Aeropostale Adopts Poison Pill Defense
Aeropostale has swallowed some bitter medicine in an apparent attempt to defend itself from a potential buyout. The apparel retailer announced that it adopted a stockholder rights plan -- more commonly known as a "poison pill" defense -- granting its shareholders the right to purchase one preferred share of stock for each share of common they currently hold. Under certain circumstances each right will entitle the holder to buy one one-thousandth of a share of a new class of security, series A junior participating preferred stock, at a $40 exercise price.
The right kicks in when and if a single entity gains 10% of the company's outstanding common stock. That threshold is 15% in the case of a "passive institutional investor."
In the press release announcing the news, Aeropostale said the initiative "is not intended to prevent an acquisition of the Company on terms that the Board considers favorable to, and in the best interests of, all stockholders." Last week, activist investment firm Crescendo Partners requested that the apparel retailer go private in order to better realize its value.
Crescendo Parters says it is a significant Aeropostale shareholder, although it has not disclosed its exact stake. It has said it intends to nominate candidates for the company's board at the retailer's 2014 annual meeting.
The article Aeropostale Adopts Poison Pill Defense originally appeared on Fool.com.
Fool contributor Eric Volkman has no position in Aeropostale. Nor does The Motley Fool. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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