Correspondence 0001104659-24-095998 from Lanvin Group Holdings Ltd (LANV, LANV-WT) (CIK 0001922097) (LANV)
Lanvin Group Holdings Ltd (LANV, LANV-WT) (CIK 0001922097)
Date: Sept. 3, 2024 · CIK: 0001922097 · Accession: 0001104659-24-095998
AI Filing Summary & Sentiment
File numbers found in text: 001-41569
Referenced dates: August 20, 2024
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CORRESP
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filename1.htm
VIA EDGAR
Ms. Heather Clark
Mr. Andrew Blume
United States Securities and Exchange Commission
Division of Corporation Finance
Office of Manufacturing
100 F Street, NE
Washington, D.C. 20549
September 3, 2024
Dear Ms. Clark and Mr. Blume,
Re:
Lanvin
Group Holdings Limited
Form 20-F
for the Year Ended December 31, 2023
Filed
April 30, 2024
File
No. 001-41569
On behalf of Lanvin Group Holdings Limited (the
“Company”), we submit this letter setting forth the responses of the Company to the comments provided by the staff (the “Staff”)
of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in its second comment letter dated August 20, 2024 (the “Second
Comment Letter”) with respect to the Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed by the Company
with the SEC via EDGAR on April 30, 2024 (the “Form 20-F”).
The headings and paragraph numbers in this letter
correspond to those contained in the Second Comment Letter and, to facilitate the Staff’s review, we have reproduced the text of
the Staff’s comments in bold below. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings given to them in the Form 20-F
and the Company’s previous response dated August 9, 2024. All references to page numbers and captions (other than those
in the Staff’s comments and unless otherwise stated) correspond to the page numbers and captions in the Form 20-F. The
Company is concurrently filing its Amendment No. 1 to the Form 20-F to address the Staff’s comment in the Second Comment
Letter.
Form 20-F for the Year Ended December 31, 2023
Exhibits 12.1 and 12.2, page 152
1. Your response to prior comment 6 indicates that intend to make the exhibit revisions in future filings. As originally requested,
please amend your filing to include certifications having all of the prescribed language as set forth in paragraph 12 of the "Instructions
as to Exhibits" of Form 20-F.
PARTNERS
Teresa Y Y Ko Robert S Ashworth Thomas T Y Ng Arun Balasubramanian
Simon J Weller*
Grace Y H Huang K Tim Mak Alastair N C Mordaunt* Richard Wang Georgia K Dawson* Edward G Freeman Daniel Anderson
John J H Choong Richard W Bird Daniel J French Richard J Perks Philip Q Li Matthew J O’Callaghan Bing X Guan
Howie C H Farn Xin Liu* Sarah X Su David W Yi
REGISTERED FOREIGN LAWYERS *non-resident
Ninette Dodoo (Belgium)
Client Meeting Suite: 36th Floor, Two Exchange Square, Central, Hong
Kong
2/8
Response: In response
to the Staff’s comment, the Company has filed Amendment No. 1 to the Form 20-F to include in the officer certifications
provided in Exhibits 12.1 and 12.2 paragraph 4(b) and the reference to internal control over financial reporting in the introductory
language of paragraph 4.
Financial Statements
Contribution statements of changes in equity page F-7
2. We note your responses to prior comments 3 and 5 and have the following comments:
● Please provide us with each journal entry recorded to account for the Meritz financing fund transactions described in your responses.
Present the journal entries in chronological order with a sufficiently detailed yet straightforward description of each entry. In doing
so, specify the terms of the contract "renegotiation" and clarify when the "closing date" will occur and the transactions
that will occur on such date.
● Clarify the timing and amount of each related share issuance and repurchase, including all activity reflected in your treasury share
rollforward. In doing so, explain why these transactions impact treasury shares and why the table in your response to comment 3 reflects
the "Repurchase of Ordinary Shares" as a decrease to treasury shares instead of an increase and the "Issuance of Ordinary
Shares" as an increase to treasury shares instead of a decrease.
Response: In response to the Staff’s
comment, the Company respectfully presents the Staff with the following journal entries recorded to account for the Meritz financing fund
transactions including each related share issuance and repurchase with detailed description. For contract “renegotiation”
clauses and “closing date,” please refer to the description under Journal Entry #10. An explanation of why these transactions
affect treasury shares is provided under Journal Entry #2 to facilitate the Staff’s understanding. For the change of ordinary shares,
please see the description under Journal Entry #2 and #11.
