Kontoor Brands, Inc. - Quarter Report: 2021 April (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q


☑			QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended April 3, 2021


☐			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: 001-38854

KONTOOR BRANDS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


North Carolina			83-2680248
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)			(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

400 N. Elm Street

Greensboro, North Carolina 27401

(Address of principal executive offices)

(336) 332-3400

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)


Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class	Trading symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, no par value	KTB	New York Stock Exchange

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 þ 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 þ 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.

Large accelerated filer

☑

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 is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No þ

The number of shares of Common Stock of the registrant outstanding as of April 30, 2021 was 57,631,495.

KONTOOR BRANDS, INC.

Table of Contents


			Page
Part I — Financial Information

Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited)			3

Consolidated Balance Sheets: March 2021 , December 20 20 and March 20 2 0			3

Consolidated Statements of Operations: Three months ended March 2021 and March 2020			4

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss): Three months ended March 2021 and March 2020			5

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows: Three months ended March 2021 and March 2020			6

Consolidated Statements of Equity (Deficit): Three months ended March 2021 and March 2020			7

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements			8

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations			22

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk			31

Item 4. Controls and Procedures			32

Part II — Other Information

Item 1. Legal Proceedings			33

Item 1A. Risk Factors			33

Item 6. Exhibits			33

Signatures			34

Kontoor Brands, Inc. Q1 FY21 Form 10-Q 2

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION


ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

KONTOOR BRANDS, INC.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)


(In thousands)	March 2021		December 2020		March 2020
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and equivalents	$	229,542	$	248,138	$	479,366
Accounts receivable, net	221,031		231,397		213,080


Inventories	350,151		340,732		488,750
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	74,003		81,413		78,597
Total current assets	874,727		901,680		1,259,793

Property, plant and equipment, net	113,693		118,897		129,884
Operating lease assets	65,478		60,443		83,022
Intangible assets, net	15,544		15,991		16,914
Goodwill	212,920		213,392		211,739

Other assets	237,313		235,413		200,443
TOTAL ASSETS	$	1,519,675	$	1,545,816	$	1,901,795
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities
Short-term borrowings	$	947	$	1,114	$	3,487
Current portion of long-term debt	24,375		25,000		—
Accounts payable	194,891		167,240		149,922


Accrued liabilities	184,047		192,952		180,538
Operating lease liabilities, current	28,473		27,329		32,781
Total current liabilities	432,733		413,635		366,728

Operating lease liabilities, noncurrent	42,843		39,806		54,150

Other liabilities	118,905		119,777		110,666
Long-term debt	790,930		887,957		1,388,736

Commitments and contingencies
Total liabilities	1,385,411		1,461,175		1,920,280
Equity
Preferred Stock, no par value; shares authorized, 90,000,000; no shares outstanding at March 2021, December 2020 and March 2020	—		—		—
Common Stock, no par value; shares authorized, 600,000,000; shares outstanding of 57,513,619 at March 2021; 57,254,611 at December 2020 and 56,930,737 at March 2020	—		—		—
Additional paid-in capital	186,769		172,297		153,966
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)	44,192		7,151		(38,989)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(96,697)		(94,807)		(133,462)
Total equity (deficit)	134,264		84,641		(18,485)
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$	1,519,675	$	1,545,816	$	1,901,795

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

3 Kontoor Brands, Inc. Q1 FY21 Form 10-Q

KONTOOR BRANDS, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)


	Three Months Ended March

(In thousands, except per share amounts)		2021		2020
Net revenues		$	651,762	$	504,498
Costs and operating expenses
Cost of goods sold		351,182		313,734
Selling, general and administrative expenses		207,404		190,928

Total costs and operating expenses		558,586		504,662
Operating income (loss)		93,176		(164)
Interest expense		(11,791)		(10,939)
Interest income		258		416
Other expense, net		(442)		(450)
Income (loss) before income taxes		81,201		(11,137)
Income taxes		16,738		(8,425)
Net income (loss)		$	64,463	$	(2,712)
Earnings (loss) per common share
Basic		$	1.12	$	(0.05)
Diluted		$	1.09	$	(0.05)
Weighted average shares outstanding
Basic		57,344		56,875
Diluted		58,902		56,875

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

Kontoor Brands, Inc. Q1 FY21 Form 10-Q 4

KONTOOR BRANDS, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

(Unaudited)


	Three Months Ended March

(In thousands)		2021		2020
Net income (loss)		$	64,463	$	(2,712)
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Net change in foreign currency translation		(7,082)		(27,210)
Net change in defined benefit pension plans		74		29
Net change in derivative financial instruments		5,118		(26,583)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of related taxes		(1,890)		(53,764)
Comprehensive income (loss)		$	62,573	$	(56,476)

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

5 Kontoor Brands, Inc. Q1 FY21 Form 10-Q

KONTOOR BRANDS, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)


	Three Months Ended March

(In thousands)	2021		2020
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income (loss)	$	64,463	$	(2,712)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash provided (used) by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	8,993		7,385
Stock-based compensation	10,426		2,466
Provision for doubtful accounts	1,386		9,339

Other	2,977		(12,600)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	5,871		(1,765)
Inventories	(11,131)		(36,566)
Accounts payable	28,604		3,664
Income taxes	6,983		(3,676)
Accrued liabilities	(191)		(15,049)
Other assets and liabilities	4		4,097
Cash provided (used) by operating activities	118,385		(45,417)
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Property, plant and equipment expenditures	(1,992)		(10,423)
Capitalized computer software	(9,568)		(8,781)

Other	(201)		(3,104)
Cash used by investing activities	(11,761)		(22,308)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Borrowings under revolving credit facility	—		512,500
Repayments under revolving credit facility	—		(37,500)
Repayments of term loans	(100,000)		—
Dividends paid	(22,964)		(31,877)
Proceeds from issuance of Common Stock, net of shares withheld for taxes	(412)		(1,855)
Other	(125)		2,566
Cash (used) provided by financing activities	(123,501)		443,834
Effect of foreign currency rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(1,719)		(3,551)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(18,596)		372,558
Cash and cash equivalents – beginning of period	248,138		106,808
Cash and cash equivalents – end of period	$	229,542	$	479,366

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

Kontoor Brands, Inc. Q1 FY21 Form 10-Q 6

KONTOOR BRANDS, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Equity (Deficit)

(Unaudited)



	Common Stock			Additional Paid-in Capital		Retained Earnings		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss		Total Equity
(In thousands, except per share amounts)	Shares	Amounts

Balance, December 2020	57,255	$	—	$	172,297	$	7,151	$	(94,807)	$	84,641
Net income	—	—		—		64,463		—		64,463
Stock-based compensation, net	259	—		14,472		(4,458)		—		10,014
Other comprehensive loss	—	—		—		—		(1,890)		(1,890)
Dividends on Common Stock ($0.40 per share)	—	—		—		(22,964)		—		(22,964)
Balance, March 2021	57,514	$	—	$	186,769	$	44,192	$	(96,697)	$	134,264


	Common Stock			Additional Paid-in Capital		Accumulated Deficit		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss		Total Equity (Deficit)

(In thousands, except per share amounts)	Shares	Amounts

Balance, December 2019	56,812	$	—	$	150,673	$	(1,718)	$	(79,698)	$	69,257
Net loss	—	—		—		(2,712)		—		(2,712)
Stock-based compensation, net	119	—		3,293		(2,682)		—		611
Other comprehensive loss	—	—		—		—		(53,764)		(53,764)
Dividends on Common Stock ($0.56 per share)	—	—		—		(31,877)		—		(31,877)
Balance, March 2020	56,931	$	—	$	153,966	$	(38,989)	$	(133,462)	$	(18,485)

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

7 Kontoor Brands, Inc. Q1 FY21 Form 10-Q

KONTOOR BRANDS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

NOTE 1 — BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Description of Business

Kontoor Brands, Inc. ("Kontoor," the "Company," "we," "us" or "our") is a global lifestyle apparel company headquartered in the United States ("U.S."). We completed a spin-off transaction from VF Corporation ("VF" or "former parent") on May 22, 2019 (the "Separation") and began to trade as a standalone public company (NYSE: KTB) on May 23, 2019.

The Company designs, produces, procures, markets and distributes apparel and footwear, primarily under the brand names Wrangler® and Lee®. The Company's products are sold in the U.S. through mass merchants, specialty stores, mid-tier and traditional department stores, company-operated stores and online. The Company's products are also sold internationally, primarily in Europe and Asia, through department, specialty, company-operated, concession retail and independently-operated partnership stores and online.

Fiscal Year

The Company operates and reports using a 52/53 week fiscal year ending on the Saturday closest to December 31 of each year. Accordingly, this Form 10-Q presents the first quarter of the Company's fiscal year ending January 1, 2022 ("fiscal 2021"), which is a 52-week fiscal year. For presentation purposes herein, all references to periods ended March 2021, December 2020 and March 2020 correspond to the fiscal periods ended April 3, 2021, January 2, 2021 and March 28, 2020, respectively.

