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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.     )

  Filed by the Registrant    þ
  Filed by a Party other than the Registrant    o
 
  Check the appropriate box:
  þ    Preliminary Proxy Statement
  o    Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
  o    Definitive Proxy Statement
  o    Definitive Additional Materials
  o    Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

XATA Corporation


(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)


(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

      Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

  þ    No fee required.
  o    Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

        1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

        2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

        3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

        4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

        5) Total fee paid:

         o    Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

         o    Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

        1) Amount Previously Paid:

        2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

        3) Filing Party:

        4) Date Filed:


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(XATA LOGO)
Xata Corporation
965 Prairie Center Drive
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
(952) 707-5600
March            , 2009
Dear Shareholder:
     You are cordially invited to attend the Company’s Special Meeting of Shareholders to be held on Wednesday, April 8, 2009, at our corporate office, 965 Prairie Center Drive, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, at 10:00 a.m.
     For this Special Meeting you are presented with a proposal to amend our Articles of Incorporation.
     We look forward to greeting personally those of you who are able to be present at the meeting. However, whether or not you plan to attend, it is important that your shares be represented, regardless of the number of shares which you hold. Accordingly, you are requested to sign and date the enclosed proxy and mail it in the envelope provided at your earliest convenience.
Very truly yours,
-S- JOHN J. COUGHLAN
John J. Coughlan
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 


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XATA CORPORATION
965 Prairie Center Drive
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
(952) 707-5600

 
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD APRIL 8, 2009
 
To the Shareholders of XATA Corporation:
     A Special Meeting of Shareholders of XATA Corporation will be held on Wednesday, April 8, 2009, at our corporate office, 965 Prairie Center Drive, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, at 10:00 a.m., for the following purpose:
To approve an Amendment of our Articles of Incorporation (particularly the Certificate of Designation of Preferences of Series B Preferred Stock, Certificate of Designation of Preferences of Series C Preferred Stock and Certificate of Designation of Preferences of Series D Preferred Stock) that will enable our Board of Directors to create one or more series of preferred stock with dividend or liquidation preference over shares of classes or series of our capital stock as described in this proxy statement.
     We have fixed the close of business on February 16, 2009 as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Special Meeting. Our transfer books will not be closed.
     Whether or not you expect to be present personally at the Special Meeting, please complete, date, sign, and return the accompanying Proxy in the enclosed, self-addressed envelope at your earliest convenience. This will insure your participation in the decisions to be made by the shareholders. We sincerely hope that all shareholders who can attend the Special Meeting will do so.
     
 
  By Order of the Board of Directors
 
   
 
   
March            , 2009
  Wesley C. Fredenburg
 
  Secretary

 


 


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XATA CORPORATION
965 Prairie Center Drive
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
(952) 707-5600


 
PROXY STATEMENT FOR
SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD APRIL 8, 2009

 
GENERAL INFORMATION
     This proxy statement is furnished to shareholders by the Board of Directors of XATA Corporation (the “Company”) for solicitation of proxies for use at the Special Meeting of Shareholders (the “Special Meeting”) to be held on Wednesday, April 8, 2009, at our corporate office, 965 Prairie Center Drive, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, at 10:00 a.m., and at all adjournments thereof. The purposes of the meeting and the matter to be acted upon are set forth in the preceding Notice of Special Meeting of Shareholders.
     This proxy statement is being mailed to shareholders beginning on or about March 18, 2009.
     We have asked brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to send proxies and proxy material to the beneficial owners of our Common Stock and we will reimburse them for their expenses in so doing. To ensure adequate representation at the meeting, our officers, agents and employees may communicate with shareholders, banks, brokerage houses and others by telephone, facsimile, or in person to request that proxies be furnished. We will bear all expenses incurred in connection with this solicitation.

