What changed in this filing

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Item 1A. Risk Factors

2021-08-05 compared with 2021-05-06 · 36 added, 35 removed, 292 unchanged (20% of the section changed)

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We also experience direct competition in our DTC business from retailers that are our wholesale customers.

This is true in particular in the digital marketplace, where increased consumer expectations and competitive pressure related to various aspects of our e-commerce business, including speed of product delivery, shipping charges, return privileges, and other evolving expectations are key factors, and certain of our wholesale customers may be able to offer faster shipping and lower prices than our own DTC e-commerce channel.

• Consumer Preferences and Fashion/Product Trends.

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Unseasonable weather also impacts future sales to our wholesale customers, who may hold inventory into subsequent seasons in response to unseasonable weather.

To the extent global weather patterns trend warmer, consumer and customer demand for our products may be negatively affected.

Our results may be negatively impacted if management is not able to adjust expenses in a timely manner in response to unfavorable weather conditions and the resulting impact on consumer and customer demand.

The extent to which global weather patterns trend warmer will determine the magnitude by which consumer and customer demand for our products will be negatively affected.

• Shifts in Retail Traffic Patterns.

Shifts in consumer purchasing patterns, including the growth of e-commerce and large one-stop digital marketplaces, e-commerce off-price retailing and online comparison shopping, in our key markets may have an adverse effect on our DTC operations and the financial health of certain of our wholesale customers, some of whom may reduce their brick and mortar store fleet, file for protection under bankruptcy laws, restructure, or cease operations.

adverse effect on our DTC operations and the financial health of certain of our wholesale customers, some of whom may reduce their brick and mortar store fleet, file for protection under bankruptcy laws, restructure, or cease operations.

These related business impacts have already occurred at certain of our wholesale customers.

We face increased risk of order reduction and cancellation when dealing with financially ailing wholesale customers.

We also extend credit to our wholesale customers based on an assessment of the wholesale customer's financial condition, generally without requiring collateral.

We may choose to limit our credit risk by reducing our level of business with wholesale customers experiencing financial difficulties and may not be able to replace those revenues with other customers or through our DTC businesses within a reasonable period or at all.

We may choose (and have chosen in the past) to limit our credit risk by reducing our level of business with wholesale customers experiencing financial difficulties and may not be able to replace those revenues with other customers or through our DTC businesses within a reasonable period or at all.

• Innovation.

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In addition, depending on the timing, any changes in sources or materials may result in increased costs or production delays.

Our Success Depends on Our and Third-Party Distribution Facilities, and Other Third-Party Providers.

Our ability to meet consumer and customer expectations, manage inventory, complete sales, and achieve our objectives for operating efficiencies depends on the proper operation of our existing distribution facilities, as well as the facilities of third-parties, the development or expansion of additional distribution capabilities and services, and the timely performance of services by third-parties, including those involved in shipping products to and from our distribution facilities and facilities operated by third-parties.

The majority of our products are manufactured outside of our principal sales markets, which requires these products to be consolidated and transported by third-party logistic companies, sometimes over large geographical distances.

Our Success Depends on Third-Party Logistics Providers and Our and Third-Party Distribution Facilities.

The majority of our products are manufactured outside of our principal sales markets, which requires these products to be consolidated and transported, sometimes over large geographical distances.

A small number of third-party logistics providers currently consolidate, deconsolidate and/or transload almost all of our products.

While we believe that such a consolidation in these providers is in our best interest overall, any disruption in the operations of these providers or changes to the costs they charge, due to capacity constraints or volatile fuel prices could materially impact our sales and profitability.

A prolonged disruption in

the operations of these providers could also require us to seek alternative distribution arrangements, which may not be available on attractive terms and could lead to delays in distribution of products, either of which could have a significant and material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

In addition, the inability of our third-party logistics providers to move products over large geographical distances in a timely manner due to disruptions or limitations at ports or borders or at third-party providers on which they rely (including air-cargo, ocean-cargo and trucking companies) could hinder our ability to satisfy demand through our wholesale and DTC businesses, and we may miss delivery deadlines or incur additional costs, which may cause our customers to cancel their orders, refuse to accept deliveries or demand a reduction in purchase price.

