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SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO. )
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only
(as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[x] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-12
Tiffany & Co.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[x] No fee required.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the
filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
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[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
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April 10, 2001
TIFFANY & CO.
727 Fifth Avenue
New York, N.Y. 10022
William R. Chaney
Chairman of the Board
Michael J. Kowalski
President and Chief Executive Officer
Dear Stockholder:
You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders
of Tiffany & Co. on Thursday, May 17, 2001, at 10:00 a.m. in the Roof/Penthouse
of the St. Regis Hotel, 2 East 55th Street at Fifth Avenue, New York, New York.
We hope that you can join us at this meeting. As a stockholder, your
participation in the affairs of Tiffany & Co. is important, regardless of the
number of shares that you hold. Therefore, whether or not you are able to
personally attend, please vote your shares as soon as possible by completing and
returning the enclosed proxy card, by calling the telephone number listed on the
card, or by accessing the internet site to vote electronically.
Enclosed are Tiffany & Co.'s 2000 Annual Report and Proxy Statement. We
hope you find it informative reading.
Thank you for your interest in Tiffany & Co.
Sincerely,
William R. Chaney
Michael J. Kowalski
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2001 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
Proxy Statement
[graphic]
Tiffany & Co.
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PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE
2001 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Attendance and Voting Matters............................................... 1
Introduction............................................................. 1
Matters To Be Voted On at the 2001 Annual Meeting........................ 1
How To Vote Your Shares.................................................. 1
The Number of Votes That You Have........................................ 2
What a Quorum Is......................................................... 2
What a Broker Non-Vote Is................................................ 3
What Vote Is Required To Approve Each Proposal........................... 3
Proxy Voting on Proposals in the Absence of Instructions................. 4
How Proxies Are Solicited................................................ 4
Ownership of Tiffany & Co................................................... 4
Stockholders Who Own At Least Five Percent of Tiffany & Co............... 4
Ownership by Executive Officers and Directors............................ 6
Compliance of Directors, Executive Officers and Greater-Than-Ten-
Percent Stockholders with Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership
Reporting Requirements................................................ 7
Fees Paid to the Independent Accountants.................................... 7
Tiffany & Co.'s Board of Directors and Executive Officers................... 8
The Board of Directors, In General....................................... 8
Committees of the Board of Directors..................................... 8
Compensation of Directors................................................ 11
Compensation of the CEO and Other Executive Officers..................... 12
Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation.................. 20
Performance of Tiffany & Co. Stock.......................................... 23
Discussion of Proposals Presented by the Board.............................. 24
Item I - Election of the Board of Directors.............................. 24
Item II - Appointment of Independent Accountants......................... 26
Other Matters............................................................... 27
Stockholder Proposals, In General........................................ 27
Stockholder Proposals for Inclusion in the Proxy Statement
for the 2002 Annual Meeting.......................................... 27
Reminder to Vote......................................................... 27
Appendix.................................................................... 28
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ATTENDANCE AND VOTING MATTERS
INTRODUCTION
The Annual Meeting of the stockholders of Tiffany & Co. will be held on
Thursday, May 17, 2001, at 10:00 a.m. in the Roof/Penthouse of the St. Regis
Hotel, 2 East 55th Street at Fifth Avenue, New York, New York.
You are entitled to vote at our 2001 Annual Meeting because you were a
stockholder, or held Tiffany & Co. stock through a broker, bank or other
nominee, at the close of business on March 23, 2001, the record date for this
year's Annual Meeting. That is why you were sent this Proxy Statement and
accompanying material.
We have also enclosed for your review a copy of our 2000 Annual Report
to Stockholders. This Report contains financial and other information about our
business during our last fiscal year (February 1, 2000 to January 31, 2001).
MATTERS TO BE VOTED ON AT THE 2001 ANNUAL MEETING
There are two matters scheduled to be voted on at this year's Annual
Meeting:
- the election of the Board of Directors, and
- the approval of independent accountants to examine our fiscal
2001 financial statements.
HOW TO VOTE YOUR SHARES
You can vote your shares at the Annual Meeting by proxy or in person.
You can vote by proxy by having one or more individuals who will be at
the Annual Meeting vote your shares for you. These individuals are called
"proxies" and using them to cast your ballot at the Annual Meeting is called
voting "by proxy."
If you wish to vote by proxy, you must do one of the following:
- complete the enclosed form, called a "proxy card," and mail it
in the envelope provided, or
- call the telephone number listed on the proxy card and follow
the pre-recorded instructions, or
- use the internet to vote by pointing your browser to
http://www.eproxy.com/tif; have your proxy card in hand as you
will be prompted to enter your control number and to create
and submit an electronic vote.
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If you do one of the above, you will have designated three officers of
Tiffany & Co. to act as your proxies at the 2001 Annual Meeting. One of them
will then vote your shares at the Annual Meeting in accordance with the
instructions you have given them on the proxy card, the telephone or the
internet with respect to each of the proposals presented in this Proxy
Statement.
Alternatively, you can vote your shares in person by attending the
Annual Meeting. You will be given a ballot at the meeting to complete and
return.
While we know of no other matters to be acted upon at this year's
Annual Meeting, it is possible that other matters may be presented at the
meeting. If that happens and you have voted by proxy, your proxy will vote on
such other matters in accordance with his best judgment.
If you decide to vote by proxy (including by mail, telephone or
internet), you can revoke - that is, change or cancel - your vote at any time
before your proxy casts his vote at the Annual Meeting. Revoking your vote by
proxy may be accomplished in one of three ways:
- you can send an executed, later-dated proxy card to the Secretary of
the Company, call in different instructions, or access the internet
voting site.
- you can notify the Secretary of Tiffany & Co. in writing that you
wish to revoke your proxy, or
- you can attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person.
A special note for those who plan to attend the Annual Meeting and vote
in person: if your shares are held in the name of a broker, bank or other
nominee, you must bring a statement or letter from the person or entity in whose
name the shares are registered indicating that you are the beneficial owner of
those shares as of the record date. If you do not bring such a statement or
letter, your vote at the meeting will not be counted.
THE NUMBER OF VOTES THAT YOU HAVE
Each share of Tiffany & Co. common stock has one vote. The number of
shares, or votes, that you have at this year's Annual Meeting is indicated on
the enclosed proxy card.
WHAT A QUORUM IS
A "quorum" is the minimum number of shares that must be present at an
Annual Meeting for a valid vote. For our stockholder meetings, a majority of
shares outstanding on the record date must be present.
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The number of shares outstanding at the close of business on March 23,
2001, the record date, was 145,936,811. Therefore, 72,968,406 shares must be
present at our 2001 Annual Meeting for a quorum to be established.
To determine if there is a quorum, we consider a share "present" if:
- the stockholder who owns the share is present at the Annual Meeting,
whether or not he or she chooses to cast a ballot on any proposal,
or
- the stockholder is represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting.
If a stockholder is represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting, his or
her shares are deemed present for purposes of a quorum, even if:
- the stockholder withholds his or her vote or marks "abstains" for
one or more proposals; or
- there is a "broker non-vote" on one or more proposals.
WHAT A "BROKER NON-VOTE" IS
Shares held in a broker's name may be voted by the broker, but only in
accordance with the rules of the New York Stock Exchange. Under those rules,
your broker must follow your instructions. If you do not provide instructions to
your broker, your broker may vote your shares based on its own judgment or it
may withhold a vote. Whether your broker votes or withholds its vote is
determined by the New York Stock Exchange rules and depends on the proposal
being voted upon.
If your broker withholds its vote, that is called a "broker non-vote."
As stated above, broker non-votes are counted as present for a quorum.
WHAT VOTE IS REQUIRED TO APPROVE EACH PROPOSAL
Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast for directors at
the Annual Meeting. Of all nominees, the top seven in terms of "for" votes
received will be elected directors.
You may withhold your vote "for" any nominee, but there is no means for
you to vote "against" any nominee. To withhold your vote "for" any or all of the
nominees named in this Proxy Statement, you can so mark your proxy card or
ballot or, if you vote via telephone or internet, so indicate by telephone or
electronically. A broker non-vote is the same as a withheld vote: neither will
have any effect on the outcome of the election of directors.
