EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 912463
Filing Year: 2021
Filename: 912463_10-K_2021_0000912463-21-000020.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
ITEM 1. Business.
General
Unless the context indicates otherwise, the terms “we,” “us,” “our” or the “Company” in this Form 10-K refer to Guess?, Inc. (“GUESS?”) and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.
We design, market, distribute and license one of the world’s leading lifestyle collections of contemporary apparel and accessories for men, women and children that reflect the American lifestyle and European fashion sensibilities. Our apparel is marketed under numerous trademarks including GUESS, GUESS?, GUESS U.S.A., GUESS Jeans, GUESS? and Triangle Design, MARCIANO, Question Mark and Triangle Design, a stylized G and a stylized M, GUESS Kids, Baby GUESS, YES, G by GUESS (GbG), GUESS by MARCIANO and Gc. The lines include full collections of clothing, including jeans, pants, skirts, dresses, activewear, shorts, blouses, shirts, jackets, knitwear and intimate apparel. In addition, we selectively grant licenses to design, manufacture and distribute a broad range of products that complement our apparel lines, including eyewear, watches, handbags, footwear, kids’ and infants’ apparel, outerwear, fragrance, jewelry and other fashion accessories. We also grant licenses to certain wholesale partners to operate and sell our products through licensed retail stores.
Our products are sold through direct-to-consumer, wholesale and licensing distribution channels. Our core customers are style-conscious consumers comprised of three target consumer groups: Heritage, Millennials and Generation Z. Our Heritage customers, typically aged 40 years and older, are very loyal and have been shopping with us for years. We appeal to these customers through GUESS and specialty product lines that include MARCIANO, a more sophisticated fashion line targeted to women and men. Our Millennial customers are typically between the ages of 25 to 39 and Generation Z customers are typically between the ages of 10 to 24 years old. These two target consumer groups shop streetwear and vintage inspired trends, viewing GUESS as accessible luxury.
We were founded in 1981 and currently operate as a Delaware corporation.
We operate on a 52/53-week fiscal year calendar, which ends on the Saturday nearest to January 31 of each year. All references herein to “fiscal 2021,” “fiscal 2020,” and “fiscal 2019” represent the results of the 52-week fiscal years ended January 30, 2021, February 1, 2020, and February 2, 2019. References to “fiscal 2022” represent the 52-week fiscal year ending January 29, 2022.
Business Strengths
We believe we have several business strengths that set us apart from our competition, including:
Brand Equity. The GUESS? brand is an integral part of our business, a significant strategic asset and a primary source of sustainable competitive advantage. The GUESS? brand communicates a distinctive image that is fun, fashionable and sexy. We have developed and maintained this image worldwide through our consistent emphasis on innovative and distinctive product designs and through our award-winning advertising, under the creative leadership and vision of Paul Marciano, our Chief Creative Officer and Director. Brand loyalty, name awareness, perceived quality, strong brand images, public relations, publicity, promotional events and trademarks all contribute to the reputation and integrity of the GUESS? brand.
Global Diversification. The global success of the GUESS? brand has reduced our reliance on any particular geographic region. This geographic diversification provides broad opportunities for long-term growth, even during regional economic slowdowns. The percentage of our revenue generated from outside of the U.S. has grown from approximately 32% of our total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2005 to approximately 74% of our total revenues for the year ended January 30, 2021. As of January 30, 2021, the Company directly operated 1,046 retail stores in the Americas, Europe and Asia. The Company’s partners operated 524 additional retail stores worldwide. As of January 30, 2021, the Company and its partners operated in approximately 100 countries worldwide. We continue to evaluate the different businesses in our global portfolio, directing capital investments to those with more profit potential.
Multiple Distribution Channels. We use direct-to-consumer, wholesale and licensing distribution channels to sell our products globally. This allows us to maintain a critical balance as our operating results do not
depend solely on the performance of any single channel. The use of multiple channels also allows us to adapt quickly to changes in the distribution environment in any particular region.
Direct-to-Consumer. Our direct-to-consumer network is omni-channel, made up of both directly operated brick-and-mortar retail stores and concessions as well as integrated e-commerce sites that create a seamless shopping experience for our customers.
Directly operated retail stores and concessions. Distribution through our directly operated retail stores and concessions allows us to influence the merchandising and presentation of our products, enhance our brand image, build brand equity and test new product design concepts. Our store locations vary country by country depending on the type of locations available. In general, our stores average approximately 5,800 square feet in the Americas, approximately 3,000 square feet in Europe and the Middle East and approximately 3,000 square feet in Asia and the Pacific. Concessions generally average 1,300 square feet and are located primarily in South Korea and Greater China. As part of our omni-channel initiative, retail store sales in certain regions may be fulfilled from one of our numerous retail store locations or from our distribution centers.
Our directly operated retail stores and concessions as of January 30, 2021, February 1, 2020 and February 2, 2019 were comprised as follows:
Year Ended Year Ended Year Ended
Jan 30, 2021 Feb 1, 2020 Feb 2, 2019
Region Stores Concessions Stores Concessions Stores Concessions
United States 249 - 280 - 288 -
Canada 76 - 80 - 89 -
Central and South America 70 27 73 27 67 27
Total Americas 395 27 433 27 444 27
Europe and the Middle East 507 44 517 39 490 37
Asia and the Pacific 144 101 219 117 227 174
Total
1,046 172 1,169 183 1,161 238
e-Commerce. As of January 30, 2021, we operated retail websites in the Americas, Europe and Asia. We have e-commerce available to 55 countries and in ten languages around the world. Our websites act as virtual storefronts that both sell our products and promote our brands. Designed as customer shopping centers, these sites showcase our products in an easy-to-navigate format, allowing customers to see and purchase our collections of apparel and accessories. These virtual stores have not only expanded our direct-to-consumer distribution channel, but they have also improved customer relations and are fun and entertaining alternative-shopping environments. As part of our omni-channel initiative, e-commerce orders in certain regions may be fulfilled from our distribution centers, or from our retail stores, or both.
Wholesale Distribution. We sell through both domestic and international wholesale distribution channels as well as retail stores and concessions operated by certain wholesale partners.
Wholesale. In Europe, our products are sold in stores ranging from large, well-known department stores like El Corte Inglès, Galeries Lafayette and Printemps to small upscale multi-brand boutiques. Because our European wholesale business is more fragmented, we generally rely on a large number of smaller regional distributors and agents to distribute our products. In the Americas, our wholesale customers consist primarily of better department stores, including Macy’s, Liverpool and Hudson’s Bay, and select specialty retailers and upscale boutiques, which have the image and merchandising expertise that we require for the effective presentation of our products. Through our foreign subsidiaries and our network of international distributors, our products are also available in major cities throughout Africa, Asia, Australia and the Middle East.
Licensed stores and concessions. We also sell product to certain wholesale customers who operate licensed retail stores and concessions which allows us to expand our international operations with a lower level of capital investment while still closely monitoring store designs and merchandise programs in order to protect the integrity of the GUESS? brand.
Licensed retail stores and concessions operated by our wholesale partners as of January 30, 2021, February 1, 2020 and February 2, 2019 were comprised as follows:
Year Ended Year Ended Year Ended
Jan 30, 2021 Feb 1, 2020 Feb 2, 2019
Region Stores Concessions Stores Concessions Stores Concessions
United States 2 1 2 1 2 1
Central and South America 35 - 40 - 37 -
Total Americas 37 1 42 1 39 1
Europe and the Middle East 218 - 228 - 210 -
Asia and the Pacific 269 203 290 210 309 184
Total
524 204 560 211 558 185
Licensing Operations. The desirability of the GUESS? brand name among consumers has allowed us to selectively expand our product offerings and global markets through trademark licensing arrangements, with minimal capital investment or on-going operating expenses. We currently have various domestic and international licenses that include eyewear, watches, handbags, footwear, kids’ and infants’ apparel and footwear, outerwear, fragrance, jewelry and other fashion accessories; and include licenses for the design, manufacture and distribution of GUESS? branded products in markets which include Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, Central America, North America and South America.
Multiple Store Concepts. Our products are sold around the world primarily through six different store concepts, namely our GUESS? full-price retail stores, our GUESS? factory outlet stores, our GUESS? Accessories stores, our G by GUESS (GbG) stores, our MARCIANO stores and our GUESS? Kids stores. During fiscal 2021, we made the decision to integrate our G by GUESS brand into our Factory business in order to drive further efficiencies. We and our partners also have a small number of underwear, Gc watch and footwear concept stores. This allows us to target the various demographics in each region through dedicated store concepts that market each brand or concept specifically to the desired customer population. Having multiple store concepts also allows us to target our newer brands and concepts in different markets than our flagship GUESS? store concept.
Business Segments
The Company’s businesses are grouped into five reportable segments for management and internal financial reporting purposes: Americas Retail, Americas Wholesale, Europe, Asia and Licensing. The Americas Retail segment includes the Company’s retail and e-commerce operations in the Americas. The Americas Wholesale segment includes the Company’s wholesale operations in the Americas. The Europe segment includes the Company’s retail, e-commerce and wholesale operations in Europe and the Middle East. The Asia segment includes the Company’s retail, e-commerce and wholesale operations in Asia and the Pacific. The Licensing segment includes the worldwide licensing operations of the Company. See “Part IV. Financial Statements - Note 18 - Segment Information” in this Form 10-K for disclosures about our segment financial information.
Americas Retail Segment
In our Americas Retail segment, we sell our products direct-to-consumer through a network of directly operated retail and factory outlet stores and e-commerce sites in the Americas.
Retail stores and concessions. Our Americas Retail stores and concessions are comprised of a mix of GUESS? factory outlet stores, full-priced GUESS? retail stores, G by GUESS (GbG) stores, GUESS? Accessories stores and MARCIANO stores. During fiscal 2021, we made the decision to integrate our G by GUESS brand into our Factory business in order to drive further efficiencies. For the year ended January 30, 2021, we opened one new store and closed 39 stores in the Americas, ending the year with 395 stores. This store count does not include 27 concessions in Mexico. We directly operated our retail stores and concessions in Mexico and Brazil through our majority-owned joint ventures.
e-Commerce. Our Americas Retail segment also includes our directly operated retail and other marketplace websites in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Brazil. These websites operate as virtual storefronts that, combined with our retail stores, provide a seamless shopping experience to the consumer to sell our products and promote our brands. They also provide fashion information and a mechanism for customer feedback while promoting customer loyalty and enhancing our brand identity through interactive content
online and through smartphone applications. Our U.S. and Canadian online sites are fully integrated with our customer relationship management (“CRM”) system and loyalty programs. Omni-channel initiatives that we have already deployed in the U.S. and Canada include “buy online, pick-up in stores” or “buy online, return in stores” and “order from store” as well as mobile-optimized commerce sites and smartphone applications. In the U.S. and Canada, e-commerce orders may be fulfilled from our distribution centers, or from our retail stores, or both.
Americas Wholesale Segment
In our Americas Wholesale segment, we sell our products through wholesale channels throughout the Americas and to third-party distributors based in Central and South America as well as licensed retail locations operated by our wholesale partners. Our Americas Wholesale business generally experiences stronger performance from July through November. Our Americas Wholesale customers consist primarily of better department stores, select specialty retailers, upscale boutiques as well as select off-price retailers. Our products were sold to consumers through approximately 1,350 and 1,300 major doors in the Americas, as well as through our customers’ e-commerce sites, as of January 30, 2021 and February 1, 2020, respectively. As of January 30, 2021, these locations included approximately 650 shop-in-shops, a designated selling area within a department store offering a wide array of our products and incorporates GUESS? signage and fixture designs. These shop-in-shops, managed by the department stores, allow us to reinforce the GUESS? brand image with our customers. Many department stores have more than one shop-in-shop, with each one featuring women’s, men’s or kids’ apparel and handbags. We also sell product to licensed retail stores and concessions operated by certain wholesale customers. As of January 30, 2021, we had 37 licensed retail stores in the Americas, of which 35 stores were located in Central and South America and two stores were located in the U.S. This store count does not include one concession that was operated by one of our partners in the U.S.
Our Americas Wholesale merchandising strategy is to focus on trend-right products supported by key fashion basics. We have sales representatives in New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Montreal, Mexico City and Vancouver who coordinate with customers to determine the inventory level and product mix that should be carried in each store. Additionally, we use merchandise coordinators who work with the stores to ensure that our products are displayed appropriately. During fiscal 2021, our two largest wholesale customers accounted for a total of approximately 3.4% of our consolidated net revenue.
Europe Segment
In our Europe segment, we sell our products through direct-to-consumer and wholesale channels throughout Europe and the Middle East.
European Direct-to-Consumer. Our European direct-to-consumer network is comprised of brick-and-mortar retail stores and concessions and e-commerce sites.
Retail stores and concessions. Our European retail stores and concessions are primarily comprised of a mix of directly operated GUESS? retail and outlet stores, MARCIANO retail stores, GUESS? Accessories retail and outlet stores, GUESS? Footwear stores and GUESS? Kids stores. For the year ended January 30, 2021, we opened 17 new stores and closed 27 stores, ending the year with 507 directly operated stores in Europe and the Middle East. This store count does not include 44 directly operated concessions in Europe. Certain of our European stores require initial investments in the form of key money to secure prime store locations. These amounts are paid to landlords or existing lessees in certain circumstances.
e-Commerce. Our Europe segment also includes our directly operated retail and other marketplace websites. In Europe, similar to the Americas, our e-commerce sites operate as virtual storefronts that, combined with our retail stores, provide a seamless shopping experience to the consumer to sell our products and promote our brands. We have leveraged our existing technology and experience from the Americas and have deployed more advanced omni-channel strategies in our European markets. We currently offer interactive content online and via mobile, and are planning to expand to smartphone applications and integrate with CRM systems and loyalty programs.
European Wholesale Distribution. We sell our products both through wholesale distribution channels and through licensed retail stores and concessions operated by our wholesale partners throughout
Europe and the Middle East. Our European wholesale business generally relies on a large number of smaller regional distributors and agents to distribute our products primarily to smaller independent multi-brand boutiques. Our products are also sold directly to large, well-known department stores like El Corte Inglès, Galeries Lafayette and Printemps. The type of customer varies from region to region depending on both the prominence of the GUESS? brand in each region and the dominance of a particular type of retail channel in each region. In countries where the brand is well known, we operate through showrooms where agents and distributors can view our line and place orders. We currently have showrooms in key cities such as Barcelona, Düsseldorf, Lugano, Munich, Paris, Lisbon, Florence, Moscow and Warsaw. We sell both our apparel and certain accessories products under our GUESS? and MARCIANO brand concepts through our wholesale channel, operating primarily through two seasons, Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter. Generally, our Spring/Summer sales campaign is from April to September with the related shipments occurring primarily from November to April. The Fall/Winter sales campaign is from November to April with the related shipments occurring primarily from May to October. The Company may take advantage of early-season demand and potential reorders by offering a pre-collection assortment which ships at the beginning of each season. Customers retain the ability to request early shipment of backlog orders, delay shipments or cancel orders depending on their needs. Revenues from sales to our wholesale licensed stores are also recognized as wholesale sales within our European wholesale operations. For the year ended January 30, 2021, our partners opened seven new licensed retail stores and closed 17 stores, ending the year with 218 licensed retail stores in Europe and the Middle East.
Asia Segment
In our Asia segment, we sell our products through direct-to-consumer and wholesale channels throughout Asia and the Pacific.
Asian Direct-to-Consumer. Our Asian direct-to-consumer network is comprised of brick-and-mortar retail stores and concessions and e-commerce sites.
Retail stores and concessions. Our Asian retail stores and concessions include a mix of directly operated GUESS?, GUESS? Footwear, GUESS? Accessories, GUESS? Kids and MARCIANO stores. For the year ended January 30, 2021, we opened four new stores and closed 64 stores. During fiscal 2021, we also transferred 16 directly operated stores to our partners. This related primarily to the transfer of our directly operated stores to our franchisees in China. We ended the year with 144 directly operated stores in Asia and the Pacific. This store count does not include 101 directly operated apparel and accessory concessions. Concessions are widely used in Asia and generally represent directly managed areas within a department store setting.
e-Commerce. We also have e-commerce sites throughout Asia which operate as virtual storefronts that, combined with our retail stores, provide a seamless shopping experience to the consumer to sell our products and promote our brands.
Asian Wholesale Distribution. Our Asian wholesale customer base is comprised primarily of a small number of selected distributors with which we have contractual distribution arrangements and licensed stores and concessions operated by our wholesale partners. For the year ended January 30, 2021, our partners opened eight new licensed retail stores and closed 29 stores. We ended the year with 269 licensed retail stores. This store count does not include 203 apparel and accessory concessions operated by our partners in Asia.
Licensing Segment
Our Licensing segment includes the worldwide licensing operations of the Company. The desirability of the GUESS? brand name among consumers has allowed us to selectively expand our product offerings and global markets through trademark licensing arrangements, with minimal capital investment or on-going operating expenses. We currently have various domestic and international licenses that include eyewear, watches, handbags, footwear, kids’ and infants’ apparel and footwear, outerwear, fragrance, jewelry and other fashion accessories; and include licenses for the design, manufacture and distribution of GUESS? branded products in markets which include Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, Central America, North America and South America.
Our trademark license agreements customarily provide for a multi-year initial term generally ranging from three to ten years, and may contain options to renew prior to expiration for an additional multi-year period. The typical license agreement requires that the licensee pay us the greater of a royalty based on a percentage of the licensee’s net sales of licensed products or a guaranteed annual minimum royalty that typically increases over the term of the license agreement. In addition, several of our key license agreements provide for specified, fixed cash rights payments over and above our normal, ongoing royalty payments. Generally, licensees are required to spend a percentage of the net sales of licensed products for advertising and promotion of the licensed products and in many cases, we place the ads on behalf of the licensee and are reimbursed. Additionally, licensees also make contributions to advertising funds, as a percentage of their sales, or may elect to increase their contribution to support specific brand-building initiatives.
In addition, to protect and increase the value of our trademarks, our license agreements include strict quality control and manufacturing standards. Our licensing personnel meet regularly with licensees to ensure consistency with our overall merchandising and design strategies in order to protect the GUESS? trademarks and brand. As part of this process, our licensing department reviews in advance GUESS? third-party licensed products, advertising and promotional materials.
We strategically reposition our existing licensing portfolio by monitoring and evaluating the performance of our licensees worldwide. For instance, between 2005 and 2013, we acquired several of our European apparel licensees. As a result, we now directly manage our adult and children’s apparel businesses in Europe.
Strategic Partnerships
We evaluate opportunities for strategic acquisitions and alliances and pursue those that we believe will support and contribute to our overall strategic initiatives and/or will take advantage of economies of scale. Similarly, when existing investments and alliances no longer align with strategic initiatives or as other circumstances warrant, we will evaluate various exit opportunities. As of the date of this Annual Report, we have majority-owned joint ventures in Brazil, the Canary Islands, Mexico, Portugal, Russia and South Africa. These joint ventures allow us to accelerate expansion, revitalize certain regions, and provide enhanced development of our retail and wholesale channels in these regions.
During fiscal 2021, we sold our wholesale business in India and our one directly operated store in India to a new wholesale and retail licensee partner.
Design
Apparel products are designed by in-house design teams located in the U.S., Switzerland and South Korea. The U.S. and Switzerland teams collaborate to share ideas for products that can be sold throughout our global markets and are inspired by our GUESS? heritage. Our design teams seek to identify global fashion trends and interpret them for the style-conscious consumer while retaining the distinctive GUESS? image. They travel throughout the world in order to monitor fashion trends and discover new fabrics. These fabrics, together with the trends observed by our designers, serve as the primary source of inspiration for our lines and collections. In fiscal 2021, we developed our first ever global line of apparel products. In addition to driving efficiencies, this initiative is expected to help elevate our brand by allowing us to offer products to our customers across all markets from one line while still addressing each local market’s need. We also maintain a fashion library consisting of vintage and contemporary garments as another source of creative concepts. In addition, our design teams work closely with members of our sales, merchandising and retail operations teams to further refine our products to meet the particular needs of our markets.
Global Sourcing and Supply Chain
We source products through numerous suppliers, many of whom have established long-term relationships with us. We seek to achieve efficient and timely delivery of our products, combining global and local sourcing. Almost all of our products are acquired as full package purchases where we design and source product and the vendor delivers the finished product.
We believe that our balanced global supply chain, with deep vendor partnerships, provides us with a competitive advantage where we have the flexibility to respond to increased demand throughout the world. Our new global apparel line of products will help improve product development costs by reducing the number of styles and help drive efficiencies in product costs by consolidating orders from multiple regions. Our sourcing strategy provides us with the opportunity to leverage costs and improve speed-to-market.
As an ongoing strategic initiative, we leave a larger portion of our buys open prior to each season to improve the efficiency of our speed-to-market by allowing us to design and produce closer to market delivery. This allows us to better react to emerging fashion trends in the market. We are also working to shorten our lead times through partnering with our suppliers, exercising agility in the production process and continuously searching for new suppliers and sourcing opportunities in reaction to the latest trends. We have developed IT systems to capture and share key performance indicators with our partners to drive ongoing improvements. During fiscal 2021, we significantly reduced our vendor base in the Americas and Europe from 337 to less than 200. We also made continued progress on reducing our dependency on sourcing from China and mitigating potential tariff risk without compromising the quality of our products. Additionally, offering an assortment of global products continues to be an area of focus. As a global brand, we maintain skilled sourcing teams in North America, Europe and Asia.
We are committed to sourcing our products in a responsible manner, respecting both the countries in which we conduct business and the business partners that produce our products. As a part of this commitment, we have implemented a global social compliance program that applies to our business partners. Although local customs vary in different regions of the world, we believe that the issues of business ethics, human rights, health, safety and environmental stewardship transcend geographical boundaries.
To support and ensure our social compliance, we communicate our expectations to our partners throughout our global supply chain and conduct compliance audits. If deficiencies are discovered, personnel in each region are empowered to work with the respective business partner to take a corrective course of action. Additionally, the goal of this process is to educate individuals, build strategic relationships and improve business practices over the long-term.
In addition, we are working with our partners to improve the production processes through education and by pursuing the use of sustainable materials and practices.
Advertising and Marketing
Our advertising, public relations and marketing strategy is designed to promote a consistent high impact image which endures regardless of changing consumer trends. While our advertising promotes products, the primary emphasis is on brand image.
Since our inception, Paul Marciano, our Chief Creative Officer and Director, has had principal responsibility for the GUESS? brand image and creative vision. Under the direction of Mr. Marciano, our Los Angeles-based advertising department is responsible for overseeing all worldwide advertising. Throughout our history, we have maintained a high degree of consistency in our advertisements by using similar themes and images, including our signature black and white print advertisements and iconic logos.
We deploy a variety of media focused on national and international contemporary fashion/beauty, lifestyle and celebrity outlets. In recent years, we have also expanded our efforts into influencer marketing, digital advertising with leading fashion and lifestyle websites and advertising on social media platforms including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Reddit, Snapchat, TikTok and global search engines. Our smartphone applications provide a unique mobile media experience by combining fashion, e-commerce, personalized product recommendations, targeted promotions and social loyalty rewards to drive mobile brand engagement.
