UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported):
May 7, 2017
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COACH, INC.
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Maryland
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1-16153
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52-2242751
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(State of Incorporation)
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(Commission File Number)
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(IRS Employer Identification No.)
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10 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
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(212) 594-1850
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(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
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Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
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☐
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Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
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Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement
Agreement and Plan of Merger
On May 7, 2017, Coach, Inc. (“Coach”) entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Kate Spade & Company, a Delaware corporation (“Kate Spade”), and Chelsea Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and direct wholly owned subsidiary of Coach (“Merger Sub”).
Transaction Structure
Pursuant to and subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub will commence an all-cash tender offer (the “Offer”) within fifteen (15) business days after the date of the Merger Agreement to acquire any and all of Kate Spade’s outstanding shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share (the “Shares”). The Shares will be acquired at a purchase price of $18.50 per Share (the “Offer Price”), net to the seller in cash, without interest, and subject to any required withholding of taxes. The Offer will initially expire at 11:59 p.m. (New York City time) on the date that is twenty (20) business days following the commencement of the Offer. Under certain circumstances, Merger Sub may be required to extend the Offer on one or more occasions in accordance with the terms set forth in the Merger Agreement and the applicable rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Merger Sub will not be required to extend the Offer beyond February 7, 2018, and may not extend the Offer beyond such date without the prior written consent of Kate Spade.
Pursuant to and subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, as soon as possible following the time at which the Shares validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Offer are first accepted for payment under the Offer (the “Acceptance Time”), Merger Sub will merge with and into Kate Spade, with Kate Spade surviving the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Coach (the “Surviving Corporation”), pursuant to the procedure provided for under Section 251(h) of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “Merger”).
At the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”), each issued and outstanding Share (other than Shares owned by (i) Coach, Kate Spade or any of their wholly-owned subsidiaries, which Shares will be cancelled and will cease to exist or (ii) any person who is entitled to and properly demands statutory appraisal of his, her or its Shares under Delaware law) will be converted into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to the Offer Price, without interest, subject to any required withholding taxes.
At the Effective Time, (i) each Kate Spade stock option that is outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time will be canceled and converted into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to (i) the excess, if any, of the Offer Price over the stock option exercise price applicable thereto, multiplied by (ii) the number of Shares that are subject to such Kate Spade stock option, subject to any required withholding of taxes. Any Kate Spade stock options with a per share exercise price equal to or greater than the Offer Price will be canceled for no consideration. In addition, except as otherwise set forth in individual agreements, at the Effective Time, (i) each Kate Spade restricted stock unit award will be assumed by Coach and converted into a restricted stock unit award that settles in shares of Coach common stock, (ii) each Kate Spade performance share unit award will be assumed by Coach and converted into a restricted stock unit award that settles in shares of Coach common stock, with the number of shares to be determined assuming that the Kate Spade performance share unit award has achieved performance at target level and (iii) each Kate Spade market share unit award will be assumed by Coach and converted into a restricted stock unit that settles in shares of Coach common stock, with the number of shares to be determined assuming that the Kate Spade market share unit award has achieved performance at target level, with each of the converted restricted stock unit awards continuing to vest on the same time-based schedule as the related Kate Spade restricted stock unit award, Kate Spade performance share unit award or Kate Spade market share unit award, as applicable, subject to continued employment.
Conditions
The obligation of Merger Sub to purchase Shares tendered in the Offer is subject to customary closing conditions, including (i) a number of Shares must have been validly tendered and received and not validly withdrawn that, when added to the number of Shares (if any) then owned by Coach or Merger Sub, equals at least one Share more than 50% of all Shares then outstanding, (ii) the expiration or termination of applicable waiting periods under, or receipt of the applicable consents required under, the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended and relevant antitrust and competition laws in Japan, (iii) the absence of any order, applicable law or other legal restraints of an applicable governmental authority enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the Offer or the Merger, (iv) the accuracy of certain representations and warranties of each of the parties contained in the Merger Agreement, subject to specified materiality qualifications, (v) compliance, in all material respects, by each of the parties with their respective covenants contained in the Merger Agreement, (vi) the absence of a material adverse effect on Kate Spade since the date of the Merger Agreement, and (vii) the other conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement. The consummation of the Offer is not subject to a financing condition.