The proposal to ratify the approval of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as
independent accountants for fiscal 2001 will be decided by a plurality of the
votes cast "for" or "against" the proposal. Therefore, if you "abstain" from
voting on this matter - in other words, you do not vote on the matter or you
indicate "abstain" on the proxy card, the telephone or by internet, it will not
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affect the outcome of votes on this proposal. That is because only votes cast
"for" or "against" this proposal will be counted in determining whether or not
it has been approved. Broker non-votes on this proposal will be treated the same
as abstentions: neither will have any effect on the vote on the proposal.
PROXY VOTING ON PROPOSALS IN THE ABSENCE OF INSTRUCTIONS
If you do not give any specific instructions as to how your shares are
to be voted when you sign a proxy card or vote by telephone or by internet, your
proxies will vote your shares in accordance with the following recommendations
of the Board of Directors:
- FOR the election of all seven nominees for director named in this
Proxy Statement, and
- FOR approval of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as
independent accountants to examine our fiscal 2001 financial
statements.
Shares held in the Company's Employee Profit Sharing and Retirement
Savings Plan will not be voted by the plan's trustee unless specific
instructions for voting are given by plan participants to whose accounts such
shares have been allocated.
HOW PROXIES ARE SOLICITED
We have hired the firm of Georgeson Shareholder Communications Inc. to
assist in the solicitation of proxies on behalf of the Board of Directors.
Georgeson Shareholder Communications Inc. has agreed to perform this service for
a fee of not more than $6,000 plus out-of-pocket expenses.
Employees of Tiffany and Company, a subsidiary of Tiffany & Co., may
also solicit proxies on behalf of the Board of Directors. These employees will
not receive any additional compensation for their work soliciting proxies and
any costs incurred by them in doing so will be paid for by Tiffany and Company.
This particular solicitation is being made by mail, but proxies may
also be solicited in person, by facsimile, by telephone or by electronic mail
(e-mail).
In addition, we will pay for any costs incurred by brokerage houses and
others for forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners.
OWNERSHIP OF TIFFANY & CO.
STOCKHOLDERS WHO OWN AT LEAST FIVE PERCENT OF TIFFANY & CO.
The following table shows all persons who were known to us to be
"beneficial owners" of at least five percent of Tiffany & Co. stock as of March
23, 2001. Footnote 1 below provides a brief explanation of what is meant by the
term "beneficial ownership." This table is based upon reports filed with the
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Securities and Exchange Commission, commonly referred to as the SEC. These
reports are publicly available. You may therefore obtain copies of them from the
SEC, if you so desire.
Name and Address Amount and Percent
of Nature of Beneficial of
Beneficial Owner Ownership (1) Class
- ---------------- -------------------- --------
The Prudential Ins. Co. of America
751 Broad Street
Newark, NJ 07102-3777 15,710,779 (2) 10.77
-------------------------
(1) "Beneficial ownership" is a term broadly defined by the SEC and includes
more than the typical form of stock ownership, that is, stock held in the
person's name. The term also includes what is referred to as "indirect
ownership" such as where, for example, the person has or shares the power
to vote the stock, sell it or acquire it within 60 days. Accordingly, some
of the shares reported as beneficially owned in this table may actually be
held by other persons or organizations. Those other persons and
organizations are described in the reports filed with the SEC.
(2) Jennison Associates LLC, 466 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10017
("Jennison"), reported to the SEC on its form Schedule 13G that it
benefically owned 15,202,000 shares of the Company's common stock as of
December 31, 2000 and that it had sole voting power over 14,506,200 shares.
Jennison further reported that "[t]he Prudential Insurance Company of
America ("Prudential") indirectly controls Jennison through its indirect
ownership of Jennison. As a result, Prudential may be deemed to have the
power to exercise or to direct the exercise of such voting power and/or
dispositive power that Jennison may have with respect to ... [shares of the
Company's common stock held by clients to which Jennison provides
investment advice]. Jennison does not file jointly with Prudential, as
such, shares of [the Company's] common stock reported on Jennison's 13G may
be included in the shares reported on the 13g filed by Prudential."
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OWNERSHIP BY EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
The following table shows the number of shares of Tiffany & Co. common
stock beneficially owned as of March 23, 2001 by executive officers, including
the Chief Executive Officer (the "CEO") and the four next most highly
compensated executive officers, and directors of Tiffany & Co. as of the end of
the last fiscal year (January 31, 2001).
Amount and Percent
Nature of Beneficial of
Name Ownership Class (1)
- ---- --------------------- -----------
DIRECTORS:
William R. Chaney (Executive Officer) 1,317,500 (2) *
Rose Marie Bravo 36,216 (3) *
Samuel L. Hayes III 200,252 (4) *
Michael J. Kowalski (CEO) 1,114,500 (5) *
Charles K. Marquis 195,812 (6) *
James E. Quinn (Executive Officer) 526,130 (7) *
William A. Shutzer 255,162 (8) *
Geraldine Stutz 215,262 (9) *
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS:
Beth O. Canavan 95,025 (10) *
James N. Fernandez 229,629 (11) *
ALL EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND
DIRECTORS AS A GROUP (15 PERSONS): 4,729,492 (12) 3.2
- -------------------------
(1) An asterisk (*) is used to indicate less than 1% of the class outstanding.
(2) Includes 117,500 shares issuable upon the exercise of "Vested Stock Options"
which are stock options that either are exercisable as of March 23, 2001 or will
become exercisable within 60 days of that date, and 200,000 shares held by Mr.
Chaney's wife.
(3) Includes 32,216 shares issuable upon the exercise of Vested Stock Options.
(4) Includes 54,000 shares held in trust for the benefit of children of Prof.
Hayes, Barbara L. Hayes, his wife, as trustee and 2,368 shares held by Prof.
Hayes's wife. Also includes 143,812 shares issuable upon the exercise of Vested
Stock Options.
(5) Includes 962,500 shares issuable upon the exercise of Vested Stock Options.
(6) Includes 143,812 shares issuable upon the exercise of Vested Stock Options.
(7) Includes 490,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of Vested Stock Options;
130 shares credited to Mr. Quinn's account under the Tiffany & Co. Employee
Profit Sharing and Retirement Savings Plan; 31,600 shares held by Mr. Quinn's
wife; and 800 shares owned by Mr. Quinn's children under UGMA.
(8) Includes 47,876 shares issuable upon the exercise of Vested Stock Options
and 4,800 shares held by or for Mr. Shutzer's minor children, 400 shares held by
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Mr. Shutzer's son and 114,000 shares held by KJC Ltd. of which Mr. Shutzer is
the sole general partner and disclaims beneficial ownership of Tiffany & Co.
stock held by KJC Ltd.
(9) Includes 143,812 shares issuable upon the exercise of Vested Stock Options.
(10) Includes 94,500 shares issuable upon the exercise of Vested Stock Options
and 525 shares credited to Mrs. Canavan's account under the Tiffany & Co.
Employee Profit Sharing and Retirement Savings Plan.
(11) Includes 217,500 shares issuable upon the exercise of Vested Stock Options
and 129 shares credited to Mr. Fernandez's account under the Tiffany & Co.
Employee Profit Sharing and Retirement Savings Plan.
(12) Includes 2,924,528 shares issuable upon the exercise of Vested Stock
Options and 1,589 shares held in the Tiffany & Co. Employee Profit Sharing and
Retirement Savings Plan.
COMPLIANCE OF DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND GREATER-THAN-TEN-PERCENT
STOCKHOLDERS WITH SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires Tiffany &
Co.'s directors, executive officers and greater-than-ten-percent stockholders to
file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC and the New York
Stock Exchange. These persons are also required to provide us with copies of
those reports.
Based on our review of those reports and of certain other documents we
have received, we believe that, during and with respect to our last fiscal year
(February 1, 2000, to January 31, 2001), all filing requirements under Section
16(a) applicable to our directors, executive officers and greater-than-ten-
percent stockholders were satisfied.
FEES PAID TO THE INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP serves as the Company's independent
accountants.
AUDIT FEES
The Company was billed $430,000, in aggregate, by Pricewaterhouse-
Coopers LLP for professional services rendered for the audit of the Company's
annual financial statements for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2001 and the
reviews of the financial statements included in the Company's filings on Forms
10-Q for that fiscal year.
