US’ Tapestry to acquire fashion company Capri Holdings for $8.5 bn

The transaction is anticipated to close in calendar year 2024, subject to approval by the Capri Holdings shareholders, as well as the receipt of required regulatory approvals, and other customary closing conditions.

Tapestry Inc, the company behind brands Coach, Kate Spade, and Stuart Weitzman, will acquire Capri Holdings Limited, the group that includes Versace, Jimmy Choo, and Michael Kors, at a total value of $8.5 billion.
The deal is expected to close in 2024 and will combine six complementary brands with global reach, generating over $12 billion in annual sales.

This acquisition brings together six highly complementary brands with global reach, powered by Tapestry’s data-rich customer engagement platform and diversified, direct-to-consumer operating model. The combined company generated global annual sales in excess of $12 billion with a presence in over 75 countries and achieved nearly $2 billion in adjusted operating profit in the prior fiscal, Tapestry said in a media release.

Joanne Crevoiserat, chief executive officer of tapestry, Inc, said, “We are excited to announce the acquisition of Capri Holdings – uniting six iconic brands and exceptional global teams. Tapestry is an organisation with a passion for building enduring brands through superior design and craftsmanship and an unwavering focus on our customers. Importantly, we’ve created a dynamic, data-driven consumer engagement platform that has fuelled our success, fostering innovation, agility, and strong financial results. From this position of strength, we are ready to leverage our competitive advantages across a broader portfolio of brands.”

John D Idol, chairman and chief executive officer of Capri Holdings Limited, said, “Today’s announcement marks a major milestone for Capri. It is a testament to all that our teams have achieved in building Versace, Jimmy Choo, and Michael Kors into the iconic and powerful luxury fashion houses they are today. We are confident this combination will deliver immediate value to our shareholders. It will also provide new opportunities for our dedicated employees around the world as Capri becomes part of a larger and more diversified company. By joining with Tapestry, we will have greater resources and capabilities to accelerate the expansion of our global reach while preserving the unique DNA of our brands.”

Tapestry, Inc’s chief financial officer and chief operating officer, Scott Roe, said, “The acquisition of Capri Holdings accelerates our strategic agenda and represents a significant value creation opportunity. Importantly, this combination is immediately accretive on an adjusted basis and enhances Tapestry’s total shareholder return. This includes more than $200 million in expected run-rate cost synergies within three years of deal closing. Further, our diversified, strong, and consistent cash flows will allow us to continue to invest in our business and rapidly pay down debt – aligned with our commitment to maintaining an investment grade rating – while returning capital to shareholders, including today’s announced 17 per cent increase in our dividend per share.”

The acquisition of Capri Holdings builds on Tapestry’s core tenets as consumer-centric brand-builders and disciplined operators, accelerating its strategic and financial growth agenda. The combination expands portfolio reach and diversification across consumer segments, geographies, and product categories; clverages Tapestry’s consumer engagement platform to drive direct-to-consumer opportunity; unlocks opportunity for significant cost synergies; generates highly diversified, strong, and consistent cash flow; powers continued progress as a purpose-led, people-centred company; and creates path to deliver enhanced total shareholder returns (TSR).

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KD)