A recently amended 13D filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission revealed that Richard McGuire‘s Marcato Capital Management has sent a letter to the Board of Directors of Buffalo Wild Wings Inc (NASDAQ:BWLD) revealing its disappointment with various moves made by the company’s management.
First of all, Marcato Capital is dissatisfied with the company’s choice to hire three new Directors on October 6, without any consultation with its shareholders. The fund finds this move to be an attempt to form a fake impression of important changes happening within the company, and yet another act made without the consent of its shareholders. Marcato Capital was also disappointed with the contents of a long-sought list of the company’s shareholders which was finally delivered to it, but which turned out to be outdated and incomplete. Marcato Capital is of the opinion that Buffalo Wild Wings is intentionally hindering communication between its shareholders, and that if it continues to do so, the fund will have to engage in litigation, though it will wait for a response to its latest letter before resorting to that. Marcato Capital still holds 950,000 shares of the company, which amass 5.2% of the float.
Buffalo Wild Wings is a sports bar and casual dining restaurant franchise, known for serving specially prepared chicken wings and sauces. Since the beginning of the year, the company’s stock is down by 10.68%. For the second quarter of 2016, the company disclosed EPS of $1.27 beating the estimates of $1.26, and revenue of $490.18 million, missing the estimates of $498.32 million. Recently, Wedbush and BMO Capital Markets both reiterated their ‘Outperform’ ratings on Buffalo Wild Wings’ stock, with price targets of $180 and $190 on it, respectively.
Among the hedge funds followed by Insider Monkey, 25 reported having long positions in Buffalo Wild Wings (NASDAQ:BWLD) as of the end of June, down from 29 as of the end of March. Among the bullish investors were Jim Simons’ Renaissance Technologies, which held a position valued at $26.41 million, Bruce Kovner’s Caxton Associates LP, with a position worth $21.32 million. Ken Griffin’s Citadel Investment Group, Dmitry Balyasny’s Balyasny Asset Management, and Larry Foley and Paul Farrel’s Bronson Point Partners.
Some of the investors who lost optimism for investing in Buffalo Wild Wings (NASDAQ:BWLD) included Gabriel Plotkin’s Melvin Capital Management, which sold its position valued at $36.29 million at the end of March, Glenn Russell Dubin’s Highbridge Capital Management, which said goodbye to $16.07 million worth of shares, Richard Chilton’s Chilton Investment Company, and Jacob Gottlieb’s Visium Asset Management.
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You can access the original SEC filing by clicking here.
Ownership Summary Table
Name | Sole Voting Power | Shared Voting Power | Sole Dispositive Power | Shared Dispositive Power | Aggregate Amount Owned Power | Percent of Class |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Marcato Capital Management | 0 | 950,000 | 0 | 950,000 | 950,000 | 5.2% |
Richard T. McGuire III | 0 | 950,000 | 0 | 950,000 | 950,000 | 5.2% |
Marcato | 0 | 260,396 | 0 | 260,396 | 260,396 | 1.4% |
Marcato II | 0 | 26,009 | 0 | 26,009 | 26,009 | 0.1% |
Marcato International Master Fund, Ltd | 0 | 663,595 | 0 | 663,595 | 663,595 | 3.6% |
Marcato NY | 0 | 100 | 0 | 100 | 100 | Less than 0.1% |
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Page 1 of 15 – SEC Filing
Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc. |
(Name of Issuer) |
Common Stock, no par value |
(Title of Class of Securities) |
119848109 |
(CUSIP Number) |
Richard T. McGuire III Marcato Capital Management LP Four Embarcadero Center, Suite 2100 San Francisco, CA 94111 (415) 796-6350 |
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications) |
Copies to: Richard M. Brand Aly El Hamamsy Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP One World Financial Center New York, NY 10281 (212) 504-6000 |
October 13, 2016 |
(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement) |
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Page 2 of 15 – SEC Filing
CUSIP No. 119848109 | SCHEDULE 13D | Page 2 of 11 |
1 | NAMES OF REPORTING PERSON OR | ||||
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON | |||||
Marcato Capital Management LP | |||||
2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP | (a) | ☐ | ||
(b) | ☒ | ||||
3 | SEC USE ONLY | ||||
4 | SOURCE OF FUNDS | ||||
AF | |||||
5 | CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) | ☐ | |||
6 | CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION | ||||
Delaware | |||||
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH | 7 | SOLE VOTING POWER | |||
0 | |||||
8 | SHARED VOTING POWER | ||||
950,000 | |||||
9 | SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER | ||||
0 | |||||
10 | SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER | ||||
950,000 | |||||
11 | AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON | ||||
950,000 | |||||
12 | CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES | ☐ | |||
13 | PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) | ||||
5.2% | |||||
14 | TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON | ||||
IA | |||||
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Page 3 of 15 – SEC Filing
CUSIP No. 119848109 | SCHEDULE 13D | Page 3 of 11 |
