROWN CRAFTS
-
Wynnefield Nominee Joseph Kling Joins Crown Crafts Board -
-
Crown Crafts Board Creates Strategic Review Committee To Explore Alternatives
-
NEW
YORK, NY, July 3, 2008 - The
Wynnefield Group, the largest stockholder in Crown Crafts Inc. (NASDAQ: CRWS),
announced today that on July 1, 2008 it entered into a governance and voting
agreement with Crown Crafts, settling Wynnefield’s proxy solicitation to elect
two members to the Crown Crafts Board of Directors. As part of this agreement,
Crown Crafts has appointed to its Board of Directors Wynnefield nominee Joseph
Kling, who will be re-nominated for election to the Board at the company’s
upcoming annual meeting of stockholders on August 12, 2008. In addition, the
Crown Crafts Board of Directors has formed a Strategic Review Committee to
explore strategic alternatives to create value for all of the company’s
stockholders. The Strategic Review Committee will issue its report and
recommendations to the Board by March 1, 2009.
Immediately
following Crown Crafts’ annual meeting of stockholders this year, the company’s
Board will be reduced to seven members, including Joseph Kling and Frederick
G.
Wasserman, who was nominated by the Wynnefield Group and elected to the Crown
Crafts Board in August 2007. Mr. Kling previously served for 19 years as a
member of the Board of Directors of Russ Berrie and Company, Inc., an
NYSE-listed company specializing in the gift and juvenile products industry.
Recently, Mr. Kling served as CEO of View-Master-Ideal, a toy manufacturer,
and
he currently serves as President and CEO of MLJ, Inc., a privately-held
consulting company focused on the toy industry and infant and juvenile apparel
industries.
Under
the
agreement, the Wynnefield Group has also been permitted to acquire up to an
aggregate of 20% of all outstanding shares of Crown Crafts common stock.
Additionally, the Wynnefield Group has agreed not to engage in any proxy
solicitation activities with respect to Crown Crafts through August
2009.
Nelson
Obus, General Partner of the Wynnefield Group, said, “We are very pleased that
Crown Crafts has accepted this amicable compromise, which demonstrates
Wynnefield’s commitment to seek conciliatory avenues to resolve the serious
concerns we have had about the company’s governance and performance. Ultimately,
our foremost goal continues to be the creation of value for the benefit of
all
stockholders in the company. We are excited to move forward with the company
and
its Board in the exploration of alternatives that will meet this
goal.”
Wynnefield
is Crown Crafts’ largest stockholder (holding some 15.6% of the outstanding
shares), and is a long-term investor in the company.
ABOUT
THE WYNNEFIELD GROUP:
The
Wynnefield Group is Crown Crafts’ largest shareholder, holding 15.6% of the
company’s outstanding common stock. Wynnefield
is a long-term investor in Crown Crafts, having first invested in the company
about eight years ago.
The
Wynnefield Group includes several affiliates of Wynnefield
Capital, Inc. (WCI), a value investor specializing in U.S. small cap situations
that have company- or industry-specific catalysts. WCI was established in
1992. Its founding partners, Nelson Obus and Joshua Landes, held senior research
and institutional equity positions at Lazard Freres & Co. during the 1980s,
and the initial Wynnefield investors included many of their colleagues at
Lazard. The fund has grown to approximately $450 million under management.
Nelson Obus currently serves on the board of directors of Layne Christensen
Company (NASDAQ: LAYN), serving on its audit committee and compensation
committee.
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