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April 14, 2005
TIFFANY & CO.
727 Fifth Avenue
New York, N.Y. 10022
Michael J. Kowalski
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
James E. Quinn
President
Dear Stockholder:
You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of
Tiffany & Co. on Thursday, May 19, 2005, 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 2004 Annual Report and Proxy Statement for
the 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. We hope you find it informative
reading.
Thank you for your interest in Tiffany & Co.
Sincerely,
/s/ Michael J. Kowalski
Michael J. Kowalski
/s/ James E. Quinn
James E. Quinn
2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
Proxy Statement
[graphic]
TIFFANY & CO.
PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE
2005 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Attendance and Voting Matters............................................................................... 1
Introduction.......................................................................................... 1
Matters to Be Voted On at the 2005 Annual Meeting..................................................... 1
How to Vote Your Shares............................................................................... 1
How to Revoke Your Proxy.............................................................................. 2
The Number of Votes That You Have..................................................................... 2
What a Quorum Is...................................................................................... 3
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 the Company.................................................................................... 5
Stockholders Who Own At Least Five Percent of the Company............................................. 5
Ownership by Directors and Executive Officers......................................................... 5
Compliance of Directors, Executive Officers and Greater-Than-Ten- Percent Stockholders with
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Requirements....................................... 6
Relationship with Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm............................................. 7
Fees and Services of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP....................................................... 7
Board of Directors and Corporate Governance................................................................. 8
The Board, In General................................................................................. 8
The Role of the Board in Corporate Governance......................................................... 8
Executive Sessions of and Communication with Non-management Directors................................. 8
Communication with Non-management Directors........................................................... 9
Director Attendance at Annual Meeting................................................................. 9
Independent Directors Constitute a Majority of the Board.............................................. 9
Compensation of Directors............................................................................. 10
Meetings and Attendance During Fiscal 2004............................................................ 11
Committees of the Board............................................................................... 11
Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee............................................................. 12
Dividend Committee.................................................................................... 12
Compensation Committee................................................................................ 12
Stock Option Subcommittee............................................................................. 13
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation........................................... 13
Audit Committee....................................................................................... 13
Self Evaluation....................................................................................... 13
Business Conduct Policy and Code of Ethics............................................................ 14
Report of the Audit Committee......................................................................... 15
Compensation of the CEO and Other Executive Officers........................................................ 16
Summary Compensation Table............................................................................ 16
Option Grants in Fiscal Year 2004..................................................................... 18
Aggregated Option Exercises in Fiscal Year 2004 and Fiscal Year-End Option Values..................... 18
Long-Term Incentive Plan Awards in Last Fiscal Year................................................... 19
Equity Compensation Plan Information.................................................................. 20
Pension, Excess and Supplemental Retirement Income Plans.............................................. 21
Other Compensation Arrangements....................................................................... 23
Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation............................................... 25
Performance of Company Stock................................................................................ 27
Discussion of Proposals Presented by the Board.............................................................. 28
Item I - Election of the Directors.................................................................... 28
Item II - Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm................................ 31
Item III - Amendment to 1998 Employee Incentive Plan.................................................. 31
Item IV - Approval of 2005 Employee Incentive Plan.................................................... 33
Material Features of the Incentive Plans.............................................................. 33
Other Matters............................................................................................... 42
Stockholder Proposals, In General..................................................................... 42
Stockholder Proposals for Inclusion in the Proxy Statement for the 2006 Annual Meeting................ 42
Reminder to Vote...................................................................................... 42
Appendices
Appendix I - Corporate Governance Principles.......................................................... I-1
Appendix II - Charter of the Audit Committee.......................................................... II-1
Appendix III - 2005 Employee Incentive Plan........................................................... III-1
ATTENDANCE AND VOTING MATTERS
INTRODUCTION
The Annual Meeting of the stockholders of Tiffany & Co. (the "Company")
will be held on Thursday, May 19, 2005, 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.
This proxy statement and accompanying material, including the form of
proxy, was first sent to the Company's stockholders on or about April 14, 2005.
It was sent to you on behalf of the Company by order of the Company's Board of
Directors (the "Board").
You are entitled to vote at our 2005 Annual Meeting because you were a
stockholder, or held Company stock through a broker, bank or other nominee, at
the close of business on March 24, 2005, 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 2004 Annual Report to
Stockholders. This Report contains financial and other information about our
business during our last fiscal year (February 1, 2004 to January 31, 2005).
You may also find important information about the Company on its website:
www.tiffany.com and you will be directed to that website for additional
information concerning some of the subjects addressed in this document.
MATTERS TO BE VOTED ON AT THE 2005 ANNUAL MEETING
There are four matters scheduled to be voted on at this year's Annual
Meeting:
- the election of the Board;
- approval of the independent registered public accounting firm to
audit our Fiscal 2005 financial statements;
- approval of an amendment to the 1998 Employee Incentive Plan so that
return on average assets may be used as a Performance Measure for
long-term incentive compensation; and
- approval of the 2005 Employee Incentive Plan.
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."
1
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 (1-866-540-5760)
and follow the pre-recorded instructions, or
- use the Internet to vote by pointing your browser to
http://www.proxyvoting.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.
If you do one of the above, you will have designated three officers of the
Company to act as your proxies at the 2005 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.
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 signed and not revoked a proxy card, your proxy will
vote on such other matters in accordance with his best judgment.
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. Otherwise, your vote at the meeting will not be
counted.
HOW TO REVOKE YOUR PROXY
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 the Company in writing that you wish
to revoke your proxy, or
- you can attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person.
THE NUMBER OF VOTES THAT YOU HAVE
Each share of the Company's 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.
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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.
The number of shares outstanding at the close of business on March 24,
2005, the record date, was 144,480,629. Therefore, 72,240,315 shares must be
present at our 2005 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 nine 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.
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The proposal to ratify the approval of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the
independent registered public accounting firm for Fiscal 2005 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 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.
Amendment to our 1998 Employee Incentive Plan and approval of the 2005
Employee Incentive Plan will each be decided as follows. First, a majority of
shares outstanding as of March 24, 2005, must actually vote on the proposal. For
this purpose, abstentions will count as votes cast but broker non-votes will
not. Second, a majority of those shares actually voting on the proposal must
vote in favor of it. For this purpose, abstentions will have the same legal
effect as a vote "against" the proposal and broker non-votes will be
disregarded. That means that holders of 72,240,315 shares of common stock must
actually vote "for" or "against" the proposal (or submit their proxies but
"abstain" from voting on the proposal) and at least a majority of those voting
must vote "for" 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:
- FOR the election of all nine nominees for director named in this
Proxy Statement;
- FOR the approval of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as
the independent registered public accounting firm to examine our
Fiscal 2005 financial statements;
- FOR the approval of an amendment to the 1998 Employee Incentive Plan
so that return on average assets may be used as a Performance
Measure for incentive compensation; and
- FOR the approval of the 2005 Employee Incentive Plan.
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. Georgeson
Shareholder Communications Inc. has agreed to perform this service for a fee of
not more than $7,000, plus out-of-pocket expenses.
Employees of Tiffany and Company, a subsidiary of the Company, may also
solicit proxies on behalf of the Board. 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.
4
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 THE COMPANY
STOCKHOLDERS WHO OWN AT LEAST FIVE PERCENT OF THE COMPANY
As of March 24, 2005, no persons were known to us to be "beneficial
owners" of five percent or more of the Company's common stock.
OWNERSHIP BY DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table shows the number of shares of the Company's common
stock beneficially owned as of March 24, 2005 by those persons who were, as of
the end of the last fiscal year (January 31, 2005), directors, the Chief
Executive Officer (the "CEO"), and the four next most highly compensated
executive officers of the Company:
Amount and Percent
Nature of Beneficial Of
Name Ownership Class (1)
---------------------------------- -------------------- ---------
DIRECTORS:
Rose Marie Bravo 67,466 (2) *
William R. Chaney 1,046,250 (3) *
Samuel L. Hayes III 188,989 (4) *
Abby F. Kohnstamm 28,250 (5) *
Michael J. Kowalski (CEO) 1,577,000 (6) 1.1
Charles K. Marquis 227,062 (7) *
J. Thomas Presby 9,400 (8)
James E. Quinn (Executive Officer) 942,383 (9) *
William A. Shutzer 291,912 (10) *
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Beth O. Canavan 264,037 (11) *
James N. Fernandez 522,382 (12) *
Patrick B. Dorsey 189,950 (13) *
ALL EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND 6,030,645 (14) 4.2
DIRECTORS AS A GROUP (17 PERSONS):
----------------
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(1) An asterisk (*) is used to indicate less than 1% of the class outstanding.
(2) Includes 63,466 shares issuable upon the exercise of "Vested Stock Options"
which are stock options that either are exercisable as of March 24, 2005 or will
become exercisable within 60 days of that date.
(3) Includes 126,250 shares issuable upon the exercise of Vested Stock Options,
and 120,000 shares held by Mr. Chaney's wife.
(4) Includes 30,000 shares held in trust for the benefit of children of Prof.
Hayes by Barbara L. Hayes, his wife, as trustee, and 2,079 shares held by Prof.
Hayes's wife. Also includes 137,982 shares issuable upon the exercise of Vested
Stock Options.
(5) Includes 26,250 shares issuable upon the exercise of Vested Stock Options.
(6) Includes 1,425,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of Vested Stock
Options.
(7) Includes 126,854 shares issuable upon the exercise of Vested Stock Options.
(8) Includes 7,500 shares issuable upon the exercise of Vested Stock Options.
(9) Includes 896,250 shares issuable upon the exercise of Vested Stock Options;
133 shares credited to Mr. Quinn's account under the Company's Employee Profit
Sharing and Retirement Savings Plan; 31,600 shares held by Mr. Quinn's wife; and
6,800 shares owned by Mr. Quinn's children under the UGMA.
(10) Includes 79,126 shares issuable upon the exercise of Vested Stock Options
and 5,700 shares held by or for Mr. Shutzer's minor children and 114,000 shares
held by KJC Ltd. of which Mr. Shutzer is the sole general partner and disclaims
beneficial ownership of Company stock held by KJC Ltd.
(11) Includes 260,500 shares issuable upon the exercise of Vested Stock Options
and 537 shares credited to Mrs. Canavan's account under the Company's Employee
Profit Sharing and Retirement Savings Plan.
(12) Includes 510,250 shares issuable upon the exercise of Vested Stock Options
and 132 shares credited to Mr. Fernandez's account under the Company's Employee
Profit Sharing and Retirement Savings Plan.
(13) Includes 178,750 shares issuable upon the exercise of Vested Stock Options.
(14) Includes 4,511,328 shares issuable upon the exercise of Vested Stock
Options and 1,717 shares held in the Company's 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 the
Company'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, 2004 to January 31, 2005), all filing requirements under Section
16(a) applicable to our directors, executive officers and
greater-than-ten-percent stockholders were satisfied.
6
RELATIONSHIP WITH INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP ("PwC") serves as the Company's independent
registered public accounting firm and, through its predecessor firms, has served
in that capacity since 1984.
The Audit Committee has recommended the reappointment of PwC as the
registered independent public accounting firm to audit the Company's financial
statements for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2006. In making this
recommendation, the Audit Committee considered the independence of PwC, and
whether the audit and non-audit services PwC provides to the Company are
compatible with maintaining that independence.
The Audit Committee has adopted a policy requiring advance approval of
PwC's fees and services by the Audit Committee; this policy also prohibits PwC
from performing certain non-audit services for the Company including: (i)
bookkeeping, (ii) systems design and implementation, (iii) appraisal or
valuation, (iv) actuarial, (v) internal audit, (vi) management or human
services, (vii) investment advice or investment banking, and (viii) legal and
expert services unrelated to the audit. One-hundred percent of the fees paid to
PwC by the Company as shown in the table that follows were approved by the Audit
Committee pursuant to this policy.
FEES AND SERVICES OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP
The following table presents fees for professional audit services rendered
by PwC for the audit of the Company's consolidated financial statements and of
management's assessment of the effectiveness of internal controls as and for the
years ended January 31, 2004 and 2005, and for its limited reviews of the
Company's unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements. This
table also reflects fees billed for other services rendered by PwC.
January 31, January 31,
2004 2005
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Audit Fees (1) $1,019,500 $2,011,400
Audit-related Fees (2) 254,200 135,350
---------- ----------
Audit and Audit-related Fees 1,273,700 2,146,750
Tax Fees (3) 754,400 515,850
All Other Fees (4) 26,400 8,500
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TOTAL FEES $2,054,500 $2,671,100
(1) The increase in audit fees primarily relates to the audit of internal
controls over financial reporting as of January 31, 2005 as required by the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
(2) Audit-related fees consist principally of fees for Sarbanes-Oxley Section
404 advisory services and audits of financial statements of certain employee
benefit plans for the year ended January 31, 2004, and audits of financial
statements of certain employee benefit plans and other advisory services for the
year ended January 31, 2005.
(3) Tax fees consist of fees for tax consultation and tax compliance services.
These fees included tax filing and compliance fees of $327,500 for the year
ended January 31, 2004 and $230,900 for the year ended January 31, 2005.
7
(4) All other fees consist of other research for the year ended January 31, 2004
and costs for software used by the Internal Audit Department for the year ended
January 31, 2005.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
THE BOARD, IN GENERAL
The Company is a Delaware corporation. Our principal subsidiary is Tiffany
and Company, a New York corporation. In this Proxy Statement, Tiffany and
Company will be referred to as simply "Tiffany."
The Board is currently comprised of nine members. The Board 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.
Directors are required by our By-laws to be less than age 72 when elected
or appointed unless the Board waives that provision with respect to an
individual director whose continued service is deemed uniquely important to the
Company. THE BOARD HAS WAIVED THAT PROVISION IN RESPECT OF WILLIAM R. CHANEY
BECAUSE OF HIS SERVICE AS THE COMPANY'S CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER FROM 1984 TO
1999 AND THE VALUABLE PERSPECTIVE THAT SUCH SERVICE BRINGS TO THE BOARD.
THE ROLE OF THE BOARD IN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The Board plays several important roles in the governance of the Company,
as set out in the Company's Corporate Governance Principles. The Corporate
Governance Principles are attached to this Proxy Statement as Appendix I. The
responsibilities of the Board include:
- Management succession;
- Review and approval of the annual operating plan prepared by
management;
- Monitoring of performance in comparison to the operating plan;
- Review and approval of the Company's five-year strategic plan
prepared by management;
- Consideration of topics of relevance to the Company's ability to
carry out its strategic plan;
- Review and approval of a delegation of authority by which management
carries out the day-to-day operations of the Company and its
subsidiaries;
- Review of the Company's investor relations program;
- Review of the Company's schedule of insurance coverage; and
- Review and approval of significant actions by the Company.
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS OF NON-MANAGEMENT DIRECTORS
Mr. Kowalski, who serves both as Chairman of the Board and CEO, presides
at regular meetings of the Board. Mr. Kowalski and Mr. Quinn, President of the
Company, are the management members of the Board.
8
Non-management directors meet regularly in executive session without
management participation. This encourages open discussion. At those meetings,
Charles K. Marquis, Chairman of the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee,
presides.
COMMUNICATION WITH NON-MANAGEMENT DIRECTORS
Stockholders and other interested parties may make their concerns known to
the non-management directors by addressing their concerns in writing to Mr.
Marquis. An address for direct written communication with Mr. Marquis is
published on the Company's website.
DIRECTOR ATTENDANCE AT ANNUAL MEETING
The Board schedules a regular meeting on the date of the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders to facilitate attendance at the Annual Meeting by the directors.
All nine directors attended the Annual Meeting held in May, 2004.
INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS CONSTITUTE A MAJORITY OF THE BOARD
The Board has affirmatively determined that each of the following
directors is "independent" in that none of them has a material relationship with
the Company (directly or as a partner, shareholder or officer of any
organization that has a relationship with the Company):
Rose Marie Bravo
Samuel L. Hayes III
Abby F. Kohnstamm
Charles K. Marquis
J. Thomas Presby
The Board also considered the other tests of independence set forth in the
New York Stock Exchange Corporate Governance Rules and has determined that each
of the above directors is independent as defined in such Rules.
In determining that Ms. Kohnstamm is independent, the Board considered
that IBM Corporation, of which she is an officer, sells data-processing and
communication hardware, software and services to Tiffany and Tiffany sells
business gifts to IBM. However, these sales constitute far less than one percent
of the consolidated sales of each seller (IBM and Tiffany, respectively). The
Board considered all relevant facts and circumstances including the amount of
such sales in the context of the size of the businesses of the Company and IBM
Corporation, the fact that Ms. Kohnstamm is not responsible at IBM Corporation
for such sales in the course of her duties, and that such sales were
long-standing business practices prior to the time Ms. Kohnstamm was recruited
to the Board.
None of the other independent directors has any direct or indirect
relationship with the Company, other than as a director, and none of the
independent directors serves as an executive officer of any charitable
organization to which the Company or any of its affiliates have made any
contributions within the preceding three years.