We also require our licensees and distributors to invest a percentage of their net sales of licensed products and net purchases of GUESS? products in Company-approved advertising, promotion and marketing. By retaining control over our advertising programs, we are able to maintain the integrity of our brands while realizing substantial cost savings compared to outside agencies.
We will continue to regularly assess and implement marketing initiatives that we believe will build brand equity and grow our business by investing in marketing programs to build awareness and drive customer traffic to our stores, websites and smartphone applications. We plan to further strengthen communications with customers through an emphasis on digital marketing, and through our websites, loyalty programs, direct catalog and marketing mailings. We also plan to strengthen communities on various social media platforms, which enable us to provide timely information in an entertaining fashion to consumers about our history, products, special events, promotions and store locations, while allowing us to receive and respond directly to customer feedback.
As part of these initiatives, we currently have loyalty programs in North America, Europe and Asia covering all of our brands. The programs are designed to reward our members by earning points for purchases that can be redeemed on future purchases either in our stores or online. In addition to earning rewards with the program, our loyalty members may receive other benefits including invitations to special VIP events in our stores, double points during their birthday month and access to seasonal savings, depending on their purchasing tier. Our Guess List loyalty program has experienced growth in its overall member engagement numbers through the introduction of experiential rewards and unique member content. The programs are also used to promote new products to our customers which in turn increases traffic in the stores and online. The loyalty programs generate substantial repeat business that might otherwise go to competing brands. We continue to enhance our loyalty program offerings by understanding our members’ interests and needs by strategically marketing to this large and growing customer base.
Quality Control
Our quality control program is designed to ensure that products meet our high-quality standards. We test the quality of our raw materials prior to production and inspect prototypes of each product before production runs commence. We also perform random in-line quality control checks during and after production before the garments leave the contractor. Final random inspections occur when the garments are received in our distribution centers. We believe that our policy of inspecting our products is important to maintain the quality, consistency and reputation of our products. During fiscal 2020, we started a new quality assurance on site collaboration with an external expert provider for a large portion of our European purchase orders. During fiscal 2021, we began expanding the program to North America for selected purchase orders. The objective is to stop product quality issues at the origin before investing in the transportation of the goods to the final destinations.
Product Integrity and Testing Protocol
During fiscal 2021, we published a new Apparel Testing Protocol covering all our major regions, which provides minimum product integrity and other testing protocols to help ensure that our products continue to meet or exceed our customers’ expectations.
Logistics
We utilize distribution centers at strategically located sites. The Company’s U.S. distribution center is based in Louisville, Kentucky, where we use fully integrated and automated distribution systems. The bar code scanning of merchandise and distribution cartons, together with radio frequency communications, provide timely, controlled, accurate and instantaneous updates to our distribution information systems. Distribution of our products in Canada is handled primarily from Company operated distribution centers in Montreal, Quebec. In Europe, distribution of our products is handled primarily by third-party distributors through distribution facilities in Italy, the Netherlands and Poland. The Company also utilizes smaller distribution facilities throughout Europe. We utilize several third-party operated distribution warehouses that service the Asia region.
Competition
The apparel industry is highly competitive and fragmented and is subject to rapidly changing consumer demands and preferences. We believe that our success depends in large part upon our ability to anticipate, gauge and respond to changing consumer demands and fashion trends in a timely manner and upon the continued appeal to consumers of the GUESS? brand. We compete with numerous apparel retailers, manufacturers and distributors, both domestically and internationally, as well as several well-known designers. Our licensed apparel and accessories also compete with a substantial number of well-known brands. Although the level and nature of competition differs among our product categories and geographic regions, we believe that we differentiate ourselves from our competitors by offering a global lifestyle brand on the basis of our global brand image and wide product assortment comprising both apparel and accessories. We also believe that our geographic diversification, multiple distribution channels and multiple store concepts help to set us apart from our competition.
Information Systems
We believe that high levels of automation and technology are essential to maintain our competitive position and support our strategic objectives. We continue to invest in and update computer hardware, network infrastructure, system applications and cyber security. Our computer information systems consist of a full range of
financial, distribution, merchandising, point-of-sales, customer relationship management, supply chain, digital platform, enterprise resource planning and other systems. During fiscal 2021, key initiatives included digital platform improvement and stabilization, completion of the migration of our home-grown e-commerce platform to Salesforce Commerce Cloud, and continued development of mobile-based initiatives to support our wholesale and direct-to-consumer businesses. Other customer-focused initiatives included: beginning the implementation of Salesforce Customer 360, mobile point of sale checkout and endless aisle, and Wi-Fi in store customer access, as well as continuing enhancements of our product life cycle management and supply chain tracking system. In addition, we continue to enhance our systems to align our IT standards globally to accommodate future growth and provide operational efficiencies.
Trademarks
We own numerous trademarks, including GUESS, GUESS?, GUESS U.S.A., GUESS Jeans, GUESS? and Triangle Design, MARCIANO, Question Mark and Triangle Design, a stylized G and a stylized M, GUESS Kids, Baby GUESS, YES, G by GUESS, GbG, GUESS by MARCIANO and Gc. As of January 30, 2021, we had over 5,100 trademarks in the U.S. and internationally registered trademarks or trademark applications pending with the trademark offices in over 175 countries around the world, including the U.S. From time-to-time, we adopt new trademarks in connection with the marketing of our product lines. We consider our trademarks to have significant value in the marketing of our products and act aggressively to register and protect our trademarks worldwide.
Like many well-known brands, our trademarks are subject to infringement. We have staff devoted to the monitoring and aggressive protection of our trademarks worldwide.
Seasonality
The Company’s business is impacted by the general seasonal trends characteristic of the apparel and retail industries. The retail operations in the Americas and Europe are generally stronger during the second half of the fiscal year, and the wholesale operations in the Americas generally experience stronger performance from July through November. The European wholesale businesses operate with two primary selling seasons: the Spring/Summer season, which ships from November to April and the Fall/Winter season, which ships from May to October. The Company may take advantage of early-season demand and potential reorders in its European wholesale business by offering a pre-collection assortment which ships at the beginning of each season. Customers retain the ability to request early shipment of backlog orders or delay shipment of orders depending on their needs.
Human Capital
Since our founding, we have been a company that welcomes all, both within our own operations and in our supply chain. As of January 30, 2021, with an inclusive culture and a commitment to empowering our people, we provide opportunities for approximately 11,000 associates, both full and part-time, consisting of approximately 4,000 in the U.S. and 7,000 in foreign countries. From our innovative product designers and developers working behind the scenes, to our dynamic retail store associates-and everyone in between-we are committed to making sure their diverse voices are valued, ideas are elevated, and excellence is rewarded.
Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion
Our longstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion comes to life each day as we work together to maintain a fair and inclusive workplace. Our aim is for all GUESS? associates to feel comfortable and safe bringing their whole selves to work and contributing fully to our shared success. Building on the example set by the Marciano brothers and their belief that a diverse organization was a strong and creative one, we have embedded diversity and inclusion principles and practices throughout the Company. Over nearly 40 years, this has created a rich, vibrant culture that respects, and benefits from, different personal attributes, backgrounds, ideas, and perspectives. Today, diversity is a key facet of our company-wide culture, informing our values, recruiting, talent development, and associate advancement, among other operations.
Our expectations of everyone at GUESS? to support a diverse and welcoming workplace are spelled out in the GUESS?, Inc. Code of Ethics. We expect all at GUESS? to promptly report and investigate concerns about possible discrimination, as appropriate, and to facilitate this, we maintain an open-door policy that fosters honest and open communication. GUESS? associates are encouraged to discuss work-related concerns or issues with their manager, department head, Human Resources, or Executive Management without fear of repercussion. In
addition, our global whistle-blower hotline allows associates to report concerns about unethical behavior or other potential conflicts.
Cultivating Diversity, Equity, and Belonging through Focused Councils
In part because we have always valued diversity as a core, defining characteristic of our Company, we did not identify a need to formalize our diversity and inclusion efforts under a single group or committee until recently. Prompted by our sustainability commitment on this topic, in 2018 we launched our corporate Diversity & Inclusion Council, and evolved further in 2019 (our FY2020) with the launch of our GUESS? Europe Diversity & Inclusion Council, and we have also started dialogue in our Asia offices. The Diversity and Inclusion Councils are becoming integrated throughout our business, where they help foster a workplace in which employees enjoy a sense of community, belonging, and opportunity for dialogue. The work of the councils also supports our company-wide commitment to the principles of Conscious Capitalism, provides an additional level of coordination and structure in our diversity and inclusion practices, and enhances our focus on diversity and inclusion at the highest levels, including the GUESS?, Inc. Board of Directors.
With the help of the councils, our diversity and inclusion efforts focus on inclusive leadership, employee training, and a work environment that promotes growth and opportunity for all. Initiatives include training for associates and managers, community support, greater diversity in advertising and marketing, celebrations of multicultural and inclusive holidays, and training and compliance programs in our supply chain, among others.
Sustainability and Climate Change
Information about our sustainability efforts, including our approach to managing greenhouse gas emissions, is available online at http://sustainability.guess.com. This site provides information on our policies, social impact and environmental programs, as well as our sustainability strategy, data and reporting. The site is updated biennially, and will be updated with FY21 data in June 2021. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, our websites is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this Annual Report.
Government Regulations
As a Company with global operations, we are subject to various federal, state, local and foreign laws, regulations and ordinances. Compliance with these laws, regulations and ordinances has not had, and is not expected to have, a material impact on our earnings, competitive position or capital expenditures.
Website Access to Our Periodic SEC Reports
Our investor website can be found at http://investors.guess.com. Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, are available at our investor website, free of charge, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file them with, or furnish them to, the SEC. In addition, the charters of our Board of Directors’ Audit, Compensation and Nominating and Governance Committees, as well as the Board of Directors’ Governance Guidelines and our Code of Ethics are posted on our investor website. Printed copies of these documents may also be obtained by writing or telephoning us at: Guess?, Inc., 1444 South Alameda Street, Los Angeles, California 90021, Attention: Investor Relations, (213) 765-5578.
We have included our Internet website addresses throughout this filing as textual references only. The information contained within these websites is not incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
ITEM 1A. Risk Factors.
You should carefully consider the following factors and other information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Additional risks which we do not presently consider material, or of which we are not currently aware, may also have an adverse impact on us. The information discussed below is at the time of this filing. Please also see “Important Factors Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” on page (ii).
Risks Related to Operating a Global Business
Our business is global in scope and can be impacted by factors beyond our control.
As a result of our large and growing international operations, we face the possibility of greater losses from risks inherent in doing business in international markets and from factors beyond our control. Such factors that could harm our results of operations and financial condition include, among other things: (i) political instability or acts of terrorism, which disrupt trade with the countries where we operate or in which our contractors, suppliers or customers are located; (ii) recessions and volatility in foreign economies; (iii) reduced global demand resulting in the closing of manufacturing facilities; (iv) challenges in managing dispersed foreign operations; (v) local business practices that do not conform to legal or ethical guidelines; (vi) adoption of additional or revised quotas, restrictions or regulations relating to imports or exports; (vii) additional or increased customs duties, tariffs, taxes and other charges on imports or exports; (viii) anti-American sentiment in foreign countries where we operate resulting from actual or proposed changes to U.S. immigration and travel policies or other factors; (ix) delays in receipts due to our distribution centers as a result of labor unrest, increasing security requirements or other factors at U.S. or other ports; (x) fluctuations in the value of the dollar against foreign currencies; (xi) increased difficulty in protecting our intellectual property rights in foreign jurisdictions; (xii) social, labor, legal or economic instability in the foreign markets in which we do business, which could influence our ability to sell products in, or distribute products from, these international markets; (xiii) restrictions on the transfer of funds between the U.S. and foreign jurisdictions; (xiv) our ability and the ability of our international retail store licensees, distributors and joint venture partners to locate and continue to open desirable new retail locations; and (xv) natural disasters or public health crises in areas in which our contractors, suppliers, or customers are located.
Further, our international presence means we are subject to certain U.S. laws, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, as well as the laws of the foreign countries in which we operate, including data privacy laws. If any of our international operations, or our employees or agents, violates such laws, we could become subject to sanctions or other penalties that could negatively affect our reputation, business and operating results.
Currency fluctuations could adversely impact our financial condition, results of operations and earnings.
Since the majority of our international operations are conducted in currencies other than the U.S. dollar (primarily the British pound, Canadian dollar, Chinese yuan, euro, Japanese yen, Korean won, Mexican peso, Polish zloty, Russian rouble and Turkish lira), currency fluctuations can have a significant impact on the translation of our international revenues and earnings (loss) into U.S. dollars. These amounts could be materially affected by the strengthening of the U.S. dollar, negatively impacting our results of operations, earnings and our ability to generate revenue growth. Furthermore, our products are typically sourced in U.S. dollars and the cost of these products may be affected by changes in the value of the applicable local currencies. Changes in currency exchange rates may also affect the U.S. dollar value of the foreign currency denominated prices at which our international businesses sell products. Our future financial results could be significantly affected by the value of the U.S. dollar in relation to the foreign currencies in which we conduct business, and the speed at which these fluctuations occur. If the U.S. dollar strengthens relative to the respective fiscal 2021 foreign exchange rates, foreign exchange could negatively impact our revenues and operating results, as well as our international cash and other balance sheet items during fiscal 2022, particularly in Canada, Europe (primarily the euro, British pound, Turkish lira and Russian rouble) and Mexico.
Although we hedge certain exposures to changes in foreign currency exchange rates, we cannot assure that foreign currency fluctuations will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations. Furthermore, since some of our hedging activities are designed to reduce volatility of fluctuating exchange rates, they not only reduce the negative impact of a stronger U.S. dollar, but they also reduce the positive impact of a weaker U.S. dollar. In addition, while our foreign currency hedges are designed to reduce volatility over the forward contract period, these contracts can create volatility during the period. The degree to which our financial results are affected for any given time period will depend in part upon our hedging activities.
Abnormally harsh or unseasonable weather conditions could have a material adverse impact on our sales, inventory levels and operating results.
Extreme weather conditions in areas in which our retail stores and wholesale doors are located, particularly in markets where we have a concentration of locations, could adversely affect our business. For example, heavy snowfall, rainfall or other extreme weather conditions over a prolonged period might make it difficult for our customers to travel to our stores and thereby reduce our sales and profitability. Our business is also susceptible to unseasonable weather conditions. For example, extended periods of unseasonably warm temperatures during the winter season or cool weather during the summer season could render a portion of our inventory incompatible with those unseasonable conditions. Reduced sales from extreme or prolonged unseasonable weather conditions could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Our results of operations could be affected by natural events in the locations in which we or our customers or suppliers operate.
Our corporate headquarters, as well as other key operational locations, including retail, distribution and warehousing facilities, are in areas subject to natural events such as severe weather and geological events or public health crises that could disrupt our operations. Many of our suppliers and customers also have operations in these locations. The occurrence of such natural events may result in sudden disruptions in business conditions of the local economies affected, as well as of the regional and global economies. Such disruptions could result in store closures, decreased demand for our products and disruptions in our management functions, sales channels and manufacturing and distribution networks, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is having a material impact on the Company’s financial performance. The pandemic is ongoing and dynamic in nature, including as a result of regional surges, the spread of virus variants and the timing and efficacy of vaccines and other treatments. To date, the Company has experienced temporary closures in key regions globally, along with other major retailers. In addition, retail stores have experienced significant reductions in traffic and therefore, revenue. The extent and duration of the crisis remains uncertain and may continue to have significant negative impacts to all aspects of our business and results of operations in future periods.
Future changes to U.S. tax or trade policies impacting multi-national companies could materially affect our financial condition and results of operations.
During fiscal 2021, we sourced most of our finished products with partners and suppliers outside the U.S. and we continued to design and purchase fabrics globally, with most coming from China. In addition, we have increased our sales of product outside of the U.S. In fiscal 2021, approximately 74% of our consolidated net product sales was generated by sales from outside of the U.S. In the long-term, we anticipate these international revenues will continue to grow as a percentage of our total business. The current political landscape has introduced greater uncertainty with respect to future tax and trade regulations for U.S. companies with significant business and sourcing operations outside the U.S.
The ongoing economic conflict between the U.S. and China has resulted in increased tariffs being imposed on goods we import from China. We have been reducing our dependency on China sourcing, particularly for our U.S. business, and mitigating potential tariffs’ risks without compromising the quality of our products, while improving costs. However, we cannot predict whether, and to what extent, there may be changes to international trade agreements, such as those with China, or whether quotas, duties, tariffs, exchange controls or other restrictions will be changed or imposed by the U.S. or by other countries. If we or our vendors or product licensees are unable to obtain raw materials or finished goods from the countries where we or they wish to purchase them, either because of such regulatory changes or for any other reason, or if the cost of doing so should increase, it could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
Changes in subjective assumptions, estimates and judgments by management related to complex tax matters, including those resulting from regulatory reviews, could adversely affect our financial results.
We are subject to routine tax audits on various tax matters around the world in the ordinary course of business (including income tax, business tax, customs duties and Value Added Tax (“VAT”) matters). We regularly assess the adequacy of our uncertain tax positions and other reserves, which requires a significant amount of judgment. Although we accrue for uncertain tax positions and other reserves, the results of regulatory audits and negotiations with taxing and customs authorities may be in excess of our accruals, resulting in the
payment of additional taxes, duties, penalties and interest. See “Part IV. Financial Statements - Note 12 - Income Taxes” in this Form 10-K for disclosures about our tax matters, including reserves for uncertain tax positions.
From time-to-time, we make VAT and other tax-related refund claims with various foreign tax authorities that are audited by those authorities for compliance. Failure by these foreign governments to approve or ultimately pay these claims could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and liquidity.
Changes in tax laws, significant shifts in the relative source of our earnings, or other unanticipated tax liabilities could adversely affect our effective income tax rate and profitability and may result in volatility in our financial results.
We are subject to income taxes in the U.S. and numerous foreign jurisdictions. Tax laws, regulations, and administrative practices in various jurisdictions may be subject to significant change. We record tax expense based on our estimate of future payments, which include reserves for uncertain tax positions in multiple tax jurisdictions and requires significant judgment in evaluating and estimating our provision and accruals. Our effective income tax rate in the future could be affected by a number of other factors, including: the outcome of income tax audits in various jurisdictions, changes in our stock price, the resolution of uncertain tax positions and changes in our operating structure. We and our subsidiaries are engaged in intercompany transactions across multiple tax jurisdictions. Although we believe these transactions reflect arm’s length terms and the proper transfer pricing documentation is in place, these transfer pricing terms and conditions may be scrutinized by local tax authorities during an audit and any resulting changes may impact our mix of earnings in countries with differing statutory tax rates. In addition, the relative amount of our foreign earnings, including earnings being lower than anticipated in jurisdictions where we have lower statutory rates and higher than anticipated in jurisdictions where we have higher statutory rates, as well as losses in jurisdictions where we are unable to realize the related tax benefits, can create volatility in our effective income tax rate. Any one of these factors could adversely impact our income tax rate and our profitability and could create ongoing variability in our quarterly or annual tax rates.
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), an international association comprised of 36 countries, including the United States, has made changes to numerous long-standing tax principles. There can be no assurance that these changes, once adopted by countries, will not have an adverse impact on our provision for income taxes.
Risks Related to our Business Strategy
If we fail to successfully execute growth initiatives, including acquisitions and alliances, our business and results of operations could be harmed.
We regularly evaluate strategic acquisitions and alliances and pursue those that we believe will support and contribute to our overall growth initiatives.
These efforts place increased demands on our managerial, operational and administrative resources that could prevent or delay the successful opening of new stores and the identification of suitable licensee partners, adversely impact the performance of our existing stores and adversely impact our overall results of operations. In addition, acquired businesses and additional store openings may not provide us with increased business opportunities, or result in the growth we anticipate, particularly during economic downturns. Furthermore, integrating acquired operations (including existing licensees or joint venture partners) is a complex, time-consuming and expensive process. Failing to acquire and successfully integrate complementary businesses, or to achieve the business synergies or other anticipated benefits of acquisitions or joint ventures, could materially adversely affect our business and results of operations.
We may be unsuccessful in implementing our plans to open and operate new stores, which could harm our business and negatively affect our results of operations.
New store openings have historically been an important part of the growth of our business. To open and operate new stores successfully, we must: (i) identify desirable locations, the availability of which is out of our control; (ii) negotiate acceptable lease terms, including desired tenant improvement allowances; (iii) efficiently build and equip the new stores; (iv) source sufficient levels of inventory to meet the needs of the new stores; (v) hire, train and retain competent store personnel; (vi) successfully integrate the new stores into our existing systems and operations; and (vii) satisfy the fashion preferences of customers in the new geographic areas.
Any of these challenges could delay our store openings, prevent us from completing our store opening plans or hinder the operations of stores we open. These challenges could be even more pronounced in foreign markets
due to unfamiliar local regulations, business conditions and other factors. Once open, we cannot be sure that our new stores will be profitable. Unfavorable economic and business conditions and changing consumer preferences could also interfere with our store opening plans.
Failure to successfully develop and manage new store design concepts could adversely affect our business.
The introduction and growth or maintenance of new store design concepts as part of our growth and productivity strategies could strain our financial and management resources and is subject to a number of other risks, including customer acceptance, product differentiation, competition and maintaining desirable locations. These risks may be compounded during difficult economic climates or future economic downturn. There can be no assurance that new store designs will achieve or maintain sales and profitability levels that justify the required investments. If we are unable to successfully develop new store designs, or if consumers are not receptive to the products, design layout, or visual merchandising, our results of operations and financial results could be adversely affected. In addition, the failure of new store designs to achieve acceptable results could lead to unplanned store closures and/or impairment and other charges, which could adversely affect our results of operations and growth.
We may not fully realize expected cost savings and/or operating efficiencies related to cost-saving initiatives.
We have identified several areas that present opportunities for future cost savings and efficiencies, including improved working capital management, distribution, systems integration and development, supply chain, retail store rent relief efforts, store closure opportunities, and other initiatives, based on a number of assumptions and expectations which, if achieved, would improve profitability and cash flows from operating activities. However, there can be no assurance the expected results will be achieved. These and any future spend reductions, if any, may also negatively impact other initiatives or efforts to grow our business, which may negatively impact future results of operations and increase the burden on existing management, systems and resources. In addition, these cost savings may be negated or offset by unexpected or increased costs and poorer performance in other areas of the business.
Risks Related to Macroeconomic Conditions
Our financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected by pandemics such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Our business could be materially adversely affected by an outbreak of contagious disease, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic (including new variants of the virus), the timing, distribution and efficacy of vaccines and other treatments for COVID-19, or other adverse public health developments resulting in business closures and limits domestic and international travel. These effects could include disruptions or restrictions on travel, temporary closures of our stores, office buildings or the facilities of our wholesale customers or suppliers. We may also see disruptions in shipments and negative impacts to pricing of certain product components. Further, any disruption of our customers or suppliers would likely impact sales and operating results. In addition, an outbreak of contagious disease could result in a widespread health crisis adversely affecting the economies and financial markets of many countries, resulting in an economic downturn affecting demand for our end customers’ products and impacting our operating results. The resulting economic downturn can also negatively impact our stock price.
