10-K
 
 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
þ
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended January 2, 2016
or
¨
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from            to            
Commission file number 001-06024
WOLVERINE WORLD WIDE, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
 
38-1185150
State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
 
 
9341 Courtland Drive N.E.,
Rockford, Michigan
 
49351
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (616) 866-5500
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act:
Title of each class
 
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $1 Par Value
 
New York Stock Exchange
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  þ    No  ¨
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    Yes  ¨    No  þ
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 and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted 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 and post such files).    Yes  þ    No  ¨
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§ 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer þ                                                                                        Accelerated filer ¨
Non-accelerated filer ¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)            Smaller reporting company ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    Yes  ¨     No  þ
The aggregate market value of the registrant’s voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant based on the closing price on the New York Stock Exchange on June 19, 2015, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter: $2,908,187,597. Number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s Common Stock, $1 par value as of February 19, 2016: 99,894,872.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the definitive proxy statement for the registrant’s annual stockholders’ meeting to be held April 21, 2016 are incorporated by reference into Part III of this report.

 
 
 

Table of Contents

Table of Contents
 
PART I
 
 
Item 1.
Item 1A.
Item 1B.
Item 2.
Item 3.
Item 4.
Supplemental Item.
 
 
 
PART II
 
 
Item 5.
Item 6.
Item 7.
Item 7A.
Item 8.
Item 9.
Item 9A.
Item 9B.
 
 
 
PART III
 
 
Item 10.
Item 11.
Item 12.
Item 13.
Item 14.
 
 
 
PART IV
 
 
Item 15.
 
 
 
SIGNATURES
 
 
 
 
 
 


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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This document contains “forward-looking statements,” which are statements relating to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address management’s current beliefs, assumptions, expectations, estimates and projections about future business and financial performance, national, regional or global political, economic and market conditions, and the Company itself. Such statements often contain words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “intends,” “is likely,” “plans,” “predicts,” “projects,” “should,” “will,” variations of such words, and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements, by their nature, address matters that are, to varying degrees, uncertain. Uncertainties that could cause the Company’s performance to differ materially from what is expressed in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following:
changes in general economic conditions, employment rates, business conditions, interest rates, tax policies and other factors affecting consumer spending in the markets and regions in which the Company’s products are sold;
the inability for any reason to effectively compete in global footwear, apparel and consumer-direct markets;
the inability to maintain positive brand images and anticipate, understand and respond to changing footwear and apparel trends and consumer preferences;
the inability to effectively manage inventory levels;
increases or changes in duties, tariffs, quotas or applicable assessments in countries of import and export;
currency fluctuations;
currency restrictions;
capacity constraints, production disruptions, quality issues, price increases or other risks associated with foreign sourcing;
the cost and availability of raw materials, inventories, services and labor for owned and contract manufacturers;
labor disruptions;
changes in relationships with, including the loss of, significant wholesale customers;
the failure of the U.S. Department of Defense to exercise future purchase options or award new contracts, or the cancellation or modification of existing contracts by the Department of Defense or other military purchasers;
risks related to the significant investment in, and performance of, the Company’s consumer-direct operations;
risks related to the expanding into new markets and complementary product categories as well as consumer-direct operations;
the impact of seasonality and unpredictable weather conditions;
changes in general economic conditions and/or the credit markets on the Company’s distributors, suppliers and customers;
increase in the Company’s effective tax rates;
failure of licensees or distributors to meet planned annual sales goals or to make timely payments to the Company;
the risks of doing business in developing countries, and politically or economically volatile areas;
the ability to secure and protect owned intellectual property or use licensed intellectual property;
the impact of regulation, regulatory and legal proceedings and legal compliance risks;
the potential breach of the Company’s databases, or those of its vendors, which contain certain personal information or payment card data;
problems affecting the Company’s distribution system, including service interruptions at shipping and receiving ports;
strategic actions, including new initiatives and ventures, acquisitions and dispositions, and the Company’s success in integrating acquired businesses, and implementing new initiatives and ventures;
the risk of impairment to goodwill and other acquired intangibles;
the success of the Company’s consumer-direct realignment initiatives; and
changes in future pension funding requirements and pension expenses.
These uncertainties could cause a material difference between an actual outcome and a forward-looking statement. The uncertainties included here are not exhaustive and are described in more detail in Part I, Item 1A: “Risk Factors” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Given these risks and uncertainties, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. The Company does not undertake an obligation to update, amend or clarify forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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PART I
Item 1.
Business
General
Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (the “Company”) is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of a broad range of quality casual footwear and apparel, performance outdoor and athletic footwear and apparel, children’s footwear, industrial work boots and apparel, and uniform shoes and boots. The Company, a Delaware corporation, is the successor of a Michigan corporation of the same name, originally organized in 1906, which, in turn, was the successor of a footwear business established in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1883. The Company’s products are marketed worldwide in approximately 200 countries and territories through owned operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom and certain countries in continental Europe and Asia Pacific. In other regions (Latin America, portions of Europe and Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa), the Company relies on a network of third-party distributors, licensees and joint ventures.
Today, the Company sources and markets a broad range of footwear styles, including shoes, boots and sandals under many recognizable brand names, including Bates®, Cat®, Chaco®, Harley-Davidson®, Hush Puppies®, HyTest®, Keds®, Merrell®, Saucony®, Sebago®, Soft Style®, Sperry®, Stride Rite® and Wolverine®. The Company also markets Merrell® and Wolverine® brand apparel and accessories and licenses some of its brands for use on non-footwear products, including Hush Puppies® apparel, eyewear, watches, socks, handbags and plush toys; Wolverine® eyewear and gloves; Keds® apparel; Saucony® apparel; Sperry® apparel; and Stride Rite® apparel. Cat® is a registered trademark of Caterpillar Inc. and Harley-Davidson® is a registered trademark of H-D U.S.A., LLC.
The Company’s products generally feature contemporary styling with proprietary technologies designed to provide maximum comfort and performance. The Company believes that its primary competitive advantages are its well-recognized brand names, patented proprietary designs, diverse product offerings and comfort technologies, wide range of distribution channels and diversified manufacturing and sourcing base. The Company combines quality materials and skilled workmanship to produce footwear according to its specifications at both Company-owned and third-party manufacturing facilities. The Company’s brands are sold at various price points targeting a wide range of consumers of casual, work, outdoor and athletic footwear and apparel.
Through the end of fiscal 2015, the Company's portfolio of brands was organized into the following three operating segments, which the Company determined were reportable operating segments:
Lifestyle Group, consisting of Sperry® footwear and apparel, Stride Rite® footwear and apparel, Hush Puppies® footwear and apparel, Keds® footwear and apparel, and Soft Style® footwear;
Performance Group, consisting of Merrell® footwear and apparel, Saucony® footwear and apparel and Chaco® footwear; and
Heritage Group, consisting of Wolverine® footwear and apparel, Cat® footwear, Bates® uniform footwear, Sebago® footwear and apparel, Harley-Davidson® footwear, and HyTest® safety footwear.
The reportable segments are engaged in designing, manufacturing, sourcing, marketing, licensing and distributing branded footwear, apparel and accessories. Revenue of the operating segments includes revenue from the sale of branded footwear, apparel and accessories to third-party customers; royalty income from the licensing of the Company’s trademarks; revenue from distribution arrangements with third-party distributors; and revenue from the Company’s mono-branded consumer-direct businesses, including revenue from eCommerce websites.
The Company also reports "Other" and "Corporate" categories. The Other category consists of the Company’s multi-brand consumer-direct business, leather marketing operations, and sourcing operations that include third-party commission revenues. The Corporate category consists of unallocated corporate expenses including acquisition-related integration costs and restructuring costs. The Company’s operating segments are determined on the basis of how the Company internally reports and evaluates financial information used to make operating decisions.
The Company’s Global Operations Group is responsible for manufacturing, sourcing, distribution, logistics and customer support. The Company directly sells its products in the United States ("U.S."), Canada and certain countries in Europe to a wide range of customers, including department stores, national chains, catalog retailers, specialty retailers, mass merchants and internet retailers, and to governments and municipalities.
For financial information regarding the Company, see the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes, which are included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Financial information regarding the Company’s reportable segments and other operating categories and financial information by geographic area is found in Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements of the Company which are included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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The Company's operating segments and related brands are described in more detail below.
1.
Lifestyle Group
Sperry®: Sperry® is a leading global nautical performance and lifestyle brand offering footwear, apparel and accessories to a broad range of consumers. The brand has been an American favorite since 1935 with the introduction of the industry’s first boat shoe. Today, Sperry® remains the leader in the boat shoe category, but has also expanded its business into casuals, dress casuals, wet weather, boots and vulcanized product categories. Sperry® has evolved into a well-balanced, multi-category (footwear, apparel and accessories) and year-round lifestyle brand for men and women. Sperry® also offers sport-specific and athlete-tested performance footwear solutions for sailors, boaters, anglers and multi-water sports enthusiasts. The Advance Water Technologies product collection featuring ASV™ (Anti-Shock and Vibration), Grip X3 Technology® and SON-R Technology® has allowed Sperry® to reinforce its position as an innovation leader in these categories. The brand is primarily distributed through leading premium and better lifestyle retailers, as well as through Company-owned specialty retail stores and website.
Stride Rite®: With a history dating back to 1919, Stride Rite® is an industry leader in children's footwear. Stride Rite® is focused on delivering the best possible footwear across a range of categories for children under nine years of age. All Stride Rite® products benefit from nearly a century of in-depth knowledge and understanding of how children walk and grow. Every new material and component is rigorously tested to ensure safety, proper fit and durability for children. Stride Rite® sells product under its own namesake brand, as well as children's footwear offerings from Saucony®, Sperry®, Keds®, Merrell® and select other footwear brands, through a network of Company-owned mall-based specialty retail stores and a consumer-direct website. Stride Rite® also distributes children's footwear through better department stores, independent retailers, sporting goods chains, mall specialty retailers, internet retailers and national family footwear stores.
Hush Puppies®: In 1958, Hush Puppies® introduced the world to shoes with casual style and an easygoing attitude made to relax in. The desire to create customers' "favorite pair of shoes" remains the measurement of success for Hush Puppies®. Inspired by its beloved basset hound icon, Hush Puppies® is easygoing and fun. Built-in comfort and fit features and proprietary technologies have made Hush Puppies® a brand well known for comfort. In addition to a wholesale and licensed footwear business, the Hush Puppies® brand is licensed to third parties engaged in the manufacturing, marketing and distribution of apparel, handbags, eyewear, socks, watches and plush toys sold around the world.
Keds®: Keds® is an authentic casual lifestyle brand with a foundation in canvas footwear. This iconic American brand was founded in 1916 with the introduction of the Champion® sneaker. The simple and chic design ignited a style revolution, from fashion icons to the girl next door. Today, Keds® is fueled by a passion for imagination, inspiring a new generation of girls to stay authentic, optimistic and brave. The brand targets teen girl consumers through an extensive collection of Champion® originals, as well as a wide assortment of fashion sneakers and slip-ons. The brand’s product architecture consists of both core offerings and seasonal iterations featuring updated prints, patterns, materials and constructions.
Soft Style®: Soft Style® is a women’s dress and casual footwear brand, with a combination of all-day comfort, trend-right details, feminine style and great value.
2.
Performance Group
Merrell®: Merrell® footwear is designed to inspire and encourage participation in the outdoors. Known for quality, durability and comfort, Merrell® uses a variety of proprietary designs and technologies to create footwear with distinctive styling, performance and comfort features for use on the trail or in town. Merrell® footwear products offer a wide range of styles, from technical hiking and trail-inspired footwear to versatile lifestyle products for more casual outdoor adventures for men and women. Merrell® footwear products are sold primarily through outdoor specialty retailers, sporting goods chains, department stores, internet retailers, catalog retailers, as well as Merrell® stores and an eCommerce site. Merrell® apparel extends the Merrell® commitment to an active outdoor lifestyle with a versatile line of apparel built for the summit or the street. Merrell® apparel features stylized lifestyle silhouettes built with the technical, high performance, weather fighting materials that consumers expect from a premium outdoor brand. Merrell® also markets accessories for men and women, including packs, bags and luggage.
Saucony®: Saucony® is a leading performance running brand with roots dating back to 1898. Saucony® targets both elite and casual runners through award winning design, innovation and performance technology. The brand is focused on meeting the biomechanical needs of runners while maximizing comfort and protection, bringing

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to market innovations such as: EVERUN®, a cushioning technology system; PowerGrid™ and PWRGRID+ midsole technologies; Sauc-Fit®, ComfortLite Sock Liner™, HydraMAX™ and ISO-Fit upper technologies; and iBR+™ and XT-900™ outsole material innovations. Saucony® offers five categories of footwear products – technical, natural motion, race, trail and lifestyle "Originals". Saucony® also offers the Total Run System™, a complete line of performance running apparel. Through the Find Your Strong brand platform, Saucony® is strengthening connections with consumers and elevating the positioning of the brand. The brand’s products are distributed primarily through leading run specialty, sporting goods retailers, as well as Saucony® stores and an eCommerce site.
Chaco®: The Chaco® footwear line focuses primarily on performance sandals and closed-toe products for the outdoor enthusiast, including the Chaco® proprietary LUVSEAT™ footbed for premium comfort. The brand’s products are distributed primarily through leading outdoor and footwear specialty retailers, as well as the Chaco® eCommerce site. Chaco® also features MyChacos custom designs for sandals.
3.
Heritage Group
Wolverine®: The Wolverine® brand offers high-quality boots and shoes that incorporate innovative technologies to deliver comfort and durability. The Wolverine® brand, in existence since 1883, markets footwear in three categories: (i) work and industrial; (ii) rugged outdoor for hunting; and (iii) lifestyle and heritage. The development of DuraShocks®, MultiShox®, Wolverine Fusion® and Wolverine Compressor® technologies, as well as the development of the Contour Welt® line, allows the Wolverine® brand to offer a broad line of footwear with a focus on comfort. The Wolverine® work product line targets industrial workers and focuses on work boots and shoes with protective features such as toe caps, metatarsal guards and electrical hazard protection. The Wolverine® rugged outdoor product lines incorporate DuraShocks®, Wolverine iCS® and other technologies and comfort features into products designed outdoor sport use and to meet the needs of hunters, fishermen and other active outdoor sports enthusiasts. The brand's lifestyle and heritage line targets consumers that have active lifestyles. The brand also markets a line of work and rugged casual Wolverine® brand apparel, and licenses its Wolverine® brand for use on eyewear, gloves and socks.
Cat® Footwear: Cat® footwear comes from a world of industry and action. The Company is the exclusive global footwear licensee of Caterpillar Inc., and for over two decades, Cat® footwear has been designing and engineering quality footwear that lives up to the hard-working reputation of the Caterpillar® brand. Cat® footwear originally created a small collection of rugged work boots designed to provide workers with comfort and durability that met the challenges of the worksite. Today, Cat® footwear offers a wide range of footwear, including work boots, casual shoes and women’s fashion product - sold through a global distribution network. Cat®, Caterpillar®, Build For It®, "Caterpillar Yellow" and "Power Edge" are registered trademarks of Caterpillar Inc.
Bates®: The Bates® brand is a leader in supplying footwear to military and civilian uniform wearers. Bates® utilizes DuraShocks®, Bates iCS®, Bates Endurance Performance System and other proprietary comfort technologies in the design of its footwear. Bates® supplies military footwear to the U.S. Department of Defense and the military branches of several foreign countries. Civilian uniform users include police officers, security and emergency medical services workers, and others in light industrial occupations. Bates® products are distributed through sporting goods chains, department stores, uniform specialty retailers and catalog retailers.
Sebago®: Established in 1946, Sebago® shares its New England heritage and tradition with those who inspire to make the journey with them. Sebago® creates timeless, handcrafted dress and casual products from quality materials, all with a sense of purpose and style. The original, handsewn Classic penny loafer and Docksides® boat shoe remain unchanged since first crafted by Sebago® decades ago. While embracing its heritage, Sebago® has a true passion for taking the best of the past and evolving with today's consumer in mind. Along with authentic classics, the brand also offers new, modern footwear silhouettes and apparel and accessories.
Harley-Davidson® Footwear: Pursuant to a license arrangement with the Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Inc., the Company has footwear marketing and distribution rights for Harley-Davidson® branded footwear. Harley-Davidson® branded footwear products include motorcycle, casual, fashion, work and western footwear for men, women and children. Harley-Davidson® footwear is sold globally through a network of independent Harley-Davidson® dealerships and other retail outlets. Harley-Davidson® is a registered trademark of H-D U.S.A., LLC.
HyTest® Safety Footwear: The HyTest® product line consists of high-quality work boots and shoes that incorporate various specialty safety features designed to protect against hazards of the workplace, including steel toe, composite toe, metatarsal guards, electrical hazard protection, static dissipating and conductive

