UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-Q

(Mark One)

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

For the Quarterly Period Ended February 26, 2012

or

 ¨For the Quarterly Period Ended August 28, 2011
or
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission file number:002-90139

LEVI STRAUSS & CO.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

DELAWARE

  94-0905160
DELAWARE

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

  94-0905160

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

1155 Battery Street, San Francisco, California 94111

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

(415) 501-6000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

None

(Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year, if Changed Since Last Report)

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  o¨    No  þ

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 ofRegulation 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  þ    No  o¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “Large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” inRule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer o¨

Accelerated filer o¨Non-accelerated filer þSmaller reporting company o¨

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined inRule 12b-2 of the Act).    Yes  o¨    No  þ

The Company is privately held. Nearly all of its common equity is owned by descendants of the family of the Company’s founder, Levi Strauss, and their relatives. There is no trading in the common equity and therefore an aggregate market value based on sales or bid and asked prices is not determinable.

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Common Stock $.01 par value — 37,354,02137,345,985 shares outstanding on October 6, 2011

April 5, 2012


LEVI STRAUSS & CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX TOFORM 10-Q

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED AUGUST 28, 2011FEBRUARY 26, 2012

    Page
Number
Number
 
PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. 

Item 1.

Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited): 
 

  Consolidated Balance Sheets as of August 28, 2011,February 26, 2012, and November 28, 201027, 2011

  3  
 

Consolidated Statements of Income for the Three and Nine Months Ended August 28,February 26, 2012, and February 27, 2011 and August 29, 2010

  4  
 

  Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the NineThree Months Ended August 28,February 26, 2012, and February 27, 2011 and August 29, 2010

  5  
 

  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

  6  

Item 2.

 Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations  1915  

Item 3.

 Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk  2923  

Item 4.

 Controls and Procedures  2923  
PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings  3025  

Item 1A.

 Risk Factors  3025  

Item 2.

 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds  3026  

Item 3.

 Defaults Upon Senior Securities  3026  

Item 4.

 Removed and ReservedMine Safety Disclosures  3026  

Item 5.

 Other Information  3026  

Item 6.

 Exhibits  3027  

SIGNATURE

  3128  
EX-31.1
EX-31.2
EX-32
EX-101 INSTANCE DOCUMENT
EX-101 SCHEMA DOCUMENT
EX-101 CALCULATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
EX-101 LABELS LINKBASE DOCUMENT
EX-101 PRESENTATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT


2


PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

LEVI STRAUSS & CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

         
  (Unaudited)
    
  August 28,
  November 28,
 
  2011  2010 
  (Dollars in thousands) 
 
ASSETS
Current Assets:        
Cash and cash equivalents $230,844  $269,726 
Restricted cash  7,432   4,028 
Trade receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $22,778 and $24,617  539,042   553,385 
Inventories:        
Raw materials  7,960   6,770 
Work-in-process  13,421   9,405 
Finished goods  709,253   563,728 
         
Total inventories  730,634   579,903 
Deferred tax assets, net  143,466   137,892 
Other current assets  140,546   106,198 
         
Total current assets  1,791,964   1,651,132 
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $729,843 and $683,258  507,933   488,603 
Goodwill  243,680   241,472 
Other intangible assets, net  76,015   84,652 
Non-current deferred tax assets, net  558,881   559,053 
Other assets  109,285   110,337 
         
Total assets
 $3,287,758  $3,135,249 
         
 
LIABILITIES, TEMPORARY EQUITY AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
Current Liabilities:        
Short-term debt $129,010  $46,418 
Current maturities of long-term debt      
Current maturities of capital leases  1,740   1,777 
Accounts payable  248,806   212,935 
Other accrued liabilities  233,871   275,443 
Accrued salaries, wages and employee benefits  192,553   196,152 
Accrued interest payable  37,319   9,685 
Accrued income taxes  18,333   17,115 
         
Total current liabilities  861,632   759,525 
Long-term debt  1,856,237   1,816,728 
Long-term capital leases  2,795   3,578 
Postretirement medical benefits  139,410   147,065 
Pension liability  326,344   400,584 
Long-term employee related benefits  94,441   102,764 
Long-term income tax liabilities  48,659   50,552 
Other long-term liabilities  54,250   54,281 
         
Total liabilities  3,383,768   3,335,077 
         
Commitments and contingencies        
Temporary equity  10,720   8,973 
         
Stockholders’ Deficit:        
Levi Strauss & Co. stockholders’ deficit        
Common stock — $.01 par value; 270,000,000 shares authorized; 37,346,643 shares and 37,322,358 shares issued and outstanding  373   373 
Additional paid-in capital  24,857   18,840 
Retained earnings  106,894   33,346 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss  (247,555)  (272,168)
         
Total Levi Strauss & Co. stockholders’ deficit  (115,431)  (219,609)
Noncontrolling interest  8,701   10,808 
         
Total stockholders’ deficit  (106,730)  (208,801)
         
Total liabilities, temporary equity and stockholders’ deficit
 $3,287,758  $3,135,249 
         

   (Unaudited)
February 26,
2012
  November 27,
2011
 
   (Dollars in thousands) 
ASSETS   
   

Current Assets:

   

Cash and cash equivalents

  $238,320  $204,542 

Trade receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $25,324 and $22,684

   533,364   654,903 

Inventories:

   

Raw materials

   7,422   7,086 

Work-in-process

   7,725   9,833 

Finished goods

   625,530   594,483 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Total inventories

   640,677   611,402 

Deferred tax assets, net

   99,162   99,544 

Other current assets

   173,317   172,830 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Total current assets

   1,684,840   1,743,221 

Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $764,227 and $731,859

   485,849   502,388 

Goodwill

   241,297   240,970 

Other intangible assets, net

   69,328   71,818 

Non-current deferred tax assets, net

   610,445   613,161 

Other non-current assets

   118,759   107,997 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Total assets

  $3,210,518  $3,279,555 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 
LIABILITIES, TEMPORARY EQUITY AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT   
   

Current Liabilities:

   

Short-term debt

  $114,075  $154,747 

Current maturities of capital leases

   1,355   1,714 

Accounts payable

   214,520   204,897 

Other accrued liabilities

   216,535   256,316 

Accrued salaries, wages and employee benefits

   171,766   235,530 

Accrued interest payable

   36,775   9,679 

Accrued income taxes

   18,073   9,378 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

   773,099   872,261 

Long-term debt

   1,814,258   1,817,625 

Long-term capital leases

   1,906   1,999 

Postretirement medical benefits

   137,025   140,108 

Pension liability

   395,722   427,422 

Long-term employee related benefits

   81,223   75,520 

Long-term income tax liabilities

   43,126   42,991 

Other long-term liabilities

   54,444   51,458 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

   3,300,803   3,429,384 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies

   

Temporary equity

   6,205   7,002 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Stockholders’ Deficit:

   

Levi Strauss & Co. stockholders’ deficit
Common stock — $.01 par value; 270,000,000 shares authorized; 37,354,021 shares and 37,354,021 shares issued and outstanding

   374   374 

Additional paid-in capital

   31,262   29,266 

Retained earnings

   199,523   150,770 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

   (336,156  (346,002
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Total Levi Strauss & Co. stockholders’ deficit

   (104,997  (165,592

Noncontrolling interest

   8,507   8,761 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ deficit

   (96,490  (156,831
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Total liabilities, temporary equity and stockholders’ deficit

  $3,210,518  $3,279,555 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


3


LEVI STRAUSS & CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

                 
  Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended 
  August 28,
  August 29,
  August 28,
  August 29,
 
  2011  2010  2011  2010 
     (Dollars in thousands)
    
     (Unaudited)    
 
Net sales $1,183,890  $1,090,448  $3,358,175  $3,064,414 
Licensing revenue  20,127   18,557   59,457   56,326 
                 
Net revenues  1,204,017   1,109,005   3,417,632   3,120,740 
Cost of goods sold  634,573   565,393   1,749,525   1,544,779 
                 
Gross profit  569,444   543,612   1,668,107   1,575,961 
Selling, general and administrative expenses  488,545   457,309   1,423,358   1,313,185 
                 
Operating income  80,899   86,303   244,749   262,776 
Interest expense  (30,208)  (31,734)  (98,589)  (100,347)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt           (16,587)
Other income (expense), net  (5,779)  (7,695)  (12,744)  11,462 
                 
Income before income taxes  44,912   46,874   133,416   157,304 
Income tax expense  13,612   20,252   42,437   93,203 
                 
Net income  31,300   26,622   90,979   64,101 
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest  893   1,556   2,860   6,050 
                 
Net income attributable to Levi Strauss & Co.  $32,193  $28,178  $93,839  $70,151 
                 

   Three Months Ended 
   February 26,
2012
  February 27,
2011
 
   (Dollars in thousands) 
   (Unaudited) 

Net revenues

  $1,164,961  $1,120,693 

Cost of goods sold

   616,167   562,726 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Gross profit

   548,794   557,967 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

   438,583   459,093 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Operating income

   110,211   98,874 

Interest expense

   (38,573  (34,866

Other income (expense), net

   1,172   (5,959
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

   72,810   58,049 

Income tax expense

   23,513   18,881 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Net income

   49,297   39,168 

Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

   (79  1,507 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Net income attributable to Levi Strauss & Co.

  $49,218  $40,675 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


4


LEVI STRAUSS & CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

         
  Nine Months Ended 
  August 28,
  August 29,
 
  2011  2010 
  (Dollars in thousands) (Unaudited) 
 
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
        
Net income $90,979  $64,101 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:        
Depreciation and amortization  87,420   77,983 
Asset impairments  2,957   2,307 
Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment     (100)
Unrealized foreign exchange losses (gains)  11,262   (15,789)
Realized loss on settlement of forward foreign exchange contracts not designated for hedge accounting  8,252   8,412 
Employee benefit plans’ amortization from accumulated other comprehensive loss  (4,555)  2,557 
Employee benefit plans’ curtailment loss, net  1,629   100 
Noncash gain on extinguishment of debt, net of write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs     (13,647)
Amortization of deferred debt issuance costs  3,241   3,293 
Stock-based compensation  7,741   4,419 
Allowance for doubtful accounts  4,957   6,428 
Change in operating assets and liabilities:        
Trade receivables  22,260   16,871 
Inventories  (115,169)  (134,592)
Other current assets  (28,823)  (6,930)
Other non-current assets  1,124   (17,320)
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities  1,309   55,700 
Income tax liabilities  (3,554)  63,760 
Accrued salaries, wages and employee benefits and long-term employee related benefits  (73,019)  (40,820)
Other long-term liabilities  (994)  19,113 
Other, net  270   (17)
         
Net cash provided by operating activities  17,287   95,829 
         
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
        
Purchases of property, plant and equipment  (106,010)  (107,874)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment  158   1,375 
Payments on settlement of forward foreign exchange contracts not designated for hedge accounting  (8,252)  (8,412)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired     (12,242)
Other  (500)  (114)
         
Net cash used for investing activities  (114,604)  (127,267)
         
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
        
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt     909,390 
Repayments of long-term debt and capital leases  (1,470)  (865,527)
Proceeds from senior revolving credit facility  70,000    
Short-term borrowings, net  6,926   19,176 
Debt issuance costs     (17,512)
Restricted cash  (2,866)  (248)
Repurchase of common stock  (245)   
Dividend to stockholders  (20,023)  (20,013)
         
Net cash provided by financing activities  52,322   25,266 
         
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents  6,113   (3,434)
         
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents  (38,882)  (9,606)
Beginning cash and cash equivalents  269,726   270,804 
         
Ending cash and cash equivalents
 $230,844  $261,198 
         
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
        
Cash paid during the period for:        
Interest $69,124  $87,097 
Income taxes  43,697   34,980 

   Three Months Ended 
   February 26,
2012
  February 27,
2011
 
   (Dollars in thousands) 
   (Unaudited) 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

   

Net income

  $49,297  $39,168 

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

   

Depreciation and amortization

   31,218   28,390 

Asset impairments

   58   596 

Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment

   (88  (59

Unrealized foreign exchange (gains) losses

   (1,639  6,650 

Realized loss on settlement of forward foreign exchange contracts not designated for hedge accounting

   3,485   5,723 

Employee benefit plans’ amortization from accumulated other comprehensive loss

 �� 373   793 

Employee benefit plans’ curtailment gain, net

   (773  (16

Amortization of deferred debt issuance costs

   1,110   1,058 

Stock-based compensation

   1,214   1,841 

Allowance for doubtful accounts

   2,919   3,028 

Change in operating assets and liabilities:

   

Trade receivables

   118,185   87,388 

Inventories

   (29,961  (43,962

Other current assets

   (17,713  3,313 

Other non-current assets

   (1,744  (5,350

Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities

   26,711   (11,799

Income tax liabilities

   11,764   3,799 

Accrued salaries, wages and employee benefits and long-term employee related benefits

   (90,766  (74,259

Other long-term liabilities

   1,049   (359

Other, net

   94   83 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

   104,793   46,026 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:

   

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

   (17,291  (40,498

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

   117   76 

Payments on settlement of forward foreign exchange contracts not designated for hedge accounting

   (3,485  (5,723
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Net cash used for investing activities

   (20,659  (46,145
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

   

Repayments of long-term debt and capital leases

   (458  (456

Proceeds from senior revolving credit facility

   50,000     

Repayments of senior revolving credit facility

   (110,000    

Short-term borrowings, net

   7,754   (2,261

Debt issuance costs

   (51    

Restricted cash

   (305  618 

Repurchase of common stock

   (479  (245

Dividend to stockholders

       (20,023
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Net cash used for financing activities

   (53,539  (22,367
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

   3,183   1,873 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

   33,778   (20,613

Beginning cash and cash equivalents

   204,542   269,726 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Ending cash and cash equivalents

  $238,320  $249,113 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

   

Cash paid during the period for:

   

Interest

  $5,796  $5,009 

Income taxes

   4,077   11,933 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


5


LEVI STRAUSS & CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED AUGUST 28, 2011FEBRUARY 26, 2012

NOTE 1:  SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

NOTE 1:    SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Nature of Operations

Levi Strauss & Co. (the “Company”) is one of the world’s leading branded apparel companies. The Company designs and markets jeans, casual and dress pants, tops, shorts, skirts, jackets, footwear and related accessories, for men, women and children under the Levi’s®, Dockers®, Signature by Levi Strauss & Co.tm and Denizentm® brands. The Company markets its products in three geographic regions: Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific.

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

The unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its wholly-owned and majority-owned foreign and domestic subsidiaries are prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the financial position and the results of operations for the periods presented have been included. These unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year ended November 28, 2010,27, 2011, included in the Annual Report onForm 10-K filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 8, 2011.

7, 2012.

The unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated. Management believes the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented herein not misleading. Certain prior-year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended August 28, 2011,February 26, 2012, may not be indicative of the results to be expected for any other interim period or the year ending November 27, 2011.

25, 2012.

The Company’s fiscal year ends on the last Sunday of November in each year, although the fiscal years of certain foreign subsidiaries are fixed atend on November 30 due to local statutory requirements. Apart from these subsidiaries, each30. Each quarter of both fiscal years 20112012 and 20102011 consists of 13 weeks. All references to years relate to fiscal years rather than calendar years.

Subsequent events have been evaluated through the issuance date of these financial statements.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and the related notes to consolidated financial statements. Estimates are based upon historical factors, current circumstances and the experience and judgment of the Company’s management. Management evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis and may employ outside experts to assist in its evaluations. Changes in such estimates, based on more accurate future information, or different assumptions or conditions, may affect amounts reported in future periods.

Pension and Postretirement Benefits
The Company has several non-contributory defined benefit retirement plans covering eligible employees. The Company also provides certain health care benefits for U.S. employees who meet age, participation and length of service requirements at retirement. In addition, the Company sponsors other retirement or post-employment plans for its foreign employees in accordance with local government programs and requirements. The Company retains the right to amend, curtail or discontinue any aspect of the plans, subject to local regulations.


6


LEVI STRAUSS & CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (continued)
FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED AUGUST 28, 2011
The Company recognizes either an asset or a liability for any plan’s funded status in its consolidated balance sheets. The Company measures changes in funded status using actuarial models which utilize an attribution approach that generally spreads individual events either over the estimated service lives of the remaining employees in the plan, or, for plans where participants will not earn additional benefits by rendering future service — which, beginning in the second quarter of 2011, includes the Company’s U.S. plans — over the plan participants’ estimated remaining lives. The Company’s policy is to fund its retirement plans based upon actuarial recommendations and in accordance with applicable laws, income tax regulations and credit agreements. Net pension and postretirement benefit income or expense is generally determined using assumptions which include expected long-term rates of return on plan assets, discount rates, compensation rate increases (where applicable) and medical trend rates. The Company considers several factors including actual historical rates, expected rates and external data to determine the assumptions used in the actuarial models.
Pension benefits are primarily paid through trusts funded by the Company. The Company pays postretirement benefits to the healthcare service providers on behalf of the plan’s participants.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards

There have been no developments to recently issued accounting standards, including the expected dates of adoption and estimated effects on the Company’s consolidated financial statements, from those disclosed in the Company’s 20102011 Annual Report onForm 10-K, except for the following, which have been grouped by their required effective dates for the Company:

Second Quarter of 2012
• In May 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards UpdateNo. 2011-04,“Fair Value Measurements (Topic 820): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs,”(“ASU2011-04”). ASU2011-04 changes the wording used to describe many of the requirements in U.S. GAAP for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements to ensure consistency between U.S. GAAP and IFRS. ASU2011-04 also expands the disclosures for fair value measurements that are estimated using significant unobservable (Level 3) inputs. This new guidance is to be applied prospectively. The Company anticipates that the adoption of this standard will not materially change its consolidated financial statement footnote disclosures.
Fourth Quarter of 2012
• In September 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards UpdateNo. 2011-09,“Compensation — Retirement Benefits — Multiemployer Plans (Subtopic715-80),”(“ASU2011-09”). ASU2011-09 requires that employers provide additional separate disclosures for multiemployer pension plans and multiemployer other postretirement benefit plans. The additional quantitative and qualitative disclosures will provide users with more detailed information about an employer’s involvement in multiemployer pension plans. The Company anticipates that the adoption of this standard will expand its consolidated financial statement footnote disclosures.
First Quarter of 2013
• In June 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards UpdateNo. 2011-05,“Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income,”(“ASU2011-05”). ASU2011-05 eliminates the option to report other comprehensive income and its components in the statement of changes in equity. ASU2011-05 requires that all nonowner changes in stockholders’ equity be presented in either a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. This new guidance is to


710-K.


LEVI STRAUSS & CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (continued)

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED AUGUST 28, 2011FEBRUARY 26, 2012

be applied retrospectively. The Company anticipates that the adoption of this standard may materially change the presentation of its consolidated financial statements.
• In September 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards UpdateNo. 2011-08,“Intangibles — Goodwill and Other (Topic 350),”(“ASU2011-08”). ASU2011-08 allows entities to first assess qualitatively whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. If an entity believes, as a result of its qualitative assessment, that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting period is less than its carrying amount, the quantitative two-step goodwill impairment test is required. An entity has the unconditional option to bypass the qualitative assessment and proceed directly to performing the first step of the goodwill impairment test. The Company elected to early adopt this accounting guidance at the beginning of its fourth quarter of 2011 on a prospective basis for goodwill impairment tests. The Company anticipates that the adoption of this standard will not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and footnote disclosures.
NOTE 2:  GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS
The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by business segment for the nine months ended August 28, 2011, were as follows:
                 
        Asia
    
  Americas  Europe  Pacific  Total 
     (Dollars in thousands)    
 
Balance, November 28, 2010 $207,427  $31,603  $2,442  $241,472 
Foreign currency fluctuation  (1)  2,279   (70)  2,208 
                 
Balance, August 28, 2011 $207,426  $33,882  $2,372  $243,680 
                 
Other intangible assets, net, were as follows:
                         
  August 28, 2011  November 28, 2010 
  Gross
  Accumulated
     Gross
  Accumulated
    
  Carrying Value  Amortization  Total  Carrying Value  Amortization  Total 
        (Dollars in thousands)       
 
Unamortized intangible assets:                        
Trademarks $42,743  $  $42,743  $42,743  $  $42,743 
Amortized intangible assets:                        
Acquired contractual rights  41,944   (20,881)  21,063   45,712   (17,765)  27,947 
Customer lists  21,567   (9,358)  12,209   20,037   (6,075)  13,962 
                         
Total $106,254  $(30,239) $76,015  $108,492  $(23,840) $84,652 
                         
For the three and nine months ended August 28, 2011, amortization of these intangible assets was $3.1 million and $9.1 million, respectively, compared to $3.6 million and $11.2 million, respectively, in the same periods of 2010.


8


LEVI STRAUSS & CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (continued)
FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED AUGUST 28, 2011
NOTE 3:  FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

NOTE 2:    FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The following table presents the Company’s financial instruments that are carried at fair value:

                         
  August 28, 2011  November 28, 2010 
     Fair Value Estimated Using     Fair Value Estimated Using 
     Leve1 1
  Level 2
     Leve1
  Level 2
 
  Fair Value  Inputs(1)  Inputs(2)  Fair Value  Inputs(1)  Inputs(2) 
  (Dollars in thousands) 
 
Financial assets carried at fair value
                        
Rabbi trust assets $18,365  $18,365  $  $18,316  $18,316  $ 
Forward foreign exchange contracts, net(3)
  7,753      7,753   1,385      1,385 
                         
Total $26,118  $18,365  $7,753  $19,701  $18,316  $1,385 
                         
Financial liabilities carried at fair value
                        
Forward foreign exchange contracts, net(3)
 $4,489  $  $4,489  $5,003  $  $5,003 
                         
Total $4,489  $  $4,489  $5,003  $  $5,003 
                         

   February 26, 2012   November 27, 2011 
       Fair Value  Estimated
Using
       Fair Value  Estimated
Using
 
   Fair Value   Level 1
Inputs(1)
   Level 2
Inputs(2)
   Fair Value   Level 1
Inputs(1)
   Level 2
Inputs(2)
 
   (Dollars in thousands) 

Financial assets carried at fair value

            

Rabbi trust assets

  $19,443   $19,443   $    $18,064   $18,064   $  

Forward foreign exchange contracts, net(3)

   12,262         12,262    25,992         25,992 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $31,705   $19,443   $12,262   $44,056   $18,064   $25,992 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Financial liabilities carried at fair value

            

Forward foreign exchange contracts, net(3)

  $3,090   $    $3,090   $5,256   $    $5,256 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $3,090   $    $3,090   $5,256   $    $5,256 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(1)Fair values estimated using Level 1 inputs are inputs which consist of quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date. Rabbi trust assets consist of a diversified portfolio of equity, fixed income and other securities.

(2)Fair values estimated using Level 2 inputs are inputs, other than quoted prices, that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly and include among other things, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in markets that are active or inactive as well as inputs other than quoted prices that are observable. For forward foreign exchange contracts, inputs include foreign currency exchange and interest rates and, where applicable, credit default swap prices.

(3)The Company’sover-the-counter forward foreign exchange contracts are subject to International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. master agreements. These agreements permit the net-settlement of these contracts on a per-institution basis.

The following table presents the carrying value — including accrued interest — and estimated fair value of the Company’s financial instruments that are carried at adjusted historical cost:

                     
  August 28, 2011  November 28, 2010    
  Carrying
  Estimated
  Carrying
  Estimated
    
  Value  Fair Value(1)  Value  Fair Value(1)    
     (Dollars in thousands)       
 
Financial liabilities carried at adjusted historical cost
                    
Senior revolving credit facility $178,529  $177,638  $108,482  $107,129     
Senior term loan due 2014  324,665   282,553   324,423   311,476     
8.875% senior notes due 2016  362,770   373,270   355,004   373,379     
4.25% Yen-denominated Eurobonds due 2016  119,304   100,765   109,429   98,063     
7.75% Euro senior notes due 2018  440,971   389,210   401,982   407,993     
7.625% senior notes due 2020  536,564   510,314   526,557   542,307     
Short-term borrowings  59,454   59,454   46,722   46,722     
                     
Total $2,022,257  $1,893,204  $1,872,599  $1,887,069     
                     

   February 26, 2012   November 27, 2011 
   Carrying
Value
   Estimated
Fair Value(1)
   Carrying
Value
   Estimated
Fair Value(1)
 
   (Dollars in thousands) 

Financial liabilities carried at adjusted historical cost

        

Senior revolving credit facility

  $140,145   $139,795   $200,267   $199,767 

Senior term loan due 2014

   324,741    314,208    324,663    316,562 

8.875% senior notes due 2016

   362,684    376,246    354,918    366,293 

4.25% Yen-denominated Eurobonds due 2016

   115,595    101,491    118,618    102,508 

7.75% Euro senior notes due 2018

   409,914    417,937    401,495    381,478 

7.625% senior notes due 2020

   536,453    562,703    526,446    519,883 

Short-term borrowings

   74,861    74,861    54,975    54,975 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $1,964,393   $1,987,241   $1,981,382   $1,941,466 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(1)Fair value estimate incorporates mid-market price quotes.


