Levi Strauss & Co. Announces Fourth-Quarter & Fiscal-Year 2015 Financial Results

Full-year net income doubles; full-year net revenues grow in constant-currency

Full-year and fourth-quarter Adjusted EBIT grow in constant-currency

SAN FRANCISCO--()--Levi Strauss & Co. (LS&Co.) announced financial results today for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended November 29, 2015.

Highlights include:

 
  Three Months Ended   Fiscal Year Ended
November 29,   November 30, November 29,   November 30,
($ millions) 2015 2014 2015 2014
Net revenues $ 1,285 $ 1,388 $ 4,494 $ 4,754
Net income (loss) attributable to LS&Co. $ 101 $ (6 ) $ 209 $ 106
Adjusted EBIT $ 168 $ 134 $ 479 $ 504
 

On a reported basis, net revenues declined seven percent in the fourth quarter and five percent for the full year. Currency translation unfavorably impacted net revenues by $85 million in the fourth quarter and by $312 million for the full year. On a constant-currency basis, net revenues declined one percent in the fourth quarter but grew one percent for the full year, driven by growth in Europe and Asia. Constant-currency direct-to-consumer sales grew mid-single digits for the fourth quarter and the full year, reflecting expansion of the retail network as well as ecommerce growth. Constant-currency wholesale revenues declined for both periods due to the company's fourth fiscal quarter having one fewer week compared to the prior year.

Fourth-quarter and full-year net income growth primarily reflected lower restructuring charges associated with the company's global productivity initiative, lower interest expense, and a pension settlement loss recorded in the fourth quarter of the prior year. On a reported basis, Adjusted EBIT grew 25 percent in the fourth quarter but declined five percent for the full year. On a constant-currency basis, Adjusted EBIT grew 36 percent in the fourth quarter and six percent for the full year. Constant-currency growth for both periods was driven primarily by a higher gross margin, partially offset by increased investment in the company's direct-to-consumer channel.

"Fiscal 2015 was a very challenging year with currency headwinds, the associated negative impact on tourism, and challenging retail dynamics globally. Despite these, we grew the top-line on a constant-currency basis, improved our structural economics, and further strengthened the balance sheet through refinancing our debt," said Chip Bergh, president and chief executive officer. "We continued to grow our direct-to-consumer business, and saw a very positive consumer response to the products we introduced in the Fall. In 2016 we will continue to invest in our retail network, ecommerce and our brands to support our long-term profitable growth objective."

Fourth Quarter 2015 Highlights

  • On a reported basis, gross profit in the fourth quarter decreased to $658 million compared with $680 million for the same quarter of 2014 due to unfavorable currency translation effects of approximately $43 million. Gross margin for the fourth quarter grew to 51.2 percent of revenues compared with 49.0 percent of revenues in the same quarter of 2014, primarily due to lower negotiated product costs and streamlined supply chain operations. Price increases and direct-to-consumer sales growth also benefited gross margin.
  • Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses for the fourth quarter were $494 million compared with $581 million in the same quarter of 2014. Currency favorably impacted SG&A by $32 million. Excluding currency, lower costs primarily reflected a reduction in advertising expenses compared to the prior year, due to the timing of the company's campaigns, and a $31 million pension settlement charge recorded in the fourth quarter of 2014.
  • Adjusted EBIT, which excludes the charges associated with the company’s global productivity initiative and the pension charge, was $168 million, up from $134 million in the same quarter of 2014, primarily reflecting the higher gross margin. Currency unfavorably impacted Adjusted EBIT by $11 million. A reconciliation of Adjusted EBIT is provided at the end of this press release.
  • Operating income for the fourth quarter improved to $161 million from $50 million for the same period in 2014, as the higher Adjusted EBIT was complemented by lower restructuring and pension settlement charges.

Regional Overview

Reported regional net revenues and operating income for the fourth quarter were as follows:

   
Net Revenues Operating Income*
Three Months Ended  

% Increase
(Decrease)

Three Months Ended  

% Increase
(Decrease)

($ millions)

November 29,
2015

 

November 30,
2014

November 29,
2015

 

November 30,
2014

Americas $ 817 $ 894 (9 )% $ 174 $ 188 (8 )%
Europe $ 258 $ 296 (13 )% $ 42 $ 22 93 %
Asia $ 209 $ 198 6 % $ 34 $ 20 68 %
 

* Note: Regional operating income is equal to regional Adjusted EBIT.

