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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 12, 2021

Registration No. 333-    

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM S-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

THE DUCKHORN PORTFOLIO, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   2080   81-3866305

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(Primary Standard Industrial

Classification Code Number)

  (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

1201 Dowdell Lane

Saint Helena, CA 94574

(707) 302-2658

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

Alex Ryan

President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman

The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc.

1201 Dowdell Lane

Saint Helena, CA 94574

(707) 302-2658

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Copies to:

 

Thomas Holden

Ropes & Gray LLP

3 Embarcadero Center

San Francisco, CA 94111

(415) 315-2355

 

Sean Sullivan

Executive Vice President,

Chief Administrative Officer

and General Counsel

The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc.

1201 Dowdell Lane

Saint Helena, CA 94574

(707) 302-2658

 

Marc D. Jaffe

Ian D. Schuman

Latham & Watkins LLP

1271 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10020

(212) 906-1200

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to public: As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement is declared effective.

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box.

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.

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      Accelerated filer  
Non-accelerated filer      Smaller reporting company  
     Emerging growth company  

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of each class of

securities to be registered

   Shares to
be registered
(1)
   Proposed maximum
aggregate offering
price per share
(2)
  

Proposed maximum

aggregate

offering price

(1)(2)

   Amount of
registration fee

Common Stock, par value $0.01

   13,800,000    $21.44    $295,872,000    $27,427.33

 

 

 

(1)   Includes common stock that may be sold if the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares is exercised.
(2)   Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. In accordance with Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the price shown is the average of the high and low prices on October 6, 2021 as reported on the New York Stock Exchange.

The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.


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The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. The selling stockholders may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Subject to completion, dated October 12, 2021

Preliminary prospectus

12,000,000 shares

 

 

 

LOGO

Common stock

The selling stockholders identified in this prospectus are offering 12,000,000 shares of our common stock. We are not selling any shares of common stock under this prospectus, and we will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the shares being sold by the selling stockholders.

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol “NAPA.” On October 11, 2021, the last sale price of our common stock as reported on the NYSE was $22.07 per share.

We are an “emerging growth company” as that term is used in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 and, as such, have elected to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements for this prospectus and may elect to do so in future filings.

We are a “controlled company” within the meaning of the corporate governance rules of the NYSE.

 

     
        Per share        Total  

Public offering price

     $                      $                

Underwriting discounts and commissions

     $                      $                

Proceeds to selling stockholders before expenses(1)

     $                      $                

 

(1)   See the section “Underwriting” beginning on page 133 for additional information regarding underwriting compensation. The selling stockholders have granted the underwriters an option for a period of 30 days to purchase up to 1,800,000 additional shares of our common stock at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions.

Investing in our common stock involves risk. See “Risk factors” beginning on page 19.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed on the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The underwriters expect to deliver the shares of our common stock to investors on or about            , 2021.

 

J.P. Morgan    Credit Suisse    Jefferies

Prospectus dated             , 2021


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Table of contents

 

     Page  

Prospectus summary

     1  

The offering

     14  

Summary consolidated financial and other data

     16  

Risk factors

     19  

Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements

     50  

Industry and market data

     52  

Use of proceeds

     53  

Dividend policy

     53  

Capitalization

     54  

Selected consolidated financial and other data

     55  

Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations

     60  

Business

     85  

Management

     108  

Certain relationships and related party transactions

     116  

Principal and selling stockholders

     118  

Description of certain indebtedness

     120  

Description of capital stock

     123  

Shares eligible for future sale

     127  

Material U.S. federal income tax considerations for Non-U.S. Holders of shares of our common stock

     129  

Underwriting

     133  

Legal matters

     142  

Experts

     142  

Where you can find more information

     142  

Incorporation by Reference

     142  

We are responsible for the information contained in this prospectus, including the information incorporated by reference herein, and in any free writing prospectus we prepare or authorize. Neither we nor the selling stockholders nor the underwriters have authorized anyone to provide you with different information, and neither we nor the selling stockholders nor the underwriters take responsibility for any other information others may give you. Neither we nor the selling stockholders nor the underwriters are making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus, including the information incorporated by reference herein, is accurate as of any date other than its date.

For investors outside of the United States: neither we nor the selling stockholder nor any of the underwriters have done anything that would permit this offering or possession or distribution of this prospectus or any free writing prospectus we may provide to you in connection with this offering in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than in the United States. You are required to inform yourselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, this offering of the shares of our common stock and the distribution of this prospectus and any such free writing prospectus outside of the United States. See “Underwriting.”

 

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Glossary

The following terms are used in this prospectus unless otherwise noted or indicated by the context:

 

 

“AVA” means American Viticultural Area.

 

 

“Company,” “we,” “us,” “our,” “Duckhorn” and “The Duckhorn Portfolio” refer to The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc. (formerly Mallard Intermediate, Inc.) and its consolidated subsidiaries.

 

 

“Credit Facility” refers to the existing first lien credit facility pursuant to that certain First Lien Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of October 14, 2016 (as amended by Amendment No. 1, dated July 28, 2017, as amended by Amendment No. 2, dated as of April 19, 2018, as amended by Amendment No. 3 dated as of August 1, 2018, as amended by Amendment No. 4 dated as of October 30, 2018, as amended by Amendment No. 5 dated as of June 7, 2019, as amended by Amendment No. 6 dated as of August 17, 2020 and as amended by Amendment No. 7 dated February 22, 2021), by and among the Company, the borrowers named therein, the lenders named therein and the Bank of the West, as administrative agent.

 

 

“DTC channel” refers to our sales and distribution channel through which we sell wine directly to consumers without any licensee intermediaries (wholesale or retail), which is permissible through in-person sales at one of our tasting rooms or, where permitted by law, through our multi-winery e-commerce website.

 

 

“Fiscal 2015” refers to our fiscal year ended July 31, 2015.

 

 

“Fiscal 2017” refers to our fiscal year ended July 31, 2017.

 

 

“Fiscal 2018” refers to our fiscal year ended July 31, 2018.

 

 

“Fiscal 2019” refers to our fiscal year ended July 31, 2019.

 

 

“Fiscal 2020” refers to our fiscal year ended July 31, 2020.

 

 

“Fiscal 2021” refers to our fiscal year ended July 31, 2021.

 

 

“Fiscal 2022” refers to our fiscal year ended July 31, 2022.

 

 

“Luxury wine” refers to wines sold for $15 or higher per 750ml bottle.

 

 

“On-premise” refers to retail accounts that are a business with a license that allows a customer to purchase our wines and consume them at the licensed location, such as restaurants, bars and hotels.

 

 

“Off-premise” refers to retail accounts that are a business with a license that allows a customer to purchase our wines for consumption at a location other than the retailer’s licensed location, such as grocery stores and liquor stores.

 

 

“Retail” refers to establishments that are licensed to purchase our wine for resale to consumers, such as grocery stores, liquor stores and restaurants.

 

 

“Scale” refers to wine producers who produce at least one million 9L cases per year.

 

 

“TSG” refers to TSG Consumer Partners, LLC, together with certain affiliates.

 

 

“Ultra-luxury wine” refers to wines with suggested retail prices of $25 or higher per 750ml bottle.

 

 

“Wholesale channel” refers to our sales and distribution channel through which we sell wine to distributors and, in California, directly to retail accounts.

 

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Prospectus summary

The following summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and does not contain all of the information that you should consider in making your investment decision. Before investing in our common stock, you should carefully read this entire prospectus, including our consolidated financial statements and the related notes incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the information set forth in the sections of this prospectus titled “Risk factors,” “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations” and “Business.” Some of the statements in this prospectus constitute forward-looking statements, see “Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements” for more information.

The Duckhorn Portfolio: the standard for American fine wine

The Duckhorn Portfolio is the premier scaled producer of luxury wines in North America. We have delighted millions of consumers with authentic, high-quality, approachable wines for over four decades. Founded by our namesake Dan and Margaret Duckhorn in 1976, we began by pioneering Merlot wines in Napa Valley and now champion a curated and comprehensive portfolio of highly acclaimed luxury wines across multiple winery brands, varietals, appellations and price points. Our portfolio is focused exclusively on the desirable luxury segment, which we define as wines sold for $15 or higher per 750ml bottle.

We sell our wines in all 50 states and over 50 countries at suggested retail prices (“SRPs”) ranging from $20 to $200 per bottle under a world-class luxury portfolio of brands, including Duckhorn Vineyards, Decoy, Kosta Browne, Goldeneye, Paraduxx, Calera, Migration, Canvasback, Greenwing and Postmark.

Our powerful omni-channel sales model drives strong margins. We sell our wines in our wholesale channel, to distributors and directly to retail accounts in California, and to consumers in our direct to consumer (“DTC”) channel, all of which leverage long-standing relationships developed over the past forty years. Our comprehensive sales force builds deep and impactful relationships with distributors and direct to retail accounts in our wholesale channel. In addition, our DTC channel leverages our multi-winery e-commerce website, and it features our award-winning subscription wine clubs and tasting rooms. Combined, our California direct to retail accounts business and DTC channel made up 34.7% of our net sales in Fiscal 2021, delivering strong margins and greater connectivity with consumers and retailers alike.

 

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Financial highlights

For the year ended July 31, 2021, compared to the year ended July 31, 2020, we delivered the following:

 

 

$66.0 million increase in net sales.

