Item 1. Business
General
Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (the “Company”) is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of a broad range of quality casual footwear and apparel, performance outdoor and athletic footwear and apparel, children’s footwear, industrial work boots and apparel, and uniform shoes and boots. The Company, a Delaware corporation, is the successor of a Michigan corporation of the same name, originally organized in 1906, which, in turn, was the successor of a footwear business established in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1883.
On October 9, 2012, the Company acquired the Performance + Lifestyle Group (“PLG”) business of Collective Brands, Inc. for approximately $1,249.5 million in cash, which amount is subject to the finalization of certain post-closing adjustments. PLG designs and markets casual and athletic footwear, apparel and related accessories for adults and children under well-known brand names, including Sperry Top-Sider®, Saucony®, Stride Rite® and Keds®. PLG includes both wholesale and consumer-direct operations. The PLG acquisition expanded the Company’s portfolio to 16 brands that are marketed in approximately 200 countries and territories around the world.
The Company’s products generally feature contemporary styling with proprietary technologies designed to provide maximum comfort and performance. The products are marketed under widely recognized brand names, including Bates®, Cat® Footwear, Chaco®, Cushe®, Harley-Davidson® Footwear, Hush Puppies®, HyTest®, Keds®, Merrell®, Patagonia® Footwear, Sebago®, Soft Style®, Saucony®, Sperry Top-Sider®, Stride Rite® and Wolverine®. The Company believes that its primary competitive advantages are its well-recognized brand names, its patented proprietary designs, its diverse product offerings and comfort technologies, its wide range of distribution channels and its diversified manufacturing and sourcing base. Cat® is a registered trademark of Caterpillar, Inc., Harley-Davidson® is a registered trademark of H-D Michigan, Inc. and Patagonia® is a registered trademark of Patagonia, Inc.
The Company’s brands are sold at various price points targeting a wide range of consumers of casual, work, outdoor and athletic footwear and apparel. The Company also licenses some of its brands for use on products other than footwear or apparel. Following the acquisition of PLG, as of December 29, 2012, the Company identifies four operating groups within its branded wholesale footwear, apparel and licensing reportable segment: (i) the Outdoor Group, consisting of Merrell®, Patagonia® and Chaco® footwear, and Merrell® apparel and accessories, (ii) the Heritage Group, consisting of Wolverine® footwear and apparel, and Cat®, Bates®, Harley-Davidson® and HyTest® footwear, (iii) the Lifestyle Group, consisting of Hush Puppies®, and Sebago® footwear and apparel, and Cushe® and Soft Style® footwear and, (iv) the Performance + Lifestyle Group, consisting of Sperry Top-Sider®, Saucony®, Stride Rite® and Keds®. As a result of the acquisition of PLG, the Company now also reports a second reportable segment for its consumer-direct operations. The consumer-direct reportable segment represents the Company’s brick-and-mortar retail and eCommerce businesses that include both the Wolverine Retail and PLG Retail operating groups.
The Company’s Global Operations Group is responsible for manufacturing, sourcing, distribution and customer support. The Company directly sells its products in the United States (U.S.), Canada and certain countries in Europe to a wide range of retail customers, including department stores, national chains, catalogs, specialty retailers, mass merchants and Internet retailers, and to governments and municipalities. Many of the retailers carrying the Company’s products operate multiple storefront locations. The Company’s products are marketed worldwide in approximately 200 countries and territories through Company-owned wholesale and retail operations and through licensees and distributors.
For financial information regarding the Company, see the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes, which are attached as Appendix A to this Annual Report on Form 10-K. As described above, the Company has two reportable segments consisting of the branded wholesale footwear, apparel and licensing and consumer-direct reportable segments. The Company’s other operating segment consists of its Wolverine Leathers Division, which is described below. Financial information regarding the Company’s reportable segments and other operating group and financial information by geographic area is found in Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements of the Company that are attached as Appendix A to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Branded Wholesale Footwear, Apparel and Licensing
The Company sources and markets a broad range of footwear styles, including shoes, boots and sandals under many recognizable brand names, including Bates®, Cat®, Chaco®, Cushe®, Harley-Davidson®, Hush Puppies®, HyTest®, Keds®, Merrell®, Patagonia®, Saucony®, Sebago®, Soft Style®, Sperry Top-Sider®, Stride Rite® and Wolverine®. The Company combines quality materials and skilled workmanship to produce footwear according to its specifications at both Company-owned and third-party manufacturing facilities. The Company also markets Merrell®, Saucony®, Sebago®, Sperry Top-Sider® and Wolverine® brand apparel and accessories and licenses some of its brands for use on non-footwear products, including Hush Puppies® apparel, eyewear, watches, socks, handbags and plush toys, Wolverine® brand eyewear and gloves, Keds® apparel, Saucony® apparel, Sperry Top-Sider® apparel, and Stride Rite® apparel.
The operating groups for the Company’s branded wholesale footwear, apparel and licensing reportable segment for fiscal 2012 are described below.
1. The Outdoor Group - The Outdoor Group consists of Merrell® footwear, Merrell® apparel and accessories, Patagonia® footwear and Chaco® footwear.
Merrell® Footwear: Merrell® footwear is designed to inspire and encourage participation in the outdoors. Known for quality, durability and comfort, the Merrell® footwear line uses a variety of proprietary designs and technologies to create footwear with distinctive styling, performance and comfort features for use on the trail or in town. Merrell® footwear products offer a wide range of styles from technical hiking, multi-sport footwear and the minimalist Merrell® Barefoot Collection, to versatile lifestyle products for more casual outdoor adventures for men, women and kids. Merrell® footwear products are sold primarily through outdoor specialty retailers, sporting goods chains, department stores, online retailers and catalogs.
Merrell® Apparel and Accessories: The Merrell® apparel line extends the Merrell® commitment to an active outdoor lifestyle with a versatile line of apparel built for the summit or the street. The apparel line features stylized lifestyle silhouettes built with the technical, high performance, weather fighting materials that consumers expect from an outdoor brand. In addition to Merrell® apparel, the Outdoor Group markets Merrell® accessories, including packs, bags and luggage for men and women.
Patagonia® Footwear: Pursuant to an agreement with Lost Arrow Corporation, the Company has the exclusive footwear marketing and distribution rights under Patagonia® and other trademarks. The Patagonia® footwear line focuses primarily on casual and outdoor performance footwear. Patagonia® is a registered trademark of Patagonia, Inc.
Chaco® Footwear: The Chaco® footwear line focuses primarily on performance sandals and closed-toe products for the outdoor enthusiast.
2. The Heritage Group - The Heritage Group markets footwear, apparel and accessories products under the Wolverine® brand and footwear under the Cat®, Bates®, Harley-Davidson® and HyTest® brands.
Wolverine® Footwear: The Wolverine® brand offers high-quality boots and shoes that incorporate innovative technologies to deliver comfort and durability. The Wolverine® brand, in existence for well over 100 years, markets footwear in three categories: (i) work and industrial; (ii) outdoor sport; and (iii) rugged casual. The development of DuraShocks®, MultiShox®, Wolverine Fusion® and Wolverine Compressor® technologies, as well as the development of the Contour Welt® line, have allowed the Wolverine® brand to offer a broad line of work footwear with a focus on comfort. The Wolverine® work product line, whose target consumers are industrial workers, features work boots and shoes with protective features such as toe caps, metatarsal guards and electrical hazard protection. The Wolverine® rugged casual and outdoor sport product lines incorporate DuraShocks®, Wolverine iCS® and other technologies and comfort features into products designed for casual and outdoor sport use. The target consumers for the rugged casual line products have active lifestyles. The outdoor sport line is designed to meet the needs of hunters, fishermen and other active outdoor sports enthusiasts.
Wolverine® Apparel and Licensing: The Heritage Group markets a line of work and rugged casual Wolverine® brand apparel. In addition, the Company licenses its Wolverine® brand for use on eyewear and gloves.
Cat® Footwear: Pursuant to a license arrangement with Caterpillar, Inc., the Company has exclusive footwear marketing and distribution rights under Caterpillar®, Cat®, Cat & Design, Walking Machines® and other trademarks. The Company believes the association with Cat® equipment encourages customers to view the footwear as high-quality, rugged and durable. Cat® brand footwear products include work boots and shoes, sport boots, rugged casual and lifestyle footwear, including lines of work and casual footwear featuring iTechnology™ and Hidden Tracks® comfort features. Cat® footwear targets work and industrial users and active lifestyle users. Cat®, Caterpillar®, Cat & Design and Walking Machines® are registered trademarks of Caterpillar Inc.
Bates® Uniform Footwear: The Bates® brand is a leader in supplying footwear to military and civilian uniform wearers. Bates® utilizes DuraShocks®, DuraShocks SR™, Wolverine iCS® and other proprietary comfort technologies in the design of its military-style boots and oxford shoes. Bates® contracts with the United States Department of Defense and the military branches of several foreign countries to supply military footwear. Civilian uniform users include individuals in police, security, postal, restaurant and other industrial occupations. Bates® products are also distributed through specialty retailers and catalogs.
Harley-Davidson® Footwear: Pursuant to a license arrangement with the Harley-Davidson Motor Company, the Company has footwear marketing and distribution rights for Harley-Davidson® branded footwear. Harley-Davidson® branded footwear products include motorcycle, casual, fashion, work and western footwear for men, women and children. Harley-Davidson® footwear is sold globally through a network of independent Harley-Davidson® dealerships and other retail outlets. Harley-Davidson® is a registered trademark of H-D Michigan, Inc.
HyTest® Safety Footwear: The HyTest® product line consists primarily of high-quality work boots and shoes that incorporate various specialty safety features designed to protect against hazards of the workplace, including steel toe, composite toe, metatarsal guards, and electrical
hazard, static dissipating and conductive footwear. HyTest® footwear is distributed primarily through a network of independently-owned Shoemobile® mobile truck retail outlets providing direct sales of the Company’s occupational and work footwear brands to workers at industrial facilities and also through direct sales arrangements with large industrial customers.
3. The Lifestyle Group - The Lifestyle Group consists of Hush Puppies® footwear and apparel, Sebago® footwear and apparel, Cushe® and Soft Style® footwear.
Hush Puppies®: Since 1958, the Hush Puppies® brand has been a leader in casual footwear. The brand offers shoes, sandals and boots for men, women and children. The brand’s modern styling is complemented by a variety of comfort features and proprietary technologies that have earned the brand its reputation for comfort, style and value. In addition, the Company licenses the Hush Puppies® brand for use on certain items, including apparel, eyewear, handbags, socks, watches and plush toys.
Sebago®: The Sebago® product line has been marketed since 1946 and consists primarily of performance nautical and American-inspired casual footwear for men and women, such as boat shoes and hand sewn loafers. Highly recognized Sebago® line extensions include Sebago Docksides®, Drysides® and Triwater™. The Sebago® manufacturing and design tradition of quality components, durability, comfort and “Americana” heritage is further supported by targeted distribution to better-grade independent, marine and department store retailers throughout the world.
Cushe®: The Cushe® business focuses on relaxed, design-led footwear for active men and women. The Cushe® Footwear business targets younger adult consumers and better-grade retailers with products ranging from sport casual footwear to sandals. Cushe® is marketed under three primary collections: Universal Traveler, Urban Safari and Coastal Supremacy.
Soft Style®: The Soft Style® product line consists primarily of women’s dress and casual footwear.
4. The Performance + Lifestyle Group - PLG consists of Keds® footwear, Saucony® footwear and apparel, Sperry Top-Sider® footwear and apparel, and Stride Rite® footwear.
Keds®: The Keds® brand is an authentic casual lifestyle brand with a foundation in canvas footwear. This iconic American brand was founded in 1916 when Keds® redefined footwear with the introduction of the Champion® sneaker. The simple and chic design ignited a style revolution, capturing the hearts of girls everywhere from fashion icons to the girl next door. Today, Keds® is a head-to-toe fashion lifestyle brand fueled by a passion for imagination, inspiring a new generation of girls to stay authentic, optimistic and brave. The brand targets teen girl consumers through an extensive collection of Champion® originals, as well as a wide assortment of fashion sneakers and slip-ons. The brand’s product architecture consists of both core offerings and seasonal iterations featuring updated prints, patterns, materials and constructions.
Saucony®: The Saucony® brand is a leading global performance running brand with roots dating back to 1898. Saucony® targets elite, dedicated and casual running consumers through best-in-class design, innovation and performance technology. The brand is focused on meeting the biomechanical needs of runners while maximizing comfort and protection, bringing to market innovations such as: PowerGrid™ midsole technology; Sauc-Fit®, ComfortLite Sock Liner™ and HydraMAX™ upper technologies; and iBR+™ and XT-900™ outsole material innovations. Saucony® offers five categories of footwear product-technical, natural motion, race, trail and lifestyle originals, as well as a complete line of
performance running apparel. Through the Find Your Strong™ brand platform, Saucony® is strengthening connections with consumers and elevating the position of the brand globally. The brand’s products are distributed primarily through leading run specialty and sporting goods retailers.
Sperry Top-Sider®: Sperry Top-Sider® is a leading nautical performance and lifestyle brand offering footwear, apparel and accessories to a broad range of consumers globally. The brand has been an American favorite since 1935 with the advent of the industry’s first boat shoe. Today, Sperry Top-Sider® remains the unquestioned leader in the boat shoe category, but has also expanded its business into casuals, dress casuals, wet weather, boots and vulcanized product categories. The brand has evolved into a well-balanced, multi-category, year-round business for men, women and children. In addition to its lifestyle products, Sperry Top-Sider® also offers sport-specific and athlete-tested performance footwear solutions for sailors, boaters, anglers and multi-water sports enthusiast. The Advance Water Technologies™ product collection featuring ASV™ (Anti-Shock and Vibration), Grip X3 Technology® and SON-R Technology® has allowed Sperry Top-Sider® to reinforce its position as an innovation leader in these categories. The brand is primarily distributed through leading premium and better lifestyle retailers as well as through its own company-owned specialty retail stores.
Stride Rite®: With a history dating back to 1919, Stride Rite® is the industry leader in kid-focused footwear technology and innovation. Trusted by parents everywhere, and endorsed by the American Podiatric Medical Association, Stride Rite® is focused on delivering the best possible footwear for kids under 9 across a range of categories. All Stride Rite® product is created from an in-depth knowledge and understanding of how children walk and grow; every new material and component is rigorously tested to ensure safety, proper fit and durability for kids. Stride Rite’s® RITE STEPs™ program, featuring the brand’s proprietary Sensory Response Technology™, is a full footwear solution that meets kid’s needs from pre-walkers to pre-schoolers. Stride Rite® sells its own namesake brand, as well as kid’s footwear offerings from Saucony®, Sperry Top-Sider®, Keds® and select other footwear brands, through a network of mall-based specialty retail stores and a consumer-direct website. Stride Rite® also distributes footwear through better department stores, footwear independents, sporting goods, mall specialty, online retailers and national family footwear stores.
Consumer-Direct
The operating groups for the Company’s consumer direct reportable segment for fiscal 2012 are described below.
1. Wolverine Retail consists of the Company’s legacy consumer-direct business, operating 87 North American and 12 United Kingdom-based retail stores at December 29, 2012. These stores are operated under the Hush Puppies®, Hush Puppies and FamilySM, Track’N Trail®, Sebago®, Wolverine Company Store®, Rockford Footwear Depot® and Merrell® names. The Wolverine Company Store®, Track’N Trail®, Hush Puppies® and Hush Puppies and FamilySM retail formats carry a large selection of Company-branded products, featuring such brands as Wolverine®, Merrell®, Hush Puppies®, Cat®, Chaco®, Cushe®, Patagonia®, Sebago® and Harley-Davidson®. The Company also operates Merrell® specialty stores, Hush Puppies® specialty stores and Sebago® specialty stores, providing a platform to showcase these brands exclusively. In addition, Wolverine retail operates 38 consumer-direct retail websites, including www.merrell.com, www.wolverine.com, www.cushe.com, www.hushpuppies.com, www.chacos.com, www.catfootwear.com, www.sebago.com and www.batesfootwear.com.
2. PLG Retail markets its products directly to consumers through a variety of owned formats: Stride Rite® specialty and outlet children’s stores, Stride Rite® store-in-stores, Sperry Top-Sider®
specialty and outlet stores, Saucony® outlet stores and eCommerce websites. At December 29, 2012, PLG retail included 345 stores, owned or licensed primarily in North America and 25 consumer-direct retail websites. Stride Rite® children’s stores are located primarily in large regional shopping centers, clustered generally in the major metropolitan areas of the U.S. Stride Rite® outlet stores, in addition to children’s footwear, also carry a broad range of footwear for adults. Most of the outlet stores are located in shopping centers consisting only of outlet stores. PLG retail also operates Stride Rite® shoe departments within select locations of a large U.S. department store chain. Sperry Top-Sider® stores tend to be located in affluent areas that embrace the nautical lifestyle that the brand projects.
Other Businesses
In addition to its branded wholesale footwear, apparel and licensing and consumer-direct reportable segments, the Company also operates a performance leathers business through its Wolverine Leathers Division.
The Wolverine Leathers Division The Wolverine Leathers Division markets pigskin leather for use primarily in the footwear industry. The Company believes pigskin leather offers superior performance and other advantages over cowhide leather. The Company’s waterproof and stain resistant leathers are featured in some of the Company’s footwear lines and many products offered by the Company’s international licensees and distributors.
Marketing
The Company’s marketing strategy is to develop brand-specific plans and related promotional materials for U.S. and international markets to foster a consistent message for each of the Company’s core brands. Each brand operating group has dedicated marketing personnel who develop the marketing strategy for brands within that group. Marketing campaigns and strategies vary by brand and are designed to target accounts and/or end users as the branded operating groups strive to increase awareness of, and affinity for, the Company’s brands. The Company’s advertisements typically emphasize fashion, comfort, quality, durability, functionality and other performance and lifestyle aspects of the Company’s products. Components of the brand-specific plans vary and may include print, radio and television advertising, search engine optimization, social networking sites, event sponsorships, in-store point-of-purchase displays, promotional materials, and sales and technical assistance.
The Company’s branded operating groups provide its licensees and distributors with creative direction, brand images and other materials to convey consistent brand messaging, including (i) direction on the categories of footwear to be promoted, (ii) photography and layouts, (iii) broadcast advertising, including commercials and film footage, (iv) point-of-purchase presentation specifications, blueprints and packaging, (v) sales materials and (vi) consulting services regarding retail store layout and design. The Company believes its brand names represent a competitive advantage, and the Company makes significant expenditures on marketing and promotion to support the position of its products and enhance brand awareness.
Domestic Sales and Distribution
The Company targets a wide variety of domestic distribution channels and strategies to distribute its branded products:
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The Company uses a dedicated sales force and customer service team, advertising and point-of-purchase support and maintains in-stock inventories to service department stores, national chains, specialty retailers, catalogs, independent retailers, uniform outlets and its own consumer-direct business.
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Volume direct programs ship products directly to the retail customer without going through a Company distribution center and provide products at competitive prices with limited marketing support. The Company uses these programs to service major retail, catalog, mass merchant and government customers.
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A network of independent Shoemobile® distribution outlets distributes the Company’s work and occupational footwear at industrial facilities.
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The Company solicits all branches of the U.S. military and submits bids for contracts to supply specific footwear products. Such contracts typically contain future purchase options that may or may not be exercised.
In addition to its wholesale activities, the Company also operates a consumer-direct business as described above. The Company continues to develop new programs, both independently and in conjunction with its retail customers, for the distribution of its products.
A broad distribution base insulates the Company from dependence on any one customer. No customer of the Company accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s revenue in fiscal 2012.
