MOV Movado Group Inc

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

NOTE 1 – BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying interim unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared by Movado Group, Inc. (the “Company”), in a manner consistent with that used in the preparation of the annual audited Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2020 (the “2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K”). The unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which require the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the periods reported. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements reflect all adjustments, consisting of only normal and recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of the financial position and results of operations for the periods presented. The consolidated balance sheet data at January 31, 2020 is derived from the audited annual financial statements, which are included in the Company’s 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K and should be read in connection with these interim unaudited financial statements. Operating results for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year.

NOTE 2 – IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

In December 2019, COVID-19 emerged and subsequently spread worldwide. The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic in March 2020, resulting in federal, state and local governments and other authorities mandating various restrictions, including travel restrictions, quarantines and other social distancing requirements. As a result of the outbreak, in mid-March 2020, the Company and the majority of the Company’s wholesale customers temporarily closed all of their retail stores due to health concerns associated with COVID-19. Although the Company reopened all of its retail stores during the second quarter and most of the Company’s brick and mortar wholesale customers have reopened the majority of their retail locations as well, the discretionary consumer goods segment remains highly challenged at brick and mortar retail locations worldwide.

The Company entered this period of uncertainty with a healthy liquidity position, and it took actions to enhance its financial liquidity and flexibility, including minimizing all non-essential operating expenses (including marketing, travel and consulting services), reevaluating all capital expenditures, furloughing approximately 80% of the Company’s North American workforce during March through June and temporarily reducing the work-rate of international employees while applying for available government payroll subsidies in accordance with local government guidelines and programs, suspending the Company’s share repurchase program and regular quarterly dividends, reducing salaries and suspending Board of Director fees from April through June 2020, amending license agreements to reduce its royalty obligations in fiscal 2021 and negotiating rent abatements in respect of its rent obligations for its Company Stores and certain other leases. As a precautionary measure, the Company borrowed an additional $30.9 million under its revolving credit facility in March 2020 and amended its revolving credit facility to modify some of its financial covenants (see Note 9 – Debt and Lines of Credit). During the second and third quarter of fiscal 2021, the Company repaid $36.8 million and $10.9 million, respectively, under its revolving credit facility.

As part of the Company’s efforts to continue to reduce operating expenses and adjust cash flows in light of the ongoing economic challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company committed to a restructuring plan (the “Restructuring Plan”) on June 29, 2020 (see Note 6 – Restructuring Provision for further discussion).         

The Company evaluates its long-lived assets, operating lease right of use assets, goodwill and intangible assets for indicators of impairment at least annually in the fourth quarter of each fiscal year or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Given the substantial reduction in the Company’s sales and the reduced cash flow projections as a result of closures of the Company’s retail stores and its wholesale customers due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the significant decline in the Company’s market capitalization, the Company determined that a triggering event occurred during the first quarter of fiscal 2021 and that an impairment assessment was warranted for goodwill and intangible assets. This analysis resulted in impairment charges related to goodwill of $133.7 million and intangible assets of $22.2 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2021. See Note 7 – Goodwill and Intangible Assets – for a further discussion of these impairments.

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Although the full magnitude of the effects on the Company’s business is difficult to predict at this time, the COVID-19 pandemic has had, and for the foreseeable future is expected to continue to have, a material impact on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. In addition to the resurgence of COVID-19 cases in many regions in the fall which has resulted in the tightening of containment and mitigation measures in many countries, the ongoing economic impacts and health concerns associated with the pandemic will likely continue to affect consumer behavior, spending levels, shopping preferences and tourism. Nevertheless, the Company believes that based on the Company’s current expectations, cash flows from operations and its credit lines and cash on-hand, the Company has adequate funds to support its operating, capital and debt service requirements and expects to maintain compliance with its debt covenants for the next twelve months subsequent to the issuance of these financial statements.