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Shareholder Meeting to Be
Held on April 8, 2009. The Proxy Statement is available at ______________________.
The following proxy materials and related information are available for you to review online at ______________________:
•   the Company’s Notice of Special Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement;
•   the form of Proxy Card;
•   the Letter to Shareholders; and
•   directions to the Special Meeting of Shareholders.
RECORD DATE AND VOTING
     We have fixed February 16, 2009 as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Special Meeting. As of the close of business on the record date, we had issued and outstanding 8,775,769 shares of our Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, 1,964,429 shares of our Series B Preferred Stock (“Series B Stock”), 1,269,036 shares of our Series C Preferred Stock (“Series C Stock”), 1,566,580 shares of our Series D Preferred Stock (“Series D Stock”) and 1,355,857 shares of our Series E Preferred Stock (“Series E Stock”). The Series B Stock, Series C Stock, Series D Stock and Series E Stock are referred to collectively as the “Preferred Stock.” Each share of Common Stock and Preferred Stock is entitled to one vote on each proposal to be presented to the meeting.
     The presence at the Special Meeting in person or by proxy of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business. Proposal 1 — Amendment of Articles of Incorporation (the “Proposal”) will be approved if (i) a majority of the shares present and entitled to vote at the Special Meeting vote in favor thereof and (ii) pursuant to Sections 302A.137 and 302A.437 of the Minnesota Business Corporation Act (the “MBCA”), a majority of the shares of Series B Stock, Series C Stock and Series D Stock, each as a separate class, vote in favor thereof.

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HOW TO VOTE
  By signing and returning the enclosed proxy card, you will be giving your proxy to our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and our Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) and authorizing either of them to vote your shares.
 
   
HOW YOUR PROXY WILL BE VOTED
  Unless revoked, all properly executed proxies will be voted as specified. Proxies that are signed but that lack any specification will, subject to the following, be voted in favor of the Proposal. If any other matters properly come before the Special Meeting, then the persons named in the proxy will vote in accordance with their discretion.
 
   
HOW TO REVOKE YOUR PROXY
  You have the power to revoke your proxy at any time before the convening of the Special Meeting. Revocations of proxy will be honored if received by us, at the Company, addressed to the attention of Mark E. Ties, Chief Financial Officer, on or before April 7, 2009. In addition, on the day of the meeting, prior to the convening thereof, revocations may be delivered to the tellers who will be seated at the door of the meeting room. Note that any proxy received by the Company prior to the Special Meeting will revoke any prior proxy given by the shareholder.
 
   
ABSTENTIONS
  If you abstain from voting as to any matter, your shares shall be deemed present at the meeting for purposes of determining a quorum and for purposes of calculating the vote with respect to such matter, but shall not be deemed to have been voted in favor of such matter.
 
   
BROKER NON-VOTES
  If a broker turns in a “non-vote” proxy, indicating a lack of voting instruction by the beneficial holder of the shares and a lack of discretionary authority on the part of the broker to vote on a particular matter, then the shares covered by such non-vote proxy will be considered present at the meeting for purposes of determining a quorum but will not be considered to be represented at the meeting for purposes of calculating the vote required for approval of such matter.

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DISSENTERS’ RIGHTS
  If the proposed Amendment is approved and becomes effective, holders of Series B Stock, Series C Stock and Series D Stock who do not vote their shares in favor of the proposed Amendment discussed below will be entitled to statutory dissenters’ rights if they strictly comply with Sections 302A.471 and 302A.473 of the MBCA. For a description of the rights of such holders and of the procedures to be followed in order to assert such rights and obtain payment of the fair value of their shares of stock, see Sections 302A.471 and 302A.473 of the MBCA, copies of which are attached as Exhibit A, as well as the information set forth below.
 
   
 
  IN ORDER TO PERFECT DISSENTERS’ RIGHTS, A HOLDER OF SERIES B STOCK, SERIES C STOCK OR SERIES D STOCK MUST SEND A NOTICE TO THE COMPANY BEFORE THE DATE OF THE SPECIAL MEETING AND MUST NOT VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT BELOW BY PROXY OR OTHERWISE.

No other shareholders are entitled to any dissenters’ rights with respect to any other matters to be acted upon at the Special Meeting.
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
          OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE PROPOSAL.

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PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS AND OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT
     The following table sets forth as of February 15, 2009 the record and beneficial ownership of Common Stock held by (i) each person who is known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our Common Stock; (ii) each of the current directors and nominees; (iii) the Company’s CEO and the two other executive officers who had the highest “total compensation” for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008, (these three executive officers are collectively referred to as the “Named Executive Officers” or “NEOs”); and (iv) all of our executive officers and directors as a group.
     Securities reported as “beneficially owned” include (a) securities over which the named person may exercise voting power or investment power, alone or with others, and (b) the number of shares which the named person has the right to acquire within sixty (60) days after February 15, 2009.
                 
