EL Estee Lauder Companies Inc

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 13D

 

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. 7)*

 

THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.

(Name of Issuer)

 

 

CLASS A COMMON STOCK

PAR VALUE $.01 PER SHARE

(Title of Class of Securities)

 

 

518439 10 4

(CUSIP Number)

 

PAULA A. RYAN, ESQ.

DAVIS POLK & WARDWELL LLP

450 LEXINGTON AVENUE

NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10017

(212) 450-4000

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to

Receive Notices and Communications)

 

 

December 7, 2024

(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-l(f) or 240.13d-l(g), check the following box. ☐

 

*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.	518439 10 4

 

1.	Names of Reporting Persons.
	Aerin Lauder
2.	Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)
	(a) ☐
	(b) ☒
3.	SEC Use Only
4.	Source of Funds (See Instructions)
	OO
5.	Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e)	☐
6.	Citizenship or Place of Organization
	United States

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH	7.	Sole Voting Power
		9,385,608  (SEE ITEM 5)
	8.	Shared Voting Power
		4,910,594  (SEE ITEM 5)
	9.	Sole Dispositive Power
		9,385,608 (SEE ITEM 5)
	10.	Shared Dispositive Power
		4,910,594  (SEE ITEM 5)

11.	Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
	14,296,202 (SEE ITEM 5)
12.	Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)	☐
13.	Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11)
	6.1% (SEE ITEM 5)
14.	Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)
	IN

This Amendment No. 7 (this “Amendment”) is the seventh amendment to the Statement on Schedule 13D that was initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 14, 2009, as amended by Amendment No. 1 filed on April 26, 2010, Amendment No. 2 filed on May 27, 2010, Amendment No. 3 filed on April 23, 2015, Amendment No. 4 filed on May 8, 2019, Amendment No. 5 filed on June 14, 2021 and Amendment No. 6 filed on August 30, 2021 (the “Schedule 13D”) by The Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer 2008 Grantor Retained Annuity Trust (the “ALZ 2008 GRAT”) and Aerin Lauder, a/k/a Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer (“ALZ” or the “Reporting Person”). The ALZ 2008 GRAT ceased to be a reporting person on this Schedule 13D upon the filing of Amendment No. 3 described in the preceding sentence.

 

Unless indicated otherwise, all items left blank remain unchanged and any items that are reported are deemed to amend and supplement the existing items in the Schedule 13D. Capitalized terms used in this Amendment and not defined herein have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Schedule 13D.

 

Item 1. Security and Issuer

 

Item 2. Identity and Background

 

Item 3. Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration

 

This Amendment is being filed solely as a result of a change in trustee, effective December 7, 2024, of the ALZ 2000 Revocable Trust (the “Change in Trustee”). On that date, ALZ replaced Richard D. Parsons as sole trustee for the trust, which holds 7,708,906 shares of Class B Common Stock, and became sole beneficial owner of such shares. No consideration was paid in connection with the Change in Trustee.

 

Item 4. Purpose of Transaction

 

The Change in Trustee occurred on December 7, 2024, as described in Item 3 of this Amendment.

 

Item 5. Interest in Securities of the Issuer

 

(a) The responses of the Reporting Person to Rows (11) through (13) of the cover page of this Amendment are incorporated herein by reference. The Change in Trustee occurred on December 7, 2024, as described in Item 3 of this Amendment.

 

The Reporting Person currently has no plans or proposals of the type set forth in paragraphs (a) through (j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D. However, the Reporting Person reserves the right to change her plans at any time, as she deems appropriate, and accordingly the Reporting Person may acquire additional shares of Class B Common Stock in private transactions or additional shares of Class A Common Stock in open market transactions, in each case for investment purposes, and may dispose of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock.

 

After giving effect to the Change in Trustee and a distribution of 10 shares of Class B Common Stock by the ALZ 2000 Revocable Trust to ALZ on December 8, 2023 (the “Distribution”), the Reporting Person continues to beneficially own 14,296,202 shares of Class A Common Stock as follows: 1,692 shares of Class A Common Stock held directly by her; 1,675,010 shares of Class A Common Stock via her direct holding of the same number of shares of Class B Common Stock; 7,708,906 shares of Class A Common Stock via her indirect holding of the same number of shares of Class B Common Stock as sole trustee and beneficiary of the ALZ 2000 Revocable Trust; and 4,910,594 shares of Class A Common Stock via her indirect holding of the same number of Class B Common Stock as a co-trustee of the 2008 Descendants Trust.

