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 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"). All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

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. Fiscal years 2019, 2018 and 2017 were 52-week years, ending on November 24, 2019, November 25, 2018 and November 26, 2017, respectively. Each quarter of fiscal years 2019, 2018 and 2017 consisted of 13 weeks. All references to years relate to fiscal years rather than calendar years.

Out-of-period Adjustments

For the year ended November 26, 2017, the Company's results include an out-of-period adjustment, which increased selling, general and administrative expenses by $8.3 million and decreased net income by $5.1 million. Basic and diluted earnings per common share attributable to common stockholders both decreased by $0.01 per share. This item, which originated in prior years, relates to the correction of the periods used for the recognition of stock-based compensation expense associated with employees eligible to vest in awards after retirement. The Company has evaluated the effects of this out-of-period adjustment, both qualitatively and quantitatively, and concluded that the correction of this amount was not material to the 2017 period or the periods in which they originated, including quarterly reporting.

Stock Split

On February 12, 2019, the Company’s stockholders approved an amendment to the Company’s certificate of incorporation (the "Amendment") to effect a ten-for-one stock split of shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock, such that each share of common stock, $0.01 par value, became ten shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share. In addition, the Amendment increased the number of authorized shares of the Company's common stock by 930,000,000 to 1,200,000,000. The Amendment became effective on March 4, 2019 when filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. All share and per-share data in the consolidated financial statements and notes has been retroactively adjusted to reflect the stock split for all periods presented.

Initial Public Offering

In March 2019, the Company completed its IPO in which it issued and sold 14,960,557 shares of Class A common stock at a public offering price of $17.00 per share. The Company received net proceeds of $234.6 million after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions of $13.6 million and other direct and incremental offering expenses of $6.1 million. The Company agreed to pay all underwriting discounts and commissions applicable to the sales of shares of Class A common stock by the selling stockholders. This amount, $24.9 million, was paid at completion of the IPO in March 2019 and was recorded as non-operating expense in the second quarter of 2019. Additionally, the Company incurred $3.5 million of other costs associated with the IPO that were recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A").

In connection with the IPO, on March 19, 2019 the Company's Board of Directors approved the cancellation of the majority of the outstanding unvested cash-settled restricted stock units ("RSU's") and their concurrent replacement with similar equity-settled RSUs ("Replacement Awards"), pursuant to the Company's 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (the "2016 Plan"). RSUs for certain foreign affiliates will continue to be cash-settled. Other than the form of settlement, all other terms of the awards (including their vesting schedules) are the same. Prior to this modification, the cash-settled awards were classified as liabilities and stock-based compensation expense was measured using the fair value at the end of each reporting period. After the modification, the stock-based compensation expense for these awards was measured using the modification date fair value. As a result of the modification, accrued stock-based compensation expense of $45.8 million and $10.3 million were reclassified on the Company's consolidated balance sheets from accrued salaries, wages and employee benefits and other long-term liabilities, respectively, to additional paid in capital. Refer to Note 11 for more information.

Prior to the IPO, the holders of shares issued under the 2016 Plan could require the Company to repurchase such shares at the then-current market value pursuant to a contractual put right. Equity-classified stock-based awards that may be settled in cash at the option of the holder were presented on the Company's consolidated balance sheets outside of permanent equity. Accordingly, temporary equity on the Company's consolidated balance sheets included the redemption value of these awards generally related to the elapsed service period since the grant date reflecting patterns of compensation cost recognition, as well as the fair value of the Company's common stock issued pursuant to the 2016 Plan. Upon the completion of the IPO in the second quarter of 2019, this contractual put right was terminated and these awards are no longer presented as temporary equity. As a result, the balance in temporary equity as of immediately prior to the IPO of $351.2 million was reclassified to additional paid in capital. Refer to Note 11 for more information.