 

 

$23.6 million increase in net income.

 

 

$12.1 million increase in Adjusted EBITDA.

For an explanation of how we calculate adjusted EBITDA and for a reconciliation to net income (loss), the most directly comparable financial measure stated in accordance with U.S. GAAP, see “Selected consolidated financial and other data—Non-GAAP financial data.”

Industry background

Our target market

We operate in the large and stable global wine industry that, according to Statista, is projected to exceed $380 billion in sales value in 2021. A majority of our wine is sold in the growing U.S. market, which boasts over 500,000 licensed retail accounts according to Nielsen. According to Statista, the United States consumes more

 

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wine than any other nation and we expect its global wine market share to continue to increase. According to data from Statista capturing on-premise and off-premise sales, the total sales value of wine in the United States was more than $53 billion in 2019, having grown steadily since 2012. While the COVID-19 pandemic has adversely impacted on-premise sales, including in bars and restaurants, it has benefited grocery and other off-premise sales. As a result, the total sales value of wine in the United States is expected to remain relatively resilient to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We believe favorable trends will continue and that wine will take further alcohol beverage market share in the United States, led by established brands with diversified portfolio offerings.

Luxury wine and premiumization

American Millennials and Generation X adults have come of age in a culture where cooking shows, celebrity chefs, farmers’ markets and food blogs are the norm. U.S. consumers have had an increasing hunger and thirst for high-quality food and drinks and are willing to pay more for items perceived to be superior. Wine continues to benefit from this premiumization trend. We believe that Millennial wine buyers are often spending more per bottle than any other generation and that as their careers progress and incomes grow, both Millennials and Generation X wine enthusiasts are poised to spend more on wines, particularly those from experiential brands with authentic heritages.

The luxury wine segment, which we believe comprised between 10% and 15% of the total U.S. wine market in 2020, expanded at more than double the pace of the broader wine industry from 2012 to 2020, according to sales value data from IRI as of December 27, 2020. With suggested retail prices of $20 to $200 per bottle, our portfolio is strategically positioned to benefit from premiumization.

We have consistently increased our market share in the growing luxury wine segment, both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we believe premiumization will continue to benefit our business as consumers seek trusted brands. According to data from IWSR, wine sold for $20 per 750ml bottle or higher outpaced the overall wine category from 2010 to 2020. During this period, the sales value of wine sold for $20 per bottle or higher grew at an 7.7% CAGR, compared to a 3.1% CAGR for the total U.S. wine industry. According to IRI data, the U.S. luxury wine segment grew at over 20% in sales value in the twelve month period ending on December 27, 2020 and encompassing the period of economic uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to the same period in the prior year, while the overall wine industry grew approximately 13% over the same period.

Luxury producer fragmentation and distributor consolidation

As the luxury wine segment is highly fragmented, we have the advantage of being one of only a few luxury wine producers of scale. Our brands compete for consumers with a wide range of competitors, from the vast number of small volume local wineries, to divisions of large conglomerates.

In recent years, extensive growth in the number of wineries in the United States has been accompanied by a decrease in wine distributors, with approximately 1,800 wineries and 3,000 wine distributors in 1995, compared to over 10,400 wineries and 950 wine distributors in 2020, according to Wines Vines Analytics. The substantial consolidation of distributors has been driven primarily by mergers and acquisitions, and we expect this trend to continue.

In this environment of distributor consolidation and a fragmented universe of many subscale luxury producers, we believe our position as a scaled luxury producer is highly appealing to large distributors and retailers and that our comprehensive portfolio offering provides a “one-stop shop” solution for all of their luxury wine needs.

 

 

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Key drivers of our continued success

We attribute our success to the following strengths:

Curated and comprehensive portfolio of luxury wines.    Our portfolio encompasses ten luxury brands that champion 18 varietals in 25 AVA designations. Duckhorn Vineyards, Decoy and Kosta Browne are the cornerstones of this curated and comprehensive portfolio and reinforce the credibility and brand strength of our entire portfolio. We believe the breadth and depth of our luxury brands, coupled with our scale, position us as a premier supplier of luxury wines. Our singular focus on sustainable luxury winemaking energizes our employees, fosters trust and credibility in our customer and grower relationships, and ultimately results in high-quality, award-winning wines that we believe deeply resonate with consumers.

Our portfolio breadth and depth also allow us to offer tiered pricing within the luxury wine segment, enabling us to attract new consumers with affordable wines and deepen our relationship with them as they seek more premium offerings. The Decoy brand provides high-quality wines at accessible prices, often serving as the customer gateway into our luxury wine offerings across our broader portfolio. Duckhorn Vineyards, Kosta Browne and our other winery brands provide the consumer an opportunity to both elevate and broaden their experience with the wines in our diverse luxury portfolio. While we are unable to predict future shifts in consumer demand, we believe our curated and comprehensive portfolio is well-positioned to meet the needs of distributors, our accounts and consumers.

 

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Focused portfolio of powerful brands

 

 

LOGO

 

 

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Exceptional brand strength and critical acclaim.    The Duckhorn Portfolio has consistently received stellar reviews across varietals, geographies and price points from the industry’s top critics and publications. Two of our wines, the Kosta Browne Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir and the Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley Three Palms Vineyard Merlot, have received one of the industry’s most prestigious awards, Wine Spectator magazine’s Wine of the Year. We are the only wine company to have more than one winery brand in our portfolio to have received this award in the 21st century. Critics within our industry widely use a 100 point scale to score individual wines, and we take pride in our consistent track record of 90+ point wines, scores that indicate superior quality. The strength of our winery brands is also demonstrated by our market-leading sales in some of the most popular varietals in the U.S. luxury market. During the twelve months ended December 27, 2020, we had the top selling luxury wine for Cabernet Sauvignon (the largest luxury varietal during the period), Sauvignon Blanc (the fastest growing luxury varietal during the period) and Merlot, according to U.S. sales value data from IRI. These three varietals combined represented approximately 30% of the total U.S. luxury wine market during the same period.

Scaled luxury platform.    We are the largest pure-play luxury wine company in the United States. We believe our approach and dedicated focus on luxury wines continues to be highly appealing to the modern wine consumer seeking authenticity and enables category excellence versus our more broadly-focused, scaled competitors. We also have an advantage over our fragmented, smaller-scale competitors because our individual brands each benefit from their place in our larger portfolio, leveraging more efficient operational, branding, marketing and distribution capabilities. For example, our depth of operational capabilities enables us to simultaneously present a curated offering of the most popular wine varietals and prudently develop new offerings in new, high-growth categories, all with the credentials of a pure-play luxury producer of scale.

Our large, highly knowledgeable sales force is a key advantage of our scale relative to small luxury producers. We deploy our sales force in the wholesale channel to evangelize our portfolio to our vast network of distributors and retail accounts. Understanding how consumers will connect with winery brands is critical to gaining shelf and menu space, and while smaller luxury wine brands rely on distributors to introduce and promote brands, our sales force takes direct action to strengthen our account relationships. As a credentialed luxury supplier of choice, we expect to benefit from further enhanced distributor prioritization due to sell-through confidence and operational efficiency.

Differentiated omni-channel sales and distribution platform.    Our innovative, scalable platform enables us to fulfill consumer needs through an integrated experience across channels at attractive margins. Our ideal consumers interact with us seamlessly across channels, through our wine clubs and tasting rooms and when grocery shopping or ordering at a restaurant.

We leverage our long-standing wholesale channel nationwide (with over 52,600 accounts domestically), including our direct to retail accounts business in California (with approximately 2,600 accounts in Fiscal 2021), to build deep, impactful relationships with our trade accounts. These channels provide a critical path for our winery brands to succeed both on-premise and off-premise, across a wide range of outlets and geographies.

Since our founding more than 40 years ago, we have been selling directly to retail accounts in California, a point of distinction among large California wine producers, many of which sell through a distributor in the state. We believe our direct to retail accounts business in California gives us a competitive advantage for several reasons. First, our direct connection with the retail accounts allows us more control over sales, branding and

other marketing support. Second, our approach gives us more visibility into sell-through rates. Finally, we enjoy significantly stronger margins selling directly to retail accounts, rather than selling through a distributor.

 

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Our DTC channel is a powerful marketing engine. This part of our business encompasses our multi-winery e-commerce website, featuring award-winning subscription wine clubs, and is reinforced by our seven stylistically unique and high-touch tasting rooms located throughout Northern California and Washington. Our ultra-luxury wines, which we consider to be wines with suggested retail prices of $25 or higher per 750ml bottle, are prominently featured in this channel, yielding high average bottle prices. Early access to new releases, a compelling slate of member benefits and active cross-marketing throughout the portfolio drive wine club member loyalty and sales. These strategies maximize each winery brand and property while driving awareness for the Company’s other world-class wines and properties, resulting in more and lasting connections with consumers and wholesale customers.

We believe the strategic combination of our complementary paths to consumers has been an important driver of our sustained growth and will continue to enable long-term scalability, though ultimately the success of our business depends on our ability to develop connections between our customers and our winery brands. We balance the market accessibility of a broad wholesale reach with direct and authentic customer and consumer touchpoints that drive connectivity, insights and trust. Combined, our California direct to retail accounts business and DTC channel make up 34.7% of our combined net sales for Fiscal 2021.