    Number of
Shares
   
    Owned (1)(2)   Percentage
John J. Coughlan (3)(4)
    779,944 (5)     8.6 %
 
Carl M. Fredericks (3)
    91,326       1.0 %
 
               
Thomas G. Hudson (3)
    42,725       *  
 
Roger W. Kleppe (3)
    82,991       *  
 
Chad M. Linbloom (3)
    15,000       *  
 
Christopher P. Marshall (3)(6)(7)
    7,020,187 (8)     44.5 %
 
Michael J. Paxton (3)
    17,499       *  
 
Bharat S. Vedak (3)
           
 
Mark E. Ties (4)
    203,098 (9)     2.3 %
 
David A Gagne (4)
    195,707 (10)     2.2 %
 
All executive officers, current directors as a group (12 persons)
    1,573,052 (11)     16.6 %
 
William and Linda Flies, JT (7)
    587,550       6.7 %
28822 Lake Avenue Way
Frontenac MN 55026
               
 
John Deere Special Technologies Group, Inc.(7)
    2,144,060       24.4 %
300 Grimes Bridge Road
Roswell GA 30075
               
 
Trident Capital Management-V, L.L.C. (7)
    6,962,587 (12)     44.2 %
505 Hamilton Avenue, Suite 200
Palo Alto CA 94301
               
 
Ashford Capital Management
    1,417,157       16.1 %
P.O. Box 4172
Wilmington DE 19807
               
 
Weber Capital Management, LLC
    787,422 (13)     8.5 %
340 Pine St., Suite 300
San Francisco, CA 94104
               
 
*   Indicates ownership of less than 1%

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(1)   Includes shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of February 15, 2009 as follows: John J. Coughlan — 265,567 shares; Carl M. Fredericks — 30,000 shares; Thomas G. Hudson — 11,250 shares; Roger W. Kleppe — 30,000 shares; Christopher P. Marshall — 30,000 shares; Chad M. Linbloom — 10,000 shares; Michael J. Paxton — 10,000 shares; Mark E. Ties — 133,775 shares; David A. Gagne — 141,111 shares; all executive officers, directors and director nominees as a group — 553,786 shares.
 
(2)   Includes unvested shares of restricted Common Stock that are subject to forfeiture: John J. Coughlan — 125,288 shares; Mark E. Ties — 9,000 shares; David A. Gagne 7,779 shares; and all executive officers, directors and director nominees as a group — 188,733 shares.
 
(3)   Currently a director.
 
(4)   Executive officer.
 
(5)   Includes 4,505 shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of Series E Stock and 1,352 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of related warrants.
 
(6)   Nominee of entities (collectively, “Trident”) affiliated with Trident Capital Management — V, L.L.C. (“TCM-V”), who are the holders of our Series B Stock, Series C Stock and Series D Stock, and are among the holders of our Series E Stock. As holders of Series B Stock, the Trident entities are entitled to vote for up to two directors as a class so long as they hold at least 325,000 shares of Series B Stock.
 
(7)   Trident has entered into a Voting Agreement with John Deere Special Technologies Group, Inc. (“JDSTG”) and William P. Flies and certain of his affiliates whereby JDSTG and Mr. Flies and his affiliates (a) agree to vote for Trident’s nominee(s) for director, at such time as Trident no longer holds sufficient Preferred Stock to elect two directors as a separate class, but only for so long as Trident owns at least 800,000 shares of Common Stock (directly or by ownership of Preferred Stock), and (b) grant Trident a right of first refusal to acquire their shares.
 
(8)   Consists of 57,600 award shares and shares issuable upon exercise of stock options, 5,813,559 shares issuable upon conversion of Series B Stock, Series C Stock, Series D Stock, and Series E Stock and 1,149,028 shares issuable upon exercise of related warrants.
 
(9)   Includes 4,505 shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of Series E Stock and 1,352 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of related warrants.
 
(10)   Includes 2,252 shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of Series E Stock and 676 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of related warrants.
 