9


LEVI STRAUSS & CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (continued)

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED AUGUST 28, 2011FEBRUARY 26, 2012

NOTE 4:  DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

NOTE 3:    DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

As of August 28, 2011,February 26, 2012, the Company had forward foreign exchange contracts to buy $551.1$763.3 million and to sell $455.3$425.1 million against various foreign currencies. These contracts are at various exchange rates and expire at various dates through JuneNovember 2012.

The table below provides data about the carrying values of derivative instruments and non-derivative instruments designated as net investment hedges:

                         
  August 28, 2011  November 28, 2010 
  Assets  (Liabilities)     Assets  (Liabilities)    
        Derivative
        Derivative
 
  Carrying
  Carrying
  Net Carrying
  Carrying
  Carrying
  Net Carrying
 
  Value  Value  Value  Value  Value  Value 
        (Dollars in thousands)       
 
Derivatives not designated as hedging
                        
instruments
                        
Forward foreign exchange contracts(1)
 $9,369  $(1,616) $7,753  $7,717  $(6,332) $1,385 
Forward foreign exchange contracts(2)
  9,147   (13,636)  (4,489)  4,266   (9,269)  (5,003)
                         
Total $18,516  $(15,252)     $11,983  $(15,601)    
                         
Non-derivatives designated as hedging instruments
                        
4.25% Yen-denominated Eurobonds due 2016 $  $(50,615)     $  $(61,075)    
7.75% Euro senior notes due 2018     (431,340)         (400,740)    
                         
Total $  $(481,955)     $  $(461,815)    
                         
instruments:

   February 26, 2012  November 27, 2011 
   Assets   (Liabilities)     Assets   (Liabilities)    
   Carrying
Value
   Carrying
Value
  Derivative
Net Carrying
Value
  Carrying
Value
   Carrying
Value
  Derivative
Net Carrying
Value
 
   (Dollars in thousands) 

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments

         

Forward foreign exchange contracts(1)

  $21,603   $(9,341 $12,262  $31,906   $(5,914 $25,992 

Forward foreign exchange contracts(2)

   310    (3,400  (3,090  4,547    (9,803  (5,256
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

  

Total

  $21,913   $(12,741  $36,453   $(15,717 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

  

Non-derivatives designated as hedging instruments

         

4.25% Yen-denominated Eurobonds due 2016

  $    $(44,448  $    $(46,115 

7.75% Euro senior notes due 2018

        (401,160        (400,350 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

  

Total

  $    $(445,608  $    $(446,465 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

  

(1)Included in “Other current assets” or “Other non-current assets” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

(2)Included in “Other accrued liabilities” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

LEVI STRAUSS & CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (continued)

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED FEBRUARY 26, 2012

The table below provides data about the amount of gains and losses related to derivative instruments and non-derivative instruments designated as net investment hedges included in “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” (“AOCI”) on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets, and in “Other income (expense), net” in the Company’s consolidated statements of income:

                         
        Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Other
 
  Gain or (Loss)
  Income (Expense), net (Ineffective
 
  Recognized in AOCI
  Portion and Amount Excluded from
 
  (Effective Portion)  Effectiveness Testing) 
  As of
  As of
  Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended 
  August 28,
  November 28,
  August 28,
  August 29,
  August 28,
  August 29,
 
  2011  2010  2011  2010  2011  2010 
  (Dollars in thousands) 
 
Forward foreign exchange contracts $4,637  $4,637  $  $  $  $ 
Yen-denominated Eurobonds  (28,316)  (24,377)  (3,161)  (2,818)  (4,707)  2,732 
Euro senior notes  (54,271)  (23,671)            
Cumulative income taxes  30,316   17,022                 
                         
Total $(47,634) $(26,389)                
                         


10


  Gain or (Loss)
Recognized in AOCI
(Effective Portion)
  Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Other
Income (Expense), net (Ineffective
Portion and Amount Excluded from
Effectiveness Testing)
 
  As of
February 26,
2012
  As of
November 27,
2011
  Three Months Ended 
   February 26,
2012
  February 27,
2011
 
  (Dollars in thousands) 

Forward foreign exchange contracts

 $4,637  $4,637  $   $  

Yen-denominated Eurobonds

  (26,859  (28,525  2,606   (1,093

Euro senior notes

  (24,091  (23,281        

Cumulative income taxes

  18,145   18,476   
 

 

 

  

 

 

   

Total

 $(28,168 $(28,693  
 

 

 

  

 

 

   

LEVI STRAUSS & CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (continued)
FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED AUGUST 28, 2011
The table below provides data about the amount of gains and losses related to derivatives not designated as hedging instruments included in “Other income (expense), net” in the Company’s consolidated statements of income:
                 
  Gain or (Loss) 
  Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended 
  August 28,
  August 29,
  August 28,
  August 29,
 
  2011  2010  2011  2010 
     (Dollars in thousands)    
 
Forward foreign exchange contracts:                
Realized $(3,389) $(3,072) $(8,252) $(8,412)
Unrealized  8,008   (3,459)  7,040   12,486 
                 
Total $4,619  $(6,531) $(1,212) $4,074 
                 
NOTE 5:  DEBT
         
  August 28,
  November 28,
 
  2011  2010 
  (Dollars in thousands) 
 
Long-term debt
        
Secured:        
Senior revolving credit facility $108,250  $108,250 
Unsecured:        
Senior term loan due 2014  323,939   323,676 
8.875% senior notes due 2016  350,000   350,000 
4.25% Yen-denominated Eurobonds due 2016  117,708   109,062 
7.75% Euro senior notes due 2018  431,340   400,740 
7.625% senior notes due 2020  525,000   525,000 
         
Total unsecured  1,747,987   1,708,478 
Less: current maturities      
         
Total long-term debt $1,856,237  $1,816,728 
         
Short-term debt
        
Secured:        
Senior revolving credit facility $70,000  $ 
Unsecured:        
Short-term borrowings  59,010   46,418 
Current maturities of long-term debt      
         
Total short-term debt $129,010  $46,418 
         
Total long-term and short-term debt $1,985,247  $1,863,146 
         


11


  Gain or (Loss) 
  Three Months Ended 
  February 26,
2012
  February 27,
2011
 
  (Dollars in thousands) 

Forward foreign exchange contracts:

  

Realized

 $(3,485 $(5,723

Unrealized

  (11,767  (2,373
 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Total

 $(15,252 $(8,096
 

 

 

  

 

 

 

LEVI STRAUSS & CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (continued)

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED AUGUST 28, 2011FEBRUARY 26, 2012

NOTE 4:    DEBT

   February  26,
2012
   November  27,
2011
 
     
   (Dollars in thousands) 

Long-term debt

    

Secured:

    

Senior revolving credit facility

  $100,000   $100,000 

Unsecured:

    

Senior term loan due 2014

   324,127    324,032 

8.875% senior notes due 2016

   350,000    350,000 

4.25% Yen-denominated Eurobonds due 2016

   113,971    118,243 

7.75% Euro senior notes due 2018

   401,160    400,350 

7.625% senior notes due 2020

   525,000    525,000 
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total unsecured

   1,714,258    1,717,625 
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total long-term debt

  $1,814,258   $1,817,625 
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Short-term debt

    

Senior revolving credit facility

  $40,000   $100,000 

Short-term borrowings

   74,075    54,747 
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total short-term debt

  $114,075   $154,747 
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total long-term and short-term debt

  $1,928,333   $1,972,372 
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Senior Revolving Credit Facility

The Company’s unused availability under its senior secured revolving credit facility was $554.6 million at February 26, 2012, as the Company’s total availability of $636.9 million was reduced by $82.3 million of letters of credit and other credit usage allocated under the facility.

Interest Rates on Borrowings

The Company’s weighted-average interest rate on average borrowings outstanding during the three and nine months ended August 28, 2011,February 26, 2012, was 6.74% and 6.81%, respectively,6.99% as compared to 6.74% and 7.27%, respectively,6.84% in the same periodsperiod of 2010.

Senior Revolving Credit Facility
As of August 28, 2011, the Company’s total availability of $421.0 million under its then-effective senior secured revolving credit facility was reduced by $84.3 million of letters of credit and other credit usage under the facility, yielding a net availability of $336.7 million.
On September 30, 2011, the Company entered into a new senior secured revolving credit facility. The new facility is an asset-based facility, in which the borrowing availability varies according to the levels of accounts receivable, inventory and cash and investment securities deposited in secured accounts with the administrative agent or other lenders as further described below.
Availability, interest and maturity.  The maximum availability under the new facility is $850.0 million, of which $800.0 million is available to the Company for revolving loans in U.S. Dollars and $50.0 million is available to the Company for revolving loans either in U.S. Dollars or Canadian Dollars. Subject to the level of this borrowing base, the Company may make and repay borrowings from time to time until the maturity of the facility. The Company may make voluntary prepayments of borrowings at any time and must make mandatory prepayments if certain events occur. Borrowings under the facility will bear an interest rate of LIBOR plus 150 to 275 basis points, depending on borrowing base availability, and undrawn availability bears a rate of 37.5 to 50 basis points. The facility has a maturity date of September 30, 2016, which may be accelerated to December 26, 2013, if the senior term loan due 2014 is still outstanding on that date and the Company has not met other conditions set forth in the new facility. Upon the maturity date, all of the obligations outstanding under the new facility become due.
Guarantees and security.  The Company’s obligations under the new facility are guaranteed by its domestic subsidiaries. The facility is secured by, among other domestic assets, certain U.S. trademarks associated with the Levi’s® brand and accounts receivable, goods and inventory in the U.S. Additionally, the obligations of Levi Strauss & Co. (Canada) Inc. under the new facility are secured by Canadian accounts receivable, goods, inventory and other Canadian assets. The lien on the U.S. Levi’s® trademarks and related intellectual property may be released at the Company’s discretion so long as it meet certain conditions; such release would reduce the borrowing base.
Covenants.  The new facility contains customary covenants restricting the Company’s activities as well as those of the Company’s subsidiaries, including limitations on the ability to sell assets; engage in mergers; enter into transactions involving related parties or derivatives; incur or prepay indebtedness or grant liens or negative pledges on the Company’s assets; make loans or other investments; pay dividends or repurchase stock or other securities; guaranty third-party obligations; and make changes in the Company’s corporate structure. There are exceptions to these covenants, and some are only applicable when unused availability falls below specified thresholds. In addition, the new facility includes as a financial covenant a springing fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.0:1.0, which arises when availability falls below a specified threshold.
Events of default.  The new facility contains customary events of default, including payment failures; failure to comply with covenants; failure to satisfy other obligations under the credit agreements or related documents; defaults in respect of other indebtedness; bankruptcy, insolvency and inability to pay debts when due; material judgments; pension plan terminations or specified underfunding; substantial stock ownership changes; and specified changes in the composition of our board of directors. The cross-default provisions in the facility apply if a default occurs on other indebtedness in excess of $50.0 million and the applicable grace period in respect of the indebtedness has expired, such that the lenders of or trustee for the defaulted indebtedness have the right to


12

2011.


LEVI STRAUSS & CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (continued)

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED AUGUST 28, 2011FEBRUARY 26, 2012

accelerate. If an event of default occurs under the new facility, the lenders may terminate their commitments, declare immediately payable all borrowings under the facility and foreclose on the collateral.
Use of proceeds.  In connection with the new senior secured revolving credit facility, the Company terminated the previous amended and restated senior secured revolving credit facility. Borrowings outstanding under the previous facility were refinanced into the new senior secured revolving credit facility.

