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Retail

At Home Group Inc. to Be Acquired by Hellman & Friedman for $2.8 Billion

The global private equity firm, in an all-cash transaction valued at $2.8 billion, will acquire the nationwide home decor superstore.

5/6/2021
image of retail store frontAt Home Group Inc. to Be Acquired by Hellman & Friedman for $2.8 Billion

PLANO, Texas -- At Home Group Inc. (NYSE: HOME), the home décor superstore, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by funds affiliated with Hellman & Friedman (H&F), a premier global private equity firm, in an all-cash transaction valued at $2.8 billion, including the assumption of debt.
 
Under the terms of the agreement, At Home stockholders will receive $36.00 per share in cash, which represents a premium of approximately 17% to the Company's closing stock price of $30.67 on May 4, 2021, the last trading day prior to media speculation regarding a possible transaction, and a premium of approximately 25% to the 30-day volume weighted average share price.
Phil Francis, At Home’s Lead Independent Director and Chair of the Special Committee of the Board of Directors, said, “After a thorough evaluation and diligent and thoughtful deliberations in consultation with our independent advisors, we are pleased to reach this agreement, which provides stockholders with immediate and substantial value for their investment. The Special Committee and the Board considered the current state of the business, its outlook and opportunities, and believe this transaction is the optimal path forward and in the best interest of our stockholders.”
 
Lee Bird, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of At Home, said, “As we enter the next chapter for our company, H&F is the ideal partner to advance our At Home 2.0 long term strategy. Together with H&F, we will have the resources and flexibilityto provide our customers with a differentiated experience that meets their evolving needs. This transaction is a testament to the achievements of our team members, and I would like to thank each of them for all they do each day to contribute to the success of At Home.”
 
Erik Ragatz, Partner at H&F, said, “As the leading value retailer of home décor offering unmatched breadth and depth of product assortment at everyday low prices, At Home is well positioned to continue its long track record of store expansion and growth. At Home’s differentiated, low-cost operating model is disruptive to the traditional home channels and provides a strong opportunity for market share gain. This acquisition is consistent with Hellman & Friedman’s strategy to invest in market-leading businesses with substantial runway for growth, and we are looking forward to partnering with At Home’s talented management team to help capture the significant market opportunity in front of the Company.”
 
Approvals and Timing

The transaction was negotiated on behalf of At Home by a Special Committee of its Board of Directors composed entirely of independent directors with the assistance of independent financial and legal advisors. Following the Special Committee's unanimous recommendation, At Home’s Board of Directors unanimously approved the merger agreement and has recommended that At Home’s stockholders adopt and approve the merger agreement and the transaction.

The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of calendar year 2021, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including the approval of At Home’s stockholders and expiration of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976. The transaction is not subject to a financing condition. Upon completion of the transaction, At Home will become a privately-held company and At Home’s shares will no longer trade on The New York Stock Exchange.

Under the terms of the agreement, At Home may solicit alternative acquisition proposals from third parties during a 40-day “go-shop” period following the date of execution of the merger agreement. There can be no assurances that the “go-shop” will result in a superior proposal. At Home does not intend to disclose developments related to the solicitation process until it determines whether such disclosure is appropriate or is otherwise required. The agreement provides H&F with a customary right to match any superior proposal.

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is serving as exclusive financial advisor and Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP as legal counsel to the Special Committee. Guggenheim Securities, LLC is serving as financial advisor and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP as legal counsel to Hellman & Friedman.

About At Home

At Home (NYSE: HOME), the home decor superstore, offers up to 50,000 on-trend home products to fit any budget or style, from furniture, mirrors, rugs, art and housewares to tabletop, patio and seasonal decor. At Home is headquartered in Plano, Texas, and currently operates 226 stores in 40 states. For more information, please visit us online at investor.athome.com.

About Hellman & Friedman

Hellman & Friedman is a preeminent global private equity firm with a distinctive investment approach focused on large-scale equity investments in high quality growth businesses. H&F seeks to partner with world-class management teams where its deep sector expertise, long-term orientation and collaborative partnership approach enable companies to flourish. H&F targets outstanding businesses in select sectors including software & technology, financial services, healthcare, consumer & retail, and other business services.
Since its founding in 1984, H&F has invested in over 100 companies. The firm is currently investing its ninth fund, with $16.5 billion of committed capital, and has over $60 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2020. Learn more about H&F’s defining investment philosophy and approach to sustainable outcomes at www.hf.com.
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