Tiffany Reports Second Quarter Results;

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tiffany & Co. (NYSE: TIF) reported today that its net sales increased 19% in the three months (second quarter) ended July 31, 2007, reflecting geographically broad-based growth across the U.S. and many international markets. Comparable store sales increased 17% in the U.S. and 7% (on a constant-exchange-rate basis) internationally. The strong sales growth and an improved operating margin led to a 41% increase in net earnings from continuing operations. The Company recorded an after-tax charge of $23,583,000, or $0.17 per diluted share, related to the pending sale of its Little Switzerland business.

“After owning Little Switzerland for almost five years, we concluded that our Company can more productively and profitably benefit from largely focusing on the growth potential of the TIFFANY & CO. brand.”

Net sales in the second quarter rose 19% to $662,562,000. On a constant-exchange-rate basis which excludes the effect of translating foreign-currency-denominated sales into U.S. dollars (see attached “Non-GAAP Measures” schedule), net sales increased 20% and worldwide comparable store sales increased 13%.

In the six months (first half) ended July 31, 2007, net sales increased 18% to $1,258,291,000. On a constant-exchange-rate basis, net sales rose 17% and worldwide comparable store sales rose 11%.

Net earnings from continuing operations in the second quarter increased 41% to $63,219,000, or $0.45 per diluted share, from $44,714,000, or $0.32 per diluted share, in the prior year. Including the charge related to the pending sale of Little Switzerland and its losses from operations, net earnings were $36,973,000, or $0.26 per diluted share, compared with $41,144,000, or $0.29 per diluted share, in the prior year.

Net earnings from continuing operations in the first half rose 28% to $112,624,000, or $0.80 per diluted share, compared with $88,198,000, or $0.62 per diluted share, in the prior year. Net earnings increased 3% to $86,632,000, or $0.62 per diluted share, compared with $84,286,000, or $0.59 per diluted share, in the prior year.

Sales by channel of distribution were as follows:

• U.S. Retail sales increased 20% to $345,336,000 in the second quarter and 17% to $644,019,000 in the first half primarily due to increased spending per transaction as well as some increase in the number of transactions. Comparable store sales increased 17% in the quarter and 15% in the half. In those respective periods, sales in the New York flagship store rose 31% and 29%, which partly reflected strong sales to foreign tourists, while comparable branch store sales rose 14% and 12%. The Company operated 65 TIFFANY & CO. stores in the U.S. at the end of the quarter, versus 60 stores a year ago.
• International Retail sales rose 16% to $259,023,000 in the second quarter and 16% to $507,030,000 in the first half. On a constant-exchange-rate basis, sales increased 17% in the quarter and 15% in the first half as a result of strong growth in most markets except Japan. Detailed sales results by geographical region are noted on the attached “Non-GAAP Measures” schedule. Tiffany opened a store in Hamburg, Germany in the second quarter and operated 107 TIFFANY & CO. international stores and boutiques at the end of the period, versus 97 locations a year ago.
• Direct Marketing sales increased 12% to $40,103,000 in the second quarter and 12% to $73,399,000 in the first half, resulting from increases in the number of orders and in the average amount spent per order.
• Other sales rose 151% to $18,100,000 in the second quarter and 101% to $33,843,000 in the first half. Sales growth in both periods was largely due to wholesale sales of diamonds (which increased $10.1 million in the quarter and $15.3 million in the half). In addition, sales increased in the Company’s IRIDESSE stores. Results for the Little Switzerland business are no longer included in this channel and have been recorded in discontinued operations.

Michael J. Kowalski, chairman and chief executive officer, said, “These sales results, which exceeded our expectations, are continued confirmation of the strength of the TIFFANY & CO. brand around the world and continue to validate the effectiveness of our focused distribution and product strategies. While diamond jewelry continued to perform exceptionally well, led by strength in engagement jewelry, we were also pleased with growth in many other jewelry categories and with the overall balance of our product mix between aspirational and accessible price points.”

Other financial highlights were as follows:

• Gross margin (gross profit as a percentage of net sales) was 55.3% in the second quarter (versus 56.0% in the prior year) and was 55.1% in the first half (versus 56.2%). The decline in both periods was primarily due to increased wholesale sales of diamonds. The Company recorded LIFO inventory charges of $5,550,000 in the quarter and $12,439,000 in the half, versus charges of $8,101,000 and $9,467,000 in the prior year.
• Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses increased 11% in the second quarter and 12% in the first half. In both periods, the ratios of SG&A expenses to sales improved to 39.1% and 40.1%, versus 42.1% and 42.0% in the prior year.
• The Company’s effective tax rate on continuing operations was 39.4% in the second quarter and 38.3% in the first half, versus 37.6% and 38.2% a year ago.
• The Company reported losses from discontinued operations, net of tax, of $26,246,000 in the second quarter and $25,992,000 in the first half, versus $3,570,000 and $3,912,000 in the prior year. Results included an after-tax charge of $23,583,000 related to the pending sale of Little Switzerland.
• Net inventories at July 31, 2007 increased 7% from a year ago primarily due to new store openings and expanded product assortments, as well as higher precious metal costs and expanded diamond manufacturing and sourcing operations.
• In the second quarter, the Company repurchased and retired 661,601 shares of its Common Stock at a total cost of $34,200,000, or an average cost of $51.69 per share. In the first half, the Company repurchased and retired 1,182,219 shares of its Common Stock at a total cost of $59,197,000, or an average cost of $50.07 per share. The Company has approximately $636 million available for repurchases through December 2009 under the currently authorized program.
• Total debt as a percentage of stockholders’ equity was 28% at July 31, 2007, versus 33% a year ago.

Regarding the Company’s pending sale of its Little Switzerland business to NXP Corporation, Mr. Kowalski said, “After owning Little Switzerland for almost five years, we concluded that our Company can more productively and profitably benefit from largely focusing on the growth potential of the TIFFANY & CO. brand.”

In another development, the Company reported that it had sold the land and building housing its Tokyo flagship store located at 2-7-17 Ginza for the price of $328,000,000 (yen 38,050,000,000) and simultaneously entered into a long-term lease. Tiffany had purchased the property in 2003 for approximately $140,400,000 (U.S. dollar equivalent at the acquisition date). This latest transaction is expected to result in a pretax gain of approximately $104,000,000, or $.0.47 per diluted share after tax, which will be recorded in the Company’s third quarter ending October 31, 2007, and a deferred gain of approximately $75,000,000 which will be amortized in SG&A expenses over a 15-year period. The transaction is not expected to have a significant effect on future earnings. The Company plans to use most proceeds from the sale for general corporate purposes, but intends to contribute $10,000,000 to The Tiffany & Co. Foundation in the third quarter. Mr. Kowalski said, “Tiffany has an established and respected presence in Japan and we are committed to further development and growth of our business there. In fact, we are finalizing plans for an exciting renovation of that important store and will share more details at a later date.”

Commenting on the Company’s full-year 2007 outlook, Mr. Kowalski added, “We are experiencing a good start to the third quarter with overall U.S. and international sales growth in August to-date achieving our expectations. In the coming months, we will be opening a number of new stores in attractive markets, while continuing to expand our product offerings with compelling new designs. Based on current conditions, our planned initiatives and a continued favorable retail environment, our financial performance expectations for fiscal 2007 call for (i) net sales growth of approximately 14%, (ii) an improved operating margin from continuing operations due to sales leverage on SG&A expenses and (iii) net earnings from continuing operations per diluted share in a range of $2.64 - $2.69 which includes the $0.47 per diluted share after-tax gain from the sale of the Tokyo store and the $0.05 per diluted share after-tax contribution to The Tiffany & Co. Foundation (excluding those two items, it equates to $2.22 - $2.27 per diluted share and compares with a previous expectation of $2.10 - $2.15 per diluted share). Including the charge related to the pending sale of Little Switzerland and its losses from operations, net earnings are expected to be in a range of $2.44 - $2.49 per diluted share.”

Today’s Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call today at 8:30 a.m. (EST) to review these results and its outlook. Investors may listen to the call at www.tiffany.com (click on “About Tiffany,” “Shareholder Information,” “Conference Call”) and www.streetevents.com.

Next Scheduled Announcement

The Company intends to report its third quarter results on November 30, 2007 with a conference call at 8:30 a.m. (EST) that day, to be broadcast at www.tiffany.com and www.streetevents.com. To receive future notifications of conference calls and news release alerts, please register at www.tiffany.com (click on “About Tiffany,” “Shareholder Information,” “Calendar of Events” and “News by E-Mail”).

Company Description

Tiffany & Co. operates jewelry and specialty retail stores and manufactures products through its subsidiary corporations. Its principal subsidiary is Tiffany and Company. The Company operates TIFFANY & CO. retail stores and boutiques in the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe and engages in direct selling through Internet, catalog and business gift operations. Other operations include consolidated results from ventures operated under trademarks or tradenames other than TIFFANY & CO. For additional information, please visit www.tiffany.com or call our shareholder information line at 800-TIF-0110.

This document contains certain “forward-looking” statements concerning the Company’s objectives and expectations with respect to sales, store openings, operating margin and earnings. Actual results might differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Information concerning risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially is set forth in the Company’s 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K and in other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

TIFFANY & CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Unaudited)

NON-GAAP MEASURES

The Company’s reported sales reflect either a translation-related benefit from strengthening foreign currencies or a detriment from a strengthening U.S. dollar.