9
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
Directors who are not employees of the Company or its subsidiaries are
paid or provided with the following for their service on the Board:
- an annual retainer of $50,000,
- an additional annual retainer of $20,000, $10,000 or $5,000 to the
chairperson of the Audit, Compensation, or Nominating/Corporate
Governance Committee, respectively,
- a per-meeting-attended fee of $2,000 for meetings attended in person
(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),
- a fee of $1,000 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.
However, the Company does not guarantee any return on said investments.
Tiffany also reimburses directors for expenses they incur in attending
Board and committee meetings, including expenses for travel, food and lodging.
New non-employee directors are granted options to purchase shares of
Company common stock upon their election or appointment to the Board, and in
January of each year an option grant is made to each non-employee director. In
January of 2005, the grant was for 10,000 shares per director. 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 the Company. These options 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 the Company's 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.
Directors who retire as non-employee directors with five or more years of
Board service 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
payable quarterly and continues for a period of time equal to the director's
length of service on the Board, including periods served as an employee
director. However, this particular benefit will not apply to any director first
appointed or elected after January 1, 1999; accordingly, neither Ms. Kohnstamm
nor Mr. Presby is entitled to participate in this benefit plan.
Messrs. Kowalski and Quinn are employees of Tiffany. They therefore
receive no separate compensation for their service as directors.
10
MEETINGS AND ATTENDANCE DURING FISCAL 2004
The following chart shows the total number of meetings (including
telephonic meetings) held by the Board and each of its committees during Fiscal
2004. All directors attended at least 97% of the meetings of the Board and those
committees on which they served.
NOMINATING/
STOCK CORPORATE
BOARD AUDIT COMPENSATION OPTION GOVERNANCE
----- ------- ------------ -------- -----------
MEETINGS HELD 6 13 5 7 3 PERCENT OF
MEETINGS
MEETINGS ATTENDED ATTENDED
DIRECTOR
Rose Marie Bravo 6 n/a 5 7 3 100%
William R. Chaney 6 n/a n/a n/a n/a 100%
Samuel L. Hayes III 6 12 5 7 3 97%
Abby F. Kohnstamm 6 n/a 5 7 3 100%
Charles K. Marquis 6 12 5 7 3 97%
J. Thomas Presby 6 13 n/a n/a 3 100%
William A. Shutzer 6 n/a n/a n/a n/a 100%
Michael J. Kowalski 6 n/a n/a n/a n/a 100%
James E. Quinn 6 n/a n/a n/a n/a 100%
COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD
COMMITTEES COMPOSED ENTIRELY OF INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS
AUDIT: NOMINATING/CORPORATE GOVERNANCE:
J. Thomas Presby, Chair Charles K. Marquis, Chair
Samuel L. Hayes, III Rose Marie Bravo
Charles K. Marquis Samuel L. Hayes, III
Abby F. Kohnstamm
J. Thomas Presby
COMPENSATION: STOCK OPTION SUBCOMMITTEE:
Samuel L. Hayes, III, Chair Samuel L. Hayes, III, Chair
Rose Marie Bravo Rose Marie Bravo
Abby F. Kohnstamm Abby F. Kohnstamm
Charles K. Marquis Charles K. Marquis
11
NOMINATING/CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
The primary function of the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee is
to assist the Board in matters of corporate governance. The Nominating/Corporate
Governance Committee operates under the charter adopted by the Board. The
charter may be viewed on the Company's website. Under its charter, the role of
the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee includes recommending to the
Board:
- policies on the composition of the Board,
- criteria for the selection of nominees for election to the Board,
- nominees to fill vacancies on the Board, and
- nominees for election to the Board.
If you would like to submit the name of a candidate for the
Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee to consider as a nominee of the Board
for director, you may send your submission at any time to the
Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee, c/o Mr. Patrick B. Dorsey, Secretary,
Tiffany & Co., 727 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10022. See our Corporate
Governance Principles attached as Appendix I.
The By-laws of the Company also permit a stockholder of record entitled to
vote to directly nominate a person for director for election at an annual
meeting of the stockholders. This process is subject to timely notice
requirements as set forth in the By-laws. The By-laws may be viewed on the
Company's website and have been filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission as an exhibit to our report on Form 10-K filed April 14, 2005. See
OTHER MATTERS below for a further discussion of stockholder proposals, in
general.
DIVIDEND COMMITTEE
The Dividend Committee declares regular quarterly dividends in accordance
with the dividend policy established by the full Board. The Dividend Committee
acts by unanimous written consent and did not meet in Fiscal 2004. Members of
the Dividend Committee are: William R. Chaney, Chair, Michael J. Kowalski and
James E. Quinn.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
The primary function of the Compensation Committee is to assist the Board
in compensation matters. The Compensation Committee operates under its charter
which may be viewed on the Company's website. Under its charter, the
Compensation Committee's responsibilities include:
- approval of remuneration arrangements for executive officers, and
- approval of compensation plans in which officers and employees of
Tiffany are eligible to participate.
The Compensation Committee's report appears on pages 25-26 below.
12
STOCK OPTION SUBCOMMITTEE
The Stock Option Subcommittee, a subcommittee of the Compensation
Committee, determines the grant of options, restricted stock units and other
matters under our 1998 Employee Incentive Plan.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
No director serving on the Compensation Committee or its Stock Option
Subcommittee during any part of Fiscal 2004 was, at any time either during or
before such fiscal year, an officer or employee of Tiffany & Co. or any of its
subsidiaries.
AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Company's Audit Committee is an "audit committee" established in
accordance with Section 3(a) (58) (A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
The primary function of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board in fulfilling
its oversight responsibilities with respect to the Company's financial matters.
The Audit Committee operates under charter adopted by the Board; that charter
may be viewed on the Company's website. Under its charter, the Audit Committee's
responsibilities include:
- retaining and terminating the Company's independent registered
public accounting firm, reviewing the quality-control procedures and
independence of such firm and evaluating their proposed audit scope,
performance and fee arrangements;
- approving in advance all audit and non-audit services to be rendered
by the independent registered public accounting firm;
- reviewing the adequacy of our system of internal financial controls;
- establishing procedures for complaints regarding accounting,
internal accounting controls or auditing matters; and
- 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 principles.
The Board has determined that all members of the Audit Committee are
financially literate, that at least one member of the Audit Committee meets the
New York Stock Exchange standard of having accounting or related financial
management expertise and that Mr. Presby meets the SEC criteria of an "audit
committee financial expert." Mr. Presby is a member of the National Association
of Corporate Directors and serves on the audit committees of two public
companies in addition to that of the Company. The Board has determined that Mr.
Presby's simultaneous service on three audit committees will not impair his
ability to effectively serve on the Company's Audit Committee. The report of the
Audit Committee is on page 15.
SELF-EVALUATION
The independent directors who serve on the Board conduct an annual
evaluation of the workings and efficiency of the Board and of each of the Board
committees on which they serve and make recommendations for change, if required.
13
Business Conduct Policy and Code of Ethics
Since the 1980's, the Company has had a policy governing business conduct
for all Company employees worldwide. The policy requires compliance with law and
avoidance of conflicts of interest and sets standards for various activities to
avoid the potential for abuse or the occasion for illegal or unethical
activities. This policy covers, among other activities, the acceptance or giving
of gifts from or to those seeking to do business with the Company, processing
one's own transactions, political contributions and reporting dishonest
activity. Each year, all employees are required to review the policy, report any
violations or conflicts of interest and affirm their obligation to report future
violations to management.
The Company has a toll free "hotline" to receive complaints from
employees, vendors, stockholders and other interested parties concerning
violations of the Company's policies or questionable accounting, internal
controls or auditing matters. The toll free phone number is 877-806-7464. The
hotline is operated by a third party service provider to assure the
confidentiality and completeness of all information received. Users of this
service may elect to remain anonymous.
We also have a Code of Business and Ethical Conduct for the directors, the
CEO, the Chief Financial Officer and all other officers of the Company. The Code
advocates, and requires those persons to adhere to, principles and
responsibilities governing professional and ethical conduct. This Code
supplements our business conduct policy. Waivers may only be made by the Board.
Copies of our business conduct policy and the Code of Business and Ethical
Conduct are posted on our website. We have also filed a copy of the Code with
the SEC as an exhibit to our April 14, 2005 annual report on Form 10-K.
[The balance of this page has been intentionally left blank]
14
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, 2005 and 2004, and the related consolidated statements of earnings,
stockholders' equity and comprehensive earnings, and cash flows for each of the
three years in the period ended January 31, 2005. These statements (the "Audited
Financial Statements") are the subject of a report by the Company's independent
registered public accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (" PwC"). 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 and otherwise fulfilled the
responsibilities set forth in its charter.
The Audit Committee has discussed with PwC the matters required to be
discussed by Statement on Accounting Standards No. 61, as amended,
"Communication with Audit Committees" and PCAOB Auditing Standard No. 2, "An
Audit of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting Performed In Conjunction with
an Audit of Financial Statements."
The Audit Committee received from PwC the written disclosure and letter
required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussion
with Audit Committees) and has discussed the independence of PwC with that firm.
The Audit Committee has considered whether the provision by PwC of the tax
consultation, tax compliance and other non-audit-related services disclosed
above under "RELATIONSHIP WITH INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM -
Fees and Services of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP" is compatible with maintaining
PwC's independence and has concluded that providing such services is compatible
with that firm's independence from the Company and its management.
The Audit Committee is aware that the provision of non-audit services by
an auditor may, in some circumstances, create the perception that independence
has been compromised. Accordingly, the Audit Committee has instructed management
and management have agreed to develop professional relationships with firms
other than PwC so that, when needed, other qualified resources will be available
and will be used as appropriate.
Based upon the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit
Committee recommended to the Company's Board 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, 2005 for filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Signed:
Samuel L. Hayes III
Charles K. Marquis
J. Thomas Presby, Chair
Members of the Audit Committee
15
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 2004,
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
Annual Compensation Long Term Compensation
------------------------------------------- ----------------------------
Securities
Underlying
Other Annual Options/
Name and Principal Compensation SARs All Other
Position Year Salary Bonus (1) (2) (shares) Compensation
-------------------- ---- -------- --------- ------------ ----------- -------------
Michael J. Kowalski 2004 $919,831 $0 $109,274 115,000 $141,392(3)
Chairman and CEO 2003 $891,063 $975,000 $0 180,000 $20,125(4)
2002 $841,082 $451,000 $0 195,000 $11,390(5)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
James E. Quinn 2004 $700,806 $0 $72,084 72,500 $103,209(6)
President 2003 $675,259 $493,000 $0 115,000 $21,478(7)
2002 $645,090 $230,000 $0 140,000 $11,953(8)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beth O. Canavan 2004 $442,271 $0 $44,988 40,000 $66,521(9)
Executive Vice 2003 $425,240 $280,000 $0 55,000 $16,211(10)
President 2002 $405,066 $115,000 $0 85,000 $9,761(11)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
James N. Fernandez 2004 $591,485 $0 $72,475 55,000 $104,253(12)
Executive Vice 2003 $570,196 $375,000 $0 85,000 $22,106(13)
President and 2002 $544,994 $174,000 $0 118,000 $12,214(14)
Chief Financial Officer
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Patrick B. Dorsey 2004 $397,775 $0 $39,449 30,000 $59,330(15)
Senior Vice President, 2003 $385,816 $197,000 $0 40,000 $15,410(16)
Secretary and General 2002 $370,100 $92,000 $0 54,000 $9,427(17)
Counsel
(1) Bonus amounts are earned in the fiscal year ended January 31, paid in the
following March, and in 2003 and 2002 included cash incentive awards 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.
(2) Represents amounts paid as additional tax withholding on behalf of the named
executive to offset income taxes attributable to life insurance premiums paid on
behalf of the named executive. See column labeled "All Other Compensation" above
and Life Insurance Arrangements below.
(3) Includes $120,767 attributable to life insurance premiums, $14,125
attributable to premiums for executive long-term disability insurance and $6,500
for the Company's matching contributions to the 401(k) feature of the Company's
Employee Profit Sharing and Retirement Savings Plan.
(4) Includes $14,125 attributable to premiums for executive long-term disability
insurance and $6,000 for the Company's matching contributions to the 401(k)
feature of the Company's Employee Profit Sharing and Retirement Savings Plan.
16
(5) Includes $5,890 attributable to premiums for executive long-term disability
insurance and $5,500 for the Company's matching contributions to the 401(k)
feature of the Company's Employee Profit Sharing and Retirement Savings Plan.
(6) Includes $81,231 attributable to life insurance premiums, $15,478
attributable to premiums for executive long-term disability insurance and $6,500
for the Company's matching contributions to the 401(k) feature of the Company's
Employee Profit Sharing and Retirement Savings Plan.
(7) Includes $15,478 attributable to premiums for executive long-term disability
insurance and $6,000 for the Company's matching contributions to the 401(k)
feature of the Company's Employee Profit Sharing and Retirement Savings Plan.
(8) Includes $6,453 attributable to premiums for executive long-term disability
insurance and $5,500 for the Company's matching contributions to the 401(k)
feature of the Company's Employee Profit Sharing and Retirement Savings Plan.
(9) Includes $49,713 attributable to life insurance premiums, $10,308
attributable to premiums for executive long-term disability insurance and $6,500
for the Company's matching contributions to the 401(k) feature of the Company's
Employee Profit Sharing and Retirement Savings Plan.
(10) Includes $10,211 attributable to premiums for executive long-term
disability insurance and $6,000 for the Company's matching contributions to the
401(k) feature of the Company's Employee Profit Sharing and Retirement Savings
Plan.
(11) Includes $4,261 attributable to premiums for executive long-term disability
insurance and $5,500 for the Company's matching contributions to the 401(k)
feature of the Company's Employee Profit Sharing and Retirement Savings Plan.
(12) Includes $81,647 attributable to life insurance premiums, $16,106
attributable to premiums for executive long-term disability insurance and $6,500
for the Company's matching contributions to the 401(k) feature of the Company's
Employee Profit Sharing and Retirement Savings Plan.
(13) Includes $16,106 attributable to premiums for executive long-term
disability insurance and $6,000 for the Company's matching contributions to the
401(k) feature of the Company's Employee Profit Sharing and Retirement Savings
Plan.
(14) Includes $6,714 attributable to premiums for executive long-term disability
insurance and $5,500 for the Company's matching contributions to the 401(k)
feature of the Company's Employee Profit Sharing and Retirement Savings Plan.
(15) Includes $43,487 attributable to life insurance premiums, $9,343
attributable to premiums for executive long-term disability insurance and $6,500
for the Company's matching contributions to the 401(k) feature of the Company's
Employee Profit Sharing and Retirement Savings Plan.
(16) Includes $9,410 attributable to premiums for executive long-term disability
insurance and $6,000 for the Company's matching contributions to the 401(k)
feature of the Company's Employee Profit Sharing and Retirement Savings Plan.
(17) Includes $3,927 attributable to premiums for executive long-term disability
insurance and $5,500 for the Company's matching contributions to the 401(k)
feature of the Company's Employee Profit Sharing and Retirement Savings Plan.
17
OPTION GRANTS IN FISCAL YEAR 2004
Percent of
Total Options
Granted to all Per
Employees in Share
Options Fiscal Year Exercise Expiration Grant Date
Name Granted (1) 2004 Price (2) Date (3) Present Value (4)
----------------- --------------- --------------- ---------- ---------- ------------------
Michael J. Kowalski 115,000 shares 10.1 $31.49 1/31/2015 $1,455,371
James E. Quinn 72,500 shares 6.4 $31.49 1/31/2015 $917,517
Beth O. Canavan 40,000 shares 3.5 $31.49 1/31/2015 $506,216
James N. Fernandez 55,000 shares 4.8 $31.49 1/31/2015 $696,047
Patrick B. Dorsey 30,000 shares 2.6 $31.49 1/31/2015 $379,662
------------------
(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", death or
disability. 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
the Company's common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the date of grant.
(3) Options expire no later than the 10th anniversary of the grant date, subject
to earlier expiration in the event of voluntary or involuntary pre-retirement
termination of employment (three months after termination), death, disability or
retirement (two years after the event).
(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
(37.6%) expected term (six years), interest rate (3.7%) and dividend yield
(0.6%). 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
$31.49 share exercise price when the options are exercised.
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN FISCAL YEAR 2004
AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
Number of Value (2) of
Shares Unexercised Options at In-The-Money Options
Acquired Value Fiscal Year-End (1) at Fiscal Year-End (1)
Name on Exercise Realized Exercisable/Unexercisable Exercisable/Unexercisable
---------------- ----------- -------- ------------------------- -------------------------
Michael J. Kowalski 0 $0.00 1,425,000 / 385,000 $ 19,578,036 / $ 550,388
James E. Quinn 0 $0.00 896,250 / 256,250 $ 10,841,138 / $ 395,150
Beth O. Canavan 0 $0.00 260,500 / 142,500 $ 1,032,556 / $ 239,913
James N. Fernandez 0 $0.00 510,250 / 202,750 $ 4,075,847 / $ 333,055
Patrick B. Dorsey 0 $0.00 178,750 / 98,250 $ 945,058 / $ 152,415
------------------
(1) Options are deemed "exercisable" in this table if they are exercisable as of
January 31, 2005, or will become exercisable within 60 days of that date.
