LVMH is apparently looking to add a new bauble to its collection of luxury industry jewels. It might want to remember that, in jewelry as in corporate acquisitions, the patient shopper often gets a better deal.
Bloomberg News reported Saturday that LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE has approached Tiffany & Co. with an acquisition offer of about $14.5 billion, a deal that would add a storied jewelry business with about $4 billion in annual sales to its portfolio.
This deal would make some strategic sense for LVMH. Jewelry and shoes were the fastest-growing product categories in the luxury market last year, suggesting the bling business has held up well amid rapid changes in consumer preferences and the rise of online shopping.