The Company is also implementing previously announced changes to its Board, effective immediately. Tony Spring, chief executive officer and chairman-elect of Macy’s, Inc., has assumed the chairman role. In addition, Douglas (Doug) W. Sesler, whose nomination to stand for election to the Board at the 2024 annual meeting of shareholders was announced on March 14, 2024, has been appointed as an independent director. These changes follow the planned retirements of Jeff Gennette and Frank Blake from the Macy’s, Inc. Board.
“We are pleased to welcome Ric and Rick to the Board as we advance our efforts to deliver value for shareholders,” said Tony Spring, chairman and chief executive officer of Macy’s, Inc. “Ric and Rick bring leadership experience as well as valuable real estate and retail industry expertise, respectively, that is complementary to that of our other Board members. We are confident the Company will benefit from their additional perspectives in addition to those of Doug who also joins our Board today. I look forward to working with all my fellow directors as I step into the role of chairman. At the same time, I want to extend the Board’s appreciation for Jeff’s and Frank’s many valuable contributions throughout their years of service. We wish them all the best.”
“The Macy’s, Inc. Board is committed to acting in the best interests of all Macy’s, Inc. shareholders, and the composition of our Board is something we take seriously,” said Paul Varga, lead independent director of Macy’s, Inc. “We are thrilled to have Tony serving as chairman moving forward, which completes our previously announced company and Board leadership succession plan. Further, adding Ric and Rick, along with Doug, our other recently announced new director, to the Board will provide us with a valuable mix of expertise as we continue to oversee the Company’s strategic direction.”
In connection with the Clark and Markee appointments, the Company has entered into an agreement with Arkhouse and its affiliates that provides for the withdrawal of Arkhouse’s director nominations, among other customary provisions. Clark and Markee will join the Board’s Finance Committee, which in addition to its existing responsibilities, will oversee the evaluation of and make recommendations to the full Board regarding the acquisition proposal submitted by Arkhouse and Brigade Capital Management, LP (“Brigade”). The agreement between the Company and Arkhouse will be filed on a Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Following today’s Board appointments and retirements, the Macy’s, Inc. Board comprises 15 directors, 14 of whom are independent.
Update on Previously Disclosed Acquisition Proposal
The Macy’s, Inc. Board is continuing to engage with Arkhouse and Brigade regarding their proposal to acquire the Company. As previously disclosed, the Board entered into a confidentially agreement with Arkhouse and Brigade to facilitate their access to confidential due diligence information. The Company has since begun to provide Arkhouse and Brigade with certain confidential due diligence information, and that process remains ongoing.
The Board is open-minded about the best path to create shareholder value and is committed to continuing to take actions that it believes are in the best interests of the Company and all Macy’s, Inc. shareholders.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RM)