 
  • In the Americas, currency translation unfavorably impacted net revenues by $24 million and operating income by $5 million. Excluding currency effects, net revenues declined six percent, primarily due to the fourth quarter consisting of one fewer week as compared to the prior year. Beyond the timing impact, domestic wholesale revenues declined slightly due to soft retail conditions, while direct-to-consumer revenues were in-line with prior year as improved conversion offset the impact of traffic declines. Lower operating income primarily reflected the region's lower revenues.
  • In Europe, currency translation unfavorably impacted net revenues by $44 million and operating income by $5 million. Excluding currency effects, net revenues grew three percent, despite the fourth quarter consisting of one fewer week as compared to the prior year, reflecting strong performance and expansion of the company-operated retail network. Constant-currency operating income grew 145 percent due to the region's higher gross margin.
  • In Asia, currency translation unfavorably impacted net revenues by $17 million and operating income by $2 million. Excluding currency effects, net revenues grew 15 percent reflecting strong performance and expansion of the company-operated retail network. Constant-currency operating income grew 92 percent due to the region's higher gross margin.

Fiscal Year 2015 Highlights

  • On a reported basis, gross profit for the fiscal year decreased to $2,269 million compared with $2,348 million in 2014 due to unfavorable currency translation effects of approximately $166 million. Gross margin grew to 50.5 percent of revenues compared with 49.4 percent of revenues in 2014, primarily due to lower negotiated product costs and streamlined supply chain operations. Price increases and direct-to-consumer sales growth, especially in Europe and Asia, also benefited gross margin.
  • SG&A expenses were $1,824 million for 2015 compared with $1,906 million in the prior year. Currency translation favorably impacted SG&A by $113 million. Excluding currency, higher costs primarily reflected expansion of the company's retail network and investment in its ecommerce business. The higher direct-to-consumer channel investments were partially offset by the $31 million pension settlement charge recorded in the fourth quarter of 2014.
  • Adjusted EBIT for 2015 was $479 million compared to $504 million in the prior year. Excluding unfavorable currency translation effects of $54 million, Adjusted EBIT grew six percent, primarily reflecting the higher gross margin. A reconciliation of Adjusted EBIT is provided at the end of this press release.
  • Operating income for 2015 grew to $431 million from $314 million in the prior year, as the higher Adjusted EBIT was complimented by lower restructuring and pension settlement charges.

Cash Flow and Balance Sheet

The company strengthened the balance sheet during 2015 by issuing $500 million of five percent senior notes due 2025 and using the proceeds to refinance its seven-and-five-eighths percent senior notes due 2020. Net debt declined to $0.8 billion at the end of 2015, compared to $0.9 billion at the end of 2014. At November 29, 2015, cash and cash equivalents of $319 million were complemented by $659 million available under the company's revolving credit facility, resulting in a total liquidity position of approximately $977 million. Free cash flow for 2015 was $81 million, down from $123 million in 2014, reflecting $29 million higher capital investment for the company's growth initiatives and a $20 million increase in dividends. Subsequent to the fiscal year end, on February 9, 2016, the company's board of directors declared a cash dividend of $60.0 million, an increase of $10 million from 2015.

Investor Conference Call

The company's fourth-quarter and full-year 2015 investor conference call will be available through a live audio webcast at https://engage.vevent.com/rt/levistraussao~021116 today, February 11, 2016, at 1 p.m. Pacific / 4 p.m. Eastern or via the following phone numbers: 800-891-4735 in the United States and Canada, or +1-973-200-3066 internationally; I.D. No. 31527451. A replay is available the same day on http://www.levistrauss.com/investors/earnings-webcast and will be archived for one week. A telephone replay is also available through February 18, 2016, at 855-859-2056 in the United States and Canada, or +1-404-537-3406 internationally; I.D. No. 31527451. Please see http://www.levistrauss.com/investors/earnings-webcast for a discussion and reconciliation of non-GAAP measures referenced on the investor conference call.

