0001193125-22-139083.txt : 20220504 0001193125-22-139083.hdr.sgml : 20220504 20220503205328 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-22-139083 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: DEFA14A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 FILED AS OF DATE: 20220504 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20220503 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: KOHLS Corp CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000885639 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: RETAIL-DEPARTMENT STORES [5311] IRS NUMBER: 391630919 STATE OF INCORPORATION: WI FISCAL YEAR END: 0129 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: DEFA14A SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-11084 FILM NUMBER: 22889532 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: N56 W17000 RIDGEWOOD DR CITY: MENOMONEE FALLS STATE: WI ZIP: 53051 BUSINESS PHONE: 262 703 7000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: N56 W17000 RIDGEWOOD DR CITY: MENOMONEE FALLS STATE: WI ZIP: 53051 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: KOHLS CORPORATION DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19930328 DEFA14A 1 d317338ddefa14a.htm DEFA14A DEFA14A

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

(AMENDMENT NO. ____)

 

 

Filed by the Registrant ☒

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐

Check the appropriate box:

 

Preliminary Proxy Statement

 

Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

 

Definitive Proxy Statement

 

Definitive Additional Materials

 

Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

KOHL’S CORPORATION

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check all boxes that apply):

 

No fee required

 

Fee paid previously with preliminary materials

 

Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11

 

 

 


KOHL’S CORPORATION ISSUED THE FOLLOWING PRESS RELEASE ON MAY 3, 2022:


LOGO

Leading Proxy Advisor Glass Lewis Recommends Shareholders Vote “FOR ALL” of Kohl’s Director Nominees

Glass Lewis states that shareholders would be best served supporting the current Board and its efforts to enhance shareholder value

Acknowledges that Kohl’s Board is running a transparent and robust process and that adding dissident nominees to Board could disrupt the process    

Recognizes Company’s strategy as compelling and indicative of a board committed to improving financial results

Kohl’s urges shareholders to protect long-term value by voting “FOR ALL” highly qualified director nominees on the BLUE Proxy Card today

Menomonee Falls, WIS. — May 3, 2022 – Kohl’s Corporation (NYSE: KSS) (“Kohl’s” or the “Company”) today announced that leading proxy advisory firm Glass Lewis has recommended that Kohl’s shareholders vote FOR ALL 13 of the Company’s highly qualified director nominees on the BLUE proxy card for the Annual Shareholder Meeting on May 11, 2022.

Kohl’s is pleased that Glass Lewis recognized the strength of the Company’s Board of Directors. As Glass Lewis stated in its report:

“In sum, we believe shareholders would be best served supporting the current board and its efforts to enhance shareholder value, whether that takes the form of continued oversight of the existing standalone strategy or seeing through the ongoing sale process.”

“In our view, the Company’s board currently comprises a reasonably well-rounded mix of qualified directors who have complementary experience, qualifications and backgrounds across various relevant industries and disciplines.”

Additionally, Glass Lewis noted the transparency and intentionality of the Board’s review of strategic alternatives:

“In our view, and contrary to the Dissident’s assertions, the Company has been reasonably transparent regarding various key aspects of the sale process, and we see no substantive evidence to suggest the board is not actively soliciting/entertaining any and all credible offers.”

Glass Lewis further noted that adding dissident nominees could negatively impact the Board’s ongoing sale process:

“…investors have to consider how the potential election of some or all of the Dissident Nominees might impact the Company’s ongoing sale process, whether that means a delay in the sale process so that the Dissident Nominees can get up to speed with all matters pertaining to the Company, a reworking of the Company’s financial projections that will have to be evaluated and scrutinized by prospective bidders, or a new dual-track process that includes a review of a potential sale-leaseback transaction.”


LOGO

 

Glass Lewis also acknowledged that Kohl’s strategy is compelling:

“We consider the Company’s strategic plan to be largely compelling and indicative of a board and management team that is committed to improving the Company’s standalone financial results.”

Kohl’s is further pleased that Glass Lewis acknowledged that the Macellum Advisors GP, LLC (“Macellum”) proposal for a sale leaseback could destroy significant value:

“Simply because a private equity buyer may be considering a sale-leaseback to partially finance a leveraged buyout does not necessarily mean that a sale-leaseback would be a prudent move for the Company on a standalone basis. We also question how potential buyers of the Company would react to the Company pursuing a significant sale-leaseback, as such a move could result in the loss of a potential deal financing source in the context of a takeover proposal…To the best of our knowledge, the Dissident has not highlighted any successful precedents where a retailer has

undertaken sale-leasebacks on the scale the Dissident has proposed here.”

Glass Lewis concluded its analysis by recommending in favor of all the Company nominees:

“Accordingly, we recommend that shareholder vote on the Company’s BLUE proxy card FOR the Management Nominees.”

 

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT!

KOHL’S SHAREHOLDERS: WE STRONGLY URGE YOU TO VOTE FOR ALL 13 OF OUR BOARD NOMINEES TO PROTECT THE VALUE OF YOUR INVESTMENT

VOTE USING THE BLUE CARD TODAY

If you have any questions, or need assistance in voting your shares, please call our proxy solicitor:

INNISFREE M&A INCORPORATED

TOLL-FREE, at 1-877-687-1874

BANKS AND BROKERS MAY CALL COLLECT, at 1-212-750-5833


LOGO

 

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This communication contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company intends forward-looking terminology such as “believes,” “expects,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “anticipates,” “plans,” or similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements, including statements regarding the outcome and timing of the strategic review process, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, which could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements, and there can be no guarantee that the process will result in an agreement to sell the Company or that any such agreement will ultimately be consummated. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks described more fully in Item 1A in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, which are expressly incorporated herein by reference, and other factors as may periodically be described in the Company’s filings with the SEC. Forward-looking statements relate to the date initially made, and Kohl’s undertakes no obligation to update them.

About Kohl’s

Kohl’s (NYSE: KSS) is a leading omnichannel retailer. With more than 1,100 stores in 49 states and the online convenience of Kohls.com and the Kohl’s App, Kohl’s offers amazing national and exclusive brands at incredible savings for families nationwide. Kohl’s is uniquely positioned to deliver against its strategy and its vision to be the most trusted retailer of choice for the active and casual lifestyle. Kohl’s is committed to progress in its diversity and inclusion pledges, and the company’s environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) stewardship. For a list of store locations or to shop online, visit Kohls.com. For more information about Kohl’s impact in the community or how to join our winning team, visit Corporate.Kohls.com or follow @KohlsNews on Twitter.

Investor Relations:

Mark Rupe, (262) 703-1266, mark.rupe@kohls.com

Media:

Jen Johnson, (262) 703-5241, jen.johnson@kohls.com

Lex Suvanto, (646) 775-8337, lex.suvanto@edelman.com

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