In addition, increases in distribution costs, including but not limited to trucking and freight costs, could adversely affect our costs.

We receive our products from such third-party logistics providers at our owned distribution centers in the United States, Canada and France.

A prolonged disruption in the operations of these providers could also require us to seek alternative distribution arrangements, which may not be available on attractive terms and could lead to delays in distribution of products, either of which could have a significant and material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

In addition, the ability to move products over larger geographical distances could be (as is currently the case) constrained by ocean, air and trucking cargo capacity, or disrupted by limitations at ports or borders.

constraints and disruptions could hinder our ability to satisfy demand through our wholesale and DTC businesses, and we may miss delivery deadlines, which may cause our customers to cancel their orders, refuse to accept deliveries or demand a reduction in purchase price.

In addition, increases in distribution costs, including but not limited to trucking and freight costs, could (as is currently the case) adversely affect our costs, which we may or may not be able to offset through price increases or decreased promotions.

We receive our products from third-party logistics providers at our owned distribution centers in the United States, Canada and France.

The fixed costs associated with owning, operating and maintaining such distribution centers during a period of economic weakness or declining sales can result in lower operating efficiencies, financial deleverage and potential impairment in the recorded value of distribution assets.

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If the third-parties fail to manage these responsibilities, our international and domestic distribution operations could face significant disruptions.

Our ability to meet consumer and customer expectations, manage inventory, complete sales, and achieve our objectives for operating efficiencies depends on the proper operation of our existing distribution facilities, as well as the facilities of third-parties, the development or expansion of additional distribution capabilities and services, and the timely performance of services by third-parties, including those involved in moving products to and from our distribution facilities and facilities operated by third-parties.

OUR INVESTMENT IN STRATEGIC PRIORITIES EXPOSES US TO CERTAIN RISKS

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Any future breaches of our or our third-parties’ systems could expose us, our customers, our consumers, our suppliers, our employees, or other individuals that may be affected to a risk of loss or misuse of this information, result in litigation and potential liability for us, damage our reputation, or otherwise harm our business.

While we maintain cyber liability insurance policies for coverage in the event of a cybersecurity incident, we cannot be certain that our existing coverage will continue to be available on acceptable terms or will be available, and in sufficient amount, to cover the potentially significant losses that could result from a cybersecurity incident or that the insurer will not deny coverage as to any future claim.

In addition, as the regulatory environment related to information security, data collection and use and privacy becomes increasingly rigorous, with new and constantly changing requirements applicable to our business, compliance with those requirements could also result in additional costs or liabilities.

For example, the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”), which became effective in May 2018, and more recently, the California Consumer Privacy Act ("CCPA"), which went into effect in January 2020, required new processes be implemented to ensure compliance and now require the continued refinement of such processes as the regulations evolve, which is accomplished through significant efforts by our employees.

The diverted attention of these employees may impact our operations and there may be additional costs incurred by us for third-party resources to advise on the constantly

changing landscape.

For example, the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation, which became effective in May 2018, and more recently, the California Consumer Privacy Act, which went into effect in January 2020, required new processes be implemented to ensure compliance and now require the continued refinement of such processes as the regulations

evolve, which is accomplished through significant efforts by our employees.

The diverted attention of these employees may impact our operations and there may be additional costs incurred by us for third-party resources to advise on the constantly changing landscape.

Limitations on the use of data may also impact our future business strategies.

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These determinations are the subject of periodic domestic and foreign tax audits.

Although we accrue for uncertain tax positions, our accruals may be insufficient to satisfy unfavorable findings.

Although we accrue for uncertain

tax positions, our accruals may be insufficient to satisfy unfavorable findings.

Unfavorable audit findings and tax rulings may result in payment of taxes, fines and penalties for prior periods and higher tax rates in future periods.

