Court Sets Trial for January 5, 2021
Tiffany & Co. (NYSE: TIF) today welcomed the decision by the
Delaware Chancery Court to grant Tiffany’s motion to expedite its
lawsuit against LVMH Moët Hennessy-Louis Vuitton SE (“LVMH”).
Tiffany’s lawsuit seeks, among other things, an order requiring
LVMH to abide by its contractual obligation under the November 24,
2019 Merger Agreement to complete its acquisition of Tiffany on the
previously agreed terms.
The Court has set January 5, 2021 to begin a four-day trial.
Chairman of the Board Roger Farah said, “We appreciate the
Court’s ruling today to expedite the process. Despite LVMH’s
ongoing efforts to avoid paying the agreed-upon price for Tiffany,
a trial on January 5, 2021 will hopefully lead to a ruling prior to
the expiration of U.S. antitrust clearance on February 3, 2021 and
enable us to protect our company and our shareholders. We will
demonstrate to the Court that LVMH is in clear breach of its
obligations under a valid and binding agreement and that their
claim of a Material Adverse Effect is completely baseless. Tiffany
has acted in good faith in full compliance with the Merger
Agreement and will continue to do so.”
In seeking an expedited trial, Tiffany made a number of key
points that will be no doubt become the focus of the upcoming
trial:
LVMH Breached Its Obligation to Obtain
Antitrust Approvals “as Promptly as Practicable”
In its opposition to Tiffany’s request for expedited
proceedings, LVMH touted that “nearly all required antitrust
approvals have been obtained,” but conveniently failed to mention
that due to its months of foot-dragging, the already-obtained
approvals will begin expiring on February 3, 2021.
LVMH seems to believe that its months of delay can be excused so
long as antitrust clearances are achieved by the now extended
termination date of November 24. However, before it set in motion
an effort to slow the pace and seek a lower price for the deal,
LVMH represented that all antitrust clearances could be obtained in
the second quarter of 2020 and previously said the transaction
could close by June 30, 2020. As a consequence, the parties
originally agreed that the termination date for the transaction
would be August 24. Tiffany believes prejudgment statutory interest
should run from the end of June when the deal would have closed but
for LVMH’s breach.
The Letter From the French Minister for
Europe and Foreign Affairs Is Not a Legal Restraint
LVMH’s opposition to Tiffany’s motion to expedite focused on a
letter that, based upon credible third-party reports, LVMH appears
to have procured from the French Minister for Europe and Foreign
Affairs. Neither LVMH nor the French Foreign Minister has provided
a copy of this letter to Tiffany despite formal written requests
that such letter be provided.
According to LVMH’s translation, the letter notes a U.S.-France
trade dispute and suggests that LVMH “should” defer closing in
support of France’s efforts to obtain leverage in negotiations with
the U.S. LVMH nowhere contends that the Minister has any
jurisdiction over the transaction, likely because (as LVMH’s
counsel has noted) the European Commission “has exclusive
jurisdiction pre-empting jurisdiction of the EU member states”
regarding merger regulation.
According to multiple news outlets in both the U.S. and France,
LVMH actively procured the letter in a bad-faith effort to gain
leverage to escape or renegotiate the Merger Agreement. If true,
the letter is clear evidence of a breach of the Merger Agreement by
LVMH. Moreover, rather than immediately informing Tiffany of the
letter—it waited over a week—LVMH admits it discussed the letter
with the Minister without consulting with Tiffany as required by
the Merger Agreement, another clear breach.
LVMH’s Claim of a Material Adverse
Event Is Baseless
LVMH’s three-paragraph claim of a Material Adverse Event (MAE)
is baseless with no factual, contractual or legal support. Tiffany
experienced a single quarter of losses before returning to
profitability and projects fourth-quarter earnings greater than
those in the same period in 2019 —the exact opposite of LVMH’s
claims of a “dramatic” and “durationally significant” downturn that
“shows no sign of abating.” Moreover, the MAE definition in the
Merger Agreement excludes all “changes or conditions generally
affecting the industries in which [Tiffany] operate[s]” and
“general economic or political conditions.” LVMH’s MAE claim is
simply frivolous.