(2) The market price per share on which the option value was calculated was
$31.49.
18
LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN AWARDS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
Estimated Future Payouts in Shares
Maximum Based
Units Performance Period Earnings Earnings solely on
Subject to (Three Fiscal Year Threshold Met Target Met Earnings
Name Vesting Period ) Ending (1) (1) Performance (1)
-------------------- ---------- ---------------- ------------- ----------- ---------------
Michael J. Kowalski 92,000 1/31/2008 27,600 46,000 80,500
James E. Quinn 58,000 1/31/2008 17,400 29,000 50,750
Beth O. Canavan 32,000 1/31/2008 9,600 16,000 28,000
James N. Fernandez 44,000 1/31/2008 13,200 22,000 38,500
Patrick B. Dorsey 24,000 1/31/2008 7,200 12,000 21,000
The Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units ("Units") referred to above were
granted in January under the terms of the 1998 Employee Incentive Plan. Units
will be exchanged on a one-to-one basis for shares of the common stock of the
Company if Units vest at the end of the three-year performance period. No Units
will vest (other than for reasons of death, disability or on a change in
control) if the Company fails to meet the cumulative earnings performance
threshold set by the Compensation Committee. Earnings-based vesting will be
pro-rated for earnings performance between the threshold and a maximum set by
the Compensation Committee. 100% vesting will occur only if the Company achieves
both of the following tests, each as set by the Compensation Committee: (a)
maximum vesting for earnings performance, and (b) the return-on-assets goal. See
Note (1) below.
------------------
(1) The number of Units which vest due to earnings performance at the end of the
three-year Performance Period will be adjusted up by 15% if a return-on-assets
goal is met and downward by 15% if the goal is not met. No adjustment for
return-on-assets will be made unless the stockholders approve Item III presented
below. See Discussion of Proposals Presented by the Board, Item III.
[The balance of this page has been intentionally left blank]
19
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
(AS OF FISCAL YEAR END)
Plan category Number of securities to Weighted average Number of securities
be issued upon exercise exercise price of remaining available for
of outstanding options, outstanding options, future issuance under
warrants and rights warrants and rights equity compensation
plans (excluding
securities reflected in
column (a))
(a) (b) (c)
------------- ------------------------ -------------------- ------------------------
Equity compensation 13,588,970 (1) $27.3943 3,480,415 (2)
plans approved by
security holders
Equity compensation 0 0 0
plans not approved by
security holders
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL 13,588,970 (1) $27.3943 3,480,415 (2)
---------------------
(1) Shares indicated do not include 855,944 shares issuable under awards of
stock units already made. See Note (2) below.
(2) Shares indicated are the aggregate of those available for grant under the
Company's 1998 Employee Incentive Plan (the "1998 Incentive Plan") and the
Company's 1998 Directors Option Plan (the "Directors Plan"). Of the shares
shown, up to 1,000,000 will not become available for future grant or issuance
unless and until the Board resolves to add an equivalent number of shares
acquired upon repurchase to such Plan. Both plans provide for the issuance of
options and stock awards. However, under the Employee Plan the number of shares
that may be issued as stock awards is limited to 1,000,000; of that number
855,944 have been granted as stock awards and are subject to future issuance.
See Note (1) above. Under the Directors Plan all shares of the 617,500 remaining
for issuance could be issued as stock awards.
[The balance of this page has been intentionally left blank]
20
PENSION, EXCESS AND SUPPLEMENTAL RETIREMENT INCOME PLANS
Tiffany has established three retirement plans for eligible employees: a
Pension Plan, an Excess Plan and a Supplemental Retirement Income Plan. The
Executive Officers of the Company are eligible to participate in all three.
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 is available at no cost to regular full-time employees
of Tiffany. It 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 requirements including those limiting the
amount of compensation that may be considered in calculating a benefit.
Participants in the Pension Plan vest after five years of service.
The Excess Plan is not a qualified plan, is not subject to Internal
Revenue Code limitations on the amount of benefits it may pay and is available
only to highly compensated employees, including the Executive Officers. The
Excess Plan uses the same retirement benefit formula set forth in the Pension
Plan, but includes in "average final compensation" earnings (salary and bonus)
that are excluded under the Pension Plan due to Internal Revenue Code
Limitations. Benefits payable under the Pension Plan offset benefits payable
under the Excess Plan. Employees vested under the Pension Plan are vested under
the Excess Plan; however, benefits under the Excess Plan are subject to
forfeiture if employment is terminated for cause and, for those who leave
Tiffany prior to age 65, for failure to execute and adhere to non-competition
and confidentiality covenants.
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 is available only to Executive Officers and was established to
supplement the Pension Plan and Social Security by providing additional payments
upon a participant's retirement. Benefits payable under the Pension Plan, the
Excess Plan and Social Security offset (are subtracted from) benefits payable
under the Supplemental Retirement Income Plan formula. Except in the event of a
change of control (see below), benefits under the Supplemental Retirement Income
Plan do not vest until a participant attains age 60 while employed by Tiffany
and until he or she has provided 15 years of service; furthermore, benefits
under the Supplemental Retirement Plan are subject to forfeiture if benefits
under the Excess Plan are forfeited. See above.
Payments under the Supplemental Retirement Income Plan, together with
payments under the Pension Plan, the Excess Plan and from Social Security, would
equal a variable percentage of the participant's "average final compensation" at
retirement. This assumes that vesting requirements under the Supplemental
Retirement Income Plan are met and that benefits under the Excess Plan and the
Supplemental Retirement Income Plan have not been forfeited.
Depending upon the participant's years of service with Tiffany, the
combined benefit under the Pension Plan, the Excess Plan, the Supplemental
Retirement Income Plan and from Social Security would be as follows:
21
Combined Annual Benefit
As a Percentage of
Years of Service Average Final Compensation
---------------- --------------------------
less than 10 (1)
10-14 20%
15-19 35%
20-24 50%
25 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, the Excess Plan and
the Supplemental Retirement Income Plan; amounts attributable to the exercise of
stock options or to the vesting of restricted stock are not included.
-----------------
(1) A participant retiring with less than 10 years of service would not, except
in certain instances where a change of control has occurred, receive any benefit
under the Supplemental Retirement Income Plan, but would receive a benefit under
the Pension Plan and the Excess Plan. However, the formula for benefits under
the Pension Plan and the Excess Plan is a function of years of service and
covered compensation (subject to Internal Revenue Code limitations in the case
of the Pension Plan) and not any specific percentage of the participant's
average final compensation.
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 $43,750 $62,500 $75,000 $75,000 $75,000
$150,000 $52,500 $75,000 $90,000 $90,000 $90,000
$175,000 $61,250 $87,500 $105,000 $105,000 $105,000
$200,000 $70,000 $100,000 $120,000 $120,000 $120,000
$225,000 $78,750 $112,500 $135,000 $135,000 $135,000
$250,000 $87,500 $125,000 $150,000 $150,000 $150,000
$300,000 $105,000 $150,000 $180,000 $180,000 $180,000
$400,000 $140,000 $200,000 $240,000 $240,000 $240,000
$450,000 $157,500 $225,000 $270,000 $270,000 $270,000
$500,000 $175,000 $250,000 $300,000 $300,000 $300,000
$600,000 $210,000 $300,000 $360,000 $360,000 $360,000
$700,000 $245,000 $350,000 $420,000 $420,000 $420,000
$800,000 $280,000 $400,000 $480,000 $480,000 $480,000
$900,000 $315,000 $450,000 $540,000 $540,000 $540,000
$1,000,000 $350,000 $500,000 $600,000 $600,000 $600,000
$1,200,000 $420,000 $600,000 $720,000 $720,000 $720,000
$1,500,000 $525,000 $750,000 $900,000 $900,000 $900,000
22
At the end of Fiscal 2004, 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 (1) Average Final Compensation
---- -------------------- --------------------------
Michael J. Kowalski 26 $1,576,666
James E. Quinn 18 $1,019,137
Beth O. Canavan 17 $585,830
James N. Fernandez 26 $828,328
Patrick B. Dorsey 19 $513,756
-------------------
(1) Includes years of service with Tiffany's former parent corporation.
OTHER COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS
Retention Agreements. 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 reason.
When, if ever, a "change in control" occurs, the covered executives would
have fixed 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.
Vesting of Options, Restricted Stock Units and Retirement Benefits on a
Change in Control. In the event of a "change in control" of the Company, all
options granted to employees (including executive officers) become exercisable
in full and all restricted stock units vest and convert to shares. 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.
Gross-up Benefits on a Change in Control. 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.
23
Definition of a Change in Control. For purposes of 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, who acquires thirty-five percent
or more in voting power or stock of the Company, including the
acquisition of any right, option, warrant or other right to obtain
such voting power or stock, whether or not presently exercisable;
- a majority of the Board 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
- another 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. Such events could include a so-called "friendly"
acquisition of the Company or Tiffany.
Life Insurance Arrangements. In 2003 Tiffany terminated split-dollar life
insurance agreements with its executive officers, including Mr. Kowalski, Mr.
Quinn, Mrs. Canavan, Mr. Fernandez and Mr. Dorsey. Such agreements had been in
effect prior to 2003; however in 2002 Tiffany discontinued premium contributions
because of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which prohibits loans to executives.
In 2003, Tiffany withdrew its premium contribution from the underlying life
insurance policies and left the policies in the hands of the executives.
Beginning in 2004 Tiffany provided, and in subsequent fiscal years plans to
provide, a life insurance benefit to its executive officers. This benefit has
and will be provided by paying premiums on such insurance policies directly to
the insurer, treating such premiums as taxable compensation to the executives
and making "gross up" payments to the executives tax withholding accounts so as
to achieve the tax-favored benefit that existed under the terminated
split-dollar life insurance agreements prior to changes in Internal Revenue
Service interpretive positions and the adoption of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002. Death benefits under such policies are expected to be maintained
equivalent to three times the executive's annual salary and target bonus
compensation and sufficient premiums will be paid to build the cash value of
each policy so that on the executive's expected retirement date the cash value
of each policy will be sufficient 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 target bonus compensation for the last
three calendar years prior to termination of employment.
Tiffany has reserved the right to terminate these life insurance benefits
at any time and the executives will acquire no vested right to further
contributions from Tiffany.
24
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
THE FOLLOWING IS THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE'S REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION:
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 and long-term, equity-based incentive compensation.
(i) Bonuses
Each January, the Committee establishes a target bonus for the coming
fiscal year as a percentage of the base salary of each executive officer. For
Fiscal 2004, 85% was the target for Mr. Kowalski; targets ranged from 45% to 60%
for the other executive officers. For Fiscal 2005, 90% is the target for Mr.
Kowalski; targets range from 50% to 65% for the other executive officers.
Under the terms of the 1998 Employee Incentive Plan, bonuses that are
calculated solely on the basis of an increase or decrease in the Company's
consolidated net earnings in accordance with a formula are "Incentive Awards."
Incentive Awards are "performance-based compensation" under Section 162(m) of
the Internal Revenue Code. See below.
For Fiscal 2004, the increase in the Company's consolidated net earnings
was due to the sale of the Company's equity stake in Aber Diamond Corporation;
were it not for that transaction, net earnings would have been insufficient to
generate Incentive Awards under the formula established by the Committee.
Because the Aber transaction was not anticipated in the Company's business plan,
and because the Company's operating earnings goals were not met, the Committee
exercised its authority under the 1998 Employee Incentive Plan to make a net
negative adjustment to earnings for purposes of Incentive Awards. The Incentive
Award calculation was performed by the Committee in January 2005 on the basis of
estimated net earnings, as so adjusted. As a consequence, no bonuses were paid
to the executive officers.
(ii) Long-Term, Equity-based Incentive Compensation Program
In January of 2005, the Committee changed the Company's equity-based
incentive compensation program to include Performance-Based Restricted Stock
Units ("Units"). Prior to 2005, the program consisted only of options. The
change was made because the Committee believes that it has become more important
to link some portion of executive compensation to achievement of specific,
long-term goals for the improvement of earnings and return on assets. Units will
be exchanged on a one-to-one basis for shares of the common stock of the Company
if Units vest at the end of a three-year performance period. Units will vest
(other than for reasons of death, disability or on a change in control) only if
the Company meets cumulative earnings performance goals. The Committee has set a
threshold, a target and maximum for earnings: if the threshold is not met, no
Units will vest; if the threshold is met, 30% will vest; if the target is met,
50% will vest; if the maximum is met, 87.5% will vest. Vesting will be pro-rated
for earnings performance between the threshold and the maximum. Earnings-vested
Units will be adjusted upward by 15% if a return-on-assets goal is met and
downward by 15% if the goal is not met. See Item III below. 100% vesting will
occur only if the Company achieves both the maximum for earnings and the
return-on-assets goal.
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 (other than in the case of death or disability) become
exercisable
25
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
In January 2005 the Committee made combined awards of options and
Units to the executive officers. Options were valued using the Black-Scholes
model; Units were valued using the grant date market value of the underlying
shares assuming that the earnings target would be met and that there would be no
adjustment to Unit vesting for return on assets. On that basis, the combined
grant to Mr. Kowalski was valued at 300% of his salary; the value of the
combined grants to the other executive officers ranged from 250% to 150% of
salary. The size of the combined grant in 2005 is not necessarily indicative of
the size of the combined grants to be awarded in future years. The Committee
consulted with a nationally recognized compensation consulting firm in designing
the Long-Term Equity-based Compensation Program and in determining the awards
made. The Committee believes that the program is an appropriate means of
motivating the executive officers to achieve the Company's long-term strategic
goals and linking the interests of the executive officers to the interests of
the Company's stockholders.
(iii) Salaries and Benefits
The Committee believes that the Company's salaries and benefits
program for its executives is competitive with the programs generally offered by
comparable retailers. The program enables the Company to retain and attract
competent management personnel.
Executive salaries are reviewed by the Committee in January of each
year and are adjusted on the basis of merit and relevant competitive factors. 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 for senior positions provided by companies in the Peer Company
Group referred to under "PERFORMANCE OF COMPANY STOCK" below (to the extent data
was available), a survey of 16 companies in the specialty retail industry with
median revenues of $2.4 billion, a survey of 11 companies in the retail industry
with median revenues of $2.4 billion, a general survey of companies in the
retail/wholesale industry, and a survey of general industry. 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.
(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, Units and Incentive Awards discussed
above. The compensation described in this report generates income tax deductions
for the Company, but the Compensation Committee does not believe that it would
be in the best interests of the Company to adopt a policy that would absolutely
preclude compensation arrangements subject to deduction limitations.
Signed:
Rose Marie Bravo
Samuel L. Hayes III, Chair
Abby F. Kohnstamm
Charles K. Marquis
Members of the Compensation Committee
26
PERFORMANCE OF COMPANY 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
for the same five-year period on (i) the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index, and
(ii) a peer group index. 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 split that occurred in July 2000, plus the
reinvestment of any dividends paid on our stock.
COMPARISON OF FIVE YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN AMONG
TIFFANY & CO., THE S&P 500 INDEX, AND THE PEER GROUP INDEX
1/31/2000 1/31/2001 1/31/2002 1/31/2003 1/31/2004 1/31/2005
Tiffany & Co. 100.00 100.99 96.76 63.35 108.60 86.55
Standard & Poors 500 100.00 97.96 81.05 61.36 81.12 84.71
Peer Group 100.00 100.73 110.21 107.30 156.83 188.92
ASSUMES AN INVESTMENT OF $100 ON JANUARY 31, 2000 IN COMPANY 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: Coach, Inc.; Gucci Group N.V.; Movado Group Inc.; Neiman
Marcus Group, Inc.; Nordstrom Inc.; Polo Ralph Lauren Corp.; Saks Inc.; Sotheby
Holdings Inc.; Williams Sonoma Inc.; and Zale Corp.
27
DISCUSSION OF PROPOSALS PRESENTED BY THE BOARD
ITEM I - ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Each year, we elect directors at an Annual Meeting of Stockholders. At
the 2005 Annual Meeting, nine 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:
---------------------
Michael J. Kowalski Mr. Kowalski, 53, is Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer of Tiffany & Co. He succeeded
William R. Chaney as Chairman at the end of fiscal
year 2002 and as Chief Executive Officer in February
1999. 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. He became a
director of Tiffany & Co. in January 1995.
Mr. Kowalski also serves on the boards of Fairmont
Hotels and Resorts and The Bank of New York. The
Bank of New York is Tiffany's principal banking
relationship, serving as Administrative Agent and a
lender under a Revolving Credit Facility and as
trustee of Tiffany's Employee Pension Plan.
---------------------
Rose Marie Bravo Ms. Bravo, 54, is 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 to fill a newly created
directorship. She also serves on the Board of
Directors of Estee Lauder Companies Inc.
28
---------------------
William R. Chaney Mr. Chaney, 72, is the former Chairman of the Board.
He resigned that office effective January 31, 2003.
Mr. Chaney joined Tiffany in January 1980 as a
member of the Board 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.
---------------------
Samuel L. Hayes III Prof. Hayes, 70, was the Jacob H. Schiff Professor of
Investment Banking at the Harvard Business School
from 1975 to 1998, when he became the Jacob H.
