Levi Strauss & Co. Announces Fourth-Quarter and Fiscal-Year 2010 Financial Results

  • Fourth-Quarter Net Revenues Up 7% and Net Income Up 28%
  • Full-Year Net Revenues Up 7% and Net Income Up 3%

SAN FRANCISCO--()--Levi Strauss & Co. (LS&Co.) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended November 28, 2010.

Highlights include:

($ millions)  

Three Months Ended

Nov. 28, 2010

  % Change vs. 2009

As Reported

 

Fiscal Year Ended

Nov. 28, 2010

  % Change vs. 2009

As Reported

Net revenues   $1,290   7 %   $4,411   7 %
Net income   $86   28 %   $157   3 %

The company grew revenues across each geographic region in fiscal year 2010, due to the strength of the Levi’s® brand, an expanded global store network and the acquisitions made in 2009. As a result, full-year net revenues were up 7 percent from the prior year and fourth-quarter net revenues were up 7 percent compared to the same period in the prior year. Full-year net income increased 3 percent over the prior year and fourth-quarter net income increased 28 percent compared to the same period in the prior year.

In 2010, we made significant progress transforming our business and moving towards sustainable long-term growth,” said John Anderson, president and chief executive officer of Levi Strauss & Co. “We improved our profitability, and across all of our regions we grew revenues. Looking ahead, we remain committed to our strategies to enhance product, engage consumers with innovative brand experiences and expand our global presence.”

Fourth Quarter 2010 Highlights

  • Gross profit in the fourth quarter was $647 million compared with $618 million for the same period in 2009 reflecting the increase in net revenues. Gross margin for the fourth quarter was 50.2 percent of revenues compared with 51.1 percent of revenues in the fourth quarter of 2009.
  • Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses for the fourth quarter were $528 million compared with $501 million in the same period of 2009. The increase was primarily due to higher selling costs related to additional company-operated retail stores.
  • Operating income for the fourth quarter was $119 million compared with $118 million for the same period of 2009.

Regional Overview

Regional net revenues for the fourth quarter were as follows:

   
  % Increase
Net Revenues

($ millions)

 

Three Months Ended

November 28, 2010

 

Three Months Ended

November 29, 2009

  As Reported  

Constant

Currency

Americas   $772  

$720

  7 %   7 %
Europe   $300   $288   4 %   11 %
Asia Pacific   $218   $201   8 %   3 %
  • Higher net revenues in the Americas primarily resulted from the Levi’s® retail business and U.S. Dockers® brand.
  • Net revenues in Europe increased due to growth in the company-operated retail network across the region and improvement in the Levi’s® wholesale business.
  • Net revenues in Asia Pacific increased due to the continued expansion of the company’s brand-dedicated retail network in China and India as well as in other emerging markets, while Japan continued to decline.

“We are pleased that we delivered top-line growth for 2010,” said Blake Jorgensen, chief financial officer of Levi Strauss & Co. “We are committed to driving long-term sustainable growth and we will continue to invest behind our strategies in 2011 as we did in 2010.”

Fiscal Year 2010 Highlights

  • Gross profit for the fiscal year was $2,223 million compared with $1,973 million in 2009. Gross margin increased to 50.4 percent of revenues for the year compared with 48.1 percent of revenues in 2009. Gross margin benefited from an increased proportion of sales from the company’s retail network.
  • Selling, general and administrative expenses were $1,842 million for 2010 compared to $1,595 million the prior year. The increase resulted from a combination of continued expansion of the company-operated store network; planned advertising and promotions to support the U.S. Levi’s® brand and U.S. Dockers® brand campaigns, as well as the global launch of Levi’s® Curve ID jeans for women and the launch of Denizen™ brand in Asia Pacific; and higher costs associated with the company’s pension.
  • Operating income for 2010 increased to $381 million compared to $378 million in 2009, inclusive of the favorable effects of currency.

Cash Flow and Balance Sheet

The company ended the fourth quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $270 million. Cash provided by operating activities was $146 million for 2010, compared with $389 million for the same period in 2009, primarily reflecting in the company’s strategic investments and inventory build in support of the company’s growth. The company ended the year with net debt of $1.59 billion. During the year, the company paid a $20 million cash dividend to common stockholders. Subsequent to the end of the company’s fiscal year, in December 2010, the company paid a $20 million cash dividend to common stockholders.

