Levi Strauss & Co. Announces Second-Quarter 2013 Financial Results

Updated

Levi Strauss & Co. Announces Second-Quarter 2013 Financial Results

Five Percent Increase in Net Revenues and Stronger Margins Drive Significant Net Income Growth

Balance Sheet Improves through Debt Reduction and Refinancing


SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Levi Strauss & Co. (LS&Co.) announced financial results today for the second quarter ended May 26, 2013.

Highlights include:

Three Months Ended

% Increase

(Decrease)

As Reported

($ millions)

May 26,
2013

May 27,
2012

Net revenues

$1,099

$1,047

5%

Net income

$48

$13

264%

Net revenues increased five percent on a reported basis and six percent without the effect of currency, driven by strong performance from the Levi's® and Dockers® brands, particularly in the Americas with growth across both wholesale and retail channels. Second quarter net income increased significantly to $48 million as compared to $13 million in the second quarter of 2012, reflecting the higher net revenue and a gross margin increase of approximately 400 basis points as compared to the second quarter of 2012.

"We are encouraged by the second quarter's progress—revenues up five percent and dramatically improved gross profit and net income. The results reflect in part the key choices we made last year to focus on our profitable core business, expand selectively beyond the core and become a world class retailer," said Chip Bergh, president and chief executive officer. "While we clearly have more work to do, we will sharpen our focus on our core brands—Levi's® and Dockers®—with compelling product and innovation, while also investing behind brand-building and improving the overall consumer experience, whether in our own stores or with our key retail partners."

Second-Quarter 2013 Highlights

  • Gross profit in the second quarter increased to $549 million compared with $481 million for the same period in 2012. Gross margin for the second quarter was 50 percent of revenues compared with 46 percent of revenues in the same quarter of 2012. The gross margin improvement reflected a lower cost of cotton in the products the company sold during the quarter, the phase-out of the Denizen® brand in Asia and increased sales from the company's retail stores.

  • Selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A) for the second quarter increased to $449 million from $435 million in the same period of 2012. The increase in SG&A was primarily driven by a shift of the company's advertising campaigns from the first quarter into the second quarter. SG&A as a percentage of revenue declined to 41 percent from 42 percent in the same period of 2012.

  • Operating income for the second quarter grew to $100 million from $46 million in the same period of 2012 primarily due to the higher gross margin.

Reported regional net revenues and operating income for the quarter were as follows:

Net Revenues

Operating Income

Three Months Ended

Three Months Ended

($ millions)

May 26,

2013

May 27,

2012

% Increase

(Decrease)

May 26,

2013

May 27,

2012

% Increase

(Decrease)

Americas

$666

$605

10%

$119

$71

67%

Europe

$253

$254

—%

$37

$30

24%

Asia Pacific

$180

$188

(4)%

$33

$19

74%

  • Net revenues increased in the Americas primarily due to improved performance of both the Levi's® and Dockers® brands at key customers in the wholesale channel and in the company's retail stores. Higher operating income primarily reflected the region's higher gross margin due to the lower cost of cotton in products sold in the second quarter.

  • Net revenues in Europe were flat on a reported basis, and increased one percent without the effect of currency, as improved performance and expansion from the company-operated retail network was partially offset by a decline in the traditional wholesale channel across the region. Higher operating income reflected improved gross margin driven by increased sales from the company-operated retail network.

  • Net revenues in Asia Pacific declined four percent on a reported basis but were nearly flat without the effect of currency. Sales at the company-operated retail network and in traditional wholesale channels were adversely impacted by challenging conditions in most markets in the region. Higher operating income primarily reflected the company's third-quarter 2012 decision to phase out the Denizen® brand in the region, which was substantially complete by the end of the second quarter.

Cash Flow and Balance Sheet

At May 26, 2013, cash and cash equivalents of $390 million were complemented by $559 million available under the company's revolving credit facility, resulting in a total liquidity position of $949 million. Cash provided by operating activities of $254 million for the first six months of 2013 were $73 million lower than the same period in 2012, reflecting the company's lower accounts receivable balance at the beginning of 2013 as compared to the beginning of 2012.

During the quarter, the company completed an offering of $140 million of 6.875% senior notes due in 2022 and used the net proceeds along with cash on hand to prepay the remaining $275 million outstanding on the senior term loan due in 2014. Net debt—which the company defines as gross debt less cash and cash equivalents—declined to less than $1.2 billion at the end of the second quarter of 2013, compared to more than $1.3 billion at the end of 2012.

