SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Jan. 31, 2023

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES [Abstract]

Business Activity and Principles of Consolidation

1. Business Activity and Principles of Consolidation

As used in these financial statements, the term “Company” or “G-III” refers to G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. and its subsidiaries. The Company designs, sources and markets an extensive range of apparel, including outerwear, dresses, sportswear, swimwear, women’s suits and women’s performance wear, as well as women’s handbags, footwear, small leather goods, cold weather accessories and luggage. The Company also operates retail stores and licenses its proprietary brands under several product categories.

The Company consolidates the accounts of its wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries. Fabco Holding B.V. (“Fabco”) is a Dutch joint venture limited liability company that is 75% owned by the Company and is treated as a consolidated majority-owned subsidiary. In October 2021, the Company purchased Sonia Rykiel, a wholly-owned operating subsidiary. The results of Sonia Rykiel are included in our consolidated financial statements beginning in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022. Karl Lagerfeld Holding B.V. (“KLH”) is a Dutch limited liability company that was 19% owned by the Company through May 30, 2022 and was accounted for during that time using the equity method of accounting. Effective May 31, 2022, the Company acquired the remaining 81% interest in KLH that it did not previously own and, as a result, KLH began being treated as a consolidated wholly-owned subsidiary. KL North America B.V. (“KLNA”) is a Dutch joint venture limited liability company that was 49% owned by the Company and 51% indirectly owned by KLH through May 30, 2022 and was accounted for during that time using the equity method of accounting. Effective May 31, 2022, KLNA became an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company as a result of the Company’s acquisition of the remaining 81% interest in KLH it did not previously own. All material intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. The results of KLH are included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements beginning May 31, 2022.

Vilebrequin International SA (“Vilebrequin”), a Swiss corporation that is wholly-owned by the Company, KLH, Fabco and Sonia Rykiel, which the Company purchased in October 2021, report results on a calendar year basis rather than on the January 31 fiscal year basis used by the Company. Accordingly, the results of Vilebrequin, KLH, Fabco and Sonia Rykiel are included in the financial statements for the year ended or ending closest to the Company’s fiscal year end. For example, with respect to the Company’s results for the year ended January 31, 2023, the results of Vilebrequin, Fabco and Sonia Rykiel are included for the year ended December 31, 2022. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the results of KLH, which includes KLNA, are included for the period from July 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022. The results of the Company’s previous 49% ownership interest in KLNA and 19% ownership interest in KLH are included for the period from February 1, 2022 through May 30, 2022. The Company’s retail operations segment reports on a 52/53-week fiscal year. For fiscal 2023 and 2022, the retail operations segment reported based on a 52-week fiscal year.

Cash Equivalents

2. Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with a maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

Revenue Recognition

3. Revenue Recognition

Wholesale revenue is recognized when control transfers to the customer. The Company considers control to have been transferred when the Company has transferred physical possession of the product, the Company has a right to payment for the product, the customer has legal title to the product and the customer has the significant risks and rewards of the product.

Wholesale revenues are adjusted by variable considerations arising from implicit or explicit obligations. Variable consideration includes trade discounts, end of season markdowns, sales allowances, cooperative advertising, return liabilities and other customer allowances. The Company estimates the anticipated variable consideration and records this estimate as a reduction of revenue in the period the related product revenue is recognized.

Variable consideration is estimated based on historical experience, current contractual requirements, specific known events and industry trends. The reserves for variable consideration are recorded as customer refund liabilities. Historical return rates are calculated on a product line basis. The remainder of the historical rates for variable consideration are calculated by customer by product lines.

The Company recognizes retail sales when the customer takes possession of the goods and tenders payment, generally at the point of sale. Digital revenues from customers through the Company’s digital platforms are recognized when the customer takes possession of the goods. The Company’s sales are recorded net of applicable sales taxes.

Both wholesale revenues and retail store revenues are shown net of returns, discounts and other allowances.

Licensing revenue is recognized at the higher of royalty earned or guaranteed minimum royalty.

