Show your mother some love with a piece of fine jewelry.
LVMH, Tiffany & Co. Make It Official
The French luxury titan acquired the iconic American jeweler in a $16.2 billion deal.
Paris—LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton scooped up Tiffany & Co. over the weekend in a deal valued at $16.2 billion, the luxury titan announced Monday.
The acquisition brings the American jeweler under LVMH’s umbrella, adding to stable of high-powered brands that already includes Bulgari, TAG Heuer and Hublot.
LVMH expects the addition of Tiffany to strengthen its position in the jewelry market and bolster its presence in the United States, the company said in a press release about the acquisition.
Rumors of a potential deal began rumbling last month, prompting Tiffany to confirm it had received an unsolicited bid for $120 per share, valuing the company at $14.5 billion.
Tiffany reportedly entered preliminary discussions with LVMH and asked the company to up the bid, which it raised to $130 per share.
The final deal was for $135 per share, or $16.2 billion, one of the largest transactions in LVMH’s history.
Founded in 1837 by Charles Lewis Tiffany, the first Tiffany store opened in downtown Manhattan. The luxury brand slowly built an empire, expanding to more than 300 stores across the globe.
LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault described the retailer as having “an unparalleled heritage and unique position in the global jewelry world.”
Flavio Cereda, an equity analyst at Jeffries, stated in a note prior to the deal announcement that Tiffany’s “brand equity and the strength of the image of its iconic 1837 Blue Box are more valuable than the current financials suggest.”
Cereda said LVMH can leverage these to target the Asian millennial market, which would mean a “rethinking of the current product mix and its U.S. footprint, in our view.”
Tiffany CEO Alessandro Bogliolo noted the company has been striving for “sustainable, long-term growth” and said the acquisition will “provide further support, resources and momentum for those priorities as we evolve toward becoming the next generation luxury jeweler.”
The boards of directors of both companies have approved the transaction. Tiffany’s board recommended its shareholders give it the green light as well.
The deal is expected to close mid-2020 and is subject to approval from Tiffany’s shareholders, regulatory approval, and other customary closing conditions.
Citi and J.P. Morgan serve as financial advisors to LVMH while New York-based law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom serves as legal counsel.
Centerview Partners and Goldman Sachs are Tiffany’s financial advisors and New York-based law firm Sullivan & Cromwell serves as legal counsel.
The Latest
The company’s Easton location will remain open.
Sponsored by the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry and Watch Show
Tradeshow risks are real. Get tips to protect yourself before, during and after and gain safety and security awareness for your business.
Tobak, author of “Ice Cold: A Hip-Hop Jewelry History,” shares how the exhibition came to be, and the pieces people may be surprised to see.
Stars adorned themselves in emeralds, platinum, and myriad bird motifs, writes Associate Editor Natalie Francisco.
M.S. Rau is set to open a seasonal gallery in the high-end resort town early next month.
Meet Ben Claus—grand prize winner of For the Love of Jewelers 2023 Fall Design Challenge.
The branded jewelry market is thriving, said Richemont Chairman Johann Rupert.
The six designers, all participants in the show’s Diversity Action Council mentorship program, will exhibit in Salon 634.
The highlight of his collection is the coveted Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime, which could sell for up to $5 million.
The “Venetian Link” series modernizes the classic Veneziana box chain in its bracelets and necklaces.
The Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship will provide tuition assistance to two low-income students.
The Swiss watchmaker said the company’s plans to use a new version of the Hallmark crown on jewelry would confuse consumers.
The executive talked about the importance of self-purchasers and how fuel cell electric vehicles are going to fuel demand for platinum.
The Indian jeweler’s new store in Naperville, Illinois marks its 350th location, part of its ongoing global expansion plans.
It will award a graduating high school student with about $10,000 toward a GIA diploma and an internship with the Seattle-based jeweler.
Wheat Ridge, Colorado police took a 50-year-old man into custody Wednesday following a two-month search.
PGI partnered with four new and seven returning designers for its annual platinum capsule collection.
Nicolosi, president and CEO of The Kingswood Company, previously sat on WJA’s board from 2011 to 2018.
Karina Brez’s race-ready piece is a sophisticated nod to the horse-rider relationship.
The men are allegedly responsible for stealing millions in jewelry and other valuables in 43 burglaries in 25 towns across Massachusetts.
“Horizon” invites individuals to explore the limitless possibilities that lie ahead, said the brand.
The jeweler credits its recent “Be Love” campaign and ongoing brand revamp for its 17 percent jump in sales.
The co-founder of Lewis Jewelers was also the longtime mayor of the city of Moore.
Elvis Presley gifted this circa 1967 gold and diamond watch to Dodie Marshall, his co-star in “Easy Come, Easy Go.”