On February 12, 2019, the Company’s stockholders also approved the adoption of an amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the "IPO Certificate") and amended and restated bylaws. The IPO Certificate provides for two classes of common stock: Class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and Class B common stock, par value $0.001 per share. All common stock outstanding at the time of the IPO converted automatically into Class B common stock, each having ten votes per share. Shares of Class A common stock, each having one vote per share, were sold in the IPO. Shares of Class B common stock sold by selling stockholders in the IPO automatically converted into shares of Class A common stock in connection with such sale. Holders of Class B common stock can voluntarily convert their shares into Class A common stock if and when they wish to do so in order to sell their shares to the public.

On February 12, 2019, the Company’s stockholders approved the Company's 2019 Equity Incentive Plan (the "2019 Plan") and the Company's 2019 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "2019 ESPP"), each of which became effective on March 20, 2019, the effective date of the IPO registration statement. The maximum number of shares of the Company’s Class A common stock that may be issued under the 2019 Plan is 40,000,000. The 2019 ESPP authorizes the issuance of 12,000,000 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock and is subject to automatic annual increases.

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.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are stated at fair value.

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

The Company records all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value, which are included in "Other current assets", "Other non-current assets", "Other accrued liabilities" or "Other long-term liabilities" on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The portion of the fair value that represents cash flow occurring within one year are classified as current and the portion related to cash flows occurring beyond one year are classified as non-current. The cash flows from the designated derivative instruments used as hedges are classified in the Company's consolidated statements of cash flows in the same section as the cash flows of the hedged item.

Cash Flow Hedges

The Company's cash flow hedges are recorded in "Other comprehensive income" and are not reclassified to earnings until the related net investment position has been liquidated. For foreign exchange forward contracts accounted for as cash flow hedges, the ineffective portion (if any) will not be separately recorded. The classification of effective hedge results on the Company's consolidated statements of income is the same as that of the underlying exposure. For foreign exchange risk cash flow hedges, forward points are excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness and are recognized in "Net Revenues" or "Costs of goods sold" on a straight-line basis over the life of the contract. In each accounting period, differences between the change in fair value of the forward points and the amount recognized on a straight-line basis is recognized in "Other comprehensive income".

Net Investment Hedges

The Company designates certain non-derivative instruments as net investment hedges to hedge the Company's net investment position in certain of its foreign subsidiaries. For these instruments, the Company documents the hedge designation by identifying the hedging instrument, the nature of the risk being hedged and the approach for measuring hedge effectiveness. The ineffective portions of these hedges are recorded in "Other income (expense), net" in the Company's consolidated statements of income. The effective portions of these hedges are recorded in "Accumulated other comprehensive loss" on the Company's consolidated balance sheets and are not reclassified to earnings until the related net investment position has been liquidated.

No Hedging Designation

The Company may also enter into derivative instruments that are not designated as hedges and do not qualify for hedge accounting. For derivatives not designated for hedge accounting, changes in the fair value are recorded in "Other expense, net" in the Company’s consolidated statements of income.

The Company's foreign currency management objective is to minimize the effect of fluctuations in foreign exchange rates on nonfunctional currency cash flows and selected assets or liabilities without exposing the Company to additional risk associated with transactions that could be regarded as speculative. The Company manages certain forecasted foreign currency exposures and uses a centralized currency management operation to take advantage of potential opportunities to naturally offset foreign currency exposures against each other.

Accounts Receivable, Net

The Company extends credit to its customers that satisfy pre-defined credit criteria. Accounts receivable are recorded net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company estimates the allowance for doubtful accounts based upon an analysis of the aging of accounts receivable at the date of the consolidated financial statements, assessments of collectability based on historic trends, customer-specific circumstances, and an evaluation of economic conditions. Actual write-off of receivables may differ from estimates due to changes in customer and economic circumstances.

Inventory Valuation

The Company values inventories at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Inventory cost is determined using the first-in first-out method. The Company includes product costs, labor and related overhead, inbound freight, internal transfers, and the cost of operating its remaining manufacturing facilities, including the related depreciation expense, in the cost of inventories. The Company estimates quantities of slow-moving and obsolete inventory, by reviewing on-hand quantities, outstanding purchase obligations and forecasted sales. The Company determines inventory net realizable value by estimating expected selling prices based on the Company's historical recovery rates for slow-moving and obsolete inventory and other factors, such as market conditions, expected channel of distribution and current consumer preferences.