Impact of COVID-19

The novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic continues to impact global economic conditions, as well as the Company's operations. The Company considered the impact of COVID-19 on the assumptions and estimates used when preparing these quarterly financial statements including, but not limited to, our allowance for doubtful accounts, inventory valuations, liabilities for variable consideration, deferred tax valuation allowances, fair value measurements including asset impairment evaluations, the effectiveness of the Company’s hedging instruments, and expected compliance with all applicable financial covenants in our Credit Agreement (as defined in Note 6 to the Company's financial statements). These assumptions and estimates may change as new events occur and additional information is obtained regarding the impact of COVID-19. Such future changes may have an adverse impact on the Company's results of operations, financial position and liquidity.

Basis of Presentation - Interim Financial Statements

The accompanying unaudited interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X and do not include all of the information and notes required by generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. ("GAAP") for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, the accompanying financial statements contain all normal and recurring adjustments necessary to fairly state the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company for the interim periods presented. Operating results for the three months ended March 2021 are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for any other interim period or for fiscal 2021. The unaudited financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated and combined financial statements for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2021 included in the Company's 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on March 3, 2021 ("2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K").

Reclassifications

Certain prior year amounts in the Company's financial statements and related disclosures have been reclassified to conform with the current year presentation.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standard

In December 2019, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2019-12, "Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes," which amends and simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions and providing new guidance to reduce complexity in certain aspects of the current guidance. This guidance was adopted by the Company during the first quarter of 2021 and did not impact the Company’s financial statements or related disclosures.

Recently Issued Accounting Standard

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, “Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting,” which is intended to provide temporary optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contract modifications and hedge accounting to ease the financial reporting burdens related to the expected market transition from the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) and other interbank offered rates to alternative reference rates. This guidance was effective upon issuance and the Company may adopt the guidance and apply it prospectively to contract modifications made or relationships entered into or evaluated any time from the issuance date through December 31, 2022. The Company will continue to evaluate the impact that adoption of this guidance would have on its financial statements and related disclosures, which is not expected to be significant.

Kontoor Brands, Inc. Q1 FY21 Form 10-Q 8

KONTOOR BRANDS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

NOTE 2 — REVENUES

Performance Obligations

As of March 2021, there were no arrangements with transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations other than (i) contracts for which the Company has applied the practical expedients and (ii) fixed consideration related to future minimum guarantees. For the three months ended March 2021, revenue recognized from performance obligations satisfied, or partially satisfied, in prior periods was not significant.

Contract Balances

The following table presents information about contract balances recorded in the Company's balance sheets:


(In thousands)	March 2021		December 2020		March 2020
Accounts receivable, net	$	221,031	$	231,397	$	213,080
Contract assets (a)	4,359		5,769		5,715
Contract liabilities (b)	786		787		1,690

(a) Included within "prepaid expenses and other current assets" in the Company's balance sheets.

(b) Included within "accrued liabilities" in the Company's balance sheets.

For the three months ended March 2021, revenue recognized that was included in contract liabilities as of December 2020 was not significant. For the three months ended March 2020, $1.1 million of revenue was recognized that was included in contract liabilities as of December 2019.

As of March 2021, the Company has contractual rights under its licensing agreements to receive $26.6 million of fixed consideration related to the future minimum guarantees through December 2025. The variable consideration is not disclosed as a remaining performance obligation as the licensing arrangements qualify for the sales-based royalty exemption.

Disaggregation of Revenue

The following tables present revenues disaggregated by channel and geography. Revenues from licensing arrangements have been included within the U.S. or Non-U.S. Wholesale channels, based on the respective region where the licensee sells the product. Direct-to-Consumer revenues include the distribution of our products via Wrangler® and Lee® branded full-price stores and Company-operated outlet stores globally, digital sales via www.wrangler.com and www.lee.com globally and concession retail locations internationally.

The Other channel primarily included sales of third-party branded merchandise at VF Outlet™ stores. During 2020, the Company decided to discontinue the sale of third-party branded merchandise. Sales of Wrangler® and Lee® branded products at VF Outlet™ are not included in Other and are reported in the Direct-to-Consumer channel discussed above.


	Three Months Ended March 2021

(In thousands)	Wrangler		Lee		Other		Total

Channel revenues
U.S. Wholesale	$	329,699	$	124,582	$	1,726	$	456,007
Non-U.S. Wholesale	47,577		90,800		637		139,014
Direct-to-Consumer	21,546		34,766		5		56,317
Other	—		—		424		424
Total	$	398,822	$	250,148	$	2,792	$	651,762

Geographic revenues
U.S.	$	347,879	$	138,232	$	2,155	$	488,266
International	50,943		111,916		637		163,496
Total	$	398,822	$	250,148	$	2,792	$	651,762

9 Kontoor Brands, Inc. Q1 FY21 Form 10-Q

KONTOOR BRANDS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)


	Three Months Ended March 2020

(In thousands)	Wrangler		Lee		Other		Total
Channel revenues
U.S. Wholesale	$	236,282	$	92,578	$	4,061	$	332,921
Non-U.S. Wholesale	46,937		59,853		304		107,094
Direct-to-Consumer	20,167		30,325		2		50,494
Other	—		—		13,989		13,989
Total	$	303,386	$	182,756	$	18,356	$	504,498

Geographic revenues
U.S.	$	252,584	$	107,968	$	18,052	$	378,604
International	50,802		74,788		304		125,894
Total	$	303,386	$	182,756	$	18,356	$	504,498

NOTE 3 — BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION

The Company has two reportable segments:

•Wrangler — Wrangler® branded denim, apparel and accessories.

•Lee — Lee® branded denim, apparel and accessories.

The chief operating decision maker allocates resources and assesses performance based on a global brand view which determines the Company's operating segments. Operating segments are the basis for the Company's reportable segments.

In addition, we report an "Other" category in order to reconcile segment revenues and segment profit to the Company's operating results, but the Other category is not considered a reportable segment based on evaluation of aggregation criteria. Other includes sales of third-party branded merchandise at VF Outlet™ stores and sales and licensing of Rock & Republic® branded apparel. During 2020, the Company decided to discontinue the sale of third-party branded merchandise in conjunction with our decision to exit certain VF Outlet™ stores. Sales of Wrangler® and Lee® branded products at VF Outlet™ stores are not included in Other and are reported in the respective segments discussed above.

Accounting policies utilized for internal management reporting at the individual segments are consistent with those in Note 1 to the Company's financial statements included in the Company's 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K, except as noted below.

The Company has allocated costs for certain centralized functions and programs to the Wrangler and Lee segments based on appropriate metrics such as usage or production of net revenues. These centralized functions and programs include, but are not limited to, information technology, human resources, supply chain, insurance and related benefit costs associated with those functions.

Corporate and other expenses and interest income and expense are not controlled by segment management and therefore are excluded from the measurement of segment profit.

Kontoor Brands, Inc. Q1 FY21 Form 10-Q 10

KONTOOR BRANDS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

The following table presents financial information for the Company's reportable segments and income (loss) before income taxes:


	Three Months Ended March

(In thousands)	2021		2020
Segment revenues:
Wrangler	$	398,822	$	303,386
Lee	250,148		182,756
Total reportable segment revenues	648,970		486,142
Other revenues	2,792		18,356
Total net revenues	$	651,762	$	504,498
Segment profit:
Wrangler	$	83,983	$	33,863
Lee	51,123		973
Total reportable segment profit	$	135,106	$	34,836
Corporate and other expenses	(41,551)		(33,222)
Interest expense	(11,791)		(10,939)
Interest income	258		416
Loss related to other revenues	(821)		(2,228)
Income (loss) before income taxes	$	81,201	$	(11,137)

NOTE 4 — ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The Company reviews the estimates used to calculate the allowance for doubtful accounts on a quarterly basis.

The following table presents a rollforward of the allowance for doubtful accounts:


	Three Months Ended March
(In thousands)	2021		2020

Balance, December	$	19,143	$	11,852
Provision for expected credit losses	1,386		9,339
Accounts receivable balances written off	(2,122)		(235)
Other (1)	(735)		(823)
Balance, March	$	17,672	$	20,133

(1) Other primarily includes the impact of foreign currency translation and recoveries of amounts previously written off, neither of which were individually significant.

Sale of Trade Accounts Receivable

On April 1, 2019, the Company entered into an agreement with a financial institution to sell selected trade accounts receivable on a nonrecourse basis. Under this agreement, up to $377.5 million of the Company’s trade accounts receivable may be sold to the financial institution and remain outstanding at any point in time. The Company removes the sold balances from "accounts receivable, net" in its balance sheet at the time of sale. The Company does not retain any interests in the sold trade accounts receivable but continues to service and collect outstanding trade accounts receivable on behalf of the financial institution.

During the three months ended March 2021 and March 2020, the Company sold total trade accounts receivable of $370.5 million and $220.5 million, respectively. As of March 2021, December 2020 and March 2020, $242.1 million, $127.1 million and $164.4 million, respectively, of the sold trade accounts receivable had been removed from the Company's balance sheets but remained outstanding with the financial institution.

