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Table of Contents

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-K/A

(Amendment No. 1)

 

 

(Mark One)

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                      to                     

Commission file number 1-7872

 

 

BREEZE-EASTERN CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   95-4062211

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. employer

identification no.)

35 Melanie Lane

Whippany, New Jersey

  07981
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (973) 602-1001

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Common Stock, par value $0.01

 

NYSE MKT

(Title of class)   (Name of Exchange on Which Registered)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: NONE

 

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  ¨    No  x

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    Yes  ¨    No  x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 229.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

(Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   ¨    Smaller reporting company   x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

The aggregate market value of the voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant on September 30, 2011 (the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter), based on the closing price of the registrant’s common stock on the NYSE MKT on such date, was $32,410,943. Shares of common stock held by executive officers and directors have been excluded since such persons may be deemed affiliates. This determination of affiliate status is not a determination for any other purpose.

As of July 22, 2013, the registrant had 9,643,736 shares of common stock outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

None.

 

 

 


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EXPLANATORY NOTE

The terms “we,” “our,” “us,” “Breeze” and the “Company” refer to Breeze-Eastern Corporation and its subsidiaries.

This Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A (the “Amendment”) amends our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2013, originally filed on June 6, 2013 (the “Original Filing”). We are filing this Amendment to include the information required by Part III and not included in the Original Filing as we will not file our definitive proxy statement within 120 days of the end of our fiscal year ended March 31, 2013. In addition, in connection with the filing of this Amendment and pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, we are including with this Amendment certain currently dated certifications.

Accordingly, Item 15 of Part IV has also been amended to reflect the filing of these currently dated certifications. Except as described above, no other changes have been made to the Original Filing. Unless expressly stated, this Amendment continues to speak as of the date of the Original Filing, and we have not updated the disclosures contained therein to reflect any events which occurred at a date subsequent to the filing of the Original Filing.


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BREEZE-EASTERN CORPORATION

INDEX TO ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2013

 

          Page  

PART III

     

Item 10.

   Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant      1   

Item 11.

   Executive Compensation      3   

Item 12.

   Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters      11   

Item 13.

   Certain Relationships and Related Transactions; Director Independence      13   

Item 14.

   Principal Accountant Fees and Services      14   

PART IV

     

Item 15.

   Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules      15   


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PART III

 

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

The following table sets forth certain information regarding our directors and executive officers as of July 27, 2013.

 

Name(1)

  

Position with the Company

   Age    Director/
Officer

Since

Robert J. Kelly

   Chairman of the Board    53    2011

Nelson Obus

   Director    66    2012

William J. Recker

   Director    70    1997

Russell M. Sarachek

   Director    49    2007

William M. Shockley

   Director    51    2006

Frederick Wasserman

   Director    59    2007

Brad Pedersen

   Director, President and Chief Executive Officer    53    2012

Mark D. Mishler

   Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary    54    2010

 

(1) All of our directors were nominated in accordance with the Standstill Agreements, dated October 5, 2011, between the Company and each of Tinicum Capital Partners II, L.P. (and certain of its affiliates) and Wynnefield Partners Small Cap Value, L.P. (and certain of its affiliates).

Mr. Kelly has been employed by Tinicum, the management company of Tinicum Capital Partners II, L.P., since 1991. Mr. Kelly currently is a Director of Penn Engineering and Manufacturing Corp, a leading manufacturer of specialty fasteners, and also serves on the board of Enesco, LLC. Mr. Kelly has in the past served as an observer on the board of X-Rite, Inc., as a director of Accuride Corporation (a manufacturer and supplier of commercial vehicle components) and as a director of a number of Tinicum portfolio companies. Prior to joining Tinicum, Mr. Kelly held positions at Pacific Telesis and Bain & Company. Mr. Kelly is a graduate of Yale College and the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. Mr. Kelly has extensive investment expertise and considerable experience serving on the boards of public and private companies, all of which will strengthen the Board collective qualifications, skills and experience.

Mr. Obus has served as president of Wynnefield Capital, Inc. since 1992 and as a managing member of Wynnefield Capital Management, LLC since January 1997. Wynnefield Capital Management manages two private investment funds and Wynnefield Capital, Inc. manages one private investment fund, all three of which invest in small-cap value U.S. public companies. Mr. Obus served as a member of the board of directors of Gilman Ciocia, Inc., a company that provides income tax return preparation, accounting and financial planning services from September 2007 to January 2012. Mr. Obus also serves on the board of directors of Layne Christensen Company, a diversified natural resources company with interests in water, mineral drilling and energy. Mr. Obus has significant experience in management and the finance, both of which strengthen the Board’s collective qualifications, skills, and experience.

Mr. Recker is currently retired and has been for the last seven years. Mr. Recker was President, C.E.O., and Chairman of Gretag Imaging AG from 1990 until 1998 and continued as Chairman until 2000. He serves on the boards of directors of several private high technology start up companies and non-profit organizations. Mr. Recker’s experience as a business leader and general management executive make him a strong contributor to Board discussions of people and strategy and strengthens the Board’s collective qualifications, skills, and experience.

Mr. Sarachek has been Managing Director of Contra Capital Management since 2002. From 1992 to 2002, he held various positions, including Executive Vice President and director of mergers and acquisitions with Groupe Schneider, a global manufacturer and distributor of electrical equipment and industrial controls. Mr. Sarachek has extensive knowledge in corporate governance practices for public companies and has a range of aerospace and defense industry contacts that help strengthen the Board’s collective qualifications, skills, and experience.


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Mr. Shockley has been a member of the general partner of Tinicum Capital Partners II, L.P., a private equity fund, since 2004. From May 2005 through June 2006 he was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Penn Engineering & Manufacturing Corporation, a leading manufacturer of specialty fasteners and a portfolio company of Tinicum Capital Partners. Mr. Shockley was Chief Financial Officer of SPS Technologies, Inc., a leading manufacturer of specialty fasteners, materials and components for the aerospace, industrial and automotive markets, from 1995 to 2003. Mr. Shockley’s financial sophistication and expertise, experience in general management, handling environmental matters, and broad aerospace and defense industry experience strengthen the Board’s collective qualifications, skills, and experience.

