UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
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Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
The information set forth in Item 3.03 of this Current Report is incorporated into this Item 1.01 by reference.
Item 3.03. Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.
On September 19, 2022, the board of directors (the “Board”) of Nordstrom, Inc., a Washington corporation (the “Company”), adopted a shareholder rights agreement and declared a dividend of one right (each, a “Right”) for each outstanding share of Company common stock, no par value per share (“Common Stock”), to holders of record of Common Stock at the close of business on September 30, 2022 (the “Record Date”). Each Right entitles its holder, subject to the terms of the Rights Agreement (as defined below), to purchase from the Company one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $94.00 per Right, subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a shareholder rights agreement, dated as of September 19, 2022 (the “Rights Agreement”), between the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as rights agent (and any successor rights agent, the “Rights Agent”).
The Rights Agreement is intended to protect the interests of the Company and all of its shareholders by reducing the likelihood that any entity, person or group gains control of the Company through open-market accumulation or other means without payment of an adequate control premium.
The Rights Agreement should not interfere with any merger or other business combination approved by the Board.
The Rights. The Rights will attach to any shares of Common Stock that become outstanding after the Record Date and prior to the earlier of the Distribution Time (as defined below) and the Expiration Time (as defined below), and in certain other circumstances described in the Rights Agreement.
Until the Distribution Time, the Rights are associated with Common Stock and evidenced by Common Stock certificates or, in the case of uncertificated shares of Common Stock, the book-entry account that evidences record ownership of such shares, which will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference, and the Rights are transferable with and only with the underlying shares of Common Stock.
Until the Distribution Time, the surrender for transfer of any shares of Common Stock will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with those shares. As soon as practicable after the Distribution Time, separate rights certificates will be mailed to holders of record of Common Stock as of the Distribution Time. From and after the Distribution Time, the separate rights certificates alone will represent the Rights.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Time. Until a Right is exercised, its holder will have no rights as a shareholder of the Company, including the right to vote or to receive dividends.
Separation and Distribution of Rights; Exercisability. Subject to certain exceptions, the Rights become exercisable and trade separately from Common Stock only upon the “Distribution Time,” which occurs upon the earlier of:
| ● | the close of business on the tenth (10th) day after the “Share Acquisition Date” (which is defined as (a) the first date of public announcement that any person or group has become an “Acquiring Person,” which is defined as a person or group that, together with its affiliates and associates, beneficially owns 10% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (with certain exceptions, including those described below) or (b) such other date, as determined by the Board, on which a person or group has become an Acquiring Person); or |
| ● | the close of business on the tenth (10th) business day (or such later date as may be determined by the Board prior to such time as any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person) after the commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer that, if consummated, would result in a person or group becoming an Acquiring Person. |
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An Acquiring Person does not include:
| ● | the Company or any subsidiary of the Company; |
| ● | any officer, director or employee of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company in his or her capacity as such; |
| ● | any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any subsidiary of the Company or any entity or trustee holding (or acting in a fiduciary capacity in respect of) shares of capital stock of the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan or for the purpose of funding other employee benefits for employees of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company; or |
| ● | any person or group that, together with its affiliates and associates, as of immediately prior to the first public announcement of the adoption of the Rights Agreement, beneficially owns 10% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock so long as such person or group continues to beneficially own at least 10% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and does not acquire shares of Common Stock (excluding as a result of any unilateral grant of any security by the Company, or through the exercise of any options, warrants, rights or similar interests (including restricted stock) granted by the Company to its directors, officers or employees) to beneficially own an amount equal to or greater than the greater of 10% and the sum of the lowest beneficial ownership of such person or group since the public announcement of the adoption of the Rights Agreement plus 0.1% of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock. |
In addition, the Rights Agreement provides that no person or group will become an Acquiring Person as a result of share purchases or issuances directly from the Company or through an underwritten offering approved by the Board. Also, a person or group will not be an Acquiring Person if the Board determines that such person or group has become an Acquiring Person inadvertently and such person or group as promptly as practicable divests a sufficient number of shares so that such person or group would no longer be an Acquiring Person.
Certain synthetic interests in securities created by derivative positions, whether or not such interests are considered to be ownership of the underlying Common Stock or are reportable for purposes of Regulation 13D of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, are treated as beneficial ownership of the number of shares of Common Stock equivalent to the economic exposure created by the derivative position, to the extent actual shares of Common Stock are directly or indirectly held by counterparties to the derivatives contracts.
