GCP takes steps to boost its value

Article Excerpt

GCP APPLIED TECHNOLOGIES INC. $27 is a buy for aggressive investors. The company (New York symbol GCP; Manufacturing sector; Shares outstanding: 73.0 million; Market cap: $2.0 billion; No dividend paid; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.gcpat.com) is a leading maker of specialty construction chemicals and building materials. In February 2016, chemical maker W.R. Grace & Co. (New York symbol GRA) spun off GCP as a separate firm. Grace investors received one GCP share for each share they held. At the annual meeting in May 2020, GCP shareholders elected eight nominees of activist investor Starboard Value LP to the 10-member board of directors. Starboard, which owns 9% of the company, felt the previous board lacked personal financial interest in the company—as a group they held less than 1% of the stock. Starboard felt that prevented them from aggressively pursuing ways to boost shareholder value. The new board has already led to changes: GCP has agreed to sell its corporate headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts for $125 million. Under the…