Mr. Wasserman is currently a financial management consultant. Until December 31, 2006, Mr. Wasserman was the Chief Operating/Financial Officer of Mitchell & Ness Nostalgia Co., a privately-held manufacturer and distributor of licensed sportswear and authentic team apparel. Prior to Mitchell & Ness, Mr. Wasserman served as the President of Goebel of North America, a U.S. subsidiary of the German specialty gift maker, from 2002 to 2005 and as its Chief Financial Officer from 2001 to 2005. Mr. Wasserman served as a director of Acme Communications, Inc. from 2006 to 2013. Mr. Wasserman currently serves as a director of DLH Holdings Corp. (formerly Teamstaff, Inc.), Allied Defense Group, Inc., MAM Software, Inc. (formerly Aftersoft Group, Inc.), Gilman Ciocia Inc., and Crown Crafts, Inc. Mr. Wasserman’s financial expertise and experience in serving on the board of directors of other public companies strengthen the Board’s collective qualifications, skills, and experience.

Mr. Pedersen has been our President and Chief Executive Officer since May 2012. He previously served as the President of New Jersey-based Airborne Systems Group, a multi-national developer and manufacturer of parachutes and related aerospace products, from 2011 to 2012, and as Chief Operating Officer North America from 2006 to 2011. Before joining Airborne, from 2000 to 2006, Mr. Pedersen held several positions at Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., including Canadian Maritime Helicopter Project Program Manager, UH-60M Program Manager, and Director of Advanced Programs (R&D), and a leadership position in the Mergers and Acquisitions group. Before joining Sikorsky, Mr. Pedersen, from 1983 to 2000, served in a variety of roles at Boeing, including Director – International Apache Programs, Director – Ordnance Programs, Program Manager – Advanced Programs and Flight Test Engineer. Mr. Pedersen received a BS, Aeronautical Engineering Technology, and an MBA from Arizona State University. Mr. Pedersen has extensive engineering knowledge along with significant experience in the aerospace industry, all of which strengthen the Board’s collective qualifications, skills, and experience.

Mr. Mishler has been Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company since January 2010 and Secretary since March 2010. From October 2007 to January 2010, Mr. Mishler served as Chief Financial Officer of Vital Signs, Inc., a $400 million, NASDAQ-listed manufacturer of medical devices that was acquired by General Electric in 2008. From 2005 to 2007, Mr. Mishler was the Corporate Controller and CIO at Fedders Corporation. Prior to 2005, Mr. Mishler was Corporate Controller and CIO of Amcast Industrial Corporation. He is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Management Accountant. Mr. Mishler is a graduate of Indiana University, and he earned a MBA from the University of Michigan.

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee reviews with our independent auditing firm the results of the firm’s annual examination, advises the full Board regarding its findings and provides assistance to the full Board in matters involving financial statements and financial controls. The Audit Committee is comprised of Messrs. Wasserman (Chair), Obus and Recker. The Board has determined that each member of the Audit Committee meets the independence standards set forth in Rule 10A-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act and the independence standards set forth in the NYSE MKT Company Guide. The Board has determined that Mr. Wasserman qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert,” as defined in Item 407(d)(5)(ii) of Regulation S-K, promulgated under the Exchange Act.

The Audit Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board, which is reviewed annually. The charter is available on our website at www.breeze-eastern.com. Under the charter, the Audit Committee is required to pre-approve the audit and non-audit services to be performed by our independent registered public accounting firm.

 

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Code of Business Conduct

The Board has approved a Code of Business Conduct that applies to our officers, directors and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer. We have provided training for all employees on the Code of Business Conduct and require that all directors, officers and employees abide by the Code of Business Conduct, which is available on our website at www.breeze-eastern.com. We do not anticipate making amendments to or waivers from the provisions of our Code of Business Conduct. If we make any amendments to our Code of Business Conduct, or if our Board of Directors grants any waiver from a provision thereof for our principal executive officer, our principal financial officer or our principal accounting officer, we will disclose the nature of such amendment or waiver, the name of the person(s) to whom the waiver was granted and the date of the amendment or waiver on our internet website.

Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”) requires the Company’s directors, executive officers, and persons who beneficially own more than 10 percent of our common stock, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Directors, executive officers, and greater than 10 percent stockholders are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.

Based solely on our review of the copies of such forms received by us or filed with the SEC, we believe that during fiscal 2013, all persons subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) with respect to the Company filed the required reports on a timely basis, except that (i) Messrs. Shockley, Obus, Recker, Kelly, Sarachek, Wasserman and Pedersen failed to timely file a Form 4, and (ii) Mr Pedersen failed to timely file a Form 3.

Stockholder Recommendations for Board Nominees

The Governance & Nominating Committee currently has no specific policy regarding recommendations for nominees to the Board from security holders. Security holders are permitted to nominate candidates for director in person at each annual meeting of stockholders. The Governance & Nominating Committee may consider nominees recommended by stockholders in writing to the Secretary of the Company.

 

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Incentive & Compensation Committee

The Incentive & Compensation Committee (the “Compensation Committee”) oversees our long term incentive plans and approves bonuses, grants stock options and awards restricted stock under the terms of such plans. Additional discussion of the Compensation Committee’s role is set forth in the Executive Compensation section of this Annual Report on Form 10-K/A. This Committee is composed entirely of independent Board members.

The Compensation Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board, which is reviewed annually. The charter is available on our website at www.breeze-eastern.com.

Compensation Committee Report

The Compensation Committee has reviewed the Executive Compensation disclosure set forth below and has discussed the disclosure with management. Based on its review and discussions with management, the Committee recommended to our Board that the Executive Compensation disclosure be included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K/A.