Other Terms of the Merger Agreement
The Merger Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and covenants for a transaction of this nature, including the obligation of Kate Spade to (i) carry on its business in the ordinary course during the period between the execution of the Merger Agreement and the consummation of the Merger and (ii) comply with certain other negative operating covenants, as set forth more fully in the Merger Agreement.
The Merger Agreement also contains a customary “no solicitation” provision that, subject to certain exceptions, restricts Kate Spade’s ability to (i) solicit, initiate or knowingly encourage any inquiries or submission that could lead to a takeover proposal or (ii) enter into, engage or participate in discussions or negotiations with, furnish any nonpublic information relating to Kate Spade to, or execute any agreement with, third parties in connection with a takeover proposal. The no solicitation provision is subject to a “fiduciary out” that permits Kate Spade, under certain circumstances and in compliance with certain obligations, to terminate the Merger Agreement and accept a superior proposal upon payment to Coach of the termination fee discussed below.
The Merger Agreement also contains certain customary termination rights for both Coach and Kate Spade, including, among others, (i) the ability of either Coach or Kate Spade to terminate the Merger Agreement if the Offer is not consummated on or before February 7, 2018, (ii) the ability of Kate Spade to terminate the Merger Agreement, under certain circumstances and in compliance with certain obligations, to enter into an agreement for an alternative transaction that constitutes a superior proposal or (iii) the ability of Coach to terminate the Merger Agreement due to a change in the recommendation of the Kate Spade board of directors with respect to the Offer. Upon termination of the Merger Agreement in specified circumstances, including clause (ii) and (iii) above, Kate Spade is required to pay Coach a termination fee of $83,271,000.
The foregoing description of the Merger Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual terms of the Merger Agreement, which will be filed as an exhibit to Coach’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ending April 1, 2017. The Merger Agreement will be provided to inform investors of its terms and is not intended to provide any financial or other factual information about Kate Spade, Coach or Merger Sub or to modify or supplement any factual disclosures about the Company in its public reports filed with the SEC. In particular, the representations, warranties and covenants contained in the Merger Agreement (i) were made only for purposes of that agreement and as of specific dates, (ii) were made solely for the benefit of the parties to the Merger Agreement, (iii) may be subject to limitations agreed upon by the parties for the purposes of allocating contractual risk between the parties to the Merger Agreement rather than establishing those matters as facts and (iv) may be subject to standards of materiality applicable to the contracting parties that differ from those generally applicable to Coach’s SEC filings. Moreover, information concerning the subject matter of the representations, warranties and covenants may change after the date of the Merger Agreement, which subsequent information may or may not be fully reflected in public disclosures by Coach or Kate Spade. Accordingly, the representations and warranties in the Merger Agreement should not be relied on as characterizations of the actual state of facts about Coach or Kate Spade.
Commitment Letters
On May 7, 2017, Coach entered into a bridge facility commitment letter (the “Commitment Letter”) pursuant to which Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Bank of America, N.A. (together, “BofA Merrill Lynch”) committed to provide up to $2.1 billion under a 364-day senior unsecured bridge term loan credit facility to finance the Merger in the event that Coach has not issued senior unsecured notes and obtained term loans prior to the consummation of the Merger. The commitment is subject to customary conditions.
The foregoing description of the Commitment Letter does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual terms of the Commitment Letter, which will be filed as an exhibit to Coach’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ending April 1, 2017.
Item 8.01 Other Events
On May 8, 2017, Coach and Kate Spade issued a joint press release announcing, among other things, the entry into the Merger Agreement. The text of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference. In addition, a conference call and webcast will be held on May 8, 2017 regarding the proposed transaction during which the speakers will discuss the presentation that will be filed as an exhibit to Coach’s Schedule TOC on May 8, 2017.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
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EXHIBIT
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EXHIBIT DESCRIPTION
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99.1
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Joint Press Release, dated May 8, 2017.
