EX-99.1 2 dex991.htm PRESS RELEASE, DATED OCTOBER 11, 2005 Press Release, dated October 11, 2005

Exhibit 99.1

 

LEVI        

1155 Battery Street, San Francisco, CA 94111

STRAUSS          
    & Co.          
NEWS          
    

Investor Contact:

  

Allison Malkin

         

Integrated Corporate Relations, Inc.

         

(203) 682-8200

    

Media Contact:

  

Jeff Beckman

         

Levi Strauss & Co.

         

(415) 501-3317

 

LEVI STRAUSS & CO. ANNOUNCES THIRD-QUARTER FINANCIAL RESULTS

 

SAN FRANCISCO (October 11, 2005) – Levi Strauss & Co. (LS&CO.) today announced financial results for the third quarter ended August 28, 2005 and filed its third-quarter 2005 Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The results reflect modest net sales growth and good profit performance for the period.

 

Third-quarter 2005 net sales were $1.02 billion compared to $995 million for the third quarter of 2004, representing an increase of 2.4 percent on a reported basis and 1.8 percent on a constant-currency basis. The sales increase was driven primarily by increased net sales in the Asia Pacific region, the U.S. Levi’s® brand and the U.S. Levi Strauss Signature® brand. These gains were partially offset by lower sales in the European region and the U.S. Dockers® brand.

 

Operating income increased 9 percent to $139 million for the third quarter, or 14 percent of net sales, compared to $128 million, or 13 percent of net sales, for the same period of 2004. The improvement reflects lower restructuring charges and other corporate expense. Net income for the third quarter decreased $8 million to $38 million compared to net income of $47 million in the same quarter of 2004. The decrease was driven by lower income tax expense in the third quarter of 2004 as a result of a tax-rate benefit.

 

“We had another good quarter, consistent with our goals for this year,” said Phil Marineau, chief executive officer. “We delivered modest sales growth and strong margins and operating profit in a difficult retail environment. I’m pleased with the revenue growth in Asia Pacific and in the U.S. Levi’s® and Levi Strauss Signature® brands. Our revenue performance in Europe is weaker than we had hoped, but we continue to see profit improvements and believe we’re on the right strategic course. For the balance of the year, we remain cautious about sales in the United States and Europe in light of energy prices and the retail environment.”

 

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LS&CO. Q3 2005 Results/Add One

October 11, 2005

 

Third-Quarter 2005 Results

 

    Gross profit was essentially flat at $454 million compared to $456 million in the third quarter of 2004. The gross margin decreased 130 basis points to 44.6 percent of net sales for the third quarter compared to 45.9 percent of net sales in the same quarter last year. The gross margin in the third quarter of 2005 was primarily affected by a higher sales mix of lower-margin fashion and seasonal products in the United States, partially offset by a net sales increase for the Levi’s® brand in the United States, a net sales increase for Asia Pacific, and the more premium positioning of the Levi’s® brand in Europe.

 

    Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses increased $19 million or 6 percent to $320 million in the third quarter of 2005 from $301 million in same period of 2004. Higher SG&A expenses were primarily attributable to an increase in advertising and promotion expense and higher incentive compensation costs. These were partially offset by lower salary and wages and related expenses as well as decreased distribution costs, reflecting the impact of cost-savings initiatives. As a percent of sales, SG&A expenses were 31 percent in the third quarter of 2005 compared to 30 percent in the same period of 2004.

 

    Restructuring charges, net of reversals, were $5 million for the third quarter of 2005 versus $28 million in the prior-year period. The 2005 charges were for third-quarter 2005 activities related primarily to European reorganization initiatives that began last year, including moving the Dockers® brand operation to Brussels from Amsterdam. The substantially higher 2004 charges primarily reflected costs related to the 2004 closure of two manufacturing plants in Spain and 2004 U.S. and European organizational changes.

 

    Other operating income increased in the third quarter of 2005, driven primarily by a $5 million increase in royalty income from licensees. Royalty income was $16 million for the 2005 quarter, compared to $12 million in the same period last year. The increase reflects the company’s decision last year to license certain product categories.