About Levi Strauss & Co.

Levi Strauss & Co. is one of the world's largest brand-name apparel companies and a global leader in jeanswear. The company designs and markets jeans, casual wear and related accessories for men, women and children under the Levi's®, Dockers®, Signature by Levi Strauss & Co.™, and Denizen® brands. Its products are sold in more than 110 countries worldwide through a combination of chain retailers, department stores, online sites, and a global footprint of approximately 2,800 retail stores and shop-in-shops. Levi Strauss & Co.'s reported fiscal 2015 net revenues were $4.5 billion. For more information, go to http://levistrauss.com.

Forward Looking Statement

This news release and related conference call contains, in addition to historical information, forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements related to: expected investments in our retail and ecommerce operations and ability to drive revenues and generate long-term profitable growth, currency challenges, including the expected impact on revenues and Adjusted EBIT, growing the U.S. business, growing the Dockers® brand, sustaining growth in our direct-to-consumer and international businesses, profitable growth of full-year revenue, gross margin expansion, advertising growth, SG&A leverage, Adjusted EBIT growth, strong free cash flow, level of capital expenditures, and dividend amount. 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 2015, especially in the “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Risk Factors” sections. 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 and related conference call 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 and related conference call. We are not under any obligation and do not intend to update or revise any of the forward-looking statements contained in this news release and related conference call to reflect circumstances existing after the date of this news release and related conference call 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.

Constant currency

Constant-currency comparisons are based on translating local currency amounts in the prior-year period at actual foreign exchange rates for the current year. The company routinely evaluates its financial performance on a constant-currency basis in order to facilitate period-to-period comparisons without regard to the impact of changing foreign currency exchange rates.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The company reports its financial results in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) and the rules of the SEC. However, management believes that certain non-GAAP financial measures, such as Free Cash Flow, Net Debt and Adjusted EBIT, provide users of the company’s financial information with additional useful information. The tables found below include Free Cash Flow, Net Debt and Adjusted EBIT and corresponding reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed as supplementing, and not as an alternative or substitute for, the company’s financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP. Certain of these items that may be excluded or included in non-GAAP financial measures may be significant items that could impact the company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows and should therefore be considered in assessing the company’s actual financial condition and performance. Non-GAAP financial measures are subject to inherent limitations as they reflect the exercise of judgment by management in determining how they are formulated. Some specific limitations, include but are not limited to, the fact that such non-GAAP financial measures: (a) do not reflect cash outlays for capital expenditures, contractual commitments or liabilities including pension obligations, post-retirement health benefit obligations and income tax liabilities, (b) do not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, working capital requirements; and (c) they do not reflect the interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments, on indebtedness. Additionally, the methods used by the company to calculate its non-GAAP financial measures may differ significantly from methods used by other companies to compute similar measures. As a result, any non-GAAP financial measures presented herein may not be comparable to similar measures provided by other companies, limiting the usefulness of these measures. The company urges investors to review the reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP financial measures included in this press release, and not to rely on any single financial measure to evaluate its business.

The company presents non-GAAP financial measures, such as Free Cash Flow, Net Debt and Adjusted EBIT, because it believes they provide investors, financial analysts and the public with additional information to measure performance and evaluate the company’s ability to service its debt and may be useful for comparing its operating performance with the performance of other companies that have different financing and capital structures and tax rates. The company further believes these measures may be useful for period-over-period comparisons of underlying business trends and its ongoing operations. See “RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2015” below for reconciliation to the most comparable GAAP financial measures.

 

LEVI STRAUSS & CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 
  November 29,   November 30,
2015 2014
(Dollars in thousands)
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 318,571 $ 298,255
Trade receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $11,025 and $12,704 498,196 481,981
Inventories:
Raw materials 3,368 4,501
Work-in-process 3,031 5,056
Finished goods 600,460   591,359  
Total inventories 606,859 600,916
Other current assets 104,523   99,347  
Total current assets 1,528,149 1,480,499
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $811,013 and $784,493 390,829 392,062
Goodwill 235,041 238,921
Other intangible assets, net 43,350 45,898
Non-current deferred tax assets, net 580,640 663,619
Other non-current assets 106,386   85,902  
Total assets $ 2,884,395   $ 2,906,901  
 