Anne E. Gittinger, Bruce A. Nordstrom, Erik B. Nordstrom, James F. Nordstrom and Peter E. Nordstrom and their respective affiliates and associates are deemed to be a group purely for purposes of the Rights Agreement (even if such persons would not be considered to be part of a group under Regulation 13D of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended).
Expiration Time. The Rights will expire on the earliest to occur of (a) the close of business on September 19, 2023 (the “Final Expiration Time”), (b) the time at which the Rights are redeemed or exchanged by the Company (as described below) or (c) upon the closing of any merger or other acquisition transaction involving the Company pursuant to a merger or other acquisition agreement that has been approved by the Board before any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person (the earliest of (a), (b) and (c) being herein referred to as the “Expiration Time”).
Flip-in Event. In the event that any person or group (other than certain exempt persons) becomes an Acquiring Person (a “Flip-in Event”), each holder of a Right (other than such Acquiring Person, any of its affiliates or associates or certain transferees of such Acquiring Person or of any such affiliate or associate, whose Rights automatically become null and void) will have the right to receive, upon exercise, Common Stock having a value equal to two times the exercise price of the Right.
For example, at an exercise price of $94.00 per Right, each Right not owned by an Acquiring Person (or by certain related parties) following a Flip-in Event would entitle its holder to purchase $188.00 worth of Common Stock for $94.00. Assuming that Common Stock had a per share value of $18.80 at that time, the holder of each valid Right would be entitled to purchase 10 shares of Common Stock for $9.40.
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Flip-over Event. In the event that, at any time following the Share Acquisition Date, any of the following occurs (each, a “Flip-over Event”):
| ● | the Company consolidates with, or merges with and into, any other entity, and the Company is not the continuing or surviving entity; |
| ● | any entity engages in a share exchange with or consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Company, and the Company is the continuing or surviving entity and, in connection with such share exchange, consolidation or merger, all or part of the outstanding shares of Common Stock are changed into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any other entity or cash or any other property; or |
| ● | the Company sells or otherwise transfers, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, fifty percent (50%) or more of the Company’s assets, cash flow or earning power, |
each holder of a Right (except Rights which previously have been voided as described above) will have the right to receive, upon exercise, common stock of the acquiring company having a value equal to two times the exercise price of the Right.
Anti-dilution Adjustments. The exercise price payable, and the number of shares of Common Stock or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution:
| ● | in the event of a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Common Stock, |
| ● | if holders of the Common Stock are granted certain rights, options or warrants to subscribe for Common Stock or convertible securities at less than the current market price of the Common Stock or |
| ● | upon the distribution to holders of the Common Stock of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular quarterly cash dividends) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above). |
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the exercise price will be required until cumulative adjustments amount to at least one percent (1%) of the exercise price. No fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued and, in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of the Common Stock on the last trading day prior to the date of exercise.
Redemption; Exchange. At any time prior to the earlier of (i) the tenth (10th) day following the Share Acquisition Date or (ii) the Final Expiration Time, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.001 per Right (subject to adjustment and payable in cash, Common Stock or other consideration deemed appropriate by the Board). Immediately upon the action of the Board authorizing any redemption or at a later time as the Board may establish for the effectiveness of the redemption, the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the redemption price.
At any time before any Acquiring Person, together with all of its affiliates and associates, becomes the beneficial owner of fifty percent (50%) or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, the Company may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by the Acquiring Person, any of its affiliates or associates or certain transferees of Acquiring Person or of any such affiliate or associate, whose Rights will have become null and void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock per Right (subject to adjustment).
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Amendment of the Rights Agreement. The Company and the Rights Agent may from time to time amend or supplement the Rights Agreement without the consent of the holders of the Rights. However, on or after the Share Acquisition Date, no amendment can materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Rights (other than the Acquiring Person, any of its affiliates or associates or certain transferees of Acquiring Person or of any such affiliate or associate).
Miscellaneous. While the distribution of the Rights will not be taxable to shareholders or to the Company, shareholders may, depending upon the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the Rights become exercisable for Common Stock (or other consideration) or for common stock of the acquiring company or in the event of the redemption of the Rights as described above.
* * *
The foregoing description of the Rights Agreement and the Rights does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 4.1 to this Current Report and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.
On September 20, 2022, the Company issued a press release announcing the adoption of the Rights Agreement. A copy of that press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits:
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| NORDSTROM, INC. | |||
| Date: September 20, 2022 | By: | /s/ Ann Munson Steines | |
| Name: | Ann Munson Steines | ||
| Title: | Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | ||
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Exhibit 99.1
Nordstrom Adopts Limited Duration Shareholder Rights Plan
SEATTLE, September 20, 2022, Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE: JWN) today announced that its Board of Directors has unanimously adopted a limited duration shareholder rights plan (the “Rights Plan”).
