SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Nature of Operations

Levi Strauss & Co. (the "Company") is one of the world’s largest brand-name apparel companies. The Company designs, markets and sells – directly or through third parties and licensees – products that include jeans, casual and dress pants, tops, shorts, skirts, jackets, footwear and related accessories for men, women and children around the world under the Levi’s^®, Dockers^®, Signature by Levi Strauss & Co.™ and Denizen^® brands. The Company operates its business through three geographic regions: Americas, Europe and Asia.

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

The unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its wholly-owned and majority-owned foreign and domestic subsidiaries are prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("U.S. GAAP") for interim financial information. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the financial position and the results of operations for the periods presented have been included. These unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year ended November 27, 2016, included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on February 9, 2017.

The unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated. Management believes the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented herein not misleading. The results of operations for the three and six months ended May 28, 2017 may not be indicative of the results to be expected for any other interim period or the year ending November 26, 2017.

The Company’s fiscal year ends on the last Sunday of November in each year, although the fiscal years of certain foreign subsidiaries end on November 30. Each quarter of both fiscal years 2017 and 2016 consists of 13 weeks. All references to years relate to fiscal years rather than calendar years.

Subsequent events have been evaluated through the issuance date of these financial statements.

Reclassification

Certain amounts in Note 13 "Business Segment Information" have been conformed to the May 28, 2017 presentation. Effective as of the beginning of 2017, certain of our global expenses that support all of our regional segments, including global e-commerce infrastructure and global brand merchandising, marketing and design, previously recorded centrally in our Americas region segment and Corporate expenses, have now been allocated to our three regional business segments, and reported in their operating results. Business segment information for the prior-year period has been revised to reflect this change in presentation.

Certain insignificant amounts on the Statements of Cash Flows have been conformed to the May 28, 2017 presentation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and the related notes to the consolidated financial statements. Estimates are based upon historical factors, current circumstances and the experience and judgment of the Company’s management. Management evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis and may employ outside experts to assist in its evaluations. Changes in such estimates, based on more accurate future information, or different assumptions or conditions, may affect amounts reported in future periods.

Changes in Accounting Principle

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In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718). ASU 2016-09 identifies areas for simplification involving several aspects of accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, an option to recognize gross stock compensation expense with actual forfeitures recognized as they occur, as well as certain classifications on the statement of cash flows. The Company elected to early adopt all provisions of this new accounting standard in the first quarter of 2017 and will maintain the current forfeiture policy to estimate forfeitures expected to occur to determine stock-based compensation expense. The adoption of this standard resulted in a $5.6 million income tax benefit.

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In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. ASU 2016-15 designates the appropriate cash flow classification for debt prepayment or extinguishment costs, the maturing of a zero coupon bond, the settlement of contingent liabilities arising from a business combination, proceeds from insurance settlements, distributions from certain equity method investees and beneficial interests obtained in a financial asset securitization. In certain circumstances, transactions may require bifurcation to appropriately allocate components among operating, investing and financing activities. The Company adopted this standard in the second quarter of 2017.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

There have been no developments to recently issued accounting standards, including the expected dates of adoption and estimated effects on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and footnote disclosures, from those disclosed in the Company’s 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, except for the following, which have been grouped by their effective dates for the Company:

First Quarter of 2019

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In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Compensation-Retirement Benefits (Topic 715) Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. ASU 2017-07 changes the income statement presentation of defined benefit plan expense by requiring separation between operating expense (service cost component) and non-operating expense (all other components, including interest cost, amortization of prior service cost, curtailments and settlements, etc.). The operating expense component is reported with similar compensation costs while the non-operating components are reported in Other Income and Expense. In addition, only the service cost component is eligible for capitalization as part of an asset such as inventory or property, plant and equipment. The Company is currently assessing the impact that adopting this new accounting standard will have on its consolidated financial statements.

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In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718) Scope of Modification Accounting. ASU 2017-09 provides clarification on when modification accounting should be used for changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award. This ASU does not change the accounting for modifications but clarifies that modification accounting guidance should only be applied if there is a change to the value, vesting conditions, or award classification and would not be required if the changes are considered non-substantive. The Company is currently assessing the impact that adopting this new accounting standard will have on its consolidated financial statements.

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In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). ASU 2014-09 outlines a new, single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry specific guidance. This new revenue recognition model provides a five-step analysis in determining when and how revenue is recognized. The new model will require revenue recognition to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration a company expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date. The amendment in this update defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09 for all entities by one year. Additional ASUs have been issued that are part of the overall new revenue guidance including: ASU 2016-08: Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net), ASU 2016-10: Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing and ASU 2016-12: Narrow Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients. The Company is currently assessing the impact that adopting these new revenue accounting standards will have on its consolidated financial statements.

First Quarter of 2020

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In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) which requires the identification of arrangements that should be accounted for as leases by lessees. In general, for operating or financing lease arrangements exceeding a twelve month term, a right-of-use asset and a lease obligation will be recognized on the balance sheet of the lessee while the income statement will reflect lease expense for operating leases and amortization/interest expense for financing leases. The Company is currently assessing the impact that adopting this new accounting standard will have on its consolidated financial statements.

First Quarter of 2021

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In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. ASU 2017-04 eliminates the two-step process that required identification of potential impairment and a separate measure of the actual impairment. The annual assessment of goodwill impairment will be determined by using the difference between the carrying amount and the fair value of the reporting unit. The Company is currently assessing the impact that adopting this new accounting standard will have on its consolidated financial statements.