The funding fees charged by the financial institution for this program are reflected in the Company's statements of operations within "other expense, net" and were $0.6 million for the three months ended March 2021 and $0.8 million for the three months ended March 2020, respectively. Net proceeds of these programs are reflected as operating activities in the Company's statements of cash flows.

11 Kontoor Brands, Inc. Q1 FY21 Form 10-Q

KONTOOR BRANDS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

NOTE 5 — INVENTORIES

The following table presents components of inventories recorded in the Company's balance sheets:


(In thousands)	March 2021		December 2020		March 2020
Finished products	$	291,972	$	277,164	$	430,719
Work-in-process	29,104		29,921		24,176
Raw materials	29,075		33,647		33,855
Total inventories	$	350,151	$	340,732	$	488,750

NOTE 6 — SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS AND LONG-TERM DEBT

Credit Facilities

On May 17, 2019, the Company entered into a $1.55 billion senior secured credit facility (the "Credit Agreement") under which it incurred $1.05 billion of indebtedness, the proceeds of which were used primarily to finance a cash transfer to VF in connection with the Separation. At inception, this facility consisted of a five-year $750.0 million term loan A facility (“Term Loan A”), a seven-year $300.0 million term loan B facility (“Term Loan B”) and a five-year $500.0 million revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”) (collectively, the “Credit Facilities”) with the lenders and agents party thereto.

The Credit Agreement contains certain affirmative and negative covenants customary for financings of this type, including maintenance of ratios as defined in the Credit Agreement for consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") to consolidated debt (the "Total Leverage Ratio") of 4.00 to 1.00 and EBITDA to consolidated interest expense (the "Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio") of 3.00 to 1.00, both as measured over the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters. In addition, beginning with the fiscal year ended December 2020, the Company is subject to additional mandatory repayments on Term Loan B if excess cash flow, as defined in the Credit Agreement, exceeds a specified threshold. Based on the fiscal 2020 calculation, no additional repayments were required under this excess cash flow provision.

On May 5, 2020, given the uncertainties of COVID-19 and the associated impact on future results of operations, the Company entered into an amendment to the Credit Agreement (the “Amendment”) to address potential financial covenant compliance issues during future reporting periods. The Amendment established a temporary relief period for the Company (the "Relief Period") for certain provisions regarding financial covenants. Effective February 26, 2021, the Company provided written notification to the administrative agent that it had terminated the temporary Relief Period, thus reverting to the original terms under the Credit Agreement prior to the Amendment.

Short-term Borrowings

At both March 2021 and December 2020, the Company had $35.9 million, and at March 2020 the Company had $46.4 million, of availability under international lines of credit with various banks, which are uncommitted and may be terminated at any time by either the Company or the banks. Short-term borrowings outstanding under these arrangements were $0.1 million, $0.2 million and $3.5 million at March 2021, December 2020 and March 2020, respectively, and primarily consist of letters of credit that are non-interest bearing to the Company. In addition, short-term borrowings at both March 2021 and December 2020 included other debt of $0.9 million.

Kontoor Brands, Inc. Q1 FY21 Form 10-Q 12

KONTOOR BRANDS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

Long-term Debt

The following table presents the components of long-term debt as recorded in the Company's balance sheet:


(In thousands)	March 2021		December 2020		March 2020
Revolving Credit Facility	$	—	$	—	$	475,000
Term Loan A	684,741		694,241		695,389
Term Loan B	130,564		218,716		218,347
Total long-term debt	815,305		912,957		1,388,736
Less: current portion	(24,375)		(25,000)		—
Long-term debt, due beyond one year	$	790,930	$	887,957	$	1,388,736

The Revolving Credit Facility may be used to borrow funds in both U.S. dollar and certain non-U.S. dollar currencies, and has a $75.0 million letter of credit sublimit. As of March 2021, the Company had no outstanding borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility and $6.8 million of outstanding standby letters of credit issued on behalf of the Company, leaving $493.2 million available for borrowing against this facility.

The interest rate per annum applicable to the Revolving Credit Facility and Term Loan A is either a base rate plus a margin or the applicable LIBOR rate plus a margin, at the Company's election. The applicable margins and facility fee are subject to adjustments based on the Company's credit ratings and Total Leverage Ratio. The applicable margin varies from 37.5 to 125 basis points for base rate loans and from 137.5 to 225 basis points for LIBOR loans. The Company is also required to pay a facility fee to the lenders, varying from 20 to 40 basis points of the undrawn amount of the facility.

Additionally, the interest rate per annum applicable to Term Loan B is either a base rate plus a margin of 325 basis points or the applicable LIBOR rate plus a margin of 425 basis points, at the Company's election.

The LIBOR rate for all loans under the Credit Facility is subject to a "floor" of 0%. Interest payments on all loans under the Credit Facility are due at least quarterly, and could be due more frequently based on the Company's interest rate elections.

Term Loan A had an outstanding principal amount of $690.0 million at March 2021, and $700.0 million at December 2020 and March 2020, which is recorded net of unamortized deferred financing costs. As of March 2021, interest expense on Term Loan A was being recorded at an effective annual interest rate of 3.1%, including the remaining amortization of deferred financing costs and the impact of the Company’s interest rate swap agreements.

Term Loan B had an outstanding principal amount of $133.0 million at March 2021 and $223.0 million at both December 2020 and March 2020, which is recorded net of unamortized original issue discount and deferred financing costs. As of March 2021, interest expense on Term Loan B was being recorded at an effective annual interest rate of 5.5%, including the remaining amortization of original issue discount, deferred financing costs and the impact of the Company’s interest rate swap agreements.

In addition, during the three months ended March 2021, the Company recorded interest expense of $1.7 million due to accelerated amortization of original issue discount and debt issuance costs associated with early repayments on term loans under our Credit Facilities.

NOTE 7 — FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Certain assets and liabilities measured and reported at fair value are classified in a three-level hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used in the valuation process. Categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The hierarchy is based on the observability and objectivity of the pricing inputs, as follows:

•Level 1 — Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

•Level 2 — Significant directly observable data (other than Level 1 quoted prices) or significant indirectly observable data through corroboration with observable market data. Inputs would normally be (i) quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, (ii) quoted prices in inactive markets for identical or similar assets or liabilities or (iii) information derived from or corroborated by observable market data.

•Level 3 — Prices or valuation techniques that require significant unobservable data inputs. These inputs would normally be the Company's own data and judgments about assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.

13 Kontoor Brands, Inc. Q1 FY21 Form 10-Q

KONTOOR BRANDS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

Recurring Fair Value Measurements

The following tables present financial assets and financial liabilities that are measured and recorded in the Company's financial statements at fair value on a recurring basis:


			Fair Value Measurement Using
(In thousands)	Total Fair Value		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3

March 2021
Financial assets:
Cash equivalents:
Money market funds	$	146,018	$	146,018	$	—	$	—
Time deposits	3,650		3,650		—		—
Foreign currency exchange contracts	6,814		—		6,814		—

Investment securities	58,080		58,080		—		—
Financial liabilities:
Foreign currency exchange contracts	4,662		—		4,662		—
Interest rate swap agreements	12,710		—		12,710		—
Deferred compensation	59,255		—		59,255		—


			Fair Value Measurement Using
(In thousands)	Total Fair Value		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
December 2020
Financial assets:
Cash equivalents:
Money market funds	$	165,751	$	165,751	$	—	$	—
Time deposits	4,978		4,978		—		—
Foreign currency exchange contracts	7,531		—		7,531		—

Investment securities	57,166		57,166		—		—
Financial liabilities:
Foreign currency exchange contracts	8,794		—		8,794		—
Interest rate swap agreements	16,309		—		16,309		—
Deferred compensation	58,035		—		58,035		—

The Company's cash equivalents include money market funds and short-term time deposits that approximate fair value based on Level 1 measurements. The fair value of derivative financial instruments, which consist of foreign currency exchange contracts and interest rate swap agreements, is determined based on observable market inputs (Level 2), including spot and forward exchange rates for foreign currencies and observable interest rate yield curves for interest rate swap agreements. Investment securities are held in the Company's deferred compensation plans as an economic hedge of the related deferred compensation liabilities. As of March 2021, these investments are comprised of mutual funds that are valued based on quoted prices in active markets (Level 1). Liabilities related to the Company's deferred compensation plans are recorded at amounts due to participants, based on the fair value of the participants’ selection of hypothetical investments (Level 2).

Additionally, at March 2021, the carrying value of the Company's long-term debt was $815.3 million compared to a fair value of $814.0 million. At December 2020, the carrying value of the Company's long-term debt was $913.0 million compared to a fair value of $916.0 million. The fair value of long-term debt is a Level 2 estimate based on quoted market prices or values of comparable borrowings.

All other financial assets and financial liabilities are recorded in the Company's financial statements at cost. These other financial assets and financial liabilities include cash held as demand deposits, accounts receivable, short-term borrowings, accounts payable, and accrued liabilities. At March 2021 and December 2020, their carrying values approximated fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments.