LIABILITIES, TEMPORARY EQUITY AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Short-term debt $ 114,978 $ 131,524
Current maturities of long-term debt 32,625
Accounts payable 238,309 234,892
Accrued salaries, wages and employee benefits 182,430 178,470
Restructuring liabilities 20,141 57,817
Accrued interest payable 5,510 5,679
Accrued income taxes 6,567 9,432
Other accrued liabilities 245,607   259,483  
Total current liabilities 846,167 877,297
Long-term debt 1,004,938 1,078,100
Long-term capital leases 12,320 11,619
Postretirement medical benefits 105,240 122,213
Pension liability 358,443 406,398
Long-term employee related benefits 73,342 80,066
Long-term income tax liabilities 26,312 35,821
Other long-term liabilities 56,987   63,268  
Total liabilities 2,483,749   2,674,782  
 
Commitments and contingencies
Temporary equity 68,783   77,664  
 
Stockholders’ Equity:
Levi Strauss & Co. stockholders’ equity
Common stock — $.01 par value; 270,000,000 shares authorized; 37,460,145 shares and 37,430,283 shares issued and outstanding 375 374
Additional paid-in capital 3,291
Retained earnings 705,668 528,209
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (379,066 ) (375,340 )
Total Levi Strauss & Co. stockholders’ equity 330,268 153,243
Noncontrolling interest 1,595   1,212  
Total stockholders’ equity 331,863   154,455  
Total liabilities, temporary equity and stockholders’ equity $ 2,884,395   $ 2,906,901  
 

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

 
 

LEVI STRAUSS & CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

 
  Year Ended
November 29,   November 30,   November 24,
2015 2014 2013
(Dollars in thousands)
Net revenues $ 4,494,493 $ 4,753,992 $ 4,681,691
Cost of goods sold 2,225,512   2,405,552   2,331,219  
Gross profit 2,268,981 2,348,440 2,350,472
Selling, general and administrative expenses 1,823,863 1,906,164 1,884,965
Restructuring, net 14,071   128,425    
Operating income 431,047 313,851 465,507
Interest expense (81,214 ) (117,597 ) (129,024 )
Loss on early extinguishment of debt (14,002 ) (20,343 ) (689 )
Other income (expense), net (25,433 ) (22,057 ) (13,181 )
Income before income taxes 310,398 153,854 322,613
Income tax expense 100,507   49,545   94,477  
Net income 209,891 104,309 228,136
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest (455 ) 1,769   1,057  
Net income attributable to Levi Strauss & Co. $ 209,436   $ 106,078   $ 229,193  
 

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

 
 

LEVI STRAUSS & CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 
  Year Ended
November 29,   November 30,   November 24,
2015 2014 2013
(Dollars in thousands)
Net income $ 209,891   $ 104,309   $ 228,136  
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of related income taxes:
Pension and postretirement benefits 25,114 (34,682 ) 104,189
Net investment hedge gains (losses) 3,474 4,978 (7,846 )
Foreign currency translation (losses) gains (32,032 ) (34,904 ) 4,965
Unrealized (losses) gains on marketable securities (354 ) 968   252  
Total other comprehensive (loss) income (3,798 ) (63,640 ) 101,560  
Comprehensive income 206,093 40,669 329,696
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest (383 ) 2,098   2,103  
Comprehensive income attributable to Levi Strauss & Co. $ 205,710   $ 42,767   $ 331,799  
 

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

 
 

LEVI STRAUSS & CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)