Schiff Professor Emeritus. He was elected a
director of Tiffany & Co. in 1984. He also serves
on the Boards of Directors of the Eaton Vance Group
of Funds and Telect, Inc.
---------------------
Abby F. Kohnstamm Ms. Kohnstamm, 51, is the Senior Vice President,
Marketing of IBM Corporation. In this capacity, she
has overall responsibility for marketing at IBM. In
addition, she is a member of IBM's Operating Team,
which oversees overall operating performance across
the company. Prior to joining IBM in June 1993,
Ms. Kohnstamm held a number of senior marketing
positions at American Express. Ms. Kohnstamm also
serves on the Board of Trustees of Tufts University
and the Board of Overseers at New York University's
Stern School of Business. She became a director of
Tiffany & Co. in July 2001, when she was selected by
the Board to replace a retiring director. IBM
Corporation and its affiliated companies provide
data-processing and communication hardware, software
and services to Tiffany and purchase business gifts
from Tiffany.
---------------------
Charles K. Marquis Mr. Marquis, 62, 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 Board of
Directors of CSK Auto Corporation.
29
---------------------
J. Thomas Presby Mr. Presby, 65, is active as a director, investor and
business advisor. He is a Certified Public
Accountant. He retired in 2002 from a 30-year
career as a partner in Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. At
Deloitte, he held numerous positions in the United
States and abroad, including the posts of Deputy
Chairman and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Presby is
a graduate of Rutgers University and holds a masters
degree in Industrial Administration from Carnegie
Mellon University. He was selected to be a director
of the Company in November 2003 by the Board to fill
a newly created position on the Board. Mr. Presby
serves as a director and audit committee chair of
World Fuel Services, Inc., TurboChef Technologies,
Inc. and the German Marshall Fund of the United
States.
---------------------
James E. Quinn Mr. Quinn, 53, is President 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, Inc.
---------------------
William A. Shutzer Mr. Shutzer, 58, is a partner of Evercore Partners, a
financial advisory and private equity firm. He
previously served as a Managing Director of Lehman
Brothers from 2000 through 2003, 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 the Company in 1984. Mr. Shutzer is
also a member of the Boards of Directors of Jupiter
Media Corp., American Financial Group, Inc., CSK
Auto Corporation and TurboChef Technologies, Inc.
30
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE ELECTION OF ALL NINE NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR
ITEM II - APPOINTMENT OF THE INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Upon the recommendation of its Audit Committee, the Board has appointed
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP ("PwC") as the independent registered public
accounting firm to examine the Company's consolidated financial statements for
fiscal year 2005. We are asking you to ratify our selection.
PwC has served as the Company's independent registered public accounting
firm since 1984.
A representative of PwC 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 may review its selection if its appointment is not approved by
the stockholders.
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP AS THE COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR FISCAL YEAR 2005.
ITEM III - APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE 1998 EMPLOYEE INCENTIVE PLAN TO ADD A
PERFORMANCE FACTOR (RETURN ON AVERAGE ASSETS)
The Company's 1998 Employee Incentive Plan (the "1998 Incentive Plan")
was approved by the stockholders at their 1998 Annual Meeting. At their 2000
Annual Meeting, the stockholders approved the first amendment to the Incentive
Plan and at their 2003 Annual Meeting the Stockholders approved the second
amendment to the 1998 Incentive Plan.
On January 20, 2005, the Board adopted a further amendment to the 1998
Incentive Plan. If that amendment is approved by the stockholders at their 2005
Annual Meeting, the Company will have the authority to use return on average
assets as a Performance Measure.
The Board wishes to use return on average assets as a Performance Measure
as part of the Company's Long-Term Incentive Compensation program so that the
compensation of the executive officers may be tied to the strategic objective of
improving return on assets. If the amendment is not approved, the vesting of
Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units will be determined only by earnings
performance and will not be adjusted upwards or downwards for failure to meet
the return on assets test set by the Compensation Committee. See "Compensation
Committee Report on Executive Compensation" and "Long-Term Incentive Plan Awards
in Last Fiscal Year" above.
If the proposed amendment is approved, the text of subsection 9.1 of the
1998 Incentive Plan will be modified to read as follows:
Performance Measures. Unless and until the Board proposes for stockholder
vote and the stockholders of the Company approve a change thereto, the
Performance Measures used to determine the attainment of Performance
Goals with respect to Other Incentive Awards and
31
Stock Awards to Named Executive Employees which are designed to qualify
for the Performance-Based Exception shall be any one or more of the
following: (I) as reported in the Company's Annual Report to Stockholders
which is included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, (A) the
Company's consolidated net earnings or (B) the Company's consolidated
earnings per share on a diluted basis; AND (II) THE COMPANY'S
CONSOLIDATED RETURN ON AVERAGE ASSETS IN EACH OF THE FISCAL YEARS IN THE
PERFORMANCE PERIOD, EXPRESSED AS A PERCENTAGE, AND THEN AVERAGED OVER THE
ENTIRE PERFORMANCE PERIOD; IN EACH OF THE FISCAL YEARS IN THE PERFORMANCE
PERIOD, AVERAGE ASSETS WILL BE COMPUTED BY AVERAGING TOTAL ASSETS AT THE
BEGINNING AND AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR; TO COMPUTE RETURN ON AVERAGE
ASSETS IN ANY SUCH FISCAL YEAR, NET EARNING FOR SUCH FISCAL YEAR SHALL BE
DIVIDED BY AVERAGE ASSETS. The Committee may appropriately adjust any
evaluation of performance under a Performance Goal to exclude any of the
following events that occurs during a Performance Period: (i) asset
write-downs, (ii) litigation or claim judgment or settlements, (iii) the
effect of changes in tax law, accounting principles or other such laws or
provisions affecting reported results, (iv) accruals for reorganization
and restructuring programs, and (v) extraordinary non-recurring items as
described in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30 and/or in
management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results
of operations appearing in said Annual Report for the applicable year.
(BOLD indicates new material)
If the 2005 Incentive Plan is approved by the stockholders (see Item IV
below), the 1998 Incentive Plan will be deemed amended so that no further awards
may be made under such Plan after May 1, 2005. Awards will instead be made under
the 2005 Incentive Plan.
- If the stockholders approve both this Item III and the 2005
Incentive Plan, no further awards will be made under the 1998
Incentive Plan, although existing awards made prior to May 1, 2005
under the 1998 Incentive Plan will remain outstanding, subject to
vesting, exercise or expiration.
- If the stockholders approve both this Item III and the 2005
Incentive Plan, the only effect of approval of this Item III will
be in the inclusion of return on average assets as a Performance
Factor for the Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units granted in
January of 2005. See "Compensation Committee Report" and "Long
Term Incentive Plan Awards in the Last Fiscal Year" above.
- If the 2005 Incentive Plan is not approved by the stockholders,
further awards may be made under the 1998 Incentive Plan.
- If this Item III is not approved by the stockholders, return on
average assets will not be used as a Performance Factor for the
Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units granted in January of
2005. See "Compensation Committee Report" and "Long Term Incentive
Plan Awards in the Last Fiscal Year" above.
32
THE MATERIAL FEATURES OF THE 1998 INCENTIVE PLAN AND THE 2005 INCENTIVE PLAN ARE
SUMMARIZED BELOW UNDER "MATERIAL FEATURES OF THE INCENTIVE PLANS".
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE PROPOSAL.
ITEM IV - APPROVAL OF THE 2005 EMPLOYEE INCENTIVE PLAN
On March 17, 2005, the Board adopted, subject to stockholder approval at
the 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the Company's 2005 Employee Incentive
Plan (the "2005 Incentive Plan"). The Board believes that the 2005 Incentive
Plan will provide flexibility to the structure competitive compensation programs
that can be used to retain and attract employees for the Company and its
subsidiaries, motivate participants to achieve the Company's operating and
strategic goals and further link the interest of participants with those of the
Company's other stockholders, thereby promoting the long-term financial
interests of the Company and its subsidiaries, including the growth in value of
stockholders' equity and the enhancement of long-term returns.
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE PROPOSAL.
MATERIAL FEATURES OF THE INCENTIVE PLANS
Following is a summary of the material features of the 1998 Incentive
Plan and the 2005 Incentive Plan.
The 1998 Incentive Plan and the 2005 Incentive Plan are substantially
similar. A copy of the 2005 Incentive Plan is attached to this Proxy Statement
as Appendix III. The following is a summary of the material features of both
plans. In this summary, the 1998 Incentive Plan and the 2005 Incentive Plan will
be together referred to as the "Incentive Plans." Features that are not
identical in each plan will be described.
In the summary that follows, all share numbers and option prices for
grants under the 1998 Incentive Plan have been adjusted to reflect the
two-for-one splits of the Company's common stock that became effective in July
1999 and 2000, respectively.
Maximum Number of Shares. As of March 24, 2005, the maximum number of
shares of common stock that may be issued under 1998 Incentive Plan awards is
15,373,764 shares, of which 1,462,262 have already been issued, 11,861,629 are
subject to prior grants and may be issued on exercise of options or vesting of
stock awards. Accordingly, if the 2005 Plan is not approved, 2,049,873 shares
remain available for grant under the 1998 Incentive Plan. (This assumes that the
Board will act to allocate 1,000,000 shares previously repurchased to the 1998
Incentive Plan.) This maximum is subject to adjustment. See Maximum Number of
Shares and Adjustments for Corporate Transactions below.
If the 2005 Incentive Plan is approved by the Company's stockholders, the
maximum number of shares of common stock that may be issued under all Incentive
Plan awards will be increased to 26,373,764 shares, of which 1,462,262 have
already been issued, 11,861,629 are subject to prior grants and may be issued on
exercise of options or vesting of stock awards. Accordingly, if the 2005 Plan is
approved, a maximum of 11,000,000 shares will be available for
33
grant under the 2005 Incentive Plan and no shares will remain available for
grant under the 1998 Incentive Plan.
The maximum number of shares that will be available for grant under the
2005 Incentive Plan is subject to reduction by 1.58 shares for each share that
is delivered on vesting of a stock award. See Stock Awards below. Thus, when a
share is issued on vesting of a stock award, the maximum is reduced by 1.58
shares and when a share is issued on exercise of an option the maximum is
reduced by one share. The maximum number of shares available for grant under the
2005 Incentive Plan is also subject to adjustment for corporate transactions.
See Maximum Number of Shares and Adjustments for Corporate Transactions below.
Stock Options Already Granted Under the 1998 Incentive Plan. The following
table provides information concerning non-qualified stock options ("NQSOs") that
have been granted through March 24, 2005 to employees of the Company's
subsidiaries under the 1998 Incentive Plan:
Percent of Option Weighted
Person or Group Granted Aggregate Option Shares Granted to Average Exercise
NQSOs Shares Granted All Employees Price
----------------------------- ---------------- ----------------- ----------------
Michael J. Kowalski 1,290,000 9.3% $28.2701
Chairman and CEO
James E. Quinn 912,500 6.6% $27.7817
President
Beth O. Canavan 403,000 2.9% $31.3659
Executive Vice President
James N. Fernandez 693,000 5.0% $28.3027
Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer
Patrick B. Dorsey 277,000 2.0% $30.3847
Senior Vice President,
General Counsel and Secretary
====================================================================================================
All Executive Officers as a Group 4,933,000 34.6% $29.0727
All Employees Who Are Not
Executive Officers as a Group 8,888,530 65.4% $30.2821
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL 13,821,530 100% $29.8504
34
Stock Unit Awards Already Made Under the 1998 Incentive Plan. The
following table provides information concerning restricted stock units awards
that have been granted through March 24, 2005 to employees of the Company's
subsidiaries under the 1998 Incentive Plan:
Percent of Units
Person or Group Awarded Aggregate Granted to
Restricted Stock Units Units Granted All Employees Type of Award
----------------------- --------------- ---------------- -----------------------------
Michael J. Kowalski 92,000 10.7% Three-Year Performance Period
Chairman and CEO
James E. Quinn 58,000 6.7% Three-Year Performance Period
President
Beth O. Canavan 32,000 3.7% Three-Year Performance Period
Executive Vice President
James N. Fernandez 44,000 5.1% Three-Year Performance Period
Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer
Patrick B. Dorsey 24,000 2.8% Three-Year Performance Period
Senior Vice President,
General Counsel and Secretary
======================================================================================================================
All Executive Officers as a Group 346,000 40.1% Three-Year Performance Period
All Employees Who Are Not
Executive Officers as a Group 517,812 59.9% Four-year vesting, 25% per year
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL 863,812 100%
Market Value Per Share. As of March 24, 2005, the market value of one
share of the Company's Common Stock, $0.01 par value, was $32.43 calculated as
the mean between the lowest and highest reported sales price of such a share on
such date as reported in the New York Stock Exchange Composite Transactions
Index.
Administration of the Incentive Plans. The Incentive Plans are
administered by the Stock Option Subcommittee of the Compensation Committee
which consists of two or more outside directors selected by the Board (the
"Committee"). The Committee has the authority to determine:
- employees to whom awards are granted,
- the size and type of awards, and
- the terms and conditions of such awards.
Number and Identity of Future Participants and Form of Awards Not Yet
Determined. Under the Incentive Plans, the Committee may designate any employee
of the Company or its related companies as a participant. The number and
identity of participants to whom awards will eventually be made under the
Incentive Plans has not yet been determined, and subject to the
35
Incentive Plans, the form of such awards is at the discretion of the Committee.
It is therefore not possible at this time to provide specific information as to
actual future award recipients or the form of such awards. However, to date,
participation has been limited to management employees. In January of 2005,
when grants were last made under the 1998 Employee Incentive Plan, 905
employees were named by the Committee as Participants.
Awards Available under the Incentive Plans. Following are summaries of the
various awards available under the Incentive Plans.
Options and SARs
The grant of a stock option entitles the holder to purchase a specified
number of shares of the Company's Common Stock at an exercise price specified at
the time of grant.
Stock options may be granted in the form of NQSOs or incentive stock
options ("ISOs"). Grants of ISOs must fulfill the requirements applicable to an
"incentive stock option" described in Section 422(b) of the Internal Revenue
Code.
The grant of a stock appreciation right ("SAR") entitles the holder to
receive the appreciation value, if any, for a specific number of shares of the
Company's common stock over a specific time period. The Committee may provide
the appreciation value in cash or in shares. The appreciation value is equal to
all or a portion of the growth in the fair market value over an exercise price
specified at the time of grant.
The Incentive Plans limit the discretion of the Committee with respect to
Options and SARs as follows:
- the term of an option or SAR may not exceed 10 years,
- the per-share exercise price of each option or SAR must be
established at the time of grant or determined by a formula
established at the time of grant,
- the exercise price may not be less than 100% of fair market value as
of the "pricing date",
- the per-share exercise price may not be decreased after grant except
for adjustments made to reflect stock splits and other corporate
transactions (see Maximum Number of Shares and Adjustments for
Corporate Transactions below),
- neither an option nor an SAR may be surrendered for a new option or
SAR with a lower exercise price and
- the pricing date must generally be the grant date, subject to
limited exceptions.
Stock Awards
A stock award is the grant of shares of the Company's Common Stock or a
right to receive such shares, their cash equivalent or a combination of both.
Each stock award shall be subject to such conditions, restrictions and
contingencies as the Committee shall determine.
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Cash Incentive Awards
Cash awards may be granted as determined by the Committee. Terms of cash
awards must be set out by agreement, which may specify performance periods and
goals. The Committee has the discretion to adjust pre-established Performance
Goals under certain circumstances.
Settlement of Awards, Deferred Settlements Tax Withholding and Dividend
Equivalents
The Committee has the discretion to settle awards through cash payments,
delivery of Common Stock, the grant of replacement awards or any combination
thereof.
The Committee may permit the payment of the option exercise price to be
made as follows:
- in cash,
- by the tender of the Company's shares of Common Stock, or
- by irrevocable authorization to a third party to sell shares
received upon exercise of the option and to remit the exercise
price.
Before distribution of any shares pursuant to an award, the Committee may
require the participant to remit funds for any required tax withholdings.
Alternatively, the Committee may withhold shares to satisfy such tax
requirements. All cash payments made under the Incentive Plan may be net of any
required tax withholdings.
The Committee may provide for the deferred delivery of stock upon the
exercise of an option or SAR or upon the grant of a stock award. Such deferral
can be evidenced by use of "Stock Units" - bookkeeping entries equivalent to the
fair market value, from time to time, of a specified number of shares. Stock
Units are settled at the end of the applicable deferral period by delivery of
shares or as otherwise determined by the Committee.
The Committee has the discretion to provide participants with the right to
receive dividends or dividend equivalent payments with respect to the underlying
shares of Common Stock.
Duration of the Incentive Plans
Under the 1998 Incentive Plan as now in effect, no award may be made after
March 19, 2008; however, upon stockholder approval of the 2005 Incentive Plan at
the 2005 Annual Meeting, no additional awards will be made under the 1998
Incentive Plan. However, the 1998 Incentive Plan shall remain in effect as long
as any awards are outstanding.
If the 2005 Incentive Plan is approved by the stockholders at the 2005
Annual Meeting, no award may be made under the 2005 Incentive Plan after April
30, 2015. However, the plan shall remain in effect as long as any awards
previously made remain outstanding.