Kontoor Brands, Inc. Q1 FY21 Form 10-Q 14

KONTOOR BRANDS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurements

Certain non-financial assets, primarily property, plant and equipment, capitalized computer software, operating lease assets and goodwill and intangible assets, are not required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis and are reported at carrying value. However, these assets are required to be assessed for impairment when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable, and at least annually for goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets. In the event that an impairment is required, the asset is adjusted to fair value, using market-based assumptions.

NOTE 8 — DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

Summary of Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company enters into derivative contracts with external counterparties to hedge certain foreign currency transactions. The notional amount of all outstanding foreign currency exchange contracts was $304.3 million at March 2021, $295.0 million at December 2020 and $318.0 million at March 2020, consisting primarily of contracts hedging exposures to the euro, Mexican peso, Canadian dollar, British pound, Polish zloty, Swedish krona, and Indian rupee. Foreign currency exchange contracts have maturities up to 20 months.

The Company entered into "floating to fixed" derivative agreements to mitigate exposure to volatility in LIBOR rates on the Company's future interest payments. The notional amount of the interest rate swap agreements was $350.0 million at March 2021 and $400.0 million at both December 2020 and March 2020. Because these interest rate swap agreements meet the criteria for hedge accounting, all related gains and losses are deferred within accumulated other comprehensive loss ("AOCL") and are being amortized through April 18, 2024.

The Company's outstanding derivative financial instruments met the criteria for hedge accounting at the inception of the hedging relationship. At each reporting period, the Company assesses whether the hedging relationships continue to be highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flows of hedged items. If the Company determines that the hedging relationship has ceased to be highly effective, it would discontinue hedge accounting. All designated hedging relationships were determined to be highly effective as of March 2021. A limited number of foreign currency exchange contracts intended to hedge assets and liabilities are not designated as hedges for accounting purposes.

The following table presents the fair value of outstanding derivatives on an individual contract basis:


	Fair Value of Derivatives with Unrealized Gains						Fair Value of Derivatives with Unrealized Losses

(In thousands)	March 2021		December 2020		March 2020		March 2021		December 2020		March 2020

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Foreign currency exchange contracts	$	6,593	$	7,179	$	5,717	$	(4,659)	$	(8,640)	$	(14,603)
Interest rate swap agreements	—		—		—		(12,710)		(16,309)		(17,528)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Foreign currency exchange contracts	221		352		1,271		(3)		(154)		(477)
Total derivatives	$	6,814	$	7,531	$	6,988	$	(17,372)	$	(25,103)	$	(32,608)

The Company records and presents the fair value of all derivative assets and liabilities in the Company's balance sheets on a gross basis, even though certain of the derivative contracts are subject to master netting agreements. If the Company were to offset and record the asset and liability balances of its derivative contracts on a net basis in accordance with the terms of its master netting agreements, the amounts presented in the Company's balance sheets would be adjusted from the current gross presentation to the net amounts.

15 Kontoor Brands, Inc. Q1 FY21 Form 10-Q

KONTOOR BRANDS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

The following table presents a reconciliation of gross to net amounts for derivative asset and liability balances:


	March 2021				December 2020				March 2020

(In thousands)	Derivative Asset		Derivative Liability		Derivative Asset		Derivative Liability		Derivative Asset		Derivative Liability
Gross amounts presented in the balance sheet	$	6,814	$	(17,372)	$	7,531	$	(25,103)	$	6,988	$	(32,608)
Gross amounts not offset in the balance sheet	(2,355)		2,355		(1,818)		1,818		(2,970)		2,970
Net amounts	$	4,459	$	(15,017)	$	5,713	$	(23,285)	$	4,018	$	(29,638)

The following table presents the location of derivatives in the Company's balance sheets, with current or noncurrent classification based on maturity dates:


(In thousands)	March 2021		December 2020		March 2020
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	5,830	$	5,773	$	5,217
Accrued liabilities	(4,065)		(7,166)		(10,256)
Other assets	984		1,758		1,771
Other liabilities	(13,307)		(17,937)		(22,352)

Cash Flow Hedges

The following tables present the pre-tax effects of cash flow hedges included in the Company's statements of operations and statements of comprehensive income (loss):


	Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in AOCL
(In thousands)	Three Months Ended

Cash Flow Hedging Relationships		March 2021		March 2020
Foreign currency exchange contracts		$	1,546	$	(10,906)
Interest rate swap agreements		2,086		(14,670)
Total		$	3,632	$	(25,576)


	Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCL into Income
(In thousands)	Three Months Ended

Location of Gain (Loss)		March 2021		March 2020
Net revenues		$	75	$	(358)
Cost of goods sold		(1,405)		3,741
Other expense, net		(134)		(4)
Interest expense		(1,513)		(231)
Total		$	(2,977)	$	3,148

Derivative Contracts Not Designated as Hedges

Contracts that are not designated as hedges and are recorded at fair value in the Company's balance sheets primarily relate to derivatives contracts used by the Company to manage foreign currency exchange risk on certain accounts receivable and accounts payable. Gains or losses on the balance sheet contracts largely offset the net transaction gains or losses on the related assets and liabilities. In addition, a limited number of cash flow hedges are deemed ineffective and de-designated. Changes in the fair values of derivative contracts not designated as hedges are recognized directly in earnings.

Kontoor Brands, Inc. Q1 FY21 Form 10-Q 16

KONTOOR BRANDS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

The following table presents a summary of these derivatives included in the Company's statements of operations:


(In thousands)	Location of Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income	Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income
		Three Months Ended

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedges			March 2021		March 2020
Foreign currency exchange contracts	Net revenues		$	(81)	$	4
	Cost of goods sold		(123)		(3,672)
	Other expense, net		209		23
Total			$	5	$	(3,645)

Other Derivative Information

There were no significant amounts recognized in earnings for any hedging relationships deemed ineffective during the three months ended March 2021 and March 2020.

At March 2021, AOCL included $5.1 million of pre-tax net deferred losses for foreign currency exchange contracts and interest rate swap agreements that are expected to be reclassified to earnings during the next 12 fiscal months. The amounts ultimately reclassified to earnings will depend on rates in effect when outstanding derivative contracts are settled.

NOTE 9 — ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

The Company's comprehensive income (loss) consists of net income (loss) and specified components of other comprehensive income (loss) (“OCL”), which relate to changes in assets and liabilities that are not included in net income (loss) but are instead deferred and accumulated within a separate component of equity in the Company's balance sheets. The Company's comprehensive income (loss) is presented in the Company's statements of comprehensive income (loss).

The following table presents deferred components of AOCL in equity, net of related taxes:


(In thousands)	March 2021		December 2020		March 2020
Foreign currency translation	$	(87,260)	$	(80,178)	$	(111,328)
Defined benefit pension plans	(1,815)		(1,889)		(2,272)
Derivative financial instruments	(7,622)		(12,740)		(19,862)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$	(96,697)	$	(94,807)	$	(133,462)

The following tables present changes in AOCL, net of related tax impact:


	Three Months Ended March 2021
	Foreign Currency Translation		Defined Benefit Pension Plans		Derivative Financial Instruments
(In thousands)							Total

Balance, December 2020	$	(80,178)	$	(1,889)	$	(12,740)	$	(94,807)
Other comprehensive income (loss) due to gains (losses) arising before reclassifications	(7,082)		—		2,850		(4,232)
Reclassifications to net income (loss) of previously deferred (gains) losses	—		74		2,268		2,342
Net other comprehensive income (loss)	(7,082)		74		5,118		(1,890)
Balance, March 2021	$	(87,260)	$	(1,815)	$	(7,622)	$	(96,697)

17 Kontoor Brands, Inc. Q1 FY21 Form 10-Q

KONTOOR BRANDS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)


	Three Months Ended March 2020
	Foreign Currency Translation		Defined Benefit Pension Plans		Derivative Financial Instruments
(In thousands)							Total
Balance, December 2019	$	(84,118)	$	(2,301)	$	6,721	$	(79,698)
Other comprehensive income (loss) due to gains (losses) arising before reclassifications	(27,210)		—		(23,655)		(50,865)
Reclassifications to net income (loss) of previously deferred (gains) losses	—		29		(2,928)		(2,899)
Net other comprehensive income (loss)	(27,210)		29		(26,583)		(53,764)
Balance, March 2020	$	(111,328)	$	(2,272)	$	(19,862)	$	(133,462)

The following table presents reclassifications out of AOCL:


(In thousands)		Three Months Ended March

Details About Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Reclassifications	Affected Line Item in the Financial Statements

			2021		2020
Defined benefit pension plans:
Net change in deferred losses during the period	Selling, general and administrative expenses		$	(99)	$	(38)
Total before tax			(99)		(38)
Income taxes	Income taxes		25		9
Net of tax			(74)		(29)
Gains (losses) on derivative financial instruments:
Foreign currency exchange contracts	Net revenues		$	75	$	(358)
Foreign currency exchange contracts	Cost of goods sold		(1,405)		3,741

Foreign currency exchange contracts	Other expense, net		(134)		(4)
Interest rate swap agreements	Interest expense		(1,513)		(231)
Total before tax			(2,977)		3,148
Income taxes	Income taxes		709		(220)
Net of tax			(2,268)		2,928
Total reclassifications for the period, net of tax			$	(2,342)	$	2,899

NOTE 10 — STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

During the three months ended March 2021, the Company granted equity awards under the Kontoor Brands, Inc. 2019 Stock Compensation Plan, including approximately 200,000 shares of performance-based restricted stock units ("PRSUs”) to employees, approximately 160,000 shares of time-based restricted stock units ("RSUs") to employees, and approximately 20,000 shares of RSUs to nonemployee members of the Board of Directors. The fair market value of Kontoor Common Stock at the date the awards were granted was $48.74 per share.