NOTE 6:  EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

NOTE 5:    EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

The following table summarizes the components of net periodic benefit cost (income) and the changes recognized in “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” for the Company’s defined benefit pension plans and postretirement benefit plans:

                 
  Pension Benefits  Postretirement Benefits 
  Three Months Ended  Three Months Ended 
  August 28,
  August 29,
  August 28,
  August 29,
 
  2011  2010  2011  2010 
     (Dollars in thousands)    
 
Net periodic benefit cost (income):
                
Service cost $2,552  $1,908  $119  $120 
Interest cost  15,123   14,855   1,908   2,168 
Expected return on plan assets  (13,535)  (11,439)      
Amortization of prior service (benefit) cost(1)
  (20)  111   (7,236)  (7,392)
Amortization of actuarial loss  1,939   6,665   1,256   1,402 
Curtailment gain  (1,426)         
Net settlement loss  20   117       
                 
Net periodic benefit cost (income)  4,653   12,217   (3,953)  (3,702)
                 
Changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss:
                
Actuarial loss  105          
Amortization of prior service benefit (cost)  20   (111)  7,236   7,392 
Amortization of actuarial loss  (1,939)  (6,665)  (1,256)  (1,402)
Curtailment loss  (7)         
Net settlement loss  (9)  (39)      
                 
Total recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss  (1,830)  (6,815)  5,980   5,990 
                 
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost (income) and accumulated other comprehensive loss $2,823  $5,402  $2,027  $2,288 
                 


13


LEVI STRAUSS & CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (continued)
FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED AUGUST 28, 2011
                 
  Pension Benefits  Postretirement Benefits 
  Nine Months Ended  Nine Months Ended 
  August 28,
  August 29,
  August 28,
  August 29,
 
  2011  2010  2011  2010 
  (Dollars in thousands) 
 
Net periodic benefit cost (income):
                
Service cost $7,739  $5,822  $358  $356 
Interest cost  45,277   44,732   5,722   6,506 
Expected return on plan assets  (39,490)  (34,529)      
Amortization of prior service cost (benefit)(1)
  65   340   (21,709)  (22,175)
Amortization of actuarial loss  12,973   19,996   3,769   4,206 
Curtailment loss  1,629   100       
Net settlement loss  736   309       
                 
Net periodic benefit cost (income)  28,929   36,770   (11,860)  (11,107)
                 
Changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss:
                
Actuarial (gain) loss  (32,310)  303       
Amortization of prior service (cost) benefit  (65)  (340)  21,709   22,175 
Amortization of actuarial loss  (12,973)  (19,996)  (3,769)  (4,206)
Curtailment loss  (3,078)  (13)      
Net settlement loss  (347)  (190)      
                 
Total recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss  (48,773)  (20,236)  17,940   17,969 
                 
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost (income) and accumulated other comprehensive loss $(19,844) $16,534  $6,080  $6,862 
                 
(1)Postretirement benefits amortization of prior service benefit recognized during each period relates primarily to the favorable impact of the February 2004 and August 2003 plan amendments.
The estimated net loss for the Company’s defined benefit pension plans that will be amortized from “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” into net periodic benefit cost in 2011 is expected to be approximately $15.0 million.
   Pension Benefits  Postretirement Benefits 
   Three Months Ended  Three Months Ended 
   February 26,
2012
  February 27,
2011
  February 26,
2012
  February 27,
2011
 
   (Dollars in thousands) 

Net periodic benefit cost (income):

     

Service cost

  $2,247  $2,583  $99  $120 

Interest cost

   14,413   15,028   1,659   1,907 

Expected return on plan assets

   (13,009  (12,898        

Amortization of prior service (benefit) cost

   (20  65   (4,089  (7,236

Amortization of actuarial loss

   3,142   6,730   1,289   1,256 

Curtailment gain

   (773  (16        

Net settlement loss

   107   11         
  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Net periodic benefit cost (income)

   6,107   11,503   (1,042  (3,953
  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss:

     

Actuarial gain

   (4            

Amortization of prior service benefit (cost)

   20   (65  4,089   7,236 

Amortization of actuarial loss

   (3,142  (6,730  (1,289  (1,256

Curtailment loss

   (1            

Net settlement (loss) gain

   (51  22         
  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Total recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss

   (3,178  (6,773  2,800   5,980 
  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost (income) and accumulated other comprehensive loss

  $2,929  $4,730  $1,758  $2,027 
  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

 
NOTE 7:  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

NOTE 6:    COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Forward Foreign Exchange Contracts

The Company usesover-the-counter derivative instruments to manage its exposure to foreign currencies. The Company is exposed to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the counterparties to the forward foreign exchange contracts. However, the Company believes that its exposures are appropriately diversified across counterparties and that these counterparties are creditworthy financial institutions. Please see Note 43 for additional information.

14


LEVI STRAUSS & CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (continued)
FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED AUGUST 28, 2011
Other Contingencies

Litigation.    There have been no material developments with respect to the information previously reported in the Company’s 20102011 Annual Report onForm 10-K related to legal proceedings.

LEVI STRAUSS & CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (continued)

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED FEBRUARY 26, 2012

In the ordinary course of business, the Company has various pending cases involving contractual matters, facility- and employee-related matters, distribution questions, product liability claims, trademark infringement and other matters. The Company does not believe any of these pending legal proceedings will have a material impact on its financial condition, or results of operations or cash flows.

NOTE 8:  DIVIDEND PAYMENT
The Company paid a cash dividend of $20 million in the first quarter of 2011. The Company does not have an annual dividend policy. The Company will continue to review its ability to pay cash dividends at least annually, and dividends may be declared at the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors depending upon, among other factors, the tax impact to the dividend recipients, the Company’s financial condition and compliance with the terms of its debt agreements.
NOTE 9:  COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

NOTE 7:    COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

The following is a summary of the components of total comprehensive income (loss), net of related income taxes:

                 
  Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended 
  August 28,
  August 29,
  August 28,
  August 29,
 
  2011  2010  2011  2010 
     (Dollars in thousands)    
 
Net income $31,300  $26,622  $90,979  $64,101 
Other comprehensive income (loss):                
Pension and postretirement benefits  (2,700)  560   19,150   1,583 
Net investment hedge (losses) gains  (5,785)  (9,673)  (21,245)  35,170 
Foreign currency translation gains (losses)  4,943   13,054   27,833   (38,554)
Unrealized (loss) gain on marketable securities  (1,038)  542   (371)  726 
                 
Total other comprehensive income (loss)  (4,580)  4,483   25,367   (1,075)
                 
Comprehensive income  26,720   31,105   116,346   63,026 
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest  (431)  (1,775)  (2,106)  (7,237)
                 
Comprehensive income attributable to Levi Strauss & Co.  $27,151  $32,880  $118,452  $70,263 
                 


15


   Three Months Ended 
   February 26,
2012
  February 27,
2011
 
   (Dollars in thousands) 

Net income

  $49,297  $39,168 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income (loss):

   

Pension and postretirement benefits

   296   515 

Net investment hedge gains (losses)

   525   (8,890

Foreign currency translation gains

   7,424   8,527 

Unrealized gain on marketable securities

   1,268   574 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Total other comprehensive income

   9,513   726 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

   58,810   39,894 

Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

   (254  (1,291
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Comprehensive income attributable to Levi Strauss & Co.

  $59,064  $41,185 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

LEVI STRAUSS & CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (continued)
FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED AUGUST 28, 2011
The following is a summary of the components of “Accumulated other comprehensive loss,” net of related income taxes:
         
  August 28,
  November 28,
 
  2011  2010 
  (Dollars in thousands) 
 
Pension and postretirement benefits $(179,657) $(198,807)
Net investment hedge losses  (47,634)  (26,389)
Foreign currency translation losses  (9,221)  (37,054)
Unrealized (loss) gain on marketable securities  (214)  157 
         
Accumulated other comprehensive loss  (236,726)  (262,093)
Accumulated other comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest  10,829   10,075 
         
Accumulated other comprehensive loss attributable to Levi Strauss & Co.  $(247,555) $(272,168)
         
NOTE 10:  OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE), NET

   February 26,
2012
  November 27,
2011
 
   (Dollars in thousands) 

Pension and postretirement benefits

  $(255,388 $(255,684

Net investment hedge losses

   (28,168  (28,693

Foreign currency translation losses

   (42,785  (50,209

Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities

   721   (547
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

   (325,620  (335,133

Accumulated other comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest

   10,536   10,869 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss attributable to Levi Strauss & Co.

  $(336,156 $(346,002
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

LEVI STRAUSS & CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (continued)

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED FEBRUARY 26, 2012

NOTE 8:    OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE), NET

The following table summarizes significant components of “Other income (expense), net”:

                 
  Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended 
  August 28,
  August 29,
  August 28,
  August 29,
 
  2011  2010  2011  2010 
     (Dollars in thousands)    
 
Foreign exchange management gains (losses)(1)
 $4,619  $(6,531) $(1,212) $4,074 
Foreign currency transaction (losses) gains(2)
  (10,118)  (1,698)  (13,412)  6,505 
Interest income  477   438   1,296   1,730 
Other  (757)  96   584   (847)
                 
Total other income (expense), net $(5,779) $(7,695) $(12,744) $11,462 
                 

   Three Months Ended 
   February 26,
2012
  February 27,
2011
 
   (Dollars in thousands) 

Foreign exchange management losses(1)

  $(15,252 $(8,096

Foreign currency transaction gains(2)

   15,441   942 

Interest income

   347   415 

Other

   636   780 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Total other income (expense), net

  $1,172  $(5,959
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

(1)GainsLosses on forward foreign exchange contracts in the three-month period in 2011 primarily resulted from favorable currency fluctuations relative to negotiated contract rates on positions to buy the Euro and sell the Mexican Peso. Losses in the three-month period in 2010 primarily resulted from unfavorable currency fluctuations relative to negotiated contract rates on positions to sell the Euro, the Swedish Krona and the Australian Dollar.rates.

(2)LossesForeign currency transaction gains in the nine-month period in 2011 primarily resulted from unfavorable currency fluctuations relative to negotiated contract rates on positions to sell the Swedish Krona and the Australian Dollar, partially offset by a correction recorded in the second quarter of 2011 for embedded foreign currency derivatives in certain of the Company’s leases. Gains in the nine-month period in 20102012 were primarily due to the appreciation of various foreign currencies against the U.S. Dollar against negotiated contract rates on positions on the Euro and the Swedish Krona.
(2)Foreign currency transaction losses in 2011 were primarily due to the depreciation of the U.S. Dollar, the Turkish Lira and the Mexican Peso against various currencies. Foreign currency transaction gains in the nine-month period of 2010 were primarily due to the appreciation of the U.S. Dollar against the Euro and Japanese Yen.Dollar.
NOTE 11:  INCOME TAXES

NOTE 9:    INCOME TAXES

The effective income tax rate was 31.8%32.3% for the ninethree months ended August 28, 2011,February 26, 2012, compared to 59.3%32.5% for the same period ended August 29, 2010. The reduction inFebruary 27, 2011. Income tax expense was $23.5 million for the effective tax rate asthree months ended February 26, 2012, compared to the prior year$18.9 million for the same period ended February 27, 2011. The increase in income tax expense was primarily caused by two significant discreteattributed to higher income tax charges recognized in the second quarter of 2010, described below, as well as an increase in 2011 of the proportion of earnings in foreign jurisdictions where the Company is subject to lower tax rates.


16

before income taxes.


LEVI STRAUSS & CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (continued)
FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED AUGUST 28, 2011
During the second quarter of 2010, the Company recorded a discrete tax expense of $14.2 million to recognize a valuation allowance to fully offset the amount of deferred tax assets in Japan and another discrete tax expense of $14.0 million to recognize the reduction in deferred tax assets as a result of the enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
As of August 28, 2011,February 26, 2012, the Company’s total gross amount of unrecognized tax benefits was $148.7$145.7 million, of which $88.8$90.2 million would impact the effective tax rate, if recognized. As of November 28, 2010,27, 2011, the Company’s total gross amount of unrecognized tax benefits was $150.7$143.4 million, of which $87.2$87.9 million would have impacted the effective tax rate, if recognized.
NOTE 12:  RELATED PARTIES

NOTE 10:    RELATED PARTIES

Robert D. Haas, a director and Chairman Emeritus of the Company, is the President of the Levi Strauss Foundation, which is not a consolidated entity of the Company. During the three and nine months ended August 28, 2011, theThe Company donated $0.3 million and $1.0 million, respectively, to the Levi Strauss Foundation as compared to $0.4 million and $1.0 million, respectively, for the same prior-year periods.

Stephen C. Neal, a director and, effective September 1, 2011, Chairmanin each of the Board of Directors, is Chairman of the law firm Cooley LLP. During the nine monthsthree-month periods ended August 29, 2010, the Company paid fees to Cooley LLP of approximately $0.2 million.
February 26, 2012, and February 27, 2011.