We believe our comprehensive omni-channel route-to-market is a key differentiator of our leading U.S. luxury wine platform and allows us to engage with distributors, customers and consumers on multiple fronts and meet their needs across price points, varietals and appellations, driving long-term sustainable growth.

Diversified and scalable production model.    The success of The Duckhorn Portfolio is underpinned by our strategic, diversified and scalable supply and production platform. We strive for capital efficiency and secure the majority of our grape supply by leveraging long-standing relationships within a vast, geographically diversified network of more than 322 trusted growers and bulk wine suppliers, designed to help us mitigate agricultural risk, optimize costs and quality and flexibly scale. At our eight state-of-the-art wineries, we are able to directly control the quality of the wine we produce.

To complement this scaled platform, we control (owned or leased) 30 distinct Estate vineyards spanning 843 acres. Some of our most prestigious wines are created from Estate grapes grown in these vineyards under our own viticultural heritage utilizing sustainable winegrowing and employing responsible land and water stewardship practices.

This diversified sourcing model provides many benefits:

 

 

Luxury credentials.    Estate grapes are used primarily in our DTC-only wines to give a sense of place to our iconic winery brand heritage and showcase our award-winning winemaking capabilities.

 

 

Reliability of supply.    We have a long history of creating a portfolio of wines year after year, at scale, that consistently meet the highest standards of quality. Given our industry’s exposure to climate change risks and extreme weather events, we regularly evaluate impacts of climate change on our business and plan to disclose any such impacts to provide transparency with respect to our efforts to effectively manage the risks and opportunities presented by climate change. We are committed to continuing to take measures to achieve climate resiliency and to expand our agile supply chain with highly diversified grape sourcing to help ensure we mitigate the impact of climate change and unforeseen natural events.

 

 

Rapid scalability.    Contracted supply from our trusted grape grower and bulk wine supplier network enables us to react to market trends and grow luxury winery brands, like Decoy, quickly while maintaining quality excellence.

 

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Cost management.    Our scale provides us with operating leverage, and we believe our strategy both to Estate-grow and contract our grape supply provides us with increased visibility into our cost structure and makes us less susceptible to market volatility. Our diversified and scalable production model enables us to efficiently adapt to changing consumer demand, drive toward our environmental sustainability goals and rapidly bring to market diversified case lot sizes.

Exceptional leadership team.    We have an exceptional, culture-driven leadership team at the helm of The Duckhorn Portfolio. The highly tenured executive team has approximately 100 years of cumulative experience with Duckhorn and is led by Alex Ryan, who began his work with luxury wine at Duckhorn over 33 years ago. The executive leadership team is made up of six strategic and functionally focused professionals dedicated to the success and growth of The Duckhorn Portfolio. Since 2010, this leadership team has grown net sales by approximately 650%, successfully managing the business through multiple economic cycles, challenging environmental externalities and the integration of two acquisitions. Supporting this leadership team is a deep bench of highly talented managers, many of whom have a long history at the Company and with our winery brands. Throughout our history, we believe we have been able to attract the highest caliber employees in the winemaking industry because of our reputation, prioritization of sustainability and corporate responsibility, holistic focus on our team members and commitment to developing, empowering, supporting and promoting our employees, which is a core element of our leadership.

Our strategy for continuous growth

Our entire organization is growth-oriented. From product innovation and category expansion to expanding points of distribution, every department plays a role in the growth of The Duckhorn Portfolio. We have a long, successful track record of enhancing our growth initiatives and delivering on our commitment to excellence in luxury winemaking.

Our growth plan relies on core competencies demonstrated by our organization throughout our history. We expect to deliver meaningful increases in stockholder value by continuing to execute the following strategies:

Leverage our sales and marketing strength to gain market share in a consolidating marketplace.

We believe our comprehensive sales and marketing plan will continue to increase awareness across our luxury wine portfolio, reinforce the strength of our winery brands and expand our market share.

Our commitment to excellence has resulted in a track record of industry awards, and we believe these recognitions provide our entire luxury wine portfolio with a halo of prestige. The success of our business relies on our ability to maintain the prestige of our portfolio, and we expect to continue to be honored with critical acclaim and 90+ point wine scores, which we believe will drive consumer engagement and further solidify the reputation of our entire luxury wine portfolio.

We believe leveraging our sales and marketing strength will increase brand awareness and grow sales for our winery brands to existing consumers and a new generation of consumers. This plan is made possible by our omni-channel sales platform, which enables us to grow, both through volume increases and through periodic price increases particularly on our higher-end, smaller lot DTC wines.

We also plan to continue to invest in our wholesale channel sales force to expand our network of distributor and account advocates and grow our retail presence. We expect this differentiated platform advantage will continue to increase our brand awareness and presence in the fragmented luxury wine segment.

 

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Establishing and maintaining the awareness of The Duckhorn Portfolio as a premier luxury winemaker is paramount to our growth and success, and we believe our sales and marketing strength will reinforce this and enable us to gain market share in a consolidating marketplace. Additionally, we are steadfast in our desire to be an industry leader in ESG practices, as we have long believed that investing in sustainable business practices complements our business success in the luxury wine market.

Insightful and targeted portfolio evolution.

We maintain close connectivity to luxury wine consumers through our omni-channel sales model, which coupled with our high-quality, flexible production assets, allows us to thoughtfully tailor our portfolio to meet consumers’ needs. One of our most successful growth initiatives has been the long-term development and evolution of Decoy, which began with a single offering and now includes 13 different labels across our Decoy and Decoy Limited offerings. We expect to further enhance Decoy as a luxury winery brand and we see great potential for further extensions, as evidenced by some of the following recent innovations. During 2020 and 2021, we successfully launched four new Decoy labels, each of which received strong consumer reception. Four of these labels are in our new upmarket tier, Decoy Limited, which consists of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley Red Blend and Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. In addition, we inaugurated a new category offering, Decoy Brut Cuvée Sparkling. We also launched a line of premium Decoy-branded wine-based seltzers in February 2021, which we believe will have broad appeal to current Decoy wine drinkers and lead to incremental drinking occasions in this dynamic category. We expect to launch other Decoy extensions in the future and intend to continue evolving and strategically broadening The Duckhorn Portfolio to drive future growth.

Our curated and comprehensive portfolio and historical growth result from long-term dedication to continuous evolution and alignment with the luxury wine consumer. As we continue to scale, we believe our growth mindset, coupled with our differentiated production and distribution platform, will enable us to continue to adapt and remain at the forefront of our industry.

Expand and accelerate wholesale channel distribution.

We see an opportunity to continue to expand our retail accounts and increase cases sold per retail account, most prominently by leveraging the strength of our powerhouse Decoy brand. In Fiscal 2021, we increased the number of our accounts by 11.4% to over 52,600. Over the same period, our domestic case sales per account increased by 10% and our number of distribution points increased by approximately 36%. With over 500,000 total licensed retail accounts in the United States, according to Nielsen, there remains ample opportunity to continue broadening distribution of the wines in our portfolio as well as to increase the volume of wine sold to existing accounts. While the wholesale channel has experienced significant distributor consolidation and increased competition in recent years, we believe our long-standing existing commercial relationships coupled with exceptional portfolio strength, built over the last four decades, position us to capture this distribution growth opportunity and accelerate sales to existing distributors and retail accounts in California.

Continue to invest in DTC capabilities.

We plan to continue to invest in our DTC channel, which currently comprises approximately 18% of sales in Fiscal 2021 and features seven tasting rooms. This robust channel provides an important means for us to engage with consumers, create brand evangelists and drive adoption across our portfolio. This channel also favorably impacts margins, as wines sold through our DTC programs are often more exclusive, higher-priced wines. We believe the growth of our DTC channel is a meaningful testament to our wines and their appeal to

 

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American luxury wine consumers. Our DTC channel will continue to play a critical role in authenticating our luxury credentials with consumers, and we believe our scaled presence and expertise in the channel separates us from our competitors.

Evaluate strategic acquisitions opportunistically.

As part of our ongoing growth strategy, we strategically evaluate acquisition opportunities. While our growth and success are not contingent upon future acquisitions, we believe our leadership and operational teams have the capabilities and experience to execute and integrate acquisitions to create stockholder value. We actively track and evaluate acquisition opportunities that could create strategic advantages for our business.

This approach has led to the successful acquisition of two winery brands over the past four years: Kosta Browne and Calera. Both brands offer highly acclaimed wines with deeply connected consumer followings. In addition to complementing our portfolio, both acquisitions had unique strategic rationale: Kosta Browne expanded our DTC capabilities and Calera further diversified our supply chain and production resilience by broadening our grape-sourcing relationships within the Central Coast of California. These renowned wineries have continued to thrive and grow in prominence under our stewardship.

Summary risk factors

An investment in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. Any of the factors set forth under “Risk factors” may limit our ability to successfully execute our business strategy. You should carefully consider all of the information set forth in this prospectus, and, in particular, you should evaluate the specific factors set forth under “Risk factors” in deciding whether to invest in our common stock. Among these important risks are the following:

 

 

The success of our business depends heavily on the strength of our winery brands.

 

 

Our advertising and promotional investments may affect our financial results but not be effective.

 

 

We face significant competition with an increasing number of products and market participants that could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial results.

 

 

Consolidation of the distributors of our wines, as well as the consolidation of retailers, may increase competition in an already crowded space and may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial results.