NOTE 3 – RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-03, “Codification Improvements to Financial Instruments”, which makes improvements to financial instruments guidance, including the current expected credit losses guidance. The adoption of the new guidance was not material to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting”. This guidance provides practical expedients for contract modifications and certain hedging relationships associated with the transition from reference rates that are expected to be discontinued. This guidance is applicable for the Company’s borrowing instruments, which use LIBOR as a reference rate, and is effective immediately, but is only available through December 31, 2022. The Company is evaluating the optional expedients and exceptions in the guidance but does not except the adoption of this standard to have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes”. ASU 2019-12 simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to general principles in “Income Taxes (Topic 740)”. It also clarifies and amends existing guidance to improve consistent application. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. The Company early adopted this standard effective February 1, 2020. The provision of ASU 2019-12 which has the most significant impact on the Company is the removal of a limitation on the tax benefit recognized on pre-tax losses during interim periods which exceed the expected loss for the fiscal year. The Company’s income tax benefit for the nine months ended October 31, 2020 includes an income tax benefit of $0.5 million as a result of early adoption in the first quarter of fiscal 2021.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, “Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement”, which modifies the disclosure requirements in ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement. The Company adopted ASU 2018-13 during the first quarter of fiscal 2021. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments” and subsequently issued additional guidance that modified ASU 2016-13. This standard introduces a forward-looking approach, based on expected losses, to estimate credit losses on certain types of financial instruments, including trade receivables. The estimate of expected credit losses requires entities to incorporate considerations of historical information, current information and reasonable and supportable forecasts. This may result in the earlier recognition of allowance for losses. The Company adopted ASU 2016-13 on February 1, 2020. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. Results for reporting periods as of February 1, 2020 are presented under the new standard, while prior results continue to be reported under the previous standard. 

NOTE 4 – EARNINGS PER SHARE AND CASH DIVIDENDS

The Company presents net income/(loss) attributable to Movado Group, Inc. after adjusting for noncontrolling interests, as applicable, per share on a basic and diluted basis. Basic earnings per share is computed using weighted-average shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed using the weighted-average number of shares outstanding adjusted for dilutive common stock equivalents.

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The number of shares used in calculating basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share is as follows (in thousands):

For the three months ended October 31, 2020 and 2019, approximately 889,000 and 786,000, respectively, of potentially dilutive common stock equivalents were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because their effect would have been antidilutive. For the nine months ended October 31, 2020 and 2019, approximately 815,000 and 352,000, respectively, of potentially dilutive common stock equivalents were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because their effect would have been antidilutive. For the nine months ended October 31, 2020, the Company also had approximately 80,000 stock options outstanding that could potentially dilute earnings per share in future periods that were excluded from the computation of diluted EPS because their effect would have been anti-dilutive given the net loss during the period.

During the first three quarters of fiscal 2021, the Company did not declare quarterly cash dividends. The Company declared quarterly cash dividends of $0.20 in each of the first three quarters of fiscal year 2020, representing $13.8 million in total dividends. Of this amount, $4.6 million was paid on September 24, 2019, $4.6 million was paid on June 25, 2019 and $4.6 million was paid on April 24, 2019.                                                           

NOTE 5 – ACQUISITIONS

Australia

On November 22, 2019, the Company entered into an agreement and formed a joint venture with GDL Accessories PTY Ltd. (“GDL”), an Australian based company which distributed the Company’s products in Australia and New Zealand. The agreement established a joint venture, MGDL Distribution Pty Ltd (“MGDL”), and set out the terms in which both parties will govern their relationship as shareholders of MGDL, and the terms on which the joint venture will be managed.

The joint venture was formed to more cost effectively market and distribute Movado products to customers in Australia and in New Zealand.

