Hanesbrands Earnings 2021-01-02
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
| ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | |||||
For the fiscal year ended January 2, 2021
or
| TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | |||||
For the transition period from to
Commission file number: 001-32891
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| (State of incorporation) | (I.R.S. employer identification no.) | ||||||||||
| (Address of principal executive office) | (Zip code) | ||||||||||
(336 ) 519-8080
(Registrant’s telephone number including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| ☒ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | Smaller reporting company | Emerging growth company | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
As of June 26, 2020, the aggregate market value of the registrant’s common stock held by non-affiliates was approximately $3,614,190,632 (based on the closing price of the common stock of $10.46 per share on that date, as reported on the New York Stock Exchange and, for purposes of this computation only, the assumption that all of the registrant’s directors and executive officers are affiliates and that beneficial holders of 5% or more of the outstanding common stock are not affiliates).
As of January 29, 2021, there were 348,804,893 shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains information that may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). Forward-looking statements include all statements that do not relate solely to historical or current facts, and can generally be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “believe,” “will,” “expect,” “project,” “estimate,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “continue” or similar expressions. However, the absence of these words or similar expressions does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. All statements regarding our intent, belief and current expectations about our strategic direction, prospects and future results are forward-looking statements. Management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made. However, caution should be taken not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements because such statements speak only as of the date when made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. In addition, forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience and our present expectations or projections. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those described under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this report and those described from time to time in our future reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
PART I
| Item 1. | Business | ||||
Company Overview
Hanesbrands Inc. (collectively with its subsidiaries, “Hanesbrands,” “we,” “us,” “our” or the “Company”) is a socially responsible leading marketer of everyday basic innerwear and activewear apparel in the Americas, Europe, Australia and Asia/Pacific under some of the world’s strongest apparel brands, including Hanes, Champion, Bonds, DIM, Bali, Maidenform, Playtex, Bras N Things, Nur Die/Nur Der, JMS/Just My Size, Wonderbra, Lovable, Alternative, Berlei, L’eggs and Gear for Sports. Our products are marketed to consumers shopping in mass merchants, mid-tier and department stores, specialty stores and the consumer-directed channel, which includes our owned retail locations, as well as e-commerce sites.
Unlike most apparel companies, Hanesbrands primarily operates its own manufacturing facilities. Over 70% of the apparel units that we sell are manufactured in our own plants or those of dedicated contractors. Owning the majority of our supply chain not only impacts cost, scale and flexibility, but also the ability to adhere to best-in-class management and environmental practices.
We operate in the global innerwear and global activewear apparel categories. These are stable, heavily branded categories where we have a strong consumer franchise based on a global portfolio of industry-leading brands that we have built over multiple decades, through hundreds of millions of direct interactions with consumers. With the arrival of our new Chief Executive Officer in August of 2020, we undertook a comprehensive global business review focused on building consumer-centric growth. The review resulted in our Full Potential plan, which is our multi-year growth strategy that focuses on four pillars to drive growth and enhance long-term profitability and identifies the initiatives to unlock growth. Our four pillars of growth are to grow the Champion brand globally, drive growth in Innerwear with brands and products that appeal to younger consumers, build e-commerce excellence across channels and streamline our global portfolio. In order to deliver this growth and create a more efficient and productive business model, we have launched a multi-year cost savings program intended to substantially self-fund the investments necessary to achieve the Full Potential plan’s objectives. We remain highly confident that our strong brand portfolio, world-class supply chain and diverse category and geographic footprint will help us unlock our full potential, deliver long-term growth and create stockholder value.
We take great pride in our strong reputation for ethical business practices and the success of our corporate responsibility program for community and environmental improvement. Hanesbrands earned a leadership level A score in the 2020 CDP Climate Change Report and has been a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star Sustained Excellence Award winner for 11 consecutive years. We are also a recognized leader for our community-building, philanthropy and workplace practices. We are continuing our commitment to make the world a more comfortable, livable and inclusive place by establishing new, wide-ranging 2030 global sustainability goals and launching a new sustainability website, www.HBISustains.com, that is designed to increase our transparency and reporting on key metrics. We approach sustainability from a broad, holistic perspective and focus our efforts in areas addressed by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, such as: good health and well-being; quality education; gender equality; climate action; clean water and sanitation; affordable and clean energy; economic growth; reduced inequalities; and responsible consumption and production.
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Our fiscal year ends on the Saturday closest to December 31. All references to “2020”, “2019” and “2018” relate to the 53-week fiscal year ended on January 2, 2021, and the 52-week fiscal years ended on December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, respectively.
We make available copies of materials we file with, or furnish to, the SEC free of charge at www.Hanes.com/investors (in the “Investors” section). By referring to our corporate website, www.Hanes.com/corporate, our sustainability website, www.HBISustains.com, or any of our other websites, we do not incorporate any such website or its contents into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Our Brands
Our portfolio of leading brands is designed to address the needs and wants of various consumer segments across a broad range of basic apparel products. Our brands have strong consumer positioning that helps distinguish them from competitors and guides their advertising and product development. We discuss some of our most important brands in more detail below.
Hanes is the largest and most widely recognized brand in our portfolio. Hanes is the number one selling apparel brand in the United States and is found in nine out of 10 U.S. households. The Hanes brand covers all of our product categories, including men’s underwear, women’s panties, children’s underwear, bras, socks, T-shirts, fleece, shapewear and sheer hosiery. Hanes stands for outstanding comfort, style and value. Hanes is one of the most widely distributed brands in apparel, with a presence across mass merchandise retailers, e-commerce sites, discount stores and department stores. Through collaborations with third parties, the brand has also gained distribution with specialty retailers like Urban Outfitters and in high-end retail establishments like Nordstrom and Bloomingdales.
Champion is our second-largest brand. Founded in Rochester, New York in 1919, Champion has always been known for authentic American style and performance and helped pioneer some of the most important innovations in athleticwear, including reverse weave sweatshirts, mesh practice uniforms and sports bras. Champion athleticwear can be found in sporting goods retailers, e-commerce sites, department stores, college bookstores and specialty retailers, including Urban Outfitters, Zumiez and PacSun. In addition, Champion has collaborated with designers and other iconic brands around the world, including Coca-Cola, Dr. Seuss, Todd Snyder, Off-White, Beams and Coach. We believe the Champion brand continues to be a powerful global growth platform for Hanesbrands.
Our global portfolio includes two other megabrands with strong heritage and deep household penetration in their respective markets. The Bonds brand is over a century old and is the number one brand of men’s underwear, women’s underwear, children’s underwear, socks and babywear in Australia. DIM is a flagship European brand and a mass market leader in hosiery, men’s underwear, intimate apparel and socks in France.
Our portfolio also includes a number of iconic intimate apparel brands. Bali offers a range of bras, panties and shapewear sold in the department store channel and is the number one bra brand in U.S. department stores. Maidenform is America’s number one shapewear brand and has been trusted for stylish, modern bras, panties and shapewear since 1922. Playtex is the leading full-figure wirefree support bra brand in the United States and is sold everywhere from mass merchandise retailers to department stores.
In addition, we offer a variety of products under the following well-known brands: Bras N Things, Nur Die/Nur Der, JMS/Just My Size, Wonderbra, Lovable, Alternative, Berlei, L’eggs, and Gear for Sports.
These brands complement our primary product offerings, allowing us to give consumers a variety of options to meet their diverse needs.
Our Segments
Our operations are managed and reported in three operating segments, each of which is a reportable segment for financial reporting purposes: Innerwear, Activewear and International. These segments are organized principally by product category and geographic location. Each segment has its own management team that is responsible for the operations of the segment’s businesses, but the segments share a common supply chain and media and marketing platforms.
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The following table summarizes our operating segments by product category:
| Segment | Primary Products | Primary Brands | ||||||
| Innerwear | Basics, including men’s underwear, women’s panties, children’s underwear and socks | Hanes, Champion, JMS/Just My Size, Bali, Maidenform, Polo Ralph Lauren* | ||||||
| Intimate apparel, such as bras and shapewear | Bali, Maidenform, Hanes, Playtex, JMS/Just My Size, Wonderbra | |||||||
| Activewear | T-shirts, fleece, sport shirts, performance T-shirts and shorts, sports bras, thermals and teamwear | Champion, Hanes, Alternative, JMS/Just My Size, Gear for Sports, Hanes Beefy-T | ||||||
| International | Activewear, men’s underwear, women’s panties, children’s underwear, intimate apparel, socks, hosiery and home goods | Champion, Bonds, DIM, Sheridan, Bras N Things, Hanes, Nur Die/Nur Der, Playtex, Lovable, Wonderbra, Berlei, Shock Absorber, Maidenform, Zorba, Rinbros, Abanderado, Sol y Oro, Polo Ralph Lauren* | ||||||
| * | Brand used under a license agreement. | ||||
In 2020, we leveraged our product development expertise and global supply chain capabilities to quickly pivot to large-scale production of personal protective equipment (“PPE”), such as cloth face coverings and gowns, to supply to governments, large organizations, business-to-business customers and consumers for use to help mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus. During 2020, sales of PPE are included in our Innerwear and International segments.
Innerwear
Our Innerwear segment includes core apparel products, such as men’s underwear, women’s panties, children’s underwear, socks and intimate apparel which includes bras and shapewear, sold in the United States, under well-known brands that are trusted by consumers. We are the intimate apparel category leader in the United States with our Hanes, Bali, Maidenform, Playtex, Champion and JMS/Just My Size brands, and we are also the leading manufacturer and marketer of men’s underwear and children’s underwear in the United States under the Hanes, Champion and Polo Ralph Lauren brands. In 2020, Innerwear also includes sales of PPE including products such as cloth face coverings and gowns. During 2020, net sales from our Innerwear segment were $3.0 billion, representing approximately 45% of total net sales.
Activewear
Our Activewear segment includes activewear products, such as T-shirts, fleece, performance apparel, sport shirts and thermals, sold in the United States. We are a leader in the activewear market through our Champion, Hanes, Alternative, and JMS/Just My Size brands, where we sell products such as T-shirts and fleece to both retailers and wholesalers. We also license our Champion name for footwear and sports accessories. In our American Casualwear business, we supply our T-shirts, sport shirts and fleece products, including brands such as Hanes, Champion, Alternative and Hanes Beefy-T, to customers, primarily wholesalers, who then resell to the embellishment channel, and the consumer-directed channel. We sell licensed logo apparel in the mass retail channel and in collegiate bookstores and other channels under our Champion, Gear for Sports, Knights Apparel and Alternative Apparel brands. During 2020, net sales from our Activewear segment were $1.2 billion, representing approximately 18% of total net sales.
International
Our International segment includes innerwear, activewear, hosiery and home goods products, sold outside of the United States, that are primarily marketed under the Champion, Bonds, DIM, Sheridan, Bras N Things, Hanes, Nur Die/Nur Der, Playtex, Lovable, Wonderbra, Berlei, Shock Absorber, Maidenform, Zorba, Rinbros, Abanderado, Sol y Oro, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Bellinda brands. Our Innerwear brands are market leaders across Australia and Western and Central Europe. In the intimate apparel category, we hold the number one market share in Australia and the number two market share in France and Italy. We are also the category leader in men’s underwear in Australia, France and Spain, and in hosiery in France and Germany. In 2020, the International segment also includes sales of PPE. During 2020, net sales from our International segment were $2.3 billion, representing approximately 35% of total net sales and included sales primarily in Europe, Australasia, Asia, Canada, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. Our largest international markets are Europe, Australasia, Japan, Canada, China, Mexico and South Korea.
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The following table summarizes our brands and product categories sold within each international region:
| International Country/Region | Primary Products | Primary Brands | ||||||
| Australasia | Basics, including men’s underwear, women’s panties, children’s underwear and socks | Bonds, Explorer | ||||||
| Intimate apparel, such as bras and shapewear | Bonds, Bras N Things, Berlei | |||||||
| Activewear | Champion | |||||||
| Home goods | Sheridan | |||||||
| Europe | Basics, including men’s underwear, women’s panties, children’s underwear and socks | DIM, Nur Die/Nur Der, Abanderado, Bellinda | ||||||
| Intimate apparel, such as bras and shapewear | DIM, Playtex, Lovable, Wonderbra, Maidenform, Shock Absorber | |||||||
| Hosiery | DIM, Nur Die/Nur Der, Bellinda | |||||||
| Activewear | Champion | |||||||
| Asia | Basics, including men’s underwear, women’s panties, children’s underwear and socks | Hanes, Champion, Polo Ralph Lauren* | ||||||
| Intimate apparel, such as bras and shapewear | Playtex, Wonderbra | |||||||
| Activewear | Champion | |||||||
| Americas (excluding the United States) | Basics, including men’s underwear, women’s panties, children’s underwear and socks | Hanes, Rinbros, Zorba | ||||||
| Intimate apparel, such as bras and shapewear | Wonderbra, Sol y Oro | |||||||
| * | Brand used under a license agreement. | ||||
Customers and Distribution Channels
Our products are primarily distributed through two main channels: indirectly through our third-party brick-and-mortar wholesale customers and directly through consumer-directed sales. Third-party brick-and-mortar wholesale revenue is primarily generated by sales of our products to retailers to support their brick-and-mortar operations, as well as by royalty revenue from licensing agreements. Consumer-directed revenue is primarily generated by sales to individual consumers through our own stores or e-commerce platforms, which include both our owned sites and the sites of our retail customers. In 2020, approximately 72% of our total net sales were to third-party brick-and-mortar customers and 28% of our total net sales were consumer-directed. Additionally, third-party brick-and-mortar wholesale revenue for the year ended January 2, 2021 includes $646 million of revenue from contracts with governments in the United States and abroad generated from the sale of both cloth face coverings and gowns for use to help mitigate the spread of the coronavirus during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2020, approximately 65% of our total net sales were in the United States and approximately 35% were outside the United States. Within the United States, approximately 75% of our net sales were wholesale sales to retailers and wholesalers and 25% were consumer-directed. Our largest customer is Walmart Inc. (“Walmart”), accounting for 15% of our total net sales and 17% of our total apparel net sales in 2020. As is common in the basic apparel industry, we generally do not have purchase agreements that obligate our customers to purchase our products. However, the majority of our key customer relationships have been in place for 10 years or more. Walmart is our only customer with sales that exceeded 10% of our total net sales and total apparel net sales in 2020, with substantially all Walmart sales reported within our Innerwear and Activewear segments.