Each PRSU entitles the employee to receive a potential final payout ranging from zero to two shares of Kontoor Common Stock at the end of a three-year performance period. The number of shares earned by participants, if any, is based on achievement of annually established performance goals set by the Talent and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. Shares earned related to the 2021 grants will be issued to participants following the conclusion of the three-year performance period. Each employee RSU entitles the holder to one share of Kontoor Common Stock and typically vests over a three-year period.

Each RSU granted to a nonemployee member of the Board of Directors vests upon grant and will be settled in one share of Kontoor Common Stock one year from the date of grant.

Kontoor Brands, Inc. Q1 FY21 Form 10-Q 18

KONTOOR BRANDS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

NOTE 11 — INCOME TAXES

The effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 2021 was 20.6% compared to 75.6% in the 2020 period. Discrete tax items had no net impact on the effective tax rate for the three months ended March 2021.

The three months ended March 2020 included a net discrete tax benefit of $7.7 million, primarily comprised of $6.3 million of tax benefit recognized due to the enactment of Swiss tax reform in the canton of Ticino and $0.9 million of tax benefit related to state tax return filings. The $7.7 million net discrete tax benefit in the three months ended March 2020 increased the effective income tax rate by 69.3%.

The effective income tax rate without discrete items for the three months ended March 2021 was 20.6% compared to 6.3% in the 2020 period. The increase was primarily due to changes in our jurisdictional mix of earnings and the relative impact of losses incurred for which no related tax benefit was recognized.

The Company ﬁles a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return, as well as separate and combined income tax returns in numerous state and international jurisdictions. In the U.S., the Company’s 2019 tax year remains open and is subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. In addition, the Company is currently subject to examination by various state and international tax authorities. Management regularly assesses the potential outcomes of both ongoing and future examinations for the current and prior years and has concluded that the Company's provision for income taxes is adequate. The outcome of any one examination is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

During the three months ended March 2021, the amount of net unrecognized tax benefits and associated interest increased by $0.3 million to $13.7 million. Management also believes that it is reasonably possible that the amount of unrecognized tax benefits may decrease by $0.6 million within the next 12 fiscal months due to settlements of audits and expiration of statutes of limitations, all of which would reduce income tax expense.

NOTE 12 — EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE

The calculations of basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share ("EPS") is based on net income (loss) divided by the basic weighted average number of common shares and diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding, respectively.

The following table presents the calculations of basic and diluted EPS:


	Three Months Ended March

(In thousands, except per share amounts)	2021		2020
Net income (loss)	$	64,463	$	(2,712)
Basic weighted average shares outstanding	57,344		56,875
Dilutive effect of stock-based awards	1,558		—
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding	58,902		56,875
Earnings (loss) per share:
Basic earnings (loss) per common share	$	1.12	$	(0.05)
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share	$	1.09	$	(0.05)

For the three months ended March 2021, there were no anti-dilutive shares. For the three months ended March 2020, all of the 1.1 million potentially dilutive shares were excluded from the diluted loss per share calculation because the Company incurred a net loss for the period.

For the three months ended March 2021 and March 2020, a total of 0.2 million and 0.3 million shares, respectively, of PRSUs were excluded from the calculations of potential dilutive earnings per share as the units were not considered to be contingent outstanding shares.

19 Kontoor Brands, Inc. Q1 FY21 Form 10-Q

KONTOOR BRANDS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

NOTE 13 — LEASES

The Company enters into operating leases for retail stores, operational facilities, vehicles and certain equipment, with terms expiring at various dates through 2031. Most leases have fixed rentals, with many of the real estate leases requiring additional payments for real estate taxes and occupancy-related costs.

The following table presents supplemental cash flow and non-cash information related to leases:


	Three Months Ended March

(In thousands)	2021		2020
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities - operating cash flows	$	9,814	$	11,556
Right-of-use operating assets obtained in exchange for new operating leases - non-cash activity	$	758	$	253

NOTE 14 — RESTRUCTURING

The Company generally incurs restructuring charges related to cost optimization of business activities, primarily related to severance and employee-related benefits. Of the $0.7 million of restructuring charges recognized during the three months ended March 2021, all were reflected within "selling, general and administrative expenses," and primarily related to previously approved initiatives. Of the $5.8 million of restructuring charges recognized during the three months ended March 2020, $5.3 million were reflected within "selling, general and administrative expenses" and $0.5 million were reflected within "cost of goods sold."

Of the $4.3 million total restructuring accrual reported in the Company's balance sheet at March 2021, $4.1 million is expected to be paid out within the next 12 fiscal months and is classified within "accrued liabilities." The remaining $0.2 million is classified within "other liabilities." Of the $6.7 million total restructuring accrual reported in the Company's balance sheet at December 2020, $6.5 million was expected to be paid out within the next 12 fiscal months and was classified within "accrued liabilities." The remaining $0.2 million was classified within "other liabilities."

The following table presents the components of restructuring charges:


	Three Months Ended
(In thousands)
	March 2021		March 2020
Severance and employee-related benefits	$	719	$	5,795



Total restructuring charges	$	719	$	5,795

The following table presents the restructuring costs by business segment:


	Three Months Ended
(In thousands)
	March 2021		March 2020
Wrangler	$	183	$	3,178
Lee	183		2,617
Corporate and other	353		—

Total	$	719	$	5,795

The following table presents activity in the restructuring accrual for the three-month period ended March 2021:


(In thousands)	Total

Accrual at December 2020	$	6,741
Charges	719
Cash payments	(3,215)
Adjustments to accruals	57
Accrual at March 2021	$	4,302

Kontoor Brands, Inc. Q1 FY21 Form 10-Q 20

KONTOOR BRANDS, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

NOTE 15 — SUBSEQUENT EVENT

Dividend

On April 20, 2021, the Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.40 per share of the Company's Common Stock. The cash dividend will be payable on June 18, 2021, to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 8, 2021.

21 Kontoor Brands, Inc. Q1 FY21 Form 10-Q


ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Description of Business

The Company designs, produces, procures, markets and distributes apparel and footwear primarily under the brand names Wrangler® and Lee®. The Company's products are sold in the U.S. through mass merchants, specialty stores, mid-tier and traditional department stores, company-operated stores and online. The Company's products are also sold internationally, primarily in the Europe, Middle East and Africa ("EMEA") and Asia-Pacific ("APAC") regions, through department, specialty, company-operated, concession retail and independently-operated partnership stores and online.

Fiscal Year and Basis of Presentation

References to fiscal 2021 foreign currency amounts herein reflect the changes in foreign exchange rates from fiscal 2020 and the corresponding impact on translating foreign currencies into U.S. dollars and on foreign currency-denominated transactions. The Company's most significant foreign currency translation exposure is typically driven by business conducted in euro-based countries, the Chinese yuan and the Mexican peso. However, the Company conducts business in other developed and emerging markets around the world with exposure to other foreign currencies.

Amounts herein may not recalculate due to the use of unrounded numbers.

Impact of COVID-19

The novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic continues to impact global economic conditions, as well as the Company's operations. The pandemic has resulted in a global economic slowdown which had a meaningful negative impact on our financial condition, cash flows and results of operations during 2020 and thus has a significant impact on the comparisons to 2021.

Net revenues and profits across all our segments and geographies decreased significantly due to the impact of COVID-19, beginning late January 2020 in China and mid-March 2020 in the U.S. and Europe, as customer retail and owned door closures and governmental stay-at-home orders increased. These negative impacts on operating results continued into the second and third quarters of 2020. We began to see gradual improvement during the third and fourth quarters of 2020, reflecting positive trends in our digital wholesale business and owned e-commerce sites as consumer spending continued to shift towards digital shopping experiences due to the impact of COVID-19. We also saw positive trends in demand in most markets resulting from fewer customer store closures and increased retail store traffic in the second half of 2020. These positive trends continued into the first quarter of 2021.

The Company took timely actions in 2020 to strengthen our financial flexibility and preserve adequate liquidity during this uncertain economic situation, which included draws on the Revolving Credit Facility, an amendment to the Credit Agreement providing a temporary Relief Period (as discussed in Note 6 to the Company's financial statements in this Form 10-Q), temporary suspension of the payment of a dividend, and other actions to reduce operating costs, capital expenditures and payroll costs. Due to our improving financial performance and cash flows, we were able to reverse many of these actions by the end of the fourth quarter of 2020. During the first quarter of 2021, the Company provided written notification to the administrative agent that it had terminated the temporary Relief Period, thus reverting to the original terms under the Credit Agreement prior to the amendment. However, we continue to maintain the disciplined cost control and other financial benefits from our proactive actions.

