SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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SCHEDULE 13D
(Rule 13d-101)
INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT
TO RULE 13d-1(a) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED PURSUANT TO
RULE 13d-2(a)
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. 4)*
Griffon Corporation
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(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock, par value $0.25 per share
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(Title of Class of Securities)
398433102
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(CUSIP Number)
Marc Weingarten, Esq.
Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP
919 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10022
(212) 756-2000
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(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)
May 30, 2007
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(Date of Event which Requires
Filing of This Statement)
If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report
the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this
schedule because of Rule 13d-1(e), 13d-1(f) or 13d-1(g), check the following
box. [ ]
NOTE: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five
copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See Rule 13d-7 for other parties
to whom copies are to be sent.
(Continued on following pages)
(Page 1 of 10 Pages)
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* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).
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CUSIP NO. 398433102 SCHEDULE 13D PAGE 2 OF 10 PAGES
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1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
CLINTON GROUP, INC.
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2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) [ ]
(b) [ ]
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3 SEC USE ONLY
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4 SOURCE OF FUNDS*
AF
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5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT
TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) [ ]
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6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
DELAWARE
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7 SOLE VOTING POWER
-0-
----------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF 8 SHARED VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY 2,535,040
OWNED BY ----------------------------------------------------------
EACH 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING
PERSON WITH -0-
----------------------------------------------------------
10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
2,535,040
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11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH PERSON
2,535,040
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12 CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES
CERTAIN SHARES*
[ ]
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13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
8.5%
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14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
IA; CO
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* SEE INSTRUCTIONS
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CUSIP NO. 398433102 SCHEDULE 13D PAGE 3 OF 10 PAGES
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1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
CLINTON MULTISTRATEGY MASTER FUND, LTD.
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2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) [ ]
(b) [ ]
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3 SEC USE ONLY
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4 SOURCE OF FUNDS*
WC
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5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT
TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) [ ]
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6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
CAYMAN ISLANDS
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7 SOLE VOTING POWER
-0-
----------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF 8 SHARED VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY 2,251,560
OWNED BY ----------------------------------------------------------
EACH 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING
PERSON WITH -0-
----------------------------------------------------------
10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
2,251,560
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11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH PERSON
2,251,560
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12 CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES
CERTAIN SHARES*
[ ]
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13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
7.5%
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14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
CO
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* SEE INSTRUCTIONS
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CUSIP NO. 398433102 SCHEDULE 13D PAGE 4 OF 10 PAGES
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1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
CLINTON SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES MASTER FUND, LTD.
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2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) [ ]
(b) [ ]
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3 SEC USE ONLY
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4 SOURCE OF FUNDS*
WC
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5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT
TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) [ ]
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6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
CAYMAN ISLANDS
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7 SOLE VOTING POWER
-0-
----------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF 8 SHARED VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY 283,480
OWNED BY ----------------------------------------------------------
EACH 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING
PERSON WITH -0-
----------------------------------------------------------
10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
283,480
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11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH PERSON
283,480
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12 CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES
CERTAIN SHARES*
[ ]
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13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
1.0%
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14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
CO
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* SEE INSTRUCTIONS
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CUSIP NO. 398433102 SCHEDULE 13D PAGE 5 OF 10 PAGES
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1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