Tiffany Has Operated in the Ordinary
Course
LVMH has offered no support for its claim that Tiffany “breached
its obligation to operate in the ordinary course.” LVMH’s criticism
of Tiffany’s payment of dividends ignores the fact that those
payments were not just “technically permitted”; they were required
by the Merger Agreement and excluded from any “ordinary course”
limitations. In any event, dating back to shortly after its 1987
IPO, Tiffany has never missed or reduced a dividend payment, even
during recessions, financial crises and the September 11 attacks,
spanning 131 consecutive quarters. Tiffany has more than $1 billion
in cash and has no liquidity constraints. The real reason LVMH
complains about the dividend payments is that it wanted the cash
left in the company for its benefit rather than paid to Tiffany
shareholders.
About Tiffany & Co.
In 1837, Charles Lewis Tiffany founded his company in New York
City where his store was soon acclaimed as the palace of jewels for
its exceptional gemstones. Since then, TIFFANY & CO. has become
synonymous with elegance, innovative design, fine craftsmanship and
creative excellence. During the 20th century, its fame thrived
worldwide with store network expansion and continuous cultural
relevance, as exemplified by Truman Capote’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s
and the film starring Audrey Hepburn.
Today, with more than 14,000 employees, TIFFANY & CO. and
its subsidiaries design, manufacture and market jewelry, watches
and luxury accessories - including nearly 5,000 skilled artisans
who cut diamonds and craft jewelry in the Company’s workshops,
realizing its commitment to superlative quality. TIFFANY & CO.
has a long-standing commitment to conducting its business
responsibly, sustaining the natural environment, prioritizing
diversity and inclusion, and positively impacting the communities
in which we operate.
The Company operates more than 300 TIFFANY & CO. retail
stores worldwide as part of its omni-channel approach. To learn
more about TIFFANY & CO., as well as its commitment to
sustainability, please visit www.tiffany.com.
Forward-Looking Statements:
Certain statements in this release including, without
limitation, statements relating to the pending merger and
conditions to closing of the pending merger as well as statements
that refer to expectations for Tiffany’s performance in future
periods, 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 merger and about the future plans, assumptions and expectations
for Tiffany’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 merger may not be satisfied or
the regulatory approvals required for the merger may not be
obtained, 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 Merger
Agreement or affect the ability of the parties to recognize the
benefits of the merger; (iii) the effect of the announcement or
pendency of the merger on Tiffany’s business relationships,
operating results, and business generally; (iv) risks that the
merger disrupts Tiffany’s current plans and operations and
potential difficulties in Tiffany’s employee retention; (v) risks
that the merger may divert management’s attention from Tiffany’s
ongoing business operations; (vi) potential litigation that may be
instituted against Tiffany or its directors or officers related to
the merger or the 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 merger,
including in the event of any unexpected delays and in light of the
pending merger-related litigation; (viii) other risks to
consummation of the merger, including the risk that the merger will
not be consummated within the expected time period, or at all,
which may affect Tiffany’s business and the price of the common
stock of Tiffany; (ix) any adverse effects on Tiffany 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 Tiffany’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 most
recently filed Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 31, 2020, its
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2020, the
definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on
January 6, 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
Tiffany’s financial condition, results of operations, credit
rating, liquidity or stock price. In addition, there can be no
assurance that the merger will be completed, or if it is completed,
that it will close in the timeframe previously anticipated, or that
the expected benefits of the merger will be realized. Because
Tiffany does not know when, or if, the merger will be completed,
Tiffany has not included certain costs related to the closing of
the merger, such as advisor fees, litigation-related expenses, and
expenses related to the acceleration of equity pursuant to the
terms of the merger agreement, in its financial forecasts for the
remainder of the fiscal year ending January 31, 2021 or any future
period. These expenses are expected to be significant, although the
vast majority of these costs will only be incurred if and when the
merger is ultimately completed.
Forward-looking statements reflect the views and assumptions of
management as of the date of this release with respect to future
events. Tiffany 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 release does not constitute an admission by
Tiffany or any other person that the events or circumstances
described in such statement are material.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200921005871/en/
Jason Wong (973) 254-7612 jason.wong@tiffany.com
Tiffany (NYSE:TIF)
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