The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have been broad reaching, including impacts to our retail, wholesale and licensing businesses. The pandemic has impacted our business globally, with significant temporary store closures and materially lower traffic at open stores. The COVID-19 pandemic is also impacting the Asia region, which is the source of most of our goods. Temporary factory closures and the pace of workers returning to work could further impact our suppliers’ ability to source raw materials and to timely produce and fulfill finished goods orders. We have also experienced modest impacts on deliveries, driven primarily by factory labor shortages and port congestion. The ability of our distribution and logistics providers to operate may be further impacted depending on the continued severity and duration of the pandemic and may have a significant impact on the cost and timing of receipts for future seasons. The occurrence of any of these events could further negatively impact our future consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows. There could be a prolonged impact on our business due to slow economic recovery or changes in consumer behavior. We currently anticipate that we will be able to satisfy our ongoing cash requirements during the next 12 months primarily with cash flow from operations and existing cash balances as supplemented by borrowings under our existing Credit Facility in the U.S. and Canada as well as bank facilities in Europe and China as needed. However, if we have sustained decrease in consumer demand related to the COVID-19 pandemic, we may require access to additional credit. There is no
guarantee we will be able to obtain additional credit or extend or refinance our existing borrowing agreements. The results for the first quarter of fiscal 2022 as well as full fiscal 2022 could also be impacted in ways we cannot predict today, including, but not limited to, non-cash write-downs and asset impairment charges (including impairments on property and equipment, operating lease right-of use assets and goodwill); unrealized gains or losses related to investments; foreign currency fluctuations; and collections of accounts receivables.
Slowing customer traffic in malls or outlet centers could significantly reduce our sales, increase pressure on our margins and leave us with excess inventory.
Unfavorable economic conditions, changing shopping patterns, including significant increases in e-commerce sales, changing demographic patterns and other factors have adversely affected customer traffic in mall and outlet centers. This, in turn, has resulted in significant pricing pressures and a highly promotional retail environment in the apparel sector. Should these trends continue or worsen, it could negatively impact our sales, increase pressure on our margins, leave us with excess inventory, cause a decline in profits and negatively impact our liquidity.
Poor or uncertain economic conditions, and the resulting negative impact on consumer confidence and spending, have had and could in the future have an adverse effect on our business.
The apparel industry is cyclical in nature and is particularly affected by adverse trends in the general economy. Purchases of apparel and related merchandise are generally discretionary and therefore tend to decline during periods of economic uncertainty and recession, but may also decline at other times. Over the last several years, volatile economic conditions and uncertain market conditions in many markets around the world have resulted in cautious consumer spending. For example, a number of European countries experienced difficult economic conditions, including sovereign debt issues that negatively impacted the capital markets. These conditions resulted in reduced consumer confidence and spending in many countries in Europe, particularly Southern Europe. While these conditions have improved, if conditions in Europe, or other economic regions in which we do business, worsen or fail to further improve, there will likely be a negative impact on our business, prospects, operating results, financial condition and cash flows.
There are a number of other factors that could contribute to reduced levels of consumer spending, such as increases in interest rates, currency fluctuations, inflation, unemployment, consumer debt levels, inclement weather, tax, net worth reductions based on market declines or uncertainty, energy prices and austerity measures. Similarly, natural disasters, labor unrest, actual or potential terrorist acts, public health crises, global trade, immigration policies, geopolitical unrest and other conflicts can also create significant instability and uncertainty in the world, causing consumers to defer purchases and travel, or prevent suppliers and service providers from providing required services or materials to us. These or other factors could materially and adversely affect our business, prospects, operating results, financial condition and cash flows.
Fluctuations in the price or availability of quality raw materials and commodities could increase costs and negatively impact profitability.
The raw materials used to manufacture our merchandise are subject to availability constraints and price volatility caused by high demand for fabrics, currency fluctuations, crop yields, weather patterns, climate change, supply conditions, government regulations (including tariffs), labor conditions, energy costs, transportation or freight costs, economic climate, public health crises, market speculation and other unpredictable factors. Negative trends in any of these conditions or our inability to appropriately project fabric requirements could increase costs and negatively impact profitability.
Risks Related to Brand Reputation, Relevance and Protection
Demand for our merchandise may decrease and the appeal of our brand image may diminish if we fail to identify and rapidly respond to consumers’ fashion tastes.
The apparel industry is subject to rapidly evolving fashion trends and shifting consumer demands. Accordingly, our brand image and profitability are heavily dependent upon the priority our customers place on fashion and our ability to anticipate, identify and capitalize upon emerging fashion trends. If we fail to anticipate, identify or react appropriately, or in a timely manner, to fashion trends (including as a result of our recent shift to a single global line of apparel), we could experience reduced consumer appeal and a diminished brand image. These factors could result in higher wholesale markdowns, lower average unit retail prices, lower product margins
and decreased sales volumes and could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
Our inability to protect our reputation could have a material adverse effect on our brand.
Our ability to maintain our reputation is critical. Our reputation could be jeopardized if we or our third-party providers fail to maintain high standards for merchandise quality and integrity. Any negative publicity about these types of concerns may reduce demand for our merchandise. Failure by us or our third-party providers to comply with ethical, social, product, labor, health and safety or environmental standards could also jeopardize our reputation and potentially lead to adverse consumer actions, including boycotts. They could also impact investment decisions by investors, including some large institutional investors and funds, which could negatively impact our stock price. With the increased proliferation of social media, public perception about products, business practices, stores or brand, whether justified or not, could impair our reputation, involve us in litigation, damage our brand and have a material adverse effect on our business. Failure to comply with local laws and regulations, to maintain an effective system of internal controls or to provide accurate and timely financial information could also hurt our reputation. Damage to our reputation or loss of consumer confidence for any of these or other reasons could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition, as well as require additional resources to rebuild our reputation.
We depend on our intellectual property, and our methods of protecting it may not be adequate.
Our success and competitive position depend significantly upon our trademarks and other proprietary rights. We take steps to establish and protect our trademarks worldwide. Any precautions we may take to protect our intellectual property, policing unauthorized use of our intellectual property is difficult, expensive and time consuming. We may be unable to adequately protect our intellectual property or to determine the extent of any unauthorized use, particularly in those foreign countries where the laws do not protect proprietary rights as fully as in the U.S. We also place significant value on our trade dress and the overall appearance and image of our products. However, we cannot assure that we can prevent imitation of our products by others or prevent others from seeking to block sales of GUESS? products for purported violations of their trademarks and proprietary rights. We also cannot assure that others will not assert rights in, or ownership of, trademarks and other proprietary rights of GUESS?, our proprietary rights would be upheld if challenged or we would, in that event, not be prevented from using our trademarks, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Further, we could incur substantial costs in legal actions relating to our use of intellectual property or the use of our intellectual property by others.
Risks Related to Third Party Relationships
Since we do not control our licensees’ actions and we depend on our licensees for a substantial portion of our earnings from operations, their conduct could harm our business.
We license to others the rights to produce and market certain products sold with our trademarks. While we retain significant control over our licensees’ products and advertising, we rely on our licensees for, among other things, operational and financial control over their businesses. If the quality, focus, image or distribution of our licensed products diminish, consumer acceptance of and demand for our brands and products could decline. This could materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations.
In fiscal 2021, approximately 72% of our net royalties were derived from our top five licensed product lines. A decrease in customer demand for any of these product lines could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. In addition, purchases from our top two licensees in fiscal 2021 accounted for almost 27% of our total inventory purchases. Although we believe we could replace existing licensees if necessary, we may have a negative impact during the transition period. Our inability to replace existing licensees could adversely affect our revenues and results of operations.
Our success depends on the strength of our relationships with our suppliers and manufacturers.
The majority of our finished goods are sourced from partners and suppliers located in over 30 countries outside the U.S. In fiscal 2021, over half of these products were sourced from partners and suppliers based in China. Our two largest suppliers, which were licensee partners, accounted for approximately 27% of our purchases of finished goods in fiscal 2021.
We do not own or operate production facilities, and depend on independent factories to supply fabric and manufacture products to our specifications. We do not have long-term contracts with any suppliers or manufacturers, and our business is dependent on our partnerships with our vendors. If manufacturing costs rise significantly, our product margins and results of operations could be negatively affected. In addition, very few of our vendors manufacture our products exclusively. As a result, we compete with other companies for the production capacity of independent contractors. If our vendors fail to ship our fabrics or products on time or to meet our quality standards or are unable to fill our orders, we might not be able to deliver products to our retail stores and wholesale customers on time or at all.
Moreover, our suppliers have at times been unable to deliver finished products in a timely fashion. This has led, from time-to-time, to an increase in our inventory, creating potential markdowns and a resulting decrease in our profitability. As there are a finite number of skilled manufacturers that meet our requirements, it could take significant time to identify and qualify suitable alternatives, which could result in our missing retailing seasons or our wholesale customers canceling orders, refusing to accept deliveries or requiring we lower selling prices. Since we prefer not to return merchandise to our manufacturers, we could also have a considerable amount of unsold merchandise. Any of these problems could harm our financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Related to Data Privacy and Cybersecurity
A data privacy breach or failure to comply with data privacy laws could damage our reputation and customer relationships, expose us to litigation risk and potential fines and adversely affect our business.
As part of our normal operations, we collect, process, transmit and where appropriate, retain certain sensitive and confidential employee and customer information, including credit card information. There is significant concern by consumers and employees over the security of personal information, consumer identity theft and user privacy. Despite the security measures in place, our facilities and systems, and those of our third-party service providers, are vulnerable to security breaches, cyber-attacks, acts of vandalism, computer viruses, misplaced or lost data, programming and/or human errors, or other similar events. As a result of recent security breaches at a number of prominent retailers and other large institutions, the media and public scrutiny of information security and privacy has become more intense and the regulatory environment has become more uncertain. Any security breach involving the misappropriation, loss or other unauthorized disclosure of confidential customer or employee information, whether by us or our vendors, could result in significant legal and remediation expenses, severely damage our reputation and our customer relationships, harm sales, expose us to risks of litigation and liability and result in a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Additionally, changing privacy laws in the United States, Europe and elsewhere, including the adoption by the European Union of the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”), which became effective May 2018, created new individual privacy rights and imposed increased obligations on companies handling personal data. Consequently, we may incur significant costs related to prevention and to comply with laws regarding the protection and unauthorized disclosure of personal information. A failure to comply with the stringent rules of the GDPR could result in material fines.
Our business could suffer if our computer systems and websites are disrupted or cease to operate effectively.
The efficient operation of our business is very dependent on our computer and information systems. We rely heavily on our merchandise management and ERP systems used to track sales and inventory and manage our supply chain. In addition, we have e-commerce and other Internet websites worldwide. Given the complexity of our business it is imperative that we maintain constant operation of our computer hardware and software systems. Despite our preventative efforts, our systems are vulnerable from time-to-time to damage or interruption from, among other things, ineffective upgrades or support from third-party vendors, difficulties in replacing or integrating new systems, security breaches, computer viruses, natural disasters and power outages. Any such problems or interruptions could result in incorrect information being supplied to management, inefficient ordering and replenishment of products, loss of orders, significant expenditures, disruption of our operations, inability to produce accurate financial statements, and other adverse impacts to our business.
Risks Related to Competition
The apparel industry is highly competitive, and we may face difficulties competing successfully in the future.
We operate in a highly competitive and fragmented industry with low barriers to entry. We compete with many apparel manufacturers and distributors, both domestically and internationally, as well as many well-known
designers. We, along with our licensees, compete with many other designers and retailers (both brick and mortar and e-commerce sites), including department stores, some of whom are our major wholesale customers. Global and regional branded competitor companies pose significant challenges to our market share in our existing major domestic and foreign markets and to our ability to successfully develop new markets. Some of our competitors have advantages over us, including greater financial and marketing resources, higher wage rates, lower prices, more desirable store locations, greater online and e-commerce presence and faster speed-to-market. In addition, our larger competitors may be better equipped to adapt to changing conditions affecting the competitive market and newer competitors may be viewed as more desirable by consumers. Also, in most countries, the industry’s low barriers to entry allow the introduction of new products or new competitors at a fast pace. In other countries, high import duties may favor locally produced products. Any of these factors could result in reductions in sales or prices and could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
Our Americas Wholesale business is highly concentrated. If any large customers decrease their purchases or experience financial difficulties, our results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.
In fiscal 2021, our two largest wholesale customers accounted for a total of approximately 3.4% of our consolidated net revenue. No other single customer or group of related customers in any of our segments accounted for more than 1.0% of our consolidated net revenue in fiscal 2021. Continued consolidation in the retail industry could further decrease the number of, or concentrate the ownership of, stores that carry our products and our licensees’ products. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of designer brands seeking placement in department stores, which makes any one brand potentially less attractive to department stores. If any one of our major wholesale customers decides to decrease purchases from us, to stop carrying our products or to carry our products on less favorable terms, our sales and profitability could significantly decrease. Similarly, some retailers have recently experienced significant financial difficulties, which in some cases have resulted in bankruptcy, liquidation and store closures. Financial difficulties of one of our major customers could result in reduced business and higher credit risk with respect to that customer. Any of these circumstances could ultimately have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
Risks Related to Legal, Governmental and Regulatory Matters
Violation of laws or regulations, or changes to existing laws or regulations could adversely affect our business, reputation and results of operations.
We are subject to numerous laws and regulations at the state, federal including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and international levels, including, but not limited to, the areas of health care, data privacy, taxes, transportation and logistics, the environment, trade, conflict minerals, product safety, employment and labor, advertising and pricing practices, consumer protection, e-commerce, anti-competition, anti-corruption and intellectual property. Compliance with these numerous laws and regulations is complicated, time consuming and expensive. In addition, the laws may be inconsistent from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and are subject to change from time to time, sometimes unexpectedly. Failure to comply or to effectively anticipate changes in such laws or regulations could have a material adverse effect on our business, reputation and results of operations.
Violation of labor, environmental and other laws by our licensees or suppliers could harm our business.
We require our licensing partners and suppliers to operate in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. While our internal and vendor operating guidelines, code of conduct and monitoring programs promote ethical business practices and compliance with laws, we do not control our licensees or suppliers or their labor, environmental, safety or other business practices. A violation of law by any of our licensees or suppliers, or divergence of a licensee’s or supplier’s business practices or social responsibility standards from ours or those generally accepted as ethical in the U.S., could disrupt the shipment of our products, harm the value of our trademarks, damage our reputation or expose us to potential liability.
We are subject to periodic litigation and other regulatory proceedings, which could result in unexpected obligations, as well as the diversion of time and resources.
We are involved from time-to-time in various U.S. and foreign lawsuits relating to our business, including purported class action lawsuits, employment claims and intellectual property claims. Due to the inherent uncertainties of litigation and regulatory proceedings, we cannot accurately predict the ultimate outcome of any such new or existing proceedings. Should management’s evaluation of any such claims or proceedings or the likelihood of any future claims or proceedings prove incorrect, our exposure could materially exceed expectations,
adversely impacting our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, any significant litigation or regulatory matters, regardless of the merits, could divert management’s attention from our operations and result in substantial legal fees. See “Part IV. Financial Statements - Note 15 - Commitments and Contingencies” in this Form 10-K for disclosures about our legal and other proceedings.
Risks Related to Inventory, Human Capital and Supply Chain Management
Our failure to retain our existing senior management team or to retain or attract other key personnel could adversely affect our business.
Our business requires disciplined execution at all levels of our organization in order to ensure the timely delivery of desirable merchandise in appropriate quantities to our stores and other customers. This execution requires experienced and talented management in various areas of our business. Our success depends upon the personal efforts and abilities of our senior management, particularly Carlos Alberini, Chief Executive Officer, Paul Marciano, Chief Creative Officer, and other key personnel. Although we believe we have a strong management team with relevant industry expertise, the extended loss of the services of these or other key personnel and failure to effectively identify and attract suitable successors could materially harm our business.
We could find we are carrying excess inventories if we fail to shorten lead-times or anticipate consumer demand, if our international vendors do not supply quality products on a timely basis, if our merchandising strategies fail or if we do not open new and remodel existing stores on schedule.
Although we have shortened lead-times for the design, production and development of a portion of our product lines, we expect to continue to place orders with our vendors for most of our products a season or more in advance. If we are unsuccessful in continuing to shorten lead-times or if we fail to anticipate fashion trends or consumer demand, we could have excess inventories. Additionally, our vendors could fail to timely supply the quality products and materials we require. Moreover, we could fail to effectively market or merchandise products once we receive them. We could fail to open new or remodeled stores on schedule, and inventory purchases made in anticipation of store openings could remain unsold. If we experience excess inventories including from temporary store closures, wholesale order cancellations and reduced consumer demand from the COVID-19 pandemic, we could incur inventory write-downs and markdowns, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
Failure to deliver merchandise timely to our distribution facilities, stores or wholesale customers could disrupt our business.
The efficient operation of our global retail and wholesale businesses depends on the timely importation, customs clearance, and receipt of merchandise to and from distribution centers and our ability to efficiently process such merchandise. We receive merchandise at our distribution facilities and deliver merchandise to our stores and wholesale customers using independent third parties who import as well as transport goods. The independent third parties and entities on which they rely have employees which may be represented by labor unions. Disruptions in the delivery of merchandise caused by importation delays or work stoppages by employees or contractors of any of these third parties could delay the timely receipt of merchandise. Any failure by a third-party to respond adequately to our distribution needs could disrupt our business.
A disruption at our distribution facilities could have a material adverse impact on our sales and operating results.
Our U.S. business relies primarily on a single distribution center located in Louisville, Kentucky to receive, store and distribute merchandise to our U.S. retail stores, wholesale customers and e-commerce customers. Distribution of our products in Canada is handled primarily from two distribution centers in Montreal, Quebec. In Asia, we utilize several third-party operated distribution warehouses that service the Asia region. In Europe, distribution of our products is handled primarily by third-party distributors through a distribution facility in Venlo, Netherlands. The Company continues to optimize its logistic network in Europe.
Any significant interruption in the operation of any of our distribution centers due to natural events (including public health crises), weather conditions, accidents, system failures, capacity issues, labor issues, relationships with our third-party warehouse operators or landlords, failure to successfully complete or delays in optimizing our logistics network, new providers, and/or new distribution systems or other unforeseen causes could have a material adverse effect on our ability to efficiently manage the volume and/or costs associated with the
distribution of our products without encountering shipment delays or wholesale order cancellations. Such impacts could negatively impact our sales, inventory positions, operating results and customer relations.
Risks Related to Credit, Indebtedness and Investment in our Stock
We may be unable to raise the funds necessary to repurchase our $300 million 2.0% convertible senior notes due 2024 (the “Notes”) for cash following a fundamental change, or to pay any cash amounts due upon conversion, and our other indebtedness may limit our ability to repurchase the Notes or pay cash upon their conversion.
Noteholders may require us to repurchase their Notes following a fundamental change at a cash repurchase price generally equal to the principal amount of the Notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any. In addition, upon conversion, we will satisfy part or all of our conversion obligation in cash unless we elect to settle conversions solely in shares of our common stock. We will be required to repay the Notes in cash at their maturity, unless earlier converted or repurchased. We may not have enough available cash or be able to obtain financing at the time we are required to repurchase the Notes or pay the cash amounts due upon conversion. In addition, applicable law, regulatory authorities and the agreements governing our other indebtedness, including our current Credit Facility and other agreements we may enter into in the future, may restrict our ability to make payments on the Notes other than scheduled principal and interest, and as a result, upon a fundamental change we may not be able to repurchase the Notes and upon any conversions of the Notes may be unable to pay the cash amounts, if any, then due. Our inability to satisfy our obligations under the Notes could harm our reputation and affect the trading price of our common stock.
Our failure to repurchase Notes or to pay the cash amounts due upon conversion or at maturity when required will constitute a default under the Indenture. A default under the Indenture or the fundamental change itself could also lead to a default under agreements governing our other indebtedness, which may result in that other indebtedness becoming immediately payable in full. We may not have sufficient funds to satisfy all amounts due under the other indebtedness and the Notes.
The issuance or sale of shares of our common stock, or rights to acquire shares of our common stock, could depress the trading price of our common stock and the Notes.
We may conduct future offerings of our common stock, preferred stock or other securities that are convertible into or exercisable for our common stock to finance operations, fund acquisitions, or other purposes. In addition, we have reserved a substantial number of shares of our common stock for issuance upon the exercise of stock options, upon the vesting of restricted stock and restricted stock units pursuant to our employee benefit plans, upon conversion of the Notes and upon the exercise and settlement or termination of the warrant transactions. We cannot predict the size of future issuances or the effect they may have on the trading price of our common stock and the Notes.
If we issue additional shares of our common stock or rights to acquire shares of our common stock, if any of our existing stockholders sells a substantial amount of our common stock, or if the market perceives that such issuances or sales may occur, then the trading price of our common stock and the Notes may significantly decrease. In addition, our issuance of additional shares of common stock will dilute the ownership interests of our existing common stockholders.
Difficulties in the credit markets could have a negative impact on our customers, suppliers and business partners, which, in turn could materially and adversely affect our results of operations and liquidity.
The impact of difficult credit conditions on our customers, business partners, suppliers, insurance providers and financial institutions with which we do business cannot be predicted and may be quite severe. The inability of our manufacturers to ship our products could impair our ability to meet delivery date requirements. A disruption in the ability of our significant customers, distributors or licensees to access liquidity could cause serious disruptions or an overall deterioration of their businesses. A disruption in the ability of a large group of our smaller customers to access liquidity could have similar adverse effects, particularly in our important multi-brand wholesale channel in Southern Europe, where many customers tend to be relatively small and not well capitalized. These conditions could lead to significant reductions in future orders of our products and the inability or failure on our customers’ part to meet their payment obligations to us, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and liquidity.
Similarly, a failure on the part of our insurance providers to meet their obligations for claims made by us could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and liquidity. Continued market difficulties or additional deterioration could jeopardize our ability to rely on those financial institutions that are parties to our various bank facilities and foreign exchange contracts. We could be exposed to a loss if the counterparty fails to meet its obligations upon our exercise of foreign exchange contracts. In addition, instability or other distress in the financial markets could impair the ability of one or more of the banks participating in our credit agreements from honoring its commitments. This could have an adverse effect on our business if we were not able to replace those commitments or to locate other sources of liquidity on acceptable terms.
Our indebtedness and liabilities could limit the cash flow available for our operations, expose us to risks that could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and impair our ability to satisfy our obligations under our outstanding indebtedness.
As of January 30, 2021, we had approximately $18.5 million of secured indebtedness, $366.7 million of senior unsecured indebtedness at maturity and approximately $300.4 million of trade payables on a consolidated basis.
We may incur additional indebtedness or draw on our existing credit facilities to meet future financing needs, some of which may be secured indebtedness.
Our indebtedness could have significant negative consequences for our security holders and our business, results of operations and financial condition by, among other things: (i) increasing our vulnerability to adverse economic and industry conditions; (ii) limiting our ability to obtain additional financing; (iii) requiring the dedication of a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to service our indebtedness, which will reduce the amount of cash available for other purposes; (iv) limiting our flexibility to plan for, or react to, changes in our business; (v) diluting the interests of our existing stockholders as a result of issuing shares of our common stock upon conversion of the Notes; and (vi) placing us at a possible competitive disadvantage with competitors that are less leveraged than us or have better access to capital.