GEORGE E. HALL
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2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) [ ]
(b) [ ]
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3 SEC USE ONLY
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4 SOURCE OF FUNDS*
AF
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5 CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT
TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) [ ]
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6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
UNITED STATES
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7 SOLE VOTING POWER
-0-
----------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF 8 SHARED VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY 2,535,040
OWNED BY ----------------------------------------------------------
EACH 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING
PERSON WITH -0-
----------------------------------------------------------
10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
2,535,040
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11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH PERSON
2,535,040
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12 CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES
CERTAIN SHARES*
[ ]
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13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
8.5%
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14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
IN
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* SEE INSTRUCTIONS
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CUSIP NO. 398433102 SCHEDULE 13D PAGE 6 OF 10 PAGES
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1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
CONRAD BRINGSJORD
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2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) [ ]
(b) [ ]
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3 SEC USE ONLY
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4 SOURCE OF FUNDS*
AF
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5 CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT
TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) [ ]
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6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
UNITED STATES
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7 SOLE VOTING POWER
-0-
----------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF 8 SHARED VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY 2,535,040
OWNED BY ----------------------------------------------------------
EACH 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING
PERSON WITH -0-
----------------------------------------------------------
10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
2,535,040
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11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH PERSON
2,535,040
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12 CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES
CERTAIN SHARES*
[ ]
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13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
8.5%
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14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
IN
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* SEE INSTRUCTIONS
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CUSIP NO. 398433102 SCHEDULE 13D PAGE 7 OF 10 PAGES
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The Schedule 13D filed on December 20, 2006 by Clinton Group, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("CGI"), Clinton Multistrategy Master Fund, Ltd., a Cayman Islands
company ("CMSF"), Clinton Special Opportunities Master Fund, Ltd., a Cayman
Islands company ("CSO"), George E. Hall and Conrad Bringsjord (collectively, the
"Reporting Persons"), with respect to the shares of Common Stock, par value
$0.25 per share (the "Shares"), of Griffon Corporation, a Delaware corporation
(the "Issuer"), as previously amended by Amendment No. 1 dated February 7, 2007,
Amendment No. 2 dated March 15, 2007 and Amendment No. 3 dated May 9, 2007, is
hereby amended as set forth herein by this Amendment No. 4.
ITEM 3. SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS OR OTHER CONSIDERATION.
Item 3 of the Schedule 13D is hereby amended and restated as follows:
Funds for the purchase of the Shares reported herein were derived from
available capital of CMSF and CSO. A total of approximately $60.5 million was
paid to acquire such Shares.
ITEM 4. PURPOSE OF TRANSACTION.
Item 4 of the Schedule 13D is hereby amended by the addition of the following:
On May 30, 2007, CGI delivered a letter to the Issuer's board of directors
stating that, as it had not received a meaningful response from the Issuer's
management and advisors with respect to CGI's desire for a transaction to
maximize shareholder value of the Issuer, CGI wished to outline a proposal
directly to the Board. The letter proposed a $25.00 per share public
recapitalization, led by CGI, where up to 50% of the outstanding shares would be
purchased through a tender offer. CGI outlined the proposed financing for the
recapitalization, indicating that it had discussed the financing with several
major financial institutions and believed that the financing was easily
obtainable. The proposal was subject to certain conditions, including various
changes in governance, receipt of financing, and retention of a restructuring
firm to manage the Issuer on an interim basis to reduce costs. A copy of this
letter is attached hereto as Exhibit E and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 5. INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER.
Paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of Item 5 of the Schedule 13D are hereby amended and
restated as follows:
(a) As of the close of business on May 30, 2007, the Reporting Persons
beneficially owned an aggregate of 2,535,040 Shares, constituting approximately
8.5% of the Shares outstanding.
The aggregate percentage of Shares beneficially owned by the Reporting
Persons is based upon 29,824,276 Shares outstanding, which is the total number
of Shares outstanding as of April 30, 2007 as reported in the Issuer's Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2007.
(b) By virtue of investment management agreements with each of CMSF and
CSO, CGI has the power to vote or direct the voting, and to dispose or direct
the disposition, of all of the 2,251,560 Shares held by CMSF and the 283,480
Shares held by CSO. By virtue of his direct and indirect control of CGI, George
E. Hall is deemed to have shared voting power and shared dispositive power with
respect to all Shares as to which CGI has voting power or dispositive power. By
virtue of his position as managing director and senior portfolio manager of CGI,
Conrad Bringsjord is also deemed to have shared voting power and shared
dispositive power with respect to all Shares as to which CGI has voting power or
dispositive power. Accordingly, CGI, George E. Hall and Conrad Bringsjord are
deemed to have shared voting and shared dispositive power with respect to an
aggregate of 2,535,040 Shares.
