Levi Strauss & Co. Announces Third-Quarter 2009 Financial Results

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20091008006015/en

* Levi`s Brand Global Revenue Up in Constant Currency
* Company Completes Strategic Business Acquisitions

SAN FRANCISCO--(Business Wire)--
Levi Strauss & Co. (LS&Co.) today announced financial results for the third
quarter ended August 30, 2009 and filed its third-quarter 2009 results on Form
10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Highlights include:

Three Months Ended % (Decrease)
($ millions) August 30, 2009 August 24, 2008 As Reported
Net revenues $ 1,040 $ 1,111 (6 )%
Net income $ 41 $ 69 (41 )%

The company`s reported results reflected the challenging global economy and the
adverse effect of currency exchange rates compared to the prior year. Net
revenues declined 6 percent for the quarter. On a constant currency basis, net
revenues decreased 2 percent. Global revenues for the Levi`s brand increased on
a constant currency basis compared to the same period last year.

The company reported a liquidity position of approximately $386 million of cash,
cash equivalents and availability under its credit facility. The company`s cash
position reflected operating cash flows of $15 million in the quarter.

"It was a productive quarter in light of the tough market conditions worldwide,"
said John Anderson, president and chief executive officer. "We invested in our
business by completing two acquisitions during the past three months. We are
effectively managing our balance sheet and controlling costs. And sales of the
Levi`s brand improved. Our teams are focused on strategies that we believe will
build our brands, strengthen our competitiveness and drive future growth. This
includes expanding our retail operations and further leveraging the efficiencies
and diversity of our global footprint. We`ll also concentrate our investments in
the geographic markets that offer the greatest potential for return, and on
market-leading innovations that will create great new products."

Third-Quarter 2009 Highlights

* Gross profit in the third quarter decreased to $494 million compared to $532
million for the same period in 2008, primarily due to the effect of currencies.
Gross margin for the quarter was essentially flat at 47.5 percent compared with
47.9 percent in the same quarter of 2008.
* Selling, general and administrative expenses for the third quarter increased
to $396 million from $389 million in the same period last year. Higher selling
costs associated with additional company-operated stores and higher
administration expense related to pension and acquisitions costs were largely
offset by lower distribution and advertising & promotion costs.
* Operating income for the third quarter decreased to $98 million compared to
$144 million for the same period of 2008, largely due to continued costs of
retail expansion and unfavorable currency impact.

Regional Overview

Regional net revenues for the quarter were as follows:

% Increase (Decrease)
Net Revenues ($ millions) August 30, 2009 August 24, 2008 As Reported Constant Currency
Americas $ 616 $ 649 (5 )% (3 )%
Europe $ 266 $ 306 (13 )% (2 )%
Asia Pacific $ 158 $ 156 2 % 4 %

* The decrease in net revenues in the Americas region reflected the weak
economic environment, including the impact of lower demand for men`s casual
pants in our Dockers brand and lower sales of Signature products. These were
partially offset by increased Levi`s brand sales and additional retail revenues
from the company`s expanding retail network, including 73 U.S. outlet stores
acquired during the period.

* Net revenues in Europe decreased primarily due to the unfavorable impact of
currency and the region`s weak retail environment. Excluding the effect of
currency, lower revenues mostly reflected the declining performance of Levi`s
Red Tab products for women in the wholesale channel. The decline was partially
offset by increased sales from the company`s expanding retail network.
* The increase in net revenues in Asia Pacific was driven by increased product
promotions and continued retail store expansion, particularly in India and
China. The revenue improvements were partially offset by declines in wholesale
channel sales in some mature markets, particularly in Japan, where weak consumer
spending and a consumer shift to lower-priced retailers continued.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

The company ended the third quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $172
million and available liquidity of $214 million under the company`s credit
facility. During the period, the company made business acquisitions in its
Americas and Europe regions. Cash provided by operating activities was $174
million for the nine-month period, compared with $151 million for the same
period in 2008. Net debt at the end of the quarter was $1.7 billion compared to
$1.8 billion at the end of the third quarter of 2008.

Investor Conference Call

The company`s third-quarter 2009 investor conference call will be available
through a live audio Webcast at
www.levistrauss.com/Financials/EarningsWebcasts.aspx today, October 8, 2009, at
1 p.m. PDT/4 p.m. EDT. A replay is available on the Web site the same day and
will be archived for one month. A telephone replay also is available through
October 15, 2009 at 800-642-1687 in the United States and Canada, or
706-645-9291 internationally; I.D. No. 32536181.