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footwear. HyTest® footwear is distributed primarily through a network of independently-owned Shoemobile® mobile truck retail outlets providing direct sales of the Company’s occupational and work footwear brands to workers at industrial facilities and also through direct sales arrangements with large industrial customers.
Other Businesses
In addition to its reportable segments, the Company also operates a multi-brand consumer-direct business and a performance leather business.
Multi-brand Consumer-Direct - The multi-brand consumer-direct division includes brick and mortar and eCommerce operations that sell and distribute footwear and apparel from the Company's brand portfolio and other brands.
Wolverine Leathers Division - The Wolverine Leathers Division markets pigskin leather for use primarily in the footwear industry. The Company believes pigskin leather offers superior performance and other advantages over cowhide leather. The Company’s waterproof and stain resistant leathers are featured in some of the Company’s footwear lines and also sold to external footwear brands.
On February 4, 2016, the Company announced certain organizational changes impacting its operating segments structure. The Company is evaluating the impacts of these changes to its reportable operating segments which will be reflected beginning with the first quarter of fiscal 2016. The operating segment structure described above is consistent with the reporting structure in effect at the end of fiscal 2015 for consistency with financial reporting for that year.
Marketing
The Company’s marketing strategy is to develop brand-specific plans and related promotional materials that foster a consistent message for each of the Company’s core brands across the globe. Each operating segment has dedicated marketing personnel who develop the marketing strategies for specific brands. Marketing campaigns and strategies vary by brand, but are generally designed to target consumers in order to increase awareness of, and affinity for, the Company’s brands. The Company’s advertisements typically emphasize fashion, comfort, quality, durability, functionality and other performance and lifestyle attributes of the Company’s brands and products. Components of brand-specific marketing plans vary and may include print and radio advertising, search engine optimization, social networking sites, event sponsorships, in-store point-of-purchase displays, promotional materials and sales and technical assistance.
In addition to the Company’s internal marketing efforts, each brand provides its third-party licensees and distributors with creative direction, brand images and other materials to convey globally consistent brand messaging, including (i) direction on the categories of footwear and apparel to be promoted; (ii) photography and layouts; (iii) broadcast advertising, including commercials and film footage; (iv) point-of-purchase specifications, blueprints and packaging; (v) sales materials; and (vi) consulting services regarding retail store layout and design. The Company believes its brand names represent a competitive advantage, and the Company, along with its licensees and distributors, make significant marketing investments to promote and enhance the market position of its products and drive brand awareness.
Domestic Sales and Distribution
The Company uses a variety of means to support sales to a variety of domestic distribution channels:
The Company uses a dedicated sales force and customer service team, third party sales representatives and point-of-purchase materials to support domestic sales.
The Company maintains core in-stock inventories to service department stores, national chains, specialty retailers, catalog retailers, independent retailers, uniform outlets and its own consumer-direct business.
The Company uses volume direct programs to ship products directly to the retail customer without going through a Company distribution center and provide products at competitive prices to service major retail, catalog, mass merchant and government customers.
The Company uses a network of independent Shoemobile® distribution outlets to distribute certain of the Company’s work and occupational footwear brands at industrial facilities.
The Company solicits all branches of the U.S. military and submits bids for contracts to supply specific footwear products.
In addition to its wholesale activities, the Company also operates a mono- and multi-brand consumer-direct distribution channel, as described above.

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A broad distribution base insulates the Company from dependence on any one customer. No single customer accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s consolidated revenue in fiscal 2015.
Seasonality
The Company experiences moderate fluctuations in sales volume during the year, as reflected in quarterly revenue (and taking into consideration the 16 weeks or 17 weeks included in the Company’s fiscal fourth quarter versus the 12 weeks included in each of the first three fiscal quarters). The Company expects current seasonal sales patterns to continue in future years. The Company also experiences some fluctuation in its levels of working capital, typically including an increase in net working capital requirements near the end of the first and third fiscal quarters. The Company meets its working capital requirements through internal free cash flow and, as needed, the Revolving Credit Facility, as discussed in more detail under the caption "Liquidity and Capital Resources" in Item 7: "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations".
International Operations and Global Licensing
The Company’s foreign-sourced revenue is generated from a combination of (i) sales of branded footwear and apparel through the Company’s owned operations in Canada, the United Kingdom and certain countries in continental Europe; (ii) revenue from third-party distributors for certain markets and businesses; (iii) revenue from a network of third-party licensees; and (iv) revenue and income from joint ventures that market the Company’s branded products in certain countries in South America and Asia, as well as in Mexico. The Company’s international owned operations are located in markets where the Company believes it can gain a strategic advantage by directly controlling the sale of its products into retail accounts. License and distribution arrangements enable the Company to generate sales in other markets without the capital commitment required to maintain related foreign operations, employees, inventories or localized marketing programs. The Company believes that joint ventures will provide it with a more meaningful ownership stake and near-term brand impact in fast-growing markets than its traditional licensee and distributor arrangements.
The Company continues to develop its international network of third-party licensees and distributors to market its branded products. The Company assists its licensees in designing products that are appropriate to each foreign market, yet consistent with global brand positioning. Pursuant to license or distribution agreements, third-party licensees and distributors either purchase goods directly from the Company and authorized third-party manufacturers or manufacture branded products themselves, consistent with Company standards. Distributors and licensees are responsible for independently marketing and distributing the Company’s branded products in their respective territories, with product and marketing support from the Company.
Manufacturing and Sourcing
The Company directly controls the majority of the units of footwear and apparel manufactured or sourced under the Company’s brand names. The Company’s licensees directly control the balance. A substantial majority of the units sourced or manufactured by the Company are procured from third parties, with the remainder of the manufacturing produced at a Company-owned facility. The Company sources a majority of its footwear from numerous third-party manufacturers in the Asia Pacific region. The Company maintains offices in the Asia Pacific region to develop and facilitate sourcing strategies. The Company has established guidelines for each of its third-party manufacturers in order to monitor product quality, labor practices and financial viability. The Company has adopted “Engagement Criteria for Partners and Sources,” a policy that requires the Company’s domestic and foreign manufacturers, licensees and distributors to use ethical business standards, comply with all applicable health and safety laws and regulations, commit to use environmentally safe practices, treat employees fairly with respect to wages, benefits and working conditions and not use child or prison labor. The Company’s third-party sourcing strategy allows the Company to (i) benefit from lower manufacturing costs and state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities; (ii) source high quality raw materials from around the world; and (iii) avoid capital expenditures necessary for additional owned factories. The Company believes that its overall global manufacturing strategy provides the flexibility to properly balance the need for timely shipments, high quality products and competitive pricing. Footwear manufactured by the Company is produced at a Company-operated facility located in Michigan.
The Company’s principal raw material is quality leather, which it purchases from a select group of domestic and foreign suppliers. The widespread availability of common upper materials and specialty leathers eliminates reliance by the Company on a single supplier.
The Company currently purchases all of the raw pigskins used for its Wolverine Leathers Division from one domestic source, which has been a reliable and consistent supplier to the Company for over 40 years. Alternative sources of raw pigskin are available, but the Company believes these sources offer less advantageous pricing, quality and compatibility with the Company’s processing method. The Company purchases all of its other raw materials and component parts from a variety of sources and does not believe that any of these sources are a dominant supplier.

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Trademarks, Licenses and Patents
The Company holds a significant portfolio of registered and common law trademarks that identify its branded products and technologies. The Company’s owned trademarks include Hush Puppies®, Dog Likeness (registered design trademark), Wolverine®, Bates®, Chaco®, Soft Style®, Wolverine Fusion®, DuraShocks®, MultiShox®, Wolverine Compressor®, Wolverine ICS®, Hidden Tracks®, iTechnology, Bounce®, Comfort Curve®, HyTest®, Merrell®, M Circle Design (registered design trademark), Continuum®, Sebago®, Q Form®, Sperry®, Saucony®, Stride Rite® and Keds®. The Company’s Wolverine Leathers Division markets its pigskin leathers under the trademarks Wolverine Warrior Leather®, Weather Tight® and All Season Weather Leathers™. The Company has footwear marketing and distribution rights under the Cat® and Harley-Davidson® trademarks pursuant to license arrangements with the respective trademark owners. The Cat® license extends for more than five years and the Harley-Davidson® license has a term through December 31, 2020. Both licenses are subject to early termination for breach.
The Company believes that consumers identify its products by the Company’s trademarks and that its trademarks are valuable assets. The Company has a policy of registering its primary trademarks and vigorously defending its trademarks against infringement or other threats whenever practicable. The Company also holds many design and utility patents, copyrights and various other proprietary rights. The Company protects its proprietary rights under applicable laws.
Order Backlog
At February 20, 2016, the Company had an order backlog of approximately $1,032 million compared to an order backlog of approximately $1,182 million at February 21, 2015. Substantially all of the backlog relates to orders for products expected to ship in fiscal 2016. Orders in the backlog are subject to cancellation by customers and to changes in planned customer demand or at-once orders. The backlog at any particular time is affected by a number of factors, including seasonality, retail conditions, expected customer demand, product availability and the schedule for the manufacture and shipment of products. Accordingly, a comparison of backlog from period to period is not necessarily meaningful and may not be predictive of eventual actual shipments. The February 21, 2015 backlog contained approximately $30 million in orders that were placed earlier than normal to avoid potential shipping delays as a result of the West Coast port slow down and threatened strike, and approximately $15 million of orders related primarily to the Cushe business exit. Longer production lead times also influenced order timing in 2015.
Competition
The Company markets its footwear and apparel lines in a highly competitive and fragmented environment. The Company competes with numerous domestic and international footwear marketers, some of whom are larger and have greater resources than the Company. The Company has a significant number of major competitors for its brands of footwear and apparel. Product performance and quality, including technological improvements, product identity, competitive pricing and ability to control costs and the ability to adapt to style changes are all important elements of competition in the footwear and apparel markets served by the Company. The footwear and apparel industries are subject to changes in consumer preferences. The Company strives to maintain its competitive position through promotions designed to increase brand awareness, manufacturing and sourcing efficiencies, and the style, comfort and value of its products. Future sales by the Company will be affected by its continued ability to sell its products at competitive prices and to meet shifts in consumer preferences.
Because of the lack of reliable published statistics, the Company is unable to state with certainty its competitive position in the overall footwear and apparel industries. The non-athletic footwear and apparel markets are highly fragmented and no one company has a dominant market position.
Research and Development
In addition to normal and recurring product development, design and styling activities, the Company engages in research and development activities related to the development of new production techniques and to the improvement of the function, performance, reliability and quality of its branded footwear and other products. For example, the Company’s continuing relationship with the Biomechanics Evaluation Laboratory at Michigan State University has helped validate and refine specific biomechanical design concepts, such as Bounce®, DuraShocks® and Hidden Tracks® comfort technologies that have been incorporated into the Company’s footwear. The Company also utilizes the research and testing capabilities of the Saucony® human performance and innovation lab, with a particular focus on quantifying the interaction between footwear and runners’ strides. While the Company expects to continue to be a leading developer of footwear innovations, research and development costs do not represent a material portion of operating expenses.
Environmental Matters
Compliance with foreign and domestic federal, state and local requirements regulating the discharge of materials into the environment, or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment, have not had, nor are they expected to have, any material effect on the capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position of the Company. The Company uses and generates certain substances and wastes that are regulated or may be deemed hazardous to the environment under certain federal, state and local

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regulations. The Company works with foreign and domestic federal, state and local agencies from time to time to resolve cleanup issues at various sites and other regulatory issues.
Employees
As of January 2, 2016, the Company had approximately 6,550 domestic and foreign production, office and sales employees. Approximately 45 employees were covered by a single union contract that expires on December 31, 2017. The Company presently considers its employee relations to be good.
Available Information
Information about the Company, including the Company’s Code of Conduct & Compliance, Corporate Governance Guidelines, Director Independence Standards, Accounting and Finance Code of Ethics, Audit Committee Charter, Compensation Committee Charter, and Governance Committee Charter, is available at its website at www.wolverineworldwide.com/investor-relations/corporate-governance. Printed copies of the documents listed above are available upon request, without charge, by writing to the Company at 9341 Courtland Drive, N.E., Rockford, Michigan 49351, Attention: General Counsel.
The Company also makes available on or through its website at www.wolverineworldwide.com/investor-relations, free of charge, the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports (along with certain other Company filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”)), as soon as reasonably practicable after electronically filing such material with, or furnishing it to, the SEC. These materials are also accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
Risks Related to the Company’s Business
Changes in general economic conditions and other factors affecting consumer spending could adversely affect the Company’s sales, costs, operating results or financial position.
The Company’s operations depend on factors affecting consumer disposable income and spending patterns. These factors include general economic conditions, employment rates, business conditions, interest rates and tax policy in each of the markets and regions in which the Company or its third-party distributors and licensees operates. Customers may defer or cancel purchases of the Company’s products due to uncertainty about global economic conditions. Disposable income and consumer confidence may decline due to recessionary economic cycles, high interest rates on consumer or business borrowings, restricted credit availability, inflation, high levels of unemployment or consumer debt, high tax rates or other economic factors. A decline in disposable income and consumer confidence could adversely affect demand for the Company’s products. Changes in and the growth or decline of global footwear, apparel or consumer-direct markets could negatively affect consumer spending.
The Company operates in competitive industries and markets.
The Company competes with a large number of manufacturers, marketers, wholesalers, and retailers of footwear and apparel, and consumer-direct footwear and apparel companies. Some of these competitors are larger and have greater resources than the Company. Important elements of such competition are product performance and quality, including technological improvements, product identity, pricing and the ability to adapt to style changes. The Company’s continued ability to sell its products at competitive prices and to meet shifts in consumer preferences will affect its future sales. If the Company is unable to respond effectively to competitive pressures and changes in consumer preferences and spending, its results of operations and financial position may be adversely affected.
Many of the Company’s competitors have larger customer and consumer bases, are able to sell their products at lower prices, or have greater financial, technical or marketing resources than the Company, particularly its competitors in the apparel and consumer-direct businesses. The Company’s competitors may own more recognized brands; implement more effective marketing campaigns; adopt more aggressive pricing policies; make more attractive offers to potential employees, distribution partners and manufacturers; or respond more quickly to changes in consumer preferences. The Company’s results of operations and financial position could be adversely affected if it fails to compete successfully in the footwear, apparel and retail markets.
The Company’s operating results could be adversely affected if it is unable to maintain its brands’ positive images with consumers or anticipate, understand and respond to changing footwear and apparel trends and consumer preferences.
Consumer preferences and, as a result, the popularity of particular designs and categories of footwear and apparel, generally change over time. The Company’s success depends in part on its ability to maintain its brands’ positive images, and the ability to anticipate, understand and respond to changing footwear and apparel trends and consumer preferences in a timely manner. The Company’s efforts to maintain and improve its competitive position by monitoring and timely and appropriately responding to changes in