(c) Information concerning transactions in the Shares effected by the
Reporting Persons since the most recent filing on Schedule 13D is set forth in
Schedule B hereto and is incorporated herein by reference. Unless otherwise
indicated, all of such transactions were effected in the open market.
Item 6. CONTRACTS, ARRANGEMENTS, UNDERSTANDINGS OR RELATIONSHIPS WITH
RESPECT TO SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER.
Item 6 of the Schedule 13D is hereby amended and restated as follows:
The Reporting Persons may, from time to time, enter into and dispose of
cash-settled equity swap or other similar derivative transactions with one or
more counterparties that are based upon the value of Shares, which transactions
may be significant in amount. The profit, loss and/or return on such contracts
may be wholly or partially dependent on the market value of the Shares, the
relative value of Shares in comparison to one or more other financial
instruments, indexes or securities, a basket or group of securities in which
Shares may be included, or a combination of any of the foregoing. In addition to
the Shares that they beneficially own without reference to these contracts, the
Reporting Persons currently have long economic exposure to 235,200 Shares
through such contracts. These contracts do not give the Reporting Persons direct
or indirect voting, investment or dispositive control over any securities of the
Issuer and do not require the counterparties thereto to acquire, hold, vote or
dispose of any securities of the Issuer. Accordingly, the Reporting Persons
disclaim any beneficial ownership in any securities that may be referenced in
such contracts or that may be held from time to time by any counterparties to
such contracts.
Except as otherwise set forth herein, the Reporting Persons do not have
any contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship with any person with
respect to the securities of the Issuer.
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CUSIP NO. 398433102 SCHEDULE 13D PAGE 8 OF 10 PAGES
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Item 7. MATERIAL TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS
Item 7 of the Schedule 13D is hereby amended and restated as follows:
Exhibit A - Joint Filing Agreement dated December 20, 2006 (previously filed)
Exhibit B - Letter to Issuer dated December 20, 2006 (previously filed)
Exhibit C - Letter to Issuer dated March 15, 2007 (previously filed)
Exhibit D - Letter to Issuer dated May 8, 2007 (previously filed)
Exhibit E - Letter to Issuer dated May 30, 2007
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CUSIP NO. 398433102 SCHEDULE 13D PAGE 9 OF 10 PAGES
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SIGNATURES
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of his or its knowledge and
belief, each of the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this
statement is true, complete and correct.
Dated: May 31, 2007
CLINTON GROUP, INC.
By: /s/ Francis Ruchalski
---------------------------
Name: Francis Ruchalski
Title: Comptroller
CLINTON MULTISTRATEGY MASTER FUND, LTD.
By: Clinton Group, Inc. its investment
manager
By: /s/ Francis Ruchalski
---------------------------
Name: Francis Ruchalski
Title: Comptroller
CLINTON SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES MASTER FUND, LTD.
By: Clinton Group, Inc. its investment
manager
By: /s/ Francis Ruchalski
---------------------------
Name: Francis Ruchalski
Title: Comptroller
/s/ George E. Hall
------------------------------
George E. Hall
/s/ Conrad Bringsjord
------------------------------
Conrad Bringsjord
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CUSIP NO. 398433102 SCHEDULE 13D PAGE 10 OF 10 PAGES
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SCHEDULE B
TRANSACTIONS IN THE SHARES BY THE REPORTING PERSONS SINCE THE MOST RECENT FILING
ON SCHEDULE 13D
Clinton Multistrategy Master Fund, Ltd.
