Macellum Advisors GP, LLC (together with its affiliates, โMacellumโ or โweโ), a long-term holder of nearly 5% of the outstanding common shares of Kohlโs Corporation (NYSE: KSS) (โKohlโsโ or the โCompanyโ), today issued the following statement attributable to its Managing Partner, Jonathan Duskin:
โOn behalf of myself, my firm and all our nominees, I want to thank the shareholders who supported us and those who evaluated our case for change. Itโs unfortunate that many investors voting for the incumbents seem to have bought into the narrative that change in the boardroom would be too disruptive during a sale process and possibly delay or jeopardize a near-term transaction. Although we respect the outcome of this yearโs contest, we firmly believe the close vote validates the concerns we have articulated about the current Board and its questionable handling of its ongoing sale process. We believe the Board should not misconstrue todayโs result as a ringing endorsement of its preferred operating plan, which has been met with considerable market skepticism.
In short, we contend this vote was a shareholder referendum for a sale, and we look forward to learning of an announced transaction on the quickest possible horizon. However, if Kohlโs is not sold, all directors need to be held accountable for any value that is not realized. We certainly will be there to bring that accountability if very meaningful value is not created in the coming months.โ
About Macellum
Macellum Capital Management is an activist investment firm, with deep expertise in the retail and consumer sectors, founded in 2009 by Jonathan Duskin. Macellum invests in undervalued companies that it believes can appreciate significantly in value as a result of a change in corporate strategy or improvements in operations, capital allocation or corporate governance. Macellumโs 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. Macellum prefers to constructively engage with management to improve its governance and performance for the benefit of all stockholders. However, when management is entrenched, Macellum has run successful proxy contests to effectuate meaningful change. Macellum has run successful election contests to effectuate meaningful change at many companies, including at The Childrenโs Place Inc., Citi Trends, Inc., Bed Bath and Beyond and Big Lots, Inc. Learn more at www.macellumcapitalmanagement.com.
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Contacts
Longacre Square Partners
Greg Marose / Casie Connolly, 646-386-0091
macellum@longacresquare.com
