Table of Contents

 

 

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

x      QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended April 30, 2011

 

OR

 

o         TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from             to            

 

Commission file number:  1-11893

 

GUESS?, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

95-3679695

(State or other jurisdiction of

 

(I.R.S. Employer

incorporation or organization)

 

Identification No.)

 

 

 

1444 South Alameda Street

 

 

Los Angeles, California

 

90021

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

(213) 765-3100

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes  x  No  o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes  x No  o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer x

 

Accelerated filer o

 

 

 

Non-accelerated filer o

 

Smaller reporting company o

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes  o  No  x

 

As of June 2, 2011 the registrant had 92,592,444 shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value per share, outstanding.

 

 

 



Table of Contents

 

GUESS?, INC.

FORM 10-Q

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

Item 1.

Financial Statements (unaudited)

1

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of April 30, 2011 and January 29, 2011

1

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income — Three Months Ended April 30, 2011 and May 1, 2010

2

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income — Three Months Ended April 30, 2011 and May 1, 2010

3

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows — Three Months Ended April 30, 2011 and May 1, 2010

4

 

 

 

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

5

 

 

 

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

16

 

 

 

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

26

 

 

 

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

28

 

 

 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

28

 

 

 

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

28

 

 

 

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

28

 

 

 

Item 6.

Exhibits

29

 

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Table of Contents

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.  Financial Statements.

 

GUESS?, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share data)

 

 

 

Apr. 30,
2011

 

Jan. 29,
2011

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

 426,774

 

$

 427,037

 

Short-term investments

 

15,035

 

15,087

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

377,432

 

358,482

 

Inventories

 

300,713

 

294,705

 

Deferred tax assets

 

19,827

 

18,121

 

Other current assets

 

58,861

 

50,148

 

Total current assets

 

1,198,642

 

1,163,580

 

Property and equipment, net

 

337,161

 

313,856

 

Goodwill

 

31,268

 

29,595

 

Other intangible assets, net

 

10,321

 

9,192

 

Long-term deferred tax assets

 

56,192

 

55,455

 

Other assets

 

129,304

 

114,126

 

 

 

$

 1,762,888

 

$

 1,685,804

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Current portion of capital lease obligations and borrowings

 

$

 2,359

 

$

 2,177

 

Accounts payable

 

212,667

 

233,846

 

Accrued expenses

 

213,685

 

194,993

 

Total current liabilities

 

428,711

 

431,016

 

Capital lease obligations

 

12,834

 

12,218

 

Deferred rent and lease incentives

 

77,281

 

76,455

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

87,611

 

85,210

 

 

 

606,437

 

604,899

 

Redeemable noncontrolling interests

 

22,238

 

14,711

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, $.01 par value. Authorized 10,000,000 shares; no shares issued and outstanding

 

 

 

Common stock, $.01 par value. Authorized 150,000,000 shares; issued 137,851,134 and 137,579,379 shares, outstanding 92,573,705 and 92,290,744 shares, at April 30, 2011 and January 29, 2011, respectively

 

926

 

923

 

Paid-in capital

 

374,732

 

368,225

 

Retained earnings

 

978,544

 

960,460

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

 

32,837

 

(8,578

)

Treasury stock, 45,277,429 and 45,288,635 shares at April 30, 2011 and January 29, 2011, respectively

 

(266,088

)

(266,154

)

Guess?, Inc. stockholders’ equity

 

1,120,951

 

1,054,876

 

Nonredeemable noncontrolling interests

 

13,262

 

11,318

 

Total stockholders’ equity

 

1,134,213

 

1,066,194

 

 

 

$

 1,762,888

 

$

 1,685,804

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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GUESS?, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

Apr. 30,
2011

 

May 1,
2010

 

Net revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

Product sales

 

$

563,399

 

$

514,055

 

Net royalties

 

28,845

 

25,286

 

 

 

592,244

 

539,341

 

Cost of product sales

 

343,024

 

304,090

 

Gross profit

 

249,220

 

235,251

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

178,287

 

158,105

 

Pension curtailment expense

 

 

5,819

 

Earnings from operations

 

70,933

 

71,327

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other (expense) income:

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

(405

)

(195

)

Interest income

 

1,295

 

301

 

Other (expense) income, net

 

(10,002

)

3,428

 

 

 

(9,112

)

3,534

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings before income tax expense

 

61,821

 

74,861

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense

 

18,237

 

23,207

 

Net earnings

 

43,584

 

51,654

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

902

 

1,319

 

Net earnings attributable to Guess?, Inc.

 

$

42,682

 

$

50,335

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per common share attributable to common stockholders (Note 2):

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.46

 

$

0.54

 

Diluted

 

$

0.46

 

$

0.54

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding attributable to common stockholders (Note 2):

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

91,629

 

91,902

 

Diluted

 

92,171

 

92,768

 

Dividends declared per common share

 

$

0.20

 

$

0.16

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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GUESS?, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(in thousands)
(unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

Apr. 30,
2011

 

May 1,
2010

 

Net earnings

 

$

43,584

 

$

51,654

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustment

 

49,733

 

(12,273

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized (loss) gain on hedges, net of tax effect

 

(8,004

)

1,428

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized gain on investments, net of tax effect

 

87

 

175

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SERP prior service cost and actuarial valuation loss amortization, including curtailment expense, net of tax effect

 

641

 

4,418

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

 

86,041

 

45,402

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

(1,944

)

(1,229

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive income attributable to Guess?, Inc.

 

$

84,097

 

$

44,173

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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GUESS?, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)
(unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

Apr. 30,
2011

 

May 1,
2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings

 

$

43,584

 

$

51,654

 

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment

 

19,260

 

14,564

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

634

 

1,187

 

Share-based compensation expense

 

7,255

 

8,068

 

Unrealized forward contract losses (gains)

 

13,758

 

(1,974

)

Net loss on disposition of property and equipment

 

1,150

 

986

 

Pension curtailment expense

 

 

5,819

 

Other items, net

 

(158

)

(2,000

)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

2,663

 

(7,169

)

Inventories

 

4,442

 

4,751

 

Prepaid expenses and other assets

 

(5,152

)

(13,435

)

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

(40,885

)

(22,752

)

Deferred rent and lease incentives

 

398

 

3,295

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

886

 

4,790

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

47,835

 

47,784

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases of property and equipment

 

(30,894

)

(19,405

)

Acquisition of lease interest

 

(1,339

)

(2,249

)

Net cash settlement of forward contracts

 

(1,600

)

609

 

Purchases of long-term investments

 

(10,248

)

(2,414

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(44,081

)

(23,459

)

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Certain short-term borrowings, net

 

 

442

 

Repayment of borrowings and capital lease obligations

 

(444

)

(390

)

Dividends paid

 

(18,582

)

(14,925

)

Issuance of common stock, net of nonvested award repurchases

 

(1,296

)

2,606

 

Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation

 

913

 

5,612

 

Net cash used in financing activities

 

(19,409

)

(6,655

)

Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents

 

15,392

 

(2,028

)

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

(263

)

15,642

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

427,037

 

502,063

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$

426,774

 

$

517,705

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental cash flow data:

 

 

 

 

 

Interest paid

 

$

267

 

$

76

 

Income taxes paid

 

$

9,063

 

$

10,099

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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GUESS?, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

April 30, 2011

(unaudited)

 

(1)           Basis of Presentation

 

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Guess?, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) contain all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, considered necessary for a fair presentation of the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of April 30, 2011 and January 29, 2011, and the condensed consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income and cash flows for the three months ended April 30, 2011 and May 1, 2010. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and the instructions to Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Accordingly, they have been condensed and do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. The results of operations for the three months ended April 30, 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be expected for the full fiscal year. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 29, 2011.

 

The three months ended April 30, 2011 had the same number of days as the three months ended May 1, 2010. All references herein to “fiscal 2012”, “fiscal 2011” and “fiscal 2010” represent the results of the 52-week fiscal years ending January 28, 2012 and ended January 29, 2011 and January 30, 2010, respectively.

 

Loyalty Programs

 

The Company launched customer loyalty programs for its G by GUESS, GUESS? and GUESS by MARCIANO stores in July 2009, August 2008 and September 2007, respectively. The GUESS? and GUESS by MARCIANO loyalty programs were merged in May 2009. Under the programs, 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. In all of the programs, unredeemed points generally expire after six months and unredeemed awards generally expire after two months. Due to the relative newness of the programs, prior to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, all unexpired, unredeemed points and awards were accrued in current liabilities and recorded as a reduction of net sales as points and awards were accumulated by the member. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, based on the accumulation of multiple cycles of actual redemptions experienced since inception of the programs, the Company revised its approach to estimate the value of future award redemptions under the existing loyalty program by incorporating these historical redemption rates. In connection with this revision, the Company recorded a cumulative adjustment of $6.7 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 to increase net revenue and to adjust the current liability balance to an amount reflecting estimated future award redemptions.  The aggregate dollar value of the loyalty program accruals included in accrued liabilities was $2.5 million and $2.7 million at April 30, 2011 and January 29, 2011, respectively. Future revisions to the estimated liability may result in changes to net revenue.

 

New Accounting Guidance

 

In January 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued authoritative guidance that expands the required disclosures about fair value measurements. This guidance provides for new disclosures requiring the Company to (a) disclose separately the amounts of significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements and describe the reasons for the transfers, and (b) present separately information about purchases, sales, issuances and settlements in the reconciliation of Level 3 fair value measurements. This guidance also provides clarification of existing disclosures requiring the Company to (i) determine each class of assets and liabilities based on the nature and risks of the investments rather than by major security type, and (ii) for each class of assets and liabilities, disclose the valuation techniques and inputs used to measure fair value for both Level 2 and Level 3 fair value measurements. The Company adopted the guidance effective January 31, 2010, except for the presentation of purchases, sales, issuances and settlements in the reconciliation of Level 3 fair value measurements, which was adopted effective January 30, 2011. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on the disclosures within the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

(2)           Earnings Per Share

 

Basic earnings per share represents net earnings attributable to common stockholders divided by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period.  Diluted earnings per share represents net earnings attributable to common stockholders divided by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding, inclusive of the dilutive impact of common equivalent shares outstanding during the period. However, nonvested restricted stock awards (referred to as participating securities) are excluded from the dilutive impact of common equivalent shares outstanding in accordance with authoritative guidance under the two-class method since the nonvested restricted stockholders are entitled to participate in dividends declared on common stock as if the shares were fully vested and hence are deemed to be participating securities.  Under the two-class method, earnings attributable to nonvested restricted stockholders are excluded from net earnings attributable to common stockholders for purposes of calculating basic and diluted earnings per common share.

 

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The computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share attributable to common stockholders is as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

Apr. 30,
2011

 

May 1,
2010

 

Net earnings attributable to Guess?, Inc.

 

$

42,682

 

$

50,335

 

Net earnings attributable to nonvested restricted stockholders

 

304

 

553

 

Net earnings attributable to common stockholders

 

$

42,378

 

$

49,782

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average shares used in basic computations

 

91,629

 

91,902

 

Effect of dilutive securities:

 

 

 

 

 

Stock options and restricted stock units

 

542

 

866

 

Weighted average shares used in diluted computations

 

92,171

 

92,768

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per common share attributable to common stockholders:

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.46

 

$

0.54

 

Diluted

 

$

0.46

 

$

0.54

 

 

For the three months ended April 30, 2011 and May 1, 2010, equity awards granted for 435,583 and 282,955, respectively, of the Company’s common shares were outstanding but were excluded from the computation of diluted weighted average common shares and common share equivalents outstanding because their effect would have been anti-dilutive.