 
  Levi Strauss & Co. Stockholders    
        Accumulated Total
Additional Other Stockholders'
Common Paid-In Accumulated Comprehensive Noncontrolling Equity
Stock   Capital   Earnings   Loss   Interest   (Deficit)
(Dollars in thousands)
Balance at November 25, 2012 $ 374   $ 33,365   $ 273,975   $ (414,635 ) $ 5,413   $ (101,508 )
Net income (loss) 229,193 (1,057 ) 228,136
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax 102,606 (1,046 ) 101,560
Stock-based compensation and dividends, net 8,272 (23 ) 8,249
Reclassification to temporary equity (30,641 ) (30,641 )
Repurchase of common stock (3,635 ) (2,109 ) (5,744 )
Cash dividends paid     (25,076 )     (25,076 )
Balance at November 24, 2013 374   7,361   475,960   (312,029 ) 3,310   174,976  
Net income (loss) 106,078 (1,769 ) 104,309
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax (63,311 ) (329 ) (63,640 )
Stock-based compensation and dividends, net 13,290 (23 ) 13,267
Reclassification to temporary equity (19,298 ) (19,842 ) (39,140 )
Repurchase of common stock (1,353 ) (3,961 ) (5,314 )
Cash dividends paid     (30,003 )     (30,003 )
Balance at November 30, 2014 374     528,209   (375,340 ) 1,212   154,455  

Net income

 

209,436

 

455

209,891

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax (3,726 ) (72 ) (3,798 )
Stock-based compensation and dividends, net 1 16,674 (66 ) 16,609
Reclassification to temporary equity (10,961 )

19,842

8,881
Repurchase of common stock (2,422 ) (1,753 ) (4,175 )
Cash dividends paid     (50,000 )     (50,000 )
Balance at November 29, 2015 $ 375   $ 3,291   $ 705,668   $ (379,066 ) $ 1,595   $ 331,863  
 

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

 
 

LEVI STRAUSS & CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 
  Year Ended
November 29,   November 30,   November 24,
2015 2014 2013
(Dollars in thousands)
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income $ 209,891 $ 104,309 $ 228,136
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 102,044 109,474 115,720
Asset impairments 2,616 6,531 8,330
Gain on disposal of assets (8,626 ) (197 ) (2,112 )
Unrealized foreign exchange (gains) losses (371 ) 5,392 4,573
Realized (gain) loss on settlement of forward foreign exchange contracts not designated for hedge accounting (14,720 ) 6,184 2,904
Employee benefit plans’ amortization from accumulated other comprehensive loss and settlement losses 16,983 45,787 22,686
Employee benefit plans’ curtailment gain, net (564 )
Noncash loss on extinguishment of debt, net of write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs 3,448 5,103 689
Noncash restructuring charges 658 3,347
Amortization of premium, discount and debt issuance costs 2,150 2,331 3,287
Stock-based compensation 15,137 12,441 8,249
Allowance for doubtful accounts 1,875 662 1,158
Deferred income taxes 58,386 (28,177 ) 37,520
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Trade receivables 4,060 (51,367 ) 65,955
Inventories 28,566 (6,184 ) (63,920 )
Other current assets (3,061 ) 5,377 32,808
Other non-current assets (21,375 ) 1,509 9,871
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities (80,007 ) (28,871 ) 3,107
Restructuring liabilities (36,711 ) 66,574
Income tax liabilities (9,680 ) 19,224 (23,832 )
Accrued salaries, wages and employee benefits and long-term employee related benefits (44,714 ) (42,878 ) (51,974 )
Other long-term liabilities (11,119 ) (3,740 ) 8,618
Other, net   2,902     78     59  
Net cash provided by operating activities   218,332     232,909     411,268  
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment (102,308 ) (73,396 ) (91,771 )
Proceeds from sale of assets 9,026 8,049 2,277
Proceeds (payments) on settlement of forward foreign exchange contracts not designated for hedge accounting 14,720 (6,184 ) (2,904 )
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired (2,271 ) (318 ) (400 )
Net cash used for investing activities   (80,833 )   (71,849 )   (92,798 )
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt 500,000 140,000
Repayments of long-term debt and capital leases (528,104 ) (395,853 ) (327,281 )
Proceeds from senior revolving credit facility 345,000 265,000
Repayments of senior revolving credit facility (346,000 ) (165,000 )
Proceeds from short-term credit facilities 23,936 24,372 46,187
Repayments of short-term credit facilities (21,114 ) (24,000 ) (53,726 )
Other short-term borrowings, net (12,919 ) (10,080 ) (3,711 )
Debt issuance costs (4,605 ) (2,684 ) (2,557 )
Change in restricted cash, net 1,615 1,060 (139 )
Repurchase of common stock (4,175 ) (5,314 ) (5,744 )
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation 1,471 826 1,538
Dividend to stockholders   (50,000 )   (30,003 )   (25,076 )
Net cash used for financing activities   (94,895 )   (341,676 )   (230,509 )
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents   (22,288 )   (10,387 )   (4,837 )
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 20,316 (191,003 ) 83,124
Beginning cash and cash equivalents   298,255     489,258     406,134  
Ending cash and cash equivalents $ 318,571   $ 298,255  