William M. Shockley, Chair

Robert J. Kelly

Frederick Wasserman

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

None of our executive officers served as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee (or of another committee engaged in activities similar to that of a compensation committee) of any entity that has one or more

 

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executive officers serving as a member of our Board or our Compensation Committee. In addition, no member of our Compensation Committee has at any time been an officer or employee of the Company. Accordingly, there were no interlocks with other companies within the meaning of the SEC’s proxy rules during fiscal 2012.

Objectives and Philosophy of Executive Compensation

Role of the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee oversees our long term incentive plans and approves bonuses, grants stock options and awards restricted stock under the terms of such plans. The Compensation Committee also approves the compensation of department heads reporting to the Chief Executive Officer and of employees earning, or proposed to earn, more than $125,000 per year. The Compensation Committee recommends for approval by the Board the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer. All long term incentive plans have, in the past, been approved by the stockholders.

Determining Compensation. We rely upon our judgment in making compensation decisions, after reviewing the performance of the Company and carefully evaluating an executive’s performance during the year against established goals, leadership qualities, operational performance, business responsibilities, career with the Company, current compensation arrangements and long-term potential to enhance stockholder value. Specific factors affecting compensation decisions for executive officers include:

 

   

achieving specific operational goals and key financial measurements such as revenue, operating profit, EBITDA, earnings per share, and operating margins, referring to the applicable annual budget (the “Annual Budget”) of the Company for each fiscal year as approved by the Board;

 

   

promoting commercial excellence by being a leading market player and attracting and retaining customers;

 

   

achieving excellence in their organizational structure and among their employees; and

 

   

supporting Company values by promoting a culture of unyielding integrity through compliance with law and our ethics policies, as well as a commitment to community leadership.

We do not attempt to maintain a certain target percentile within a peer group. We incorporate flexibility into our compensation programs and in the assessment process in an attempt to respond and adjust to the evolving business environment. In addition, when determining compensation, we attempt to carefully balance the need to fairly compensate our executives with the need to keep our costs and expenses under control.

We strive to achieve an appropriate mix between equity incentive awards and cash payments in order to meet our objectives. Any apportionment goal is not applied rigidly and does not control our compensation decisions; we use it as another tool to assess an executive’s total pay opportunities and whether we have provided the appropriate incentives to accomplish our compensation objectives. Our mix of compensation elements is designed to reward recent results and motivate long-term performance through a combination of cash and equity incentive awards.

Role of Compensation Consultant. Neither the Company nor the Compensation Committee presently has any contractual arrangement, nor have the Company or the Compensation Committee had any contractual arrangement during fiscal 2013, with any compensation consultant who has a role in determining or recommending the amount or form of senior executive or director compensation. In the future, either the Company or the Compensation Committee may, in their sole discretion, engage or seek the advice of other compensation consultants.

Alignment. We seek to align the interests of our executive officers with those of our stockholders by evaluating executive performance on the basis of key financial measurements referred to above, which measurements we believe closely correlate to long-term stockholder value. The key element of compensation that is intended to align the interests of our executives with our stockholders is equity incentive compensation, which links a portion of compensation to stockholder value because the total value of those awards corresponds to stock price appreciation.

Role of the Committee and CEO. The Compensation Committee has primary responsibility for overseeing the development of executive succession plans. As part of this responsibility, the Compensation Committee oversees the design, development and implementation of the compensation program for the CEO, the CFO and the other named

 

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executive officers, if any. The Compensation Committee receives from the Nominating Committee an evaluation of the performance of the CEO and determines the CEO’s compensation in light of the goals and objectives of the compensation program. The CEO and the Compensation Committee together assess the performance of the other executives and determine their compensation, based on initial recommendations from the CEO. The other executive officers do not play a role in their own compensation determination, other than discussing individual performance objectives with the CEO.

Base salary. Base salaries for our executive officers depend on the scope of their responsibilities, their performance, and the period over which they have performed those responsibilities. Base salaries are reviewed annually, but are not automatically increased if the Compensation Committee believes that other elements of compensation are more appropriate in light of our stated objectives. This strategy is consistent with our primary intent of offering compensation that is contingent on the achievement of performance objectives.

Bonus. Our CEO reviews with the Compensation Committee our full-year financial results against the financial, strategic and operational goals established for the year and our financial performance in prior periods. After reviewing the final full year results, the Compensation Committee approves total bonuses that may be awarded from the maximum fund available. Bonuses are generally paid within 60 days after the Board’s approval of the audited financial statements of the Company for the applicable fiscal year, with the exact date of payment being determined by the Board in its sole and absolute discretion.

The methodology for determining bonuses is set out in an incentive compensation plan (“Incentive Compensation Plan”) reviewed and approved by the Board and which is intended to be consistent with the Compensation Committee’s philosophy regarding executive compensation. The compensation reflected in this proxy statement reflects the application of the Incentive Compensation Plan to fiscal 2013.

The Incentive Compensation Plan has an annual bonus feature which is an important tool in providing incentives for short-term and long-term performance. Bonus awards are paid upon achieving or exceeding target levels of quantitative performance measures. Such performance measures are tied directly to our annual business plan. Executive officers earn no bonus unless 80% of the Annual Budget’s profit goals are met. Thus, the Incentive Compensation Plan measures performance against Board-approved targets for EBITDA, return on working capital, and individual bonus objectives and performance metrics.

Stock options and restricted stock awards. Our equity incentive compensation program, which consists mainly of the Breeze-Eastern Corporation 2012 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2012 Plan”), is intended to recognize scope of responsibilities, reward demonstrated performance and leadership, motivate future superior performance, align the interests of the executives with our stockholders and retain the executives through the term of the awards. We consider the grant size and the appropriate combination of stock options and restricted stock awards when making award decisions. The amount of equity incentive compensation granted in fiscal 2013 was based, in part, upon our overall strategic, operational and financial performance and is intended to reflect our expectations regarding our executives’ contributions to our future success.

