V F CORP 10-Q

ITEM 1A — RISK FACTORS. You should carefully consider the risk factors set forth under Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in the Fiscal 2022 Form 10-K, which could materially affect our business, financial condition and future results. The risks described in the Fiscal 2022 Form 10-K are not the only risks facing the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results. Other than the risks identified below, there have been no material changes to the risk factors identified in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in the Fiscal 2022 Form 10-K. BUSINESS AND OPERATIONAL RISKS There are risks associated with VF’s acquisitions and portfolio management. Any acquisitions or mergers by VF will be accompanied by the risks commonly encountered in acquisitions of companies. These risks include, among other things, higher than anticipated acquisition costs and expenses, the difficulty and expense of integrating the operations, systems and personnel of the companies and the loss of key employees and customers as a result of changes in management. In addition, geographic distances may make integration of acquired businesses more difficult. We may not be successful in overcoming these risks or any other problems encountered in connection with any acquisitions. Moreover, failure to effectively manage VF’s portfolio of brands in line with growth targets and shareholder expectations, including acquisition choices, integration approach and divestiture timing could result in unfavorable impacts to growth and value creation. Our acquisitions may cause large one-time expenses or create goodwill or other intangible assets that could result in significant impairment charges, such as the recent impairment charges related to the Supreme reporting unit goodwill and indefinite-lived trademark intangible asset (see Note 16 within Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q). We also make certain estimates and assumptions in order to determine purchase price allocation and estimate the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. If our estimates or assumptions used to value these assets and liabilities are not accurate, we may be exposed to losses that may be material. Talent management, employee retention and experience are important factors in VF’s success. Turnover in VF’s leadership or other key positions may have a material adverse effect on VF. Our future success also depends on our ability to attract, develop, and retain talent with the necessary knowledge, skills and experience and maintain a culture of wellbeing, empowerment and diversity and inclusion to ensure VF is innovative and remains competitive in a rapidly-changing global marketplace. Competition for experienced and well-qualified personnel is intense and we may not be successful in attracting, developing, and retaining such personnel, which could impact VF’s ability to remain competitive. Additionally, changes to our office environments, the adoption of new work models, and our requirements and/or expectations about when or how often certain employees work on-site or remotely may not meet the expectations of our employees. As businesses increasingly operate remotely, traditional geographic competition for talent may change in ways that we cannot presently predict. If our employment proposition is not perceived as favorable compared to other companies, it could negatively impact our ability to attract and retain our employees. If we are unable to retain, attract, and motivate talented employees with the appropriate skill sets, or if changes to our organizational structure, operating results, or business model adversely affect morale or retention, we may not achieve our objectives, our relationships with our customers or other third parties may be disrupted, and our results of operations could be adversely impacted. VF depends on the services and management experience of its executive officers and business leaders who have substantial experience and expertise in VF’s business, and in developing and retaining employees. This loss of experience and expertise can be mitigated through successful hiring and transition, but there can be no assurance that we will be successful in such efforts. Attracting and retaining qualified senior leadership may be more challenging under adverse business conditions. The unexpected loss of services of one or more of these individuals or the inability to effectively identify a suitable successor to a key role could have a material adverse effect on VF. On December 2, 2022, VF’s Board of Directors appointed Benno Dorer, a member of the Board, as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately following the retirement of Steve Rendle, VF’s then President and Chief Executive Officer. VF’s Board has retained a search firm to assist in identifying a permanent Chief Executive Officer. This recent change in our executive leadership team, along with other changes in the roles and responsibilities among our executive officers, and any future changes resulting from the hiring or departure of executive officers, could disrupt our business and negatively affect our ability to recruit and retain talent. Such leadership transitions can be inherently difficult to manage, and an inadequate transition may cause disruption to our business, including to our relationships with our associates and other third parties. Further, this change also increases our dependency on other members of our executive leadership team who remain with us, and the departure of any remaining executive officer could be particularly disruptive in light of the recent leadership transitions. 