Accounts Receivable

4. Accounts Receivable

In the normal course of business, the Company extends credit to its wholesale customers based on pre-defined credit criteria. Accounts receivable are net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. In circumstances where the Company is aware of a specific customer’s inability to meet its financial obligation (such as in the case of bankruptcy filings, extensive delay in payment or substantial downgrading by credit sources), a specific reserve for bad debts is recorded against amounts due to reduce the net recognized receivable to the amount reasonably expected to be collected. For all other wholesale customers, an allowance for doubtful accounts is determined through analysis of the aging of accounts receivable at the date of the financial statements, assessments of collectability based on historical trends and an evaluation of the impact of economic conditions.

The Company’s financial instruments consist of trade receivables arising from revenue transactions in the ordinary course of business. The Company considers its trade receivables to consist of two portfolio segments: wholesale and retail trade receivables. Wholesale trade receivables result from credit the Company has extended to its wholesale customers based on pre-defined criteria and are generally due within 30 to 60 days. Retail trade receivables primarily relate to amounts due from third-party credit card processors for the settlement of debit and credit card transactions and are typically collected within 3 to 5 days.  See Note 3 – Allowance for Doubtful Accounts.

Inventories

5. Inventories

Wholesale inventories are stated at the lower of cost (determined by the first-in, first-out method) or net realizable value, which comprises a significant portion of the Company’s inventory.

Effective February 1, 2021, the Company elected to change its method of accounting for retail inventories from the lower of cost or market as determined by the retail inventory method to the lower of cost or net realizable value using the weighted average cost method. The Company believes the new method is preferable as it provides better matching of cost of goods sold with revenue, improves the precision of inventory valuation at the balance sheet dates, and more closely aligns with the valuation methods used throughout the rest of the Company. In addition, the change in inventory valuation better aligns with the way the Company manages its business with a focus on the actual margin realized.

The Company determined that it was impractical to apply this change in accounting principle retrospectively due to a lack of available information. As a result, the Company applied the change prospectively as of February 1, 2021. The cumulative adjustment as of February 1, 2021 was a decrease of $0.3 million in both inventories and retained earnings. The change in accounting principle did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended January 31, 2023.

Vilebrequin inventories are stated at the lower of cost (determined by the weighted average method) or net realizable value.

Goodwill and Other Intangibles

6.  Goodwill and Other Intangibles

Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired in business combinations accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. Goodwill is subject to annual impairment tests using a qualitative evaluation or a quantitative test using an income approach through a discounted cash flow analysis methodology. The discounted cash flow approach requires that certain assumptions and estimates be made regarding industry economic factors and future profitability. Intangible assets deemed to have indefinite lives are not amortized, but are subject to annual impairment tests using a qualitative evaluation or a quantitative test using a relief from royalty method, another form of the income approach. The relief from royalty method requires assumptions regarding industry economic factors and future profitability. Other intangibles with finite lives, including license agreements, trademarks and customer lists are amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets (currently ranging from 5 to 17 years). Impairment charges, if any, on intangible assets with finite lives are recorded when indicators of impairment are present and the discounted cash flows estimated to be derived from those assets are less than the carrying amounts of the assets. During fiscal 2023, the Company recorded a $347.2 million non-cash impairment charge to fully impair the carrying value of its goodwill. See Note 7 – Intangible Assets.

Leases

7.  Leases

The Company accounts for its leases in accordance with ASC Topic 842 – Leases (“ASC 842”). The Company determines if an arrangement is, or contains, a lease at contract inception. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet. For leases with an initial term greater than 12 months, a lease liability is recorded on the balance sheet at the present value of future payments discounted at the incremental borrowing rate (discount rate) corresponding with the lease term. An operating lease asset is recorded based on the initial amount of the lease liability, plus any lease payments made to the lessor before or at the lease commencement date and any initial direct costs incurred, less any tenant improvement allowance incentives received. The difference between the minimum rents paid and the straight-line rent (deferred rent) is reflected within the associated operating lease asset. The Company has elected to account for lease and non-lease components as a single component.  

