Levi Strauss & Co. Announces Second-Quarter 2011 Financial Results

SAN FRANCISCO (July 12, 2011) – Levi Strauss & Co. (LS&Co.) today announced financial results for the second quarter ended May 29, 2011, and filed its second-quarter 2011 results on Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Highlights include:

Second-quarter net revenues increased 12 percent on a reported basis, reflecting sales growth in each region. Increased net revenues were driven by the Levi’s® brand through the expansion and performance of the company’s retail network.  Excluding the effect of currency, net revenues improved 8 percent.

Net income improved to $21 million as compared to a $14 million loss in the second quarter of last year.  In the second quarter of 2010, the company recorded two significant discrete tax charges and an early debt extinguishment loss associated with refinancing.   

“I am pleased to report that revenues and net income improved for the second quarter,” said John Anderson, president and chief executive officer of Levi Strauss & Co.  “Our top-line improvement demonstrates that our global strategies are working. Around the world, the Levi’s® brand is performing well as consumers are responding to our craftsmanship and compelling products.”

Anderson added, “As I retire and turn the reins over to a new CEO on September 1, I am proud of the good momentum we’ve established in the marketplace. The company has creative, experienced leaders in place and exciting initiatives ahead, including the first Levi’s® brand global marketing campaign this fall, innovative designs, and the expansion of our new brand, Denizen™.”

Second-Quarter 2011 Highlights

•  Gross profit in the second quarter increased to $541 million compared with $499 million for the same period in 2010, reflecting the company’s higher net revenues.  Gross margin for the second quarter remained in the company’s expected range, but decreased to 49 percent of revenues compared with 51 percent of revenues in the same quarter of 2010.  The gross margin decline reflects the impact of higher-priced cotton and an increase in discounted sales to manage inventory.  Gross margin continued to benefit from an increased contribution from company-operated retail stores.

•  Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses for the second quarter increased to $476 million from $430 million in the same period of 2010.  Higher SG&A was primarily due to additional selling expenses related to the expansion of the company-operated retail network.

•  Operating income for the second quarter declined to $65 million compared with $69 million for the same period of 2010, as the increase in revenue were offset primarily by a lower gross margin and the company’s continued investment in its retail expansion.     

Regional Overview

Regional net revenues for the quarter were as follows:

•  Higher net revenues in the Americas were due to the Levi’s® brand, which had higher sales in both the company’s operated retail stores and wholesale channel, including the success of the Levi’s® Curve ID collection for women.  The higher net revenues also reflected the price increases that the company has implemented. The improved Levi’s® brand performance was partially offset by declines from the Dockers® brand in the United States.

•  Net revenues in Europe increased due to the expansion of the company-operated retail network and higher sales in the wholesale channel. The sales growth reflected the success of the Levi’s® Curve ID collection for women.

•  Revenue growth in Asia Pacific, primarily driven by the Levi’s® brand, continued expansion of the company’s brand-dedicated retail network in China and India as well as other emerging markets, more than offset the decline of net revenue in Japan. 

Cash Flow and Balance Sheet

As of May 29, 2011, cash and cash equivalents were $258 million, and $295 million was available under its revolving credit facility.   Cash provided by operating activities in the first half of 2011 was $85 million, compared with $146 million for the same period in 2010, reflecting the company’s inventory build, due to the higher cost of cotton and expectations for business growth, and a higher contribution to its pension plan. Net debt remained at $1.6 billion.    

“During the quarter, we delivered higher revenues across our business regions and continued to execute our global strategies for long-term growth,” said Blake Jorgensen, chief financial officer.  “While we’ve made solid progress this year, like the rest of our industry we remain cautious about the back-half of the year as the impact of higher costs in the supply chain and consumer response to increased prices is uncertain.”

Investor Conference Call

The company’s second-quarter 2011 investor conference call will be available through a live audio Webcast at http://levistrauss.com/investors/earnings-webcast today, July 12, 2011, at 1 p.m. PDT/4 p.m. EDT.  Participants may dial-into the call in listen-only mode as well at 800-891-4735 or 973-200-3066 internationally.A replay is available on the website the same day and will be archived for one month.  A telephone replay also is available through July 18, 2011 at 800-642-1687 in the United States and Canada, or 706-645-9291 internationally; I.D. No. 78749254.

Forward Looking Statement

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 2010, 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 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.

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 franchised and company-owned stores.  As of May 29, 2011, the company operated 498 stores within 31 countries.  Levi Strauss & Co.’s reported fiscal 2010 net revenues were $4.4 billion.  For more information, go to http://levistrauss.com.

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