43 VF Corporation Q3 FY23 Form 10-Q Table of Con tents LEGAL, REGULATORY AND COMPLIANCE RISKS We may have additional tax liabilities from new or evolving government or judicial interpretation of existing tax laws. As a global company, we determine our income tax liability in various tax jurisdictions based on an analysis and interpretation of U.S. and international tax laws and regulations. This analysis requires a significant amount of judgment and estimation and is often based on various assumptions about the future actions of tax authorities. These determinations are the subject of periodic U.S. and international tax audits and court proceedings. In particular, tax authorities and the courts have increased their focus on income earned in no- or low-tax jurisdictions or income that is not taxed in any jurisdiction. Tax authorities have also become skeptical of special tax rulings provided to companies offering lower taxes than may be applicable in other countries. For example, VF was granted a ruling which lowered the effective income tax rate on taxable earnings for years 2010 through 2014 under Belgium’s excess profit tax regime. During 2015, the EU investigated and announced its decision that the ruling was illegal and ordered that tax benefits granted under the ruling should be collected from the affected companies, including VF Europe, BVBA, a subsidiary of VF. Requests for annulment were filed by Belgium and VF Europe BVBA, individually. During 2017 and 2018, VF Europe BVBA was assessed and paid €35.0 million in tax and interest, which was recorded as an income tax receivable based on the expected success of the requests for annulment. During 2019, the General Court annulled the EU decision and the EU subsequently appealed the General Court’s annulment. In September 2021, the General Court’s judgment was set aside by the Court of Justice of the EU and the case was sent back to the General Court to determine whether the excess profit tax regime amounted to illegal State aid. The case remains open and unresolved. If this matter is adversely resolved, the tax and interest amounts paid by VF will not be collected by VF. Also, as previously reported, VF petitioned the U.S. Tax Court (the "Court") to resolve an Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") dispute regarding the timing of income inclusion associated with VF's acquisition of The Timberland Company in September 2011. While the IRS argues that all such income should have been immediately included in 2011, VF has reported periodic income inclusions in subsequent tax years. Both parties moved for summary judgment on the issue, and on January 31, 2022, the Court issued its opinion in favor of the IRS and on July 14, 2022 issued its final decision. VF believes the opinion of the Court was in error based on the technical merits and filed a notice of appeal on October 7, 2022. On October 19, 2022, VF paid $875.7 million related to the 2011 taxes and interest being disputed, which was recorded as a tax receivable based on the technical merits of our position with regards to the case and will accrue interest income . VF continues to believe its timing and treatment of the income inclusion is appropriate and VF is vigorously defending its position. However, should the Court opinion ultimately be upheld on appeal, this tax receivable may not be collected by VF. If the Court opinion is upheld, VF should be entitled to a refund of taxes paid on the periodic inclusions that VF has reported. However, any such refund could be substantially reduced by potential indirect tax effects resulting from application of the Court opinion. Deferred tax liabilities, representing VF’s future tax on annual inclusions, would also be released. The net impact to tax expense is estimated to be up to $730.0 million, plus the reversal of any interest income accrued on the payment. Although we accrue for uncertain tax positions, our accrual may be insufficient to satisfy unfavorable findings. Unfavorable audit findings, or court interpretations (involving VF or other companies with similar tax profiles) may result in payment of taxes, fines and penalties for prior periods and higher tax rates in future periods, which may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. FINANCIAL RISKS VF’s balance sheet includes a significant amount of intangible assets and goodwill. A decline in the fair value of an intangible asset or of a business unit could result in an asset impairment charge, such as the recent impairment charges related to the Supreme ® reporting unit goodwill and indefinite-lived trademark intangible asset. VF’s policy is to evaluate indefinite-lived intangible assets and goodwill for possible impairment as of the beginning of the fourth quarter of each year, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the fair value of such assets may be below their carrying amount. In addition, intangible assets that are being amortized are tested for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that their carrying value