Foot Locker, Inc. Adopts Short-Term Shareholder Rights Plan

Rhea-AI Summary

Foot Locker, Inc. (NYSE: FL) announced a short-term shareholder rights plan to protect against unwarranted control through open market accumulation. This decision follows significant stock accumulation by Vesa Equity Investment, which now owns 12.2% of the company's common stock. The rights will become exercisable if ownership exceeds 20%. The plan, adopted on December 4, 2020, is effective immediately and valid for one year, expiring on December 7, 2021. Additional details will be provided in a Form 8-K with the SEC.

Positive

• Adoption of a Rights Plan to protect shareholder interests.
• Prevention of potential hostile takeover attempts.

Negative

• Recent stock accumulation by Vesa raises concerns about control.

NEW YORK, Dec. 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Foot Locker, Inc. (NYSE: FL, "the Company"), the New York-based specialty athletic retailer, today announced that its Board of Directors has adopted a short-term shareholder rights plan ("the Rights Plan") and declared a dividend distribution of one right on each outstanding share of the Company's common stock.

The Rights Plan is similar to plans adopted by other publicly traded companies and is intended to protect the interests of all the Company's shareholders by reducing the likelihood that any person would gain control of the Company through open market accumulation or other tactics without appropriately compensating the Company's shareholders for such control. The Company's Board adopted the Rights Plan in response to a recent significant accumulation of the Company's stock by Vesa Equity Investment S.a.r.l. (together with its affiliates, "Vesa"), the Company's largest shareholder. Vesa previously received clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act allowing it to acquire up to 50% of the Company's common stock. Most recently, on December 4, 2020, Vesa publicly disclosed that it had acquired an additional 153,730 shares of the Company's common stock, bringing its total beneficial ownership percentage to 12.2% of the Company's outstanding common stock.

The Board believes that the Rights Plan provides the Board with sufficient time to make informed judgments that are in the best interests of shareholders, while it continues to oversee the execution of the Company's strategic plan to drive long-term growth, profitability, and shareholder value. The Rights Plan has not been adopted in response to any specific proposal and is not intended to prevent or deter any action or offer that the Board determines to be in the best interests of shareholders.

The Rights Plan, which was adopted by the Board following evaluation and consultation with the Company's outside, independent advisors, provides that the rights will only become exercisable if a person acquires beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the Company's common stock. While the Company is not aware of any shareholder currently holding a beneficial ownership position at or above 20%, if a shareholder's beneficial ownership of the Company's common stock as of the time of this announcement is at or above 20%, that shareholder's existing ownership percentage would be grandfathered, but the rights would become exercisable if at any time after this announcement the shareholder increases its ownership percentage by 0.5% or more. In the event the rights become exercisable, each holder of a right (other than the acquiring person, whose rights will become void and will not be exercisable) will have the right to receive, upon exercise of the right and payment of the exercise price in accordance with the terms of the Rights Plan, a number of shares of the Company's common stock having a market value of twice such exercise price. The rights will trade with the Company's common stock, unless and until they are separated upon the occurrence of certain future events.

The Rights Plan is effective immediately and has a one-year duration, expiring on December 7, 2021. The Rights Plan may also be terminated, or the rights may be redeemed, prior to the scheduled expiration of the Rights Plan under certain other circumstances.

Additional details regarding the Rights Plan will be contained in a Form 8-K to be filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Foot Locker, Inc. leads the celebration of sneaker and youth culture around the globe through a portfolio of brands including Foot Locker, Lady Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker, Champs Sports, Eastbay, Footaction, and Sidestep. With approximately 3,000 retail stores in 27 countries across North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as websites and mobile apps, the Company's purpose is to inspire and empower youth culture around the world, by fueling a shared passion for self-expression and creating unrivaled experiences at the heart of the global sneaker community. Foot Locker, Inc. has its corporate headquarters in New York.

Investor Contact:
James R. Lance
Vice President, Corporate Finance and Investor Relations
jlance@footlocker.com 
(212) 720-4600 

Media Contact:
Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
Leigh Parrish / Aura Reinhard
lparrish@joelefrank.com / areinhard@joelefrank.com 
(212) 355-4449

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/foot-locker-inc-adopts-short-term-shareholder-rights-plan-301188111.html

SOURCE Foot Locker, Inc.

FAQ

What is Foot Locker's recent Rights Plan announcement?

Foot Locker announced a short-term shareholder rights plan to protect against potential control acquisition.

Why did Foot Locker adopt a Rights Plan?

The Rights Plan was adopted in response to Vesa Equity Investment accumulating 12.2% of the company's stock.

When does Foot Locker's Rights Plan expire?

The Rights Plan is effective immediately and will expire on December 7, 2021.

What happens if a shareholder owns 20% or more of Foot Locker?

If ownership reaches 20%, the rights become exercisable for other shareholders, allowing them significant benefits.