The Company contributed 0.9 million Australian dollars (equivalent to approximately $0.6 million US dollars) to the joint venture and is a 51% interest holder. The Company controls all of the significant participating rights of the joint venture. As the Company controls all of the significant participating rights of the joint venture and is the majority interest holder in MGDL, the assets, liabilities and results of operations of the joint venture are consolidated and included in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements since the date of acquisition within the Watch and Accessory Brands segment. GDL’s interest is reflected in Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Noncontrolling interest in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of October 31, 2020, all amounts in the Consolidated Financial Statements related to MGDL were immaterial.

City Time

On December 3, 2018, the Company acquired 51% of City Time Distribucion, S.L.U. (“City Time”), the Company’s distributor in Spain, and simultaneously signed a joint venture agreement. The purchase price was 4.2 million Euros (equivalent to approximately $4.8 million US dollars), net of cash acquired, and was funded with cash on hand. The results of City Time have been included in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements since the date of acquisition within the Watch and Accessory Brands segment. Of the total purchase consideration, there were no material amounts allocated to assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

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Pursuant to the joint venture agreement, the noncontrolling interest holder has the right to sell its interest in City Time to the Company on two specific dates in the future. The noncontrolling interest is not redeemable until such dates. The Company will adjust the carrying value of the redeemable interest to the redemption amount assuming it was redeemable at the balance sheet date. At October 31, 2020, the Company concluded that no remeasurement adjustment was needed. If the noncontrolling interest holder does not exercise its right to sell its interest in City Time to the Company, the Company nevertheless has the option to purchase the noncontrolling interest holder’s interest on each of the same two dates and at the same price as would have applied if the noncontrolling interest holder had exercised its sale option.

MVMT

On October 1, 2018, the Company acquired MVMT Watches, Inc., owner of the MVMT brand, for an initial payment of $100.0 million and two future contingent payments that combined could total up to an additional $100.0 million before tax benefits. The exact amount of the future payments will be determined by MVMT's future financial performance with no minimum required future payment. After giving effect to the closing adjustments, the purchase price was $108.4 million, net of cash acquired of $3.8 million. The Company recorded goodwill (as of October 1, 2018) of $77.5 million based on the amount by which the purchase price exceeded the fair value of the net assets acquired. As the structure of the acquisition allowed for a step up in basis for tax purposes, the full amount of goodwill is deductible for federal income tax purposes over 15 years.

The acquisition agreement included a contingent consideration arrangement based on the MVMT brand achieving certain revenue and EBITDA (as defined in the acquisition agreement) targets. In connection therewith, the Company recorded a non-current liability of $16.5 million as of the date of acquisition to reflect the estimated fair value of the contingent purchase price. $14.5 million was allocated to purchase price and $2.0 million to deferred compensation expense based on future employee service requirements.

The estimated fair value of the contingent consideration was determined using a Monte Carlo simulation that includes key assumptions regarding MVMT’s projected financial performance during the earn-out period (through 2023), volatilities, estimated discount rates, risk-free interest rate, and correlation. Based on changes in projected financial performance, the contingent purchase price liability had been remeasured at July 31, 2019 to $1.9 million and to zero at January 31, 2020. Of the $16.9 million (including interest accretion) decrease in the liability, $15.4 million was included in non-operating income (portion of contingent consideration allocated to purchase price) in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the year ended January 31, 2020, and $0.5 million and $1.0 million were reflected as a reduction of deferred compensation (portion of contingent consideration allocated to deferred compensation based on future service requirements) within other current assets and other non-current assets, respectively, in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

In connection with the remeasurement of the contingent consideration during the fiscal year ended January 31, 2020, the Company assessed the undiscounted cash flows associated with the long-lived assets pertaining to MVMT. Current estimates at that time indicated that carrying amounts were expected to be recovered. The undiscounted cash flows related to the MVMT long-lived assets as of January 31, 2020 exceeded the carrying value by approximately 33%. See Note 7 – Goodwill and Intangible Assets for impairment of MVMT’s long-lived assets as of October 31, 2020.

