| SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES | Nature of Operations Levi Strauss & Co. (the “Company”) is one of the world’s largest brand-name apparel companies. The Company designs, markets and sells – directly or through third parties and licensees – products that include jeans, casual and dress pants, activewear, tops, shorts, skirts, jackets, footwear and related accessories, for men, women and children around the world under the Levi’s ® , Signature by Levi Strauss & Co.™, Denizen ® , Dockers ® and Beyond Yoga ® brands. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021, the Company acquired Beyond Yoga ® , which has been consolidated since the date of acquisition. Beyond Yoga ® generates revenue from the sale of activewear in the United States. Please refer to Note 4 for more information. The Company operates its business according to three reportable segments: Americas, Europe, and Asia, collectively comprising the Company's Levi's Brands business, which includes the Levi's, Signature by Levi Strauss & Co.™ and Denizen ® brands. The Dockers ® and Beyond Yoga ® businesses do not meet the quantitative thresholds for reportable segments and therefore are presented under the caption of Other Brands. Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation The consolidated financial statements of the Company and its wholly-owned and majority-owned foreign and domestic subsidiaries are prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("U.S. GAAP"). All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. The Company’s fiscal year ends on the Sunday that is closest to November 30 of that year, although the fiscal years of certain foreign subsidiaries end on November 30. Fiscal years 2023, 2022 and 2021 were 52-week years, ending on November 26, 2023, November 27, 2022 and November 28, 2021, respectively. Each quarter of fiscal years 2023, 2022 and 2021 consisted of 13 weeks. All references to years relate to fiscal years rather than calendar years. COVID-19 Update In fiscal year 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic and government authorities around the world imposed lockdowns and restrictions. The COVID-19 pandemic continued to affect the Company's business and results of operations during 2021 and 2022, although to a lesser extent than in 2020. During 2021, company-operated stores and third-party retail locations throughout various markets were impacted by temporary closures, reduced hours and reduced occupancy levels. During 2022, temporary store closures and reduced traffic were mainly limited within China as a result of their zero-tolerance policy shutdowns while most of the Company's company-operated stores and wholesale customer doors across other markets remained open throughout the year. During 2023, company-operated stores and wholesale customer doors were open. Out-of-Period Adjustment For the year ended November 27, 2022, the Company's results include an out-of-period adjustment, which increased other (expense) income, net by $19.9 million and income tax expense by $4.0 million. Basic and diluted earnings per share both increased by $0.04 per share. This item, which originated in prior years, relates to the correction of the treatment of unrealized gains and losses on marketable equity securities, previously recorded as available-for-sale equity securities and reflected as a component of comprehensive income, held in an irrevocable grantor’s rabbi trust in connection with the Company's deferred compensation plan. Additionally, $2.9 million was reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income to retained earnings in the statement of stockholders’ equity to reflect the adoption of an accounting standard. The Company has evaluated the effects of this out-of-period adjustment, both qualitatively and quantitatively, and concluded that the correction of this amount was not material to the year ended November 27, 2022 or the periods in which they originated, including quarterly reporting. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and the related notes to the consolidated financial statements. Estimates are based upon historical factors, current circumstances and the experience and judgment of the Company’s management. Management evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis and may employ outside experts to assist in its evaluations. Changes in such estimates, based on more accurate future information, or different assumptions or conditions, may affect amounts reported in future periods. Cash and Cash Equivalents The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are stated at fair value. Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities The Company records all derivatives at fair value, which are included in “Other current assets”, “Other non-current assets”, “Other accrued liabilities” or “Other long-term liabilities” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The portion of the fair value that represents cash flow occurring within one year is classified as current and the portion related to cash flows occurring beyond one year is classified as non-current. The cash flows from the designated derivative instruments used as hedges are classified in the Company's consolidated statements of cash flows in the same section as the cash flows of the hedged item. Designated Cash Flow Hedges The Company actively manages the risk of changes in functional currency equivalent cash flows resulting from anticipated non-functional currency denominated purchases and sales. The Company’s global sourcing organization uses the U.S. dollar as its functional currency and is primarily exposed to changes in functional currency equivalent cash flows from anticipated inventory purchases, as it procures inventory on behalf of subsidiaries with the Euro, Australian Dollar and Japanese Yen functional currencies. The Company's Mexico subsidiary uses the Mexican Peso as its functional currency and is exposed as it procures inventory in the U.S. Dollar. Additionally, a European subsidiary uses Euros as its functional currency and is exposed to anticipated non-functional currency denominated sales. The Company manages these risks by using currency forward contracts formally designated and effective as cash flow hedges. Hedge effectiveness is generally determined by evaluating the ability of a hedging instrument's cumulative change in