 

 

A reduction in consumer demand for wine, which may result from a variety of factors, including demographic shifts, desirable substitutes, the effects of inflation on consumer products and decreases in discretionary spending, could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial results.

 

 

The consumer reception of the launch and expansion of our product offerings is inherently uncertain. New producers may present new and unknown risks and challenges in production and marketing that we may fail to manage optimally and could have a materially adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial results.

 

 

Due to the three-tier alcohol beverage distribution system in the United States, we are heavily reliant on our distributors and government agencies that resell alcoholic beverages in all states except California, where we self-distribute our wines to retail accounts. A significant reduction in distributor demand for our wines would materially and adversely affect our sales and profitability.

 

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Our marketing strategy involves continued expansion into the DTC channel, which may present risks and challenges that we have not yet experienced or contemplated, or for which we are not adequately prepared. These risks and challenges could negatively affect our sales in these channels and our profitability.

 

 

A decrease in wine score ratings by important rating organizations could have a negative impact on our ability to create demand for and sell our wines. Sustained negative scores could reduce the prominence of our winery brands and carry negative association across our portfolio which could materially and adversely affect our sales and profitability.

 

 

Natural disasters, including fires, floods and earthquakes, some of which may be exacerbated by climate change, could destroy, damage or limit access to our wineries and vineyards, and the locations at which we store our inventory, which could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial results.

 

 

A failure to adequately prepare for adverse events that could cause disruption to elements of our business, including our grape harvesting, blending, inventory aging or distribution of our wines could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial results.

 

 

Inclement weather, drought, pests, plant diseases and other factors could reduce the amount or quality of the grapes available to produce our wines, which could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial results.

 

 

If we are unable to obtain adequate supplies of premium grapes and bulk wine from third-party grape growers and bulk wine suppliers, the quantity or quality of our annual production of wine could be adversely affected, causing a negative impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

 

If we are unable to identify and obtain adequate supplies of quality agricultural, raw and processed materials, or if there is an increase in the cost of the commodities or products, our profitability, production and distribution capabilities could be negatively impacted, which would materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

 

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect our customers, our suppliers and our business operations, and the duration and extent to which this and any future global health pandemic will impact our business, results of operations and financial results in future periods remains uncertain.

 

 

The impact of U.S. and worldwide economic trends and financial market conditions could materially and adversely affect our business, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.

 

 

Our financial performance is subject to significant seasonality and variability.

 

 

If we cannot retain our key employees and hire additional, highly qualified employees, we may not be able to successfully manage our business, maintain our reputation as an industry leader and execute our strategic objectives, which could materially and adversely affect our operating efficiency and financial condition.

 

 

If we are unable to secure and protect our intellectual property in domestic and foreign markets, including trademarks for our winery brands, vineyards and wines, the value of our winery brands and intellectual property could decline, which could have a material and adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial results.

 

 

We may not be fully insured against catastrophic perils, including catastrophic loss or inaccessibility of wineries, production facilities and/or distribution systems resulting from fire, wildfire, flood, wind events, earthquake and other perils, which may cause us to experience a material financial loss.

 

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From time to time, we may become subject to litigation specifically directed at the alcoholic beverage industry, as well as litigation arising in the ordinary course of business.

 

 

Our failure to adequately manage the risks associated with acquisitions or divestitures, or the failure of an entity in which we have an equity or membership interest, could have a material adverse effect on our business, liquidity, financial condition or results of operations.

 

 

A failure of one or more of our key IT systems, networks, processes, associated sites or service providers could have a material adverse impact on business operations, and if the failure is prolonged, our financial condition.

 

 

Our failure to adequately maintain and protect personal information of our customers or our employees in compliance with evolving legal requirements could have a material adverse effect on our business.

 

 

As a producer of alcoholic beverages, we are regularly the subject of regulatory reviews, proceedings and audits by governmental entities, any of which could result in an adverse ruling or conclusion, and which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and future prospects.

 

 

New and changing environmental requirements, and new market pressures related to climate change, could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial results.

 

 

Changes in foreign and domestic laws and government regulations to which we are currently subject, may increase our costs or limit our ability to sell our wines into certain markets, which could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

 

We have incurred substantial indebtedness and we may not generate sufficient cash flow from operations to meet our debt service requirements, continue our operations and pursue our growth strategy and we may be unable to raise capital when needed or on acceptable terms.

 

 

As a result of being a public company, we are obligated to develop and maintain proper and effective internal control over financial reporting and any failure to maintain the adequacy of these internal controls may negatively impact investor confidence in our company and, as a result, the value of our common stock.

 

 

TSG will continue to have significant influence over us, including control over decisions that require the approval of stockholders, which could limit your ability to influence the outcome of matters submitted to stockholders for a vote.

Implications of being an emerging growth company

We qualify as an “emerging growth company” as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”). As an emerging growth company, we may take advantage of specified reduced disclosure and other requirements that are otherwise applicable generally to public companies that are not emerging growth companies. These provisions include, among others:

 

 

the requirement to present only two years of audited financial statements and only two years of related “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations” in this prospectus;

 

 

reduced disclosure about our executive compensation arrangements;

 

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no non-binding stockholder advisory votes on executive compensation or golden parachute arrangements; and

 

 

exemption from the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”) in the assessment of our internal control over financial reporting.

We may take advantage of these exemptions for up to five years after our initial public offering (“IPO”) or such earlier time that we are no longer an emerging growth company. We would cease to be an emerging growth company if we have more than $1.07 billion in annual revenues as of the end of our fiscal year, we have more than $700.0 million in market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates as of the end of our second fiscal quarter or we issue more than $1.0 billion of non-convertible debt over a three-year period. We may choose to take advantage of some or all of these reduced disclosure obligations.

The JOBS Act permits an emerging growth company such as us to take advantage of an extended transition period to comply with new or revised accounting standards applicable to public companies. We have elected to use this extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies until the earlier of the date we (i) are no longer an emerging growth company or (ii) affirmatively and irrevocably opt out of the extended transition period provided in the JOBS Act. Our consolidated financial statements may, therefore, not be comparable to those of other public companies that comply with such new or revised accounting standards.

Our sponsor

TSG is a leading private equity firm focused exclusively on the branded consumer sector. Since its founding in 1987, TSG has been an active investor in the food, beverage, restaurant, fitness, beauty, personal care, household, apparel & accessories and e-commerce sectors. Representative past and present partner companies include Planet Fitness, IT Cosmetics, REVOLVE, BrewDog, Canyon Bicycles, Dutch Bros, Pabst, Backcountry, Power Stop, vitaminwater, thinkThin, popchips, Stumptown, Smashbox Cosmetics and e.l.f. Cosmetics.

Following the completion of this offering, investment funds affiliated with TSG will own approximately 65.1% of our common stock, or 63.6% if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of our common stock. As a result, we will be a “controlled company” within the meaning of the corporate governance standards of the NYSE, and TSG will continue to have significant influence over us and decisions made by stockholders and may have interests that differ from yours. See “Risk factors—Risks related to our common stock and this offering—TSG will continue to have significant influence over us after this offering, including control over decisions that require the approval of stockholders, which could limit your ability to influence the outcome of matters submitted to stockholders for a vote.”

Corporate information

The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc. was incorporated in Delaware in September 2016. Our principal executive offices are located at 1201 Dowdell Lane, St. Helena, California 94574, and our telephone number is (707) 302-2658. Our website is duckhorn.com. The information on, or that can be accessed through, this website and the other Internet websites that we present in this prospectus is not part of this prospectus, and you should not rely on any such information in making the decision whether to purchase shares of our common stock.

We own or have rights to trademarks, trade names and service marks that we use in connection with the operation of our business, including Duckhorn Vineyards, Decoy, Goldeneye, Paraduxx, Migration, Canvasback, Calera, Kosta Browne and various other marks. Solely for convenience, the trademarks, trade names and service marks referred to in this prospectus are listed without the ®, SM and TM symbols. We will assert our rights to our trademarks, trade names and service marks to the fullest extent under applicable law.

 

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The offering

 

Common stock offered by the selling stockholders

12,000,000 shares.

 

Underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of common stock from the selling stockholder

1,800,000 shares.

 

Common stock outstanding as of July 31, 2021

115,046,793 shares.

 

Use of proceeds

The selling stockholders will receive all of the net proceeds from this offering. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of shares of common stock offered by the selling stockholders. We will, however, bear the costs associated with the sale of shares by the selling stockholders, other than underwriting discounts and commissions. See “Use of proceeds.”

 

Controlled company

Following this offering we will continue to be a “controlled company” within the meaning of the corporate governance rules of the NYSE. See “Management—Board composition and director independence.”

 

Dividend policy

We do not currently intend to pay dividends on our common stock. Any future determination to pay dividends to holders of common stock will be at the sole discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon many factors, including general economic conditions, our financial condition and results of operations, our available cash and current and anticipated cash needs, capital requirements, contractual, legal, tax and regulatory restrictions, the implications of the payment of dividends by us to our stockholders or by our subsidiaries to us and any other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant. See “Dividend policy.”

 

Risk factors

You should read the “Risk factors” section of this prospectus for a discussion of factors to consider carefully before deciding to invest in shares of our common stock.