Maximum Number of Shares and Adjustments for Corporate Transactions under the
Incentive Plans
Subject to further adjustments for corporate transactions, as discussed
below, the maximum number of shares of the Company's Common Stock now remaining
available for delivery to
37
participants under the Incentive Plans is 2,049,873. If the 2005 Incentive Plan
is approved, this maximum will be increased to 13,049,873 shares.
Shares subject to an award that are not delivered because of forfeiture,
cancellation or cash settlement become available for further grant. If a
participant exercises an option by delivery of previously-owned shares in
payment of the exercise price, only the excess of the shares issued to the
employee above the number of shares delivered in payment will be counted against
the maximum.
The maximum number of shares which may be delivered under the Incentive
Plans is subject to further adjustment for corporate transactions, such as:
- stock splits, stock dividends and stock distributions,
- any other transaction in which outstanding shares of Common Stock
are increased, decreased, changed or exchanged, or
- a transaction in which cash, property, Common Stock or other
securities are distributed in respect of outstanding shares.
If such a corporate transaction occurs, the Committee will make
appropriate adjustments in:
- the number and/or type of shares for which awards may be granted
under the Incentive Plans after such transaction, and
- the number and/or type of shares or securities for which awards then
outstanding under the Incentive Plans may be exercised after such
transaction - such adjustments would be made without changing the
aggregate exercise price applicable to the unexercised portions of
outstanding options or SARs.
For example, to adjust for the last corporate transaction - the
two-for-one stock split that became effective in July 2000 - the Committee
doubled the maximum number of shares that could be issued under the 1998
Incentive Plan. The Committee also doubled the number of unexercised shares that
were the subject of outstanding options and cut the corresponding per-share
exercise price in half.
Other Limits Under the 1998 Incentive Plan. Subject to further adjustment
for corporate transactions, as discussed above, the 1998 Incentive Plan imposes
the following limits:
- shares that may be issued as ISOs under the 1998 Incentive Plan -
1,000,000,
- shares that may be issued as stock awards under the 1998 Incentive
Plan - 1,000,000,
- shares that may be granted in any one fiscal year to any one
participant pursuant to any and all awards - 400,000 and
- maximum aggregate cash pay-out in any one fiscal year for cash
awards to a "covered executive" - $2,000,000.
The last two limits mentioned above will not apply if the Committee
determines that the award(s) in question to a "covered executive" will be
non-deductible to the Company (see Section 162(m) of the Code below).
Other Limit Under the 2005 Incentive Plan. Subject to further adjustment
for corporate transactions, as discussed above, the 2005 Incentive Plan imposes
the following limit:
38
- shares that may be issued as ISOs under the 2005 Incentive Plan -
1,000,000.
Amendment of Incentive Plans. The Board may, at any time, amend or
terminate either Incentive Plan. However, the approval of the Company's
stockholders will be required for any amendment (other than adjustments for
corporate transactions) which would:
- increase the maximum number of shares that may be delivered under
the Incentive Plans as described in Maximum Number of Shares and
Adjustments for Corporate Transactions above,
- increase any of the limits described above under Other Limits Under
the 1998 Incentive Plan or under Other Limit Under the 2005
Incentive Plan,
- decrease the minimum exercise price for an option or SAR or permit
the surrender of an option or an SAR as consideration in exchange
for a new award with a lower exercise price, each as described above
under Options and SARs, or
- increase the maximum term of an Option or SAR as described above
under Options and SARs.
Federal Income Tax Consequences of Incentive Plan Awards. The Company
believes that under present law and regulations the federal income tax treatment
of the various awards that may be made under the Incentive Plan will be as
described below. In general, the Company's and its subsidiaries' right to claim
a deduction is subject to the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code (See
Section 162(m) of the Code below).
The grant of an NQSO will not have any tax consequence to the Company nor
to the participant. The exercise of an NQSO will require the participant to
include in his or her taxable ordinary income the amount by which the fair
market value of the acquired shares on the exercise date exceeds the option
price. Upon a subsequent sale or taxable exchange of shares acquired upon the
option exercise, the participant will recognize long- or short-term capital gain
or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale and the
tax basis of such shares (the fair market value on the exercise date). The
Company will be entitled to a deduction at the same time and in the same amount
as the participant is in receipt of income in consequence of his or exercise of
an NQSO.
The grant of an ISO will not have any tax consequence to the Company nor
to the participant. The exercise of an ISO will not cause the participant to
realize ordinary taxable income nor permit the Company to take a deduction
unless the participant disposes of the acquired shares within the later of two
years after the grant of the option and one year after the date of the exercise.
(However, for purposes of computing the participant's alternative minimum tax
liability, the spread between the option price and the stock's fair market value
on the date of the ISO exercise is treated as income.) If the participant fails
to achieve that minimum holding period before deposition, the participant will
be treated as though he or she had exercised a NQSO for tax purposes and the
Company will be treated as though the participant had exercised a NQSO (see
NQSOs above). If the participant achieves the minimum holding period, any gain
or loss that is realized on the subsequent disposition of such shares will be
treated as long-term capital gain or loss.
The grant of an SAR will not have any tax consequence to the Company nor
to the participant. The exercise of an SAR will require the participant to
include in his or her taxable ordinary income the amount of any cash received
plus the fair market value of any shares issued as
39
the result of the exercise. Upon a subsequent sale or taxable exchange of
shares, if any, acquired upon an SAR exercise, the participant will recognize
long-or short-term capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the
amount realized on the sale and the tax basis of such shares (the fair market
value on the exercise date). The Company will be entitled to a deduction at the
same time and in the same amount as the participant is in receipt of income in
consequence of his or exercise of an SAR.
The grant of a stock award (including a stock unit) will not have any tax
consequence to the Company nor to the participant if, at the time of the grant,
the shares or units provided to the participant are subject to a substantial
risk of forfeiture, and provided further that the participant chooses not to
elect to recognize income. The participant may, however, elect to recognize
taxable ordinary income at the time of a stock (but not a unit) grant equal to
the fair market value of the stock awarded. Failing such an election, as of the
date the shares provided to a participant under a stock award are no longer
subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, the participant will recognize
taxable ordinary income equal to the fair market value of the stock. The Company
will be entitled to a deduction at the same time and in the same amount as the
participant is in receipt of income in consequence of the grant of a stock
award.
The participant will recognize taxable ordinary income when he or she is
in receipt or constructive receipt of a cash award. The Company will be entitled
to a deduction at the same time and in the same amount as the participant is in
receipt of income in consequence of the grant of a cash award.
Section 162(m) of the Code. The Company's and its subsidiaries' right to
claim a tax deduction with respect to compensation provided under the Incentive
Plan to covered executives may be subject to the limitations of Section 162(m)
of the Code. Section 162(m) provides that no deduction shall be allowed for
applicable employee remuneration with respect to any covered executive in excess
of $1,000,000 for a taxable year. However, qualified performance-based
compensation is not subject to this $1,000,000 limitation. "Covered executives"
are the Company's chief executive officer and the four other employees whose
compensation is required to be reported to its stockholders under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934.
Options and SARs granted under the Incentive Plans will be qualified
performance-based compensation if:
- the exercise price is no less than fair market value on the date of
the grant,
- if such plan is approved by the stockholders of the Company (the
1998 Incentive Plan was approved in 1998 and the 2005 Incentive Plan
is hereby submitted for approval), and
- if the members of the Committee are all "outside directors" as
defined under Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations
promulgated thereunder.
Stock and cash awards under the Incentive Plans may be designed by the
Committee to be qualified performance-based compensation. The Committee must
specify objective performance goals to be attained over a performance period as
a condition to the award. For such awards under the 1998 Incentive Plan, the
measures of performance used to determine attainment of performance goals over
any performance period shall be the Company's:
40
- net earnings and/or
- earnings per share on a diluted basis.
For such awards under the 2005 Incentive Plan, such measures of performance are
the Company's:
- net earnings,
- earnings per share on a diluted basis
- net sales,
- net sales for any channel of distribution,
- return on average assets
- selling, general and administrative expenses,
- earnings from operations,
- earnings before income taxes, and/or
- net cash provided by operating activities.
The Committee retains the right to make post-award adjustments to reflect
certain extraordinary events.
It is the current intention of the Board that the Committee shall at all
times be composed of persons qualifying as "outside directors" and that the
Committee shall consider the effect of Section 162(m) in designing and making
awards under the Incentive Plan to covered executives. However, under the
Incentive Plan, the Committee has the discretion to make awards that will not be
so qualified and may find it in the best interest of the Company to do so from
time to time.
The Incentive Plan is not the exclusive means available to the Company to
provide incentive compensation to employees of the Company and its subsidiaries.
[The balance of this page has been intentionally left blank]
41
OTHER MATTERS
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS, IN GENERAL
If you would like to nominate a candidate for director or bring other
business before the stockholders at the 2006 Annual Meeting, which is currently
expected to take place on May 18, 2006, you must comply with the following
requirements:
- you must notify the Secretary of the Company in writing no earlier
than January 19, 2006, and no later than February 18, 2006,
- 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 or on our website.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR INCLUSION IN THE PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE 2006 ANNUAL
MEETING
If you wish to submit a proposal to be included in the Proxy Statement for
our 2006 Annual Meeting, we must receive it no later than December 15, 2005.
Proposals should be sent to the Company at 727 Fifth 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
/s/ Patrick B. Dorsey
Patrick B. Dorsey
Secretary
New York, New York
April 14, 2005
42
Appendix I
TIFFANY & CO.
(A DELAWARE CORPORATION)
Corporate Governance Principles
-------------------------------
(as adopted by the full Board of Directors on January 15, 2004)
1. Director Qualification Standards; Size of the Board; Audit Committee
Service.
a. A majority of the directors shall meet the independence requirements
set forth in Section 303A.01 and .02 of the New York Stock Exchange Corporate
Governance Rules. A director shall not be deemed to have met such independence
requirements unless the Board has affirmatively determined that it be so. In
making its determination of independence, the Board shall broadly consider all
relevant facts and circumstances and assess the materiality of each director's
relationship(s) with the Corporation and/or its subsidiaries. If a director is
determined by the Board to be independent, all relationships, if any, that such
director has with the Corporation and/or its subsidiaries which were determined
by the Board to be immaterial to independence shall be disclosed in the
Corporation's annual proxy statement.
b. A director shall be younger than age 72 when elected or appointed
and a director shall not be recommended for re-election by the stockholders if
such director will be age 72 or older on the date of the annual meeting or other
election in question, provided that the Board of Directors may, by specific
resolution, waive the provisions of this sentence with respect to an individual
director whose continued service is deemed uniquely important to the
Corporation.
c. A director need not be a stockholder, but shall be encouraged to
become a stockholder by virtue of the Corporation's policies and plans with
respect to stock options for directors and otherwise.
d. Consistent with 1.a. above, candidates for director shall be
selected on the basis of their business experience and expertise, with a view to
supplementing the business experience and expertise of management and adding
further substance and insight into board discussions and oversight of
management. The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for
identifying individuals qualified to become directors, and for recommending to
the Board director nominees for the next annual meeting of the stockholders.
e. From time to time, the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee
will recommend to the Board the number of directors constituting the entire
Board. Based upon that recommendation, the current nature of the Corporation's
business, and the talents and business experience of the existing roster of
directors, the Board believes that nine directors is an appropriate number at
this time.
f. The Board shall be responsible for determining the qualification of
an individual to serve on the Audit Committee as a designated "audit committee
financial expert," as required by applicable rules of the SEC under Section 407
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. In addition, to serve on the Audit Committee, a
director must meet the standards for independence set forth in Section 301 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. To those ends, the Nominating/Corporate Governance
Committee will coordinate with the Board in screening any new candidate for
audit committee financial expert or who will serve on the Audit Committee and in
evaluating whether to re-nominate any existing director who may serve in the
capacity of audit committee financial expert or who may serve on the Audit
Committee. If an Audit Committee member simultaneously serves on the audit
committees of more than three public companies, then, in the case of each such
Audit Committee member, the Board must determine that such simultaneous service
would not impair the ability of such member to effectively serve on the
Corporation's Audit Committee and disclose such determination in the
Corporation's annual proxy statement.
g. Any director who changes his or her employer or otherwise has a
significant change in job responsibilities, or who accepts or intends to accept
a directorship with another public company (or with any other organization that
would require a significant time commitment) that he or she did not hold when
such director was most recently elected to the Board, shall advise the secretary
of the Corporation of such change or directorship and the secretary of the
Corporation shall advise the members of the Nominating/Corporate Governance
Committee. The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee shall consider, in
light of such advice, the continued appropriateness of such director's
membership on the Board and each committee of the Board on which such
I-1
director participates. In some instances, taking into account all relevant
factors and circumstances, it may be appropriate for the Nominating/Corporate
Governance Committee to ask the director to resign as director or to cease
participation on certain committees, or to recommend to the Board that such
director not be re-nominated to the Board.
h. Subject to 1.b above, directors of the Corporation are not subject
to term limits. However, the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee will
consider each director's continued service on the Board each year and recommend
whether each director should be re-nominated to the Board. Each director will be
given an opportunity to confirm his or her desire to continue as a member of the
Board.
2. Attendance and Participation at Board and Committee Meetings.
a. Directors shall be expected to attend six regularly scheduled board
meetings in person, if practicable, or by telephone, if attendance in person is
impractical. Directors should attempt to organize their schedules in advance so
that attendance at all regularly scheduled board meetings will be practicable.
b. For committees on which they serve, directors shall be expected to
attend regularly scheduled meetings in person, if practicable, or by telephone,
if attendance in person is impractical or if telephone participation is the
expected means of participation. For committees on which they serve, directors
should attempt to organize their schedules in advance so that attendance at all
regularly scheduled committee meetings will be practicable.
c. Directors shall attempt to make time to attend, in person or by
telephone, specially scheduled meetings of the Board or those committees on
which they serve.
d. Directors shall, if practicable, review in advance all meeting
materials provided by management, the other directors or consultants to the
Board.
e. Directors shall familiarize themselves with the policies and
procedures of the Board with respect to business conduct, ethics, confidential
information and trading in the Corporation's securities.
f. Nothing stated herein shall be deemed to limit the duties of
directors under applicable law.
3. Director Access to Management and Independent Advisors.
a. Executive officers of the Corporation and its subsidiaries shall
make themselves available, and shall arrange for the availability of other
members of management, employees and consultants, so that each director shall
have full and complete access with respect to the business, finances and
accounting of the Corporation and its subsidiaries.
b. The chief financial officer and the chief legal officer of the
Corporation will regularly attend Board meetings (other than those portions of
Board meetings that are reserved for independent or non-management directors or
those portions in which the independent or non-management directors meet
privately with the chief executive officer) and the Board encourages the chief
executive officer to invite other executive officers and non-executive officers
to Board meetings from time to time in order to provide additional insight into
items being discussed and so that the Board may meet and evaluate persons with
potential for advancement.
c. If the charter of any Board committee on which a director serves
provides for access to independent advisors, any executive officer of the
Corporation is authorized to arrange for the payment of the reasonable fees of
such advisors at the request of such a committee acting by resolution or
unanimous written consent.
4. Director Compensation.
a. Directors shall be compensated in a manner and at a level sufficient
to encourage exceptionally well-qualified candidates to accept service upon the
Board and to retain existing directors. The Board believes that a meaningful
portion of a director's compensation should be provided in, or otherwise based
upon appreciation in the market value of, the Corporation's Common Stock.
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b. To help determine the form and amount of director compensation, the
staff of the Corporation shall, if requested by the Board provide the Board with
data drawn from public company filings with respect to the fees and emoluments
paid to outside directors by comparable public companies.
c. Contributions to charities with which an independent or
non-management director is affiliated will not be used as compensation to such a
director and management will use special efforts to avoid any appearance of
impropriety in connection with such contributions, if any.
d. Management will advise the Board should the Corporation or any
subsidiary wish to enter into any direct financial arrangement with any director
for consulting or advisory services, or into any arrangement with any entity
affiliated with such director by which the director may be indirectly benefited,
and no such arrangement shall be consummated without specific authorization from
the Board.
5. Director Orientation and Continuing Education.
a. Each executive officer of the Corporation shall meet with each new
director and provide an orientation into the business, finance and accounting of
the Corporation.
b. Each director shall be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred
in pursuing continuing education with respect to his/her role and
responsibilities to the stockholders and under law as a director.
6. Management Succession
a. The Board, assisted by the Corporate Nominating/Corporate Governance
Committee and the Compensation Committee, shall select, evaluate the performance
of, retain or replace the chief executive officer. Such actions will be taken
with (i) a view to the effectiveness and execution of strategies propounded by
and decisions taken by the chief executive officer with respect the
Corporation's long-term strategic plan and long-term financial returns and (ii)
applicable legal and ethical considerations.
b. In furtherance of the foregoing responsibilities, and in
contemplation of the retirement, or an exigency that requires the replacement,
of the chief executive officer, the Board shall, in conjunction with the chief
executive officer, oversee the selection and evaluate the performance of the
other executive officers.