fair value to offset the cumulative change in the present value of expected cash flows on the underlying exposures. For forward contracts, forward points are excluded from the determination of hedge effectiveness and are included in cost of goods sold for hedges of anticipated inventory purchases and in net revenues for hedges of anticipated sales on a straight-line basis over the life of the contract. In each accounting period, differences between the change in fair value of the forward points and the amount recognized on a straight-line basis is recognized in “Other comprehensive (loss) income.” Net Investment Hedges The Company designates certain non-derivative instruments as net investment hedges to hedge the Company's net investment position in certain of its foreign subsidiaries. For these instruments, the Company documents the hedge designation by identifying the hedging instrument, the nature of the risk being hedged and the approach for measuring hedge effectiveness. Non-designated Cash Flow Hedges The Company enters into derivative instruments not designated as hedges. These derivative instruments are not speculative and are used to manage the Company’s exposure to certain product sourcing activities, some intercompany sales, foreign subsidiaries' royalty payments, interest payments, earnings repatriations, net investment in foreign operations and funding activities but the Company has not elected to apply hedge accounting. Changes in the fair value of derivatives not designated in hedging relationships are recorded directly in “Other (expense) income, net” in the Company’s consolidated statements of income. Accounts Receivable, Net The Company extends credit to its customers that satisfy pre-defined credit criteria. Accounts receivable are recorded net of an allowance for credit losses. The Company estimates the allowance for credit losses based on an analysis of the aging of accounts receivable, assessment of collectability, including any known or anticipated bankruptcies, customer-specific circumstances and an evaluation of current economic conditions. Actual write-off of receivables may differ from estimates due to changes in customer and economic circumstances. During fiscal 2021, a net reduction of $12.5 million in allowances related to customer receivables was recorded as a result of a change in customers' financial condition, actual and anticipated bankruptcies and other associated claims. The allowance for credit losses was $5.7 million and $7.5 million as of November 26, 2023 and November 27, 2022, respectively. Inventory Valuation The Company values inventories at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Inventory cost is determined using the first-in first-out method. The Company includes product costs, labor and related overhead, inbound freight, internal transfers, and the cost of operating its remaining manufacturing facilities, including the related depreciation expense, in the cost of inventories. The Company determines inventory net realizable value by estimating expected selling prices based on the Company's historical recovery rates for slow-moving and obsolete inventory and other factors, such as market conditions, expected channel of distribution and current consumer preferences. Income Tax Significant judgment is required in determining the Company's global income tax provision. In the ordinary course of a global business, there are many transactions and calculations where the ultimate tax outcome is uncertain. Some of these uncertainties arise from examinations in various jurisdictions and assumptions and estimates used in evaluating the need for valuation allowances. The Company is subject to income taxes in the United States and numerous foreign jurisdictions. The Company computes its provision for income taxes using the asset and liability method, under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and for operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. All deferred income taxes are classified as non-current on the Company's consolidated balance sheets. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the currently enacted tax rates that are expected to apply to taxable income for the years in which those tax assets and liabilities are expected to be realized or settled. Significant judgments are required in order to determine the realizability of deferred tax assets. In assessing the need for a valuation allowance, the Company's management evaluates all available positive and negative evidence, including historical operating results, estimates of future taxable income and the existence of prudent and feasible tax planning strategies. The Company continuously reviews issues raised in connection with all ongoing examinations and open tax years to evaluate the adequacy of its tax liabilities. The Company evaluates uncertain tax positions under a two-step approach. The first step is to evaluate the uncertain tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination based on its technical merits. The second step, for those positions that meet the recognition criteria, is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than fifty percent likely to be realized. The Company believes that its recorded tax liabilities are adequate to cover all open tax years based on its assessment. This assessment relies on estimates and assumptions and involves significant judgments about future events. To the extent that the Company's view as to the outcome of these matters changes, the Company will adjust income tax expense in the period in which such determination is made. The Company classifies interest and penalties related to income taxes as income tax expense. Cloud Computing Arrangements The Company incurs costs to implement cloud computing arrangements that are hosted by third party vendors. Implementation costs associated with cloud computing arrangements are capitalized when incurred during the application development phase. Amortization is calculated on a straight-line basis over the contractual term of the cloud computing arrangement on a straight-line basis, typically a three to seven year period. Capitalized amounts related to such arrangements are recorded within other current assets and other non-current assets in the consolidated balance sheets. Property, Plant and Equipment Property, plant and equipment are carried at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method based upon the estimated useful lives of the assets. Buildings are depreciated over a 20 to 40 year period. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the lesser of the estimated useful life of the improvement or the associated lease term. Machinery and equipment, including furniture and fixtures, automobiles and trucks, and networking communication equipment, is depreciated over a three Software development costs, which are direct costs associated with developing software for internal use, including certain payroll and payroll-related costs are capitalized when incurred during the application development phase and are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life, typically a three The Company reviews property plant and equipment for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset or an asset group may not be recoverable. Impairment losses are measured and recorded for the excess of carrying value over its fair value, estimated based on expected future cash flows and other quantitative and qualitative factors. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Goodwill resulted primarily from the acquisition of Beyond Yoga ® in 2021, a 1985 acquisition of the Company by Levi Strauss Associates Inc., a former parent company that was subsequently merged into the Company in 1996, as well as other third-party acquisitions. Intangible assets comprise customer relationships and owned trademarks with definite and indefinite useful lives. Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are not amortized. The Company tests goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment annually, or more frequently as warranted by events or changes in circumstances which indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. Annual testing is performed in the fourth quarter of the fiscal year for all reporting units and indefinite-lived assets except Beyond Yoga ® , which is performed in the third quarter. When testing goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment, the Company has the option of first performing a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value of a reporting unit or an indefinite-lived intangible asset is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform a quantitative impairment test. If necessary, the Company can perform a single step quantitative impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit or indefinite-lived intangible asset with its carrying amount and record an impairment charge for the amount that the carrying amount exceeds the fair value, up to the total amount of goodwill allocated to a reporting unit or the carrying amount of the indefinite-lived intangible asset. Under the quantitative test, the Company compares the carrying value of the reporting unit or indefinite-lived intangible asset to its fair value, which it estimates using an income approach. Under the income approach, the Company determines the fair value using a discounted cash flow method, projecting future cash flows of the reporting unit, as well as a terminal value, and applying a discount rate that reflects the relative risk of the cash flows. To determine the estimated fair value of indefinite-lived intangible assets, the Company uses an income approach, specifically the relief-from-royalty method. This method assumes that, in lieu of ownership, a third-party would be willing to pay a royalty in order to obtain the rights to use a comparable asset. Under a qualitative assessment, the Company assesses various factors including industry and market conditions, macroeconomic conditions and performance of the businesses. Restructuring Liabilities Upon approval of a restructuring plan, the Company records restructuring liabilities for employee severance and related termination benefits when they become probable and estimable for recurring arrangements. The Company records other costs associated with exit activities as they are incurred. The short-term portion and long-term portion of restructuring liabilities are included in “Other accrued liabilities” and “Other long term liabilities”, respectively, in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. Operating Leases The Company primarily leases retail store space, certain distribution and warehouse facilities, office space and equipment. The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception and begins recording lease activity at the commencement date, which is generally the date in which the Company takes possession of or controls the physical use of the asset. Right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and lease liabilities are recognized based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term with lease expense recognized on a straight-line basis. Incremental borrowing rates are used to determine the present value of future lease payments unless the implicit rate is readily determinable. Incremental borrowing rates reflect the rate the lessee would pay to borrow on a secured basis an amount equal to the lease payments and incorporates the term and economic environment of the lease. ROU assets include amounts for scheduled rent increases and are reduced by the amount of lease incentives. The lease term includes the non-cancelable period of the lease and options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain the Company will exercise those options. Certain lease agreements include variable lease payments, which are based on a percent of retail sales over specified levels or adjust periodically for inflation as a result of changes in a published index, primarily the Consumer Price Index. The Company has elected to account for lease and non-lease components together as a single lease component in the measurement of ROU assets and lease liabilities. Variable lease payments are not included in the measurement of ROU assets and lease liabilities. For leases with a lease term of 12 months or less, fixed lease payments are recognized on a straight-line basis over such term and are not recognized on the consolidated balance sheet. See Note 13 for further discussion of the Company's leases. Debt Issuance Costs The Company capitalizes debt issuance costs on its senior revolving credit facility, which are included in “Other non-current assets” on the Company's consolidated balance sheets. Capitalized debt issuance costs on the