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Additional Information and Where You Can Find It
The tender offer referred to in this filing has not yet commenced. This filing is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell, securities, nor is it a substitute for the tender offer materials that will be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The solicitation and offer to buy the issued and outstanding shares of Kate Spade common stock will only be made pursuant to an offer to purchase and related tender offer materials described more fully below. At the time the tender offer is commenced, Merger Sub will file a tender offer statement with the SEC on Schedule TO containing an offer to purchase, form of letter of transmittal and related materials, and Kate Spade will file with the SEC a tender offer solicitation/recommendation statement on Schedule 14D-9 with respect to the tender offer. INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE TENDER OFFER STATEMENT AND RELATED MATERIALS (INCLUDING THE OFFER TO PURCHASE, RELATED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND OTHER TENDER OFFER DOCUMENTS) AND THE SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT CAREFULLY (WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE) AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE TENDER OFFER THAT SHOULD BE READ PRIOR TO MAKING A DECISION TO TENDER SHARES. These materials will be sent free of charge to all Kate Spade stockholders. In addition, all of those materials (and all other tender offer documents filed or furnished by Kate Spade, Coach or Merger Sub with the SEC) will be available at no charge from the SEC through its website at www.sec.gov. The Schedule TO (including the offer to purchase and related materials) and the Schedule 14D-9 (including the solicitation/recommendation statement), once filed, may also be obtained for free by contacting the Information Agent for the tender offer which will be named in the Schedule TO.
In addition to the offer to purchase, the related letter of transmittal and certain other tender offer documents, as well as the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement, Coach and Kate Spade file annual, quarterly and current reports and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any reports or other information filed by Coach or Kate Spade at the SEC public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. Coach’s and Kate Spade’s filings with the SEC are also available to the public from commercial document-retrieval services and at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Hong Kong Depository Receipts
Neither the Hong Kong Depositary Receipts nor the Hong Kong Depositary Shares evidenced thereby have been or will be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account of, a U.S. Person (within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act), absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. Hedging transactions involving these securities may not be conducted unless in compliance with the Securities Act.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This report may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance and financial condition, and often contain words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “see,” “will,” “would,” “target,” similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain, such as statements about the consummation of the proposed transaction and the anticipated benefits thereof. Such statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If such risks or uncertainties materialize or such assumptions prove incorrect, the results of Coach and its consolidated subsidiaries could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including any statements regarding the expected benefits and costs of the Offer, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement; the expected timing of the completion of the Offer and the Merger; the ability of Coach, Merger Sub and Kate Spade to complete the Offer and the Merger considering the various conditions to the Offer and the Merger, some of which are outside the parties’ control, including those conditions related to regulatory approvals; any statements of expectation or belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include the possibility that expected benefits may not materialize as expected; that the Offer and the Merger may not be timely completed, if at all; that, prior to the completion of the transaction, Kate Spade’s business may not perform as expected due to transaction-related uncertainty or other factors; that the parties are unable to successfully implement integration strategies; and other risks that are described in Coach’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and its other filings with the SEC. Coach assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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Coach, Inc.
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Date: May 8, 2017
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By:
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/s/ Todd Kahn
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Todd Kahn
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President, Chief Administrative Officer & Secretary
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EXHIBIT INDEX
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EXHIBIT
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EXHIBIT DESCRIPTION
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Joint Press Release, dated May 8, 2017.
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Exhibit 99.1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACTS:
Coach
Analysts & Media:
Andrea Shaw Resnick
Global Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
212/629-2618/AResnick@coach.com
Christina Colone
Senior Director, Investor Relations
212/946-7252/CColone@coach.com
Kate Spade & Company
Investor Relations:
Priya Trivedi, Vice President, Finance & Treasurer
201/295-6110/PTrivedi@katespade.com
Media:
Emily Garbaccio
Vice President, Communications
212/739-6552/EGarbaccio@katespade.com
COACH, INC. TO ACQUIRE KATE SPADE & COMPANY FOR $18.50 PER SHARE IN CASH
Combination Creates First New York-Based House of
Modern Luxury Lifestyle Brands
Acquisition Expected to be Accretive in Fiscal 2018 and to Reach Double-Digit Accretion by Fiscal 2019 on a non-GAAP Basis
New York – May 8, 2017 – Coach, Inc. (NYSE: COH, SEHK: 6388), a leading New York design house of modern luxury accessories and lifestyle brands, today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Kate Spade & Company (NYSE: KATE). Under the terms of the transaction Kate Spade shareholders will receive $18.50 per share in cash for a total transaction value of $2.4 billion. The transaction represents a 27.5% percent premium to the unaffected closing price of Kate Spade’s shares as of December 27, 2016, the last trading day prior to media speculation of a transaction. The transaction has been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of Kate Spade & Company and Coach, Inc.