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," "will," "so we can," "when," "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 2008, especially in the "Management`s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Risk Factors" sections, our
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

(Unaudited)
August 30, November 30,
2009 2008
ASSETS (Dollars in thousands)
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 171,736 $ 210,812
Restricted cash 3,047 2,664
Trade receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $20,933 and $16,886 501,800 546,474
Inventories:
Raw materials 7,119 15,895
Work-in-process 8,615 8,867
Finished goods 511,151 517,912
Total inventories 526,885 542,674
Deferred tax assets, net 115,872 114,123
Other current assets 109,046 88,527
Total current assets 1,428,386 1,505,274
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $652,278 and $596,967 416,725 411,908
Goodwill 244,516 204,663
Other intangible assets, net 105,537 42,774
Non-current deferred tax assets, net 540,392 526,069
Other assets 88,506 86,187
Total assets $ 2,824,062 $ 2,776,875

LIABILITIES, TEMPORARY EQUITY AND STOCKHOLDERS` DEFICIT
Current Liabilities:
Short-term borrowings $ 34,578 $ 20,339
Current maturities of long-term debt 17,719 70,875
Current maturities of capital leases 1,768 1,623
Accounts payable 195,370 203,207
Restructuring liabilities 2,109 2,428
Other accrued liabilities 235,748 251,720
Accrued salaries, wages and employee benefits 168,706 194,289
Accrued interest payable 35,762 29,240
Accrued income taxes 16,235 17,909
Total current liabilities 707,995 791,630
Long-term debt 1,801,700 1,761,993
Long-term capital leases 5,765 6,183
Postretirement medical benefits 124,234 130,223
Pension liability 252,875 240,701
Long-term employee related benefits 100,057 87,704
Long-term income tax liabilities 55,819 42,794
Other long-term liabilities 44,784 46,590
Minority interest and related liability 37,793 17,982
Total liabilities 3,131,022 3,125,800

Commitments and contingencies (Note 8)
Temporary equity 1,146 592

Stockholders' Deficit:
Common stock - $.01 par value; 270,000,000 shares authorized; 37,284,741 shares issued and outstanding 373 373
Additional paid-in capital 38,242 53,057
Accumulated deficit (190,387 ) (275,032 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (156,334 ) (127,915 )
Total stockholders' deficit (308,106 ) (349,517 )
Total liabilities, temporary equity and stockholders' deficit $ 2,824,062 $ 2,776,875

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

LEVI STRAUSS & CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
August 30, August 24, August 30, August 24,
2009 2008 2009 2008
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

Net sales $ 1,021,829 $ 1,088,384 $ 2,839,602 $ 3,064,394
Licensing revenue 18,571 22,409 56,780 65,604
Net revenues 1,040,400 1,110,793 2,896,382 3,129,998
Cost of goods sold 545,985 578,294 1,541,469 1,614,901
Gross profit 494,415 532,499 1,354,913 1,515,097
Selling, general and administrative expenses 396,041 388,606 1,094,390 1,132,899
Operating income 98,374 143,893 260,523 382,198
Interest expense (37,931 ) (37,305 ) (112,648 ) (119,055 )
Other income (expense), net (6,393 ) 14,317 (23,801 ) 8,600
Income before income taxes 54,050 120,905 124,074 271,743
Income tax expense 13,347 51,740 39,430 104,770
Net income $ 40,703 $ 69,165 $ 84,644 $ 166,973

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

LEVI STRAUSS & CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Nine Months Ended
August 30, August 24,
2009 2008
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income $ 84,644 $ 166,973
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 58,379 56,925
Asset impairments 1,720 1,840
Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment 171 107
Unrealized foreign exchange losses (gains) 8,716 (9,715 )
Realized loss on settlement of forward foreign exchange contracts not designated for hedge accounting 29,776 5,478
Employee benefit plans' amortization from accumulated other comprehensive loss (14,891 ) (26,195 )
Employee benefit plans' curtailment gain, net (2,108 ) (3,946 )
Write-off of unamortized costs associated with early extinguishment of debt - 394
Amortization of deferred debt issuance costs 3,225 2,966
Stock-based compensation 5,739 5,219
Allowance for doubtful accounts 6,721 8,879
Change in operating assets and liabilities (excluding assets and liabilities acquired):
Trade receivables 67,088 55,163
Inventories 31,345 (102,451 )
Other current assets (4,265 ) (40,635 )
Other non-current assets 7,636 (5,884 )
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities (81,077 ) 40,712
Income tax liabilities (8,280 ) 54,505
Restructuring liabilities (1,675 ) (3,936 )
Accrued salaries, wages and employee benefits (38,172 ) (36,838 )
Long-term employee related benefits 23,491 (18,242 )
Other long-term liabilities (5,071 ) 721
Other, net 784 (1,284 )
Net cash provided by operating activities 173,896 150,756
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment (46,016 ) (57,415 )
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 905 907
Payments on settlement of forward foreign exchange contracts not designated for hedge accounting (29,776 ) (5,478 )
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired (80,921 ) (649 )
Net cash used for investing activities (155,808 ) (62,635 )
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Repayments of long-term debt and capital leases (54,632 ) (77,002 )
Short-term borrowings, net 8,224 10,784
Debt issuance costs - (395 )
Restricted cash (81 ) (1,172 )
Dividends to minority interest shareholders of Levi Strauss Japan K.K. (978 ) (1,114 )
Dividend to stockholders (20,001 ) (49,953 )
Net cash used for financing activities (67,468 ) (118,852 )
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 10,304 (431 )
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (39,076 ) (31,162 )
Beginning cash and cash equivalents 210,812 155,914
Ending cash and cash equivalents $ 171,736 $ 124,752

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid during the period for:
Interest $ 92,439 $ 110,110
Income taxes 41,544 45,575

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

Levi Strauss & Co.
Roger Fleischmann, 800-438-0349 (Investors)
rfleischmann@levi.com
Jeff Beckman, 415-501-7777 (Media)
jbeckman@levi.com

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