NOTE 13:  BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION

NOTE 11:    BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION

The Company manages its business according to three regional segments, the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific, underPacific. The Company considers its chief executive officer to be the leadership of senior executives who report to theCompany’s chief operating decision maker: the Company’s chief executive officer.maker. The Company’s management, including the chief operating decision maker, manages business operations, evaluates performance and allocates resources based on the regional segments’ net revenues and operating income.

In On February 16, 2012, the first quarter of 2011, accountability for certain information technology, human resources, advertising and promotion, and marketing staff costs of a global nature, that in prior years were captured inCompany announced organizational changes appointing Anne Rohosy to lead the Company’s geographic regions, was centralized under corporate management. Beginning in 2011, these costs have been classified as corporate expenses. These costs were not significantcommercial operations for the Americas and Europe, and formalizing Aaron Boey’s leadership of commercial operations for Asia Pacific. Both Ms. Rohosy and Mr. Boey report directly to any of the Company’s regional segments individually in any of the periods presented herein, and accordingly business segment information for prior years has not been revised.


17

chief operating decision maker.


LEVI STRAUSS & CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (continued)

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED AUGUST 28, 2011FEBRUARY 26, 2012

Business segment information for the Company is as follows:

                 
  Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended 
  August 28,
  August 29,
  August 28,
  August 29,
 
  2011  2010  2011  2010 
     (Dollars in thousands)    
 
Net revenues:                
Americas $717,586  $673,443  $1,908,846  $1,776,654 
Europe  275,127   259,097   867,839   805,350 
Asia Pacific  211,304   176,465   640,947   538,736 
                 
Total net revenues $1,204,017  $1,109,005  $3,417,632  $3,120,740 
                 
Operating income:                
Americas $111,485  $102,934  $269,118  $263,914 
Europe  31,316   34,401   140,129   132,384 
Asia Pacific  26,450   15,340   89,242   62,889 
                 
Regional operating income  169,251   152,675   498,489   459,187 
Corporate expenses  88,352   66,372   253,740   196,411 
                 
Total operating income  80,899   86,303   244,749   262,776 
Interest expense  (30,208)  (31,734)  (98,589)  (100,347)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt           (16,587)
Other income (expense), net  (5,779)  (7,695)  (12,744)  11,462 
                 
Income before income taxes $44,912  $46,874  $133,416  $157,304 
                 

   Three Months Ended 
   February 26,
2012
  February 27,
2011
 
   (Dollars in thousands) 

Net revenues:

   

Americas

  $647,294  $592,186 

Europe

   289,452   311,604 

Asia Pacific

   228,215   216,903 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Total net revenues

  $1,164,961  $1,120,693 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Operating income:

   

Americas

  $79,636  $75,033 

Europe

   52,073   71,291 

Asia Pacific

   41,160   37,363 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Regional operating income

   172,869   183,687 

Corporate expenses

   62,658   84,813 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Total operating income

   110,211   98,874 

Interest expense

   (38,573  (34,866

Other income (expense), net

   1,172   (5,959
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

  $72,810  $58,049 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

NOTE 14:  SUBSEQUENT EVENT

On September 1, 2011, R. John Anderson retired as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer and was succeeded by Charles V. Bergh. Charges of $11.5 million associated with Mr. Anderson’s separation agreement were recorded in the Company’s third quarter financial statements and are included in “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in the Company’s consolidated statements of income. Costs associated with Mr. Bergh’s employment agreement will begin to be recorded in the fourth quarter.


18


Item 2.MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION ANDRESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Overview

We design, market and marketsell — directly or through third parties and licensees — products that include jeans, casual and dress pants, tops, shorts, skirts, jackets, footwear and related accessories for men, women and children under our Levi’s®, Dockers®, Signature by Levi Strauss & Co.tm (“Signature”) and Denizentm® brands around the world. We also license our trademarks in many countries throughout the world for a wide array of products, including accessories, pants, tops, footwear and other products.

Our business is operated through three geographic regions: Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific. Our products are sold in approximately 55,000 retail locations in more than 110 countries. We support our brands through a global infrastructure, developing, sourcing and marketing our products around the world. We distribute our Levi’s® and Dockers® products primarily through chain retailers and department stores in the United States and primarily through department stores, specialty retailers and nearly 1,800 franchised and other brand-dedicated stores outside of the United States. We also distribute our Levi’s® and Dockers® products through 492 company-operated stores located in 32 countries, including the United States, and through the online stores we operate,operate. Our company-operated and 499 company-operated stores located in 31 countries, including the United States. Theseonline stores generated approximately 18%21% of our net revenues in the nine-monththree-month period of 2011,2012, as compared to the same period in 2010,2011, when our company-operated and online stores generated 15%18% of our net revenues. In addition, we distribute our Levi’s® and Dockers® products through online stores operated by certain of our key wholesale customers and other third parties. We distribute products under theour Signature brandand Denizen® brands primarily through mass channel retailers in the United StatesAmericas and Canada andthrough franchised stores in Asia Pacific. We currently distribute our Denizen

tm products through franchised stores in Asia Pacific and certain wholesale channels in the United States and Mexico.

Our Europe and Asia Pacific businesses, collectively, contributed approximately 44% of our net revenues and 46%54% of our regional operating income in the nine-monththree-month period in 2011.2012. Sales of Levi’s® brand products represented approximately 83%84% of our total net sales in the nine-monththree-month period in 2011.
2012.

Trends Affecting Our Business

During the thirdfirst quarter of 2011,2012, we remained focused on our key long-term strategies: build upongrow our leadership position in the jean and khaki categoriesglobal brands through product innovation and marketing innovation,consumer focus, enhance relationships with wholesale customers and expand our dedicated store networkretail channels to drive sales growth, capitalize on our global footprint to maximize opportunities in targeted growth markets, and continuously increase our productivity.

During the quarter,productivity while refining our operating model and organizational structure.

Economic challenges continue to impact most markets around the world, continuedincluding having an increasingly adverse effect on the traditional growth markets in our Asia Pacific region. Margins remained pressured by cotton costs during the quarter, and we expect this to feel the impact of ongoing economic challenges. We expect continued cotton and other input cost pressures for the balance of 2011 and at leastcontinue through the first half of 2012.

Our response to these conditions has included product price increases and enhanced support of our supply chain partners to maintain product availability. The conditions within our industry, combined with the challenging consumer environment, may impact our margins, working capital, and sales volumes.

First Quarter 2012 Results

Our Third Quarter 2011 Results

Our thirdfirst quarter 20112012 results reflect net revenue growth and the effects of the strategic investments we have made in line with our long-term strategies.
increased cash flows from operations.

 

Net revenues. Consolidated net revenues increased by 9%4% compared to the thirdfirst quarter of 2010, an increase of 4%2011, and increased 5% on a constant-currency basis. Increased net revenues were primarily associated with our Levi’s® brand, due to the price increases we have implemented, and through the expansionimproved performance and performanceexpansion of our store network globally.

 

Operating income.income. Consolidated operating income increased by 11% and operating margin declinedincreased seventy basis-points compared to the thirdfirst quarter of 2010, as the benefits from the increase in our net revenues were offset primarily by a lower gross2011. Gross margin reflecting higher sales discounts anddeclined due to the higher cost of cotton, which our price increases did not fully cover.cover, but the decline was more than offset by lower advertising and promotion expenses and the increase in our net revenues.

 

Cash flows. Cash flows provided by operating activities were $17$104.8 million for the nine-monththree-month period in 20112012 as compared to $96$46 million for the same period in 2010,2011, primarily reflecting the increased cost ofhigher trade receivable collections.


19


inventory due primarily to higher cotton prices, our higher operating expenses and higher contribution to our pension plans in 2011.
Financial Information Presentation

Fiscal year.    Our fiscal year ends on the last Sunday of November in each year, although the fiscal years of certain foreign subsidiaries are fixed atend on November 30 due to local statutory requirements. Apart from these subsidiaries, each30. Each quarter of fiscal years 20112012 and 20102011 consisted of 13 weeks.

Segments.    We manage our business according to three regional segments: the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific. In the first quarter of 2011, accountability for certain information technology, human resources, advertising and promotion, and marketing staff costs of a global nature, that in prior years were captured in our geographic regions, was centralized under corporate management in conjunction with our key strategy of driving productivity. Beginning in 2011, these costs have been classified as corporate expenses. These costs were not significant to any of our regional segments individually in any of the periods presented herein, and accordingly business segment information for prior years has not been revised.

Classification.    Our classification of certain significant revenues and expenses reflects the following:

Net revenues is primarily comprised of sales of products to wholesale customers, including franchised stores, and direct sales to consumers at our company-operated and online stores and at our company-operated shop-in-shops located within department stores. It includes discounts, allowances for estimated returns and incentives. Net revenues also includes royalties earned from the use of our trademarks by third-party licensees in connection with the manufacturing, advertising and distribution of trademarked products.

Cost of goods sold is primarily comprised of product costs, labor and related overhead, sourcing costs, inbound freight, internal transfers, and the cost of operating our remaining manufacturing facilities, including the related depreciation expense.

• Net sales is primarily comprised of sales of products to wholesale customers, including franchised stores, and direct sales to consumers at our company-operated and online stores and at our company-operatedshop-in-shops located within department stores. It includes discounts, allowances for estimated returns and incentives.
• Licensing revenue consists of royalties earned from the use of our trademarks by third-party licensees in connection with the manufacturing, advertising and distribution of trademarked products.
• Cost of goods sold is primarily comprised of product costs, labor and related overhead, sourcing costs, inbound freight, internal transfers, and the cost of operating our remaining manufacturing facilities, including the related depreciation expense.
• Selling costs include, among other things, all occupancy costs and depreciation associated with our company-operated stores and commission payments associated with our company-operatedshop-in-shops.
• We reflect substantially all distribution costs in selling, general and administrative expenses, including costs related to receiving and inspection at distribution centers, warehousing, shipping to our customers, handling, and certain other activities associated with our distribution network.

Selling costs include, among other things, all occupancy costs and depreciation associated with our company-operated stores and commission payments associated with our company-operated shop-in-shops.

We reflect substantially all distribution costs in selling, general and administrative expenses, including costs related to receiving and inspection at distribution centers, warehousing, shipping to our customers, handling, and certain other activities associated with our distribution network.

Gross margins may not be comparable to those of other companies in our industry since some companies may include costs related to their distribution network and occupancy costs associated with company-operated stores in cost of goods sold.

Constant currency.    Constant-currency comparisons are based on translating local currency amounts in both periods at the foreign exchange rates used in the Company’s internal planning process for the current year. We routinely evaluate our financial performance on a constant-currency basis in order to facilitateperiod-to-period comparisons without regard to the impact of changing foreign currency exchange rates.


20


Results of Operations for Three and Nine Months Ended August 28, 2011,February 26, 2012, as Compared to Same PeriodsPeriod in 20102011

The following table summarizes, for the periods indicated, our consolidated statements of income, the changes in these items from period to period and these items expressed as a percentage of net revenues:

                                         
  Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended 
           August 28,
  August 29,
           August 28,
  August 29,
 
        %
  2011
  2010
        %
  2011
  2010
 
  August 28,
  August 29,
  Increase
  % of Net
  % of Net
  August 28,
  August 29,
  Increase
  % of Net
  % of Net
 
  2011  2010  (Decrease)  Revenues  Revenues  2011  2010  (Decrease)  Revenues  Revenues 
              (Dollars in millions)             
 
Net sales $1,183.9  $1,090.4   8.6%  98.3%  98.3% $3,358.2  $3,064.4   9.6%  98.3%  98.2%
Licensing revenue  20.1   18.6   8.5%  1.7%  1.7%  59.4   56.3   5.6%  1.7%  1.8%
                                         
Net revenues  1,204.0   1,109.0   8.6%  100.0%  100.0%  3,417.6   3,120.7   9.5%  100.0%  100.0%
Cost of goods sold  634.6   565.4   12.2%  52.7%  51.0%  1,749.5   1,544.7   13.3%  51.2%  49.5%
                                         
Gross profit  569.4   543.6   4.8%  47.3%  49.0%  1,668.1   1,576.0   5.8%  48.8%  50.5%
Selling, general and administrative expenses  488.5   457.3   6.8%  40.6%  41.2%  1,423.4   1,313.2   8.4%  41.6%  42.1%
                                         
Operating income  80.9   86.3   (6.3)%  6.7%  7.8%  244.7   262.8   (6.9)%  7.2%  8.4%
Interest expense  (30.2)  (31.7)  (4.8)%  (2.5)%  (2.9)%  (98.6)  (100.3)  (1.8)%  (2.9)%  (3.2)%
Loss on early extinguishment of debt                    (16.6)  (100.0)%     (0.5)%
Other income (expense), net  (5.8)  (7.7)  (24.9)%  (0.5)%  (0.7)%  (12.7)  11.4   (211.2)%  (0.4)%  0.4%
                                         