 

NYSE symbol

“NAPA”

Unless otherwise indicated, the number of common stock to be outstanding after this offering is based on 115,046,793 shares of common stock outstanding as of July 31, 2021 and excludes the following:

 

 

1,552,648 shares of common stock underlying stock options having an average weighted exercise price of $17.11 that we granted to certain employees and directors pursuant to the 2021 Equity Plan that were outstanding as of July 31, 2021;

 

 

555,950 shares of common stock underlying restricted stock units that we granted to certain employees and directors pursuant to the 2021 Equity Plan that were outstanding as of July 31, 2021;

 

 

6,828,348 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under the 2021 Equity Plan; and

 

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1,250,509 shares of common stock authorized for sale under the 2021 ESPP.

Unless otherwise indicated, this prospectus reflects and assumes the following:

 

 

no exercise of outstanding stock options under the 2021 Plan subsequent to July 31, 2021;

 

 

an assumed public offering price of $22.07 per share of common stock (the last reported sale price of our common stock on the NYSE on October 11, 2021); and

 

 

no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional common stock from the selling stockholders identified in this prospectus.

 

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Summary consolidated financial and other data

The following summary consolidated statements of operations data for the fiscal years ended July 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 and the consolidated statement of financial position data as of July 31, 2021 and 2020 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any other period in the future.

The summary consolidated financial data in this section are not intended to replace the consolidated financial statements and related notes. The tables presented should be read in conjunction with “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations” included elsewhere in this prospectus and the consolidated financial statements and related notes incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

 

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Consolidated statements of operations data:

 

   
     Fiscal years ended July 31,  
(in thousands, except share amounts)    2021     2020     2019  

Net sales (net of excise taxes of $4,855, $3,220 and $2,564, respectively)

   $ 336,613   $ 270,648   $ 241,207  

Cost of sales

     169,265     133,766     128,204  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     167,348     136,882     113,003  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     89,816     65,908     65,741  

Impairment loss

           11,830      

Casualty gain, net

     (6,559     (4,047     (8,606
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from operations

     84,091     63,191     55,868  

Interest expense

     13,618     17,924     20,937  

Other (income) expense, net

     (6,505     2,457     4,988  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other expenses

     7,113     20,381     25,925  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     76,978     42,810     29,943  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income tax expense

     21,008     10,432     7,842  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

     55,970     32,378     22,101  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Less: Net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interest

     6     (1     (4
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income attributable to The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc.

   $ 55,976   $ 32,377   $ 22,097  

Net income per share of common stock:

      

Basic

   $ 0.52   $ 0.32   $ 0.22  

Diluted

   $ 0.52   $ 0.32   $ 0.22  

Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding:

      

Basic

     106,681,496     101,713,460     101,713,460  

Diluted

     106,934,853     101,713,460     101,713,460  

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated balance sheet data:

 

   
     As of July 31,  
(in thousands)    2021      2020  

Cash

   $ 4,244      $ 6,252  

Working capital(1)

   $ 257,620      $ 228,906  

Total assets

   $ 1,183,117      $ 1,158,591  

Long-term debt, including current maturities(2)

   $ 247,297      $ 378,948  

Total liabilities

   $ 380,879      $ 503,987  

Total equity

   $ 802,238      $ 654,604  

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)   Working capital is defined as total current assets, including cash, minus total current liabilities.
(2)   Net of discount and debt issuance costs.

 

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Non-GAAP financial data:

 

   
     Fiscal year ended
July 31,
 
(in thousands)    2021      2020      2019  

Adjusted EBITDA(1)

   $ 117,208      $ 105,080      $ 98,357  

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)   Wherever presented in this prospectus, we define adjusted EBITDA as net income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, non-cash equity-based compensation expense, purchase accounting adjustments, casualty losses or gains, impairment losses, changes in the fair value of derivatives and certain other items which are not related to our core operating performance.

Adjusted EBITDA is a key performance measure we use in evaluating our operational results. We believe adjusted EBITDA is a helpful measure to provide investors an understanding of how we regularly monitor our core operating performance, as well as how we make operational and strategic decisions in allocating resources. We believe adjusted EBITDA also provides management and investors consistency and comparability with our past financial performance and facilitates period to period comparisons of operations, as it eliminates the effects of certain variations unrelated to our overall performance. Adjusted EBITDA has certain limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under U.S. GAAP. Some of these limitations include:

 

 

although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized may have to be replaced in the future, and adjusted EBITDA does not reflect cash capital expenditure requirements for such replacements or for new capital expenditure requirements;

 

 

adjusted EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs;

 

 

adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the significant interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments, on our debt;

 

 

adjusted EBITDA does not reflect income tax payments that may represent a reduction in cash available to us; and

 

 

other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate adjusted EBITDA differently, which reduces its usefulness as a comparative measure.

Because of these limitations, you should consider adjusted EBITDA alongside other financial performance measures, including net income and our other GAAP results. In evaluating adjusted EBITDA, you should be aware that in the future we may incur expenses that are the same as or similar to some of the adjustments in this presentation. Our presentation of adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by the types of items excluded from the calculation of adjusted EBITDA.

See “Selected consolidated financial and other data—Non-GAAP financial data” for an explanation of how we calculate adjusted EBITDA and for reconciliation to the most directly comparable financial measure stated in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

 

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Risk factors

This offering and an investment in our common stock involve a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described below, together with the financial and other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, before you decide to purchase shares of our common stock. If any of the following risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. As a result, the trading price of our common stock could decline and you could lose all or part of your investment in our common stock. Please also see “Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements.”

Risks related to our competitive position and winery brands

The success of our business depends heavily on the strength of our winery brands.

Maintaining and expanding our reputation as a premier producer of luxury wine among our customers and the luxury wine market generally is critical to the success of our business and our growth strategy. The luxury wine market is driven by a relatively small number of active and well-regarded wine critics within the industry who have outsized influence over the perceived quality and value of wines. We have consistently produced critically acclaimed, award-winning wines across multiple winery brands in our portfolio, including Duckhorn Vineyards, Decoy, Kosta Browne, Goldeneye, Paraduxx, Calera, Migration, Canvasback, Greenwing and Postmark. However, if we are unable to maintain the actual or perceived quality of our wines, including as a result of contamination or tampering, environmental or other factors impacting the quality of our grapes or other raw materials, or if our wines otherwise do not meet the subjective expectations or tastes of one or more of a relatively small number of wine critics, the actual or perceived quality and value of one or more of our wines could be harmed, which could negatively impact not only the value of that wine, but also the value of the vintage, the particular brand or our broader portfolio. The winemaking process is a long and labor-intensive process that is built around yearly vintages, which means that once a vintage has been released we are not able to make further adjustments to satisfy wine critics or consumers. As a result, we are dependent on our winemakers and tasting panels to ensure that every wine we release meets our exacting quality standards.

With the advent of social media, word within the luxury wine market spreads quickly, which can accentuate both the positive and the negative reviews of our wines and of wine vintages generally. Public perception of our brands could be negatively affected by adverse publicity or negative commentary on social media outlets, particularly negative commentary on social media outlets that goes “viral,” or our responses relating to, among other things:

 

 

an actual or perceived failure to maintain high-quality, safety, ethical, social and environmental standards for all of our operations and activities;

 

 

an actual or perceived failure to address concerns relating to the quality, safety or integrity of our wines and the hospitality we offer to our guests at our tasting rooms;

 

 

our environmental impact, including our use of agricultural materials, packaging, water and energy use, and waste management; or

 

 

an actual or perceived failure by us to promote the responsible consumption of alcohol.

If we do not produce wines that are well-regarded by the relatively small wine critic community, the luxury wine market will quickly become aware and our reputation, winery brands, business and financial results of operation could be materially and adversely affected. In addition, if certain vintages receive negative publicity or consumer reaction, whether as a result of our wines or wines of other producers, our wines in the same vintage could be adversely affected. Unfavorable publicity, whether accurate or not, related to our industry, us,

 

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our winery brands, marketing, personnel, operations, business performance or prospects could also unfavorably affect our corporate reputation, stock price, ability to attract high-quality talent or the performance of our business.

Any contamination or other quality control issue could have an adverse effect on sales of the impacted wine or our broader portfolio of winery brands. If any of our wines become unsafe or unfit for consumption, cause injury or are otherwise improperly packaged or labeled, we may have to engage in a product recall and/or be subject to liability and incur additional costs. A widespread recall, multiple recalls or a significant product liability judgment against us could cause our wines to be unavailable for a period of time, depressing demand and our brand equity. Even if a product liability claim is unsuccessful or is not fully pursued, any resulting negative publicity could adversely affect our reputation with existing and potential customers and accounts, as well as our corporate and individual winery brands image in such a way that current and future sales could be diminished. In addition, should a competitor experience a recall or contamination event, we could face decreased consumer confidence by association as a producer of similar products.

Additionally, third parties may sell wines or inferior brands that imitate our winery brands or that are counterfeit versions of our labels, and customers could be duped into thinking that these imitation labels are our authentic wines. For example, from time to time we have been notified of instances of potential counterfeiting related to a small amount of wine in foreign jurisdictions. A negative consumer experience with such a wine could cause them to refrain from purchasing our brands in the future and damage our brand integrity. Any failure to maintain the actual or perceived quality of our wines could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial results.

Damage to our reputation or loss of consumer confidence in our wines for any of these or other reasons could result in decreased demand for our wines and could have a material adverse effect on our business, operational results and financial results, as well as require additional resources to rebuild our reputation, competitive position and winery brand strength.