We believe that providing combined grants of stock options and restricted stock awards effectively balances our objective of focusing the executive officers on delivering long-term value to our stockholders with our objective of providing value to the executives with the equity awards. Stock options only have value to the extent the price of our stock on the date of exercise exceeds the exercise price on grant date, and, thus, we believe are an effective compensation element only if the stock price grows over the term of the award. In this sense, we believe that stock options are an effective motivational tool. Restricted stock awards offer executives the opportunity to sell or hold shares of our stock on the date the restriction lapses. In this regard, restricted stock awards serve both to reward and retain executives, as the value of the restricted stock awards is linked to the price of our stock.

Equity Grant Practices. The exercise price of each stock option awarded to our senior executives under our 2012 Plan is the closing price of our stock on the date of the Compensation Committee meeting at which equity awards for senior executives are determined. The calendar for setting meeting dates of the Board and of the Compensation Committee to consider grants is generally reviewed at the organization meeting of the Board following the annual meeting of stockholders. Meeting dates are set without regard to anticipated earnings or other major announcements by the Company.

 

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Pension Plans. We do not offer a defined benefit plan. Executive and rank-and-file employees are eligible to participate in our defined contribution plan, commonly known as a 401(k) plan.

Other Compensation. Our named executive officers are offered and may choose to participate in the same benefit programs as all of our other employees, which include: a Company match of $.50 for every $1.00 of compensation saved under the Company’s 401(k) plan up to a maximum of 3% of compensation for plan purposes, and a profit sharing contribution under the 401(k) paid following the end of the fiscal year equal to 3% of eligible earnings, premiums paid on life and disability policies, and actual expenses paid on medical, dental and prescriptions net of the named employee’s contribution. In addition, prior to his resignation, Mr. Harlan was reimbursed for the costs of commuting to New Jersey from his family’s residence in Kentucky and the associated income taxes. We also agreed to reimburse Brad Pedersen, our current Chief Executive Officer, for costs related to his relocation. Other than the foregoing reimbursements, there are no benefits that are offered solely to our named executive officers. Payment for these benefits is reflected in the “All Other Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table below.

Potential Impact on Compensation from Executive Misconduct. If the Board determines that an executive officer has engaged in fraudulent or intentional misconduct, the Board will take action to remedy the misconduct, prevent its recurrence, and impose such discipline on the wrongdoers as would be appropriate. Discipline may vary depending on the facts and circumstances, and may include, without limitation, (1) termination of employment, (2) initiating an action for breach of fiduciary duty, and (3) if the misconduct results in a significant restatement of our financial results, seeking reimbursement of any portion of performance-based or incentive compensation paid or awarded to the executive that is greater than would have been paid or awarded if calculated based on the restated financial results. These remedies are in addition to, and not in lieu of, any actions imposed by law enforcement agencies, regulators or other authorities.

Dodd-Frank Clawback of Incentive Compensation. Section 954 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank”) requires that we adopt a policy to disclose “incentive-based compensation” (which Section 954 of Dodd-Frank does not define) that is based upon financial information that is required to be reported under the federal securities laws and a policy requiring us to recover any amount of “incentive based compensation” paid to any current or former executive that exceeds the amount which would have been paid under an accounting restatement in the three years prior to the date on which we were required to prepare the restatement. The SEC has not yet issued interpretive regulations with respect to either policy required under Section 954 of Dodd-Frank. However, the clawback requirement applies irrespective of any misconduct or fault on the part of any such current or former executive. The Board is currently evaluating the requirements under Dodd-Frank and how it affects the Company, including analyzing both the disclosure policy and the clawback policy required under Dodd-Frank.

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

The following table sets forth for each of the named executive officers the compensation for fiscal 2013 and 2012 for services provided to us in all capacities.

 

Name and

Principal Position

   Year      Salary
($)
     Bonus
($)
    Stock
Awards
($)(1)
    Option
Awards
($)(1)
    Nonequity
Incentive Plan
Compensation

($)
    All Other
Compensation
($)(2)
    Total ($)  

Brad Pedersen

     2013         301,539         336,975 (3)      30,528 (4)      803,500        —   (5)      160,345 (6)      1,632,886   

President and Chief

Executive Officer

     2012         —           —          —          —          —          —          —     

D. Michael Harlan, Jr.(7)

     2013         41,538         —          —          —          —   (5)      293,953 (8)      335,491   

Former President and Chief

Executive Officer

     2012         301,154         —          —          108,800 (9)      —   (5)      87,883 (10)      497,837 (9) 

Mark D. Mishler

     2013         241,774         110,912 (11)      19,572 (12)      —          —   (5)      76,755        449,013   

Senior Vice President, Chief

Financial Officer, Treasurer

and Secretary

     2012         235,573         40,000 (13)      —          21,760 (9)      —   (5)      36,720        334,053 (9) 

 

