0001193125-15-209022.txt : 20150601 0001193125-15-209022.hdr.sgml : 20150601 20150601160852 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-15-209022 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: SC 13D/A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 3 FILED AS OF DATE: 20150601 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20150601 GROUP MEMBERS: MARCATO II, L.P. GROUP MEMBERS: MARCATO INTERNATIONAL MASTER FUND, LTD. GROUP MEMBERS: MARCATO, L.P. GROUP MEMBERS: RICHARD T. MCGUIRE III SUBJECT COMPANY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: SOTHEBYS CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000823094 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: SERVICES-BUSINESS SERVICES, NEC [7389] IRS NUMBER: 382478409 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1004 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13D/A SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 005-39574 FILM NUMBER: 15903462 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1334 YORK AVENUE CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10021 BUSINESS PHONE: 212-606-7000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1334 YORK AVENUE CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10021 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: SOTHEBYS HOLDINGS INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19920703 FILED BY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: MARCATO CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001541996 IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13D/A BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: ONE MONTGOMERY STREET STREET 2: SUITE 3250 CITY: SAN FRANCISCO STATE: CA ZIP: 94104 BUSINESS PHONE: 415-796-6352 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: ONE MONTGOMERY STREET STREET 2: SUITE 3250 CITY: SAN FRANCISCO STATE: CA ZIP: 94104 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: MARCATO CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 20120209 SC 13D/A 1 d937533dsc13da.htm SC 13D/A SC 13D/A

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

SCHEDULE 13D

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. 10)*

 

 

SOTHEBY’S

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

(Title of Class of Securities)

835898107

(CUSIP Number)

Richard T. McGuire III

Marcato Capital Management LP

One Montgomery Street, Suite 3250

San Francisco, CA 94104

(415) 796-6350

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

COPIES TO:

Jeffrey L. Kochian, Esq.

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

One Bryant Park

New York, NY 10036

(212) 872-1000

May 29, 2015

(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)

 

 

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of §§240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the following box   ¨.

 

 

Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See Rule §240.13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.

 

 

 

* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

 

 

 


CUSIP No. 835898107

 

  1 

Names of Reporting Persons

 

MARCATO CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LP

  2

Check the Appropriate Box If a Member of a Group (See Instructions)

a.  ¨        b.  x

 

  3

SEC Use Only

 

  4

Source of Funds (See Instructions)

 

AF

  5

Check Box If Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e)

 

¨

  6

Citizenship or Place of Organization

 

DELAWARE

Number of

Shares

Beneficially

Owned By

Each

Reporting

Person

With

 

  7 

Sole Voting Power

 

0

  8

Shared Voting Power

 

6,571,806

  9

Sole Dispositive Power

 

0

10

Shared Dispositive Power

 

6,571,806

11

Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

 

6,571,806

12

Check Box If the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)

 

¨

13

Percent of Class Represented By Amount in Row (11)

 

9.46%

14

Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

 

IA


CUSIP No. 835898107

 

  1 

Names of Reporting Persons

 

RICHARD T. MCGUIRE III

  2

Check the Appropriate Box If a Member of a Group (See Instructions)

a.  ¨        b.  x

 

  3

SEC Use Only

 

  4

Source of Funds (See Instructions)

 

AF

  5

Check Box If Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e)

 

¨

  6

Citizenship or Place of Organization

 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Number of

Shares

Beneficially

Owned By

Each

Reporting

Person

With

 

  7 

Sole Voting Power

 

0

  8

Shared Voting Power

 

6,571,806

  9

Sole Dispositive Power

 

0

10

Shared Dispositive Power

 

6,571,806

11

Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

 

6,571,806

12

Check Box If the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)

 

¨

13

Percent of Class Represented By Amount in Row (11)

 

9.46%

14

Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

 

IN


CUSIP No. 835898107

 

  1 

Names of Reporting Persons

 

MARCATO, L.P.

  2

Check the Appropriate Box If a Member of a Group (See Instructions)

a.  ¨        b.  x

 

  3

SEC Use Only

 

  4

Source of Funds (See Instructions)

 

WC

  5

Check Box If Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e)

 

¨

  6

Citizenship or Place of Organization

 

DELAWARE

Number of

Shares

Beneficially

Owned By

Each

Reporting

Person

With

 

  7 

Sole Voting Power

 

0

  8

Shared Voting Power

 

1,532,742

  9

Sole Dispositive Power

 

0

10

Shared Dispositive Power

 

1,532,742

11

Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

 

1,532,742

12

Check Box If the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)

 

¨

13

Percent of Class Represented By Amount in Row (11)

 

2.21%

14

Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

 

PN


CUSIP No. 835898107

 

  1 

Names of Reporting Persons

 

MARCATO II, L.P.