 

    Income tax expense for the third quarter was $40 million compared to $18 million in the comparable 2004 period. The effective tax rate for the third quarter of 2004 was significantly lower due primarily to a revision in the estimate of annual earnings for domestic and foreign subsidiaries.

 

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LS&CO. Q3 2005 Results/Add Two

October 11, 2005

 

“We have improved our financial strength this year, delivering stronger profitability through the first nine months of the year,” said Hans Ploos van Amstel, chief financial officer. “Our improved earning power has allowed us to increase our investment in product, advertising and stronger marketing, consistent with our strategy to reinvest part of our increased profits into key brand-building initiatives. This strategy is even more important in light of the current competitive environment. We’re also pleased that we completed settlement discussions in late August with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service relating to our consolidated U.S. federal corporate income tax returns for 1990 to 1999. The IRS examination of those tax years is now closed.”

 

Investor Conference Call

 

The company’s third-quarter investor conference call will be available through a live audio Webcast at http://levistrauss.com/news/webcast.htm today, October 11, 2005, at 7 a.m. PDT/10 a.m. EDT. A replay is available on the Web site the same day and will be archived for six months. A telephone replay also is available through October 25, 2005 at 800-642-1687 in the United States and Canada, or 706-645-9291 internationally; I.D. No. 9898242.

 

This news release contains, in addition to historical information, forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current assumptions, expectations and projections about future events. We use words like “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These forward-looking statements are necessarily estimates reflecting the best judgment of our senior management and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. Investors should consider the information contained in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended 2004, especially in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis - “Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Factors That May Affect Future Results” sections, our most recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and our Current Reports on Form 8-K. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could have material adverse effects on our future results, performance or achievements. In light of these risks, uncertainties, assumptions and factors, the forward-looking events discussed in this news release may not occur. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date stated, or if no date is stated, as of the date of this news release. We are not under any obligation and do not intend to make publicly available any update or other revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained in this news release to reflect circumstances existing after the date of this news release or to reflect the occurrence of future events even if experience or future events make it clear that any expected results expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements will not be realized.

 

###


LEVI STRAUSS & CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in Thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     August 28,
2005


    November 28,
2004


 
ASSETS                 

Current Assets:

                

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 210,193     $ 299,596  

Restricted cash

     2,883       1,885  

Trade receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $33,030 and $29,002

     543,616       607,679  

Inventories:

                

Raw materials

     18,417       45,271  

Work-in-process

     14,538       22,950  

Finished goods

     620,808       486,633  
    


 


Total inventories

     653,763       554,854  

Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance of $26,364

     131,491       131,491  

Other current assets

     87,648       83,599  
    


 


Total current assets

     1,629,594       1,679,104  

Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $478,731 and $486,439

     383,219       416,277  

Goodwill

     199,905       199,905  

Other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $1,063 and $720

     46,204       46,779  

Non-current deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance of $360,319

     455,303       455,303  

Other assets

     92,839       88,634  
    


 


Total assets

   $ 2,807,064     $ 2,886,002  
    


 


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT                 

Current Liabilities:

                

Current maturities of long-term debt and short-term borrowings

   $ 15,152     $ 75,165  

Current maturities of capital lease obligations

     1,533       1,587  

Accounts payable

     199,024       279,406  

Restructuring reserves

     20,873       41,995  

Accrued liabilities

     202,500       253,322  

Accrued salaries, wages and employee benefits

     226,054       293,762  

Accrued income taxes

     144,437       124,795  
    


 


Total current liabilities

     809,573       1,070,032  

Long-term debt, less current maturities

     2,333,227       2,248,723  

Long-term capital lease obligations, less current maturities

     4,404       5,854  

Post-retirement medical benefits

     468,838       493,110  

Pension liability

     203,820       217,459  

Long-term employee related benefits

     154,167       154,495  

Long-term income tax liabilities

     23,413       —    

Other long-term liabilities

     42,475       43,205  

Minority interest

     18,825       24,048  
    


 


Total liabilities

     4,058,742       4,256,926  
    


 


Commitments and contingencies (Note 7)

                

Stockholders’ deficit:

                

Common stock—$.01 par value; 270,000,000 shares authorized; 37,278,238 shares issued and outstanding

     373       373  

Additional paid-in capital

     88,808       88,808  

Accumulated deficit

     (1,242,096 )     (1,354,428 )