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(1) Represents the grant date fair value of the award, calculated in accordance with FASB Accounting Standard Codification 718, “Compensation – Stock Compensation,” or ASC 718. The assumptions used in calculating the grant date fair value of the awards are set forth in Note 9 of our Financial Statements set forth in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2013.
(2) “All Other Compensation” includes matching and non-matching contributions paid pursuant to the Company’s 401(k) plan, to which all participants in the plan are eligible, and payments made in connection with the Company’s health and welfare plan.
(3) Consists of a cash bonus earned by Mr. Pedersen in fiscal 2013 that was paid in fiscal 2014.
(4) Includes 3,656 shares of restricted stock earned as a bonus by Mr. Pedersen in fiscal 2013 which was granted to him in fiscal 2014
(5) The cash bonus awarded to Messrs. Pedersen, Harlan and Mishler was calculated in accordance with the performance measures set forth in the Incentive Compensation Plan, which is described in additional detail under the heading “Objectives and Philosophy of Executive Compensation” above. The bonus is set forth under the “Bonus” column of this Summary Compensation Table.
(6) Includes reimbursement to Mr. Pedersen for relocating his New Jersey residence.
(7) Mr. Harlan resigned as our President and Chief Executive Officer in May 2012.
(8) Includes $258,462 of gross salary paid in accordance with Mr. Harlan’s resignation letter agreement, pursuant to which he receives bi-weekly payments of his salary for one year from his resignation date. Also includes reimbursement of Mr. Harlan’s cost of commuting to New Jersey from his family’s residence in Kentucky and associated income taxes.
(9) The value of this compensation is different than the value set forth in the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended March 31, 2012, due to a computation inconsistency.
(10) Includes reimbursement of Mr. Harlan’s cost of commuting to New Jersey from his family’s residence in Kentucky and associated income taxes.
(11) Consists of a cash bonus earned by Mr. Mishler in fiscal 2013 that was paid in fiscal 2014.
(12) Includes 2,344 shares of restricted stock earned as a bonus by Mr. Mishler in fiscal 2013 which was granted to him in fiscal 2014.
(13) Consists of a cash bonus earned by Mr. Mishler in fiscal 2012 that was paid in fiscal 2013.

 

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GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS

The following table sets forth information regarding all incentive plan awards that were made to the named executive officers during fiscal 2013.

 

Name

   Grant
Date
     All Other
Stock
Awards:
Number of
Shares of
Stock or
Units (#)
     All Other
Option
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options (#)
     Exercise
or Base
Price

of Option
Awards
($/Sh)
     Grant Date
Fair Value
Of Stock
And Option
Awards(1)
 

Brad Pedersen

     5/22/12         —           400,000(2)       $ 8.10         803,500   

 

(1) Represents the grant date fair value of the award, calculated in accordance with FASB Accounting Standard Codification 718, “Compensation – Stock Compensation,” or ASC 718. The assumptions used in calculating the grant date fair value of the awards are set forth in Note 9 of our Financial Statements set forth in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2013.
(2) In May 2012, in connection with the hiring of Mr. Pedersen as our Chief Executive Officer, we granted to Mr. Pedersen an option to purchase 400,000 shares of our Common Stock. The option has a term of ten years and an exercise price of $8.10 per share. The foregoing grant was not made pursuant to our existing equity compensation plans and was not presented to our stockholders for approval. Additional information regarding the options is located in the section entitled “Narrative Disclosure to Executive Compensation Tables” below.

OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END

The following table sets forth information on outstanding option and stock awards held by the named executive officers at fiscal year end, including the number of shares underlying both exercisable and un-exercisable portions of each stock option as well as the exercise price and expiration date of each outstanding option.

 

     Option Awards    Stock Awards  

Name

   Grant
Date
   Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
(1)
    Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable
(1)
     Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options (#)
     Option
Exercise
Price
($)
     Option
Expiration
Date
   Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested
(#)(2)
     Market
Value of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested
($)(3)
 

Brad Pedersen

   5/22/12      50,000        350,000         —           8.10       5/22/22      —           —     

D. Michael Harlan, Jr.(4)

   8/17/09      100,000        —           —           6.05       8/19/13      —           —     
   9/23/10      16,666        —           —           6.89       8/19/13      —           —     
   10/6/11      —   (5)      40,000         —           15.00       8/19/13      —           —     

Mark D. Mishler

   1/6/10      14,000        —           —           6.20       1/6/20      —           —     
   4/1/10      17,333        8,667         —           6.20       4/1/20      —           —     
   8/27/10      —          —           —           —         —        190         1,568   
   9/23/10      2,667        1,333         —           6.89       9/23/20      —           —     
   10/6/11      2,667        5,333         —           8.80       10/6/21      —           —     

 

(1) Options granted prior to calendar 2012 become exercisable in equal amounts on each of the three anniversaries following the date of grant. Options granted in calendar 2012 become exercisable as various market conditions are met.

 

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(2) Awards become vested in equal amounts on each of the three anniversaries following the date of grant.
(3) Market value at March 30, 2013, based on closing market price of our Common Stock on March 31, 2013 of $8.25 per share.
(4) Mr. Harlan resigned as our President and Chief Executive Officer in May 2012.
(5) The option vests in its entirety upon the trading price of our Common Stock reaching $15.00 per share.

NARRATIVE DISCLOSURE TO EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION TABLES

Retirement Plans

Our executive officers are participants in the Breeze-Eastern Corporation Retirement Savings Plan (the “Retirement Savings Plan”), a defined contribution plan described under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, which covers employees who have been employed by the Company for more than thirty (30) days. Approximately 161 employees participated in the Retirement Savings Plan at March 31, 2013. Benefits are payable on retirement, disability, death, or other separation from service. Participants in the Retirement Savings Plan may defer receipt and income taxation of up to 75% of their compensation by contributing such compensation to the Retirement Savings Plan. The Company contributes a minimum of 3% and a maximum of 6% of employees’ compensation to the Retirement Savings Plan, depending on the level of contribution by each employee.