Victor Luis, Chief Executive Officer of Coach, Inc. said, “Kate Spade has a truly unique and differentiated brand positioning with a broad lifestyle assortment and strong awareness among consumers, especially millennials. Through this acquisition, we will create the first New York-based house of modern luxury lifestyle brands, defined by authentic, distinctive products and fashion innovation. In addition, we believe Coach’s extensive experience in opening and operating specialty retail stores globally, and brand building in international markets, can unlock Kate Spade’s largely untapped global growth potential. We are confident that this combination will strengthen our overall platform and provide an additional vehicle for driving long-term, sustainable growth.”
Craig A. Leavitt, Chief Executive Officer of Kate Spade & Company, said, “Following a thorough review of strategic alternatives, reaching an agreement to join Coach’s portfolio of global brands will maximize value for our shareholders and positions Kate Spade for long-term success as we continue our evolution into a powerful, global, multi-channel lifestyle brand. We look forward to working with Coach’s leadership team to leverage their expertise across the business as we continue to innovate and build long-term loyalty with consumers and expand across our product category and geographic axes of growth.”
Kevin Wills, Coach’s Chief Financial Officer added, “Due to the complementary nature of our respective businesses, we believe that we can realize a run rate of approximately $50 million in synergies within three years of the deal closing. These cost synergies will be realized through operational efficiencies, improved scale and inventory management, and the optimization of Kate Spade’s supply chain network. At the same time, to ensure the long-term viability and health of the Kate Spade brand, and similar to the steps Coach has itself taken over the last three years, we plan to reduce sales in Kate Spade’s wholesale disposition and online flash sales channels. Therefore, the reduction in profitability from the pullback in these channels will be offset by the realization of these substantial synergies. As a result, we expect that the acquisition will be accretive in fiscal 2018 on a non-GAAP basis, and will reach double-digit accretion by fiscal 2019, also on a non-GAAP basis.”
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Mr. Luis concluded, “The acquisition of Kate Spade is an important step in Coach’s evolution as a customer-focused, multi-brand organization. The combination enhances our position in the attractive global premium handbag and accessories, footwear and outerwear categories, bringing product, brand positioning and customer diversification to the portfolio, and establishing scale in key functions with the resources to invest in talent and innovation. In addition, we believe the Kate Spade brand will benefit from our best-in-class supply chain and strong corporate infrastructure.”
Strategic Rationale
The combination of Coach, Inc. and Kate Spade & Company will create a leading luxury lifestyle company with a more diverse multi-brand portfolio supported by significant expertise in handbag design, merchandising, supply chain and retail operations as well as solid financial acumen. Coach’s history and heritage, multi-channel, international distribution model, and seasoned leadership team uniquely position it to drive long-term sustainable growth for Kate Spade. Coach is focused on preserving Kate Spade’s brand independence as well as retaining key talent, ensuring a smooth transition to Coach, Inc.’s ownership.
Transaction Details
The transaction is not subject to a financing condition. Coach has secured committed bridge financing from BofA Merrill Lynch. The $2.4 billion purchase price is expected to be funded by a combination of senior notes, bank term loans and approximately $1.2 billion of excess Coach cash, a portion of which will be used to repay an expected $800 million 6-month term loan. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of calendar 2017, subject to customary closing conditions, including the tender of a majority of the outstanding Kate Spade & Company shares pursuant to the offer and receipt of required regulatory approvals.
Advisors
Coach’s financial advisor is Evercore Group L.L.C. and its legal advisor is Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP. Kate Spade & Company’s financial advisor is Perella Weinberg Partners LP and its legal advisor is Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP.
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Conference Call
Coach, Inc. and Kate Spade & Company will hold a conference call and webcast at 8:30 a.m. EDT today, May 8, 2017, to discuss the transaction. Interested parties may listen to the webcast by accessing www.coach.com/investors or www.katespadeandcompany.com on the Internet, or dialing into 1-888- 802-8577 or 1-973-935-8754 and providing the Conference ID 20303086. An investor presentation will also be available for download at www.coach.com/investors.
A telephone replay will be available starting at 12:00 p.m. (EDT) today, for a period of five business days. To access the telephone replay, call 1-800- 585-8367 or 1-404-537-3406 and enter the Conference ID 20303086. A webcast replay of the conference call will also be available for five business days.
About Coach
Coach, Inc. is a leading New York design house of modern luxury accessories and lifestyle brands. The Coach brand was established in New York City in 1941, and has a rich heritage of pairing exceptional leathers and materials with innovative design. Coach is sold worldwide through Coach stores, select department stores and specialty stores, and through Coach’s website at www.coach.com. In 2015, Coach acquired Stuart Weitzman, a global leader in designer footwear, sold in more than 70 countries and through its website at www.stuartweitzman.com. Coach, Inc.’s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol COH and Coach’s Hong Kong Depositary Receipts are traded on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited under the symbol 6388.