Sales to mass merchants in the United States accounted for approximately 18% of our total net sales in 2020 and included all of our product categories under our Hanes, Champion, Playtex, Maidenform and JMS/Just My Size brands, as well as licensed logo apparel. Mass merchants feature high-volume, low-cost sales of basic apparel items along with a diverse variety of consumer goods products, such as grocery and drug products and other hard lines, and are characterized by large retailers, such as Walmart and Target Corporation. Our largest mass merchant customer is Walmart.
Sales to mid-tier and department stores in the United States accounted for approximately 5% of our total net sales in 2020. Mid-tier stores target a higher-income consumer than mass merchants, focus more on sales of apparel items rather than other consumer goods such as grocery and drug products and are characterized by large retailers such as Kohl’s Corporation. We sell all of our product categories in mid-tier stores. Traditional department stores target higher-income consumers and carry more high-end, fashion conscious products than mid-tier stores or mass merchants and tend to operate in higher-income areas and commercial centers. Traditional department stores are characterized by large retailers such as Macy’s, Inc. and Nordstrom Inc. We sell products in our intimate apparel, underwear, socks, hosiery and activewear categories through department stores.
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Consumer-directed sales in the United States accounted for approximately 16% of our total net sales in 2020. We sell products that span across the Innerwear and Activewear product categories in the e-commerce environment through our owned e-commerce websites and through pure play e-commerce sites, such as Amazon.com (“Amazon”). We also sell a range of our products through our retail and value-based outlet stores, as well as through the e-commerce sites of our brick-and-mortar retail customers.
Sales to other customers in the United States represented approximately 26% of our total net sales in 2020. We sell T-shirts, golf and sport shirts and fleece sweatshirts to wholesalers and third-party embellishers primarily under our Hanes, Champion and Hanes Beefy-T brands. We also sell a significant range of our underwear, activewear and socks products under the Champion brand to wholesale clubs, such as Costco Wholesale Corporation, and sporting goods stores, such as DICK’S Sporting Goods Inc. We sell primarily legwear and underwear products under the Hanes and L’eggs brands to food, drug and variety stores. We also sell licensed logo apparel in collegiate bookstores. We sell products that span across our Innerwear and Activewear segments to the United States military for sale to servicemen and servicewomen and through discount retailers, such as the Dollar General Corporation. In 2020, we also sold reusable PPE, including cloth face coverings and gowns, to national, state and local government agencies to supplement supplies of nonsurgical personal protection and to large organizations, business-to-business customers and consumers for use during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Internationally, approximately 65% of our net sales were wholesale sales to retailers and 35% of our net sales were consumer-directed sales through our owned retail stores and e-commerce sites. For more information about our sales on a geographic basis, see Note, “Geographic Area Information,” to our consolidated financial statements.
Manufacturing, Sourcing and Distribution
During 2020, over 70% of the apparel units we sold were from finished goods manufactured through a combination of facilities we own and operate, and facilities owned and operated by dedicated third-party contractors who perform some of the steps in the manufacturing process for us, such as dyeing, cutting and/or sewing. We sourced the remainder of our finished goods from third-party manufacturers who supply us with finished products based on our designs. In making decisions about the location of manufacturing operations and third-party sources of supply, we consider a number of factors, including labor, local operating costs, geopolitical factors, product quality, regional infrastructure, applicable quotas and duties and freight costs. We believe that our balanced approach to product supply, which relies on a combination of owned, contracted and sourced manufacturing located across different geographic regions, increases the efficiency of our operations, reduces product costs and offers customers a reliable source of supply.
Finished Goods That Are Manufactured by Hanesbrands
The manufacturing process for the finished goods that we manufacture begins with raw materials we obtain from suppliers. The principal raw materials in our product categories are cotton and synthetics. Cotton and synthetic materials are typically spun into yarn by our suppliers, which is then knitted into cotton, synthetic and blended fabrics. We source all of our yarn requirements from large-scale domestic and international suppliers. To a lesser extent, we purchase fabric from several domestic and international suppliers in conjunction with our scheduled production. In addition to cotton yarn and cotton-based textiles, we use thread, narrow elastic and trim for product identification, buttons, zippers, snaps and lace. These fabrics are cut and sewn into finished products, either by us or by third-party contractors. We currently operate 39 manufacturing facilities. Most of our cutting and sewing operations are strategically located in Asia, Central America and the Caribbean Basin. Alternate sources of these materials and services are readily available.
Finished Goods That Are Manufactured by Third Parties
In addition to our own manufacturing capabilities, we also source finished goods from third-party manufacturers, also referred to as “turnkey products.” Many of these turnkey products are sourced from international suppliers by our strategic sourcing hubs in Asia.
All contracted and sourced manufacturing must meet our high-quality standards. Further, all contractors and third-party manufacturers must be preaudited and adhere to our strict supplier and business practices guidelines. These requirements provide strict standards that, among other things, cover hours of work, age of workers, health and safety conditions, freedom of association and conformity with local laws (including wage and hour laws) and Hanesbrands’ standards. Each new supplier must be inspected and agree to comprehensive compliance terms prior to commencing any production on our behalf. We audit compliance with these standards against our 265-question, scored audit protocol using both internal and external audit teams. We are also a fully accredited participating company in the Fair Labor Association. For more information, visit www.HBISustains.com.
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Distribution
As of January 2, 2021, we distributed our products from 45 distribution centers. These facilities include 15 facilities located in the United States and 30 facilities located outside the United States, primarily in regions where we sell our products. We internally manage and operate 31 of these facilities, and we use third-party logistics providers who operate the other 14 facilities on our behalf. International distribution operations use a combination of third-party logistics providers, as well as owned and operated distribution operations, to distribute goods to our various international markets.
Inventory
Effective inventory management is key to our success. Because our customers generally do not purchase our products under long-term supply contracts, but rather on a purchase order basis, effective inventory management requires close coordination with the customer base. We seek to ensure that products are available to meet customer demands while effectively managing inventory levels. We employ various types of inventory management techniques that include collaborative forecasting and planning, supplier-managed inventory, key event management and various forms of replenishment management processes. Our supplier-managed inventory initiative is intended to shift raw material ownership and management to our suppliers until consumption, freeing up cash and improving response time. We have demand management planners in our customer management group who work closely with customers to develop demand forecasts that are passed to the supply chain. We also have professionals within the customer management group who coordinate daily with our larger customers to help ensure that our customers’ planned inventory levels are in fact available at their individual retail outlets. Additionally, within our supply chain organization we have dedicated professionals who translate the demand forecast into our inventory strategy and specific production plans. These individuals work closely with our customer management team to balance inventory investment/exposure with customer service targets.
Seasonality and Other Factors
Absent the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, our operating results are subject to some variability due to seasonality and other factors. For instance, we generally have higher sales during the back-to-school and holiday shopping seasons and during periods of cooler weather, which benefits certain product categories such as fleece. Our diverse range of product offerings, however, provides some mitigation to the impact of seasonal changes in demand for certain items. Sales levels in any period are also impacted by customer decisions to increase or decrease their inventory levels in response to anticipated consumer demand. Our customers may cancel orders, change delivery schedules or change the mix of products ordered with minimal notice to us. Media, advertising and promotion expenses may vary from period to period during a fiscal year depending on the timing of our advertising campaigns for retail selling seasons and product introductions.
Product Innovation and Marketing
A significant component of our business strategy is our strong product research and development and innovation capabilities, including the development of new and improved products, including our Tagless apparel platform, Comfort Flex Fit apparel platform, ComfortBlend fabric platform, temperature-control X-Temp fabric platform, FreshIQ advanced odor protection technology fabric platform, SmoothTec fabric technology, Cool Comfort fabric technology, DreamWire underwire technology and Reverse Weave StormShell Fleece fabric technology.
Driving innovation platforms across brands and categories is a major element of our business strategy as it is designed to meet key consumer needs and leverage advertising dollars. During 2020, our advertising and promotion expense was approximately $130 million, representing 2% of our total net sales. We advertise in consumer and trade publications, television and through digital initiatives including social media, online video and mobile platforms on the Internet. We also participate in cooperative advertising on a shared cost basis with major retailers in print and digital media and television.
Competition
The basic apparel market is highly competitive and rapidly evolving. Competition generally is based upon brand, comfort, fit, style and price. Our businesses face competition today from other large domestic and foreign corporations and manufacturers. In the United States, Fruit of the Loom, Inc., a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., competes with us across our Innerwear and Activewear segments through its own offerings and those of its Russell Corporation and Vanity Fair Intimates offerings. Other competitors in our Innerwear segment include L Brands Inc.’s Victoria’s Secret brand and Jockey International, Inc. Other competitors in our Activewear segment include Gildan Activewear, Inc. and Gap Inc. Large European intimate apparel distributors such as Triumph International and Calzedonia S.p.A. Group, as well as international activewear retailers such as Nike, Adidas, Puma, Under Armour and Converse, compete with us in our International segment. We also compete with many small manufacturers across all of our business segments, including our International segment. Additionally, mass merchant retailers, department stores and other retailers, including many of our customers, market and sell basic apparel
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products under private labels and controlled brands that compete directly with our brands. Our competitive strengths include our strong brands with leading market positions, our industry-leading innovation, our high-volume, core products focus, our significant scale of operations, our global supply chain and our strong customer relationships. We continually strive to improve in each of these areas.
Intellectual Property
We market our products under hundreds of our own trademarks in the United States and other countries around the world, the most widely recognized of which are Hanes, Champion, Bonds, DIM, Bali, Maidenform, Playtex, Sheridan, Bras N Things, Nur Die/Nur Der, JMS/Just My Size, Wonderbra, Lovable, Alternative, Berlei, L’eggs, Gear for Sports, Shock Absorber, Zorba, Rinbros and Abanderado. Some of our products are sold under trademarks that have been licensed from third parties, such as Polo Ralph Lauren men’s underwear, and licensed apparel for a number of colleges and universities, including the University of Georgia and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Some of our trademarks are licensed to third parties, such as Champion for athletic-oriented accessories. In the United States and Canada, the Playtex trademark is owned by Playtex Marketing Corporation, of which we own a 50% interest and which grants to us a perpetual royalty-free license to the Playtex trademark on and in connection with the sale of apparel in the United States and Canada. Outside the United States and Canada, we own the Playtex trademark and perpetually license such trademark to an unaffiliated third party for non-apparel products. We own the Berlei trademark in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and a limited number of smaller jurisdictions. Apart from these jurisdictions, the Berlei trademark is owned by an unaffiliated third party in most major markets, including Japan, China, the United States and the European Union. Our trademarks are important to our marketing efforts and have substantial value.
We aggressively protect these trademarks from infringement and dilution through appropriate measures, including court actions and administrative proceedings. Although the laws vary by jurisdiction, trademarks generally remain valid as long as they are in use and/or their registrations are properly maintained. Most of the trademarks in our portfolio, including our core brands, are covered by trademark registrations in the countries of the world in which we do business, in addition to many other jurisdictions around the world, with a registration period of 10 years in most countries. Generally, trademark registrations can be renewed indefinitely as long as the trademarks are in use. We have an active program designed to ensure that our trademarks are registered, renewed, protected and maintained. We plan to continue to use all of our core trademarks and plan to renew the registrations for such trademarks as needed.
We also own a number of copyrights. Most of our copyrights are unregistered, although we have a sizable portfolio of copyrighted lace designs that are the subject of a number of registrations at the United States Copyright Office.
We place high importance on product innovation and design, and a number of these innovations and designs are the subject of patents. However, we do not regard any segment of our business as being dependent upon any single patent or group of related patents. In addition, we own proprietary trade secrets, technology and know-how that we have not patented.
Governmental Regulation and Environmental Matters
We are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations in the United States that could affect our business, including those promulgated under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Consumer Product Safety Act, the Flammable Fabrics Act, the Textile Fiber Product Identification Act, the rules and regulations of the Consumer Products Safety Commission and various environmental laws and regulations. Some of our international businesses are subject to similar laws and regulations in the countries in which they operate. Certain of our products, including compression hosiery, face coverings and gowns, are required to be manufactured in compliance with applicable governmental standards. Our operations also are subject to various international trade agreements and regulations. While we believe that we are in compliance in all material respects with all applicable governmental regulations, current governmental regulations may change or become more stringent or unforeseen events may occur, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.
We are also subject to various domestic and international laws and regulations relating to generating emissions, water discharges, waste, product and packaging content and workplace safety. Noncompliance with these laws and regulations may result in substantial monetary penalties and criminal sanctions. We are aware of hazardous substances or petroleum releases at certain of our facilities and are working with the relevant environmental authorities to investigate and address such releases. We also have been identified as a “potentially responsible party” at certain waste disposal sites in the United States undergoing investigation and cleanup under the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (commonly known as Superfund) or state Superfund equivalent programs. Where we have determined that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can reasonably be estimated, we have accrued amounts on our balance sheet for losses related to these sites. Compliance with environmental laws and regulations and our remedial environmental obligations historically have not had a material impact on our operations, and we are not aware of any proposed regulations or remedial obligations that could trigger significant costs or capital expenditures in connection with such compliance.
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Compliance with government regulations, including environmental regulations, has not had, and based on current information and the applicable laws and regulations currently in effect, is not expected to have a material effect on our capital expenditures (including expenditures for environmental control facilities), earnings or competitive position. However, laws and regulations may be changed, accelerated or adopted that impose significant operational restrictions and compliance requirements upon our company and which could negatively impact our operating results. See Item 1A - "Risk Factors.”
Sustainability
Unlike most apparel companies, we primarily self-manufacture our own products in facilities that we own and operate or those of our dedicated third-party contractors. Owning the majority of our supply chain not only impacts cost, scale and flexibility, but also allows us to adhere to best-in-class management and environmental practices. We are protective of our strong reputation for corporate citizenship and social responsibility and proud of our significant achievements in the areas of environmental stewardship, workplace quality and community building.
Issues such as climate change, water stress and unethical labor or human rights practices within supply chains pose risks to our business and our ability to produce our products in an ethical and sustainable manner. We assess and evaluate these risks annually as part of our Enterprise Risk Management process, which is overseen by the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors. We also have a dedicated team responsible for managing our global sustainability program. Our Chief Executive Officer is responsible for setting overall business strategy, including our commitment to sustainability. He directly oversees our Corporate Social Responsibility Executive Steering Committee which has ultimate management oversight of our global sustainability program and meets quarterly to assess the program’s effectiveness. To drive the program across our entire organization on a global basis, we have also put in place a Global Sustainability Consortium comprising over 75 employees from multiple countries and functional areas who are responsible for executing our global sustainability initiatives and goals.