 

On March 14, 2011, the Company’s Board of Directors terminated the previously authorized 2008 share repurchase program (which had $84.9 million capacity remaining) and authorized a new program to repurchase, from time-to-time and as market and business conditions warrant, up to $250.0 million of the Company’s common stock (the “2011 Share Repurchase Program”). Repurchases 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 and the program may be discontinued at any time, without prior notice. There were no share repurchases under the 2011 or 2008 Share Repurchase Programs during the three months ended April 30, 2011 or the three months ended May 1, 2010. At April 30, 2011, the Company had remaining authority under the 2011 Share Repurchase Program to purchase $250.0 million of its common stock.

 

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(3)           Stockholders’ Equity and Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests

 

A reconciliation of the total carrying amount of total stockholders’ equity, Guess?, Inc. stockholders’ equity and stockholders’ equity attributable to nonredeemable and redeemable noncontrolling interests for the fiscal year ended January 29, 2011 and three months ended April 30, 2011 is as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

Stockholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

Guess?, Inc.
Stockholders’
Equity

 

Nonredeemable
Noncontrolling
Interests

 

Total

 

Redeemable
Noncontrolling
Interests

 

Balances at January 30, 2010

 

$

1,020,211

 

$

6,132

 

$

1,026,343

 

$

13,813

 

Issuance of common stock under stock compensation plans, net of tax effect

 

18,236

 

 

18,236

 

 

Issuance of stock under ESPP

 

1,309

 

 

1,309

 

 

Share-based compensation

 

29,312

 

 

29,312

 

 

Dividends

 

(247,570

)

 

(247,570

)

 

Share repurchases

 

(49,361

)

 

(49,361

)

 

Redeemable noncontrolling interest redemption value adjustment

 

(1,143

)

 

(1,143

)

1,143

 

Comprehensive income (loss) (a):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings

 

289,508

 

4,995

 

294,503

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustment

 

(1,631

)

191

 

(1,440

)

(245

)

Unrealized loss on hedges, net of income tax of $399

 

(3,634

)

 

(3,634

)

 

Unrealized gain on investments, net of income tax of $72

 

116

 

 

116

 

 

SERP prior service cost and actuarial valuation loss amortization, net of income tax of $251

 

(477

)

 

(477

)

 

Balances at January 29, 2011

 

$

1,054,876

 

$

11,318

 

$

1,066,194

 

$

14,711

 

Issuance of common stock under stock compensation plans, net of tax effect

 

(937

)

 

(937

)

 

Issuance of stock under ESPP

 

375

 

 

375

 

 

Share-based compensation

 

7,255

 

 

7,255

 

 

Dividends

 

(18,484

)

 

(18,484

)

 

Redeemable non-controlling interest redemption value adjustment

 

(6,231

)

 

(6,231

)

6,231

 

Comprehensive income (loss) (a):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings

 

42,682

 

902

 

43,584

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustment

 

48,691

 

1,042

 

49,733

 

1,296

 

Unrealized loss on hedges, net of income tax of $1,706

 

(8,004

)

 

(8,004

)

 

Unrealized gain on investments, net of income tax of $50

 

87

 

 

87

 

 

SERP prior service cost and actuarial valuation loss amortization, net of income tax of $335

 

641

 

 

641

 

 

Balances at April 30, 2011

 

$

1,120,951

 

$

13,262

 

$

1,134,213

 

$

22,238

 

 


(a) Total comprehensive income consists of net earnings, Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”) prior service cost and actuarial valuation gains or losses and related amortization, unrealized gains or losses on investments available-for-sale, foreign currency translation adjustments and the effective portion of the change in the fair value of cash flow hedges.

 

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests

 

In connection with the acquisition of two majority-owned subsidiaries, the Company is party to put arrangements with respect to the common securities that represent the remaining noncontrolling interests of the acquired companies. Each put arrangement is exercisable by the counter-party outside the control of the Company by requiring the Company to redeem the counterparty’s entire equity stake in the subsidiary at a put price based on a multiple of earnings formula. Each put arrangement is recorded on the balance sheet at its redemption value and classified as a redeemable noncontrolling interest outside of permanent equity. As of April 30, 2011, the redeemable noncontrolling interests of $22.2 million was composed of redemption values related to the Focus Europe S.r.l. (“Focus”) and Guess Sud SAS (“Guess Sud”) put arrangements of $14.7 million and $7.5 million, respectively. As of January 29, 2011, the redeemable noncontrolling interests of $14.7 million was composed of redemption values related to the Focus and Guess Sud put arrangements of $10.7 million and $4.0 million, respectively.

 

The put arrangement for Focus, representing 25% of the total outstanding equity interest of that subsidiary, may be exercised at the discretion of the minority owner by providing written notice to the Company no later than June 27, 2012. The redemption value of the Focus put arrangement is based on a multiple of Focus’s net earnings.

 

The put arrangement for Guess Sud, representing 40% of the total outstanding equity interest of that subsidiary, may be exercised at the discretion of the minority owners by providing written notice to the Company anytime after January 30, 2012 or sooner in certain limited circumstances. The redemption value of the Guess Sud put arrangement is based on a multiple of Guess Sud’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.

 

(4)           Accounts Receivable

 

Accounts receivable consists of trade receivables relating primarily to the Company’s wholesale businesses in Europe, North America and Asia. The Company provided for allowances relating to these receivables of $33.8 million and $29.9 million at April 30, 2011 and January 29, 2011, respectively. In addition, accounts receivable includes royalty receivables relating to licensing operations of $24.4 million and $27.5 million at April 30, 2011 and January 29, 2011, respectively, for which the Company recorded an allowance for doubtful accounts of $0.7 million and $0.8 million at April 30, 2011 and January 29, 2011, respectively.  The accounts receivable allowance includes allowances for doubtful accounts, wholesale sales returns and wholesale markdowns. Retail sales returns allowances are included in accrued expenses.

 

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Table of Contents

 

(5)           Inventories

 

Inventories consist of the following (in thousands):

 

 

 

Apr. 30,
2011

 

Jan. 29,
2011

 

Raw materials

 

$

12,938

 

$

10,312

 

Work in progress

 

3,343

 

2,280

 

Finished goods

 

284,432

 

282,113

 

 

 

$

300,713

 

$

294,705

 

 

As of April 30, 2011 and January 29, 2011, inventories had been written down to the lower of cost or market by $20.6 million and $19.0 million, respectively.

 

(6)           Income Taxes

 

Income tax expense for the interim periods was computed using the effective tax rate estimated to be applicable for the full fiscal year.  The Company’s effective income tax rate decreased to 29.5% for the three months ended April 30, 2011 from 31.0% for the three months ended May 1, 2010, due primarily to a higher estimated proportion of annual earnings in lower tax jurisdictions in fiscal 2012 and the unfavorable impact of a change in certain state tax regulations relating to fiscal 2011.

 

From time to time, the Company is subject to routine compliance reviews on various tax matters around the world in the ordinary course of business.  As of April 30, 2011, several income tax audits were underway for various periods in multiple jurisdictions. 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, could incur as a result of the ultimate resolution of the audits (“uncertain tax positions”). The Company reviews and updates the accrual for uncertain tax positions as more definitive information becomes available from taxing authorities, upon completion of tax audits, upon expiration of statutes of limitation, or upon occurrence of other events.

 

As of April 30, 2011 and January 29, 2011, the Company had $18.2 million and $17.0 million, respectively, of aggregate accruals for uncertain tax positions, including penalties and interest and net of federal tax benefits. The change in the accrual balance from January 29, 2011 to April 30, 2011 resulted from foreign currency translation and interest.

 

(7)           Segment Information

 

The Company’s businesses are grouped into five reportable segments for management and internal financial reporting purposes:  North American Retail, Europe, Asia, North American Wholesale and Licensing. Management evaluates segment performance based primarily on revenues and earnings from operations. The Company believes this segment reporting reflects how its five business segments are managed and each segment’s performance is evaluated. The North American Retail segment includes the Company’s retail operations in North America. The Europe segment includes the Company’s wholesale and retail operations in Europe and the Middle East. The Asia segment includes the Company’s wholesale and retail operations in Asia. The North American Wholesale segment includes the Company’s wholesale operations in North America. 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. These costs are presented separately and generally include, among other things, the following unallocated corporate costs: information technology, human resources, global advertising and marketing, accounting and finance, executive compensation, facilities and legal.

 

Net revenue and earnings from operations are summarized as follows for the three months ended April 30, 2011 and May 1, 2010 (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

April 30,
2011

 

May 1,
2010

 

Net revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

North American Retail

 

$

247,457

 

$

235,773

 

Europe

 

210,209

 

186,968

 

Asia

 

60,087

 

48,586

 

North American Wholesale

 

45,646

 

42,728

 

Licensing

 

28,845

 

25,286

 

 

 

$

592,244

 

$

539,341

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings (loss) from operations:

 

 

 

 

 

North American Retail

 

$

18,630

 

$

24,372

 

Europe

 

33,181

 

34,482

 

Asia

 

7,101

 

7,137

 

North American Wholesale

 

11,114

 

10,211

 

Licensing

 

25,290

 

21,860

 

Corporate overhead

 

(24,383

)

(26,735

)

 

 

$

70,933

 

$

71,327

 

 

Due to the seasonal nature of the Company’s business segments, the above net revenue and operating results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full fiscal year.

 

(8)           Borrowings and Capital Lease Obligations

 

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Table of Contents

 

Borrowings and capital lease obligations are summarized as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

Apr. 30,
2011

 

Jan. 29,
2011

 

European capital lease, maturing quarterly through 2016

 

$

14,674

 

$

13,871

 

Other

 

519

 

524

 

 

 

15,193

 

14,395

 

Less current installments

 

2,359

 

2,177

 

Long-term capital lease obligations

 

$

12,834

 

$

12,218

 

 

The Company entered into a capital lease in December 2005 for a new building in Florence, Italy. At April 30, 2011, the capital lease obligation was $14.7 million. The Company entered into a separate interest rate swap agreement designated as a non-hedging instrument that resulted in a swap fixed rate of 3.55%. This interest rate swap agreement matures in 2016 and converts the nature of the capital lease obligation from Euribor floating rate debt to fixed rate debt. The fair value of the interest rate swap liability as of April 30, 2011 was approximately $0.5 million.

 

On September 19, 2006, the Company and certain of its subsidiaries entered into a credit facility led by Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent for the lenders (the “Credit Facility”). The Credit Facility provides for an $85 million revolving multicurrency line of credit and is available for direct borrowings and the issuance of letters of credit, subject to certain letters of credit sublimits. The Credit Facility is scheduled to mature on September 30, 2011. The Company is in discussions with potential lenders and fully expects to have a replacement facility in place prior to the scheduled maturity on September 30, 2011.  The size, rates and other key terms of the replacement facility have yet to be determined. At April 30, 2011, the Company had $1.4 million in outstanding standby letters of credit, no outstanding documentary letters of credit and no outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facility.