ALL OTHER FEES
The Company was billed $1,082,000, in aggregate, by Pricewaterhouse-
Coopers LLP for all professional services, other than the audit and review
services described above, for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2001.
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Such other professional services did not include services relating to the
operation or management of the Company's information system or local area
network, the design or implementation of hardware or software systems that
aggregate data underlying the Company's financial statements or that otherwise
generate information significant to the Company's financial statements.
TIFFANY & CO.'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, IN GENERAL
Tiffany & Co. is a Delaware corporation. Our principal subsidiary is
Tiffany and Company, a New York corporation. In this Proxy Statement, Tiffany &
Co. will be referred to as "Tiffany & Co." or "the Company" and Tiffany and
Company will be referred to as simply "Tiffany."
Our Board of Directors is currently comprised of eight members. Ms.
Stutz will not be standing for election and the Board of Directors has amended
the By-laws to reduce the number of directors to seven.(1)
Directors are required by our By-laws to be less than age 72 when
elected or appointed unless the Board of Directors waives that provision with
respect to an individual director whose continued service is deemed uniquely
important to Tiffany & Co. The Board of Directors can also fill vacancies and
newly created directorships as well as amend the By-laws to provide for a
greater or lesser number of directors.
The Board of Directors met six times during fiscal 2000. With respect
to the seven nominees for director, their attendance rate at Board and committee
meetings averaged 100% in fiscal 2000.
COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors has an Audit Committee, a Compensation
Committee, a Stock Option Subcommittee and a Nominating Committee.
Audit Committee
The primary function of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board of
Directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect to the
Company's financial matters. The Board of Directors has adopted and approved a
charter for the Audit Committee. Under the charter, which is attached as
Appendix 1, the Audit Committee's responsibilities include:
- reviewing the adequacy of our system of internal financial controls,
- recommending to the Board of Directors the appointment of
independent
- -----------------------
(1) Ms. Stutz, 72, has served as a director of the Company since July 1987.
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accountants and evaluating their proposed audit scope, performance
and fee arrangement,
- conducting a post-audit review of our financial statements and audit
findings in advance of filing, and
- reviewing in advance proposed changes in our accounting methods.
Prof. Hayes, Mr. Marquis and Mr. Shutzer currently serve as members of
the Audit Committee. During fiscal 2000, there were three meetings of this
committee. The Board of Directors has determined that all members of the Audit
Committee are "independent," as that term is defined in Section 303.02(D) of the
New York Stock Exchange's listing standards.
Following is the report of the Audit Committee:
Included in the Company's Annual Report to Stockholders are the
consolidated balance sheets of the Company and its subsidiaries as of January
31, 2001 and 2000, and the related consolidated statement of earnings,
stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period
ended January 31, 2001. These statements (the "Audited Financial Statements")
are the subject of a report by the Company's independent accountants,
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. The Audited Financial Statements are also included
by reference in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Audit Committee reviewed and discussed the Audited Financial
Statements with the Company's management.
The Audit Committee also reviewed and discussed with Pricewaterhouse-
Coopers LLP the matters required to be discussed by Statement of Auditing
Standards No. 61 (Communication with Audit Committees).
The Audit Committee received from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP the
written disclosure and letter required by Independence Standards Board Standard
No. 1 (Independence Discussion with Audit Committees) and has discussed the
independence of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP with that firm. The Audit Committee
has considered whether the provision by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP of the
non-audit services discussed above under "FEES PAID TO INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS -
All Other Fees" is compatible with maintaining PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP's
independence and has concluded that providing such services is compatible with
that firm's independence from the Company and its management.
Based upon the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit
Committee recommended to the Company's Board of Directors that the Audited
Financial Statements be included in the Company's Annual Report to Stockholders
which is incorporated by reference in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2001 for filing with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
Signed:
Samuel L. Hayes III
Charles K. Marquis
William A. Shutzer, Chair
Members of the Audit Committee
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Compensation Committee
The functions performed by the Compensation Committee include
- approval of remuneration arrangements for executive officers, and
- approval of compensation plans in which officers and employees of
Tiffany are eligible to participate.
Ms. Bravo, Prof. Hayes, Mr. Marquis, Mr. Shutzer and Ms. Stutz
currently serve as members of the Compensation Committee. In fiscal 2000, there
were six meetings of this committee.
Stock Option Subcommittee
The Stock Option Subcommittee, a subcommittee of the Compensation
Committee, determines the grant of options and other matters under our 1998
Employee Incentive Plan.
Prof. Hayes, Ms. Bravo and Ms. Stutz currently serve as members of the
Stock Option Subcommittee. The Stock Option Subcommittee met six times in fiscal
2000.
Nominating Committee
The role of the Nominating Committee is to recommend to the Board of
Directors
- policies on the composition of the Board of Directors,
- criteria for the selection of nominees for election to the Board of
Directors,
- nominees to fill vacancies on the Board of Directors, and
- nominees for election to the Board of Directors.
Prof. Hayes, Mr. Marquis, Mr. Shutzer, Ms. Bravo and Ms. Stutz
currently serve as members of the Nominating Committee. This committee had one
meeting in fiscal 2000.
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COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
Directors who are not employees of Tiffany & Co. or its subsidiaries
are paid or provided with the following for their service on the Board:
- an annual retainer of $44,000,
- an additional annual retainer of $2,500 if the director is also a
chairperson of the Compensation, Audit or Nominating Committee,
- a per-meeting-attended fee of $2,000 for meetings attended in
person, except that no fee is paid for attendance at any committee
or subcommittee meetings which occur on the same day as a meeting of
the full Board of Directors,
- a fee of $500 for each telephonic meeting in which the director
participates,
- stock options, as discussed below, and
- a retirement benefit, also discussed below.
Under Tiffany's Amended and Restated Executive Deferral Plan, directors
may defer up to one hundred percent (100%) of their cash compensation and invest
the amounts they defer in various accounts and funds established under the plan.
Tiffany & Co. also reimburses directors for expenses they incur in
attending Board and committee meetings, including expenses for travel, food and
lodging.
As indicated above, non-employee directors may receive options to
purchase shares of Tiffany & Co. common stock. These options vest in two equal
installments - 1/2 after one year of service on the Board following the grant of
the option, and the balance, after two years of service. However, as explained
below, all installments become immediately exercisable in the event there is a
"change in control" of Tiffany & Co.
These options typically expire after 10 years, but they expire sooner
if, before the end of that 10-year period, the director leaves the Board. The
option's exercise price is the fair market value of Tiffany & Co. common stock
on the date of grant, which is calculated as the average of the highest and
lowest sales prices of the stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the date of
grant.
Current policy provides that new non-employee directors will be granted
options to purchase 7,500 shares of Tiffany & Co. common stock upon their
election or appointment to the Board.
Non-employee directors with five or more years of Board service when
they retire are also entitled to receive an annual retirement benefit equal to
the lesser of the annual retainer in effect during the year in which they retire
or $38,000. Subject to adjustment for partial years served, this benefit is
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payable quarterly and continues for a period of time equal to the director's
length of service on the Board. However, this particular benefit will not apply
to any new director appointed or elected after January 1, 1999.
Messrs. Chaney, Kowalski and Quinn are employees of Tiffany. They
therefore receive no separate compensation for their service as directors.
