Kohl’s: Buyout offers undermine value of business

NEW YORK (AP) — Kohl’s says that recent offers to purchase the department store chain undervalue its business and that it is adopting a shareholder rights plan to head off any hostile takeovers.

The shareholder rights plan, known as a “poison pill,” is effective immediately and set to expire on Feb. 2, 2023, the company said.

“We have a high degree of confidence in Kohl’s transformational strategy, and we expect that its continued execution will result in significant value creation,” said Kohl’s Chairman Frank Sica in a statement. “The board is committed to acting in the best interest of shareholders and will continue to closely evaluate any opportunities to create value.”

Kohl’s has received multiple buyout offers in recent weeks. Private equity firm Sycamore Partners reportedly approached Kohl’s about a potential deal last month. A group called Acacia Research, backed by activist hedge fund Starboard Value LP, bid $64 per share, or about $9 billion.

At the time Kohl’s Corp., based in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, said that its board was reviewing the offers.

The offers came just a week after activist hedge fund Macellum Advisors released a letter urging Kohl’s to explore strategic options, including a sale, if the chain doesn’t take action to improve its business and increase its stock price. Macellum Advisors said it planned to nominate a slate of director candidates at Kohl’s shareholders meeting this year, unless Kohl’s decides to embrace some changes.

Macellum Advisors, which owns nearly 5% of Kohl’s outstanding common shares, issued a statement Friday, saying it is “disappointed and shocked by Kohl’s hasty rejection of confirmed indications of interest.”

“This morning’s rejections only validates for us that a majority of the board is entrenched and lacks objectivity when it comes to evaluating value-maximizing sale opportunities relative to management’s historically ineffective standalone plans,” said Jonathan Duskin, Macellum’s managing partner. “We doubt that interested parties were given adequate consideration or access to management, data rooms and the type of information required to inform upward adjustments to bids.”

Duskin said that moreover, it appears the board has not authorized its bankers to canvass the market and start talks with other potential suiters. He promised the company will try to prevent the current board from “continuing to chill a normal-course sales process.”

In April 2021, Kohl’s announced it was adding three independent members to its board of directors as part of an agreement it struck with a key activist investor group that included Macellum. In addition to Macellum, the group also included Ancora Holdings, Legion Partners Asset Management and 4010 Capital.

The retailer said Friday that it has designated its finance committee to lead reviews of any expressions of interest in the company. The committee is comprised exclusively of independent directors. Kohl’s and the board are also working with financial advisers, including Goldman Sachs and PJT Partners, and have asked Goldman Sachs to engage with interested parties.

The company is set to update investors on its plans at its investor meeting on March 7.

Kohl’s shares rose $1.10, or 1.9%, to close Friday at $59.68. The stock is up 21% so far this year.

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