The lease classification evaluation begins at the commencement date. The lease term used in the evaluation includes the non-cancellable period for which the Company has the right to use the underlying asset, together with renewal option periods when the exercise of the renewal option is reasonably certain or the failure to exercise such option would result in an economic penalty. All of the Company’s leases are classified as operating leases.

Depreciation and amortization

8.  Depreciation and Amortization

Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation and amortization are computed by the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Leasehold improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over the life of the lease or the useful life of the improvement, whichever is shorter.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

9.  Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

All property and equipment and other long-lived assets are reviewed for potential impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset’s carrying value may not be recoverable. If such indicators are present, it is determined whether the sum of the estimated undiscounted future cash flows attributable to such assets is less than the carrying value of the assets. A potential impairment has occurred if projected future undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying value of the assets.

In fiscal 2023, the Company recorded a $2.7 million impairment charge related to leasehold improvements, furniture and fixtures and operating lease assets at certain DKNY, Karl Lagerfeld Paris and Vilebrequin stores as a result of the performance at these stores.

In fiscal 2022, the Company recorded a $1.5 million impairment charge related to the leasehold improvements, furniture and fixtures and operating lease assets at certain DKNY, Karl Lagerfeld Paris and Vilebrequin stores as a result of the performance at these stores.

In fiscal 2021, the Company recorded a $20.1 million impairment charge related to the operating lease assets, leasehold improvements and furniture and fixtures at certain Wilsons Leather and G.H. Bass stores, primarily due to the retail restructuring, as well as at certain DKNY and Vilebrequin stores as a result of the performance at these stores.

Income Taxes

10.  Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes and uncertain tax positions in accordance with ASC Topic 740 — Income Taxes (“ASC 740”). Income taxes are accounted for under the liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined on the basis of differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their financial reporting amounts using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

ASC 740 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a return, as well as guidance on de-recognition, classification, interest and penalties and financial statement reporting disclosures.  It is also the Company's policy to provide for uncertain tax positions and the related interest and penalties based upon management's assessment of whether a tax benefit is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by tax authorities. To the extent the Company prevails in matters for which a liability for an unrecognized tax benefit is established, or is required to pay amounts in excess of the liability, or when other facts and circumstances change, the Company's effective tax rate in a given financial statement period may be materially affected.

The United States government enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) on March 27, 2020, which includes various income tax provisions aimed at providing economic relief. One of those provisions allows any loss generated in fiscal 2021 to be carried back to each of the 5 taxable years preceding the taxable year of such a loss. The Company has elected to use this relief and carried back the fiscal 2021 tax loss to a tax year with a 35% federal rate. Additionally, the CARES Act permits Qualified Improvement Property to qualify for 15-year depreciation and therefore be also eligible for 100 percent first-year bonus depreciation. The Company has elected to take 100% bonus depreciation for all qualified improvement property.

Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share

11.  Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share

Basic net income (loss) per common share has been computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each period. Diluted net income per share, when applicable, is computed using the weighted average number of common shares and potential dilutive common shares, consisting of unvested restricted stock unit awards and stock options outstanding during the period. Approximately 11,000 and 182,000 shares of common stock have been excluded from the diluted net income per share calculation for the years ended January 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. All share-based payments outstanding that vest based on the achievement of performance conditions, and for which the respective performance conditions have not been achieved, have been excluded from the diluted per share calculation. The Company issued no shares of common stock in connection with the exercise or vesting of equity awards during the years ended January 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Instead, the Company re-issued 387,792, 194,965 and 367,290 treasury shares in connection with the vesting of equity awards in fiscal 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

The following table reconciles the numerators and denominators used in the calculation of basic and diluted net income (loss) per share:

	Year Ended January 31,
	2023		2022		2021
	(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Net income (loss) attributable to G-III Apparel Group, Ltd.	$	(133,061)	$	200,593	$	23,545
Basic net income (loss) per share:
Basic common shares		47,653		48,426		48,242
Basic net income (loss) per share	$	(2.79)	$	4.14	$	0.49
Diluted net income (loss) per share:
Basic common shares		47,653		48,426		48,242
Dilutive restricted stock unit awards and stock options		—		1,090		539
Diluted common shares		47,653		49,516		48,781
Diluted net income (loss) per share	$	(2.79)	$	4.05	$	0.48

Equity Award Compensation

12.  Equity Award Compensation

ASC Topic 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation, requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of restricted stock unit awards and employee stock options, to be recognized as compensation expense over the service period (generally the vesting period) based on their grant date fair values.