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A change in interpretation of the applicable revisions to the United States tax code and related tax accounting guidance, changes in assumptions made in developing these estimates, and regulatory guidance that may be issued with respect to the applicable revisions to the United States tax code, and state tax implications as a result of the TCJA, the CARES Act, and other recent legislation may cause actual amounts to differ from our provisional estimates.

In addition, as of January 2021, there is a new president of the United States, and his administration has proposed changes to United States tax legislation.

Adoption of new tax rules could result in a material increase in our tax expense.

Proposals to reform U.S.

and foreign tax laws could significantly impact how U.S.

multinational corporations are taxed on foreign earnings and could increase the U.S.

corporate tax rate.

Although we cannot predict whether or in what form these proposals will pass, several of the proposals considered, if enacted into law, could have an adverse impact on our effective tax rate, income tax expense and cash flows.

Other changes in the tax laws of the jurisdictions where we do business, including an increase in tax rates or an adverse change in the treatment of an item of income or expense, could result in a material increase in our tax expense.

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The majority of our purchases of finished goods inventory from contract manufacturers are denominated in United States dollars, including purchases by our foreign entities.

These purchase and sale transactions expose us to the volatility of global economic conditions, including fluctuations in inflation and foreign currency exchange rates.

financial reporting, as weakening of foreign currencies relative to the United States dollar adversely affects the United States dollar value of the Company’s foreign currency-denominated sales and earnings.

These purchase and sale transactions expose us to the volatility of

global economic conditions, including fluctuations in inflation and foreign currency exchange rates.

Our international revenues and expenses generally are derived from sales and operations in foreign currencies, and these revenues and expenses could be affected by currency fluctuations, specifically amounts recorded in foreign currencies and translated into United States dollars for consolidated financial reporting, as weakening of foreign currencies relative to the United States dollar adversely affects the United States dollar value of the Company’s foreign currency-denominated sales and earnings.

Our exposure is increased with respect to our wholesale customers (including international distributors), where, in order to facilitate solicitation of advance orders for the spring and fall seasons, we establish local-currency-denominated wholesale and retail price lists in each of our foreign entities approximately six to nine months prior to United States dollar-denominated seasonal inventory purchases.

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In addition, our ability to meet our labor needs at our distribution centers, retail stores, corporate headquarters, and regional subsidiaries, including our ability to find qualified employees while controlling wage and related labor costs, is generally subject to numerous external factors, including the availability of a sufficient number of qualified people in the work force of the markets in which our operations are located, unemployment levels within those markets, prevailing and minimum wage rates, changing demographics, parental responsibilities, health and other insurance costs, adoption of new or revised employment and labor laws and regulations, and fear of contracting COVID-19.

If we are unable to locate, attract or retain qualified employees or experience higher than normal absenteeism, our ability to source, distribute and sell products in a timely and cost-effective manner may be negatively affected.

If we are unable to locate, attract or retain qualified employees or experience higher than normal

absenteeism, our ability to source, distribute and sell products in a timely and cost-effective manner may be negatively affected.

Our ability to comply with labor laws, including our ability to adapt to rapidly changing labor laws, as well as provide a safe working environment may increase our risk of litigation and cause us to incur additional costs.

Such risks are heightened during the COVID-19

pandemic since medical uncertainty about the virus increases the risk that safety protocols in our owned or affiliated facilities will not be effective or not be perceived as effective, or that any virus-related illnesses will be linked or alleged to be linked to such facilities, whether accurate or not.

Such risks are heightened during the COVID-19 pandemic since medical uncertainty about the virus increases the risk that safety protocols in our owned or affiliated facilities will not be effective or not be perceived as effective, or that any virus-related illnesses will be linked or alleged to be linked to such facilities, whether accurate or not.

We May Incur Additional Expenses, Be Unable to Obtain Financing, or Be Unable to Meet Financial Covenants of Our Financing Agreements as a Result of Downturns in the Global Markets.

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Moreover, natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes and tsunamis, whether occurring in the United States or abroad, and their related consequences and effects, including energy shortages and public health issues, could disrupt our operations, the operations of our vendors and other suppliers or result in economic instability and changes in consumer spending that may negatively impact our operating results and financial condition.