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consumer preferences, increasing brand awareness, gaining sourcing efficiencies, and enhancing the style, comfort and perceived value of its products may not be successful. If the Company is unable to maintain or enhance the images of its brands or if it is unable to timely and appropriately respond to changing consumer preferences and evolving footwear and apparel trends, consumers may consider its brands’ images to be outdated, associate its brands with styles that are no longer popular and decrease demand for its products. Such failures could result in reduced sales, excess inventory, trade name impairments, lower gross margin and adverse impacts on the Company’s operating results.
The Company’s operating results depend on effectively managing inventory levels.
The Company’s ability to manage its inventories effectively and accurately forecast demand are important factors in its operations. Inventory shortages can impede the Company’s ability to meet demand, adversely affect the timing of shipments to customers, and, consequently, diminish brand loyalty and decrease sales.
Conversely, excess inventory can result in lower gross margins if the Company lowers prices in order to liquidate it. In addition, inventory may become obsolete as a result of changes in consumer preferences over time. The Company’s business, results of operations and financial position could be adversely affected if it is unable to effectively manage its inventory.
Increases or changes in duties, quotas, tariffs and other trade restrictions could adversely impact the Company’s sales and profitability.
All of the Company’s products manufactured overseas and imported into the U.S., Canada, the European Union and other countries are subject to customs duties collected by customs authorities. The customs information submitted by the Company is routinely subject to review by customs authorities and any such review might result in the assessment of additional duties or penalties. Additional U.S. or foreign customs duties, quotas, tariffs, anti-dumping duties, safeguard measures, cargo restrictions, the loss of most favored nation trading status or other trade restrictions may be imposed on the importation of the Company’s products in the future. The imposition of such costs or restrictions in countries where the Company operates, as well as in countries where its third-party distributors and licensees operate, could result in increases in the cost of the Company’s products generally and could adversely affect its sales and profitability.
Foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations could adversely impact the Company’s business.
Foreign currency fluctuations affect the Company’s revenue and profitability. Changes in currency exchange rates may impact the Company’s financial results positively or negatively in one period and not another, which may make it difficult to compare its operating results from different periods. Currency exchange rate fluctuations may also adversely impact third parties that manufacture the Company’s products by making their costs of raw materials or other production costs more expensive and more difficult to finance, thereby raising prices for the Company, its distributors or its licensees. The Company’s hedging strategy may not successfully mitigate the Company’s foreign exchange risk. For a more detailed discussion of the risks related to foreign currency fluctuation, see Item 7A: “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.”
In addition, our foreign subsidiaries purchase products in U.S. dollars in which the cost of those products will vary depending on the foreign currency rates and will impact the price charged to customers. The Company’s foreign distributors also purchase products in U.S. dollars and sell in local currencies, which will impact the price to foreign consumers and in addition, will impact the amount of royalty paid to the Company in U.S. dollars. As the U.S. dollar strengthens relative to foreign currencies, the Company's revenues and profits are reduced when translated into U.S. dollars and the Company's margins may be negatively impacted by the increase in product costs due to the foreign currency rates experienced. Although the Company typically works to mitigate this negative foreign currency transaction impact through price increases and further actions to reduce costs, the Company may not be able to fully offset the impact, if at all. The Company’s success depends, in part, on its ability to manage these various foreign currency impacts as changes in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business and results of operations.
Significant capacity constraints, production disruptions, quality issues, price increases or other risks associated with foreign sourcing could increase the Company’s operating costs and adversely impact the Company’s business and reputation.
The Company currently sources a substantial majority of its products from third-party manufacturers in foreign countries, predominantly in the Asia Pacific region. As is common in the industry, the Company does not have long-term contracts with its third-party suppliers. There can be no assurance that the Company will not experience difficulties with such suppliers, including reductions in the availability of production capacity, failures to meet production deadlines, failure to make products that meet applicable quality standards, or increases in manufacturing costs. The Company’s future results depend partly on its ability to maintain its relationships with third-party suppliers.
Foreign manufacturing is subject to a number of risks, including work stoppages, transportation delays and interruptions, political instability, foreign currency fluctuations, changing economic conditions, expropriation, nationalization, the imposition of tariffs, import and export controls and other non-tariff barriers and changes in governmental policies. Various factors could significantly

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interfere with the Company’s ability to source its products, including adverse developments in trade or political relations with China or other countries where it sources its products, or a shift in these countries' manufacturing capacities away from footwear and apparel to other industries. Any of these events could have an adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial position and, in particular, on the Company’s ability to meet customer demands and produce its products in a cost-effective manner.
Increases in the cost of raw materials, labor and services could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations.
The Company’s ability to competitively price its products and its operating results are dependent on the prices of commodities, such as cotton, leather, rubber, petroleum, cattle, pigskin hides, and other raw materials, used to make and transport its products, as well as the prices of equipment, labor, insurance and health care. The cost of services and materials is subject to change based on availability and general economic and market conditions that are difficult to predict. Various conditions, such as diseases affecting the availability of leather, affect the cost of the footwear marketed by the Company. Increases in costs for services and materials used in production could have a negative impact on the Company’s results of operations and financial position.
The Company purchases raw pigskins for its leathers operations from a single domestic source pursuant to short-term contracts. If this source fails to continue to supply the Company with raw pigskin or supplies the Company with raw pigskin on less favorable terms, the Company’s cost of raw materials for its leathers operations could increase and, as a result, have a negative impact on the Company’s results of operations and financial position.
Labor disruptions could adversely affect the Company’s business.
The Company’s business depends on its ability to source and distribute products in a timely and cost-effective manner. Labor disputes at or that affect independent factories where the Company’s goods are produced, shipping ports, such as the recent labor dispute at west coast U.S. ports, tanneries, transportation carriers, retail stores or distribution centers create significant risks for the Company’s business, particularly if these disputes result in work slowdowns, lockouts, strikes or other disruptions. Any such disruption may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business by potentially resulting in inventory shortages, delayed or cancelled orders by customers and unanticipated inventory accumulation, and may negatively impact the Company’s results of operations and financial position.
A significant reduction in wholesale customer purchases of the Company’s products, wholesale customers seeking more favorable terms or failure of customers to pay for the Company’s products in a timely manner could adversely affect the Company’s business.
The Company’s financial success is directly dependent on its wholesale customers continuing to purchase its products. The Company does not typically have long-term contracts with its customers. Sales to the Company’s customers are generally on an order-to-order basis and are subject to rights of cancellation and rescheduling by the customers. Failure to fill customers’ orders in a timely manner could harm the Company’s relationships with its customers. Furthermore, if any of the Company’s major customers experiences a significant downturn in its business, or fails to remain committed to the Company’s products or brands, these customers may reduce or discontinue purchases from the Company, which could have an adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial position.
The Company sells its products to customers and extends credit based on an evaluation of each customer’s financial condition. The financial difficulties of a customer could cause the Company to stop doing business with that customer or reduce its business with that customer. The Company’s inability to collect from its customers or a cessation or reduction of sales to certain customers because of credit concerns could have an adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial position.
Retail consolidation could lead to fewer customers, customers seeking more favorable price, payment or other terms from the Company and a decrease in the number of stores that carry its products. In addition, changes in the channels of distribution, such as the continued growth of eCommerce and related competitive pressures, and the sale of private label products by major retailers, could have an adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial position.
The Company has been awarded a number of U.S. Department of Defense contracts that include future purchase options for Bates® footwear. The U.S. Department of Defense is not obligated to exercise these future purchase options for Bates® footwear or to solicit future footwear awards at levels consistent with historical awards or in a manner in which the Company, as a large business contractor under Small Business Administration rules, is eligible to bid. Failure by the U.S. Department of Defense to exercise purchase options or the Company’s failure to secure future U.S. Department of Defense contracts could have an adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial position.

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The Company’s consumer-direct operations have required, and will continue to require, a substantial investment and commitment of resources and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties.
The Company’s consumer-direct operations, including its brick and mortar locations as well as its eCommerce and mobile channels, have required substantial fixed investment in equipment and leasehold improvements, information systems, inventory and personnel. The Company has also made substantial operating lease commitments for retail space. Due to the high fixed-cost structure associated with the Company’s brick and mortar consumer-direct operations, a decline in sales or the closure or poor performance of individual or multiple stores could result in significant lease termination costs, write-offs of equipment and leasehold improvements, and employee-related costs. The success of our consumer-direct operations also depends on the Company’s ability to identify and adapt to changes in consumer spending patterns and retail shopping preferences, including the shift from brick and mortar to eCommerce and mobile channels, reductions in mall traffic, and the Company’s ability to effectively develop its eCommerce and mobile channels. The Company’s failure to successfully respond to these factors could adversely affect the Company’s consumer-direct business, as well as damage its reputation and brands, and could materially affect the Company’s results of operations and financial position.
Expanding the Company’s brands into new markets and expanding its consumer-direct operations may be difficult and costly, and unsuccessful efforts to do so may adversely affect the Company’s brands and business.
As part of the Company’s growth strategy, it seeks to enhance the positioning of its brands, to extend its brands into complementary product categories, to expand geographically and to expand its consumer-direct operations. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully implement any or all of these growth strategies, and unsuccessful efforts to do so could have an adverse effect on its results of operations and financial position.
Part of the future growth of the Company’s consumer-direct operations is significantly dependent on the Company’s ability to operate stores in desirable locations at reasonable lease costs and to successfully develop its eCommerce and mobile platforms. The Company cannot be sure as to when or whether desirable brick and mortar locations will become available at reasonable costs or whether its eCommerce and mobile platforms will be successful. Further, if the Company is unable to renew or replace its existing store leases or enter into leases for new stores at attractive locations on favorable terms, or if the Company violates any of the terms of its current leases, its growth and profitability could be harmed.
Weather conditions affect the Company’s business.
The Company markets and sells footwear and apparel suited for specific seasons, such as sandals and flats for the summer season and boots for the winter season. If the weather conditions for a particular season vary significantly from those typical for the season, such as an unusually cold and rainy summer, or an unusually warm and dry winter, consumer demand for seasonally appropriate products could be adversely affected. Lower demand for seasonally appropriate merchandise may result in excess inventory, forcing the Company to sell these products at significantly discounted prices, which would adversely affect the Company’s results of operations. Conversely, if weather conditions permit the Company to sell seasonal products early in the season, this may reduce inventory levels needed to meet customers’ needs later in that same season. Consequently, the Company’s results of operations are highly dependent on future weather conditions and its ability to react to changes in weather conditions. Weather conditions can also impact the Company’s ability to distribute its products on a timely basis.
Changes in general economic conditions and/or the credit markets affecting our distributors, suppliers and retail customers could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations and financial position.
Changes in general economic conditions and/or the credit markets could adversely impact the Company’s future results of operations and financial position. Negative trends in global economic conditions may adversely impact our third-party distributors’, suppliers’ and retailers’ ability meet their obligations and provide the Company with the materials and services it needs at the prices, terms or levels as such third-parties have historically, which could adversely impact the Company’s ability to meet our consumers’ demand results of operations and financial position.
In addition, if the Company’s third-party distributors, suppliers and retailers are not able to obtain financing on favorable terms, or at all, they may delay or cancel orders for the Company’s products, or fail to meet their obligations to the Company in a timely manner, either of which could adversely impact the Company’s sales, cash flow and operating results.
Unfavorable findings resulting from a government audit could subject the Company to a variety of penalties and sanctions, and could negatively impact its future revenues.
The U.S. government has the right to audit the Company’s performance under its government contracts. If a government audit discovers improper or illegal activities, the Company could be subject to civil and criminal penalties and administrative sanctions, including termination of contracts, forfeiture of profits, suspension of payments, fines, and suspension or debarment from doing business with U.S. government agencies. The Company could also suffer serious harm to its reputation if the U.S. government alleges that the Company acted in an improper or illegal manner, whether or not any such allegations have merit. If, as the result

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of an audit or for any other reason, the Company is suspended or barred from contracting with the U.S. government generally, or any specific agency thereof, if the Company’s reputation or relationship with government agencies is impaired, or if the U.S. government otherwise ceases doing business with the Company or significantly decreases the amount of business it does with the Company, the Company’s revenue and profitability would decrease. The Company is also subject to customs and other audits in various jurisdictions where it operates. Negative audit findings in foreign jurisdictions similarly could have an adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial position.
An increase in the Company’s effective tax rate or negative determinations by domestic or foreign tax authorities could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial position.
A significant amount of the Company’s earnings are generated by its Canadian, European and Asia Pacific subsidiaries and, to a lesser extent, in jurisdictions that are not subject to income tax. As a result, the Company’s income tax expense has historically differed from the tax computed at the U.S. statutory income tax rate due to discrete items and because the Company does not provide for U.S. taxes on earnings it considers to be permanently reinvested in foreign operations. The Company’s future effective tax rates could be unfavorably affected by a number of factors, including, but not limited to, changes in the tax rates in jurisdictions in which the Company generates income; changes in, or in the interpretation of, tax rules and regulations in the jurisdictions in which the Company does business; decreases in the amount of earnings in countries with low statutory tax rates; or if the Company repatriates foreign earnings (or if U.S. tax laws change to tax foreign earnings) for which no provision for U.S. taxes has previously been made. An increase in the Company’s effective tax rate could have a material adverse effect on its results of operations and financial position.
In addition, the Company’s income tax returns are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and other domestic and foreign tax authorities. The Company regularly assesses the likelihood of outcomes resulting from these examinations to determine the adequacy of its provision for income taxes, and establishes reserves for potential adjustments that may result from these examinations. There can be no assurance that the final determination of any of these examinations will not have an adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial position.
Failure of the Company’s third-party licensees and distributors to meet sales goals or to make timely payments on amounts owed to the Company could adversely affect the Company’s financial performance.
In many international markets, independent third-party licensees or distributors sell the Company’s products. Failure by the Company’s licensees or distributors to meet planned annual sales goals or to make timely payments on amounts owed to the Company could have an adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial position. If a change in licensee or distributor becomes necessary, it may be difficult and costly to locate an acceptable substitute distributor or licensee and the Company may experience increased costs, as well as substantial disruption and a resulting loss of sales and brand equity in the market where such licensee or distributor operates.
The Company’s reputation and competitive position are dependent on its third-party manufacturers, distributors, licensees and others complying with applicable laws and ethical standards.
The Company cannot ensure that its independent contract manufacturers, third-party distributors, third-party licensees and others with which it does business to comply with all applicable laws and ethical standards relating to working conditions and other matters. If a party with which the Company does business is found to have violated applicable laws or ethical standards, the Company could receive negative publicity that could damage its reputation, negatively affect the value of its brands and subject the Company to legal risks.
In addition, the Company relies on its third-party licensees to help preserve the value of the Company’s brands. The Company’s attempts to protect its brands through approval rights over design, production processes, quality, packaging, merchandising, distribution, advertising and promotion of its licensed products may not be successful, as the Company cannot completely control the use by its licensees of its licensed brands. The misuse of a brand by a licensee could adversely affect the value of such brand.
Global political and economic uncertainty could adversely impact the Company’s business.
The Company’s products are marketed in approximately 200 countries and territories, and the Company sources a substantial majority of its products offshore. Concerns regarding acts of terrorism or regional and international conflicts have created significant global economic and political uncertainties that may have material and adverse effects on consumer demand, acceptance of U.S. brands in international markets, foreign sourcing of products, shipping and transportation, product imports and exports, and the sale of products in foreign markets, any of which could adversely affect the Company’s ability to source, manufacture, distribute and sell its products. The Company is subject to risks related to doing business in developing countries and economically volatile areas. These risks include social, political and economic instability, nationalization by local governmental authorities of the Company’s, its distributors’, or its licensees’ assets and operations; slower payment of invoices; and restrictions on the Company’s ability to repatriate foreign currency or receive payment of amounts owed by third-party distributors and licensees. In addition,

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commercial laws in these areas may not be well developed or consistently administered, and new unfavorable laws may be retroactively applied. Any of these risks could have an adverse impact on the Company’s prospects and results of operations in these areas.
Global capital markets could enter a period of severe disruption and instability, which could have a material adverse effect on debt and equity markets in the United States, which could have a materially negative impact on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
The U.S. and global capital markets have experienced periods of disruption characterized by the freezing of available credit, a lack of liquidity in the debt capital markets, significant losses in the principal value of investments, the re-pricing of credit risk in the broadly syndicated credit market, the failure of major financial institutions and general volatility in the financial markets. During these periods of disruption, general economic conditions deteriorated with material and adverse consequences for the broader financial and credit markets, and the availability of debt and equity capital for the market as a whole, and financial services firms in particular, was reduced significantly. These conditions may recur for a prolonged period of time or materially worsen in the future. In addition, signs of deteriorating sovereign debt conditions in Europe and concerns of economic slowdown in China create uncertainty that could lead to further disruptions and instability. The Company may in the future have difficulty accessing capital, and a severe disruption in the global financial markets, deterioration in credit and financing conditions or uncertainty regarding U.S. government spending and deficit levels, European sovereign debt, Chinese economic slowdown or other global economic conditions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
If the Company is unsuccessful in establishing and protecting its intellectual property, the value of its brands could be adversely affected.
The Company’s ability to remain competitive is dependent upon its continued ability to secure and protect trademarks, patents and other intellectual property rights in the U.S. and internationally for all of the Company’s lines of business. The Company relies on a combination of trade secret, patent, trademark, copyright and other laws, license agreements and other contractual provisions and technical measures to protect its intellectual property rights; however, some countries’ laws do not protect intellectual property rights to the same extent U.S. laws do.
The Company’s business could be significantly harmed if it is not able to protect its intellectual property, or if a court found it to be infringing on other persons’ intellectual property rights. Any intellectual property lawsuits or threatened lawsuits in which the Company is involved, either as a plaintiff or as a defendant, could cost the Company a significant amount of time and money and distract management’s attention from operating the Company’s business. If the Company does not prevail on any intellectual property claims, then it may have to change its manufacturing processes, products or trade names, any of which could reduce its profitability.
In addition, some of the Company’s branded footwear operations are operated pursuant to licensing agreements with third-party trademark owners. These agreements are subject to early termination for breach. These agreements also expire by their terms and as the agreements expire, the Company may be forced to stop selling the related products. Expiration or early termination by the licensor of any of these license agreements could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial position.
The Company’s inability to attract and retain executive managers and other key employees, or the loss of one or more executive managers or other key employees, could adversely affect the Company’s business.
The Company depends on its executive management and other key employees. In the footwear, apparel and consumer-direct industries, competition for key executive talent is intense, and the Company’s failure to identify, attract or retain executive managers or other key employees could adversely affect its business. The Company must offer and maintain competitive compensation packages to effectively recruit and retain such individuals. Further, the loss of one or more executive managers or other key employees, or the Company’s failure to successfully implement succession planning, could adversely affect the Company, its results of operations or financial position.
Regulatory and other changes may lead to higher employment and pension costs for the Company.
Changes in employment laws and regulations, and other factors could increase the Company’s overall employment costs. The Company’s employment costs include costs relating to health care and retirement benefits, including U.S.-based defined benefit pension plans. The annual cost of benefits can vary significantly depending on a number of factors, including changes in the assumed or actual rate of return on pension plan assets, a change in the discount rate or mortality assumptions used to determine the annual service cost related to the defined benefit plans, a change in the method or timing of meeting pension funding obligations and the rate of health care cost inflation. Increases in the Company’s overall employment and pension costs could have an adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial position.

