Embattled department store chain Sears Corp. filed for bankruptcy protection early Monday morning with plans to present a restructuring proposal to a judge later that day. Eddie Lampert stepped down as CEO but remains chairman of the board and will use his hedge fund, ESL Investments, to provide further bankruptcy financing on top of the $1.875 billion already lined up by the company. Lampert is also considering bidding for a large portion of the company’s stores and its Kenmore brand through an auction.
Q3 hedge fund letters, conference, scoops etc
What we'll be watching for this week
- Will Aberdeen Total shareholders vote in favor of Saba Capital’s proposal to declassify the board?
- Will Origin Energy’s concerned shareholders be successful in their attempt to insert a clause in the Australian company’s constitution?
- Will Japanese insurance firm Dai-Chi respond to activist investor Argyle Street Management’s demands to sell its large stock portfolio and launch share buybacks?
Activist shorts update
Research firm Boatman Capital shorted Babcock International on Monday, criticizing the company for hiding poor performance and accusing the executives of damaging the company’s future. The first-time short seller also said that the engineering firm has poor relations with its key clients, including the U.K.’s Ministry of Defence, due to delays and will most likely be subject to penalties and cost increases.
Boatman also said that the firm is facing heightened scrutiny, particularly following the collapse of peer construction giant Carillion, at the beginning of the year. According to Boatman, Babcock is a much better company but could be subject to increased costs, revenue pressure, and declining margins.
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Chart of the week
The number of public activist demands at U.S.-based companies that were M&A-related between January 1 and October 12 in respective years.