Company's unsecured long-term debt are presented as a reduction to the debt outstanding on the Company's consolidated balance sheets. The unsecured long-term debt issuance costs are generally amortized utilizing the effective interest method whereas the senior revolving credit facility issuance costs are amortized utilizing the straight-line method. Amortization of debt issuance costs is included in “Interest expense” in the consolidated statements of income. Fair Value of Financial Instruments The fair values of the Company's financial instruments reflect the amounts that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price). The fair value estimates presented in these financial statements are based on information available to the Company as of November 26, 2023 and November 27, 2022. The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables and short-term borrowings approximate fair value since they are short term in nature. The Company has estimated the fair value of its other financial instruments using the market and income approaches. Rabbi trust assets and forward foreign exchange contracts are carried at their fair values. The Company's debt instruments are carried at historical cost and adjusted for amortization of premiums, discounts, or deferred financing costs, foreign currency fluctuations and principal payments. Benefits The Company has several non-contributory defined benefit retirement plans covering eligible employees and non-qualified deferred compensation plans that covers certain eligible employees. The Company also provides certain health care benefits for U.S. employees who meet age, participation and length of service requirements at retirement. In addition, the Company sponsors other retirement or post-employment plans for its foreign employees in accordance with local government programs and requirements. The Company retains the right to amend, curtail or discontinue any aspect of the plans, subject to local regulations. The Company recognizes either an asset or a liability for any plan's funded status in its consolidated balance sheets. The Company measures changes in funded status using actuarial models which utilize an attribution approach that generally spreads individual events over the estimated service lives of the remaining employees in the plan. For plans where participants will not earn additional benefits by rendering future service, which includes the Company's U.S. plans, individual events are spread over the plan participants' estimated remaining lives. The Company's policy is to fund its retirement plans based upon actuarial recommendations and in accordance with applicable laws, income tax regulations and credit agreements. Net pension and postretirement benefit income or expense is generally determined using assumptions which include expected long-term rates of return on plan assets, discount rates, compensation rate increases and medical and mortality trend rates. The Company considers several factors including historical rates, expected rates and external data to determine the assumptions used in the actuarial models. Employee Incentive Compensation The Company maintains short-term and long-term employee incentive compensation plans. Provisions for employee incentive compensation are recorded in “Accrued salaries, wages and employee benefits” and “Long-term employee related benefits” on the Company's consolidated balance sheets. The Company accrues the related compensation expense over the period of the plan and changes in the liabilities for these incentive plans generally correlate with the Company's financial results and projected future financial performance. Stock-Based Compensation The Company has stock-based incentive plans that allow for the issuance of cash or equity-settled awards to certain employees and non-employee directors. The Company recognizes compensation expense for share-based awards that are classified as equity based on the grant date fair value of the awards over the requisite service period, adjusted for estimated forfeitures. The cash-settled awards are classified as liabilities and compensation expense is measured using fair value at the end of each reporting period until settlement. The grant date fair value of the Company's stock appreciation right awards is estimated using the Black-Scholes valuation model. The grant date fair value of the Company's service based restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and non-market based performance RSUs is determined based on the fair value of the Company's common stock on the date of grant, adjusted to reflect the absence of dividend equivalents during vesting. The grant date fair value of the Company's market based performance RSUs is estimated using a Monte Carlo simulation valuation model. Compensation expense for all performance based RSUs is recognized over the requisite service period when attainment of the performance goal is deemed probable, net of estimated forfeitures. Compensation expense for market based RSUs, net of estimated forfeitures, is recognized over the requisite service period regardless of whether, and the extent to which, the market condition is ultimately satisfied. For RSU awards with cliff vesting terms, compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis. For awards granted to retirement-eligible employees, or employees who will become retirement-eligible prior to the end of the awards' respective stated vesting periods, the related stock-based compensation expense is recognized on an accelerated basis over a term commensurate with the period that the employee is required to provide service in order to vest in the award. Due to the job function of the award recipients, the Company has included stock-based compensation expense in “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in the consolidated statements of income. Self-Insurance Up to certain limits, the Company self-insures various loss exposures primarily relating to workers' compensation risk and employee and eligible retiree medical health benefits. The Company carries insurance policies covering claim exposures which exceed predefined amounts, per occurrence and/or in the aggregate. Accruals for losses are made based on the Company's claims experience and actuarial assumptions followed in the insurance industry, including provisions for incurred but not reported losses. Foreign