 

The Company, through its European subsidiaries, maintains short-term borrowing agreements, primarily for working capital purposes, with various banks in Europe. Under these agreements, which are generally secured by specific accounts receivable balances, the Company can borrow up to $267.7 million, limited primarily by accounts receivable balances at the time of borrowing. Based on the applicable accounts receivable balances at April 30, 2011, the Company could have borrowed up to approximately $264.4 million under these agreements. However, the Company’s ability to borrow through foreign subsidiaries is generally limited to $185.0 million under the terms of the Credit Facility. At April 30, 2011, the Company had no outstanding borrowings and $7.5 million in outstanding documentary letters of credit under these credit agreements. The agreements are denominated primarily in euros and provide for annual interest rates ranging from 0.9% to 3.6%. The maturities of the short-term borrowings are generally linked to the credit terms of the underlying accounts receivable that secure the borrowings. With the exception of one facility for up to $51.8 million that has a minimum net equity requirement, there are no other financial ratio covenants.

 

From time to time the Company will obtain other short term financing in foreign countries for working capital to finance its local operations.

 

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Table of Contents

 

(9)           Share-Based Compensation

 

The following table summarizes the share-based compensation expense recognized under all of the Company’s stock plans during the three months ended April 30, 2011 and May 1, 2010 (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

Apr. 30,
2011

 

May 1,
2010

 

Stock options

 

$

1,313

 

$

1,859

 

Nonvested stock awards/units

 

5,829

 

6,115

 

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

 

113

 

94

 

Total share-based compensation expense

 

$

7,255

 

$

8,068

 

 

Unrecognized compensation cost, adjusted for estimated forfeitures, related to nonvested stock options and nonvested stock awards/units totaled approximately $12.5 million and $32.0 million, respectively, as of April 30, 2011.  This unrecognized expense assumes the performance-based equity awards vest in the future. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.5 years.  The weighted average fair values of stock options granted during the three months ended April 30, 2011 and May 1, 2010 were $12.21 and $15.38, respectively.

 

On April 15, 2011, the Company made an annual grant of 284,200 stock options and 256,100 nonvested stock awards/units to its employees. On April 29, 2010, the Company made an annual grant of 237,400 stock options and 230,300 nonvested awards/units to its employees.

 

On May 1, 2008, the Company granted an aggregate of 167,000 nonvested stock awards to certain employees which are subject to certain annual performance-based vesting conditions over a five-year period.  On October 30, 2008, the Company granted an aggregate of 563,400 nonvested stock options to certain employees scheduled to vest over a four-year period, subject to the achievement of performance-based vesting conditions for fiscal 2010.  During the first quarter of fiscal 2010, the Compensation Committee determined that the performance goals established in the prior year were no longer set at an appropriate level to incentivize and help retain employees given the greater than previously anticipated deterioration of the economy that had occurred since the goals were established. Therefore, in April 2009, the Compensation Committee modified the performance goals of that year’s tranche of the outstanding performance-based stock awards and options to address the challenges associated with the economic environment. During the three months ended April 30, 2011 and May 1, 2010, the Compensation Committee modified the performance goals of the respective year’s tranche of the outstanding performance based stock awards to address the continuing challenges associated with the economic environment. None of the modifications had a material impact on the consolidated financial statements of the Company.

 

(10)         Related Party Transactions

 

The Company and its subsidiaries periodically enter into transactions with other entities or individuals that are considered related parties, including certain transactions with entities affiliated with trusts for the respective benefit of Maurice and Paul Marciano, who are executives of the Company, Armand Marciano, their brother and former executive of the Company, and certain of their children (the “Marciano Trusts”).

 

Leases

 

The Company leases warehouse and administrative facilities, including the Company’s corporate headquarters in Los Angeles, California, from partnerships affiliated with the Marciano Trusts and certain of their affiliates. There were four of these leases in effect at April 30, 2011 with expiration dates ranging from 2012 to 2020.

 

Aggregate rent and property tax expense under these related party leases for the three months ended April 30, 2011 and May 1, 2010 was $1.2 million and $1.1 million, respectively. The Company believes the related party lease terms have not been significantly affected by the fact that the Company and the lessors are related.

 

Aircraft Arrangements

 

The Company periodically charters aircraft owned by MPM Financial, LLC (“MPM Financial”), an entity affiliated with the Marciano Trusts, through independent third party management companies contracted by MPM Financial to manage its aircraft. Under an informal arrangement with MPM Financial and the third party management companies, the Company has chartered and may from time to time continue to charter aircraft owned by MPM Financial at a discount from the third party management companies’ preferred customer hourly charter rates. The total fees paid under these arrangements for the three months ended April 30, 2011 and May 1, 2010 were approximately $0.4 million and $0.1 million, respectively.

 

These related party disclosures should be read in conjunction with the disclosure concerning related party transactions in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 29, 2011.

 

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Table of Contents

 

(11)         Commitments and Contingencies

 

Leases

 

The Company leases its showrooms and retail store locations under operating lease agreements expiring on various dates through September 2027. Some of these leases require the Company to make periodic payments for property taxes, utilities and common area operating expenses. Certain retail store leases provide for rents based upon the minimum annual rental amount and a percentage of annual sales volume, generally ranging from 3% to 11%, when specific sales volumes are exceeded. Some leases include lease incentives, rent abatements and fixed rent escalations, which are amortized and recorded over the initial lease term on a straight-line basis. The Company also leases some of its equipment under operating lease agreements expiring at various dates through January 2016. As discussed in further detail in Note 8, the Company leases a building in Florence, Italy under a capital lease.

 

Incentive Bonuses

 

Certain officers and key employees of the Company are eligible to receive annual cash incentive bonuses based on the achievement of specified performance criteria. These bonuses are based on performance measures such as earnings per share and earnings from operations of the Company or particular segments thereof, as well as other objective and subjective criteria as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. In addition to such annual incentive opportunities, Paul Marciano, Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of the Company, is entitled to receive a $3.5 million special cash bonus in December 2012, subject to the receipt by the Company of a fixed cash rights payment of $35.0 million that is due in January 2012 from one of its licensees. In connection with this special bonus, the Company will accrue an expense of $3.5 million, plus applicable payroll taxes, through December 2012.

 

Litigation

 

On May 6, 2009, Gucci America, Inc. filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against Guess?, Inc. and Guess Italia, S.r.l. asserting, among other things, trademark and trade dress law violations and unfair competition. The complaint seeks injunctive relief, unspecified compensatory damages, including treble damages, and certain other relief. A similar complaint has also been filed in the Court of Milan, Italy. The Company is vigorously defending the allegations.  The Company believes that it is too early to predict the outcome of this action or whether the outcome will have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

 

The Company is also involved in various other claims and other matters incidental to the Company’s business, the resolution of which is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations. No material amounts were accrued as of April 30, 2011 related to any of the Company’s legal proceedings.

 

(12)         Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

 

The components of net periodic pension cost for the three months ended April 30, 2011 and May 1, 2010 were as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

Apr. 30,
2011

 

May 1,
2010

 

Service cost

 

$

 

$

69

 

Interest cost

 

657

 

558

 

Net amortization of unrecognized prior service cost

 

388

 

436

 

Net amortization of actuarial losses

 

589

 

140

 

Curtailment expense

 

 

5,819

 

Net periodic defined benefit pension cost

 

$

1,634

 

$

7,022

 

 

As a non-qualified pension plan, no dedicated funding of the SERP is required; however, the Company has and expects to continue to make periodic payments into insurance policies held in a rabbi trust to fund the expected obligations arising under the non-qualified SERP. The amount of future payments may vary, depending on the future years of service, future annual compensation of the participants and investment performance of the trust. The cash surrender values of the insurance policies were $34.4 million and $32.9 million as of April 30, 2011 and January 29, 2011, respectively, and were included in other assets in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets. As a result of changes in the value of the insurance policy investments, the Company recorded unrealized gains of $1.5 million and 1.3 million in other income and expense during the three months ended April 30, 2011 and May 1, 2010, respectively.

 

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Table of Contents

 

During the three months ended May 1, 2010, the Company recorded a supplemental executive retirement plan curtailment expense of $5.8 million before taxes related to the accelerated amortization of prior service cost resulting from the departure of Carlos Alberini, the Company’s former President and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Alberini’s departure resulted in a significant reduction in the total expected remaining years of future service of all participants combined, resulting in the pension curtailment. Mr. Alberini did not receive any termination payments in connection with his departure and, as of the date of his departure, he ceased vesting or accruing any additional benefits under the terms of the SERP.

 

A reconciliation of the changes in the projected benefit obligation for the fiscal year ended January 29, 2011 and three months ended April 30, 2011 is as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

Projected Benefit
Obligation

 

Balance at January 30, 2010

 

$

37,165

 

Service cost

 

69

 

Interest cost

 

2,177

 

Actuarial losses

 

8,361

 

Balance at January 29, 2011

 

$

47,772

 

Interest cost

 

657

 

Balance at April 30, 2011

 

$

48,429

 

 

(13)         Fair Value Measurements

 

Authoritative guidance defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The guidance establishes a fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value into three broad levels as follows:

 

Level 1 - Inputs are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that can be accessed at the measurement date.

 

Level 2 - Inputs include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability (i.e. interest rates, yield curves, etc.), and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means (market corroborated inputs).

 

Level 3 - Unobservable inputs that reflect assumptions about what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. These inputs would be based on the best information available, including the Company’s own data.

 

The following table presents the fair value hierarchy for those assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of April 30, 2011 and January 29, 2011 (in thousands):

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurements
at Apr. 30, 2011

 

Fair Value Measurements
at Jan. 29, 2011

 

Recurring Fair Value Measures

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Total

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Total

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign exchange currency contracts

 

$

 

$

1,342

 

$

 

$

1,342

 

$

 

$

3,227

 

$

 

$

3,227

 

Held-to-maturity securities

 

15,035

 

 

 

15,035

 

15,087

 

 

 

15,087

 

Available-for-sale securities

 

16,497

 

 

 

16,497

 

6,139

 

 

 

6,139

 

Total

 

$

31,532

 

$

1,342

 

$

 

$

32,874

 

$

21,226

 

$

3,227

 

$

 

$

24,453

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign exchange currency contracts

 

$

 

$

29,238

 

$

 

$

29,238

 

$

 

$

7,766

 

$

 

$

7,766

 

Interest rate swaps

 

 

767

 

 

767

 

 

868

 

 

868

 

Deferred compensation obligations

 

 

7,152

 

 

7,152

 

 

6,456

 

 

6,456

 

Total

 

$

 

$

37,157

 

$

 

$

37,157

 

$

 

$

15,090

 

$

 

$

15,090

 

 

The fair values of the Company’s available-for-sale and held-to-maturity securities are based on quoted prices. The fair value of the interest rate swaps are based upon inputs corroborated by observable market data. Foreign exchange forward contracts are entered into by the Company principally to hedge the future payment of inventory and intercompany transactions by non-U.S. subsidiaries. The fair values of the Company’s foreign exchange forward contracts are based on quoted foreign exchange forward rates at the reporting date. Deferred compensation obligations to employees are adjusted based on changes in the fair value of the underlying employee-directed investments. Fair value of these obligations is based upon inputs corroborated by observable market data.

