Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Practices (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Jan. 28, 2012

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Practices

Fiscal Year End

Fiscal Year End

        The Company operates on a 52/53-week fiscal year calendar, which ends on the Saturday nearest to January 31 of each year. All references herein to "fiscal 2012", "fiscal 2011", and "fiscal 2010" represent the results of the 52-week fiscal years ended January 28, 2012, January 29, 2011, and January 30, 2010, respectively. References to "fiscal 2013" represent the 53-week fiscal year ending February 2, 2013.

Classification of Certain Costs and Expenses

Classification of Certain Costs and Expenses

        The Company includes inbound freight charges, purchasing costs and related overhead, retail store occupancy costs and a portion of the Company's distribution costs related to its retail business in cost of product sales. Distribution costs related primarily to the wholesale business are included in selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses and amounted to $48.5 million, $38.3 million and $30.2 million for fiscal 2012, fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2010, respectively. The Company also includes store selling, selling and merchandising, advertising, design and other corporate overhead costs as a component of selling, general and administrative expenses.

        The Company classifies amounts billed to customers for shipping fees as revenues, and classifies costs related to shipping as cost of product sales in the accompanying consolidated statements of income.

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation

        The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Guess?, Inc., its wholly-owned direct and indirect subsidiaries and its majority-owned subsidiaries. Accordingly, all references herein to "Guess?, Inc." include the consolidated results of the Company and its subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated during the consolidation process.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

        The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and disclosed in the accompanying notes. Significant areas requiring the use of management estimates relate to the valuation of inventories, accounts receivable allowances, sales return allowances, loyalty and gift card accruals, pension obligations, the useful life of assets for depreciation, restructuring expense and accruals, evaluation of asset impairment, litigation reserves, recoverability of deferred taxes, unrecognized tax benefits, workers compensation and medical self-insurance expense and accruals and share-based compensation. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Business Segment Reporting

Business Segment Reporting

        Where applicable, the Company reports information about business segments and related disclosures about products and services, geographic areas and major customers. The Company's businesses are grouped into five reportable segments for management and internal financial reporting purposes: Europe, North American Retail, Asia, North American Wholesale and Licensing. Information regarding these segments is summarized in Note 15. Management evaluates segment performance based primarily on revenues and earnings from operations. The Company believes this segment reporting reflects how its five business segments are managed and each segment's performance is evaluated. The Europe segment includes the Company's wholesale and retail operations in Europe and the Middle East. The North American Retail segment includes the Company's retail operations in North America. The Asia segment includes the Company's wholesale and retail operations in Asia. The North American Wholesale segment includes the Company's wholesale operations in North America and export sales to Central and South America. The Licensing segment includes the worldwide licensing operations of the Company. The business segment operating results exclude corporate overhead costs, which consist of shared costs of the organization. These costs are presented separately and generally include, among other things, the following unallocated corporate costs: information technology, human resources, global advertising and marketing, accounting and finance, executive compensation, facilities and legal.

Revenue recognition - General

Revenue Recognition

• General

        The Company recognizes retail operations revenue at the point of sale and wholesale operations revenue from the sale of merchandise when products are shipped and the customer takes title and assumes risk of loss, collection of the relevant receivable is reasonably assured, pervasive evidence of an arrangement exists, and the sales price is fixed or determinable. The Company accrues for estimated sales returns and other allowances in the period in which the related revenue is recognized. To recognize the financial impact of sales returns, the Company estimates the amount of goods that will be returned based on historical experience and reduces sales and cost of sales accordingly. Sales taxes and value added taxes collected from customers and remitted directly to governmental authorities are excluded from net revenues.

Net Royalty Revenue

• Net Royalty Revenue

        Royalty revenue is based upon a percentage, as defined in the underlying agreement, of the licensee's actual net sales or minimum net sales, whichever is greater. The Company may receive special payments in consideration of the grant of license rights. These payments are recognized ratably as revenue over the term of the license agreement. The unrecognized portion of upfront payments is included in deferred royalties and accrued expenses depending on the long or short-term nature of the payments to be recognized.

Gift Cards

• Gift Cards

        Gift card breakage is income recognized due to the non-redemption of a portion of gift cards sold by the Company for which a liability was recorded in prior periods. Estimated breakage amounts are accounted for under the redemption recognition method and are classified as additional net revenues as the gift cards are redeemed. The Company's gift card breakage rate is approximately 5.2% and 4.7% for the U.S. retail business and Canadian retail business, respectively, based upon historical redemption patterns, which represents the cumulative estimated amount of gift card breakage from the inception of the electronic gift card program in late 2002. Based upon historical redemption trends, the Company recognizes estimated gift card breakage as a component of net revenue in proportion to actual gift card redemptions, over the period that remaining gift card values are redeemed. In fiscal 2012, fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2010, the Company recognized $0.7 million, $1.2 million and $1.5 million of gift card breakage to revenue, respectively. Any future revisions to the estimated breakage rate may result in changes in the amount of breakage income recognized in future periods.