NOTE 6 – RESTRUCTURING PROVISION

On June 29, 2020, the Company committed to a Restructuring Plan as part of the Company’s corporate initiatives to reduce operating expenses and adjust cash flows in light of the ongoing economic challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the Company’s business. The Restructuring Plan was substantially completed during the second quarter of the Company’s current fiscal year, although cash severance will be paid over time and such payments are expected to continue into the next fiscal year. During the quarter ended October 31, 2020, the Company recorded an additional $0.8 million primarily related to additional severance and conclusion in negotiations on certain leased properties and consulting arrangements. Of the total provision incurred, approximately $8.7 million is expected to result in cash expenditures with the remaining $6.7 million resulting in non-cash use. The Company expects annual savings in the range of $14 million to $16 million as it relates to severance, employee related and properties (contained within Other in table below).

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A summary rollforward of the provision related to the Company’s corporate initiatives, including the provision associated with the Restructuring Plan, is as follows for the three months ended October 31, 2020 (in thousands):

A summary rollforward of the provision related to the Company’s corporate initiatives, including the provision associated with the Restructuring Plan, is as follows for the nine months ended October 31, 2020 (in thousands):

The following amounts are included in the Consolidated Balance Sheet at October 31, 2020:

Included in Other is approximately a $1.5 million write-off related to unrefunded deposits for a canceled global customer event.

The corporate initiative costs by operating segment are as follows:

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NOTE 7 – GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

The Company performs its annual impairment assessment of goodwill as well as brand intangibles at the beginning of the fourth quarter of each fiscal year or if an event occurs that would more likely than not reduce the fair value below its carrying amount.

During the three months ended April 30, 2020, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic that resulted in the closing of the Company’s stores and of the vast majority of the stores of the Company’s wholesale customers (resulting in a decrease in revenues and gross margin), a decrease in customer spending and the recent decline in the Company’s market capitalization, the Company concluded that a triggering event had occurred during the first quarter, resulting in the need to perform a quantitative interim impairment assessment over the Company’s Olivia Burton, MVMT and Company Stores’ long-lived assets as well as the Watch and Accessory Brands reporting unit.

The Company performed recoverability tests for the long-lived assets of MVMT, Olivia Burton and the Company Stores as of April 30, 2020. The Company concluded that the carrying amounts of the long-lived assets of Olivia Burton and the Company Stores were recoverable, while the long-lived assets of MVMT may not be recoverable. Utilizing a royalty rate to determine discounted projected future cash flows in the valuation of MVMT’s trade name and a discounted cash flow method for the valuation of MVMT’s customer relationships, the Company concluded that the fair values of MVMT’s tradenames and customer relationships did not exceed their carrying values. As a result, the Company recorded impairment charges in the Watch and Accessory Brands segment totaling $22.2 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2021, decreasing MVMT’s trade name to $2.4 million and MVMT’s customer relationships to zero.

After adjusting the carrying value of MVMT’s intangible assets, the Company completed an interim quantitative impairment test of goodwill as of April 30, 2020 in which the Company compared the fair value of the Watch and Accessory Brands reporting unit to its respective carrying value. An impairment test of goodwill was not performed for the Company Stores reporting unit as there was no goodwill at this reporting unit. The fair value estimate for the Watches and Accessory reporting unit was based on the income and market approaches. The discounted cash flow method under the income approach involves estimating the cash flows in a discrete forecast period and a terminal value based on the Gordon Growth Model and discounting at a rate of return that reflects the relative risk of the cash flows. The market approach involves applying valuation multiples to the operating performance of the Watch and Accessory Brands reporting unit derived from comparable publicly traded companies based on the relative historical and projected operations of the reporting unit.

The key estimates used in the discounted cash flows model included the Company’s weighted average cost of capital and projected cash flows, notably revenue growth rates and margin assumptions. The Company’s assumptions were based on the actual historical performance of the reporting units and took into account the recent severe and continued weakening of operating results as well as the anticipated rate of recovery, and implied risk premiums based on market prices of the Company’s common stock as of the assessment date. The significant estimates in the market approach model included identifying similar companies with comparable business factors such as size, growth, profitability, risk and return on investment and assessing comparable revenue and earnings multiples in estimating the fair value of the reporting unit. The excess of the Watch and Accessory Brands unit’s carrying value over the estimate of the fair value was recorded in the Watch and Accessory Brands segment as the goodwill impairment charge in the first quarter of 2021, totaling $133.7 million.    