Investor Conference Call

The company’s fourth-quarter and full-year 2010 investor conference call will be available through a live audio Webcast at http://levistrauss.com/Financials/EarningsWebcasts.aspx today, February 8, 2011, at 1 p.m. PST/4 p.m. EST. A replay is available on the Web site the same day and will be archived for one month. A telephone replay also is available through February 15, 2011, at 800-642-1687 in the United States and Canada, or 706-645-9291 internationally; I.D. No. 37914694.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains, in addition to historical information, forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current assumptions, expectations and projections about future events. We use words like “believe,” “will,” “so we can,” “when,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These forward-looking statements are necessarily estimates reflecting the best judgment of our senior management and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. Investors should consider the information contained in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended 2010, especially in the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Risk Factors” sections. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could have material adverse effects on our future results, performance or achievements. In light of these risks, uncertainties, assumptions and factors, the forward-looking events discussed in this news release may not occur. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date stated, or if no date is stated, as of the date of this news release. We are not under any obligation and do not intend to make publicly available any update or other revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained in this news release to reflect circumstances existing after the date of this news release or to reflect the occurrence of future events even if experience or future events make it clear that any expected results expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements will not be realized.

About Levi Strauss & Co.

Levi Strauss & Co. is one of the world’s largest brand-name apparel companies and a global leader in jeanswear. The company designs and markets jeans, casual wear and related accessories for men, women and children under the Levi’s®, Dockers®, Signature by Levi Strauss & Co.™, and DenizenTM brands. Its products are sold in more than 110 countries worldwide through a combination of chain retailers, department stores, online sites, and franchised and company-owned stores. As of November 28, 2010, the company operated 470 stores within 27 countries. Levi Strauss & Co.’s reported fiscal 2010 net revenues were $4.4 billion. For more information, go to http://levistrauss.com.

LEVI STRAUSS & CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

     
November 28, November 29,
2010 2009
ASSETS (Dollars in thousands)
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 269,726 $ 270,804
Restricted cash 4,028 3,684
Trade receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $24,617 and $22,523 553,385 552,252
Inventories:
Raw materials 6,770 6,818
Work-in-process 9,405 10,908
Finished goods   563,728     433,546  
Total inventories 579,903 451,272
Deferred tax assets, net 137,892 135,508
Other current assets   106,198     92,344  
Total current assets 1,651,132 1,505,864
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $683,258 and $664,891 488,603 430,070
Goodwill 241,472 241,768
Other intangible assets, net 84,652 103,198
Non-current deferred tax assets, net 559,053 601,526
Other assets   110,337     106,955  
Total assets $ 3,135,249   $ 2,989,381  
 
LIABILITIES, TEMPORARY EQUITY AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
Current Liabilities:
Short-term borrowings $ 46,418 $ 18,749
Current maturities of long-term debt - -
Current maturities of capital leases 1,777 1,852
Accounts payable 212,935 198,220
Other accrued liabilities 275,443 271,019
Accrued salaries, wages and employee benefits 196,152 195,434
Accrued interest payable 9,685 28,709
Accrued income taxes   17,115     12,993  
Total current liabilities 759,525 726,976
Long-term debt 1,816,728 1,834,151
Long-term capital leases 3,578 5,513
Postretirement medical benefits 147,065 156,834
Pension liability 400,584 382,503
Long-term employee related benefits 102,764 97,508
Long-term income tax liabilities 50,552 55,862
Other long-term liabilities   54,281     43,480  
Total liabilities   3,335,077     3,302,827  
 
Commitments and contingencies
Temporary equity   8,973     1,938  
 
Stockholders' Deficit:
Levi Strauss & Co. stockholders' deficit

Common stock—$.01 par value; 270,000,000 shares authorized; 37,322,358 shares

and 37,284,741 shares issued and outstanding

 

373 373
Additional paid-in capital 18,840 39,532
Accumulated earnings (deficit) 33,346 (123,157 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (272,168 )   (249,867 )
Total Levi Strauss & Co. stockholders' deficit (219,609 ) (333,119 )
Noncontrolling interest   10,808     17,735  
Total stockholders' deficit   (208,801 )   (315,384 )
Total liabilities, temporary equity and stockholders' deficit $ 3,135,249   $ 2,989,381  

The notes accompanying our consolidated financial statements in our Form 10-K are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

