Investment firm Catalyst offers $10 a share for HBC to block buyout plan

Investment firm Catalyst Capital Group Inc. wants to buy nearly 15 million Hudson's Bay Co. shares in an effort to oppose a proposal to privatize the retailer.

"Catalyst believes that the insider buyout proposal greatly undervalues the company across each of its real estate, retail and iconic brand attributes," said Catalyst in a statement released Monday after markets closed.

The firm is offering $10.11 per common share for up to 14,836,795 shares for a total of $150 million on behalf of the investment funds it manages.

Its price is a seven per cent premium to the one given by the privatization bid announced in June. A group of shareholders, including executive chairman Richard Baker, offered $9.45 per share in cash.

HBC has formed a special committee of independent directors to review the privatization bid and provide shareholders with a recommendation. The committee recently retained an independent valuator, advisers and legal counsel to help with the process, and HBC said at the time that it does not plan to disclose any more developments about the committee's evaluation unless it becomes appropriate or required.

HBC did not immediately return a request for comment on Catalyst's offer.

Catalyst said the privatization proposal "is not reflective of the fair value" of those shares. Activist investor Land and Buildings Investment Management has previously panned it, calling the offer "woefully inadequate."

If the company and special committee agree to proceed with it, Catalyst will vote any shares it controls against the proposal, said the investment firm.

Its offer is open until 5 p.m. ET on Friday, August 16, unless it is extended, varied or withdrawn.