-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: keymaster@town.hall.org Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFkwCgYEVQgBAQICAgADSwAwSAJBALeWW4xDV4i7+b6+UyPn5RtObb1cJ7VkACDq pKb9/DClgTKIm08lCfoilvi9Wl4SODbR1+1waHhiGmeZO8OdgLUCAwEAAQ== MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, IBbDhBTKL9oismYPGJJtmU33R+4FJU89bITfgYEsHSTLNIEu4JAUphGg+gGRNkCE OiA9R+oSg07Gv6RCUdJE+Q== 0000922423-95-000067.txt : 19950505 0000922423-95-000067.hdr.sgml : 19950505 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000922423-95-000067 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: SC 13D/A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 5 FILED AS OF DATE: 19950504 SROS: NYSE SUBJECT COMPANY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: HILLS DEPARTMENT STORES INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000786877 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: RETAIL-DEPARTMENT STORES [5311] IRS NUMBER: 311153510 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 0131 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13D/A SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 005-38982 FILM NUMBER: 95534391 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 15 DAN RD CITY: CANTON STATE: MA ZIP: 02021 BUSINESS PHONE: 6178211000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 15 DAN ROAD CITY: CANTON STATE: MA ZIP: 02021 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: HILLS STORES CO /NEW/ DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19931103 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: HILLS STORES CO /NEW/ DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19931015 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: THL HOLDINGS INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19870506 FILED BY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: DICKSTEIN PARTNERS INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000922415 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: UNKNOWN SIC - 0000 [0000] IRS NUMBER: 133537972 STATE OF INCORPORATION: NY FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13D/A BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 9 WEST 57TH STREET CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10019 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 9 WEST 57TH STREET CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10019 SC 13D/A 1 SCHEDULE 13D AMENDMENT NO. 11 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 Amendment No. 11 to SCHEDULE 13D Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Hills Stores Company (Name of Issuer) Common Stock, $.01 par value (Title of Class of Securities) 431692102 (CUSIP Number) David P. Levin, Esq. Kramer, Levin, Naftalis, Nessen, Kamin & Frankel 919 Third Avenue New York, New York 10022 (212) 715-9100 (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications) May 3, 1995 (Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement) If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition which is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of Rule 13d- 1(b)(3) or (4), check the following box: /_/ Check the following box if a fee is being paid with this statement: /_/ PAGE Amendment No. 11 to Schedule 13D This Statement amends the Schedule 13D, dated May 6, 1994, as amended on July 22, 1994, July 28, 1994, August 11, 1994, August 17, 1994, August 30, 1994, September 21, 1994, September 26, 1994, February 23, 1995, March 7, 1995 and April 27, 1995 (the "Schedule 13D"), filed by Dickstein & Co., L.P., Dickstein International Limited, Dickstein Focus Fund L.P., Dickstein Partners, L.P., Dickstein Partners Inc. and Mark Dickstein with respect to the Common Stock, $.01 par value (the "Common Stock"), of Hills Stores Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"). Notwithstanding this Amendment No. 11, the Schedule 13D speaks as of its date. Capitalized terms used without definition have the meanings ascribed to them in the Schedule 13D. I. Item 4 of the Schedule 13D, "Purpose of the Transaction", is amended by adding the following: "On May 3, 1995, Mark Dickstein telephoned William K. Friend, Vice President-Secretary and Corporate Counsel of the Company. Mr. Dickstein advised Mr. Friend that Dickstein Inc. proposed to acquire all the outstanding stock of the Company. Following the telephone call, Mr. Dickstein sent a letter on behalf of Dickstein Inc. to Michael Bozic, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, containing the proposal of Dickstein Inc. to acquire, by means of an all cash merger, 100% of the stock of the Company at a price of $25 per share. A copy of the letter is annexed as Exhibit 7 to this Schedule 13D and incorporated herein by reference. A copy of a press release with respect to the proposal of Dickstein Inc. is attached as Exhibit 8 to this Schedule 13D. Dickstein Inc. has retained National Westminster Bank plc, New York Branch ("NatWest Markets"), to serve as its financial advisor in connection with the proposed acquisition. On May 4, 1995, Dickstein filed preliminary proxy materials (the "Preliminary Proxy Materials") with the Securities and Exchange Commission that would enable Dickstein Inc. to propose an alternative slate of directors at the 1995 annual stockholders meeting of the Company. The Reporting Persons understand that such annual meeting is scheduled for June 12, 1995. The nominees of Dickstein Inc. would be committed to a program of offering the Company for sale, and selling the Company, to the buyer who is willing to pay the highest price, so long as the price is at least $25 per share. A copy of the Preliminary Proxy Materials is annexed as Exhibit 9 to this Schedule 13D. Dickstein Inc. has also delivered to the Company a demand to inspect and copy the Company's list of stockholders. Based upon publicly available information concerning the -2- PAGE Company, upon a change of control of the Company occasioned by the election of the nominees of Dickstein Inc., certain indebtedness of the Company may have to be refinanced, including a revolving credit facility in the amount of $225 million of a subsidiary of the Company guaranteed by the Company (the "Credit Facility") and the Company's 10.25% Senior Notes due 2003 in the principal amount of $160 million (the "Senior Notes"). Dickstein Inc. has received a letter from NatWest Bank, N.A. ("NatWest") indicating that NatWest is highly confident that, subject to certain conditions, it could arrange up to $335 million of new senior secured bank financing, which, when taken together with the Company's available cash, would be sufficient to refinance the Credit Facility and the Senior Notes. A copy of NatWest's letter is annexed as Exhibit 10 to this Schedule 13D. Dickstein Inc. has also retained NatWest as its financial advisor in connection with such refinancing. The Reporting Persons intend to seek to negotiate with the Company regarding the proposal of Dickstein Inc. to acquire the Company. Although the Reporting Persons do not presently intend to alter the terms of the proposed acquisition to provide for the issuance of securities or other consideration in exchange for Common Stock, the Reporting Persons reserve the right, depending on the facts and circumstances existing at the time, to alter the terms of their acquisition proposal in this or other respects. The Reporting Persons continue to reserve the right to take any other action in respect of the Common Stock, or any other securities of the Company, in any manner permitted by law." II. The second paragraph of Item 5(a) of the Schedule 13D, "Interest in Securities of the Issuer," is amended by restating the second sentence thereof as follows: "Mark Kaufman, a Vice President of Dickstein Inc., owns 2,000 shares of Common Stock, constituting less than 1% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock." III. Item 5(d) of the Schedule 13D, "Interest in Securities of the Issuer," is amended by adding the following to the end thereof: "Reference is made to the Preliminary Proxy Materials for a description of certain arrangements with NatWest with respect to proceeds from the sale of Common Stock owned by the Reporting Persons." -3- PAGE IV. Item 6 of the Schedule 13D, "Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect to Securities of the Issuer," is amended by adding the following to the end thereof: "Reference is made to the Preliminary Proxy Materials for a description of certain arrangements with NatWest and NatWest Markets." V. Item 7 of the Schedule 13D, "Material to be Filed as Exhibits," is amended by adding the following Exhibits: "Exhibit 7 Letter, dated May 3, 1995, from Dickstein Inc. to the Company Exhibit 8 Press Release, dated May 3, 1995 Exhibit 9 Preliminary Proxy Materials filed with the Commission Exhibit 10 Letter, dated, May 3, 1995, from NatWest to Dickstein Inc." -4- PAGE SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this Statement is true, complete and correct. Date: May 4, 1995 DICKSTEIN & CO., L.P. By: Alan Cooper, as Vice President of Dickstein Partners Inc., the general partner of Dickstein Partners, L.P., the general partner of Dickstein & Co., L.P. /s/ Alan Cooper Name: Alan Cooper DICKSTEIN INTERNATIONAL LIMITED By: Alan Cooper, as Vice President of Dickstein Partners Inc., the agent of Dickstein International Limited /s/ Alan Cooper Name: Alan Cooper DICKSTEIN FOCUS FUND L.P. By: Alan Cooper, as Vice President of Dickstein Partners Inc., the general partner of Dickstein Partners, L.P., the general partner of Dickstein Focus Fund L.P. /s/ Alan Cooper Name: Alan Cooper DICKSTEIN PARTNERS, L.P. By: Alan Cooper, as Vice President of Dickstein Partners Inc., the general