 

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Table of Contents

 

At April 30, 2011, the Company’s held-to-maturity securities consist of government agency notes maturing in June 2011 which are recorded at amortized cost and presented as short-term investments in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. The amortized cost of held-to-maturity securities at April 30, 2011 and January 29, 2011 was $15.0 million and $15.1 million, respectively, which approximated fair value. The Company presently does not intend to sell these investments and believes it is more likely than not that the Company will not be required to sell the investments before recovery of their amortized cost bases.

 

Available-for-sale securities are recorded at fair value and are included in other assets in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. At April 30, 2011, available-for-sale securities consisted of $16.0 million of corporate bonds with maturity dates ranging from January 2013 to September 2014 and $0.5 million of marketable equity securities. At January 29, 2011, available-for-sale securities consisted of $5.7 million of corporate bonds and $0.4 million of marketable equity securities. Unrealized gains (losses), net of taxes, are included as a component of stockholders’ equity and comprehensive income. The accumulated unrealized gains, net of taxes, included in accumulated other comprehensive income related to available-for-sale securities owned by the Company at April 30, 2011 and January 29, 2011 were minimal.

 

The carrying amount of the Company’s remaining financial instruments, which principally include cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables, accounts payable and accrued expenses, approximates fair value due to the relatively short maturity of such instruments. The fair values of the Company’s debt instruments (see Note 8) are based on the amount of future cash flows associated with each instrument discounted using the Company’s incremental borrowing rate. At April 30, 2011 and January 29, 2011, the carrying value of all financial instruments was not materially different from fair value, as the interest rates on variable rate debt including the capital lease obligation approximated rates currently available to the Company.

 

Long-lived assets, such as property, plant, and equipment, and purchased intangibles that are subject to amortization, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated undiscounted future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized in the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the estimated fair value, which is determined based on discounted future cash flows. The impairment loss calculations require management to apply judgment in estimating future cash flows and the discount rates that reflect the risk inherent in the future cash flows. The estimated cash flows used for this nonrecurring fair value measurement are considered a Level 3 input as defined above.

 

(14)         Derivative Financial Instruments

 

Hedging Strategy

 

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 objective is to hedge the variability in forecasted cash flows due to the foreign currency risk. Various transactions that occur in Canada, Europe and South Korea are denominated in U.S. dollars, British pounds or Swiss francs 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 intercompany liabilities. In addition, certain sales, operating expenses and tax 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. The Company enters into derivative financial instruments, including forward exchange contracts to manage exchange risk on certain of these anticipated foreign currency transactions. The Company does not hedge all transactions denominated in foreign currency.

 

The impact of the credit risk of the counterparties to the derivative contracts is considered in determining the fair value of the foreign currency forward contracts. As of April 30, 2011, credit risk has not had a significant effect on the fair value of the Company’s foreign currency contracts.

 

The Company also has interest rate swap agreements, which are not designated as hedges for accounting purposes, 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 variable rate capital lease obligation, thus reducing the impact of interest rate changes on future interest payment cash flows. Refer to Note 8 for further information.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Hedge Accounting Policy

 

U.S. dollar forward contracts are used to hedge forecasted merchandise purchases over specific months. Changes in the fair value of these U.S. dollar forward contracts, designated as cash flow hedges, are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income within stockholders’ equity, and are recognized in cost of product sales in the period which approximates the time the hedged merchandise inventory is sold.  The Company also hedges forecasted intercompany royalties over specific months. Changes in the fair value of these U.S. dollar forward contracts designated as cash flow hedges are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income within stockholders’ equity, and are recognized in other income and expense in the period in which the royalty expense is incurred.

 

From time to time, Swiss franc forward contracts are used to hedge certain anticipated Swiss operating expenses over specific months. Changes in the fair value of Swiss franc forward contracts designated as cash flow hedges are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income within stockholders’ equity, and are recognized in selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses in the period which approximates the time the expenses are incurred.

 

The Company also has foreign currency contracts that are not designated as hedges for accounting purposes.  Changes in fair value of foreign currency contracts not qualifying as cash flow hedges are reported in net earnings as part of other income and expense.

 

Summary of Derivative Instruments

 

The fair value of derivative instruments in the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of April 30, 2011 and January 29, 2011 was as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

Derivative
Balance Sheet
Location

 

Fair Value at
Apr. 30,
2011

 

Fair Value at
Jan. 29,
2011

 

ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign exchange currency contracts

 

Other current assets

 

$

 

$

1,137

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign exchange currency contracts

 

Other current assets

 

1,342

 

2,090

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

$

1,342

 

$

3,227

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign exchange currency contracts

 

Current liabilities

 

$

11,487

 

$

1,598

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign exchange currency contracts

 

Current liabilities

 

17,751

 

6,168

 

Interest rate swaps

 

Long-term liabilities

 

767

 

868

 

Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments

 

 

 

18,518

 

7,036

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

$

30,005

 

$

8,634

 

 

Forward Contracts Designated as Cash Flow Hedges

 

During the three months ended April 30, 2011, the Company purchased U.S. dollar forward contracts in Europe and Canada totaling US$59.9 million and US$23.5 million, respectively, to hedge forecasted merchandise purchases and intercompany royalties that were designated as cash flow hedges.  As of April 30, 2011, the Company had forward contracts outstanding for its European and Canadian operations of US$119.9 million and US$64.4 million, respectively, which are expected to mature over the next 14 months.

 

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Table of Contents

 

The following table summarizes the gains (losses) before taxes recognized on the derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges in other comprehensive income (“OCI”) and net earnings for the three months ended April 30, 2011 and May 1, 2010 (in thousands):

 

 

 

Gain/(Loss)
Recognized in
OCI

 

Location of
Gain/(Loss)

 

Gain/(Loss)
Reclassified from
Accumulated OCI into
Income

 

 

 

Three Months
Ended
Apr. 30, 2011

 

Three Months
Ended
May 1, 2010

 

Reclassified from
Accumulated OCI
into Income (1)

 

Three Months
Ended
Apr. 30, 2011

 

Three Months
Ended
May 1, 2010

 

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign exchange currency contracts

 

$

(11,052

)

$

248

 

Cost of sales

 

$

(2,333

)

$

(1,102

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign exchange currency contracts

 

$

(891

)

$

465

 

Other income/expense

 

$

100

 

$

257

 

 


(1) The ineffective portion was immaterial during the three months ended April 30, 2011 and May 1, 2010 and was recorded in net earnings and included in other income/expense.

 

As of April 30, 2011, accumulated other comprehensive income included an unrealized loss of approximately US$9.8 million, net of tax, of which US$9.1 million will be recognized in other expense or 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 quarter-end values.

 

The following table summarizes net after-tax derivative activity recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three Months
Ended
Apr. 30, 2011

 

Three Months
Ended
May 1, 2010

 

Beginning balance (loss) gain

 

$

(1,789

)

$

1,845

 

Net (losses) gains from changes in cash flow hedges

 

(9,929

)

836

 

Net losses reclassified to income

 

1,925

 

592

 

Ending balance (loss) gains

 

$

(9,793

)

$

3,273

 

 

As of January 29, 2011, the Company had forward contracts outstanding for its European and Canadian operations of US$71.6 million and US$52.3 million, respectively.

 

Forward Contracts Not Designated as Cash Flow Hedges

 

As of April 30, 2011, the Company had euro foreign currency contracts to purchase US$165.8 million expected to mature over the next 11 months, Canadian dollar foreign currency contracts to purchase US$63.7 million expected to mature over the next 14 months, Swiss franc foreign currency contracts to purchase US$30.6 million expected to mature over the next 14 months and GBP8.0 million of foreign currency contracts to purchase euros expected to mature over the next five months.

 

The following table summarizes the gains (losses) before taxes recognized on the derivative instruments not designated as cash flow hedges in other income and expense for the three months ended April 30, 2011 and May 1, 2010 (in thousands):

 

 

 

Location of

 

Gain/(Loss)
Recognized in Income

 

 

 

Gain/(Loss)
Recognized in
Income

 

Three Months
Ended
Apr. 30, 2011

 

Three Months
Ended
May 1, 2010

 

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign exchange currency contracts

 

Other income/expense

 

$

(15,676

)

$

3,445

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate swaps

 

Other income/expense

 

$

163

 

$

(173

)

 

As of January 29, 2011, the Company had euro foreign currency contracts to purchase US$70.0 million, Canadian dollar foreign currency contracts to purchase US$67.7 million, Swiss franc foreign currency contracts to purchase US$30.1 million and GBP11.3 million of foreign currency contracts to purchase euros.

 

(15)         Subsequent Events

 

On May 25, 2011, the Company announced a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per share on the Company’s common stock. The cash dividend will be paid on June 24, 2011 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on June 8, 2011.

 

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Table of Contents

 

ITEM 2.  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-Q, we are referring to Guess?, Inc. and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

 

Important Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including documents incorporated by reference herein, contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking statements may also be contained in the Company’s other reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, in its press releases and in other documents.  In addition, from time to time, the Company through its management may make oral forward-looking statements.  These statements relate to analyses and other information based on forecasts of future results and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. These statements also relate to our future prospects and proposed new products, services, developments or business strategies. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “will,” “continue,” and other similar terms and phrases, including references to assumptions.

 

Although we believe that the expectations reflected in any of our forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ materially from those projected or assumed. These forward-looking statements may include, among other things, statements relating to our expected results of operations, the accuracy of data relating to, and anticipated levels of, future inventory and gross margins, anticipated cash requirements and sources, cost containment efforts, estimated charges, plans regarding store openings and closings, plans regarding business growth and international expansion, e-commerce, business seasonality, results of litigation, industry trends, consumer demands and preferences, competition, currency fluctuations, raw material and other inflationary cost pressures, consumer confidence and general economic conditions. We do not intend, and undertake no obligation, to update our forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in these statements. Important factors that could cause or contribute to such difference include those discussed under “Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors” contained in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 29, 2011 and in our other filings made from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) after the date of this report.

 

Business Segments

 

The Company’s businesses are grouped into five reportable segments for management and internal financial reporting purposes:  North American Retail, Europe, Asia, North American Wholesale and Licensing. Information relating to these segments is summarized in Note 7 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Management evaluates segment performance based primarily on revenues and earnings from operations. The Company believes this segment reporting reflects how its five business segments are managed and each segment’s performance is evaluated.  The North American Retail segment includes the Company’s retail operations in North America. The Europe segment includes the Company’s wholesale and retail operations in Europe and the Middle East. The Asia segment includes the Company’s wholesale and retail operations in Asia. The North American Wholesale segment includes the Company’s wholesale operations in North America. 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. These costs are presented separately and generally include, among other things, the following unallocated corporate costs: information technology, human resources, global advertising and marketing, accounting and finance, executive compensation, facilities and legal.

 

We acquired Focus Europe S.r.l. (“Focus”), our former licensee for GUESS by MARCIANO products in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, in December 2006.  We also acquired BARN S.r.l. (“Barn”), our former kids licensee in Europe, in January 2008. Each of these entities is reported in our Europe segment. Our South Korea and China businesses, which we have operated directly since January 2007 and April 2007, respectively, are reported in our Asia segment. Our international jewelry license agreement, which expired in December 2009, was not renewed as the Company decided to directly operate this business going forward. Beginning in January 2010, the operating results of our international jewelry business are included in our Europe segment. Prior to that date, we recorded the related royalty income in our Licensing segment.