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (98,763 )     (105,677 )
    


 


Stockholders’ deficit

     (1,251,678 )     (1,370,924 )
    


 


Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit

   $ 2,807,064     $ 2,886,002  
    


 


 

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


LEVI STRAUSS & CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Dollars in Thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended

    Nine Months Ended

 
    

August 28,

2005


   

August 29,

2004


   

August 28,

2005


   

August 29,

2004


 

Net sales

   $ 1,018,816     $ 994,626     $ 2,968,358     $ 2,915,763  

Cost of goods sold

     564,870       538,179       1,590,328       1,638,377  
    


 


 


 


Gross profit

     453,946       456,447       1,378,030       1,277,386  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     319,872       300,540       930,950       894,964  

Long-term incentive compensation expense

     9,629       10,735       18,949       37,067  

(Gain) loss on disposal of assets

     (2,936 )     476       (5,788 )     (612 )

Other operating income

     (16,804 )     (11,593 )     (47,311 )     (29,626 )

Restructuring charges, net of reversals

     5,022       28,117       13,436       108,158  
    


 


 


 


Operating income

     139,163       128,172       467,794       267,435  

Interest expense

     63,918       64,252       198,625       197,687  

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

     39       —         66,064       —    

Other (income) expense, net

     (2,805 )     (466 )     (7,358 )     3,070  
    


 


 


 


Income before taxes

     78,011       64,386       210,463       66,678  

Income tax expense

     39,765       17,821       98,131       16,857  
    


 


 


 


Net income

   $ 38,246     $ 46,565     $ 112,332     $ 49,821  
    


 


 


 


 

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


LEVI STRAUSS & CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Dollars in Thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Nine Months Ended

 
    

August 28,

2005


   

August 29,

2004


 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

                

Net income

   $ 112,332     $ 49,821  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used for) provided by operating activities:

                

Depreciation and amortization

     44,608       45,237  

Non-cash asset write-offs associated with reorganization initiatives

     —         34,997  

Gain on disposal of assets

     (5,788 )     (612 )

Unrealized foreign exchange gains

     (3,922 )     (13,643 )

Write-off of unamortized costs associated with early extinguishment of debt

     12,473       —    

Decrease (increase) in trade receivables

     58,508       (11,699 )

(Increase) decrease in inventories

     (107,300 )     133,621  

(Increase) decrease in other current assets

     (11,724 )     13,154  

Decrease in other non-current assets

     12,658       11,617  

Decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     (130,852 )     (46,204 )

Decrease in restructuring reserves

     (19,587 )     (28,877 )

(Decrease) increase in accrued salaries, wages and employee benefits

     (64,956 )     68,447  

Increase (decrease) in income tax liabilities

     43,075       (13,345 )

Decrease in long-term employee related benefits

     (36,939 )     (95,919 )

(Decrease) increase in other long-term liabilities

     (902 )     1,034  

Other, net

     (366 )     1,572  
    


 


Net cash (used for) provided by operating activities

     (98,682 )     149,201  
    


 


Cash Flows from Investing Activities:

                

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

     (22,005 )     (10,866 )

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

     11,163       6,672  

Cash inflow from net investment hedges

     2,163       1,544  

Acquisition of Turkey minority interest

     (3,835 )     —    
    


 


Net cash used for investing activities

     (12,514 )     (2,650 )
    


 


Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

                

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

     1,031,255       —    

Repayments of long-term debt

     (979,112 )     (10,069 )

Net decrease in short-term borrowings

     (4,240 )     (2,678 )

Debt issuance costs

     (24,552 )     (2,069 )

Increase in restricted cash

     (1,067 )     (2,053 )

Other, net

     —         (996 )
    


 


Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities

     22,284       (17,865 )
    


 


Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

     (491 )     22  
    


 


Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

     (89,403 )     128,708  

Beginning cash and cash equivalents

     299,596       143,445  
    


 


Ending cash and cash equivalents

   $ 210,193     $ 272,153  
    


 


Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

                

Cash paid during the period for:

                

Interest

   $ 201,092     $ 198,807  

Income taxes

     74,137       35,564  

Restructuring initiatives

     34,924       102,188  

 

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