DEFA14A 1 d93917ddefa14a.htm DEFA14A DEFA14A

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

Filed by the Registrant  ☒                             Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  ☐

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  Preliminary Proxy Statement
  Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
  Definitive Proxy Statement
  Definitive Additional Materials
  Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12.

TIFFANY & CO.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   1-9494   13-3228013

(State or other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

200 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY

  10010
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

 

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

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  (1)  

Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

 

     

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The following letter was sent by Alessandro Bogliolo, Chief Executive Officer of Registrant, to employees of Registrant on October 29, 2020.

TIFFANY & CO.

200 FIFTH AVENUE

NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10010

212-755-8000

ALESSANDRO BOGLIOLO

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Dear Tiffany Team,

As we announced publicly earlier this morning, I am very happy to share that we have come to an amicable resolution with LVMH on our Merger Agreement. This resolution will enable us to proceed with the merger as planned and avoid the trial that was scheduled to begin on January 5, 2021 in the Delaware Chancery Court.

As stated in the press release, the new Merger Agreement between Tiffany and LVMH reflects a purchase price of $131.50 per share in cash. In addition, the modified Merger Agreement provides that the regularly scheduled Tiffany quarterly dividend of $0.58 per share due to be declared on November 19, 2020 will be declared and paid. The revised Merger Agreement also eliminates certain conditions to closing that were in the initial agreement. Further, the parties have withdrawn their pending litigation and have agreed not to litigate the claims made previously in the future.

The Tiffany & Co. Board of Directors believes that it is in the best interests of our shareholders, customers and employees to accept a price reduction and move forward with the certainty of closing that this settlement provides. And importantly, we continue to firmly believe in the benefits of this merger. Our alliance with LVMH — the world’s leading luxury products group — will provide further support, resources and momentum for our priorities as we continue on our path to becoming The Next Generation Luxury Jeweler.

I realize that over the past several weeks there has been a lot of media coverage regarding our pending litigation. I know these stories have been unpleasant for everyone to read. While we were vigorously defending against these claims and were confident about our legal position, our Board has decided that it is prudent to end the litigation and move forward with the merger under a modified agreement.

We anticipate that the transaction will close in early 2021, following Tiffany shareholder approval and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. In the interim, it’s important that we all stay focused on our day-to-day responsibilities and continue delivering on our commitments to our customers and our brand. The Senior Management Team and I continue to be so proud of the focus and dedication you have shown in spite of any distractions stemming from the pending transaction or related litigation and the challenges of the global pandemic. I am confident that our best days remain ahead of us, and that your amazing commitment to our brand and customers will carry forward as we move into the holiday season.


Lastly, as a reminder, if you receive any inquiries from customers, investors, reporters or other third parties, please do not comment. You may refer any press or investor inquiries to Jason Wong (Investor Relations) and Nathan Strauss (Public Relations) and any other inquiries to Leigh Harlan (General Counsel). It also goes without saying that you should not share any non-public information concerning Tiffany or the merger or litigation with any third party.

As always, thank you for your continued hard work and dedication to Tiffany.

Alessandro Bogliolo

October 29, 2020

Additional Information and Where to Find It

This communication may be deemed to be solicitation material in respect of the proposed acquisition of Tiffany & Co. (the “Company”) by LVMH Moët Hennessy – Louis Vuitton SE (“Parent”) pursuant to the Amended and Restated Merger Agreement (the “Amended Merger Agreement”), dated as of October 28, 2020, by and among the Company, Parent, Breakfast Holdings Acquisition Corp. (“Holding”) and Breakfast Acquisition Corp. (“Merger Sub”). In connection with the proposed acquisition, the Company intends to file relevant materials with the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including a preliminary proxy statement on Schedule 14A. Following the filing of the definitive proxy statement with the SEC, the Company will mail the definitive proxy statement and a proxy card to each stockholder entitled to vote at the special meeting relating to the proposed acquisition. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF THE COMPANY ARE URGED TO READ CAREFULLY ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTS (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) FILED WITH THE SEC, INCLUDING THE COMPANY’S PROXY STATEMENT, WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY AND THE PROPOSED ACQUISITION. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain copies of the proxy statement and other documents filed with the SEC (when available) free of charge at the SEC’s website, /www.sec.gov or at the Company’s website at investor.tiffany.com/financial-information or by writing to the Corporate Secretary at 200 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10010, Attn: Corporate Secretary (Legal Department).