The changes in the carrying amount of other intangible assets during the nine months ended October 31, 2020 are as follows (in thousands):

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Amortization expense for intangible assets was $0.9 million and $1.5 million for the three months ended October 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and $3.0 million and $4.6 million for the nine months ended October 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.  

NOTE 9 – DEBT AND LINES OF CREDIT

On October 12, 2018, the Company, together with Movado Group Delaware Holdings Corporation, Movado Retail Group, Inc. and Movado LLC (together with the Company, the “U.S. Borrowers”), each a wholly owned domestic subsidiary of the Company, and Movado Watch Company S.A. and MGI Luxury Group S.A. (collectively, the “Swiss Borrowers” and, together with the U.S. Borrowers, the “Borrowers”), each a wholly owned Swiss subsidiary of the Company, entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with the lenders party thereto and Bank of America, N.A. as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Agent”). The Credit Agreement amends and restates the Company’s prior credit agreement dated as of January 30, 2015 (the “Prior Credit Agreement”) and extends the maturity of the $100.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility (the “Facility”) provided thereunder to October 12, 2023. The Facility includes a $15.0 million letter of credit subfacility, a $25.0 million swingline subfacility and a $75.0 million sublimit for borrowings by the Swiss Borrowers, with provisions for uncommitted increases to the Facility of up to $50.0 million in the aggregate subject to customary terms and conditions.

On June 5, 2020, the Company and its lenders entered into an amendment (the “Second Amendment”) to the Credit Agreement effective as of April 30, 2020. Among other things, the Second Amendment provides for the following temporary relief with respect to the financial maintenance covenants in the Credit Agreement from April 30, 2020 through the date on which the Company delivers a compliance certificate in respect of the period ended July 31, 2021 (or earlier if the Company demonstrates satisfaction of certain earnings and leverage milestones) (the “Suspension Period”): (i) the maximum consolidated leverage ratio is increased from 2.50 to 1.0 to 2.75 to 1.0 for the four quarter period ended April 30, 2020 and suspended thereafter until the end of the Suspension Period when it resumes at 2.50 to 1.0 and (ii) the minimum EBITDA covenant levels are reduced. In addition, the Second Amendment provides that (i) through April 30, 2021, the Company is required to maintain minimum liquidity (comprised of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and unutilized commitments under the Credit Agreement) of $100.0 million, (ii) during the Suspension Period, certain covenants, including covenants related to dividends, share repurchases, debt incurrence, investments and capital expenditures, have been tightened and (iii) during the Suspension Period, the interest rate for borrowings under the Credit Agreement is increased to LIBOR plus 2.75% per annum and the commitment fee in respect of the unutilized commitments is increased to 0.45% per annum. In addition, the Second Amendment permanently increased the LIBOR floor for loans under the Credit Agreement from 0% to 1.00% and permanently reduced the minimum EBITDA financial covenant level to $35.0 million starting with the four-quarter period ending July 31, 2021.

As of October 31, 2020, and October 31, 2019, there was 25.0 million and 50.0 million in Swiss Francs, respectively (with a dollar equivalent of $27.3 million and $50.7 million, respectively), in addition to $10.0 million as of October 31, 2020, in loans outstanding under the Facility. Availability under the Facility was reduced by the aggregate number of letters of credit outstanding, issued in connection with retail and operating facility leases to various landlords and for Canadian payroll to the Royal Bank of Canada, totaling approximately $0.3 million at both October 31, 2020 and October 31, 2019. At October 31, 2020, the letters of credit have expiration dates through June 1, 2021. As of October 31, 2020, and October 31, 2019, availability under the Facility was $62.4 million and $49.0 million, respectively.