We approach sustainability from a broad, holistic perspective and focus our efforts in areas addressed by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, such as: good health and well-being; quality education; gender equality; climate action; clean water and sanitation; affordable and clean energy; economic growth; reduced inequalities; and responsible consumption and production. We are continuing our commitment to make the world a more comfortable, livable and inclusive place by establishing new, wide-ranging 2030 global sustainability goals and launching a new sustainability website, www.HBISustains.com, that is designed to increase our transparency and reporting on key metrics. Key highlights of our 2030 global sustainability goals include:
•People: By 2030, improve the lives of at least 10 million people through health and wellness programs, diversity and inclusion initiatives, improved workplace quality, and philanthropic efforts that improve local communities.
•Planet: By 2030, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 25% to align with science-based targets, reduce water use by 25%, use 100% renewable electricity in company-owned operations, and bring landfill waste to zero.
•Product: At an even quicker pace, eliminate all single-use plastics and reduce packaging weight by 25% while also moving to 100% recycled polyester and sustainably sourced cotton.
These efforts build upon our long-standing commitment to sustainability. Hanesbrands earned an industry-leading A score in the 2020 CDP Climate Change Report, following strong “A-” scores in 2018 and 2019, and has been a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star Sustained Excellence Award winner for 11 consecutive years. We are members of the Fair Labor Association, the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, The Sustainability Consortium and the Corporate Eco Forum, and we have been recognized for our socially responsible business practices by such organizations as social compliance rating group Free2Work, the United Way, Corporate Responsibility magazine and others.
Human Capital Management
Employees and Labor Relations
As of January 2, 2021, we had approximately 61,000 employees, over 88% of whom (approximately 54,000) are located outside the United States. Over 80% of our workforce (approximately 49,000 employees) is employed in our large-scale supply chain facilities located primarily in Central America, the Caribbean Basin and Asia. Over 93% of our workforce (approximately 56,000 employees) consists of full-time employees. As of January 2, 2021, less than 10 employees in the United States were covered by collective bargaining agreements. A significant portion of our employees based in foreign countries are represented by works councils or unions or are subject to trade-sponsored or governmental agreements. We believe our relationships with our employees are good.
Health and Safety
We prioritize the health and safety of our employees. We have created and implemented processes and training programs to maintain safe and healthy work environments in our offices, manufacturing facilities, distribution centers and retail stores,
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and we review and monitor our performance closely. During the year ended January 2, 2021, our Occupational Safety and Health Administration ("OSHA") recordable rate was 0.34, a decrease of 13% over the prior year. In response to the COVID-19 global pandemic, we enhanced our health and safety operating procedures by, among other things:
•Providing additional sanitation and enhanced ventilation;
•Implementing mandatory mask usage and social distancing measures;
•Installing protective barriers, such as sneeze guards;
•Limiting building occupancy and staggering work schedules;
•Zoning employees to segregate work teams;
•Instituting temperature checks and daily digital health self-assessments; and
•Rigorous contact tracing, testing and quarantining of employees when needed.
In addition, we provided enhanced employee benefits to our global workforce to ensure access to care, including onsite wellness clinics, payment of health insurance premiums for furloughed employees, free COVID-19 testing and mental health resources.
Diversity and Inclusion
As a global company operating in more than 40 countries on six continents, our employees represent different backgrounds, ethnicities, cultures, religions, genders, sexual orientations and ages. We believe these different perspectives strengthen our business and we strive to build an inclusive culture. As of January 2, 2020, our global workforce was approximately 33% male and 67% female, and of our domestic workforce, our employees were approximately 56% white, approximately 22% Black or African American, approximately 13% Hispanic or Latino, approximately 3.5% Asian, approximately 0.5% American Indian or Alaskan Native and approximately 2% two or more races.
Talent Development
Our talent strategy is focused on attracting the best talent, recognizing and rewarding their performance, and continually developing, engaging and retaining them. We regularly review succession plans and conduct annual assessments to identify talent needs, assess how we are positioned from a talent perspective, and prioritize actions to identify and develop talent. We also cultivate a learning environment that drives individual and business results by developing employees to reach their full potential. HBI University, our global learning platform, provides employees with access to thousands of e-learning courses, as well as instructor-led and virtual courses to strengthen technical skills, leadership, productivity, business acumen and soft skills. During 2020, over 10,000 online courses were taken globally and over 1,000 people attended in-person or virtual learning sessions in the United States. In addition, world-class management and leadership development programs in our large manufacturing hubs in Central America, the Caribbean Basin and Asia provide the foundational skills required for key talent and rising managers in our global supply chain and develop capacities for current and future leaders of the organization.
Culture and Engagement
In order to ensure that we are meeting our human capital objectives, we regularly conduct employee surveys to understand the effectiveness of our employee and compensation programs and where we can improve across our company. Our latest survey completed in 2020 had a participation rate of 59% of the 9,500 employees surveyed (which is nearly double the benchmark participation rate). The survey results indicated that we excel in areas including: overall engagement, clear expectations and a link between individuals’ work and Hanesbrands’ goals and objectives, and understanding strategic goals of the organization. Our focus on work culture has led to strong employee satisfaction and pride that has been recognized across the globe, as evidenced by many awards, including: Forbes America’s Best Large Employers in 2016 and 2017 and Great Place to Work recognition in Central America.
| Item 1A. | Risk Factors | ||||
This section describes circumstances or events that could have a negative effect on our financial results or operations or that could change, for the worse, existing trends in our businesses. The occurrence of one or more of the circumstances or events described below could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows or on the trading price of our common stock. The risks and uncertainties described in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are not the only ones facing us. Additional risks and uncertainties that currently are not known to us or that we currently believe are immaterial also may adversely affect our businesses and operations.
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Risks Related to the COVID-19 Global Pandemic
The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) global pandemic has had and is expected to continue to have an adverse impact on our business.
The COVID-19 global pandemic has negatively impacted the global economy, disrupted consumer spending and global supply chains, and created significant volatility and disruption of financial markets. The extent of the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic on our business is highly uncertain and difficult to predict, as information is rapidly evolving with respect to the duration and severity of the pandemic.
The COVID-19 global pandemic has significantly impacted economic activity and markets throughout the world. In response, governmental authorities have implemented numerous measures in an attempt to contain the virus, such as travel bans and restrictions, quarantines, shelter-in-place orders and business shutdowns. These actions, as well as decisions we have made to protect the health and safety of our employees, consumers and communities, have adversely impacted our financial results and may continue to do so in the future. We may face additional store closure requirements and other operational restrictions with respect to some or all of our physical locations for prolonged periods of time due to, among other factors, evolving and increasingly stringent governmental restrictions including public health directives, quarantine policies or social distancing measures. In addition, many of our customers, including significant customers in our wholesale distribution channels, may close many of their stores, which will adversely impact our revenues from these customers. As a result, our financial results could be materially adversely impacted.
Consumer fears about becoming ill with the disease may continue, which will continue to adversely affect traffic to our and our customers' stores. Consumer spending generally may also be negatively impacted by general macroeconomic conditions and consumer confidence, including a significant economic downturn, resulting from the COVID-19 global pandemic. This may negatively impact sales in our stores and our e-commerce channel and may cause our wholesale customers to purchase fewer products from us. The continued significant reduction in consumer visits to, and spending at, our and our customers' stores, caused by COVID-19, and any decreased spending at retail stores or online caused by decreased consumer confidence and spending following the pandemic, would result in a loss of sales and profits and other material adverse effects, including customer bankruptcies which could reduce or eliminate our anticipated income and cash flows, which would negatively affect our results of operations and liquidity. Even if customers do not declare bankruptcy, they may seek to extend payment terms or be unable or unwilling to pay us amounts that we are entitled to on a timely basis or at all, which would adversely affect our sales and liquidity.
The COVID-19 global pandemic resulted in the temporary shut-down of many of our supply chain facilities, and we experienced significant costs associated with reopening those facilities. The pandemic continues to have the potential to significantly impact our supply chain if the factories that manufacture our products, the distribution centers where we manage our inventory, or the operations of our logistics and other service providers are disrupted, temporarily closed or experience worker shortages. We may also see disruptions or delays in shipments and negative impacts to pricing of certain components of our products.
In addition, the impact of COVID-19 on macroeconomic conditions may impact the proper functioning of financial and capital markets, foreign currency exchange rates, commodity prices, and interest rates. Even after the COVID-19 global pandemic has subsided, we may continue to experience adverse impacts to our business as a result of any economic recession or depression that has occurred or may occur in the future.
As a result of the COVID-19 global pandemic, including related guidance or requirements of governmental or other authorities, we also have implemented a work from home policy for many of our corporate employees. This policy may negatively impact productivity and cause other disruptions to our business.
Strategic Risks
Our future success depends in part on our ability to successfully implement our strategic plan and achieve our global business strategies.
We are implementing a significant number of strategic initiatives focused on building a consumer-centric company, accelerating growth across business segments, enhancing our capabilities and strengthening the foundation of our company. There can be no assurance that these or other future strategic initiatives will be successful to the extent we expect, or at all. Furthermore, we are investing significant resources in these initiatives and the costs of the initiatives may outweigh their benefits. We cannot assure you that our management will be able to manage these initiatives effectively or implement them successfully. If we miscalculate the resources or time we need to complete these strategic initiatives or fail to implement them effectively, our business and operating results could be adversely affected.
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We operate in a highly competitive and rapidly evolving market, and our market share and results of operations could be adversely affected if we fail to compete effectively in the future.
The basic apparel market is highly competitive and rapidly evolving. Competition generally is based upon brand, comfort, fit, style and price. Our businesses face competition today from other large domestic and foreign corporations and manufacturers, as well as mass merchant retailers, department stores and other retailers, including many of our customers, that market and sell basic apparel products under private labels that compete directly with our brands. Also, online retail shopping is rapidly evolving, and we expect competition in the e-commerce market to intensify in the future as the Internet facilitates competitive entry and comparison shopping. If we do not successfully develop and maintain a relevant omni-channel experience for our customers, our businesses and results of operations could be adversely impacted. Increased competition may result in a loss of or a reduction in shelf space and promotional support and reduced prices, in each case decreasing our cash flows, operating margins and profitability. Our ability to identify and capitalize on retail trends, including technology, e-commerce and other process efficiencies to gain market share and better service our customer base will, in large part, determine our future success. If we fail to compete successfully, our market share, results of operations and financial condition will be materially and adversely affected.
The rapidly changing retail environment could result in the loss of or material reduction in sales to certain of our customers, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
The retail environment is highly competitive as consumers are increasingly embracing shopping online and through mobile commerce applications. As a result, a greater portion of total consumer expenditures with retailers is occurring online and through mobile commerce applications. If our brick-and-mortar retail customers fail to maintain or grow their overall market position through the integration of physical retail presence and digital retail, these customers may experience financial difficulties including store closures, bankruptcies or liquidations. This could, in turn, create difficulty in moving our products to market, which would increase inventories or backlog, substantially reduce our revenues, increase our credit risk and ultimately have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
If our advertising, marketing and promotional programs are unsuccessful, or if our competitors are more effective with their programs than we are, our sales could be negatively affected.
Ineffective marketing, advertising and promotional programs could inhibit our ability to maintain brand relevance and could ultimately decrease sales. While we use social media, websites, mobile applications, email, print and television to promote our products and attract customers, some of our competitors may expend more for their programs than we do, or use different approaches than we do that prove more successful, any of which may provide them with a competitive advantage. If our programs are not effective or require increased expenditures that are not offset by increased sales, our revenue and results of operations could be negatively impacted.
Our customers may require products on an exclusive basis, forms of economic support and other changes that could be harmful to our business.
Customers increasingly may require us to provide them with some of our products on an exclusive basis, which could cause an increase in the number of stock keeping units, or “SKUs,” we must carry and, consequently, increase our inventory levels and working capital requirements. Moreover, our customers may increasingly seek markdown allowances, incentives and other forms of economic support, which reduce our gross margins and affect our profitability. Our financial performance is negatively affected by these pricing pressures when we are forced to reduce our prices without being able to correspondingly reduce our production costs.
Operational Risks
Any inadequacy, interruption, integration failure or security breach with respect to our information technology could harm our ability to effectively operate our business and have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Our ability to effectively manage and operate our business depends significantly on information technology systems. The failure of these systems to operate effectively and support global growth and expansion, problems with integrating various data sources, challenges in transitioning to upgraded or replacement systems, difficulty in integrating new systems or systems of acquired businesses, or a breach in security of these systems could adversely impact the operations of our business.
Despite our policies, procedures and programs designed to ensure the integrity of our information technology systems, we may not be effective in identifying and mitigating every risk to which we are exposed. Furthermore, from time to time we rely on information technology systems which may be managed, hosted, provided and/or accessed by third parties or their vendors
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to assist in conducting our business. Such relationships and access may create difficulties in anticipating and implementing adequate preventative measures or fully mitigating harms after a breach.
Hackers and data thieves are increasingly sophisticated and operate large-scale and complex attacks that may include computer viruses or other malicious codes, ransomware, unauthorized access attempts, denial of service attacks and large-scale automated attacks, phishing, social engineering, hacking and other cyber-attacks. Any breach of our network or databases, or those of our third-party providers, may result in the loss of valuable business data, misappropriation of our consumers’ or employees’ personal information, or a disruption of our business, which could give rise to unwanted media attention, impair our ability to order materials, make and ship orders, and process payments, materially damage our customer relationships and reputation, and result in lost sales, fines or lawsuits.