  2

Check the Appropriate Box If a Member of a Group (See Instructions)

a.  ¨        b.  x

 

  3

SEC Use Only

 

  4

Source of Funds (See Instructions)

 

WC

  5

Check Box If Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e)

 

¨

  6

Citizenship or Place of Organization

 

DELAWARE

Number of

Shares

Beneficially

Owned By

Each

Reporting

Person

With

 

  7 

Sole Voting Power

 

0

  8

Shared Voting Power

 

103,867

  9

Sole Dispositive Power

 

0

10

Shared Dispositive Power

 

103,867

11

Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

 

103,867

12

Check Box If the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)

 

¨

13

Percent of Class Represented By Amount in Row (11)

 

0.15%

14

Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

 

PN


CUSIP No. 835898107

 

  1 

Names of Reporting Persons

 

MARCATO INTERNATIONAL MASTER FUND, LTD.

  2

Check the Appropriate Box If a Member of a Group (See Instructions)

a.  ¨        b.  x

 

  3

SEC Use Only

 

  4

Source of Funds (See Instructions)

 

WC

  5

Check Box If Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e)

 

¨

  6

Citizenship or Place of Organization

 

CAYMAN ISLANDS

Number of

Shares

Beneficially

Owned By

Each

Reporting

Person

With

 

  7 

Sole Voting Power

 

0

  8

Shared Voting Power

 

4,935,197

  9

Sole Dispositive Power

 

0

10

Shared Dispositive Power

 

4,935,197

11

Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

 

4,935,197

12

Check Box If the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)

 

¨

13

Percent of Class Represented By Amount in Row (11)

 

7.10%

14

Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

 

OO


CUSIP No. 835898107

SCHEDULE 13D

This Amendment No. 10 supplements the information set forth in the Schedule 13D filed by the Reporting Persons with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on July 30, 2013, as amended from time to time (the “Schedule 13D”), relating to Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Shares”), of Sotheby’s, a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”). All capitalized terms contained herein but not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Schedule 13D.

The information set forth in response to each separate Item below shall be deemed to be a response to all Items where such information is relevant. The Schedule 13D is hereby supplementally amended as follows:

Item 4. Purpose of Transaction.

On May 29, 2015, Marcato filed a Notice of Challenge to Confidential Treatment with the Delaware Chancery Court (the “Second Notice”), challenging the confidential treatment of certain documents from prior legal proceedings involving the Issuer that are filed under seal with the court and are not available in the public court file. The legal proceedings, captioned Third Point LLC v. Ruprecht (Case No. 9469-VCP), involved a dispute between a large shareholder of the Issuer and members of its Board of Directors. The resolution of that dispute was announced on May 5, 2014, but completely unredacted versions of certain court filings remain unavailable to the public. In the Second Notice, Marcato maintains that the information in the documents under seal does not appear to be the type of proprietary information that would warrant protection from release by the court, and in any event, sufficient time has passed since the action concluded to warrant unsealing. Furthermore, in an order dated May 7, 2015, the Delaware Chancery Court granted Marcato’s previously disclosed request to unseal plaintiff Third Point LLC’s Opening Brief in Support of Its Motion for Preliminary Injunction (the “Third Point Brief”), filed on April 29, 2014, and the Third Point Brief was thereafter released to the court file in unredacted form.

The foregoing description of the Second Notice does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Second Notice, which is filed as Exhibit 8, and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 5. Interest in Securities of the Issuer.

(a) - (e) As of the date hereof, (i) Marcato and Mr. McGuire may be deemed to be the beneficial owners of 6,571,806 Shares (the “Marcato Shares”) constituting 9.46% of the Shares, (ii) Marcato, L.P. may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of 1,532,742 Shares, constituting 2.21% of the Shares, (iii) Marcato II, L.P. may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of 103,867 Shares, constituting 0.15% of the Shares and (iv) Marcato International Master Fund, Ltd. may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of 4,935,197 Shares, constituting 7.10% of the Shares, each based upon a total of 69,488,135 Shares outstanding as of April 30, 2015 (based on the Issuer’s Form 10-Q, filed with the SEC on May 11, 2015).


Marcato, L.P. may be deemed to have the shared power to vote or direct the vote of (and the shared power to dispose or direct the disposition of) 1,532,742 Shares. Marcato II, L.P. may be deemed to have the shared power to vote or direct the vote of (and the shared power to dispose or direct the disposition of) 103,867 Shares. Marcato International Master Fund, Ltd. may be deemed to have the shared power to vote or direct vote of (and the shared power to dispose or direct the disposition of) 4,935,197 Shares. Marcato, as the investment manager of Marcato, L.P., Marcato II, L.P. and Marcato International Master Fund, Ltd., may be deemed to have the shared power to vote or direct the vote of (and the shared power to dispose or direct the disposition of) the Marcato Shares. By virtue of Mr. McGuire’s position as managing partner of Marcato, Mr. McGuire may be deemed to have the shared power to vote or direct the vote of (and the shared power to dispose or direct the disposition of) the Marcato Shares and, therefore, Mr. McGuire may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the Marcato Shares.