partner of Dickstein Partners, L.P. /s/ Alan Cooper Name: Alan Cooper -5- PAGE DICKSTEIN PARTNERS INC. By: Alan Cooper, as Vice President /s/ Alan Cooper Name: Alan Cooper /s/ Mark Dickstein Name: Mark Dickstein -6- PAGE EX-99 2 EXHIBIT 7 Exhibit 7 Dickstein Partners Inc. Mark Dickstein Tel: 212-754-4000 President Fax: 212-754-5825 May 3, 1995 Mr. Michael Bozic President and Chief Executive Officer Hills Stores Co. 15 Dan Road Canton, MA 02021 Dear Mike: As you are aware Dickstein Partners Inc. manages three investment funds which collectively own approximately 10.3% of Hills voting stock. We have been keenly observing your efforts to convince the investment community that by spending more than $70 million annually on capital expenditures, Hills will achieve increases in earnings per share that justify valuing Hills as a growth stock. Obviously, either the message has not been communicated or it has not been believed. We seriously question the wisdom, in the existing retail environment, of spending the capital necessary to open twenty new stores a year, particularly when weighed against the alternative of repurchasing Hills' own stock in the marketplace at approximately three times EBITDA and when you have not yet gone up against Target Stores, who is likely to be Hills' toughest competition. Notwithstanding the above, we do believe that Hills' existing franchise is a strong one and as a result we are proposing to acquire, pursuant to a merger, all of Hills outstanding shares for $25 per share in cash. Dickstein Partners has retained National Westminster Bank Plc to serve as its financial advisor for this transaction. At this time we are having discussions with NatWest Bank N.A. and National Westminster Bank Plc regarding their arranging the bank debt portion, and assisting in placing the subordinated debt portion of the acquisition financing, respectively. As warranted, we will promptly inform you of further developments regarding these efforts. 1 PAGE Dickstein Partners is willing to provide up to one half of the $75 million of equity capital we believe will be required to finance this transaction. We intend to expeditiously initiate discussions with third parties in order to raise the balance of the equity capital. Depending on the level of interest, we may be able to increase our proposal to materially higher than $25 per share. Toward this end, we request that the Hills board modify its shareholder rights plan to permit us to discuss with other Hills shareholders their interest in contributing equity capital to our proposed transaction without causing a "triggering" of the rights. If we are successful in acquiring Hills, our preference would be to continue to employ exiting management. However, we have prepared for the possibility of existing management leaving by retaining Chaim Edelstein, who we would intend to install as Hills' interim Chief Executive Officer while we search for a permanent management team. Mr. Edelstein was formerly chairman of Abraham & Straus/Jordan Marsh, a division of Federated Department Stores. In case the Hills Board chooses to reject our acquisition proposal we are taking the precaution of nominating a slate of directors for election at Hills' upcoming annual meeting. Our nominees are Mr. Edelstein, John Burden, formerly CEO of Federated Department Stores, and Mark Dickstein, Mark Brodsky, Mark Kaufman, Sam Katz and David Brail of Dickstein Partners. If elected, our nominees would, as soon as practicable, seek to have Jack Reen and yourself added to the Board. Our nominees would seek to have Hills sold to the highest bidder. Subject to obtaining financing and other standard conditions we would be prepared to offer at least $25 per share in cash for Hills in such an auction. NatWest Bank N.A. has also advised us that, subject to certain conditions, it is "highly confident" that it can arrange up to $335 million of new senior secured bank financing which may be required, together with Hills' available cash, to refinance those portions of Hills' existing debt (i.e., the working cpaital facility and the $160 million of public debt) which could accelerate upon the change of control that will occur if our nominees are elected to the Hills Board. If Hills would allow us access to its non-public information in order to facilitate our due diligence review we may be prepared to improve our proposal to materially higher than $25 per share. 2 PAGE We await your prompt response. Sincerely, Mark Dickstein EX-99 3 EXHIBIT 8 Exhibit 8 News Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MacKenzie Partners, Inc. 156 Fifth Avenue New York, New York 10010 212 929-5500 Fax 212 929-0308 CONTACT: Stanley J. Kay MacKenzie Partners, Inc. (212) 929-5940 DICKSTEIN PARTNERS OFFERS $25 PER SHARE FOR HILLS STORES NEW YORK, N.Y., MAY 3, 1995 -- Dickstein Partners today announced that in a letter sent to Michael Bozic, Chief Executive Officer of Hills Stores, it has proposed to acquire pursuant to a merger all of Hills' outstanding shares for $25 per share in cash. The text of the letter is printed below. [See Exhibit No. 7 for text of the letter.] Mark Dickstein, President of Dickstein Partners Inc. commented: "We are committed to seeing that Hills Stores is sold at auction to the highest bidder. Dickstein Partners intends to be a serious bidder in this auction with an offer of at least $25 per share. We believe Hills' existing "growth" strategy of opening twenty new stores a year to be an extremely high risk undertaking in the existing retail environment. We have come to the conclusion that the only way to ensure that the existing value of Hills is not put at risk is to force the sale of the company to either Dickstein Partners or a third party." Dickstein Partners, Inc. is a New York based investment firm which owns 1,113,459 shares of Hills stock, representing approximately 10.3% of the shares of the company. EX-99 4 EXHIBIT 9 Exhibit 9 PRELIMINARY COPIES, DATED MAY 4, 1995 1995 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS of HILLS STORES COMPANY 15 Dan Road Canton, MA 02021 ______________________________ PROXY STATEMENT of DICKSTEIN PARTNERS INC. ______________________________ This Proxy Statement and the accompanying Letter to Stockholders and BLUE Annual Meeting proxy card are furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by Dickstein Partners Inc. ("Dickstein Partners") to be used at the 1995 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Hills Stores Company, a Delaware corporation ("Hills"), to be held at _______________________ on June 12, 1995 and at any adjournments or postponements thereof (the "Annual Meeting"). At the Annual Meeting, seven Directors of Hills will be elected. Dickstein Partners is soliciting your proxy in support of the election of the seven nominees of Dickstein Partners named below (the "Dickstein Nominees") as the Directors of Hills. DICKSTEIN PARTNERS HAS MADE A PROPOSAL TO ACQUIRE PURSUANT TO A MERGER ALL OF HILLS' OUTSTANDING SHARES FOR AT LEAST $25 PER SHARE IN CASH. SEE "BACKGROUND OF PROPOSED ACQUISITION AND SOLICITATION." ALL DICKSTEIN NOMINEES ARE COMMITTED TO A PROGRAM OF OFFERING HILLS FOR SALE, AND SELLING HILLS, TO THE BUYER WHO IS WILLING TO PAY THE HIGHEST PRICE, SO LONG AS THE PRICE IS AT LEAST $25 PER SHARE OF HILLS STOCK. The record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting is April 24, 1995 (the "Record Date"). Stockholders of record at the close of business on the Record Date will be entitled to one vote at the Annual Meeting for each share of Hills Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common Shares") and one vote at the Annual PAGE Meeting for each share of Hills Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $.10 per share (the "Preferred Shares" and, together with the Common Shares, the "Shares"), held on the Record Date. According to the preliminary proxy statement of Hills filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on _____________ ___, 1995 (the "Hills Proxy Statement"), there were ______________ Shares issued and outstanding as of the close of business on the Record Date. Dickstein Partners manages three private investment funds. As of the date of this Proxy Statement, these funds, Dickstein & Co., L.P., Dickstein Focus Fund L.P. and Dickstein International Limited (collectively, the "Dickstein Funds"), beneficially own in the aggregate 1,113,459 Shares, or 10.3% of the outstanding Shares. The address of Dickstein Partners Inc. is 9 West 57th Street, New York, New York 10019, and its telephone number is (212) 754-4000. ____________________________ This Proxy Statement, the accompanying Letter to Stockholders and the BLUE Annual Meeting proxy card are first being furnished to Hills stockholders on or about __________ ___, 1995. IMPORTANT At the Annual Meeting, Dickstein Partners will seek to elect the Dickstein Nominees as the Directors of Hills. The election of the Dickstein Nominees requires the affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast, assuming a quorum is present or otherwise represented at the Annual Meeting. Dickstein Partners urges you to mark, sign, date and return the enclosed BLUE Annual Meeting proxy card to vote for election of the Dickstein Nominees. A vote for the Dickstein Nominees is a vote for Directors who are committed to a program of offering Hills for sale, and selling Hills, to the buyer who is willing to pay the highest price, so long as the price is at least $25 per Share. DICKSTEIN PARTNERS URGES YOU NOT TO SIGN ANY PROXY CARD SENT TO YOU BY HILLS. IF YOU HAVE ALREADY DONE SO, YOU MAY REVOKE YOUR PROXY BY DELIVERING A WRITTEN NOTICE OF REVOCATION OR A LATER DATED PROXY FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING TO DICKSTEIN PARTNERS, C/O MACKENZIE PARTNERS, INC., 156 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK 10010, OR TO THE SECRETARY OF HILLS, OR BY VOTING IN PERSON AT THE ANNUAL MEETING. SEE "PROXY PROCEDURES" BELOW. 