The Rights Plan is similar to plans adopted by other public companies and is intended to protect the interests of the Company and all Nordstrom shareholders by reducing the likelihood that any entity, person or group gains control of Nordstrom through open-market accumulation or other means without payment of an adequate control premium. The Rights Plan also helps ensure that the Board has sufficient time to make informed, deliberate decisions that are in the best interests of the Company and all Nordstrom shareholders. The Rights Plan applies equally to all current and future shareholders of Nordstrom.
The Rights Plan has not been adopted in response to any specific takeover bid or other proposal to acquire control of the Company, and is not intended to deter offers that are fair and otherwise in the best interests of all Nordstrom shareholders.
Pursuant to the Rights Plan, Nordstrom will issue, by means of a dividend, one common stock right for each outstanding share of Nordstrom common stock to shareholders of record on the close of business on September 30, 2022. Initially, these rights will not be exercisable and will trade with, and be represented by, the shares of Nordstrom common stock.
The Rights Plan is effective immediately and has a one-year duration, expiring on September 19, 2023.
Under the Rights Plan, the rights generally become exercisable only if a person or group (each, an “acquiring person”) acquires beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the outstanding shares of Nordstrom common stock in a transaction not approved by the Nordstrom Board. In that situation, each holder of a right (other than the acquiring person, whose rights will become void and will not be exercisable) will be entitled to purchase, at the exercise price, additional shares of Nordstrom common stock at a 50% discount to the then-current market price. In addition, if Nordstrom is acquired in a merger or other business combination after an unapproved party acquires more than 10% of the outstanding shares of Nordstrom common stock, each holder of a right would then be entitled to purchase, at the then-current exercise price, shares of the acquiring company’s stock at a 50% discount. The Board may, at its option, exchange each right (other than rights owned by the acquiring person that have become void) in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of Nordstrom common stock per outstanding right, subject to adjustment. Except as provided in the Rights Plan, the Board is entitled to redeem the rights at $0.001 per right.
If a person or group – including the members of the Nordstrom family, who will be deemed to be a group purely for purposes of the Rights Plan – beneficially owns 10% or more of the outstanding shares of Nordstrom common stock prior to Nordstrom’s announcement of its adoption of the Rights Plan, then that person’s or group’s existing ownership percentage will be grandfathered, although, with certain exceptions, the rights will become exercisable if at any time after the announcement of the adoption of the Rights Plan such person or group increases its ownership of Nordstrom common stock by more than 0.1% of outstanding common stock.
Additional details regarding the Rights Plan will be contained in a Form 8-K to be filed by Nordstrom with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Morgan Stanley is serving as financial advisor to Nordstrom, and Sidley Austin LLP is serving as the Company’s legal advisor.
ABOUT NORDSTROM
At Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE: JWN), we exist to help our customers feel good and look their best. Since starting as a shoe store in 1901, how to best serve customers has been at the center of every decision we make. This heritage of service is the foundation we're building on as we provide convenience and true connection for our customers. Our digital-first platform enables us to serve customers when, where and how they want to shop – whether that's in-store at more than 350 Nordstrom, Nordstrom Local and Nordstrom Rack locations or digitally through our Nordstrom and Rack apps and websites. Through it all, we remain committed to leaving the world better than we found it.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release contain or may suggest "forward-looking" information (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) that involves risks and uncertainties that could cause results to be materially different from expectations. The words "will," "may," "designed to," "outlook," "believes," "should," "targets," "anticipates," "assumptions," "plans," "expects" or "expectations," "intends," "estimates," "forecasts," "guidance" and similar expressions identify certain of these forward-looking statements. The Company also may provide forward-looking statements in oral statements or other written materials released to the public. All statements contained or incorporated in this press release or in any other public statements that address such future events or expectations are forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements are detailed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 29, 2022 and its Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended July 30, 2022. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and speak only as of the date made, and, except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events, new information or future circumstances. In addition, the actual timing, price, manner and amounts of future share repurchases, if any, will be subject to market and economic conditions and applicable Securities and Exchange Commission rules.
Investor Contact
Heather Hollander
Nordstrom, Inc.
InvRelations@Nordstrom.com
Media Contact
Stephanie Corzett
Nordstrom, Inc.
NordstromPR@Nordstrom.com