Income Tax

Significant judgment is required in determining the Company's worldwide income tax provision. In the ordinary course of a global business, there are many transactions and calculations where the ultimate tax outcome is uncertain. Some of these uncertainties arise from examinations in various jurisdictions and assumptions and estimates used in evaluating the need for valuation allowances.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "Tax Act") was enacted in the United States on December 22, 2017 and includes, among other items, a reduction in the federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% and a deemed repatriation of foreign earnings. The Company is required to recognize the effect of the tax law changes in the period of enactment, such as determining the transition tax, remeasuring the Company's U.S. deferred tax assets and liabilities and reassessing the net realizability of the Company's deferred tax assets and liabilities.

The Company is subject to income taxes in both the United States and numerous foreign jurisdictions. The Company computes its provision for income taxes using the asset and liability method, under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and for operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. All deferred income taxes are classified as non-current on the Company's consolidated balance sheets. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the currently enacted tax rates that are expected to apply to taxable income for the years in which those tax assets and liabilities are expected to be realized or settled. Significant judgments are required in order to determine the realizability of these deferred tax assets. In assessing the need for a valuation allowance, the Company's management evaluates all significant available positive and negative evidence, including historical operating results, estimates of future taxable income and the existence of prudent and feasible tax planning strategies.

The Company continuously reviews issues raised in connection with all ongoing examinations and open tax years to evaluate the adequacy of its tax liabilities. The Company evaluates uncertain tax positions under a two-step approach. The first step is to evaluate the uncertain tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination based on its technical merits. The second step, for those positions that meet the recognition criteria, is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than fifty percent likely to be realized. The Company believes that its recorded tax liabilities are adequate to cover all open tax years based on its assessment. This assessment relies on estimates and assumptions and involves significant judgments about future events. To the extent that the Company's view as to the outcome of these matters change, the Company will adjust income tax expense in the period in which such determination is made. The Company classifies interest and penalties related to income taxes as income tax expense.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are carried at cost, less accumulated depreciation. The cost is depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. Costs relating to internal-use software development are capitalized when incurred during the application development phase. Buildings are depreciated over 20 to 40 years, and leasehold improvements are depreciated over the lesser of the life of the improvement or the initial lease term. Buildings and leasehold improvements includes build-to-suit assets related to the construction of a building or leasehold improvement (generally on property owned by the landlord) when the Company concludes it has substantially all of the risks of ownership during construction of a leased property and therefore is deemed the owner of the project. Accordingly, the Company recorded an asset representing the total costs of the buildings and improvements, including the costs paid by the lessor (the legal owner of the buildings), with corresponding liabilities. Upon completion of construction of each building, the Company did not meet the sale-leaseback criteria for de-recognition of the building assets and liabilities. Therefore the leases are accounted for as lease financing obligations. See Note 13 "Commitments and Contingencies". The related financing obligation is recorded in "other long-term liabilities". Machinery and equipment includes furniture and fixtures, automobiles and trucks, and networking communication equipment, and is depreciated over a range from three to 20 years. Capitalized internal-use software is depreciated over periods ranging from three to seven years.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill resulted primarily from a 1985 acquisition of the Company by Levi Strauss Associates Inc., a former parent company that was subsequently merged into the Company in 1996, and the Company's 2009 acquisitions. Goodwill is not amortized. Intangible assets are comprised of owned trademarks with indefinite useful lives which are not amortized and acquired contractual rights.

Impairment

The Company reviews its goodwill and other non-amortized intangible assets for impairment annually in the fourth quarter of its fiscal year, or more frequently as warranted by events or changes in circumstances which indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. The Company qualitatively assesses goodwill and non-amortized intangible assets to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit or other non-amortized intangible asset is less than its carrying amount. During 2019, 2018 and 2017, the Company performed this analysis by examining key events and circumstances affecting fair value and determined it is more likely than not that the reporting unit's fair value is greater than its carrying amount. As such, no further analysis was required for purposes of testing of the Company’s goodwill or other non-amortized intangible asset for impairment.