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The Company’s marketing programs, eCommerce initiatives and use of consumer information are governed by an evolving set of laws, industry standards and enforcement trends and unfavorable changes in those laws, standards or trends, or the Company’s failure to comply with existing or future laws, could substantially harm the Company’s business and results of operations.
The Company collects, maintains and uses data provided to it through its online activities and other consumer interactions in its business. The Company’s current and future marketing programs depend on its ability to collect, maintain and use this information, and its ability to do so is subject to certain contractual restrictions in third party contracts as well as evolving international, federal and state laws, industry standards and enforcement trends. The Company strives to comply with all applicable laws and other legal obligations relating to privacy, data protection and consumer protection, including those relating to the use of data for marketing purposes. It is possible, however, that these requirements may be interpreted and applied in a manner that is inconsistent from one jurisdiction to another, may conflict with other rules or may conflict with the Company’s practices. If so, the Company may suffer damage to its reputation and be subject to proceedings or actions against it by governmental entities or others. Any such proceeding or action could hurt the Company’s reputation, force it to spend significant amounts to defend its practices, distract its management, increase its costs of doing business, and result in monetary liability.
In addition, as data privacy and marketing laws change, the Company may incur additional costs to ensure it remains in compliance. If applicable data privacy and marketing laws become more restrictive at the federal or state level, the Company’s compliance costs may increase, the Company’s ability to effectively engage customers via personalized marketing may decrease, its opportunities for growth may be curtailed by its compliance capabilities or reputational harm and its potential liability for security breaches may increase.
Because the Company processes and transmits payment card information, the Company is subject to the Payment Card Industry (“PCI”) Data Security Standard (the “Standard”), and card brand operating rules (“Card Rules”). The Standard is a comprehensive set of requirements for enhancing payment account data security that was developed by the PCI Security Standards Council to help facilitate the broad adoption of consistent data security measures. The Company is required by payment card network rules to comply with the Standard, and the Company’s failure to do so may result in fines or restrictions on its ability to accept payment cards. Under certain circumstances specified in the payment card network rules, the Company may be required to submit to periodic audits, self-assessments or other assessments of its compliance with the Standard. Such activities may reveal that the Company has failed to comply with the Standard. If an audit, self-assessment or other test determines that the Company needs to take steps to remediate any deficiencies, such remediation efforts may distract the Company’s management team and require it to undertake costly and time consuming remediation efforts. In addition, even if the Company complies with the Standard, there is no assurance that it will be protected from a security breach. Further, changes in technology and processing procedures may result in changes in the Card Rules. Such changes may require the Company to make significant investments in operating systems and technology that may impact business. Failure to keep up with changes in technology could result in loss of business. Failure to comply with the Standard or Card Rules could result in loosing certification under the PCI standards and an inability to process payments.
Disruption of the Company’s information technology systems could adversely affect the Company’s business.
The Company’s information technology systems are critical to the operations of its business. Any interruption, unauthorized access, impairment or loss of data integrity or malfunction of these systems could severely impact the Company’s business, including delays in product fulfillment and reduced efficiency in operations. In addition, costs and potential problems and interruptions associated with the implementation of new or upgraded systems, or with maintenance or adequate support of existing systems, could disrupt or reduce the efficiency of the Company’s operations. Disruption to the Company’s information technology systems may be caused by natural disasters, accidents, power disruptions, telecommunications failures, acts of terrorism or war, denial-of-service attacks, computer viruses, physical or electronic break-ins, or similar events or disruptions. System redundancy may be ineffective or inadequate, and the Company’s disaster recovery planning may not be sufficient for all eventualities. Such failures or disruptions could prevent access to the Company’s online services and preclude store transactions. System failures and disruptions could also impede the manufacturing and shipping of products, transactions processing and financial reporting. Additionally, the Company may be materially adversely affected if it is unable to improve, upgrade, maintain, and expand its technology systems.
The Company’s and its vendors’ databases containing personal information and payment card data of the Company’s customers, employees and other third parties, could be breached, which could subject the Company to adverse publicity, litigation, fines and expenses. If the Company is unable to comply with bank and payment card industry standards, its operations could be adversely affected.
The protection of the Company’s customer, associate and Company data is critically important to the Company. The Company relies on its networks, databases, systems and processes, as well as those of third parties such as vendors, to protect its proprietary information and information about its customers, employees and vendors. The Company’s customers and associates have a high expectation that the Company will adequately safeguard and protect their sensitive personal information. The Company has become increasingly centralized and dependent upon automated information technology processes. In addition, a portion of the Company’s

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business operations is conducted electronically, increasing the risk of attack or interception that could cause loss or misuse of data, system failures or disruption of operations. If unauthorized parties gain access to these networks or databases, they may be able to steal, publish, delete or modify the Company’s private and sensitive third-party or employee information. Improper activities by third parties, exploitation of encryption technology, new data-hacking tools and discoveries and other events or developments may result in a future compromise or breach of the Company’s networks, payment card terminals or other payment systems. In particular, the techniques used by criminals to obtain unauthorized access to sensitive data change frequently and often are not recognized until launched against a target; accordingly, the Company may be unable to anticipate these techniques or implement adequate preventative measures. Any failure to maintain the security of the Company’s customers’ sensitive information, or data belonging to it or its suppliers, could put it at a competitive disadvantage, result in deterioration of its customers’ confidence in it, and subject it to potential litigation, liability, fines and penalties, resulting in a possible material adverse impact on its financial condition and results of operations. While the Company maintains insurance coverage that may, subject to policy terms and conditions cover certain aspects of cyber risks, such insurance coverage may be insufficient to cover all losses and would not remedy damage to its reputation. In addition, employees may intentionally or inadvertently cause data or security breaches that result in unauthorized release of personal or confidential information. In such circumstances, the Company could be held liable to its customers, other parties or employees, be subject to regulatory or other actions for breaching privacy laws or failing to adequately protect such information or respond to a breach. This could result in costly investigations and litigation, civil or criminal penalties, operational changes and negative publicity that could adversely affect the Company’s reputation and its results of operations and financial position. In addition, if the Company is unable to comply with bank and payment card industry security standards, it may be subject to fines, restrictions and expulsion from card acceptance programs, which could adversely affect the Company’s consumer-direct operations.
If the Company encounters problems affecting its logistics and distribution systems, its ability to deliver its products to the market could be adversely affected.
The Company relies on owned or independently operated distribution facilities to transport, warehouse and ship products to its customers. The Company’s logistic and distribution systems include computer-controlled and automated equipment, which may be subject to a number of risks related to security or computer viruses, the proper operation of software and hardware, power interruptions or other system failures. Substantially all of the Company’s products are distributed from a relatively small number of locations. Therefore, its operations could be interrupted by earthquakes, floods, fires or other natural disasters near its distribution centers. The Company’s business interruption insurance may not adequately protect the Company from the adverse effects that could be caused by significant disruptions affecting its distribution facilities, such as the long-term loss of customers or an erosion of brand image. In addition, the Company’s distribution capacity is dependent on the timely performance of services by third parties, including the transportation of products to and from the Company’s distribution facilities. If the Company encounters problems affecting its distribution system, its ability to meet customer expectations, manage inventory, complete sales and achieve operating efficiencies could be materially adversely affected.
The Company faces risks associated with its growth strategy and acquiring businesses.
The Company has expanded its products and markets in part through strategic acquisitions, and it may continue to do so in the future, depending on its ability to identify and successfully pursue suitable acquisition candidates. Acquisitions involve numerous risks, including risks inherent in entering new markets in which the Company may not have prior experience; potential loss of significant customers or key personnel of the acquired business; not obtaining the expected benefits; managing geographically-remote operations; and potential diversion of management’s attention from other aspects of the Company’s business operations. Acquisitions may also cause the Company to incur debt or result in dilutive issuances of its equity securities, write-offs of goodwill and substantial amortization expenses associated with other intangible assets. The Company may not be able to obtain financing for future acquisitions on favorable terms, making any such acquisitions more expensive. Any such financing may have terms that restrict the Company’s operations. The Company cannot provide assurance that it will be able to successfully integrate the operations of any acquired businesses into its operations and achieve the expected benefits of any acquisitions. The failure to successfully integrate newly acquired businesses or achieve the expected benefits of strategic acquisitions in the future could have an adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial position. The Company may not consummate a potential acquisition for a variety of reasons, but it may nonetheless incur material costs in the preliminary stages of such an acquisition that it cannot recover.

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Maintenance and growth of the Company’s business depends upon the availability of adequate capital.
The maintenance and growth of the Company’s business depends on the availability of adequate capital, which in turn depends in large part on cash flow generated by the Company’s business and the availability of equity and debt financing. The Company cannot provide assurance that its operations will generate positive cash flow or that it will be able to obtain equity or debt financing on acceptable terms, or at all. Further, the Company cannot provide assurance that it will be able to finance any expansion plans.
An impairment of goodwill or other acquired intangibles could have an adverse material impact to the Company’s results of operations.
The carrying value of goodwill represents the fair value of acquired businesses in excess of identifiable assets and liabilities as of the acquisition date. The carrying value of other intangibles represents the fair value of trade names and other acquired intangibles as of the acquisition date. Goodwill and other acquired intangibles expected to contribute indefinitely to the Company’s cash flows are not amortized, but must be evaluated by the Company at least annually for impairment. If the carrying amounts of one or more of these assets are not recoverable based upon discounted cash flow and market-approach analyses, the carrying amounts of such assets are impaired by the estimated difference between the carrying value and estimated fair value. An impairment charge could materially affect the Company’s results of operations.
There is no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully implement its realignment plan.
The Company intends to close certain retail stores, consolidate certain consumer-direct support functions and implement certain other organizational changes (the “2014 Plan”). There can be no assurance that the Company will successfully implement the 2014 Plan within the estimated range of charges, within the estimated time frame, or that the Company will realize some or all of the estimated profitability improvements or other benefits from the 2014 Plan. There is also no assurance that the Company will be able to re-invest any future cost savings generated from the 2014 Plan into other initiatives or that any such investment will improve the Company’s operations.
Changes in government regulation may increase the Company’s costs of compliance and failure to comply with government regulations or other standards may adversely affect its brands and business.
The Company’s business is affected by changes in government and regulatory policies in the U.S. and in foreign jurisdictions. New requirements relating to product safety and testing and new environmental requirements, as well as changes in tax laws, duties, tariffs and quotas, could have a negative impact on the Company’s ability to produce and market footwear at competitive prices. Failure to comply with such regulations, as well as comply with ethical, social, product, labor and environmental standards, could also jeopardize the Company’s reputation and potentially lead to various adverse consumer actions, including boycotts. Any negative publicity about these types of concerns may reduce demand for the Company’s products. Damage to the Company’s reputation or loss of consumer confidence for any of these or other reasons could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations, as well as require additional resources to rebuild its reputation and brand value.
The Company’s operations are subject to environmental and workplace safety laws and regulations, and costs or claims related to these requirements could adversely affect the Company’s business.
The Company’s operations are subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment, including those governing the discharge of pollutants into the air, soil and water, the management and disposal of solid and hazardous materials and wastes, employee exposure to hazards in the workplace, and the investigation and remediation of contamination resulting from releases of hazardous materials. Failure to comply with legal requirements could result in, among other things, revocation of required licenses, administrative enforcement actions, fines and civil and criminal liability. The Company may incur investigation, remediation or other costs related to releases of hazardous materials or other environmental conditions at its currently or formerly owned or operated properties, regardless of whether such environmental conditions were created by the Company or a third-party, such as a prior owner or tenant. The Company has incurred, and continues to incur, costs to address soil and groundwater contamination at some locations. If such issues become more expensive to address, or if new issues arise, they could increase the Company’s expenses, generate negative publicity, or otherwise adversely affect the Company.
The disruption, expense and potential liability associated with existing and future litigation against the Company could adversely affect its reputation, financial position or results of operations.
The Company may in the ordinary course of business be named as a defendant from time to time in lawsuits and regulatory actions relating to its business. Due to the inherent uncertainties of litigation and regulatory proceedings, the Company cannot accurately predict the ultimate outcome of any such proceedings. An unfavorable outcome could have an adverse impact on the Company’s business, financial position and results of operations. In addition, regardless of the outcome of any litigation or regulatory proceedings, such proceedings are expensive and may require that the Company devote substantial resources and executive time to the defense of such proceedings.