The Company experiences moderate fluctuations in sales volume during the year as reflected in quarterly revenue (and taking into consideration the 16 weeks or 17 weeks included in the Company’s fiscal fourth quarter versus the 12 weeks included in each of the first three fiscal quarters). The Company expects current seasonal sales patterns to continue in future years. The Company also experiences some fluctuation in its levels of working capital, typically including an increase in net working capital requirements near the end of the first and third fiscal quarters. The Company meets its working capital requirements through internal free cash flow and, as needed, a Revolving Credit Facility.
International Operations and Global Licensing
The Company’s foreign-sourced revenue is generated from a combination of (i) sales of branded footwear and apparel through the Company’s owned operations in Canada, the United Kingdom and certain countries in continental Europe, (ii) sales to third-party distributors for certain markets and businesses, and (iii) royalty income from a network of third-party licensees and distributors, and income from joint ventures that market the Company’s branded products in certain countries in South America and Asia. The Company’s international owned operations are located in markets where the Company believes it can gain a strategic advantage by directly controlling the sale of its products into retail accounts. License and distribution arrangements enable the Company to develop sales in other markets without the capital commitment required to maintain related foreign operations, employees, inventories or localized marketing programs. During fiscal 2012, the Company formed joint ventures to market and distribute footwear and apparel in Colombia and India. The Company believes that these joint ventures will provide it with a more meaningful ownership stake and near-term brand impact in these fast-growing markets than its traditional licensee and distributor arrangements.
The Company continues to develop its network of licensees and distributors to market its branded products. The Company assists its licensees in designing products that are appropriate to each foreign market, but consistent with the global brand positioning. Pursuant to distribution or license agreements, third-party licensees and distributors either purchase goods directly from the Company and authorized third-party manufacturers or manufacture branded products themselves, consistent with Company standards. Distributors and licensees are responsible for independently marketing and distributing the Company’s branded products in their respective territories, with product and marketing support from the Company.
Manufacturing and Sourcing
The Company directly controls the majority of the units of footwear and apparel manufactured or sourced under the Company’s brand names. The Company’s licensees directly control the balance. A substantial majority of the units sourced or manufactured by the Company are procured from third parties, with the remainder produced at Company-owned facilities. The Company sources a majority of its footwear from numerous third-party manufacturers in the Asia Pacific region, South America and India. The Company maintains offices in the Asia
Pacific region to facilitate and develop strategies for the sourcing and importation of quality footwear and apparel. The Company has established guidelines for each of its third-party manufacturers in order to monitor product quality, labor practices and financial viability. The Company has adopted “Engagement Criteria for Partners & Sources,” a policy that requires that the Company’s domestic and foreign manufacturers, licensees and distributors use ethical business standards; comply with all applicable health and safety laws and regulations; commit to use environmentally safe practices; treat employees fairly with respect to wages, benefits and working conditions; and not use child or prison labor. Footwear produced by the Company is manufactured at Company-operated facilities located in Michigan and the Dominican Republic.
The Company’s owned manufacturing operations allow the Company to (i) reduce its production lead time, to more quickly respond to market demand and reduce inventory risk, (ii) lower freight, shipping and duty costs for sales to certain markets, and (iii) more closely monitor product quality. The Company’s third-party sourcing strategy allows the Company to (i) benefit from lower manufacturing costs and state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, (ii) source high quality raw materials from around the world, and (iii) avoid capital expenditures necessary for additional owned factories. The Company believes that its overall global manufacturing strategy provides the flexibility to properly balance the need for timely shipments, high quality products and competitive pricing.
The Company’s principal required raw material is quality leather, which it purchases from a select group of domestic and foreign suppliers. The global availability of common upper materials and specialty leathers eliminates any reliance by the Company on a sole supplier.
The Company currently purchases all of the raw pigskins used for its Wolverine Leathers Division from one domestic source, which has been a reliable and consistent supplier to the Company for over 40 years. Alternative sources of raw pigskin are available, but with less advantageous pricing, quality and compatibility with the Company’s processing method. The Company purchases all of its other raw materials and component parts from a variety of sources and does not believe that any of these sources are a dominant supplier.
The Company is subject to the normal risks of doing business abroad due to its international operations, including the risk of expropriation, acts of war or terrorism, political disturbances and similar events, the imposition of trade barriers, quotas, tariffs and duties, loss of most favored nation trading status and currency and exchange rate fluctuations. With respect to international sourcing activities, management believes that over a period of time, it could arrange adequate alternative sources of supply for the products currently obtained from its foreign suppliers, but that a sustained disruption of such sources of supply could have an adverse impact on the Company’s results of operations and financial position.
Trademarks, Licenses and Patents
The Company holds a significant portfolio of registered and common law trademarks that identify its branded products and technologies. The Company’s owned trademarks include Hush Puppies®, Dog Likeness (registered design trademark), Wolverine®, Bates®, Cushe®, Chaco®, Soft Style®, Wolverine Fusion®, DuraShocks®, MultiShox®, Wolverine Compressor®, Wolverine ICS®, Hidden Tracks®, iTechnologyTM, Bounce®, Comfort Curve®, HyTest®, Merrell®, M Circle Design (registered design trademark), Continuum®, Sebago®, Q Form®, Sperry Top-Sider®, Saucony®, Stride Rite® and Keds®. The Company’s Wolverine Leathers Division markets its pigskin leathers under the trademarks Wolverine Warrior Leather®, Weather Tight® and All Season Weather Leathers™. The Company has footwear marketing and distribution rights under the Cat®, Harley-Davidson® and Patagonia® trademarks pursuant to license arrangements with the respective trademark owners. The Cat®, Harley-Davidson®, and Patagonia® licenses extend for three or more years and are subject to early termination for breach.
The Company believes that consumers identify its products by the Company’s trademarks and that its trademarks are valuable assets. The Company is not aware of any third-party infringing uses or any prior claims of
ownership of its trademarks that could materially affect its current business. The Company has a policy of registering its primary trademarks and vigorously defending its trademarks against infringement or other threats whenever practicable. The Company also holds many design and utility patents, copyrights and various other proprietary rights. The Company vigorously protects its proprietary rights under applicable laws.
Order Backlog
At the end of fiscal 2012, the Company had an order backlog of approximately $879.4 million compared to an order backlog of approximately $483 million at the end of fiscal 2011. The increase in the fiscal 2012 backlog reflects the fiscal 2012 acquisition of PLG. A majority of the backlog relates to orders for products expected to be shipped in 2013. Orders in the backlog are subject to cancellation by customers and to changes in planned customer demand or at-once orders. The backlog at any particular time is affected by a number of factors, including seasonality, retail conditions, expected customer demand, product availability and the schedule for the manufacture and shipment of products. Accordingly, a comparison of backlog from period to period is not necessarily meaningful and may not be predictive of eventual actual shipments.
Competition
The Company markets its footwear and apparel lines in a highly competitive and fragmented environment. The Company competes with numerous domestic and international marketers and importers, some of which are larger and have greater resources than the Company. The Company has a significant number of major competitors for its brands of footwear and apparel. Product performance and quality, including technological improvements, product identity, competitive pricing and ability to control costs, and the ability to adapt to style changes are all important elements of competition in the footwear and apparel markets served by the Company. The footwear and apparel industries in general are subject to changes in consumer preferences. The Company strives to maintain its competitive position through promotions designed to increase brand awareness, manufacturing and sourcing efficiencies, and the style, comfort and value of its products. Future sales by the Company will be affected by its continued ability to sell its products at competitive prices and to meet shifts in consumer preferences.
Because of the lack of reliable published statistics, the Company is unable to state with certainty its competitive position in the overall footwear and apparel industries. Market shares in the non-athletic footwear and apparel industry are highly fragmented, and no one company has a dominant market position.
Research and Development
In addition to normal and recurring product development, design and styling activities, the Company engages in research and development activities related to the development of new production techniques and to the improvement of the function, performance, reliability and quality of its branded footwear and other products. For example, the Company’s continuing relationship with the Biomechanics Evaluation Laboratory at Michigan State University has helped validate and refine specific biomechanical design concepts, such as Bounce®, DuraShocks® and Hidden Tracks® comfort technologies that have been incorporated into the Company’s footwear. With the acquisition of PLG, the Company now incorporates the research and testing capabilities of the Saucony® human performance and innovation lab as well as research funded at University labs including the University of Colorado and the University of Delaware with a particular focus on quantifying the interaction between footwear and apparel and runners’ strides. While the Company expects to continue to be a leading developer of footwear innovations, research and development costs do not represent a material portion of operating expenses.
Environmental Matters
Compliance with foreign and domestic federal, state and local requirements regulating the discharge of materials into the environment, or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment, have not had, nor are they
expected to have, any material effect on the capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position of the Company. The Company uses and generates certain substances and wastes that are regulated or may be deemed hazardous to the environment under certain federal, state and local regulations. The Company works with domestic and foreign federal, state and local agencies from time to time to resolve cleanup issues at various waste sites and other regulatory issues.
Employees
As of December 29, 2012, the Company had approximately 8,299 domestic and foreign production, office and sales employees. Approximately 58 employees were covered by a single union contract that expires on March 31, 2013. The Company presently considers its employee relations to be good.
Available Information
Information about the Company, including the Company’s Code of Conduct & Compliance, Corporate Governance Guidelines, Director Independence Standards, Accounting and Finance Code of Ethics, Audit Committee Charter, Compensation Committee Charter, and Governance Committee Charter, is available at its website at www.wolverineworldwide.com/investor-relations/corporate-governance. Printed copies of the documents listed above are available, without charge, by writing to the Company at 9341 Courtland Drive, N.E., Rockford, Michigan 49351, Attention: General Counsel.
The Company also makes available on or through its website, free of charge, the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports (along with certain other Company filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”)), as soon as reasonably practicable after electronically filing such material with, or furnishing it to, the SEC. These materials are also accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Item 1A.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Risks related to the Company’s business
Changes in general economic conditions and other factors affecting consumer spending could adversely affect the Company’s sales, operating results or financial position.
The Company’s global operations depend on factors affecting consumer disposable income and spending patterns. These factors include general economic conditions, employment rates, business conditions, interest rates and tax policy in each of the markets and regions in which the Company operates. Customers may defer or cancel purchases of the Company’s products due to uncertainty about global economic conditions. Consumer confidence may decline due to recessionary economic cycles, high interest rates on consumer or business borrowings, restricted credit availability, inflation, high levels of unemployment or consumer debt, high tax rates or other economic factors. For example, the challenging economic environment in Europe has adversely impacted the Company’s results of operations in fiscal 2012, and the Company expects the adverse economic environment will continue to affect its sales and earnings across that region in the near future as the result of austerity measures imposed by certain governments and high levels of unemployment, as well as a general loss of consumer confidence. Declining consumer confidence could adversely affect demand for the Company’s products. Changes in the amount or severity of bad weather and the growth or decline of global footwear, apparel or consumer-direct markets could negatively affect consumer spending. A decline in demand for the Company’s products could reduce its revenues or profit margins.
General economic conditions and other factors such as those listed above may increase the Company’s cost of sales and decrease the Company’s profitability. The Company’s profitability is also dependent on the prices of commodities, such as cotton, rubber and petroleum, used to make and transport its products, as well as the prices of labor, insurance and health care, all of which may be affected by general economic conditions.
The Company operates in competitive industries and markets.
The Company competes with a large number of marketers of footwear or apparel, and consumer-direct companies. Some of these competitors are larger and have greater resources than the Company. Important elements of such competition are product performance and quality, including technological improvements, product identity, competitive pricing and the ability to adapt to style changes. Consumer preferences and, as a result, the popularity of particular designs and categories of footwear and apparel, generally change over time. The Company strives to maintain and improve its competitive position by monitoring and responding to changes in consumer preferences, increasing brand awareness, gaining sourcing efficiencies, and enhancing the style, comfort and perceived value of its products. The Company’s continued ability to sell its products at competitive prices and to meet shifts in consumer preferences will affect its future sales. If the Company is unable to respond effectively to competitive pressures and changes in consumer spending, its results of operations and financial position may be adversely affected.
Many of the Company’s competitors have more developed consumer and customer bases, are able to sell their products at lower prices, or have greater financial, technical or marketing resources than the Company, particularly its competitors in the apparel and consumer-direct businesses. The Company’s competitors may own more recognized brands; implement more effective marketing campaigns; adopt more aggressive pricing policies; make more attractive offers to potential employees, distribution partners and manufacturers; or respond more quickly to changes in consumer preferences. The Company’s results of operations and financial position could be adversely affected if its strategic initiatives are not successful.
The Company’s operating results could be adversely affected if it is unable to maintain its brands’ positive images with consumers or adjust to changing footwear and apparel trends.
The Company’s success depends in part on its brands’ images. If the Company is unable to timely and appropriately respond to changing consumer preferences and evolving footwear and apparel trends, the names and images of its brands may be impaired. If the Company fails to react appropriately to changes in consumer preferences, consumers may consider its brands’ images to be outdated or associate its brands with styles that are no longer popular. Such failures could result in substantial unsold inventory and adversely affect the Company’s operating results.
The Company’s operating results depend on effectively managing inventory levels.
The Company’s ability to manage its inventories effectively is an important factor in its operations. Inventory shortages can impede the Company’s ability to meet demand, adversely affect the timing of shipments to customers, and, consequently, diminish brand loyalty and decrease sales. Conversely, excess inventories can result in lower gross margins if the Company lowers prices in order to liquidate excess inventories. In addition, inventory may become obsolete as a result of changes in consumer preferences or otherwise. The Company’s business, results of operations and financial position could be adversely affected if it is unable to effectively manage its inventory.
Increases or changes in duties, quotas, tariffs and other trade restrictions could adversely impact the Company’s sales and profitability.
All of the Company’s products manufactured overseas and imported into the U.S., the European Union and other countries are subject to customs duties collected by customs authorities. The customs information submitted by the Company is routinely subject to review by customs authorities. Additional U.S. or foreign customs duties, quotas, tariffs, anti-dumping duties, safeguard measures, cargo restrictions to prevent terrorism or other trade restrictions may be imposed on the importation of the Company’s products in the future. The imposition of such costs or restrictions in foreign countries where the Company operates, as well as in countries where its third-party distributors and licensees operate, could result in increases in the cost of the Company’s products generally and could adversely affect its sales and profitability.
Foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations could adversely impact the Company’s business.
Foreign currency fluctuations affect the Company’s reported revenue and profitability. Changes in currency exchange rates may impact the Company’s financial results positively or negatively in one period and not another, which may make it difficult to compare its operating results from different periods. Currency exchange rate fluctuations may also adversely impact third parties that manufacture the Company’s products by making their costs of raw materials or other production costs more expensive and more difficult to finance, thereby raising prices for the Company, its distributors and its licensees. The Company’s hedging strategy may not be effective in reducing all risks, and no hedging strategy can completely insulate the Company from foreign exchange risk. The Company does not hedge foreign currency translation rate changes. For a more detailed discussion of the risks related to foreign currency fluctuation, see Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Significant supplier capacity constraints, supplier production disruptions, supplier quality issues or price increases could increase the Company’s operating costs and adversely impact the Company’s business.
The Company currently sources most of its products from third-party manufacturers in foreign countries, predominantly China. As is common in the industry, the Company does not have long-term contracts with its third-party suppliers. There can be no assurance that the Company will not experience difficulties with such suppliers, including reductions in the availability of production capacity, failures to meet production deadlines or increases in manufacturing costs. The Company’s future results will depend partly on its ability to maintain positive working relationships with third-party suppliers.
Foreign manufacturing is subject to a number of risks, including work stoppages, transportation delays and interruptions, political instability, foreign currency fluctuations, changing economic conditions, expropriation, nationalization, the imposition of tariffs, import and export controls and other non-tariff barriers and changes in governmental policies. Various factors could significantly interfere with the Company’s ability to source its products, including adverse developments in trade or political relations with China or other countries where it sources its products, or a shift in China’s manufacturing capacity away from footwear and apparel to other industries. Any of these events could have an adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial position and, in particular, on the Company’s ability to meet customer demands and produce its products in a cost-effective manner.
The cost of raw materials and services could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations.
The Company’s ability to competitively price its products depends on the cost of components, services, labor, equipment and raw materials, including leather and materials used in the production of footwear. The cost of services and materials is subject to change based on availability and market conditions that are difficult to predict. Various conditions, such as diseases affecting the availability of leather, affect the cost of the footwear marketed by the Company. In addition, fuel prices and numerous other factors, such as the possibility of service interruptions at shipping and receiving ports, affect the Company’s shipping costs. Increases in cost for services and materials used in production could have a negative impact on the Company’s results of operations and financial position. The Company purchases raw pigskins for its leathers operations from a single domestic source pursuant to short-term contracts. If this source fails to continue to supply the Company with raw pigskin or supplies the Company with raw pigskin on less favorable terms, the Company’s cost of raw materials for its leathers operations could increase and, as a result, have a negative impact on the Company’s results of operations and financial position.
Labor disruptions could adversely affect the Company’s business.
The Company’s business depends on its ability to source and distribute products in a timely manner. Labor disputes at or that affect independent factories where the Company’s goods are produced, shipping ports, tanneries, transportation carriers, retail stores or distribution centers create significant risks for the Company’s
business, particularly if these disputes result in work slowdowns, lockouts, strikes or other disruptions during its peak manufacturing and importing seasons. Any labor dispute may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, potentially resulting in cancelled orders by customers and unanticipated inventory accumulation, and may negatively impact the Company’s results of operations and financial position.
A significant reduction in customer purchases of the Company’s products or failure of customers to pay for the Company’s products in a timely manner could adversely affect the Company’s business.
The Company’s financial success is directly related to its customers continuing to purchase its products. The Company does not typically have long-term contracts with its customers. Sales to the Company’s customers are generally on an order-to-order basis and are subject to rights of cancellation and rescheduling by the customers. Failure to fill customers’ orders in a timely manner could harm the Company’s relationships with its customers. Furthermore, if any of the Company’s major customers experiences a significant downturn in its business, or fails to remain committed to the Company’s products or brands, that customers may reduce or discontinue purchases from the Company, which could have an adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial position.
The Company sells its products to customers and extends credit based on an evaluation of each customer’s financial condition. The financial difficulties of a customer could cause the Company to stop doing business with that customer or reduce its business with that customer. The Company’s inability to collect from its customers or a cessation or reduction of sales to certain customers because of credit concerns could have an adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial position.
The general trend toward consolidation in retail and specialty retail could lead to fewer customers, customers seeking more favorable price, payment or other terms from the Company and a decrease in the number of stores that carry its products. In addition, changes in the channels of distribution, such as the continued growth of Internet commerce and the trend toward the sale of private label products by major retailers, could have an adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial position.
The Company has been awarded a number of U.S. Department of Defense contracts that include future purchase options for Bates® footwear. The Department of Defense is not obligated to exercise these future purchase options for Bates® footwear or to solicit future footwear awards at levels consistent with historical awards or in a manner in which the Company, as a large business contractor, is eligible to bid. Failure by the Department of Defense to exercise purchase options or the Company’s failure to secure future U.S. Department of Defense contracts could have an adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial position.
Seasonality and weather conditions affect the Company’s business.
The Company markets and sells footwear and apparel suited for specific seasons, such as sandals in the summer season and boots in the winter season. If the weather conditions for a particular season vary significantly from those typical for the season, such as an unusually cold and rainy summer, or an unusually warm and dry winter, consumer demand for seasonally appropriate merchandise could be adversely affected. Lower demand for seasonally appropriate merchandise may result in excess inventory, forcing the Company to sell these products at significantly discounted prices, which would adversely affect the Company’s results of operations. Conversely, if weather conditions permit the Company to sell seasonal products early in the season, this may reduce inventory levels needed to meet customers’ needs later in that same season. Consequently, the Company’s results of operations are highly dependent on future weather conditions and its ability to react to changes in weather conditions.
Changes in the credit markets could adversely affect the Company’s financial success.
