Infocus Corporation (NDAQ:INFS) shares rose $0.08, or 2.91%, to $2.83 today after Caxton Associates disclosed an 11.2% stake and said it had reached an agreement with the company in a Schedule 13D/A filing with the SEC. We've been following Caxton's battle with the company for a few months now, as they pressed for a sale or restructuring of the company. A few weeks ago Caxton said that it would actively seek representation on the company's Board of Directors via a proxy contest at the next annual shareholder's meeting. The company quickly responded to these threats and today agreed to let the activist hedge fund occupy two seats on the Board after signing a confidentiality agreement. This is good news for shareholders, who should benefit from Caxton's guidance of the company. The hedge fund outlined its plans in a previous Schedule 13D/A filing with the SEC:

The Reporting Persons believe that the intrinsic value of the Company, and the amount a strategic or financial buyer would pay to acquire the Company, is significantly greater than the current market value of the Common Stock.  The Reporting Persons believe that this gap in value has resulted from the implementation by the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") of a flawed business plan that has been detrimental to shareholder value. The Reporting Persons accordingly believe that the following steps should be taken promptly in order to preserve and maximize shareholder value:

1. The Reporting Persons believe that the Company's poor performance is the result of mistakes made by management and the Board's failure to grasp the strategic realities of the environment in which the Company operates.  At this time, we believe that the Company's operating management is capable of effectively executing the Board's strategic vision should it be given adequate guidance and oversight.  We do not, however, believe that the Board, as currently constituted, is providing the necessary strategic thinking.  Therefore, we believe that, unless significant changes are made promptly, changes in the Board are in the best interests of all shareholders.

2. The Board should include individuals with strong ties to large shareholders, as well as industry, legal and/or financial markets expertise, which have a firm grasp of the realities of the markets in which the Company operates.  Unless significant changes are made, the Board should be restructured to consist of Mr. Ranson, at least two individuals drawn from among the Company's largest shareholders, and other independent directors with relevant industry backgrounds.

3. As part of the Company's announced exploration of strategic alternatives, the Board should develop an operating strategy that not only protects and enhances the hard asset value of the Company, but also will allow the Company to be cash flow positive under any foreseeable circumstances.  The Board should immediately work with management to develop a business plan that, among other things, permits revenue growth only at a reasonable cost, fixes or exits money-losing operations, and leverages the Company's valuable brand name franchise and considerable intellectual property assets.  This new business plan should be assessed against other available alternatives, including the possibilities of a sale or restructuring of the Company.

The Reporting Persons continue to examine all of their options with respect to the possibility of taking actions that they believe will enhance shareholder value, including the option of actively seeking to replace members of the Board.

Caxton has an excellent track record of unlocking shareholder value through strategic alternatives. With management's willingness to listen, INFS shares could see significant upside during the next few months as the company pursues a sale or restructuring. Unfortunately, with a confidentiality agreement in place, it is unlikely that we'll see any updates until a definitive plan is announced. Regardless, this is definitely a company worth watching!

Related Companies
Dell, Inc. (DELL)
Xerox Corporation (XRX)
Sony Corporation (SNE)