Our business may not generate sufficient funds, and we may otherwise be unable to maintain sufficient cash reserves, to pay amounts due under our indebtedness, and our cash needs may increase in the future. In addition, our existing Credit Facility contains, and any future indebtedness may contain, financial and other restrictive covenants that limit our ability to operate our business, raise capital or make payments under our other indebtedness. If we fail to comply with these covenants or to make payments under our indebtedness when due, then we would be in default under that indebtedness, which could, in turn, result in that and our other indebtedness becoming immediately payable in full.
We conduct a significant amount of our operations through our subsidiaries and may rely on our subsidiaries to make payments under our outstanding indebtedness.
Our ability to pay amounts due on our outstanding indebtedness may depend on the cash flows of our subsidiaries and their ability to make distributions to us. Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and any payments to us would depend on the earnings or financial condition of our subsidiaries and various business considerations. Statutory, contractual or other restrictions may also limit our subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends or make distributions, loans or advances to us, and the notes and the Indenture (as defined below) pursuant to which the notes were issued do not limit or restrict our or our subsidiaries’ ability to enter into contractual restrictions on our subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends or make distributions, loans or advances to us. For these reasons, we may not have access to any assets or cash flows of our subsidiaries to make payments on our outstanding indebtedness.
Recent and future regulatory actions and other events may adversely affect the trading price and liquidity of the Notes and the liquidity of the market for our common stock.
Noteholders may seek to employ a convertible note arbitrage strategy with respect to the Notes. Under this strategy, investors typically short sell a certain number of shares of our common stock and adjust their short position over time while they continue to hold the Notes. Investors may also implement this type of strategy by entering into swaps on our common stock in lieu of, or in addition to, short selling shares of our common stock.
The SEC and other regulatory authorities have implemented various rules and taken certain actions, and may in the future adopt additional rules and take other actions, that may impact those engaging in short selling activity involving equity securities (including our common stock). These rules and actions include Rule 201 of SEC
Regulation SHO, the adoption by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., and the national securities exchanges of a “limit up-limit down” program, the imposition of market-wide circuit breakers that halt trading of securities for certain periods following specific market declines, and the implementation of certain regulatory reforms required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010. Any governmental or regulatory action that restricts investors’ ability to effect short sales of our common stock or enter into equity swaps on our common stock could depress the trading price of, and the liquidity of the market for, the Notes.
In addition, the liquidity of the market for our common stock may decline, including as a result of our anticipated share repurchases, which could reduce the number of shares available for lending in connection with short sale transactions and the number of counterparties willing to enter into an equity swap on our common stock with a note investor. If investors and noteholders seeking to employ a convertible note arbitrage strategy are unable to borrow or enter into equity swaps on our common stock on commercially reasonable terms, then the trading price of, and the liquidity of the market for, the Notes may significantly decline.
Provisions in the indenture for the Notes (the “Indenture”) could delay or prevent an otherwise beneficial takeover of us.
Certain provisions in the Indenture could make a third-party attempt to acquire us more difficult or expensive. If a takeover constitutes a fundamental change, then noteholders will have the right to require us to repurchase their Notes for cash. In addition, if a takeover constitutes a make-whole fundamental change, then we may be required to temporarily increase the conversion rate. As well, the Indenture prohibits us from engaging in certain mergers or acquisitions unless, among other things, the surviving entity assumes our obligations under the Notes. In such cases, and in other cases, our obligations under the Notes and the Indenture could increase the cost of acquiring us or otherwise discourage a third-party from acquiring us or removing incumbent management, including in a transaction that noteholders or holders of our common stock may view as favorable.
The conditional conversion feature of the Notes, if triggered, may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
In the event the conditional conversion feature of the Notes is triggered, noteholders will be entitled to convert the Notes at any time during specified periods at their option. If one or more noteholders elect to convert their Notes, unless we elect to satisfy our conversion obligation by delivering solely shares of our common stock, we would be required to settle all or a portion of the conversion obligation through the payment of cash, which could adversely affect our liquidity. Even if noteholders do not elect to convert their Notes, we could be required under applicable accounting rules to reclassify all or a portion of the outstanding principal of the Notes as a current liability, which would result in a material reduction of our net working capital.
The accounting method for the Notes could adversely affect our reported financial condition and results.
The accounting method for reflecting the Notes on our balance sheet, accruing interest expense for the Notes and reflecting the underlying shares of our common stock in our reported diluted earnings per share may adversely affect our reported earnings and financial condition.
Under applicable accounting principles, the initial liability carrying amount of the Notes is the fair value of a similar debt instrument that does not have a conversion feature, valued using our cost of capital for straight, unconvertible debt. We reflect the difference between the net proceeds from the Notes offering and the initial carrying amount as a debt discount for accounting purposes, which will be amortized into interest expense over the term of the Notes. As a result of this amortization, the interest expense that we expect to recognize for the Notes for accounting purposes will be greater than the cash interest payments we will pay on the Notes, which will result in lower reported income or higher reported loss. The lower reported income or higher reported loss resulting from this accounting treatment could depress the trading price of our common stock and the Notes.
In addition, because we intend to settle conversions by paying the conversion value in cash up to the principal amount being converted and any excess in shares, we expect to be eligible to use the treasury stock method to reflect the shares underlying the Notes in our diluted earnings per share. Under this method, if the conversion value of the notes exceeds their principal amount for a reporting period, then we will calculate our diluted earnings per share assuming that all the Notes were converted and that we issued shares of our common stock to settle the excess. However, if reflecting the Notes in diluted earnings per share in this manner is antidilutive, or if the conversion value of the Notes does not exceed their principal amount for a reporting period,
then the shares underlying the Notes will not be reflected in our diluted earnings per share. However, if for any reason we are unable to use the treasury stock method in accounting for the shares issuable upon conversion of the Notes, then our diluted earnings per share may be adversely affected. For example, the Financial Accounting Standards Board has recently taken preliminary steps to potentially amend these accounting standards to eliminate the treasury stock method for convertible instruments and instead require application of the “if-converted” method. Under that method, if it is adopted, diluted earnings per share would generally be calculated assuming that all the Notes were converted solely into shares of common stock at the beginning of the reporting period, unless the result would be antidilutive. The application of the if-converted method may reduce our reported diluted earnings per share.
Furthermore, if any of the conditions to the convertibility of the Notes is satisfied, then we may be required under applicable accounting standards to reclassify the liability carrying value of the Notes as a current, rather than a long-term, liability. This reclassification could be required even if no noteholders convert their Notes and could materially reduce our reported working capital.
The Notes’ hedge and warrant transactions may affect the value of the Notes and our common stock.
In connection with the pricing of the Notes, we entered into convertible note hedge transactions with the hedge counterparties. The convertible note hedge transactions covered, subject to anti-dilution adjustments substantially similar to those applicable to the Notes, the number of shares of common stock that initially underlie the Notes, including those sold to the initial purchaser, and are expected generally to reduce the potential dilution upon conversion of the Notes and/or offset any cash payments we are required to make in excess of the principal amount of converted Notes, as the case may be. We also entered into warrant transactions with the hedge counterparties relating to the same number of shares of our common stock, subject to customary antidilution adjustments. However, the warrant transactions could separately have a dilutive effect on our common stock to the extent that the market price per share of our common stock exceeds the strike price of the warrants. In connection with establishing their initial hedges of the convertible note hedge and warrant transactions, the hedge counterparties or affiliates thereof entered into various derivative transactions with respect to our common stock concurrently with or shortly after the pricing of the Notes, and may unwind these derivative transactions and purchase shares of our common stock in open market transactions shortly following the pricing of the Notes. These activities could increase (or reduce the size of any decrease in) the market price of our common stock or the Notes at that time.
In addition, the hedge counterparties or affiliates thereof may modify their hedge positions by entering into or unwinding various derivatives with respect to our common stock and/or purchasing or selling our common stock or other securities of ours in secondary market transactions prior to the maturity of the Notes (and are likely to do so during any observation period related to a conversion of Notes). This activity could also cause or avoid an increase or a decrease in the market price of our common stock or the Notes.
We are subject to counterparty risk with respect to the Notes’ hedge transactions.
The hedge counterparties are financial institutions, and we are subject to the risk that they might default under the convertible note hedge transactions. Our exposure to the credit risk of the hedge counterparties is not secured by any collateral. Global economic conditions have from time to time resulted in the actual or perceived failure or financial difficulties of many financial institutions. If any hedge counterparty becomes subject to insolvency proceedings, we will become an unsecured creditor in those proceedings with a claim equal to our exposure at that time under our transactions with such hedge counterparty. Our exposure will depend on many factors, but, generally, the increase in our exposure will be correlated to the increase in the market price and in the volatility of our common stock. In addition, upon a default by a hedge counterparty, we may suffer adverse tax consequences and more dilution than we currently anticipate with respect to our common stock. We can provide no assurances as to the financial stability or viability of the hedge counterparties.
Conversion of the Notes or exercise of the warrants evidenced by the warrant transactions may dilute the ownership interest of existing stockholders.
At our election, we may settle Notes tendered for conversion entirely or partly in shares of our common stock. Furthermore, the warrants evidenced by the warrant transactions are expected to be settled on a net-share basis. As a result, the conversion of some or all of the Notes or the exercise of some or all of such warrants may dilute the ownership interests of existing stockholders. Any sales in the public market of the common stock issuable upon such conversion of the Notes or such exercise of the warrants could adversely affect prevailing
market prices of our common stock and, in turn, the price of the Notes. In addition, the existence of the Notes may encourage short selling by market participants because the conversion of the Notes could depress the price of our common stock.
Our repurchases of shares of our common stock may affect the value of the Notes and our common stock.
After effectuating the convertible note hedge transactions, we used substantially all of the net proceeds of the Notes offering to repurchase shares of our common stock pursuant to our $500 million share repurchase program. Some of these transactions were affected by repurchases from purchasers of the Notes in privately negotiated transactions through the initial purchaser or its affiliate, as our agent, concurrently with the closing of the Notes offering, and we may continue to effect repurchases in open market or other transactions from time to time in the future. These activities and our other repurchases of shares of our common stock may cause or avoid an increase or a decrease in the market price of our common stock or the Notes and add volatility. There can be no assurance that repurchases will be made at the best possible price. Potential risks and uncertainties also include, but are not necessarily limited to, the amount and timing of future share repurchases and the origin of funds used for such repurchases. The existence of a share repurchase program could also cause the market price of our common stock to be higher than it would be in the absence of such a program and could potentially reduce the market liquidity for our common stock. Depending on market conditions and other factors, these repurchases may be commenced or suspended from time to time. Any such suspension could cause the market price of our common stock to decline.
Fluctuations in quarterly performance including comparable store sales, sales per square foot, operating margins, timing of wholesale orders, royalty net revenue or other factors could have a material adverse effect on our earnings and our stock price.
Our quarterly results of operations for each of our business segments have fluctuated in the past and can be expected to fluctuate in the future. Further, if global growth plans or productivity initiatives fail to meet our expected results, our overhead and other costs could increase without an offsetting increase in sales and net revenue. This could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition, including but not limited to future impairments of store assets or goodwill.
Our net revenue and operating results have historically been lower in the first half of our fiscal year due to general seasonal trends in the apparel and retail industries. Our comparable store sales, quarterly results of operations and stock price can also be affected by a variety of other factors, including, but not limited to: (i) shifts in consumer tastes and fashion trends; (ii) the timing of new store openings and the relative proportion of new stores to mature stores; (iii) the timing and effectiveness of planned store closures; (iv) calendar shifts of holiday or seasonal periods; (v) the timing of seasonal wholesale shipments; (vi) the effectiveness of our inventory management; (vii) the effectiveness and efficiency of our product distribution network; (viii) changes in our merchandise mix; (ix) changes in our mix of revenues by segment; (x) the timing of promotional events; (xi) actions by competitors; (xii) weather conditions; (xiii) public health crises; (xiv) changes in the business environment; (xv) inflationary changes in prices and costs; (xvi) changes in the payment of future cash dividends; (xvii) changes in currency exchange rates; (xviii) population trends; (xix) changes in patterns of commerce such as the expansion of e-commerce; (xx) the level of pre-operating expenses associated with new stores; and (xxi) volatility in securities’ markets which could impact the value of our investments in non-operating assets.
An unfavorable change in any of the above factors, among others could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and our stock price.
We cannot ensure that we will continue paying dividends at the current rates, or at all.
We cannot ensure we will continue periodic dividends on our common stock at the current rates, or at all. Our Board of Directors determined to reduce the quarterly cash dividend paid to holders of our common stock, when, as and if any such dividend with respect to any future period is decided by the Board of Directors, from $0.225 per share to $0.1125 per share. In addition, during the first quarter of fiscal 2021, the Board of Directors deferred the decision with respect to the payment of the quarterly cash dividend, and decided to continue to postpone its decision with respect to such dividend during the second quarter of fiscal 2021 in order to preserve the Company’s cash position and provide continued financial flexibility in light of uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Company announced that it would resume paying its quarterly cash dividend of $0.1125 per share beginning in the third quarter of fiscal 2021, but decided not to declare any cash dividends for the first and second quarters of fiscal 2021.
Changes in our dividend and market perceptions and expectations with respect to our dividend, may materially affect the price of our common stock and the Notes (as defined below). See “Part IV. Financial Statements - Note 10 - Convertible Senior Notes and Related Transactions” in this Form 10-K for disclosures about the Notes.
Any quarterly dividends on our common stock will be paid from funds legally available for such purpose when, as and if declared by our Board of Directors. Holders of our equity securities have no contractual or other legal right to receive dividends. Decisions on whether, when and in which amounts to continue making any future dividend distributions are entirely at the discretion of our Board of Directors, which reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to change or terminate our dividend practices at any time and for any reason without prior notice, including without limitation for any of the following reasons: (i) our cash requirements or plans might change for a wide variety of reasons, including changes in our financial position, capital allocation plans (including a desire to retain or accumulate cash), capital spending plans, stock purchase plans, acquisition strategies, strategic initiatives, debt payment plans (including a desire to maintain or improve credit ratings on our debt securities), pension funding or other benefits payments; (ii) our ability to service and refinance our current and future indebtedness and our ability to borrow or raise additional capital to satisfy our capital needs; (iii) the amount of dividends that we may distribute to our shareholders is subject to restrictions under applicable law and restrictions imposed by our existing or future credit facilities, debt securities, then-outstanding preferred stock securities, if any, leases and other agreements, including restricted payment and leverage covenants; and (iv) the amount of cash that our subsidiaries may make available to us, whether by dividends, loans or other payments, may be subject to the legal, regulatory and contractual restrictions in our outstanding indebtedness.
Our Two Founding Board Members own a significant percentage of our common stock. Their interests may differ from the interests of our other stockholders.
Maurice Marciano, Board member, and Paul Marciano, Chief Creative Officer and Board member, collectively beneficially own approximately 38% of our outstanding shares of common stock. The sale or prospect of the sale of a substantial number of these shares could have an adverse impact on the market price of our common stock. Moreover, these individuals may have different interests than our other stockholders and, accordingly, they may direct the operations of our business in a manner contrary to the interests of our other stockholders. As long as these individuals own a significant percentage of our common stock, they may effectively be able to: (i) elect our directors; (ii) amend or prevent amendment of our Restated Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws; (iii) effect or prevent a merger, sale and/or purchase of assets or other corporate transactions; and (iv) control the outcome of any other matter submitted to our stockholders for vote.
Their stock ownership, together with the anti-takeover effects of certain provisions of applicable Delaware law and our Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, may discourage acquisition bids or allow the Marciano’s to delay or prevent a change in control that may be favored by our other stockholders, which in turn could reduce our stock price or prevent our stockholders from realizing a premium over our common stock price.

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
ITEM 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
ITEM 2. Properties.
As of January 30, 2021, all of our principal facilities were leased with the exception of our U.S. distribution center based in Louisville, Kentucky and our administrative office based in Florence, Italy. Certain information concerning our principal facilities is set forth below:
Location Use Approximate
Area in
Square Feet
Los Angeles, California Principal executive and administrative offices, design facilities, sales offices, warehouse facilities and sourcing used by our Americas Wholesale, Americas Retail, Corporate and Licensing support groups 341,700
Louisville, Kentucky Distribution and warehousing facility used by our Americas Wholesale and Americas Retail segments 506,000
Montreal/Toronto/Vancouver, Canada Administrative offices, showrooms and warehouse facilities used by our Americas Wholesale and Americas Retail segments 203,100
Lugano/Stabio, Switzerland Administrative, sales and marketing offices, design facilities and showrooms used by our Europe segment 158,700
Venlo, Netherlands Distribution and warehousing facilities used by our Europe segment 506,700
Florence, Italy Administrative office used by our Europe segment 113,000
Piacenza, Italy Distribution and warehousing facilities used by our Europe segment 592,000
Shanghai, China Administrative offices used by our Asia segment 17,800
Seoul, South Korea Administrative and sales offices, design facilities and showrooms used by our Asia segment 41,200
Our corporate, wholesale and retail headquarters and certain warehouse facilities are located in Los Angeles, California, consisting of four buildings totaling approximately 341,700 square feet (the “Corporate Headquarters”) and a parking lot adjacent to the Corporate Headquarters. These facilities are leased by us from limited partnerships in which the sole partners are trusts controlled by and for the benefit of Maurice Marciano and Paul Marciano (the “Principal Stockholders”) and their families. On October 7, 2020, the Company and the related party landlord entered into amendments to the leases for the Company’s corporate headquarters and the parking lot adjacent to the Corporate Headquarters (together, the “Lease Amendments”). The Lease Amendments provide for: (1) a five-year lease renewal term ending September 30, 2025, with an additional five-year renewal option to September 30, 2030 at the Company’s sole discretion; (2) triple net lease terms with an aggregate annual rent in the amount of approximately $7.4 million for the first lease year of the renewal term, subject to an annual 2.5% increase each year thereafter; (3) 100% rent abatement for the first three months of the renewal term for the Corporate Headquarters; and (4) a Company right to reduce the amount of rented space in the Corporate Headquarters by up to approximately 25% (and reduce its rent on a pro-rata basis), subject to certain specified conditions, including a six month notice period and limits on the specific space that may be reduced. All other material terms in the previously existing leases for the Corporate Headquarters and the parking lot adjacent to the Corporate Headquarters remain the same. The related lease liability was approximately $50.1 million as of January 30, 2021.
In addition, the Company, through a wholly-owned Canadian subsidiary, leases warehouse and administrative facilities in Montreal, Quebec from a partnership affiliated with the Principal Stockholders. The lease expires in August 2021. The Company is currently in discussions with the related party landlord for an extension of this lease. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021, the Company agreed with the related party landlord to receive a two-month rent abatement related to COVID-19 relief on its lease. The monthly lease payment is CAD$49,000 (US$37,000) and the related lease liability was approximately CAD$0.3 million (US$0.3 million) as of January 30, 2021.
The Company, through a French subsidiary, leases a showroom and office space located in Paris, France from an entity that is owned in part by an affiliate of the Principal Stockholders. The Company is currently in discussions with the related party landlord for extensions of the lease, and in the meantime, this lease is continuing on a month-to-month basis under existing lease terms. The monthly lease payment is approximately €75,000 (US$84,000) and the related lease liability was approximately €0.4 million (US$0.5 million) as of January 30, 2021.
See “Part IV. Financial Statements - Note 14 - Related Party Transactions” in this Form 10-K for disclosures about our related party transactions.
Our U.S. distribution center is a fully automated facility based in Louisville, Kentucky. Distribution of our products in Canada is handled primarily from two leased facilities based in Montreal, Quebec. Distribution of our products in Europe is handled by third-party distributors. Additionally, we utilize several third-party operated distribution warehouses that service the Asia region.
We lease our showrooms, advertising, licensing, sales and merchandising offices, remote distribution and warehousing facilities and retail and factory outlet store locations under non-cancelable operating lease agreements expiring on various dates through January 2039. These facilities had aggregate real estate lease liabilities as of January 30, 2021 totaling approximately $804.2 million, excluding related party liabilities. See “Part IV. Financial Statements - Note 9 - Lease Accounting” in this Form 10-K for further detail.
We believe our existing facilities are well maintained, in good operating condition and are adequate to support our present level of operations.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
ITEM 3. Legal Proceedings.
See “Part IV. Financial Statements - Note 15 - Commitments and Contingencies” in this Form 10-K for disclosures about our legal and other proceedings.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
ITEM 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
PART II

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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
ITEM 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
Market and Shareholder Information
Since August 8, 1996, the Company’s common stock has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ‘GES.’ On April 2, 2021, there were 279 holders of record of the Company’s common stock.
Prior to the initiation of a quarterly dividend on February 12, 2007, the Company had not declared any dividends on our common stock since our initial public offering in 1996. During the first quarter of fiscal 2021, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had deferred the decision with respect to the payment of its quarterly cash dividend. The Board of Directors decided to continue to postpone its decision with respect to the payment of its quarterly cash dividend during the second quarter of fiscal 2021 in order to preserve the Company’s cash position and provide continued financial flexibility in light of the uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Company announced that it would resume paying its quarterly cash dividend of $0.1125 per share beginning in the third quarter of fiscal 2021, but decided to not declare any cash dividends for the first and second quarters of fiscal 2021.
Decisions on whether, when and in what amounts to continue making any future dividend distributions will remain at all times entirely at the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors, which reserves the right to change or terminate the Company’s dividend practices at any time and for any reason without prior notice. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be based upon a number of business, legal and other considerations, including our cash flow from operations, capital expenditures, debt service and covenant requirements, cash paid for income taxes, earnings, share repurchases, economic conditions and U.S. and global liquidity.
Share Repurchase Program
The Company’s share repurchases during each fiscal month of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021 were as follows:
Period Total Number of Shares Purchased Average Price Paid
per Share Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs Maximum Number
(or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares That May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
November 1, 2020 to November 28, 2020
Repurchase program1
- - - $ 47,834,956
Employee transactions2
130 $ 13.01 -
November 29, 2020 to January 2, 2021
Repurchase program1
- - - $ 47,834,956
Employee transactions2
6,392 $ 17.04 -
January 3, 2021 to January 30, 2021
Repurchase program1
- - - $ 47,834,956
Employee transactions2
137,108 $ 21.70 -
Total
Repurchase program1
- - -
Employee transactions2
143,630 $ 21.49 -
______________________________________________________________________
1On June 26, 2012, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a program to repurchase, from time-to-time and as market and business conditions warrant, up to $500 million of the Company’s common stock. Repurchases under the program may be made on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 trading plans or other available means. There is no minimum or maximum number of shares to be repurchased under the program, which may be discontinued at any time, without prior notice.
2Consists of shares surrendered to, or withheld by, the Company in satisfaction of employee tax withholding obligations that occur upon vesting of restricted stock awards/units granted under the Company’s 2004 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended.
Performance Graph
The Stock Price Performance Graph below compares the cumulative stockholder return of the Company with that of the S&P 500 Index (a broad equity market index) and the S&P 1500 Apparel Retail Index (a published industry index) over the five fiscal years beginning January 30, 2016. The return on investment is calculated based on an investment of $100 on January 30, 2016, with dividends, if any, reinvested. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future performance.