Moreover, there are numerous laws and regulations regarding privacy and the storage, sharing, use, processing, transfer, disclosure and protection of personal data, the scope of which is changing, subject to differing interpretations, and may be inconsistent between states within a country or between countries. Globally, new and emerging laws, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) and the Network and Information Systems Directive (“NISD”) in Europe, the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (“UK-GDPR”) in the United Kingdom, state laws in the U.S. on privacy, data and related technologies, such as the California Consumer Privacy Act and the recently passed California Privacy Rights Act create new compliance obligations and expand the scope of potential liability, either jointly or severally with our customers and suppliers. Non-compliance with these laws could result in penalties or significant legal liability. Although we take reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable laws and regulations, there can be no assurance that we will not be subject to regulatory action, including fines, in the event of a data security incident. We or our third-party service providers could be adversely affected if legislation or regulations are expanded to require changes in our or our third-party service providers’ business practices or if governing jurisdictions interpret or implement their legislation or regulations in ways that negatively affect our or our third-party service providers’ business, results of operations or financial condition. Misuse of or failure to secure personal information could also result in violation of data privacy laws and regulations, proceedings, and potentially significant monetary penalties, against us by governmental entities or others, damage to our reputation and credibility, and could have a negative impact on revenues and profits.
Our inability to successfully recover should we experience a disaster or other business continuity problem could cause material financial loss, loss of human capital, regulatory actions, reputational harm, or legal liability.
We have a complex global supply chain and distribution network that supports our ability to consistently provide our products to our customers. Should we experience a local or regional disaster or other business continuity problem, such as an earthquake, tsunami, terrorist attack, pandemic or other natural or man-made disaster, our continued success will depend, in part, on the safety and availability of our personnel, our office facilities, and the proper functioning of our computer, telecommunication and other systems and operations. Climate change serves as a risk multiplier increasing both the frequency and severity of natural disasters that may affect our worldwide business operations. Therefore, forecasting disruptive events and building additional resiliency into our operations accordingly will become an increasing business imperative.
We may experience operational challenges in the event of a disaster, in particular depending upon how a local or regional event may affect our human capital across our operations or with regard to particular aspects of our operations, such as key executive officers or personnel in our technology group. If we cannot respond to disruptions in our operations, for example, by finding alternative suppliers or replacing capacity at key manufacturing or distribution locations, or cannot quickly repair damage to our information, production or supply systems, we may be late in delivering, or be unable to deliver, products to our customers. These events could result in, among other negative impacts, reputational damage, lost sales, cancellation charges or excessive markdowns.
The risks associated with climate change and other environmental impacts and increased focus by stakeholders on corporate responsibility issues, including those associated with climate change, could negatively affect our business and operations.
Our business is susceptible to risks associated with climate change, including through disruption to our supply chain, potentially impacting the production and distribution of our products and availability and pricing of raw materials. Large portions of the our supply chain are located in Central America and the Caribbean, where there has been a steady surge of hurricanes in recent years. Increased frequency and intensity of weather events (such as storms and floods) due to climate change could also lead to more frequent store closures and/or lost sales as customers prioritize basic needs. There is also increased focus from our stakeholders, including consumers, employees and investors, on corporate responsibility matters. Although we have announced our corporate sustainability strategy and 2030 sustainability goals on our sustainability website, www.HBISustains.com, there can be no assurance that our stakeholders will agree with our strategy or that we will be successful in achieving our goals. Failure to implement our strategy or achieve our goals could damage our reputation, causing our investors or consumers to lose confidence in our company and brands, and negatively impact our operations. Even if we are
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able to achieve our 2030 sustainability goals, our business will continue to remain subject to risks associated with climate change.
The loss of one or more of our suppliers of finished goods or raw materials may interrupt our supplies and materially harm our business.
We purchase all of the raw materials used in our self-manufactured products and our sourced finished goods from a limited number of third-party suppliers and manufacturers. Our ability to meet our customers’ needs depends on our ability to maintain an uninterrupted supply of raw materials and finished products from our third-party suppliers and manufacturers. Our business, financial condition or results of operations could be adversely affected if any of our principal third-party suppliers or manufacturers experience financial difficulties that they are not able to overcome resulting from worldwide economic conditions, production problems, difficulties in sourcing raw materials, lack of capacity or transportation disruptions, or if for these or other reasons they raise the prices of the raw materials or finished products we purchase from them. The magnitude of this risk depends upon the timing of any interruptions, the materials or products that the third-party manufacturers provide and the volume of production.
Our dependence on third parties for raw materials and finished products subjects us to the risk of supplier failure and customer dissatisfaction with the quality of our products. Quality failures by our third-party manufacturers or changes in their financial or business condition that affect their production could disrupt our ability to supply quality products to our customers and thereby materially harm our business.
We rely on a relatively small number of customers for a significant portion of our sales, and the loss of or material reduction in sales to any of our top customers could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
In 2020, excluding government agencies to which we sold PPE, our top 10 customers accounted for approximately 40% of our total net sales and 43% of our total apparel net sales. Our top customer, Walmart, accounted for 15% of our total net sales and 17% of our total apparel net sales in 2020. We expect that these customers will continue to represent a significant portion of our net sales in the future. Moreover, our top customers are the largest market participants in our primary distribution channels across all of our product lines. We generally do not enter into purchase agreements that obligate our customers to purchase our products, and as a result, most of our sales are made on a purchase order basis. A decision by any of our top customers to significantly decrease the volume of products purchased from us could substantially reduce revenues and may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. In addition, if any of our customers devote less selling space to apparel products in general or our products specifically, our sales to those customers could be reduced even if we maintain our share of their apparel business.
Our results of operations could be materially harmed if we are unable to manage our inventory effectively and accurately forecast demand for our products.
We are faced with the constant challenge of balancing our inventory levels with our ability to meet marketplace needs. Factors that could affect our ability to accurately forecast demand for our products include our ability to anticipate and respond effectively to evolving consumer preferences and trends and to translate these preferences and trends into marketable product offerings, as well as unanticipated changes in general economic conditions or other factors, which result in cancellations of orders or a reduction or increase in the rate of reorders placed by retailers.
Inventory reserves can result from the complexity of our supply chain, a long manufacturing process and the seasonal nature of certain products. We sell a large number of our products to a small number of customers, and these customers generally are not required by contract to purchase our goods. As a result, we often schedule internal production and place orders for products with third-party manufacturers before our customers’ orders are firm. If we fail to accurately forecast consumer demand, we may experience excess inventory levels or a shortage of product required to meet the demand. Inventory levels in excess of consumer demand may result in inventory write-downs and the sale of excess inventory at discounted prices, which could have an adverse effect on the image and reputation of our brands and negatively impact profitability. On the other hand, if we underestimate demand for our products, our manufacturing facilities or third-party manufacturers may not be able to produce products to meet consumer requirements, and this could result in delays in the shipment of products and lost revenues, as well as damage to our reputation and relationships. These risks could have a material adverse effect on our brand image as well as our results of operations and financial condition.
Additionally, sudden decreases in the costs for materials may result in the cost of inventory exceeding the cost of new production; if this occurs, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows, particularly if we hold a large amount of excess inventory. Excess inventory charges can reduce gross margins or
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result in operating losses, lowered plant and equipment utilization and lowered fixed operating cost absorption, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.
Our business depends on our senior management team and other key personnel.
Our success depends upon the continued contributions of our senior management team and other key personnel, some of whom have unique talents and experience that would be difficult to replace. The loss or interruption of the services of a member of our senior management team or other key personnel could have a material adverse effect on our business during the transitional period that would be required for a successor to assume the responsibilities of the position. Our future success will also depend on our ability to develop and/or recruit employees with the core competencies needed to support our growth in global markets and in new products or services. We may not be able to attract or retain these employees, which could adversely affect our business.
We had approximately 61,000 employees worldwide as of January 2, 2021, and our business operations and financial performance could be adversely affected by changes in our relationship with our employees or changes to United States or foreign employment regulations.
We had approximately 61,000 employees worldwide as of January 2, 2021, approximately 54,000 of whom were outside of the United States. This means we have a significant exposure to changes in domestic and foreign laws governing our relationships with our employees, including wage and hour laws and regulations, fair labor standards, minimum wage requirements, overtime pay, unemployment tax rates, workers’ compensation rates, citizenship requirements and payroll taxes, which likely would have a direct impact on our operating costs. A significant increase in minimum wage or overtime rates in countries where we have employees could have a significant impact on our operating costs and may require that we relocate those operations or take other steps to mitigate such increases, all of which may cause us to incur additional costs, expend resources responding to such increases and lower our margins.
In addition, less than 10 of our employees in the United States and a significant number of our international employees are members of labor organizations or are covered by collective bargaining agreements. If there were a significant increase in the number of our employees who are members of labor organizations or become parties to collective bargaining agreements, we would become vulnerable to a strike, work stoppage or other labor action by these employees that could have an adverse effect on our business.
Financial Risks
Significant fluctuations and volatility in the price of various input costs, such as cotton and oil-related materials, utilities, freight and wages, may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Inflation can have a long-term impact on us because increasing costs of materials and labor may impact our ability to maintain satisfactory margins. For example, the cost of the materials that are used in our manufacturing process, such as oil-related commodity prices and other raw materials, including cotton, dyes and chemicals, and other costs, such as fuel, energy and utility costs, can fluctuate as a result of inflation and other factors. Similarly, a significant portion of our products are manufactured in other countries and declines in the value of the U.S. dollar may result in higher manufacturing costs. In addition, sudden decreases in the costs for materials may result in the cost of inventory exceeding the cost of new production, which could result in lower profitability, particularly if these decreases result in downward price pressure. If, in the future we incur volatility in the costs for materials and labor that we are unable to offset through price adjustments or improved efficiencies, or if our competitors’ unwillingness to follow our price changes results in downward price pressure, our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows may be adversely affected.
Due to the extensive nature of our foreign operations, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates could negatively impact our results of operations.
A growing percentage of our total revenues (approximately 35% in 2020) is derived from markets outside the United States. We sell a majority of our products in transactions denominated in U.S. dollars; however, we purchase many of our raw materials, pay a portion of our wages and make other payments to participants in our supply chain in foreign currencies. As a result, when the U.S. dollar weakens against any of these currencies, our cost of sales could increase substantially. Outside the United States, we may pay for materials or finished products in U.S. dollars, and in some cases a strengthening of the U.S. dollar could effectively increase our costs where we use foreign currency to purchase the U.S. dollars we need to make such payments. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates could have an adverse impact on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. We are also exposed to gains and losses resulting from the effect that fluctuations in foreign
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currency exchange rates have on the reported results in our consolidated financial statements due to the translation of operating results and financial position of our foreign subsidiaries.
We use forward foreign exchange contracts, cross-currency swap contracts and nonderivative financial instruments to hedge material exposure to adverse changes in foreign currency exchange rates. However, no hedging strategy can completely insulate us from foreign exchange risk.
Our balance sheet includes a significant amount of intangible assets and goodwill. A decline in the estimated fair value of an intangible asset or of a business unit could result in an asset impairment charge, which would be recorded as a noncash expense in our Consolidated Statement of Income.
Goodwill, trademarks and other identifiable intangible assets must be tested for impairment at least annually. The fair value of the goodwill assigned to a business unit could decline if projected revenues or cash flows were to be lower in the future due to effects of the global economy or other causes. If the carrying value of intangible assets or of goodwill were to exceed its estimated fair value, the asset would be written down to its fair value, with the impairment loss recognized as a noncash charge in the Consolidated Statement of Income.
As of January 2, 2021, we had approximately $1.3 billion of goodwill and $1.6 billion of trademarks and other identifiable intangibles on our balance sheet, which together represent 37% of our total assets. During the second quarter of 2020, we completed a quantitative impairment analysis for certain indefinite-lived intangible assets as a result of the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their performance. Based on this analysis, we recorded impairment charges of $20 million on certain indefinite-lived trademarks and other intangible assets within the European Innerwear business. In the fourth quarter of 2020, we recorded impairment charges for the full amount of goodwill related to our U.S. Hosiery business of $25 million. Based on our analysis and testing, we also noted that certain indefinite-lived trademarks and the goodwill associated with our European Innerwear business are at a higher risk for future impairment. The assets related to these businesses could be at risk for future impairment should global economic conditions continue to deteriorate beyond current expectations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic or other factors, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
We are subject to certain risks as a result of our indebtedness.
Our indebtedness primarily includes (i) a $1.0 billion revolving loan facility (the “Revolving Loan Facility”), a $750 million term loan a facility (the “Term Loan A”), a $500 million term loan b facility (the “Term Loan B”) and an A$65 million Australian revolving loan facility (the “Australian Revolver” and together with the Revolving Loan Facility, the Term Loan A and the Term Loan B, the “Senior Secured Credit Facility”), (ii) our $700 million 5.375% Senior Notes due 2025 (the “5.375% Senior Notes”), (iii) our $900 million 4.625% Senior Notes due 2024 (the “4.625% Senior Notes”) and our $900 million 4.875% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “4.875% Senior Notes”), (iv) our €500 million 3.5% Senior Notes due 2024 (the “3.5% Senior Notes” and together with the 5.375% Senior Notes, the 4.625% Senior Notes and the 4.875% Senior Notes, the “Senior Notes”), (v) and up to $225 million accounts receivable securitization facility (the “Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility”).
The Senior Secured Credit Facility contains restrictions that affect, and in some cases significantly limit or prohibit, among other things, our ability to borrow funds, pay dividends or make other distributions, make investments, engage in transactions with affiliates, or create liens on our assets. Covenants in the Senior Secured Credit Facility and the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility require us to maintain a minimum interest coverage ratio and a maximum total debt to EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation expense and amortization), or leverage ratio. In April 2020, given the rapidly changing business environment and level of uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated impact on future earnings, we amended our Senior Secured Credit Facility prior to any potential covenant violation in order to modify the financial covenants and to provide operating flexibility during the COVID-19 crisis; however, this period of covenant relief will continue only through the fiscal quarter ending July 3, 2021 and after that time, our covenants will revert to their original, pre-amendment levels. The indentures governing the Senior Notes also restrict our ability to incur additional secured indebtedness in an amount that exceeds the greater of (a) $3.0 billion or (b) the amount that would cause our consolidated secured net debt ratio to exceed 3.25 to 1.00 (in the case of the 4.625% Senior Notes, the 4.875% Senior Notes and the 3.5% Senior Notes) or 3.50 to 1.00 (in the case of the 5.375% Senior Notes), as well as certain other customary covenants and restrictions. These restrictions and covenants could limit our ability to obtain additional capital in the future to fund capital expenditures or acquisitions, meet our debt payment obligations and capital commitments, fund any operating losses or future development of our business affiliates, obtain lower borrowing costs that are available from secured lenders or engage in advantageous transactions that monetize our assets or conduct other necessary or prudent corporate activities. Any failure to comply with these covenants and restrictions could result in an event of default that accelerates the maturity of our indebtedness and increases the interest rate on the outstanding principal amount under such facilities, resulting in an adverse effect on our business.