LEVI STRAUSS & CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

           
Year Ended Year Ended Year Ended
November 28, November 29, November 30,
2010 2009 2008
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Net sales $ 4,325,908 $ 4,022,854 $ 4,303,075
Licensing revenue   84,741     82,912     97,839  
Net revenues 4,410,649 4,105,766 4,400,914
Cost of goods sold   2,187,726     2,132,361     2,261,112  
Gross profit 2,222,923 1,973,405 2,139,802
Selling, general and administrative expenses   1,841,562     1,595,317     1,614,730  
Operating income 381,361 378,088 525,072
Interest expense (135,823 ) (148,718 ) (154,086 )
Loss on early extinguishment of debt (16,587 ) - (1,417 )
Other income (expense), net   6,647     (39,445 )   (303 )
Income before income taxes 235,598 189,925 369,266
Income tax expense   86,152     39,213     138,884  
Net income 149,446 150,712 230,382
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interest   7,057     1,163     (1,097 )
Net income attributable to Levi Strauss & Co. $ 156,503   $ 151,875   $ 229,285  

The notes accompanying our consolidated financial statements in our Form 10-K are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

LEVI STRAUSS & CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

     
Year Ended Year Ended Year Ended
November 28, November 29, November 30,
2010 2009 2008
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income $ 149,446 $ 150,712 $ 230,382

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization 104,896 84,603 77,983
Asset impairments 6,865 16,814 20,308
(Gain) loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment (248 ) (175 ) 40
Unrealized foreign exchange (gains) losses (17,662 ) 14,657 50,736

Realized loss (gain) on settlement of forward foreign exchange contracts not designated for hedge accounting

16,342 50,760 (53,499 )
Employee benefit plans' amortization from accumulated other comprehensive loss 3,580 (19,730 ) (35,995 )
Employee benefit plans' curtailment loss (gain), net 106 1,643 (5,162 )

Noncash (gain) loss on extinguishment of debt, net of write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs

(13,647 ) - 394
Amortization of deferred debt issuance costs 4,332 4,344 4,007
Stock-based compensation 6,438 7,822 6,832
Allowance for doubtful accounts 7,536 7,246 10,376
Deferred income taxes 31,113 (5,128 ) 75,827
Change in operating assets and liabilities (excluding assets and liabilities acquired):
Trade receivables (30,259 ) 27,568 61,707
Inventories (148,533 ) 113,014 (21,777 )
Other current assets (20,131 ) 5,626 (25,400 )
Other non-current assets (7,160 ) (11,757 ) (16,773 )
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities 39,886 (58,185 ) (100,388 )
Income tax liabilities 6,330 (3,377 ) 3,923
Accrued salaries, wages and employee benefits (18,463 ) (20,082 ) (30,566 )
Long-term employee related benefits 6,335 26,871 (35,112 )
Other long-term liabilities 19,120 (4,452 ) 6,922
Other, net   52     (11 )   44  
Net cash provided by operating activities   146,274     388,783     224,809  
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment (154,632 ) (82,938 ) (80,350 )
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 1,549 939 995

(Payments) proceeds on settlement of forward foreign exchange contracts not designated for hedge accounting

(16,342 ) (50,760 ) 53,499
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired (12,242 ) (100,270 ) (959 )
Other   (114 )   -     -  
Net cash used for investing activities   (181,781 )   (233,029 )   (26,815 )
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt 909,390 - -
Repayments of long-term debt and capital leases (866,051 ) (72,870 ) (94,904 )
Short-term borrowings, net 27,311 (2,704 ) 12,181
Debt issuance costs (17,546 ) - (446 )
Restricted cash (700 ) (602 ) (1,224 )
Repurchase of common stock (78 ) - -
Dividends to noncontrolling interest shareholders of Levi Strauss Japan K.K. - (978 ) (1,114 )
Dividend to stockholders   (20,013 )   (20,001 )   (49,953 )
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities   32,313     (97,155 )   (135,460 )
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents   2,116     1,393     (7,636 )
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents (1,078 ) 59,992 54,898
Beginning cash and cash equivalents   270,804     210,812   $ 155,914  
Ending cash and cash equivalents $ 269,726   $ 270,804   $ 210,812  
 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid during the period for:
Interest $ 147,237 $ 135,576 $ 154,103
Income taxes 52,912 56,922 63,107

The notes accompanying our consolidated financial statements in our Form 10-K are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Contacts

Levi Strauss & Co.
Blake Jorgensen, 800-438-0349 (Investor)
investor-relations@levi.com
or
Kris Marubio, 415-501-6709 (Media)
kmarubio@levi.com

Contacts

Levi Strauss & Co.
Blake Jorgensen, 800-438-0349 (Investor)
investor-relations@levi.com
or
Kris Marubio, 415-501-6709 (Media)
kmarubio@levi.com