 

Products

 

We derive our net revenue from the sale of GUESS?, GUESS by MARCIANO, GUESS Kids and G by GUESS men’s and women’s apparel, and our licensees’ products through our worldwide network of retail stores, wholesale customers and distributors, as well as our on-line sites. We also derive royalty revenues from worldwide licensing activities.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Recent Global Economic Developments

 

Economic conditions remain uncertain in many markets around the world and consumer behavior remains cautious. In North America, the relatively weaker levels of consumer confidence and the highly promotional conditions among retailers may persist for some time. In Europe, sovereign debt issues continue to affect the capital markets of various European countries which could lead to reduced consumer confidence and spending in those countries. These conditions could affect both our growth and our profitability.

 

The Company anticipates that potential inflationary pressures on raw materials, labor, freight or other commodities including oil, could begin to negatively impact the cost of product purchases primarily in the second half of fiscal 2012. The Company has plans to mitigate some of these effects through price increases on select items, supply chain initiatives and reduced markdowns. However, there can be no assurances that these actions will be successful. In addition, increased prices could lead to reduced customer demand.

 

We also continue to experience significant volatility in the global currency markets. Since the majority of our international operations are conducted in currencies other than the U.S. dollar (primarily the euro, Canadian dollar and Korean won), currency fluctuations can have a significant impact on the translation of our international revenues and earnings into U.S. dollar amounts. During the first quarter of fiscal 2012, the average U.S. dollar rate was moderately weaker against these currencies versus the average rate in the comparable prior-year period. This had an overall positive impact on the translation of our international revenues and earnings for the three months ended April 30, 2011.

 

In addition, some of our transactions that occur in Europe, Canada and South Korea are denominated in U.S. dollars, Swiss francs and British pounds, exposing them to exchange rate fluctuations when converted to their functional currencies. These transactions include U.S. dollar denominated purchases of merchandise, U.S. dollar and British pound intercompany liabilities and certain sales, operating expenses and tax liabilities denominated in Swiss francs. Fluctuations in exchange rates can impact the profitability of our foreign operations and reported earnings and are largely dependent on the transaction timing and magnitude during the period that the currency fluctuates. The Company enters into derivative financial instruments to manage exchange risk on certain foreign currency transactions. However, the Company does not hedge all transactions denominated in foreign currency. At the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2012, the euro strengthened significantly compared to the U.S. dollar, which unfavorably impacted the net revaluation of our foreign currency contracts and balances, resulting in an unrealized net revaluation loss recorded in other expense in the first quarter of fiscal 2012.  Continued volatility in the global currency markets could result in further revaluation gains or losses in future periods.

 

Long-Term Growth Strategy

 

Despite the economic conditions described above, our key long-term strategies remain consistent. Global expansion continues to be the cornerstone of our growth strategy. Our combined revenues outside of the U.S. and Canada represented approximately half of the total Company’s revenues for the three months ended April 30, 2011, compared to one-fifth in fiscal 2005. We expect to continue to expand in both Europe and Asia. Expanding our retail business across the globe is another important part of our growth strategy. We see opportunities to increase the number of GUESS? branded retail stores in Europe and Asia. In North America, we also see opportunities, particularly with our newer store concepts. We will continue to regularly evaluate and implement initiatives that we believe will build brand equity, grow our business and enhance profitability.

 

Our North American Retail growth strategy is to increase retail sales and profitability by expanding our network of retail stores and improving the productivity and performance of existing stores. We will continue to emphasize our newer G by GUESS store concept and our accessories business. This includes greater focus on our accessories line in our existing stores and the expansion of our GUESS? Accessories store concept. We currently plan to open about 42 retail stores across all concepts in the U.S. and Canada during fiscal 2012.  In addition, we plan to remodel key existing locations as part of the roll-out of our new store designs. In February 2011, we opened our largest flagship store in the world in New York City with over 13,000 square feet.

 

In Europe, we will continue to focus on developing new markets in Northern Europe where our brand is well known but under-penetrated and expand on our recent success in Western and Southern Europe. We have flagship stores in key cities such as Barcelona, Dusseldorf, London and Milan. Together with our licensee partners, we opened 44 stores in the first quarter of fiscal 2012 and plan to continue our international expansion in Europe by opening between 125 and 130 retail stores in fiscal 2012, about a quarter of which will be owned and operated directly by us.

 

We see significant market opportunities in Asia and we are dedicating capital and human resources to support the region’s growth and development. We and our partners have opened flagship stores in key cities such as Seoul, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Macau, Taipei and Beijing and have partnered with licensees to develop our business in the second tier cities in this region. We and our partners plan to open a total of 70 retail stores across all concepts in Asia during fiscal 2012.

 

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Table of Contents

 

The Company’s capital expenditures for the full fiscal year 2012 are planned at approximately $140 million (after deducting estimated lease incentives of approximately $10 million). The planned capital expenditures are primarily for expansion of our retail businesses in Europe and North America, store remodeling programs in North America, expansion of our Asia business, investments in information systems and other infrastructure investments.

 

Other

 

The Company operates on a 52/53-week fiscal year calendar, which ends on the Saturday nearest to January 31 of each year. The three months ended April 30, 2011 had the same number of days as the three months ended May 1, 2010.

 

The Company reports National Retail Federation (“NRF”) calendar comparable store sales on a quarterly basis for our full-price retail and factory outlet stores in the U.S. and Canada.  A store is considered comparable after it has been open for 13 full 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 is removed from the comparable store base until it has been opened at its new size, in its new location or under its new concept for 13 full months.

 

Executive Summary

 

The Company

 

Net earnings attributable to Guess?, Inc. decreased 15.2% to $42.7 million, or diluted earnings of $0.46 per common share, for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, compared to net earnings attributable to Guess?, Inc. of $50.3 million, or diluted earnings of $0.54 per common share, for the quarter ended May 1, 2010. In the quarter ended April 30, 2011, the Company recorded unrealized net mark-to-market revaluation losses on foreign currency contracts and other foreign currency balances totaling $11.9 million before taxes (or $0.09 per diluted share). In the quarter ended May 1, 2010, the Company recorded a pre-tax charge of $5.8 million before taxes (or $0.04 per diluted share), related to the acceleration of pension cost amortization as a result of the curtailment in the Company’s supplemental executive retirement plan (“SERP”) resulting from the departure of Carlos Alberini, our former President and Chief Operating Officer.

 

Total net revenue increased 9.8% to $592.2 million for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, from $539.3 million in the same prior-year period. Revenues increased in all our segments, with our international businesses driving the majority of our revenue growth. On a combined basis, our Europe and Asia segments represented nearly two-thirds of the revenue increase. In constant U.S. dollars, revenues increased by 7.9% as currency translation fluctuations relating to our foreign operations favorably impacted net revenue for the quarter ended April 30, 2011 by $10.1 million.

 

Gross margin (gross profit as a percentage of total net revenues) declined 150 basis points to 42.1% for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, compared to 43.6% in the same prior-year period. The lower gross margin reflects primarily the impact of higher store occupancy expenses to support the expansion of retail businesses in Europe and North America. Product margins increased slightly compared to the prior-year quarter, reflecting the greater mix of retail business in Europe, partially offset by higher North American Retail markdowns.

 

Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses increased 12.8% to $178.3 million for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, compared to $158.1 million in the same prior-year period. The increase was driven by higher store selling and other expenses to support our global retail expansion, including infrastructure investments in both Europe and Asia. Currency translation fluctuations relating to our foreign operations unfavorably impacted SG&A compared to the same prior-year period. SG&A expense as a percentage of revenues (“SG&A rate”) increased by 80 basis points to 30.1% for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, compared to the same prior-year period. The SG&A rate was negatively impacted by earlier spring product deliveries for the European wholesale business that benefitted the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011. Without this shift, the SG&A rate would have been comparable to the same prior-year period.

 

Earnings from operations decreased 0.6% to $70.9 million for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, compared to $71.3 million in the same prior-year period. Operating margin declined 120 basis points to 12.0% for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, compared to 13.2% for the same prior-year period as a result of the lower gross margin and higher SG&A rate, partially offset by the negative impact of the acceleration of pension cost amortization on the operating margin for the prior-year quarter.

 

Other expense, net, (including interest income and expense) totaled $9.1 million for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, compared to other income, net, of $3.5 million in the same prior-year period. Other expense, net, for the quarter ended April 30, 2011 consisted primarily of net unrealized mark-to-market revaluation losses on foreign currency contracts and other foreign currency balances, partially offset by net unrealized gains on non-operating assets. Other income, net, for the quarter ended May 1, 2010 consisted primarily of net unrealized mark-to-market revaluation gains related to foreign currency forward contracts and other foreign currency balances and net unrealized gains on non-operating assets.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Our effective income tax rate decreased to 29.5% for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, compared to 31.0% for the same prior-year period, due primarily to a higher estimated proportion of annual earnings in lower tax jurisdictions in fiscal 2012 and the unfavorable impact of a change in certain state tax regulations relating to fiscal 2011.

 

The Company had $441.8 million in cash and cash equivalents and short-term marketable securities as of April 30, 2011, down $75.9 million, compared to $517.7 million as of May 1, 2010. The decrease was due primarily to the payment of a special dividend of $184.0 million during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011. Accounts receivable increased by $94.9 million, or 33.6%, to $377.4 million at April 30, 2011, compared to $282.5 million at May 1, 2010. This increase was driven primarily by our European wholesale business which included the impact of the timing of the fiscal month-end collections compared to the same prior-year period. In addition, the accounts receivable balance at April 30, 2011 included an increase of approximately $30.3 million due to currency fluctuations compared to the prior-year quarter end. Inventory increased by $54.9 million, or 22.3%, to $300.7 million as of April 30, 2011, compared to $245.8 million as of May 1, 2010. The increase in inventory supports primarily the expansion of our European business, including a significant increase in our retail store base, as well as growth in our Asian and North American businesses. The carrying value of inventory also includes the impact of currency fluctuations. When measured in terms of finished goods units, inventory volumes increased by approximately 18% as of April 30, 2011, when compared to May 1, 2010.

 

North American Retail

 

Our North American Retail segment, comprising North American full-priced retail stores, factory outlet stores and e-commerce, generated net sales of $247.5 million during the quarter ended April 30, 2011, an increase of $11.7 million, or 5.0%, from $235.8 million in the same prior-year period. The increase was due primarily to a larger store base, which represented a net 9.5% increase in average square footage compared to the same prior-year period.  This was partially offset by negative comparable store sales of 3.1% (negative 4.1% in local currency, which excludes the favorable translation impact of currency fluctuations relating to our Canadian retail stores). North American Retail earnings from operations decreased by $5.8 million, or 23.6%, to $18.6 million for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, compared to $24.4 million in the same prior-year period. Operating margin declined 280 basis points to 7.5% for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, compared to 10.3% for the same prior-year period. The decrease in both earnings from operations and operating margin primarily reflects the impact of higher store expenses, given the opening of new stores, the remodeling of existing stores, negative comparable store sales, and higher markdowns. The lower earnings from operations was partially offset by sales from new stores.

 

In the quarter, we opened six new stores in the U.S. and Canada and closed three stores. At April 30, 2011, we owned and operated 484 stores in the U.S. and Canada, comprised of 193 full-priced GUESS? retail stores, 120 GUESS? factory outlet stores, 63 GUESS? Accessories stores, 54 GUESS by MARCIANO stores and 54 G by GUESS stores. This compares to 433 stores as of May 1, 2010.

