Office Depot adopts poison pill defense

Boca Raton, Fla. -- Office Depot Inc. said Tuesday it has approved a poison pill defense to preclude investor Starboard Value LP from waging a takeover of the company.



The activist investor became the office-supply retailer’s largest shareholder last month and has begun pushing for changes.



The poison pill is a shareholder rights plan that would give its investors additional shares if one entity surpasses 15% ownership. Starboard owned 14.8% as of Oct. 12.



The poison pill is designed to protect all stockholders “against potential acquirers who may seek to take advantage of the company and its stockholders through coercive and unfair tactics aimed at gaining control of the company without paying all stockholders a full and fair price,” according to a statement by Office Depot.