Participants in Solicitation

The Company and its directors, executive officers and certain of its employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the Company’s stockholders in respect of the proposed acquisition. Information about the directors and executive officers of the Company is set forth in its proxy statement for its 2020 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 20, 2020. Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitations in connection with the proposed acquisition, and a description of any interests that they have in the proposed acquisition, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the proxy statement and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC regarding the proposed acquisition when they become available. These documents may be obtained for free at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, and via the Company’s Investor Relations section of its website at investor.tiffany.com/financial-information.

Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain statements in this communication including, without limitation, statements relating to the proposed acquisition and conditions to closing of the proposed acquisition, may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, each as amended. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain, such as statements about the consummation of the proposed acquisition and about the future plans, assumptions and expectations for the Company’s business and its results. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “may,” “will,” or other similar expressions may identify such forward-looking statements.


These and other forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in forward-looking statements, including, as a result of factors, risks and uncertainties over which we have no control. The inclusion of such statements should not be regarded as a representation that any plans, estimates or expectations will be achieved. You should not place undue reliance on such statements. Important factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from such plans, estimates or expectations include, but are not limited to, the following: (i) conditions to the completion of the proposed acquisition may not be satisfied or the regulatory approvals required for the proposed acquisition may not be obtained or maintained, in each case, on the terms expected or on the anticipated schedule; (ii) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the Amended Merger Agreement or affect the ability of the parties to recognize the benefits of the proposed acquisition; (iii) the effect of the announcement or pendency of the proposed acquisition on the Company’s business relationships, operating results, and business generally; (iv) risks that the proposed acquisition disrupts the Company’s current plans and operations and potential difficulties in the Company’s employee retention; (v) risks that the proposed acquisition may divert management’s attention from the Company’s ongoing business operations; (vi) potential litigation that may be instituted against the Company or its directors or officers related to the proposed acquisition or the Amended Merger Agreement and any adverse outcome of any such potential litigation; (vii) the amount and timing of the costs, fees, expenses and other charges related to the proposed acquisition, including in the event of any unexpected delays; (viii) other risks to consummation of the proposed acquisition, including the risk that the proposed acquisition will not be consummated within the expected time period, or at all, which may affect the Company’s business and the price of the common stock of the Company; (ix) any adverse effects on the Company by other general industry, economic, business and/or competitive factors; (x) the COVID-19 pandemic, including the duration and scope thereof, the availability of a vaccine or cure that mitigates the effect of the virus, the potential for additional waves of outbreaks and changes in financial, business, travel and tourism, consumer discretionary spending and other general consumer behaviors, political, public health and other conditions, circumstances, requirements and practices resulting therefrom; (xi) protest activity in the U.S.; and (xii) such other factors as are set forth in the Company’s periodic public filings with the SEC, including but not limited to those described under the headings “Risk Factors” and “Forward Looking Statements” in its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 31, 2020, its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2020, and in its other filings made with the SEC from time to time, which are available via the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Consequences of material differences in results as compared with those anticipated in the forward-looking statements could include, among other things, business disruption, operational problems, financial loss, legal liability to third parties and similar risks, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, credit rating, liquidity or stock price. These risks, as well as other risks associated with the proposed acquisition, will be more fully discussed in the proxy statement that will be filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed acquisition. In addition, there can be no assurance that the proposed acquisition will be completed, or if it is completed, that it will close within the anticipated time period, or that the expected benefits of the proposed acquisition will be realized.

Forward-looking statements reflect the views and assumptions of management as of the date of this communication with respect to future events. The Company does not undertake, and hereby disclaims, any obligation, unless required to do so by applicable securities laws, to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or other factors. The inclusion of any statement in this communication does not constitute an admission by the Company or any other person that the events or circumstances described in such statement are material.