COMPENSATION OF THE CEO AND OTHER EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
This section includes a summary of salaries, bonuses and other
compensation paid to our CEO and each of the four (4) next highest paid
executive officers during the last three fiscal years. Also presented in this
section are options granted to and exercised by each of them in fiscal 2000,
retirement benefits currently available to them and any special employment,
termination or change-in-control arrangements that have been made with any of
them.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
Long Term
Annual Compensation Compensation
------------------------ ---------------
Name and Securities Underlying All Other
Principal Position(1) Year Salary Bonus(2) Options/SARs(3) Compensation
- ---------------- ------ ---------- ---------- --------------- -------------
Michael J. Kowalski 2000 $765,247 $1,125,000 100,000 shares $157,336 (4)
President and CEO 1999 $598,389 $900,000 75,000 shares $63,272 (5)
1998 $466,628 $337,500 100,000 shares $98,802 (6)
William R. Chaney 2000 $498,658 $250,000 30,000 shares $169,716 (7)
Chairman of the 1999 $510,740 $250,000 15,000 shares $241,536 (8)
Board 1998 $636,172 $780,000 15,000 shares $331,192 (9)
James E. Quinn 2000 $581,128 $575,000 75,000 shares $119,486 (10)
Vice Chairman 1999 $473,725 $475,000 50,000 shares $74,810 (11)
1998 $382,048 $254,000 75,000 shares $80,960 (12)
Beth Owen Canavan 2000 $354,814 $280,000 50,000 shares $66,696 (13)
Executive Vice President 1999 $274,262 $190,000 25,000 shares $44,868 (14)
1998 $228,423 $85,000 10,000 shares $49,267 (15)
James N. Fernandez 2000 $490,219 $436,500 65,000 shares $65,767 (16)
Executive Vice President 1999 $398,926 $360,000 35,000 shares $68,090 (17)
and Chief Financial Officer 1998 $316,418 $186,000 50,000 shares $56,534 (18)
(1) Titles are as of the end of fiscal year 2000 (January 31, 2001).
(2) Bonus amounts are earned in the fiscal year ended January 31, paid in the
following March and include cash incentive awards to Messrs. Kowalski,
Quinn and Fernandez and to Mrs. Canavan
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under the 1998 Employee Incentive Plan on the basis of achieved Performance
Goals, specifically, increases above target amounts for the Company's
consolidated earnings per share.
(3) Share amounts have not been restated to take into account stock splits
effected by means of stock dividends. If adjusted to take into account
stock splits, the 2000 share amounts would be doubled and the 1999 and 1998
share amounts would be quadrupled in the case of each officer.
(4) Includes $149,860 attributable to split-dollar life insurance premiums,
$2,376 attributable to premiums for executive long-term disability
insurance and $5,100 for the Company's matching contributions to the 401(k)
feature of the Company's Employee Profit Sharing and Retirement Savings
Plan. The split-dollar life insurance provided to Mr. Kowalski and other
executive officers is discussed below under "Other Compensation
Arrangements."
(5) Includes $56,370 attributable to split-dollar life insurance premiums,
$2,376 attributable to premiums for executive long-term disability
insurance and $4,526 for the Company's matching contributions to the 401(k)
feature of the Company's Employee Profit Sharing and Retirement Savings
Plan.
(6) Includes $91,210 attributable to split-dollar life insurance premiums,
$2,592 attributable to premiums for executive long-term disability
insurance and $5,000 for the Company's matching contributions to the 401(k)
feature of the Company's Employee Profit Sharing and Retirement Savings
Plan.
(7) Includes $167,340 attributable to split-dollar life insurance premiums and
$2,376 attributable to premiums for executive long-term disability
insurance. Mr. Chaney's deferred compensation arrangement is discussed
below under "Other Compensation Arrangements."
(8) Includes $238,800 attributable to split-dollar life insurance premiums and
$2,736 attributable to premiums for executive long-term disability
insurance.
(9) Includes $100,000 contributed to Mr. Chaney's deferred compensation
account, $228,600 attributable to split-dollar life insurance premiums and
$2,592 attributable to premiums for executive long-term disability
insurance.
(10) Includes $112,010 attributable to split-dollar life insurance premiums,
$2,376 attributable to premiums for executive long-term disability
insurance and $5,100 for the Company's matching contributions to the 401(k)
feature of the Company's Employee Profit Sharing and Retirement Savings
Plan.
(11) Includes $67,440 attributable to split-dollar life insurance premiums,
$2,376 attributable to premiums for executive long-term disability
insurance and $4,994 for the Company's matching contributions to the 401(k)
feature of the Company's Employee Profit Sharing and Retirement Savings
Plan.
(12) Includes $73,440 attributable to split-dollar life insurance premiums,
$2,592 attributable to premiums for executive long-term disability
insurance and $4,928 for the Company's matching contributions to the 401(k)
feature of the Company's Employee Profit Sharing and Retirement Savings
Plan.
(13) Includes $59,220 attributable to split-dollar life insurance premiums,
$2,376 attributable to premiums for executive long-term disability
insurance and $5,100 for the Company's matching contributions to the 401(k)
feature of the Company's Employee Profit Sharing and Retirement Savings
Plan.
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(14) Includes $37,570 attributable to split-dollar life insurance premiums,
$2,307 attributable to premiums for executive long-term disability
insurance and $4,991 for the Company's matching contributions to the
401(k) feature of the Company's Employee Profit Sharing and Retirement
Savings Plan.
(15) Includes $42,460 attributable to split-dollar life insurance premiums,
$2,006 attributable to premiums for executive long-term disability
insurance and $4,801 for the Company's matching contributions to the
401(k) feature of the Company's Employee Profit Sharing and Retirement
Savings Plan.
(16) Includes $58,291 attributable to split-dollar life insurance premiums,
$2,376 attributable to premiums for executive long-term disability
insurance and $5,100 for the Company's matching contributions to the
401(k) feature of the Company's Employee Profit Sharing and Retirement
Savings Plan.
(17) Includes $60,731 attributable to split-dollar life insurance premiums,
$2,376 attributable to premiums for executive long-term disability
insurance and $4,983 for the Company's matching contributions to the
401(k) feature of the Company's Employee Profit Sharing and Retirement
Savings Plan.
(18) Includes $49,120 attributable to split-dollar life insurance premiums,
$2,592 attributable to premiums for executive long-term disability
insurance and $4,822 for the Company's matching contributions to the
401(k) feature of the Company's Employee Profit Sharing and Retirement
Savings Plan.
OPTION GRANTS IN FISCAL YEAR 2000
Percent of
Total Options
Granted to all
Employees in Per
Fiscal Share
Options Year Exercise Expiration Grant Date
Name Granted (1) 2000 Price (2) Date (3) Present Value (4)
- -------- ------------ ----- -------- --------- ----------
Michael J. Kowalski 100,000 shares 6.4 $32.47 1/18/2011 $1,192,130
William R. Chaney 30,000 shares 1.9 $32.47 1/18/2011 $357,639
James E. Quinn 75,000 shares 4.8 $32.47 1/18/2011 $894,098
Beth O. Canavan 50,000 shares 3.2 $32.47 1/18/2011 $596,065
James N. Fernandez 65,000 shares 4.2 $32.47 1/18/2011 $774,885
- -------------------------
(1) Options vest (become exercisable) over a four-year period in four equal
annual installments, each contingent on continued employment. However, all
installments immediately vest if there is a "change in control." The term
"change in control" is discussed below.
(2) The exercise price for each share is its fair market value on the date of
grant. This is determined by averaging the highest and lowest sales prices
of Tiffany & Co. common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the date of
grant.
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(3) Normally, these options expire on the 10th anniversary of their grant date.
However, they expire earlier if, before that 10th anniversary, the officer
dies, becomes disabled, retires or leaves Tiffany.
(4) The amounts stated are hypothetical values calculated under the
Black-Scholes model, a mathematical formula used to value options covering
securities traded on stock exchanges. This formula considers a number of
factors in estimating an option's present value, including the stock's
volatility rate (35.0%), expected term (5 years), interest rate (4.9%) and
dividend yield (0.7%). The actual value, if any, that the executive officer
will realize from these options will depend solely on the increase of the
stock price over the $32.47 share exercise price when the options are
exercised.
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN FISCAL YEAR 2000
AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
Number of Value (2) of
Shares Unexercised Options In-The-Money Options
Acquired Value at Fiscal Year-End (1) at Fiscal Year-End (1)
Name on Exercise Realized Exercisable/Unexercisable Exercisable/Unexercisable
- -------------- ------- ------ -------------------- --------------------
Michael J. Kowalski 0 0 962,500 / 447,500 $26,426,984 / $5,787,226
William R. Chaney 240,000 $7,700,971 117,500 / 132,500 $2,851,886 / $2,161,382
James E. Quinn 80,000 $2,863,846 490,000 / 325,000 $12,580,206 / $4,306,150
Beth O. Canavan 28,000 $933,190 90,500 / 125,500 $1,988,978 / $1,125,480
James N. Fernandez 32,000 $1,095,002 217,500 / 237,500 $4,935,148 / $3,028,602
(1) Options are deemed "exercisable" in this table if they are exercisable as
of January 31, 2001, or will become exercisable within 60 days of that
date.