Employment Agreements

On May 22, 2012, we entered into an employment agreement with Brad Pedersen setting forth the terms and conditions of his employment with us. Pursuant to the agreement, we will pay to Mr. Pedersen an annual base salary of $350,000, subject to annual adjustment by the Compensation Committee. Mr. Pedersen is also eligible to receive an annual bonus of up to 70% of his base salary (of which 15% of such bonus may be in the form of equity) based upon his performance, as evaluated by the Compensation Committee. We also granted to Mr. Pedersen an option to purchase 400,000 shares of our Common Stock. The option has a term of ten years and an exercise price of $8.10 per share. An option to purchase 50,000 shares was immediately exercisable upon grant, and the option to purchase remaining 350,000 shares vests gradually in installments of 50,000 shares based upon whether the average closing price of our Common Stock over a thirty-day period (the “Trailing Price”) exceeds certain pre-determined thresholds within certain timeframes. Specifically, (i) options to purchase 50,000 shares will vest when the Trailing Price exceeds $8.50, (ii) at any time after May 22, 2013, options to purchase 50,000 shares and 50,000 shares will vest when the Trailing Price exceeds $9.50 and $10.50, respectively, (iii) at any time after May 22, 2014, options to purchase 50,000 shares and 50,000 shares will vest when the Trailing Price exceeds $11.50 and $12.50, respectively, and (iv) at any time after May 22, 2015, options to purchase 50,000 shares and 50,000 shares will vest when the Trailing Price exceeds $13.50 and $14.50, respectively. Upon a change of control, the time periods in which the option becomes exercisable will immediately accelerate, but the share price performance criteria will remain the same. Mr. Pedersen is eligible to participate in our incentive and benefit plans under the same terms and conditions applicable to other executives of the Company.

On January 6, 2010, we entered into an employment agreement with Mark D. Mishler, our Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary. The agreement provides for an annual base salary of $230,000, to be reviewed annually by the board of directors, a minimum bonus of $24,000 in fiscal 2010, and a one-time cash signing bonus of $40,000, paid in four equal monthly installments of $10,000. Mr. Mishler participates in our Incentive Compensation Plan with a target award of 40% of his base salary. The employment agreement provides that 15% of the bonus will be paid in shares of our Common Stock. Pursuant to his employment agreement, we granted to Mr. Mishler options to purchase 14,000 and 26,000 shares of our Common Stock, respectively, on January 6, 2010 and April 1, 2010. The options have an exercise price equal to the closing price on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the employment agreement. The foregoing options vest in three equal annual installments and terminate ten years from the date of grant, subject to earlier termination in the event of certain conditions. Mr. Mishler is eligible to participate in our incentive and benefit plans under the same terms and conditions applicable to our other executives.

 

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Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control

Our named executive officers have provisions in their employment agreements that provide for payments in connection with termination or a change in control.

Mr. Pedersen’s employment agreement provides that if we terminate Mr. Pedersen without cause, we will pay to Mr. Pedersen an amount equal to his annual base salary in effect at the time of termination, and continue his employee benefits until the earlier of (i) the date in which he obtains subsequent employment, or (ii) the one year anniversary of his termination date. If we terminate Mr. Pedersen within the twenty-four month period following a change in control, we (or our successor) will pay to Mr. Pedersen an amount equal to two times his annual base salary in effect at the time of termination plus an amount equal to the average of the two prior bonus payments made to Mr. Pedersen, or in the event that Mr. Pedersen has only received one bonus payment from us, he shall receive an amount equal to that bonus payment. If we terminate Mr. Pedersen for “Cause”, as such term is defined in the agreement, then we will have no other compensation obligations other than (i) amounts of compensation accrued through the date of termination and (ii) reimbursement of appropriately documented expenses incurred before the termination.

Mr. Mishler’s employment agreement provides that in the event of a change in control and termination or resignation for good reason in connection therewith within 24 months of such change in control, Mr. Mishler will be entitled to receive a cash payment equal to one years’ base salary and the average of any bonuses for the prior two years (or 40% of Mr. Mishler’s base salary if he has not yet received two bonuses on the date of termination). In addition, the vesting of all stock options and restricted shares granted would accelerate upon a change in control.

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

The following table sets forth the compensation for fiscal 2013 for those persons who served as members of our Board of Directors during fiscal 2013:

 

Name(1)

   Fees
Earned or
Paid in
Cash ($)
     Stock
Awards
($)(2)(3)
     Total
($)
 

Robert J. Kelly

     20,000         30,000         50,000   

Nelson Obus

     20,000         30,000         50,000   

William J. Recker

     20,000         30,000         50,000   

Russell M. Sarachek

     20,000         30,000         50,000   

William M. Shockley

     20,000         30,000         50,000   

Frederick Wasserman

     20,000         30,000         50,000   

 

(1) Mr. Pedersen has been omitted from this table as he served as a management member of the Board of Directors and was not separately compensated for his respective service on the Board of Directors.
(2) Represents the grant date fair value of the award, calculated in accordance with FASB Accounting Standard Codification 718, “Compensation – Stock Compensation,” or ASC 718. The assumptions used in calculating the grant date fair value of the awards are set forth in Note 9 of our Financial Statements set forth in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2013.
(3) The stock awards granted to directors during fiscal 2013 were granted as of September 14, 2012, at which date the stock price was $7.52, resulting in an award of 3,989 restricted shares to each of Messrs Kelly, Obus, Recker, Sarachek, Shockley and Wasserman.

Directors who are not employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries receive an annual retainer of $20,000 in cash and $30,000 payable in shares of our common stock in the form of a restricted stock award. The number of shares awarded is determined by dividing $30,000 by the closing price of our common stock on the date of the annual meeting of stockholders each year. The stock is awarded to the directors in advance for the balance of their term within a reasonable time following election or re-election to the Board.

 

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

The following table sets out certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of our Common Stock as of July 22, 2013 (except as referenced in the footnotes) by (i) each person who is known by the Company to be the beneficial owner of 5% or more of our Common Stock, (ii) each director and nominee for director of the Company, individually, (iii) the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, (iv) all executive officers named in our summary compensation table, and (v) all directors, nominees for director and executive officers as a group. Except as otherwise indicated, the address of each person is 35 Melanie Lane, Whippany, New Jersey 07981.

 

Name

   Number of
Shares of
Common Stock(1)
    Percentage of
Common  Stock(1)
 

Tinicum Capital Partners II, L.P.

     3,303,373 (2)      34.25

800 Third Avenue 40th Floor

    

New York, NY 10022

    

Wynnefield Partners Small Cap Value, L.P.

     2,117,911 (3)      21.96

450 Seventh Avenue, Suite 509

    

New York, NY 10123

    

T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.