The Company’s offices have reopened where permitted by local restrictions and deemed appropriate by management, but many associates continue to work remotely. The Company’s manufacturing plants and distribution centers around the world are currently operating and fulfilling wholesale and direct-to-consumer orders. Additionally, we have experienced retail store closures and reduced traffic in various countries throughout the pandemic, continuing into the first quarter of 2021. Because a significant portion of the Company’s sourced finished products originate from various countries that have been impacted by the pandemic, we continue to diligently monitor developments and work with these long-standing partners to prioritize production to best align with demand. Although we have not experienced significant service disruptions to customers, we have experienced some delays in product availability and continue to work to minimize any impact to our customers.

Our top priority remains the health and safety of our employees and consumers, and we continue to implement and monitor safety protocols and health precautions as we reopen and operate our facilities.

The ultimate economic impact of the pandemic remains fluid. The recent resurgence of COVID-19 cases in various parts of the world, including some of our key markets in Europe, has caused the re-implementation of government restrictions, including the temporary

Kontoor Brands, Inc. Q1 FY21 Form 10-Q 22

closure of businesses deemed "non-essential," to prevent further spread of the virus. As the timing and availability of vaccines will be different around the world, we believe the pace of the recovery will vary by geography depending on both vaccine distribution and other macroeconomic factors. The Company anticipates, and continues to take necessary, proactive steps to accommodate, a prolonged COVID-19 operating environment.

Business Overview

We have undergone transformational change to improve operational performance, address internal and external factors and set the stage for long-term profitable growth. We have launched significant initiatives to refine a global go-to-market approach that will sustain our long-term commitment to total shareholder return, some of which were accelerated due to the COVID-19 environment.

During 2020, we continued to implement proactive strategic programs to improve quality-of-sales, including two key initiatives related to our India and VF Outlet™ businesses. We decided to transition our India business to a licensed model and are in process of implementing this change in 2021. Additionally, we performed a strategic review of the VF Outlet™ store fleet. Based on our assessment of store productivity, we chose to exit approximately 40 of our VF Outlet™ stores, convert all remaining locations to Lee Wrangler outlets and clearance centers and discontinue the sale of third-party branded merchandise. Our remaining stores only carry Wrangler® and Lee® branded products.

Additionally, we have made significant investments to support the design and implementation of a global enterprise resource planning ("ERP") implementation and information technology infrastructure build-out that are continuing into 2021. As expected, due to the timing of the Company's North American ERP implementation, many customers elected to shift the timing of certain shipments from the second quarter to the first quarter of 2021.


FIRST QUARTER OF FISCAL 2021 SUMMARY

•Net revenues increased 29% to $651.8 million compared to the three months ended March 2020, driven by growth in all channels as discussed below.

•U.S. Wholesale revenues increased 37% compared to the three months ended March 2020, due to an expected shift in the timing of shipments from the second quarter to the first quarter of 2021 as discussed above, growth in our U.S. digital wholesale business, new business growth and the less significant impact of COVID-19 compared with the prior year period. U.S. Wholesale revenues represented 70% of total revenues in the current period.

•Non-U.S. Wholesale revenues increased 30% compared to the three months ended March 2020, primarily due to the less significant impact of COVID-19 compared with the prior year period and growth in the EMEA digital wholesale business. These increases were partially offset by the transition of our India business to a licensed model. Non-U.S. wholesale revenues included an 8% favorable impact from foreign currency and represented 21% of total revenues in the current period.

•Direct-to-Consumer revenues increased 12% on a global basis compared to the three months ended March 2020, primarily due to growth in the digital business through our owned e-commerce sites, partially offset by lower retail sales in the current year resulting from the Company's decision to exit certain VF Outlet™ stores in the fourth quarter of 2020. Direct-to-Consumer revenues included a 3% favorable impact from foreign currency and represented 9% of total revenues in the current period.

•Gross margin increased 830 basis points to 46.1% compared to the three months ended March 2020, primarily driven by favorable customer, product and channel mix, lower provisions for inventory losses in the current year, and benefits from product cost.

•Selling, general & administrative expenses as a percentage of net revenues decreased to 31.8% compared to 37.8% for the 2020 period, primarily due to benefits from the Company's decision to exit certain underperforming VF Outlet™ stores in the fourth quarter of 2020, leverage of fixed costs on higher revenues, disciplined cost control and lower bad debt expense in the current year. These benefits were partially offset by increased costs related to the Company's global ERP implementation and information technology infrastructure build-out and increases in demand creation spending.

•Net income was $64.5 million compared to a net loss of $2.7 million for the three months ended March 2020, primarily due to the business results discussed above.

23 Kontoor Brands, Inc. Q1 FY21 Form 10-Q


ANALYSIS OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS


Consolidated Statements of Operations

The following table presents a summary of the changes in net revenues for the three months ended March 2021 as compared to March 2020:


(In millions)	Three Months Ended March

Net revenues — 2020	$	504.5
Operations	136.6
Impact of foreign currency	10.7
Net revenues — 2021	$	651.8

Three Months Ended March 2021 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 2020

Net revenues increased 29% due to growth in the Wrangler and Lee segments, partially offset by declines in the Other category. This revenue increase was attributable to an expected shift in the timing of shipments from the second quarter to the first quarter of 2021 in our North American region, growth in our U.S. and EMEA digital wholesale businesses, new business growth in the U.S. and the less significant impact of COVID-19 compared with the prior year period. These increases were partially offset by lower retail sales in the current year resulting from the Company's decision to exit certain VF Outlet™ stores and the transition of our India business to a licensed model.

Additional details on revenues are provided in the section titled “information by business segment.”

The following table presents components of the Company's statements of operations as a percentage of total net revenues:


	Three Months Ended March

(Dollars in thousands)		2021			2020
Net revenues		$	651,762		$	504,498
Gross margin (net revenues less cost of goods sold)		$	300,580		$	190,764
As a percentage of total net revenues		46.1		%	37.8		%
Selling, general and administrative expenses		$	207,404		$	190,928
As a percentage of total net revenues		31.8		%	37.8		%
Operating income (loss)		$	93,176		$	(164)
As a percentage of total net revenues		14.3		%	—		%

Three Months Ended March 2021 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 2020

Gross margin increased 830 basis points primarily driven by an approximate 460 basis point benefit from customer, product and channel mix. The remaining increase was due to lower provisions for inventory losses and benefits from product cost.

Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net revenues decreased to 31.8% compared to 37.8% for the 2020 period, primarily due to benefits from the Company's decision to exit certain underperforming VF Outlet™ stores, leverage of fixed costs on higher revenues, disciplined cost control and lower bad debt expense in the current year. These benefits were partially offset by approximately 100 basis points of higher costs in the current period related to the Company's global ERP implementation and information technology infrastructure build-out, in addition to increases in demand creation spending.

The effective income tax rate was 20.6% for the three months ended March 2021 compared to 75.6% in the 2020 period. Discrete tax items had no net impact on the effective tax rate for the three months ended March 2021.

Kontoor Brands, Inc. Q1 FY21 Form 10-Q 24


Information by Business Segment

Management at each of the brands has direct control over and responsibility for the corresponding net revenues and operating income, hereinafter termed "segment revenues" and "segment profit," respectively. Our management evaluates operating performance and makes investment and other decisions based on segment revenues and segment profit. Common costs for certain centralized functions are allocated to the segments as discussed in Note 3 to the Company's financial statements in this Form 10-Q.

The following tables present a summary of the changes in segment revenues and segment profit for the three months ended March 2021 as compared to the three months ended March 2020:

Segment Revenues:


	Three Months Ended March
(In millions)	Wrangler		Lee		Total
Segment revenues — 2020	$	303.4	$	182.8	$	486.1
Operations	92.0		60.1		152.2
Impact of foreign currency	3.4		7.2		10.6
Segment revenues — 2021	$	398.8	$	250.1	$	649.0

Segment Profit:


	Three Months Ended March
(In millions)	Wrangler		Lee		Total
Segment profit — 2020	$	33.9	$	1.0	$	34.8
Operations	49.9		48.2		98.2
Impact of foreign currency	0.2		1.9		2.1
Segment profit — 2021	$	84.0	$	51.1	$	135.1

25 Kontoor Brands, Inc. Q1 FY21 Form 10-Q

The following sections discuss the changes in segment revenues and segment profit.

Wrangler


	Three Months Ended March

(Dollars in millions)		2021			2020			Percent Change
Segment revenues		$	398.8		$	303.4		31.4	%
Segment profit		$	84.0		$	33.9		147.8	%
Operating margin		21.1		%	11.2		%

Three Months Ended March 2021 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 2020

Global revenues for the Wrangler® brand increased 31%, primarily driven by growth in our U.S. Wholesale channel.