$

489,258

 
 
Noncash Investing Activity:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment not yet paid at end of period $ 23,958 $ 19,728 $ 13,816
 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

Cash paid for interest during the period

$ 77,907 $ 110,029 $ 121,827

Cash paid for income taxes during the period, net of refunds

61,456 60,525 47,350
 

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

 
 
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2015
 
The following information relates to non-GAAP financial measures, and should be read in conjunction with the investor call held on February 11, 2016, discussing the company’s financial condition and results of operations as of and for the quarter and year ended November 29, 2015. Free cash flow, Net debt and Adjusted EBIT are not financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. As used in this press release: (1) Free cash flow represents cash from operating activities less purchases of property, plant and equipment, payments (proceeds) on settlement of forward foreign exchange contracts not designated for hedge accounting, and cash dividends to stockholders; (2) Net debt represents total long-term and short-term debt less cash and cash equivalents; and (3) Adjusted EBIT represents net income plus income tax expense, interest expense, loss on early extinguishment of debt, other (income) expense, net, restructuring and related charges, severance and asset impairment charges, net, and pension and postretirement benefit plan curtailment and net settlement (gains) losses, net.
 
 

Free cash flow:

 
  Fiscal Year Ended
($ millions)

November 29, 2015

 

November 30, 2014

 
Most comparable GAAP measure:
Net cash provided by operating activities $ 218.3   $ 232.9  
 
Non-GAAP measure:
Net cash provided by operating activities $ 218.3 $ 232.9
Purchases of property, plant and equipment (102.3 ) (73.4 )
(Payments) proceeds on settlement of forward foreign exchange contracts not designated for hedge accounting 14.7 (6.2 )
Dividend to stockholders (50.0 ) (30.0 )
Free cash flow $ 80.7   $ 123.3  
 
 

Net debt:

 
($ millions)   November 29, 2015   November 30, 2014
 
Most comparable GAAP measure:
Total long-term and short-term debt $ 1,152.5   $ 1,209.6  
 
Non-GAAP measure:
Total long-term and short-term debt $ 1,152.5 $ 1,209.6
Cash and cash equivalents (318.6 ) (298.3 )
Net debt $ 833.9   $ 911.3  
 
 

Adjusted EBIT:

 
  Three Months Ended   Fiscal Year Ended

November 29,

 

November 30,

November 29,

 

November 30,

($ millions)

2015

 

2014

2015

2014

(unaudited)
Most comparable GAAP measure:
Operating income $ 161.2   $ 49.9   $ 431.0   $ 313.9
 
Non-GAAP measure:
Net income $ 101.7 $ (6.1 ) $ 209.9 $ 104.3
Income tax expense 41.9 5.1 100.5 49.6
Interest expense 18.9 27.3 81.2 117.6
Loss on early extinguishment of debt 9.2 14.0 20.3
Other (income) expense, net (1.3 ) 14.5 25.4 22.1
Restructuring and related charges, severance and asset impairment charges, net 6.1 53.4 47.0 155.9
Pension and postretirement benefit plan curtailment and net settlement (gains) losses, net 0.4   30.6   0.6   33.9
Adjusted EBIT $ 167.7   $ 134.0   $ 478.6   $ 503.7
 

Contacts

Levi Strauss & Co.
Investor Contact:
Chris Ogle, 800-438-0349
Investor-relations@levi.com
or
Media Contact:
Amber Rensen, 415-501-7777
newsmediarequests@levi.com

Release Summary

Levi Strauss & Co. (LS&Co.) announced financial results today for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended November 29, 2015.

Contacts

Levi Strauss & Co.
Investor Contact:
Chris Ogle, 800-438-0349
Investor-relations@levi.com
or
Media Contact:
Amber Rensen, 415-501-7777
newsmediarequests@levi.com