Changes in the credit markets could adversely impact the Company’s future results of operations and financial position. If the Company’s third-party distributors, suppliers and retailers are not able to obtain financing on
favorable terms, or at all, they may delay or cancel orders for the Company’s products, or fail to meet their obligations to the Company in a timely manner, either of which could adversely impact the Company’s sales, cash flow and operating results. In addition, the lack of available credit or an increase in the cost of credit may significantly impair the Company’s ability to obtain additional credit to finance future expansion plans, or refinance existing credit, on favorable terms, or at all.
Unfavorable findings resulting from a government audit could subject the Company to a variety of penalties and sanctions, and could negatively impact its future revenues.
The federal government has the right to audit the Company’s performance under its government contracts. If a government audit discovers improper or illegal activities, the Company could be subject to civil and criminal penalties and administrative sanctions, including termination of contracts, forfeiture of profits, suspension of payments, fines, and suspension or debarment from doing business with U.S. federal government agencies. The Company could also suffer serious harm to its reputation if the U.S. government alleges that the Company acted in an improper or illegal manner, whether or not any such allegations have merit. If, as the result of an audit or for any other reason, the Company is suspended or barred from contracting with the federal government generally, or any specific agency, if the Company’s reputation or relationship with government agencies is impaired, or if the government otherwise ceases doing business with the Company or significantly decreases the amount of business it does with the Company, the Company’s revenue and profitability would decrease. The Company is also subject to customs and other audits in various jurisdictions where it operates. Negative audit findings could have an adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial position.
An increase in the Company’s effective tax rate or negative determinations by domestic or foreign tax authorities could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial position.
A significant amount of the Company’s earnings are generated by its Canadian, European and Asia Pacific subsidiaries and, to a lesser extent, in jurisdictions that are not subject to income tax and free trade zones where it owns manufacturing operations. As a result, the Company’s income tax expense has historically differed from the tax computed at the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate due to discrete items and because the Company does not provide for U.S. taxes on earnings it considers to be permanently reinvested in foreign operations. The Company’s future effective tax rates could be unfavorably affected by a number of factors including: changes in the tax rates in jurisdictions in which the Company generates income; changes in, or in the interpretation of, tax rules and regulations in the jurisdictions in which the Company does business; decreases in the amount of earnings in countries with low statutory tax rates; or if the Company repatriates foreign earnings for which no provision for U.S. taxes has previously been made. An increase in the Company’s effective tax rate could have a material adverse effect on its after-tax results of operations and financial position.
In addition, the Company’s income tax returns are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and other domestic and foreign tax authorities. The Company regularly assesses the likelihood of outcomes resulting from these examinations to determine the adequacy of its provision for income taxes, and establishes reserves for potential adjustments that may result from these examinations. While the Company believes the estimates used to establish these reserves are reasonable, there can be no assurance that the final determination of any of these examinations will not have an adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial position.
Failure of the Company’s international licensees and distributors to meet sales goals or to make timely payments on amounts owed to the Company could adversely affect the Company’s financial performance.
In many international markets, independent licensees or distributors sell the Company’s products. Failure by the Company’s licensees or distributors to meet planned annual sales goals or to make timely payments on amounts owed to the Company could have an adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial position, and it may be difficult and costly to locate an acceptable substitute distributor or licensee. If a
change in licensee or distributor becomes necessary, the Company may experience increased costs, as well as substantial disruption and a resulting loss of sales and brand equity in the market where such licensee or distributor operates.
The Company’s reputation and competitive position are dependent on its third-party manufacturers, distributors, licensees and others complying with applicable laws and the Company’s ethical standards.
The Company requires its independent contract manufacturers, distributors, licensees and others with which it does business to comply with its ethical standards and applicable laws relating to working conditions and other matters. If a party with whom the Company does business is found to have violated the Company’s ethical standards or applicable laws, the Company could receive negative publicity that could damage its reputation and negatively affect the value of its brands.
In addition, the Company relies on its licensees to help preserve the value of the Company’s brands. Although the Company attempts to protect its brands through approval rights over design, production processes, quality, packaging, merchandising, distribution, advertising and promotion of its licensed products, the Company cannot completely control the use by its licensees of its licensed brands. The misuse of a brand by a licensee could adversely affect the value of such brand.
Global political and economic uncertainty could adversely impact the Company’s business.
Concerns regarding acts of terrorism and regional and international conflicts have created significant global economic and political uncertainties that may have material and adverse effects on consumer demand, acceptance of U.S. brands in international markets, foreign sourcing of products, shipping and transportation, product imports and exports, and the sale of products in foreign markets, any of which could adversely affect the Company’s ability to source, manufacture, distribute and sell its products. The Company is subject to risks related to doing business in developing countries and economically volatile areas. These risks include social, political and economic instability; nationalization of the Company’s, or its distributors’ and licensees’, assets and operations by local government authorities; slower payment of invoices; and restrictions on the Company’s ability to repatriate foreign currency or receive payment of amounts owed by third-party distributors and licensees. In addition, commercial laws in these areas may not be well developed or consistently administered, and new laws may be retroactively applied. Any of these risks could have an adverse impact on the Company’s prospects and results of operations in these areas.
Concerns regarding the European debt crisis, market perceptions and euro instability could adversely affect the Company’s business, results of operations and financing.
Concerns persist regarding the debt burden of certain countries in the Eurozone, in particular Greece, Italy, Ireland, Portugal and Spain, and their ability to meet future financial obligations, as well as the overall stability of the euro and the suitability of the euro as a single currency given the diverse economic and political circumstances in individual Eurozone countries. These concerns could lead to the re-introduction of individual currencies in one or more Eurozone countries, or, in more extreme circumstances, the possible dissolution of the euro as a currency. Should the euro be dissolved, the legal and contractual consequences for holders of euro-denominated obligations would be determined by laws in effect at that time. These potential developments, or market perceptions concerning these and related issues, could adversely affect the value of the Company’s euro-denominated assets and obligations. In addition, concerns over the effect of this financial crisis on financial institutions in Europe and elsewhere could have an adverse impact on the capital markets generally and, more specifically, on the ability of the Company’s customers, suppliers and lenders to finance their respective businesses.
If the Company is unsuccessful in establishing and protecting its intellectual property, the value of its brands could be adversely affected.
The Company invests significant resources to develop and protect its intellectual property, and it believes that its trademarks and other intellectual property rights are important to its future success. The Company’s ability to remain competitive is dependent upon its continued ability to secure and protect trademarks, patents and other intellectual property rights in the U.S. and internationally for all of the Company’s lines of business. The Company relies on a combination of trade secret, patent, trademark, copyright and other laws, license agreements and other contractual provisions and technical measures to protect its intellectual property rights; however, some countries’ laws do not protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as do U.S. laws.
The Company’s business could be significantly harmed if it is not able to protect its intellectual property, or if a court found it to be infringing on other persons’ intellectual property rights. Any intellectual property lawsuits or threatened lawsuits in which the Company is involved, either as a plaintiff or as a defendant, could cost the Company a significant amount of time and money and distract management’s attention from operating the Company’s business. In addition, if the Company does not prevail on any intellectual property claims, then it may have to change its manufacturing processes, products or trade names, any of which could reduce its profitability. In addition, some of the Company’s branded footwear operations are operated pursuant to licensing agreements with third-party trademark owners. These agreements are subject to early termination for breach. Expiration or early termination of any of these license agreements by the licensor could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial position.
The Company periodically discovers products that are counterfeit reproductions of its products or that it believes otherwise infringe on its intellectual property rights. The Company has not always been able to stop production and sales of counterfeit products and infringement of its intellectual property rights. The actions the Company takes to establish and protect trademarks, patents and other intellectual property rights both inside and outside of the U.S. may not be adequate to prevent imitation of its products by others. Continued sales of products that infringe the Company’s intellectual property rights could adversely affect its sales, devalue its brands and result in the shift of consumer preference away from its products.
The Company’s inability to attract and retain executive managers and other key employees, or the loss of one or more executive managers or other key employees, could adversely affect the Company’s business.
The Company depends on its executive management and other key employees. In the footwear, apparel and consumer-direct industries, competition for key executive talent is intense, and the Company’s failure to identify, attract or retain executive managers or other key employees could adversely affect its business. The Company must offer and maintain competitive compensation packages to effectively recruit and retain such individuals. Further, the loss of one or more executive managers or other key employees, or the Company’s failure to successfully implement succession planning, could adversely affect the Company, its results of operations or financial position.
Inflationary pressures and other pressures may lead to higher employment and pension costs for the Company.
General inflationary pressures, changes in employment laws and regulations, and other factors could increase the Company’s overall employment costs. The Company’s employment costs include costs relating to health care benefits and benefits under its retirement plans, including U.S.-based defined benefit plans. The annual cost of benefits can vary significantly depending on a number of factors, including changes in the assumed or actual rate of return on pension plan assets, a change in the discount rate used to determine the annual service cost related to the defined benefit plans, a change in method or timing of meeting pension funding obligations and the rate of health care cost inflation. Increases in the Company’s overall employment and pension costs could have an adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial position.
Disruption of the Company’s information technology systems could adversely affect the Company’s business.
The Company’s information technology systems are critical to the operations of its business. Any interruption, unauthorized access, impairment or loss of data integrity or malfunction of these systems could severely impact the Company’s business, including as a result of delays in product fulfillment and reduced efficiency in operations. In addition, costs and potential problems and interruptions associated with the implementation of new or upgraded systems, or with maintenance or adequate support of existing systems, could disrupt or reduce the efficiency of the Company’s operations.
If the Company encounters problems affecting its distribution system, its ability to deliver its products to the market could be adversely affected.
The Company relies on owned or independently operated distribution facilities to warehouse and ship products to its customers. The Company’s distribution system includes computer-controlled and automated equipment, which may be subject to a number of risks related to security or computer viruses, the proper operation of software and hardware, power interruptions or other system failures. Because substantially all of the Company’s products are distributed from a relatively small number of locations, its operations could also be interrupted by earthquakes, floods, fires or other natural disasters near its distribution centers. The Company maintains business interruption insurance, but it may not adequately protect the Company from the adverse effects that could be caused by significant disruptions affecting its distribution facilities, such as the long-term loss of customers or an erosion of brand image. In addition, the Company’s distribution capacity is dependent on the timely performance of services by third parties, including the transportation of products to and from the Company’s distribution facilities. If the Company encounters problems affecting its distribution system, its ability to meet customer expectations, manage inventory, complete sales and achieve operating efficiencies could be materially adversely affected.
Failure to maintain the security of personally identifiable and other information of the Company’s customers and employees could negatively impact its business.
In connection with the Company’s business, it collects and retains significant volumes of certain types of personally identifiable and other information pertaining to its customers and employees. Theft, loss, fraudulent use or misuse of customer, employee or the Company’s other data as a result of cybercrime or otherwise could adversely impact the Company’s reputation and could result in significant costs, fines, litigation or regulatory action against the Company.
The Company faces risks associated with its growth strategy and acquiring businesses.
The Company has expanded its products and markets in part through strategic acquisitions, and it may continue to do so in the future, depending on its ability to identify and successfully pursue suitable acquisition candidates. Acquisitions, including the recent PLG acquisition, involve numerous risks, including risks inherent in entering new markets in which the Company may not have prior experience; potential loss of significant customers or key personnel of the acquired business; managing geographically-remote operations; and potential diversion of management’s attention from other aspects of the Company’s business operations. Acquisitions may also cause the Company to incur debt or result in dilutive issuances of its equity securities, write-offs of goodwill and substantial amortization expenses associated with other intangible assets. The Company may not be able to obtain financing on favorable terms that may be necessary to finance future acquisitions, making any such acquisitions more expensive. Any such financing may have onerous terms that restrict the Company’s operations. The Company cannot provide assurance that it will be able to successfully integrate the operations of any acquired businesses into its operations and achieve the expected benefits of any acquisitions. The failure to successfully integrate newly acquired businesses or achieve the expected benefits of strategic acquisitions in the future could have an adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial position. The Company may not consummate a potential acquisition for a variety of reasons, but it may nonetheless incur material costs in the preliminary stages of such an acquisition that it cannot recover.
Maintenance and growth of the Company’s business depends upon the availability of adequate capital.
The maintenance and growth of the Company’s business depends on the availability of adequate capital, which in turn depends in large part on cash flow generated by the Company’s business and the availability of equity and debt financing. The Company cannot provide assurance that its operations will generate positive cash flow or that it will be able to obtain equity or debt financing on acceptable terms or at all. Further, the Company cannot provide assurance that it will be able to finance any expansion plans.
Expanding the Company’s brands into new markets and expanding its owned consumer-direct operations may be difficult and costly, and unsuccessful efforts to do so may adversely affect the Company’s brands and business.
As part of the Company’s growth strategy, it seeks to enhance the positioning of its brands, to extend its brands into complementary product categories, to expand geographically, and to expand its owned consumer-direct operations. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully implement any or all of these growth strategies, which could have an adverse effect on its results of operations and financial position.
Part of the future growth of the Company’s owned consumer-direct operations is significantly dependent on the Company’s ability to operate stores in desirable locations at reasonable lease costs. The Company cannot be sure as to when or whether such desirable locations will become available at reasonable costs. Further, if the Company is unable to renew or replace its existing store leases or enter into leases for new stores at attractive locations on favorable terms, or if the Company violates any of the terms of its current leases, its growth and profitability could be harmed.
Changes in government regulation may increase the Company’s costs of compliance and failure to comply with government regulations or other standards may adversely affect its brands and business.
The Company’s business is affected by changes in government and regulatory policies in the U.S. and in foreign jurisdictions. New requirements relating to product safety and testing and new environmental requirements, as well as changes in tax laws, duties, tariffs and quotas, could have a negative impact on the Company’s ability to produce and market footwear at competitive prices. Failure to comply with such regulations, as well as comply with ethical, social, product, labor and environmental standards, could also jeopardize the Company’s reputation and potentially lead to various adverse consumer actions, including boycotts. Any negative publicity about these types of concerns may reduce demand for the Company’s merchandise. Damage to the Company’s reputation or loss of consumer confidence for any of these or other reasons could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations, as well as require additional resources to rebuild its reputation.
The Company’s operations are subject to environmental and workplace safety laws and regulations, and costs or claims related to these requirements could adversely affect the Company’s business.
The Company’s operations are subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment, including those governing the discharge of pollutants into the air, soil and water, the management and disposal of solid and hazardous materials and wastes, employee exposure to hazards in the workplace, and the investigation and remediation of contamination resulting from releases of hazardous materials. Failure to comply with legal requirements could result in, among other things, revocation of required licenses, administrative enforcement actions, fines and civil and criminal liability. The Company may incur investigation, remediation or other costs related to releases of hazardous materials or other environmental conditions at its currently or formerly owned or operated properties, regardless of whether such environmental conditions were created by the Company or a third party, such as a prior owner or tenant. The Company has incurred, and continues to incur, costs to address soil and groundwater contamination at some locations. If such issues become more expensive to address, or if new issues arise, they could increase the Company’s expenses, generate negative publicity, or otherwise adversely affect the Company.
The disruption, expense and potential liability associated with existing and future litigation against the Company could adversely affect its reputation, financial position or results of operations.
The Company is a defendant from time to time in lawsuits and regulatory actions relating to its business. Due to the inherent uncertainties of litigation and regulatory proceedings, the Company cannot accurately predict the ultimate outcome of any such proceedings. An unfavorable outcome could have an adverse impact on the Company’s business, financial position and results of operations. In addition, regardless of the outcome of any litigation or regulatory proceedings, such proceedings are expensive and may require that the Company devote substantial resources and executive time to the defense of such proceedings.
Provisions of Delaware law and the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws could prevent or delay a change in control or change in management that could be beneficial to the Company’s stockholders.
Provisions of the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws, as well as provisions of Delaware law, could discourage, delay or prevent a merger, acquisition or other change in control of the Company. These provisions are intended to protect stockholders’ interests by providing the Company’s Board of Directors a means to attempt to deny coercive takeover attempts or to negotiate with a potential acquirer in order to obtain more favorable terms. Such provisions include a Board of Directors that is classified so that only one-third of directors stand for election each year. These provisions could also discourage proxy contests and make it more difficult for stockholders to elect directors and take other corporate actions.
There are risks, including stock market volatility, inherent in owning the Company’s common stock.
The market price and volume of the Company’s common stock have been, and may continue to be, subject to significant fluctuations. These fluctuations may arise from general stock market conditions, the impact of risk factors described in this Item 1A on the Company’s financial position and results of operations, a change in sentiment in the market regarding the Company’s business prospects or other factors, many of which may be outside the Company’s immediate control. Changes in the amounts and frequency of share repurchases or dividends could adversely affect the value of the Company’s common stock.
Risks related to the recent acquisition of PLG
The Company’s failure to successfully integrate PLG or realize the benefits of the transaction in a timely and cost-efficient manner could adversely affect the Company’s business.
The success of the PLG acquisition will depend, in part, on the Company’s ability to fully realize the anticipated benefits and synergies from combining its business and PLG. To realize these anticipated benefits and synergies, the Company must successfully integrate its business with PLG. Any failure to timely realize these anticipated benefits and synergies could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial position. The integration process could result in the following: loss of key employees, suppliers, distributors, other business partners or significant customers; decreases in revenues; information technology systems integration disruptions; increases in taxes or operating or other costs; and/or the disruption of the Company’s business, any of which could limit the Company’s ability to achieve the anticipated benefits and synergies of the acquisition and could have an adverse effect on the Company’s operating results. Integration efforts also require substantial commitments of management’s attention and other resources, which could otherwise have been allocated to different uses that may have been beneficial to the Company.
The Company’s indebtedness increased following the completion of the PLG acquisition, which could adversely affect the Company.
The Company’s current indebtedness, which is significantly greater than the Company’s indebtedness prior to the PLG acquisition, could adversely affect the Company by decreasing its business flexibility and increasing its borrowing costs. In connection with the acquisition, the Company entered into a credit agreement for a new $1.1
billion senior secured credit facility and issued $375 million aggregate principal amount of 6.125% eight year senior notes in a private offering. The new senior secured credit agreement and the indenture governing the senior notes contain customary restrictive covenants imposing operating and financial restrictions on the Company, including restrictions that may limit the Company’s ability to engage in acts that may be in its long-term best interests. These covenants restrict the ability of the Company and certain of its subsidiaries to, among other things: incur or guarantee indebtedness; incur liens; pay dividends or repurchase stock; enter into transactions with affiliates; consummate asset sales, acquisitions or mergers; prepay certain other indebtedness; or make investments. In addition, the restrictive covenants in the senior secured credit agreement require the Company to maintain specified financial ratios and satisfy other financial condition tests.
These restrictive covenants may limit the Company’s ability to finance future operations or capital needs or to engage in other business activities. The Company’s ability to comply with any financial covenants could be materially affected by events beyond its control, and there can be no assurance that the Company will satisfy any such requirements. If the Company fails to comply with these covenants, it may need to seek waivers or amendments of such covenants, seek alternative or additional sources of financing or reduce its expenditures. The Company may be unable to obtain such waivers, amendments or alternative or additional financing on favorable terms or at all.
The Company will incur significant transaction and integration costs as a result of the PLG acquisition.
The Company has incurred significant transaction costs specifically attributable to the PLG acquisition, including investment banking, legal and accounting fees and expenses, and other related charges. In addition, the Company has incurred, and expects to continue to incur, significant costs in connection with fully integrating PLG into the Company’s business. Costs incurred in connection with the PLG integration may be higher than expected. These costs could adversely affect the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
The Company has made certain assumptions relating to the PLG acquisition in its forecasts that may prove to be materially inaccurate.
The Company has made certain assumptions relating to future revenue growth, cost savings, synergies and associated costs of the PLG acquisition. These assumptions may be inaccurate based on the information available to the Company, the failure to realize the expected benefits of the PLG acquisition, higher than expected transaction and integration costs and/or unknown liabilities, as well as general economic and business conditions that may adversely affect the combined company.