 

Each share of Class B Common Stock is convertible at the option of the holder into one share of Class A Common Stock and is automatically converted into one share of Class A Common Stock upon transfer to a person who is not a Permitted Transferee, as that term is defined in the Issuer’s Certificate of Incorporation. Assuming conversion of all such shares of Class B Common Stock beneficially owned by ALZ after giving effect to the Change in Trustee and the Distribution, ALZ would beneficially own 14,296,202 shares of Class A Common Stock, which would constitute 6.1% of the number of shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding (based on the number of shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding as of October 24, 2024, as reported in the Issuer’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2024).

 

Each share of Class A Common Stock entitles the holder to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote of the Issuer’s stockholders, and each share of Class B Common Stock entitles the holder to ten votes on each such matter, including the election of directors of the Issuer. Assuming no conversion of any of the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock, the 1,692 shares of Class A Common Stock and the 14,294,510 shares of Class B Common Stock beneficially owned by ALZ after giving effect to the Change in Trustee and the Distribution constitute 9.6% of the aggregate voting power of the Issuer (based on the number of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock outstanding as of October 24, 2024, as reported in the Issuer’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2024).

 

(b) The responses of the Reporting Person to (i) Rows (7) through (10) of the cover pages of this Amendment and (ii) Item 5(a) hereof are incorporated herein by reference. The Change in Trustee occurred on December 7, 2024, as described in Item 3 of this Amendment. After giving effect to the Change in Trustee and the Distribution, ALZ has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to the following: the 1,692 shares of Class A Common Stock held directly by her, the 1,675,010 shares of Class B Common Stock held directly by her and the 7,708,906 shares of Class B Common Stock owned by the ALZ 2000 Revocable Trust with ALZ as the sole trustee. ALZ, as a co-trustee of the 2008 Descendants Trust, has shared voting and dispositive power with respect to the 4,910,594 shares of Class B Common Stock owned by the 2008 Descendants Trust.

 

(c) The Reporting Person has not had any transactions in the Class A Common Stock that were effected during the past sixty days.

 

(d) After giving effect to the Change in Trustee and the Distribution, ALZ has the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, the 1,692 shares of Class A Common Stock, the 1,675,010 shares of Class B Common Stock held directly by her and the 7,708,906 shares of Class B Common Stock owned by the ALZ 2000 Revocable Trust with ALZ as the sole trustee. ALZ, as a co-trustee of the 2008 Descendants Trust, has the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, the 4,910,594 shares of Class B Common Stock owned by the 2008 Descendants Trust.

 

Item 6. Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect to Securities of the Issuer

 

The information set forth in Items 2, 3, 4 and 5 hereof is incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 7. Material to be Filed as Exhibits

 

Exhibit 1:	Stockholders’ Agreement, dated November 22, 1995 (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Issuer’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003).**
Exhibit 2:	Amendment No. 1 to Stockholders’ Agreement (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Issuer’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1996).**
Exhibit 3:	Amendment No. 2 to Stockholders’ Agreement (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Issuer’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 1996).**
Exhibit 4:	Amendment No. 3 to Stockholders’ Agreement (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Issuer’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1997 (the “FY 1997 Q3 10-Q”)).**
Exhibit 5:	Amendment No. 4 to Stockholders’ Agreement (filed as Exhibit 10.1d to the Issuer’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2000).**
Exhibit 6:	Amendment No. 5 to Stockholders’ Agreement (filed as Exhibit 10.1e to the Issuer’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2002).**
Exhibit 7:	Amendment No. 6 to Stockholders’ Agreement (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Issuer’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2004).**
Exhibit 8:	List of parties to Stockholders’ Agreement.*
Exhibit 9:	Registration Rights Agreement, dated November 22, 1995 (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Issuer’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003).**
Exhibit 10:	First Amendment to Registration Rights Agreement (filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Issuer’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1996).**
Exhibit 11:	Second Amendment to Registration Rights Agreement (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the FY 1997 Q3 10-Q).**
Exhibit 12:	Third Amendment to Registration Rights Agreement (filed as Exhibit 10.2c to the Issuer’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2001).**
Exhibit 13:	Fourth Amendment to Registration Rights Agreement (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Issuer’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2003).**
Exhibit 14:	Amendment No. 7 to Stockholders’ Agreement (filed as Exhibit 10.7 to the Issuer’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2009).**
Exhibit 15:	Transfer Agreement**