COMPARISON OF FIVE YEAR TOTAL RETURN
AMONG GUESS?, INC.,
S&P 500 INDEX AND S&P 1500 APPAREL RETAIL INDEX
Periods Ended
Company/Market/Peer Group 1/30/2016 1/28/2017 2/3/2018 2/2/2019 2/1/2020 1/30/2021
Guess?, Inc. $ 100.00 $ 70.34 $ 89.48 $ 121.35 $ 140.06 $ 154.92
S&P 1500 Apparel Retail Index 100.00 97.44 103.54 115.21 127.90 141.24
S&P 500 Index 100.00 120.87 148.47 148.38 180.37 211.48

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
ITEM 6. Reserved.

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
ITEM 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
General
Unless the context indicates otherwise, when we refer to “we,” “us,” “our” or the “Company” in this Form 10-K, we are referring to Guess?, Inc. and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.
COVID-19 Business Update
The COVID-19 pandemic, which is ongoing and dynamic in nature, has had and is continuing to have a material impact on the Company’s financial performance. Since the start of the pandemic, the Company has experienced various temporary retail store closures in key regions globally, including the closure of a significant majority of its stores during the first quarter of fiscal 2021. During the second quarter of fiscal 2021, the Company gradually reopened most of its global fleet of stores. Toward the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2021, the Company started to incur a new round of government-mandated temporary store closures, mostly in Europe.
While the number of temporarily closed stores ebbed and flowed during the fourth quarter based on local conditions, the overall impact resulted in stores being closed for over 15% of the total days during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021. As of January 30, 2021, approximately 70% of our stores were open, with the majority of closed stores located primarily in Europe and Canada. As of March 27, 2021, approximately 77% of our stores were open. The Company will continue to reopen stores (and/or close again, if appropriate) as governmental guidelines and local conditions permit or require, taking an informed, measured approach based on numerous factors. The Company’s e-commerce sites have remained open in all regions throughout the pandemic. In addition to the impact of store closures, retail stores that are open have and continue to experience significant reductions in traffic and revenue. Many of the Company’s wholesale and licensing partners have also substantially reduced their operations. The Company has brought back furloughed store associates and support staff as stores reopen. The extent and duration of the global pandemic remains uncertain and may continue to impact consumer purchasing activity in the foreseeable future.
During fiscal 2021, in addition to the negative impact from lower net revenue, the Company’s operating results reflected asset impairment charges as well as additional inventory valuation reserves and higher allowances for markdowns and doubtful accounts due to the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. These charges were partially offset by lower selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses driven primarily by expense savings, both one-time, such as furloughs and temporary salary reductions, and permanent, such as headcount reductions and lower discretionary spending. In addition, the Company benefited from various government assistance programs related primarily to the recovery of employee payroll costs as well as certain favorable tax treatments.
During fiscal 2021, the Company implemented a number of measures to help mitigate the operating and financial impact of the pandemic, including: (i) furloughing its U.S. and Canada store associates and significant portions of its U.S. and Canada corporate and distribution center associates and permanently reducing U.S. corporate headcount; (ii) implementing temporary tiered salary reductions for management level corporate employees, including its executive officers; (iii) deferring annual merit increases; (iv) executing substantial reductions in expenses, store occupancy costs, capital expenditures and overall costs, including reduced inventory purchases; (v) working globally with country management teams to maximize the Company’s participation in all eligible government or other initiatives available to businesses or employees impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic; (vi) drawing down on certain credit facilities and entering into certain term loans to ensure financial flexibility and maintain maximum liquidity; (vii) engaging with landlords to negotiate rent deferrals or other rent concessions; (viii) working with vendors to extend payment terms; and (ix) postponing its decision related to the payment of its quarterly cash dividend.
During the second quarter of fiscal 2021, as the situation began to stabilize, the Company repaid a significant portion of its previously drawn down credit facilities, continued to bring back furloughed employees, eliminated the temporary tiered salary reductions and invested in share repurchases to return value to its shareholders. The Company also announced that it would resume paying its quarterly cash dividend beginning in the third quarter of fiscal 2021, but decided to not declare any cash dividends for the first and second quarters of fiscal 2021.
Business Segments
The Company’s businesses are grouped into five reportable segments for management and internal financial reporting purposes: Americas Retail, Americas Wholesale, Europe, Asia and Licensing. Management evaluates segment performance based primarily on revenues and earnings (loss) from operations before corporate performance-based compensation costs, asset impairment charges, net gains (losses) from lease modifications, restructuring charges and certain non-recurring credits (charges), if any. The Americas Retail segment includes the Company’s retail and e-commerce operations in the Americas. The Americas Wholesale segment includes the Company’s wholesale operations in the Americas. The Europe segment includes the Company’s retail, e-commerce and wholesale operations in Europe and the Middle East. The Asia segment includes the Company’s retail, e-commerce and wholesale operations in Asia and the Pacific. The Licensing segment includes the worldwide licensing operations of the Company. The business segment operating results exclude corporate overhead costs, which consist of shared costs of the organization, asset impairment charges, net gains (losses) on lease modifications, restructuring charges and certain non-recurring credits (charges), if any. Corporate overhead costs are presented separately and generally include, among other things, the following unallocated corporate
costs: accounting and finance, executive compensation, corporate performance-based compensation, facilities, global advertising and marketing, human resources, information technology and legal. Information regarding these segments is summarized in “Part IV. Financial Statements - Note 18 - Segment Information” in this Form 10-K.
Products
We derive our net revenue from the sale of GUESS?, G by GUESS (GbG), GUESS Kids and MARCIANO apparel and our licensees’ products through our worldwide network of directly-operated and licensed retail stores, wholesale customers and distributors, as well as our online sites. During fiscal 2021, we made the decision to integrate our G by GUESS brand into our Factory business in order to drive further efficiencies. We also derive royalty revenue from worldwide licensing activities.
Foreign Currency Volatility
Since the majority of our international operations are conducted in currencies other than the U.S. dollar (primarily the British pound, Canadian dollar, Chinese yuan, euro, Japanese yen, Korean won, Mexican peso, Polish zloty, Russian rouble and Turkish lira), currency fluctuations can have a significant impact on the translation of our international revenues and earnings (loss) into U.S. dollars.
Some of our transactions that occur primarily in Europe, Canada, South Korea, China and Mexico are denominated in U.S. dollars, Swiss francs, British pounds and Russian roubles, exposing them to exchange rate fluctuations when these transactions (such as inventory purchases or periodic lease payments) are converted to their functional currencies. As a result, fluctuations in exchange rates can impact the operating margins of our foreign operations and reported earnings (loss), and are largely dependent on the transaction timing and magnitude during the period that the currency fluctuates. In addition, there are certain real estate leases which are denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of the respective entity that entered into the agreement (primarily Swiss francs, Russian roubles and Polish zloty). As a result, the Company may be exposed to volatility related to unrealized gains or losses on the translation of present value of future lease payment obligations when translated at the exchange rate as of a reporting period-end. When these foreign exchange rates weaken versus the U.S. dollar at the time the respective U.S. dollar denominated payment is made relative to the payments made in the comparable period, our product margins could be unfavorably impacted.
During fiscal 2021, the average U.S. dollar rate was stronger against the Turkish lira, Canadian dollar, Mexican peso, Polish zloty, Russian rouble, and Korean won, and weaker against the euro, Chinese yuan, British pound and Japanese yen, compared to the average rate in fiscal 2020. This had an overall unfavorable impact on the translation of our international revenues and earnings from operations during fiscal 2021 compared to the prior year.
If the U.S. dollar strengthens relative to the respective fiscal 2021 foreign exchange rates, foreign exchange could negatively impact our revenues and operating results, as well as our international cash and other balance sheet items during fiscal 2022, particularly in Canada, Europe (primarily the euro, British pound, Turkish lira and Russian rouble) and Mexico. Alternatively, if the U.S. dollar weakens relative to the respective fiscal 2021 foreign exchange rates, our revenues and operating results, as well as our other cash balance sheet items, could be positively impacted by foreign currency fluctuations during fiscal 2022, particularly in these regions.
The Company enters into derivative financial instruments to offset some but not all of the exchange risk on foreign currency transactions. For additional discussion regarding our exposure to foreign currency risk, forward contracts designated as hedging instruments and forward contracts not designated as hedging instruments, refer to “Part II, Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.”
Strategy
In December 2019, Chief Executive Officer Carlos Alberini shared his strategic vision and implementation plan for execution which included the identification of several key priorities to drive revenue and operating profit growth over the next five years. These priorities, which continue to guide the Company’s strategic decisions, are: (i) brand relevancy; (ii) product excellence; (iii) customer centricity; (iv) global footprint; and (v) functional capabilities; each as further described below:
Brand Relevancy. We plan to optimize our brand architecture to be relevant with our three target consumer groups: Heritage, Millennials, and Generation Z. We will continue to execute celebrity and influencer partnerships
and collaborations, as we believe that they are critical to engage more effectively with a younger and broader audience.
Product Excellence. We will extend our product offering to provide our customers with products for the different occasions of their lifestyles. We will seek to better address local product needs.
Customer Centricity. We intend to place the customer at the center of everything we do. We plan to implement processes and platforms to provide our customers with a seamless omni-channel experience.
Global Footprint. We will continue to expand the reach of our brands by optimizing the productivity and profitability of our current footprint and expanding our distribution channels.
Functional Capabilities. We expect to drive material operational improvements in the next four years to leverage and support our global business more effectively, primarily in the areas of logistics, sourcing, product development and production, inventory management, and overall infrastructure.
Capital Allocation
We plan to continue to prioritize capital allocation toward investments that support growth and infrastructure, while remaining highly disciplined in the way we allocate capital across projects, including new store development, store remodels, technology and logistics investments and others. When we prioritize investments, we will focus on their strategic significance and their return on invested capital expectations. We also plan to manage product buys and inventory ownership rigorously and optimize overall working capital management consistently.
During the first quarter of fiscal 2021, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had deferred the decision with respect to the payment of its quarterly cash dividend. The Board of Directors decided to continue to postpone its decision with respect to the payment of its quarterly cash dividend during the second quarter of fiscal 2021, in order to preserve the Company’s cash position and provide continued financial flexibility in light of uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Company announced that it would resume paying its quarterly cash dividend of $0.1125 per share beginning in the third quarter of fiscal 2021, but decided to not declare cash dividends for the first and second quarters of 2021. During the first quarter of fiscal 2020, the Company announced that its Board of Directors reduced the future quarterly cash dividends that may be paid to holders of the Company’s common stock, when, as and if any such dividend is declared by the Company’s Board of Directors, from $0.225 per share to $0.1125 per share to redeploy capital and return incremental value to shareholders through share repurchases. During the first quarter of fiscal 2020, the Company used $170 million of proceeds from its convertible senior notes to enter into an accelerated share repurchase program (“ASR Contract”). The Company also repurchased shares of its common stock in open market and privately negotiated transactions totaling $38.9 million and $118.1 million during fiscal 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Comparable Store Sales
Except as described below in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company reports National Retail Federation calendar comparable store sales on a quarterly basis for our retail businesses which include the combined results from our brick-and-mortar retail stores and our e-commerce sites. We also separately report the impact of e-commerce sales on our comparable store sales metric. As a result of our omni-channel strategy, our e-commerce business has become strongly intertwined with our brick-and-mortar retail store business. Therefore, we believe that the inclusion of e-commerce sales in our comparable store sales metric provides a more meaningful representation of our retail results.
Sales from our brick-and-mortar retail stores include purchases that are initiated, paid for and fulfilled at our retail stores and directly operated concessions as well as merchandise that is reserved online but paid for and picked-up at our retail stores. Sales from our e-commerce sites include purchases that are initiated and paid for online and shipped from either our distribution centers or our retail stores as well as purchases that are initiated in a retail store, but due to inventory availability at the retail store, are ordered and paid for online and shipped from our distribution centers or picked-up from a different retail store.
Store sales are considered comparable after the store has been open for 13 full fiscal months. If a store remodel results in a square footage change of more than 15%, or involves a relocation or a change in store
concept, the store sales are removed from the comparable store base until the store has been opened at its new size, in its new location or under its new concept for 13 full fiscal months. Stores that are permanently closed or temporarily closed for more than seven days in any fiscal month are excluded from the calculation in the fiscal month that they are closed. E-commerce sales are considered comparable after the online site has been operational in a country for 13 full fiscal months and exclude any related revenue from shipping fees. These criteria are consistent with the metric used by management for internal reporting and analysis to measure performance of the store or online sites. Definitions and calculations of comparable store sales used by the Company may differ from similarly titled measures reported by other companies.
As a result of significant temporary store closures resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company has not disclosed any comparable store sales measures when discussing the results of operations for fiscal 2021. We believe that comparable store sales measures for fiscal 2021 are not meaningful to the evaluation of the Company’s results until the impact from the temporary store closures resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic has normalized.
Executive Summary
Overview
Net loss attributable to Guess?, Inc. was $81.2 million, or diluted loss of $1.27 per common share, for fiscal 2021, compared to net earnings attributable to Guess?, Inc. of $96.0 million, or diluted earnings of $1.33 per common share for fiscal 2020.
During fiscal 2021, the Company recognized $80.4 million of asset impairment charges; a net credit of $0.6 million of certain professional service, legal fees and related net credits; $3.4 million of separation charges, $2.8 million net gains on lease modifications, and $10.4 million of amortization of debt discount related to the Company’s convertible senior notes (or a combined $76.7 million negative impact after considering the related tax benefit of these adjustments as well as the impact from cumulative valuation allowances, partially offset by tax benefits from an income tax rate change due to net operating loss carryback of $14.2 million), or a unfavorable $1.20 per share impact. Excluding the impact of these items, adjusted net loss attributable to Guess?, Inc. was $4.5 million and adjusted diluted loss was $0.07 per common share for fiscal 2021. During fiscal 2020, the Company recognized $10.0 million of asset impairment charges; a net credit of $0.9 million of certain professional service, legal fees and related net credits, $0.4 million of separation charges and $7.6 million of amortization of debt discount related to the Company’s convertible senior notes (or a combined $9.1 million after considering the related tax benefit of these adjustments as well as the impact from changes in the tax law on deferred taxes in certain tax jurisdictions, net tax settlements and adjustments to specific uncertain tax positions totaling $8.1 million), or an unfavorable $0.12 per share impact. Excluding the impact of these items, adjusted net earnings attributable to Guess?, Inc. were $105.0 million and adjusted diluted earnings were $1.45 per common share for fiscal 2020. References to financial results excluding the impact of these items are non-GAAP measures and are addressed below under “Non-GAAP Measures.”
Highlights of the Company’s performance for fiscal 2021 compared to the prior year are presented below, followed by a more comprehensive discussion under “Results of Operations”:
Operations
•Total net revenue decreased 29.9% to $1.88 billion for fiscal 2021, compared to $2.68 billion in the prior year. In constant currency, net revenue decreased by 31.0%.
•Gross margin (gross profit as a percentage of total net revenue) decreased 80 basis points to 37.1% for fiscal 2021, compared to 37.9% in the prior year.
•Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses as a percentage of total net revenue (“SG&A rate”) increased 390 basis points to 36.1% for fiscal 2021, compared to 32.2% in the prior year. SG&A expenses decreased 21.4% to $680.0 million for fiscal 2021, compared to $865.1 million in the prior year.
•During fiscal 2021, the Company recognized asset impairment charges of $80.4 million, compared to $10.0 million in the prior year.
•During fiscal 2021, the Company recognized net gains on lease modifications of $2.8 million, compared to none in the prior year.
•Operating margin decreased 850 basis points to negative 3.2% for fiscal 2021, compared to 5.3% in the prior year, driven primarily by overall deleveraging of expenses and higher asset impairment charges due to the negative impact from the COVID-19 pandemic on our revenues and global operations. Higher asset impairment charges during fiscal 2021 unfavorably impacted operating margin by 390 basis points compared to the prior year. Loss from operations was $60.5 million for fiscal 2021, compared to earnings from operations of $140.7 million in the prior year.
•Other expense, net (including interest income and expense) totaled $26.6 million for fiscal 2021, compared to $16.9 million in the prior year.
•The effective income tax rate decreased to 7.3% for fiscal 2021, compared to 18.2% in the prior year. The Company’s effective income tax rate for fiscal 2021 included unfavorable impact from certain discrete tax adjustments totaling $4.1 million.
Key Balance Sheet Accounts
•The Company had $469.1 million in cash and cash equivalents and $0.2 million in restricted cash as of January 30, 2021, compared to $284.6 million in cash and cash equivalents and $0.2 million in restricted cash at February 1, 2020.
◦The Company had $56.8 million in outstanding borrowings under its term loans as of January 30, 2021, compared to none as of February 1, 2020 and $7.3 million in outstanding borrowings under its credit facilities as of January 30, 2021, compared to $4.0 million as of February 1, 2020, to help ensure financial flexibility and liquidity in response to uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
◦During fiscal 2021, the Company repurchased 4.0 million shares of its common stock for $38.9 million (including commissions). During fiscal 2020, the Company used $170 million of proceeds from its offering of convertible senior notes to enter into an accelerated share repurchase program (“ASR Contract”), pursuant to which it received a total of approximately 10.6 million shares. The Company also repurchased approximately 6.1 million shares of its common stock for $118.1 million (including commissions) during 2020.
•Accounts receivable consists of trade receivables relating primarily to the Company’s wholesale business in Europe and, to a lesser extent, to its wholesale businesses in the Americas and Asia, royalty receivables relating to its licensing operations, credit card and retail concession receivables related to its retail businesses and certain other receivables. Accounts receivable decreased by $13.1 million, or 4.0%, to $314.1 million as of January 30, 2021, compared to $327.3 million at February 1, 2020. On a constant currency basis, accounts receivable decreased by $32.4 million, or 9.9%.
•Inventory decreased by $4.0 million, or 1.0%, to $389.1 million as of January 30, 2021, from $393.1 million at February 1, 2020. On a constant currency basis, inventory decreased by $21.4 million, or 5.4%.
Global Store Count
In fiscal 2021, together with our partners, we opened 35 new stores worldwide, consisting of 24 stores in Europe and the Middle East, ten stores in Asia and the Pacific and one store in Central and South America. Together with our partners, we closed 194 stores worldwide, consisting of 106 stores in Asia and the Pacific, 44 stores in Europe and the Middle East, 31 stores in the U.S., nine stores in Central and South America and four stores in Canada.
We ended fiscal 2021 with 1,570 stores and 376 concessions worldwide, comprised as follows:
Stores Concessions
Region Total Directly
Operated Partner Operated Total Directly
Operated Partner Operated
United States 251 249 2 1 - 1
Canada 76 76 - - - -
Central and South America 105 70 35 27 27 -
Total Americas 432 395 37 28 27 1
Europe and the Middle East 725 507 218 44 44 -
Asia and the Pacific 413 144 269 304 101 203
Total
1,570 1,046 524 376 172 204
Of the total 1,570 stores, 1,300 were GUESS? stores, 173 were GUESS? Accessories stores, 62 were G by GUESS (GbG) stores and 35 were MARCIANO stores.
Results of Operations
The following table sets forth actual operating results for the fiscal years 2021 and 2020 as a percentage of net revenue:
Years Ended
January 30, February 1,
2021 2020
Product sales 96.1 % 96.8 %
Net royalties 3.9 3.2
Net revenue 100.0 100.0
Cost of product sales 62.9 62.1
Gross profit 37.1 37.9
Selling, general and administrative expenses 36.1 32.2
Asset impairment charges 4.3 0.4
Net gains on lease modifications (0.1) 0.0
Earnings (loss) from operations (3.2) 5.3
Interest expense (1.2) (0.6)
Interest income 0.1 0.1
Other income (expense), net (0.3) (0.2)
Earnings (loss) before income tax expense (4.6) 4.6
Income tax expense (benefit) (0.3) 0.8
Net earnings (loss) (4.3) 3.8
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests - 0.2
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Guess?, Inc. (4.3 %) 3.6 %
Fiscal 2021 Compared to Fiscal 2020
Consolidated Results
Net Revenue. Net revenue decreased by $801.6 million, or 29.9%, to $1.88 billion for fiscal 2021, compared to $2.68 billion in fiscal 2020. In constant currency, net revenue decreased by 31.0%, driven primarily by temporary store closures and, to a lesser extent, lower store traffic resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and a shift in wholesale shipments in Europe. Currency translation fluctuations relating to our foreign operations favorably impacted net revenue by $29.5 million compared to the prior year.
Gross Margin. Gross margin decreased 80 basis points to 37.1% for fiscal 2021, compared to 37.9% in fiscal 2020, of which 140 basis points was due to a higher occupancy rate, partially offset by 60 basis points was due to higher product margins. The higher occupancy rate was driven primarily by deleveraging of occupancy costs due mainly to lower revenue resulting from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, partially offset by the favorable impact from rent concessions granted related to COVID-19 pandemic primarily in Europe. The higher product margins were driven primarily by higher initial markups in Europe, partially offset by higher inventory reserves in Asia during the fiscal 2021, compared to fiscal 2020.
Gross Profit. Gross profit decreased by $318.6 million, or 31.4%, to $697.1 million for fiscal 2021, compared to $1.0 billion in fiscal 2020. The decrease in gross profit, which included a favorable impact from currency translation, was due primarily to the unfavorable impact on gross profit from lower revenue, partially offset by lower occupancy costs. Currency translation fluctuations relating to our foreign operations favorably impacted gross profit by $15.7 million.
The Company includes inbound freight charges, purchasing costs and related overhead, retail store occupancy costs, including lease costs and depreciation and amortization, and a portion of the Company’s distribution costs related to its retail business in cost of product sales. The Company also includes net royalties received on the Company’s inventory purchases of licensed product as a reduction to cost of product sales. The Company’s gross margin may not be comparable to that of other entities since some entities include all of the costs related to their distribution in cost of product sales and others, like the Company, generally exclude wholesale-related distribution costs from gross margin, including them instead in SG&A expenses. Additionally, some entities include retail store occupancy costs in SG&A expenses and others, like the Company, include retail store occupancy costs in cost of product sales.
SG&A Rate. The Company’s SG&A rate increased 390 basis points to 36.1% for fiscal 2021, compared to 32.2% in fiscal 2020. The Company’s SG&A rate included the unfavorable impact of 10 basis points from lower net credits related to professional service, legal fees and related net credits which the Company otherwise would not have incurred as part of its business operations. The Company’s SG&A rate also included the unfavorable impact of 10 basis points from separation charges. Excluding these amounts, the Company’s SG&A rate would have increased 370 basis points during fiscal 2021 compared to fiscal 2020, driven by overall deleveraging of expenses due mainly to lower revenue resulting from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, partially offset by expense savings.
SG&A Expenses. SG&A expenses decreased by $185.1 million, or 21.4%, to $680.0 million for fiscal 2021, compared to $865.1 million in fiscal 2020. The decrease, which included an unfavorable impact from currency translation, was driven primarily by lower payroll costs and, to a lesser extent, lower overall discretionary expenses. The lower payroll costs were driven primarily by the impact of furloughs and, to a lesser extent, government assistance programs related to the recovery of employee payroll costs, temporary tiered salary reductions for management level corporate employees that have since been restored and permanent headcount reductions. Currency translation fluctuations relating to our foreign operations unfavorably impacted SG&A expenses by $7.7 million.
