Nordstrom family offers $3.8B to take upscale department-store chain private

Core Viewpoint - The Nordstrom family has made a $3.8 billion bid to take the company private, significantly lower than their previous offer of $8.4 billion in 2018, reflecting ongoing challenges in the department store sector due to declining mall traffic [1][2]. Company Summary - The Nordstrom family, which owns approximately 33.4% of the company's outstanding common stock, is partnering with Mexican department store chain El Puerto de Liverpool to offer $23 per share in cash for all outstanding shares [2][3]. - Under the proposed deal, the Nordstrom family would control 50.1% of the company [3]. - The company operates around 350 stores, including the off-price chain Nordstrom Rack [2]. Financial Performance - Nordstrom reported a 3.4% increase in sales for its 350 stores in the second quarter, with revenues reaching $3.9 billion and comparable sales up by 1.9% year-over-year [5][6]. - Despite the overall decline in department store sales over the past decade, Nordstrom's recent performance indicates some improvement [5][6]. Market Context - The department store sector is experiencing significant pressure, with other retailers like Macy's facing activist investor pressure to sell or go private [6]. - The recent bid from the Nordstrom family comes amid a trend of consolidation in the industry, exemplified by HBC's pending acquisition of Neiman Marcus for $2.65 billion [5]. Offer Dynamics - The $23 per share offer is close to the current stock price, which raises questions about the attractiveness of the bid [7]. - The involvement of El Puerto de Liverpool may provide leverage to negotiate a higher price, as the independent committee evaluates the proposal [8].