Item 1B.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 2.
Item 2. Properties
The Company operates its domestic administration, sales and marketing operations primarily from an owned facility of approximately 225,000 square feet in Rockford, Michigan, as well as a leased facility of approximately 147,000 square feet in Lexington, Massachusetts. The Company’s manufacturing operations are conducted primarily at a combination of leased and owned facilities in Michigan and the Dominican Republic. The Company operates its U.S. distribution operations primarily through an owned distribution center in Rockford, Michigan, of approximately 305,000 square feet, a leased distribution center in Cedar Springs, Michigan, of approximately 356,000 square feet, a leased distribution center in Howard City, Michigan, of approximately 460,000 square feet, an owned distribution facility of approximately 520,000 square feet in Louisville, Kentucky, and a leased distribution facility of approximately 200,000 square feet in Brookville, Ohio.
The Company also leases and owns various other offices and distribution centers to meet its operational requirements. In addition, the Company operates retail stores through leases with various third-party landlords.
The Company conducts international operations in Canada, the United Kingdom, China, Hong Kong and continental Europe through leased distribution centers, offices and/or showrooms. The Company believes that its current facilities are suitable and adequate to meet its current needs.
Item 3.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
The Company is involved in litigation and various legal matters arising in the normal course of business, including certain environmental compliance activities. The Company has considered facts related to legal and regulatory matters and advice of counsel handling these matters, and does not believe the ultimate resolution of such proceedings will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
Item 4.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
Supplemental Item. Executive Officers of the Registrant
The following table lists the names and ages of the executive officers of the Company and the positions held with the Company as of February 27, 2013. The information provided below the table lists the business experience of each such Executive Officer for at least the past five years. All Executive Officers serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors of the Company, or, if not appointed by the Board of Directors, they serve at the pleasure of management.
Name
Age
Positions held with the Company
Donald T. Grimes
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
R. Paul Guerre
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Michael Jeppesen
President, Global Operations Group
Douglas M. Jones
Corporate Controller
Blake W. Krueger
Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President
Pamela L. Linton
Senior Vice President, Global Human Resources
Michael D. Stornant
Vice President, Corporate Finance
James D. Zwiers
Senior Vice President and President, Performance Group
Donald T. Grimes has served the Company as Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since May 2008. From 2007 to 2008, he was the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Keystone Automotive Operations, Inc., a distributor of automotive accessories and equipment. Prior to Keystone, Mr. Grimes held a series of senior corporate and divisional finance roles at Brown-Forman Corporation, a manufacturer and marketer of premium wines and spirits. During his employment at Brown-Forman, Mr. Grimes was Vice President, Director of Beverage Finance from 2006 to 2007; Vice President, Director of Corporate Planning and Analysis from 2003 to 2006; and Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer of Brown-Forman Spirits America from 1999 to 2003.
R. Paul Guerre has served the Company as Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary since March 2012. From July 2003 to February 2012, Mr. Guerre was a partner with the law firm of Barnes & Thornberg LLP. Mr. Guerre was an attorney with the law firm of Warner Norcross & Judd LLP from 1991 to July 2003.
Michael Jeppesen has served the Company as President, Global Operations Group since January 2012. From 2005 to 2011, he was Senior Vice President, Design and Sourcing, for Collective Brands, Inc., a wholesaler and retailer of footwear and related accessories.
Douglas M. Jones has served the Company as Corporate Controller since September 2011. From 2009 to 2011, he was the Company’s Director, Internal Audit. From 2006 to 2009, he was Director - Controls and Plant Financial Reporting for Indalex Inc., a manufacturer of extruded aluminum.
Blake W. Krueger has served the Company as Chairman since January 2010 and as Chief Executive Officer and President since April 2007. From October 2005 to April 2007, he served as Chief Operating Officer and President. From August 2004 to October 2005, he served as Executive Vice President and Secretary of the Company and President of the Heritage Brands Group. From November 2003 to August 2004, he served the Company as Executive Vice President, Secretary, and President of Caterpillar Footwear. From April 1996 to November 2003, he served the Company as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary. From 1993 to April 1996, he served as General Counsel and Secretary. From 1985 to 1996, he was a partner with the law firm of Warner Norcross & Judd LLP.
Pamela L. Linton has served the Company as Senior Vice President, Global Human Resources since December 2007. From 2005 to 2007, she was an independent consultant. From 2001 to 2005, she was Senior Vice President, Global Human Resources of American Greetings Corporation, a greeting card and gift wrap company.
Michael D. Stornant has served the Company as Vice President, Corporate Finance, since January 2013. From 2011 until January 2013, he served as Vice President and General Manager of Bates. From 2009 until 2011, he served as Vice President of Corporate Planning and Analysis. From 2008 until 2009, he served as Corporate Controller. From 2007 until 2008 he served as Senior Vice President of Owned Operations for the Global Operations Group. From 2003 until 2006 he served the Company as Director of Internal Audit. From 1996 until 2003 he held various finance-related positions at the Company.
James D. Zwiers has served the Company as Senior Vice President and President, Performance Group since January 2013. From March 2009 until January 2013, he served as Senior Vice President and President, Outdoor Group. From January 2008 until March 2009, he served as Senior Vice President of the Company. From October 2006 to December 2007, he served as President of the Company’s Hush Puppies U.S. Division. From October 2005 to October 2006, he served as the Company’s General Counsel and Secretary. From December 2003 to October 2005, he served as General Counsel and Assistant Secretary. From January 1998 to December 2003, he served the Company as Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary. From 1995 to 1998, he was an attorney with the law firm of Warner Norcross & Judd LLP.
PART II
Item 5.
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The Company’s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “WWW.” The following table shows the high and low stock prices on the New York Stock Exchange and dividends declared by fiscal quarter for 2012 and 2011. The number of stockholders of record on February 25, 2013, was 1,594.
A quarterly dividend of $0.12 per share was declared during the first quarter of fiscal 2013. The Company currently expects that comparable cash dividends will be paid in future quarters in 2013.
The Company’s senior secured credit agreement and senior notes indenture impose certain restrictions on the Company’s ability to pay cash dividends. The Company may not pay a dividend if the Company is in default under the credit agreement or the indenture, or if payment of the dividend would cause a default under the credit agreement or the indenture, including the Company’s covenant to meet prescribed leverage ratios.
See Item 12 for information with respect to the Company’s equity compensation plans.
Stock Performance Graph
The following graph compares the five year cumulative total stockholder return on the Company’s common stock to the Standard & Poor’s Small Cap 600 Index and the Standard & Poor’s 600 Footwear Index, assuming an investment of $100 at the beginning of the period indicated. The Company is part of both the Standard & Poor’s Small Cap 600 Index and the Standard & Poor’s Footwear Index. This Stock Performance Graph shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Company’s SEC filings and shall not constitute soliciting material or otherwise be considered filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Five Year Cumulative Total Return Summary
The following table provides information regarding the Company’s purchases of its own common stock during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012:
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
(1) The Company’s Board of Directors approved a common stock repurchase program on February 11, 2010. This program authorized the repurchase of up to $200 million of common stock over a four-year period, commencing on the effective date of the program. There were no shares repurchased during the Company’s fourth fiscal quarter of fiscal 2012 other than repurchases pursuant to the “Employee Transactions” set forth above.
(2) Employee transactions include: (1) shares delivered or attested in satisfaction of the exercise price and/or tax withholding obligations by holders of employee stock options who exercised options, and (2) restricted shares withheld to offset statutory minimum tax withholding that occurs upon vesting of restricted shares. The Company’s employee stock compensation plans provide that the shares delivered or attested to, or withheld, shall be valued at the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date the relevant transaction occurs.
Item 6.
Item 6. Selected Financial Data
Five-Year Operating and Financial Summary (1)
Notes to Five-Year Operating and Financial Summary
(1) This summary should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the related notes, which are attached as Appendix A to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
(2) Basic earnings per share are based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the year after adjustment for nonvested restricted common stock. Diluted earnings per share assume the exercise of dilutive stock options and the vesting of all outstanding restricted stock.
(3) Basic and diluted net earnings per share have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the adoption of FASB ASC Topic 260, Earnings Per Share on January 4, 2009, for participating securities which represent unvested restricted common stock which contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents.
Item 7.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
OVERVIEW
BUSINESS OVERVIEW
The Company is a leading global designer, manufacturer and marketer of branded footwear, apparel and accessories. The Company’s stated mission is to “Excite Consumers Around the World with Innovative Footwear and Apparel that Bring Style to Purpose.” The Company seeks to fulfill this mission by offering innovative products and compelling brand propositions; delivering supply chain excellence; complementing its footwear brands with strong apparel and accessories offerings; and expanding its global consumer-direct footprint.
The Company’s portfolio consists of 16 brands that were marketed in approximately 200 countries and territories at December 29, 2012. This diverse brand portfolio and broad geographic reach position the Company for continued strong organic growth. The Company’s brands are distributed into the marketplace via owned operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom and certain countries in continental Europe. In other regions (Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, Africa and Europe), the Company relies on a network of third-party distributors, licensees and joint ventures. At December 29, 2012, the Company operated 444 brick-and-mortar retail stores in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom and operated 63 consumer-direct websites.
2012 FINANCIAL OVERVIEW
•
Revenue in fiscal 2012 increased 16.4% to $1.641 billion, including a contribution of $219.4 million from the PLG business included in the stub period since the date of acquisition.
•
Gross margin in fiscal 2012 was 38.3% compared to 39.5% in the prior year. The lower gross margin was driven by higher full-year closeout sales, a shift in product mix towards some of the Company’s lower margin businesses and non-recurring transaction and integration costs, which were only partially offset by higher selling prices.
•
Operating expenses as a percentage of revenue increased to 31.4% in fiscal 2012 compared to 27.4% in fiscal 2011 due to transaction and integration costs associated with the acquisition of PLG, higher pension expense and higher selling costs, partially offset by lower full-year incentive compensation expense.
•
Diluted earnings per share in fiscal 2012 were $1.63 per share compared to $2.48 per share in fiscal 2011.
•
The Company generated strong cash flow from operating activities of $91.6 million in fiscal 2012 and ended the year with $171.4 million of cash and cash equivalents.
•
The Company declared cash dividends of $0.48 per share in both fiscal 2012 and 2011.
•
The Company repurchased approximately 65,000 shares of common stock in fiscal 2012 for approximately $2.4 million and repurchased approximately 1,840,000 shares in fiscal 2011 for approximately $65.3 million, both of which lowered the average shares outstanding.
2012 DEVELOPMENTS
On October 9, 2012, the Company acquired the Performance + Lifestyle Group (“PLG”) business of Collective Brands, Inc. The cash consideration paid by the Company for PLG, subject to the finalization of certain post-closing adjustments, was approximately $1,249.5 million. PLG designs and markets casual and athletic footwear, apparel, and related accessories for adults and children under well-known brand names, including Sperry Top-Sider®, Saucony®, Stride Rite® and Keds®. The Company financed the acquisition in part by entering into a new $1.1 billion senior secured credit facility and by issuing $375.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.125% senior notes due in 2020.
OUTLOOK FOR 2013
Fiscal 2013 revenue is expected to increase to approximately $2.7 to $2.8 billion based on continued positive momentum across the brand portfolio including the expected growth of the recently acquired PLG brands. The Company expects modest gross margin growth on the strength of lower closeout sales compared to the prior year; strategic selling price increases; a favorable product mix shift where higher margin businesses grow at a faster pace; and efficiencies in the Company’s sourcing operations. The Company expects to continue to invest in order to more fully integrate PLG into its existing operations and expects further increases in reported operating expenses from incremental non-cash pension expense of approximately $10 million, normalized full year incentive compensation expense compared to an unusually small amount of such expense in fiscal 2012, and brand investments to fuel future growth. The Company expects a full year effective tax rate in the range of 21% to 23% and fully diluted earnings per share in the range of $2.10 to $2.25.
The acquisition of PLG resulted in two new operating segments including PLG wholesale and PLG retail. PLG’s wholesale operations are included in the branded footwear, apparel and licensing reportable segment as a fourth operating group, and PLG’s retail operations are included in the Company’s consumer-direct reportable segment.
The following is a discussion of the Company’s results of operations and liquidity and capital resources. This section should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - FISCAL 2012 COMPARED TO FISCAL 2011
FINANCIAL SUMMARY - 2012 VERSUS 2011
For fiscal year 2012, the Company included four operating groups within its branded wholesale footwear, apparel and licensing reportable segment:
• Outdoor Group, consisting of Merrell®, Chaco® and Patagonia® footwear and Merrell® brand apparel;
• Heritage Group, consisting of Wolverine® footwear and Wolverine® brand apparel, Cat® footwear, Bates®, Harley-Davidson® footwear, and HyTest®;
• Lifestyle Group, consisting of Hush Puppies® footwear and apparel, Sebago® footwear and apparel, Cushe® and Soft Style®; and
• Performance + Lifestyle Group consisting of Keds® footwear, Saucony® footwear and apparel, Sperry Top-Sider® footwear and apparel, and Stride Rite® footwear.
Retail operations across the entire portfolio are collectively reported within the consumer-direct reportable segment, consisting of both brick-and-mortar retail locations and eCommerce websites.
The Company’s other operating group, which does not collectively comprise a separate reportable segment, consists of the Wolverine Leathers Division which markets pigskin leather primarily for use in the footwear industry.
Subsequent to the end of fiscal 2012, the Company announced a realignment of its branded wholesale operating groups, reducing the number of operating groups within the branded wholesale footwear, apparel and licensing reportable segment from four to three.
The following is supplemental information on total revenue:
TOTAL REVENUE
REVENUE
Revenue for fiscal 2012 increased $231.7 million from fiscal 2011, to $1,640.8 million. The PLG business contributed $219.4 million of the increase since the date of acquisition. Changes in foreign exchange rates decreased reported revenue by $10.9 million. The remainder of the increase in revenues is due to increased volumes. International revenue represented 34.2% of total reported revenue in fiscal 2012 compared to 40.2% in fiscal 2011. The decrease in International revenue as a percent of total revenue is driven by PLG revenues included in the fiscal 2012 results, which are primarily within the U.S.
The Outdoor Group’s branded wholesale footwear, apparel and licensing revenue declined $6.5 million or 1.2% compared to the prior year. Merrell®, the largest brand in this group, was negatively impacted by the challenging macroeconomic environment in both Europe and Canada and unseasonably warm weather conditions, resulting in a full year revenue decline in the low single digits. Patagonia® footwear’s revenues also decreased at a rate in the low single digits in fiscal 2012, driven by lower revenues in Europe. Revenue for Chaco® grew at a rate in the high teens compared to fiscal 2011, driven by continued momentum in the sandal category and expansion in men’s, women’s and children’s categories.
The Heritage Group’s branded wholesale footwear, apparel and licensing revenue increased $2.4 million, or 0.5%, compared to the prior year. High single digit revenue growth in the Wolverine® brand footwear business and mid-teens growth in the Wolverine® brand apparel business reflect the strength of the brand’s core industrial work boot position, along with growing momentum from the brand’s 1000 Mile® product offering. Cat® U.S. footwear revenue grew at a rate in the low twenties over the prior year on the strength of its industrial business. Cat® global footwear revenue experienced a mid single digit decline in revenue driven by poor economic conditions in Europe. Harley-Davidson® Footwear revenue decreased at a rate in the mid twenties compared to fiscal 2011 reflecting the impact of more restrictive distribution channels imposed by a modified license agreement with the brand’s owner.
The Lifestyle Group’s branded wholesale footwear, apparel and licensing revenue declined $2.8 million, or 1.4%, compared to the prior year. Hush Puppies® revenue decreased at a rate in the high single digits, as increases in the U.S. and certain third-party distributor markets were more than offset by declines in Canada and Europe due to retailer consolidations and overall economic conditions in those regions. Revenue for Cushe® increased at a rate in the mid teens as the brand continued to realize the benefit of new product initiatives. Revenue for Sebago® increased at a rate in the low teens due to increased department store penetration and success with web and catalog based retailers.
The Performance + Lifestyle Group added $150.2 million of revenue to the branded wholesale footwear, apparel and licensing segment since the date of acquisition, led by strong performance from Sperry Top-Sider® Stride Rite®, and Keds®. The PLG brands benefitted from strong momentum and excitement around new product introductions and brand endorsements.
Consumer-direct includes both Wolverine retail’s and PLG retail’s consumer-direct businesses. Wolverine retail reported revenue growth at a rate in the low teens in fiscal 2012 compared to fiscal 2011 as a result of growth at a rate in the mid teens in the Company’s eCommerce channel and growth at a low single digit rate in comparable store sales. Wolverine retail operated 99 retail stores worldwide at the end of fiscal 2012 and operated 101 retail stores at the end of fiscal 2011. PLG retail reported revenue of $69.2 million for the period since acquisition. PLG retail operated 345 stores at the end of fiscal 2012.
The Company’s other business unit, the Wolverine Leathers Division reported a revenue increase at a rate in the mid teens, as a result of high demand for its pigskin leathers.
GROSS MARGIN
For fiscal 2012, the Company’s consolidated gross margin decreased 120 basis points compared to fiscal 2011. Approximately 70 basis points of the decrease was caused by shifts in the mix of products sold. The Company incurred $4.5 million of non-recurring transaction and integration costs relating to the fair value adjustment to acquisition-date inventory and severance costs, which contributed to approximately 30 basis points of the decrease. The remainder of the decrease was caused by increased product costs only partially offset by higher selling prices.
OPERATING EXPENSES
Operating expenses increased $127.9 million, from $386.5 million in fiscal 2011 to $514.4 million in fiscal 2012. Approximately $77.8 million of the increase relates to the inclusion of PLG within the Company’s consolidated results since the date of acquisition. Approximately $32.5 million of the increase relates to non-recurring transaction and integration costs associated with the acquisition of PLG. The non-recurring costs include professional and legal fees, taxes paid on behalf of the seller, retention bonus expense, onetime software license fees and other onetime costs of $14.9 million, $9.7 million, $2.7 million, $2.4 million and $2.8 million, respectively. Pension expense for fiscal 2012 increased approximately $10.4 million compared to fiscal 2011 driven by a lower discount rate in the current year. Changes in foreign exchange rates had a $3.6 million favorable impact on reported operating expenses. The remainder of the increase was due to incremental variable expenses.
INTEREST, OTHER AND TAXES
Total net interest expense increased $18.2 million to $19.3 million in fiscal 2012 from $1.1 million in fiscal 2011. Approximately $5.2 million of the increase is due to non-recurring financing commitment and refinancing fees associated with the Company’s acquisition of PLG. Approximately $1.8 million of the increase is due to the amortization of deferred financing costs included within interest expense. The remainder of the increase is due to an increase in long-term debt in the period of time from the date of PLG acquisition to the end of the fiscal year.
The Company’s full year effective tax rate in fiscal 2012 was 14.2%, compared to 27.0% in fiscal 2011. The lower effective tax rate reflects the non-recurring benefits of a favorable court decision in the first half of fiscal 2012 in a foreign tax jurisdiction supporting the Company’s long-term global tax planning strategies. The lower tax rate in the current year was also the result of acquisition-related expense deductions in high statutory tax rate jurisdictions in the second half of the year. The Company maintains certain strategic management and operational activities in overseas subsidiaries, and its foreign earnings are taxed at rates that are generally lower than the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate. A significant amount of the Company’s earnings are generated by its Canadian, European and Asia Pacific subsidiaries and, to a lesser extent, in jurisdictions that are not subject to income tax and free trade zones where the Company owns manufacturing operations. The Company has not provided for U.S. taxes for earnings generated in foreign jurisdictions because it plans to reinvest these earnings
indefinitely outside the U.S. However, if certain foreign earnings previously treated as permanently reinvested are repatriated, the additional U.S. tax liability could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s after-tax results of operations and financial position.