 

Europe

 

In Europe, revenue increased by $23.2 million, or 12.4%, to $210.2 million for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, compared to $187.0 million in the same prior-year period. The increase was driven primarily by our directly owned retail stores and favorable translation impact on revenues caused by changes in foreign currency exchange rates. We expanded our base of directly owned stores by 60% compared to the prior-year quarter and our existing stores generated positive comparable store sales. At April 30, 2011, we directly owned 154 stores in Europe compared to 96 stores at May 1, 2010, excluding concessions. Shipments for our existing wholesale business declined slightly in the current quarter compared to the same prior-year period due to the earlier spring product deliveries that benefitted the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011. Earnings from operations from our Europe segment decreased by $1.3 million, or 3.8%, to $33.2 million for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, compared to $34.5 million in the same prior-year period. Operating margin declined 260 basis points to 15.8% for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, compared to 18.4% for the same prior-year period.  The decline resulted from the earlier spring product deliveries that benefitted the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, along with higher occupancy costs and store selling expenses given our retail expansion and higher infrastructure investments, partially offset by sales from new stores and positive comparable store sales.

 

Asia

 

In Asia, revenue increased by $11.5 million, or 23.7%, to $60.1 million for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, compared to $48.6 million in the same prior-year period. All of our Asia businesses contributed to this growth, led by our South Korea business. We continued to grow our Asia business, where we, along with our partners, opened 14 stores and 12 concessions during the quarter ended April 30, 2011.  Earnings from operations from our Asia segment remained relatively flat at $7.1 million for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, compared to the same prior-year period. Operating margin decreased 290 basis points to 11.8% for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, compared to 14.7% for the same prior-year period. The decline was driven by higher SG&A expenses due to infrastructure investments to support our future growth in the region and slightly lower gross margins due primarily to channel mix.

 

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Table of Contents

 

North American Wholesale

 

Our North American Wholesale segment revenue increased by $2.9 million, or 6.8%, to $45.6 million for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, from $42.7 million in the same prior-year period. This increase was driven by higher revenues in all our wholesale businesses in the region; which included the favorable impact of currency translation fluctuations relating to our non-U.S. wholesale businesses.  North American Wholesale earnings from operations increased by $0.9 million, or 8.8%, to $11.1 million for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, compared to $10.2 million in the same prior-year period. Operating margin improved 40 basis points to 24.3% for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, compared to 23.9% for same prior-year period. The operating margin expansion was driven primarily by slightly stronger product margins and SG&A expense leverage compared to the prior year.

 

Licensing

 

Our Licensing royalty revenue increased by $3.5 million, or 14.1%, to $28.8 million compared to $25.3 million in the same prior-year period, driven by royalties from higher sales in our watches, eyewear and footwear categories, partially offset by lower sales in handbags. Earnings from operations increased by $3.4 million, or 15.7%, to $25.3 million for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, compared to $21.9 million in the same prior-year period.

 

Corporate Overhead

 

Corporate overhead expenses decreased by $2.3 million, or 8.8%, to $24.4 million for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, from $26.7 million in the same prior-year period.  The decrease was due to the accelerated amortization of prior service cost as a result of a curtailment in the Company’s supplemental executive retirement plan that was recorded in the comparable prior-year quarter partially offset by higher performance-based compensation costs, professional fees and marketing expenses in the current year quarter.

 

Global Store Count

 

In the first quarter of fiscal 2012, together with our partners, we opened 66 new stores worldwide, consisting of 44 stores in Europe and the Middle East, 14 stores in Asia, six stores in the U.S. and Canada and two stores in Central and South America. Together with our partners, we closed 18 stores worldwide, consisting of ten stores in Europe and the Middle East, three stores in Asia, three stores in the U.S. and Canada and two stores in Central and South America.

 

We ended the first quarter of fiscal 2012 with 1,421 stores worldwide, comprised as follows:

 

Region

 

Total Stores

 

Directly
Owned Stores

 

Licensee Stores

 

United States and Canada

 

484

 

484

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe and the Middle East

 

508

 

154

 

354

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Asia

 

368

 

29

 

339

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

61

 

19

 

42

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

1,421

 

686

 

735

 

 

This store count does not include 274 concessions located primarily in South Korea and Greater China because of their smaller store size in relation to our standard international store size. Of the total 1,421 stores, 977 were GUESS? stores, 279 were GUESS? Accessories stores, 100 were GUESS by MARCIANO stores and 65 were G by GUESS stores.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Three months ended April 30, 2011 and May 1, 2010

 

NET REVENUE. Net revenue increased by $52.9 million, or 9.8%, to $592.2 million for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, from $539.3 million for the quarter ended May 1, 2010.  Revenues increased in all our segments, with our international business driving the majority of our revenue growth. On a combined basis, our Europe and Asia segments represented nearly two-thirds of the revenue increase. In constant U.S. dollars, revenues increased by 7.9% as currency translation fluctuations relating to our foreign operations favorably impacted net revenue by $10.1 million compared to the same prior-year period.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Net revenue from our North American Retail operations increased by $11.7 million, or 5.0%, to $247.5 million for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, from $235.8 million in the same prior-year period. This increase was due primarily to a larger store base partially offset by negative comparable store sales of 3.1% (negative 4.1% in local currency, which excludes the favorable translation impact of currency fluctuations relating to our Canadian retail stores). The store base increased by an average of 51 net additional stores during the quarter ended April 30, 2011 compared to the prior-year quarter, resulting in a net 9.5% increase in average square footage. Currency translation fluctuations relating to our non-U.S. retail stores favorably impacted net revenue in our retail segment by $2.8 million.

 

Net revenue from our Europe operations increased by $23.2 million, or 12.4%, to $210.2 million for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, from $187.0 million in the same prior-year period. The increase was driven primarily by our directly owned retail stores and favorable translation impact on revenues caused by changes in foreign currency exchange rates. We expanded our base of directly owned stores by 60% compared to the prior-year quarter and our existing stores generated positive comparable store sales.  At April 30, 2011, we directly owned 154 stores in Europe compared to 96 stores at May 1, 2010, excluding concessions. Shipments in our existing wholesale business declined slightly due to the earlier spring product deliveries that benefitted the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011.  Currency translation fluctuations relating to our European operations favorably impacted net revenue in our Europe segment by $5.4 million.

 

Net revenue from our Asia operations increased by $11.5 million, or 23.7%, to $60.1 million for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, from $48.6 million in the same prior-year period. We continued to grow our Asia business, where we, along with our partners, opened 14 stores and 12 concessions during the quarter ended April 30, 2011. Our South Korea business continued to drive the growth in this region with a greater number of doors compared to the same prior-year period and stronger existing door performance. Currency translation fluctuations relating to our South Korea operations favorably impacted net revenue in our Asia segment by $1.0 million.

 

Net revenue from our North American Wholesale operations increased by $2.9 million, or 6.8%, to $45.6 million for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, from $42.7 million in the same prior-year period. This increase was driven by higher revenues in all our wholesale businesses in the region; which included the favorable benefit of currency translation fluctuations to net revenues of $0.9 million relating to our non-U.S. wholesale businesses.

 

Net royalty revenue from Licensing operations increased by $3.5 million, or 14.1%, to $28.8 million for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, from $25.3 million in the same prior-year period, driven by royalties on higher sales in the watches, eyewear and footwear categories, partially offset by lower sales in handbags.

 

GROSS PROFIT. Gross profit increased by $13.9 million, or 5.9%, to $249.2 million for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, from $235.3 million in the same prior-year period due to the growth in revenue, partially offset by higher occupancy costs. All segments excluding North American Retail contributed to the growth. The largest increase in gross profit came from our Europe segment.

 

Gross margin declined 150 basis points to 42.1% for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, from 43.6% for the same prior-year period. The lower gross margin reflects primarily the impact of higher store occupancy expenses to support the expansion of retail businesses in Europe and North America. Product margins increased slightly compared to the prior-year quarter, reflecting the greater mix of retail business in Europe, partially offset by higher North American Retail markdowns.

 

The Company’s gross margin may not be comparable to 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 the 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.

 

SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES. SG&A expenses increased by $20.2 million, or 12.8%, to $178.3 million for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, from $158.1 million in the same prior-year period. The increase was driven by higher store selling and other expenses to support our global retail expansion, including infrastructure investments in both Europe and Asia. Currency translation fluctuations relating to our foreign operations unfavorably impacted SG&A compared to the same prior-year period. The Company’s SG&A rate increased by 80 basis points to 30.1% for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, compared to the same prior-year period. The SG&A rate was negatively impacted by earlier spring product deliveries for the European wholesale business that benefitted the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011. Without this shift, the SG&A rate would have been comparable to the same prior-year period.

 

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PENSION CURTAILMENT EXPENSE. During the quarter ended May 1, 2010, the Company recorded a supplemental executive retirement plan curtailment expense of $5.8 million before taxes related to the accelerated amortization of prior service cost resulting from the departure of Carlos Alberini, the Company’s former President and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Alberini’s departure resulted in a significant reduction in the total expected remaining years of future service of all participants combined, triggering the pension curtailment.

 

EARNINGS FROM OPERATIONS.  Earnings from operations decreased by $0.4 million, or 0.6%, to $70.9 million for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, from $71.3 million in the same prior-year period. Currency translation fluctuations relating to our foreign operations favorably impacted earnings from operations by $1.0 million. The decrease in earnings from operations resulted primarily from the following:

 

·                  Earnings from operations for the North American Retail segment decreased by $5.8 million to $18.6 million for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, compared to $24.4 million in the same prior-year period. The decrease in earnings from operations primarily reflects the impact of higher store expenses, given the opening of new stores, the remodeling of existing stores, negative comparable store sales, and higher markdowns.  The lower earnings from operations was partially offset by sales from new stores.

 

·                  Earnings from operations for the Europe segment decreased by $1.3 million to $33.2 million for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, compared to $34.5 million in the same prior-year period. The decline resulted from the earlier spring product deliveries that benefitted the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, along with higher occupancy costs and store selling expenses given our retail expansion and higher infrastructure investments, partially offset by sales from new stores and positive comparable store sales.

 

·                  Earnings from operations for the Asia segment remained relatively flat at $7.1 million for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, compared to the same prior-year period. Earnings from operations were negatively impacted by higher SG&A expenses due to infrastructure investments to support our future growth in this region and slightly lower gross margins due primarily to channel mix. This was offset by the favorable impact to earnings from higher sales.

 

·                 Earnings from operations for the North American Wholesale segment increased by $0.9 million to $11.1 million for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, compared to $10.2 million in the same prior-year period. The increase in earnings from operations was mainly due to sales growth and the leveraging of SG&A expenses.

 

·                  Earnings from operations for the Licensing segment increased by $3.4 million to $25.3 million for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, compared to $21.9 million in the same prior-year period, driven by increased royalties due to higher licensed product sales.

 

·                  Unallocated corporate overhead decreased by $2.3 million to $24.4 million for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, compared to $26.7 million for the quarter ended May 1, 2010.  The decrease was due to the accelerated amortization of prior service cost as a result of a curtailment in the Company’s supplemental executive retirement plan that was recorded in the comparable prior-year quarter partially offset by higher performance-based compensation costs, professional fees and marketing expenses in the quarter ended April 30, 2011.