2 PAGE THE DICKSTEIN NOMINEES SUPPORT THE SALE OF HILLS Dickstein Partners has made a proposal to acquire pursuant to a merger all of Hills' outstanding Shares for at least $25 per Share in cash. All Dickstein Nominees are committed to a sale of Hills to the buyer who is willing to pay the highest price, so long as the price is at least $25 per Share. If elected, the Dickstein Nominees will, subject to their fiduciary duties, seek to cause Hills to offer itself for sale, and to consummate a sale, to the buyer who is willing to pay the highest price. See "Background of Proposed Acquisition and Solicitation." Dickstein Partners urges you to vote your BLUE Annual Meeting proxy card FOR each of the Dickstein Nominees. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS According to publicly available information, Hills currently has seven Directors, all of whose terms will expire at the Annual Meeting. Dickstein Partners proposes that Hills stockholders elect the Dickstein Nominees as the Directors of Hills at the Annual Meeting. If all Dickstein Nominees are elected, the Dickstein Nominees would constitute the entire Board of Directors of Hills. The Dickstein Nominees are listed below and have furnished the following information concerning their principal occupations or employment and certain other matters. Each Dickstein Nominee, if elected, would hold office until the 1996 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until a successor has been elected and qualified or until his earlier death, resignation or removal. Although Dickstein Partners has no reason to believe that any of the Dickstein Nominees will be unable to serve as Directors, if any one or more of the Dickstein Nominees is not available for election, the persons named on the BLUE Annual Meeting proxy card will vote for the election of such other nominees as may be proposed by Dickstein Partners. Should Hills increase the number of Directors to be elected at the Annual Meeting, it is the current intention of Dickstein Partners to propose additional nominees for such directorships. Dickstein Nominees for Directors Chaim Y. Edelstein, age 52, was a consultant to Federated Department Stores, Inc. from February 1994 to March 1995 and has 3 PAGE been a consultant to Carson Pirie Scott & Co., a midwest department store chain, since November 1994. From 1985 to February 1994, he was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Abraham & Straus, a division of Federated Department Stores, Inc. Federated Department Stores, Inc. filed a petition for reorganization under the Bankruptcy Code in 1990 and has since emerged from bankruptcy. Mr. Edelstein is a director of Jan-Bell Marketing, Inc., a jewelry retailer which is publicly held. Mr. Edelstein's business address is c/o JBM Inc., 13801 Northwest 14th Street, Sunrise, Florida 33323. John W. Burden III, age 57, has been a semi-retired consultant and partner in Retail Options, Inc., a retail consultant, since November 1993. From December 1990 to March 1993, Mr. Burden's principal occupation was as an officer in Pelican Palms Realty Corporation, a real estate sales company. From August 1988 to February 1990, Mr. Burden served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Federated Department Stores, Inc. and Allied Stores Corporation, each a department store chain, and was Vice Chairman of Federated Department Stores, Inc. from December 1985 to July 1988. Federated Department Stores, Inc. filed a petition for reorganization under the Bankruptcy Code in 1990 and has since emerged from bankruptcy. Mr. Burden is a director of Carson Pirie Scott & Co., Bernard Chaus, Inc., a manufacturer of women's and children's clothing, and Jan-Bell Marketing, Inc., each of which is publicly held. Mr. Burden's business address is c/o Retail Options, Inc., 15 East 26th Street, New York, New York 10010. Mark Dickstein, age 36, has been the President of Dickstein Partners since prior to 1989 and is primarily responsible for the operations of the Dickstein Funds. He is the Chairman of the Board of Carson Pirie Scott & Co. He is also director of KinderCare Learning Centers, Inc., the largest provider of proprietary child care in the United States, and Zale Corporation, a national jewelry retailer. Carson Pirie Scott & Co., KinderCare Learning Centers, Inc. and Zale Corporation are publicly held. Mr. Dickstein's business address is c/o Dickstein Partners Inc., 9 West 57th Street, New York, New York 10019. Mark L. Kaufman, age 38, has been a Vice President of Dickstein Partners since July 1992. He was Senior Vice President of Oppenheimer & Co., an investment banking firm, from March 1992 to July 1992 and was a Vice President of Oppenheimer & Co. from May 1990 to February 1992. From July 1988 to April 1990, he was Vice President of and head of strategic investments at GAF Corp., a chemical and roofing manufacturer. He is a director of Carson Pirie Scott & Co. Mr. Kaufman's business address is c/o Dickstein Partners Inc., 9 West 57th Street, New York, New York 10019. 4 PAGE David Brail, age 30, has been a Vice President of Dickstein Partners Inc. and has otherwise been associated with the Dickstein Funds since prior to 1989. Mr. Brail is a director of Amerihost Properties, Inc., a hotel management and development company, Banyan Strategic Land Fund II, a real estate investment company, and New Dimensions in Medicine, Inc., a medical device company, each of which is publicly held. Mr. Brail's business address is c/o Dickstein Partners Inc., 9 West 57th Street New York, New York 10019. Mark D. Brodsky, age 41, has been a Vice President of Dickstein Partners since April 1994. Previously, since 1986, he had been co-head of the bankruptcy department at the law firm of Kramer, Levin, Naftalis, Nessen, Kamin & Frankel. Mr. Brodsky's business address is c/o Dickstein Partners, Inc., 9 West 57th Street, New York, New York 10019. Samuel L. Katz, age 29, has been a Vice President of Dickstein Partners since July 1993. Previously, since February 1992, Mr. Katz was the Co-Chairman of Saber Capital Inc., a firm making private equity investments. Before that, since 1988, Mr. Katz was an Associate and then a Vice President of The Blackstone Group, an investment and merchant bank, where he focused on leveraged buyout transactions. Mr. Katz's business address is c/o Dickstein Partners Inc., 9 West 57th Street, New York, New York 10019. In September 1990, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the "CFTC") initiated an administrative proceeding against Mr. Dickstein alleging that in 1987 certain of his personal commodities trading activities were in violation of applicable laws. Specifically, the CFTC claimed that Mr. Dickstein, in his capacity as a local floor trader, aided and abetted another floor trader in, among other things, non-competitive trading and defrauding such floor trader's customers. Without admitting or denying the CFTC's allegations, Mr. Dickstein settled this matter in September 1991. As part of the settlement, Mr. Dickstein agreed not to engage in commodities transactions for a period of one year, and for two additional years not to trade on the floor of any commodities exchange. Mr. Dickstein also had his commodities floor brokerage license revoked and paid a $150,000 civil penalty. It is anticipated that each of the Dickstein Nominees, upon his election as a director of Hills, will receive director's fees consistent with Hills' past practice. According to the Hills Proxy Statement, Directors who are not employees of Hills receive $2,000 per month plus $1,000 for each meeting of the board and $500 for each committee meeting attended plus reimbursement for expenses. Committee chairmen receive $750 for each committee meeting attended. In addition, Dickstein Partners has agreed to 5 PAGE indemnify each of the Dickstein Nominees against any claims and expenses, including legal fees, arising out of their participation in the proxy solicitation for their election. Except as set forth above or under "Background of Proposed Acquisition and Solicitation" below, none of Dickstein Partners, the Dickstein Nominees or any of their respective associates (i) has any arrangements or understandings with any person or persons with respect to any future employment by Hills or its affiliates, or with respect to any future transactions to which Hills or any of its affiliates may be a party; (ii) has carried on any occupation or employment with Hills or any corporation or organization which is or was a parent, subsidiary or other affiliate of Hills; (iii) has received any cash compensation, cash bonuses, deferred compensation, compensation pursuant to plans, or other compensation, from, or in respect of, services rendered to or on behalf of Hills; (iv) since January 30, 1994, has engaged in or has a direct or indirect material interest in any transaction or series of similar transactions to which Hills or any of its subsidiaries was or is to be a party in which the dollar amount involved exceeded, or is expected to exceed, $60,000 in the aggregate; (v) since January 30, 1994, has been indebted to Hills or any of its subsidiaries in an amount in excess of $60,000; or (vi) is a party adverse to Hills or any of its subsidiaries in any material proceedings or has a material interest adverse to the interest of Hills or any of its subsidiaries in any such proceedings. No family relationships exist among the Dickstein Nominees or between any of the Dickstein Nominees and any Director or executive officer of Hills. Certain additional information relating to, among other things, the ownership, purchase and sale of securities of Hills by Dickstein Partners, the Dickstein Nominees and their respective associates, or arrangements with respect thereto, is set forth in "Security Ownership of Dickstein Partners and Affiliates and in Schedule II. Voting Procedures Election of the Dickstein Nominees requires the affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast in the election at the Annual Meeting, assuming a quorum is present or otherwise represented at the Annual Meeting. Shares voted as abstentions and "broker non-votes" are considered present at the Annual Meeting for the purposes of determining the presence of a quorum. "Broker non-votes" relate to shares of stock held of record by a broker as to which no discretionary authority or voting directions exist. 