•Revenues in the Americas region increased 38%, primarily due to a 40% increase in U.S. Wholesale revenues. Increases in the U.S. Wholesale channel were driven by an expected shift in the timing of shipments from the second quarter to the first quarter of 2021, strength in our core U.S. wholesale and Western businesses, the less significant impact of COVID-19 compared with the prior year period and growth in the U.S. digital wholesale business and our owned e-commerce sites. Non-U.S. Americas wholesale revenues increased 41%, primarily due to the less significant impact of COVID-19 compared with the prior year period and a 6% favorable impact from foreign currency.

•Revenues in the APAC region decreased 54%. The decrease was primarily in India, driven by our transition to a licensed model.

•Revenues in the EMEA region decreased 4%, primarily driven by lower wholesale revenues and lower sales in company-operated retail stores due to the continued impact of COVID-19 in the region. These decreases were partially offset by an 8% favorable impact from foreign currency and growth in the digital wholesale business.

Operating margin increased to 21.1% compared to 11.2% for the 2020 period primarily driven by favorable customer, product and channel mix, leverage of fixed costs on higher revenues, disciplined cost control, lower provisions for inventory losses in the current year, benefits from product cost, benefits from the Company's decision to exit certain underperforming VF Outlet™ stores and lower bad debt expense. During the three months ended March 2021, operating margin was negatively impacted by 60 basis points due to restructuring and Separation costs. During the three months ended March 2020, operating margin was negatively impacted by 150 basis points due to restructuring costs, Separation costs and business model changes.

Kontoor Brands, Inc. Q1 FY21 Form 10-Q 26

Lee


	Three Months Ended March

(Dollars in millions)		2021			2020			Percent Change
Segment revenues		$	250.1		$	182.8		36.8	%
Segment profit		$	51.1		$	1.0		*
Operating margin		20.4		%	0.5		%

*Calculation not meaningful.

Three Months Ended March 2021 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 2020

Global revenues for the Lee® brand increased 37% primarily driven by growth in the U.S. Wholesale and Non-U.S. Wholesale channels.

•Revenues in the Americas region increased 28%, primarily due to a 35% increase in U.S. Wholesale revenues. Increases in the U.S. Wholesale channel were driven by an expected shift in the timing of shipments from the second quarter to the first quarter of 2021, new business growth, growth in the U.S. digital wholesale business and the less significant impact of COVID-19 compared with the prior year period. These increases were partially offset by lower retail sales in the current year resulting from the Company's decision to exit certain VF Outlet™ stores. Non-U.S. Americas wholesale revenues increased 52%, primarily due to the less significant impact of COVID-19 compared with the prior year period and a 10% favorable impact from foreign currency.

•Revenues in the APAC region increased 104%, primarily due to the less significant impact of COVID-19 compared with the prior year period across all channels as well as a 14% favorable impact from foreign currency.

•Revenues in the EMEA region increased 12%, primarily due to growth in the digital wholesale business and a 9% favorable impact from foreign currency, partially offset by lower sales in company-operated retail stores due to the continued impact of COVID-19 in the region.

Operating margin increased to 20.4% compared to operating margin of 0.5% for the 2020 period, primarily driven by favorable customer, product and channel mix, leverage of fixed costs on higher revenues, disciplined cost control and lower bad debt expense in the current year. These benefits were partially offset by increases in demand creation spending. During the three months ended March 2021, operating margin was negatively impacted by 80 basis points due to restructuring and Separation costs. During the three months ended March 2020, operating margin was negatively impacted by 220 basis points due to restructuring costs, Separation costs and business model changes.

27 Kontoor Brands, Inc. Q1 FY21 Form 10-Q

Other


	Three Months Ended March

(Dollars in millions)		2021			2020			Percent Change
Revenues		$	2.8		$	18.4		(84.8)	%
Loss		$	(0.8)		$	(2.2)		(63.2)	%
Operating margin		(29.4)		%	(12.1)		%

Three Months Ended March 2021 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 2020

Other revenues and loss decreased primarily because the Company discontinued sales of third-party branded merchandise in VF OutletTM stores.


Reconciliation of Segment Profit to Income Before Income Taxes

The costs below are necessary to reconcile total reportable segment profit to income (loss) before taxes. These costs are excluded from segment profit as they are managed centrally and are not under control of brand management. Refer to Note 3 to the Company's financial statements in this Form 10-Q for additional information on the Company's methodology for allocating these costs.


	Three Months Ended March

(Dollars in millions)		2021		2020		Percent Change
Total reportable segment profit		$	135.1	$	34.8	287.8	%
Corporate and other expenses		(41.6)		(33.2)		25.1	%
Interest expense		(11.8)		(10.9)		7.8	%
Interest income		0.3		0.4		(38.0)	%
Loss related to other revenues		(0.8)		(2.2)		(63.2)	%
Income (loss) before income taxes		$	81.2	$	(11.1)	*

* Calculation not meaningful.

Three Months Ended March 2021 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 2020

Corporate and other expenses increased $8.4 million, primarily due to an increase in expenses related to the Company's global ERP implementation and information technology infrastructure build-out, partially offset by lower incremental costs attributable to COVID-19.

Interest expense increased $0.9 million, primarily due to accelerated amortization of original issue discount and debt issuance costs associated with early repayments on term loans under our Credit Facilities, partially offset by favorable interest rates and lower average borrowings under the Credit Facilities as compared to the prior year.

Kontoor Brands, Inc. Q1 FY21 Form 10-Q 28


ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION


Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company's ability to fund our operating needs is dependent upon our ability to generate positive long-term cash flow from operations and maintain our debt financing on acceptable terms. The Company took timely actions in 2020 to strengthen our financial flexibility and preserve adequate liquidity during the uncertain economic situation resulting from COVID-19, which included draws on the Revolving Credit Facility, an amendment to the Credit Agreement providing a temporary Relief Period (as discussed in Note 6 to the Company's financial statements in this Form 10-Q), temporary suspension of the payment of a dividend, and other actions to reduce operating costs, capital expenditures and payroll costs. Due to our improving financial performance and cash flows, we were able to reverse many of these actions by the end of the fourth quarter of 2020. During the first quarter of 2021, the Company provided written notification to the administrative agent that it had terminated the temporary Relief Period, thus reverting to the original terms under the Credit Agreement prior to the amendment. However, we continue to maintain the disciplined cost control and other financial benefits from our proactive actions.

As of March 2021, the Company was in compliance with all applicable financial covenants and expects to maintain compliance with the applicable financial covenants for at least one year from the issuance of these financial statements. If economic conditions caused by COVID-19 significantly deteriorate for a prolonged period and the Company's operating results and cash flows do not continue to recover as currently estimated by management, this could impact the Company’s ability to maintain compliance with the applicable financial covenants and require the Company to seek new amendments to the Credit Agreement. If the Company were not able to enter into such amendments, this would lead to an event of default which, if not cured timely, could require the Company to repay its outstanding debt. In the event the Company needs incremental liquidity, the additional cash requirements would likely be generated through refinancing of existing borrowings, the issuance of debt or equity securities, or sales of assets. However, the disruption of the capital markets caused by COVID-19 could make additional sources of financing more challenging to obtain. Additionally, under the terms of the Tax Matters Agreement with VF, there are restrictions on issuing equity securities until May 23, 2021. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the Company would be able to obtain such additional financing on commercially reasonable terms or at all.

The Revolving Credit Facility may be used to borrow funds in both U.S. dollar and certain non-U.S. dollar currencies, and has a maximum borrowing capacity of $500.0 million and a $75.0 million letter of credit sublimit. We expect to continue to comply with the applicable financial covenants in our Credit Facilities, and have availability under the Revolving Credit Facility through its maturity in May 2024.

We anticipate utilizing cash flows from operations to support continued investments in our brands, talent and capabilities, growth strategies, dividend payments to shareholders and repayment of our debt obligations over time. Management believes that our cash balances and funds provided by operating activities, along with existing borrowing capacity and access to capital markets, taken as a whole, provide (i) adequate liquidity to meet all of our current and long-term obligations when due, (ii) adequate liquidity to fund capital expenditures and planned dividend payouts and (iii) flexibility to meet investment opportunities that may arise.

The following table presents outstanding borrowings and available borrowing capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility and our cash and equivalents balances as of March 2021:


(In millions)	March 2021

Outstanding borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility	$	—
Available borrowing capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility (1)	$	493.2
Cash and equivalents	$	229.5

(1) Available borrowing capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility is net of $6.8 million of outstanding standby letters of credit issued on behalf of the Company under this facility.

Refer to Note 6 to the Company's financial statements in this Form 10-Q for additional information regarding the Company's Credit Facilities, including financial covenants and interest rates thereunder as of March 2021.

At March 2021, the Company had $35.9 million of international lines of credit with various banks, which are uncommitted and may be terminated at any time by either us or the banks. The total outstanding balance under these arrangements was $0.1 million at March 2021, related to letters of credit that are non-interest bearing to the Company. In addition, short-term borrowings at March 2021 included other debt of $0.9 million.

During the three months ended March 2021, the Company paid $23.0 million of dividends to its shareholders. On April 20, 2021, the Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.40 per share of the Company's Common Stock. The cash dividend will be payable on June 18, 2021, to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 8, 2021.