 

Operating margin declined 120 basis points to 12.0% for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, compared to 13.2% for the same prior-year period. The operating margin decrease was driven by both the overall lower gross margin and higher SG&A rate, partially offset by the negative impact of the acceleration of pension cost amortization on the operating margin for the prior-year quarter.

 

INTEREST EXPENSE AND INTEREST INCOME. Interest expense increased to $0.4 million for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, compared to $0.2 million for the quarter ended May 1, 2010. At April 30, 2011, total borrowings, related primarily to our capital lease in Europe was $15.2 million, compared to $15.5 million at May 1, 2010. The average debt balance for the quarter ended April 30, 2011 was $14.4 million, versus an average debt balance of $15.8 million for the quarter ended May 1, 2010. Interest income increased to $1.3 million for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, compared to $0.3 million for the quarter ended May 1, 2010, due to higher interest rates on invested cash, partially offset by lower average invested cash balances.

 

OTHER EXPENSE, NET. Other expense, net, was $10.0 million for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, compared to other income, net, of $3.4 million in the same prior-year period. Other expense, net, in the quarter ended April 30, 2011 consisted primarily of net unrealized mark-to-market revaluation losses on foreign currency contracts and other foreign currency balances partially offset by net unrealized gains on non-operating assets. Other income, net, in the quarter ended May 1, 2010 consisted primarily of net unrealized mark-to-market revaluation gains related to foreign currency forward contracts and other foreign currency balances and net unrealized gains on non-operating assets.

 

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INCOME TAXES.  Income tax expense for the quarter ended April 30, 2011 was $18.2 million, or a 29.5% effective tax rate, compared to income tax expense of $23.2 million, or a 31.0% effective tax rate, for the same prior-year period.  Generally, income taxes for the interim periods are computed using the effective tax rate estimated to be applicable for the full fiscal year, which is subject to ongoing review and evaluation by management. The lower tax rate in the current quarter was due primarily to a higher estimated proportion of annual earnings in lower tax jurisdictions in fiscal 2012 and the unfavorable impact of a change in certain state tax regulations relating to fiscal 2011.

 

NET EARNINGS ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS IN SUBSIDIARIES. Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries for the quarter ended April 30, 2011 was $0.9 million, net of taxes, as compared to $1.3 million, net of taxes, for the quarter ended May 1, 2010. The decrease was due to lower earnings from our European joint venture operations, partially offset by higher earnings in our Mexican joint venture.

 

NET EARNINGS ATTRIBUTABLE TO GUESS?, INC. Net earnings attributable to Guess?, Inc. decreased to $42.7 million for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, from $50.3 million in the same prior-year period. Diluted earnings per share decreased to $0.46 per share for the quarter ended April 30, 2011, compared to $0.54 per share for the quarter ended May 1, 2010.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

We need liquidity primarily to fund our working capital, the expansion and remodeling of our retail stores, shop-in-shop programs, concessions, systems, infrastructure, other existing operations, international growth, potential acquisitions, potential share repurchases and payment of dividends to our stockholders. During the quarter ended April 30, 2011, the Company relied on trade credit, available cash, real estate leases, and internally generated funds to finance our operations and expansion. The Company anticipates that we will be able to satisfy our ongoing cash requirements during the next twelve months for working capital, capital expenditures, interest and principal payments on our debt, potential acquisitions, potential share repurchases and dividend payments to stockholders, primarily with cash flow from operations and existing cash balances supplemented by borrowings, if necessary, under the Credit Facility and bank facilities in Europe, as described below under “—Credit Facilities.” As of April 30, 2011, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $426.8 million and short-term investments of $15.0 million. Excess cash and cash equivalents, which represent the majority of our outstanding cash and cash equivalents balance, are held primarily in three diversified money market funds. The funds are all AAA rated by national credit rating agencies and are generally comprised of high-quality, liquid investments. As of April 30, 2011, we do not have any exposure to auction-rate security investments in these funds. Please see “—Important Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors” contained in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 29, 2011 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.

 

The Company has presented below the cash flow performance comparison of the three months ended April 30, 2011 versus the three months ended May 1, 2010.

 

Operating Activities

 

Net cash provided by operating activities remained flat at $47.8 million for the three months ended April 30, 2011, compared to the same prior-year period. Net earnings for the three months ended April 30, 2011 were lower by $8.1 million when compared to the same prior-year period. The impact of the lower net earnings combined with the unfavorable timing impact of working capital changes in the three months ended April 30, 2011 compared to the same prior-year period was fully offset by the impact of higher non-cash transactions recorded in the three months ended April 30, 2011.  The changes in working capital were driven by a larger decline in the accounts payable and accrued expenses balances primarily in our Europe segment during the three months ended April 30, 2011 compared to the same prior-year period.

 

At April 30, 2011, the Company had working capital (including cash and cash equivalents) of $769.9 million compared to $732.6 million at January 29, 2011 and $813.5 million at May 1, 2010. The decline in the net working capital balance compared to May 1, 2010 was due primarily to the payment of a special dividend of $184.0 million during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011. The Company’s primary working capital needs are for inventory and accounts receivable. Accounts receivable at April 30, 2011 amounted to $377.4 million, up $94.9 million, compared to $282.5 million at May 1, 2010.  This increase was driven primarily by our European wholesale business which included the impact of the timing of the fiscal month-end collections compared to the same prior-year period. In addition, the accounts receivable balance at April 30, 2011 included an increase of approximately $30.3 million due to currency fluctuations compared to May 1, 2010. Approximately $176.5 million of our receivables, or 46.8% of the $377.4 million in accounts receivable at April 30, 2011, were insured for collection purposes or subject to certain bank guarantees or letters of credit. Inventory at April 30, 2011 increased to $300.7 million, or 22.3%, compared to $245.8 million at May 1, 2010. The increase in inventory supports primarily the expansion of our European business, including a significant increase in our retail store base, as well as growth in our Asian and North American businesses. The carrying value of inventory also includes the impact of currency fluctuations. When measured in terms of finished goods units, inventory volumes increased by approximately 18% as of April 30, 2011, when compared to May 1, 2010.

 

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Investing Activities

 

Net cash used in investing activities was $44.1 million for the three months ended April 30, 2011, compared to $23.5 million for the three months ended May 1, 2010. Cash used in investing activities related primarily to capital expenditures incurred on existing store remodeling programs in North America and Europe, the expansion of our European and North American Retail businesses and investments in marketable securities in the current period.

 

The increase in cash used in investing activities related primarily to the higher level of spending on remodeling of existing stores in North America and new store expansion in North America and Europe during the three months ended April 30, 2011 compared to the same prior-year period, and the additional investments in marketable securities in the current period. During the three months ended April 30, 2011, the Company opened 22 owned stores compared to 18 owned stores that were opened in the comparable prior-year period.

 

Financing Activities

 

Net cash used in financing activities was $19.4 million for the three months ended April 30, 2011, compared to $6.7 million for the three months ended May 1, 2010. The increase in net cash used in financing activities in the current period compared to the prior year was due primarily to lower employee stock award exercise proceeds and related excess tax benefits and higher dividend payments during the current period.

 

Dividends

 

During the first quarter of fiscal 2008, the Company announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.06 per share of the Company’s common stock. Since that time, the Company has continued to pay a quarterly cash dividend, which has subsequently increased to $0.20 per common share.

 

On May 25, 2011, the Company announced a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per share on the Company’s common stock. The cash dividend will be paid on June 24, 2011 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on June 8, 2011.

 

The payment of cash dividends in the future will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will be based on a number of business, legal and other considerations, including our cash flow from operations, capital expenditures, debt service requirements, cash paid for income taxes, earnings, share repurchases and liquidity.

 

Capital Expenditures

 

Gross capital expenditures totaled $30.9 million, before deducting lease incentives of $2.3 million, for the three months ended April 30, 2011. This compares to gross capital expenditures of $19.4 million, before deducting lease incentives of $2.7 million, for the three months ended May 1, 2010. The Company’s capital expenditures for the full fiscal year 2012 are planned at approximately $140 million (after deducting estimated lease incentives of approximately $10 million). The planned capital expenditures are primarily for expansion of our retail businesses in Europe and North America, store remodeling programs in North America, expansion of our Asia business, investments in information systems and other infrastructure investments.

 

In addition, we periodically evaluate strategic acquisitions and alliances and pursue those that we believe will support and contribute to our overall growth initiatives.

 

Credit Facilities

 

On September 19, 2006, the Company and certain of its subsidiaries entered into a credit facility led by Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent for the lenders (the “Credit Facility”). The Credit Facility provides for an $85 million revolving multicurrency line of credit and is available for direct borrowings and the issuance of letters of credit, subject to certain letters of credit sublimits. The Credit Facility is scheduled to mature on September 30, 2011. The Company is in discussions with potential lenders and fully expects to have a replacement facility in place prior to the scheduled maturity on September 30, 2011.  The size, rates and other key terms of the replacement facility have yet to be determined. At April 30, 2011, the Company had $1.4 million in outstanding standby letters of credit, no outstanding documentary letters of credit and no outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facility.

 

The Company, through its European subsidiaries, maintains short-term borrowing agreements, primarily for working capital purposes, with various banks in Europe. Under these agreements, which are generally secured by specific accounts receivable balances, the Company can borrow up to $267.7 million, limited primarily by accounts receivable balances at the time of borrowing. Based on the applicable accounts receivable balances at April 30, 2011, the Company could have borrowed up to approximately $264.4 million under these agreements. However, the Company’s ability to borrow through foreign subsidiaries is generally limited to $185.0 million under the terms of the Credit Facility. At April 30, 2011, the Company had no outstanding borrowings and $7.5 million in outstanding documentary letters of credit under these credit agreements. The agreements are denominated primarily in euros and provide for annual interest rates ranging from 0.9% to 3.6%. The maturities of the short-term borrowings are generally linked to the credit terms of the underlying accounts receivable that secure the borrowings. With the exception of one facility for up to $51.8 million that has a minimum net equity requirement, there are no other financial ratio covenants.

 

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The Company entered into a capital lease in December 2005 for a new building in Florence, Italy. At April 30, 2011, the capital lease obligation was $14.7 million. The Company entered into a separate interest rate swap agreement designated as a non-hedging instrument that resulted in a swap fixed rate of 3.55%. This interest rate swap agreement matures in 2016 and converts the nature of the capital lease obligation from Euribor floating rate debt to fixed rate debt. The fair value of the interest rate swap liability as of April 30, 2011 was approximately $0.5 million.

 

From time to time the Company will obtain other short term financing in foreign countries for working capital to finance its local operations.

 

Share Repurchases

 

On March 14, 2011, the Company’s Board of Directors terminated the previously authorized 2008 share repurchase program (which had $84.9 million capacity remaining) and authorized a new program to repurchase, from time-to-time and as market and business conditions warrant, up to $250.0 million of the Company’s common stock (the “2011 Share Repurchase Program”). Repurchases 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 and the program may be discontinued at any time, without prior notice. There were no share repurchases under the 2011 or 2008 Share Repurchase Programs during the three months ended April 30, 2011 or the three months ended May 1, 2010. At April 30, 2011, the Company had remaining authority under the 2011 Share Repurchase Program to purchase $250.0 million of its common stock.