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About Kate Spade & Company
Kate Spade & Company (NYSE: KATE) operates principally under two global, multichannel lifestyle brands: kate spade new york and Jack Spade New YorkTM. The Company’s four category pillars – women’s, men’s, children’s and home – span demographics, genders and geographies. Known for crisp color, graphic prints and playful sophistication, kate spade new york aims to inspire a more interesting life. The kate spade new york collection includes the Madison Avenue, Broome Street and on purpose labels. Jack Spade New York offers a timeless and versatile assortment of bags, sportswear and tailored clothing founded on the aesthetic of simple, purposeful design. The Company also owns Adelington Design Group, a private brand jewelry design and development group. Visit www.katespadeandcompany.com for more information.
Additional Contacts:
Media
Tom Johnson/Pat Tucker
Abernathy MacGregor
(212) 371-5999
tbj@abmac.com/pct@abmac.com
Neither the Hong Kong Depositary Receipts nor the Hong Kong Depositary Shares evidenced thereby have been or will be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account of, a U.S. Person (within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act), absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. Hedging transactions involving these securities may not be conducted unless in compliance with the Securities Act.
Additional Information and Where You Can Find It
The tender offer referred to in this press release has not yet commenced. This press release is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell, securities, nor is it a substitute for the tender offer materials that will be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The solicitation and offer to buy the issued and outstanding shares of Kate Spade & Company common stock will only be made pursuant to an offer to purchase and related tender offer materials described more fully below. At the time the tender offer is commenced, a subsidiary of Coach, Inc. will file a tender offer statement with the SEC on Schedule TO containing an offer to purchase, form of letter of transmittal and related materials, and Kate Spade & Company will file with the SEC a tender offer solicitation/recommendation statement on Schedule 14D-9 with respect to the tender offer. INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE TENDER OFFER STATEMENT AND RELATED MATERIALS (INCLUDING THE OFFER TO PURCHASE, RELATED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND OTHER TENDER OFFER DOCUMENTS) AND THE SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT CAREFULLY (WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE) AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE TENDER OFFER THAT SHOULD BE READ PRIOR TO MAKING A DECISION TO TENDER SHARES. These materials will be sent free of charge to all Kate Spade & Company stockholders. In addition, all of those materials (and all other tender offer documents filed or furnished by Kate Spade & Company or Coach, Inc. or any of its subsidiaries with the SEC) will be available at no charge from the SEC through its website at www.sec.gov. The Schedule TO (including the offer to purchase and related materials) and the Schedule 14D-9 (including the solicitation/recommendation statement), once filed, may also be obtained for free by contacting the Information Agent for the tender offer which will be named in the Schedule TO.
In addition to the offer to purchase, the related letter of transmittal and certain other tender offer documents, as well as the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement, Coach, Inc. and Kate Spade & Company file annual, quarterly and current reports and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any reports or other information filed by Coach, Inc. or Kate Spade & Company at the SEC public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. Coach, Inc.’s and Kate Spade & Company’s filings with the SEC are also available to the public from commercial document-retrieval services and at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
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Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This report may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance and financial condition, and often contain words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “see,” “will,” “would,” “target,” similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain, such as statements about the consummation of the proposed transaction and the anticipated benefits thereof. Such statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If such risks or uncertainties materialize or such assumptions prove incorrect, the results of Coach, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including any statements regarding the expected benefits and costs of the tender offer, the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement by and between Kate Spade & Company and Coach, Inc.; the expected timing of the completion of the tender offer and the merger; the ability of Coach, Inc. (and its subsidiary) and Kate Spade & Company to complete the tender offer and the merger considering the various conditions to the tender offer and the merger, some of which are outside the parties’ control, including those conditions related to regulatory approvals; any statements of expectation or belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include the possibility that expected benefits may not materialize as expected; that the tender offer and the merger may not be timely completed, if at all; that, prior to the completion of the transaction, Kate Spade & Company’s business may not perform as expected due to transaction-related uncertainty or other factors; that the parties are unable to successfully implement integration strategies; and other risks that are described in Coach, Inc.’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and its other filings with the SEC. Coach, Inc. and Kate Spade & Company assume no obligation and do not intend to update these forward-looking statements.
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