If goodwill is not qualitatively assessed or if goodwill is qualitatively assessed and it is determined it is not more likely than not that the reporting unit's fair value is greater than its carrying amount, a two-step quantitative approach is utilized. In the first step, the Company compares the carrying value of the reporting unit or applicable asset to its fair value, which the Company estimates using a discounted cash flow analysis or by comparison with the market values of similar assets. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit or asset exceeds its estimated fair value, the Company performs the second step, and determines the impairment loss, if any, as the excess of the carrying value of the goodwill or intangible asset over its fair value.

The Company reviews its other long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds the expected future undiscounted cash flows, the Company measures and records an impairment loss for the excess of the carrying value of the asset over its fair value.

To determine the fair value of impaired assets, the Company utilizes the valuation technique or techniques deemed most appropriate based on the nature of the impaired asset and the data available, which may include the use of quoted market prices, prices for similar assets or other valuation techniques such as discounted future cash flows or earnings.

Debt Issuance Costs

The Company capitalizes debt issuance costs on its senior revolving credit facility, which are included in "Other non-current assets" on the Company's consolidated balance sheets. Capitalized debt issuance costs on the Company's unsecured long-term debt are presented as a reduction to the debt outstanding on the Company's consolidated balance sheets. The unsecured long-term debt issuance costs are generally amortized utilizing the effective interest method whereas the senior revolving credit facility issuance costs are amortized utilizing the straight-line method. Amortization of debt issuance costs is included in "Interest expense" in the consolidated statements of income.

Deferred Rent

The Company is obligated under operating leases of property for manufacturing, finishing and distribution facilities, office space, retail stores and equipment. Rental expense relating to operating leases are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term after consideration of lease incentives and scheduled rent escalations beginning as of the date the Company takes physical possession or control of the property. Differences between rental expense and actual rental payments are recorded as deferred rent liabilities included in "Other accrued liabilities" and "Other long-term liabilities" on the consolidated balance sheets.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The fair values of the Company's financial instruments reflect the amounts that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price). The fair value estimates presented in these financial statements are based on information available to the Company as of November 24, 2019 and November 25, 2018.

The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables and short-term borrowings approximate fair value since they are short term in nature. The Company has estimated the fair value of its other financial instruments using the market and income approaches. Rabbi trust assets and forward foreign exchange contracts are carried at their fair values. The Company's debt instruments are carried at historical cost and adjusted for amortization of premiums, discounts, or deferred financing costs, foreign currency fluctuations and principal payments.

Pension and Postretirement Benefits

The Company has several non-contributory defined benefit retirement plans covering eligible employees. The Company also provides certain health care benefits for U.S. employees who meet age, participation and length of service requirements at retirement. In addition, the Company sponsors other retirement or post-employment plans for its foreign employees in accordance with local government programs and requirements. The Company retains the right to amend, curtail or discontinue any aspect of the plans, subject to local regulations.

The Company recognizes either an asset or a liability for any plan's funded status in its consolidated balance sheets. The Company measures changes in funded status using actuarial models which utilize an attribution approach that generally spreads individual events over the estimated service lives of the remaining employees in the plan. For plans where participants will not earn additional benefits by rendering future service, which includes the Company's U.S. plans, individual events are spread over the plan participants' estimated remaining lives. The Company's policy is to fund its retirement plans based upon actuarial recommendations and in accordance with applicable laws, income tax regulations and credit agreements. Net pension and postretirement benefit income or expense is generally determined using assumptions which include expected long-term rates of return on plan assets, discount rates, compensation rate increases and medical and mortality trend rates. The Company considers several factors including historical rates, expected rates and external data to determine the assumptions used in the actuarial models.