Our advertising and promotional investments may affect our financial results but not be effective.

We have incurred, and expect to continue to incur, significant advertising and promotional expenditures to enhance our winery brands and raise consumer awareness in both existing and emerging categories. These expenditures may adversely affect our results of operations in a particular quarter or even a full fiscal year, and may not result in increased sales. Variations in the levels of advertising and promotional expenditures have in the past caused, and are expected in the future to continue to cause, variability in our quarterly results of operations. While we strive to invest only in effective advertising and promotional activities in both the digital and traditional segments, it is difficult to correlate such investments with sales results, and there is no guarantee that our expenditures will be effective in building brand strength or growing long term sales.

We face significant competition with an increasing number of products and market participants that could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial results.

Our industry is intensely competitive and highly fragmented. Our wines compete in the ultra-luxury and luxury tiers within the wine industry and with many other domestic and foreign wines. Our wines also compete with popularly priced generic wines and with other alcoholic and, to a lesser degree, non-alcoholic beverages, for drinker acceptance and loyalty, shelf space and prominence in retail stores, presence and prominence on restaurant wine lists and for marketing focus by the Company’s independent distributors, many of which carry extensive portfolios of wines and other alcoholic beverages. This competition is driven by established companies as well as new entrants in our markets and categories. In the United States, wine sales are relatively concentrated among a limited number of large suppliers, including E&J Gallo, Constellation, Trinchero, Jackson

 

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Family Wines, Ste. Michelle and The Wine Group. These and our other competitors may have more robust financial, technical, marketing and distribution networks and public relations resources than we have. As a result of this intense competition, combined with our growth goals, we have experienced and may continue to face upward pressure on our selling, marketing and promotional efforts and expenses. There can be no assurance that in the future we will be able to successfully compete with our competitors or that we will not face greater competition from other wineries and beverage manufacturers.

If we are unable to successfully compete with existing or new market participants, or if we do not effectively respond to competitive pressures, we could experience reductions in market share and margins that could have a material and adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial results.

Consolidation of the distributors of our wines, as well as the consolidation of retailers, may increase competition in an already crowded space and may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial results.

Other than sales made directly to retail accounts in California or directly to consumers through our DTC channel, the majority of our wine sales are made through independent distributors for resale to retail outlets, restaurants, hotels and private clubs across the United States and in some overseas markets. Sales to distributors are expected to continue to represent a substantial portion of our future net sales. Consolidation among wine producers, distributors, wholesalers, suppliers and retailers could create a more challenging competitive landscape for our wines. Consolidation at any level could hinder the distribution and sale of our wines as a result of reduced attention and resources allocated to our winery brands both during and after transition periods, because our winery brands might represent a smaller portion of the new business portfolio. Furthermore, consolidation of distributors may lead to the erosion of margins as newly consolidated distributors take down prices or demand more margin from existing suppliers. Changes in distributors’ strategies, including a reduction in the number of brands they carry or the allocation of resources for our competitors’ brands or private label products, may adversely affect our growth, business, financial results and market share. Distributors of our wines offer products that compete directly with our wines for inventory and retail shelf space, promotional and marketing support and consumer purchases. Expansion into new product categories by other suppliers or innovation by new entrants into the market could increase competition in our product categories.

An increasingly large percentage of our net sales is concentrated within a small number of wholesale customers. Our five largest customers represented approximately 48% of total net sales in Fiscal 2021. Additionally, a substantial portion of our wholesale sales channel is commanded by large retailers. The purchasing power of these companies is significant, and they have the ability to command concessions. There can be no assurance that the distributors and retailers we use will continue to purchase our wines or provide our wines with adequate levels of promotional and merchandising support. The loss of one or more major accounts or the need to make significant concessions to retain one or more such accounts could have a material and adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial position.

A reduction in consumer demand for wine, which may result from a variety of factors, including demographic shifts, desirable substitutes and decreases in discretionary spending, could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial results.

We rely on consumers’ demand for our wine. Consumer preferences may shift due to a variety of factors, including changes in demographic or social trends, changes in discretionary income (including as a result of inflation of the price of consumer products), public health policies and perceptions and changes in leisure, dining and beverage consumption patterns. Our continued success will require us to anticipate and respond effectively to shifts in consumer behavior and drinking tastes. If consumer preferences were to move away from our luxury winery brands or labels, our results of operations would be materially and adversely affected.

 

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While over the past several years there has been a modest increase in consumption of wine in the U.S. market, a limited or general decline in consumer demand could occur in the future due to a variety of factors, including:

 

 

a general decline in economic or geopolitical conditions;

 

 

a general decline in the consumption of alcoholic beverage products in on-premise establishments, such as those that may result from smoking bans and stricter laws relating to driving while under the influence of alcohol and changes in public health policies, including those implemented to address the COVID-19 pandemic;

 

 

a generational or demographic shift in consumer preferences away from wines to other alcoholic beverages or other desirable substitutes;

 

 

increased activity of anti-alcohol groups;

 

 

concern about the health consequences of consuming alcoholic beverage products;

 

 

increased federal, state, provincial, and foreign excise, or other taxes on beverage alcohol products and increased restrictions on beverage alcohol advertising and marketing; and

 

 

consumer dietary preferences favoring lower-calorie beverages, such as hard seltzer as well as diet soft drinks, sports drinks and water products.

Our portfolio includes a range of luxury and ultra-luxury wines, and demand for these winery brands may be particularly susceptible to changing economic conditions and consumer tastes, preferences and spending habits, which may reduce our sales of these products and adversely affect our profitability. Many of these consumers are from the Generation X and Baby Boomer generations, and we have not yet seen equivalent adoption by the Millennial generation. An unanticipated decline or change in consumer demand or preference could also materially impact our ability to forecast for future production requirements, which could, in turn, impair our ability to effectively adapt to changing consumer preferences. Any reduction in the demand for our wines would materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial results.

The consumer reception of the launch and expansion of our product offerings is inherently uncertain. New producers may present new and unknown risks and challenges in production and marketing that we may fail to manage optimally and could have a materially adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial results.

New product development and innovation is a key part of our marketing strategy, and a significant portion of our net sales are derived from labels developed within the last five years. To continue our growth and compete with new and existing competitors, we may need to innovate and develop a robust pipeline of new wines. The launch and continued success of a new wine is inherently uncertain, particularly with respect to consumer appeal and market share capture. An unsuccessful launch may impact consumer perception of our existing winery brands and reputation, which are critical to our ongoing success and growth. Unsuccessful implementation or short-lived success of new wines may result in write-offs or other associated costs which may materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial results. In addition, the launch of new product offerings may result in cannibalization of sales of existing products in our portfolio.

 

 

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Due to the three-tier alcohol beverage distribution system in the United States, we are heavily reliant on our distributors and government agencies that resell alcoholic beverages in all states except California, where we self-distribute our wines to retail accounts. A significant reduction in distributor demand for our wines would materially and adversely affect our sales and profitability.

Due to regulatory requirements in the United States, we sell a significant portion of our wines to wholesalers for resale to retail accounts, and in some states, directly to government agencies for resale. In California we sell directly to retail accounts rather than via a wholesaler, which we refer to as direct to the trade. Additionally, a small percentage of our wines are sold directly to accounts outside of California, including cruise ships, airlines and duty-free shops. Decreased demand for our wines in any of our sales channels would negatively affect our sales and profitability materially. A change in the relationship with any of our significant distributors could harm our business and reduce our sales. The laws and regulations of several states prohibit changes of distributors, except under certain limited circumstances, making it difficult to terminate or otherwise cease working with a distributor for poor performance without reasonable justification, as defined by applicable statutes in those states. Any difficulty or inability to replace distributors, poor performance of our major distributors or our inability to collect accounts receivable from our major distributors could harm our business. In addition, an expansion of the laws and regulations limiting the sale of our wine would materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial results. There can be no assurance that the distributors and accounts to which we sell our wines will continue to purchase our wines or provide our wines with adequate levels of promotional support, which could increase competitive pressure to increase sales and market spending and could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial results.

Our marketing strategy involves continued expansion into the DTC channel, which may present risks and challenges that we have not yet experienced or contemplated, or for which we are not adequately prepared. These risks and challenges could negatively affect our sales in these channels and our profitability.

The marketplace in which we operate is highly competitive and in recent years has seen the entrance of new competitors and products targeting similar customer groups as our business. To stay competitive and forge new connections with customers, we are continuing investment in the expansion of our DTC channel.

Expanding our DTC channel may require significant investment in tasting room development, e-commerce platforms, marketing, fulfillment, information technology infrastructure and other known and unknown costs. The success of our DTC channel depends on our ability to maintain the efficient and uninterrupted operation of online order-processing and fulfillment and delivery operations. As such, we are heavily dependent on the performance of our shipping and technology partners. Any system interruptions or delays could prevent potential customers from purchasing our wines directly.

Our ability to ship wines directly to our customers is the result of court rulings, including the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Granholm v. Heald, which allow, in certain circumstances, shipments to customers of wines from out-of-state wineries. Any changes to the judicial, legal or regulatory framework applicable to our DTC business that reduce our ability to sell wines in most states in the DTC channel could have a materially adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial results.