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Provisions of Delaware law and the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws could prevent or delay a change in control or change in management that could be beneficial to the Company’s stockholders.
Provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as well as the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws, could discourage, delay or prevent a merger, acquisition or other change in control of the Company. These provisions are intended to provide the Company’s Board of Directors with continuity and also serve to encourage negotiations between the Company’s Board of Directors and any potential hostile acquirer. Such provisions include a Board of Directors that is classified so that only one-third of directors stand for election each year. These provisions could also discourage proxy contests and make it more difficult for stockholders to elect directors and take other corporate actions that may be beneficial to the Company’s stockholders.
There are risks, including stock market volatility, inherent in owning the Company’s common stock.
The market price and volume of the Company’s common stock have been, and may continue to be, subject to significant fluctuations. These fluctuations may arise from general stock market conditions, the impact of risk factors described in this Item 1A on the Company’s financial position and results of operations, or a change in opinion in the market regarding the Company’s business prospects or other factors, many of which may be outside the Company’s immediate control. Changes in the amounts and frequency of share repurchases or dividends also could adversely affect the value of the Company’s common stock.
The Company’s quarterly sales and earnings may fluctuate, and the Company or securities analysts may not accurately estimate the Company’s financial results, which may result in volatility in, or a decline in, the Company's stock price.
The Company’s quarterly sales and earnings can vary due to a number of factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, including the following:
The wholesale business, sales of footwear are dependent on orders from major customers, who may change delivery schedules, change the mix of products they order or cancel orders without penalty.
Wholesale customers set the delivery schedule for shipments of the Company’s products, which could cause shifts of sales between quarters.
Estimated annual tax rate is based on projections of our domestic and international operating results for the year, which the Company reviews and revises as necessary each quarter.
Earnings are also sensitive to a number of factors that are beyond the Company’s control, including manufacturing and transportation costs, changes in product sales mix, geographic sales trends, weather conditions, customer demand, consumer sentiment and currency exchange rate fluctuations.
As a result of these specific and other general factors, the Company’s operating results will vary from quarter to quarter and the results for any particular quarter may not be indicative of results for the full year. Any shortfall in sales or earnings from the levels expected by investors or securities analysts could cause a decrease in the trading price of the Company’s common stock.
In addition, various securities analysts follow the Company’s financial results and issue reports. These reports include information about the Company’s historical financial results as well as the analysts’ estimates of future performance. The analysts’ estimates are based upon their own opinions and are often different from the Company’s estimates or expectations. If the Company’s operating results are below the estimates or expectations of public market analysts and investors, the Company’s stock price could decline.
The Company’s indebtedness could adversely affect the Company.
The Company’s current indebtedness could adversely affect the Company by decreasing its business flexibility and increasing its borrowing costs. The Company has debt outstanding under a senior secured credit agreement (“Credit Agreement”) and senior notes. The Credit Agreement and the indenture governing the senior notes contain customary restrictive covenants imposing operating and financial restrictions on the Company, including restrictions that may limit the Company’s ability to engage in acts that may be in its long-term best interests. These covenants restrict the ability of the Company and certain of its subsidiaries to, among other things: incur or guarantee indebtedness; incur liens; pay dividends or repurchase stock; enter into transactions with affiliates; consummate asset sales, acquisitions or mergers; prepay certain other indebtedness; or make investments. In addition, the restrictive covenants in the Credit Agreement require the Company to maintain specified financial ratios and satisfy other financial condition tests.
These restrictive covenants may limit the Company’s ability to finance future operations or capital needs or to engage in other business activities. The Company’s ability to comply with any financial covenants could be materially affected by events beyond its control, and there can be no assurance that the Company will satisfy any such requirements. If the Company fails to comply with these covenants, it may need to seek waivers or amendments of such covenants, seek alternative or additional sources of financing or reduce its expenditures. The Company may be unable to obtain such waivers, amendments or alternative or additional financing on favorable terms or at all.

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The Company’s results of operations, financial position, and cash flows, and its ability to conduct business in international markets may be affected by legal, regulatory, political, and economic risks.
The Company’s ability to conduct business in new and existing international markets is subject to legal, regulatory, political, and economic risks. These include:
the burdens of complying with foreign laws and regulations, including trade and labor restrictions;
compliance with U.S. and other countries’ laws relating to foreign operations, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”), which prohibits U.S. companies from making improper payments to foreign officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business;
unexpected changes in regulatory requirements; and
new tariffs or other barriers in some international markets.
The Company is also subject to general political and economic risks in connection with our international operations, including:
political instability and terrorist attacks;
differences in business culture;
different laws governing relationships with employees and business partners;
changes in diplomatic and trade relationships; and
general economic fluctuations in specific countries or markets.
The Company cannot predict whether quotas, duties, taxes, or other similar restrictions will be imposed by the United States or foreign countries upon the import or export of our products in the future, or what effect any of these actions would have, if any, on the Company’s business, financial condition, or results of operations. Changes in regulatory, geopolitical, social or economic policies and other factors may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business in the future or may require us to exit a particular market or significantly modify our current business practices.
The Company operates in many different international markets and could be adversely affected by violations of the FCPA and similar worldwide anti-corruption laws.
The FCPA and similar worldwide anti-corruption laws, generally prohibit companies and their intermediaries from making improper payments to non-U.S. officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. The Company’s internal policies mandate compliance with these anti-corruption laws. Despite training and compliance programs, the Company cannot be assured that the internal control policies and procedures currently in place will always protect it from reckless or criminal acts committed by our employees or agents.
The Company’s continued expansion internationally, including in developing countries, could increase the risk of FCPA violations in the future. Violations of these laws, or allegations of such violations, could disrupt the Company’s business and result in a material adverse effect on the results of operations or financial condition.
Item 1B.
Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 2.
Properties
The Company operates its domestic administration, sales and marketing operations primarily from an owned facility of approximately 225,000 square feet in Rockford, Michigan, as well as a leased facility of approximately 147,000 square feet in Lexington, Massachusetts. The Company’s manufacturing operations are conducted at owned facilities in Michigan. The Company operates its distribution operations primarily through an owned distribution facility of approximately 520,000 square feet in Louisville, Kentucky; a leased distribution center in Howard City, Michigan, of approximately 460,000 square feet; a leased distribution center in Cedar Springs, Michigan, of approximately 360,000 square feet; an owned distribution center in Rockford, Michigan, of approximately 305,000 square feet; a leased distribution center in Ontario, Canada, of approximately 342,000 square feet; and a leased distribution facility of approximately 200,000 square feet in Brookville, Ohio.
The Company also leases and owns various other offices and distribution centers throughout the U.S. to meet its operational requirements. In addition, the Company operates 390 retail stores through leases with various third-party landlords in the U.S. and Canada collectively occupying approximately 817,000 square feet.

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The Company conducts its international operations in Canada, the United Kingdom, China, Hong Kong and continental Europe through leased distribution centers, offices and/or showrooms. The Company believes that its current facilities are suitable and adequate to meet its current needs.
Item 3.
Legal Proceedings
The Company is involved in litigation and various legal matters arising in the normal course of business, including certain environmental compliance activities. The Company has considered facts related to legal and regulatory matters and advice of counsel handling these matters, and does not believe the ultimate resolution of such proceedings will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
Item 4.
Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
Supplemental Item.        Executive Officers of the Registrant
The following table lists the names and ages of the Executive Officers of the Company and their positions held with the Company as of February 19, 2016. The information provided below the table lists the business experience of each such Executive Officer for at least the past five years. All Executive Officers serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors of the Company, or, if not appointed by the Board of Directors, they serve at the pleasure of management.
Name
 
Age
 
Positions held with the Company
Ted S. Gedra
 
60
 
President, Wolverine Heritage Group
Brendan M. Gibbons
 
40
 
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Melissa A. Howell
 
49
 
Senior Vice President, Global Human Resources
Michael Jeppesen
 
56
 
President, Global Operations Group
Blake W. Krueger
 
62
 
Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President
Michael D. Stornant
 
49
 
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Richard J. Woodworth
 
58
 
President, Wolverine Boston Group
James D. Zwiers
 
48
 
President, Wolverine Outdoor & Lifestyle Group
Ted S. Gedra has served the Company as President, Wolverine Heritage Group since February 2016. From 2011 to February 2016, he served as President, Heritage Group, which was realigned into the Wolverine Heritage Group. From 2006 to 2010, he served as President of the Wolverine Footwear Group.
Brendan M. Gibbons has served the Company as Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary since April 2014. From 2009 to October 2013, he served as Senior Vice President of Legal and Corporate Affairs, General Counsel, and Secretary for Carter’s Inc., a global branded marketer of apparel for babies and young children.
Melissa A. Howell has served the Company as Senior Vice President, Global Human Resources since October 2014. From February 2013 to May 2014, she served as Senior Vice President, Global Human Resources for General Motors, one of the world’s largest automobile manufacturers. She served General Motors as Executive Director, North America Human Resources from 2011 to 2013 and as Human Resources Director, Global Sales and Marketing from 2009 to 2011.
Michael Jeppesen has served the Company as President, Global Operations Group since January 2012. From 2005 to 2011, he was Senior Vice President, Design and Sourcing, for Collective Brands, Inc., a wholesaler and retailer of footwear and related accessories.
Blake W. Krueger has served the Company as Chairman since January 2010 and as Chief Executive Officer and President since April 2007.
Michael D. Stornant has served the Company as Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since June 2015. From January 2013 through June 2015, he served as Vice President, Corporate Finance. From 2011 until January 2013, he served as Vice President and General Manager of Bates footwear. From 2009 until 2011, he served as Vice President of Corporate Planning and Analysis.

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Richard J. Woodworth has served the Company as President, Wolverine Boston Group since February 2016. From January 2016 to February 2016, he served as President, Lifestyle Group, which was realigned into the Wolverine Boston Group. From 2006 to 2015, he served as President, Saucony.
James D. Zwiers has served the Company as President, Wolverine Outdoor & Lifestyle Group since February 2016. From June 2014 through February 2016, he served as Senior Vice President and President, International Group. From January 2013 to June 2014, he served as Senior Vice President and President, Performance Group. From March 2009 until January 2013, he served as Senior Vice President and President, Outdoor Group, which was realigned into the Performance Group.
PART II
Item 5.
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The Company’s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “WWW.” On July 11, 2013, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a two-for-one stock split in the form of a stock dividend that was paid on November 1, 2013 to stockholders of record on October 1, 2013. All share and per share data within this Form 10-K have been adjusted for all periods presented to reflect the stock split. The following table shows the high and low stock prices on the New York Stock Exchange and dividends declared by quarter for fiscal years 2015 and 2014. The number of stockholders of record on February 19, 2016, was 1,718.
  
Fiscal 2015
 
Fiscal 2014
Stock price
High
 
Low
 
High
 
Low
First quarter
$
32.57

 
$
26.86

 
$
34.10

 
$
25.13

Second quarter
35.20

 
28.54

 
30.00

 
25.06

Third quarter
29.94

 
24.98

 
27.47

 
24.00

Fourth quarter
27.24

 
16.70

 
30.75

 
24.21

 
Fiscal Year
Cash dividends declared per share
2015
 
2014
First quarter
$
0.06

 
$
0.06

Second quarter
0.06

 
0.06

Third quarter
0.06

 
0.06

Fourth quarter
0.06

 
0.06

A quarterly dividend of $0.06 per share was declared on February 10, 2016. The Company currently expects that comparable cash dividends will be paid in future quarters in fiscal 2016.
The Company’s Credit Agreement and senior notes indenture impose certain restrictions on the Company’s ability to pay cash dividends. The Company may not pay a dividend if the Company is in default under the Credit Agreement or the indenture, or if payment of the dividend would cause a default under the Credit Agreement or the indenture, including the Company’s covenant to meet prescribed leverage ratios.
See Item 12: "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters" for information with respect to the Company’s equity compensation plans.
Stock Performance Graph
The following graph compares the five-year cumulative total stockholder return on the Company’s common stock to the Standard & Poor’s Small Cap 600 Index and the Standard & Poor’s 600 Footwear Index, assuming an investment of $100 at the beginning of the period indicated. The Company is part of both the Standard & Poor’s Small Cap 600 Index and the Standard & Poor’s 600 Footwear Index. This Stock Performance Graph shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Company’s SEC filings and shall not constitute soliciting material or otherwise be considered filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

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Five-Year Cumulative Total Return Summary




The following table provides information regarding the Company’s purchases of its own common stock during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Period
Total Number of Shares Purchased
 
Average Price Paid per Share
 
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs
 
Maximum Dollar Amount that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
Period 10 (September 13, 2015 to October 10, 2015)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common Stock Repurchase Program (1)

 
$

 

 
$
187,408,187

Employee Transactions (2)
2,243

 
$
21.55

 
 
 
 
Period 11 (October 11, 2015 to November 7, 2015)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common Stock Repurchase Program (1)
4,357,196

 
$
18.36

 
4,357,196

 
$
107,408,198

Employee Transactions (2)

 
$

 
 
 
 
Period 12 (November 8, 2015 to December 5, 2015)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common Stock Repurchase Program (1)

 
$

 

 
$
107,408,198

Employee Transactions (2)
9,729

 
$
18.27

 
 
 
 
Period 13 (December 6, 2015 to January 2, 2016)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common Stock Repurchase Program (1)

 
$

 

 
$
107,408,198

Employee Transactions (2)
4,942

 
$
17.40

 
 
 
 
Total for Fourth Quarter ended January 2, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common Stock Repurchase Program (1)
4,357,196

 
$
18.36

 
4,357,196

 
$
107,408,198

Employee Transactions (2)
16,914

 
$
18.45

 
 
 
 
(1) 
The Company’s Board of Directors approved a common stock repurchase program on February 12, 2014. This program authorizes the repurchase of up to $200 million of common stock over a four-year period, although the annual amount of any stock repurchases are restricted under the terms of the Company's Credit Agreement and senior notes indenture.
(2) 
Employee transactions include: (1) shares delivered or attested to in satisfaction of the exercise price and/or tax withholding obligations by holders of employee stock options who exercised options, and (2) restricted shares withheld to offset statutory minimum tax withholding that occurs upon vesting of restricted shares. The Company’s employee stock compensation plans

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provide that the shares delivered or attested to, or withheld, shall be valued at the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date the relevant transaction occurs.
Item 6.
Selected Financial Data
Five-Year Operating and Financial Summary (1) 
 
Fiscal Year
(In millions, except per share data)
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012 (4)
 
2011
Summary of Operations
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenue
$
2,691.6

 
$
2,761.1

 
$
2,691.1

 
$
1,640.8

 
$
1,409.1

Net earnings attributable to Wolverine World Wide, Inc.
122.8

 
133.1

 
100.4

 
80.7

 
123.3

Per share of common stock:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic net earnings (2)(3)
$
1.22

 
$
1.33

 
$
1.01

 
$
0.84

 
$
1.27

Diluted net earnings (2)(3)
1.20

 
1.30

 
0.99

 
0.81

 
1.24

Cash dividends declared (3)
0.24

 
0.24

 
0.24

 
0.24

 
0.24

Financial Position at Year-End
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total assets
$
2,444.6

 
$
2,504.5

 
$
2,622.2

 
$
2,614.4

 
$
851.7

Debt
820.0

 
900.8

 
1,150.0

 
1,250.0

 
11.5

(1) 
This summary should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the related notes, which are included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
(2) 
Basic earnings per share are based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the year after adjustment for nonvested restricted common stock. Diluted earnings per share assume the exercise of dilutive stock options and the vesting of all outstanding restricted stock.
(3) 
All per share data has been presented to reflect the two-for-one stock split in the form of a stock dividend paid on November 1, 2013 to stockholders of record on October 1, 2013.
(4) 
Beginning October 9, 2012, the reported amounts include the operating results of the Performance + Lifestyle business of Collective Brands, Inc. ("PLG"), which the Company acquired in October 2012.
Item 7.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
OVERVIEW
BUSINESS OVERVIEW
The Company is a leading global designer, manufacturer and marketer of branded footwear, apparel and accessories. The Company’s vision statement is “to build a family of the most admired performance and lifestyle brands on earth.” The Company seeks to fulfill this vision by offering innovative products and compelling brand propositions; complementing its footwear brands with strong apparel and accessories offerings; expanding its global consumer-direct footprint; and delivering supply chain excellence.
The Company’s portfolio consists of 14 brands that are marketed in approximately 200 countries and territories at January 2, 2016, including through owned operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom and certain countries in continental Europe. In other regions (Asia Pacific, Latin America, portions of Europe, the Middle East and Africa), the Company relies on a network of third-party distributors, licensees and joint ventures. At January 2, 2016, the Company operated 390 retail stores in the U.S. and Canada and 70 consumer-direct websites.
2015 FINANCIAL OVERVIEW
Revenue for fiscal 2015 was $2,691.6 million, a decrease of 2.5% compared to fiscal 2014. The decrease reflects the negative impact of foreign exchange ($65.6 million), the closure of retail stores ($37.9 million) and the exit of the Patagonia® footwear business ($22.0 million), which were partially offset by revenue growth, primarily within the Performance Group.
Gross margin for fiscal 2015 was 39.1%, a decrease of 20 basis points from fiscal 2014. The gross margin decline was driven primarily by the negative impact of foreign exchange and a negative mix shift in international markets, which were partially offset by select selling price increases and product cost reductions as well as fewer inventory markdowns.