6 PAGE The accompanying BLUE Annual Meeting proxy card will be voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance with your instructions on such card. You may vote FOR the election of each of the Dickstein Nominees as Directors of Hills or withhold authority to vote for the election of all the Dickstein Nominees by marking the proper box on the BLUE Annual Meeting proxy card. You may also withhold your vote from any one or more of the Dickstein Nominees by writing the name of such nominee(s) in the space provided on the BLUE Annual Meeting proxy card. IF NO MARKING IS MADE, YOU WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE GIVEN A DIRECTION TO VOTE THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THE BLUE ANNUAL MEETING PROXY CARD FOR THE ELECTION OF ALL THE DICKSTEIN NOMINEES PROVIDED THAT YOU HAVE SIGNED AND DATED THE PROXY CARD. The Dickstein Funds, which in the aggregate own approximately 10.3% of the Shares outstanding, will vote their Shares FOR the election of the Dickstein Nominees. Dickstein Partners believes that it is in your best interest to elect the Dickstein Nominees at the Annual Meeting. Dickstein Partners has made a proposal to acquire pursuant to a merger all of Hills' outstanding Shares for at least $25 per share in cash. See "Background of Proposed Acquisition and Solicitation." All Dickstein Nominees are committed to a program of offering Hills for sale, and selling Hills, to the buyer who is willing to pay the highest price, so long as the price is at least $25 per Share. DICKSTEIN PARTNERS STRONGLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF THE DICKSTEIN NOMINEES. OTHER MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING Dickstein Partners is not aware of any proposals other than the election of Directors to be brought before the Annual Meeting. Should any other proposal be brought before the Annual Meeting, the vote required for approval of such proposal would be as prescribed by Hills' charter or bylaws or by applicable law. Generally, approval of a proposal would require the vote of a majority of the Shares represented at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on the matter. Shares voted as abstentions would have the same effect as a negative vote. Shares with respect to which a broker submits a "broker non-vote" on a matter are not counted in calculating the number of Shares entitled to vote on a matter and have the effect of reducing the number of votes required for approval of the matter. Should other proposals be brought before the Annual Meeting, the persons named on the BLUE Annual Meeting proxy card will abstain from voting on such proposals unless such proposals adversely affect the interests of Dickstein Partners as 7 PAGE determined by Dickstein Partners in its sole discretion, in which event such persons will vote on such proposals at their discretion. PROXY PROCEDURES Stockholders are urged to mark, sign and date the enclosed BLUE Annual Meeting proxy card and return it to Dickstein Partners, c/o MacKenzie Partners, Inc., 156 Fifth Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, New York 10010 in the enclosed envelope in time to be voted at the Annual Meeting. Execution of the BLUE Annual Meeting proxy card will not affect your right to attend the Annual Meeting and to vote in person. Any proxy may be revoked at any time prior to the Annual Meeting by delivering a written notice of revocation or a later dated proxy at the particular meeting. Only your latest dated proxy for the Annual Meeting will count. Only holders of record as of the close of business on the Record Date will be entitled to vote. If you were a stockholder of record on the Record Date, you may vote your Shares at the Annual Meeting even if you have sold your Shares before or after the Record Date. Accordingly, please vote the Shares held by you on the Record Date, or grant a proxy to vote such Shares, on the BLUE Annual Meeting proxy card, even if you have sold your Shares before or after the Record Date. If any of your Shares are held in the name of a brokerage firm, bank, bank nominee or other institution on the Record Date, only it can vote such Shares and only upon receipt of your specific instructions. Accordingly, please contact the person responsible for your account and instruct that person to execute on your behalf the BLUE Annual Meeting proxy card. 8 PAGE BACKGROUND OF PROPOSED ACQUISITION AND SOLICITATION In August 1994, Dickstein Partners commenced a consent solicitation to remove and replace four of Hills' eight directors, the principal objective of which was to elect directors who would place a greater emphasis on the enhancement of stockholder value, such as by means of a major stock repurchase program. In its consent solicitation, Dickstein Partners proposed that Hills repurchase up to 5.5 million Shares in exchange for $27 principal amount per Share of notes, which proposal was subsequently modified to a proposed repurchase of 4.63 million Shares for $27 principal amount per Share. After commencement of the consent solicitation, Hills commenced litigation against Dickstein Partners which was subsequently discontinued. In September 1994, Dickstein Partners and Hills agreed to a settlement pursuant to which, among other things, Dickstein Partners terminated its consent solicitation of Hills stockholders, and Hills agreed to commence a self-tender offer to purchase up to 3.0 million Common Shares at $25 per share in cash. As part of the settlement, Hills agreed not to hold its next annual meeting prior to June 1, 1995 or to adopt by-law amendments related to the nomination or election of directors prior to such annual meeting. Hills also agreed to pay Dickstein Partners $600,000 in reimbursement for the out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred by Dickstein Partners and its affiliates in connection with the consent solicitation. Hills consummated its self-tender offer on February 21, 1995. The Dickstein Funds sold in the self-tender offer an aggregate of 313,798 Shares. On May 3, 1995, Mark Dickstein, the President of Dickstein Partners, telephoned Hills and spoke with William K. Friend, Vice President-Secretary and Corporate Counsel of Hills. Mr. Dickstein advised Mr. Friend that Dickstein Partners proposed to acquire all of the outstanding stock of Hills in a merger transaction. Following the telephone call, Mr. Dickstein sent the following letter on behalf of Dickstein Partners to Michael Bozic, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hills. The letter reflects a good faith proposal that Dickstein Partners would expect to consummate upon execution of definitive transaction documentation with Hills. Prior to the execution of such documentation, the proposal is subject to change or withdrawal. "Dear Mike: As you are aware Dickstein Partners Inc. manages three investment funds which collectively own approximately 10.3% of Hills voting stock. We have been keenly observing 9 PAGE your efforts to convince the investment community that by spending more than $70 million annually on capital expenditures, Hills will achieve increases in earnings per share that justify valuing Hills as a growth stock. Obviously, either the message has not been communicated or it has not been believed. We seriously question the wisdom, in the existing retail environment, of spending the capital necessary to open twenty new stores a year, particularly when weighed against the alternative of repurchasing Hills' own stock in the marketplace at approximately three times EBITDA and when you have not yet gone up against Target Stores, who is likely to be Hills' toughest competition. Notwithstanding the above, we do believe that Hills' existing franchise is a strong one and as a result we are proposing to acquire, pursuant to a merger, all of Hills outstanding shares for $25 per share in cash. Dickstein Partners has retained National Westminster Bank Plc to serve as its financial advisor for this transaction. At this time we are having discussions with NatWest Bank N.A. and National Westminster Bank Plc regarding their arranging the bank debt portion, and assisting in placing the subordinated debt portion of the acquisition financing, respectively. As warranted, we will promptly inform you of further developments regarding these efforts. Dickstein Partners is willing to provide up to one half of the $75 million of equity capital we believe will be required to finance this transaction. We intend to expeditiously initiate discussions with third parties in order to raise the balance of the equity capital. Depending on the level of interest, we may be able to increase our proposal to materially higher than $25 per share. Toward this end, we request that the Hills board modify its shareholder rights plan to permit us to discuss with other Hills shareholders their interest in contributing equity capital to our proposed transaction without causing a `triggering' of the rights. If we are successful in acquiring Hills, our preference would be to continue to employ existing management. However, we have prepared for the possibility of existing management leaving by retaining Chaim Edelstein, who we would intend to install as Hills' interim Chief Executive Officer while we search for a permanent management team. Mr. Edelstein was formerly chairman of Abraham & Straus/Jordan Marsh, a division of Federated Department Stores. 