The Company reports information in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”). Internally, management monitors its international sales performance on a non-GAAP basis that eliminates the positive or negative effects that result from translating international sales into U.S. dollars (“constant-exchange-rate basis”). Management believes this constant-exchange-rate measure provides a more representative assessment of the sales performance and provides better comparability between reporting periods.

The Company’s management does not, nor does it suggest that investors should, consider such non-GAAP financial measures in isolation from, or as a substitute for, financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Company presents such non-GAAP financial measures in reporting its financial results to provide investors with an additional tool to evaluate the Company’s operating results.

The following tables reconcile sales percentage increases (decreases) from the GAAP to the non-GAAP basis:

	Second Quarter 2007 vs. 2006			First Half 2007 vs. 2006
	GAAP Reported	Trans- lation Effect	Constant- Exchange- Rate Basis	GAAP Reported	Trans- lation Effect	Constant- Exchange- Rate Basis
Net Sales:
Worldwide	19%	(1)%	20%	18%	1%	17%
U.S. Retail	20%	-	20%	17%	-	17%
International Retail	16%	(1)%	17%	16%	1%	15%
Japan Retail	(7)%	(6)%	(1)%	(5)%	(4)%	(1)%
Other Asia-Pacific	42%	4%	38%	38%	3%	35%
Europe	43%	9%	34%	35%	10%	25%
Comparable Store Sales:
Worldwide	13%	-	13%	11%	-	11%
U.S. Retail	17%	-	17%	15%	-	15%
International Retail	6%	(1)%	7%	6%	-	6%
Japan Retail	(12)%	(6)%	(6)%	(10)%	(4)%	(6)%
Other Asia-Pacific	27%	3%	24%	27%	3%	24%
Europe	31%	8%	23%	28%	11%	17%

TIFFANY & CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(Unaudited, in thousands, except per share amounts)
		Three Months				Six Months
		Ended July 31,				Ended July 31,
		2007		2006		2007		2006
Net sales	$	662,562	$	554,657	$	1,258,291	$	1,070,013
Cost of sales		296,449		244,214		564,850		468,443
Gross profit		366,113		310,443		693,441		601,570
Selling, general and administrative expenses		259,119		233,565		505,160		449,758
Earnings from continuing operations		106,994		76,878		188,281		151,812
Other (income) expenses, net		2,748		5,214		5,833		9,143
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes		104,246		71,664		182,448		142,669
Provision for income taxes		41,027		26,950		69,824		54,471
Net earnings from continuing operations		63,219		44,714		112,624		88,198
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax benefits		(26,246)		(3,570)		(25,992)		(3,912)
Net earnings	$	36,973	$	41,144	$	86,632	$	84,286
Net earnings from continuing operations per share:
Basic	$	0.46	$	0.32	$	0.82	$	0.63
Diluted	$	0.45	$	0.32	$	0.80	$	0.62
Net earnings per share:
Basic	$	0.27	$	0.30	$	0.63	$	0.60
Diluted	$	0.26	$	0.29	$	0.62	$	0.59
Weighted-average number of common shares:
Basic		136,743		139,170		136,616		140,556
Diluted		140,325		141,177		140,100		142,896

TIFFANY & CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited, in thousands)
	July 31,		January 31,		July 31,
	2007		2007		2006
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments	$	129,027	$	190,508	$	144,868
Accounts receivable, net		152,353		165,594		141,724
Inventories, net		1,253,657		1,146,674		1,174,319
Deferred income taxes		104,185		72,934		79,882
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		79,816		57,460		60,936
Assets held for sale		48,900		73,474		68,467
Total current assets		1,767,938		1,706,644		1,670,196
Property, plant and equipment, net		945,280		912,143		888,249
Other assets, net		219,280		193,465		192,252
Assets held for sale - noncurrent		-		33,258		36,329
	$	2,932,498	$	2,845,510	$	2,787,026
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Short-term borrowings	$	130,995	$	106,681	$	142,215
Current portion of long-term debt		5,455		5,398		6,272
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		164,164		198,471		185,312
Income taxes payable		28,147		62,979		31,333
Merchandise and other customer credits		64,600		61,511		57,577
Liabilities held for sale		14,544		17,631		14,123
Total current liabilities		407,905		452,671		436,832
Long-term debt		400,643		406,383		423,819
Pension/postretirement benefit obligations		95,204		84,466		75,825
Other long-term liabilities		132,858		92,718		85,812
Liabilities held for sale - noncurrent		-		4,377		4,187
Stockholders' equity		1,895,888		1,804,895		1,760,551
	$	2,932,498	$	2,845,510	$	2,787,026