may not be recoverable. For these impairment tests, we use various valuation methods to estimate the fair value of our business units and intangible assets. If the fair value of an asset is less than its carrying value, we would recognize an impairment charge for the difference. During the fiscal quarter ended October 1, 2022, due to continued increases in the federal funds rate and strengthening of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies, VF determined that a triggering event had occurred requiring impairment testing of the Supreme reporting unit goodwill and indefinite-lived trademark intangible asset. As a result of the impairment testing performed, VF recorded impairment charges of $229.0 million and $192.9 million to the Supreme reporting unit goodwill and indefinite-lived trademark intangible asset, respectively. The impairment primarily related to an increase in the market-based discount rates used in the valuations and the negative impact of foreign currency exchange rate changes on financial projections. It is possible that we could have another impairment charge for goodwill or trademark and trade name intangible assets in future periods if (i) overall economic conditions in Fiscal 2023 or future years vary from our current assumptions (including changes in discount rates), (ii) business conditions or our strategies for a specific business unit change from our current assumptions, (iii) investors require higher rates of return on equity investments in the marketplace, or (iv) enterprise values of comparable publicly traded companies, or of actual sales transactions of comparable companies, were to decline, resulting in lower comparable multiples of revenues and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and, accordingly, lower implied values of goodwill and intangible assets. Any future impairment charge for goodwill or intangible VF Corporation Q3 FY23 Form 10-Q 44 Table of Con tents assets could have a material effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations. VF’s indebtedness could have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations and prevent VF from fulfilling its financial obligations, and VF may not be able to maintain its current credit ratings, may not continue to pay dividends or repurchase its common stock and may not remain in compliance with existing debt covenants. As of December 31, 2022, VF had approximately $6.4 billion of debt outstanding. VF’s debt and interest payment requirements could have important consequences on its business, financial condition and results of operations. For example, it could: • require VF to dedicate a substantial portion of its cash flow from operations to repaying its indebtedness, which would reduce the availability of its cash flow to fund working capital requirements, capital expenditures, future acquisitions, dividends, repurchase VF’s common stock and for other general corporate purposes; • limit VF’s flexibility in planning for or reacting to general adverse economic conditions or changes in its business and the industries in which it operates; • place VF at a competitive disadvantage compared to its competitors that have less indebtedness outstanding; and • negatively affect VF's credit ratings and limit, along with the financial and other restrictive covenants in VF’s debt documents and its ability to borrow additional funds. In addition, VF may incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future to fund acquisitions, repurchase common stock or fund other activities for general business purposes. If VF incurs additional indebtedness, it may limit VF’s ability to access the debt capital markets or other forms of financing in the future and may result in increased borrowing costs. Although VF has historically declared and paid quarterly cash dividends on its common stock and has been authorized to repurchase its stock subject to certain limitations under its share repurchase programs, any determinations by the Board of Directors to continue to declare and pay cash dividends on VF’s common stock or to repurchase VF’s common stock will be based primarily upon VF’s financial condition, results of operations and business requirements, its access to debt capital markets or other forms of financing, the price of its common stock in the case of the repurchase program and the Board of Directors’ continuing determination that the repurchase programs and the declaration and payment of dividends are in the best interests of VF’s shareholders and are in compliance with all laws and agreements applicable to the repurchase and dividend programs. Our cash dividend payments may change from time to time, and we cannot provide assurance that we will increase our cash dividend payment or declare cash dividends in any particular amount or at all. A reduction in the amount or suspension of our cash dividend payments or a reduction in the level or discontinuation of our share repurchases could have a negative effect on VF’s stock price. VF is required to comply with certain financial and other restrictive debt covenants in its debt documents. Failure by VF to comply with these covenants could result in an event of default that, if not cured or waived, could have a material adverse effect on VF if the lenders declare any outstanding obligations to be immediately due and payable.