7. Annual Performance Evaluation of the Board.
a. The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee is responsible to
assist the Board in the Board's oversight of the Board's own performance in the
area of corporate governance.
b. Annually, each director will participate in an assessment of the
Board's performance in the area of corporate governance. The results of such
self-assessment will be provided to each director.
8. Matters for Board Review, Evaluation and/or Approval.
a. The Board is responsible under the law of the State of Delaware to
review and approve significant actions by the Corporation including major
transactions (such as acquisitions and financings), declaration of dividends,
issuance of securities and appointment of officers of the Corporation.
b. The Board is responsible, either through its committees, or as
guided by its committees, for those matters which are set forth in the
respective charters of the Auditing, Nominating/Corporate Governance and
Compensation Committees or as otherwise set forth in the corporate governance
rules of the New York Stock Exchange.
c. The following matters, among others, will be the subject of Board
deliberation:
i. annually, the Board will review and if acceptable approve the
Corporation's operating plan for the fiscal year, as developed and recommended
by management;
I-3
ii. at each regularly scheduled meeting of the Board, the
directors will review actual performance against the operating plan;
iii. annually, the Board will review and if acceptable approve the
Corporation's five-year strategic plan, as developed and recommended by
management;
iv. from time to time, the Board will review topics of relevance
to the approved or evolving strategic plan, including such topics identified by
the Board and those identified by management;
v. annually, the charters of the Audit, Nominating/Corporate
Governance, and Compensation Committees will be reviewed and, if necessary,
modified, by the Board;
vi. annually, the delegation of authority to officers and
employees for day-to-day operating matters of the Corporation and its
subsidiaries will be reviewed and if acceptable approved by the Board;
vii. annually, the Corporation's investor relations program will be
reviewed by the Board;
viii. annually, the schedule of insurance coverage for the
Corporation and its subsidiaries will be reviewed by the Board;
ix. annually, the status of various litigation matters in which
the Corporation and its subsidiaries are involved will be presented to and
discussed with the Board;
x. annually, the Corporation's policy with respect to the payment
of dividends will be reviewed and if acceptable approved by the Board;
xi. annually, the Corporation's program for use of foreign
currency hedges and forward contracts will be reviewed and if acceptable
approved by the Board; and
xii. from time to time, the Corporation's use of any stock
re-purchase program approved by the Board will be reviewed by the Board.
9. Management's Responsibilities
Management is responsible to operate the Corporation with the objective of
achieving the Corporation's operating and strategic plans and building value for
stockholders on a long-term basis. In executing those responsibilities
management is expected to act in accordance with the policies and standards
established by the Board (including these principles), as well as in accordance
with applicable law and for the purpose of maintaining the value of the
trademarks and business reputation of the Corporation's subsidiaries.
Specifically, the chief executive officer and the other executive officers are
responsible for:
i. producing, under the oversight of the Board and the Audit
Committee, financial statements for the Corporation and its consolidated
subsidiaries that fairly present the financial condition, results of operation,
cash flows and related risks in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles, for making timely and complete disclosure to investors, and for
keeping the Board and the appropriate committees of the Board informed on a
timely basis as to all matters of significance;
ii. developing and presenting the strategic plan, proposing
amendments to the plan as conditions and opportunities dictate and for
implementing the plan as approved by the Board;
iii developing and presenting the annual operating plans and
budgets and for implementing those plans and budgets as approved by the Board;
iv. creating an organizational structure appropriate to the
achievement of the strategic and operating plans and recruiting, selecting and
developing the necessary managerial talent;
v. creating a working environment conducive to integrity,
business ethics and compliance with applicable legal and Corporate policy
requirements;
I-4
vi. developing, implementing and monitoring an effective system of
internal controls and procedures to provide reasonable assurance that: the
Corporation's transactions are properly authorized; the Corporation's assets are
safeguarded against unauthorized or improper use; and the Corporation's
transactions are properly recorded and reported. Such internal controls and
procedures also shall be designed to permit preparation of financial statements
for the Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles and any other legally required criteria
applicable to such statements; and
vii. establishing, maintaining and evaluating the Corporation's
disclosure controls and procedures. The term "disclosure controls and
procedures" means controls and other procedures of the Corporation that are
designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Corporation
in the reports filed by it under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act")
is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods
specified in the SEC's rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures
include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that
information required to be disclosed by the Corporation in the reports it files
under the Act is accumulated and communicated to the Corporation's management,
including its principal executive and financial officers, to allow timely
decisions regarding required disclosure. To assist in carrying out this
responsibility, management has established a Disclosure Control Committee, whose
membership is responsible to the Audit Committee, to the chief executive officer
and to the chief financial officer, and includes the following officers or
employees of the Corporation: the president, the chief legal officer, the head
of finance, the chief information officer, the controller, the head of internal
audit & financial controls, the investor relations officer and the treasurer.
10. Meeting Procedures.
a. The Board shall determine whether the offices of chairman of the
board and chief executive officer shall be held by one person or by separate
persons, and whether the person holding the office of chairman of the board
shall be "independent" or not. An "independent" director meets the requirements
for "independence" as referenced in item 1.a above. "Non-management" directors
include those who are independent and those who, while not independent, are not
currently employees of the Corporation or one of its subsidiaries.
b. The chairman of the board will establish the agenda for each Board
meeting but the chairman of the board will include in such agenda any item
submitted by the presiding independent director (see item 11.c below). Each
Board member is free to suggest the inclusion of items on the agenda for any
meeting and the chairman of the board will consider them for inclusion.
c. Management shall be responsible to distribute information and data
necessary to the Board's understanding of all matters to be considered and acted
upon by the Board; such materials shall be distributed in writing to the Board
sufficiently in advance so as to provide reasonably sufficient time for review
and evaluation. In circumstances where practical considerations do not permit
advance circulation of written materials, reasonable steps shall be taken to
allow more time for discussion and consideration, such as extending the duration
of a meeting or circulating unanimous written consent forms, which may be
considered and returned at a later time.
d. The chairman of the board shall preside over meetings of the Board.
e. If the chairman of the board is not independent, the independent
directors may select from among themselves a "presiding independent director";
failing such selection, the chairman of the Nominating/Corporate Governance
Committee shall be the presiding independent director. The presiding independent
director shall be identified as such in the Corporation's annual proxy statement
to facilitate communications by stockholders and employees with the
non-management directors.
f. The non-management directors shall meet separately from the other
directors in regularly scheduled executive session, without the presence of
management directors and executive officers of the Corporation. The presiding
independent director shall preside over such meetings.
g. At least once per year the independent directors shall meet
separately from the other directors in a scheduled executive session, without
the presence of management directors, non-management directors who are not
independent and executive officers of the Corporation. The presiding independent
director shall preside over such meetings.
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11. Committees.
a. The Board shall have an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee
and a Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee which shall have the respective
responsibilities described in the attached exhibits. The membership of each such
committee shall consist only of independent directors.
b. The Board may, from time to time, appoint one or more additional
committees, such as a Dividend Committee.
c. The chairman of each Board committee, in consultation with the
appropriate members of management and staff, will develop the committee's
agenda. Management will assure that, as a general rule, information and data
necessary to the committee's understanding of the matters within the committee's
authority and the matters to be considered and acted upon by a committee are
distributed to each member of such committee sufficiently in advance of each
such meeting or action taken by written consent to provide a reasonable time for
review and evaluation.
d. At each regularly scheduled Board meeting, the chairman of each
committee or his or her delegate shall report the matters considered and acted
upon by such committee at each meeting or by written consent since the preceding
regularly scheduled Board meeting.
e. The secretary of the Corporation, or any assistant secretary of the
Corporation, shall be available to act as secretary of any committee and shall,
if invited, attend meetings of the committee and prepare minutes of the meeting
for approval and adoption by the committee.
12. Reliance.
Any director of the Corporation shall, in the performance of such person's
duties as a member of the Board or any committee of the Board, be fully
protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Corporation or upon
such information, opinions, reports or statements presented by any of the
Corporation's officers or employees, or committees of the Board, or by any other
person as to matters the director reasonably believes are within such other
person's professional or expert competence.
13. Reference to Corporation's Subsidiaries.
Where the context so requires, reference herein to the Corporation
includes reference to the Corporation and/or any direct or indirect subsidiary
of the Corporation whose financial results are consolidated with those of the
Corporation for financial reporting purposes and reference to a subsidiary of
the Corporation shall be reference to such a subsidiary.
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Appendix II
CHARTER OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
TIFFANY & CO.
(REFLECTS FINAL NYSE CORPORATE GOVERNANCE RULES; REVISED 01-08-04)
(as adopted by the Audit Committee on January 14, 2004)
This Charter governs the operations of the Audit Committee.
Composition of the Committee.
The Audit Committee shall be comprised of three or more directors as
determined by the Board of Directors.
Each of the directors serving on the Audit Committee shall be
"independent" under the provisions of 10A of the Securities Act of 1934 as
amended by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and shall have been affirmatively
determined by the Board of Directors to be an "independent director" under the
New York Stock Exchange Corporate Governance Standards.
Each of the directors serving on the Audit Committee shall be "financially
literate" as that qualification is interpreted by the Board of Directors in its
business judgment, or must become financially literate within a reasonable
period of time after his or her appointment to the Audit Committee.
In addition, at least one member of the Audit Committee shall have
accounting or related management "expertise" as that qualification is
interpreted by the Board of Directors in its business judgment.
Each director who contemplates serving upon the Audit Committee should
evaluate carefully the existing demands on his or her time before accepting the
assignment. If a member of the Audit Committee simultaneously serves on the
audit committees of more than three public companies, including this Audit
Committee, the Board of Directors must determine that such simultaneous service
would not impair the ability of such Audit Committee member to effectively serve
on this Audit Committee and disclose such determination in the Company's annual
proxy statement.
Finally, at least one member of the Audit Committee shall qualify as a
"financial expert" as that term is interpreted by the SEC pursuant to the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
The members of the Audit Committee shall be elected by the Board of
Directors annually and shall serve until their successors are duly elected and
qualified. Unless a Chair is elected by the full Board of Directors, the members
of the Audit Committee may designate a Chair by majority vote of the full Audit
Committee membership.
Purpose of Committee.
The Purpose of the Audit Committee is to:
(A) assist the Board of Directors in its oversight of (1) the integrity
of the Company's financial statements, (2) the Company's compliance
with legal and regulatory requirements, (3) the independent
auditor's qualifications and independence, and (4) the performance
of the Company's internal audit function and independent auditors;
(B) prepare the report of the Audit Committee required by Security and
Exchange Commission Rules to be included in the Company's annual
proxy statement.
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Duties and Responsibilities.
The duties and responsibilities of the Audit Committee are:
(A) to retain and terminate the Company's independent auditors
and, to that end, the Audit Committee shall be directly
responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and
oversight of the work of any registered public accounting firm
employed by the Company (including resolution of disagreements
between Company management and the auditor regarding financial
reporting) for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit
report or related work, and each such registered public
accounting firm shall report directly to the Audit Committee;
(B) at least annually, to obtain and review a report by the
independent auditor describing: the independent auditor's
internal quality-control procedures; any material issues
raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, or
peer review, of the firm, or any inquiry or investigation by
governmental or professional authorities, within the preceding
five years, respecting one or more independent audits carried
out by the firm, and any steps taken to deal with any such
issues; and (to assess the auditor's independence) all
relationships between the independent auditor and the Company;
(C) discuss the annual audited financial statements and quarterly
financial statements with management and the independent
auditor, including the Company's disclosures under
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations";
(D) discuss earnings press releases, as well as financial
information and earnings guidance provided to analysts and
rating agencies;
(E) as appropriate, obtain advice and assistance from outside
legal, accounting or other advisors;
(F) discuss policies with respect to risk assessment and risk
management;
(G) meet separately, periodically, with management, with internal
auditors and with independent auditors;
(H) review with the independent auditor any audit problems or
difficulties and management's response;
(I) set clear hiring policies for employees or former employees of
the independent auditors;
(J) report regularly to the Board of Directors;
(K) establish procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment
of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting,
internal accounting controls or auditing matters and for the
confidential, anonymous submission by employees of the Company
of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing
matters;
(L) to review the adequacy of the Company's systems of internal
accounting and financial controls;
(M) to approve in advance all audit services, including comfort
letters, as well as non-audit services, including tax
services, to be rendered by the Company's public accounting
firm;
(N) to report its conclusions and concerns to the Board of
Directors; and
(O) to conduct, or have conducted, an annual performance
evaluation of the Audit Committee as required by the New York
Stock Exchange Corporate Governance Standards.
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AUTHORITY AND FUNDING.
The Audit Committee shall have all authority necessary or implied in order
to carry out its duties and responsibilities. Without limitation to the
generality of the foregoing, the Audit Committee shall have the authority to
engage independent counsel, outside auditors for special audits, reviews and
other procedures, and other advisers, experts and consultants, as it determines
necessary to carry out its duties and responsibilities.
The officers of the Company shall provide and make available to the Audit
Committee, as it may determine, in its capacity as a committee of the Board of
Directors, funds for payment of compensation to the registered public accounting
firm employed by the issuer for the purpose of rendering or issuing an audit
report and to any advisers employed by the Audit Committee pursuant to the
foregoing paragraph.
The Audit Committee may require that the head of the Company's internal
audit department, any other officer or employee of the Company, the Company's
outside counsel or the external auditor attend a meeting of the Audit Committee
or to meet with any members of, or consultants to, the Audit Committee.
Meetings.
The Audit Committee shall meet as often as necessary to fulfill its
functions, but no less than quarterly.
Responsibilities of Others.
In the performance of its duties and responsibilities, it is not the duty
of the Audit Committee to plan or conduct audits, to determine that the
Company's financial statements are complete and accurate and are in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles or to assure compliance with laws.
These are the responsibilities of management and the internal audit department.
The external auditor is responsible for the audit of the Company's financial
statements in accordance with the standards of the profession.
Processes.
In carrying out its responsibilities, the Audit Committee's policies and
procedures should remain flexible in order to react to changing conditions and
circumstances.
The following shall be the principal recurring processes of the Audit
Committee in carrying out its oversight responsibilities. The processes are set
forth as a guide with understanding that the Audit Committee may alter or
supplement them as appropriate.
1. Annually, the Audit Committee shall appoint and determine the
compensation of the registered public accounting firm to be employed
by the Company for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit
report or related work and such registered public accounting firm
shall report directly to the Audit Committee.
2. The Audit Committee shall discuss with the internal auditors and the
external auditor the overall scope and plans for their respective
audit work.
3. The Audit Committee shall ensure that the external auditor submits
annually a formal written statement delineating all relationships
between the external auditor and the Company. The Audit Committee is
responsible for engaging in a dialogue with the external auditor
with respect to such disclosed relationships that may affect the
objectivity and independence of the external auditor and taking
appropriate action to satisfy itself or the external auditor's
independence.
4. The Audit Committee shall establish policies and procedures for the
engagement of the external auditor to provide such non-audit
services as may be legally performed, and for determining the
compensation to be paid for such services, and consider whether the
external auditor's performance of any non-audit services is
compatible with the external auditor's independence.
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5. The Audit Committee shall discuss with management, the internal
auditors and, to the extent appropriate, the external auditor the
adequacy and effectiveness of the Company's accounting and financial
records and system for monitoring and managing business risk and
legal compliance programs. Further, the Audit Committee shall meet
separately with the head of the Company's internal auditor
department and the external auditor, with and without management
present, to discuss the results of their examinations.
6. The Audit Committee shall review and discuss with management and the
external auditor the Company's interim financial results to be
included in the Company's quarterly reports to be filed with the
SEC, and the matters required to be discussed by Statement on
Auditing Standards No. 61 (Communications with Audit Committees), as
it may be modified or supplemented.
7. The Audit Committee shall review with management and the external
auditor the financial statements to be included in the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as the auditor's judgment about
the quality, not just acceptability, of the Company's accounting
principles as applied to its financial reporting. The review shall
also include a discussion of the reasonableness of judgments and
estimates made in the preparation of the financial statements that
may be viewed as critical, as well as the clarity of financial
statement disclosure. In addition, the Audit Committee shall discuss
the results of the annual audit and any other matters required to be
communicated to the Audit Committee by the external auditor under
generally accepted auditing standards, including the matters
required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61
(Communications with Audit Committees), as it may be modified or
supplemented.
8. Based on its review and discussions of items 3 and 7, the Audit
Committee shall recommend to the Board of Directors whether the
financial statements should be included in the Annual Report on Form
10-K.
9. As a whole, or through the Chair, the Audit Committee shall review
the impact on the financial statements of significant events,
transactions, or changes in accounting principles or estimates,
which potentially affect the quality of the financial reporting with
management and the external auditor prior to the filing of the
Company's reports on Form 10-Q or 10-K, or as soon as practicable if
the communications cannot be made prior to its filing.
10. Management and the external auditor shall discuss with the Audit
Committee significant changes to the Company's auditing and
accounting principles, policies, controls, procedures and practices
proposed or contemplated by the external auditor, the internal
auditors or management.
11. The Audit Committee shall review and reassess this Charter annually
and recommend any appropriate changes to the Board of Directors.