NET EARNINGS AND EARNINGS PER SHARE
As a result of the revenue, gross margin and expense changes discussed above, the Company had net earnings of $80.7 million in fiscal 2012, compared to $123.3 million in fiscal 2011, a decrease of $42.6 million.
Diluted net earnings per share decreased 34.3% in fiscal 2012, to $1.63, from $2.48 in fiscal 2011. The Company repurchased approximately 65,000 shares of common stock in fiscal 2012 for approximately $2.4 million and repurchased approximately 1,840,000 shares in fiscal 2011 for approximately $65.3 million, both of which lowered the average shares outstanding in fiscal 2012.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - FISCAL 2011 COMPARED TO FISCAL 2010
FINANCIAL SUMMARY - 2011 VERSUS 2010
The following is supplemental information on total revenue:
TOTAL REVENUE
REVENUE
Revenue for fiscal 2011 increased $160.6 million from fiscal 2010, to $1.409 billion. The growth was driven by double digit percentage increases in revenue for all three branded wholesale footwear, apparel and licensing operating groups. Changes in foreign exchange rates increased reported revenue by $17.3 million versus the prior year. International revenue represented 40.2% of total reported revenue in fiscal 2011 compared to 38.4% in fiscal 2010.
The Outdoor Group’s branded wholesale footwear, apparel and licensing revenue increased 18.0% in fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010. Leading the group’s growth, the Merrell® brand enjoyed increased demand for performance products, including its new Merrell® Barefoot Collection. Fueling the growth for Merrell® branded footwear was a mid teens growth rate in units sold. The increase in Merrell® brand apparel was driven by a strong double digit increase in revenue generated by the Outerwear category and a low triple digit rate increase in revenue generated by the Sportswear category. Patagonia® footwear’s revenue increased at a rate in the high teens in fiscal 2011 due to continued strong demand from key outdoor retailers. Revenue from the Chaco® brand grew at a rate in the high teens compared to fiscal 2010 as the brand expanded its closed-toe product offerings for fall, extending the brand’s reach to become a year-round footwear option for consumers.
The Heritage Group’s branded wholesale footwear, apparel and licensing revenue increased 10.1% in fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010. Driving the revenue growth for the group was a mid twenties rate increase in revenue from the Cat® footwear brand and a high single digit rate increase in revenue from Wolverine® brand footwear and apparel. The Cat® footwear revenue increase was driven by revenue growth in the mid-teens or higher in each of its major geographic regions compared to fiscal 2010. The Wolverine® brand’s revenue grew as a result of low single digit unit volume growth in the U.S. rugged casual and core work boot business and a growth rate in the low thirties for the Wolverine® brand apparel business. Harley-Davidson® Footwear revenue decreased at a mid single digit rate compared to fiscal 2010, as a high single digit decline in the U.S. market was partially offset by an increase at a rate in the high seventies in the European market.
The Lifestyle Group’s branded wholesale footwear, apparel and licensing revenue increased 12.8% in fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010. Revenue from the Hush Puppies® brand increased at a high single digit rate as a result of mid twenties rate growth in its third-party licensing business; growth in the European markets at a rate in the mid teens; and high single digit rate growth in the Canadian market. These increases were partially offset by a mid single digit rate decline in Hush Puppies® revenue in the U.S. The Sebago® brand generated revenue growth in the mid teens in fiscal 2011 as a result of growth in Europe. The Cushe® brand’s revenue almost doubled compared to fiscal 2010, as the brand continues to benefit from excellent placement in specialty, outdoor and surf retail venues.
Consumer-direct reported revenue growth in the mid teens in fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010 as a result of a high twenties growth rate in the Company’s e-commerce channel and a mid single digit growth rate in comparable store sales from Company-owned stores. The Company operated 101 retail stores worldwide at the end of fiscal 2011 and operated 88 retail stores in fiscal 2010, with sixteen new store openings in fiscal 2011 partially offset by the closure of three existing locations during fiscal 2011.
The Company’s other business unit, the Wolverine Leathers Division business reported a revenue decline at a rate in the mid twenties as a result of soft demand from certain key customers and the divestiture of its low-margin procurement division in the fourth quarter of 2010.
GROSS MARGIN
For fiscal 2011, the Company’s consolidated gross margin was flat compared to fiscal 2010. Higher product input costs and a negative shift in the mix of product sold decreased consolidated gross margin by approximately 150 basis points and 110 basis points, respectively. These decreases were offset by the positive impact from strategic selling price increases and benefits from foreign exchange fluctuations of approximately 230 basis points and 30 basis points, respectively.
OPERATING EXPENSES
Operating expenses increased $36.2 million, from $350.3 million in fiscal 2010 to $386.5 million in fiscal 2011. The higher operating expense was due to an increase at a rate in the mid teens in distribution costs, which vary with revenue, and increases in advertising and marketing expenses at a rate in the low teens, designed to enhance brand awareness. In addition, selling commissions, which vary with revenue, increased at a rate in the low teens and changes in foreign exchange rates had a $5.0 million unfavorable impact on reported operating expenses. These increases were partially offset by a $2.8 million dollar reduction in restructuring and other transition costs in fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010.
INTEREST, OTHER AND TAXES
The increase in net interest expense reflects the increase in revolver borrowings for fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010.
The increase in other income is due to the sale of Wolverine Procurement assets in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010, which resulted in a $1.1 million gain, with the remainder of the increase due to the change in realized gains or losses on foreign denominated assets and liabilities.
The Company’s full year effective tax rate in fiscal 2011 was 27.0%, compared to 27.1% in fiscal 2010. The modestly lower effective tax rate reflects the fact that a higher percentage of the Company’s earnings in fiscal 2011 were attributable to foreign jurisdictions, where tax rates are lower than in the U.S. or nontaxable based on specific tax rulings and legislation. The Company maintains certain strategic management and operational activities in overseas subsidiaries, and its foreign earnings are taxed at rates that are generally lower than the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate. A significant amount of the Company’s earnings are generated by its Canadian, European and Asia Pacific subsidiaries and, to a lesser extent, in jurisdictions that are not subject to income tax and free trade zones where the Company owns manufacturing operations. The Company has not provided for U.S. taxes for earnings generated in foreign jurisdictions because it plans to reinvest these earnings indefinitely outside the U.S. However, if certain foreign earnings previously treated as permanently reinvested are repatriated, the additional U.S. tax liability could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s after-tax results of operations and financial position.
NET EARNINGS AND EARNINGS PER SHARE
As a result of the revenue, gross margin and expense changes discussed above, the Company had net earnings of $123.3 million in fiscal 2011, compared to $104.5 million in fiscal 2010, an increase of $18.8 million or 18.0%.
Diluted net earnings per share increased 17.5% in fiscal 2011 to $2.48, from $2.11 in fiscal 2010. The increase was attributable to increased revenue, stable gross margin and lower restructuring and other transition costs, as detailed above. The Company repurchased approximately 1,840,000 shares of common stock in fiscal 2011 for approximately $65.3 million and repurchased approximately 1,795,000 shares in fiscal 2010 for approximately $51.2 million, both of which lowered the average shares outstanding.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
(1) For fiscal 2012, amount shown is net of outstanding letters of credit, which are applied against the Company’s Revolving Credit Facility. Amounts shown for fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2010 are under the Company’s previous revolving credit facility and are shown net of borrowings.
Liquidity
Cash and cash equivalents of $171.4 million as of December 29, 2012 were $31.4 million higher compared to the prior year. Accounts receivable and inventories of $819.8 million increased $368.1 million compared to the prior year, driven by the acquisition of PLG.
In addition to the cash and cash equivalents balance of $171.4 million at December 29, 2012, the Company had an additional $198.1 million available under its Revolving Credit Facility.
Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities in fiscal 2012 was $91.6 million versus $78.8 million in fiscal 2011, an increase of $12.8 million. Lower earnings performance in fiscal 2012 was more than offset by lower investments in working capital and reduced cash pension contributions compared to fiscal 2011.
Investing Activities
The majority of the capital expenditures for the year were for information system enhancements, manufacturing equipment and building improvements. The Company leases machinery, equipment and certain warehouse, office and retail store space under operating lease agreements that expire at various dates through 2023.
Included in the fiscal 2012 investing activities is a net cash outflow of $1,225.9 million related to the acquisition of the PLG business. The Company funded the acquisition primarily through net proceeds from term loan debt, the issuance of senior notes, and cash on hand of approximately $88.8 million.
Financing Activities
On October 9, 2012, the Company entered into a new credit agreement (the “New Credit Agreement”) with a bank syndicate. The New Credit Agreement provides the Company with a $1.1 billion secured credit facility consisting of a term loan A facility in an aggregate amount of up to $550.0 million, a term loan B facility in an aggregate amount up to $350.0 million and a Revolving Credit Facility in an aggregate amount of up to $200.0 million (the “Revolving Credit Facility”). The New Credit Agreement also provides the Company with the option
to increase the aggregate principal amount of all facilities by up to an additional amount such that the total amount of all of the facilities does not exceed $1.3 billion. As of December 29, 2012, the only usage against the Revolving Credit Facility is related to outstanding standby letters of credit totaling approximately $1.9 million. The provisions of the New Credit Agreement require the Company to adhere to certain covenants and maintain certain performance ratios. The Company was in compliance with all such covenants and performance ratios during fiscal 2012 and expects to continue to be in compliance in future periods.
On October 9, 2012, the Company also issued $375.0 million of senior notes, which bear interest at a 6.125 % fixed rate and are due in 2020 (“Notes”). Related interest payments are due semi-annually. The Notes are guaranteed by certain of the Company’s domestic subsidiaries.
The Company used the net proceeds from the Notes, together with the borrowings under the term loan facilities and cash on hand, to finance the acquisition of PLG, repay any amounts outstanding under and terminate its existing Revolving Credit Facility, and provide for the working capital needs of the Company, including the payment of transaction expenses in connection with the acquisition.
Interest-bearing debt at the end of fiscal 2012 was $1,250.0 million compared to $11.5 million at the end of fiscal 2011. The increase in debt in fiscal 2012 is a result of net proceeds from the Company’s term loans and senior notes. Net payments in fiscal 2012 on the Company’s previous Revolving Credit Facility were $11.0 million. The Company also made a $25.0 million voluntary payment on the term loan B debt during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012.
At the end of fiscal 2012, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $171.4 million including cash in foreign locations of $101.6 million. The Company’s intends to permanently reinvest cash in foreign locations.
Cash flow from operations, along with proceeds from the Revolving Credit Facility, if any, are expected to be sufficient to meet working capital needs for the foreseeable future. Any excess cash flows from operating activities are expected to be used to purchase property, plant and equipment, reduce debt, fund internal and external growth initiatives, pay dividends or repurchase the Company’s common stock.
The Company’s Board of Directors approved a common stock repurchase program on February 11, 2010 (the “February 2010 Program”). The February 2010 Program authorizes the repurchase of up to $200.0 million in common stock over a four-year period. The Company repurchased 64,612 shares at an average price of $37.09 in the first quarter of fiscal 2012 and did not repurchase any shares in the second, third or fourth quarter of fiscal 2012 under the February 2010 Program. The Company repurchased 142,198 shares at an average price of $35.57 in the first quarter of 2011, 478,747 shares at an average price of $37.74 in the second quarter of 2011, 948,256 shares at an average price of $34.45 in the third quarter of 2011 and 270,882 shares at an average price of $35.08 in the fourth quarter of 2011 under the February 2010 Program. The primary purpose of the stock repurchase programs is to increase stockholder value. The Company may continue to repurchase shares of its common stock under the February 2010 Program from time to time in open market or privately negotiated transactions, depending upon market conditions and other factors.
In addition to the repurchases noted above under the February 2010 program, the Company acquired 289,799 shares at an average price of $40.45 per share during fiscal 2012 and 55,810 shares at an average price of $36.48 per share during fiscal 2011 related to employee transactions.
The Company declared total dividends of $0.48 per share for fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2011. On February 7, 2013 the Company declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.12 per share of common stock, to be paid on May 1, 2013 to stockholders of record on April 1, 2013.
NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2013-02, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220) Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (“ASU 2013-02”). ASU 2013-02 requires preparers to report, in one place, information about reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI). For significant items reclassified out of AOCI to net income in their entirety in the same reporting period, reporting (either on the face of the statement where net income is presented or in the notes) is required about the effect of the reclassifications on the respective line items in the statement where net income is presented. For items that are not reclassified to net income in their entirety in the same reporting period, a cross reference to other disclosures currently required under US GAAP is required in the notes. The above information must be presented in one place (parenthetically on the face of the financial statements by income statement line item or in a note). The ASU is effective prospectively for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2012. The Company plans to adopt the provisions of this ASU in the first quarter of fiscal 2013. The Company does not expect the ASU to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In July 2012, the FASB issued ASU 2012-02, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (ASC Topic 350) Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment (“ASU 2012-02”). ASU 2012-02 amends prior indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment testing guidance. Under ASU 2012-02, the Company has the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not (a likelihood of more than 50%) that an indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired. If, after considering the totality of events and circumstances, an entity determines it is more likely than not that an indefinite-lived intangible asset is not impaired, then calculating the fair value of such asset is unnecessary. The Company adopted the applicable requirements of this ASU in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, and the adoption did not affect the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-08, Testing Goodwill for Impairment (ASU No. 2011-08). ASU No. 2011-08 amended the provisions of FASB ASC 350-20-35 by allowing an entity the option to make a qualitative evaluation about the likelihood of goodwill impairment to determine whether it should calculate the fair value of a reporting unit. The amendments are effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company adopted the applicable requirements of this ASU in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, and the adoption did not affect the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220), Presentation of Comprehensive Income (“ASU 2011-05”). ASU 2011-05 eliminates the option to present other comprehensive income (“OCI”) in the statement of stockholders’ equity. Under ASU 2011-05, the Company has the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income and the components of OCI in either a continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate continuous statements. Earnings per share would continue to be based on net income. Also in December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-12, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220), Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05 (“ASU 2011-12”). ASU 2011-12 defers the ASU 2011-05 requirement that companies present reclassification adjustments for each component of accumulated other comprehensive income in both net income and OCI on the face of the financial statements. The Company adopted the current required provisions of ASU 2011-05 in the first quarter of fiscal 2012. The adoption of ASU 2011-12 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-04, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820), Amendments to achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRS (“ASU 2011-04”).
ASU 2011-04 amends the fair value measurement and disclosure guidance in ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement, to converge U.S. GAAP and IFRS requirements for measuring amounts at fair value as well as disclosures about these measurements. ASU 2011-04 was effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011 and was adopted in the first quarter of fiscal 2012. The adoption of ASU 2011-04 did not affect the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S., requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates these estimates. Estimates are based on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Historically, actual results have not been materially different from the Company’s estimates. However, actual results may differ materially from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
The Company has identified the following critical accounting policies used in determining estimates and assumptions in the amounts reported. Management believes that an understanding of these policies is important to an overall understanding of the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
REVENUE RECOGNITION
Revenue is recognized on the sale of products manufactured or sourced by the Company when the related goods have been shipped, legal title has passed to the customer and collectability is reasonably assured. Revenue generated through licensees and distributors involving products bearing the Company’s trademarks is recognized as earned according to stated contractual terms upon either the purchase or shipment of branded products by licensees and distributors.
The Company records provisions for estimated sales returns and allowances at the time of sale based on historical rates of returns and allowances and specific identification of outstanding returns not yet received from customers. However, estimates of actual returns and allowances in any future period are inherently uncertain and actual returns and allowances for the relevant periods may differ from these estimates. If actual or expected future returns and allowances were significantly greater or lower than established reserves, an adjustment to net revenues would be recorded in the period the determination was made.
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
The Company maintains an allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable for estimated losses resulting from its customer’s failure to make required payments. Company management evaluates the allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable based on a review of current customer status and historical collection experience. Historically, losses have been within the Company’s expectations. Adjustments to these estimates may be required if the financial condition of the Company’s customers were to change. If the Company were to determine adjustments to the allowance for uncollectible accounts were appropriate, the Company would record either an increase or decrease to general and administrative expenses in the period in which the Company made such a determination. At December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, management believed that it had provided sufficient reserves to address future collection uncertainties.
INVENTORY
The Company values its inventory at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined by the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) method for all domestic raw materials and work-in-process inventories and certain domestic finished goods inventories. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method for all raw materials, work-in-process and finished goods inventories in foreign countries. The FIFO method is also used for all finished goods inventories of the Company’s retail business, due to the unique nature of those operations, and for certain other domestic finished goods inventories. The Company has applied these inventory cost valuation methods consistently from year to year.
The Company reduces the carrying value of its inventories to the lower of cost or market for excess or obsolete inventories based upon assumptions about future demand and market conditions. If the Company were to determine that the estimated market value of its inventory is less than the carrying value of such inventory, the Company would provide a reserve for such difference as a charge to cost of sales. If actual market conditions are different from those projected, adjustments to those inventory reserves may be required. The adjustments would increase or decrease the Company’s cost of sales and net income in the period in which they were realized or recorded. Inventory quantities are verified at various times throughout the year by performing physical inventory observations and perpetual inventory cycle count procedures. If the Company determines that adjustments to the inventory quantities are appropriate, an adjustment to the Company’s cost of goods sold and inventory is recorded in the period in which such determination was made. At December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, management believed that it had provided sufficient reserves for excess or obsolete inventories.
DEFERRED FINANCING COSTS
Deferred financing costs represent commitment fees, legal and other third party costs associated with obtaining commitments for financing which result in a closing of such financings for the Company. These costs are amortized into earnings through interest expense over the terms of the respective agreements. Costs incurred in seeking financing transactions which do not close are expensed in the period in which it is determined that the financing will not close.
ACQUISITIONS
The Company accounts for acquired businesses using the purchase method of accounting. Under the purchase method, the Company’s consolidated financial statements include the operations of an acquired business starting from the date of acquisition. In addition, the assets acquired and liabilities assumed must be recorded at the date of acquisition at their respective estimated fair values, with any excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair values of the net assets acquired recorded as goodwill.
Significant judgment is required in estimating the fair value of intangible assets and in assigning their respective useful lives. Accordingly, the Company typically obtains the assistance of third-party valuation specialists for significant items. The fair value estimates are based on available historical information and on future expectations and assumptions deemed reasonable by management, but are inherently uncertain.
The Company typically uses an income method to estimate the fair value of intangible assets, which is based on forecasts of the expected future cash flows attributable to the respective assets. Significant estimates and assumptions inherent in the valuations reflect a consideration of other marketplace participants and include the amount and timing of future cash flows (including expected growth rates and profitability), the underlying product or technology life cycles, the economic barriers to entry and the discount rate applied to the cash flows. Unanticipated market or macroeconomic events and circumstances may occur that could affect the accuracy or validity of the estimates and assumptions.
Determining the useful life of an intangible asset also requires judgment. Certain intangibles are expected to have indefinite lives based on their history and the Company’s plans to continue to support and build the acquired brands. Other acquired intangible assets (e.g., certain patents, customer relationships and technologies) are expected to have determinable useful lives. The Company’s assessment as to those intangibles that have an indefinite life and those that have a determinable life is based on a number of factors including competitive environment, market share, underlying product life cycles, operating plans and the macroeconomic environment of the countries in which the brands are sold. The Company’s estimates of the useful lives of determinable-lived intangibles are based primarily on these same factors. All of the Company’s acquired technology and customer-related intangibles are expected to have determinable useful lives. The costs of determinable-lived intangibles are amortized to expense over their estimated life.