3/8
Journal Entry #1: October 20, 2022
Description: As disclosed
in 2022 Consolidated Statements page F-60, Note 29, Meritz received certain shares of Fosun Fashion Group (Cayman) Limited (predecessor
of the Company, “FFG”) at a subscription price equal to USD 50,000,000 during the 2022 Meritz Private Placement. Half of
this subscription by Meritz in the amount of EUR 25.02 million (USD 25.00 million) was funded on October 20, 2022. The actual proceeds
received was EUR 24.02 million (USD 24.00 million), the difference of EUR 1 million (USD 1 million) relates to cash dividends paid in
advance, which are recognised in other current assets. This portion of interest is considered as prepaid interest and will be net-off
gradually with the monthly accrued interest expense.
Meritz has contractually claimed
a number of rights under the 2022 Meritz Private Placement in order to mitigate the risk of its investments. The following rights to
which Meritz is entitled are key rights that primarily affect judgements of accounting treatment:
1) Cash dividend: Meritz is entitled to a cash dividend in the amount of USD 2.0 million per annum for three
years from October 20, 2022. Half of the first-year cash dividend in the amount of USD 1.0 million was paid on that date, with the
remaining USD 1.0 million to be paid six months later. The second and third year’s cash dividends will be paid quarterly.
2) Put Option Ⅰ: Under the agreement as Meritz holds the Put Option, it can request FFG/the
Company to repurchase shares in the event of a contingency (the actual controllers cease control of the
Company, any insolvency event,
bankruptcy, liquidation or winding up, delisting or suspension of shares, event of default on borrowings).
3) Put Option Ⅱ: Under the terms, Meritz may request the
Company or any third party nominated by the
Company to repurchase
the ordinary shares held by it upon the third anniversary of the investment.
Any of the above rights would
indicate that the Company cannot unconditionally avoid fulfilling a contractual obligation by delivering cash or other financial
assets. The contractual obligation meets the definition of a financial liability in accordance with IAS 32, paragraph 11.
Additionally, Put Option I is a financial
instrument with a contingent settlement clause. According to IAS 32, paragraph 25, this constitutes a financial liability of the issuer
as the issuer has no control over the occurrence of the contingent event. Put Option II constitutes a puttable instrument. According to
IAS 32, paragraph 18, a financial instrument that gives the holder the right to put it back to the issuer for cash or another financial
asset is a financial liability.
Given the Put Option I and Put Option
II have the same repurchase price of 11.5% of the agreed return at the time of exercise, the exercise price of this option is approximately
equal to the main debt instrument. Consequently, the Put Option is closely related to the main debt instrument and is not considered to
be a separate derivative. As the repurchase price is fixed at the agreed return mentioned in the preceding sentence, it is subsequently
measured at amortised cost together with the main debt instrument.
The amount received from Meritz as
a whole is a current financial liability as the Put Option may be exercised at any time.
Account
Dr (EUR)
Cr (EUR)
Tie – Out
Cash and bank balance
24,021,756
Tie to cash flows — financing activities in 2022 Financial Statements
Other current asset
1,000,907
Other current liability
25,022,663
(a)
Journal Entry #2: October 20,
2022
Description: Issuance of 18,569,283 ordinary shares of Euro1.00 each was recognized in Share Capital, the amount of EUR 25,022,663
(equivalent to USD 25,000,000) was recognized in treasury share with the remaining amount recognized in other reserves. Although the transaction
is regarded as a financial liability, since the Company has issued shares, legally the Company has fulfilled the capital increase procedure,
which is equivalent to the issuance of shares and therefore an increase in the share capital, and at the same time it is treated as treasury
shares. In this case, treasury shares are not an asset class account but an allowance for owner's equity, with the debit side indicating
an increase. So, nominally, there has been a transfer of ownership of the shares, and in order to reflect the legal substance of this
transaction, share capital and other reserves are recognised. In substance, however, the transaction is again a financial liability, so
that the full recognition of Treasury Shares ensures that total equity remains unchanged.
Account
Dr (EUR)
Cr (EUR)
Tie – Out
Treasury shares
25,022,663
Tie to “treasury shares”, “Issued capital” and “Other Reserves” separately in the consolidated statement of changes in equity.
Share capital
18,569,283
Other reserves
6,453,380
4/8
Journal Entry #3: December 14, 2022
Description: On
December 14, 2022, after the Company completed its listing through De-SPAC, certain shares of FFG held by Meritz were converted
into 4,999,999 ordinary shares and 1 convertible preferred share of the Company (the “Initial Meritz Shares”). The
Company's par value per share is $0.0001.
Account
Dr (EUR)
Cr (EUR)
Tie – Out
Share capital - FFG
18,569,283
Included in the line item “Issuance of ordinary shares upon Reverse Recapitalization” in the Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity for 2022.
Other reserves - FFG
6,453,380
Share
capital - the Company
5
Other reserves - the Company
25,022,658
Journal Entry #4: October 20 to December 31,
2022
Description: Under the
agreement, the repurchase price is a return calculated at 11.5 % and since the return rate is fixed, the financial liability is measured
at amortised cost and amortised at the effective interest rate. Interest is accrued monthly at amortised cost with an effective interest
rate. Till December 31, 2022, EUR 449,777 interest has been accrued which should be net-off against other current asset (prepaid
interest) recognized initially.