The declaration and amount of any future dividends will be dependent upon multiple factors including our financial condition, earnings, cash flows, capital requirements, covenants associated with our debt obligations, legal requirements, regulatory constraints, industry practice and any other factors or considerations that our Board of Directors deems relevant.

29 Kontoor Brands, Inc. Q1 FY21 Form 10-Q

We currently expect capital expenditures to range from $40.0 million to $50.0 million in 2021, primarily associated with the implementation of our global ERP system.

The following table presents our cash flows during the periods:


	Three Months Ended March

(In millions)		2021		2020
Cash provided (used) by:
Operating activities		$	118.4	$	(45.4)
Investing activities		$	(11.8)	$	(22.3)
Financing activities		$	(123.5)	$	443.8

Operating Activities

Cash flow provided by operating activities is dependent on the level of our net income, adjustments to net income and changes in working capital. During 2021, cash provided by operating activities was $118.4 million as compared to cash used of $45.4 million in the prior year period. Cash provided by operations during 2021 was primarily due to higher net income and favorable changes in working capital as compared to the prior year period.

Investing Activities

During 2021, cash used by investing activities decreased $10.5 million when compared to the prior year period, primarily due to declines in property, plant, and equipment expenditures during 2021.

Financing Activities

During 2021, cash used by financing activities was $123.5 million as compared to cash provided of $443.8 million in the prior year period. Cash provided by financing activities during the prior year period was primarily due to $475.0 million of net borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility as compared to no borrowings during 2021. Additionally, the Company made $100.0 million of term loan repayments during 2021.

Contractual Obligations and Other Commercial Commitments

The section entitled "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Contractual Obligations" included in the Company's 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K provided a table summarizing our contractual obligations and commercial commitments at the end of 2020 that would require the use of funds. As of March 2021, there have been no material changes in the amounts disclosed in the 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K, except as it relates to the following:

•The Company was party to a 10-year power purchase agreement to procure electricity generated from renewable energy sources to meet a portion of electricity needs for certain facilities in Mexico (including our manufacturing plants). Effective February 22, 2021, we terminated the contract related to total purchase commitments of $33.3 million that were included in the contractual obligations table as of January 2, 2021.


Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

We have chosen accounting policies that management believes are appropriate to accurately and fairly report our operating results and financial position in conformity with GAAP. We apply these accounting policies in a consistent manner. Significant accounting policies are summarized in Note 1 to the consolidated and combined financial statements included in the 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The application of these accounting policies requires that we make estimates and assumptions about future events and apply judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses, contingent assets and liabilities, and related disclosures. These estimates, assumptions and judgments are based on historical experience, current trends and other factors believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Management evaluates these estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis. Because our business cycle is relatively short (i.e., from the date that inventory is received until that inventory is sold and the trade accounts receivable is collected), actual results related to most estimates are known within a few months after any balance sheet date. If actual results ultimately differ from previous estimates, the revisions are included in results of operations when the actual amounts become known. Refer to Note 1 to the Company's financial statements in this Form 10-Q for additional COVID-19 considerations.

The accounting policies that involve the most significant estimates, assumptions and management judgments used in preparation of the financial statements, or are the most sensitive to change from outside factors, are discussed in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in the 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Except as disclosed in Note 1 to

Kontoor Brands, Inc. Q1 FY21 Form 10-Q 30

the Company's financial statements in this Form 10-Q, pertaining to adoption of new accounting pronouncements, there have been no material changes in these policies.

Recently Issued and Adopted Accounting Standards

Refer to Note 1 to the Company's financial statements in this Form 10-Q for additional information regarding recently issued and adopted accounting standards.


Cautionary Statement on Forward-looking Statements

From time to time, the Company may make oral or written statements, including statements in this quarterly report that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These include statements concerning plans, objectives, projections and expectations relating to the Company’s operations or economic performance and assumptions related thereto. Forward-looking statements are made based on management’s expectations and beliefs concerning future events impacting the Company and therefore involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees, and actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. In addition, the forward-looking statements in this report are made as of the date of this filing, and the Company does not undertake, and expressly disclaims any duty, to update such statements, whether as a result of new information, new developments, or otherwise, except to the extent that disclosure may be required by law.

Potential risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results of operations or financial condition of the Company to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements in this release include, but are not limited to: risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, which could continue to result in closed factories and stores, reduced workforces, supply chain interruption, and reduced consumer traffic and purchasing; the level of consumer demand for apparel; intense industry competition; the Company’s ability to gauge consumer preferences and product trends, and to respond to constantly changing markets; the ability to accurately forecast demand for products; the Company’s ability to maintain the images of its brands; increasing pressure on margins; e-commerce operations through the Company’s direct-to-consumer business; the financial difficulty experienced by the retail industry; possible goodwill and other asset impairment; reliance on a small number of large customers; the ability to implement the Company’s business strategy; the stability of manufacturing facilities and foreign suppliers; fluctuations in wage rates and the price, availability and quality of raw materials and contracted products; the reliance on a limited number of suppliers for raw material sourcing and the ability to obtain raw materials on a timely basis or in sufficient quantity or quality; disruption to distribution systems; seasonality; unseasonal or severe weather conditions; impact of challenges with the implementation of its enterprise resource planning software system; the Company's and its vendors’ ability to maintain the strength and security of information technology systems; the risk that facilities and systems and those of third-party service providers may be vulnerable to and unable to anticipate or detect data security breaches and data or financial loss; ability to properly collect, use, manage and secure consumer and employee data; foreign currency fluctuations; the impact of climate change and related legislative and regulatory responses; legal, regulatory, political and economic risks; changes to trade policy, including tariff and import/export regulations; compliance with anti-bribery, anti-corruption and anti-money laundering laws by the Company and third-party suppliers and manufacturers; changes in tax laws and liabilities; the costs of compliance with or the violation of national, state and local laws and regulations for environmental, consumer protection, employment, privacy, safety and other matters; the Company’s ability to maintain effective internal controls; continuity of members of management; labor relations; the ability to protect trademarks and other intellectual property rights; the ability of the Company’s licensees to generate expected sales and maintain the value of the Company’s brands; disruption and volatility in the global capital and credit markets and its impact on the Company’s ability to obtain short-term or long-term financing on favorable terms; the Company maintaining satisfactory credit ratings; restrictions on the Company’s business relating to its debt obligations; volatility in the price and trading volume of the Company’s common stock; anti-takeover provisions in the Company’s organizational documents; the failure to declare future cash dividends; and the Company's spin-off from VF Corporation, including not realizing all of the expected benefits from the spin-off; the representativeness of the historical financial information for the periods prior to the spin-off; the significant costs to the Company to perform certain functions (currently being performed by VF Corporation for the Company on a transitional basis) following the transition period; indemnification obligations related to the spin-off; having limited access to the insurance policies maintained by VF Corporation for events occurring prior to the spin-off; the actual or potential conflicts of interest of the Company’s directors and officers because of their equity ownership in VF Corporation; the tax treatment of the spin-off; and the significant restrictions on the Company’s actions in order to avoid triggering tax-related liabilities. Many of the foregoing risks and uncertainties will continue to be exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and any continued worsening of the global business and economic environment as a result.

More information on potential factors that could affect the Company's financial results are described in detail in the Company’s 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K and in other reports and statements that the Company files with the SEC.


ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

There have been no material changes in the Company's market risk exposures set forth under Item 7A in our 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

31 Kontoor Brands, Inc. Q1 FY21 Form 10-Q


ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

(a) Disclosure Controls and Procedures. As of the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive and principal financial officers, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13(a)-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act")). Based on such evaluation, our principal executive and principal financial officers concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective and operating to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC, and to provide reasonable assurance that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

(b) Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the period to which this report relates that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Kontoor Brands, Inc. Q1 FY21 Form 10-Q 32

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION


ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The Company is involved in various claims and lawsuits arising in the normal course of business, none of which, in the opinion of management, is expected to have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.


ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

Careful consideration of the risk factors set forth under Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” of our 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K should be made. There have been no material changes to the risk factors from those disclosed in Part I, Item 1A of our 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K.


ITEM 6. EXHIBITS


31.1						Certification of Scott H. Baxter, President and Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to 15 U.S.C. Section 10A, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

31.2						Certification of Rustin Welton, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to 15 U.S.C. Section 10A, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32.1						Certification of Scott H. Baxter, President and Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32.2						Certification of Rustin Welton, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

101.INS						XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.

101.SCH						XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

101.CAL						XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

101.DEF						XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

101.LAB						XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

101.PRE						XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

Exhibit 104						Cover Page Interactive Data File - The cover page interactive data file does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document

Our SEC file number for documents filed with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is 001-38854.

33 Kontoor Brands, Inc. Q1 FY21 Form 10-Q

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


	KONTOOR BRANDS, INC.
	(Registrant)

Date: May 12, 2021	By:	/s/ Rustin Welton
		Rustin Welton
		Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

	By:	/s/ Denise Sumner
		Denise Sumner
		Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)

Kontoor Brands, Inc. Q1 FY21 Form 10-Q 34