GOODWILL AND OTHER NON-AMORTIZABLE INTANGIBLES
Goodwill and intangible assets deemed to have indefinite lives are not amortized, but are subject to impairment tests at least annually. The Company has adopted the provisions of ASU 2011-08, which permits the Company to
qualitatively assess indicators of the Company’s reporting unit’s fair value when it is unlikely that a reporting unit is impaired. After completing the qualitative assessment, the Company may also use assumptions about expected future operating performance and utilize a discounted cash flow analysis to estimate fair value. If the recorded values of these assets are not recoverable, based on either the assessment screen or discounted cash flow analysis, management performs the next step, which compares the fair value of the reporting unit to the fair value of the tangible and intangible assets of the reporting units. Goodwill is considered impaired if the fair value of the tangible and intangible assets exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit.
The Company adopted the provisions of ASU 2012-02, which allows the Company to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset is less than its carrying value. The Company would not be required to quantitatively determine the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible unless the Company determines, based on the qualitative assessment, that it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than the carrying value. After completing the qualitative assessment, the Company may determine it necessary to test indefinite-lived intangibles by comparison of the individual carrying values to the fair value. Future cash flows of the individual indefinite-lived intangible assets are used to measure their fair value after consideration by management of certain assumptions, such as forecasted growth rates and cost of capital, which are derived from internal projections and operating plans.
The Company performs its annual testing for goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment at the beginning of the fourth quarter of the fiscal year for all reporting units. The Company did not recognize any impairment charges for goodwill or indefinite-lived intangible assets during the fiscal years ended December 29, 2012 or December 31, 2011, as the annual impairment testing indicated that all reporting unit goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible asset fair values exceed their respective recorded values.
INCOME TAXES
The Company maintains certain strategic management and operational activities in overseas subsidiaries, and its foreign earnings are taxed at rates that are generally lower than the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate. A significant amount of the Company’s earnings are generated by its Canadian, European and Asia Pacific subsidiaries and, to a lesser extent, in jurisdictions that are not subject to income tax and free trade zones where the Company owns manufacturing operations. The Company has not provided for U.S. taxes for earnings generated in foreign jurisdictions because it plans to reinvest these earnings indefinitely outside the U.S. However, if certain foreign earnings previously treated as permanently reinvested are repatriated, the additional U.S. tax liability could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s after-tax results of operations and financial position. Income tax audits associated with the allocation of this income and other complex issues may require an extended period of time to resolve and may result in income tax adjustments if changes to the income allocation are required between jurisdictions with different income tax rates. Because income tax adjustments in certain jurisdictions can be significant, the Company records accruals representing management’s best estimate of the resolution of these matters. To the extent additional information becomes available, such accruals are adjusted to reflect the revised estimated outcome. The Company believes its tax accruals are adequate to cover exposures related to changes in income allocation between tax jurisdictions. The carrying value of the Company’s deferred tax assets assumes that the Company will be able to generate sufficient taxable income in future years to utilize these deferred tax assets. If these assumptions change, the Company may be required to record valuation allowances against its gross deferred tax assets in future years, which would cause the Company to record additional income tax expense in its consolidated statements of operations. Management evaluates the potential the Company will be able to realize its gross deferred tax assets and assesses the need for valuation allowances on a quarterly basis.
On a periodic basis, the Company estimates what the effective tax rate will be for the full fiscal year and records a quarterly income tax provision in accordance with the projected full year rate. As the fiscal year progresses, that estimate is refined based upon actual events and the distribution of earnings in each tax jurisdiction during the year. This continual estimation process periodically results in a change to the expected effective tax rate for the fiscal year. When this occurs, the Company adjusts the income tax provision during the quarter in which the change in estimate occurs so that the year-to-date provision reflects the revised anticipated annual rate.
RETIREMENT BENEFITS
The determination of the obligation and expense for retirement benefits is dependent on the selection of certain actuarial assumptions used in calculating such amounts. These assumptions include, among others, the discount rate, expected long-term rate of return on plan assets and rates of increase in compensation. These assumptions are reviewed with the Company’s actuaries and updated annually based on relevant external and internal factors and information, including but not limited to, long-term expected asset returns, rates of termination, regulatory requirements and plan changes.
The Company utilizes a bond matching calculation to determine the discount rate used to calculate its year-end pension liability and subsequent year pension expense. A hypothetical bond portfolio is created based on a presumed purchase of individual bonds to settle the plan’s expected future benefit payments. The discount rate is the resulting yield of the hypothetical bond portfolio. The bonds selected are listed as high grade by at least two recognized ratings agency and are non-callable, currently purchasable and non-prepayable. The discount rate at year-end fiscal 2012 was 4.30%. Pension expense is also impacted by the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, which the Company determined to be 7.68% in fiscal 2012. This determination is based on both actual historical rates of return experienced by the pension assets and the long-term rate of return of a composite portfolio of equity and fixed income securities that reflects the approximate diversification of the pension assets.
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
The Company accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with the fair value recognition provisions of FASB ASC Topic 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation. The Company utilizes the Black-Scholes model, which requires the input of subjective assumptions. These assumptions include estimating (a) the length of time employees will retain their vested stock options before exercising them (“expected term”), (b) the volatility of the Company’s common stock price over the expected term and (c) the number of options that are expected to be forfeited. Changes in these assumptions can materially affect the estimate of fair value of stock-based compensation and, consequently, the related expense amounts recognized in the consolidated statements of operations.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
In the normal course of business, our financial position and results of operations are routinely subject to a variety of risks, including market risk associated with interest rate movements on borrowings and investments and currency rate movements on non-U.S. dollar denominated assets, liabilities and cash flows. We regularly assess these risks and have established policies and business practices that should mitigate a portion of the adverse effect of these and other potential exposures.
Foreign Exchange Risk
The Company faces market risk to the extent that changes in foreign currency exchange rates affect the Company’s foreign assets, liabilities and inventory purchase commitments and to the extent that its long-term debt requirements are affected by changes in interest rates. The Company manages these risks by attempting to denominate contractual and other foreign arrangements in U.S. dollars.
Under the provisions of FASB ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, the Company is required to recognize all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. Derivatives that are not qualifying hedges must be adjusted to fair value through earnings. If a derivative is a qualifying hedge, depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in the fair value of derivatives are either offset against the change in fair value of the hedged assets, liabilities, or firm commitments through earnings or recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized in earnings.
The Company conducts wholesale operations outside of the U.S. in the United Kingdom, continental Europe and Canada where the functional currencies are primarily the British pound, euro and Canadian dollar, respectively. The Company utilizes foreign currency forward exchange contracts to manage the volatility associated with U.S.
dollar inventory purchases made by non-U.S. wholesale operations in the normal course of business. At December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company had outstanding forward currency exchange contracts to purchase $111.9 million and $106.3 million, respectively, of U.S. dollars with maturities ranging up to 336 days for both fiscal years.
The Company also has production facilities in the Dominican Republic and sourcing locations in Asia, where financial statements reflect the U.S. dollar as the functional currency. However, operating costs are paid in the local currency. Royalty revenue generated by the Company from third-party foreign licensees is calculated in the licensees’ local currencies, but paid in U.S. dollars. Accordingly, the Company’s reported results are subject to foreign currency exposure for this stream of revenue and expenses.
Assets and liabilities outside the U.S. are primarily located in the United Kingdom, Canada and the Netherlands. The Company’s investments in foreign subsidiaries with a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar are generally considered long-term. Accordingly, the Company currently does not hedge these net investments. At December 29, 2012, a weaker U.S. dollar compared to foreign currencies increased the value of these investments in net assets by $5.7 million. At December 31, 2011, a stronger U.S. dollar compared to foreign currencies versus the prior year decreased the value of these investments in net assets by $11.3 million. These changes resulted in cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments at December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011 of $5.9 million and $0.3 million, respectively, that are deferred and recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income in stockholders’ equity.
Interest Rate Risk
The Company is exposed to interest rate changes primarily as a result of interest expense on borrowings used to finance acquisitions and working capital requirements. The Company’s total variable-rate debt was $875.0 million at the end of fiscal 2012. At the end of fiscal 2012, the Company held one interest rate swap agreement denominated in US dollars that effectively converts $462.2 million of its variable-rate debt to fixed-rate debt. The interest rate swap derivative instrument is held and used by the Company as a tool for managing interest rate risk. The counterparty to the swap instrument is a large financial institution that the Company believes is of high-quality creditworthiness. While the Company may be exposed to potential losses due to the credit risk of non-performance by this counterparty, such losses are not anticipated. The fair value of the interest rate swap was recorded within other liabilities for $1.5 million at the end of fiscal 2012. As of December 29, 2012, the weighted-average interest rate on the company’s variable-rate debt was approximately 3.0 percent. Based on the level of variable-rate debt outstanding as of that date, a one percentage-point increase in the weighted-average interest rate would increase the company’s annual pre-tax interest expense by approximately $8.8 million.
The Company does not enter into contracts for speculative or trading purposes, nor is it a party to any leveraged derivative instruments.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
The Company has no off-balance sheet arrangements as of December 29, 2012.
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
The Company has the following payments under contractual obligations due by period:
(1) Includes interest payments on the Company’s long-term debt and payments on the interest rate swap. Estimated future interest payments on outstanding debt obligations are based on interest rates as of December 29, 2012. Actual cash outflows may differ significantly due to changes in underlying interest rates.
(2) Purchase obligations related primarily to inventory and capital expenditure commitments.
(3) Pension obligations reflect expected pension funding as there are currently no required funding obligations under government regulation. Funding amounts are calculated on an annual basis and no required or planned funding beyond one year has been determined.
(4) The amounts in the other category relate primarily to employee retention commitments.
(5) The Company adopted FASB ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes, on December 31, 2006. The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits on the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 29, 2012 is $8.5 million. At this time, the Company is unable to make a reasonably reliable estimate of the timing of payments in individual years beyond 12 months due to uncertainties in the timing of tax audit outcomes. As a result, this amount is not included in the table above.
At December 29, 2012, the Company had $198.1 million of additional borrowing capacity available under the Revolving Credit Facility which terminates on October 9, 2017.
Item 7A.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
The response to this Item is set forth under the caption “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 8.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
The response to this Item is set forth in Appendix A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
Item 9A.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
An evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and
operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. Based on and as of the time of such evaluation, the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Securities Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). Under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 29, 2012, based on the framework in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). Based on that evaluation, management concluded that internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 29, 2012.
Based on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s staff interpretation guidance for newly acquired businesses, management’s assessment of and conclusion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting did not include the internal controls of the Performance + Lifestyle Group Business, which was included in the Company’s fiscal 2012 consolidated financial statements since the acquisition date of October 9, 2012. PLG constituted 66% of total assets as of December 29, 2012 and 13% of revenues for the year then fiscal year-ended.
The effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 29, 2012 has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in its report, which is included in Appendix A and is incorporated into this Item 9A by reference.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the sixteen-week period ended December 29, 2012 that has materially affected, or that is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Item 9B.
Item 9B. Other Information
None.
PART III
Item 10.
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
The Company’s Audit Committee is comprised of four Board members, all of whom are independent under independence standards adopted by the Board and applicable SEC regulations and New York Stock Exchange standards (including independence standards related specifically to Audit Committee membership). The Audit Committee members each have financial and business experience with companies of substantial size and complexity and have an understanding of financial statements, internal controls and audit committee functions. The Company’s Board of Directors has determined that Jeffrey M. Boromisa and William K. Gerber are audit committee financial experts, as defined by the SEC. Additional information regarding the Audit Committee is provided in the Definitive Proxy Statement of the Company with respect to the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 18, 2013, under the caption “Corporate Governance” under the subheading “Board Committees.”
The Company has adopted an Accounting and Finance Code of Ethics that applies to the Company’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer, and has adopted a Code of Conduct & Compliance that applies to the Company’s directors and employees. The Accounting and Finance
Code of Ethics and the Code of Conduct & Compliance are available on the Company’s website at www.wolverineworldwide.com/investor-relations/corporate-governance. Any waiver from the Accounting and Finance Code of Ethics or the Code of Conduct & Compliance with respect to the Company’s executive officers and directors will be disclosed on the Company’s website. Any amendment to the Accounting and Finance Code of Ethics and the Code of Conduct & Compliance will be disclosed on the Company’s website.
The information regarding directors of the Company contained under the caption “Board of Directors” in the Definitive Proxy Statement of the Company with respect to the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 18, 2013, is incorporated herein by reference.
The information regarding directors and executive officers of the Company under the caption “Additional Information” under the subheading “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in the Definitive Proxy Statement of the Company with respect to the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 18, 2013, is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 11.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
The information contained under the captions “Non-Employee Director Compensation in Fiscal Year 2012,” “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” “Compensation Committee Report,” “Summary Compensation Table,” “Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal Year 2012,” “Outstanding Equity Awards at 2012 Fiscal Year-End,” “Option Exercises and Stock Vested in Fiscal Year 2012,” “Pension Plans and 2012 Pension Benefits” and “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control” in the Definitive Proxy Statement of the Company with respect to the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 18, 2013, is incorporated herein by reference. The information contained under the caption “Corporate Governance” under the subheadings “Risk Considerations in Compensation Programs” and “Board Committees” in the Definitive Proxy Statement of the Company with respect to the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 18, 2013, is also incorporated herein by reference.
Item 12.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
The information contained under the caption “Securities Ownership of Officers and Directors and Certain Beneficial Owners” and “Equity Compensation Plan Information” contained in the Definitive Proxy Statement of the Company with respect to the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 18, 2013, is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 13.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
The information contained under the caption “Related Party Matters” under the subheadings “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” and “Related Person Transactions Policy” contained in the Definitive Proxy Statement of the Company with respect to the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 18, 2013, is incorporated herein by reference. The information contained under the caption “Corporate Governance” under the subheading “Director Independence” contained in the Definitive Proxy Statement of the Company with respect to the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 18, 2013, is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 14.
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
The information contained under the caption “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in the Definitive Proxy Statement of the Company with respect to the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 18, 2013, is incorporated herein by reference.
PART IV
Item 15.
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
Item 15(a)(1). Financial Statements Attached as Appendix A
The following consolidated financial statements of Wolverine World Wide, Inc. and its subsidiaries are filed as a part of this report:
•
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011.
•
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the Fiscal Years Ended December 29, 2012, December 31, 2011 and January 1, 2011.
•
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income for the Fiscal Years Ended December 29, 2012, December 31, 2011 and January 1, 2011.
•
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Fiscal Years Ended December 29, 2012, December 31, 2011 and January 1, 2011.
•
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
•
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
Item 15(a)(2). Financial Statement Schedules Attached as Appendix B
The following consolidated financial statement schedule of Wolverine World Wide, Inc. and its subsidiaries is filed as a part of this report:
•
Schedule II-Valuation and Qualifying Accounts.
All other schedules (I, III, IV, and V) for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulations of the SEC are not required under the related instructions or are inapplicable and, therefore, have been omitted.
Item 15(a)(3). Exhibits
The following exhibits are filed as part of this report:
* Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
The Company will furnish a copy of any exhibit listed above to any stockholder without charge upon written request to Mr. R. Paul Guerre, General Counsel and Secretary, 9341 Courtland Drive N.E., Rockford, Michigan 49351.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.
WOLVERINE WORLD WIDE, INC.
Dated: February 27, 2013
By:
/s/ Blake W. Krueger
Blake W. Krueger
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President (Principal Executive Officer)
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
APPENDIX A
Financial Statements
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
All amounts are in thousands of dollars except share and per share data and elsewhere as noted.
1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Nature of Operations
Wolverine World Wide, Inc. is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of a broad range of quality casual footwear and apparel; performance outdoor and athletic footwear and apparel; children’s footwear, industrial work shoes, boots and apparel; and uniform shoes and boots. The Company’s portfolio of owned and licensed brands includes: Bates®, Cat® Footwear, Chaco®, Cushe®, Harley-Davidson® Footwear, Hush Puppies®, HyTest®, Keds®, Merrell®, Patagonia® Footwear, Saucony®, Sebago®, Soft Style® Sperry Top-Sider®, Stride Rite® and Wolverine® Licensing and distribution arrangements with third parties extend the global reach of the Company’s brand portfolio. The Company also operates a consumer-direct division to market both its own brands and branded footwear and apparel from other manufacturers as well as a leathers division that markets Wolverine Performance Leathers™.
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Wolverine World Wide, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”). All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Fiscal Year
The Company’s fiscal year is the 52- or 53-week period that ends on the Saturday nearest to December 31. All fiscal years presented herein are 52-week periods.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (U.S.) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue is recognized on the sale of products manufactured or sourced by the Company when the related goods have been shipped, legal title has passed to the customer and collectability is reasonably assured. Revenue generated through licensees and distributors involving products bearing the Company’s trademarks is recognized as earned according to stated contractual terms upon either the purchase or shipment of branded products by licensees and distributors.
The Company records provisions for estimated sales returns and allowances at the time of sale based on historical rates of returns and allowances and specific identification of outstanding returns not yet received from customers. However, estimates of actual returns and allowances in any future period are inherently uncertain and actual returns and allowances may differ from these estimates. If actual or expected future returns and allowances were significantly greater or lower than established reserves, a reduction or increase to net revenues would be recorded in the period this determination was made.
Cost of Goods Sold
Cost of goods sold includes the actual product costs, including inbound freight charges and certain outbound freight charges, purchasing, sourcing, inspection and receiving costs. Warehousing costs are included in selling, general and administrative expenses.
Shipping and Handling Costs
Shipping and handling costs that are charged to and reimbursed by the customer are recognized as revenue, while the related expenses incurred by the Company are recorded as cost of goods sold.
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Cash Equivalents
Cash equivalents include highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less. Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates market.
Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts
The Company maintains an allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable for estimated losses resulting from its customers’ inability to make required payments. Company management evaluates the allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable based on a review of current customer status and historical collection experience.
Inventories
The Company values its inventory at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined by the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) method for all domestic raw materials and work-in-process inventories and certain domestic finished goods inventories. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method for all raw materials, work-in-process and finished goods inventories in foreign countries; certain domestic finished goods inventories; and for all finished goods inventories of the Company’s consumer-direct business, due to the unique nature of those operations. The Company has applied these inventory cost valuation methods consistently from year to year.
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment are stated on the basis of cost and include expenditures for computer hardware and software, store furniture and fixtures, office furniture and machinery and equipment. Normal repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred.
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment is computed using the straight-line method. The depreciable lives range from 14 to 20 years for buildings and improvements and from 3 to 10 years for machinery, equipment and software. Leasehold improvements are depreciated at the lesser of the estimated useful life or lease term, including reasonably-assured lease renewals as determined at lease inception.
Deferred Financing Costs
Deferred financing costs represent commitment fees, legal and other third party costs associated with obtaining commitments for financing which result in a closing of such financings for the Company. These costs are amortized into earnings through interest expense over the terms of the respective agreements. Costs incurred in seeking financing transactions which do not close are expensed in the period in which it is determined that the financing will not close.
Acquisitions
The Company accounts for acquired businesses using the purchase method of accounting. Under the purchase method, the Company’s consolidated financial statements include the operations of an acquired business from the date of acquisition. In addition, the assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded at the date of acquisition at their respective estimated fair values, with any excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair values of the net assets acquired recorded as goodwill.
Significant judgment is required in estimating the fair value of intangible assets and in assigning their respective useful lives. Accordingly, the Company typically obtains the assistance of third-party valuation specialists for significant items. The fair value estimates are based on available historical information and on future expectations and assumptions deemed reasonable by management, but are inherently uncertain.
The Company typically uses an income method to estimate the fair value of intangible assets, which is based on forecasts of the expected future cash flows attributable to the respective assets. Significant estimates and assumptions inherent in the valuations reflect a consideration of other marketplace participants and include the amount and timing of future cash flows (including expected growth rates and profitability), the underlying product or technology life cycles, the economic barriers to entry and the discount rate applied to the cash flows. Unanticipated market or macroeconomic events and circumstances may occur that could affect the accuracy or validity of the estimates and assumptions.