 

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. The current participants in the SERP are Maurice Marciano, Chairman of the Board, and Paul Marciano, Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of the Board. In addition to the current participants, Carlos Alberini, the Company’s former President and Chief Operating Officer, participated in the SERP until his departure from the Company on June 1, 2010, and will be eligible to receive vested SERP benefits in the future in accordance with the terms of the SERP. During the three months ended May 1, 2010, the Company recorded a $5.8 million charge related to the accelerated amortization of prior service cost resulting from the departure of Mr. Alberini from the Company. Mr. Alberini did not receive any termination payments in connection with his departure and, as of the date of his departure, he ceased vesting or accruing any additional benefits under the terms of the SERP. As a non-qualified pension plan, no dedicated funding of the SERP is required; however, the Company has and expects to continue to make periodic payments into insurance policies held in a rabbi trust to fund the expected obligations arising under the non-qualified SERP. The amount of future payments may vary, depending on the future years of service, future annual compensation of the participants and investment performance of the trust. The cash surrender values of the insurance policies were $34.4 million and $32.9 million as of April 30, 2011 and January 29, 2011, respectively, and were included in other assets in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets. As a result of changes in the value of the insurance policy investments, the Company recorded unrealized gains of $1.5 million and $1.3 million in other income and expense during the three months ended April 30, 2011 and May 1, 2010, respectively.

 

INFLATION

 

The Company does not believe that inflation trends in the U.S. and internationally over the last three years have had a significant effect on net revenue or profitability. However, the Company anticipates that potential inflationary pressures on raw materials, labor, freight or other commodities including oil, could begin to negatively impact the cost of product purchases primarily in the second half of fiscal 2012. The Company has plans to mitigate some of these effects through price increases on select items, supply chain initiatives and reduced markdowns. However, there can be no assurances that these actions will be successful. In addition, increased prices could lead to reduced customer demand. These developments could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

 

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SEASONALITY

 

The Company’s business is impacted by the general seasonal trends characteristic of the apparel and retail industries. The U.S., European and Canadian retail operations are generally stronger during the second half of the fiscal year, and the U.S. and Canadian wholesale operations 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’s goal is to 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 or delay shipment of orders depending on their needs.

 

WHOLESALE BACKLOG

 

The backlog of wholesale orders at any given time is affected by various factors, including seasonality, cancellations, the scheduling of market weeks, the timing of the receipt of orders and the timing of the shipment of orders. Accordingly, a comparison of backlogs of wholesale orders from period to period is not necessarily meaningful and may not be indicative of eventual actual shipments.

 

U.S. and Canada Backlog

 

Our U.S. and Canadian wholesale businesses maintain a model stock program in basic denim products which generally allows replenishment of a customer’s inventory within 72 hours. We generally receive orders for fashion apparel three to six months prior to the time the products are delivered to our customers’ stores. Our U.S. and Canadian wholesale backlog as of May 28, 2011, consisting primarily of orders for fashion apparel, was $82.1 million, compared to $84.7 million in constant dollars at May 29, 2010, a decrease of 3.1%.

 

Europe Backlog

 

As of May 31, 2011, the European wholesale backlog was €279.6 million, compared to €263.1 million at May 31, 2010, an increase of 6.2%. The backlog as of May 31, 2011 is comprised of sales orders for the Fall/Winter 2011 and Spring/Summer 2012 seasons.

 

APPLICATION OF CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Our critical accounting policies reflecting our estimates and judgments are described in “Part II. Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 29, 2011 filed with the SEC on March 28, 2011. There have been no significant changes to our critical accounting policies during the three months ended April 30, 2011.

 

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING GUIDANCE

 

There is no new accounting guidance issued by the FASB but not yet adopted that is expected to have a significant effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or disclosures.

 

ITEM 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

 

Exchange Rate Risk

 

Approximately half of product sales and licensing revenue recorded for the three months ended April 30, 2011 were denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. The Company’s primary exchange rate risk relates to operations in Europe, Canada and South Korea. Changes in currencies affect our earnings in various ways. For further discussion on currency related risk, please refer to our risk factors under “Part 1, Item 1A. Risk Factors” contained in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 29, 2011.

 

Various transactions that occur in Canada, Europe and South Korea are denominated in U.S. dollars, British pounds or Swiss francs 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, U.S. dollar and British pound denominated intercompany liabilities and certain sales, operating expenses and tax liabilities denominated in Swiss francs that are exposed to earnings risk as a result of exchange rate fluctuations when converted to the functional currency. The Company enters into derivative financial instruments to manage exchange risk on certain anticipated foreign currency transactions. The Company does not hedge all transactions denominated in foreign currency.

 

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Forward Contracts Designated as Cash Flow Hedges

 

During the three months ended April 30, 2011, the Company purchased U.S. dollar forward contracts in Europe and Canada totaling US$59.9 million and US$23.5 million, respectively, to hedge forecasted merchandise purchases and intercompany royalties that were designated as cash flow hedges. As of April 30, 2011, the Company had forward contracts outstanding for its European and Canadian operations of US$119.9 million and US$64.4 million, respectively, which are expected to mature over the next 14 months. The Company’s derivative financial instruments are recorded in its condensed 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 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, designated as cash flow hedges for forecasted intercompany royalties, are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income within stockholders’ equity, and are recognized in other income and expense in the period in which the royalty expense is incurred.

 

From time to time, Swiss franc forward contracts are used to hedge certain anticipated Swiss operating expenses over specific months. Changes in the fair value of the Swiss franc forward contracts designated as cash flow hedges are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income within stockholders’ equity, and are recognized in SG&A in the period which approximates the time the expenses are incurred.

 

As of April 30, 2011 accumulated other comprehensive income included a net unrealized loss of approximately US$9.8 million, net of tax, of which US$9.1 million will be recognized in other expense or 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 quarter-end values. At April 30, 2011, the net unrealized loss of the remaining open forward contracts recorded in the condensed consolidated balance sheet was approximately US$11.5 million.

 

At January 29, 2011, the Company had forward contracts outstanding for its European and Canadian operations of US$71.6 million and US$52.3 million, respectively. At January 29, 2011, the net unrealized loss of these open forward contracts recorded in the condensed consolidated balance sheet was approximately US$0.5 million.

 

Forward Contracts Not Designated as Cash Flow Hedges

 

The Company also has foreign currency contracts that are not designated as hedges for accounting purposes. Changes in fair value of foreign currency contracts not qualifying as cash flow hedges are reported in net earnings as part of other income and expense. For the three months ended April 30, 2011, the Company recorded a net loss of US$15.7 million for the Canadian dollar, euro, British pound and Swiss franc foreign currency contracts, which has been included in other income and expense. At April 30, 2011, the Company had euro foreign currency contracts to purchase US$165.8 million expected to mature over the next 11 months, Canadian dollar foreign currency contracts to purchase US$63.7 million expected to mature over the next 14 months, Swiss franc foreign currency contracts to purchase US$30.6 million expected to mature over the next 14 months and GBP8.0 million of foreign currency contracts to purchase euros expected to mature over the next five months. At April 30, 2011, the net unrealized loss of these open forward contracts recorded in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet was approximately US$16.4 million.

 

At January 29, 2011, the Company had euro foreign currency contracts to purchase US$70.0 million, Canadian dollar foreign currency contracts to purchase US$67.7 million, Swiss franc foreign currency contracts to purchase US$30.1 million and GBP11.3 million of foreign currency contracts to purchase euros. At January 29, 2011, the net unrealized loss of these open forward contracts recorded in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet was approximately US$4.1 million.

 

Sensitivity Analysis

 

At April 30, 2011, a sensitivity analysis of changes in the 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$444.3 million, the fair value of the instruments would have decreased by US$49.4 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 US$40.4 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

 

At April 30, 2011, approximately 97% of the Company’s total indebtedness related to a capital lease obligation, which is covered by a separate interest rate swap agreement with a swap fixed interest rate of 3.55% that matures in 2016. Changes in the related interest rate that result in an unrealized gain or loss on the fair value of the swap are reported in other income or expenses. The change in the unrealized fair value of the interest swap decreased other expense, net by $0.2 million during the three months ended April 30, 2011. Substantially all of 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 three months ended April 30, 2011.

 

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The fair value 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. At April 30, 2011 and January 29, 2011, the carrying value of all financial instruments was not materially different from fair value, as the interest rate on the Company’s debt approximates rates currently available to the Company.

 

ITEM 4.  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. 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 quarterly period covered by this report.

 

There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the first quarter of the fiscal year ending January 28, 2012, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.  Legal Proceedings.

 

Litigation

 

On May 6, 2009, Gucci America, Inc. filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against Guess?, Inc. and Guess Italia, S.r.l. asserting, among other things, trademark and trade dress law violations and unfair competition. The complaint seeks injunctive relief, unspecified compensatory damages, including treble damages, and certain other relief. A similar complaint has also been filed in the Court of Milan, Italy. The Company is vigorously defending the allegations. The Company believes that it is too early to predict the outcome of this action or whether the outcome will have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

 

The Company is also involved in various other claims and other matters incidental to the Company’s business, the resolution of which is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations. No material amounts were accrued as of April 30, 2011 related to any of the Company’s legal proceedings.

 

ITEM 1A.  Risk Factors.

 

There have not been any material changes from the Risk Factors as previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 29, 2011, filed with the SEC on March 28, 2011.

 

ITEM 2.  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

 

Items (a) and (b) are not applicable.

 

Item (c).  Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

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

 

January 30, 2011 to February 26, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Repurchase program(1)

 

 

 

 

$

84,917,805

 

Employee transactions(2)

 

17,088

 

$

43.78

 

 

 

February 27, 2011 to April 2, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Repurchase program(1)

 

 

 

 

$

250,000,000

 

Employee transactions(2)

 

53,995

 

$

39.11

 

 

 

April 3, 2011 to April 30, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Repurchase program(1)

 

 

 

 

$

250,000,000

 

Employee transactions(2)

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Repurchase program(1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employee transactions(2)

 

71,083

 

$

40.24

 

 

 

 

 


(1) On March 14, 2011, the Company’s Board of Directors terminated the 2008 share repurchase program (which had $84.9 million capacity remaining) and authorized a new program to repurchase, from time-to-time and as market and business conditions warrant, up to $250.0 million of the Company’s common stock (the “2011 Share Repurchase Program”). Repurchases 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 and the program may be discontinued at any time, without prior notice.

 

(2) Consists of shares surrendered to, or withheld by, the Company in satisfaction of employee tax withholding obligations that occur upon vesting of restricted stock awards granted under the Company’s 2004 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended.

 

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Table of Contents

 

ITEM 6.  Exhibits.

 

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.

 

Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 4, 2007).

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).

10.1.

 

2004 Equity Incentive Plan (Amended and Restated as of April 15, 2011) (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 21, 2011).*

†31.1.

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of the Board pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

†31.2.

 

Certification of Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

†32.1.

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of the Board pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

†32.2.

 

Certification of Senior Vice President and 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**

 


*

 

Management Contract or Compensatory Plan

 

 

 

**

 

Pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, the Interactive Data Files on Exhibit 101 hereto are deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, are deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise are not subject to liability under those sections

 

 

 

 

Filed Herewith

 

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Table of Contents

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

Guess?, Inc.

 

 

 

Date:    June 7, 2011

By:

/s/ PAUL MARCIANO

 

 

Paul Marciano

 

 

Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of the Board

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date:    June 7, 2011

By:

/s/ DENNIS R. SECOR

 

 

Dennis R. Secor

 

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

30