Except as set forth in previous amendments to this Schedule 13D, the transactions by the Reporting Persons in the securities of the Issuer during the past sixty days are set forth in Exhibit 2.

The limited partners of (or investors in) each of Marcato, L.P., Marcato II, L.P., and Marcato International Master Fund, Ltd., or their respective subsidiaries or affiliated entities, for which Marcato or its affiliates acts as general partner and/or investment manager have the right to participate in the receipt of dividends from, or proceeds from the sale of, the Shares held for the accounts of their respective funds in accordance with their respective limited partnership interests (or investment percentages) in their respective funds.

Item 7. Material to be Filed as Exhibits.

Exhibit 2 – Transactions.

Exhibit 8 – Notice of Challenge to Confidential Treatment.


SIGNATURES

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

 

Date: June 1, 2015 MARCATO CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LP
By: Marcato Holdings LLC
By: /s/ Richard T. McGuire III
   

 

Richard T. McGuire III
Authorized Person
Date: June 1, 2015 RICHARD T. MCGUIRE III
By: /s/ Richard T. McGuire III
   

 

Date: June 1, 2015 MARCATO, L.P.
By: MCM General Partner LLC, its General Partner
By: /s/ Richard T. McGuire III
   

 

Richard T. McGuire III
Authorized Person
Date: June 1, 2015 MARCATO II, L.P.
By: MCM General Partner LLC, its General Partner
By: /s/ Richard T. McGuire III
   

 

Richard T. McGuire III
Authorized Person
Date: June 1, 2015 MARCATO INTERNATIONAL MASTER FUND, LTD.
By: /s/ Richard T. McGuire III
   

 

Richard T. McGuire III
Director
EX-99.2 2 d937533dex992.htm EX-2 EX-2

EXHIBIT 2

TRANSACTIONS

Except as set forth in previous amendments to this Schedule 13D, the following table sets forth all transactions with respect to Shares effected in the last sixty days by the Reporting Persons or on behalf of the Reporting Persons in respect of the Shares, inclusive of any transactions effected through 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on May 29, 2015. All such transactions were purchases or sales of Shares effected in the open market, and the table includes commissions paid in per share prices.

 

Fund

   Trade Date      Buy/Sell(1)     Shares     Unit Cost      Security  

Marcato II, L.P.

     05/01/2015         Sell     (2,251 )     42.71         Common Stock   

Marcato, L.P.

     05/01/2015         Buy     3,076        42.71         Common Stock   

Marcato International Master Fund, Ltd.

     05/01/2015         Sell     (825 )     42.71         Common Stock   

 

(1) All transactions noted by an * are rebalancing transactions.
EX-99.8 3 d937533dex998.htm EX-8 EX-8

Exhibit 8

IN THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE

 

THIRD POINT LLC, a Delaware limited )
liability company, )
)

Plaintiff,

)
)

v.

)
)
WILLIAM F. RUPRECHT, ) C.A. No. 9469-VCP
PEREGRINE A. M. CAVENDISH, )
DOMENICO DE SOLE, JOHN M. )
ANGELO, STEVEN B. DODGE, )
DANIEL H. MEYER, ALLEN I. )
QUESTROM, MARSHA E. SIMMS, )
MICHAEL I. SOVERN, ROBERT S. )
TAUBMAN, DIANA L. TAYLOR and )
DENNIS M. WEIBLING, )
)

Defendants,

)
)

and

)
)
SOTHEBY’S, a Delaware corporation, )
)

Nominal Defendant.

)

NOTICE OF CHALLENGE TO CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT

Pursuant to Court of Chancery Rule 5.1(f), non-party Marcato Capital Management, LP (“Marcato”), by and through its undersigned attorneys, hereby provides notice of its challenge to the confidential treatment of the following documents filed under seal with the Court of Chancery in the captioned action:


  1. Exhibits 1 through 27 to Transmittal Affidavit of Matthew R. Clark in Support of Plaintiff Third Point LLC’s Opening Brief in Support of Its Motion for Preliminary Injunction, filed on April 22, 2014, Transaction ID 55337258.

 

  2. Exhibits 29 through 58 to Transmittal Affidavit of Matthew R. Clark in Support of Plaintiff Third Point LLC’s Opening Brief in Support of Its Motion for Preliminary Injunction, filed on April 22, 2014, Transaction ID 55337258.

