Pershing revises Target land spin-off proposal
Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal - by Katharine Grayson Staff Writer
Pershing Square Capital Management has revised its proposal that Target Corp. spin off its real estate holdings into an investment trust, suggesting such a move could be completed through a partial public offering.
The hedge fund, which owns a roughly 10 percent stake in Target, proposed that the Minneapolis-based company take nearly 20 percent of the newly-formed real estate investment trust (REIT) public. Target would retain an 80 percent stake in the REIT, and could use the IPO proceeds to pay down debt.
Target officials couldn’t immediately be reached for comment on Pershing Square’s revision.
Pershing, which is controlled by activist investor William Ackman, suggested Target spin off land occupied by its stores into a REIT last month. At the time, Ackman, who has previously clashed with companies he’s invested in, suggested the move would bolster Target’s stock price and increase overall shareholder value. Target, however, voiced concerns that a spinoff would lower its credit rating, and other investors didn’t seem enamored with the idea, either.
On Wednesday, Ackman acknowledged that concern and said the proposed restructuring of the REIT would allow Target (NYSE: TGT) to retain an A-level rating.
New York-based Pershing also said Wednesday it hopes Target management could begin working on a spinoff this year, file the initial public offering in the third quarter and pay down debt in the following quarter. Ackman said he believes the spin off could be completed by 2010.
Ackman also said, following conversations with investors, he does not believe a Target employee should become CEO of the REIT. He added that the REIT’s board should be independent from Target’s.
kgrayson@bizjournals.com | (612) 288-2106
Related Industry News |
Latest News |