Trade Date Shares Purchased (Sold) Price Per Share ($)
---------- ----------------------- -------------------
05/10/2007 20,900 22.62
05/10/2007 4,400 22.59
05/11/2007 1,000 22.49
05/14/2007 4,000 22.19
05/15/2007 4,600 21.84
05/16/2007 1,000 21.67
05/21/2007 3,000 21.87
05/22/2007 1,500 21.92
05/24/2007 3,000 21.82
05/24/2007 3,100 21.76
05/25/2007 2,900 21.66
05/30/2007 8,829 21.84
Exhibit E
LETTER TO THE ISSUER'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS
May 30, 2007
Board of Directors
Griffon Corporation
100 Jericho Quadrangle
Jericho, New York 11753
To Griffon Board Members:
We have recently attempted to discuss with management and its advisors an
outline of a PROPOSED $25.00 PER SHARE PUBLIC RECAPITALIZATION of Griffon
Corporation ("Griffon" or the "Company"). Unfortunately, to date, we have not
received a meaningful response with respect to the proposal. Therefore, we would
like to outline our transaction to the Board of Directors with the hope that we
will ultimately receive a favorable response to our proposal. We would
appreciate a response within two weeks so that we can expeditiously finalize our
due diligence with respect to arranging financing as well as appropriately
addressing structural issues with the Company.
We propose a $25.00 per share public recapitalization, led by Clinton Group
Inc., where up to 50% of shares outstanding are purchased through a tender
offer. Each existing shareholder would be entitled to have a minimum of 50% of
their current holdings purchased if proration is required.
The sources of financing for the recapitalization are expected to be as follows:
o $395 million 1st lien bank financing
o $130 million 2nd lien bank financing
o Approximately $65 million incremental capital from Clinton Group, or
its affiliates and co-investors.
At less than 5.0x total debt to EBITDA, we believe this is a reasonable and
flexible debt financing proposal for the Company. We have been in discussions
with several major financial institutions regarding the debt financing, and
believe this financing to be easily obtainable. Compared to relevant corporate
refinancing and leveraged buyout transactions in the current marketplace, this
capital structure is actually conservative.
o The proposal is contingent on:
o Clinton Group initially appointing a majority of the directors to the
board, who will be subject to annual elections thereafter;
o Adoption of the governance modifications articulated in our previous
letter, including board declassification, to be implemented for the
benefit of all shareholders;
o Mr. Blau to be designated Non-Executive Chairman with any associated
change of control payments deferred until he no longer remains a
member of the Board of Directors;
o Engagement of a restructuring firm to manage the Company on an interim
basis focusing on cost reductions related to corporate overhead,
segment SG&A, manufacturing, distribution, product sourcing, product
rationalization and other areas designed to greatly improve the
profitability of Griffon's businesses. We have been in contact with a
firm who is willing to commence this engagement on an expedited basis;
o Completion of due diligence, and funding, by major financial
institutions with whom we have had discussions regarding financing
terms and structure; and
o Equity incentive plans created for the management teams of the
individual subsidiaries.
We believe that undergoing a levered recapitalization by utilizing the strength
of the Company's balance sheet, coupled with executing a turnaround in Griffon's
struggling business segments and rationalization of corporate overhead, will
ultimately create tremendous value on a per share basis over the long-term.
Offering both attractive rates and favorable terms, the current debt financing
markets further suggest that now is the opportune time to employ leverage to
reduce the Company's cost of capital while executing on a strategy that will
provide existing shareholders with partial monetization of their shares at a
premium to today's market price and the upside in Griffon's "turnaround."
Based on our analysis of comparable companies, it seems that the cost structure
of Griffon can be reduced dramatically. If significant annual cost savings are
outlined and a plan is undertaken by the restructuring firm to realize such
savings in the near-term, then we believe the stock of Griffon should trade well
north of the $25 tender price and offer significant long-term upside. For
example, using a conservative 15x P/E multiple on a tax effected $20 million of
savings divided by a share count reduced by 43% (through the recapitalization
and Clinton Group's incremental equity investment) YIELDS IN EXCESS OF $9.00 PER
SHARE OF INCREMENTAL VALUE.
We look forward to hearing your response to our proposal and meeting with
members of the board and its advisors to discuss our proposal in detail.
Clinton Group Inc.
/s/ Conrad Bringsjord
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Conrad Bringsjord
cc: Dusty Philip
Goldman Sachs