 

  3. Exhibits 69 to 73 to Transmittal Affidavit of Matthew R. Clark in Support of Plaintiff Third Point LLC’s Opening Brief in Support of Its Motion for Preliminary Injunction, filed on April 22, 2014, Transaction ID 55337258.

 

  4. Deposition of Stoker Cavendish, filed on April 22, 2014, Transaction ID 55337963.

 

  5. Deposition of Domenico De Sole (Vol. 1), filed on April 22, 2014, Transaction ID 55337963.

 

  6. Deposition of Domenico De Sole (Vol. 2), filed on April 22, 2014, Transaction ID 55337963.

 

  7. Deposition of Steven Dodge, filed on April 22, 2014, Transaction ID 55337963.

 

2


  8. Deposition of Daniel Loeb, filed on April 22, 2014, Transaction ID 55337963.

 

  9. Deposition of Patrick McClymont, filed on April 22, 2014, Transaction ID 55337963.

 

  10. Deposition of Daniel Meyer, filed on April 22, 2014, Transaction ID 55337963.

 

  11. Deposition of William Ruprecht, filed on April 22, 2014, Transaction ID 55337963.

 

  12. Deposition of Robert Taubman, filed on April 22, 2014, Transaction ID 55337963.

 

  13. Deposition of Diana Taylor, filed on April 22, 2014, Transaction ID 55337963.

 

  14. Transmittal Affidavit of Ryan T. Costa, Esquire in Support of Defendants’ Answering Brief in Opposition to Plaintiffs’ Motions for Preliminary Injunction, filed on April 26, 2014, Transmittal ID 55356900.

 

  15. Exhibits 43 through 60 to the Transmittal Affidavit of Ryan T. Costa, Esquire in Support of Defendants’ Answering Brief in Opposition to Plaintiffs’ Motions for Preliminary Injunction, filed on April 26, 2014, Transmittal ID 55356903.

 

3


  16. Exhibits 62 and 63 Transmittal Affidavit of Ryan T. Costa, Esquire in Support of Defendants’ Answering Brief in Opposition to Plaintiffs’ Motions for Preliminary Injunction, filed on April 26, 2014, Transmittal ID 55356903.

 

  17. Exhibits 74 through 77 Transmittal Affidavit of Ryan T. Costa, Esquire in Support of Defendants’ Answering Brief in Opposition to Plaintiffs’ Motions for Preliminary Injunction, filed on April 26, 2014, Transmittal ID 55356903.

This action involved a dispute between a large shareholder of Sotheby’s and members of its Board of Directors. The resolution of this dispute was announced on May 5, 2014, but completely unredacted versions of certain filings remain unavailable to the public. Marcato believes that the redacted information, given the context, does not appear to be the type of proprietary information that this Court has determined warrants protection under Rule 5.1 and, in any event, sufficient time has passed since this action has concluded to warrant unsealing. Therefore, maintaining the confidentiality of these documents can no longer be justified.

 

4


Of Counsel:

AKIN GUMP STRAUSS

HAUER & FELD LLP

Douglas A. Rappaport

One Bryant Park

Bank of America Tower

New York, New York 10036-6745

Telephone: (212) 872-7412

ASHBY & GEDDES

 

/s/ Catherine A. Gaul (#4310)

Catherine A. Gaul (#4310)

500 Delaware Avenue, 8th Floor

P.O. Box 1150

Wilmington, Delaware 19899

(302) 654-1888

 

Attorneys for Marcato Capital

Management, LP

Dated: May 29, 2015

 

5


CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I hereby certify that, on May 29, 2015, a copy of the Notice of Challenge to Confidential Treatment was caused to be served upon the following counsel of record by File & ServeXpress.

 

Donald J. Wolfe, Jr.

Kevin R. Shannon

Berton W. Ashman, Jr.

Matthew F. Davis

Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP

1313 N. Market Street

Hercules Plaza, 6th Floor

Wilmington, DE 19801

Samuel T. Hirzel

Proctor Heyman LLP

300 Delaware Avenue

Suite 200

Wilmington, DE 19801

 

Kevin G. Abrams

John M. Seaman

Daniel A. Gordon

Abrams & Bayliss LLP

20 Montchanin Road, Suite 200

Wilmington, DE 19807

Stuart M. Grant

Cynthia A. Calder

John C. Karis

Bernard C. Devieux

Grant & Eisenhofer, P.O.

123 S. Justison Street

Wilmington, DE 19801

William M. Lafferty

Morris Nichols Arsht & Tunnell LLP

1201 North Market Street

Wilmington, DE 19801

 

/s/ Catherine A. Gaul (#4310)
Catherine A. Gaul (#4310)