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Operating expenses decreased $5.8 million in fiscal 2015, to $850.6 million. Operating expenses were favorably impacted by the impact of foreign exchange, lower acquisition-related integration costs associated with the integration of the PLG business, lower incentive compensation expense and lower selling expenses, which were partially offset by incremental brand investments, higher pension expense and incremental restructuring and impairment costs.
The effective tax rate in fiscal 2015 was 25.2% compared to 26.2% in fiscal 2014. The lower effective tax rate in fiscal 2015 reflects a lower proportion of income generated in higher tax jurisdictions, primarily the U.S., compared to fiscal 2014, which was partially offset by fewer favorable discrete items in fiscal 2015 compared to fiscal 2014.
Cash provided by operating activities was $215.5 million during fiscal 2015, which allowed the Company to repurchase $92.6 million of Company common stock, make payments on its long-term debt of $80.9 million and make investments in growth initiatives including infrastructure improvements.
The Company declared cash dividends of $0.24 per share, in both fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2014.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following is a discussion of the Company’s results of operations and liquidity and capital resources. This section should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
Fiscal Year
 
Percent Change vs. Prior Year
(In millions, except per share data)
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
2015
 
2014
Revenue
$
2,691.6

 
$
2,761.1

 
$
2,691.1

 
(2.5
)%
 
2.6
 %
Cost of goods sold
1,636.9

 
1,673.8

 
1,619.0

 
(2.2
)
 
3.4

Restructuring costs
3.0

 
1.0

 
7.6

 
200.0

 
(86.8
)
Gross profit
1,051.7

 
1,086.3

 
1,064.5

 
(3.2
)
 
2.0

Selling, general and administrative expenses
816.0

 
815.2

 
830.0

 
0.1

 
(1.8
)
Acquisition-related integration costs

 
15.2

 
41.5

 
(100.0
)
 
(63.4
)
Restructuring and impairment costs
34.6

 
26.0

 
0.7

 
33.1

 
3,614.3

Operating profit
201.1

 
229.9

 
192.3

 
(12.5
)
 
19.6

Interest expense, net
38.2

 
45.4

 
52.0

 
(15.9
)
 
(12.7
)
Debt extinguishment costs
1.6

 
1.3

 
13.1

 
23.1

 
(90.1
)
Other expense (income), net
(3.3
)
 
1.7

 
(0.5
)
 
(294.1
)
 
440.0

Earnings before income taxes
164.6

 
181.5

 
127.7

 
(9.3
)
 
42.1

Income tax expense
41.4

 
47.6

 
26.7

 
(13.0
)
 
78.3

Net earnings
123.2

 
133.9

 
101.0

 
(8.0
)
 
32.6

Less: net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest
0.4

 
0.8

 
0.6

 
(50.0
)
 
33.3

Net earnings attributable to Wolverine World Wide, Inc.
$
122.8

 
$
133.1

 
$
100.4

 
(7.7
)%
 
32.6
 %
Diluted earnings per share
$
1.20

 
$
1.30

 
$
0.99

 
(7.7
)%
 
31.3
 %
REVENUE
Revenue was $2,691.6 million for fiscal 2015, representing a decrease of 2.5% versus the prior year's revenue of $2,761.1 million. The decrease reflects the negative impact of foreign exchange ($65.6 million), the closure of retail stores ($37.9 million) and the exit of the Patagonia® footwear business ($22.0 million), which were partially offset by revenue growth, primarily within the Performance Group. International revenue represented 27.9%, 27.9% and 26.2% of total reported revenues in fiscal years 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Revenue was $2,761.1 million for fiscal 2014, representing an increase of 2.6% versus the prior year's revenue of $2,691.1 million. High single-digit growth from the Heritage Group and mid single-digit growth from the Performance Group was partially offset by low single-digit revenue decline from the Lifestyle Group. Changes in foreign exchange rates decreased reported revenue by $6.2 million in fiscal 2014.
GROSS MARGIN
For fiscal 2015, the Company’s gross margin was 39.1% compared to 39.3% in fiscal 2014. The gross margin decline was driven primarily by a the negative impact of foreign exchange (50 basis points) and a negative mix shift in international markets (40 basis

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points), which were partially offset by select selling price increases and product cost reductions (40 basis points) as well as fewer inventory markdowns (30 basis points).
For fiscal 2014, the Company’s gross margin was 39.3% compared to 39.6% in fiscal 2013. The decrease was driven by higher product costs (30 basis points), a negative mix shift in international markets (30 basis points), incremental LIFO expense (10 basis points), impact of inventory liquidation related to retail store closures (10 basis points) and negative foreign currency impact (10 basis points), which were partially offset by select selling price increases (60 basis points).
OPERATING EXPENSES
Operating expenses decreased $5.8 million in fiscal 2015, to $850.6 million. Operating expenses were favorably impacted by foreign exchange ($19.8 million), the lack of acquisition-related integration costs associated with the integration of the PLG business ($15.2 million), lower incentive compensation expenses ($13.6 million) and lower selling expenses ($6.1 million), which were partially offset by incremental brand investments ($24.3 million), higher pension expense ($16.0 million) and incremental restructuring and impairment costs ($8.6 million).
Operating expenses decreased $15.8 million in fiscal 2014, to $856.4 million. Operating expenses were favorably impacted by lower acquisition-related integration costs associated with the integration of the PLG business ($26.3 million), lower pension expense ($25.4 million) and lower incentive compensation expenses ($5.8 million). Partially offsetting these declines were incremental restructuring costs ($25.3 million), incremental selling expenses ($6.5 million) and incremental brand building expense ($8.8 million). Changes in foreign exchange rates had a $1.8 million favorable impact on reported operating expenses.
INTEREST, OTHER AND TAXES
Net interest expense was $38.2 million in fiscal 2015 compared to $45.4 million in fiscal 2014. The decrease was due primarily to lower average principal balances on the Company’s outstanding debt.
Net interest expense was $45.4 million in fiscal 2014 compared to $52.0 million in fiscal 2013. The decrease reflects the benefits of the amendment to the Credit Agreement executed in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013 and lower average principal balances.
The Company incurred $1.6 million of debt extinguishment costs during the third quarter of fiscal 2015 in connection with the refinancing of the Company's debt. The Company incurred $1.3 million of debt extinguishment costs during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014 due to accelerating the amortization of capitalized deferred financing fees in relation to debt repayments. The Company incurred $13.1 million of debt extinguishment costs during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013 in connection with the refinancing of the Company's debt. These costs represent a write-off of previously capitalized deferred financing fees. 
The Company’s effective tax rates in fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2014 were 25.2% and 26.2%, respectively. The lower effective tax rate in fiscal 2015 reflects a lower proportion of income generated in higher tax jurisdictions, primarily the U.S., compared to fiscal 2014, which was partially offset by fewer favorable discrete items in fiscal 2015 compared to fiscal 2014.
The Company’s effective tax rates in fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2013 were 26.2% and 20.9%, respectively. The higher effective tax rate in fiscal 2014 reflects a greater proportion of income generated in higher tax jurisdictions, primarily the U.S., compared to 2013. In addition, the 2013 tax rate reflects higher acquisition-related integration costs that are deductible primarily in high statutory tax rate jurisdictions.
The Company maintains management and operational activities in overseas subsidiaries, and its foreign earnings are taxed at rates that are generally lower than the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate. A significant amount of the Company’s earnings is generated by its Canadian, European and Asian subsidiaries and, to a lesser extent, in jurisdictions that are not subject to income tax. The Company has not provided for U.S. taxes for earnings generated in foreign jurisdictions because it intends to reinvest these earnings indefinitely outside the U.S. However, if certain foreign earnings previously treated as permanently reinvested are repatriated, the additional U.S. tax liability could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial position.
REPORTABLE OPERATING SEGMENTS
For the fiscal periods reported, the Company has three reportable operating segments. The Company’s operating segments are determined on the basis of how the Company internally reports and evaluates financial information used to make operating decisions. The Company’s reportable operating segments are:
Lifestyle Group, consisting of Sperry® footwear and apparel, Stride Rite® footwear and apparel, Hush Puppies® footwear and apparel, Keds® footwear and apparel and Soft Style® footwear;
Performance Group, consisting of Merrell® footwear and apparel, Saucony® footwear and apparel, Chaco® footwear, Cushe® footwear and includes Patagonia® footwear during fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2013; and

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Heritage Group, consisting of Wolverine® footwear and apparel, Cat® footwear, Bates® uniform footwear, Sebago® footwear and apparel, Harley-Davidson® footwear and HyTest® safety footwear.
The Company also reports “Other” and “Corporate” categories. The Other category consists of the Company’s multi-brand consumer-direct business, leather marketing operations and sourcing operations that include third-party commission revenues. The Corporate category consists of unallocated corporate expenses, including acquisition-related transaction and integration costs and restructuring and impairment costs.
On February 4, 2016, the Company announced certain organizational changes impacting its operating segments structure. The Company is evaluating the impacts of these changes to its reportable operating segments which will be reflected beginning with the first quarter of fiscal 2016.
The reportable operating segment results for fiscal years 2015, 2014 and 2013 are as follows:
 
Fiscal Year
 
 
 
Percent Change
 
Fiscal Year
 
 
 
Percent Change
(In millions)
2015
 
2014
 
Change
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
Change
 
Revenue:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lifestyle Group
$
1,004.8

 
$
1,059.3

 
$
(54.5
)
 
(5.1
)%
 
$
1,059.3

 
$
1,086.6

 
$
(27.3
)
 
(2.5
)%
Performance Group
991.3

 
990.7

 
0.6

 
0.1

 
990.7

 
945.8

 
44.9

 
4.7

Heritage Group
590.8

 
607.0

 
(16.2
)
 
(2.7
)
 
607.0

 
567.4

 
39.6

 
7.0

Other
104.7

 
104.1

 
0.6

 
0.6

 
104.1

 
91.3

 
12.8

 
14.0

Total
$
2,691.6

 
$
2,761.1

 
$
(69.5
)
 
(2.5
)%
 
$
2,761.1

 
$
2,691.1

 
$
70.0

 
2.6
 %
 
 
Fiscal Year
 
 
 
Percent Change
 
Fiscal Year
 
 
 
Percent Change
(In millions)
2015
 
2014
 
Change
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
Change
 
Operating profit (loss):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lifestyle Group
$
117.2

 
$
130.2

 
$
(13.0
)
 
(10.0
)%
 
$
130.2

 
$
168.2

 
$
(38.0
)
 
(22.6
)%
Performance Group
194.8

 
197.6

 
(2.8
)
 
(1.4
)
 
197.6

 
179.8

 
17.8

 
9.9

Heritage Group
80.7

 
95.4

 
(14.7
)
 
(15.4
)
 
95.4

 
85.7

 
9.7

 
11.3

Other
3.3

 
3.9

 
(0.6
)
 
(15.4
)
 
3.9

 
0.2

 
3.7

 
1,850.0

Corporate
(194.9
)
 
(197.2
)
 
2.3

 
(1.2
)
 
(197.2
)
 
(241.6
)
 
44.4

 
18.4

Total
$
201.1

 
$
229.9

 
$
(28.8
)
 
(12.5
)%
 
$
229.9

 
$
192.3

 
$
37.6

 
19.6
 %
Further information regarding the reportable operating segments can be found in Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements.
Lifestyle Group
The Lifestyle Group’s revenue decreased $54.5 million, or 5.1%, in fiscal 2015 compared to fiscal 2014. The decline was partially due to a low teens revenue decline for Stride Rite® and a low twenties decline for Hush Puppies®, which were partially offset by low single-digit revenue increases for Sperry® and Keds®. The Stride Rite® decrease resulted from the planned closure of retail stores, while the Hush Puppies® decline was due to strategic reductions in the U.S. department store channel. The Keds® increase was driven by growth in the Asia Pacific region due to new distributor arrangements. The Sperry® increase was a result of strong eCommerce revenue growth and new retail stores.
The Lifestyle Group’s operating profit decreased $13.0 million, or 10.0%, in fiscal 2015 compared to fiscal 2014. The decrease was due primarily to the revenue decline and lower gross margin for Stride Rite® due to retail store closure activities, partially offset by higher gross margin for Sperry® due primarily to higher selling prices and favorable product mix.
The Lifestyle Group’s revenue decreased $27.3 million, or 2.5%, in fiscal 2014 compared to fiscal 2013. The decline was driven by a mid single-digit revenue decline for Sperry®, a high single-digit decline for Hush Puppies® and a low single-digit decline for Stride Rite®. The Sperry® decline was driven by decreases in the domestic boat shoe category and a distribution channel realignment in the family channel, partially offset by sales from new retail stores. The Hush Puppies® decline was due to strategic reductions in the U.S. department store channel, while the Company believes the Stride Rite® decline was impacted by lower retail store traffic and negative weather trends. These declines were partially offset by growth in the high teens for Keds®, driven by continued marketing investment in support of the brand.
The Lifestyle Group’s operating profit decreased $38.0 million, or 22.6%, in fiscal 2014 compared to fiscal 2013. The decrease was due primarily to the revenue decline and negative product mix for Sperry® and a lower gross margin for Stride Rite® due to retail store close-out activities. Partially offsetting these declines was a higher operating profit for Keds® due to higher revenues.

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Performance Group
The Performance Group’s revenue increased $0.6 million, or 0.1%, in fiscal 2015 compared to fiscal 2014. The growth was driven by high single-digit growth from Saucony® and growth in the low fifties from Chaco®, which were partially offset by a mid single-digit decline from Merrell® and the exit of the Patagonia® footwear license. The Saucony® increase was due to growth in its lifestyle oriented Originals product and Technical Running product, partially offset by the negative impact from foreign exchange. The Chaco® increase was due to increased demand for its core sandal product. The decrease from Merrell® was driven by the negative impact of foreign exchange.
The Performance Group’s operating profit decreased $2.8 million, or 1.4%, in fiscal 2015 compared to fiscal 2014. The operating profit decrease was due primarily to the revenue decreases for Merrell® and Patagonia® and a gross margin decrease from Merrell® due to unfavorable foreign currency forward contracts. These decreases were partially offset by the revenue increase from Chaco® and higher a gross margin from Chaco® due to fewer close-out sales. Saucony® also drove higher operating profit due to the increased revenues, which were partially offset by lower gross margins due to unfavorable foreign currency forward contracts.
The Performance Group’s revenue increased $44.9 million, or 4.7%, in fiscal 2014 compared to fiscal 2013. The positive growth rate was driven by high single-digit growth from Saucony®, low single-digit growth from Merrell® and growth in the mid twenties from Chaco®. Saucony® benefited from growth in its franchise products and the lifestyle-oriented Originals product, Merrell® benefited from growth in its Performance Outdoor product category and Chaco® experienced increased demand for its core sandal product.
The Performance Group’s operating profit increased $17.8 million, or 9.9%, in fiscal 2014 compared to fiscal 2013. The operating profit increase was due primarily to the revenue increases for Merrell®, Saucony® and Chaco® and gross margin expansion from Merrell® and Chaco® due to a reduction in low margin close-out sales.
Heritage Group
The Heritage Group’s revenue decreased $16.2 million, or 2.7%, in fiscal 2015 compared to fiscal 2014. The revenue decline was the result of a mid single-digit decline from Cat®, a high teen decline from Sebago® and a low single-digit decline from Wolverine®. Partially offsetting these declines was mid single-digit growth from Bates®. The Cat® decrease resulted from the negative impact of foreign exchange. The Wolverine decline was due primarily to unseasonably warm winter weather and higher inventory levels at key retail partners in the second half of fiscal 2015, while the Sebago® decline was due to the negative impact of foreign exchange and higher inventory levels at key retail partners in the second half of fiscal 2015. The Bates® increase was driven by increases in its domestic contract business.
The Heritage Group’s operating profit decreased $14.7 million, or 15.4%, in fiscal 2015 compared to fiscal 2014. The operating profit decrease was due primarily to the revenue decreases for Wolverine®, Cat® and Sebago® and lower gross margin for Cat® due to a negative mix shift in international markets and higher domestic closeout sales.
The Heritage Group’s revenue increased $39.6 million, or 7.0%, in fiscal 2014 compared to fiscal 2013. The positive growth rate was driven by high single-digit growth from Wolverine®, high teen growth from Cat® and growth in the mid teens from Harley-Davidson®. Wolverine® benefited from growth in its Work, Outdoor and Heritage product collections. Cat® benefited from strong global demand and a higher mix of top-line international revenue. Partially offsetting these increases was a revenue decline in the mid teens for Sebago® due to poor sell through of key product categories.
The Heritage Group’s operating profit increased $9.7 million, or 11.3%, in fiscal 2014 compared to fiscal 2013. The operating profit increase was due primarily to the revenue increases for Wolverine®, Cat® and Harley-Davidson®.
Corporate
Corporate expenses decreased $2.3 million in fiscal 2015 compared to fiscal 2014. Corporate expenses were favorably impacted by the lack of acquisition-related integration costs associated with the integration of the PLG business ($15.2 million) and lower incentive compensation expenses ($13.6 million), which were partially offset by higher pension expense ($16.0 million) and incremental restructuring and impairment costs ($10.6 million).
Corporate expenses decreased $44.4 million in fiscal 2014 compared to fiscal 2013. Corporate expenses were favorably impacted by lower acquisition-related integration costs associated with the integration of the PLG business ($26.3 million), lower pension expense ($25.4 million) and lower incentive compensation expenses ($5.8 million), which were partially offset by incremental restructuring costs ($18.7 million).