*Filed herewith

** Incorporated by reference

 

SIGNATURE

 

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

 

Dated: December 10, 2024

 

	AERIN LAUDER
	By:	/s/ Aerin Lauder
		Aerin Lauder

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit 1:	Stockholders’ Agreement, dated November 22, 1995 (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Issuer’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003).**
Exhibit 2:	Amendment No. 1 to Stockholders’ Agreement (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Issuer’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1996).**
Exhibit 3:	Amendment No. 2 to Stockholders’ Agreement (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Issuer’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 1996).**
Exhibit 4:	Amendment No. 3 to Stockholders’ Agreement (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Issuer’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1997 (the “FY 1997 Q3 10-Q”)).**
Exhibit 5:	Amendment No. 4 to Stockholders’ Agreement (filed as Exhibit 10.1d to the Issuer’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2000).**
Exhibit 6:	Amendment No. 5 to Stockholders’ Agreement (filed as Exhibit 10.1e to the Issuer’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2002).**
Exhibit 7:	Amendment No. 6 to Stockholders’ Agreement (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Issuer’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2004).**
Exhibit 8:	List of parties to Stockholders’ Agreement.*
Exhibit 9:	Registration Rights Agreement, dated November 22, 1995 (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Issuer’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003).**
Exhibit 10:	First Amendment to Registration Rights Agreement (filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Issuer’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1996).**
Exhibit 11:	Second Amendment to Registration Rights Agreement (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the FY 1997 Q3 10-Q).**
Exhibit 12:	Third Amendment to Registration Rights Agreement (filed as Exhibit 10.2c to the Issuer’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2001).**
Exhibit 13:	Fourth Amendment to Registration Rights Agreement (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Issuer’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2003).**
Exhibit 14:	Amendment No. 7 to Stockholders’ Agreement (filed as Exhibit 10.7 to the Issuer’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2009).**
Exhibit 15:	Transfer Agreement**

 

*Filed herewith

** Incorporated by reference

 

 

EXHIBIT 8

 

List of Parties to the Stockholders’ Agreement (as of December 9, 2024)

 

Leonard A. Lauder, (a) individually and (b) as Trustee of The Leonard A. Lauder 2013 Revocable Trust

 

Ronald S. Lauder, (a) individually and (b) as Trustee of The Descendants of Ronald S. Lauder 1966 Trust

 

William P. Lauder, (a) individually, (b) as Trustee of the 1992 GRAT Remainder Trust f/b/o William Lauder and (c) as Trustee of the 1992 GRAT Remainder Trust f/b/o Gary Lauder

 

Gary M. Lauder, (a) individually, (b) as Trustee of the 1992 GRAT Remainder Trust f/b/o William Lauder, (c) as Trustee of the 1992 GRAT Remainder Trust f/b/o Gary Lauder, (d) as custodian under the New York Uniform Transfers to Minors Act for the benefit of Danielle Lauder, and (e) as custodian under the New York Uniform Transfers to Minors Act for the benefit of Rachel Lauder

 

LAL Family Partners L.P.

 

Carol S. Boulanger, (a) as Trustee of the 1992 GRAT Remainder Trust f/b/o William Lauder and (b) as Trustee of the 1992 GRAT Remainder Trust f/b/o Gary Lauder

 

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

 

The Ronald S. Lauder Foundation

 

Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer, (a) individually, (b) as Trustee of the Trust Under Article 2 of The Zinterhofer 2008 Descendants Trust Agreement, and (c) as Trustee of the Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer 2000 Revocable Trust u/a/d April 24, 2000, Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer, as Grantor

 

Jane Lauder, (a) individually, (b) as Trustee of the Trust Under Article 2 of The Zinterhofer 2008 Descendants Trust Agreement, and (c) as Trustee of the Jane A. Lauder 2003 Revocable Trust u/a/d November 6, 2003, Jane A. Lauder, as Grantor

 

Joel S. Ehrenkranz, as Trustee of The Leonard A. Lauder 2013 Revocable Trust

 

 

 

 

---