(2) The market price per share on which the option value was calculated was
$36.90
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
As indicated above, the following directors served as members of the
Compensation Committee during the 2000 fiscal year: Ms. Bravo, Professor Hayes,
Messrs. Marquis and Shutzer and Ms. Stutz. None of the members of the
Compensation Committee was, at any time either during or before such fiscal
year, an employee of Tiffany & Co. or any of its subsidiaries.
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PENSION PLAN AND SUPPLEMENTAL RETIREMENT INCOME PLAN
Tiffany has established two separate retirement plans for eligible
employees: a Pension Plan and a Supplemental Retirement Income Plan.
The Pension Plan is a "qualified plan," that is, it is designed to
comply with those provisions of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to
retirement plans. The Pension Plan provides participants with a retirement
benefit based on the participant's "average final compensation" multiplied by
his or her years of service with Tiffany. The amount of the benefit payable
under the Pension Plan is subject to Internal Revenue Code limitations.
The Supplemental Retirement Income Plan is not a qualified plan and is
not subject to Internal Revenue Code limitations on the amount of benefits it
may pay. It was established to supplement the Pension Plan and Social Security
by providing additional payments upon a participant's retirement.
Payments under the Supplemental Retirement Income Plan, together with
payments under the Pension Plan and from Social Security, would equal a variable
percentage of the participant's "average final compensation." This assumes that
the vesting requirements under the Supplemental Retirement Income Plan are met.
Depending upon the participant's years of service with Tiffany, the
combined benefit under the Pension Plan and the Supplemental Retirement Income
Plan and from Social Security would be as follows:
Combined Benefit as a
Percentage of
Years of Service Average Final Compensation
---------------- --------------------------
less than 10 0%
10-14 20%
15-19 30%
20-24 40%
25-29 50%
30 or more 60%
A participant's "average final compensation" is the average annual
compensation he or she received over the five highest paid plan years (January 1
to December 31) during his or her last 10 years of service. In general,
compensation reported in the Summary Compensation Table above as "Salary" and
"Bonus" is compensation for purposes of the Pension Plan and the Supplemental
Retirement Income Plan; amounts attributable to the exercise of stock options
are not included.
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The following table sets forth the estimated combined annual benefit
payable on retirement to participants under the Supplemental Retirement Income
Plan, Pension Plan and Social Security.
Annual Total Benefit for Years of Service
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Average Final
Compensation 15 20 25 30 35
- ------------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
$125,000 $37,500 $50,000 $62,500 $75,000 $75,000
$150,000 $45,000 $60,000 $75,000 $90,000 $90,000
$175,000 $52,500 $70,000 $87,500 $105,000 $105,000
$200,000 $60,000 $80,000 $100,000 $120,000 $120,000
$225,000 $67,500 $90,000 $112,500 $135,000 $135,000
$250,000 $75,000 $100,000 $125,000 $150,000 $150,000
$300,000 $90,000 $120,000 $150,000 $180,000 $180,000
$400,000 $120,000 $160,000 $200,000 $240,000 $240,000
$450,000 $135,000 $180,000 $225,000 $270,000 $270,000
$500,000 $150,000 $200,000 $250,000 $300,000 $300,000
$600,000 $180,000 $240,000 $300,000 $360,000 $360,000
$700,000 $210,000 $280,000 $350,000 $420,000 $420,000
$800,000 $240,000 $320,000 $400,000 $480,000 $480,000
$900,000 $270,000 $360,000 $450,000 $540,000 $540,000
$1,000,000 $300,000 $400,000 $500,000 $600,000 $600,000
All executive officers except Mr. Chaney are eligible to participate in
the Pension Plan and the Supplemental Retirement Income Plan. At the end of the
last fiscal year (January 31, 2001), the current years of creditable service and
average final compensation under both plans for each of the eligible executive
officers named in the Summary Compensation Table were as follows:
Name Years of Service Average Final Compensation
- --------- ---------------- --------------------------
Michael J. Kowalski 22 $869,785
James E. Quinn 14 $652,708
Beth O. Canavan 13 $338,651
James N. Fernandez 22 $500,807
OTHER COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS
As indicated above, Mr. Chaney is not eligible for benefits under
either the Pension Plan or the Supplemental Retirement Income Plan. An
alternative arrangement to fund retirement benefits for Mr. Chaney was in effect
until he retired as Chief Executive Officer. Prior to his retirement as Chief
Executive Officer, Tiffany credited $25,000 per calendar quarter, plus accrued
interest at a prime rate, to an account in his favor. This was done under the
terms of a deferred compensation agreement entered into with Mr. Chaney in
December 1989. The account is maintained on the books of Tiffany as a liability
to Mr. Chaney.
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Upon Mr. Chaney's resignation as Chief Executive Officer on January 31,
1999, the deferred compensation agreement was amended to provide for the
discontinuance of accruals to his account after December 31, 1998. As of
February 1, 1999, the balance in this account was $2,644,701.78. Commencing in
March of 1999, Tiffany became obligated under the Agreement to pay Mr. Chaney a
monthly annuity of $22,449.35 from the account. This obligation terminates on
Mr. Chaney's death. On his death, the excess, if any, of the balance in his
account as of February 1,1999, over the sum of all annuity payments actually
made will be paid to Mr. Chaney's estate.
The Company and Tiffany have entered into retention agreements with
each of the executive officers. These agreements would provide a covered
executive with compensation if he or she should incur an "involuntary
termination" after a "change in control." The purpose of these agreements is to
keep our management team in place and focused on their job duties should
discussions of a "change in control" ever occur. An "involuntary termination"
does not include a termination for cause, but does include a resignation for
good cause.
When, if ever, a "change in control" occurs, the covered executives
would have fixed, or guaranteed, terms of employment under their retention
agreements as follows: three years in the case of Mr. Kowalski and Mr. Quinn and
two years for all other executive officers. If the executive incurs an
involuntary termination during his or her term, compensation, keyed to the
length of his or her term, would be payable to the executive as follows:
- two or three times salary and bonus as severance,
- a payment equal to the present value of two or three years of
additional years of service credit under the Supplemental Retirement
Income Plan, and
- two or three years of benefits continuation under Tiffany's health and
welfare plans.
The covered executives may receive other benefits in connection with a
"change in control," such as accelerated vesting of stock options or pension
benefits under the Supplemental Retirement Income Plan. Because a covered
executive's receipt of payments and benefits in connection with a "change in
control" may trigger a 20% excise tax under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue
Code, the retention agreements contain "gross-up" provisions. Under these
provisions, the Company or Tiffany must pay the covered executive's excise tax
and any additional income tax resulting from the gross-up provisions. If the
gross-up provisions are triggered, the Company or Tiffany, as the case may be,
will be unable to deduct most of the "change in control" payments and benefits.
Tiffany maintains split-dollar life insurance agreements with some of
its executive officers, including Mr. Kowalski, Mr. Chaney, Mr. Quinn, Mrs.
Canavan and Mr. Fernandez. Under those agreements, Tiffany pays the premiums for
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executive life insurance and will be repaid for those premium payments from the
death benefit.
Until there is a "change in control," Tiffany has the right to
terminate those split-dollar agreements. If there is a "change in control,"
Tiffany loses that right, and will then be bound to continue to pay premiums
until the maturity date of each executive's agreement, which is when the
executive reaches age 65, or age 75 in the case of Mr. Chaney. At the maturity
date, the cash value of each policy will be sufficient for the following
purposes:
- to repay Tiffany its premium investment, and
- to continue the policy in force, without payment of further
premiums, with a death benefit equivalent to twice the executive's
average annual salary and bonus compensation for the last three
calendar years prior to termination of employment.
In the event of a "change in control" of Tiffany & Co., all options
granted under its various stock option plans become exercisable in full. In
addition, all benefits under the Supplemental Retirement Income Plan become
vested and payable at retirement age, but only if, at the time of the "change in
control," benefits are also vested under the Pension Plan.