10 PAGE In case the Hills Board chooses to reject our acquisition proposal we are taking the precaution of nominating a slate of directors for election at Hills' upcoming annual meeting. Our nominees are Mr. Edelstein, John Burden, formerly CEO of Federated Department Stores, and Mark Dickstein, Mark Brodsky, Mark Kaufman, Sam Katz and David Brail of Dickstein Partners. If elected, our nominees would, as soon as practicable, seek to have Jack Reen and yourself added to the Board. Our nominees would seek to have Hills sold to the highest bidder. Subject to obtaining financing and other standard conditions we would be prepared to offer at least $25 per share in cash for Hills in such an auction. NatWest Bank N.A. has also advised us that, subject to certain conditions, it is `highly confident' that it can arrange up to $335 million of new senior secured bank financing which may be required, together with Hills' available cash, to refinance those portions of Hills' existing debt (i.e., the working capital facility and the $160 million of public debt) which could accelerate upon the change of control that will occur if our nominees are elected to the Hills Board. If Hills would allow us access to its non-public information in order to facilitate our due diligence review we may be prepared to improve our proposal to materially higher than $25 per share. We await your prompt response. Sincerely, Mark Dickstein" Dickstein Partners intends to seek to negotiate with Hills regarding its proposal to acquire Hills. Such negotiations could result in, among other things, termination of this proxy solicitation and submission of a different acquisition proposal to Hills. Although Dickstein Partners does not presently intend, in the event the Dickstein Nominees are elected, to alter the terms of the proposed acquisition to provide for the issuance of securities or other consideration in exchange for Shares, it is possible that, depending on the facts and circumstances existing at the time, the terms might be altered in this or other respects. As indicated elsewhere in this Proxy Statement, the Dickstein Nominees, if elected, will, subject to their fiduciary 11 PAGE duties, seek to cause Hills to offer itself for sale, and to consummate a sale, to the buyer who is willing to pay the highest price, so long as the price is at least $25 per Share. There can be no assurance, however, that a buyer other than Dickstein Partners will offer to purchase Hills at all or for a price that is higher than the price offered by Dickstein Partners. It is anticipated that if the Dickstein Nominees are elected, the board will form a committee of Directors who are not employees of, or have a financial interest in, Dickstein Partners or any of its affiliates, to consider, negotiate and determine to recommend approval of the terms of a sale of Hills. The members of such a committee are currently expected to be Messrs. Burden and Edelstein. The committee will establish procedures, possibly including auctioning or actively shopping Hills, to maximize the price at which Hills may be sold. Dickstein Partners has retained Chaim Y. Edelstein, a Dickstein Nominee, as a consultant for a one-year period beginning in May 1995. Mr. Edelstein's primary responsibilities will be to assist Dickstein Partners in its financial and qualitative analysis of Hills, to conduct due diligence of Hills and to assist Dickstein Partners in its strategic planning. Dickstein Partners will pay Mr. Edelstein a consulting fee of $50,000 and a contingent fee equal to 1.5% of Net Profits (as defined in the consulting agreement) in respect of the investment of the Dickstein Funds in Hills, and will reimburse Mr. Edelstein for his reasonable and customary out-of-pocket expenses. If the Dickstein Nominees are elected and Hills' existing senior management do not exercise their rights to resign, the Dickstein Nominees intend to use their best efforts to have Hills retain Mr. Edelstein as a management consultant at a negotiated annual retainer of at least $50,000. In the event that senior management exercise their rights to resign, the Dickstein Nominees intend to use their best efforts to retain Mr. Edelstein as Hills' interim chief executive officer with negotiated compensation commensurate with such executive position. In connection with the agreement of John W. Burden III to serve as a Dickstein Nominee, Dickstein Partners will pay Mr. Burden a fee of $10,000 and will reimburse Mr. Burden for reasonable and customary out-of-pocket expenses. If the Dickstein Nominees are elected and Michael Bozic and John Reen so agree, the Dickstein Nominees intend to elect Messrs. Bozic and Reen as members of the Board of Directors of Hills. However, the Dickstein Nominees will elect Mr. Bozic and Mr. Reen only if they remain employed by Hills and do not exercise their change of control rights referred to below. Mr. Bozic is currently President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Hills, and Mr. Reen is currently Executive Vice President-Chief Financial Officer and a Director of Hills. 12 PAGE According to the Hills Proxy Statement, each of Mr. Bozic and Mr. Reen has been nominated for election as a Director at the Annual Meeting. Change in Control Based upon publicly available information concerning Hills, the following would be the consequences of a change in control of Hills occasioned by the election of the Dickstein Nominees to a majority of the board of directors of Hills (a "Dickstein Change of Control"). Financial Arrangements. Hills' wholly-owned operating subsidiary, Hills Department Store Company, has entered into a $225 million Revolving Credit Agreement (the "Credit Agreement"), of which up to $75 million is available as a letter of credit facility. The obligations under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by Hills. Under the terms of the Credit Agreement, the lenders would have the option to terminate their commitments and declare the outstanding loans thereunder due and payable upon the occurrence of a Dickstein Change of Control. As of January 28, 1995, $32.6 million face amount of letters of credit and no loans were outstanding under the Credit Agreement. Under the terms of the indenture governing Hills' 10.25% Senior Notes due September 30, 2003 (the "Senior Notes"), Hills would be required to offer to redeem the Senior Notes at a price of 101% of principal amount plus accrued interest upon the occurrence of a Dickstein Change of Control. A notice offering to redeem the Senior Notes would be required to be mailed to all holders of the Senior Notes within 30 days following the occurrence of a Dickstein Change of Control, with a redemption date no later than 60 days from the date of such mailing. Prior to the mailing, Hills would be required to offer to repay the indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Agreement and to obtain the requisite consent under the Credit Agreement for the redemption of the Senior Notes. As of January 28, 1995, $160 million principal amount of Senior Notes was outstanding. On May 3, 1995, NatWest Bank N.A. ("NatWest") delivered to Dickstein Partners a letter stating, subject to certain conditions, that it is "highly confident" of its ability to arrange up to $335 million of new secured senior bank financing that, together with the Company's available cash, may be required to refinance the Credit Agreement and the Senior Notes upon the occurrence of a Dickstein Change of Control (the "Change of Control Refinancing"). Also on May 3, 1995, Dickstein Partners engaged NatWest as its financial advisor in connection with the Change of Control Refinancing. Dickstein Partners has agreed that, if the Dickstein Nominees are elected, and subject to the fiduciary duties of the Dickstein Nominees, Dickstein Partners 13 PAGE would seek to cause Hills to offer NatWest a right of first refusal to arrange the Change of Control Refinancing. Dickstein Partners has agreed to pay or cause Hills to pay to NatWest in the aggregate up to $1,250,000 in connection with a Change of Control Refinancing (exclusive of any customary bank agency fees). This amount includes fees payable in the event that the Dickstein Nominees are elected, NatWest indicates in good faith that it is prepared to arrange the Change of Control Refinancing and another financial institution arranges such refinancing. In the event that an agreement is executed with Hills to consummate the acquisition proposed by Dickstein Partners, Dickstein Partners has agreed to offer to NatWest the right to arrange the senior bank financing for such acquisition. If NatWest indicates in good faith that it is prepared to arrange such financing and another financial institution arranges such financing or the Credit Agreement and the Senior Notes are amended, renewed or extended such that such financing is not required, Dickstein Partners has agreed to pay or cause Hills to pay to NatWest a fee of up to $1 million. In addition, in the event that Dickstein Partners does not consummate the acquisition of Hills, Dickstein