Loyalty Programs

• Loyalty Programs

        The Company launched customer loyalty programs for its G by GUESS, GUESS? and GUESS by MARCIANO stores in July 2009, August 2008 and September 2007, respectively. The GUESS? and GUESS by MARCIANO loyalty programs were merged in May 2009. Under the programs, customers accumulate points based on purchase activity. Once a loyalty program member achieves a certain point level, the member earns awards that may only be redeemed for merchandise. In all of the programs, unredeemed points generally expire after six months and unredeemed awards generally expire after two months. Due to the relative newness of the programs, prior to fiscal 2011, all unexpired, unredeemed points and awards were accrued in current liabilities and recorded as a reduction of net sales as points and awards were accumulated by the member. In fiscal 2011, based on the accumulation of multiple cycles of actual redemptions experienced since inception of the programs, the Company revised its approach to estimate the value of future award redemptions under the existing loyalty program by incorporating historical redemption rates. In connection with this revision, the Company recorded a cumulative adjustment of $6.7 million in fiscal 2011 to increase net revenue and to adjust the current liability balance to an amount reflecting estimated future award redemptions. The aggregate dollar value of the loyalty program accruals included in accrued liabilities was $2.3 million and $2.7 million at January 28, 2012 and January 29, 2011, respectively. Future revisions to the estimated liability may result in changes to net revenue.

Advertising Costs

Advertising Costs

        The Company expenses the cost of advertising as incurred. Advertising expenses charged to operations for fiscal 2012, fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2010 were $41.0 million, $31.7 million and $21.8 million, respectively.

Share-Based Compensation

Share-Based Compensation

        In accordance with authoritative accounting guidance, the Company adopted the fair value recognition provisions using the modified prospective transition method. Under this method, compensation cost recognized after January 1, 2006 includes: (a) compensation expense for all share-based payments granted prior to, but not yet vested as of, December 31, 2005, based on the grant date fair value and (b) compensation expense for all share-based awards granted on or after January 1, 2006, based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the guidance. The fair value of each stock option is estimated on the grant date using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Compensation expense for unvested stock options and stock awards is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period.

        In addition, the Company has granted certain nonvested stock awards and stock options in the past that require the recipient to achieve certain minimum performance targets in order for these awards to vest. If the minimum performance targets have not been achieved or are not expected to be achieved, no expense is recognized during the period.

Foreign Currency - Translation and Transaction Gains and Losses

Foreign Currency

• Foreign Currency Translation

        The local selling currency is typically the functional currency for all of the Company's significant international operations. In accordance with authoritative guidance, assets and liabilities of the Company's foreign operations are translated from foreign currencies 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 income (loss) within stockholders' equity. In addition, the Company records foreign currency translation adjustments related to its noncontrolling interests within stockholders' equity. The total foreign currency translation adjustment decreased stockholders' equity by $17.5 million, from an accumulated foreign currency translation gain of $5.9 million as of January 29, 2011 to an accumulated foreign currency translation loss of $11.6 million as of January 28, 2012.

• Foreign Currency Transaction Gains and Losses

        Transaction gains and losses that arise from exchange rate fluctuations on transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency, including gains and losses on foreign currency contracts (see below), are included in the consolidated statements of income. Net foreign currency transaction (losses) gains included in the determination of net earnings were $(6.8) million, $10.1 million and $4.3 million for fiscal 2012, fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2010, respectively.

Forward Contracts Designated as Cash Flow Hedges

• Forward Contracts Designated as Cash Flow Hedges

        The Company operates in foreign countries, which exposes it to market risk associated with foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. Various transactions that occur in Canada, Europe and South Korea are denominated in U.S. dollars, British pounds or Swiss francs and thus are exposed to earnings risk as a result of exchange rate fluctuations when converted to their functional currencies. These types of transactions include U.S. dollar denominated purchases of merchandise and U.S. dollar and British pound intercompany liabilities. In addition, certain sales, operating expenses and tax liabilities are denominated in Swiss francs and are exposed to earnings risk as a result of exchange rate fluctuations when converted to the functional currency. The Company has entered into certain forward contracts to hedge the risk of a portion of these anticipated foreign currency transactions against foreign currency rate fluctuations. The Company has elected to apply the hedge accounting rules in accordance with authoritative guidance for certain of these hedges. The Company does not hedge all transactions denominated in foreign currency.