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The lenders under the Senior Secured Credit Facility have received a pledge of substantially all of our existing and future direct and indirect subsidiaries, with certain customary or agreed-upon exceptions for certain foreign subsidiaries and certain other subsidiaries. Additionally, these lenders generally have a lien on substantially all of our assets and the assets of our U.S. subsidiaries and certain other foreign subsidiaries, with certain exceptions. The financial institutions that are party to the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility have a lien on certain of our domestic accounts receivable. As a result of these pledges and liens, if we fail to meet our payment or other obligations under the Senior Secured Credit Facility, the lenders under that facility will be entitled to foreclose on substantially all of our assets and, at their option, liquidate these assets, and if we fail to meet our repayment or other obligations under the Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility, the secured parties under that facility will be entitled to take control of our accounts receivable pledged to them and all collections on those receivables, and direct our obligors to make payment on such receivables directly to the secured parties, which in each case would adversely impact the operations of our business.
Our Revolving Loan Facility, Term Loan A and Term Loan B bear interest based on the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”). Any changes in regulatory standards or industry practices, such as the contemplated transition away from LIBOR as a benchmark reference for short-term interests may result in the usage of a higher reference rate for our variable rate debt.
Market returns could have a negative impact on the return on plan assets for our pension, which may require significant funding.
The plan assets of our pension plans, which had a return of approximately 10% during 2020 and a return of approximately 15% during 2019, are invested mainly in domestic and international equities, bonds, hedge funds and real estate. We are unable to predict the variations in asset values or the severity or duration of any disruptions in the financial markets or adverse economic conditions in the United States, Europe and Asia. The funded status of these plans, and the related cost reflected in our consolidated financial statements, are affected by various factors that are subject to an inherent degree of uncertainty, particularly in the current economic environment. Under the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (the “Pension Protection Act”), losses of asset values may necessitate increased funding of the plans in the future to meet minimum federal government requirements. Under the Pension Protection Act funding rules, our U.S. qualified pension plan is approximately 92% funded as of December 1, 2020. Any downward pressure on the asset values of these plans may require us to fund obligations earlier than we had originally planned, which would have a negative impact on cash flows from operations.
Inability to access sufficient capital at reasonable rates or commercially reasonable terms or maintain sufficient liquidity in the amounts and at the times needed could adversely impact our business.
We rely on our cash flows generated from operations and the borrowing capacity under our Revolving Loan Facility and other external debt financings to meet the cash requirements of our business. We have significant capital requirements and will need continued access to debt capital from outside sources in order to efficiently fund the cash flow needs of our business and pursue strategic acquisitions.
Although we currently have available credit facilities to fund our current operating needs, we cannot be certain that we will be able to replace our existing credit facilities or refinance our existing or future debt at a reasonable cost when necessary. The ability to have continued access to reasonably priced credit is dependent upon our current and future capital structure, financial performance, our credit ratings and general economic conditions. If we are unable to access the capital markets at a reasonable economic cost, it could have an adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.
Legal, Tax, Compliance, Reputational and Other Risks
Our operations in international markets, and our earnings in those markets, may be affected by legal, regulatory, political and economic risks.
During 2020, net sales from our International segment were $2.3 billion, representing approximately 35% of total net sales. In addition, a significant amount of our manufacturing and production operations are located, or our products are sourced from, outside the United States. As a result, our business is subject to risks associated with international operations. These risks include the burdens of complying with foreign laws and regulations, unexpected changes in tariffs, taxes or regulatory requirements, and political unrest and corruption.
Regulatory changes could limit the countries in which we sell, produce or source our products or significantly increase the cost of operating in or obtaining materials originating from certain countries. Restrictions imposed by such changes can have a particular impact on our business when, after we have moved our operations to a particular location, new unfavorable regulations are enacted in that area or favorable regulations currently in effect are changed.
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Countries in which our products are manufactured or sold may from time to time impose additional new regulations, or modify existing regulations, including:
•changes in duties, taxes, tariffs and other charges on imports;
•limitations on the quantity of goods which may be imported into the United States from a particular country;
•requirements as to where products and/or inputs are manufactured or sourced;
•creation of export licensing requirements, imposition of restrictions on export quantities or specification of minimum export pricing and/or export prices or duties;
•limitations on foreign owned businesses; or
•government actions to cancel contracts, re-denominate the official currency, renounce or default on obligations, renegotiate terms unilaterally or expropriate assets.
In addition, political and economic changes or volatility, geopolitical regional conflicts, terrorist activity, political unrest, civil strife, acts of war, public corruption and other economic or political uncertainties could interrupt and negatively affect our business operations. All of these factors could result in increased costs or decreased revenues and could materially and adversely affect our product sales, financial condition and results of operations.
We are also subject to the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, in addition to the anti-corruption laws of the foreign countries in which we operate. Although we implement policies and procedures designed to promote compliance with these laws, our employees, contractors and agents, as well as those companies to which we outsource certain of our business operations, may take actions in violation of our policies. Any such violation could result in sanctions or other penalties and have an adverse effect on our business, reputation and operating results.
The recent imposition of tariffs and/or increase in tariffs on various products by the United States and other countries have introduced greater uncertainty with respect to trade policies and government regulations affecting trade between the United States and other countries. Furthermore, it is possible that other forms of trade restriction, including tariffs, quotas and customs restrictions, will be put into place in the United States or in countries from which we source our materials or finished products. We cannot predict whether any of the countries in which our merchandise currently is manufactured or may be manufactured in the future will be subject to additional trade restrictions imposed by the United States or other foreign governments, including the likelihood, type, or effect of any such restrictions. Any of these actions, if ultimately enacted, could adversely affect our results of operations or profitability. Further, any emerging nationalist trends in specific countries could alter the trade environment and consumer purchasing behavior which, in turn, could have a material effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
We have a complex multinational tax structure, and changes in effective tax rates or adverse outcomes resulting from examination of our income tax returns could impact our capital deployment strategy and adversely affect our results.
We have a complex multinational tax structure with multiple types of intercompany transactions, and our allocation of profits and losses among us and our subsidiaries through our intercompany transfer pricing agreements is subject to review by the Internal Revenue Service and other tax authorities. Our future effective tax rates could be adversely affected by earnings being lower than anticipated in countries where we have lower statutory rates and higher than anticipated in countries where we have higher statutory rates, by changes in the valuation of our deferred tax assets and liabilities, or by changes in tax laws, regulations, accounting principles or interpretations thereof. We are continuously evaluating our capital allocation strategies in an effort to maximize shareholder value, which includes maintaining appropriate debt to earnings ratios, and as a result there may be times where we need to reevaluate our plans to permanently reinvest certain unremitted foreign earnings which may increase or decrease our income tax expense during periods of change. In addition, we are also subject to the continuous examination of our income tax returns and related transfer pricing documentation by various tax authorities. We regularly assess the likelihood of adverse outcomes resulting from these examinations to determine the adequacy of our provision for income taxes. There can be no assurance that the outcomes from these examinations will not have an adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition. Additionally, changes in tax laws, regulations, future jurisdictional profitability of us and our subsidiaries, and related regulatory interpretations in the countries in which we operate may impact the taxes we pay or tax provision we record, as well as our capital deployment strategy, which could adversely affect our results of operations.
On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”) was enacted. The Tax Act significantly revised United States corporate income tax law by, among other things, reducing the corporate income tax rate to 21%, introducing a new minimum tax on global intangible low-taxed income (“GILTI”) and implementing a modified territorial tax system that included a one-time transition tax on deemed repatriated earnings from foreign subsidiaries. In the fourth quarter of 2018, we completed our accounting as it relates to the enactment of the Tax Act pursuant to the guidance set forth in Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (“SAB 118”) and accounted for the tax provisions of the Tax Act which became effective in 2018. The actual
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impact of the Tax Act may differ from amounts recorded to date as further guidance and regulations continue to be issued to further clarify and help taxpayers interpret various components of the Tax Act.
The results of the U.S. presidential election could lead to changes in tax laws that could negatively impact our effective tax rate. Prior to the U.S. presidential election, President Biden proposed an increase in the U.S. corporate income tax rate from 21% to 28%, doubling the rate of tax on certain earnings of foreign subsidiaries, the creation of a 10% penalty on certain imports and a 15% minimum tax on worldwide book income. If any or all of these (or similar) proposals are ultimately enacted into law, in whole or in part, they could have a negative impact on our effective tax rate.
Our balance sheet includes a significant amount of deferred tax assets. Changes in our effective tax rate or tax liability may adversely affect our operating results.
As of January 2, 2021, we had approximately $289 million of net deferred tax assets on our balance sheet, which represents approximately 4% of our total assets. Deferred tax assets relate to temporary differences (differences between the assets and liabilities in the consolidated financial statements and the assets and liabilities in the calculation of taxable income). The recognition of deferred tax assets is reduced by a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that the tax benefits associated with the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Changes in effective tax rates and the assumptions and estimates we have made, as well as our ability to generate sufficient future taxable income in certain jurisdictions, could result in a write-down of deferred tax assets or otherwise materially affect our tax obligations or effective tax rate, which could negatively affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Our reputation, ability to do business and results of operations could be impaired by improper conduct by any of our employees, agents or business partners.
Our business is subject to federal, state, local and international laws, rules and regulations, such as state and local wage and hour laws, the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the U.K. Bribery Act, the False Claims Act, the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the Global Data Protection Regulation, securities laws, import and export laws (including customs regulations), unclaimed property laws and many others. We cannot provide assurance our internal controls will always protect us from the improper conduct of our employees, agents and business partners. Any violations of law or improper conduct could damage our reputation and, depending on the circumstances, subject us to, among other things, civil and criminal penalties, material fines, equitable remedies (including profit disgorgement and injunctions on future conduct), securities litigation and a general loss of investor confidence, any one of which could have a material adverse impact on our business prospects, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, and the market value of our stock.
The success of our business is tied to the strength and reputation of our brands. If the reputation of one or more of our brands erodes significantly, it could have a material impact on our financial results.
Many of our brands have worldwide recognition, and our financial success is directly dependent on the success of our brands. The success of a brand can suffer if our marketing plans or product initiatives do not have the desired impact on a brand’s image or its ability to attract consumers. Our results could also be negatively impacted if one of our brands suffers substantial harm to its reputation due to a significant product recall, product-related litigation or the sale of counterfeit products. Brand value could diminish significantly due to a number of factors, including changing consumer attitudes regarding social issues and consumer perception that we have acted in an irresponsible manner. The growing use of social and digital media by consumers increases the speed and extent that information and opinions can be shared. Negative or inaccurate postings or comments on social media or networking websites about our company, its practices or one of its brands could generate adverse publicity that could damage the reputation of our brands.
We also license some of our important trademarks to third parties. For example, we license Champion to third parties for athletic-oriented accessories. Although we make concerted efforts to protect our brands through quality control mechanisms and contractual obligations imposed on our licensees, there is a risk that some licensees may not be in full compliance with those mechanisms and obligations. If the reputation of one or more of our brands is significantly eroded, it could adversely affect our sales, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.
We design, manufacture, source and sell products under trademarks that are licensed from third parties. If any licensor takes actions related to their trademarks that would cause their brands or our company reputational harm, our business may be adversely affected.
We design, manufacture, source and sell a number of our products under trademarks that are licensed from third parties, such as our Polo Ralph Lauren men’s underwear. Because we do not control the brands licensed to us, our licensors could make changes to their brands or business models that could result in a significant downturn in a brand’s business, adversely affecting our sales and results of operations. If any licensor engages in behavior with respect to the licensed marks that would cause us
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reputational harm, or if any of the brands licensed to us violates the trademark rights of another or are deemed to be invalid or unenforceable, we could experience a significant downturn in that brand’s business, adversely affecting our sales and results of operations, and we may be required to expend significant amounts on public relations, advertising and, possibly, legal fees.
If we are unable to protect our intellectual property rights, our business may be adversely affected.
Our trademarks are important to our marketing efforts and have substantial value. We aggressively protect these trademarks from infringement and dilution through appropriate measures, including court actions and administrative proceedings. We are susceptible to others imitating our products and infringing our intellectual property rights. Infringement or counterfeiting of our products could diminish the value of our brands or otherwise adversely affect our business. Actions we have taken to establish and protect our intellectual property rights may not be adequate to prevent imitation of our products by others or to prevent others from seeking to invalidate our trademarks or block sales of our products as a violation of the trademarks and intellectual property rights of others. In addition, unilateral actions in the United States or other countries, such as changes to or the repeal of laws recognizing trademark or other intellectual property rights, could have an impact on our ability to enforce those rights.
The value of our intellectual property could diminish if others assert rights in, or ownership of, our trademarks and other intellectual property rights. We may be unable to successfully resolve these types of conflicts to our satisfaction. In some cases, there may be trademark owners who have prior rights to our trademarks because the laws of certain foreign countries may not protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as do the laws of the United States. In other cases, there may be holders who have prior rights to similar trademarks. We are from time to time involved in opposition and cancellation proceedings with respect to some items of our intellectual property.
We may suffer negative publicity if we or our third-party manufacturers violate labor laws or engage in practices that are viewed as unethical or illegal, which could cause a loss of business.
We cannot fully control the business and labor practices of our third-party manufacturers, the majority of whom are located in Asia, Central America and the Caribbean Basin. If one of our own manufacturing operations or one of our third-party manufacturers violates or is accused of violating local or international labor laws or other applicable regulations, or engages in labor or other practices that would be viewed in any market in which our products are sold as unethical, we could suffer negative publicity, which could tarnish our brands’ image or result in a loss of sales. In addition, if such negative publicity affected one of our customers, it could result in a loss of business for us.
Anti-takeover provisions of our charter and bylaws, as well as Maryland law, may reduce the likelihood of any potential change of control or unsolicited acquisition proposal that you might consider favorable.
Our charter permits our Board of Directors, with the approval of a majority of the entire Board and without stockholder approval, to amend our charter from time to time to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of stock or the number of shares of stock of any class or series that we have the authority to issue. In addition, our Board of Directors may classify or reclassify any unissued shares of common stock or preferred stock and may set the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and other terms and conditions of the classified or reclassified shares. Our Board of Directors could establish a series of preferred stock that could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for our common stock or otherwise be in the best interest of our stockholders. Our charter also provides that a director may be removed at any time, but only for cause, as defined in our charter, and then only by the affirmative vote of at least two thirds of the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of directors. We have also elected to be subject to certain provisions of Maryland law that provide that any and all vacancies on our Board of Directors may only be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of our remaining directors in office, even if they do not constitute a quorum, and that any director elected to fill a vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the full term of the directorship in which the vacancy occurred. Under Maryland law, our Board of Directors also is permitted, without stockholder approval, to implement a classified board structure at any time.
