An exterior view of the Advance Auto Parts store at the Sunbury Plaza, Sunbury, Pennsylvania.
Paul Weaver | SOPA Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images
Dan Loeb’s Third Point and activist Saddle Point have a stake in Advance Auto Parts and reached a settlement with the company that will give the activists three board seats, the company confirmed on Monday.
The size of the stake was not immediately clear, but a person familiar with the matter said that Third Point built it earlier this year.
Tom Seboldt, Gregory Smith and Brent Windom will join Advance’s board effective immediately, the company said. The auto parts provider appointed a new CEO, Shane O’Kelly, in August.
“We look forward to benefiting from our new directors’ extensive industry relationships and experience,” O’Kelly said in a release.
Advance Auto Parts shares rose 3.7% after the Wall Street Journal reported the news of Third Point’s position and settlement.
The company’s stock reached an all-time high in 2022 but has suffered since then, cutting its forecast and dividend after being hit by elevated material, labor and transportation costs.
Advance previously saw Starboard Value take a stake and push for change in 2015, which was similarly resolved with a settlement.
“With fresh perspectives in the C-suite and board room and a long runway for growth, we believe Advance is well positioned to create meaningful value for shareholders,” Third Point’s Loeb said.
Roy Katzovicz, Saddle Point CEO and former Pershing Square partner, said that Advance had “enormous potential.”