The Company had weighted average borrowings under the facility of $44.5 million and $50.6 million during the three months ended October 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, with a weighted average interest rate of 3.75% and 1.00% during the three months ended October 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Company had weighted average borrowings under the facility of $60.5 million and $50.2 million, with a weighted average interest rate of 2.37% and 1.00% during the nine months ended October 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.      

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A Swiss subsidiary of the Company maintains unsecured lines of credit with an unspecified maturity with a Swiss bank. As of October 31, 2020, and 2019, these lines of credit totaled 6.5 million Swiss Francs for both periods, with a dollar equivalent of $7.1 million and $6.6 million, respectively. As of October 31, 2020, and 2019, there were no borrowings against these lines. As of October 31, 2020, and 2019, two European banks had guaranteed obligations to third parties on behalf of two of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries in the dollar equivalent of $1.3 million and $1.2 million, respectively, in various foreign currencies, of which $0.6 million, in both periods, was a restricted deposit as it relates to lease agreements.

Cash paid for interest, including unused commitments fees, was $1.3 million and $0.5 million for the nine-month period ended October 31, 2020 and October 31, 2019, respectively.

NOTE 10 – DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

As of October 31, 2020, the Company’s entire net forward contracts hedging portfolio consisted of 21.6 million Chinese Yuan equivalent, 6.0 million Swiss Francs equivalent, 20.0 million US dollars equivalent, 24.0 million Euros equivalent and 5.6 million British Pounds equivalent with various expiry dates ranging through January 12, 2021. These forward contracts are not designated as qualified hedges in accordance with ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and, therefore, changes in the fair value of these derivatives are recognized in earnings in the period they arise. Net gains or losses related to these forward contracts are included in cost of sales and selling and general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The cash flows related to these foreign currency contracts are classified in operating activities.

See Note 11 – Fair Value Measurements for fair value and presentation in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for derivatives.

For the quarter ended October 31, 2020, the Company did not have any cash flow hedges.

NOTE 11 – FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Accounting guidance establishes a fair value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value into three broad levels as follows:

The guidance requires the use of observable market data if such data is available without undue cost and effort.

The following tables present the fair value hierarchy for those assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of October 31, 2020 and 2019 and January 31, 2020 (in thousands):

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The fair values of the Company’s available-for-sale securities are based on quoted prices. The fair value of the short-term investment, which is a guaranteed investment certificate, is based on its purchase price plus one half of a percent calculated annually. The assets related to the Company’s defined contribution supplemental executive retirement plan (“SERP”) consist of both employer (employee unvested) and employee assets which are invested in investment funds with fair values calculated based on quoted market prices. The SERP liability represents the Company’s liability to the employees in the plan for their vested balances. The hedge derivatives are entered into by the Company principally to reduce its exposure to Swiss Franc and Euro exchange rate risks. Fair values of the Company’s hedge derivatives are calculated based on quoted foreign exchange rates and quoted interest rates. The carrying amount of debt approximated fair value as of October 31, 2020, January 31, 2020, and October 31, 2019, due to the availability and floating rate for similar instruments.

The Company sponsors a defined benefit pension plan in Switzerland. The plan covers certain international employees and is based on years of service and compensation on a career-average pay basis. The assets within the plan are classified as a Level 3 asset within the fair value hierarchy and consist of an investment in pooled assets and include separate employee accounts that are invested in equity securities, debt securities and real estate. The values of the separate accounts invested are based on values provided by the administrator of the funds that cannot be readily derived from or corroborated by observable market data. The value of the assets is part of the funded status of the defined benefit plan and included in other non-current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets at October 31, 2020, January 31, 2020 and October 31, 2019.