Employee Incentive Compensation

The Company maintains short-term and long-term employee incentive compensation plans. Provisions for employee incentive compensation are recorded in "Accrued salaries, wages and employee benefits" and "Long-term employee related benefits" on the Company's consolidated balance sheets. The Company accrues the related compensation expense over the period of the plan and changes in the liabilities for these incentive plans generally correlate with the Company's financial results and projected future financial performance.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company has stock-based incentive plans which allow for the issuance of cash or equity-settled awards to certain employees and non-employee directors. The Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense for share-based awards that are classified as equity based on the grant date fair value of the awards over the requisite service period, adjusted for estimated forfeitures. The cash-settled awards are classified as liabilities and stock-based compensation expense is measured using fair value at the end of each reporting period until settlement.

As of November 24, 2019, the fair value of the shares of the Company's common stock has been determined on market prices. Prior to the IPO, on March 19, 2019, the fair value of the common stock was determined by the Company's board of directors (the "Board"). As there was no public market for the Company’s common stock, the Board determined the fair value of the common stock on the stock option grant date by considering a number of objective and subjective factors, including third-party valuations of the common stock, comparisons of the Company's financial results against selected publicly-traded companies and application of a discount for the illiquidity of the stock to derive the fair value of the stock.

For stock appreciation rights that are classified as equity, the Company uses the Black-Scholes valuation model to estimate the grant date fair value. The grant date fair value of equity-classified restricted stock units that are not subject to a market condition, is based on the fair value of the Company's common stock on the date of grant, adjusted to reflect the absence of dividends for those awards that are not entitled to dividend equivalents. For restricted stock units that include a market condition, the Company uses a Monte Carlo simulation valuation model to estimate the grant date fair value. For share-based awards that are classified as liabilities, the fair value of the awards is estimated using the intrinsic value method, which is based on the Company's common stock fair value on each measurement date.

The Black-Scholes option pricing model and the Monte Carlo simulation model require the input of highly subjective assumptions including volatility. The computation of expected volatility is based on the average of the historical and implied volatilities over the expected life of the awards, of a representative peer group of publicly-traded entities. Other assumptions include expected life, risk-free rate of interest and dividend yield. For equity awards with a service condition, the expected life is derived based on historical experience and expected future post-vesting termination and exercise patterns. For equity awards with a performance condition, the expected life is computed using the simplified method until historical experience is available. The risk-free interest rate is based on zero coupon U.S. Treasury bond rates corresponding to the expected life of the awards. Dividend assumptions are based on historical experience.

Due to the job function of the award recipients, the Company has included stock-based compensation cost in "Selling, general and administrative expenses" in the consolidated statements of income.

Self-Insurance

Up to certain limits, the Company self-insures various loss exposures primarily relating to workers' compensation risk and employee and eligible retiree medical health benefits. The Company carries insurance policies covering claim exposures which exceed predefined amounts, per occurrence and/or in the aggregate. Accruals for losses are made based on the Company's claims experience and actuarial assumptions followed in the insurance industry, including provisions for incurred but not reported losses.

Foreign Currency

The functional currency for most of the Company's foreign operations is the applicable local currency. For those operations, assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. Dollars using period-end exchange rates; income and expenses are translated at average monthly exchange rates; and equity accounts are translated at historical rates. Net changes resulting from such translations are recorded as a component of translation adjustments in "Accumulated other comprehensive loss" on the Company's consolidated balance sheets.

Foreign currency transactions are transactions denominated in a currency other than the entity's functional currency. At each balance sheet date, each entity remeasures the recorded balances related to foreign-currency transactions using the period-end exchange rate. Unrealized gains or losses arising from the remeasurement of these balances are recorded in "Other income (expense), net" in the Company's consolidated statements of income. In addition, at the settlement date of foreign currency transactions, the realized foreign currency gains or losses are recorded in "Other income (expense), net" in the Company's consolidated statements of income to reflect the difference between the rate effective at the settlement date and the historical rate at which the transaction was originally recorded.

Noncontrolling Interest

Noncontrolling interest includes a 16.4% minority interest of third parties in Levi Strauss Japan K.K., the Company's Japanese subsidiary ("LSJKK").

On January 9, 2020, the Company completed its all cash tender offer for the acquisition of the remaining 16.4% minority interest shares of Levi Strauss Japan common stock at a purchase price of ¥1,570 per share for a total purchase price of $13.6 million US dollars, plus transaction costs. As a result, Levi Strauss Japan has become a wholly owned subsidiary.