Currency The functional currency for most of the Company's foreign operations is the applicable local currency. For those operations, assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. Dollars using period-end exchange rates; income and expenses are translated at average monthly exchange rates; and equity accounts are translated at historical rates. Net changes resulting from such translations are recorded as a component of translation adjustments in “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” on the Company's consolidated balance sheets. Foreign currency transactions are transactions denominated in a currency other than the entity's functional currency. At each balance sheet date, each entity remeasures the recorded balances related to foreign-currency transactions using the period-end exchange rate. Unrealized gains or losses arising from the remeasurement of these balances are recorded in “Other (expense) income, net” in the Company's consolidated statements of income. In addition, at the settlement date of foreign currency transactions, the realized foreign currency gains or losses are recorded in “Other (expense) income, net” in the Company's consolidated statements of income to reflect the difference between the rate effective at the settlement date and the historical rate at which the transaction was originally recorded. Share Repurchases On May 31, 2022, the board of directors of the Company approved a new share repurchase program that authorizes the repurchase of up to $750 million of the Company's Class A common stock. The previously approved $200 million share repurchase program was completed as of the end of the second quarter of 2022. During fiscal 2023, 0.5 million shares were repurchased for $8.1 million, plus broker's commissions, in the open market. This equates to an average repurchase price of approximately $17.97 per share. During fiscal 2022, 8.7 million shares were repurchased for $172.9 million, plus broker's commissions, in the open market. This equates to an average repurchase price of approximately $19.89 per share. The Company accounts for share repurchases by charging the excess of repurchase price over the repurchased Class A common stock's par value entirely to retained earnings. All repurchased shares are retired and become authorized but unissued shares. The Company accrues for the shares purchased under the share repurchase plan based on the trade date. The Company may terminate or limit the share repurchase program at any time. Revenue Recognition Net sales includes sales within the wholesale and direct-to-consumer channels. Wholesale channel revenues includes sales to third-party retailers such as department stores, specialty retailers, third-party e-commerce sites and franchise locations dedicated to the Company's brands. The Company also sells products directly to consumers, which are reflected in the direct-to-consumer (“DTC”) channel, through a variety of formats, including company-operated mainline and outlet stores, company-operated e-commerce sites and select shop-in-shops located in department stores and other third-party retail locations. Revenue transactions generally comprise a single performance obligation, which consists of the sale of products to customers either through wholesale or direct-to-consumer channels. The Company satisfies the performance obligation and records revenues when transfer of control has passed to the customer, based on the terms of sale. Transfer of control passes to wholesale customers upon shipment or upon receipt depending on the agreement with the customer. Within the Company's DTC channel, control generally transfers to the customer at the time of sale within company-operated retail stores and upon delivery to the customer with respect to e-commerce transactions. Licensing revenues are included in the Company's wholesale channel and represent approximately 1% of total revenues which are recognized over time based on the contractual term with variable amounts recognized only when royalties exceed contractual minimum royalty guarantees. Payment terms for wholesale transactions depend on the country of sale or agreement with the customer, and payment is generally required after shipment or receipt by the wholesale customer. Payment is due at the time of sale for retail store and e-commerce transactions. Net sales to the Company's ten largest customers for fiscal year 2023, fiscal year 2022, and fiscal year 2021, totaled 28%, 31% and 32% of net revenues for those fiscal years, respectively. No customer represented 10% or more of net revenues in any of these years. The Company treats all shipping to the Company's customers, handling and certain other distribution activities as a fulfillment cost and recognizes these costs as SG&A expenses. Sales and value-added taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities are presented on a net basis in the consolidated statements of income. Cost of Goods Sold Cost of goods sold includes the expenses incurred to acquire and produce inventory for sale, including product costs, labor and related overhead, inbound freight, internal transfers, and the cost of operating the Company's remaining manufacturing facilities, including the related depreciation expense. Selling, General and Administrative Expenses Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses consist primarily of costs relating to advertising, marketing, selling, distribution, information technology and other corporate functions. Selling costs include, among other things, all occupancy costs associated with company-operated stores and with the Company's company-operated shop-in-shops located within department stores. The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred. For fiscal years 2023, 2022 and 2021, total advertising expense was $432.9 million, $463.7 million and $434.5 million, respectively. Distribution costs include costs related to receiving and inspection at distribution centers, warehousing, shipping to the Company's customers, handling and certain other activities associated with the Company's distribution network. These expenses totaled $330.9 million, $304.7 million and $244.6 million for fiscal years 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Reclassification Certain amounts on the consolidated income statements and statements of cash flow have been conformed to the No |