The Company accounts for forfeited awards as they occur as permitted by ASC 718. Ultimately, the actual expense recognized over the vesting period will be for those shares that vested. Restricted stock units (“RSU’s”) are time based awards that do not have market or performance conditions and generally (i) cliff vest after three years or (ii) vest over a three year period. Performance based restricted stock units (“PRSU’s”) granted to executives prior to fiscal 2020 include (i) market price performance conditions that provide for the award to vest only after the average closing price of the Company’s stock trades above a predetermined market level and (ii) another performance condition that requires the achievement of an operating performance target. PRSU’s generally vest over a two to five year period. Performance stock units (“PSU’s”) were granted to executives beginning in fiscal 2020 and vest after a three year performance period during which certain earnings before interest and taxes and return on invested capital performance conditions must be satisfied for vesting to occur. The PSU’s granted in fiscal 2020 are also subject to a lock up period that prevents the sale, contract to sell or transfer of shares for two years subsequent to the date of vesting. RSU’s and employee stock options are expensed on a straight-line basis. PRSU’s are expensed under the accelerated attribution method. PSU’s are expensed under the accelerated attribution method and based on an estimated percentage of achievement of certain pre-established goals.

Excess tax benefits arising from the lapse or exercise of an equity award are recognized in income tax expense. The assumed proceeds from applying the treasury stock method when computing net income (loss) per share is amended to exclude the amount of excess tax benefits that would be recognized in additional paid-in capital.

Cost of Goods Sold

13.  Cost of Goods Sold

Cost of goods sold includes the expenses incurred to acquire, produce and prepare inventory for sale, including product costs, warehouse staff wages, freight in, import costs, packaging materials, the cost of operating the overseas offices and royalty expense. Gross margins may not be directly comparable to those of the Company’s competitors, as income statement classifications of certain expenses may vary by company. Additionally, costs expected to be incurred when products are returned should be accrued for upon the sale of the product as a component of cost of goods sold.

Shipping and Handling Costs

14.  Shipping and Handling Costs

Shipping and handling costs consist of warehouse facility costs, third party warehousing, freight out costs, and warehouse supervisory wages and are included in selling, general and administrative expenses. Shipping and handling costs included in selling, general and administrative expenses were $187.6 million, $130.2 million and $111.8 million for the years ended January 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Advertising Costs

15.  Advertising Costs

The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred and includes these costs in selling, general and administrative expenses. Advertising paid as a percentage of sales under license agreements are expensed in the period in which the sales occur or are accrued to meet guaranteed minimum requirements under license agreements. Advertising expense was $131.6 million, $93.1 million and $55.3 million for the years ended January 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Prepaid advertising, which represents advance payments to licensors for minimum guaranteed payments for advertising under the Company’s licensing agreements, was $8.3 million and $6.7 million at January 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Use of Estimates

16.  Use of Estimates

In preparing financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”), management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. In determining these estimates, management must use amounts that are based upon its informed judgments and best estimates. The Company continually evaluates its estimates, including those related to customer allowances and discounts, product returns, bad debts, inventories, equity awards, income taxes, carrying values of intangible assets and long-lived assets including right of use assets. Estimates are based on historical experience and on various other assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable under the circumstances. The results of these estimates form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions and conditions.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

17.  Fair Value of Financial Instruments

GAAP establishes a three-level valuation hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements. The determination of the applicable level within the hierarchy for a particular asset or liability depends on the inputs used in its valuation as of the measurement date, notably the extent to which the inputs are market-based (observable) or internally-derived

(unobservable). A financial instrument’s categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The three levels are defined as follows:

Level 1 — inputs to the valuation methodology based on quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

Level 2 — inputs to the valuation methodology based on quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets for substantially the full term of the financial instrument; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active for substantially the full term of the financial instrument; and model-derived valuations whose inputs or significant value drivers are observable.