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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
Fiscal Year
(In millions)
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Cash and cash equivalents
$
194.1

 
$
223.8

 
$
214.2

Debt
820.0

 
900.8

 
1,150.0

Available revolving credit facility (1)
496.2

 
196.4

 
196.5
Cash provided by operating activities
215.5

 
314.6

 
202.3

Cash used in investing activities
(50.0
)
 
(34.8
)
 
(44.7
)
Cash used in financing activities
(187.3
)
 
(270.4
)
 
(112.8
)
Additions to property, plant and equipment
46.4

 
30.0

 
41.7

Depreciation and amortization
48.7

 
53.3

 
56.2

(1) 
Amounts are net of both borrowings and outstanding standby letters of credit in accordance with the terms of the revolving credit facility.
Liquidity
Cash and cash equivalents of $194.1 million as of January 2, 2016 were $29.7 million lower compared to January 3, 2015. The Company had $496.2 million available under a revolving credit agreement (the “Revolving Credit Facility”) as of January 2, 2016.
At January 2, 2016, the Company had $164.2 million of cash and cash equivalents located in foreign jurisdictions, in which the Company intends to permanently reinvest these funds. The Company had outstanding standby letters of credit under the Revolving Credit Facility of approximately $3.8 million at January 2, 2016.
Operating Activities
The principal source of the Company’s operating cash flow is net earnings, including cash receipts from the sale of the Company’s products, net of costs of goods sold.
Cash from operations during fiscal 2015 was lower compared to fiscal 2014 due primarily to lower earnings performance in the current year and less favorable changes in working capital balances compared to fiscal 2014. During fiscal 2015 working capital balances drove a source of cash of $1.7 million, which includes the negative impact of increased inventories of $68.8 million, which were partially offset by an increase in accounts payable of $52.9 million and decrease in other operating assets of $14.6 million.
Higher earnings performance during fiscal 2014, along with the sale of certain accounts receivable, drove the increase in cash from operations compared to fiscal 2013. During fiscal 2014, a decrease in net working capital represented a source of cash of $86.9 million. Working capital balances were favorably impacted by a decrease in accounts receivable of $76.5 million due primarily to the cash inflow of $65.5 million related to the sales of certain accounts receivable described above, partially offset by an increase in other operating assets of $17.8 million. An increase in accounts payable and other operating liabilities represented a source of cash of $16.2 million and $9.1 million, respectively, in fiscal 2014.
Investing Activities
The Company made capital expenditures of $46.4 million in fiscal 2015 compared to $30.0 million in fiscal 2014. The increase in capital expenditures during fiscal 2015 was primarily due to higher retail store and distribution center investments. The majority of the Company's capital expenditures in both years were for retail store investments, information system enhancements and building improvements.
The Company made capital expenditures of $30.0 million in fiscal 2014 compared to $41.7 million in fiscal 2013. The decrease in capital expenditures during fiscal 2014 was primarily due to fewer new retail stores being opened. The majority of the Company's capital expenditures in both years were for retail store investments, information system enhancements and building improvements.
Financing Activities
On July 13, 2015, the Company amended its credit agreement (as amended, the "Credit Agreement"). The amendment replaced the previous term loan facility and revolving credit facility with a new $450.0 million Term Loan A Facility and a new $500.0 million Revolving Credit Facility, and extended the maturity date of these facilities to July 13, 2020. The Credit Agreement’s debt capacity is limited to an aggregate debt amount (including outstanding term loan principal and revolver commitment amounts in addition to permitted incremental debt) not to exceed $1,425.0 million, unless certain specified conditions set forth in the Credit

29

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Agreement are met. The Company incurred $1.6 million of debt extinguishment costs during the third quarter of fiscal 2015 in connection with the refinancing. These costs represent a write-off of previously capitalized deferred financing fees.
The Revolving Credit Facility allows the Company to borrow up to an aggregate amount of $500.0 million, which includes a $200.0 million foreign currency subfacility under which borrowings may be made, subject to certain conditions, in Canadian dollars, British pounds, euros, Hong Kong dollars, Swedish kronor, Swiss francs and such additional currencies as are determined in accordance with the Credit Agreement. The Revolving Credit Facility also includes a $50.0 million swingline subfacility and a $50.0 million letter of credit subfacility. The Company had outstanding letters of credit under the Revolving Credit Facility of $3.8 million and $3.6 million as of January 2, 2016 and January 3, 2015, respectively. These outstanding letters of credit reduce the borrowing capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility.
On October 9, 2012, the Company issued $375.0 million of senior notes (the "Public Bonds"), which bear interest at a 6.125% fixed rate and are due in 2020. Related interest payments are due semi-annually. The Public Bonds are guaranteed by substantially all of the Company’s domestic subsidiaries. As of January 2, 2016, the Company was in compliance with all covenants and performance ratios.
The Company's debt at January 2, 2016 was $820.0 million compared to $900.8 million at January 3, 2015. The net decrease in debt was primarily a result of principal payments on the Term Loan A Facility, including $58.0 million of voluntary debt payments during fiscal 2015. The decrease in debt during fiscal 2014 was primarily a result of principal payments, including $200.0 million of voluntary debt payments.
The Company has a $5.0 million (or the equivalent amount in Chinese renminbi) revolving line of credit facility that is uncommitted and, therefore, each borrowing against the facility is subject to approval by the lender. There were no borrowings against this facility for all periods presented.
Cash flow from operating activities, along with borrowings on the Revolving Credit Facility, if any, are expected to be sufficient to meet the Company’s working capital needs for the foreseeable future. Any excess cash flows from operating activities are expected to be used to reduce debt, fund internal and external growth initiatives, purchase property, plant and equipment, pay dividends or repurchase the Company’s common stock.
On February 12, 2014, the Company's Board of Directors approved a common stock repurchase program that authorizes the repurchase of up to $200.0 million in common stock over a four-year period. The Company repurchased $92.6 million of Company common stock during fiscal 2015 under the stock repurchase plan. The Company did not repurchase any shares of Company common stock in fiscal 2014 or fiscal 2013 under a stock repurchase program. In addition to the stock repurchase program activity, the Company acquired $7.7 million, $10.5 million and $0.8 million of shares in fiscal years 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, in connection with employee transactions related to stock incentive plans.
On July 11, 2013, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a two-for-one stock split in the form of a stock dividend which was paid on November 1, 2013 to stockholders of record on October 1, 2013.
The Company declared cash dividends of $0.24 per share in fiscal years 2015, 2014 and 2013. Dividends paid totaled $24.4 million, $24.0 million and $23.7 million, for fiscal years 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
Refer to Note 2 of the consolidated financial statements for information related to new accounting standards.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. ("U.S. GAAP"), requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates these estimates. Estimates are based on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Historically, actual results have not been materially different from the Company’s estimates. However, actual results may differ materially from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
The Company has identified the following critical accounting policies used in determining estimates and assumptions in the amounts reported. Management believes that an understanding of these policies is important to an overall understanding of the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

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Revenue Recognition
Revenue is recognized on the sale of products manufactured or sourced by the Company when the related goods have been shipped, legal title has passed to the customer and collectability is reasonably assured. Revenue generated through licensees and distributors involving products bearing the Company’s trademarks is recognized as earned according to stated contractual terms upon either the purchase or shipment of branded products by licensees and distributors. Retail store revenue is recognized at time of sale.
The Company records provisions for estimated sales returns and allowances at the time of sale based on historical rates of returns and allowances and specific identification of outstanding returns not yet received from customers. However, estimates of actual returns and allowances in any future period are inherently uncertain and actual returns and allowances for the relevant periods may differ from these estimates. If actual or expected future returns and allowances were significantly greater or less than established reserves, an adjustment to net revenues would be recorded in the period the determination was made.
Accounts Receivable
The Company maintains an allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable for estimated losses resulting from its customers' failure to make required payments. Company management evaluates the allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable based on a review of current customer status and historical collection experience. Historically, losses have been within the Company’s expectations. Adjustments to these estimates may be required if the financial condition of the Company’s customers were to change. If the Company were to determine adjustments to the allowance for uncollectible accounts were appropriate, the Company would record either an increase or decrease to general and administrative expenses in the period in which the Company made such a determination.
Inventory
The Company values its inventory at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined by the LIFO method for all domestic raw materials and work-in-process inventories and certain domestic finished goods inventories. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method for all raw materials, work-in-process and finished goods inventories in foreign countries; certain domestic finished goods inventories; and for all finished goods inventories of the Company’s consumer-direct business, due to the unique nature of those operations.The Company has applied these inventory cost valuation methods consistently from year to year.
The Company reduces the carrying value of its inventories to the lower of cost or market for excess or obsolete inventories based upon assumptions about future demand and market conditions. If the Company were to determine that the estimated market value of its inventory is less than the carrying value of such inventory, the Company would provide a reserve for such difference as a charge to cost of sales. If actual market conditions are different from those projected, adjustments to those inventory reserves may be required. The adjustments would increase or decrease the Company’s cost of sales and net income in the period in which they were realized or recorded. Inventory quantities are verified at various times throughout the year by performing physical inventory counts and subsequently comparing those results to perpetual inventory balances. If the Company determines that adjustments to the inventory quantities are appropriate, an adjustment to the Company’s cost of goods sold and inventory is recorded in the period in which such determination was made.
Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangibles
Goodwill and intangible assets deemed to have indefinite lives are not amortized, but are subject to impairment tests at least annually. The Company reviews the carrying amounts of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets by reporting unit at least annually, or when indicators of impairment are present, to determine if such assets may be impaired. If the carrying amounts of these assets are not recoverable based upon discounted cash flow and market approach analyses, the carrying amounts of such assets are reduced by the estimated difference between the carrying values and estimated fair values. The Company includes assumptions about expected future operating performance as part of a discounted cash flow analysis to estimate fair value.
For goodwill, if the estimated fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, no further review is required. However, if the estimated fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value, the Company performs the second step of the goodwill impairment test to determine the impairment charge, if any. The second step involves a hypothetical allocation of the estimated fair value of the reporting unit to its net tangible and intangible assets (excluding goodwill) as if the reporting unit were newly acquired, which results in an implied fair value of the goodwill. The amount of the impairment charge is the excess of the recorded goodwill over the implied fair value of the goodwill.
The Company may first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset is less than its carrying value. The Company would not be required to quantitatively determine the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible unless the Company determines, based on the qualitative assessment, that it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than the carrying value. The Company may skip the qualitative assessment and quantitatively test indefinite-lived intangibles by comparison of the individual carrying values to the fair value. Future cash flows of the individual

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indefinite-lived intangible assets are used to measure their fair value after consideration by management of certain assumptions, such as forecasted growth rates and cost of capital, which are derived from internal projections and operating plans.
The Company performs its annual testing for goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment at the beginning of the fourth quarter of the fiscal year for all reporting units. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015, as a result of its testing, the Company recorded a $2.5 million impairment charge for the Stride Rite trade name. The Company did not recognize any impairment charges for goodwill during fiscal 2015 or for goodwill or indefinite-lived intangible assets during the fiscal years 2014 or 2013, as the annual impairment testing indicated that all reporting unit goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible asset fair values exceeded their respective carrying values.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or an asset group may not be recoverable. Each impairment test is based on a comparison of the carrying amount of the asset or asset group to the future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset or asset group. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment amount to be recognized is the amount by which the carrying value of the assets exceeds their fair value. See Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements for information related to long-lived assets that were determined to be impaired in fiscal 2015.
Income Taxes
The Company maintains certain strategic management and operational activities in overseas subsidiaries, and its foreign earnings are taxed at rates that are generally lower than the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate. A significant amount of the Company’s earnings are generated by its Canadian, European and Asian subsidiaries and, to a lesser extent, in jurisdictions that are not subject to income tax. The Company has not provided for U.S. taxes for earnings generated in foreign jurisdictions because it plans to reinvest these earnings indefinitely outside the U.S. However, if certain foreign earnings previously treated as permanently reinvested are repatriated, the additional U.S. tax liability could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial position. Income tax audits associated with the allocation of this income and other complex issues may require an extended period of time to resolve and may result in income tax adjustments if changes to the income allocation are required between jurisdictions with different income tax rates. Because income tax adjustments in certain jurisdictions can be significant, the Company records accruals representing management’s best estimate of the resolution of these matters. To the extent additional information becomes available, such accruals are adjusted to reflect the revised estimated outcome. The carrying value of the Company’s deferred tax assets assumes that the Company will be able to generate sufficient taxable income in future years to utilize these deferred tax assets. If these assumptions change, the Company may be required to record valuation allowances against its gross deferred tax assets in future years, which would cause the Company to record additional income tax expense in its consolidated statements of operations. Management evaluates the potential that the Company will be able to realize its gross deferred tax assets and assesses the need for valuation allowances on a quarterly basis.
On a periodic basis, the Company estimates the full year effective tax rate and records a quarterly income tax provision in accordance with the projected full year rate. As the fiscal year progresses, that estimate is refined based upon actual events and the distribution of earnings in each tax jurisdiction during the year. This continual estimation process periodically results in a change to the expected effective tax rate for the fiscal year. When this occurs, the Company adjusts the income tax provision during the quarter in which the change in estimate occurs so that the year-to-date provision reflects the revised anticipated annual rate.
Retirement Benefits
The determination of the obligation and expense for retirement benefits is dependent on the selection of certain actuarial assumptions used in calculating such amounts. These assumptions include, among others, the discount rate, expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, mortality rates and rates of increase in compensation. These assumptions are reviewed with the Company’s actuaries and updated annually based on relevant external and internal factors and information, including, but not limited to, long-term expected asset returns, rates of termination, regulatory requirements and plan changes.
The Company utilizes a bond matching calculation to determine the discount rate used to calculate its year-end pension liability and subsequent fiscal year pension expense. A hypothetical bond portfolio is created based on a presumed purchase of individual bonds to settle the plan’s expected future benefit payments. The discount rate is the resulting yield of the hypothetical bond portfolio. The bonds selected are listed as high grade by at least two recognized ratings agency and are non-callable, currently purchasable and non-prepayable. The calculated discount rate was 5.00% at January 2, 2016 compared to 4.37% at January 3, 2015. Pension expense is also impacted by the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, which the Company has determined to be 7.25% for fiscal 2016. This determination is based on both actual historical rates of return experienced by the pension assets and the long-term rate of return of a composite portfolio of equity and fixed income securities that reflects the approximate diversification of the pension assets.