An Outbreak of Disease or Similar Public Health Threat, or Fear of Such an Event, Such as the COVID-19 Pandemic, Could Have, and in the Case of the COVID-19 Pandemic Has Had and is Expected to Continue to Have, an Adverse Impact on Our Business, Operating Results and Financial Condition.

An outbreak of disease or similar public health threat, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, or fear of such an event, could have, and in the case of the COVID-19 pandemic has had and is expected to continue to have, a material adverse impact on our business,

financial condition and operating results, including in the form of lower global net sales, the delay of inventory production and fulfillment, and incremental costs, such as, exceptional provisions for bad debt, severance and restructuring charges, and other related expenses (see Part I, Item 2 of this quarterly report for further discussion).

An Outbreak of Disease or Similar Public Health Threat, Such as the COVID-19 Pandemic, Could Have, and in the Case of the COVID-19 Pandemic Has Had and is Expected to Continue to Have, an Adverse Impact on Our Business, Operating Results and Financial Condition.

An outbreak of disease or similar public health threat, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, could have, and in the case of the COVID-19 pandemic has had and is expected to continue to have, an adverse impact on our business, financial condition and operating results, including in the form of sales and the delay of inventory production and fulfillment in impacted regions.

Fear of contracting COVID-19, individuals contracting COVID-19 and the actions taken, and that may be taken, by governmental authorities, our third-party logistics providers, our landlords, our competitors or by us relating to the COVID-19 pandemic may (and in many cases, have):

• Restrict the operation of our retail store operations and our ability to meet consumer demand at our stores, including as a result of social distancing and other related COVID-19 containment measures (see "We May Not Realize Returns on Our Fixed Cost Investments in Our DTC Business Operations.");

• Lead to a decline in discretionary spending by consumers (see "We are Subject to a Number of Risks Which May Adversely Affect Consumer and/or Wholesale Customer Demand for Our Products and Lead to a Decline in Sales and/or Earnings");

• Increase reliance by consumers on e-commerce platforms (see "We are Subject to a Number of Risks Which May Adversely Affect Consumer and/or Wholesale Customer Demand for Our Products and Lead to a Decline in Sales and/or Earnings" and "We Rely on Information Technology Systems, including Third-Party Cloud-based Solutions, and Any Failure of These Systems May Result in Disruptions or Outages in Our E-Commerce and In-Store Retail Platforms, Loss of Processing Capabilities, and/or Loss of Data, Any of Which May Have a Material Adverse Effect on Our Financial Condition, Results of Operations or Cash Flow");

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• Result in a misalignment between demand and supply (see "Our Inability to Accurately Predict Consumer and/or Customer Demand for Our Products Could Lead to a Build-up of Inventory or a Lack of Inventory and Affect Our Gross Margin");

• Impact global economic conditions and cause an economic slowdown, possibly resulting in a global recession (see "We are Subject to a Number of Risks Which May Adversely Affect Consumer and/or Wholesale Customer Demand for Our Products and Lead to a Decline in Sales and/or Earnings" and "We May Incur Additional Expenses, Be Unable to Obtain Financing or Be Unable to Meet Financial Covenants in Current Financing Arrangements as a Result of Downturns in the Global Markets");

• Cause disruptions in the supply chain, including the timeliness of product deliveries and the ability to deliver product (see “Our Reliance on Contract Manufacturers, Including Our Ability to Enter Into Purchase Order Commitments with Them and Maintain Quality Standards of Our Products and Standards of Manufacturing Processes at Contract Manufacturers, May Result in Lost Sales and Impact Our Gross Margin and Results of Operations”, “For Certain Materials We Depend on a Limited Number of Suppliers, Which May Cause Increased Costs or Production Delays” and “Our Success Depends on Our and Third-Party Distribution Facilities, and Other Third-Party Logistics Providers”);