Level 3 — inputs to the valuation methodology based on unobservable prices or valuation techniques that are significant to the fair value measurement.

The following table summarizes the carrying values and the estimated fair values of the Company’s debt instruments:

		Carrying Value				Fair Value
		January 31,		January 31,		January 31,		January 31,
Financial Instrument	Level	2023		2022		2023		2022
		(In thousands)
Secured Notes	1	$	400,000	$	400,000	$	380,000	$	422,020
Revolving credit facility	2		80,087		—		80,087		—
Note issued to LVMH	3		121,202		114,255		119,426		110,123
Unsecured loans	2		10,866		8,367		10,866		8,367
Overdraft facilities	2		3,657		2,903		3,657		2,903
Foreign credit facility	2		7,792		—		7,792		—

The Company’s debt instruments are recorded at their carrying values in its consolidated balance sheets, which may differ from their respective fair values. The fair value of the Company’s secured notes is based on their current market price as of January 31, 2023. The carrying amount of the Company’s variable rate debt approximates the fair value, as interest rates change with the market rates. Furthermore, the carrying value of all other financial instruments potentially subject to valuation risk (principally consisting of cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable) also approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these accounts.

The 2% note in the principal amount of $125 million (the “LVMH Note”) issued to LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton Inc. (“LVMH”) in connection with the acquisition of DKNY and Donna Karan was recorded on the balance sheet at a discount of $40.0 million in accordance with ASC 820 — Fair Value Measurements. For purposes of this fair value disclosure, the Company based its fair value estimate for the LVMH Note on the initial fair value as determined at the date of the acquisition of DKNY and Donna Karan and records the amortization using the effective interest method over the term of the LVMH Note.

The fair value of the LVMH Note was considered a Level 3 valuation in the fair value hierarchy.

Non-Financial Assets and Liabilities

The Company’s non-financial assets that are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis include long-lived assets, which consist primarily of property and equipment and operating lease assets. The Company reviews these assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying value may not be fully recoverable. For assets that are not recoverable, an impairment loss is recognized equal to the difference between the carrying amount of the asset or asset group and its estimated fair value. For operating lease assets, the Company determines the fair value

of the assets by discounting the estimated market rental rates over the remaining term of the lease. These fair value measurements are considered level 3 measurements in the fair value hierarchy. During fiscal 2023, the Company recorded a $2.7 million impairment charge related to leasehold improvements, furniture and fixtures and operating lease assets at certain DKNY, Karl Lagerfeld Paris and Vilebrequin stores as a result of the performance at these stores. During fiscal 2022, the Company recorded a $1.5 million impairment charge primarily related to leasehold improvements, furniture and fixtures and operating lease assets at certain DKNY, Karl Lagerfeld Paris and Vilebrequin stores as a result of the performance at these stores. During fiscal 2021, the Company recorded a $20.1 million impairment charge primarily related to operating lease assets, leasehold improvements and furniture and fixtures at certain Wilsons Leather and G.H. Bass stores, primarily due to the Company’s retail restructuring, as well as at certain DKNY and Vilebrequin stores as a result of the performance at these stores.

Foreign Currency Translation

18.  Foreign Currency Translation

Certain of the Company’s international subsidiaries use different functional currencies, which are, for the most part, the local currency. In accordance with the authoritative guidance, assets and liabilities of the Company’s foreign operations are translated from foreign currency into U.S. dollars at period-end rates, while income and expenses are translated at the weighted average exchange rates for the period. The related translation adjustments are reflected as a foreign currency translation adjustment in accumulated other comprehensive loss within stockholders’ equity.

Effects of Recently Adopted and Issued Accounting Pronouncements

19.  Effects of Recently Adopted and Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Adopted Accounting Guidance

There was no new accounting guidance adopted during the year ended January 31, 2023.

Accounting Guidance Issued Being Evaluated for Adoption

The Company has reviewed all recently issued accounting pronouncements and concluded that they were either not applicable or not expected to have a significant impact to the consolidated financial statements.