Account
Dr (EUR)
Cr (EUR)
Tie – Out
Finance cost - interest expenses
449,777
Included in the line item “Interest expense on borrowings” in Note 11 - Finance costs in 2022.
Other current asset
449,777
Journal Entry #5: December 31, 2022
Description: Exchange gains and losses are
calculated at the end of the year.
Account
Dr (EUR)
Cr (EUR)
Tie – Out
Finance cost - exchange gain/loss
1,503,549
Included in the line item “Net foreign exchange gains” in Note 11 - Finance costs in 2022.
Other current liability
1,503,549
(a)
5/8
Journal Entry #6: April 17, 2023
Description: Remaining
half of the Meritz Investment in the amount of EUR 22.76 million (USD 25.00 million) was funded on April 17, 2023.
Account
Dr (EUR)
Cr (EUR)
Tie – Out
Cash and bank balance
22,756,160
(b)
Other current liability
22,756,160
(a)
Journal Entry #7: May 2023
Description: A second
cash dividend in the amount of EUR 0.93 million (USD 1.00 million) was paid to Meritz under the agreement. Please see the description
in Journal Entry #1 for details of the cash dividend agreement.
Account
Dr (EUR)
Cr (EUR)
Tie – Out
Other current asset
931,659
Cash and bank balance
931,659
Journal Entry #8: January 1 to December 14,
2023
Description: Interest
is accrued monthly at amortised cost with an effective interest rate. Till December 14, 2023, interest accrued amounted to EUR 5,516,873,
of which EUR 1,489,810 should be offset against other current assets.
Account
Dr (EUR)
Cr (EUR)
Tie – Out
Finance cost - interest expenses
5,516,873
Included in the line item “Interest expense on borrowings” in Note 11 - Finance costs in 2023.
Other current liability
4,027,063
(a)
Other current asset
1,489,810
Journal Entry #9: December 14, 2023
Description: Exchange
gains and losses are calculated as of 14 December 2023.
Account
Dr (EUR)
Cr (EUR)
Tie – Out
Finance cost - exchange gain/loss
1,317,828
Included in the line item “Net foreign exchange losses” in Note 11 - Finance costs in 2023.
Other current liability
1,317,828
(a)
6/8
Journal Entry #10: December 14, 2023
Description: During the second half of 2023, the Company negotiated with Meritz under the terms agreed upon during the 2022 Meritz Private Placement.
As a result, the Company consummated both the share buyback and subscription agreement with Meritz
(the “Meritz SBSA”) and amended and restated relationship agreement on December 14, 2023
(the “Closing Date”). On the Closing Date, pursuant to the
terms of the Meritz SBSA, the following transactions occurred:
● Meritz sold and surrendered, and the Company repurchased from Meritz the Initial Meritz Shares for a price equal to EUR 51,620,165 (USD 54,473,260).
● Immediately thereafter, Meritz agreed to subscribe for, and the Company issued 19,050,381 ordinary shares
par value $0.000001 of the Company to Meritz at a total subscription price equal to EUR 65,405,133 (USD 69,473,260). The total subscription
price for the first installment was equal to the repurchase amount of EUR 51,620,165 (USD 54,473,260), and for the second installment
was EUR 13,784,968 (USD 15,000,000). The subscription price for the first installment will fully offset the repurchase price and the subscription
price for the second installment was funded to the Company.
The main terms of the above
“renegotiation” contract are consistent with the previous 2022 Meritz Private Placement including three specified terms
mentioned in Journal Entry #1. Accordingly, there is no change for the accounting treatment. The financing fund is still measured as
financial liabilities. The original payables, together with the newly granted EUR 13,784,968 (USD 15,000,000) should be recognized
in other current liability.
Account
Dr (EUR)
Cr (EUR)
Tie – Out
Other current liability- original
51,620,165
Equivalent
to the sum of
(a) above
Cash and bank balance
13,784,968
(b)
Other current liability- new grant
51,620,165
Other current liability- new grant
13,784,968
Journal Entry #11: December 14,
2023
Description: As a result
of consummation of the Meritz SBSA on December 14, 2023 discussed above, the Company first repurchased the Initial Meritz Shares held by Meritz, for a price of USD 54,473,260. The previously recognised treasury shares, share capital
and other reserves were reversed accordingly. The newly subscribed ordinary shares under the Meritz SBSA, totaling EUR 65,405,133 (USD 69,473,260), was recognised as treasury shares, share capital and other reserves which
is the same as the treatment in Journal Entry #2.
Account