For purposes of the split-dollar agreements, the Supplemental
Retirement Income Plan and the stock options, the term "change in control" means
that one of the following events has occurred:
- any person or group of persons acting in concert, and by person we
mean an individual or organization, acquires thirty-five percent or
more in voting power or stock of Tiffany & Co., including the
acquisition of any right, option, warrant or other right to obtain
such voting power or stock, whether or not presently exercisable,
unless the acquisition is authorized or approved by the Board of
Directors;
- a majority of the Board of Directors is, for any reason, not made up
of individuals who were either on the Board on January 21, 1988, or,
if they became members of the Board after that date, were approved
by the directors; or
- any other circumstance which the Board deems to be a "change in
control."
For purposes of the retention agreements, a "change in control" includes
the above events, as well as additional events amounting to a change in control
of the Company or Tiffany, even if the Board has approved of such events. Such
events could include a so-called "friendly" acquisition of the Company or
Tiffany.
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COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following is the Compensation Committee's report on executive
compensation:
The Committee's overall compensation policy is to provide a
reward structure that will motivate the officers to assist the
Company's achievement of its strategic and financial goals, retain and
attract competent personnel and link the interests of management with
those of the stockholders through stock-based compensation.
(i) Cash Bonuses
The Committee believes that the portion of an officer's
compensation that is "at risk" (subject to adjustment for corporate
and/or individual performance factors) should vary proportionally to
the amount of responsibility the officer bears for the Company's
success. The Committee adheres to that philosophy in establishing
target bonuses.
Each January, the Committee establishes target bonuses for
executive officers for the fiscal year that will begin on the first day
of February.
For most officers, a bonus equal to or in excess of the target
is paid if the Company achieves its business plan and if the
individual's personal and/or business unit performance meets or exceeds
expectations. If the Company fails to achieve its business plan, or if
the individual's personal and/or business unit performance fails to
meet expectations, the bonus is reduced or eliminated.
In January of 2001, the Stock Option Subcommittee (the
"Subcommittee") made a different arrangement for Mrs. Canavan and
Messrs. Kowalski, Quinn and Fernandez. Their fiscal 2001 bonuses will
be calculated solely on the basis of the increase or decrease in the
Company's consolidated net earnings in accordance with a formula. This
arrangement is an "Incentive Award" under the provisions of the 1998
Employee Incentive Plan. For this reason, the entire bonus payable to
Mrs. Canavan and to Messrs. Kowalski, Quinn and Fernandez will be
deductible under the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Internal
Revenue Code (see below).
For fiscal 2001, Mr. Kowalski's target bonus under the
Incentive Award arrangement is 75% of his salary. Target bonuses for
the other executive officers for fiscal 2001 range from 35% to 50% of
salary and average approximately 40%.
For fiscal 2000, target bonuses under Incentive Award
Arrangements were 75%, 50%, 45% and 40% of base salary for Messrs.
Kowalski, Quinn and Fernandez and Mrs. Canavan. The actual bonuses paid
to those employees were $1,125,000, $575,000, $436,500 and $280,000,
respectively, or 200% of the target amount in each case. These awards
were calculated by the Subcommittee solely on the basis of the increase
in the Company's consolidated net earnings in accordance with a formula
established by the Subcommittee in January of 2000.
Target bonuses for the other executive officers for fiscal
year 2000 ranged from 35% to 50% of salary and averaged approximately
38% of salary. No target bonus was
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set for Mr. Chaney. The actual bonus paid for fiscal 2000 to each
executive officer was determined by the Committee in January of 2001.
At that time, the Committee compared the Company's projected fiscal
2000 performance to its business and strategic plans, and the
performance of each executive officer (other than of Mr. Kowalski
himself) was reviewed for the Committee by Mr. Kowalski. Mr. Chaney
also contributed to these evaluations (other than with respect to
himself). Bonuses actually awarded to the executive officers (other
than Messrs. Kowalski, Quinn, Fernandez and Chaney) averaged 200% of
the target amounts.
In awarding bonuses for fiscal 2000 to the executive officers
(other than Messrs. Kowalski, Quinn and Fernandez and Mrs. Canavan) the
Committee applied the following measures of corporate financial
performance: the success that the Company had in meeting and exceeding
its 2000 objectives for profitability, expense control, sales results
and staffing. The Committee also considered, where applicable, the
financial results of any business unit for which the officer was
responsible. Finally, the Committee considered the following subjective
factors: the judgments of Mr. Chaney and Mr. Kowalski and the members
of the Committee concerning the officer's leadership, development of
creative business opportunities and motivation and development of
staff.
(ii) Salaries and Benefits
The Committee believes that the Company's compensation and
benefits program for its executives is competitive with the program
generally offered by comparable retailers and direct marketing
organizations. This program enables the Company to retain and attract
competent management personnel.
To assess the competitiveness of the compensation offered to
the Company's executive officers, the Committee reviewed an analysis
prepared by a nationally recognized compensation consulting firm. That
analysis included data concerning compensation provided by companies in
the Peer Company Group referred to under "PERFORMANCE OF TIFFANY & CO.
STOCK" below, a survey of 52 companies in the retail/wholesale industry
and a general industry sample of companies with revenues in the $1
billion to $3 billion range. The Committee believes that a competitive
market for the services of retail executives exists, even among firms
that are not peers of the Company or that operate in a different line
of business.
Executive salaries are reviewed by the Committee in January of
each year and typically are adjusted on the basis of merit and relevant
competitive factors.
(iii) Stock Options
Options to purchase the common stock of the Company are
granted to executive officers in January of each year, and may be
exercised, when vested, to purchase common stock at its fair market
value as of the date of the option grant. Options vest and become
exercisable in four equal annual installments beginning with the first
anniversary of the grant date; non-vested installments are forfeited if
the option holder leaves the Company.
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Option grants are authorized by the Subcommittee. The
Subcommittee believes that the greater the officer's position and level
of responsibility within the Company, the greater the desirability for
compensation that is linked to the long-term interests of the
stockholders. For that reason, the size of option grants is generally
tied to the individual's level of responsibility within the Company. In
determining the size of each option grant the Subcommittee also
considers, in certain cases, subjective factors, such as the individual's
potential for further growth within the Company and his or her past
performance.
(iv) Limitation Under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code generally denies a
federal income-tax deduction to a publicly-held corporation for
compensation in excess of $1 million per year paid to certain persons.
These include persons who were, as of the last day of the corporation's
taxable year, (i) the chief executive officer or (ii) among the four
highest-compensated officers. This denial of deduction is subject to an
exception for certain "performance-based compensation," including the
stock options and Incentive Awards discussed above. Under current
arrangements, the Company will be entitled to deduct all compensation
paid to its executive officers. However, the Board of Directors does not
believe that it would be in the best interests of the Company to adopt a
policy that would preclude compensation arrangements that might in the
future be subject to deduction limitations.
Signed:
Rose Marie Bravo
Samuel L. Hayes III
Charles K. Marquis
William A. Shutzer
Geraldine Stutz
Members of the Compensation Committee
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PERFORMANCE OF TIFFANY & CO. STOCK
The following graph compares changes in the cumulative total shareholder
return on Tiffany & Co.'s stock for the previous five fiscal years to returns on
the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index and a peer group index for the same
period. Cumulative shareholder return is defined as changes in the closing price
of our stock on the New York Stock Exchange, adjusted to reflect two-for-one
stock splits that occurred in July of 1996, 1999 and 2000, plus the reinvestment
of any dividends paid on our stock.
COMPARISON OF FIVE YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN AMONG
TIFFANY & CO., S&P 500 INDEX AND PEER GROUP INDEX
[TIFFANY & CO. BAR GRAPH]
1/31/96 1/31/97 1/31/98 1/31/99 1/31/00 1/31/01
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Tiffany & Co. 100.00 135.71 141.56 212.24 547.46 451.17
Standard & Poors 500 100.00 126.58 160.57 212.39 232.72 237.09
Peer Group 100.00 126.19 132.10 192.65 182.88 179.66
ASSUMES AN INVESTMENT OF $100 ON JANUARY 31, 1996 IN TIFFANY & CO. STOCK AND
EACH OF THE TWO INDICES AND THE REINVESTMENT OF ANY SUBSEQUENT DIVIDENDS.
TOTAL RETURNS ARE BASED ON MARKET CAPITALIZATION; INDICES ARE WEIGHTED AT THE
BEGINNING OF EACH PERIOD FOR WHICH A RETURN IS INDICATED.