Our bylaws provide that nominations of persons for election to our Board of Directors and the proposal of business to be considered at a stockholders meeting may be made only in the notice of the meeting, by or at the direction of our Board of Directors or by a stockholder who was a stockholder of record both at the time of giving notice by the stockholder in accordance with the advance notice procedures of our bylaws and at the time of the annual meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and has complied with the advance notice procedures of our bylaws. Also, under Maryland law, business combinations between us and an interested stockholder or an affiliate of an interested stockholder, including mergers, consolidations, share exchanges or, in circumstances specified in the statute, asset transfers or issuances or reclassifications of equity securities, are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. An interested stockholder includes any person who beneficially owns 10% or more of the then-outstanding voting power of our stock or any affiliate or associate of ours who, at any time within the two-year period prior to
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the date in question, was the beneficial owner of 10% or more of the then-outstanding voting power of our stock. A person is not an interested stockholder under the statute if our Board of Directors approved in advance the transaction by which he otherwise would have become an interested stockholder. However, in approving a transaction, our Board of Directors may provide that its approval is subject to compliance, at or after the time of approval, with any terms and conditions determined by our Board. After the five-year prohibition, any business combination between us and an interested stockholder generally must be recommended by our Board of Directors and approved by two supermajority votes or our common stockholders must receive a minimum price, as defined under Maryland law, for their shares. The statute permits various other exemptions from its provisions.
These and other provisions of Maryland law or our charter and bylaws could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for our common stock or otherwise be considered favorably by our stockholders.
Our bylaws designate the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland as the sole and exclusive forum for certain actions, including derivative actions, which could limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with the Company and its directors, officers, other employees, or the Company's stockholders and may discourage lawsuits with respect to such claims.
Unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, our bylaws provide that the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company, (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of any duty owed by any current or former director, officer, employee, stockholder or agent of the Company to the Company or to the stockholders of the Company, (c) any action asserting a claim against the Company or any of its current or former directors, officers, employees, stockholders or agents arising pursuant to any provision of the Maryland General Corporate Law or the Company’s Charter or Bylaws, or (d) any action asserting a claim against the Company or any of its current or former directors, officers, employees, stockholders or agents that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine, shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland (or, if that Court does not have jurisdiction, the United States District court for the District of Maryland, Northern Division). However, Section 27 of the Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder, and as such, the exclusive jurisdiction clauses set forth above would not apply to such suits. Furthermore, Section 22 of the Securities Act provides for concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder, and as such, the exclusive jurisdiction clauses set forth above would not apply to such suits.
Although we believe the exclusive forum provision benefits us by providing increased consistency in the application of Maryland law for the specified types of actions and proceedings, this provision may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with the Company and its directors, officers, or other employees and may discourage lawsuits with respect to such claims.
General Risk Factors
Economic conditions may adversely impact demand for our products, reduce access to credit and cause our customers, suppliers and other business partners to suffer financial hardship, all of which could adversely impact our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Although the majority of our products are replenishment in nature and tend to be purchased by consumers on a planned, rather than on an impulse, basis, our sales are impacted by discretionary spending by consumers. Discretionary spending is affected by many factors that are outside of our control, including, among others, general business conditions, interest rates, inflation, consumer debt levels, the availability of consumer credit, currency exchange rates, taxation, energy prices, unemployment trends and other matters that influence consumer confidence and spending. Reduced sales at our wholesale customers may lead to lower retail inventory levels, reduced orders to us or order cancellations. These lower sales volumes, along with the possibility of restrictions on access to the credit markets, may result in our customers experiencing financial difficulties including store closures, bankruptcies or liquidations. This may result in higher credit risk relating to receivables from our customers who are experiencing these financial difficulties. Any of these occurrences could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
In addition, economic conditions, including decreased access to credit, may result in financial difficulties leading to restructurings, bankruptcies, liquidations and other unfavorable events for our suppliers of raw materials and finished goods, logistics and other service providers and financial institutions which are counterparties to our credit facilities and derivatives transactions. In addition, the inability of these third parties to overcome these difficulties may increase. If third parties on which we rely for raw materials, finished goods or services are unable to overcome financial difficulties and provide us with the
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materials and services we need, or if counterparties to our credit facilities or derivatives transactions do not perform their obligations, our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows could be adversely affected.
We may be adversely affected by unseasonal or severe weather conditions.
Our business may be adversely affected by unseasonable or severe weather conditions. Periods of unseasonably warm weather in the fall or winter, or periods of unseasonably cool and wet weather in the spring or summer, can negatively impact retail traffic and consumer spending. In addition, severe weather events such as snowstorms or hurricanes typically lead to temporarily reduced retail traffic. Any of these conditions could result in negative point-of-sale trends for our merchandise and reduced replenishment shipments to our wholesale customers.
| Item 1B. | Unresolved Staff Comments | ||||
Not applicable.
| Item 1C. | Information About Our Executive Officers | ||||
The chart below lists our executive officers and is followed by biographical information about them. Each of our executive officers is elected annually by the Board of Directors to serve until his or her successor is elected and qualifies or until his or her death, resignation or removal. No family relationship exists between any of our directors or executive officers.
| Name | Age | Positions | ||||||
| Stephen B. Bratspies | 53 | Chief Executive Officer | ||||||
| M. Scott Lewis | 50 | Interim Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller | ||||||
| Michael E. Faircloth | 55 | Group President, Global Operations | ||||||
| W. Howard Upchurch | 56 | Group President, Innerwear Americas | ||||||
| Jonathan Ram | 53 | Group President, Global Activewear | ||||||
| Joia M. Johnson | 60 | Chief Administrative Officer, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | ||||||
| Greg L. Hall | 50 | Chief Consumer Officer | ||||||
| Kristin L. Oliver | 48 | Chief Human Resources Officer | ||||||
| Joseph W. Cavaliere | 58 | Group President, Global Innerwear | ||||||
Stephen B. Bratspies has served as our Chief Executive Officer since August 2020. Immediately prior to joining the Company, Mr. Bratspies served as Chief Merchandising Officer since 2015 for Walmart, a publicly traded multinational retail company that operates a chain of supercenters, discount stores, grocery stores and warehouse clubs. He served in various capacities at Walmart since 2005, including as Executive Vice President, Food, from 2014 to 2015 and as Executive Vice President, General Merchandise, from 2013 to 2014.
M. Scott Lewis has served as our Interim Chief Financial Officer since January 2020 and as Chief Accounting Officer and Controller since 2015. Mr. Lewis joined the Company in 2006 as Director, External Reporting and was promoted in 2011 to Vice President, External Reporting, promoted in 2013 to Vice President, Financial Reporting and Accounting, and promoted in December 2013 to Vice President, Tax. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Lewis served as senior manager with the accounting, audit and tax consulting firm KPMG.
Michael E. Faircloth has served as our Group President, Global Operations since 2019. He has served in a variety of roles with the Company, including as our Group President, Global Operations, American Casualwear and E-Commerce from 2019 to 2020, as our Group President, Global Supply Chain, Information Technology and E-Commerce from 2018 to 2019, as our President, Chief Global Supply Chain and Information Technology Officer from 2014 to 2017 and as our Chief Global Operations Officer (a position previously known as President, Chief Global Supply Chain Officer) from 2010 to 2014. Prior to his appointment as Chief Global Operations Officer, Mr. Faircloth served as our Senior Vice President, Supply Chain Support from 2009 to 2010, as our Vice President, Supply Chain Support from March 2009 to September 2009 and as our Vice President of Engineering & Quality from 2006 to 2009. Prior to the completion of the Company’s spin off from Sara Lee Corporation (“Sara Lee”), Mr. Faircloth served as Vice President, Industrialization of Sara Lee.
W. Howard Upchurch has served as our Group President, Innerwear Americas (a position previously known as President, Innerwear) since 2011. Prior to 2011, Mr. Upchurch served as our Executive Vice President and General Manager, Domestic Innerwear from 2008 until 2010 and as our Senior Vice President and General Manager, Intimate Apparel from 2006 until 2007. Prior to the completion of the Company’s spin off from Sara Lee, Mr. Upchurch served as President of Sara Lee Intimates and Hosiery.
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Jonathan Ram has served as our Group President, Global Activewear since 2018. Prior to joining the Company, he served as executive vice president, North America, for New Balance Athletics, Inc. (“New Balance”), an athletic footwear manufacturer and marketer. He joined New Balance in 2002, serving in various positions including vice president and managing director for Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Mexico. Earlier, Mr. Ram held positions with Roots Ltd., National Basketball Association Entertainment Inc., Richmont Apparel Corporation, National Hockey League Players’ Association, and Major League Baseball Properties, Inc.
Joia M. Johnson has served as our Chief Administrative Officer since 2016 and as our Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary since 2007. From 2000 until 2007, Ms. Johnson served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of RARE Hospitality International, Inc., an owner, operator and franchisor of national chain restaurants acquired by Darden Restaurants, Inc. in 2007. Ms. Johnson currently serves on the Board of Directors of Global Payments Inc.
Greg L. Hall has served as our Chief Consumer Officer since November 2020. From 2019 to 2020, Mr. Hall served as Senior Vice President, Private Brands/Manufacturing, Food and Consumables at Walmart. Mr. Hall served in various capacities at Walmart since 2005, including as Senior Vice President, Merchandising Operations, Food from 2017 to 2019, Senior Vice President, Merchandising from 2013 to 2017, Vice President of Marketing, Walmart.com, from 2011 to 2013, Vice President of Entertainment Merchandising from 2007 to 2011, and Senior Director of Marketing from 2005 to 2007. Previously in his career, Mr. Hall served as Director of Marketing for Frito-Lay, Inc., a manufacturer and marketer of potato chips and snack food products.
Kristin L. Oliver has served as our Chief Human Resources Officer since September 2020. From 2018 to 2020, Ms. Oliver served as Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Walgreens, a retail pharmacy leader and a division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. From 2016 to 2018, she served as Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Chico’s FAS, Inc., a publicly traded women’s clothing and accessories retailer. Previously in her career, Ms. Oliver served in various roles at Walmart, including as Executive Vice President, Walmart US, People division from 2013 to 2015, Senior Vice President and head of Human Resources, International Division from 2010 to 2012, Vice President and Division General Counsel, Employment from 2008 to 2010 and Associate General Counsel from 2004 to 2009.
Joseph W. Cavaliere has served as our Group President, Global Innerwear since February 2021. Mr. Cavaliere joined Hanesbrands from C&S Wholesale Grocers, a wholesale grocery supply company, where he was President and General Manager of the company’s retail chain division during 2020 and Chief Commercial Officer from 2018 to 2020. Prior to C&S, he served as President and Transformation Lead at Newell Brands Inc., a global consumer products company, from 2017 to 2018 and as President and Chief Customer Officer from 2012 to 2017. Before that, Mr. Cavaliere was Executive Vice President of Customer Development at Unilever PLC, a multinational consumer goods company, from 2008 to 2012 and as Senior Vice President from 2005 to 2008. He also served as Executive Vice President of Sales at Kraft Foods from 2002 to 2005, and held a number of other leadership positions in more than 20 years with the company.
| Item 2. | Properties | ||||
We own and lease properties supporting our administrative, manufacturing, distribution and direct outlet activities. As of January 2, 2021, we owned and leased properties in 40 countries, including 39 manufacturing facilities and 45 distribution centers, as well as office facilities. The leases for these properties expire between 2021 and 2057, with the exception of some seasonal warehouses that we lease on a month-by-month basis. As of January 2, 2021, we also operated 245 retail and direct outlet stores in the United States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and 757 retail and outlet stores internationally, most of which are leased under five-year, renewable lease agreements and several of which are leased under 10-year agreements. We believe that our facilities, as well as equipment, are in good condition and meet our current business needs.
We own our approximately 470,000 square-foot headquarters located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, which houses our various sales, marketing and corporate business functions. Research and development as well as certain product-design functions also are located in Winston-Salem, while other design functions are located in a mix of leased and owned facilities in New York City, Atlanta and Lenexa, Kansas, as well as several international cities.
Our products are manufactured through a combination of facilities we own and operate and facilities owned and operated by third-party contractors who perform some of the steps in the manufacturing process for us, such as cutting and/or sewing. We source the remainder of our finished goods from third-party manufacturers who supply us with finished products based on our designs. Our largest manufacturing facilities include an approximately 1.1 million square-foot owned facility located in San Juan Opico, El Salvador, an approximately 600,000 square-foot owned facility located in Cadca, Slovakia and an approximately 600,000 square-foot owned facility located in Bonao, Dominican Republic. We distribute our products from 45 distribution centers. These facilities include 15 facilities located in the United States and 30 facilities located outside the United States in regions where we manufacture our products. Our largest distribution facilities include an approximately 1.3 million square-foot leased facility located in Perris, California, an approximately 900,000 square-foot leased facility located in Rural Hall, North Carolina and an approximately 700,000 square-foot owned facility located in Martinsville, Virginia.
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The following table summarizes the properties primarily used by our segments as of January 2, 2021:
| Owned Square Feet | Leased Square Feet | Total | |||||||||||||||
Properties by Segment(1) | |||||||||||||||||
| Innerwear | 2,347,885 | 5,594,485 | 7,942,370 | ||||||||||||||
| Activewear | 2,458,519 | 3,381,173 | 5,839,692 | ||||||||||||||
| International | 2,786,667 | 4,444,210 | 7,230,877 | ||||||||||||||
| Other | 303,445 | 1,074,859 | 1,378,304 | ||||||||||||||
| Totals | 7,896,516 | 14,494,727 | 22,391,243 | ||||||||||||||
(1)Excludes vacant land, facilities under construction, facilities no longer in operation intended for disposal, apartments/residences, sourcing offices not associated with a particular segment, and office buildings housing corporate functions.
| Item 3. | Legal Proceedings | ||||
Although we are subject to various claims and legal actions that occur from time to time in the ordinary course of our business, we are not party to any pending legal proceedings that we believe could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.
| Item 4. | Mine Safety Disclosures | ||||
Not applicable.