Income before income taxes  44.9   46.9   (4.2)%  3.7%  4.2%  133.4   157.3   (15.2)%  3.9%  5.0%
Income tax expense  13.6   20.3   (32.8)%  1.1%  1.8%  42.4   93.2   (54.5)%  1.2%  3.0%
                                         
Net income  31.3   26.6   17.6%  2.6%  2.4%  91.0   64.1   41.9%  2.7%  2.1%
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest  0.9   1.6   (42.6)%  0.1%  0.1%  2.8   6.1   (52.7)%  0.1%  0.2%
                                         
Net income attributable to Levi Strauss & Co.  $32.2  $28.2   14.2%  2.7%  2.5% $93.8  $70.2   33.8%  2.7%  2.2%
                                         

   Three Months Ended 
   February 26,
2012
  February 27,
2011
  %
Increase
(Decrease)
  February 26,
2012
% of Net
Revenues
  February 27,
2011
% of Net
Revenues
 
   (Dollars in millions) 

Net revenues

  $1,165.0  $1,120.7   4.0  100.0  100.0

Cost of goods sold

   616.2   562.7   9.5  52.9  50.2
  

 

 

  

 

 

    

Gross profit

   548.8   558.0   (1.6)%   47.1  49.8

Selling, general and administrative expenses

   438.6   459.1   (4.5)%   37.6  41.0
  

 

 

  

 

 

    

Operating income

   110.2   98.9   11.5  9.5  8.8

Interest expense

   (38.6  (34.9  10.6  (3.3)%   (3.1)% 

Other income (expense), net

   1.2   (6.0  (119.7)%   0.1  (0.5)% 
  

 

 

  

 

 

    

Income before income taxes

   72.8   58.0   25.4  6.2  5.2

Income tax expense

   23.5   18.8   24.5  2.0  1.7
  

 

 

  

 

 

    

Net income

   49.3   39.2   25.9  4.2  3.5

Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

   (0.1  1.5   (105.2)%       0.1
  

 

 

  

 

 

    

Net income attributable to Levi Strauss & Co.

  $49.2  $40.7   21.0  4.2  3.6
  

 

 

  

 

 

    

Net revenues

The following table presents net revenues by reporting segment for the periods indicated and the changes in net revenues by reporting segment on both reported and constant-currency bases from period to period.

                                 
  Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended 
        % Increase (Decrease)        % Increase (Decrease) 
  August 28,
  August 29,
  As
  Constant
  August 28,
  August 29,
  As
  Constant
 
  2011  2010  Reported  Currency  2011  2010  Reported  Currency 
           (Dollars in millions)          
 
Net revenues:                                
Americas $717.6  $673.4   6.6%  5.7% $1,908.9  $1,776.6   7.4%  6.7%
Europe  275.1   259.1   6.2%  (4.1)%  867.8   805.4   7.8%  3.7%
Asia Pacific  211.3   176.5   19.7%  11.3%  640.9   538.7   19.0%  11.9%
                                 
Total net revenues $1,204.0  $1,109.0   8.6%  4.2% $3,417.6  $3,120.7   9.5%  6.8%
                                 

   Three Months Ended 
           % Increase
(Decrease)
 
   February 26,
2012
   February 27,
2011
   As
Reported
  Constant
Currency
 
   (Dollars in millions) 

Net revenues:

       

Americas

  $647.3   $592.2    9.3  10.1

Europe

   289.5    311.6    (7.1)%   (3.2)% 

Asia Pacific

   228.2    216.9    5.2  5.1
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

Total net revenues

  $1,165.0   $1,120.7    4.0  5.4
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

Total net revenues increased on both reported and constant-currency bases for the three- and nine-month periodsthree-month period ended August 28, 2011,February 26, 2012, as compared to the same prior-year periods. Reported amounts were affected favorably by changes in foreign currency exchange rates across all regions.


21

period.


Americas..    On both reported and constant-currency bases, net revenues in our Americas region increased for the three- and nine-month periods,three-month period, with currency affecting net revenues favorablyunfavorably by approximately $5 million and $13 million, respectively.
For both periods, the$4 million.

The region’s increased net revenues primarily reflected a higher volume of Levi’s® brand sales, in our retail stores, most prominently in our outlets, andmainly due to the U.S. launch of our Denizentm brand products. Levi’s® brand sales in our wholesale channels increased, however the benefit of price increases we have implemented, were substantiallypartially offset by related volume declines. Both periodsdeclines in certain wholesale customers. Higher revenues also reflected continued declinesan increased proportion of netpremium-priced Levi’s® brand products and increased sales fromof our U.S. DockersDenizen® brand.

and Signature brand products.

Europe.    Net revenues in Europe increased on a reported basis but decreased on aboth reported and constant-currency basisbases for the three-month period, with currency affecting net revenues favorablyunfavorably by approximately $27$12 million. For

Net revenues in the nine-month period, net revenues increased on both reportedregion decreased primarily due to a lower volume of sales to franchisee stores and constant-currency bases, with currency affecting net revenues favorably by approximately $32 million.

For both periods, netto our traditional wholesale channels, reflecting the ongoing depressed retail environment, most notably in southern Europe. Net revenues of our company-operated retail network grew, reflecting expansion and improved performance of our stores and the success of our Levi’s® brand women’s products throughout the region. This growth was fully and partially offset during the three- and nine-month periods, respectively, by lower net sales to our wholesale customers, reflecting temporary issues fulfilling customer orders during the implementation and stabilization of our enterprise resource planning system in the region during the third quarter.
stores.

Asia Pacific.    Net revenues in Asia Pacific increased on both reported and constant-currency bases for the three- and nine-month periods,three-month period, with currency affectinghaving little effect on net revenues favorably by approximately $14 million and $36 million, respectively.

during the quarter.

The net revenues increase in both periods was primarily from our Levi’s® brand, reflecting the price increases we have implemented, partially offset by volume declines, and a higher proportion of premium-priced products in the mix. Revenues also increased through the continued expansion of our brand-dedicated retail network in China and India as well as other of our emerging markets, partially offset by the continued decline of net revenues in Japan. Sales of our Denizentm brand products were partially offset by corresponding declines in Signature brand sales as we transition the brand in the region.

Gross profit

The following table shows consolidated gross profit and gross margin for the periods indicated and the changes in these items from period to period:

                         
  Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended 
        %
        %
 
  August 28,
  August 29,
  Increase
  August 28,
  August 29,
  Increase
 
  2011  2010  (Decrease)  2011  2010  (Decrease) 
  (Dollars in millions) 
 
Net revenues $1,204.0  $1,109.0   8.6% $3,417.6  $3,120.7   9.5%
Cost of goods sold  634.6   565.4   12.2%  1,749.5   1,544.7   13.3%
                         
Gross profit $569.4  $543.6   4.8% $1,668.1  $1,576.0   5.8%
                         
Gross margin
  47.3%  49.0%      48.8%  50.5%    

   Three Months Ended 
   February 26,
2012
  February 27,
2011
  %
Increase
(Decrease)
 
   (Dollars in millions) 

Net revenues

  $1,165.0  $1,120.7   4.0

Cost of goods sold

   616.2   562.7   9.5
  

 

 

  

 

 

  

Gross profit

  $548.8  $558.0   (1.6)% 
  

 

 

  

 

 

  

Gross margin

   47.1  49.8 

As compared to the same prior-year periods,period, the gross profit increasedecrease for the three- and nine-month periodsthree-month period ended August 28, 2011,February 26, 2012, primarily resulted from a decline in our gross margin, partially offset by the increase in our net revenues and favorable currency impact ofrevenues. Currency affected gross profit unfavorably by approximately $30 million and $52 million, respectively, partially offset by a decline$14 million. The decrease in our gross margin. The gross margin decrease was primarily due to an increase in sales discounts, in both our Levi’s® and Dockers® brands, to drive sales and manage inventory, and the higher cost of cotton, which our price increases did not fully cover. The gross margin decreasedecline was partially offset by a decline in sales to lower-margin channels and the increased revenue contribution from our company-operated retail network, which generally has a higher gross margin than our wholesale business.


22


Selling, general and administrative expenses

The following table shows our selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”) expenses for the periods indicated, the changes in these items from period to period and these items expressed as a percentage of net revenues:

                                         
  Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended 
           August 28,
  August 29,
           August 28,
  August 29,
 
        %
  2011
  2010
        %
  2011
  2010
 
  August 28,
  August 29,
  Increase
  % of Net
  % of Net
  August 28,
  August 29,
  Increase
  % of Net
  % of Net
 
  2011  2010  (Decrease)  Revenues  Revenues  2011  2010  (Decrease)  Revenues  Revenues 
           (Dollars in millions)             
 
Selling $176.0  $154.1   14.2%  14.6%  13.9% $525.2  $458.0   14.7%  15.4%  14.7%
Advertising and promotion  78.7   93.0   (15.4)%  6.5%  8.4%  213.2   222.6   (4.3)%  6.2%  7.1%
Administration  98.7   95.4   3.5%  8.2%  8.6%  306.1   288.9   6.0%  9.0%  9.3%
Other  135.1   114.8   17.7%  11.2%  10.3%  378.9   343.7   10.2%  11.1%  11.0%
                                         
Total SG&A $488.5  $457.3   6.8%  40.6%  41.2% $1,423.4  $1,313.2   8.4%  41.6%  42.1%
                                         

   Three Months Ended 
   February 26,
2012
   February 27,
2011
   %
Increase
(Decrease)
  February 26,
2012
% of Net
Revenues
  February 27,
2011
% of Net
Revenues
 
   (Dollars in millions) 

Selling

  $176.8   $175.2    0.9  15.2  15.6

Advertising and promotion

   45.9    62.2    (26.2)%   3.9  5.6

Administration

   95.3    104.0    (8.4)%   8.2  9.3

Other

   120.6    117.7    2.5  10.4  10.5
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

Total SG&A

  $438.6   $459.1    (4.5)%   37.6  41.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

Currency contributed approximately $21 million and $36$4 million of the increasedecrease in SG&A expenses for the three- and nine-month periodsthree-month period ended August 28, 2011, respectively,February 26, 2012, as compared to the same prior-year periods.

period.

Selling..  Currency contributed approximately $9 million and $16 million of the increase for the three- and nine-month periods, respectively. Higher selling    Selling expenses across all business segments primarily reflected additionalreflect costs such as rents and increased headcount associated with the support and continued expansion of our company-operated store network. We had 43ten more company-operated stores at the end of the thirdfirst quarter of 20112012 than we did at the end of the thirdfirst quarter of 2010.

2011.

Advertising and promotion..  For both periods, the    The decrease in advertising and promotion expenses was attributable toprimarily reflected a difference in timing of advertising campaigns as well as a reduction of our advertising activities in most markets as compared to the prior year.

some markets.

Administration..  Higher administration    Administration expenses in both periods included separation benefits relateddecreased primarily due to the retirement of our former chief executive officer, and with respect to the nine-month period, an increasea decline in incentive compensation expense related to higher projected funding. These costs were partially offset bylower achievement against our internally-set objectives, and a decline in pension expense primarily as a result of changes to the U.S. pension plans in the second quarter of 2011.

Other..    Other SG&A expenses includeincludes distribution, information resources, and marketing organization costs. These costs increased primarily due to our investment in global information technology systems, increased marketing project costs related to our strategic initiatives, and currency, which contributed approximately $5 million and $8 million of the increase for the three- and nine-month periods, respectively.