(11)   Includes 27,028 shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of Series E Stock and 8,110 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of related warrants.
 
(12)   Consists of 5,813,559 shares issuable upon conversion of Series B Stock, Series C Stock, Series D Stock and Series E Stock and 1,149,028 shares issuable upon exercise of related warrants. The shares underlying Preferred Stock and warrants are held of record as set forth in the following table. TCM-V is authorized to act as of the general partner or investment general partner of each of the record holders. TCM-V and Christopher P. Marshall (its current director) disclaim beneficial ownership of these shares, except to the extent of their respective economic interests in the Trident entities.
                                                                 
    Series B       Series C   Series D   Series E
    Preferred           Preferred           Preferred           Preferred    
    Stock   Warrants   Stock   Warrants   Stock   Warrants   Stock   Warrants
Trident Capital Fund-V, L.P.
    1,759,807             1,136,849       335,939       1,403,400       421,020       907,942       272,382  
 
Trident Capital Fund-V Affiliates Fund, L.P.
    10,228             6,607       1,953       8,156       2,447       5,277       1,583  
 
Trident Capital Fund-V Affiliates Fund (Q), L.P.
    9,758             6,305       1,863       7,783       2,335       5,036       1,511  
 
Trident Capital Fund-V Principals Fund, L.P.
    50,936             32,905       9,723       40,620       12,186       26,279       7,884  
 
Trident Capital Parallel Fund-V, C.V.
    133,700             86,370       25,522       106,621       31,986       68,980       20,694  

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(13)   Consists of 225,225 and 90,090 shares issuable upon conversion of Series E Stock held by Weber Capital Partners II, L.P. and GW 2001 Fund, L.P., respectively and 67,568 and 27,027 shares issuable upon exercise of related warrants. Weber Capital Management LLC (“WCM”) is authorized to act as the general partner or investment general partner of each of both record holders. WCM disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares, except to the extent of its respective economic interest in Weber Capital Partners II, L.P. and GW 2001 Fund, L.P.

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PROPOSAL 1
APPROVAL OF ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT OF
SECOND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
     On February 12, 2009, the Company entered into a Common Stock Warrant and Series E Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with the Purchasers listed on the signature page thereto (the “Purchasers”), providing for the sale, in a private placement, of 1,355,857 shares of Series E Stock and warrants to purchase 406,759 shares of Common Stock of the Company (the “Warrants”), resulting in gross proceeds to the Company of approximately $3.1 million (the “Equity Financing”). The Purchasers are (1) Trident, (2) funds affiliated with Weber Capital Management LLC, and (3) certain members of the Company’s management.
     In connection with the execution and closing of the Purchase Agreement, the Company and the Purchasers also entered into an Exchange Agreement under which the Company is obligated to exchange (the “Exchange”) all shares of the Series E Stock for an equal number of shares of a new series of preferred stock of the Company (the “Series F Stock”), to be created in the future. The Series F Stock will be identical to the Series E Stock in all respects, except that its liquidation preference will be senior to the Company’s existing series of Preferred Stock, whereas the Series E Stock’s liquidation preference is junior to the Series B Stock, Series C Stock and Series D Stock. The Series F Stock will be created, and the exchange will occur, only if our shareholders approve the amendments to our Articles of Incorporation to allow for the Series F Stock to have a liquidation preference senior to the Company’s existing series of Preferred Stock. Under the Exchange Agreement, the Company is obligated to call and hold a meeting of its shareholders for this purpose.
     The Warrants to purchase an aggregate of 406,759 shares of Common Stock are subject to anti-dilution adjustments in the event of stock splits and similar events and can be exercised on a cashless exercise basis. The exercise price of the Warrants is $2.22 per share, subject to anti-dilution adjustments as described above, and the Warrants are exercisable until February 12, 2016. Also in connection with the closing of the Purchase Agreement, the Company extended by two years the term of each common stock warrant issued to the Trident on September 15, 2005 (in connection with their purchase of the Company’s Series C Preferred Stock) and June 19, 2007 (in connection with their purchase of the Company’s Series D Preferred Stock), so that such warrants are now exercisable until the seventh anniversary (instead of the fifth anniversary) of the original date of issuance.