Partners has agreed to make a payment to NatWest in the amount of a percentage of the net profits, if any, on the investment of the Dickstein Funds in Hills, defined as the excess of the proceeds realized by the Dickstein Funds on the sale of their Shares over the sum of the cost of such Shares, at $20 per Share (or, with respect to any Shares purchased after May 3, 1995, the actual cost of such Shares), and all out-of-pocket expenses of Dickstein Partners incurred in connection with this proxy solicitation and the proposed acquisition of Hills. If the Dickstein Funds do not sell their Shares within a six-month period from the date of the NatWest engagement (subject to extension to nine months at the option of NatWest), the net profits, if any, of the Dickstein Funds will be based upon the market value of the Shares following the end of such period (calculated according to a prescribed formula). If the Dickstein Funds sell some but less than all their Shares, the net profits, if any, of the Dickstein Funds will be calculated based upon the sale price of the Shares that have been sold and the market value of the Shares that have not been sold. If less than 50% of the Shares are sold, the value of the unsold Shares will be determined, and payment will be made, following the end of six month (or nine month) period as aforesaid. If 50% or more of the Shares are sold, the value of the unsold Shares will be determined, and payment will be made, following the time of such sale. NatWest is currently entitled to 5% of the net profits of the Dickstein Funds under these arrangements, which percentage will increase to 10% at such time as NatWest delivers a "highly confident" letter in respect of the senior bank debt financing for the acquisition of Hills proposed by Dickstein Partners. In the event that Hills is acquired by 14 PAGE persons other than Dickstein Partners and NatWest is prepared to but does not arrange the financing for such acquisition, NatWest will be entitled to receive from Dickstein Partners the greater of $500,000 and an amount equal to the percentage of the net profits of the Dickstein Funds described above. In addition, if any break-up, termination, topping or similar fee is paid to Dickstein Partners, NatWest will be entitled to receive 25% of the excess of any such fee over the expenses of Dickstein Partners incurred as aforesaid. Dickstein Partners has also agreed to reimburse NatWest for up to $75,000 of its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred through June 12, 1995 and to indemnify NatWest on customary terms. Benefits Arrangements. Hills has entered into employment agreements with Michael Bozic, President and Chief Executive Officer; John G. Reen, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; E. Jackson Smailes, Executive Vice President and General Merchandise Manager; Andrew J. Samuto, Executive Vice President, Real Estate and Support Services; and Robert J. Stevenish, Executive Vice President, Store and Distribution Operations, which would permit these executives to resign upon the occurrence of a Dickstein Change of Control without the approval of the existing Directors of Hills. Following such resignation, each of these executives would be entitled to a lump sum payment equal to (i) all earned but unpaid salary and a pro rated bonus to the time of termination, (ii) three times such executive's annual base compensation and (iii) three times any bonus compensation such executive was entitled to earn during the year of termination (calculated as if all goals were attained). In addition, upon the occurrence of a Dickstein Change of Control without the approval of the existing Directors of Hills, all outstanding unvested stock options of such executives would become immediately exercisable. According to the Hills Proxy Statement, as of ___________, these executives held stock options to acquire _________ Shares, of which options with respect to ____________ Shares had not yet vested. According to the Hills Proxy Statement, in fiscal 1995, the following were the base salaries and bonus levels for the Hills executive officers named above: Base Bonus Executive Officer Salary Level - ----------------- ------ ----- Michael Bozic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 50% Andrew J. Samuto . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 John G. Reen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 E. Jackson Smailes . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Robert J. Stevenish. . . . . . . . . . . 50 15 PAGE A consulting agreement with Norman S. Matthews, a Hills director, would permit Mr. Matthews to resign upon the occurrence of a Dickstein Change of Control without the approval of the existing Directors of Hills. Following his resignation, Mr. Matthews would be entitled to a lump sum payment equal to (i) all earned but unpaid salary and a pro rated bonus to the time of termination, (ii) three times his annual base compensation and (iii) three times any bonus compensation he was entitled to earn during the year of termination (calculated as if all goals were attained). In addition, upon the occurrence of a Dickstein Change of Control without the approval of the existing Directors of Hills, all of Mr. Matthews' unvested stock options would become immediately exercisable. Under Mr. Matthews' consulting agreement, he has a base salary of $500,000, with a bonus level equal to 50% of base salary. Engagement of Financial Advisor Dickstein Partners has engaged National Westminster Bank plc, New York Branch ("NatWest Markets"), an affiliate of NatWest, as its exclusive financial advisor in connection with the proposed acquisition of Hills. In connection with such engagement, Dickstein Partners has agreed to pay NatWest Markets up to $1,000,000, including fees payable to NatWest Markets if the acquisition proposed by Dickstein Partners is consummated, or if Dickstein Partners and its affiliates acquire a majority of the stock or substantially all the assets of Hills, in each case within two years. Dickstein Partners may engage NatWest Capital Markets Limited ("NatWest Capital Markets"), an affiliate of NatWest and NatWest Markets, or NatWest Markets as underwriter or placement agent for the sale of up to $250 million of subordinated debt in connection with the acquisition of Hills proposed by Dickstein Partners. If NatWest Capital Markets or NatWest Markets is so engaged, it will be entitled to receive at least 40% of the aggregate net underwriting discounts and commissions or placement fees with respect to the sale of such securities. If NatWest Capital Markets or NatWest Markets is not so engaged, NatWest Markets will be entitled to be paid an amount equal to 0.75% of the gross proceeds of the sale of such securities, provided that NatWest has advised Dickstein Partners that it is prepared to deliver a "highly confident" letter in respect of the senior bank financing for the acquisition. Dickstein Partners has also agreed to reimburse NatWest Markets for up to $25,000 of its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and to indemnify NatWest Markets on customary terms. 16 PAGE SOLICITATION OF PROXIES Proxies may be solicited by mail, advertisement, telephone or telecopier or in person. Solicitations may be made by directors, officers and employees of Dickstein Partners, none of whom will receive additional compensation for such solicitations. Dickstein Partners has requested banks, brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to forward all its solicitation materials to the beneficial owners of the Shares they hold of record. Dickstein Partners will reimburse these record holders for customary clerical and mailing expenses incurred by them in forwarding these materials to their customers. Dickstein Partners has retained MacKenzie Partners, Inc. (the "Agent") for solicitation and advisory services in connection with the solicitation, for which the Agent is to receive a fee of $20,000, plus an additional fee of $50,000 if the Dickstein Nominees are elected, together with reimbursement for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. Dickstein Partners has also agreed to indemnify the Agent against certain liabilities and expenses, including liabilities and expenses under the federal securities laws. The Agent will solicit proxies for the Annual Meeting from individuals, brokers, banks, bank nominees and other institutional holders. It is anticipated that the Agent will employ approximately 35 persons to solicit stockholders for the Annual Meeting. Certain information about directors and officers of Dickstein Partners who may also assist in soliciting proxies, is set forth in the attached Schedule I. The entire expense of soliciting proxies for the Annual Meeting is being borne by Dickstein Partners. Dickstein Partners intends to seek reimbursement for such expenses from Hills, but does not expect that the question of such reimbursement will be submitted to a vote of stockholders. Costs incidental to this solicitation of proxies include expenditures for printing, postage, legal, accounting, public relations, advertising and related expenses and are expected to be approximately $________; costs incurred to the date of this Proxy Statement are approximately $_____________. If the Dickstein Nominees are elected, Dickstein Partners will seek to cause the Dickstein Nominees to have Dickstein Partners reimbursed by Hills for all expenses paid or incurred, or for which Dickstein Partners or any of its affiliates may otherwise be liable, in connection with this proxy solicitation and the proposed acquisition of Hills, including, without limitation, the fees paid or to be paid to NatWest and NatWest Markets. See "Background of Proposed Acquisition and 17 PAGE Solicitation -- Change in Control" and "-- Engagement of Financial Advisor." If Dickstein Partners should withdraw, or materially change the terms of, this solicitation of proxies prior to the Annual Meeting, Dickstein Partners will supplement this Proxy Statement or otherwise publicly disseminate information regarding such withdrawal or change and, in appropriate circumstances, will provide stockholders with a reasonable opportunity to revoke their proxies prior to the Annual Meeting. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF DICKSTEIN PARTNERS AND AFFILIATES As of the date of this Proxy Statement, the Dickstein Funds beneficially own an aggregate of 1,113,459 Shares, representing approximately 10.3% of the Shares outstanding on the Record Date. The Shares beneficially owned by the Dickstein Funds are owned as set forth in the following table: Shares Percentage of Name and Address of Beneficially Shares Beneficial Owner Owned Outstanding - ------------------- ------------ ------------- Dickstein & Co., L.P. 727,315 6.7% c/o Dickstein Partners Inc. 9 West 57th Street New York, New York 10019 Dickstein Focus Fund L.P. 90,995 0.9% c/o Dickstein Partners Inc. 9 West 57th Street New York, New York 10019 Dickstein International Limited 295,149 2.7% 129 Front Street Hamilton H 12, Bermuda Dickstein Partners is the general partner of Dickstein Partners, L.P., which is the general partner of Dickstein & Co., L.P. and Dickstein Focus Fund L.P. Dickstein Partners is also the advisor to Dickstein International Limited. Mark Dickstein, a Dickstein Nominee, is the President and sole stockholder of Dickstein Partners. By reason of such relationships, Dickstein Partners, L.P. may be deemed to beneficially own the Shares owned by Dickstein & Co., L.P. and Dickstein Focus Fund L.P., and Dickstein Partners and Mark Dickstein may be deemed to beneficially own the Shares owned by Dickstein & Co., L.P., 18 PAGE Dickstein Focus Fund L.P. and Dickstein International Limited. Each of Dickstein Partners, L.P., Dickstein Partners and Mark Dickstein disclaims beneficially ownership of the Shares which it or he may be deemed to own by reason of such relationships, except to the extent of its or his actual economic interest in the Dickstein Funds. The Dickstein Funds invest primarily in special situations, including the purchase of securities and other obligations of companies that are financially distressed or have recently emerged from bankruptcy, and risk-arbitrage transactions. Mark Kaufman, a Dickstein Nominee and a Vice President of Dickstein Partners, owns 2,000 Shares. Mark Brodsky, a Dickstein Nominee and a Vice President of Dickstein Partners, owns 679 Shares. Except as set forth above, none of Dickstein Partners, any of the Dickstein Nominees or any of their respective associates owns beneficially or of record any securities of Hills or any of its subsidiaries. Schedule II sets forth certain additional information relating to the Shares beneficially owned by the Dickstein Funds and Messrs. Kaufman and Brodsky. OTHER INFORMATION Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners Certain information regarding Shares held by Hills' directors, nominees, management and other 5% stockholders is contained in the Hills Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference. Proposals of Security Holders Information concerning the date by which proposals of security holders intended to be presented at the next annual meeting of stockholders of Hills must be received by Hills for inclusion in Hills' proxy statement and form of proxy for that meeting is contained in the Hills Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference. Dickstein Partners assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any information contained herein which is based on, or incorporated by reference to, the Hills Proxy Statement or Hills public filings. _________________________________ 19 PAGE PLEASE INDICATE YOUR SUPPORT OF THE DICKSTEIN NOMINEES BY COMPLETING, SIGNING AND DATING THE ENCLOSED BLUE ANNUAL MEETING PROXY CARD AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY TO MACKENZIE PARTNERS, INC., 156 FIFTH AVENUE, 9TH FLOOR, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10010 IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. NO POSTAGE IS NECESSARY IF THE ENVELOPE IS MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES DICKSTEIN PARTNERS INC. May __, 1995 20 PAGE SCHEDULE I INFORMATION CONCERNING DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF DICKSTEIN PARTNERS The following table sets forth the name and the present principal occupation or employment, and the name, principal business and address of any corporation or other organization in which such employment is carried on, of the directors and officers of Dickstein Partners who may also solicit proxies from Hills stockholders. The principal business address of each of the sole director and the officers of Dickstein Partners named below is c/o Dickstein Partners Inc., 9 West 57th Street, New York, New York 10019. Present Principal Occupation Name and Positions Held or Employment - ----------------------- ---------------------------- Mark Dickstein President and Sole Director President and Sole Director of Dickstein Partners Inc. Tod Black Vice President of Dickstein Vice President Partners Inc. David Brail Vice President of Dickstein Vice President Partners Inc. Mark D. Brodsky Vice President of Dickstein Vice President Partners Inc. Alan S. Cooper Vice President and General Vice President and General Counsel Counsel of Dickstein Partners Inc. Steven Cornick Vice President of Dickstein Vice President Partners Inc. Edward Farr Vice President of Dickstein Vice President Partners Inc. Samuel L. Katz Vice President of Dickstein Vice President Partners Inc. Mark Kaufman Vice President of Dickstein Vice President Partners Inc. Arthur Wrubel Vice President of Dickstein Vice President Partners Inc. S-I-1 PAGE SCHEDULE II SHARES HELD BY DICKSTEIN PARTNERS, ITS DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS, AND THE DICKSTEIN NOMINEES Except as disclosed in this Schedule or in the accompanying Proxy Statement, none of Dickstein Partners, any of its directors or officers named in Schedule I or the Dickstein Nominees, or any of their respective associates, owns any securities of Hills or any subsidiary of Hills, beneficially or of record, has purchased or sold any of such securities within the past two years or is or was within the past year a party to any contract, arrangement or understanding with any person with respect to any such securities. Shares purchased by Dickstein & Co., L.P., Dickstein Focus Fund L.P. and Dickstein International Limited were funded out of these entities' working capital, which may at any time include margin loans made by brokerage firms in the ordinary course of their business. COMMON STOCK Dickstein & Co., L.P. Number of Shares Date Purchased Sold 10/4/93 159,907(1) 1/3/94 10,000(2) 2/4/94 24,000 3/31/94 50,000 4/26/94 21,000 4/29/94 153,000 5/2/94 14,500 5/17/94 2,000 5/18/94 60,000 6/27/94 6,000 7/19/94 16,771(1) 7/21/94 32,154 7/22/94 145,100 3/6/95 129,115 3/9/95 8,000 3/22/95 36,000 4/25/95 114,000 4/26/95 27,300 ______________ (1) Received as a distribution pursuant to the Consolidated Plan of Reorganization of Hills and certain affiliates in Case No. 91B 10488 (TLB), United States Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of New York (the "Hills Plan"). (2) Sold to Dickstein International Limited. S-II-1 PAGE Dickstein Focus Fund L.P. Number of Shares Date Purchased Sold 1/3/94 15,000 3/31/94 3,000 4/26/94 1,500 4/29/94 9,100 5/2/94 900 5/18/94 3,000 6/27/94 400 7/21/94 2,000 7/22/94 21,000 7/25/94 10,500 7/28/94 4,000 8/8/94 1,000 8/9/94 1,500 8/10/94 5,400 3/6/95 17,722 3/9/95 3,100 3/22/95 1,500 4/25/95 20,900 4/26/95 3,500 Dickstein International Limited Date Purchased Sold 10/4/93 21,046(1) 1/3/94 10,000(3) 2/1/94 8,500 _____________________ (1) Received as distribution pursuant to the Hills Plan. (3) Purchased from Dickstein & Co., L.P. S-II-2 PAGE 2/4/94 6,000 3/31/94 4,000 4/26/94 5,200 4/29/94 38,000 5/2/94 3,600 5/18/94 15,000 6/27/94 1,400 7/19/94 2,184(1) 7/21/94 8,300 7/22/94 84,000 7/25/94 42,000 7/28/94 16,000 8/8/94 9,000 8/9/94 8,500 8/10/94 31,000 2/22/95 1,000 2/24/95 10,000 2/27/95 14,000 3/6/95 72,000 3/9/95 3,000 3/22/95 6,100 4/25/95 25,100 4/26/95 11,100 Mark D. Brodsky Date Purchased Sold 8/15/94 1,000 1/3/95 100 3/8/95 221 _________________________ (1) Received as distribution pursuant to the Hills Plan. S-II-3 PAGE Mark Kaufman Date Purchased Sold 11/15/93 1,000 1/5/94 1,000 S-II-4 PAGE SERIES A CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK (All Series A Convertible Preferred Stock was converted to Common Stock on 3/7/95.) Dickstein & Co., L.P. Number of Shares Date Purchased Sold 10/4/93 138,551(1) 1/3/94 9,200(2) 7/19/94 14,528(1) 7/21/94 143,185 3/6/95 70,366 Dickstein Focus Fund L.P. Number of Shares Date Purchased Sold 7/21/94 8,800 7/27/94 4,000 8/8/94 1,000 3/6/95 3,383 Dickstein International Limited Number of Shares Date Purchased Sold 10/4/93 18,236(1) 1/3/94 9,200(3) 7/19/94 1,895(1) 7/21/94 37,200 7/27/94 16,000 8/8/94 4,000 3/6/95 21,212 ___________________________ (1) Received as distribution pursuant to the Hills Plan. (2) Sold to Dickstein International Limited. (3) Purchased from Dickstein & Co., L.P. S-II-5 PAGE IMPORTANT Your proxy is important. No matter how many Shares you own, please give Dickstein Partners your proxy FOR the election of the Dickstein Nominees by: MARKING the enclosed BLUE Annual Meeting proxy card, SIGNING the enclosed BLUE