23


Operating income

The following table shows operating income by reporting segment and corporate expenses for the periods indicated, the changes in these items from period to period and these items expressed as a percentage of net revenues:

                                         
�� Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended 
           August 28,
  August 29,
           August 28,
  August 29,
 
        %
  2011
  2010
        %
  2011
  2010
 
  August 28,
  August 29,
  Increase
  % of Net
  % of Net
  August 28,
  August 29,
  Increase
  % of Net
  % of Net
 
  2011  2010  (Decrease)  Revenues  Revenues  2011  2010  (Decrease)  Revenues  Revenues 
              (Dollars in millions)             
 
Operating income:                                        
Americas $111.5  $102.9   8.3%  15.5%  15.3% $269.1  $263.9   2.0%  14.1%  14.9%
Europe  31.3   34.4   (9.0)%  11.4%  13.3%  140.1   132.4   5.9%  16.1%  16.4%
Asia Pacific  26.5   15.4   72.4%  12.5%  8.7%  89.3   62.9   41.9%  13.9%  11.7%
                                         
Total regional operating income  169.3   152.7   10.9%  14.1%*  13.8%*  498.5   459.2   8.6%  14.6%*  14.7%*
Corporate expenses  88.4   66.4   33.1%  7.3%*  6.0%*  253.8   196.4   29.2%  7.4%*  6.3%*
                                         
Total operating income $80.9  $86.3   (6.3)%  6.7%*  7.8%* $244.7  $262.8   (6.9)%  7.2%*  8.4%*
                                         
Operating margin
  6.7%  7.8%              7.2%  8.4%            

   Three Months Ended 
   February 26,
2012
  February 27,
2011
  %
Increase
(Decrease)
  February 26,
2012
% of Net
Revenues
  February 27,
2011
% of Net
Revenues
 
   (Dollars in millions) 

Operating income:

      

Americas

  $79.6  $75.0   6.1  12.3  12.7

Europe

   52.1   71.3   (27.0)%   18.0  22.9

Asia Pacific

   41.2   37.4   10.2  18.0  17.2
  

 

 

  

 

 

    

Total regional operating income

   172.9   183.7   (5.9)%   14.8%*   16.4%* 

Corporate expenses

   62.7   84.8   (26.1)%   5.4%*   7.6%* 
  

 

 

  

 

 

    

Total operating income

  $110.2  $98.9   11.5  9.5%*   8.8%* 
  

 

 

  

 

 

    

Operating margin

   9.5  8.8   

*Percentage of consolidated net revenues

Currency favorablyunfavorably affected total operating income by approximately $9 million and $16$10 million for the three- and nine-month periods, respectively.

three-month period.

Regional operating income..

 

Americas.    The increase in operating income in both periods primarily reflected higher constant-currency net revenue growthrevenues in the region. ForOperating margin was flat as compared to the nine-monthsame prior-year period as a decline in the increaseregion’s gross margin was partially offset by alower SG&A.

Europe.    The decrease in operating margin, primarily reflecting the region’s decline in gross margin.

• Europe.  For the three-income and nine-month periods, the operating margin decreasedwas primarily due to the region’s decline inlower constant-currency net revenues, a lower gross margin, and the effects of which on operating income were offset partially and fully, respectively, by the favorableunfavorable impact of currency, and with respect to the nine-month period, the region’s higher net revenues.currency.

 

Asia Pacific.    The increases in operating margin and operating income for the three-month period primarily reflected the region’s lower SG&A expenses; the increases for the nine-month period primarily reflected the region’s improved gross margin and higher constant-currency net revenues. In both periods, the region benefitted from the favorable impact of currency.

Corporate.    Corporate expenses are selling, general and administrative expenses that are not attributed to any of our regional operating segments. HigherLower corporate expenses in both periods reflected an increase in our investment in global information technology systems and separation benefits related to the retirement of our former chief executive officer, and with respect to the nine-month period, an increasedecrease in incentive compensation expense related to higher projected funding. Corporate expenses forand the three- and nine-month periods also increased over the same prior-year period due to the classification of certain marketing, advertising and promotion, information technology and human resources costs of a global nature centralized under corporate management beginning in the first quarter of 2011. Such costs totaled approximately $7 million and $20 million, respectively, in our Americas region and were not significant to our Europe and Asia Pacific regions; prior period amounts have not been reclassified. These increases were partially offset by a decline in pension expense primarily as a result of changes to the U.S. pension plans in the second quarter of 2011.


24expense.


Interest expense

Interest expense decreasedincreased to $30.2 million and $98.6$38.6 million for the three- and nine-month periodsthree-month period ended August 28, 2011, respectively,February 26, 2012, from $31.7 million and $100.3$34.9 million for the same periodsperiod in 2010.

2011. The increase in interest expense was due to higher interest expense on our deferred compensation plans, as well as higher average debt balances resulting from increased borrowings under our senior secured revolving credit facility.

The weighted-average interest rate on average borrowings outstanding for the three- and nine-month periodsthree-month period ended August 28, 2011,February 26, 2012, was 6.74% and 6.81%, respectively,6.99% as compared to 6.74% and 7.27%, respectively,6.84% for each of the same periodsperiod in 2010.

2011.

Other income (expense), net

Other income (expense), net, primarily consists of foreign exchange management activities and transactions. For the three- and nine-month periodsthree-month period ended August 28, 2011,February 26, 2012, we recorded expenseincome of $5.8$1.2 million and $12.7 million, respectively, as compared to expense of $7.7$6.0 million and income of $11.5 million, respectively, for the same prior-year periods.

The net expense in both periods in 2011 primarily reflected losses on our foreign currency denominated balances.period. The expense in the three-month period in 2010 primarily2011 reflected losses on foreign exchange derivatives which generally economically hedge future cash flow obligations of our foreign operations. The income in the nine-month period in 2010 primarily reflected gains on our foreign currency denominated balances and foreign exchange derivatives.

Income tax expense

Our effective income tax rate was 31.8%32.3% for the ninethree months ended August 28, 2011,February 26, 2012, compared to 59.3%32.5% for the same period ended August 29, 2010.February 27, 2011. Our income tax expense was $23.5 million for the three months ended February 26, 2012, compared to $18.9 million for the same period ended February 27, 2011. The reductionincrease in our effectiveincome tax rateexpense was primarily caused by two significant discreteattributed to higher income tax charges recognized in the second quarter of 2010, described below, as well as an increase in 2011 of the proportion of our earnings in foreign jurisdictions where we are subject to lower tax rates.

During the second quarter of 2010, we recorded a discrete tax expense of $14.2 million to recognize a valuation allowance to fully offset the amount of deferred tax assets in Japan and another discrete tax expense of $14.0 million to recognize the reduction in deferred tax assets as a result of the enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
before taxes.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Liquidity outlook

We believe we will have adequate liquidity over the next twelve months to operate our business and to meet our cash requirements.

Cash sources

We are a privately-held corporation. We have historically relied primarily on cash flows from operations, borrowings under credit facilities, issuances of notes and other forms of debt financing. We regularly explore financing and debt reduction alternatives, including new credit agreements, unsecured and secured note issuances, equity financing, equipment and real estate financing, securitizations and asset sales. Key sources of cash include earnings from operations and borrowing availability under our revolving credit facility.

During the quarter and prior to the below-referenced refinancing, we were

We are borrowers under an amended and restated senior secured revolving credit facility that had a maximum availability of $750 million, secured by certain of our domestic assets and certain U.S. trademarks associated with the Levi’s® brand and other related intellectual property. The facility included a $250 million trademark tranche and a $500 million revolving tranche. As of August 28, 2011, we had borrowings of $70.0 million under the revolving tranche, which was the full amount we borrowed during the quarter, and $108.3 million under the trademark tranche. Unused availability under the revolving tranche was $336.7 million at quarter end, as our total availability of $421.0 million, based on collateral levels as defined by the agreement, was reduced by $84.3 million of other credit-related instruments such as documentary and standby letters of credit allocated under the facility.


25


As of August 28, 2011, we had cash and cash equivalents totaling approximately $230.8 million, resulting in a total liquidity position (unused availability and cash and cash equivalents) of $567.5 million.
On September 30, 2011, we entered into a new senior secured revolving credit facility. The new facility is an asset-based facility, in which the borrowing availability varies according tois primarily based on the value of our U.S. Levi’s® trademarks and the levels of accounts receivable and inventory in the United States and cash and investment securities deposited in secured accounts with the administrative agent or other lenders.Canada. The maximum availability under the new facility is $850 million, of which $800 million is available to us for revolving loans in U.S. dollarsDollars and $50 million is available to us for revolving loans either in U.S. dollarsDollars or Canadian dollars. Upon entering into the new facility,Dollars.

As of February 26, 2012, we borrowed $215had borrowings of $140.0 million and used the proceeds to repay the borrowings outstanding under the previous senior secured revolving credit facility, $40.0 million of which is classified as short-term debt. Unused availability under the facility was $554.6 million, as our total availability of $636.9 million, based on collateral levels as defined by the agreement, was reduced by $82.3 million of other credit-related instruments.

As of February 26, 2012, we then terminated.

had cash and cash equivalents totaling approximately $238.3 million, resulting in a total liquidity position (unused availability and cash and cash equivalents) of $792.9 million.

Cash uses

Our principal cash requirements include working capital, capital expenditures, payments of principal and interest on our debt, payments of taxes, contributions to our pension plans and payments for postretirement health

benefit plans, and, if market conditions warrant, occasional investments in, or acquisitions of, business ventures in our line of business. In addition, we regularly evaluate our ability to pay dividends or repurchase stock, all consistent with the terms of our debt agreements.

There have been no material changes to our estimated cash requirements for 20112012 from those disclosed in our 20102011 Annual Report onForm 10-K, except for our projected pension plan contributions. Based on changes in discount rates and the updated valuation of our pension assets, as well as our current evaluation of alternative methods available to us for measuring our pension funding obligation, we now expect our required contribution amount in 2011 to be approximately $70 million.

10-K.

Cash flows

The following table summarizes, for the periods indicated, selected items in our consolidated statements of cash flows:

         
  Nine Months Ended 
  August 28,
  August 29,
 
  2011  2010 
  (Dollars in millions) 
 
Cash provided by operating activities $17.3  $95.8 
Cash used for investing activities  (114.6)  (127.3)
Cash provided by financing activities  52.3   25.3 
Cash and cash equivalents  230.8   261.2 

   Three Months Ended 
   February 26,
2012
  February 27,
2011
 
   (Dollars in millions) 

Cash provided by operating activities

  $104.8  $46.0 

Cash used for investing activities

   (20.7  (46.1

Cash used for financing activities

   (53.5  (22.4

Cash and cash equivalents

   238.3   249.1 

Cash flows from operating activities

Cash provided by operating activities was $17.3$104.8 million for the nine-monththree-month period in 2011,2012, as compared to $95.8$46.0 million for the same period in 2010.2011. Cash provided by operating activities declinedincreased compared to the prior year due to higher cash used for inventory, our pension plan contribution in the first quarter of 2011, and higher payments to vendors, reflecting the increase in our SG&A expenses. This decline was partially offset by an increase in customer collections, reflecting our higher net revenues, and a decrease in interest paymentsbeginning accounts receivable balance. This was partially offset by higher cash used for inventory as a result of our refinancing activities in May 2010.

higher cotton costs.

Cash flows from investing activities

Cash used for investing activities was $114.6$20.7 million for the nine-monththree-month period in 2011,2012, as compared to $127.3$46.1 million for the same period in 2010.2011. The decrease in cash used for investing activities as compared to the prior year primarily reflects the higher information technology costs in 2010 associated with the remodeling of the Company’s headquarters and the final payment for a 2009 acquisition. This was partially offset by an increase in 2011 in information technology costs associated with the installation of our global enterprise resource planning system.


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Cash flows from financing activities

Cash provided byused for financing activities was $52.3$53.5 million for the nine-monththree-month period in 2011,2012, as compared to $25.3$22.4 million for the same period in 2010.2011. Net cash providedused in 2012 primarily related to net repayments of our senior revolving credit facility. Cash used in 2011 primarily related to proceedsour dividend payments to stockholders of $70.0 million borrowed under our senior revolving credit facility. Net cash provided in 2010 reflected our May 2010 refinancing activities.

$20.0 million.

Indebtedness

We had fixed-rate debt of approximately $1.5 billion (74% of total debt) and variable-rate debt of approximately $0.5 billion (26% of total debt) as of August 28, 2011.

The borrower of substantially all of our debt is Levi Strauss & Co., the parent and U.S. operating company. RequiredOf our total debt of $1.9 billion as of February 26, 2012, we had fixed-rate debt of approximately $1.4 billion (75% of total debt) and variable-rate debt of approximately $0.5 billion (25% of total debt). There have been no substantial changes to our required aggregate debt principal payments on our August 28, 2011, long-term debt adjusted to reflect the impactfor each of the new credit facility, are $323.9next five years and thereafter from those disclosed in our 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Short-term debt of $40.0 million in 2014 and the remaining $1.5 billion in years after 2015. Our quarter-end balance of $70.0 million of short-term debt borrowed under our senior secured revolving credit facility iswas expected to be repaid over the next twelve months; unsecured short-term borrowings of $59.0$74.1 million areat various foreign subsidiaries were expected to be either paid over the next twelve months or refinanced at the end of their applicable terms.