        Changes in the fair values of the U.S. dollar/euro and U.S. dollar/Canadian dollar forward contracts for anticipated U.S. dollar merchandise purchases designated as cash flow hedges are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income within stockholders' equity and are recognized in cost of product sales in the period which approximates the time the hedged merchandise inventory is sold. Changes in the fair value of the Swiss franc/euro forward contracts for anticipated operating expenses designated as cash flow hedges are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income within stockholders' equity and are recognized in SG&A expenses in the period which approximates the time the expenses are incurred. Changes in the fair value of U.S. dollar/euro forward contracts for U.S. dollar intercompany royalties designated as cash flow hedges are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) within stockholders' equity and are recognized in other income and expense in the period which the royalty expense is incurred.

Forward Contracts Not Designated as Cash Flow Hedges

• Forward Contracts Not Designated as Cash Flow Hedges

        The Company also has forward contracts that are not designated as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes. Changes in the fair value of forward contracts not qualifying as cash flow hedges are reported in net earnings as part of other income and expense.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

        The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred income taxes are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to be applied to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

        The Company accounts for uncertainty in income taxes in accordance with authoritative guidance, which 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 tax return. It also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition.

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share

        Basic earnings per share represents net earnings attributable to common stockholders divided by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share represents net earnings attributable to common stockholders divided by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding, inclusive of the dilutive impact of common equivalent shares outstanding during the period. However, nonvested restricted stock awards (referred to as participating securities) are excluded from the dilutive impact of common equivalent shares outstanding in accordance with authoritative guidance under the two-class method since the nonvested restricted stockholders are entitled to participate in dividends declared on common stock as if the shares were fully vested and hence are deemed to be participating securities. Under the two-class method, earnings attributable to nonvested restricted stockholders are excluded from net earnings attributable to common stockholders for purposes of calculating basic and diluted earnings per common share.

Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive Income

        Comprehensive income consists of net earnings, Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan ("SERP") prior service cost and actuarial valuation gains or losses and related amortization, unrealized gains or losses on available-for-sale investments, foreign currency translation adjustments and the effective portion of the change in the fair value of cash flow hedges. Comprehensive income is presented in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents

        Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand and marketable securities with original maturities of three months or less.

Investment Securities

Investment Securities

        The Company accounts for its investment securities in accordance with authoritative guidance which requires investments to be classified into one of three categories based on management's intent: held-to-maturity securities, available-for-sale securities and trading securities. Held-to-maturity securities are recorded at their amortized cost. Available-for-sale securities are recorded at fair value with unrealized gains and losses reported as a separate component of stockholders' equity. Trading securities are recorded at market value with unrealized gains and losses reported in operations. The appropriate classification of investment securities is determined at the time of purchase and reevaluated at each balance sheet date. The Company currently accounts for its short-term investment securities as held-to-maturity and long-term investment securities as available-for-sale. The short-term investment securities will mature during fiscal 2013.

        The Company periodically evaluates investment securities for impairment using both qualitative and quantitative criteria such as the length of time and extent to which fair value has been below cost basis, the financial condition of the issuer and the Company's ability and intent to hold the investment for a period of time which may be sufficient for anticipated recovery in market value.

Concentration of Credit and Liquidity Risk

Concentration of Credit and Liquidity Risk

        The Company is also exposed to concentrations of credit risk through its accounts receivable balances. Cash used primarily for working capital purposes is maintained with various major financial institutions. The Company performs evaluations of the relative credit standing of these financial institutions in order to limit the amount of asset and liquidity exposure with any institution. Excess cash and cash equivalents, which represent the majority of the Company's outstanding cash and cash equivalents balance, are held primarily in four diversified money market funds and in overnight deposit and short-term time deposit accounts. The money market funds are all AAA rated by national credit rating agencies and are generally comprised of high-quality, liquid investments. As of January 28, 2012, the Company does not have any exposure to auction-rate security investments in these funds.

