Why Tapestry Is Buying Capri For $8.5 Billion

By Annie Baker • Aug 20, 2023

Tapestry (a house of iconic accessories and lifestyle brands consisting of Coach, Kate Spade, and Stuart Weitzman) and Capri Holdings Limited (a global fashion luxury group consisting of Versace, Jimmy Choo, and Michael Kors) recently announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Tapestry will acquire Capri Holdings. Under the terms of the deal, Capri Holdings shareholders will receive $57.00 per share in cash for a total enterprise value of approximately $8.5 billion.

This deal combines six highly complementary brands with global reach, powered by Tapestry’s data-rich customer engagement platform and diversified, direct-to-consumer operating model. And 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 year.

The acquisition of Capri Holdings is building on Tapestry’s core tenets as consumer-centric brand-builders and disciplined operators, accelerating its strategic and financial growth agenda. The combination:

— Establishes a powerful house of iconic luxury and fashion brands across consumer segments globally

— Builds Tapestry’s portfolio in the attractive and resilient $200+ billion global luxury market for handbags, accessories, footwear, and apparel, where the company has deep experience and expertise, while providing deeper access to luxury consumers and market segments

— Extends global reach and geographic diversification given the Tapestry and Capri Holdings’ highly complementary respective positions in Asia and Europe

— Broadens Tapestry’s product offering through increased penetration of lifestyle categories, notably footwear and ready-to-wear, where Capri Holdings brings extensive expertise with further opportunity for growth

— Leverages Tapestry’s Consumer Engagement Platform to Drive Direct-to-Consumer Opportunity

— Leverages Tapestry’s customer engagement platform, data analytics capabilities, and modern technology infrastructure to drive deeper consumer connections

— Creates opportunity further to leverage Tapestry’s proven and profitable Direct-to-Consumer model​ to increase Capri Holdings’ Direct-to-Consumer penetration over time

— Expect to realize over $200 million in run-rate cost synergies within three years post-closing, supported by operating cost savings and supply chain efficiencies

— Builds portfolio in durable, high-margin categories where Tapestry has best-in-class operational execution, enhancing strong and consistent cash flow

— Generates significant cash flow that enables rapid deleverage while continuing to reinvest in the business

— Brings together more than 33,000 passionate employees around the world with shared values of innovation, inclusivity, and creativity, providing new opportunities for internal career mobility and growth

Tapestry’s Board of Directors also approved a 17% increase to its quarterly dividend per share, resulting in an anticipated payout of $1.40 per share or approximately $325 million in Fiscal Year 2024.

Deal Details:

The Boards of Directors of each of Tapestry, Inc. and Capri Holdings Limited have unanimously approved the transaction. And the deal is anticipated to close in the calendar year 2024, subject to approval by the Capri Holdings shareholders, the receipt of required regulatory approvals, and other customary closing conditions.

The all-cash offer for Capri Holdings of $57 per share represents a premium of approximately 59% to the 30-day volume weighted average price ending August 9, 2023. And the total enterprise value of the transaction of approximately $8.5 billion represents a 9x adjusted EBITDA multiple on a trailing-twelve-month basis, or 7x including expected synergies.

The deal is not subject to a financing condition. And Tapestry has secured $8 billion in fully committed bridge financing from Bank of America N.A. and Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc. The purchase price of about $8.5 billion is expected to be funded by a combination of senior notes, term loans, and excess Tapestry cash, a portion of which will be used to pay certain of Capri’s existing outstanding debt.

Plus, Tapestry has engaged with the rating agencies and is committed to a solid Investment Grade Rating. And Tapestry will suspend its share repurchase activity to prioritize de-leveraging via debt reduction and anticipates reaching a leverage ratio of below 2.5x Debt/EBITDA within 24 months post-close. Furthermore, Tapestry is instituting a long-term leverage target of under 2.5x Debt/EBITDA.

KEY QUOTES:

“We are excited to announce the acquisition of Capri Holdings – uniting six iconic brands and exceptional global teams. Tapestry is an organization 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 fueled 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. The combination of Coach, Kate Spade, and Stuart Weitzman together with Versace, Jimmy Choo, and Michael Kors creates a new powerful global luxury house, unlocking a unique opportunity to drive enhanced value for our consumers, employees, communities, and shareholders around the world.”

— Joanne Crevoiserat, Chief Executive Officer of Tapestry

“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.”

— John D. Idol, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Capri Holdings

“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% increase in our dividend per share. Overall, we are disciplined financial operators and allocators of capital with a relentless drive to deliver meaningful shareholder value.”

— Tapestry, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, Scott Roe