Our long-term debt agreements contain customary covenants restricting our activities as well as those of our subsidiaries. WeCurrently, we are in compliance with all of these covenants.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements, Guarantees and Other Contingent Obligations

There have been no significant changes to our off-balance sheet arrangements or contractual commitments from those disclosed in our 20102011 Annual Report onForm 10-K.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and the related notes. There have been no significant changes to our critical accounting policies from those disclosed in our 20102011 Annual Report onForm 10-K except for the following:

• We no longer consider our accounting policy on derivative and foreign exchange management activities to be critical; and
• We measure changes in the funded status of our pension and postretirement benefits plans using actuarial models which utilize an attribution approach that generally spreads individual events either over the estimated service lives of the remaining employees in the plan, or, for plans where participants will not earn additional benefits by rendering future service, over the plan participants’ estimated remaining lives.
10-K.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

See Note 1 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements included in this report for recently issued accounting standards, including the expected dates of adoption and estimated effects on our consolidated financial statements.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain matters discussed in this report, including (without limitation) statements under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contain forward-looking statements. Although we believe that, in making any such statements, our expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, any such statement may be influenced by factors that could cause actual outcomes and results to be materially different from those projected.

These forward-looking statements include statements relating to our anticipated financial performance and business prospectsand/or statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words “believe”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “estimate”, “expect”, “project”, “could”, “plans”, “seeks” and similar expressions. These forward-


27


lookingforward-looking statements speak only as of the date stated and we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, even if experience or future events make it clear that any expected results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements will not be realized. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these expectations may not prove to be correct or we may not achieve the financial results, savings or other benefits anticipated in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are necessarily estimates reflecting the best judgment of our senior management and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, some of which may be beyond our control. These risks and uncertainties, including those disclosed under “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report onForm 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 28, 2010,27, 2011, and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements and include, without limitation:

changes in the level of consumer spending for apparel in view of general economic and environmental conditions and pricing trends, and our ability to plan for and respond to the impact of those changes;

consequences of impacts to the businesses of our wholesale customers caused by factors such as lower consumer spending, pricing changes, general economic conditions and changing consumer preferences;

• consequences of impacts to the businesses of our wholesale customers caused by factors such as lower consumer spending, pricing changes and general economic conditions and changing consumer preferences;
• changes in the level of consumer spending for apparel in view of general economic and environmental conditions and pricing trends, and our ability to plan for and respond to the impact of those changes;
• our ability to mitigate costs related to manufacturing, sourcing, and raw materials supply, such as cotton, and to manage consumer response to such mitigating actions;
• consequences of the actions we take to support our supply chain partners as a response to the rising costs of manufacturing, sourcing, and raw materials supply;
• our ability to mitigate the impact of a slowdown in the Japanese economy due to the natural disasters and related events in that country;
• our adjustment to organizational changes including the continued globalization of our brand management and the introduction of a new chief executive officer;
• our ability to grow our Dockers® brand and to expand our Denizentm brand into new markets and channels;
• 

our ability to mitigate the variability of costs related to manufacturing, sourcing, and raw materials supply, such as cotton, and to manage consumer response to such mitigating actions;

consequences of the actions we take to support our supply chain partners as a response to the fluctuating costs of manufacturing, sourcing, and raw materials supply;

our and our wholesale customers’ decisions to modify strategies and adjust product mix, and our ability to manage any resulting product transition costs;

• our ability to gauge and adapt to changing U.S. and international retail environments and fashion trends and changing consumer preferences in product, price-points and shopping experiences;
• our ability to respond to price, innovation and other competitive pressures in the apparel industry and on our key customers;
• our ability to increase the number of dedicated stores for our products, including through opening and profitably operating company-operated stores;
• our effectiveness in increasing productivity and efficiency in our operations;
• our ability to implement, stabilize and optimize our enterprise resource planning system throughout our business without disruption or to mitigate such disruptions;
• consequences of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations;
• the impact of the variables that affect the net periodic benefit cost and future funding requirements of our postretirement benefits and pension plans;
• our dependence on key distribution channels, customers and suppliers;
• our ability to utilize our tax credits and net operating loss carryforwards;
• ongoing or future litigation matters and disputes and regulatory developments;
• changes in or application of trade and tax laws; and
• political, social and economic instability in countries where we do business.


28


our ability to gauge and adapt to changing U.S. and international retail environments and fashion trends and changing consumer preferences in product, price-points and shopping experiences;

our ability to respond to price, innovation and other competitive pressures in the apparel industry and on our key customers;

our ability to increase the number of dedicated stores for our products, including through opening and profitably operating company-operated stores;

our effectiveness in increasing productivity and efficiency in our operations;

our ability to implement, stabilize and optimize our enterprise resource planning system throughout our business without disruption or to mitigate such disruptions;

consequences of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations;

the impact of the variables that affect the net periodic benefit cost and future funding requirements of our postretirement benefits and pension plans;

our dependence on key distribution channels, customers and suppliers;

our ability to utilize our tax credits and net operating loss carryforwards;

ongoing or future litigation matters and disputes and regulatory developments;

changes in or application of trade and tax laws; and

political, social and economic instability in countries where we do business.

Our actual results might differ materially from historical performance or current expectations. We do not undertake any obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Item 3.QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

There have been no material changes in our primary market risk exposures or how those exposures are managed from the information disclosed in our 20102011 Annual Report onForm 10-K.

Item 4.CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As of August 28, 2011, we updated our evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures for purposes of filing reports(as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). This controls evaluation was done under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our chief executive officer and our chief financial officer. Our chief executive officer and our chief financial officer concluded1934) that at August 28, 2011, our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined inRule 13a-15(e) and15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) are effectivedesigned to provide reasonable assurance that information that we are required to disclosebe disclosed in the reports that we file or submit to the SEC is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Our disclosure controlsforms, and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

We updated our evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our chief executive officer and our chief financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of February 26, 2012. Based on that evaluation, our chief executive officer and our chief financial officer concluded that as of February 26, 2012, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.

Changes in Internal Controls

We maintain a system of internal control over financial reporting that is designed to provide reasonable assurance that our books and records accurately reflect our transactions and that our established policies and procedures are followed. We have been implementing an enterprise resource planning (“ERP”) system on a staged basis inThere were no changes to our subsidiaries around the world. We began the implementation of the ERP system in Europeinternal control over financial reporting during our last fiscal quarter and this resulted in a changethat have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our system of internal control over financial reporting.


29


PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Litigation.    There have been no material developments with respect to the information previously reported in our 20102011 Annual Report onForm 10-K related to legal proceedings.

In the ordinary course of business, we have various pending cases involving contractual matters, facility- and employee-related matters, distribution questions, product liability claims, trademark infringement and other matters. We do not believe any of these pending legal proceedings will have a material impact on our financial condition, or results of operations or cash flows.

Item 1A.RISK FACTORS

There have been no material changes in our risk factors from those disclosed in our 20102011 Annual Report onForm 10-K.

Item 2.UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

On February 2, 2012, our board approved the award of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) representing an aggregate of 2,604 shares of our common stock to Stephen C. Neal, and the award of stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) representing an aggregate of 1,305,284 shares of our common stock to certain of our executives. These awards were made under our 2006 Equity Incentive Plan.

The RSUs were granted as part of the standard annual compensation provided to our non-employee Chairman of the Board, and represent a pro-rated grant for the period of time since Mr. Neal became the Chairman of the Board. RSUs are units, representing beneficial ownership interests, corresponding in number and value to a specified number of underlying shares of stock. The RSUs vest in three equal installments after 13, 24 and 36 months following the grant date. However, if the recipient’s continuous service terminates for reason other than cause after the first vesting installment, but prior to full vesting, then the remaining unvested portion of the award becomes fully vested as of the date of such termination. Each recipient’s initial grant of RSUs is subject to a mandatory deferral feature, by which the RSU will be converted to a share of common stock six months after discontinuation of service with the Company for each fully vested RSU held at that date. For subsequent grants, such as the one given to Mr. Neal, recipients of the RSUs have the opportunity to make deferral elections regarding when shares of our common stock are to be delivered in settlement of vested RSUs. If the recipient does not elect to defer the receipt of common stock, then the RSUs are immediately converted into shares upon vesting. The RSUs additionally have “dividend equivalent rights”, of which dividends paid by the Company on its common stock are credited by the equivalent addition of RSUs.

SARs are typically granted with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant as determined by the board. Twenty-five percent of each SAR grant vests on February 1, 2013, with the remaining 75% balance vesting at a rate of 75%/36 months (2.08% per month) commencing February 2, 2013, and ending January 2, 2016, subject to continued service. However, 25% of the shares subject to one of the awards made to Charles V. Bergh on February 2, 2012, in the amount of 436,720 units, vest on September 1, 2012; with the remaining 75% balance vesting in equal monthly installments beginning September 1, 2012, and ending August 1, 2015, in accordance with the terms of his employment agreement.

Upon the exercise of a SAR, the recipient will be entitled to receive common stock with an aggregate fair market value equal to the excess of the per share fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of exercise over the exercise price, multiplied by the number of SARs exercised.

We will not receive any proceeds from the issuance or vesting of RSUs or SARs nor upon the exercise of the SARs. The RSUs and SARs were granted under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Section 4(2) generally provides an exemption from registration for transactions by an issuer not involving any public offering.

In addition to the above-referenced issuances of securities, we also repurchased a total of 14,974 shares of our common stock during the quarter in connection with the exercise of put rights under our 2006 Equity Incentive Plan.

We are a privately-held corporation; there is no public trading of our common stock. As of April 5, 2012, we had 37,345,985 shares outstanding.

Item 3.DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

Item 4.MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

None.

Item 5.OTHER INFORMATION

None.

Item 6.EXHIBITS

31.1Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Filed herewith.
Item 3.31.2DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIESCertification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Filed herewith.
None.
Item 4.32REMOVED AND RESERVEDCertification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Furnished herewith.
Item 5.101.INSOTHER INFORMATIONXBRL Instance Document. Furnished herewith.
None.
Item 6.101.SCHEXHIBITSXBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document. Furnished herewith.
101.CALXBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document. Furnished herewith.
101.LABXBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document. Furnished herewith.
101.PREXBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document. Furnished herewith.
     
 10.1 Employment Agreement between the Company and Charles V. Bergh, dated June 9, 2011. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Registrant’s Current Report onForm 8-K filed with the Commission on June 16, 2011.
 10.2 Transition Services, Separation Agreement and Release of All Claims between John Anderson and the Company, dated June 16, 2011. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Registrant’s Current Report onForm 8-K filed with the Commission on June 16, 2011.
 31.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Filed herewith.
 31.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Filed herewith.
 32  Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Furnished herewith.
 101.INS XBRL Instance Document. Furnished herewith.
 101.SCH XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document. Furnished herewith.
 101.CAL XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document. Furnished herewith.
 101.LAB XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document. Furnished herewith.
 101.PRE XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document. Furnished herewith.


30


SIGNATURE

SIGNATURE
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.
LEVI STRAUSS & C

Date: April 10, 2012LEVI STRAUSS & Co.
(Registrant)
By:

/s/    HEIDI L. MANES

Heidi L. Manes

Vice President and Controller

(Principal Accounting Officer)

oEXHIBIT INDEX.

(Registrant)

31.1By:  
/s/  Heidi L. Manes
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Filed herewith.
31.2Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Filed herewith.
32Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Furnished herewith.
101.INSXBRL Instance Document. Furnished herewith.
101.SCHXBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document. Furnished herewith.
101.CALXBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document. Furnished herewith.
101.LABXBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document. Furnished herewith.
101.PREXBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document. Furnished herewith.
Heidi L. Manes
Vice President and Controller
(Principal Accounting Officer)
Date: October 11, 2011


31


29

EXHIBIT INDEX
     
 10.1 Employment Agreement between the Company and Charles V. Bergh, dated June 9, 2011. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Registrant’s Current Report onForm 8-K filed with the Commission on June 16, 2011.
 10.2 Transition Services, Separation Agreement and Release of All Claims between John Anderson and the Company, dated June 16, 2011. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Registrant’s Current Report onForm 8-K filed with the Commission on June 16, 2011.
 31.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Filed herewith.
 31.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Filed herewith.
 32  Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Furnished herewith.
 101.INS XBRL Instance Document. Furnished herewith.
 101.SCH XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document. Furnished herewith.
 101.CAL XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document. Furnished herewith.
 101.LAB XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document. Furnished herewith.
 101.PRE XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document. Furnished herewith.