PEER COMPANY GROUP: A.T. Cross Co.; Gucci Group NV; Jostens, Inc.; Lazare Kaplan
International Inc.; The Neiman-Marcus Group, Inc.; Nordstrom, Inc.; Reeds
Jewelers, Inc.; Sotheby's Holdings; Williams-Sonoma Inc.; and Zale Corporation.
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DISCUSSION OF PROPOSALS PRESENTED BY THE BOARD
ITEM I--ELECTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Each year, we elect directors at an Annual Meeting of Stockholders. At the
2001 Annual Meeting, seven directors will be elected. Each of them will serve
until he or she is succeeded by another qualified director or until his or her
earlier resignation or removal from office.
It is not anticipated that any of this year's nominees will be unable to
serve as a director, but if that should occur before the Annual Meeting, the
Board may either propose another nominee or reduce the number of directors to
be elected. If another nominee is proposed, you or your proxy will have the
right to vote for that person at the Annual Meeting.
Information concerning each of the nominees is set forth below:
- ---------------------------
William R. Chaney Mr. Chaney, 68, is the Chairman of the
Board of Directors. Mr. Chaney joined
Tiffany in January 1980 as a member of
its Board of Directors and was named
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
Tiffany & Co. in August 1984. He
resigned as Chief Executive Officer
effective February 1, 1999. Prior to
joining Tiffany, he served as an
executive officer of Avon Products, Inc.
Mr. Chaney also serves on the Boards of
Directors of The Bank of New York and
the Atlantic Mutual Companies.
- ---------------------------
Rose Marie Bravo Ms. Bravo, 50, is Worldwide Chief
Executive of Burberry Limited and is a
member of its Board of Directors. Ms.
Bravo previously served as President of
Saks Fifth Avenue from 1992 to 1997. Ms.
Bravo became a director of Tiffany & Co.
in October 1997 when she was selected by
the Board of Directors to fill a newly
created directorship.
- ---------------------------
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Samuel L. Hayes III Prof. Hayes, 66, has been the Jacob H.
Schiff Professor of Investment Banking at
the Harvard Business School since 1975. In
1998, he accepted emeritus status. He was
elected a director of Tiffany & Co. in 1984.
He also serves on the boards of the Eaton
Vance Group of Funds, the Kobrick Funds and
Telect, Inc.
- -------------------------
Michael J. Kowalski Mr. Kowalski, 49, is President and Chief
Executive Officer of Tiffany & Co. Prior to
his appointment as President in January
1996, he was an Executive Vice President of
Tiffany & Co., a position he had held since
March 1992. Mr. Kowalski also served as
Tiffany & Co.'s Chief Operating Officer from
January 1997 until his appointment as Chief
Executive Officer became effective in
February 1999. He became a director of
Tiffany & Co. in January 1995.
- --------------------------
Charles K. Marquis Mr. Marquis, 58, is a Senior Advisor to
Investcorp International, Inc. From 1974
through 1998, he was a partner in the law
firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher L.L.P. He
was elected a director of Tiffany & Co. in
1984. Mr. Marquis also serves on the Boards
of Directors of CSK Auto Corporation,
Jostens, Inc. and Werner Holding Co.
- --------------------------
James E. Quinn Mr. Quinn, 49, is Vice Chairman of Tiffany &
Co., responsible for sales throughout the
world. Prior to his appointment as Vice
Chairman in January 1998, Mr. Quinn was an
Executive Vice President of Tiffany & Co., a
position he had held since March 1992. He
became a director of Tiffany & Co. in
January 1995. He is also a member of the
Boards of Directors of BNY Hamilton Funds,
Inc. and Mutual of America Capital
Management.
- --------------------------
25
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William A. Shutzer Mr. Shutzer, 54, is a Managing Director of
Lehman Brothers. He previously served as a
Partner in Thomas Weisel Partners LLC, a
merchant banking firm, from 1999 through
2000, as Executive Vice President of ING
Baring Furman Selz LLC from 1998 through
1999, President of Furman Selz Inc. from
1995 through 1997 and as a Managing Director
of Lehman Brothers and its predecessors from
1978 through 1994. He was elected a director
of Tiffany & Co. in 1984. Mr. Shutzer is
also a member of the Boards of Directors of
The Fortress Group and internet.com
Corporation and serves on the Advisory Board
of E&J Gallo Winery.
- -------------------------
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE ELECTION OF ALL
SEVEN NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR.
ITEM II - APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
Upon the recommendation of its Audit Committee, the Board of Directors
has appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent accountants to examine
the Company's consolidated financial statements for fiscal year 2001. We are
asking you to ratify our selection.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is the successor to the firm formerly known
as Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. Before becoming a part of PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP, Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. and its predecessor Coopers & Lybrand served as
the Company's independent accountants since 1984.
A representative of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP will be in attendance at
the Annual Meeting to respond to appropriate questions raised by stockholders
and will be afforded the opportunity to make a statement at the meeting, if he
or she desires to do so.
The Board of Directors may review its selection if its appointment is
not approved by the stockholders.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" RATIFICATION OF THE
SELECTION OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP AS TIFFANY & CO.'S INDEPENDENT
ACCOUNTANTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2001.
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OTHER MATTERS
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS, IN GENERAL
If you would like to submit the name of a candidate for the Nominating
Committee to consider as a nominee for director, you may send your proposal at
any time to the Nominating Committee, c/o Mr. Patrick B. Dorsey, Secretary,
Tiffany & Co., 600 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10022.
If you would like to nominate a candidate for director or bring other
business before the stockholders at the 2002 Annual Meeting, which is currently
expected to take place on May 16, 2002, you must comply with the following
requirements:
- you must notify the Secretary of Tiffany & Co. in writing no earlier
than January 17, 2002, and no later than February 16, 2002,
- if the matter you wish to present is other than the nomination of a
candidate for director, your proposal must be a proper matter for
stockholder action under the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware, and
- your proposal must contain all of the information required under our
By-laws, a copy of which is available, at no charge, from the
Secretary.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR INCLUSION IN THE PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE 2002 ANNUAL
MEETING
If you wish to submit a proposal to be included in the Proxy Statement
for our 2002 Annual Meeting, we must receive it no later than December 11, 2001.
Proposals should be sent to Tiffany & Co. at 600 Madison Avenue, New York, New
York, 10022, addressed to the attention of Patrick B. Dorsey, Secretary.
REMINDER TO VOTE
Please be sure to either complete, sign and mail the enclosed proxy
card in the return envelope provided or call in your instructions or vote by
internet as soon as you can so that your vote may be recorded and counted.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Patrick B. Dorsey
Secretary
New York, New York
April 10, 2001
27
32
Appendix 1
TIFFANY & CO.
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
(Adopted by the Board of Directors: March 16, 2000)
PURPOSE: the purpose of the Audit Committee is to oversee and monitor, on behalf
of the Board of Directors, the Company's financial reporting process and systems
of internal controls regarding finance, accounting and legal compliance.
SCOPE: the Audit Committee's role is one of oversight. The Board of Directors
recognizes that the Company's management is responsible for preparing the
Company's financial statements and that outside auditors are responsible for
auditing those financial statements. In fulfilling this responsibility, the
outside auditors are ultimately accountable to the Board of Directors of the
Company and its Audit Committee. In order to fulfill it's oversight
responsibility to shareholders and the investment community, the Audit Committee
must be capable of conducting free and open discussions with management,
internal and outside auditors, employees and others regarding the quality of the
financial statements and the system of internal controls.
