<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000921895-25-000094.txt : 20250108
<SEC-HEADER>0000921895-25-000094.hdr.sgml : 20250108
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20250108171105
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000921895-25-000094
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	DFAN14A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20250108
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20250108

SUBJECT COMPANY:	

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MATTHEWS INTERNATIONAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000063296
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NONFERROUS FOUNDRIES (CASTINGS) [3360]
		ORGANIZATION NAME:           	04 Manufacturing
		IRS NUMBER:				250644320
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		DFAN14A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-09115
		FILM NUMBER:		25519274

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		TWO NORTHSHORE CENTER
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15212-5851
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4124428200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		TWO NORTHSHORE CENTER
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15212-5851

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MATTHEWS JAMES H & CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19780823

FILED BY:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BARINGTON CAPITAL GROUP, L.P.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000887762
		ORGANIZATION NAME:           	
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		DFAN14A

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		888 SEVENTH AVENUE, 6TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10019
		BUSINESS PHONE:		212-974-5710

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		888 SEVENTH AVENUE, 6TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10019

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BARINGTON CAPITAL GROUP L P
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19970305
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>DFAN14A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>dfan14a06204013_01082025.htm
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<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>UNITED
STATES</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>Washington,
D.C. 20549</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 16pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>SCHEDULE
14A</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">(Rule
14a-101)</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; text-align: center; margin-bottom: 0">INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; text-align: center; margin-bottom: 0">SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">(Amendment No. )</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"></P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">Filed by the Registrant &#9744;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">Filed by a Party other than the Registrant &#9746;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">Check the appropriate box:</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0.5in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">&#9744;</TD><TD>Preliminary Proxy Statement</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top"><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">&#9744;</TD><TD>Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))</TD></TR></TABLE>



<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top"><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">&#9744;</TD><TD>Definitive Proxy Statement</TD></TR></TABLE>



<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top"><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">&#9746;</TD><TD>Definitive Additional Materials</TD></TR></TABLE>



<P STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top"><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">&#9744;</TD><TD>Soliciting Material Under &sect; 240.14a-12</TD></TR></TABLE>



<P STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="border-collapse: collapse; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 100%">
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top; text-align: left">
    <TD STYLE="width: 100%; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; border-bottom: Black 0.5pt solid"><FONT STYLE="text-transform: uppercase">Matthews International Corporation</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top; text-align: left">
    <TD STYLE="text-align: center; vertical-align: top"><P>(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)</P>

</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top; text-align: left">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top; text-align: left">
    <TD STYLE="text-align: center; vertical-align: top; border-bottom: Black 0.5pt solid"><P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">BARINGTON COMPANIES EQUITY PARTNERS, L.P.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">BARINGTON COMPANIES INVESTORS, LLC</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">BARINGTON CAPITAL GROUP, L.P.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">LNA CAPITAL CORP.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">JAMES MITAROTONDA</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">ANA B. AMICARELLA</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">CHAN W. GALBATO</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">1 NBL EH, LLC</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">JOSEPH GROMEK</P>
</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top; text-align: left">
    <TD STYLE="text-align: center; vertical-align: top"><P>(Name of Persons(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)</P>

</TD></TR>
</TABLE>

<P STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></P>

<P STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">Payment of Filing Fee (Check all boxes that apply):</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top"><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">&#9746;</TD><TD>No fee required</TD></TR></TABLE>



<P STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"></P>

<P STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></P>

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<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 100%; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top"><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">&#9744;</TD><TD>Fee paid previously with preliminary materials</TD></TR></TABLE>



<P STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top"><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">&#9744;</TD><TD>Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11</TD></TR></TABLE>



<P STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">Barington Companies Equity
Partners, L.P. (&ldquo;Barington&rdquo;), together with the other participants named herein, has filed a definitive proxy statement and
accompanying <B>GOLD</B> universal proxy card with the Securities and Exchange Commission (&ldquo;SEC&rdquo;) to be used to solicit votes
for the election of Barington&rsquo;s slate of director nominees at the 2025 annual meeting of shareholders (the &ldquo;Annual Meeting&rdquo;)
of Matthews International Corporation, a Pennsylvania corporation (the &ldquo;Company&rdquo;).</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">On January 8, 2025, Barington
issued the following press release:</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">Barington Capital Group Statement on Matthews
International&rsquo;s Sale of<BR>
SGK Brand Solutions</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"><B>NEW YORK, January 8, 2025 --</B> Barington
Capital Group, L.P. (&ldquo;Barington Capital&rdquo;) and certain of its affiliates (collectively &ldquo;Barington&rdquo; or &ldquo;we&rdquo;),
a fundamental, value-oriented activist investor that beneficially owns approximately 1.9% of the outstanding common stock of Matthews
International Corporation (NASDAQ: MATW) (&ldquo;Matthews&rdquo; or the &ldquo;Company&rdquo;), today issued the following statement in
response to Matthews&rsquo; planned sale of SGK Brand Solutions (&ldquo;SGK&rdquo;):</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&ldquo;Since 2022, Barington has urged Matthews
to simplify its portfolio. Indeed, Barington has repeatedly proposed the sale of the Company&rsquo;s SGK segment, a poorly performing
business that has resulted in a write down of more than $266.2 million under the Company&rsquo;s ownership. While we are pleased that
the Company is taking this step today, it is unfortunate that it occurred only after Barington called for changes to Matthews&rsquo; management
and Board of Directors.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&ldquo;We believe the SGK transaction not only
highlights one of the many value-creating opportunities available to Matthews&rsquo; shareholders, but also the importance of having Barington&rsquo;s
nominees on the Matthews Board. We believe our nominees, if elected, will bring the fresh perspectives, as well as the financial, corporate
strategy and turnaround expertise, that Matthews requires to maximize shareholder value.&rdquo;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">For additional information regarding Barington&rsquo;s
campaign at Matthews, visit: https://barington.com/matthews</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">ABOUT BARINGTON CAPITAL GROUP, L.P.</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">Barington Capital Group, L.P. is a fundamental,
value-oriented activist investment firm established by James Mitarotonda in January 2000. Barington invests in undervalued publicly traded
companies that Barington believes can appreciate significantly in value when substantive improvements are made to their operations, corporate
strategy, capital allocation and corporate governance. Barington&rsquo;s investment team, advisors and network of industry experts draw
upon their extensive strategic, operating and boardroom experience to assist companies in designing and implementing initiatives to improve
long-term shareholder value.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B>Media Contact</B>:<BR>
Jonathan Gasthalter/Amanda Shpiner<BR>
Gasthalter &amp; Co.<BR>
212-257-4170</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

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