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The contingent purchase price liability related to the acquisition of MVMT Watches, Inc., owner of the MVMT brand at the time of the acquisition, is considered a Level 3 liability. Based on updated revenue and EBITDA (as defined in the acquisition agreement) performance expectations during the earn-out period for MVMT, the Company remeasured the contingent consideration to zero at January 31, 2020. At July 31, 2019 the Company remeasured the contingent consideration to $1.9 million and, as a result, $13.6 million is included in non-operating income (portion of contingent consideration allocated to purchase price) in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the nine months ended October 31, 2019, and $0.5 million and $0.9 million are reflected as a reduction of deferred compensation (portion of contingent consideration allocated to deferred compensation based on future service requirements) within other current assets and other non-current assets, respectively, in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As the remeasurement is not a direct benefit realized from operating the MVMT business, the Company recorded the change in contingent consideration within non-operating income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and as such, did not include it in operating income for the Watch and Accessory Brands segment. Refer to Note 19 for Segment and Geographic Information.    

The following tables present the change in the Level 3 contingent purchase price liability during the three and nine months ended October 31, 2019:

There were no transfers between any levels of the fair value hierarchy for any of the Company’s fair value measurements.

NOTE 12 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

The Company has minimum commitments related to the Company’s license agreements and endorsement agreements with brand ambassadors. The Company sources, distributes, advertises and sells watches pursuant to its exclusive license agreements with unaffiliated licensors. Royalty amounts under the license agreements are generally based on a stipulated percentage of revenues, although most of these agreements contain provisions for the payment of minimum annual royalty amounts. The license agreements have various terms, and some have renewal options, provided that minimum sales levels are achieved. Additionally, the license agreements require the Company to pay minimum annual advertising amounts.

The Company had previously recorded an obligation of $28.2 million due to the 2017 Tax Act, which was signed into law on December 22, 2017 and imposed a one-time mandatory deemed repatriation tax on cumulative undistributed foreign earnings which have not been previously taxed. The obligation, which was recorded in prior years, is payable in installments over eight years, with the first payment having been made in the second quarter of fiscal 2019.

The Company believes that income tax reserves are adequate; however, amounts asserted by taxing authorities could be greater or less than amounts accrued and reflected in the consolidated balance sheet. Accordingly, the Company could record adjustments to the amounts for federal, state, and foreign liabilities in the future as the Company revises estimates or settles or otherwise resolves the underlying matters. In the ordinary course of business, the Company may take new positions that could increase or decrease unrecognized tax benefits in future periods.

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In December 2016, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“U.S. Customs”) issued an audit report concerning the methodology used by the Company to allocate the cost of certain watch styles imported into the U.S. among the component parts of those watches for tariff purposes. The report disputes the reasonableness of the Company’s historical allocation formulas and proposes an alternative methodology that would imply $5.1 million in underpaid duties over the five-year period covered by the statute of limitations, plus possible penalties and interest. The Company believes that U.S. Customs’ alternative duty methodology and estimate are not consistent with the Company’s facts and circumstances and is disputing U.S. Customs’ position. On February 24, 2017, the Company provided U.S. Customs with supplemental analyses and information supporting the Company’s historical allocation formulas and thereafter provided additional information for U.S. Customs’ review. Although the Company disagrees with U.S. Customs’ position, it cannot predict with any certainty the outcome of this matter. The Company intends to continue to work with U.S. Customs to reach a mutually satisfactory resolution.

The purchase consideration for the MVMT business included two future contingent payments that combined could total up to $100 million. Based on updated revenue and EBITDA (as defined in the acquisition agreement) performance expectations during the earn-out period for MVMT, the Company remeasured the contingent consideration to zero at January 31, 2020 (see Note 5 – Acquisitions and Note 11 – Fair Value Measurements).