RESPONSIBILITIES: the responsibilities of the Audit Committee shall be as
follows:
1. to review the adequacy of the Company's system of internal accounting and
financial controls;
2. to select and evaluate outside auditors and to review the performance of same
and to recommend to the Board of Directors the appointment or replacement of
outside auditors; to review fee arrangements in connection with such
appointments and recommend such arrangements to the Board of Directors;
3. to ensure the independence of the outside auditors by: (i) reviewing, and
discussing with the Board of Directors any relationships between the auditors
and the Company, or any other relationship, that may adversely affect the
independence of the auditor; (ii) ensuring that the outside auditors submit on a
periodic basis to the Audit Committee a formal written statement delineating all
relationships between the auditors and the Company; (iii) actively engaging in a
dialogue with the outside auditors with respect to any disclosed relationships
or services that may impact the objectivity and independence of the outside
auditors; and (iv) recommending that the Board of Directors take appropriate
action in response to the outside auditors' report to satisfy itself of the
outside auditors' independence;
4. to require that the outside auditors have confirmed their understanding of
the following: that the outside auditors are ultimately accountable to the Board
of Directors of the Company and its Audit Committee;
5. to review annually the outside auditors' proposed audit scope and approach;
6. to review annually the results of the internal audit department's findings,
including the results of the Company's Business Conduct program, and proposed
audit plans;
7. to conduct a post-audit, pre-issuance review of the financial statements,
discuss such
28
33
statements with the officers of the Company and outside auditors,
and, if such statements are found acceptable, to recommend to the Board of
Directors that such statements be included in the Company's annual report on
Form 10-K; to conduct a review of audit findings, the quality of internal
accounting and financial controls as well as any other matters required to be
discussed under Statements of Auditing Standards No. 61;
8. to annually review this Audit Committee Charter and to propose necessary or
appropriate revisions to the Board of Directors; and
9. to perform such other oversight and special investigatory functions as deemed
necessary or as requested by the full Board of Directors.
REPORTING RESPONSIBILITIES: the Audit Committee shall report its conclusions and
concerns to the Board of Directors.
AUTHORITY: the Audit Committee and each of its members is authorized by the
Board of Directors to communicate directly and/or privately with members of the
Company's management, employees, internal and independent audit staff members,
counsel and third parties in the performance of Audit Committee functions. The
Chairman of the Audit Committee is hereby authorized to commit Company funds in
order to obtain legal counsel, investigatory services or expert advice necessary
or desirable in connection with Audit Committee functions.
COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP: the membership of the Audit Committee shall consist of
three or more directors each of whom: (i) shall have been appointed by the Board
of Directors; (ii) shall be free of any relationship to the Company which, in
the opinion of the Board of Directors, may interfere with the exercise of their
independence from management and the Company; (iii) shall be or shall become
(within a reasonable period of time after his or her appointment) "financially
literate," as such qualification is interpreted by the Board of Directors; and
(iv) shall otherwise meet the requirements of independence as set forth in
subparagraph 303.01(3) of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual, as
amended from time to time. In addition, at least one member of the Audit
Committee shall have accounting or related financial management expertise. The
Board of Directors reserves all authority permitted under paragraphs 303.01 and
303.02 of said Listed Company Manual in connection with the determination of
independence.
MEETINGS: the Audit Committee shall meet as often as necessary to fulfill its
functions, but no less than three times annually.
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34
Please mark [X]
your votes
as indicated
in this example
FOR ALL WITHHELD FOR NOMINEES
NOMINEES NAMED BELOW
Item 1: Election of the following
nominees as directors: [ ] [ ]
01 William R. Chaney
02 Rose Marie Bravo
03 Samuel L. Hayes III
04 Michael J. Kowalski
05 Charles K. Marquis
06 James E. Quinn and
07 William A. Shutzer.
WITHHELD FOR (write in each nominee's name in the space provided below):
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Item 2: Approval of the appointment FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
as independent accountants of [ ] [ ] [ ]
the Company's fiscal 2001
financial statements.
YES
I plan to attend the Annual Meeting [ ]
THIS PROXY IS CONTINUED ON THE REVERSE SIDE.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS: A VOTE FOR ALL NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR IN ITEM
1, AND FOR APPROVAL OF THE APPOINTMENT OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP AS
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS IN ITEM 2. SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS PROXY WILL BE
SO VOTED UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED, IN WHICH CASE THEY WILL BE VOTED AS MARKED.
Signature Signature Date
---------------------- ------------------ ----------
NOTE: Please date and sign exactly as your name appears printed on this card.
When shares are held by joint owners, all should sign. When signing as fiduciary
(e.g., attorney, executor, administrator, conservator, trustee or guardian),
please give title. If a corporation or partnership, please sign in corporate or
partnership name by an authorized person.
* FOLD AND DETACH HERE *
VOTE BY INTERNET OR TELEPHONE OR MAIL
24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK
YOUR INTERNET OR TELEPHONE VOTE AUTHORIZES THE NAMED PROXIES TO VOTE YOUR
SHARES IN THE SAME MANNER AS IF YOU MARKED, SIGNED AND RETURNED YOUR PROXY CARD.
INTERNET
http://www.proxyvoting.com/tif
Use the Internet to vote your proxy. Have your proxy card in hand when you
access the web site. You will be prompted to enter your control number, located
in the box below, to create and submit an electronic ballot.
OR
TELEPHONE
1-800-840-1208
Use any touch-tone telephone to vote your proxy. Have your proxy card in hand
when you call. You will be prompted to enter your control number, located in
the box below, and then follow the directions given.
OR
MAIL
Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the enclosed postage-paid
envelope.
IF YOU VOTE YOUR PROXY BY INTERNET OR BY TELEPHONE, YOU DO NOT NEED TO MAIL
BACK YOUR PROXY CARD.
35
TIFFANY & CO.
PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING
SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR USE AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF
STOCKHOLDERS OF TIFFANY & CO. (THE "COMPANY") TO BE HELD MAY 17, 2001, AT 10:00
A.M. NEW YORK TIME IN THE ROOF/PENTHOUSE OF THE ST. REGIS HOTEL, 2 EAST 55TH
STREET AT FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, NEW YORK. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS:
A VOTE "FOR" ALL NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR IN ITEM 1, AND "FOR" APPROVAL OF THE
APPOINTMENT OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP AS INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS IN ITEM 2.
SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS PROXY WILL BE SO VOTED UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED,
IN WHICH CASE THEY WILL BE VOTED AS MARKED. IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN, SUCH
SHARES WILL BE VOTED "FOR" ITEMS 1 AND 2. IF ANY NOMINEE NAMED ON THE REVERSE
SIDE OF THIS CARD IS UNABLE TO SERVE AS A DIRECTOR, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MAY NOMINATE ANOTHER PERSON OR PERSONS IN SUBSTITUTION FOR SUCH NOMINEE AND THE
PROXIES NAMED BELOW WILL VOTE FOR THE PERSON OR PERSONS SO NOMINATED OR FOR
SUCH LESSER NUMBER OF DIRECTORS AS MAY BE PRESCRIBED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
The undersigned hereby appoints W.R. CHANEY, J.N. FERNANDEZ, and P.B. DORSEY,
and each of them, proxies, with full power of substitution, to act for the
undersigned, and to vote all shares of common stock represented by this proxy
which the undersigned may be entitled to vote at the 2001 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders (and any adjournment thereof) as directed and permitted on the
reverse side of this card and, in their judgment, on such matters as may be
incident to the conduct of or may properly come before the meeting.
IMPORTANT
THIS PROXY IS CONTINUED ON THE REVERSE SIDE
* FOLD AND DETACH HERE *
TIFFANY & CO.
727 Fifth Avenue
New York, N.Y. 10022
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS to be held
THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2001
The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Tiffany & Co. (the "Company") will be
held in the Roof/Penthouse of The St. Regis Hotel, 2 East 55th Street at Fifth
Avenue, New York, New York on May 17, 2001, at 10:00 a.m. New York time to
consider and take action on the following:
1. Election of seven (7) directors to hold office until the next annual meeting
of stockholders and until their respective successors have been elected and
qualified;
2. Approval of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent
accountants of the Company's fiscal 2001 financial statements.
All stockholders are cordially invited to attend, although only those
stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 23, 2001 will be
entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting or any adjournments thereof.
The transfer books will not be closed.
A list of stockholders entitled to vote will be available for inspection by
interested stockholders at the offices of the Company, 600 Madison Avenue, 8th
Floor, New York commencing on April 27, 2001 during ordinary business hours.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Patrick B. Dorsey
Secretary
New York, New York
April 10, 2001
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. EVEN IF IT IS YOUR DESIRE TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING,
PLEASE SIGN AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY IN THE ACCOMPANYING POSTAGE PAID
ENVELOPE, VOTE BY INTERNET OR CALL IN YOUR VOTE.