Annual Meeting proxy card, DATING the enclosed BLUE Annual Meeting proxy card and MAILING the enclosed BLUE Annual Meeting proxy card TODAY in the envelope provided (no postage is required if mailed in the United States). If you have already submitted a proxy to Hills for the Annual Meeting, you may change your vote to a vote FOR the election of the Dickstein Nominees by marking, signing, dating and returning the enclosed BLUE proxy card for the Annual Meeting, which must be dated after any proxy you may have submitted to Hills. Only your latest dated proxy for the Annual Meeting will count at such meeting. If you have any questions or require any additional information concerning this Proxy Statement or the proposal by the Dickstein Group to acquire Hills, please contact MacKenzie Partners, Inc. at the address set forth below. IF ANY OF YOUR SHARES ARE HELD IN THE NAME OF A BROKERAGE FIRM, BANK NOMINEE OR OTHER SUCH INSTITUTION, ONLY IT CAN VOTE SUCH SHARES AND ONLY UPON RECEIPT OF YOUR SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS. ACCORDINGLY, PLEASE CONTACT THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR ACCOUNT AND INSTRUCT THAT PERSON TO EXECUTE THE BLUE ANNUAL MEETING PROXY CARD. MACKENZIE PARTNERS, INC. 156 Fifth Avenue New York, New York 10010 Tel: (212) 929-5500 (call collect) or Call Toll-Free (800) 322-2885 HILLS STORES COMPANY ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY DICKSTEIN PARTNERS INC. The undersigned stockholder of Hills Stores Company hereby appoints each of Mark D. Brodsky and Alan S. Cooper, and each of them with full power of substitution, for and in the name of the undersigned, to represent and to vote, as designated below, all shares of Common Stock and Series A Convertible Preferred Stock of Hills Stores Company that the undersigned is entitled to vote if personally present at the 1995 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Hills Stores Company, and at any adjournment or postponement thereof. The undersigned hereby revokes any previous proxies with respect to the matters covered by this Proxy. DICKSTEIN PARTNERS INC. RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR PROPOSAL 1. (Please mark each proposal with an "X" in the appropriate box) 1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS: Election of Chaim Y. Edelstein, John W. Burden III, Mark Dickstein, Mark L. Kaufman, David Brail, Mark D. Brodsky and Samuel L. Katz. /_/ FOR all nominees except /_/ WITHHOLD AUTHORITY for as marked below all nominees (INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for one or more nominees, mark FOR above and print the name(s) of the person(s) with respect to whom you wish to withhold authority in the space provided below.) ________________________________________________________________ 2. IN THEIR DISCRETION, THE PROXIES ARE AUTHORIZED TO VOTE UPON SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENT THEREOF. PLEASE MARK, SIGN DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE PROVIDED. This Proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner marked herein by the undersigned stockholder. IF NO MARKING IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE DEEMED TO BE A DIRECTION TO VOTE FOR PROPOSAL 1. Please date and sign this proxy exactly as your name appears hereon. _____________________________________ (Signature) _____________________________________ (Signature, if held jointly) _____________________________________ (Title) Dated:_______________________________ When shares are held by joint tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney-in-fact, executor, administrator, trustee, guardian, corporate officer or partner, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please sign in corporate name by President or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person. To vote in accordance with the Dickstein Partners recommendation, just sign and date this proxy; no boxes need to be checked. DICKSTEIN PARTNERS INC. 9 West 57th Street Suite 4630 New York, New York 10019 May __, 1995 Dear Fellow Hills Stores Stockholder: At the 1995 Hills Stores Company Annual Meeting of Stockholders, seven Directors of the Company will be elected. We solicit your support to elect our nominees for Directors who support the sale of the Company to the highest bidder who is willing to pay at least $25 per share in cash. As you will read in the accompanying proxy materials, we have made such a proposal to acquire the Company in a merger transaction for at least $25 per share in cash. Dickstein Partners is an investment firm that, through its affiliates, owns 1,113,459 shares (approximately 10.3%) of Hills' voting stock. Principals of Dickstein Partners presently serve on numerous boards of directors, including those of Carson Pirie Scott & Co. and Zale Corporation--two retailers that, like Hills, recently emerged from bankruptcy. We believe that the current Board's existing "growth" strategy of spending $70 million annually to open twenty new stores a year to be an extremely high risk undertaking in today's retail environment. This strategy is particularly questionable considering that the Company could have been repurchasing its own stock in the marketplace at approximately three times EBITDA and that the Company is only beginning to compete against Target Stores. Last summer we commenced a consent solicitation to elect Directors on a platform of enhancing stockholder value through a stock repurchase program. As a result, the Company repurchased 3 million shares at $25 per share. We continue to believe there is value in the Company that under the Company's current strategy will not be recognized in the market place. We believe that the only way in the current environment to unlock this value is to put the Company up for sale and to sell the Company to the highest bidder willing to pay at least $25 per share in cash. DICKSTEIN PARTNERS HAS MADE A PROPOSAL TO ACQUIRE PURSUANT TO A MERGER ALL OF THE COMPANY'S OUTSTANDING SHARES FOR AT LEAST $25 PER SHARE IN CASH. ALL DICKSTEIN NOMINEES ARE COMMITTED TO A PROGRAM OF OFFERING HILLS FOR SALE, AND SELLING HILLS, TO THE BUYER WHO IS WILLING TO PAY THE HIGHEST PRICE, SO LONG AS THE PRICE IS AT LEAST $25 PER SHARE OF HILLS STOCK. We urge you to vote your BLUE Annual Meeting proxy card FOR each of the nominees of Dickstein Partners and mail it promptly in the enclosed envelope. Please review the accompanying proxy materials for information concerning Dickstein Partners, our nominees and our proposal to acquire the Company. If you require any further information or have any questions, please call us directly at (212) 754-4000 or call MacKenzie Partners, Inc. Toll Free at (800) 322-2885. We appreciate your prompt consideration of this important matter. Very truly yours, /s/ Mark B. Dickstein Mark B. Dickstein President EX-99 5 EXHIBIT 10 Exhibit 10 May 3, 1995 Dickstein Partners Inc. 9 West 57th Street - Suite 4630 New York, New York 10019 Gentlemen: You have advised NatWest Bank N.A. ("NatWest") of your interest in acquiring all of the outstanding shares (the "Acquisition") of Hills Stores Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"). You have further advised us that if your nominees gain control of the Company's board of directors after the Company's annual shareholders' meeting currently scheduled for June 12, 1995 but prior to consummation of the proposed Acquisition, up to $335 million of new senior secured bank financing (the "Refinancing") may then be required, together with the Company's available cash, to refinance (i) the Company's existing $225 million working capital facility and (ii) the Company's outstanding senior notes. Based on the information we have received to date, NatWest is highly confident that under current market conditions it could arrange the Refinancing. The foregoing is expressly subject to (a) the absence of any material adverse condition affecting, or change in, the business, assets, liabilities, financial condition or prospects of the Company, (b) the execution of definitive documentation containing terms satisfactory in all respects to NatWest with respect to the Refinancing (including satisfactory collateral therefor) and the Company's other debt, (c) satisfactory completion of NatWest's legal and business due diligence review, (d) the obtaining of any necessary governmental or contractual consents and Natwest's satisfaction in all respects with all other legal matters, (e) the absence of any competing placement or arrangement of any debt securities of the Company prior to or during the arrangement of the Refinancing, (f) the absence of any material adverse change in the Company's capitalization or capital structure, (g) the cooperation of all parties-in-interest to the Acquisition, (h) market conditions and (e) our assumption that the Refinancing will be consummated prior to September 30, 1995. As you know, the potential reception, as well as the terms and pricing (including any applicable prepayment fees), of the Refinancing will be subject to, among other things, market PAGE conditions prevailing from time to time. Please note that the documentation evidencing any Refinancing will not permit any change of control of the Company including, without limitation, the Acquisition and will expressly require that the Refinancing be refinanced upon the occurrence of any such change of control. Please also note that this letter does not constitute either a guarantee that the Refinancing will be successfully arranged or a commitment to lend any portion thereof. Very truly yours, NATWEST BANK N.A. By:/s/________________________ Title: Vice President -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----