Asset Impairment Charges. During fiscal 2021, the Company recognized $45.4 million in impairment of certain operating lease right-of-use assets and $35.0 million in impairment of property and equipment related to certain retail locations resulting from lower revenue and future cash flow projections from the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. This compares to $7.5 million in impairment of property and equipment, $1.5 million in impairment of goodwill, and $1.0 million in impairment of certain operating lease right-of-use assets related to certain retail locations resulting from under-performance and expected store closures during fiscal 2020. Currency translation fluctuations relating to our foreign operations favorably impacted asset impairment charges by $1.4 million during fiscal 2021.
Net Gains on Lease Modifications. During fiscal 2021, the Company recorded net gains on lease modifications of $2.8 million related primarily to the early termination of lease agreements for certain of the Company’s retail locations. There were no net gains on lease modifications recorded during fiscal 2020.
Operating Margin. Operating margin decreased 850 basis points to negative 3.2% for fiscal 2021, compared to 5.3% in fiscal 2020, driven primarily by overall deleveraging of expenses due to the negative impact from the
COVID-19 pandemic on our global operations and, to a lesser extent, higher asset impairment charges. Lower net credits related to certain professional service, legal fees and related net credits recorded during fiscal 2021 unfavorably impacted operating margin by 10 basis points compared to the prior year. Higher separation charges recorded during fiscal 2021 impacted operating margin by 10 basis points compared to the prior year. Higher asset impairment charges recorded during fiscal 2021 unfavorably impacted operating margin by 390 basis points compared to the prior year. Net gains on lease modifications favorably impacted operating margin by 10 basis points compared to the prior year. Excluding the impact of these items, operating margin decreased by 450 basis points compared to the prior year. Currency exchange rate fluctuations had an immaterial impact on operating margin.
Earnings (Loss) from Operations. Loss from operations was $60.5 million for fiscal 2021, compared to earnings from operations of $140.7 million in fiscal 2020. Currency translation fluctuations relating to our foreign operations favorably impacted earnings from operations by $9.3 million.
Interest Expense, Net. Interest expense, net, was $20.6 million for fiscal 2021, compared to $14.4 million in fiscal 2020. The increase in interest expense was due primarily to higher amortization of debt discount and higher interest expense related to the Company’s convertible senior notes.
Other Expense, Net. Other expense, net, was $6.0 million for fiscal 2021, compared to $2.5 million in fiscal 2020. The change was due primarily to net mark-to-market losses on revaluation of foreign exchange currency contracts, compared to gains in the prior year.
Income Tax Expense (Benefit). Income tax benefit for fiscal 2021 was $6.3 million, or a 7.3% effective income tax rate, compared to income tax expense of $22.5 million, or an 18.2% effective income tax rate, in fiscal 2020. The Company recognized a valuation allowance of $4.2 million resulting from jurisdictions where there have been cumulative net operating losses, limiting the Company’s ability to consider other subjective evidence to continue to recognize the existing deferred tax assets. This was partially offset by a tax benefit of approximately $0.7 million from a tax rate change related to the ability to carryback net operating losses to tax years with a higher federal corporate tax rate as allowed under the CARES Act enacted in March 2020. Excluding the impact of these items, the change in the effective income tax rate was due primarily to a shift in the distribution of earnings among the Company’s tax jurisdictions during fiscal 2021, compared to the prior year.
Net Earnings Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests. Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests for fiscal 2021 was $0.5 million, net of taxes, compared to $5.3 million, net of taxes, in fiscal 2020.
Net Earnings (Loss) Attributable to Guess?, Inc. Net loss attributable to Guess?, Inc. was $81.2 million for fiscal 2021, compared to net earnings attributable to Guess?, Inc. of $96.0 million in fiscal 2020. Diluted loss per share was $1.27 for fiscal 2021, compared to diluted earnings per share of $1.33 in fiscal 2020. We estimate that the unfavorable impact from share repurchases and additional interest expense recognized related to the convertible senior notes had a net negative impact on diluted earnings per share of $0.19 for fiscal 2021. We also estimate that the negative impact of currency on diluted earnings per share for fiscal 2021 was approximately $0.04 per share. During fiscal 2021, the Company recognized $80.4 million of asset impairment charges; $2.8 million of net gains on lease modifications; a net credit of $0.6 million of certain professional service, legal fees and related net credits; $3.4 million of separation charges and $10.4 million of amortization of debt discount related to the Company’s convertible senior notes (or a combined $76.7 million, or $1.20 per share, negative impact after considering the related tax benefit of these adjustments of $14.2 million). Excluding the impact of these items, adjusted net loss attributable to Guess?, Inc. was $4.5 million and adjusted diluted loss was $0.07 per common share for fiscal 2021. We estimate that the favorable impact from share repurchases offset by the unfavorable impact from additional interest expense recognized related to the convertible senior notes had a positive impact of $0.06 on adjusted diluted earnings per share for fiscal 2020. During fiscal 2020, the Company recognized $10.0 million of asset impairment charges; a net credit of $0.9 million of certain professional service, legal fees and related net credits, $0.4 million of separation charges and $7.6 million of amortization of debt discount related to the Company’s convertible senior notes (or a combined $9.1 million, or $0.12 per share, negative impact after considering the related tax benefit of $8.1 million). Excluding the impact of these items,
adjusted net earnings attributable to Guess?, Inc. were $105.0 million and adjusted diluted earnings were $1.45 per common share for fiscal 2020. References to financial results excluding the impact of these items are non-GAAP measures and are addressed below under “Non-GAAP Measures.”
Information by Business Segment
The following table presents our net revenue and earnings (loss) from operations by segment for the periods indicated (dollars in thousands):
Fiscal 2021 Fiscal 2020 Change % Change
Net revenue:
Americas Retail $ 510,806 $ 811,547 $ (300,741) (37.1 %)
Americas Wholesale 117,607 186,389 (68,782) (36.9 %)
Europe 941,546 1,248,114 (306,568) (24.6 %)
Asia 232,574 346,212 (113,638) (32.8 %)
Licensing 73,996 85,847 (11,851) (13.8 %)
Total net revenue $ 1,876,529 $ 2,678,109 $ (801,580) (29.9 %)
Earnings (loss) from operations:
Americas Retail $ (15,776) $ 22,279 $ (38,055) (170.8 %)
Americas Wholesale 19,912 35,674 (15,762) (44.2 %)
Europe 66,790 134,078 (67,288) (50.2 %)
Asia (20,758) (8,894) (11,864) 133.4 %
Licensing 67,938 74,459 (6,521) (8.8 %)
Total segment earnings (loss) from operations 118,106 257,596 (139,490) (54.2 %)
Corporate overhead (100,962) (106,948) 5,986 (5.6 %)
Asset impairment charges (80,442) (9,977) (70,465) 706.3 %
Net gains on lease modifications 2,801 - 2,801
Total earnings (loss) from operations $ (60,497) $ 140,671 $ (201,168) (143.0 %)
Operating margins:
Americas Retail (3.1 %) 2.7 %
Americas Wholesale 16.9 % 19.1 %
Europe 7.1 % 10.7 %
Asia (8.9 %) (2.6 %)
Licensing 91.8 % 86.7 %
Total Company (3.2 %) 5.3 %
Americas Retail
Net revenue from our Americas Retail segment decreased by $300.7 million, or 37.1%, to $510.8 million for fiscal 2021, from $811.5 million in fiscal 2020. In constant currency, net revenue decreased by 36.7% compared to the prior year, driven primarily by temporary store closures and, to a lesser extent, lower store traffic resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Excluding the impact from the temporary store closures, the store base for the U.S. and Canada decreased by an average of 28 net stores in fiscal 2021 compared to the prior year, resulting in a 5.1% net decrease in average square footage. Currency translation fluctuations relating to our non-U.S. retail stores and e-commerce sites unfavorably impacted net revenue by $3.1 million.
Operating margin decreased 580 basis points to negative 3.1% for fiscal 2021, from 2.7% in fiscal 2020, due to lower gross margins and, to a lesser extent, a higher SG&A rate. The lower gross margins were driven primarily by overall deleveraging of occupancy costs due primarily to the negative impact from temporary store closures and lower store traffic. The higher SG&A rate was driven primarily by overall deleveraging of expenses,
partially offset by lower store selling expenses due to payroll savings resulting from the temporary furlough of the Company’s store associates in the U.S. and Canada and lower overall payroll costs.
Loss from operations from our Americas Retail segment was $15.8 million for fiscal 2021 compared to earnings from operations of $22.3 million in fiscal 2020. The deterioration is primarily due to the unfavorable impact on earnings from lower revenue, partially offset by lower store selling expenses and lower occupancy costs.
Americas Wholesale
Net revenue from our Americas Wholesale segment decreased by $68.8 million, or 36.9%, to $117.6 million for fiscal 2021, compared to $186.4 million in fiscal 2020. In constant currency, net revenue decreased by 34.8% compared to the prior year, driven primarily by our U.S. wholesale business due mainly to lower demand resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Currency translation fluctuations relating to our non-U.S. wholesale businesses unfavorably impacted net revenue by $3.9 million.
Operating margin decreased 220 basis points to 16.9% for fiscal 2021, compared to 19.1% in fiscal 2020, due primarily to a higher SG&A rate driven primarily by overall deleveraging of expenses resulting from lower wholesale shipments.
Earnings from operations from our Americas Wholesale segment decreased by $15.8 million, or 44.2%, to $19.9 million for fiscal 2021, compared to $35.7 million in fiscal 2020. The decrease was driven primarily by the unfavorable impact on earnings from lower revenue.
Europe
Net revenue from our Europe segment decreased by $306.6 million, or 24.6%, to $941.5 million for fiscal 2021, compared to $1.2 billion in fiscal 2020. In constant currency, net revenue decreased by 27.2% compared to the prior year, driven primarily by temporary store closures and lower store traffic resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and, to a lesser extent, a shift in wholesale shipments into fiscal 2022 resulting from lower demand. Currency translation fluctuations relating to our European operations favorably impacted net revenue by $33.1 million.
Operating margin decreased 360 basis points to 7.1% for fiscal 2021, compared to 10.7% in fiscal 2020, driven by a higher SG&A rate, partially offset by higher gross margins. The higher SG&A rate was due primarily to overall deleveraging of expenses resulting from lower revenue. The higher gross margins were driven primarily by higher initial markups, and, to a lesser extent, the favorable impact from certain rent concessions granted related to the COVID-19 pandemic, partially offset by overall deleveraging of occupancy costs due to lower revenue.
Earnings from operations from our Europe segment decreased by $67.3 million, or 50.2%, to $66.8 million for fiscal 2021, compared to $134.1 million in fiscal 2020. The decrease was driven primarily by the unfavorable impact on earnings from lower revenue, partially offset by lower occupancy costs and, to a lesser extent, lower SG&A expenses. Currency translation fluctuations relating to our European operations favorably impacted earnings from operations by $7.4 million.
Asia
Net revenue from our Asia segment decreased by $113.6 million, or 32.8%, to $232.6 million for fiscal 2021, compared to $346.2 million in fiscal 2020. In constant currency, net revenue decreased by 33.8% compared to the prior year, driven primarily by lower store traffic and, to a lesser extent, permanent store closures and temporary store closures resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Currency translation fluctuations relating to our Asian operations favorably impacted net revenue by $3.4 million.
Operating margin decreased 630 basis points to negative 8.9% for fiscal 2021, from negative 2.6% in fiscal 2020, driven by lower gross margins and, to a lesser extent, a higher SG&A rate. The lower gross margins were due primarily to the negative impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic which resulted in higher inventory reserves. The higher SG&A rate was driven primarily by overall deleveraging of expenses, partially offset by the favorable impact of business mix.
Loss from operations from our Asia segment was $20.8 million for fiscal 2021, compared to $8.9 million in fiscal 2020. The deterioration was driven primarily by the unfavorable impact on earnings from lower revenue and, to a lesser extent, lower product margins, partially offset by lower SG&A expenses and, to a lesser extent, lower occupancy costs. Currency translation fluctuations relating to our Asian operations favorably impacted loss from operations by $1.3 million.
Licensing
Net royalty revenue from our Licensing segment decreased by $11.9 million, or 13.8%, to $74.0 million for fiscal 2021, compared to $85.8 million in fiscal 2020.
Earnings from operations from our Licensing segment decreased by $6.5 million, or 8.8%, to $67.9 million for fiscal 2021, from $74.5 million in fiscal 2020. The decrease was driven by the unfavorable impact to earnings from lower revenue.
Corporate Overhead
Unallocated corporate overhead decreased by $6.0 million to $101.0 million for fiscal 2021, compared to $106.9 million in fiscal 2020. The decrease was driven primarily by lower overall discretionary expenses and, to a lesser extent, lower performance-based compensation costs.
Fiscal 2020 Compared to Fiscal 2019
The comparison of fiscal 2020 to fiscal 2019 has been omitted from this Form 10-K, but can be referenced in our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2020, filed on April 1, 2020.
Non-GAAP Measures
The Company’s reported financial results are presented in accordance with GAAP. The reported net earnings (loss) attributable to Guess?, Inc. and diluted earnings (loss) per share in fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2020 reflect the impact of certain professional service, legal fees and related net credits, certain separation charges, asset impairment charges, net gains on lease modifications, non-cash amortization of debt discount on the Company’s convertible senior notes, the related tax impacts of these adjustments as well as certain discrete tax adjustments, where applicable. Fiscal 2020 also includes the impact from changes in the tax law on deferred taxes in certain tax jurisdictions, net tax settlements and adjustments to specific uncertain tax positions. These items affect the comparability of the Company’s reported results. The financial results are also presented on a non-GAAP basis, as defined in Section 10(e) of Regulation S-K of the SEC, to exclude the effect of these items. The Company believes that these “non-GAAP” or “adjusted” financial measures are useful for investors to evaluate the comparability of the Company’s operating results and its future outlook when reviewed in conjunction with the Company’s GAAP financial statements. The non-GAAP measures are provided in addition to, and not as alternatives for, the Company’s reported GAAP results.
The adjusted measures for fiscal 2021 exclude the impact of $80.4 million of asset impairment charges; $3.4 million of separation charges; $10.4 million of amortization of debt discount on the Company’s convertible senior notes; $2.8 million of net gains on lease modifications; and a net credit of $0.6 million of certain professional service, legal fees and related net credits. The asset impairment charges related to certain retail locations resulting from lower revenue and future cash flow projections from the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The $3.4 million in separation-related charges mainly related to headcount reduction in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Certain professional service, legal fees and related (credits) costs were primarily due to amounts which the Company otherwise would not have incurred as part of its business operations. These items resulted in a combined $76.7 million impact (after considering the related tax benefit based on the Company’s assessment of deductibility using the statutory income tax rate, inclusive of the impact of valuation allowances, totaling $14.2 million), or an unfavorable $1.20 per share impact during fiscal 2021. Net loss attributable to Guess?, Inc. was $81.2 million and diluted loss per common share were $1.27 for fiscal 2021. Excluding the impact of these items, adjusted net loss attributable to Guess?, Inc. was $4.5 million and adjusted diluted loss per common share was $0.07 for fiscal 2021.
The adjusted measures for fiscal 2020 exclude the impact of asset impairment charges of $10.0 million, $7.6 million of amortization of debt discount on the Company’s convertible senior notes; net credit of certain
professional service, legal fees and related net credits of $0.9 million, and separation charges of $0.4 million. The asset impairment charges related primarily to the impairment of certain retail locations resulting from under-performance and expected store closures, and, to a lesser extent, impairment charges related to goodwill associated with the Company’s China retail reporting unit and impairment charges related to certain operating lease right-of-use assets. Certain professional service, legal fees and related net credits were primarily due to amounts which the Company otherwise would not have incurred as part of its business operations. During fiscal 2020, the Company recorded $0.4 million in separation-related charges related to the departure of our former CEO. These charges mainly related to non-cash stock-based compensation expense resulting from changes in expected performance conditions of certain previously granted stock awards that were no longer subject to service vesting requirements after his departure. These items resulted in a combined $9.1 million impact (after considering the related tax benefit as well as the impact from changes in the tax law on deferred taxes in certain tax jurisdictions, net tax settlements and adjustments to specific uncertain tax positions totaling $8.1 million), or an unfavorable $0.12 per share impact during fiscal 2020. Net earnings attributable to Guess?, Inc. were $96.0 million and diluted earnings per common share were $1.33 for fiscal 2020. Excluding the impact of these items, adjusted net earnings attributable to Guess?, Inc. were $105.0 million and adjusted diluted earnings per common share were $1.45 for fiscal 2020.
Our discussion and analysis herein also include certain constant currency financial information. Foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations affect the amount reported from translating the Company’s foreign revenue, expenses and balance sheet amounts into U.S. dollars. These rate fluctuations can have a significant effect on reported operating results under GAAP. The Company provides constant currency information to enhance the visibility of underlying business trends, excluding the effects of changes in foreign currency translation rates. To calculate net revenue, comparable store sales and earnings (loss) from operations on a constant currency basis, operating results for the current-year period are translated into U.S. dollars at the average exchange rates in effect during the comparable period of the prior year. To calculate balance sheet amounts on a constant currency basis, the current year balance sheet amount is translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate in effect at the comparable prior-year period end. The constant currency calculations do not adjust for the impact of revaluing specific transactions denominated in a currency that is different to the functional currency of that entity when exchange rates fluctuate. The constant currency information presented may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.
In calculating the estimated impact of currency fluctuations (including translational and transactional impacts) on other measures such as earnings (loss) per share, the Company estimates gross margin (including the impact of foreign exchange currency contracts designated as cash flow hedges for anticipated merchandise purchases) and expenses using the appropriate prior-year rates, translates the estimated foreign earnings (loss) at the comparable prior-year rates and excludes the year-over-year earnings impact of gains or losses arising from balance sheet remeasurement and foreign exchange currency contracts not designated as cash flow hedges for merchandise purchases.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We need liquidity globally primarily to fund our working capital, occupancy costs, interest payments on our debt, remodeling and rationalization of our retail stores, shop-in-shop programs, concessions, systems, infrastructure, other existing operations, expansion plans, international growth and potential acquisitions and investments. In addition, in the U.S. we need liquidity to fund share repurchases and payment of dividends to our stockholders. Generally, our working capital needs are highest during the late summer and fall as our inventories increase before the holiday selling period. During the fiscal year ended January 30, 2021, we relied primarily on trade credit, available cash, real estate and other operating leases, finance leases, proceeds from our credit facilities and term loans and internally generated funds to finance our operations. We anticipate that we will be able to satisfy our ongoing cash requirements during the next 12 months for working capital, capital expenditures, payments on our debt, finance leases and operating leases as well as lease modification payments, potential acquisitions and investments, share repurchases and dividend payments to stockholders, primarily with cash flow from operations and existing cash balances as supplemented by borrowings under our existing Credit Facility in the U.S. and Canada as well as bank facilities in Europe and China and proceeds from our term loans, as needed. As further noted below under the “-COVID-19 Business Update” section and in “Part IV. Financial Statements -
Note 1 - Description of the Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Practices”, the Company has also implemented a number of other measures to help preserve liquidity in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We expect to settle the principal amount of our outstanding convertible senior notes in 2024 in cash and any excess in shares. Such arrangements are described further in “Part IV. Financial Statements - Note 8 - Borrowings and Finance Lease Obligations” and “Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements - Note 10 - Convertible Senior Notes and Related Transactions” in this Form 10-K. Due to the seasonality of our business and cash needs, we may increase borrowings under our established credit facilities from time-to-time, during the next 12 months. If we experience a sustained decrease in consumer demand related to the COVID-19 pandemic, we may require access to additional credit, which may not be available to us on commercially acceptable terms or at all.
On March 27, 2020, the U.S. government enacted the CARES Act to provide economic relief from the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other provisions, the CARES Act allows for a full offset of taxable income in a five-year carryback period for net operating losses, which will reduce current period tax expense and may result in a refund of previously paid income tax amounts at higher historical tax rates. During the year ended January 30, 2021, the Company recognized a tax benefit of approximately $0.7 million related to the CARES Act.
The Company has a balance related to Tax Reform transition tax included in other long-term liabilities of $19.9 million (excluding related interest) for each of the years ended January 30, 2021 and February 1, 2020. Refer to “Part IV. Financial Statements - Note 12 - Income Taxes” for further detail.
The Company has historically considered the undistributed earnings of its foreign subsidiaries to be indefinitely reinvested. As a result of the Tax Reform, the Company had a substantial amount of previously taxed earnings that could be distributed to the U.S. without additional U.S. taxation. The Company continues to evaluate its plans for reinvestment or repatriation of unremitted foreign earnings and regularly reviews its cash positions and determination of permanent reinvestment of foreign earnings. If the Company determines that all or a portion of such foreign earnings are no longer indefinitely reinvested, it may be subject to additional foreign withholding taxes and U.S. state income taxes, beyond the Tax Reform’s one-time transition tax. The Company intends to indefinitely reinvest the remaining earnings from the Company’s foreign subsidiaries for which a deferred tax liability has not already been recorded. It is not practicable to estimate the amount of tax that might be payable if these earnings were repatriated due to the complexities associated with the hypothetical calculation.
As of January 30, 2021, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $469.1 million, of which approximately $102.2 million was held in the U.S.
Excess cash and cash equivalents, which represent the majority of our outstanding cash and cash equivalents balance, are held primarily in overnight deposit and short-term time deposit accounts and money market accounts. Please see “Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors” for a discussion of risk factors which could reasonably be likely to result in a decrease of internally generated funds available to finance capital expenditures and working capital requirements.
COVID-19 Impact on Liquidity
Refer to the “-COVID-19 Business Update” section above and in “Part IV. Financial Statements - Note 1 - Description of the Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Practices” for a discussion of the impact from the COVID-19 pandemic on our financial performance and our liquidity.
In light of store closures and reduced traffic in stores, the Company has taken certain actions with respect to certain of its existing leases, including engaging with landlords to discuss rent deferrals as well as other rent concessions. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we have suspended rental payments and/or paid reduced rental amounts with respect to our retail stores that were closed or experiencing drastically reduced customer traffic as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the last year, we have successfully negotiated with several landlords, including some of our larger landlords and have received rent abatement benefits as well as new lease terms for some of our affected leases. The Company continues to engage in discussions with additional affected landlords in an effort to achieve appropriate rent relief and other lease concessions and, in some cases, to terminate existing leases. In a few instances, where negotiations with landlords have proven unsuccessful, the Company is engaged in litigation related to rent obligations both during the COVID-19 pandemic and through the term of the lease.
Fiscal 2021 Compared to Fiscal 2020
The Company has presented below the cash flow performance comparison of the year ended January 30, 2021 versus the year ended February 1, 2020.
Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities was $209.1 million for the fiscal year ended January 30, 2021, compared to $197.9 million for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2020, or an increase of $11.1 million. The improvement was driven primarily by favorable changes in working capital, partially offset by lower cash flows generated from net earnings. The favorable changes in working capital were due primarily to the extension of vendor payment terms on our accounts payable balances and the suspension and/or reduction of our operating lease payments, which could be temporary, as well as overall lower expenditures and improved inventory management during fiscal 2021. In addition, during fiscal 2020, net cash used in operating activities included the payment of the European Commission fine of $45.6 million which was imposed and accrued in fiscal 2019.
Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities was $22.2 million for the fiscal year ended January 30, 2021, compared to $56.5 million for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2020. Net cash used in investing activities related primarily to capital expenditures incurred on investments in technology infrastructure and, to a lesser extent, existing store remodeling programs and international retail expansion. In addition, purchases of investments, settlements of forward exchange currency contracts and proceeds from the sale of long-term assets are also included in cash flows used in investing activities.
The decrease in cash used in investing activities was driven primarily by lower spending on retail expansion during fiscal 2021 compared to fiscal 2020. During the fiscal year ended January 30, 2021, the Company opened 22 directly operated stores compared to 66 directly operated stores that were opened in the prior year.
Financing Activities
Net cash used in financing activities was $9.9 million for the fiscal year ended January 30, 2021, compared to $64.2 million for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2020. Cash used in financing activities related primarily to the repurchases of shares of the Company’s common stock. In addition, payment of dividends, cash activity from the issuance of common stock under our equity plans, payments related to finance lease obligations, net proceeds from borrowings and net proceeds related to issuance of convertible senior notes and related warrants are also included in cash flows used in financing activities.
The decrease in cash used in financing activities was driven primarily by the lower investments made in share repurchases and, to a lesser extent, lower payment of dividends and higher net proceeds received from borrowings during fiscal 2021 compared to the prior year. This was partially offset by net proceeds from the issuance of convertible senior notes and related warrants during fiscal 2020.
Effect of Exchange Rates on Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash
During the fiscal year ended January 30, 2021, changes in foreign currency translation rates increased our reported cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash balance by $7.5 million. This compares to a decrease of $3.4 million in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash driven by changes in foreign currency translation rates during the fiscal year ended February 1, 2020.
Working Capital
As of January 30, 2021, the Company had net working capital (including cash and cash equivalents) of $470.0 million, compared to $425.8 million at February 1, 2020.
The Company’s primary working capital needs are for the current portion of lease liabilities, accounts receivable and inventory. The accounts receivable balance consists of trade receivables relating primarily to the Company’s wholesale business in Europe and, to a lesser extent, to its wholesale businesses in the Americas and Asia, royalty receivables relating to its licensing operations, credit card and retail concession receivables related to its retail businesses and certain other receivables. Accounts receivable decreased by $13.1 million, or 4.0%, to $314.1 million as of January 30, 2021, compared to $327.3 million at February 1, 2020. On a constant currency
basis, accounts receivable decreased by $32.4 million, or 9.9%, when compared to February 1, 2020. As of January 30, 2021, approximately 49% of our total net trade receivables and 61% of our European net trade receivables were subject to credit insurance coverage, certain bank guarantees or letters of credit for collection purposes. Our credit insurance coverage contains certain terms and conditions specifying deductibles and annual claim limits. Inventory decreased by $4.0 million, or 1.0%, to $389.1 million as of January 30, 2021, from $393.1 million at February 1, 2020. On a constant currency basis, inventory decreased by $21.4 million, or 5.4%, when compared to February 1, 2020, driven primarily by improved inventory management.
Contractual Obligations and Commitments
The following table summarizes the Company’s contractual obligations as of January 30, 2021 and the effects such obligations are expected to have on liquidity and cash flow in future periods (dollars in thousands):
Payments due by period
Total Less than
1 year 1-3 years 3-5 years More than
5 years
Contractual Obligations:
Short-term borrowings $ 7,332 $ 7,332 $ - $ - $ -
Convertible senior notes, net1,2
321,000 6,000 12,000 303,000 -
Long-term debt, excluding convertible senior notes, net1
81,302 28,073 25,590 12,604 15,035
Finance lease obligations1
26,125 6,068 10,967 5,893 3,197
Operating lease obligations3
976,421 249,025 348,367 195,560 183,469
Purchase obligations4
207,789 207,789 - - -
Benefit obligations5
82,840 3,096 5,343 6,490 67,911
Total $ 1,702,809 $ 507,383 $ 402,267 $ 523,547 $ 269,612
Other commercial commitments6
$ 2,100 $ 2,100 $ - $ - $ -
______________________________________________________________________
1Includes interest payments.
2In April 2019, the Company issued $300 million principal amount of 2.00% convertible senior notes due 2024 (the “Notes”) in a private offering. Refer to “Part IV. Financial Statements - Note 10 - Convertible Senior Notes and Related Transactions” for further detail.
3The Company has elected the practical expedient to not separate non-lease components from lease components in the measurement of liabilities for its directly-operated real estate leases. As such, this amount reflects operating lease costs that are considered in the measurement of the related operating lease liabilities, which may include fixed payments related to rent, insurance, property taxes, sales promotion, common area maintenance and certain utility charges, where applicable. This does not include variable lease costs that are excluded from the measurement of the operating lease liabilities, such as those charges that are based on a percentage of annual sales volume or estimates. In fiscal 2021, these variable charges totaled $54.1 million. Refer to “Part IV. Financial Statements - Note 9 - Lease Accounting” for further detail.
4Purchase obligations represent open purchase orders for raw materials and merchandise at the end of the fiscal year. These purchase orders can be impacted by various factors, including the scheduling of market weeks, the timing of issuing orders, the timing of the shipment of orders and currency fluctuations.
5Includes expected payments associated with the deferred compensation plan and the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan through fiscal 2055.
6Consists of standby letters of credit for workers’ compensation and general liability insurance.
Excluded from the above contractual obligations table is the noncurrent liability for unrecognized tax benefits, including penalties and interest, of $40.0 million. This liability for unrecognized tax benefits has been excluded because the Company cannot make a reliable estimate of the period in which the liability will be settled, if ever.
The above table also excludes current liabilities (other than short-term borrowings) as these amounts will be paid within one year and certain long-term liabilities that do not require cash payments.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Other than certain obligations and commitments included in the table above, we did not have any material off-balance sheet arrangements as of January 30, 2021.
Capital Expenditures
Gross capital expenditures totaled $18.9 million, before deducting lease incentives of $2.3 million, for the fiscal year ended January 30, 2021. This compares to gross capital expenditures of $61.9 million, before deducting lease incentives of $5.5 million, for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2020.
We will periodically evaluate strategic acquisitions and alliances and pursue those that we believe will support and contribute to our overall growth initiatives.
Dividends
During the first quarter of fiscal 2021, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had deferred the decision with respect to the payment of its quarterly cash dividend. The Board of Directors decided to continue to postpone its decision with respect to the payment of its quarterly cash dividend during the second quarter of fiscal 2021 in order to preserve the Company’s cash position and provide continued financial flexibility in light of the uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Company announced that it would resume paying its quarterly cash dividend of $0.1125 per share beginning in the third quarter of fiscal 2021, but decided to not declare any cash dividends for the first and second quarters of fiscal 2021.
Decisions on whether, when and in what amounts to continue making any future dividend distributions will remain at all times entirely at the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors, which reserves the right to change or terminate the Company’s dividend practices at any time and for any reason without prior notice. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be based upon a number of business, legal and other considerations, including our cash flow from operations, capital expenditures, debt service and covenant requirements, cash paid for income taxes, earnings, share repurchases, economic conditions and U.S. and global liquidity.
Share Repurchases
On June 26, 2012, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a program to repurchase, from time-to-time and as market and business conditions warrant, up to $500 million of the Company’s common stock. Repurchases under the program may be made on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 trading plans or other available means. There is no minimum or maximum number of shares to be repurchased under the program, which may be discontinued at any time, without prior notice. During fiscal 2021, the Company repurchased 4,000,000 shares under the program at an aggregate cost of $38.9 million. During fiscal 2020, the Company repurchased 16,739,740 shares under the program at an aggregate cost of $288.1 million, which is inclusive of the shares repurchased under the ASR Contract as described below. During fiscal 2019, the Company repurchased 1,118,808 shares at an aggregate cost of $17.6 million. As of January 30, 2021, the Company had remaining authority under the program to purchase $47.8 million of its common stock.
On April 26, 2019, pursuant to existing stock repurchase authorizations, the Company entered into an ASR Contract with JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association (in such capacity, the “ASR Counterparty”), to repurchase an aggregate of $170 million of the Company’s common stock. Under the ASR Contract, the Company made an initial payment of $170 million to the ASR Counterparty and received an initial delivery of approximately 5.2 million shares of common stock, which represented approximately $102 million (or 60%) of the ASR Contract. The Company received a final delivery of an additional 5.4 million shares, or $68 million, under its ASR Contract during the third quarter of fiscal 2020. The final share amount was determined based on the daily volume-weighted average price since the effective date of the ASR Contract, less the applicable contractual discount. When combined with the 5.2 million upfront shares received at the inception of the ASR in April 2019, the Company repurchased approximately 10.6 million of its shares under the ASR at an average repurchase price of $16.09 per share. All shares were repurchased in accordance with the Company’s publicly announced ASR program, which was completed during the third quarter of fiscal 2020. The shares delivered under the ASR Contract reduced the Company’s outstanding shares and its weighted average number of common shares outstanding for purposes of calculating basic and diluted earnings per share.
Borrowings and Finance Lease Obligations
See “Part IV. Financial Statements - Note 8 - Borrowings and Finance Lease Obligations” in this Form 10-K for disclosures about our borrowings and finance lease obligations.
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
On August 23, 2005, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”) which became effective January 1, 2006. The SERP provides select employees who satisfy certain eligibility requirements with certain benefits upon retirement, termination of employment, death, disability or a change in control of the Company, in certain prescribed circumstances.
As a non-qualified pension plan, no dedicated funding of the SERP is required; however, the Company has made periodic payments into insurance policies held in a rabbi trust to fund the expected obligations arising under the non-qualified SERP. The amount of any future payments into the insurance policies, if any, may vary depending on investment performance of the trust. The cash surrender values of the insurance policies were $72.1 million and $67.7 million as of January 30, 2021 and February 1, 2020, respectively, and were included in other assets in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. As a result of changes in the value of the insurance policy investments, the Company recorded unrealized gains (losses) of $6.1 million, $7.6 million and $(1.1) million in other income (expense) during fiscal 2021, fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019, respectively. The projected benefit obligation was $52.3 million and $51.9 million as of January 30, 2021 and February 1, 2020, respectively, and was included in accrued expenses and other long-term liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets depending on the expected timing of payments. SERP benefit payments of $1.7 million were made during both fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2020.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
The Company’s qualified employee stock purchase plan (“ESPP”) allows qualified employees (as defined) to participate in the purchase of designated shares of the Company’s common stock at a price equal to 85% of the lower of the closing price at the beginning or end of each quarterly stock purchase period. The Company has 4,000,000 shares of common stock registered under the ESPP. The Company’s ESPP will remain in effect through March 11, 2022. During the year ended January 30, 2021, 86,780 shares of the Company’s common stock were issued pursuant to the ESPP at an average price of 11.82 per share for a total of $1.0 million.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S., which require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of the assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Management bases its estimates and judgments on its historical experience, an evaluation of current market trends as of the reporting date and other relevant factors, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Management evaluates its estimates and judgments on an ongoing basis including those related to the allowances for doubtful accounts, sales return and markdown allowances, gift card and loyalty accruals, valuation of inventories, share-based compensation, recoverability of deferred taxes, unrecognized tax benefits, the useful life of assets for depreciation and amortization, evaluation of asset impairment (including goodwill and long-lived assets, such as property and equipment and operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets), pension obligations, workers’ compensation and medical self-insurance expense and accruals, litigation reserves and restructuring expense and accruals.
The Company believes that the following significant accounting policies involve a higher degree of judgment and complexity. In addition to the accounting policies mentioned below, see “Part IV. Financial Statements - Note 1 - Description of the Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Practices” in this Form 10-K for other significant accounting policies.
Allowances for Doubtful Accounts
In the normal course of business, the Company grants credit directly to certain wholesale customers after a credit analysis is performed based on financial and other criteria. Accounts receivable are recorded net of an
allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company maintains allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses that result from the inability of its wholesale customers to make their required payments. The Company bases its allowances on analysis of the aging of accounts receivable at the date of the financial statements, assessments of historical and current collection trends, an evaluation of the impact of current economic conditions and whether the Company has obtained credit insurance or other guarantees which are not considered freestanding against the related account receivable balances.
Sales Return Allowances
The Company accrues for estimated sales returns in the period in which the related revenue is recognized. To recognize the financial impact of sales returns, the Company estimates the amount of goods that will be returned based on historical experience and current trends and reduces sales and cost of sales accordingly. The Company’s policy allows retail customers in certain regions a grace period to return merchandise following the date of sale. Substantially all of these returns are considered to be resalable at a price that exceeds the cost of the merchandise. The Company includes the allowance for sales returns in accrued expenses and the estimated cost associated with such sales returns within other current assets in its consolidated balance sheet.
Markdown Allowances
Costs associated with customer markdowns are recorded as a reduction to revenues and any amounts unapplied to existing receivables are included in accrued expenses. Historically, these markdown allowances resulted from seasonal negotiations with the Company’s wholesale customers, as well as historical trends and the evaluation of the impact of current economic conditions.
Gift Cards
Gift card breakage is income recognized due to the non-redemption of a portion of gift cards sold by the Company for which a liability was recorded in prior periods. Gifts cards are mainly used in the U.S. and Canada. The Company issues its gift cards in the U.S. and Canada through one of its subsidiaries and is not required by law to escheat the value of unredeemed gift cards to the state in which the subsidiary is domiciled. Estimated breakage amounts are accounted for under the redemption recognition method and are classified as additional net revenues as the gift cards are redeemed. The Company determined a gift card breakage rate based upon historical redemption patterns, which represented the cumulative estimated amount of gift card breakage from the inception of the electronic gift card program in late 2002. Any future revisions to the estimated breakage rate may result in changes in the amount of breakage income recognized in future periods.
Loyalty Programs
The Company has customer loyalty programs in North America, Europe and Asia which cover all of its brands. Under certain of the programs, primarily in the U.S. and Canada, customers accumulate points based on purchase activity. Once a loyalty program member achieves a certain point level, the member earns awards that may only be redeemed for merchandise. Unredeemed points generally expire after six months without additional purchase activity and unredeemed awards generally expire after two months. Where applicable, the Company allocates a portion of the transaction price from sales in its direct-to-consumer channel to its loyalty program by using historical redemption rates to estimate the value of future award redemptions. This amount is accrued in current liabilities and recorded as a reduction of net revenue in the period which the related revenue is recognized.
Inventory Reserves
Inventories are valued at the lower of cost (primarily weighted average method) or net realizable value. The Company continually evaluates its inventories by assessing slow moving product as well as prior seasons’ inventory. Net realizable value of aged inventory is estimated based on historical sales trends for each product line category, the impact of market trends, an evaluation of economic conditions, available liquidation channels and the value of current orders relating to the future sales of this type of inventory. The Company closely monitors off-price sales to ensure the actual results closely match initial estimates. Estimates are regularly updated based upon this continuing review.
Share-Based Compensation
The Company recognizes compensation expense for all share-based awards granted based on the grant date fair value. The fair value of each stock option is estimated on the grant date using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and involves several assumptions, including the risk-free interest rate, expected volatility, dividend yield and expected life. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect for the expected term of the option at the time of grant. The expected stock price volatility is determined based on an average of both historical volatility and implied volatility. Implied volatility is derived from exchange traded options on the Company’s common stock. The expected dividend yield is based on the Company’s history and expectations of dividend payouts. The expected life is determined based on historical trends. Compensation expense for nonvested stock options and stock awards/units that are not subject to performance-based vesting conditions is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. The Company has elected to account for forfeitures as they occur.
In addition, the Company has granted certain nonvested units that require certain minimum performance targets to be achieved in order for these awards to vest. Vesting is also subject to continued service requirements through the vesting date. Compensation expense for performance-based awards that vest in increments is recognized based on an accelerated attribution method. If the minimum performance targets are not forecasted to be achieved, no expense is recognized during the period.
The Company has also granted certain nonvested stock units which are subject to market-based performance targets in order for these units to vest. Vesting is also subject to continued service requirements through the vesting date. The grant date fair value for such nonvested stock units was estimated using a Monte Carlo simulation that incorporates option-pricing inputs covering the period from the grant date through the end of the performance period. Compensation expense for such nonvested stock units is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period, regardless of whether the market condition is satisfied.
Certain restricted stock units vest immediately but are considered contingently returnable as a result of certain service conditions. Compensation expense for these types of restricted stock units are recognized on a straight-line basis over the implied service period.
Derivatives
Foreign Exchange Currency Contracts
The Company operates in foreign countries, which exposes it to market risk associated with foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. The Company has entered into certain forward contracts to hedge the risk of foreign currency rate fluctuations. The Company has elected to apply the hedge accounting rules in accordance with authoritative guidance for certain of these hedges.
The Company’s primary objective is to hedge the variability in forecasted cash flows due to the foreign currency risk. Various transactions that occur primarily in Europe, Canada, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, and Mexico are denominated in U.S. dollars, British pounds and Russian roubles and thus are exposed to earnings risk as a result of exchange rate fluctuations when converted to their functional currencies. These types of transactions include U.S. dollar-denominated purchases of merchandise and U.S. dollar- and British pound-denominated intercompany liabilities. In addition, certain operating expenses, tax liabilities and pension-related liabilities are denominated in Swiss francs and are exposed to earnings risk as a result of exchange rate fluctuations when converted to the functional currency. Further, there are certain real estate leases which are denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of the respective entity that entered into the agreement (primarily Swiss francs, Russian roubles and Polish zloty). As a result, the Company may be exposed to volatility related to unrealized gains or losses on the translation of present value of future lease payment obligations when translated at the exchange rate as of a reporting period-end. The Company enters into derivative financial instruments, including forward exchange currency contracts, to offset some but not all of the exchange risk on certain of these anticipated foreign currency transactions. Changes in the fair value of forward contracts designated as cash flow hedges are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (expense) within stockholders’ equity and are recognized in cost of product sales in the period which approximates the time the hedged merchandise inventory is sold or, if applicable, in other income and expense in the period in which the hedged intercompany liability is incurred.
Periodically, the Company may also use foreign exchange currency contracts to hedge the translation and economic exposures related to its net investments in certain of its international subsidiaries. Changes in the fair value of these U.S. dollar forward contracts, designated as net investment hedges, are recorded in foreign currency translation adjustment as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) within stockholders’ equity and are not recognized in earnings (loss) until the sale or liquidation of the hedged net investment.
The Company also has foreign exchange currency contracts that are not designated as hedging instruments for accounting purposes. Changes in fair value of foreign exchange currency contracts not designated as hedging instruments are reported in net earnings (loss) as part of other income (expense).
Interest Rate Swap Agreements
The Company is exposed to interest rate risk on its floating-rate debt. The Company has entered into interest rate swap agreements to effectively convert its floating-rate debt to a fixed-rate basis. The principal objective of these contracts is to eliminate or reduce the variability of the cash flows in interest payments associated with the Company’s floating-rate debt, thus reducing the impact of interest rate changes on future interest payment cash flows. The Company has elected to apply the hedge accounting rules in accordance with authoritative guidance for certain of these contracts. Changes in the fair value of interest rate swap agreements designated as cash flow hedges are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) within stockholders’ equity and are amortized to interest expense over the term of the related debt.
Periodically, the Company may also enter into interest rate swap agreements that are not designated as hedging instruments for accounting purposes. Changes in the fair value of interest rate swap agreements not designated as hedging instruments are reported in net earnings (loss) as part of other income (expense).
Income Taxes
The Company adopted authoritative guidance which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements and prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. Guidance was also provided on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. The Company’s continuing practice is to recognize interest and penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense. As required under applicable accounting rules, the Company accrues an amount for its estimate of additional income tax liability which the Company, more likely than not, will incur as a result of the ultimate resolution of income tax audits (“uncertain tax positions”). The Company reviews and updates the estimates used in the accrual for uncertain tax positions, as appropriate, as more definitive information or interpretations become available from taxing authorities, upon completion of tax audits, upon receipt of assessments, upon expiration of statutes of limitation, or upon occurrence of other events. The results of operations and financial position for future periods could be impacted by changes in assumptions or resolutions of tax audits.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between financial reporting bases and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the periods in which the deferred tax asset or liability is expected to be realized or settled. Deferred tax assets are reduced by valuation allowances if we believe it is more likely than not that some portion or the entire asset will not be realized. The Company has historically considered the undistributed earnings of its foreign subsidiaries to be indefinitely reinvested. As a result of the Tax Reform, the Company had a substantial amount of previously taxed earnings that could be distributed to the U.S. without additional U.S. taxation. The Company continues to evaluate its plans for reinvestment or repatriation of unremitted foreign earnings and regularly reviews its cash positions and determination of permanent reinvestment of foreign earnings. If the Company determines that all or a portion of such foreign earnings are no longer indefinitely reinvested, it may be subject to additional foreign withholding taxes and U.S. state income taxes, beyond the Tax Reform’s one-time transition tax. The Company intends to indefinitely reinvest the remaining earnings from the Company’s foreign subsidiaries for which a deferred tax liability has not already been recorded. It is not practicable to estimate the amount of tax that might be payable if these earnings were repatriated due to the complexities associated with the hypothetical calculation.
Valuation of Goodwill, Intangible and Other Long-Lived Assets
The Company assesses the impairment of its long-lived assets (related primarily to goodwill, property and equipment and operating right-of-use assets), which requires the Company to make assumptions and judgments regarding the carrying value of these assets on an annual basis, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the assets might be impaired. For goodwill, determination of impairment is made at the reporting unit level which may be either an operating segment or one level below an operating segment if discrete financial information is available. Two or more reporting units within an operating segment may be aggregated for impairment testing if they have similar economic characteristics. The Company has identified its Americas Retail segment, its Americas Wholesale segment and its European wholesale and European retail components of its Europe segment as reporting units for goodwill impairment testing. For long-lived assets (other than goodwill), the majority relate to its retail operations which consist primarily of regular retail and flagship locations. The Company considers each individual regular retail location as an asset group for impairment testing, which is the lowest level at which individual cash flows can be identified. The asset group includes leasehold improvements, furniture, fixtures and equipment, computer hardware and software, operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets including lease acquisition costs, and certain long-term security deposits, and excludes operating lease liabilities. The Company reviews regular retail locations in penetrated markets for impairment risk once the locations have been opened for at least one year in their current condition, or sooner as changes in circumstances require. The Company believes that waiting at least one year allows a location to reach a maturity level where a more comprehensive analysis of financial performance can be performed. The Company evaluates impairment risk for regular retail locations in new markets, where the Company is in the early stages of establishing its presence, once brand awareness has been established. The Company also evaluates impairment risk for retail locations that are expected to be closed in the foreseeable future. The Company has flagship locations which are used as a regional marketing tool to build brand awareness and promote the Company’s current product. Provided the flagship locations continue to meet appropriate criteria, impairment for these locations is tested at a reporting unit level similar to goodwill since they do not have separately identifiable cash flows.