Revenue Recognition

Net sales includes sales within the wholesale and direct-to-consumer channels. Wholesale channel revenues includes sales to third-party retailers such as department stores, specialty retailers, third-party e-commerce sites and franchise locations dedicated to the Company's brands. The Company also sells products directly to consumers, which are reflected in the direct-to-consumer ("DTC") channel, through a variety of formats, including company-operated mainline and outlet stores, company-operated e-commerce sites and select shop-in-shops located in department stores and other third-party retail locations.

Revenue transactions generally comprise of a single performance obligation which consists of the sale of products to customers either through wholesale or direct-to-consumer channels. The Company satisfies the performance obligation and records revenues when transfer of control has passed to the customer, based on the terms of sale. Transfer of control passes to wholesale customers upon shipment or upon receipt depending on the agreement with the customer. Within the Company's DTC channel, control generally transfers to the customer at the time of sale within company-operated retail stores and upon delivery to the customer with respect to e-commerce transactions.

Licensing revenues are included in the Company's wholesale channel and represent approximately 2% of total revenues which are recognized over time based on the contractual term with variable amounts recognized only when royalties exceed contractual minimum royalty guarantees.

Payment terms for wholesale transactions depend on the country of sale or agreement with the customer, and payment is generally required after shipment or receipt by the wholesale customer. Payment is due at the time of sale for retail store and e-commerce transactions.

Net sales to the Company's ten largest customers totaled 26%, 27% and 28% of net revenues for 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. No customer represented 10% or more of net revenues in any of these years.

Cost of Goods Sold

Cost of goods sold includes the expenses incurred to acquire and produce inventory for sale, including product costs, labor and related overhead, inbound freight, internal transfers, and the cost of operating the Company's remaining manufacturing facilities, including the related depreciation expense.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A") are primarily comprised of costs relating to advertising, marketing, selling, distribution, information technology and other corporate functions. Selling costs include, among other things, all occupancy costs associated with company-operated stores and with the Company's company-operated shop-in-shops located within department stores. The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred. For 2019, 2018 and 2017, total advertising expense was $399.3 million, $400.3 million and $323.3 million, respectively. Distribution costs include costs related to receiving and inspection at distribution centers, warehousing, shipping to the Company's customers, handling and certain other activities associated with the Company's distribution network. These expenses totaled $227.4 million, $208.8 million, and $173.4 million for 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Changes in Accounting Principles

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In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standard Update ("ASU") 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). ASU 2014-09 outlines a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers. Under the new standard and its related amendments (collectively known as Accounting Standards Codification 606 ("ASC 606"), an entity recognizes revenue when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration which the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. Enhanced disclosures are required regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers.

The Company has identified certain changes in balance sheet classification under ASC 606. Allowances for estimated returns, discounts and retailer promotions and other similar incentives are presented as other accrued liabilities rather than netted within accounts receivable and the estimated cost of inventory associated with allowances for estimated returns are included as other current assets rather than inventories. The Company adopted the standard as of November 26, 2018 using the modified retrospective approach and determined there is no impact to retained earnings upon adoption. Refer to Note 16 for more information.

The following table presents the related effect of the adoption of Topic 606 on the Consolidated Balance Sheets:



	November 24, 2019
	As Reported		Remove Effect of Adoption			Balances Without Adoption of Topic 606
	(Dollars in thousands)
Trade receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts	$	782,846	$	171,113		$	611,733
Inventories: Finished goods	875,944		(16,444		)	892,388
Other current assets	188,170		16,444			171,726
Total current assets	2,870,186		171,113			2,699,073
Total assets	4,232,418		171,113			4,061,305
Accrued sales allowances	123,311		123,311			—
Other accrued liabilities	423,174		47,802			375,372
Total current liabilities	1,167,204		171,113			996,091
Total liabilities, temporary equity and stockholders' equity	$	4,232,418	$	171,113		$	4,061,305