12. The Audit Committee shall maintain minutes of its meetings and
regularly report its activities to the Board of Directors.
13. Annually, the Audit Committee shall review the compensation and
performance of the head of the internal audit department. Any change
in the incumbent in such position or in his/her compensation shall
not be made without the approval of the Audit Committee.
As required, the Audit Committee shall inquire into and review any
significant disagreement that is brought to its attention among or between
management and the external auditor or among or between management and the
internal auditor in connection with the preparation of the Company's financial
statements.
As required, the Audit Committee shall review with management and the
external auditor any pending or threatened action by regulators or government
agencies and any employee complaints or published reports that raise material
issues regarding the Company's financial statements or accounting policies.
II-4
Reliance on Information Provided.
In adopting this Audit Committee Charter, the Board of Directors
acknowledges that the Audit Committee members are not employees of the Company
and are not providing any expert or special assurance as to the Company's
financial statements or any professional certification as to the external
auditor's work or auditing standards. Each member of the Audit Committee shall
be entitled to rely on the integrity of those persons and organizations within
and outside the Company that provide information to the Audit Committee and the
accuracy and completeness of the financial and other information provided to the
Audit Committee by such persons or organizations absent actual knowledge to the
contrary.
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II-5
Appendix III
TIFFANY & CO.
2005 EMPLOYEE INCENTIVE PLAN
SECTION 1
GENERAL
1.1 Purpose. The 2005 Tiffany & Co. Employee Incentive Plan (the "Plan")
has been established by Tiffany & Co., a Delaware corporation, (the "Company")
to (i) attract and retain employees; (ii) motivate Participants to achieve the
Company's operating and strategic goals by means of appropriate incentives;
(iii) provide incentive compensation opportunities that are competitive with
those of other companies competing with the Company and its Related Companies
for employees; and (iv) further link Participants' interests with those of the
Company's other stockholders through compensation that is based on the Company's
Common Stock, thereby promoting the long-term financial interests of the Company
and its Related Companies, including the growth in value of the Company's
stockholders' equity and the enhancement of long-term returns to the Company's
stockholders.
1.2 Participation. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the
Committee shall, from time to time, determine and designate from among Eligible
Individuals those persons who will be granted one or more Awards under the Plan.
Eligible Individuals who are granted Awards become "Participants" in the Plan.
In the discretion of the Committee, a Participant may be granted any Award
permitted under the provisions of the Plan, and more than one Award may be
granted to a Participant. Awards need not be identical but shall be subject to
the terms and conditions specified in the Plan. Subject to the last two
sentences of subsection 2.2 of the Plan, Awards may be granted as alternatives
to or in replacement for awards outstanding under the Plan, or any other plan or
arrangement of the Company or a Related Company (including a plan or arrangement
of a business or entity, all or a portion of which is acquired by the Company or
a Related Company).
1.3 Operation, Administration, and Definitions. The operation and
administration of the Plan, including the Awards made under the Plan, shall be
subject to the provisions of Section 4 (relating to operation and
administration). Initially capitalized terms used in the Plan shall be defined
as set forth in the Plan (including in the definitional provisions of Section 7
of the Plan).
1.4 Amendment to Prior Plan. If this Plan becomes effective on approval
by the Company's stockholders, as provided for in Section 4.1 below, the
Company's 1998 Employee Incentive Plan (the "1998 Plan") shall be deemed amended
so that no further Awards shall be made under the 1998 Plan on or after the
Effective Date of this Plan, although the 1998 Plan shall remain in effect with
respect to Awards made under the 1998 Plan prior to the Effective Date of this
Plan.
SECTION 2
OPTIONS AND SARS
2.1 Definitions.
(a) The grant of an "Option" entitles the Participant to purchase Shares
at an Exercise Price established by the Committee. Options granted
under this Section 2 may be either Incentive Stock Options or
Non-Qualified Stock Options, as determined in the discretion of the
Committee. An "Incentive Stock Option" is an Option that is intended
to satisfy the requirements applicable to an "incentive stock
option" described in section 422(b) of the Code. A "Non-Qualified
Option" is an Option that is not intended to be an "incentive stock
option" as that term is described in section 422(b) of the Code.
(b) The grant of a stock appreciation right (an "SAR") entitles the
Participant to receive, in cash or Shares, value equal to all or a
portion of the excess of: (a) Fair Market Value of a specified
number of Shares at the time of exercise, over (b) an Exercise Price
established by the Committee.
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2.2 Exercise Price. The per-Share "Exercise Price" of each Option and
SAR granted under this Section 2 shall be established by the Committee or shall
be determined by a formula established by the Committee at the time the Option
or SAR is granted; except that the Exercise Price shall not be less than 100% of
the Fair Market Value of a Share as of the Pricing Date. For purposes of the
preceding sentence, the "Pricing Date" shall be the date on which the Option or
SAR is granted unless the Option or SAR is granted on a date on which the
principal exchange on which the Shares are then listed or admitted to trading is
closed for trading, in which case the "Pricing Date" shall be the most recent
date on which such exchange was open for trading prior to such grant date;
except that the Committee may provide that: (i) the Pricing Date is the date on
which the recipient is hired or promoted (or similar event), if the grant of the
Option or SAR occurs not more than 90 days after the date of such hiring,
promotion or other event; and (ii) if an Option or SAR is granted in tandem
with, or in substitution for, an outstanding Award, the Pricing Date is the date
of grant of such outstanding Award. Except as provided in subsection 4.2(c), the
Exercise Price of any Option or SAR may not be decreased after the grant of the
Award. Neither an Option nor an SAR may be surrendered as consideration in
exchange for a new Award with a lower Exercise Price.
2.3 Exercise. Options and SARs shall be exercisable in accordance with
such terms and conditions and during such periods as may be established by the
Committee provided that no Option or SAR shall be exercisable after, and each
Option and SAR shall become void no later than, the tenth (10th) anniversary
date of the date of grant of such Option or SAR.
2.4 Payment of Option Exercise Price. The payment of the Exercise Price
of an Option granted under this Section 2 shall be subject to the following:
(a) The Exercise Price may be paid by ordinary check or such other form
of tender as the Committee may specify.
(b) If permitted by the Committee, the Exercise Price for Shares
purchased upon the exercise of an Option may be paid in part or in
full by tendering Shares (by either actual delivery of Shares or by
attestation, with such Shares valued at Fair Market Value as of the
date of exercise).
(c) The Committee may permit a Participant to elect to pay the Exercise
Price upon the exercise of an Option by irrevocably authorizing a
third party to sell Shares acquired upon exercise of the Option (or
a sufficient portion of such Shares) and remit to the Company a
sufficient portion of the sale proceeds to pay the entire Exercise
Price and any tax withholding resulting from such exercise.
SECTION 3
OTHER STOCK AWARDS
3.1 Definition. A "Stock Award" is a grant of Shares or of a right to
receive Shares (or their cash equivalent or a combination of both).
3.2 Restrictions on Stock Awards. Each Stock Award shall be subject to
such conditions, restrictions and contingencies as the Committee shall
determine. These may include continuous service and/or the achievement of
Performance Goals.
SECTION 4
OPERATION AND ADMINISTRATION
4.1 Effective Date and Duration. Subject to approval of the stockholders
of the Company at the Company's 2005 annual meeting, the Plan shall be effective
as of May 1, 2005 (the "Effective Date") and shall remain in effect as long as
any Awards under the Plan are outstanding; provided, however, that, no Award may
be granted or otherwise made under the Plan after April 30, 2015.
4.2 Shares Subject to Plan.
(a) (i) Subject to the following provisions of this subsection 4.2, the
maximum number of Shares that may be delivered to Participants and
their beneficiaries under the Plan shall be Eleven Million
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(11,000,000) Shares, provided that such maximum shall be reduced by
one and 58 hundredths (1.58) of a Share for each Share that is
delivered pursuant to a Stock Award.
(ii) Any Shares granted under the Plan that are forfeited or fail to
vest because of the failure to meet an Award contingency or
condition shall again be available for delivery pursuant to new
Awards granted under the Plan. To the extent any Shares covered by
an Award are not delivered to a Participant or a Participant's
beneficiary because the Award is forfeited, fails to vest or is
canceled, or the Shares are not delivered because the Award is
settled in cash, such Shares shall not be deemed to have been
delivered for purposes of determining the maximum number of Shares
available for delivery under the Plan.
(iii) If the Exercise Price of any Option granted under the Plan is
satisfied by tendering Shares to the Company (by either actual
delivery or attestation) or by the Company withholding shares, only
the number of Shares issued net of the Shares tendered or withheld
shall be deemed delivered for purposes of determining the maximum
number of Shares available for delivery under the Plan.
(iv) Shares delivered under the Plan in settlement, assumption or
substitution of outstanding awards (or obligations to grant future
awards) under the plans or arrangements of another entity shall not
reduce the maximum number of Shares available for delivery under the
Plan, to the extent that such settlement, assumption or substitution
occurs as a result of the Company or a Related Company acquiring
another entity (or an interest in another entity).
(b) Subject to adjustment under paragraph 4.2(c), the following
additional maximum limitation is imposed under the Plan: the
aggregate maximum number of Shares that may be issued under Options
intended to be Incentive Stock Options shall be One Million
(1,000,000) shares.
(c) If the outstanding Shares are increased or decreased, or are changed
into or exchanged for cash, property or a different number or kind
of shares or securities, or if cash, property, Shares or other
securities are distributed in respect of such outstanding Shares, in
either case as a result of one or more mergers, reorganizations,
reclassifications, recapitalizations, stock splits, reverse stock
splits, stock dividends, dividends (other than regular, quarterly
dividends), or other distributions, spin-offs or the like, or if
substantially all of the property and assets of the Company are
sold, then, unless the terms of the transaction shall provide
otherwise, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the number
and/or type of Shares or securities for which Awards may thereafter
be granted under the Plan and for which Awards then outstanding
under the Plan may thereafter be exercised. Any such adjustments in
outstanding Awards shall be made without changing the aggregate
Exercise Price applicable to the unexercised portions of outstanding
Options or SARs. The Committee shall make such adjustments to
preserve the benefits or potential benefits of the Plan and the
Awards; such adjustments may include, but shall not be limited to,
adjustment of: (i) the number and kind of shares which may be
delivered under the Plan; (ii) the number and kind of shares subject
to outstanding Awards; (iii) the Exercise Price of outstanding
Options and SARs; (iv) the limits specified in subsections 4.2(a)(i)
and 4.2(b) above; and (v) any other adjustments that the Committee
determines to be equitable. No right to purchase or receive
fractional shares shall result from any adjustment in Options, SARs
or Stock Awards pursuant to this paragraph 4.2(c). In case of any
such adjustment, Shares subject to the Option, SAR or Stock Award
shall be rounded up to the nearest whole Share.
4.3 Limit on Distribution. Distribution of Shares or other amounts under
the Plan shall be subject to the following:
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Company shall
have no obligation to deliver any Shares under the Plan or make any
other distribution of benefits under the Plan unless such delivery
or distribution would comply with all applicable laws (including,
without limitation, the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933)
and the applicable requirements of any securities exchange or
similar entity, and the Committee may impose such restrictions on
any Shares
III-3
acquired pursuant to the Plan as the Committee may deem advisable,
including, without limitation, restrictions under applicable federal
securities laws, under the requirements of any Stock exchange or
market upon which such Shares are then listed and/or traded, and
under any blue sky or state securities laws applicable to such
Shares. In the event that the Committee determines in its discretion
that the registration, listing or qualification of the Shares
issuable under the Plan on any securities exchange or under any
applicable law or governmental regulation is necessary as a
condition to the issuance of such Shares under an Option or Stock
Award, such Option or Stock Award shall not be exercisable or
exercised in whole or in part unless such registration, listing and
qualification, and any necessary consents or approvals have been
unconditionally obtained.
(b) Distribution of Shares under the Plan may be effected on a
non-certificated basis, to the extent not prohibited by applicable
law or the applicable rule of any stock exchange.
4.4 Tax Withholding. Before distribution of Shares under the Plan, the
Company may require the recipient to remit to the Company an amount sufficient
to satisfy any federal, state or local tax withholding requirements or, in the
discretion of the Committee, the Company may withhold from the Shares to be
delivered and/or otherwise issued Shares sufficient to satisfy all or a portion
of such tax withholding requirements. Whenever under the Plan payments are to be
made in cash, such payments may be net of an amount sufficient to satisfy any
federal, state or local tax withholding requirements. Neither the Company nor
any Related Company shall be liable to a Participant or any other person as to
any tax consequence expected, but not realized, by any Participant or other
person due to the receipt or exercise of any Award hereunder.
4.5 Reserved Rights. Subject to the limitations of subsection 4.2 on the
number of Shares that may be delivered under the Plan, the Plan does not limit
the right of the Company to use available Shares, including authorized but
un-issued shares and treasury shares, as the form of payment for compensation,
grants or rights earned or due under any other compensation plans or
arrangements of the Company or a Related Company, including the plans and
arrangements of the Company or a Related Company acquiring another entity (or an
interest in another entity).
4.6 Dividends and Dividend Equivalents. An Award may provide the
Participant with the right to receive dividends or dividend equivalent payments
with respect to Shares which may be either paid currently or credited to an
account for the Participant, and which may be settled in cash or Shares as
determined by the Committee. Any such settlements, and any such crediting of
dividends or dividend equivalents or reinvestment in Shares may be subject to
such conditions, restrictions and contingencies as the Committee shall
establish, including reinvestment of such credited amounts in Share equivalents.
4.7 Settlements; Deferred Delivery. Awards may be settled through cash
payments, the delivery of Shares, the granting of replacement Awards, or
combinations thereof, all subject to such conditions, restrictions and
contingencies as the Committee shall determine. The Committee may establish
provisions for the deferred delivery of Shares upon the exercise of an Option or
SAR or receipt of a Stock Award with the deferral evidenced by use of "Stock
Units" equal in number to the number of Shares whose delivery is so deferred. A
"Stock Unit" is a bookkeeping entry representing an amount equivalent to the
Fair Market Value of one Share. Stock Units represent an unfunded and unsecured
obligation of the Company except as otherwise provided by the Committee.
Settlement of Stock Units upon expiration of the deferral period shall be made
in Shares or otherwise as determined by the Committee. The amount of Shares, or
other settlement medium, to be so distributed may be increased by an interest
factor or by dividend equivalents. Until a Stock Unit is settled, the number of
Shares represented by a Stock Unit shall be subject to adjustment pursuant to
paragraph 4.2(c). Unless otherwise specified by the Committee, any deferred
delivery of Shares pursuant to an Award shall be settled by the delivery of
Shares no later than the 60th day following the date the person to whom such
deferred delivery must be made ceases to be an employee of the Company or a
Related Company.
4.8 Transferability. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, any
Option and SAR granted under the Plan, and, until vested, any Stock Award or
other Shares-based Award granted under the Plan, shall by its terms be
nontransferable by the Participant otherwise than by will, the laws of descent
and distribution or pursuant to a "domestic relations order", as defined in the
Code or Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act or the rules
thereunder, and shall be exercisable by, or become vested in, during the
Participant's lifetime, only by the Participant.
III-4
4.9 Form and Time of Elections. Unless otherwise specified herein, each
election required or permitted to be made by any Participant or other person
entitled to benefits under the Plan, and any permitted modification, or
revocation thereof, shall be in writing filed with the secretary of the Company
at such times, in such form, and subject to such restrictions and limitations,
not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Committee shall require.
4.10 Award Agreements with Company; Vesting and Acceleration of Vesting
of Awards. At the time of an Award to a participant under the Plan, the
Committee may require a Participant to enter into an agreement with the Company
(an "Award Agreement") in a form specified by the Committee, agreeing to the
terms and conditions of the Plan and to such additional terms and conditions,
not inconsistent with the Plan, as the Committee may, in its sole discretion,
prescribe, including, but not limited to, conditions to the vesting or
exercisability of an Award, such as continued service to the Company or a
Related Company for a specified period of time. The Committee may waive such
conditions to and/or accelerate exercisability or vesting of an Option, SAR or
Stock Award, either automatically upon the occurrence of specified events
(including in connection with a change of control of the Company) or otherwise
in its discretion.
4.11 Limitation of Implied Rights.
(a) Neither a Participant nor any other person shall, by reason of the
Plan or any Award Agreement, acquire any right in or title to any
assets, funds or property of the Company or any Related Company
whatsoever, including, without limitation, any specific funds,
assets, or other property which the Company or any Related Company,
in its sole discretion, may set aside in anticipation of a liability
under the Plan. A Participant shall have only a contractual right to
the Shares or amounts, if any, payable under the Plan, unsecured by
the assets of the Company or of any Related Company. Nothing
contained in the Plan or any Award Agreement shall constitute a
guarantee that the assets of such companies shall be sufficient to
pay any benefits to any person.
(b) Neither the Plan nor any Award Agreement shall constitute a contract
of employment, and selection as a Participant will not give any
employee the right to be retained in the employ of the Company or
any Related Company, nor any right or claim to any benefit under the
Plan, unless such right or claim has specifically accrued under the
terms of the Plan or an Award. Except as otherwise provided in the
Plan, no Award under the Plan shall confer upon the holder thereof
any right as a stockholder of the Company prior to the date on which
the individual fulfills all conditions for receipt of such rights.