1 | NAMES OF REPORTING PERSON OR | ||||
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON | |||||
Richard T. McGuire III | |||||
2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP | (a) | ☐ | ||
(b) | ☒ | ||||
3 | SEC USE ONLY | ||||
4 | SOURCE OF FUNDS | ||||
AF | |||||
5 | CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) | ☐ | |||
6 | CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION | ||||
United States of America | |||||
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH | 7 | SOLE VOTING POWER | |||
0 | |||||
8 | SHARED VOTING POWER | ||||
950,000 | |||||
9 | SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER | ||||
0 | |||||
10 | SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER | ||||
950,000 | |||||
11 | AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON | ||||
950,000 | |||||
12 | CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES | ☐ | |||
13 | PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) | ||||
5.2% | |||||
14 | TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON | ||||
IN | |||||
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Page 4 of 15 – SEC Filing
CUSIP No. 119848109 | SCHEDULE 13D | Page 4 of 11 |
1 | NAMES OF REPORTING PERSON OR | ||||
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON | |||||
Marcato, L.P. | |||||
2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP | (a) | ☐ | ||
(b) | ☒ | ||||
3 | SEC USE ONLY | ||||
4 | SOURCE OF FUNDS | ||||
WC | |||||
5 | CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) | ☐ | |||
6 | CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION | ||||
Delaware | |||||
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH | 7 | SOLE VOTING POWER | |||
0 | |||||
8 | SHARED VOTING POWER | ||||
260,396 | |||||
9 | SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER | ||||
0 | |||||
10 | SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER | ||||
260,396 | |||||
11 | AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON | ||||
260,396 | |||||
12 | CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES | ☐ | |||
13 | PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) | ||||
1.4% | |||||
14 | TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON | ||||
PN | |||||
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Page 5 of 15 – SEC Filing
CUSIP No. 119848109 | SCHEDULE 13D | Page 5 of 11 |
1 | NAMES OF REPORTING PERSON OR | ||||
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON | |||||
Marcato II, L.P. | |||||
2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP | (a) | ☐ | ||
(b) | ☒ | ||||
3 | SEC USE ONLY | ||||
4 | SOURCE OF FUNDS | ||||
WC | |||||
5 | CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) | ☐ | |||
6 | CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION | ||||
Delaware | |||||
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH | 7 | SOLE VOTING POWER | |||
0 | |||||
8 | SHARED VOTING POWER | ||||
26,009 | |||||
9 | SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER | ||||
0 | |||||
10 | SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER | ||||
26,009 | |||||
11 | AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON | ||||
26,009 | |||||
12 | CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES | ☐ | |||
13 | PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) | ||||
0.1% | |||||
14 | TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON | ||||
PN | |||||
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Page 6 of 15 – SEC Filing
CUSIP No. 119848109 | SCHEDULE 13D | Page 6 of 11 |
1 | NAMES OF REPORTING PERSON OR | ||||
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON | |||||
Marcato International Master Fund, Ltd. | |||||
2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP | (a) | ☐ | ||
(b) | ☒ | ||||
3 | SEC USE ONLY | ||||
4 | SOURCE OF FUNDS | ||||
WC | |||||
5 | CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) | ☐ | |||
6 | CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION | ||||
Cayman Islands | |||||
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH | 7 | SOLE VOTING POWER | |||
0 | |||||
8 | SHARED VOTING POWER | ||||
663,595 | |||||
9 | SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER | ||||
0 | |||||
10 | SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER | ||||
663,595 | |||||
11 | AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON | ||||
663,595 | |||||
12 | CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES | ☐ | |||
13 | PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) | ||||
3.6% | |||||
14 | TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON | ||||
OO | |||||
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Page 7 of 15 – SEC Filing
CUSIP No. 119848109 | SCHEDULE 13D | Page 7 of 11 |
1 | NAMES OF REPORTING PERSON OR | ||||
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON | |||||
Marcato NY LLC | |||||
2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP | (a) | ☐ | ||
(b) | ☒ | ||||
3 | SEC USE ONLY | ||||
4 | SOURCE OF FUNDS | ||||
OO | |||||
5 | CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) | ☐ | |||
6 | CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION | ||||
New York | |||||
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH | 7 | SOLE VOTING POWER | |||
0 | |||||
8 | SHARED VOTING POWER | ||||
100 | |||||
9 | SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER | ||||
0 | |||||
10 | SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER | ||||