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PART II
| Item 5. | Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities | ||||
Market for our Common Stock
Our common stock currently is traded on the New York Stock Exchange, or the “NYSE,” under the symbol “HBI.” We have not made any unregistered sales of our equity securities.
Holders of Record
On January 29, 2021, there were 14,137 holders of record of our common stock.
Issuer Repurchases of Equity Securities
On February 6, 2020, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase program for up to 40 million shares to be repurchased in open market transactions, subject to market conditions, legal requirements and other factors. The new program replaces the Company’s previous share repurchase program for up to 40 million shares that was originally approved in 2016. During the year ended January 2, 2021, we repurchased 14.5 million shares under the new share repurchase program at an average price of $13.83 per share, for a total cost of $200 million (none of which were purchased in the fourth quarter of 2020). At January 2, 2021, the remaining repurchase authorization under the current share repurchase program totaled 25.5 million shares. In April 2020, given the rapidly changing business environment and level of uncertainty by the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated impact on future earnings, the Company amended its Senior Secured Credit Facility prior to any potential covenant violation in order to temporarily modify our financial covenants and to provide operating flexibility during the COVID-19 crisis. The terms of the amendment prohibit us from repurchasing shares during this period of financial covenant relief, which began with the fiscal quarter ended June 27, 2020 and continues through the fiscal quarter ending July 3, 2021.
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Performance Graph
The following graph compares the cumulative total stockholder return on our common stock with the comparable cumulative return of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 1500 Apparel, Accessories & Luxury Goods Index. The graph assumes that $100 was invested in our common stock and each index on January 2, 2016. The stock price performance on the following graph is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table provides information about our equity compensation plans as of January 2, 2021:
| Number of Securities to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights | Weighted Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights (2) | Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans (1) | |||||||||||||||
| (amounts in thousands, except per share data) | |||||||||||||||||
| Plan Category | |||||||||||||||||
| Equity compensation plans approved by security holders | 4,091 | $ | 1.05 | 23,650 | |||||||||||||
| Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Total | 4,091 | $ | 1.05 | 23,650 | |||||||||||||
(1)The amount appearing under “Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans” includes 17,322 shares available under the Hanesbrands Inc. Omnibus Incentive Plan (As Amended and Restated) and 6,328 shares available under the Hanesbrands Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan of 2006.
(2)As of January 2, 2021, the Company had 250 outstanding options, warrants and rights that could be exercised for consideration. The weighted average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights excluding those that can be exercised for no consideration is $17.18.
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| Item 6. | Selected Financial Data | ||||
The following table presents our selected historical financial data. The statement of income data for the years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018 and the balance sheet data as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The statement of income data for the years ended December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 and the balance sheet data as of December 29, 2018, December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 has been derived from our consolidated financial statements not included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The data should be read in conjunction with our historical financial statements and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
| Years Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 2, 2021 | December 28, 2019 | December 29, 2018 | December 30, 2017 | December 31, 2016 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands, except per share data) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Statement of Income Data: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 6,664,350 | $ | 6,966,923 | $ | 6,803,955 | $ | 6,471,410 | $ | 6,028,199 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Operating profit | 6,501 | 889,730 | 864,651 | 736,175 | 788,364 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income (loss) from continuing operations | $ | (75,579) | $ | 600,720 | $ | 539,666 | $ | 75,978 | $ | 482,475 | |||||||||||||||||||
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax | — | — | — | (2,097) | 2,455 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (75,579) | $ | 600,720 | $ | 539,666 | $ | 73,881 | $ | 484,930 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Earnings (loss) per share — basic: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Continuing operations | $ | (0.21) | $ | 1.65 | $ | 1.48 | $ | 0.21 | $ | 1.26 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Discontinued operations | — | — | — | (0.01) | 0.01 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | (0.21) | $ | 1.65 | $ | 1.48 | $ | 0.20 | $ | 1.27 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Earnings (loss) per share — diluted: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Continuing operations | $ | (0.21) | $ | 1.64 | $ | 1.48 | $ | 0.21 | $ | 1.25 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Discontinued operations | — | — | — | (0.01) | 0.01 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Diluted | $ | (0.21) | $ | 1.64 | $ | 1.48 | $ | 0.20 | $ | 1.26 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Dividends per share | $ | 0.60 | $ | 0.60 | $ | 0.60 | $ | 0.60 | $ | 0.44 | |||||||||||||||||||
| January 2, 2021 | December 28, 2019 | December 29, 2018 | December 30, 2017 | December 31, 2016 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance Sheet Data: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 909,437 | $ | 328,876 | $ | 433,022 | $ | 421,566 | $ | 460,245 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Working capital | 1,305,019 | 1,453,126 | 1,496,177 | 1,626,002 | 1,718,952 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total assets | 7,698,874 | 7,353,986 | 7,238,240 | 6,877,241 | 6,841,926 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Noncurrent liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Long-term debt | 3,739,434 | 3,256,870 | 3,534,183 | 3,702,054 | 3,507,685 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other noncurrent liabilities | 1,042,114 | 1,089,082 | 785,993 | 793,110 | 582,400 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total stockholders’ equity | 813,958 | 1,236,595 | 872,126 | 601,463 | 1,120,113 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Item 7. | Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | ||||
This management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations, or MD&A, contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Please see “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a discussion of the uncertainties, risks and assumptions associated with these statements. This discussion should be read in conjunction with our historical financial statements and related notes thereto and the other disclosures contained elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The results of operations for the periods reflected herein are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for future periods, and our actual results may differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including but not limited to those listed under “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
This MD&A generally discusses the results of fiscal years 2020 and 2019 and year-to-year comparisons between fiscal years 2020 and 2019. Discussions of fiscal year 2018 results and year-to-year comparisons between fiscal years 2019 and 2018 that are not included in this Form 10-K can be found in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Part II, Item 7 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2019.
This MD&A is a supplement to our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and is provided to enhance your understanding of our results of operations and financial condition. Our MD&A is organized as follows:
•Overview. This section provides a general description of our company and operating segments, business and industry trends, our key business strategies and background information on other matters discussed in this MD&A.
•Consolidated Results of Operations and Operating Results by Business Segment. These sections provide our analysis and outlook for the significant line items in our Consolidated Statements of Income, as well as other information that we deem meaningful to an understanding of our results of operations on both a consolidated basis and a business segment basis.
•Liquidity and Capital Resources. This section provides an analysis of trends and uncertainties affecting liquidity, cash requirements for our business, sources and uses of our cash and our financing arrangements.
•Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates. This section discusses the accounting policies that we consider important to the evaluation and reporting of our financial condition and results of operations, and whose application requires significant judgments or a complex estimation process.
•Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements. This section provides a summary of the most recent authoritative accounting pronouncements that were adopted during 2020 and that we will be required to adopt in a future period.
Overview
Our Company
Hanesbrands Inc. is a socially responsible leading marketer of everyday basic innerwear and activewear apparel in the Americas, Europe, Australia and Asia/Pacific under some of the world’s strongest apparel brands, including Hanes, Champion, Bonds, DIM, Bali, Maidenform, Playtex, Bras N Things, Nur Die/Nur Der, JMS/Just My Size, Wonderbra, Lovable, Alternative, Berlei, L’eggs, and Gear for Sports. We design, manufacture, source and sell a broad range of basic apparel such as T-shirts, bras, panties, shapewear, underwear, socks, hosiery and activewear produced in our low cost global supply chain. Our brands hold either the number one or number two market position by units sold in many of the product categories and geographies in which we compete.
Our Segments
Our operations are managed and reported in three operating segments, each of which is a reportable segment for financial reporting purposes: Innerwear, Activewear and International. These segments are organized principally by product category and geographic location. Each segment has its own management team that is responsible for the operations of the segment’s businesses, but the segments share a common supply chain and media and marketing platforms. Other consists of our U.S. value-based (“outlet”) stores and U.S. hosiery business.
The reportable segments are as follows:
•Innerwear includes sales in the United States of basic branded apparel products that are replenishment in nature under the product categories of men’s underwear, women’s panties, children’s underwear and socks, and intimate apparel, which includes bras and shapewear. In 2020, Innerwear also includes sales in the United States of personal protective equipment (“PPE”) including products such as cloth face coverings and gowns.
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•Activewear includes sales in the United States of basic branded products that are primarily seasonal in nature to both retailers and wholesalers, as well as licensed sports apparel and licensed logo apparel in collegiate bookstores, mass retailers and other channels.
•International includes sales of products in all of our categories, including PPE in 2020, outside the United States, primarily in Europe, Australasia, Asia, Canada and Latin America.
Impact of COVID-19 on Our Business
As the global impact of COVID-19 continues, our priority has been to protect the health and safety of our employees and customers around the world. To help mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus and in response to health advisories and governmental actions and regulations, we have modified our business practices and have implemented health and safety measures that are designed to protect employees in our corporate, retail, distribution and manufacturing facilities around the world.
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our business operations and financial results for 2020, as described in more detail under “Consolidated Results of Operations - Year Ended January 2, 2021 (“2020”) Compared with Year Ended December 28, 2019 (“2019”)” below, due to decreased customer traffic and temporary retail store closures worldwide. While most of our retail stores were temporarily closed for varying periods of time throughout 2020, most reopened by the end of the second quarter but have experienced, and are expected to continue to experience, reductions in customer traffic, and as a result, net sales. Sales of PPE, used to help mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus, partially offset the negative impact of the decline in net sales and earnings due to the COVID-19 pandemic on our financial results. Our e-commerce sites have remained open in all regions and online sales have grown as consumer spending continued to shift towards online shopping experiences due to the changing retail landscape as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. While many retail stores reopened and some government restrictions were removed or lightened, many locations across the globe have experienced significant recent increases in COVID-19 cases as well as additional government restrictions, and the ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic remains highly uncertain and could continue to have a material adverse impact on our business operations and financial results, including net sales, earnings and cash flows, as a result of:
•quarantines, facility closures, event cancellations and other restrictions;
•additional temporary closures of our retail stores and retail stores in which our products are sold;
•decreased customer traffic in our retail stores and retail stores in which our products are sold;
•changes in consumer confidence and consumer spending habits, including spending for the merchandise that we sell and negative trends in consumer purchasing patterns due to changes in consumers’ disposable income, credit availability and debt levels;
•decreased wholesale channel sales and increased likelihood of wholesale customer bankruptcy or financial distress, including requests for extended payment terms or potential payment defaults;
•disruption to our global supply chain including the manufacturing, supply, distribution, transportation and delivery of our products; and
•a slowdown in the U.S. and global economies, and an uncertain global economic outlook or a potential credit crisis.
During the second quarter of 2020, we recorded $11 million of bad debt charges for customer bankruptcies and $20 million of charges to reserve for increased excess and obsolete inventory related primarily to canceled orders of seasonal inventory. Also during the second quarter of 2020, we completed a quantitative impairment analysis for certain indefinite-lived intangible assets as a result of the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their performance. Based on this analysis, we recorded impairment charges of $20 million on certain indefinite-lived trademarks and other intangible assets within the European Innerwear business. In the third quarter of 2020, we recorded $49 million of supply chain re-start up charges primarily related to incremental costs incurred, such as freight and sourcing premiums, to expedite product to meet customer demand following the extended shut-down of parts of our manufacturing network as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, in the fourth quarter of 2020, we recorded a $25 million charge for the impairment of goodwill related to the U.S. Hosiery reporting unit primarily as a result of the significant impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on this business.
In connection with the annual goodwill impairment testing performed during the third quarter of 2020, we performed a quantitative assessment utilizing an income approach to estimate the fair value of each reporting unit. The most significant assumptions include the weighted average cost of capital, revenue growth rate, terminal growth rate and operating profit margin, all of which are used to estimate the fair value of the reporting units. The tests indicated the reporting units had fair values that exceeded their carrying values. Certain reporting units, including the European Innerwear business and U.S. Hosiery, were considered to be at a higher risk for future impairment if any assumptions used in the estimate of the reporting units’ fair values change in the future given their respective fair values exceeded their carrying values by less than 20% and
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trends in the associated businesses indicate a declining fair value. In the fourth quarter of 2020, we determined that there was a triggering event associated with our U.S. Hosiery reporting unit due to a significant decline in performance below management’s expectations and loss of a future wholesale hosiery program. Based on the updated quantitative analysis, we recorded impairment charges for the full amount of goodwill related to the U.S. Hosiery reporting unit of $25 million. The estimated fair value of the European Innerwear reporting unit during the annual impairment test exceeded the carrying value by less than 20% and is still viewed as higher risk for future impairment. The goodwill associated with the European Innerwear reporting unit was approximately $105 million as of January 2, 2021.
Additionally, in connection with the annual impairment testing performed in the third quarter of 2020, we performed a quantitative assessment, utilizing an income approach to estimate the fair value of each indefinite-lived intangible asset. The most significant assumptions include the weighted average cost of capital, revenue growth rate, terminal growth rate and operating profit margin, all of which are used to estimate the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible assets. The tests indicated the indefinite-lived intangible assets had fair values that exceeded their carrying values and no impairment of trademarks or other identifiable intangible assets was identified as a result of our testing. Certain indefinite-lived trademarks within the European Innerwear business were considered to be at a higher risk for future impairment if any assumptions used in the estimate of the trademarks’ fair value change in the future given their respective fair values exceeded their carrying values by less than 20% and trends in the associated businesses indicate a declining fair value. As of January 2, 2021, we considered four trademarks within the European Innerwear business to be at a higher risk for future impairment and the carrying value of these four indefinite-lived trademarks was approximately $90 million.
We took steps to mitigate the potential risks to us posed by the spread and related circumstances and impacts of COVID-19. We addressed these challenges by preserving our liquidity and managing our cash flow with preemptive actions designed to enhance our ability to meet our short-term liquidity needs. Such actions included, but were not limited to, focusing on channels that continued to generate sales, including mass retail and online; selling PPE, such as cloth face coverings and gowns; operating our manufacturing and distribution facilities on a demand-adjusted basis; reduced discretionary spending such as certain media and marketing expenses; focused working capital management; reduced capital expenditures; suspended our share repurchase program which is currently prohibited under the Senior Secured Credit Facility; reduced payroll costs through temporary employee furloughs and pay cuts; working globally to maximize our participation in all eligible government or other initiatives available to businesses or employees impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic; engaging with landlords to negotiate rent deferrals or other rent concessions; issued new debt and amended certain existing debt facilities. See “The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) global pandemic has had and is expected to continue to have an adverse impact on our business.” in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Outlook for the First Quarter of 2021
We estimate our first quarter ended April 3, 2021 guidance as follows:
•Net sales of $1.485 billion to $1.515 billion, approximately $50 million of foreign exchange benefit;
•Operating profit of $140 million to $150 million;
•Full Potential plan-related charges of approximately $10 million reflected in operating profit; and
•Diluted earnings per share from $0.24 to $0.27.