• Cause disruptions in the supply chain, including the ability to produce and deliver product as expected (see “Our Reliance on Contract Manufacturers, Including Our Ability to Enter Into Purchase Order Commitments with Them and Maintain Quality Standards of Our Products and Standards of Manufacturing Processes at Contract Manufacturers, May Result in Lost Sales and Impact Our Gross Margin and Results of Operations”, “For Certain Materials We Depend on a Limited Number of Suppliers, Which May Cause Increased Costs or Production Delays” and “Our Success Depends on Our and Third-Party Distribution Facilities, and Other Third-Party Logistics Providers”);

• Impact previous business assumptions (see "Acquisitions Are Subject to Many Risks", "We May Have Additional Tax Liabilities or Experience Increased Volatility in Our Effective Tax Rate" and "Our Inability to Accurately Predict Consumer and/or Customer Demand for Our Products Could Lead to a Build-up of Inventory or a Lack of Inventory and Affect Our Gross Margin");

• Cause the implementation of cost containment measures and reductions in capital expenditures, including those relating to strategic priorities (see “We May Be Unable to Execute Our Strategic Priorities, Which Could Limit Our Ability to Invest in and Grow Our Business.”);

• Increase the reliance of our employees on digital solutions (see “We Rely on Information Technology Systems, including Third-Party Cloud-based Solutions, and Any Failure of These Systems May Result in Disruptions or Outages in our E-Commerce and In-Store Retail Platforms, Loss of Processing Capabilities, and/or Loss of Data, Any of Which May Have a Material Adverse Effect on Our Financial Condition, Results of Operations or Cash Flow” and “A Security Breach of Our or Our Third-Parties' Systems, Exposure of Personal or Confidential Information or Increased Government Regulation Relating to Handling of Personal Data, Could, Among Other Things, Disrupt Our Operations or Cause Us to Incur Substantial Costs or Negatively Affect Our Reputation”);

• Restrict global business and travel (see “Global Regulation and Economic and Political Conditions, as well as Potential Changes in Regulations, Legislation and Government Policy, May Negatively Affect Our Business”);

• Cause currency rate fluctuations (see “Fluctuations in Inflation and Currency Exchange Rates Could Result in Lower Revenues, Higher Costs and/or Decreased Margins and Earnings”);

• Cause inflation and currency rate fluctuations (see “Fluctuations in Inflation and Currency Exchange Rates Could Result in Lower Revenues, Higher Costs and/or Decreased Margins and Earnings”);

• Impair our ability to ship product through our owned or affiliated distribution centers, including as a result of capacity reductions, shift changes, labor shortages, higher than normal absenteeism and/or the complete shut-downs of facilities for deep cleaning procedures (see “Labor Matters, Changes in Labor Laws and Other Labor Issues May Reduce Our Revenues and Earnings”);

• Cause rapid changes to employment and tax law (see “Labor Matters, Changes in Labor Laws and Other Labor Issues May Reduce Our Revenues and Earnings”, and "We May Have Additional Tax Liabilities or Experience Increased Volatility in Our Effective Tax Rate");

• Result in supply chain finance issues (see “We May Incur Additional Expenses, Be Unable to Obtain Financing or Be Unable to Meet Financial Covenants in Current Financing Arrangements as a Result of Downturns in the Global Markets”);

• Restrict our ability to obtain financing (see “We May Incur Additional Expenses, Be Unable to Obtain Financing or Be Unable to Meet Financial Covenants in Current Financing Arrangements as a Result of Downturns in the Global Markets”);

• Impair our key personnel (see "We Depend on Key Personnel");

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Certain Shareholders Have Substantial Control Over Us and Are Able to Influence Corporate Matters.

At March 31, 2021, five related shareholders, The Gertrude Boyle Trust, Sarah A.

At June 30, 2021, five related shareholders, The Gertrude Boyle Trust, Sarah A.

Bany, Timothy P.

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Compared sentence by sentence after normalising whitespace, quotation marks, case and digits, so re-formatting and restated figures do not read as changed language. Wording changes appear as one removal and one addition. The current filing and the prior one are authoritative.

What changed 10-Q

Item 1A. Risk Factors