Albertsons Companies announced the commencement of an initial public offering of 65.8 million shares in the price range of $18 to $20 per share and expect to raise up to $1.32 billion.
Albertsons has been approved to list its common stock on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker symbol “ACI”.
The Boise-based company founded in 1939, is the nation’s second-largest supermarket chain, with 2,252 stores. The grocer operates under 20 banners, including Safeway, Vons, and United Supermarkets, which employs about 270,000 people.
The IPO could fetch as much as $1.51 billion because the IPO’s underwriters, BofA Securities, Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan and Citigroup have an option to buy an additional 9.9 million shares, Reuters reported. The company could be valued at $11.61 billion on the high end, based on outstanding shares.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the Albertsons shares could begin trading at the NYSE as soon as next week.
Related Article: Albertsons Files for an Initial Public Offering
Sales last year rose to $62.5 billion from $60.5 billion in 2018, and Albertsons earned $466 million, or 80 cents a share, in 2019 compared with $131 million, or 23 cents a share, in 2018. The grocer said it is experiencing “momentum,” giving it confidence it will “continue delivering profitable growth going forward.”
The company will not receive any net proceeds from the sale of common stock by the selling stockholders.
The IPO will allow Cerberus Capital Management LP, Albertsons’s private-equity backer, to start cashing out of a roughly 15-year investment. Cerberus is expected to own 31.9% of Albertsons following the offering, according to the filing.
In May, Apollo Global Management invested $1.75 billion in convertible preferred stock, representing a 17.5% stake in the grocer.
A registration statement, including a prospectus, which is preliminary and subject to completion, relating to these securities has been filed with the SEC but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold nor may offer to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective, said the grocery chain.