4.12 Evidence. Evidence required of anyone under the Plan may be by
certificate, affidavit, document or other information which an officer of the
Company acting on it considers pertinent and reliable, and signed, made or
presented by the proper party or parties.
4.13 Action by Company or Related Company. Any action required or
permitted to be taken by the Company or any Related Company shall be by
resolution of its board of directors, or by action of one or more members of
such board (including a committee of such board) who are duly authorized to act
for such board, or (except to the extent prohibited by applicable law or
applicable rules of any Stock exchange) by a duly authorized officer of the
Company or such Related Company.
4.14 Gender and Number. Where the context admits, words in any gender
shall include any other gender, words in the singular shall include the plural
and the plural shall include the singular.
4.15 Liability for Cash Payments. Each Related Company shall be liable
for payment of cash due under the Plan with respect to any Participant to the
extent that such benefits are attributable to the services rendered for that
Related Company by such Participant. Any disputes relating to liability of a
Related Company for cash payments shall be resolved by the Committee.
4.16 Non-exclusivity of the Plan. Neither the adoption of the Plan by the
Board of Directors of the Company nor the submission of the Plan to the
stockholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any
limitations on the power of such Board of Directors or a committee of such Board
to adopt such other
III-5
incentive arrangements as it or they may deem desirable, including without
limitation, the granting of restricted stock, stock options or cash bonuses
otherwise than under the Plan, and such arrangements may be generally applicable
or applicable only in specific cases.
SECTION 5
COMMITTEE
5.1 Administration. The authority to control and manage the operation
and administration of the Plan shall be vested in a committee (the "Committee")
in accordance with this Section 5.
5.2 Selection of Committee. The Committee shall be selected by the Board
and shall consist of two or more members of the Board, each of whom shall
qualify as "outside directors" for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code and as
"independent" for purposes of The New York Stock Exchange Listing standards.
5.3 Powers of Committee. The authority to manage and control the
operation and administration of the Plan shall be vested in the Committee,
subject to the following:
(a) Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee will have the
authority and discretion to select from amongst Eligible Individuals those
persons who shall receive Awards, to determine who is an Eligible Individual,
to determine the time or time of receipt, to determine the types of Awards
and the number of Shares covered by the Awards, to establish the terms,
conditions, Performance Goals, restrictions, and other provisions of such
Awards and Award Agreements, and (subject to the restrictions imposed by
Section 6) to cancel, amend or suspend Awards. In making such Award
determinations, the Committee may take into account the nature of services
rendered by the Eligible Individual, the Eligible Individual's present and
potential contribution to the Company's or a Related Company's success and
such other factors as the Committee deems relevant.
(b) Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee will have the
authority and discretion to determine the extent to which Awards under the
Plan will be structured to conform to the requirements of the
Performance-Based Exception and to take such action, establish such
procedures, and impose such restrictions at the time Awards are granted as
the Committee determines to be necessary or appropriate to conform to such
requirements.
(c) The Committee will have the authority and discretion to establish terms
and conditions of Awards as the Committee determines to be necessary or
appropriate to conform to applicable requirements or practices of
jurisdictions outside the United States.
(d) The Committee will have the authority and discretion to interpret the
Plan, to establish, amend and rescind any rules and regulations relating to
the Plan, to determine the terms and provisions of any Award Agreements, and
to make all other determinations that may be necessary or advisable for the
administration of the Plan.
(e) Any interpretation of the Plan by the Committee and any decision made by
the Committee under the Plan are final and binding.
(f) In controlling and managing the operation and administration of the Plan,
the Committee shall act by a majority of its then members, by meeting or by
writing filed without a meeting. The Committee shall maintain adequate
records concerning the Plan and concerning its proceedings and acts in such
form and detail as the Committee may decide.
5.4 Delegation by Committee. Except to the extent prohibited by
applicable law or the applicable rules of a Stock exchange, the Committee may
allocate all or any portion of its powers and responsibilities to any one or
more of its members and may delegate all or part of its responsibilities and
powers to any person or persons selected by it. Any such allocation or
delegation may be revoked by the Committee at any time.
III-6
5.5 Information to be Furnished to Committee. The Company and Related
Companies shall furnish the Committee with such data and information as may be
requested by the Committee in order to discharge its duties. The records of the
Company and Related Companies as to an Eligible Individual's or a Participant's
employment, consulting services, termination of employment or services, leave of
absence, reemployment and compensation shall be conclusive on all persons unless
determined to be incorrect by the Committee. Participants and other persons
entitled to benefits under the Plan must furnish the Committee such evidence,
data or information as the Committee considers necessary or desirable to carry
out the terms of the Plan.
SECTION 6
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
6.1 Board's Right to Amend or Terminate. Subject to the limitations set
forth in this Section 6, the Board may, at any time, amend or terminate the
Plan.
6.2 Amendments Requiring Stockholder Approval. Other than as provided in
subsection 4.2 (c) (relating to certain adjustments to shares), the approval of
the Company's stockholders shall be required for any amendment which: (i)
increases the maximum number of Shares that may be delivered to Participants
under the Plan set forth in subsection 4.2(a); (ii) increases the maximum
limitation contained in Section 4.2(b); (iii) decreases the exercise price of
any Option or SAR below the minimum provided in subsection 2.2; (iv) modifies or
eliminates the provisions stated in the final two sentences of subsection 2.2;
(v) increases the maximum term of any Option or SAR set forth in Section 2.3;
(vi) provides any Performance Measure other than those listed in Section 9.1; or
(vii) modifies or eliminates the provisions stated in subsection 1.4. Whenever
the approval of the Company's stockholders is required pursuant to this
subsection 6.2, such approval shall be sufficient if obtained by a majority vote
of those stockholders present or represented and actually voting on the matter
at a meeting of stockholders duly called, at which meeting a majority of the
outstanding shares actually vote on such matter.
SECTION 7
DEFINED TERMS
For the purposes of the Plan, the terms listed below shall be defined as
follows:
Award. The term "Award" shall mean, individually and collectively, any award or
benefit granted to any Participant under the Plan, including, without
limitation, the grant of Options, SARs, Stock Awards and Other Incentive Awards.
Award Agreement. The term "Award Agreement" is defined in subsection 4.10.
Board. The term "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
Code. The term "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
A reference to any provision of the Code shall include reference to any
successor provision of the Code or of any law that is enacted to replace the
Code.
Eligible Individual. The term "Eligible Individual" shall mean any employee of
the Company or a Related Company. For purposes of the Plan, the status of the
Chairman of the Board of Directors as an employee shall be determined by the
Committee.
Fair Market Value. For purposes of determining the "Fair Market Value" of a
Share, the following rules shall apply:
(i) If the Shares are at the time listed or admitted to trading on any
stock exchange, then the Fair Market Value shall be the mean between the
lowest and the highest reported sales prices of the Shares on the date in
question on the principal exchange on which the Shares are then listed or
admitted to trading. If no reported sale of Shares takes place on the date
in question on the principal exchange, then the reported closing asked
price of the Shares on such date on the principal exchange shall be
determinative of Fair Market Value.
III-7
(ii) If the Shares are not at the time listed or admitted to trading on a
stock exchange, the Fair Market Value shall be the mean between the lowest
reported bid price and the highest reported asked price of the Shares on
the date in question in the over-the-counter market, as such prices are
reported in a publication of general circulation selected by the Committee
and regularly reporting the market price of the Shares in such market.
(iii) If the Shares are not listed or admitted to trading on any stock
exchange or traded in the over-the-counter market, the Fair Market Value
shall be as determined by the Committee, acting in good faith.
Named Executive Employee. The term "Named Executive Employee" means a
Participant who, as of the date of vesting and/or payout of an Award, as
applicable, is one of the group of covered employees, as defined in the
regulations promulgated under Code section 162(m), or any successor statute.
Participant. The term "Participant" means an Eligible Individual who has been
granted an Award under the Plan. For purposes of the administration of Awards,
the term Participant shall also include a former employee or any person
(including an estate) who is a beneficiary of a former employee and any person
(including any estate) to whom an Award has been assigned or transferred as
permitted by the Committee.
Other Incentive Award. The term "Other Incentive Award" means a cash award as
described in Section 8 below.
Performance-Based Exception. The term "Performance-Based Exception" means the
performance-based exception from the tax deductibility limitations of Code
section 162(m).
Performance Goals. The term "Performance Goals" means one or more objective
targets measured by the Performance Measure, the attainment of which may
determine the degree of payout and/or vesting with respect to Awards.
Performance Period. The term "Performance Period" means the time period during
which Performance Goals must be achieved with respect to an Award, as determined
by the Committee, but which period shall not be shorter than one of the
Company's fiscal years.
Performance Measure. The term "Performance Measure" refers to the performance
measures discussed in Section 9 of the Plan.
Related Companies. The term "Related Company" means
(i) any corporation, partnership, joint venture or other entity during any
period in which such corporation, partnership, joint venture or other
entity owns, directly or indirectly, at least fifty percent (50%) of the
voting power of all classes of voting shares of the Company (or any
corporation, partnership, joint venture or other entity which is a
successor to the Company);
(ii) any corporation, partnership, joint venture or other entity during
any period in which the Company (or any corporation, partnership, joint
venture or other entity which is a successor to the Company or any entity
that is a Related Company by reason of clause (i) next above) owns,
directly or indirectly, at least a fifty percent (50%) voting or profits
interest; or
(iii) any business venture in which the Company has a significant
interest, as determined in the discretion of the Committee.
Shares. The term "Shares" shall mean shares of the Common Stock of the Company,
$.01 par value, as presently constituted, subject to adjustment as provided in
paragraph 4.2(c) above.
III-8
SECTION 8
OTHER INCENTIVE AWARDS
8.1 Grant of Other Incentive Awards. Subject to the terms and provisions
of the Plan, Other Incentive Awards may be granted to Eligible Individuals, in
such amount, upon such terms, and at any time and from time to time as shall be
determined by the Committee.
8.2 Other Incentive Award Agreement. Each Other Incentive Award shall be
evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the amount of the Other
Incentive Award or the means by which it will be calculated, the terms and
conditions applicable to such Award, the applicable Performance Period and
Performance Goals, if any, and such other provisions as the Committee shall
determine, in all cases subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan.
8.3 Nontransferability. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable
Award Agreement, Other Incentive Awards may not be sold, transferred, pledged,
assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or the laws
of descent and distribution.
8.4 Form and Timing of Payment of Other Incentive Awards. Payment of
Other Incentive Awards shall be made in cash and at such times as established by
the Committee subject to the terms of the Plan.
SECTION 9
PERFORMANCE-BASED MEASURES
9.1 Performance Measures. The Performance Measures used to determine the
attainment of Performance Goals with respect to Other Incentive Awards and Stock
Awards to Named Executive Employees which are designed to qualify for the
Performance-Based Exception shall be (A) a change in the Fair Market Value of a
Share or (B) any one or more of the following, as reported in the Company's
Annual Report to Stockholders which is included in the Company's Annual Report
on Form 10-K or which may be mathematically derived from financial results
reported in such Annual Report, including Annual Reports made for prior years:
(a) the Company's consolidated net earnings;
(b) the Company's consolidated earnings per share on a diluted basis;
(c) the Company's consolidated net sales;
(d) net sales for any channel of distribution (as defined in
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations);
(e) the Company's consolidated return on average assets;
(f) the Company's consolidated selling, general and administrative
expenses;
(g) the Company's consolidated earnings from operations;
(h) the Company's consolidated earnings before income taxes; and
(i) the Company's consolidated net cash provided by operating
activities.
The Committee may appropriately adjust any evaluation of performance under a
Performance Goal to exclude any of the following events that occurs during a
Performance Period: (i) asset write-downs, (ii) litigation or claim judgment or
settlements, (iii) the effect of changes in tax law, accounting principles or
other such laws or provisions affecting reported results, (iv) accruals for
reorganization and restructuring programs, and (v) extraordinary non-recurring
items as described in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30 and/or in
management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of
operations appearing in said Annual Report for the applicable year.
III-9
9.2 Discretion to Adjust Awards/Performance Goals. The Committee retains
the discretion to adjust the determination of the degree of attainment of the
pre-established Performance Goals for Awards; provided, however, that Awards
which are designed to qualify for the Performance-Based Exception, and which are
held by Named Executive Officers, may not be subjected to an adjustment which
would yield an increased payout, although the Committee may retain the
discretion to make an adjustment which would yield a decreased payout. In the
event that applicable tax and/or securities laws change to permit the Committee
discretion to alter the governing Performance Measure for Awards designed to
qualify for the Performance-Based Exception and held by Named Executive Officers
without obtaining stockholder approval of such change, the Committee shall have
sole discretion to make such change without obtaining stockholder approval. In
addition, in the event that the Committee determines that it is advisable to
grant Awards which will not qualify for the Performance-Based Exception, the
Committee may make such grants without satisfying the requirements of Code
Section 162(m).
SECTION 10
SUCCESSORS
All obligations of the Company under the Plan with respect to Awards shall
be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such
successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation
or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the
Company.
III-10
THIS PROXY IS CONTINUED ON THE REVERSE SIDE. Please
Mark Here
for Address [ ]
Change or
Comments
SEE REVERSE SIDE
Item 1: Election of the following FOR ALL WITHHELD FOR NOMINEES
nominees as directors: NOMINEES NAMED BELOW
[ ] [ ]
01 Michael J. Kowalski
02 Rose Marie Bravo
03 William R. Chaney
04 Samuel L. Hayes III WITHHELD FOR (write in each nominee's name in
05 Abby F. Kohnstamm the space provided below):
06 Charles K. Marquis
07 J. Thomas Presby _____________________________________________
08 James E. Quinn
09 William A. Shutzer _____________________________________________
Item 2: Approval of the FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
appointment of [ ] [ ] [ ] I PLAN TO [ ]
PricewaterhouseCoopers ATTEND THE
LLP as the independent ANNUAL MEETING
registered public
accounting firm of the
Company's fiscal 2005
financial statements.
Item 3: Approval of an amendment FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
to the 1998 Employee [ ] [ ] [ ]
Incentive Plan so that
return on average assets
may be used as a
Performance Measure for
long-term incentive
compensation.
Item 4: Approval of the Company's FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
2005 Employee Incentive [ ] [ ] [ ]
Plan.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS: A VOTE FOR ALL NOMINEES FOR
DIRECTOR IN ITEM 1; FOR APPROVAL OF THE APPOINTMENT OF
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP AS THE INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTING FIRM IN ITEM 2; FOR APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE
1998 EMPLOYEE INCENTIVE PLAN SO THAT RETURN ON AVERAGE ASSETS
MAY BE USED AS A PERFORMANCE MEASURE FOR LONG-TERM INCENTIVE
COMPENSATION IN ITEM 3; AND FOR APPROVAL OF THE 2005 EMPLOYEE
INCENTIVE PLAN IN ITEM 4. 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 -
Choose MLINK(sm) for fast, easy and secure 24/7 online access to your
future proxy materials, investment plan statements, tax documents and
more. Simply log on to INVESTOR SERVICEDIRECT(R) at
www.melloninvestor.com/isd where step-by-step instructions will prompt
you through enrollment.
VOTE BY INTERNET OR TELEPHONE OR MAIL
24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK
INTERNET AND TELEPHONE VOTING IS AVAILABLE THROUGH 11:59 PM EASTERN TIME
THE DAY PRIOR TO ANNUAL MEETING DAY.
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 TELEPHONE MAIL
http://www.proxyvoting.com/tif 1-866-540-5760 Mark, sign and date
Use the Internet to vote your proxy. OR Use any touch-tone telephone to OR your proxy card
Have your proxy card in hand when vote your proxy. Have your proxy and return it in the enclosed
you access the web site. card in hand when you call. postage-paid envelope.
IF YOU VOTE YOUR PROXY BY INTERNET OR BY TELEPHONE,
YOU DO NOT NEED TO MAIL BACK YOUR PROXY CARD.
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 19, 2005,
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; "FOR" APPROVAL OF THE APPOINTMENT OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP AS
THE INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM IN ITEM 2; "FOR"
APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE 1998 EMPLOYEE INCENTIVE PLAN IN ITEM 3;
AND "FOR" APPROVAL OF THE 2005 EMPLOYEE INCENTIVE PLAN IN ITEM 4.
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, 2, 3 AND 4. 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 M.J. KOWALSKI, 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 2005 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
ADDRESS CHANGE/COMMENTS(Mark the corresponding box 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 19, 2005
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 Thursday, May 19, 2005, at 10:00 a.m. New York
time to consider and take action on the following:
1. Election of nine (9) 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 the independent
registered public accounting firm of the Company's fiscal 2005 financial
statements;
3. Approval of an amendment to the 1998 Employee Incentive Plan so that return
on average assets may be used as a Performance Measure for long-term
incentive compensation; and
4. Approval of the 2005 Employee Incentive Plan.
All stockholders are cordially invited to attend, although only those
stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 24, 2005 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 25, 2005 during ordinary business hours.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Patrick B. Dorsey
Secretary
New York, New York
April 14, 2005
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.