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Determining the useful life of an intangible asset also requires judgment. Certain intangibles are expected to have indefinite lives based on their history and the Company’s plans to continue to support and build the acquired brands. Other acquired intangible assets (e.g., certain trademarks or brands, customer relationships, patents and technologies) are expected to have determinable useful lives. The Company’s assessment as to trademarks and brands that have an indefinite life and those that have a determinable life is based on a number of factors including competitive environment, market share, trademark and/or brand history, underlying product life cycles, operating plans and the macroeconomic environment of the countries in which the trademarks or brands are sold. The Company’s estimates of the useful lives of determinable-lived intangibles are based primarily on these same factors. All of the Company’s acquired technology and customer-related intangibles are expected to have determinable useful lives. The costs of determinable-lived intangibles are amortized to expense over their estimated life.
Goodwill and Other Intangibles
Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net tangible and identifiable intangible assets of acquired businesses. Other intangibles consist primarily of trademarks and patents. Goodwill and intangible assets deemed to have indefinite lives are not amortized, but are subject to impairment tests at least annually. The Company has adopted the provisions of ASU 2011-08, which permits the Company to qualitatively assess indicators of the Company’s reporting unit’s fair value when it is unlikely that a reporting unit is impaired. After completing the qualitative assessment, the Company may also use assumptions about expected future operating performance and utilize a discounted cash flow analysis to estimate fair value. If the recorded values of these assets are not recoverable, based on either the assessment screen or discounted cash flow analysis, management performs the next step, which compares the fair value of the reporting unit to the recorded value of the tangible and intangible assets of the reporting units. Goodwill is considered impaired if the fair value of the tangible and intangible assets exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit.
The Company adopted the provisions of ASU 2012-02, which allows the Company to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset is less than its carrying value. The Company would not be required to quantitatively determine the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible unless the Company determines, based on the qualitative assessment, that it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than the carrying value. After completing the qualitative assessment, the Company may determine it necessary to test indefinite-lived intangibles by comparison of the individual carrying values to the fair value. Future cash flows of the individual indefinite-lived intangible assets are used to measure their fair value after consideration by management of certain assumptions, such as forecasted growth rates and cost of capital, which are derived from internal projections and operating plans.
The Company did not recognize any impairment charges for goodwill or indefinite-lived intangible assets during the fiscal years ended December 29, 2012, December 31, 2011 or January 1, 2011 as the Company’s annual impairment testing indicated that all reporting unit goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible asset fair values exceed their respective recorded values.
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Other amortizable intangible assets are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives. Other amortizable intangible assets are included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets. They consist primarily of customer relationships, patents, licensing arrangements, developed product technology and a customer backlog intangible asset. The combined gross carrying value and accumulated amortization for these amortizable intangibles was as follows:
Estimated aggregate amortization expense for such intangibles for each of the five fiscal years subsequent to 2012 is as follows:
The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill and other non-amortizable intangibles for the years ended December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are as follows:
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or an asset group may not be recoverable. Each impairment test is based on a comparison of the carrying amount of the asset or asset group to the future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset or asset group. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment amount to be recognized is the amount by which the carrying value of the assets exceeds their fair value.
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Retirement Benefits
The determination of the obligation and expense for retirement benefits is dependent on the selection of certain actuarial assumptions used in calculating such amounts. These assumptions include, among others, the discount rate, expected long-term rate of return on plan assets and rates of increase in compensation. These assumptions are reviewed with the Company’s actuaries and updated annually based on relevant external and internal factors and information, including, but not limited to, long-term expected asset returns, rates of termination, regulatory requirements and plan changes. See Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements for additional information.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with the fair value recognition provisions of FASB ASC Topic 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”). The Company recognized compensation expense of $14,988, $14,074, and $11,543 and related income tax benefits of $4,877, $4,540, and $3,552 for grants under its stock-based compensation plans in the statements of operations for the years ended December 29, 2012, December 31, 2011, and January 1, 2011, respectively.
Stock-based compensation expense recognized in the consolidated condensed statements of operations for the years ended December 29, 2012, December 31, 2011, and January 1, 2011, is based on awards ultimately expected to vest and, as such, has been reduced for estimated forfeitures. ASC 718 requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. Forfeitures were estimated based on historical experience.
The Company estimated the fair value of employee stock options on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes model. The estimated weighted-average fair value for each option granted was $10.72, $10.46, and $6.97 per share for fiscal years 2012, 2011, and 2010, respectively, with the following weighted-average assumptions:
(1) Based on historical volatility of the Company’s common stock. The expected volatility is based on the daily percentage change in the price of the stock over the four years prior to the grant.
(2) Represents the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect for the expected term of the option at the time of grant.
(3) Represents the Company’s cash dividend yield for the expected term.
(4) Represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding. As part of the determination of the expected term, the Company concluded that all employee groups exhibit similar exercise and post-vesting termination behavior.
The Company issued 1,917,020 shares of common stock in connection with the exercise of stock options and new restricted stock grants during fiscal 2012. The Company cancelled 49,207 shares of common stock issued under restricted stock awards as a result of forfeitures during fiscal 2012.
Income Taxes
The provision for income taxes is based on the geographic dispersion of the earnings reported in the consolidated financial statements. A deferred income tax asset or liability is determined by applying currently-enacted tax laws and rates to the cumulative temporary differences between the carrying values of assets and liabilities for financial statement and income tax purposes.
The Company records an increase in liabilities for income tax accruals associated with tax benefits claimed on tax returns but not recognized for financial statement purposes (unrecognized tax benefits). The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits through interest expense and income tax expense, respectively.
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Earnings Per Share
The Company calculates earnings per share in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 260, Earnings Per Share (“ASC 260”). ASC 260 addresses whether instruments granted in share-based payment transactions are participating securities prior to vesting, and therefore need to be included in the earnings allocation in computing earnings per share under the two-class method. Under the guidance in ASC 260, the Company’s unvested share-based payment awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents, whether paid or unpaid, are participating securities and must be included in the computation of earnings per share pursuant to the two-class method.
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:
Options granted to purchase 387,591 shares of common stock in fiscal 2012, 338,877 shares in fiscal 2011, and 865,072 shares in fiscal 2010 have not been included in the denominator for the computation of diluted earnings per share for each of those fiscal years because the related exercise prices were greater than the average market price for the year, and they were, therefore, anti-dilutive.
Foreign Currency
For most of the Company’s international subsidiaries, the local currency is the functional currency. Assets and liabilities of these subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars at the year-end exchange rate. Operating statement amounts are translated at average exchange rates for each period. The cumulative translation adjustments resulting from changes in exchange rates are included in the consolidated balance sheets as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders’ equity. Transaction gains and losses are included in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income and were not material for fiscal years 2012, 2011 and 2010.
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Financial Instruments and Risk Management
The Company follows FASB ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASC 820”), which provides a consistent definition of fair value, focuses on exit price, prioritizes the use of market-based inputs over entity-specific inputs for measuring fair value and establishes a three-tier hierarchy for fair value measurements. This topic requires fair value measurements to be classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:
Level 1:
Fair value is measured using quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.
Level 2:
Fair value is measured using either direct or indirect inputs, other than quoted prices included within Level 1, which are observable for similar assets or liabilities.
Level 3:
Fair value is measured using valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs are unobservable.
The Company’s financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, accounts and notes receivable, accounts payable, foreign currency forward exchange contracts, an interest rate swap agreement, borrowings under the Company’s Revolving Credit Facility and long-term debt. The carrying amount of the Company’s financial instruments is historical cost, which approximates their fair value, except for the interest rate swap and foreign currency forward exchange contracts, which are carried at fair value. As of December 29, 2012, the carrying value and the fair value of the Company’s long-term debt, including current maturities, was $1,250,000 and $1,308,895. The Company does not hold or issue financial instruments for trading purposes.
The Company follows FASB ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, which is intended to improve transparency in financial reporting and requires that all derivative instruments be recorded on the consolidated balance sheets at fair value by establishing criteria for designation and effectiveness of hedging relationships. The Company utilizes foreign currency forward exchange contracts to manage the volatility associated with U.S. dollar inventory purchases made by non-U.S. wholesale operations in the normal course of business. At December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, foreign exchange contracts with a notional value of $111,905 and $106,265, respectively, were outstanding to purchase U.S. dollars with maturities ranging up to 336 days for each fiscal year. These contracts have been designated as cash flow hedges.
As of December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, a liability of $2,264 and an asset of $4,015, respectively, have been recognized for the fair value of the Company’s foreign currency forward exchange contracts. As of December 29, 2012, a liability of $1,540 has been recognized for the fair value of the Company’s interest rate swap agreement. In accordance with ASC 820, these assets and liabilities fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The prices for the financial instruments are determined using prices for recently-traded financial instruments with similar underlying terms as well as directly or indirectly observable inputs. The Company did not have any additional assets or liabilities that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011.
The fair value of the foreign currency forward exchange contracts represents the estimated receipts or payments necessary to terminate the contracts. Hedge effectiveness is evaluated by the hypothetical derivative method. Any hedge ineffectiveness is reported within the cost of goods sold caption of the consolidated condensed statements of operations. Hedge ineffectiveness was not material to the Company’s consolidated condensed financial statements for fiscal years 2012, 2011, or 2010. If, in the future, the foreign exchange forward contracts are determined to be ineffective hedges or terminated before their contractual termination dates, the Company would be required to reclassify into earnings all or a portion of the unrealized amounts related to the cash flow hedges that are currently included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) within stockholders’ equity.
The Company has one interest rate swap agreement which exchanges floating rate for fixed rate interest payments over the life of the agreement without the exchange of the underlying notional amounts. The notional amounts of the interest rate swap agreement are used to measure interest to be paid or received and do not
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represent the amount of exposure to credit loss. The differential paid or received on the interest rate swap agreements is recognized as an adjustment to interest expense. The Company’s interest rate swap has a notional amount of $462,175, which reduces the Company’s exposure to fluctuations in interest rates on its variable rate debt. This derivative instrument was designated as a cash flow hedge of the debt and will expire on October 6, 2017. In accordance with ASC 815, the Company formally documented the relationship between the interest rate swap and the variable rate borrowings, as well as its risk management objective and strategy for undertaking the hedge transaction. This process included linking the derivative to the specific liability or asset on the balance sheet. The Company also assessed, both at the hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivative used in the hedging transaction was highly effective in offsetting changes in the cash flows of the hedged item. The effective portion of unrealized gains (losses) is deferred as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and will be recognized in earnings at the time the hedged item affects earnings. Any ineffective portion of the change in fair value will be immediately recognized in earnings.
For the fiscal years ended December 29, 2012 the Company recognized a net loss of $1,001 in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) related to the effective portion of its interest rate swap agreement.
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Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Comprehensive income (loss) is comprised of all changes in shareholders’ equity during the period other than from transactions with shareholders. The changes in accumulated balances for each component of other comprehensive income (loss) are as follows:
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2. INVENTORIES
Inventories of $62,731 at December 29, 2012 and $63,210 at December 31, 2011 have been valued using the LIFO method. If the FIFO method had been used, inventories would have been $18,993 and $15,301 higher than reported at December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.
3. INDEBTEDNESS
Total borrowings consist of the following obligations:
In 2009, the Company entered into a $1.6 million note payable in connection with the Cushe® acquisition. The note was payable over three years at a fixed interest rate of 4.5%. The Company paid the remaining balance on this note during fiscal 2012.
On July 31, 2012, the Company entered into a new credit agreement (the “New Credit Agreement”) with a bank syndicate. The New Credit Agreement provided the Company with a $1.1 billion secured credit facility consisting of a Term Loan A Facility in an aggregate amount of up to $550.0 million (the “Term Loan A Facility”), a Term Loan B Facility in an aggregate amount up to $350.0 million (the “Term Loan B Facility”) and a Revolving Credit Facility in an aggregate amount of up to $200.0 million (the “Revolving Facility”). The New Credit Agreement also provides the Company with the option to increase the aggregate principal amount of all facilities by up to an additional amount such that the total amount of all of the facilities does not exceed $1.3 billion As of December 29, 2012, the only usage against the Revolving Facility was related to outstanding standby letters of credit totaling approximately $1.9 million.
As required by the New Credit Agreement, the Company also entered into an interest rate swap with a notional amount of $462.2 million that reduces the Company’s exposure to fluctuations in interest rates on its variable rate debt. This derivative instrument was designated as a cash flow hedge of the debt.
The Term Loan A Facility and the Revolving Credit Facility each have a term of five years and the Term Loan B Facility has a term of seven years. The initial interest rates applicable to amounts outstanding under the Term Loan A Facility and to U.S. dollar denominated amounts outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility will be, at the Company’s option, either (1) the alternate base rate as defined in the New Credit Agreement plus an applicable margin of 1.25%, or (2) the Eurocurrency Rate as defined in the New Credit Agreement plus an applicable margin of 2.25%. The interest rate applicable to amounts outstanding under the Term Loan B Facility will be, at the Company’s option, either (1) the alternate base rate plus an applicable margin of 2.00%, or (2) the Eurocurrency Rate plus an applicable margin of 3.00%. For fiscal 2012, the weighted average interest rates for Term Loan A and Term Loan B were 2.5% and 4.0%, respectively.
The Revolving Credit Facility includes a $100.0 million foreign currency subfacility under which borrowings may be made, subject to certain conditions, in Canadian dollars, pounds sterling, euros, Hong Kong dollars, Swedish kronor, Swiss francs and such additional currencies determined in accordance with the New Credit Agreement. The Revolving Credit Facility also includes a $35.0 million swingline subfacility and a $50.0 million letter of credit subfacility.
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The obligations of the Company pursuant to the New Credit Agreement will be guaranteed by substantially all of the Company’s material domestic subsidiaries and secured by substantially all of the personal and real property of the Company and its material domestic subsidiaries, subject to certain exceptions.
The New Credit Agreement also contains certain affirmative and negative covenants, including covenants that limit the ability of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (as defined in the New Credit Agreement) to, among other things: incur or guarantee indebtedness; incur liens; pay dividends or repurchase stock; enter into transactions with affiliates; consummate asset sales, acquisitions or mergers; prepay certain other indebtedness; or make investments, as well as covenants restricting the activities of certain foreign subsidiaries of the Company that hold intellectual property related assets. Further, the New Credit Agreement requires compliance with the following financial covenants: a maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio (as defined in the New Credit Agreement); a maximum Consolidated Secured Leverage Ratio; and a minimum Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio (in each case, as defined in the New Credit Agreement). As of December 29, 2012 the Company was in compliance with all such restrictions and financial covenants.
On October 9, 2012, the Company also issued a total of $375.0 million in senior notes in a private placement offering. The notes bear interest at 6.125% and are due in 2020 (the “Notes”). Related interest payments are due semi-annually. The Notes are guaranteed by certain of the Company’s domestic subsidiaries.
The Company incurred debt issuance costs of approximately $40.1 million to obtain financing, including underwriter, banker, legal and accounting fees that are capitalized and amortized to interest expense over the terms of the related borrowings. The Company amortized approximately $1.8 million of deferred financing costs to interest expense during fiscal 2012.
The Company used the net proceeds from the Notes, together with the borrowings under the Term Loan Facilities and cash on hand, to finance the acquisition of PLG, repay any amounts outstanding under, and terminate its existing Revolving Credit Facility and to provide for the working capital needs of the Company, including the payment of transaction expenses in connection with the acquisition.
Cash flow from operations, along with borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility, if any, are expected to be sufficient to meet working capital needs for the foreseeable future. Any excess cash flows from operating activities are expected to be used to purchase property, plant and equipment, reduce debt, fund internal and external growth initiatives, pay dividends or repurchase the Company’s common stock.
Annual maturities of long-term debt for the five fiscal years subsequent to December 29, 2012, are as follows:
The above maturities exclude the recorded fair value of the Company’s interest rate swap arrangement, which was recorded at fair value of $1.5 million within other liabilities as of December 29, 2012. Additional information regarding the interest rate swap is provided in Note 1 of the consolidated financial statements.
4. LEASES
The Company leases machinery, equipment, and certain warehouse, office and retail store space under operating lease agreements that expire at various dates through 2023. Certain leases contain renewal provisions and generally require the Company to pay utilities, insurance, taxes and other operating expenses.
At December 29, 2012, minimum rental payments due under all non-cancelable leases were as follows:
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Rental expense under all operating leases, consisting primarily of minimum rentals, totaled $29,414 in fiscal 2012, $20,117 in fiscal 2011 and $18,919 in fiscal 2010.
5. CAPITAL STOCK
The Company has 2,000,000 authorized shares of $1 par value preferred stock, of which none was issued or outstanding as of December 29, 2012 or December 31, 2011. The Company has designated 150,000 shares of preferred stock as Series A junior participating preferred stock and 500,000 shares of preferred stock as Series B junior participating preferred stock for possible future issuance.
As of December 29, 2012, the Company had stock options outstanding under various stock incentive plans. As of December 29, 2012, the Company had approximately 1,893,495 stock incentive units (stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units and common stock) available for issuance. Each option or stock appreciation right granted counts as one stock incentive unit and all other awards granted, including restricted stock, count as two stock incentive units. Options granted under each plan have an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the underlying stock on the grant date, expire no later than ten years from the grant date, and generally vest over three years. Restricted stock issued under these plans is subject to certain restrictions, including a prohibition against any sale, transfer, or other disposition by the officer or employee during the vesting period (except for certain transfers for estate planning purposes for certain officers), and a requirement to forfeit all or a certain portion of the award upon certain terminations of employment or upon failure to achieve performance criteria in certain instances. These restrictions typically lapse over a three- to five-year period from the date of the award. The Company has elected to recognize expense for these stock-based incentive plans ratably over the vesting term on a straight-line basis. Certain option and restricted share awards provide for accelerated vesting under various scenarios, including retirement and upon a change in control of the Company. With regard to acceleration of vesting upon retirement, employees of eligible retirement age are vested in accordance with plan provisions and applicable stock option and restricted stock agreements. The Company issues shares to plan participants upon exercise or vesting of stock-based incentive awards from either authorized, but unissued, shares or treasury shares.
A summary of the transactions under the stock option plans is as follows:
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The total pretax intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 29, 2012, December 31, 2011 and January 1, 2011 was $30,088, $14,931 and $10,407, respectively. As of December 29, 2012, there was $2,931 of unrecognized compensation expense related to stock option grants that is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.2 years. As of December 31, 2011 and January 1, 2011, there was $2,414 and $2,393, respectively, of unrecognized compensation expense related to stock option awards that was expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.0 and 1.1 years, respectively.
The aggregate intrinsic value in the preceding table represents the total pretax intrinsic value, based on the Company’s closing stock price of $40.18 as of December 29, 2012, which would have been received by the option holders had all option holders exercised in-the-money options as of that date. The total number of in-the-money options exercisable as of December 29, 2012 was 1,986,114 and the weighted-average exercise price was $24.36. As of December 31, 2011, 2,831,883 outstanding options were exercisable and the weighted-average exercise price was $21.85.
Beginning in 2009, the Board of Directors has awarded an annual grant of performance share awards to the officers of the Company. The number of performance-based shares that will be earned (and eligible to vest) during the performance period will depend on the Company’s level of success in achieving two specifically identified performance targets. Any portion of the performance shares that are not earned by the end of the three-year measurement period will be forfeited. The final determination of the number of shares to be issued in respect to an award is determined by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors.
A summary of the nonvested restricted shares issued under stock award plans is as follows:
As of December 29, 2012, there was $11,638 of unrecognized compensation expense related to nonvested share-based compensation arrangements granted under restricted stock award plans. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.1 years. The total fair value of shares vested during the year-ended December 29, 2012 was $14,946. As of December 31, 2011, there was $6,466 of unrecognized compensation expense related to nonvested share-based compensation arrangements granted under restricted stock award plans. That cost was expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.0 years. The total fair value of shares vested during the year-ended December 31, 2011 was $6,203. As of January 1, 2011, there was $6,194 of unrecognized compensation expense related to nonvested share-based compensation arrangements granted under restricted stock award plans that was expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.6 years. The total fair value of shares vested during the year-ended January 1, 2011 was $3,012.