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In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash, which requires that restricted cash be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown in the statement of cash flows. Restricted cash is reported in Other non-current assets in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company adopted this standard in the first quarter of 2019, and other than the change in presentation within the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, the adoption of ASU 2016-18 did not have an impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

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In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Compensation-Retirement Benefits (Topic 715) Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. ASU 2017-07 changes the income statement presentation of net periodic benefit costs requiring separation between operating expense (service cost component) and non-operating expense (all other components, including interest cost, expected return on plan assets, amortization of prior service costs or credits, curtailments and settlements, actuarial gains and losses, etc.). Accordingly, the Company determined this impacts the Company's Consolidated Statements of Income, as the service cost components of net periodic benefit costs are reported within operating income and the other components of net periodic benefit costs are reported in the Other Income (Expense), Net line item. The presentation change in the Consolidated Statements of Income requires application on a retrospective basis. A practical expedient is permitted under the guidance which allows the Company to use information previously disclosed in the pension and other postretirement benefit plans footnote as the basis to apply the retrospective presentation requirements. As a result of the Company's adoption of this standard, other components of net periodic benefit costs, primarily interest costs and investment earnings, of $15.9 million, $3.4 million and $12.9 million for the year ended November 24, 2019, November 25, 2018 and November 26, 2017, respectively, were included in Other Income (Expense), Net line item rather than SG&A expenses in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Income.

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In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815) Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities. ASU 2017-12 refines and expands hedge accounting for both financial and commodity risks. This ASU creates more transparency around how economic results are presented, both on the face of the financial statements and in the footnotes. In addition, this ASU makes certain targeted improvements to simplify the application of hedge accounting guidance. The Company adopted this standard during the first quarter of 2019 upon entering into foreign exchange risk contracts designated as hedges.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

The following recently issued accounting standards, all of which are FASB Accounting Standards Updates ("ASU"), have been grouped by their required effective dates for the Company:

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 12-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 and interest expense for financing leases. The Company has identified leases for real estate, personal property and other arrangements. The new standard is required to be applied using a modified retrospective approach with two adoption methods permissible. The Company will elect the transition method that applies the new lease standard at the adoption date instead of the earliest period presented. The Company will elect the practical expedient to not separate lease components from nonlease components for all leases. Additionally, the Company will make an accounting policy election to keep leases with an initial 12-month term or less off of the balance sheet and recognize these lease payments within the consolidated statements of income on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. The Company will elect the package of transition practical expedients which would allow the Company to carry forward prior conclusions related to: (i) whether any expired or existing contracts contain leases, (ii) the lease classification for any expired or existing leases and (iii) initial direct costs for existing leases. Based on our preliminary assessment, the Company anticipates upon adoption to recognize $1.0 billion to $1.2 billion of total operating lease liabilities and $0.9 billion to $1.1 billion of operating lease right-of-use assets, as well as remove $50 million to $60 million of existing deferred rent liabilities, which will be recorded as an offset against the right-of-use assets. In addition, the Company expects to remove $40 million to $50 million and $50 million to $60 million of existing assets and liabilities related to build-to-suit lease arrangements, respectively. The difference of nil to $20 million is expected to be recognized as the cumulative effect in retained earnings as of the date of initial application of the new lease standard.

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In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220). ASU 2018-02 addresses certain stranded income tax effects in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) resulting from the Tax Act enacted on December 22, 2017. The guidance will be effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2020. The Company estimates the accumulated adjustment to retained earnings will be $50 million to $60 million with an offsetting adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) upon adoption.

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.

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In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40). ASU 2018-15 aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal-use software license). The guidance provides criteria for determining which implementation costs to capitalize as an asset related to the service contract and which costs to expense. The capitalized implementation costs are required to be expensed over the term of the hosting arrangement. The guidance also clarifies the presentation requirements for reporting such costs in the entity’s financial statements. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that adopting this new accounting standard will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Fourth Quarter of 2021

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In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-14, Compensation - Retirement Benefits - Defined Benefit Plans - General (Subtopic 715-20). ASU 2018-14 modifies the disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other postretirement plans. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that adopting this new accounting standard will have on its related disclosures.