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8-K - LAZARE KAPLAN INTERNATIONAL INC | v186051_8k.htm |
EXHIBIT
99.1
LAZARE
KAPLAN INTERNATIONAL SUES ITS INSURERS FOR $640 MILLION
New York,
NY – May 20, 2010 – Lazare Kaplan International Inc. (AMEX:LKI) (“Lazare
Kaplan”) announced today that in a federal lawsuit filed on Monday, May 17,
2010, it sued various Lloyds of London syndicates and European insurers for $640
million in damages arising out of the disappearance of diamonds that were
insured by the defendants, including consequential damages. The lawsuit alleges
that the insurers breached two “all risk” New York property insurance policies,
and an Agreement for Interim Payment under which the insurers made a
non-refundable interim payment of $28 million to Lazare Kaplan in January of
this year. After making the $28 million payment, the insurers
abruptly reversed course and refused to acknowledge coverage or to pay any
covered losses under the policies. The complaint alleges, among other things,
that the insurers, which also issued separate policies to Lazare Kaplan under
English law, created a virtual coverage “whipsaw” by denying coverage under the
English policies on the ground that Lazare Kaplan does not have an insurable
interest in the largest portion of the property at issue while at the very same
time asserting under the New York policies that there is no coverage because
Lazare Kaplan insured the same property under the English
policies. Lazare Kaplan expects to conduct broad-ranging discovery
around the world in the course of the lawsuit.
Lazare
Kaplan International Inc. sells its diamonds and jewelry products through a
worldwide distribution network. The Company is noted for its ideal
cut diamonds, which it markets internationally under the brand name, Lazare
Diamonds®.
Except
for historical information contained herein, the statements in this release are
forward-looking and made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve
known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause the Company's actual
results in future periods to differ materially from forecasted results. Those
risks include the ability to resolve the lawsuit discussed above, a softening of
retailer or consumer acceptance of, or demand for, the Company's products,
pricing pressures, adequate supply of rough diamonds, liquidity, and other
competitive factors. The information contained in this press release is accurate
only as of the date issued. Investors should not assume that the statements made
in these documents remain operative at a later time. Lazare Kaplan International
Inc. undertakes no obligation to update any information contained in this news
release.