Business and Industry Trends
Inflation and Changing Prices
Cotton is the primary raw material used in manufacturing many of our products. While we do not own yarn operations, we are still exposed to fluctuations in the cost of cotton. Increases in the cost of cotton can result in higher costs in the price we pay for yarn from our large-scale yarn suppliers and may result in the need to implement future price increases in order to maintain our margins. Decreases in cotton prices can lead to lower margins for inventory and products produced from cotton we have already purchased, particularly if there is downward price pressure as a result of consumer demand, competition or other factors.
Our costs for cotton yarn and cotton-based textiles vary based upon the fluctuating cost of cotton, which is affected by, among other factors, weather, consumer demand, speculation on the commodities market, the relative valuations and fluctuations of the currencies of producer versus consumer countries and other factors that are generally unpredictable and beyond our control. We are able to lock in the cost of cotton reflected in the price we pay for yarn from our primary yarn suppliers in an attempt to protect our business from the volatility of the market price of cotton. Under our agreements with these suppliers, we have the ability to periodically fix the cotton cost component of our yarn purchases. When we elect to fix the cotton cost component under these agreements, interim fluctuations in the price of cotton do not impact the price we pay for the specified volume of yarn. The yarn suppliers bear the risk of cotton fluctuations for the yarn volume specified and it is their
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responsibility to procure the cotton at the agreed upon pricing through arrangements they make with their cotton suppliers. However, our business can be affected by dramatic movements in cotton prices. The cost of cotton used in goods manufactured by us represented only approximately 2% of our cost of sales in 2020. Costs incurred today for materials and labor, including cotton, typically do not impact our results until the inventory is sold approximately six to nine months later.
Inflation can have a long-term impact on us because increasing costs of materials and labor may impact our ability to maintain satisfactory margins. For example, the cost of the materials that are used in our manufacturing process, such as oil-related commodity prices and other raw materials, including cotton, dyes and chemicals, and other costs, such as fuel, energy and utility costs, can fluctuate as a result of inflation and other factors. Costs incurred for materials and labor are capitalized into inventory and impact our results as the inventory is sold. In addition, a significant portion of our products are manufactured in countries other than the United States and declines in the value of the U.S. dollar may result in higher manufacturing costs. Increases in inflation may not be matched by growth in consumer income, which also could have a negative impact on spending.
Other Business and Industry Trends
The basic apparel market is highly competitive and rapidly evolving. Competition generally is based upon brand, comfort, fit, style and price. The majority of our core styles continue from year to year, with variations only in color, fabric or design details. Some products, however, such as intimate apparel, activewear and sheer hosiery, do have more of an emphasis on style and innovation. Our businesses face competition today from other large domestic and foreign corporations and manufacturers, as well as smaller companies, department stores, specialty stores and other retailers that market and sell basic apparel products under private labels that compete directly with our brands.
In 2020, excluding government agencies to which we sold PPE, our top 10 customers accounted for approximately 40% of our total net sales and 43% of our total apparel net sales. Our top customer, Walmart, accounted for 15% of our total net sales and 17% of our total apparel net sales in 2020. The increasing bargaining power of retailers can create pricing pressures as our customers grow larger and seek greater concessions in their purchase of our products, while also demanding exclusivity with respect to some of our products. To counteract these effects, it has become increasingly important to leverage our national brands through investment in our largest and strongest brands as our customers strive to maximize their performance especially in today’s challenging retail economic environment. Brands are important in our core categories to drive traffic and project the quality and value our customers demand.
Consumers are increasingly embracing shopping online through e-commerce platforms. As a result, an increasing portion of our revenue across all channels is being generated online through e-commerce platforms. We are continuing to develop and expand our omnichannel capabilities to allow a consumer to use more than one channel when making a purchase, including in-store, at one of our retail or outlet stores or those of our retail partners, online or with a mobile device, through one of our branded websites, the website of one of our retail partners, or an online retailer, such as Amazon. In addition to broadening our assortment of product offerings across all online channels, we are also increasing the proportion of our media budget dedicated to digital marketing.
Foreign Exchange Rates
Changes in exchange rates between the U.S. Dollar and other currencies can impact our financial results in two ways; a translation impact and a transaction impact. The translation impact refers to the impact that changes in exchange rates can have on our published financial results. Similar to many multi-national corporations that publish financial results in U.S. Dollars, our revenue and profit earned in local foreign currencies is translated back into U.S. Dollars using an average exchange rate over the representative period. A period of strengthening in the U.S. Dollar results in a negative impact to our published financial results (because it would take more units of a local currency to convert into a dollar). The opposite is true during a period of weakening in the U.S. Dollar. Our biggest foreign currency exposures are the Australian dollar and the Euro. We use cross-currency swap contracts and nonderivative financial instruments to minimize material foreign currency translation exposures.
The transaction impact on financial results is common for apparel companies that source goods because these goods are purchased in U.S. Dollars. The transaction impact from a strengthening U.S. Dollar would have a negative impact to our financial results (because the U.S. Dollar-based costs would convert into a higher amount of local currency units, which means a higher local-currency cost of goods, and in turn, a lower local-currency gross profit). The transaction impact from exchange rates is typically recovered over time with price increases. However, during periods of rapid change in exchange rates, pricing is unable to change quickly enough; therefore, we use forward foreign exchange contracts to hedge against our sourcing costs to minimize our exposure to fluctuating exchange rates.
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Our Key Business Strategies
Our business strategy integrates our brand superiority, industry-leading innovation and low-cost global supply chain to provide higher value products while lowering production costs. We operate in the global innerwear and global activewear apparel categories. These are stable, heavily branded categories where we have a strong consumer franchise based on a global portfolio of industry-leading brands that we have built over multiple decades, through hundreds of millions of direct interactions with consumers. With the arrival of our new Chief Executive Officer in August of 2020, we undertook a comprehensive global business review focused on building consumer-centric growth. The review resulted in our Full Potential plan, which is our multi-year growth strategy that focuses on four pillars to drive growth and enhance long-term profitability and identifies the initiatives to unlock growth. Our four pillars of growth are to grow the Champion brand globally, drive growth in Innerwear with brands and products that appeal to younger consumers, build e-commerce excellence across channels and streamline our global portfolio. In order to deliver this growth and create a more efficient and productive business model, we have launched a multi-year cost savings program intended to substantially self-fund the investments necessary to achieve the Full Potential plan’s objectives. We remain highly confident that our strong brand portfolio, world-class supply chain and diverse category and geographic footprint will help us unlock our full potential, deliver long-term growth and create stockholder value.
In the fourth quarter of 2020, we began the early implementation of our Full Potential plan including a number of actions to simplify our business and transform our organization to move faster, lower costs and focus on our highest-return growth opportunities. Simplification is critical to our future growth. Specific actions we have initiated as we began to implement our Full Potential plan include portfolio streamlining and SKU rationalization. We are streamlining our portfolio to increase our business focus and improve future returns. As a result of COVID-19 vaccines rolling out around the world along with slowing retail orders and a flood of competitive offerings, our future PPE sales opportunities have been dramatically reduced. Therefore, we do not view PPE as a future growth opportunity for our company. We recorded a charge of $374 million to write down our entire PPE inventory balance to its estimated net realizable value and a charge of $26 million to accrue for vendor commitments for PPE materials. Additionally, we commenced an initiative to reduce 20% of our SKUs in inventory in order to streamline product offerings while also implementing a formal lifecycle management process. As a result, we recorded a charge of $211 million to write down inventory to its estimated net realizable value taking into account our initiatives. These initiatives will position us for long-term growth by driving higher margin sales, lowering costs and improving service to customers. In addition, on February 9, 2021, as part of our strategic review, we announced that we are exploring strategic alternatives for our European Innerwear business.
We seek to generate strong cash flow through effectively optimizing our capital structure and managing working capital levels. Our capital allocation strategy is to deploy our significant, consistent cash flow effectively to generate the best long-term returns for our shareholders. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization excluding restructuring and other action-related costs and stock compensation expense. Net debt is defined as total debt less cash and cash equivalents. Our strategy is to use our cash flow from operations to first fund capital investments and dividends. When we are within our targeted leverage range, we intend to use debt for strategic acquisitions and use excess free cash flow, which is defined as cash flow from operations less capital expenditures and dividends, for share repurchases, as permitted under our Senior Secured Credit Facility. When we are outside our targeted leverage range, we plan to use excess free cash flow to pay down debt.
Tax Expense
As a global company, we are subject to income taxes and file income tax returns in more than 100 domestic and foreign jurisdictions each year. For the year ended January 2, 2021, a substantial majority of our foreign income was earned by our manufacturing and sourcing operations in El Salvador, Hong Kong, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Vietnam and Thailand. The relatively lower effective tax rates in these jurisdictions as a result of favorable local tax regimes and various free trade zone agreements significantly reduced our consolidated effective tax rate. Our future effective tax rates could be adversely affected by earnings being lower than anticipated in countries where we have lower effective tax rates and higher than anticipated in countries where we have higher effective tax rates, or by changes in tax laws or regulations.
In addition, future acquisitions may affect the proportion of our pre-tax income from foreign jurisdictions, both due to external sales and also increased volume in our self-owned supply chain. We follow a disciplined acquisition strategy focused on acquisitions that meet strict criteria for strong likely returns with relatively low risk. It is difficult to predict whether or when such acquisitions will occur and whether the acquisition targets will be foreign or domestic. Therefore, it is also difficult to predict the effect of acquisitions on the future distribution of our pre-tax income.
We maintain intercompany transfer pricing agreements governing sales within our self-owned supply chain, which can impact the amount of pre-tax income we recognize in foreign jurisdictions. In compliance with applicable tax laws, we regularly review the terms of these agreements utilizing independent third-party transfer pricing studies to ensure that intercompany pricing is consistent with what a seller would charge an independent, arm’s length customer, or what a buyer
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would pay an independent, arm’s length supplier. Therefore, changes in intercompany pricing are often driven by market conditions, which are also difficult to predict.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”) significantly revised United States corporate income tax law by, among other things, reducing the corporate income tax rate to 21%, imposing a new minimum tax on GILTI and implementing a modified territorial tax system that included a one-time transition tax on deemed repatriated earnings of foreign subsidiaries. In response to the Tax Act, the SEC issued SAB 118 which allowed issuers to recognize provisional estimates of the impact of the Tax Act in their financial statements, during a measurement period not to exceed one year from the date of enactment. We completed our accounting for the enactment of the Tax Act in accordance with SAB 118 in the fourth quarter of 2018.
As of January 2, 2021, we have continued to evaluate our global capital allocation strategy and assertions made with respect to the accumulated earnings of our foreign subsidiaries. As a result of our overall and continuous evaluation, we have not changed our assertion from prior year and we will continue to permanently reinvest a portion of our unremitted foreign earnings. The portion of our unremitted foreign earnings as of January 2, 2021 that we intend to remit to the United States totals approximately $668 million. We intend to use these earnings to pay down debt held in the United States and execute share repurchases, as permitted under our Senior Secured Credit Facility. The remaining portion of our unremitted foreign earnings will continue to be permanently reinvested to fund working capital requirements and operations abroad. As of January 2, 2021, we have accrued for income taxes of $32.9 million in connection with the $668 million of unremitted foreign earnings we intend to remit in the future. These income tax effects include United States federal, state, foreign and withholding tax implications in accordance with the planned remittance of such foreign earnings.
We regularly assess any significant exposure associated with increases in effective tax rates, and adjustments are made as events occur that warrant adjustment to our income tax provisions. See “We have a complex multinational tax structure, and changes in effective tax rates or adverse outcomes resulting from examination of our income tax returns could impact our capital deployment strategy and adversely affect our results.” in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Consolidated Results of Operations — Year Ended January 2, 2021 (“2020”) Compared with Year Ended December 28, 2019 (“2019”)
| Years Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 2, 2021 | December 28, 2019 | Higher (Lower) | Percent Change | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 6,664,350 | $ | 6,966,923 | $ | (302,573) | (4.3) | % | |||||||||||||||
| Cost of sales | 4,816,086 | 4,247,593 | 568,493 | 13.4 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Gross profit | 1,848,264 | 2,719,330 | (871,066) | (32.0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 1,841,763 | 1,829,600 | 12,163 | 0.7 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Operating profit | 6,501 | 889,730 | (883,229) | (99.3) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other expenses | 23,132 | 31,424 | (8,292) | (26.4) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense, net | 166,491 | 178,579 | (12,088) | (6.8) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Income (loss) before income tax expense | (183,122) | 679,727 | (862,849) | NM | |||||||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) | (107,543) | 79,007 | (186,550) | NM | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (75,579) | $ | 600,720 | $ | (676,299) | NM | ||||||||||||||||
Net Sales
Net sales and profit trends across our apparel businesses were adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. While many of our retail stores were temporarily closed for varying periods of time throughout the year, most were reopened by the end of the second quarter of 2020 as some government restrictions were removed or lightened. In the second half of 2020, some of our apparel businesses experienced growth in net sales primarily as a result of retailers replenishing inventory levels as stores re-opened after temporary closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. More recently, many locations across the globe have experienced significant increases in COVID-19 cases as well as additional government restrictions, and have experienced and are expected to continue to experience reductions in traffic and therefore, net sales. The ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic remains highly uncertain. Our online sales increased in 2020 as consumer spending continued to shift towards online shopping experiences due to the changing retail landscape as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. During 2020, we sold PPE globally to governments, large organizations, business-to-business customers and consumers for use to help mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Net sales decreased 4% during 2020 primarily due to the following:
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•The disruption of our U.S. and International apparel businesses related to the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; and
•The exit of our C9 Champion mass program and the DKNY intimate apparel license in 2019 which, together, represented approximately $419 million of net sales in 2019.
Partially offset by:
•Net sales of PPE of $959 million in 2020;