        The Company extends credit to corporate customers based upon an evaluation of the customer's financial condition and credit history and generally requires no collateral but does obtain credit insurance when considered appropriate. As of January 28, 2012, approximately 57% of total accounts receivable was insured or supported by bank guarantees or letters of credit. The Company maintains allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses that result from the inability of its wholesale customers to make their required payments. The Company bases its allowances on analysis of the aging of accounts receivable at the date of the financial statements, assessments of historical collection trends and an evaluation of the impact of current economic conditions. The Company's corporate customers are principally located throughout Europe, North America and Asia, and their ability to pay amounts due to the Company may be dependent on the prevailing economic conditions of their geographic region. However, such credit risk is considered limited due to the Company's large customer base. Management performs regular evaluations concerning the ability of its customers to satisfy their obligations and records a provision for doubtful accounts based on these evaluations. The Company's credit losses for the periods presented are immaterial and have not significantly exceeded management's estimates. One of the Company's domestic wholesale customers accounted for approximately 2.7%, 3.1%, and 3.4% of the Company's consolidated net revenue in fiscal 2012, fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2010, respectively. While the Company does not have significant credit or concentration exposure to any one European or Asian customer, it has receivables from European taxing authorities related to refundable value-added tax payments of $41 million, most of which relates to Italy.

Inventories

Inventories

        Inventories are valued at the lower of cost (primarily weighted average method) or market. The Company continually evaluates its inventories by assessing slow moving product as well as prior seasons' inventory. Market value of aged inventory is estimated based on historical sales trends for each product line category, the impact of market trends, an evaluation of economic conditions, available liquidation channels and the value of current orders relating to the future sales of this type of inventory.

Depreciation and Amortization

Depreciation and Amortization

        Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment, which includes depreciation of the property under the capital lease, and purchased intangibles are provided using the straight-line method over the following useful lives:

Building and building improvements including properties under capital lease	10 to 33 years
Land improvements	5 years
Furniture, fixtures and equipment	2 to 10 years
Purchased intangibles	4 to 20 years

        Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of the estimated useful life of the asset or the term of the lease, unless the renewal is reasonably assured. Construction in progress is not depreciated until the related asset is completed and placed in service.

Long-Lived Assets

Long-Lived Assets

        Long-lived assets, such as property, plant, and equipment, and purchased intangibles subject to amortization, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated undiscounted future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized in the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the estimated fair value, which is determined based on discounted future cash flows. The impairment loss calculations require management to apply judgment in estimating future cash flows and the discount rates that reflect the risk inherent in future cash flows. The estimated cash flows used for this nonrecurring fair value measurement is considered a Level 3 input as defined in Note 18.

        See Note 5 for further details on asset impairments.

Goodwill

Goodwill

        Goodwill is tested annually for impairment or more frequently if events and circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. An impairment loss is recognized to the extent that the carrying amount exceeds the asset's fair value. This determination is made at the reporting unit level. In accordance with newly released authoritative guidance which the Company elected to early adopt in fiscal 2012, the Company first assesses qualitative factors relevant in determining whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of its reporting units are less than their carrying amounts. Based on this analysis, the Company determines whether it is necessary to perform a quantitative impairment test. If it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, the amount of any impairment loss to be recognized for that reporting unit is determined using two steps. First, the Company determines the fair value of the reporting unit using a discounted cash flow analysis, which requires unobservable inputs (Level 3) within the fair value hierarchy as defined in Note 18. These inputs include selection of an appropriate discount rate and the amount and timing of expected future cash flows. Second, if the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized for any excess of the carrying amount of the reporting unit's goodwill and other intangibles over the implied fair value. The implied fair value is determined by allocating the fair value of the reporting unit in a manner similar to a purchase price allocation, in accordance with authoritative guidance.

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

        In accordance with authoritative accounting guidance for defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans, an asset for a plan's overfunded status or a liability for a plan's underfunded status is recognized in the consolidated balance sheets; plan assets and obligations that determine the plan's funded status are measured as of the end of the Company's fiscal year; and changes in the funded status of defined benefit postretirement plans are recognized in the year in which they occur. Such changes are reported in other comprehensive income and as a separate component of stockholders' equity.

Deferred Rent and Lease Incentives

Deferred Rent and Lease Incentives

        When a lease includes lease incentives (such as a rent holiday) or requires fixed escalations of the minimum lease payments, rental expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease and the difference between the average rental amount charged to expense and amounts payable under the lease is included in deferred rent and lease incentives in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. For construction allowances, the Company records a deferred lease credit on the consolidated balance sheets and amortizes the deferred lease credit as a reduction of rent expense in the consolidated statements of income over the term of the leases.

Litigation Reserves

Litigation Reserves

        Estimated amounts for claims that are probable and can be reasonably estimated are recorded as liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. The likelihood of a material change in these estimated reserves would be dependent on new claims as they may arise and the expected probable favorable or unfavorable outcome of each claim. As additional information becomes available, the Company assesses the potential liability related to new claims and existing claims and revises estimates as appropriate. As new claims arise or existing claims evolve, such revisions in estimates of the potential liability could materially impact the results of operations and financial position.