We may be unable to adequately adapt to shifts in consumer preferences for points of purchase, such as an increase in at-home delivery as we experience the COVID-19 pandemic, and our competitors may react more rapidly or with improved customer experiences. A failure to react quickly to these and other changes in consumer preferences, or to create infrastructure to support new or expanding sales channels may materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial results.

 

 

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A decrease in wine score ratings by important rating organizations could have a negative impact on our ability to create demand for and sell our wines. Sustained negative scores could reduce the prominence of our winery brands and carry negative association across our portfolio which could materially and adversely affect our sales and profitability.

Our winery brands and individual labels are issued ratings or scores by wine rating organizations, and higher scores often drive greater demand and, in some cases, higher pricing. Many of our winery brands and labels have consistently ranked among the top U.S. luxury wine brands and have generally received positive reviews across multiple appellations, varietals, varieties, styles and price points from many of the industry’s top critics and publications. These positive third-party reviews have been important to maintaining and expanding our reputation as a luxury wine producer. However, we have no control over ratings issued by third parties or the methodology they use to evaluate our wines, which may not continue to be favorable to us in the future. If our new or existing winery brands or labels are assigned significantly lower ratings, if our winery brands or labels consistently receive lower ratings over an extended period of time or if any of our competitors’ new or existing brands are assigned comparatively higher ratings, our customers’ perception of our winery brands and our labels and demand for our wines could be negatively impacted, which could materially and adversely affect our sales and profitability.

Risks related to our production of wine and the occurrence of natural disasters

Natural disasters, including fires, floods and earthquakes, some of which may be exacerbated by climate change, could destroy, damage or limit access to our wineries and vineyards, and the locations at which we store our inventory, which could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial results.

In recent years, we have seen an increase in the number and severity of extreme temperature events and unusual weather patterns, as well as the increase in both the frequency and severity of natural disasters, including fires, earthquakes and floods. These natural disasters and severe weather events may cause disruptions to our supply chain, which may negatively impact our wines by causing disruption or damage to our wineries, inventory holdings, suppliers, transportation or sales channels.

A significant portion of our agricultural yield, wineries and tasting rooms, and our corporate headquarters, are located in a region of California that is prone to natural disasters such as wildfires, floods and earthquakes. Natural disasters may also interrupt critical infrastructure, such as electricity, which may be suspended for a prolonged period of time as a preventative or reactive measure to natural disasters. In recent years, we have experienced wildfires of varying duration and severity in Napa, Sonoma and the rest of California. At various times during these fires, operations at some or all of our properties were impacted. These fires also resulted in power outages and limited our access to and productivity at our facilities, which negatively impacted our production and operations. The grapes in our vineyards and the vineyards of the growers from which we are contracted to purchase are susceptible to potential smoke damage as a result of wildfires in the region, which, in some cases, can impact the quality of the grapes, making them unusable or decreasing their value in the production of our wine, as occurred as a result of the fires in 2020.

A significant portion of our net sales is derived from our DTC channel, which depends in part on guest visits to our tasting rooms. Natural disasters and severe weather, and negative press coverage of such incidents, have in the past and could in the future negatively impact the number of tourists visiting Northern California, which could, in turn, decrease visits to our tasting rooms. Any decrease in visits to our tasting rooms could negatively impact our DTC channel, which could have a materially adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial results.

 

 

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The location of some of our vineyards and wineries are in areas susceptible to flooding. In 2019, substantial flooding in the Russian River Valley caused damage to one of our facilities and tasting rooms and caused more substantial damage to other nearby wineries and vineyards. Additionally, in 2014, a 6.0 magnitude earthquake occurred in Napa County that caused significant damage to certain wineries and businesses in the area. While we have mitigation and avoidance strategies in place to minimize the damage to our properties, remediate smoke taint present in some wine and mitigate other losses resulting from fires, floods and other natural disasters, we cannot be certain such strategies will be sufficient in the event of future fires, earthquakes or flooding, particularly if such events increase in severity, duration or geographic scope. Failure to adequately mitigate future climate risks or more extreme and adverse conditions at any of our properties or the properties of our suppliers could result in the partial or total loss of physical inventory, production facilities, tasting rooms or event spaces, which could have a materially adverse impact on our business, operations and financial results.

A failure to adequately prepare for adverse events that could cause disruption to elements of our business, including our grape harvesting, blending, inventory aging or distribution of our wines could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial results.

Disruptions to our operations caused by adverse weather, natural disasters, public health emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic, or unforeseen circumstances may cause delays to or interruptions in our operations. A consequence of any of these or supply or supply chain disruptions, including the temporary inability to produce our wines due to the closure of our production sites or an inability to transport our wines at a reasonable cost or at all, could prevent us from meeting consumer demand in the near term or long term for our aged wines. For example, as result of the COVID-19 pandemic, our industry has experienced temporary supply chain disruptions for certain processed materials, such as sparkling wine cages and glass, as well as increased strain on logistics networks and shipping partners. The occurrence of any such disruptions during a peak time of demand for such processed materials could increase the magnitude of the effect on our distribution network and sales. In addition, distributors may seek to maintain larger inventories of our wine as a consequence of these disruptions. Failure to adequately prepare for and address any such disruptions could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial results.

A catastrophic event causing physical damage, disruption or failure at any one of our major production facilities could adversely affect our business. As many of our wines require aging for some period of time, we maintain a substantial inventory of aged and maturing wines in warehouses at a number of different locations in California and Washington. The loss of a substantial amount of aged inventory through fire, accident, earthquake, other natural or man-made disaster, contamination or otherwise could significantly reduce the supply of the affected wine or wines, including our aged wines, which are typically our highest priced and limited production wines.

Any disruptions that cause forced closure or evacuation could materially harm our business, results of operations and financial results. Additionally, should multiple closings occur, we may lose guest confidence resulting in a reduction in visitation to our tasting rooms and direct sales, which could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial results.

Inclement weather, drought, pests, plant diseases and other factors could reduce the amount or quality of the grapes available to produce our wines, which could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial results.

A shortage in the supply of quality grapes may result from the occurrence of any number of factors that determine the quality and quantity of grape supply, including adverse weather conditions (including more frequent and intense heatwaves, frosts, drought and excessive rainfall), and various diseases, pests, fungi and viruses such as Red Blotch, Pierce’s Disease or the European Grapevine Moth. We cannot anticipate changes in weather patterns and conditions, and we cannot predict their impact on our operations if they were to occur.

 

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We also cannot guarantee that our efforts to prevent and control any pest and plant disease infestation will be successful, or that any such infestations will not have a material impact on the properties of any of our suppliers. Any shortage could cause an increase in the price of some or all of the grape varietals required for our wine production or a reduction in the amount of wine we are able to produce, which could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial results.

Factors that reduce the quantity of grapes we, or the growers with which we contract, grow may also reduce their quality. Deterioration in the quality of our wines could harm our winery brand strength, and a decrease in our production could reduce our sales and increase our expenses, both of which could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial results.

If we are unable to obtain adequate supplies of premium grapes and bulk wine from third-party grape growers and bulk wine suppliers, the quantity or quality of our annual production of wine could be adversely affected, causing a negative impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

The production of our luxury wines and the ability to fulfill the demand for our wines is restricted by the availability of premium grapes and bulk wines from third-party growers. On average, between 2016 and 2021, more than 10% of our grape inputs per year come from our own Estate vineyards and the remaining amount comes from third parties in the form of contracted grapes, contracted bulk wine, spot grapes and spot bulk wine.

As we continue to grow, we anticipate that a greater percentage of our production will rely on third-party suppliers as the yield from our Estate vineyards is likely to remain relatively stable. If we are unable to source grapes and bulk wine of the requisite quality, varietal and geography, among other factors, our ability to produce wines to the standards, quantity and quality demanded by our customers could be impaired.

Factors including climate change, agricultural risks, competition for quality, water availability, land use, wildfires, floods, disease and pests could impact the quality and quantity of grapes and bulk wine available to our company. Furthermore, these potential disruptions in production may drive up demand for grapes and bulk wine creating higher input costs or the inability to purchase these materials. In recent years, we have observed significant volatility in the grape market. For example, in 2020, we contracted for approximately 12,000 tons of grapes at a cost of $26.5 million, compared to approximately 19,000 tons of grapes for a total cost of $51.1 million in 2019. The aggregate tonnage and cost of grapes purchased in 2021 will not be known until after harvest is complete, but we expect that both the tonnage and the cost will exceed that of the prior two years. However, we may experience upward price pressure in future harvest seasons due to factors including the general volatility in the grape and bulk wine markets, widespread insured and/or uninsured losses and overall stress on the agricultural portion of the supply chain. Furthermore, following the 2020 wildfires in Northern California, the price of bulk wine increased substantially in a very short period of time, leading to some wine producers reducing lot sizes of certain wines. Fortunately, we acted quickly and decisively as soon as the wildfires started and were able to purchase our bulk wine prior to meaningful price increases. However, we cannot be sure that we will be able to avoid similar price increases in the future. As a result, our financial results could be materially and adversely affected both in the year of the harvest and future periods.

If we are unable to identify and obtain adequate supplies of quality agricultural, raw and processed materials, including corks, glass bottles, barrels, winemaking additives and agents, water and other supplies, or if there is an increase in the cost of the commodities or products, our profitability, production and distribution capabilities could be negatively impacted, which would materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

We use a large volume of grapes and other raw materials to produce and package our wine, including corks, barrels, winemaking additives and water, as well as large amounts of packaging materials, including metal,

 

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cork, glass and cardboard. We purchase raw materials and packaging materials under contracts of varying maturities from domestic and international suppliers.

