In This Article:
Activist investor Jonathan Litt is launching a proxy fight at medical real-estate investment firm National Health Investors and is seeking to oust two board members, according to people familiar with the matter.
The details
Litt’s firm, Land & Buildings Investment Management, has nominated two directors to the board of NHI, which focuses on assisted-living and other medical facilities, the people said.
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Land & Buildings plans to say the company’s board is too closely tied to one of its largest tenants, National Healthcare Corp., and could boost profits by getting more favorable lease terms. NHC’s current lease, which expires at the end of 2026, is significantly below market rates, Land & Buildings thinks, according to the people.
Robert and Andrew Adams, who are brothers, together own more than 3% of NHI and over 7% of NHC, according to FactSet. Robert Adams is a director at NHI and the current chairman of NHC.
Land & Buildings plans to say that National Health Investors needs an independent board to guarantee its new lease with NHC is at market rates. The hedge fund is seeking to remove Robert Adams from NHI’s board, as well as longtime director James Jobe.
The context
Land & Buildings holds about a 1% stake in NHI, which has a market capitalization of about $3.1 billion.
It is the second push by Land & Buildings for change at NHI. Last year, the activist firm issued a public letter calling on shareholders to vote against two of the company’s incumbent directors, but didn’t nominate other candidates.
NHI responded at the time by making certain changes, including looking for new directors. Later, founder Andrew Adams retired as board chairman and was succeeded by a new independent director.
Land & Buildings, which focuses on real-estate companies, views the moves as insufficient, the people said.
Write to Ben Glickman at ben.glickman@wsj.com