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Table of Contents

Stock-Based Compensation
The Company accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with the fair value recognition provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation ("ASC 718"). The Company utilizes the Black-Scholes-Merton formula, which requires the input of subjective assumptions to calculate the amount to expense in the consolidated statements of operations related to stock options granted to employees. These assumptions include estimating (a) the length of time employees will retain their vested stock options before exercising them (“expected term”), (b) the volatility of the Company’s common stock price over the expected term and (c) the number of options that are expected to be forfeited. Changes in these assumptions can materially affect the estimate of fair value of stock-based compensation and, consequently, the related expense amounts recognized in the consolidated statements of operations.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
The Company has no off-balance sheet arrangements as of January 2, 2016.
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
As of January 2, 2016, the Company had the following payments under contractual obligations due by period:
(In millions)
Total
 
Less than
1 year
 
1-3 years
 
3-5 years
 
More than
5 years
Operating leases
$
332.2

 
$
53.6

 
$
84.3

 
$
65.8

 
$
128.5

Capital lease
0.7

 
0.1

 
0.2

 
0.3

 
0.1

Debt obligations (1)
985.9

 
50.0

 
130.0

 
805.9

 

Purchase obligations (2)
325.1

 
325.1

 

 

 

Deferred compensation
2.5

 
0.4

 
0.9

 
0.7

 
0.5

Pension (3)
1.5

 
1.5

 

 

 

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
40.1

 
3.9

 
7.8

 
7.8

 
20.6

Dividends declared
6.0

 
6.0

 

 

 

Minimum royalties
8.2

 
2.0

 
3.2

 
3.0

 

Minimum advertising
23.8

 
3.1

 
6.5

 
6.9

 
7.3

Total (4)
$
1,726.0

 
$
445.7

 
$
232.9

 
$
890.4

 
$
157.0

(1) 
Includes principal and interest payments on the Company’s debt, net of the impact of the interest rate swaps. Estimated future interest payments on outstanding debt obligations are based on interest rates as of January 2, 2016. Actual cash outflows may differ significantly due to changes in underlying interest rates. See Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements for additional information on the Company's interest rate swaps.
(2) 
Purchase obligations related primarily to inventory and capital expenditure commitments.
(3) 
Pension obligations reflect expected pension funding, which is the amount of required funding obligations under government regulation. Funding amounts are calculated on an annual basis and no required or planned funding beyond one year has been determined.
(4) 
The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits on the consolidated balance sheet at January 2, 2016 is $8.7 million. At this time, the Company is unable to make a reasonably reliable estimate of the timing of payments in individual years beyond 12 months due to uncertainties in the timing of tax audit outcomes. As a result, this amount is not included in the table above.
Item 7A.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
In the normal course of business, the Company's financial position and results of operations are routinely subject to a variety of risks, including market risk associated with interest rate movements on borrowings and investments and currency rate movements on non-U.S. dollar denominated assets, liabilities and cash flows. The Company regularly assesses these risks and has established policies and business practices that should mitigate a portion of the adverse effect of these and other potential exposures.
Foreign Exchange Risk
The Company faces market risk to the extent that changes in foreign currency exchange rates affect the Company’s foreign assets, liabilities and inventory purchase commitments. The Company manages these risks by attempting to denominate contractual and other foreign arrangements in U.S. dollars.

33

Table of Contents

Under the provisions of FASB ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging ("ASC 815"), the Company is required to recognize all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. Derivatives that are not qualifying hedges must be adjusted to fair value through earnings. If a derivative is a qualifying hedge, depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in the fair value of derivatives are either offset against the change in fair value of the hedged assets, liabilities or firm commitments through earnings or recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized in earnings.
The Company conducts wholesale operations outside of the U.S. in Canada, continental Europe, United Kingdom, Colombia, Hong Kong, China and Mexico where the functional currencies are primarily the Canadian dollar, euro, British pound, Colombian peso, Hong Kong dollar, Chinese renminbi and Mexican peso, respectively. The Company utilizes foreign currency forward exchange contracts to manage the volatility associated primarily with U.S. dollar inventory purchases made by non-U.S. wholesale operations in the normal course of business as well as to manage foreign currency translation exposure. At January 2, 2016 and January 3, 2015, the Company had outstanding forward currency exchange contracts to purchase primarily U.S. dollars in the amounts of $215.8 million and $141.6 million, with maturities ranging up to 349 and 336 days, respectively.
Through the end of fiscal 2015, the Company had sourcing locations in Asia, where financial statements reflect the U.S. dollar as the functional currency. However, operating costs are paid in the local currency. Revenue generated by the Company from third-party foreign licensees is calculated in the local currencies, but paid in U.S. dollars. Accordingly, the Company’s reported results are subject to foreign currency exposure for this stream of revenue and expenses. Any associated foreign currency gains or losses on the settlement of local currency amounts are reflected within the Company's consolidated statement of operations.
Assets and liabilities outside the U.S. are primarily located in the United Kingdom, Canada and the Netherlands. The Company’s investments in foreign subsidiaries with a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar are generally considered long-term. Accordingly, the Company currently does not hedge these net investments. At January 2, 2016, a stronger U.S. dollar compared to foreign currencies versus fiscal 2014 decreased the value of these investments in net assets by $30.4 million. At January 3, 2015, a stronger U.S. dollar compared to foreign currencies versus fiscal 2013 decreased the value of these investments in net assets by $17.4 million.
Interest Rate Risk
The Company is exposed to interest rate changes primarily as a result of interest expense on borrowings used to finance acquisitions and working capital requirements. The Company’s total variable-rate debt was $444.4 million at the end of fiscal 2015 and the Company held one interest rate swap agreement denominated in U.S. dollars that effectively convert $320.9 million of its variable-rate debt to fixed-rate debt as of January 2, 2016. The interest rate swap derivative instruments are held and used by the Company as a tool for managing interest rate risk. The counterparty to the swap instruments is a large financial institution that the Company believes is of high-quality creditworthiness. While the Company may be exposed to potential losses due to the credit risk of non-performance by this counterparty, such losses are not anticipated. The fair value of the interest rate swaps was determined to be a net liability of $3.7 million at the end of fiscal 2015. As of January 2, 2016, the weighted-average interest rate on the Company’s variable-rate debt was approximately 1.9%. Based on the level of variable-rate debt outstanding as of that date, a 100 basis point increase in the weighted-average interest rate would have increased the Company’s annual pre-tax interest expense by approximately $1.2 million.
The Company does not enter into contracts for speculative or trading purposes, nor is it a party to any leveraged derivative instruments.

34

Table of Contents

Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Table of Contents
Consolidated Financial Statements
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity
Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Note 2. New Accounting Standards
Note 3. Earnings Per Share
Note 4. Goodwill and Other Intangibles
Note 5. Accounts Receivable
Note 6. Inventories
Note 7. Debt
Note 8. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Note 9. Property, Plant and Equipment
Note 10. Financial Instruments and Risk Management
Note 11. Stock-Based Compensation
Note 12. Retirement Plans
Note 13. Income Taxes
Note 14. Litigation and Contingencies
Note 15. Business Segments
Note 16. Restructuring Activities
Note 17. Subsidiary Guarantors of the Public Bonds
Note 18. Quarterly Results of Operations (Unaudited)
 
 
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm


35

Table of Contents

WOLVERINE WORLD WIDE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Operations
  
Fiscal Year
(In millions, except per share data)
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Revenue
$
2,691.6

 
$
2,761.1

 
$
2,691.1

Cost of goods sold
1,636.9

 
1,673.8

 
1,619.0

Restructuring costs
3.0

 
1.0

 
7.6

Gross profit
1,051.7

 
1,086.3

 
1,064.5

Selling, general and administrative expenses
816.0

 
815.2

 
830.0

Acquisition-related integration costs

 
15.2

 
41.5

Restructuring and impairment costs
34.6

 
26.0

 
0.7

Operating profit
201.1

 
229.9

 
192.3

Other expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
Interest expense, net
38.2

 
45.4

 
52.0

Debt extinguishment costs
1.6

 
1.3

 
13.1

Other expense (income), net
(3.3
)
 
1.7

 
(0.5
)
Total other expenses
36.5

 
48.4

 
64.6

Earnings before income taxes
164.6

 
181.5

 
127.7

Income taxes
41.4

 
47.6

 
26.7

Net earnings
123.2

 
133.9

 
101.0

Less: net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest
0.4

 
0.8

 
0.6

Net earnings attributable to Wolverine World Wide, Inc.
$
122.8

 
$
133.1

 
$
100.4

Net earnings per share (see Note 3):
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
$
1.22

 
$
1.33

 
$
1.01

Diluted
$
1.20

 
$
1.30

 
$
0.99

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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Table of Contents

WOLVERINE WORLD WIDE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
  
Fiscal Year
(In millions)
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Net earnings
$
123.2

 
$
133.9

 
$
101.0

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation adjustments
(31.8
)
 
(18.5
)
 
(5.4
)
Foreign exchange contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized gain (loss) arising during the period, net of taxes of $4.9, $4.1 and $(0.2)
10.8

 
9.1

 
(0.4
)
Reclassification adjustments into cost of goods sold, net of taxes of $(6.0), $0.2 and $0.6
(13.0
)
 
0.3

 
1.3

Interest rate swaps:
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized gain (loss) arising during the period, net of taxes of $(2.2), $(0.1) and $0.8
(4.2
)
 
(0.2
)
 
1.6

Reclassification adjustments into interest expense, net of taxes of $0.7, $0 and $0
1.4

 

 

Pension adjustments:
 
 
 
 
 
Net actuarial gain (loss) arising during the period, net of taxes of $8.2, $(19.6) and $33.1
15.2

 
(36.3
)
 
61.4

Amortization of prior actuarial losses, net of taxes of $7.3, $2.6 and $10.7
13.5

 
4.8

 
19.7

Amortization of prior service cost
0.1

 
0.1

 
0.1

Settlement gain included in net income, net of taxes of $0, $(0.3) and $0

 
(0.7
)
 

Other comprehensive (loss) income
(8.0
)
 
(41.4
)
 
78.3

Less: other comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
(1.4
)
 
(1.1
)
 
(0.1
)
Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Wolverine World Wide, Inc.
(6.6
)
 
(40.3
)
 
78.4

 


 


 


Comprehensive income
115.2

 
92.5

 
179.3

Less: comprehensive (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest
(1.0
)
 
(0.3
)
 
0.5

Comprehensive income attributable to Wolverine World Wide, Inc.
$
116.2

 
$
92.8

 
$
178.8

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


37

Table of Contents

WOLVERINE WORLD WIDE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In millions, except share data)
January 2,
2016
 
January 3,
2015
ASSETS
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
194.1

 
$
223.8

Accounts receivable, less allowances:
 
 
 
January 2, 2016 – $44.4
 
 
 
January 3, 2015 – $41.0
298.9

 
312.7

Inventories:
 
 
 
Finished products
448.0

 
398.1

Raw materials and work-in-process
18.6

 
15.9

Total inventories
466.6

 
414.0

Deferred income taxes

 
28.1

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
54.2

 
63.6

Total current assets
1,013.8

 
1,042.2

Property, plant and equipment:
 
 
 
Gross cost
431.5

 
415.3

Accumulated depreciation
(299.9
)
 
(278.5
)
Property, plant and equipment, net
131.6

 
136.8

Other assets:
 
 
 
Goodwill
429.1

 
438.8

Indefinite-lived intangibles
685.4

 
690.5

Amortizable intangibles, net
97.3

 
112.1

Deferred income taxes
3.7

 
2.8

Deferred financing costs, net
13.8

 
16.5

Other
69.9

 
64.8

Total other assets
1,299.2

 
1,325.5

Total assets
$
2,444.6

 
$
2,504.5

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

38

Table of Contents

WOLVERINE WORLD WIDE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Balance Sheets – continued
(In millions, except share data)
January 2,
2016
 
January 3,
2015
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts payable
$
199.7

 
$
149.4

Accrued salaries and wages
28.5

 
36.1

Other accrued liabilities
108.2

 
108.5

Current maturities of long-term debt
16.9

 
46.7

Total current liabilities
353.3

 
340.7

Long-term debt, less current maturities
803.1

 
854.1

Accrued pension liabilities
109.6

 
128.1

Deferred income taxes
178.6

 
217.0

Other liabilities
30.3

 
26.6

Stockholders’ equity
 
 
 
Wolverine World Wide, Inc. stockholders’ equity:
 
 
 
Common stock – par value $1, authorized 320,000,000 shares; shares issued (including shares in treasury):
 
 
 
January 2, 2016 – 103,915,928 shares
 
 
 
January 3, 2015 – 102,253,150 shares
103.9

 
102.3

Additional paid-in capital
75.9

 
40.1

Retained earnings
950.8

 
852.2

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(56.1
)
 
(49.5
)
Cost of shares in treasury:
 
 
 
January 2, 2016 – 5,457,726 shares
 
 
 
January 3, 2015 – 416,812 shares
(110.8
)
 
(11.6
)
Total Wolverine World Wide, Inc. stockholders’ equity
963.7

 
933.5

Noncontrolling interest
6.0

 
4.5

Total stockholders’ equity
969.7

 
938.0

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
2,444.6

 
$
2,504.5


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

39

Table of Contents

WOLVERINE WORLD WIDE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow
  
Fiscal Year
(In millions)
2015
 
2014
 
2013
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
 
 
 
 
 
Net earnings
$
123.2

 
$
133.9

 
$
101.0

Adjustments necessary to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
48.7

 
53.3

 
56.2

Deferred income taxes
(26.7
)
 
(19.1
)
 
(27.8
)
Stock-based compensation expense
18.7

 
25.1

 
28.2

Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation
(4.9
)
 
(5.6
)
 
(3.4
)
Pension contribution

 
(3.9
)
 
(2.4
)
Pension and SERP expense
27.9

 
11.9

 
37.3

Debt extinguishment costs
1.6

 
1.3

 
13.1

Restructuring and impairment costs
37.6

 
27.0

 
8.3

Cash payments related to restructuring costs
(10.3
)
 
(7.7
)
 
(1.4
)
Other
(2.0
)
 
11.5

 
(4.3
)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
Accounts receivable
5.8

 
76.5

 
(41.3
)
Inventories
(68.8
)
 
2.9

 
35.1

Other operating assets
14.6

 
(17.8
)
 
12.8

Accounts payable
52.9

 
16.2

 
(26.5
)
Other operating liabilities
(2.8
)
 
9.1

 
17.4

Net cash provided by operating activities
215.5

 
314.6

 
202.3

INVESTING ACTIVITIES
 
 
 
 
 
Additions to property, plant and equipment
(46.4
)
 
(30.0
)
 
(41.7
)
Proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment

 

 
2.8

Investments in joint ventures

 
(1.1
)
 
(2.5
)
Other
(3.6
)
 
(3.7
)
 
(3.3
)
Net cash used in investing activities
(50.0
)
 
(34.8
)
 
(44.7
)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
 
 
 
 
 
Borrowings of long-term debt
450.0

 

 
775.0

Payments on long-term debt
(530.9
)
 
(249.8
)
 
(875.0
)
Payments of debt issuance costs
(2.4
)
 

 
(2.3
)
Cash dividends paid
(24.4
)
 
(24.0
)
 
(23.7
)
Purchase of common stock for treasury
(92.6
)
 

 

Purchases of shares under employee stock plans
(7.7
)
 
(10.5
)
 
(0.8
)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options
13.3

 
7.3

 
8.6

Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation
4.9

 
5.6

 
3.4

Contributions from noncontrolling interest
2.5

 
1.0

 
2.0

Net cash used in financing activities
(187.3
)
 
(270.4
)
 
(112.8
)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes
(7.9
)
 
0.2

 
(2.0
)
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
(29.7
)
 
9.6

 
42.8

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year
223.8

 
214.2

 
171.4

Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year
$
194.1

 
$
223.8

 
$
214.2

OTHER CASH FLOW INFORMATION
 
 
 
 
 
Interest paid
$
34.9

 
$
42.2

 
$
48.8

Net income taxes paid
$
49.8

 
$
70.2

 
$
33.5

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

40

Table of Contents

WOLVERINE WORLD WIDE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity
 
Wolverine World Wide, Inc. Stockholders' Equity
 
 
 
 
(In millions, except share and per share data)
Common Stock
 
Additional Paid-In Capital
 
Retained Earnings
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
 
Treasury Stock
 
Non-controlling Interest
 
Total
Balance at December 29, 2012
$
98.7

 
$

 
$
633.4

 
$
(87.5
)
 
$
(2.2
)
 
$
1.3

 
$
643.7

Net earnings
 
 
 
 
100.4

 
 
 
 
 
0.6

 
101.0

Other comprehensive income (loss)
 
 
 
 
 
 
78.3

 
 
 
(0.1
)
 
78.2

Shares issued under stock incentive plans, net of forfeitures (2,068,751 shares)
1.1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1.1

Stock-based compensation expense
 
 
28.2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
28.2

Amounts associated with shares issued under stock incentive plans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Proceeds over par value
 
 
7.5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
7.5

Income tax benefits
 
 
3.9

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.9

Issuance of performance shares (785,458 shares)
 
 
(0.4
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(0.4
)
Issuance of treasury shares (26,590 shares)
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
0.6