100 | |||||
11 | AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON | ||||
100 | |||||
12 | CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES | ☐ | |||
13 | PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) | ||||
Less than 0.1% | |||||
14 | TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON | ||||
OO | |||||
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Page 8 of 15 – SEC Filing
CUSIP No. 119848109 | SCHEDULE 13D | Page 8 of 11 |
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Page 9 of 15 – SEC Filing
CUSIP No. 119848109 | SCHEDULE 13D | Page 9 of 11 |
Item 4. | Purpose of Transaction. |
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Page 10 of 15 – SEC Filing
CUSIP No. 119848109 | SCHEDULE 13D | Page 10 of 11 |
Item 7. | Material to be Filed as Exhibits. |
Exhibit A: Joint Filing Agreement*
Exhibit B: Schedule of Transactions in Shares*
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Page 11 of 15 – SEC Filing
CUSIP No. 119848109 | SCHEDULE 13D | Page 11 of 11 |
Marcato Capital Management LP¨ | |||
By: | Marcato Holdings LLC, its General Partner | ||
By: | /s/ Richard T. McGuire III | ||
Richard T. McGuire III, Authorized Person | |||
/s/ Richard T. McGuire III¨ | ||
Richard T. McGuire III | ||
Marcato, L.P. | |||
By: | MCM General Partner LLC, its General Partner | ||
By: | /s/ Richard T. McGuire III | ||
Richard T. McGuire III, Authorized Person | |||
Marcato II, L.P. | |||
By: | MCM General Partner LLC, its General Partner | ||
By: | /s/ Richard T. McGuire III | ||
Richard T. McGuire III, Authorized Person | |||
Marcato International Master Fund, Ltd. | |||
By: | /s/ Richard T. McGuire III | ||
Richard T. McGuire III, Director | |||
Marcato NY LLC | |||
By: | Marcato, L.P., its Sole Member | ||
By: | /s/ Richard T. McGuire III | ||
Richard T. McGuire III, Authorized Person |
¨ | This reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these reported securities except to the extent of its pecuniary interest therein, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that any such person is the beneficial owner of these securities for purposes of Section 16 of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or for any other purpose. |
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Page 12 of 15 – SEC Filing
Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc.
5500 Wayzata Boulevard, Suite 1600
Minneapolis, MN 55416
Attn: Sally Smith
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Page 13 of 15 – SEC Filing
· | Transfer agent-level shareholder lists of the holders of record of the Company’s common stock dated as of September 13, 2016 and March 17, 2016. These lists did not provide any information regarding the identities or holdings of the actual beneficial owners of the common shares – information necessary to communicate with them and which is not only customarily provided but legally required to be provided; and |
· | A list of holders of Company shares held through employee benefit plans, dated March 14, 2016. This list is over six-months old and only provides information with respect to approximately 1% of the Company’s outstanding shares. |
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Page 14 of 15 – SEC Filing
· | Contact information that was omitted in the Company’s response (e.g., telephone numbers) with respect to each record holder and employee plan (a “Plan”) participant; |
· | Dates on which each record holder became a holder of record of shares; |
· | Name, business address and telephone number of the Plan’s trustee or administrator; |
· | Detailed explanation of the voting treatment of (A) shares of Company stock (“Stock”) for which a trustee or administrator receives instructions from Plan participants and (B) shares of Stock for which either the trustee or administrator does not receive instructions or shares of Stock which are outstanding in any such Plan but are unallocated to any participant; |
· | Complete record or list of the holders of Stock and respondent banks (and their email addresses) who have elected to receive electronic copies of proxy materials with respect to meetings of stockholders of the Company pursuant to Rule 14a-16(j)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”); |
· | All information in possession or control of the Company or any of its transfer agents, registrars or proxy solicitors, or which can reasonably be obtained from DTC, brokers, dealers, banks, clearing agencies, voting trustees or their respective nominee, concerning the names, addresses, telephone numbers and number of shares of Stock held by the participating brokers and banks named in the individual nominee names of Cede & Co., specifically with respect to Cede & Co., the daily DTC Security Position Reports, or other similar depositories or nominees, including respondent bank lists, all omnibus proxies and related respondent bank proxies and listings issued pursuant to Rule 14b-2 under the Exchange Act; |
· | All information in or that comes into the Company’s or its transfer agents’, registrars’ or proxy solicitors’ possession or control, or that can reasonably be obtained from brokers, dealers, banks, clearing agencies, voting trustees or their respective nominee (including |
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Page 15 of 15 – SEC Filing
· | Updates to all of the information described above on a rolling basis going forward. |