The Company is involved in legal proceedings and claims from time to time, in the ordinary course of its business. Legal reserves are recorded in accordance with the accounting guidance for contingencies. Contingencies are inherently unpredictable and it is possible that results of operations, balance sheets or cash flows could be materially and adversely affected in any particular period by unfavorable developments in, or resolution or disposition of, such matters. For those legal proceedings and claims for which the Company believes that it is probable that a reasonably estimable loss may result, the Company records a reserve for the potential loss. For proceedings and claims where the Company believes it is reasonably possible that a loss may result that is materially in excess of amounts accrued for the matter, the Company either discloses an estimate of such possible loss or range of loss or includes a statement that such an estimate cannot be made. As of October 31, 2020, the Company is party to legal proceedings and contingencies, the resolution of which is not expected to materially affect its financial condition, future results of operations beyond the amounts accrued, or cash flows.

NOTE 13 – INCOME TAXES

On March 27, 2020, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) which provides economic relief to assist American families and companies during the COVID-19 global pandemic. The CARES Act includes, among other things, provisions related to net operating loss carryback periods, refundable payroll tax credits and the delay of certain payroll taxes, and technical corrections to tax depreciation methods for qualified improvement property. The CARES Act allows U.S. net operating losses generated in fiscal 2019, 2020, and 2021 to be carried back up to five years to prior taxable years with a U.S. statutory tax rate of 35.0% and to offset 100% of regular taxable income in such years (the “CARES Act NOL Carryback Provision”). The Company anticipates that there will be a U.S. net operating loss generated in fiscal 2021 which will be carried back to prior taxable years.

The Company recorded an income tax provision of $7.5 million and $5.0 million for the three months ended October 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

The effective tax rate was 33.5% and 22.1% for three months ended October 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The significant components of the effective tax rate changed primarily due to the U.S. tax on Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (“GILTI”) and excess tax deficiencies related to stock-based compensation, partially offset by the CARES Act NOL Carryback Provision. 

The Company recorded an income tax benefit of $26.4 million and income tax provision of $10.5 million for the nine months ended October 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

The effective tax rate was 15.7% and 21.3% for the nine months ended October 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The significant components of the effective tax rate changed primarily due to impairments of the portion of goodwill of the Watch and Accessory Brands reporting unit which is not tax deductible, the U.S. tax on GILTI and the recording of valuation allowances on certain foreign deferred tax assets. These changes were partially offset by changes in foreign profits in lower tax jurisdictions and the CARES Act NOL Carryback Provision. 

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The effective tax rate for the three months ended October 31, 2020 differs from the U.S. statutory tax rate of 21.0% primarily due to the U.S. tax on GILTI and excess tax deficiencies related to stock-based compensation, partially offset by foreign profits being taxed in lower taxing jurisdictions and the CARES Act NOL Carryback Provision. The effective tax rate for the nine months ended October 31, 2020 differs from the U.S. statutory tax rate of 21.0% primarily due to impairments of the portion of goodwill of the Watch and Accessory Brands reporting unit which is not tax deductible and the U.S. tax on GILTI, partially offset by the CARES Act NOL Carryback Provision.

The effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2019 differs from the U.S. statutory tax rate of 21.0% primarily due to no tax benefit being recognized on losses incurred by certain foreign operations, partially offset by foreign profits being taxed in lower taxing jurisdictions.  

In December 2019, the FASB issues ASU 2019-12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes”. ASU 2019-12 simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to general principles in “Income Taxes (Topic 740)”. It also clarifies and amends existing guidance to improve consistent application. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. The Company early adopted this standard effective February 1, 2020. The provision of ASU 2019-12 which has the most significant impact on the Company is the removal of a limitation on the tax benefit recognized on pre-tax losses during interim periods which exceed the expected loss for the fiscal year. The Company’s income tax benefit for the nine months ended October 31, 2020 includes an income tax benefit of $0.5 million as a result of early adoption in the first quarter of fiscal 2021.

As of October 31, 2020, the Company had no deferred tax liability for the undistributed foreign earnings of approximately $211.1 million because the Company intends to continue permanently reinvesting such earnings in its foreign operations. It is not practicable to estimate the tax liability related to a future distribution of these permanently reinvested foreign earnings.

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