     611,530 (4)      6.34

100 E. Pratt Street

    

Baltimore, MD 21202

    

VN Capital Fund I, L.P.

     1,069,866 (5)      11.09

1133 Broadway, Suite 1609

    

New York, NY 10010

    

Directors and Executive Officers

    

Robert J. Kelly

     7,398 (6)      *   

Nelson Obus

     2,124,330 (7)      22.33

William J. Recker

     311,442        3.23

Russell M. Sarachek

     172,532 (8)      1.79

William M. Shockley

     24,565 (9)      *   

Frederick Wasserman

     21,990        *   

Brad Pedersen

     210,206 (10)      *   

Mark D. Mishler

     69,367 (11)      *   

Directors, nominees and executive officers as a group (8 persons)

     2,941,830 (12)      29.74

 

* Less than 1%.
(1) Except as set out in these footnotes, the persons named in this table have sole voting power and investment power with respect to all shares of our Common Stock shown as beneficially owned by them, subject to community property laws where applicable. References in these footnotes to “shares,” unless otherwise specified, are to shares of Common Stock. The percentages of common stock shown are based upon the 9,643,736 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of July 22, 2013.

 

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(2) Based on a Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on October 6, 2011 by Tinicum Capital Partners II, L.P. (“TCP”). For purposes of the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, TCP (and Tinicum Capital Partners II Parallel Fund, L.P. (“TCPP”) with respect to 17,220 shares) is deemed to be a beneficial owner of such securities; TCP and TCPP each disclaim beneficial ownership of shares held by the other, respectively. If TCP and TCPP are each deemed to beneficially own shares held by the other, TCP and TCPP’s aggregate beneficial ownership would be 3,303,373 shares, or approximately 35% of our outstanding Common Stock. Messrs. Eric Ruttenberg and Terence O’Toole are Co-Managing Members of Tinicum Lantern II, L.L.C., the general partner of TCP and TCPP, and are the control persons of TCP and TCPP.
(3) Based on a Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on October 7, 2011, by Wynnefield Partners Small Cap Value, L.P., Wynnefield Partners Small Cap Value, L.P. I., Wynnefield Small Cap Value Offshore Fund, Ltd., Channel Partnership II, L.P., Nelson Obus, Joshua Landes, Wynnefield Capital Management, LLC, and Wynnefield Capital, Inc. Wynnefield Capital Management, LLC reported that it holds an indirect beneficial interest in 1,356,902 shares which are directly beneficially owned by Wynnefield Partners Small Cap Value, L.P. and Wynnefield Partners Small Cap Value, L.P.I., Wynnefield Capital, Inc. reported that it holds an indirect beneficial interest in the 722,609 shares which are directly beneficially owned by Wynnefield Small Cap Value Offshore Fund, Ltd. Nelson Obus reported that he holds an indirect beneficial interest in 38,400 shares which are directly beneficially owned by Channel Partnership II, L.P. Nelson Obus and Joshua Landes are the control persons of each of these entities.
(4) Based on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 8, 2013, jointly by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (“Price Associates”) and T. Rowe Price Small Cap Value Fund, Inc. (“Price Small-Cap”). These shares are owned by various individual and institutional investors with respect to which Price Associates or Price Small-Cap serves as investment advisor. For purposes of the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Price Associates (and Price Small-Cap with respect to 600,000 shares) is deemed to be a beneficial owner of such securities; however, Price Associates expressly disclaims that it is, in fact, the beneficial owner of such securities. Mr. David Oestreicher is the control person of each of these entities.
(5) Based on a Form 4 filed with the SEC on July 19, 2013, by VN Capital Management, LLC, Joinville Capital Management, LLC, James T. Vanasek, and Patrick Donnell Noone. As the general partner of VN Capital Fund I, L.P., VN Capital Management, LLC and Joinville Capital Management, LLC may be deemed to indirectly beneficially own the 790,661 shares which are directly beneficially owned by VN Capital Fund I, L.P. As the managing members of VN Capital Management, LLC and Joinville Capital Management, LLC, Mr. Vanasek and Mr. Noone may be deemed to indirectly beneficially own the 790,661 shares which are directly beneficially owned by VN Capital Fund I, L.P. VN Capital Management, LLC acts as the investment manager for PVF-JD, a Delaware limited partnership, and as a result is deemed to beneficially own the 279,205 shares owned by PVF-JD.
(6) Mr. Kelly is a member of Tinicum Lantern II, L.L.C., the general partner of Tinicum Capital Partners II, L.P. and Tinicum Capital Partners II Parallel Fund, L.P., and, as such, may have an indirect interest in 3,303,373 shares owned by Tinicum Capital Partners II, L.P. and Tinicum Capital Partners II Parallel Fund, L.P., as reported in the Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on October 6, 2011.
(7) Includes 2,117,911 shares owned Wynnefield Partners Small Cap Value, L.P., Wynnefield Partners Small Cap Value, L.P. I., Wynnefield Small Cap Value Offshore Fund, Ltd.; Channel Partnership II, L.P.; Wynnefield Capital Management, LLC; and Wynnefield Capital, Inc., as reported in the Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on October 7, 2011. Mr. Obus is a control person of the foregoing entities and therefore may be deemed to indirectly beneficially own the 2,117,911 shares owned by such entities.
(8) Includes 156,196 shares of Common Stock in which Mr. Sarachek may be deemed to be the indirect beneficial owner by virtue of his having investment discretion and voting control over such shares in funds for which he serves as the managing member.
(9) Mr. Shockley is a member of Tinicum Lantern II, L.L.C., the general partner of Tinicum Capital Partners II, L.P. and Tinicum Capital Partners II Parallel Fund, L.P., and, as such, may have an indirect interest in 3,303,373 shares owned by Tinicum Capital Partners II, L.P. and Tinicum Capital Partners II Parallel Fund, L.P., as reported in a Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on October 6, 2011.