An asset is considered to be impaired if the Company determines that the carrying value may not be recoverable based upon its assessment of the asset’s ability to continue to generate earnings from operations and positive cash flow in future periods or if significant changes in the Company’s strategic business objectives and utilization of the assets occurred. If the assets (other than goodwill) are assessed to be recoverable, they are depreciated or amortized over the periods benefited. If the assets are considered to be impaired, an impairment charge is recognized representing the amount by which the carrying value of the assets exceeds the fair value of those assets. The Company uses market participant rents to calculate fair value of ROU assets and discounted future cash flows of the asset group to quantify fair value for other long-lived assets. The impairment loss calculations require management to apply judgment in estimating future cash flows and the discount rates that reflect the risk inherent in future cash flows. Future expected cash flows for assets in regular retail locations are based on management’s estimates of future cash flows, which include sales and gross margin growth rate assumptions, over the remaining lease period or expected life, if shorter. For expected location closures, the Company will evaluate whether it is necessary to shorten the useful life for any of the assets within the respective asset group. The Company will use this revised useful life when estimating the asset group’s future cash flows. The Company considers historical trends, expected future business trends and other factors when estimating the future cash flow for each regular retail location. The Company also considers factors such as: the local environment for each regular retail location, including mall traffic and competition; the Company’s ability to successfully implement strategic initiatives; and the ability to control variable costs such as cost of sales and payroll and, in some cases, renegotiate lease costs. If actual results are not consistent with the assumptions and judgments used in estimating future cash flows and asset fair values, there may be additional exposure to future impairment losses that could be material to the Company’s results of operations.
Pension Benefit Plan Actuarial Assumptions
The Company’s pension obligations and related costs are calculated using actuarial concepts, within the authoritative guidance framework. The Company uses the corridor approach to amortize unrecognized actuarial gains or losses over the average remaining service life of active participants. The life expectancy, estimated retirement age, discount rate, estimated future compensation and expected return on plan assets are important
elements of expense and/or liability measurement. These critical assumptions are evaluated annually which enables expected future payments for benefits to be stated at present value on the measurement date. If actual results are not consistent with actuarial assumptions, the amounts recognized for the defined benefit plans could change significantly. Refer to “Part IV. Financial Statements - Note 13 - Defined Benefit Plans” in this Form 10-K for detail regarding the Company’s defined benefit plans.
Litigation Reserves
Estimated amounts for claims that are probable and can be reasonably estimated are recorded as liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. As additional information becomes available, the Company assesses the potential liability related to new claims and existing claims and revises estimates as appropriate. As new claims arise or existing claims evolve, such revisions in estimates of the potential liability could materially impact the results of operations and financial position.
Convertible Senior Notes
In April 2019, the Company issued $300 million principal amount of 2.00% convertible senior notes due 2024 (the “Notes”) in a private offering.
Under GAAP, certain convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash on conversion are required to be separately accounted for as liability and equity components of the instrument in a manner that reflects the issuer’s non-convertible debt borrowing rate. Accordingly, in accounting for the issuance of the Notes, the Company separated the Notes into liability and equity components. The liability component was recorded at fair value, which was derived from a valuation technique used to calculate the fair value of a similar liability without an associated convertible feature. The carrying amount of the equity component, which is recognized as a debt discount, represents the difference between the proceeds from the issuance of the Notes and the fair value of the liability component of the Notes.
In accounting for the debt issuance costs related to the issuance of the Notes, the Company allocated the total amount incurred to the liability and equity components based on their relative values. Debt issuance costs attributable to the liability component were recorded as a contra-liability and are presented net against the convertible senior notes balance on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. These costs are amortized to interest expense using the effective interest method over the term of the Notes. Refer to “Part IV. Financial Statements - Note 10 - Convertible Senior Notes and Related Transactions” in this Form 10-K for details on the Company’s convertible senior notes.
Recently Issued Accounting Guidance
See “Part IV. Financial Statements - Note 2 - New Accounting Guidance” in this Form 10-K for disclosures about recently issued accounting guidance.

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
ITEM 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Exchange Rate Risk
More than two-thirds of product sales and licensing revenue recorded for the year ended January 30, 2021 were denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. The Company’s primary exchange rate risk relates to operations in Europe, Canada, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, and Mexico. Changes in currencies affect our earnings in various ways. For further discussion on currency-related risk, please refer to our risk factors under “Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors.”
Various transactions that occur primarily in Europe, Canada, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, and Mexico are denominated in U.S. dollars, British pounds and Russian roubles and thus are exposed to earnings risk as a result of exchange rate fluctuations when converted to their functional currencies. These types of transactions include U.S. dollar-denominated purchases of merchandise and U.S. dollar- and British pound-denominated intercompany liabilities. In addition, certain operating expenses, tax liabilities and pension-related liabilities are denominated in Swiss francs and are exposed to earnings risk as a result of exchange rate fluctuations when converted to the functional currency. Further, there are certain real estate leases which are denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of the respective entity that entered into the agreement (primarily Swiss francs, Russian roubles and Polish zloty). As a result, the Company may be exposed to volatility related to
unrealized gains or losses on the translation of present value of future lease payment obligations when translated at the exchange rate as of a reporting period-end. The Company is also subject to certain translation and economic exposures related to its net investment in certain of its international subsidiaries. The Company enters into derivative financial instruments to offset some but not all of its exchange risk. In addition, some of the derivative contracts in place will create volatility during the fiscal year as they are marked-to-market according to the accounting rules and may result in revaluation gains or losses in different periods from when the currency impact on the underlying transactions are realized.
Foreign Exchange Currency Contracts Designated as Cash Flow Hedges
During fiscal 2021, the Company purchased U.S. dollar forward contracts in Europe totaling US$115.0 million that were designated as cash flow hedges. As of January 30, 2021, the Company had forward contracts outstanding for its European operations of US$100.0 million to hedge forecasted merchandise purchases, which are expected to mature over the next 13 months. The Company’s derivative financial instruments are recorded in its consolidated balance sheet at fair value based on quoted market rates. Changes in the fair value of the U.S. dollar forward contracts, designated as cash flow hedges for forecasted merchandise purchases, are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) within stockholders’ equity and are recognized in cost of product sales in the period which approximates the time the hedged merchandise inventory is sold. Changes in the fair value of the U.S. dollar forward contracts, if any are designated as cash flow hedges for forecasted intercompany royalties, are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) within stockholders’ equity and are recognized in other income (expense) in the period in which the royalty expense is incurred.
As of January 30, 2021, accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) related to foreign exchange currency contracts included a net unrealized loss of approximately $4.1 million, net of tax, of which $3.3 million will be recognized in cost of product sales over the following 12 months, at the then current values on a pre-tax basis, which can be different than the current year-end values. As of January 30, 2021, the net unrealized loss of the remaining open forward contracts recorded in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet was approximately $3.3 million.
At February 1, 2020, the Company had forward contracts outstanding for its European operations of US$148.6 million that were designated as cash flow hedges. At February 1, 2020, the net unrealized gain of these open forward contracts recorded in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet was approximately $4.0 million.
Foreign Exchange Currency Contracts Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
The Company also has foreign exchange currency contracts that are not designated as hedging instruments for accounting purposes. Changes in fair value of foreign exchange currency contracts not designated as hedging instruments are reported in net earnings (loss) as part of other income (expense). For the year ended January 30, 2021, the Company recorded a net loss of $5.1 million for its euro dollar foreign currency contracts not designated as hedges, which has been included in other income (expense). As of January 30, 2021, the Company had euro foreign exchange currency contracts to purchase US$19.0 million expected to mature over the next four months. As of January 30, 2021, the net unrealized loss of these open forward contracts recorded in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet was approximately $1.2 million.
At February 1, 2020, the Company had euro foreign exchange currency contracts to purchase US$46.1 million. At February 1, 2020, the net unrealized gain of these open forward contracts recorded in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet was approximately $0.9 million.
Sensitivity Analysis
As of January 30, 2021, a sensitivity analysis of changes in foreign currencies when measured against the U.S. dollar indicates that, if the U.S. dollar had uniformly weakened by 10% against all of the U.S. dollar denominated foreign exchange derivatives totaling US$119.0 million, the fair value of the instruments would have decreased by $13.2 million. Conversely, if the U.S. dollar uniformly strengthened by 10% against all of the U.S. dollar denominated foreign exchange derivatives, the fair value of these instruments would have increased by $10.8 million. Any resulting changes in the fair value of the hedged instruments may be partially offset by changes in the fair value of certain balance sheet positions (primarily U.S. dollar denominated liabilities in our
foreign operations) impacted by the change in the foreign currency rate. The ability to reduce the exposure of currencies on earnings depends on the magnitude of the derivatives compared to the balance sheet positions during each reporting cycle.
Interest Rate Risk
The Company is exposed to interest rate risk on its floating-rate debt. The Company has entered into interest rate swap agreements to effectively convert its floating-rate debt to a fixed-rate basis. The principal objective of these contracts is to eliminate or reduce the variability of the cash flows in interest payments associated with the Company’s floating-rate debt, thus reducing the impact of interest rate changes on future interest payment cash flows. The Company has elected to apply the hedge accounting rules in accordance with authoritative guidance for certain of these contracts.
In April 2019, the Company issued $300 million principal amount of convertible senior notes in a private offering. The fair value of the convertible senior notes is subject to interest rate risk, market risk and other factors due to its conversion feature. The fair value of the convertible senior notes will generally increase as our common stock price increases and will generally decrease as our common stock price declines. The interest and market value changes affect the fair value of the convertible senior notes but do not impact our financial position, cash flows or results of operations due to the fixed nature of the debt obligation. Additionally, we carry the convertible senior notes at face value, less any unamortized discount on our balance sheet and we present the fair value for disclosure purposes only.
Interest Rate Swap Agreement Designated as Cash Flow Hedge
During fiscal 2017, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement with a notional amount of $21.5 million, designated as a cash flow hedge, to hedge the variability of cash flows in interest payments associated with the Company’s floating-rate debt. This interest rate swap agreement matures in January 2026 and converts the nature of the Company’s real estate secured term loan from LIBOR floating-rate debt to fixed-rate debt, resulting in a swap fixed rate of approximately 3.06%. The fair value of the interest rate swap agreement is based upon inputs corroborated by observable market data. Changes in the fair value of the interest rate swap agreement, designated as a cash flow hedge to hedge the variability of cash flows in interest payments associated with the Company’s floating-rate debt, are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) within stockholders’ equity and are amortized to interest expense over the term of the related debt.
As of January 30, 2021, accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) related to the interest rate swap agreement included a net unrealized loss of approximately $0.8 million, net of tax, which will be recognized in interest expense after the following 12 months, at the then current values on a pre-tax basis, which can be different than the current year-end values. As of January 30, 2021, the net unrealized loss of the interest rate swap recorded in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet was approximately $1.0 million.
At February 1, 2020, the net unrealized loss of the interest rate swap recorded in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet was approximately $0.3 million.
Sensitivity Analysis
As of January 30, 2021, the Company had indebtedness related to a real estate secured term loan of $18.5 million and finance lease obligations of $22.1 million. The real estate secured loan is covered by a separate interest rate swap agreement with a swap fixed interest rate of approximately 3.06% that matures in January 2026. The interest rate swap agreement is designated as a cash flow hedge and converts the nature of the Company’s real estate secured term loan from LIBOR floating-rate debt to fixed-rate debt. The finance lease obligations are based on fixed interest rates derived from the respective agreements.
The Company’s remaining indebtedness is at variable rates of interest. Accordingly, changes in interest rates would impact the Company’s results of operations in future periods. A 100 basis point increase in interest rates would have had an insignificant effect on interest expense for the year ended January 30, 2021.
As of January 30, 2021, the Company also had borrowings under its short-term borrowing arrangements of $7.3 million which are based on variable rates of interest. Accordingly, changes in interest rates would impact the
Company’s results of operations in future periods. A 100 basis point increase in interest rates would not have a significant effect on interest expense for the year ended January 30, 2021.
The fair values of the Company’s debt instruments are based on the amount of future cash flows associated with each instrument discounted using the Company’s incremental borrowing rate. As of January 30, 2021 and February 1, 2020, the carrying value of all financial instruments was not materially different from fair value, as the interest rates on the Company’s debt approximated rates currently available to the Company. The fair value of the Company’s convertible senior notes is determined based on inputs that are observable in the market and have been classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments
The following table summarizes net after-tax activity related to the Company’s foreign exchange currency contracts and interest rate swap agreement designated as cash flow hedges recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (in thousands):
Year Ended Jan 30, 2021 Year Ended Feb 1, 2020
Beginning balance gain $ 6,300 $ 2,999
Cumulative adjustment from adoption of new accounting guidance1
- 1,981
Net gains (losses) from changes in cash flow hedges (5,709) 8,316
Net gains reclassified to earnings (loss) (5,467) (6,996)
Ending balance gain (loss) $ (4,876) $ 6,300
______________________________________________________________________
1During the first quarter of fiscal 2020, the Company adopted new authoritative guidance which eliminated the requirement to separately measure and report ineffectiveness for instruments that qualify for hedge accounting and generally requires that the entire change in the fair value of such instruments ultimately be presented in the same line as the respective hedge item. As a result, there is no interest component recognized for the ineffective portion of instruments that qualify for hedge accounting, but rather all changes in the fair value of such instruments are included in other comprehensive income (loss). Upon adoption of this guidance, the Company reclassified $2.0 million in gains from retained earnings to accumulated other comprehensive loss related to the previously recorded interest component on outstanding instruments that qualified for hedge accounting.

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
ITEM 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data listed in “Item 15” of Part IV of this report.

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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
ITEM 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
None.

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ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
ITEM 9A. Controls and Procedures.
Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined under Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this annual report.
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
The SEC, as directed by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, adopted rules which require the Company to include in its Annual Reports on Form 10-K, an assessment by management of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act. In addition, the Company’s independent auditors must attest to and report on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance to the Company’s management and Board of Directors regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect all misstatements. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.
The Company’s management carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 Framework). Based upon this evaluation, under the framework in Internal Control-Integrated Framework, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of January 30, 2021.
Ernst & Young LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited the Company’s financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ended January 30, 2021 included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K has issued an attestation report on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, which is set forth below.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Guess?, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We have audited Guess?, Inc. and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of January 30, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, Guess?, Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of January 30, 2021, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of January 30, 2021 and February 1, 2020, the related consolidated statements of income (loss), comprehensive income (loss), stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended January 30, 2021, and the related notes and the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at ITEM 15(a)(2) and our report dated April 9, 2021 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP
Los Angeles, California
April 9, 2021

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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 9B. Other Information.
None.
PART III

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ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
ITEM 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
The information required by this item can be found under the captions “Directors and Executive Officers” and “Corporate Governance and Board Matters” in the Company’s Proxy Statement (the “Proxy Statement”) to be filed with the SEC not later than 120 days after the end of our fiscal year and is incorporated herein by reference.
In addition, our Board of Directors has adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to all of our directors, employees and officers, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. The current version of the Code of Ethics is available on our investor website, which can be found at http://investors.guess.com. To the extent required by rules adopted by the SEC and The New York Stock Exchange, we intend to promptly disclose future amendments to certain provisions of the Code of Ethics, or waivers of such provisions granted to executive officers and directors, on our investor website.

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
ITEM 11. Executive Compensation.
The information required by this item can be found under the caption “Executive and Director Compensation,” excluding the Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation, in the Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
ITEM 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
The information required by this item can be found under the captions “Equity Compensation Plan Information” and “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” in the Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
ITEM 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
The information required by this item can be found under the captions “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” and “Corporate Governance and Board Matters-Board Independence, Structure and Committee Composition” in the Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
ITEM 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
The information required by this item can be found under the caption “Relationship with Independent Registered Public Accountant” in the Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
PART IV

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
ITEM 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
(a) Documents Filed with Report
(1)Consolidated Financial Statements
The Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm and financial statements listed on the accompanying Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedule are filed as part of this report.
(2)Consolidated Financial Statement Schedule
The financial statement schedule listed on the accompanying Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedule is filed as part of this report.
All other schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulations of the SEC are not required under the related instructions or are inapplicable and therefore have been omitted.
(3)Exhibits
The exhibits listed in the below Exhibit Index are filed or incorporated by reference as part of this report.
Exhibit Index
Exhibit
Number Description
3.1.
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant (incorporated by reference from Amendment No. 3 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-4419) filed on July 30, 1996).
3.2.
Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 3, 2018).
4.1.
Specimen Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference from Amendment No. 3 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-4419) filed on July 30, 1996).
4.2.
Description of Capital Stock (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 22, 2019).
4.3.
Indenture, dated as of April 26, 2019, between the Registrant and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (including form of 2.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2024) (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 29, 2019).
*10.1.
2004 Equity Incentive Plan (Amended and Restated as of May 19, 2017) (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 5, 2017).
*10.2.
Non-Employee Directors’ Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 6, 2016).
*10.3.
Form of Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Agreement (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 30, 2016).
*10.4.
Form of Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 30, 2016).
*10.5.
2015 Annual Incentive Bonus Plan (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 25, 2015).
*10.6.
2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (Amended and Restated March 12, 2012) (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 28, 2012).
*10.7.
Executive Employment Agreement dated January 27, 2019 between the Registrant and Carlos Alberini (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 2, 2019).
*10.8.
Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement dated as of February 20, 2019 between the Registrant and Carlos Alberini (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 2, 2019).
*10.9.
Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (revenues) dated as of February 20, 2019 between the Registrant and Carlos Alberini (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 2, 2019).
Exhibit
Number Description
*10.10.
Letter Agreement regarding amendment to Employment Agreement dated March 30, 2020 between the Registrant and Carlos Alberini (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended May 2, 2020).
*10.11.
Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement dated as of June 11, 2020 between the Registrant and Carlos Alberini (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended August 1, 2020).
*10.12.
Performance Share Award Agreement (total shareholder return) dated as of June 29, 2020 for Carlos Alberini and Kathryn Anderson (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended August 1, 2020).
*10.13.
Letter Agreement dated July 9, 2020 regarding amendment to Employment Agreement between the Registrant and Carlos Alberini (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended August 1, 2020) .
*10.14.
Restricted Stock Unit Agreement dated as of June 25, 2018 for Paul Marciano (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended August 4, 2018).
*10.15.
Performance Share Award Agreement (total shareholder return) dated as of June 25, 2018 for Paul Marciano (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended August 4, 2018).
*10.16.
Performance Share Award Agreement (revenue and earnings from operations) dated as of June 25, 2018 for Paul Marciano (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended August 4, 2018).
*10.17.
Executive Employment Agreement dated January 26, 2016 between the Registrant and Paul Marciano (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 1, 2016).
*10.18.
Letter Agreement regarding amendment to Employment Agreement dated April 28, 2017 between the Registrant and Paul Marciano (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 4, 2017).
*10.19.
Employment Letter dated January 25, 2019 between the Registrant and Paul Marciano (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 2, 2019).
*10.20.
Restricted Stock Unit Agreement dated as of June 20, 2019 for Paul Marciano (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended August 3, 2019).
*10.21
Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement dated as of June 11, 2020 between the Registrant and Paul Marciano (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended August 1, 2020).
*10.22.
Performance Share Award Agreement (licensing and company earnings from operations) dated as of June 29, 2020 between the Registrant and Paul Marciano (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended August 1, 2020).
*10.23.
Offer Letter dated October 23, 2019 between the Registrant and Kathryn Anderson (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 6, 2019).
*10.24.
Restricted Stock Agreement dated as of December 2, 2019 between the Registrant and Kathryn Anderson (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 1, 2020).
*10.25.
Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement dated as of December 2, 2019 between the Registrant and Kathryn Anderson (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 1, 2020).
*10.26.
Letter Agreement regarding amendment to Offer Letter dated March 30, 2020 between the Registrant and Kathryn Anderson (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended May 2, 2020).
*10.27.
Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement dated as of June 11, 2020 between the Registrant and Kathryn Anderson (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended August 1, 2020).
*10.28.
Letter Agreement dated July 9, 2020 regarding amendment to Offer Letter between the Registrant and Kathryn Anderson (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended August 1, 2020).
*10.29.
Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 16, 2005).
*10.30.
Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 29, 2017).
Exhibit
Number Description
*10.31.
Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 16, 2005).
*10.32.
Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 29, 2017).
*10.33.
Form of Performance Share Award Agreement (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 30, 2016).
*10.34.
Form of Performance Share Award Agreement (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 29, 2017).
*10.35.
Form of Performance Share Award Agreement (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended August 4, 2018).
*10.36.
Indemnification Agreements between the Registrant and certain executives and directors (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996).
*10.37.
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan (Amended and Restated Effective as of December 18, 2008) (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2009).
*10.38.
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (Amended and Restated Effective as of December 18, 2008) (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2009).
*10.39.
Amendment 2013-I to the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan of the Registrant dated as of July 11, 2013 (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended August 3, 2013).
10.40.
First Amendment to Lease Agreement between the Registrant and 1444 Partners, Ltd. with respect to the Registrant’s corporate headquarters (including original lease agreement) (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended May 1, 2010).
10.41.
Second Amendment to Lease Agreement between the Registrant and 1444 Partners, Ltd. with respect to the Registrant’s corporate headquarters (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 31, 2010).
10.42.
Third Amendment to Lease Agreement dated as of August 2, 2015 between the Registrant and 1444 Partners, Ltd. with respect to the Registrant’s corporate headquarters (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 31, 2015).
10.43.
Fourth Amendment to Lease Agreement dated as of October 7, 2020 between the Registrant and 1444 Partners, Ltd. with respect to the Registrant's corporate headquarters (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 31, 2020).
10.44.
Loan, Guaranty and Security Agreement dated as of June 23, 2015, among the Registrant, Guess? Retail, Inc., Guess.com, Inc., Guess? Canada Corporation, the guarantors party thereto, the lenders party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as agent for the lenders (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 24, 2015).
10.45.
Amendment Number One to Loan, Guaranty and Security Agreement dated as of February 16, 2016, among the Registrant, Guess? Retail, Inc., Guess.com, Inc., Guess? Canada Corporation, the guarantors party thereto, the lenders party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as agent for the lenders (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 30, 2016).
10.46.
Amendment Number Two to Loan, Guaranty and Security Agreement, dated as of April 22, 2019, by and among the Registrant, Guess? Retail, Inc., Guess.com, Inc., Guess? Canada Corporation, Bank of America, N.A., as agent for the lenders, and each of the lenders party thereto (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 22, 2019).
10.47.
Amendment Number Three to Loan, Guaranty and Security Agreement dated as of April 21, 2020, among Guess?, Inc., Guess? Retail, Inc., Guess.com, Inc., Guess? Canada Corporation, the guarantors party thereto, the lenders party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as agent for the lenders (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 22, 2020).
10.48.
Form of Call Option Confirmation between the Registrant and each Option Counterparty (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 29, 2019).
10.49.
Form of Warrant Confirmation between the Registrant and each Option Counterparty (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 29, 2019).
†21.1.
List of Subsidiaries.
†23.1.
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
†31.1.
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Exhibit
Number Description
†31.2.
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
††32.1.
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
††32.2.
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
†101.INS XBRL Instance Document
†101.SCH XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
†101.CAL XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
†101.DEF XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
†101.LAB XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
†101.PRE XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
†104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)
_________________________________________________________________________
*
Management Contract or Compensatory Plan
†
Filed herewith
††
Furnished herewith