In yet another hit to distressed supermarket chain SUPERVALU INC. (NYSE:SVU) , privately-held Cerberus Capital Management LLC has finalized a deal to purchase its storied grocery-store brands Albertsons and Jewel-Osco in a transaction valued at about $3.3 billion. As part of the deal, Cerberus would float a tender offer for about 20 percent of Supervalu’s shares. With regulatory approval all but assured and no rival bids on the horizon, the deal may close as soon as the end of the first quarter of 2013.
Under the terms of the somewhat complex deal, Cerberus would pay $4 per share for a 20 percent stake in the Eden Prairie, Minnesota-based supermarket conglomerate. Although the New York-based private equity firm had originally expressed interest in purchasing the entire company, the two parties could not agree on a fair valuation. Cerberus remains interested in increasing its Supervalu stake to as much as 30 percent in the coming months.
What the deal means for Supervalu
Before news of the deal broke on January 9, Supervalu’s stock had been trading below $3 per share. Relative to its $2.78-per-share closing price on January 8, the $4-per-share tender offer represents a premium of 43.8 percent. Currently, the stock is trading in a range between $3.50 and $3.70. Investors who buy in at an average price of $3.60 and tender their shares stand to earn a quick 11.1 percent return on their investments.
Once the deal is in the books, Cerberus will enjoy a significant amount of influence over Supervalu’s day-to-day operations. The company will have the right to choose two of Supervalu’s seven directors and may exert influence over the selection of four additional board members in the coming year.
Supervalu should not be underestimated. The company will retain some assets, including its 1,300-store Sav-A-Lot supermarket chain and several smaller Midwestern brands. These assets could be attractive to potential suitors. In order to raise cash, the company could sell off these brands one at a time or package them together for sale to a rival supermarket chain. It is possible that Cerberus expects the company to follow this route. If this is the case, the private equity firm might be able to make a quick, profitable exit.
On the other hand, Cerberus could be looking to establish a closer, longer-term relationship with the company. In light of the deal’s structure and Cerberus’s open desire to acquire a greater stake in Supervalu, it appears likely that the private capital firm will soon make another run at majority ownership of the company. After all, Cerberus is flush with cash after its hasty sale of firearms maker Freedom Group in the wake of the December 2012 Connecticut school shooting. The grocery-store and food staples businesses are considerably less controversial and volatile than the firearms business.
Other potential acquirers
Cerberus may not be the only suitor for a smaller Supervalu. For years, cross-town department store giant Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) has expanded its grocery-store operations in an effort to compete with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT) and other discount chains. An acquisition of Supervalu’s reduced portfolio would give Target control of the storied Sav-A-Lot brand and provide the company with an edge in regions beyond its traditional Upper Midwestern stronghold. Target offers dry groceries at many locations but adding grocery stores to the company could push the customer to solely shop at Target owned stores for all their needs. Alternatively, the purchase of Supervalu’s wholesaling infrastructure might reinforce Target’s already robust logistics infrastructure.