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As of December 29, 2012, there was $3,478 of unrecognized compensation expense related to nonvested share-based compensation arrangements granted under performance-based award plans. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.2 years. The total fair value of shares vested during the year-ended December 29, 2012 was $17,475. As of December 31, 2011, there was $4,718 of unrecognized compensation expense related to nonvested share-based compensation arrangements granted under performance-based restricted stock award plans. That cost was expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.0 years. The total fair value of shares vested during the year-ended December 31, 2011 was $4,699. As of January 1, 2011, there was $4,950 of unrecognized compensation expense related to nonvested share-based compensation arrangements granted under performance-based restricted stock award plans that was expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.0 years. The total fair value of shares vested during the year-ended January 1, 2011 was $3,203.
6. RETIREMENT PLANS
The Company has three non-contributory, defined benefit pension plans covering a majority of its domestic employees. The Company’s principal defined benefit pension plan provides benefits based on the employee’s years of service and final average earnings. Subsequent to the end of fiscal 2012, the Company closed this plan to new participants. The Company’s second plan provides benefits at a fixed rate per year of service for certain employees under a collectively bargaining arrangement. The Company’s third noncontributory defined benefit pension plan, which no longer accrues future benefits, covers certain eligible PLG associates. Prior to the freezing of the plan, eligible PLG participants accrued pension benefits at a fixed unit rate based on the participant’s service and compensation.
The Company has a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the “SERP”) for certain current and former employees that entitles a participating employee to receive payments from the Company following retirement based on the employee’s years of service and final average earnings (as defined in the SERP). Under the SERP, the employees can elect early retirement with a corresponding reduction in benefits. The Company also has individual deferred compensation agreements with certain former employees that entitle these employees to receive payments from the Company for a period of 15 to 18 years following retirement. The Company maintains life insurance policies with a cash surrender value of $46,701 at December 29, 2012 and $38,203 at December 31, 2011 that are intended to fund deferred compensation benefits under the SERP and deferred compensation agreements.
The Company has two defined contribution 401(k) plans covering substantially all domestic employees that provides for Company contributions based on earnings. The Company recognized expense for its defined contribution plans of $2,872 in fiscal 2012, $2,500 in fiscal 2011 and $2,061 in fiscal 2010.
The Company has certain defined contribution plans at foreign subsidiaries. Contributions to these plans were $867 in fiscal 2012, $918 in fiscal 2011 and $858 in fiscal 2010. The Company also has a benefit plan at a foreign location that provides for retirement benefits based on years of service. The obligation recorded under this plan was $2,986 at December 29, 2012 and $3,139 at December 31, 2011 and was recognized as a deferred compensation liability on the accompanying balance sheet.
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The following summarizes the status of and changes in the Company’s assets and related obligations for its pension plans (which include the Company’s defined benefit pension plans and the SERP) for the fiscal years:
The accumulated benefit obligations for all defined benefit pension plans and the SERP were $425,443 at December 29, 2012 and $254,198 at December 31, 2011.
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The following is a summary of net pension and SERP expense recognized by the Company:
The prior service cost and actuarial loss included in accumulated other comprehensive loss and expected to be recognized in net periodic pension expense during 2013 is $118 and $30,391, respectively. Expense for qualified defined benefit pension plans was $20,229 in fiscal 2012, $12,579 in fiscal 2011 and $11,903 in fiscal 2010.
The weighted-average actuarial assumptions used to determine the benefit obligation amounts and the net periodic benefit cost for the Company’s pension and post-retirement plans are as follows.
Unrecognized net actuarial losses exceeding certain corridors are amortized over a five-year period, unless the minimum amortization method based on average remaining service periods produces a higher amortization. The Company utilizes a bond matching calculation to determine the discount rate. A hypothetical bond portfolio is created based on a presumed purchase of high-quality corporate bonds with maturities that match the plan’s expected future cash outflows. The discount rate is the resulting yield of the hypothetical bond portfolio. The discount rate is used in the calculation of the year-end pension liability and service cost for the subsequent year.
The long-term rate of return is based on overall market expectations for a balanced portfolio with an asset mix similar to the Company’s, utilizing historic returns for broad market and fixed income indices. The Company’s asset allocations at fiscal year-end by asset category and fair value measurement are as follows:
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The Company’s investment policy for plan assets uses a blended approach of U.S. and foreign equities combined with U.S. fixed income investments. Policy guidelines indicate that total equities should not exceed 80% and fixed income securities should not exceed 35%. Within the equity and fixed income classifications, the investments are diversified.
The Company expects to contribute approximately $2,367 to its qualified defined benefit pension plans and approximately $2,367 to the SERP in fiscal 2013.
Expected benefit payments for the five years subsequent to 2012 and the sum of the five years following those are as follows:
7. INCOME TAXES
The geographic components of earnings before income taxes are as follows:
The provisions for income taxes consist of the following:
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A reconciliation of the Company’s total income tax expense and the amount computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate of 35% to earnings before income taxes is as follows:
Significant components of the Company’s deferred income tax assets and liabilities as of the end of fiscal years 2012 and 2011 are as follows:
The valuation allowance for deferred income tax assets as of December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, was $3,165 and $2,463 respectively. The net change in the total valuation allowance for each of the years ended December 29, 2012, and December 31, 2011, was $702 and $1,066 respectively. The valuation allowance was related to foreign net operating loss carryforwards and tax credit carryforwards in foreign jurisdictions that, in the judgment of management, are not more likely than not to be realized. The ultimate realization of the carryforwards depends on the generation of future taxable income in the foreign tax jurisdictions.
At December 29, 2012, the Company had foreign net operating loss carryforwards of $8,482, which have expiration periods ranging from eight years to an unlimited term during which they are available to offset future foreign taxable income. The Company also had foreign tax credit carryforwards in foreign jurisdictions of $942, which are available for an unlimited carryforward period to offset future foreign taxable income.
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The following table summarizes the activity related to the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits:
The portion of the unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized currently, would reduce the annual effective tax rate was $8,535 as of December 29, 2012 and $13,137 as of December 31, 2011. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits through interest expense and income tax expense, respectively. Interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits was $1,956 as of December 29, 2012 and $789 as of December 31, 2011.
The Company is subject to periodic audits by domestic and foreign tax authorities. Currently, the Company is undergoing routine periodic audits in both domestic and foreign tax jurisdictions. It is reasonably possible that the amounts of unrecognized tax benefits could change in the next 12 months as a result of the audits; however, any payment of tax is not expected to be significant to the consolidated financial statements.
For the majority of tax jurisdictions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state and local, or non-U.S. income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2008.
No provision has been made for U.S. federal and state income taxes or foreign taxes that may result from future remittances of the remaining undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries of $313,898 at December 29, 2012, as the Company expects such earnings will remain reinvested overseas indefinitely.
In January 2013, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 was signed into law and various tax provisions including the research credit that had expired as of December 31, 2011 were reinstated retroactively to January 1, 2012. In accordance with ASC 740-45-15, the effects of changes in tax rates and laws on deferred tax balances and tax rates are recognized in the period the legislation is enacted. As a result, the impact of the new legislation will be reflected in the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations in fiscal 2013.
8. LITIGATION AND CONTINGENCIES
The Company is involved in various environmental claims and other legal actions arising in the normal course of business. The environmental claims include sites where the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has notified the Company that it is a potentially responsible party with respect to environmental remediation. These remediation claims are subject to ongoing environmental impact studies, assessment of remediation alternatives, allocation of costs between responsible parties and concurrence by regulatory authorities and have not yet advanced to a stage where the Company’s liability is fixed. However, after taking into consideration legal counsel’s evaluation of all actions and claims against the Company, it is management’s opinion that the outcome of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
The Company is involved in routine litigation incidental to its business and is a party to legal actions and claims, including, but not limited to, those related to employment and intellectual property. Some of the legal proceedings include claims for compensatory as well as punitive damages. While the final outcome of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty, considering, among other things, the meritorious legal defenses available and liabilities that have been recorded along with applicable insurance, it is management’s opinion that the outcome of these items will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
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The Company has future minimum royalty and advertising obligations due under the terms of certain licenses held by the Company. These minimum future obligations are as follows:
Minimum royalties are based on both fixed obligations and assumptions regarding the consumer price index. Royalty obligations in excess of minimum requirements are based upon future sales levels. In accordance with these agreements, the Company incurred royalty expense of $2,792, $3,270, and $3,028 for fiscal years 2012, 2011, and 2010, respectively.
The terms of certain license agreements also require the Company to make advertising expenditures based on the level of sales. In accordance with these agreements, the Company incurred advertising expense of $4,132, $3,273, and $2,998 for fiscal years 2012, 2011, and 2010, respectively.
9. BUSINESS SEGMENTS
The acquisition of PLG resulted in two new operating segments comprised of PLG wholesale and PLG retail. PLG’s wholesale operations are included in the branded footwear, apparel and licensing reportable segment as a fourth operating group. PLG retail along with the Company’s Wolverine retail operating group are aggregated into the Company’s consumer-direct reportable segment.
Further, the Company now identifies four operating groups within the branded footwear, apparel and licensing reportable segment, which is engaged in designing, manufacturing, sourcing, marketing, licensing and distributing branded footwear, apparel and accessories. Revenue from this segment is derived from the sale of branded footwear, apparel and accessories to third-party customers and royalty income from the licensing of the Company’s trademarks and brand names to third-party licensees and distributors. The Outdoor, Heritage, Lifestyle, and Performance + Lifestyle Wholesale operating groups, which are aggregated into the branded footwear, apparel and licensing reportable segment, all source, market and distribute products in a similar manner.
Retail operations across the entire portfolio are collectively reported within the consumer-direct reportable segment, consisting of both brick-and-mortar retail locations and eCommerce websites. PLG retail along with the Company’s Wolverine retail segment are aggregated into the Company’s consumer-direct reportable segment. At December 29, 2012, the Company owned and operated 444 brick-and-mortar retail stores in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom and operated 63 consumer-direct websites.
The other business unit in the following tables consist of the Company’s, leather marketing and pigskin procurement operations. Substantially all of the assets of the pigskin procurement operations were sold to a third-party buyer on December 29, 2010.
The Company measures segment profits as earnings before income taxes. The accounting policies used to determine profitability and total assets of the branded footwear, apparel and licensing segment, consumer-direct segment and the other business unit are the same as disclosed in Note 1.
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Business segment information is as follows:
Geographic information, based on shipping destination, related to revenue from external customers included in the consolidated statements of operations is as follows:
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The location of the Company’s long-lived assets (primarily property, plant and equipment) is as follows:
The Company does not believe that it is dependent upon any single customer because no customer accounts for more than 10% of consolidated revenue.
The Company sources approximately 95% (based on pairs) of its footwear products from third-party suppliers located primarily in the Asia Pacific region. The remainder is produced at Company-owned manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and the Dominican Republic. All apparel and accessories are sourced from third-party suppliers. While changes in suppliers could cause delays in manufacturing and a possible loss of sales, management believes that other suppliers could provide similar products on comparable terms.
Subsequent to the end of fiscal 2012, the Company realigned its branded wholesale operating groups, reducing the number of operating groups within the branded wholesale footwear, apparel and licensing reportable segment from four to three.
10. RESTRUCTURING AND OTHER TRANSITION COSTS
On January 7, 2009, the Board of Directors of the Company approved a strategic restructuring plan designed to create significant operating efficiencies, improve the Company’s supply chain and create a stronger global platform. On October 7, 2009, the Company announced an expansion of its restructuring plan to include the consolidation of two domestic manufacturing facilities into one and to finalize realignment in certain of the Company’s product creation organizations. The strategic restructuring plan and all actions under the plan, except for certain cash payments, were completed as of June 19, 2010. Accordingly, the Company did not incur any restructuring or other transition costs for the years ended December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011. For the year-ended January 1, 2011 the Company incurred restructuring and other transition costs of $4,234 ($3,087 on an after-tax basis), or $0.06 per diluted share.
Restructuring
The Company did not incur restructuring charges for the years ended December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011. For the year-ended January 1, 2011 the Company incurred restructuring charges of $2,239 ($1,632 on an after-tax basis).
The following is a summary of the activity with respect to a reserve established by the Company in connection with the restructuring plan, by category of costs:
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Other Transition Costs
Incremental costs incurred related to the restructuring plan that do not qualify as restructuring costs under the provisions of FASB ASC Topic 420, Exit or Disposal Cost Obligations, have been included in the Company’s consolidated condensed statements of operations on the line items titled “Restructuring and other transition costs”. These primarily include costs related to closure of facilities, new employee training and transition to outsourced services. All costs included in this caption were solely related to the transition and implementation of the restructuring plan and do not include ongoing business operating costs. There were no other transition costs incurred during the years ended December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011. Other transition costs for the year-ended January 1, 2011, were $1,995 ($1,454 on an after-tax basis).
11. BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS
On October 9, 2012, the Company acquired all of the outstanding equity interests of Collective Brands, Inc’s Performance + Lifestyle Group business (“PLG”) as well as certain other assets. Consideration paid to acquire PLG was approximately $1,249.5 million in cash. PLG markets casual and athletic footwear, apparel and related accessories for adults and children under well-known brand names including Sperry Top-Sider®, Saucony®, Stride Rite®, and Keds®. The acquisition expands the Company’s existing portfolio of brands to 16. The Company accounted for the acquisition under the provisions of FASB ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations. The related assets acquired and liabilities assumed were recorded at fair value on the acquisition date. The operating results for PLG are included in the Company’s consolidated results of operations beginning October 9, 2012. The operating results for PLG are included in the PLG wholesale and PLG retail operating groups. The PLG wholesale group is aggregated into the branded, footwear, apparel and Licensing segment. The PLG retail group is aggregated into the consumer-direct segment.
The Company funded the transaction using a combination of cash on hand of approximately $88,800 and debt financing. The Company’s debt financing included net proceeds from the term loan debt associated with the Company’s New Credit Agreement as well as net proceeds from the Company’s senior notes.
The Company incurred non-recurring transaction and integration costs of $42,215 during fiscal 2012 of which $4,481, $32,537 and $5,197 were included within cost of goods sold, selling, general, and administrative expenses and interest expense, respectively, within the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. The non-recurring charge to cost of goods sold of $4,481 relates to the fair value adjustment to acquisition-date inventory and severance costs. The non-recurring costs within selling, general, and administrative expenses include professional and legal fees ($14,925), taxes paid on behalf of the seller ($9,701), severance ($2,678), onetime software license fees ($2,413) and other onetime costs of $2,820, respectively. The $5,197 of non-recurring interest expense relates to a non-recurring financing commitment fee and refinancing fees associated with the Company’s acquisition of PLG.
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The preliminary allocation of the purchase price through December 29, 2012 was:
The allocation of the purchase price above is considered preliminary and was based upon valuation information available and estimates and assumptions made at December 29, 2012. The Company is still in the process of verifying data and finalizing information related to the valuation and recording of identifiable intangible assets, deferred income taxes, uncertain tax provisions and accrued pension liabilities and the resulting effects on the amount of recorded goodwill. The Company expects to finalize these matters within the measurement period, which is currently expected to remain open through the second quarter of fiscal 2013.
The excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired, amounting to $419,611, was preliminarily recorded as goodwill in the condensed consolidated balance sheet and was assigned to the PLG wholesale and PLG retail operating segments, which were also determined to be reporting units. This resulted in the following addition to goodwill within the Company’s reportable segments:
The goodwill recognized is attributable primarily to expected synergies and the assembled workforce of PLG. Substantially all of the goodwill is not amortizable for income tax purposes.
Intangible assets acquired in the acquisition were preliminarily valued as follows:
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Management preliminarily assigned fair values to the identifiable intangible assets through a combination of the relief from royalty and the excess earnings methods.
At the time of the acquisition, a step-up in the value of inventory of $3,983 was recorded in the allocation of the purchase price based on valuation estimates, all of which was charged to cost of sales in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012 as the inventory was sold. In addition, fixed assets were written up by approximately $18,800 to their estimated fair market value based on a valuation method that included both the cost and market approaches. This additional step-up in value is being depreciated over the estimated remaining useful lives of the assets.
The results of operations for PLG have been included in the consolidated statements of operations since the date of acquisition. The amount of fiscal 2012 revenue and net loss, which includes interest expense associated with the New Credit Agreement and senior notes, amortization of acquired intangibles and incremental operating costs, attributable to PLG included in the consolidated statements of operations consists of the following:
The following supplemental pro forma financial information presents net sales and net earnings for the Company as if the PLG business acquisition had occurred at the beginning of fiscal 2011. This pro forma information is not necessarily indicative of the results that would have actually been obtained if the acquisition had occurred at the beginning of the periods presented or that may be attained in the future.
For 2011, the primary adjustments include: i) the addition of a non-recurring charge to cost of goods sold related to the fair value adjustment to acquisition-date inventory and severance of $4,481, ii) the addition of $32,061 of amortization and depreciation for acquired intangibles and property and equipment, iii) the addition of $32,537 of non-recurring acquisition related expenses and iv) the addition of $63,245 of interest expense. For 2012, the primary adjustments include: i) the elimination of the non-recurring charge to cost of goods sold related to the fair value adjustment to acquisition-date inventory and severance of $4,481, ii) the elimination of $32,537 of non-recurring acquisition related expenses, iii) the addition of $24,662 of amortization and depreciation for acquired intangibles and property and equipment, and iv) the addition of $34,990 of interest expense.
Subsequent to the end of fiscal 2012, the Company incurred approximately $5.2 million of severance costs related to the integration of PLG.
12. Quarterly Results of Operations (Unaudited)
The Company reports its quarterly results of operations on the basis of 12-week periods for each of the first three fiscal quarters and a 16- or 17-week period for the fiscal fourth quarter. The fourth quarter of fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2011 consists of 16 weeks. The aggregate quarterly earnings per share amounts disclosed in the table below may not equal the annual per share amounts due to rounding and the fact that results for each quarter are calculated independently of the full fiscal year.
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The Company’s unaudited quarterly results of operations are as follows:
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors and Shareholders of Wolverine World Wide, Inc.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Wolverine World Wide, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, and the related consolidated statements of stockholders’ equity, operations and comprehensive income, and cash flows for each of the three fiscal years in the period ended December 29, 2012. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15(a). These financial statements and schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedule based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Wolverine World Wide, Inc. and subsidiaries at December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three fiscal years in the period ended December 29, 2012, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Wolverine World Wide, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 29, 2012, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 27, 2013 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Grand Rapids, Michigan
February 27, 2013
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors and Shareholders of Wolverine World Wide, Inc.
We have audited Wolverine World Wide, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 29, 2012, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). Wolverine World Wide, Inc.’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
As indicated in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting, management’s assessment of and conclusion of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting did not include internal controls of the Performance + Lifestyle Group Business, which is included in the fiscal 2012 consolidated financial statements of Wolverine World Wide, Inc. and constituted 66% of total assets as of December 29, 2012 and 13% of revenue for the fiscal year then ended. Our audit of internal controls over financial reporting of Wolverine World Wide, Inc. also did not include an evaluation of internal controls over financial reporting of the Performance + Lifestyle Group Business.
In our opinion, Wolverine World Wide, Inc. maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 29, 2012, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Wolverine World Wide, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, and the related consolidated statements of stockholders’ equity, operations and comprehensive income, and cash flows for each of the three fiscal years in the period ended December 29, 2012, and our report dated February 27, 2013 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Grand Rapids, Michigan
February 27, 2013
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APPENDIX B
Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Wolverine World Wide, Inc. and Subsidiaries
(A) Accounts charged off, net of recoveries.
(B) Actual customer returns.
(C) Discounts given to customers.
(D) Adjustment upon disposal of related inventories.
EXHIBIT INDEX
* Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.