Investor Conference Call

The second-quarter 2013 investor conference call will be available through a live audio webcast today, July 9, 2013, at 1 p.m. Pacific/4 p.m. Eastern, at http://www.levistrauss.com/investors/earnings-webcast or dial-in to listen to the live call at: 800-891-4735 in the United States and Canada, or 973-200-3066 internationally; I.D. No. 96612735. A replay is available on the website the same day and will be archived for one month. A telephone replay also is available through July 15, 2013, at 800-585-8367; I.D. No. 96612735.

Forward Looking Statement

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 2012 and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended February 24, 2013 and May 26, 2013, 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 Denizen® brands. Its products are sold in more than 110 countries worldwide through a combination of chain retailers, department stores, online sites, and a global footprint of approximately 2,900 retail stores and shop-in-shops. Levi Strauss & Co.'s reported fiscal 2012 net revenues were $4.6 billion. For more information, go to http://levistrauss.com.

LEVI STRAUSS & CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

May 26,

November 25,

2013

2012

ASSETS

(Dollars in thousands)

Current Assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$

389,785

$

406,134

Trade receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $21,117 and $20,738

342,863

500,672

Inventories:

Raw materials

4,013

5,312

Work-in-process

6,580

9,558

Finished goods

528,900

503,990

Total inventories

539,493

518,860

Deferred tax assets, net

114,677

116,224

Other current assets

130,687

136,483

Total current assets

1,517,505

1,678,373

Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $782,200 and $782,766

445,887

458,807

Goodwill

239,797

239,971

Other intangible assets, net

53,991

59,909

Non-current deferred tax assets, net

607,177

612,916

Other non-current assets

116,415

120,101

Total assets

$

2,980,772

$

3,170,077

LIABILITIES, TEMPORARY EQUITY AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)

Current Liabilities:

Short-term debt

$

54,370

$

59,759

Current maturities of capital leases

987

1,760

Accounts payable

208,121

225,726

Other accrued liabilities

189,330

263,575

Accrued salaries, wages and employee benefits

176,291

223,850

Accrued interest payable

6,152

5,471

Accrued income taxes

50,672

16,739

Total current liabilities

685,923

796,880

Long-term debt

1,488,060

1,669,452

Long-term capital leases

4,382

262

Postretirement medical benefits

137,153

140,958

Pension liability

467,586

492,396

Long-term employee related benefits

67,057

62,529

Long-term income tax liabilities

30,812

40,356

Other long-term liabilities

59,623

60,869

Total liabilities

2,940,596

3,263,702

Commitments and contingencies

Temporary equity

26,262

7,883

Stockholders' Equity (Deficit):

Levi Strauss & Co. stockholders' equity (deficit)

Common stock—$.01 par value; 270,000,000 shares authorized; 37,397,437 shares and 37,392,343 shares issued and outstanding

374

374

Additional paid-in capital

18,169

33,365

Retained earnings

403,713

273,975

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(412,561

)

(414,635

)

Total Levi Strauss & Co. stockholders' equity (deficit)

9,695

(106,921

)

Noncontrolling interest

4,219

5,413

Total stockholders' equity (deficit)

13,914

(101,508

)

Total liabilities, temporary equity and stockholders' equity (deficit)

$

2,980,772

$

3,170,077

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

LEVI STRAUSS & CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

May 26,

May 27,

May 26,

May 27,

2013

2012

2013

2012

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

Net revenues

$

1,098,898

$

1,047,157

$

2,245,576

$

2,212,118

Cost of goods sold

550,187

566,471

1,104,987

1,182,638

Gross profit

548,711

480,686

1,140,589

1,029,480

Selling, general and administrative expenses

449,074

435,056

859,497

873,639

Operating income

99,637

45,630

281,092

155,841

Interest expense

(32,883

)

(32,411

)

(65,040

)

(70,984

)

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

(575

)

(8,206

)

(689

)

(8,206

)

Other income (expense), net

(830

)

10,697

5,236

11,869

Income before income taxes

65,349

15,710

220,599

88,520

Income tax expense

17,140

2,467

65,515

25,980

Net income

48,209

13,243

155,084

62,540

Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

(60

)

(10

)

85

(89

)

Net income attributable to Levi Strauss & Co.

$

48,149

$

13,233

$

155,169

$

62,451

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

LEVI STRAUSS & CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

May 26,

May 27,

May 26,

May 27,

2013

2012

2013

2012

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

Net income

$

48,209

$

13,243

$

155,084

$

62,540

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of related taxes:

Pension and postretirement benefits

3,199

321

7,108

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