 

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(10) Includes 200,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options. Does not include 200,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options subject to vesting.
(11) Includes 46,667 shares issuable upon exercise of options. Does not include 5,333 shares issuable upon exercise of options subject to vesting.
(12) Includes 246,667 shares issuable upon exercise of options.

SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS

The following table provides certain information with respect to all of the Company’s equity compensation plans in effect as of March 31, 2013.

 

Plan Category    Number of Securities to
be Issued Upon Exercise
Warrants and Rights
     Weighted Average
Exercise Price of
Warrants and Rights
     Number of Securities
for Future Issuance
 

Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Security Holders

     1,231,498      $ 8.20        502,024  

Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Security Holders(1)

     —          —          —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     1,231,498      $ 8.20        502,024  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) In May 2012, in connection with the hiring of Mr. Pedersen as our Chief Executive Officer, we granted to Mr. Pedersen an option to purchase 400,000 shares of our Common Stock. The option has a term of ten years and an exercise price of $8.10 per share. The foregoing grant was not made pursuant to our existing equity compensation plans and was not presented to our stockholders for approval. Additional information regarding the options is located in the section entitled “Narrative Disclosure to Executive Compensation Tables” above.

 

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS; DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions

Transactions with related parties presenting potential conflict of interest situations, and all such transactions must be approved by the Audit Committee or another independent body of the Board. Our Code of Business Conduct specifically prohibits various conflict of interest situations and imposes disclosure requirements in connection with potential conflicts of interest. We require that all directors, officers and employees abide by the Code of Business Conduct, which is available on our website at www.breeze-eastern.com.

During fiscal 2013, there were no proceedings to which any of our directors, executive officers, affiliates, holders of more than five (5%) percent of our Common Stock, or any associate (as defined in Rule 14a-1 of the proxy rules) of the foregoing were adverse to the Company. During fiscal 2013, none of our directors, executive officers, holders of more than five (5%) percent of our common stock, or any members of their immediate family had a direct or indirect material interest in any transactions or series of transactions with the Company in which the amount involved exceeded or exceeds $120,000.

On October 5, 2011, we entered into a Standstill Agreement with Tinicum Capital Partners, II, L.P. (together with certain of its affiliates, “Tinicum”) and Wynnefield Partners Small Cap Value, L.P. (together with certain of its affiliates, “Wynnefield”) (collectively, the “Standstill Agreements”). Pursuant to the Standstill Agreements, Tinicum and Wynnefield each agreed, among other things, that for a period of 18 months they would not: (i) acquire any additional shares of our common stock; (ii) make or in any way participate in the solicitation of proxies; (iii) seek to call a meeting of stockholders; (iv) seek to advise or influence other stockholders with respect to the voting of our common stock; or (v) seek to effect control of the management, board of directors or policies of the Company. In addition, Tinicum and Wynnefield each agreed that they would: (i) vote in favor of our nominees to the board of

directors at our 2011 annual meeting and 2012 annual meeting; and (ii) vote in favor of the adoption of the shareholder rights plan, which was approved by our stockholders at the 2011 annual meeting.

 

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We agreed, among other things, to (i) fix the number of directors to serve on the Board of Directors at seven; and (ii) not adopt an advance notice by-law provision with respect to stockholder business or director elections.

Director Independence

We maintain compliance with the NYSE MKT Listing Standards and have adopted the independence criteria of NYSE MKT for purposes of determining director independence for the Board and its committees.

The Board has affirmatively determined that none of the current members of the Board, except for Mr. Pedersen, has a material relationship with the Company, and that each director, except Mr. Pedersen, qualifies as independent for Board and committee purposes under the NYSE MKT independence criteria.

 

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

Marcum LLP has served as our independent registered public accounting firm since July 3, 2007 and its selection as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013, was ratified by our stockholders at our 2012 annual meeting of stockholders. During fiscal 2013, we engaged Deloitte & Touche LLP for corporate tax services.

The following table includes fees billed for professional audit services rendered by Marcum LLP for the audit of our annual consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013, the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012 and review of our Form 10-Qs during fiscal 2013 and fiscal 2012. The fees for various types of services provided to us were billed as shown below.

 

     2012      2013  

Marcum LLP

     

Audit Fees

   $ 266,500       $ 299,443   

Audit-Related Fees(1)

     19,400         20,300   

All Other Fees(2)

     8,800         2,200   

Deloitte & Touche LLP

     

Tax Fees(3)

   $ 135,121       $ 105,150   

 

(1) The amounts reflected are the fees for the audit of the employee defined contribution plan.
(2) The amounts reflected are the fees related to the preparation of the Form 5500 ($2,200 in 2013 and $2,000 in 2012) along with permissible non-audit services consisting of due diligence and consultations.
(3) The amounts reflected were billed in fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2013 in connection with our engagement of Deloitte & Touche LLP for corporate tax services during fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2013.

The Audit Committee approved 100% of the services shown in the above categories. No hours expended on the independent auditors’ engagement to perform the audit for fiscal 2013 were attributed to work performed by persons other than employees of Marcum LLP.

The Audit Committee has adopted a procedure to pre-approve audit services and other services to be provided by our independent auditors. In fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2013, all services provided by our independent auditors were associated with our audit, and all such services were pre-approved by the Audit Committee.

Based on the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013, as filed with the SEC.

 

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PART IV

 

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

(a) Financial Statements, Schedules, and Exhibits:

1 and 2. No financial statements or schedules are filed with this report on Form 10-K/A.

 

31.1*    Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 Section 302
31.2*    Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 Section 302
32.1*    Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 Section 906

 

* Filed herewith

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

BREEZE-EASTERN CORPORATION

By:    

 

/s/ Brad Pedersen

  Brad Pedersen
  President and Chief Executive Officer
 

/s/ Mark D. Mishler

  Mark D. Mishler.
  Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer,
  Treasurer, and Secretary

Date:  July 29, 2013