Glass bottle costs are one of our largest packaging components of cost of goods sold. In North America, glass bottles have only a small number of producers. Currently, the majority of our glass containers are sourced from Mexico and a minority are sourced from China. An inability of any of our glass bottle suppliers to satisfy our requirements could materially and adversely affect our business. In addition, costs and programs related to mandatory recycling and recyclable materials deposits could be adopted in states of manufacture, imposing additional and unknown costs to manufacture products utilizing glass bottles. The amount of water available for use is important to the supply of our grapes and winemaking, other agricultural raw materials and our ability to operate our business. If climate patterns change and droughts become more severe, there may be a scarcity of water or poor water quality, which may affect our production costs, consistency of yields or impose capacity constraints. We depend on sufficient amounts of quality water for operation of our wineries, as well as to irrigate our vineyards and conduct our other operations. The suppliers of the grapes and other agricultural raw materials we purchase also depend upon sufficient supplies of quality water for their vineyards and fields. Prolonged or severe drought conditions in the western United States or restrictions imposed on our irrigation options by governmental authorities could have an adverse effect on our operations in the region. If water available to our operations or the operations of our suppliers becomes scarcer, restrictions are placed on our usage of water or the quality of that water deteriorates, we may incur increased production costs or face manufacturing constraints which could negatively affect our production. Even if quality water is widely available to us, water purification and waste treatment infrastructure limitations could increase our costs or constrain operation of our production facilities and vineyards. Any of these factors could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial results.

Our production facilities also use a significant amount of energy in their operations, including electricity, propane and natural gas. We have experienced increases in energy costs in the past, and energy costs could rise in the future, which would result in higher transportation, freight and other operating costs, such as aging and bottling expenses. Our freight cost and the timely delivery of our wines could be adversely affected by a number of factors that could reduce the profitability of our operations, including driver shortages, higher fuel costs, weather conditions, traffic congestion, increased government regulation, and other matters. In addition, increased labor costs or insufficient labor supply could increase our production costs.

Our supply and the price of raw materials, packaging materials and energy and the cost of energy, freight and labor used in our productions and distribution activities could be affected by a number of factors beyond our control, including market demand, global geopolitical events (especially their impact on energy prices), economic factors affecting growth decisions, exchange rate fluctuations and inflation. To the extent any of these factors, including inflation, affect the prices of ingredients or packaging, or we do not effectively or completely hedge changes in commodity price risks, or are unable to recoup costs through increases in the price of our finished wines, our business, results of operations and financial results could be materially and adversely affected.

Risks related to COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect our customers, our suppliers and our business operations, and the duration and extent to which this and any future global health pandemic will impact our business, results of operations and financial results in future periods remains uncertain.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have widespread, rapidly evolving and unpredictable impacts on global society, economies, financial markets, supply chains and business practices. Federal, state and foreign governments have implemented measures to contain the virus, including vaccine dissemination, social

 

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distancing, travel restrictions, border closures, limitations on public gatherings, work from home requirements and closure of non-essential businesses from time to time. As an agricultural company that supplies supermarkets, our business is generally deemed essential under current applicable regulatory guidance. Our farming and winery operations have continued with minimal interruptions as a result of COVID-19, and we implemented new standard operating procedures, including the use of face coverings, social distancing and other workplace safety measures. To protect our employees and guests and comply with applicable regulatory guidance, our tasting rooms observe a number of pandemic-related protocols. Our ability to host guests in our tasting rooms to build winery brand loyalty and encourage future connections and purchases is a unique catalyst for our DTC channel, and any future closures or extended periods of reduced capacity may have an adverse impact on future sales. To the extent closures are implemented, we may be required to implement workforce reductions. While we continue to closely monitor the situation and may adjust our current policies as more information and public health guidance become available, such precautionary measures, or any similar precautionary measures we are required or deem advisable to take in the future, could negatively affect our business, results of operations and financial results. Our business may suffer should there be supply disruption due to restrictions on the ability of employees, the grape growers with whom we contract or our suppliers to travel and work, or if government or public health officials limit the travel of individuals impacting our ability to source materials domestically and across international borders. These events may impair our ability to make, bottle and ship our wines, our distributors’ ability to distribute our wines or our ability to grow or obtain the grapes needed to produce our wines. Our operations may become less efficient or otherwise be negatively impacted if critical employees are unable to work or if a significant percentage of the workforce is unable to work.

The U.S. and global economies have reacted negatively in response to worldwide concerns due to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. While we experienced a shift in the mix of our wines towards greater off-premise sales and lower on-premise sales, the COVID-19 pandemic generally has not resulted in a reduction in demand for our wines and other alcoholic beverages. Consumer purchasing behavior may continue to be impacted by reduced consumption by those who are unable to shop in a normal manner as a result of periodically implemented stay at home orders, required closures, quarantines or other cancellations of public events and other opportunities to purchase our wines, from bar and restaurant closures, or from a reduction in consumer discretionary income due to reduced or limited work and layoffs.

We anticipate that the increased growth and popularity of the retail e-commerce environment across the consumer product goods market, which has accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic and the periodic quarantines, “stay at home” orders, travel restrictions, retail store closures, social distancing requirements and other government action, is highly likely to result in the continued evolution of the competitive landscape of our wines. Additionally, channel instability, including the softening of our ecommerce gains, are likely as COVID-19 restrictions are loosened.

Economic disruption and unanticipated changes in consumer demand may negatively impact our ability to adequately forecast demand for future years. Demand for our wines may decline in the future, especially in the event of a prolonged economic downturn as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and any future unforeseen global health emergency. We have also seen stronger growth in our lower-priced wines than our highest-tier wines, coupled with an increase in net sales through wholesale channels relative to our DTC channel. This has lowered the average selling prices per case. If we cannot respond to and manage the impact of such events effectively, or if global economic conditions do not improve, or deteriorate further, our business, results of operations and financial results could be materially and adversely affected.

 

 

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Risks related to our business

The impact of U.S. and worldwide economic trends and financial market conditions could materially and adversely affect our business, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.

We are subject to risks associated with adverse economic conditions in the United States and globally, including economic slowdown, inflation, and the disruption, volatility and tightening of credit and capital markets. Unfavorable global or regional economic conditions could materially and adversely impact our business, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations. In general, positive conditions in the broader economy promote customer spending on wine, while economic weakness, which generally results in a reduction of customer spending, may have a more pronounced negative effect on spending on wine. Unemployment, tax increases, governmental spending cuts or a return of high levels of inflation could affect consumer spending patterns and purchases of our wines and other alcoholic beverage products. Reduced consumer discretionary spending and reduced consumer confidence could negatively affect the trend towards consuming luxury wines and could result in a reduction of wine and beverage alcohol consumption in the United States generally. In particular, extended periods of high unemployment, lower consumer discretionary spending and low consumer confidence could result in lower DTC sales than expected, lower wholesale sales of our ultra-luxury winery brands in favor of luxury winery brands which have a lower average sales price and generally have lower gross profit margins and lower overall sales, which could negatively impact our business and results of operations. These conditions could also create or worsen credit issues, cash flow issues, access to credit facilities and other financial hardships for us and our suppliers, distributors, accounts and consumers. An inability of our suppliers, distributors and retailers to access liquidity could impact our ability to produce and distribute our wines.

Our financial performance is subject to significant seasonality and variability.

Our sales and pricing are subject to seasonal fluctuations. Our net sales are typically highest in the first half of our fiscal year due to increased consumer demand leading up to and around major holidays. Net sales seasonality differs for wholesale and DTC channels, resulting in quarterly seasonality in our net sales that depends on the channel mix for that period. We typically experience a higher concentration of sales through our wholesale channel during our first and second fiscal quarters due to increased purchasing by distributors in anticipation of higher consumer demand during the holiday season, which has the effect of lowering average selling prices as a result of the shift in sales channel mix as well as the use of distributor and retail sales discounts and promotions in our wholesale channel. In Fiscal 2021, our net sales in the first, second, third and fourth fiscal quarters represented approximately 27%, 25%, 27% and 21%, respectively, of our total net sales for the year. Due to the relative importance of the first and second fiscal quarters, slower than anticipated demand for our wines in those quarters could have a materially adverse effect on our annual fiscal results. A failure by us to adequately prepare for periods of increased demand, or any event that disrupts our distribution channels during the first half of each fiscal year, could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

In addition to the seasonality of demand for our wines, our financial performance is influenced by a number of factors which are difficult to predict and variable in nature. These include cost volatility for raw materials, production yields and inventory availability and the evolution of our sales channel mix, as well as external trends in weather patterns and discretionary consumer spending. A number of other factors which are difficult to predict could also affect the seasonality or variability of our financial performance. Therefore, you should not rely on the results of a single fiscal quarter as an indication of our annual results or future performance.

 

 

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If we cannot retain our key employees and hire additional, highly qualified employees, we may not be able to successfully manage our business, maintain our reputation as an industry leader and execute our strategic objectives, which could materially and adversely affect our operating efficiency and financial condition.

We are highly dependent on the contributions of our senior management team, sales team, and other key employees, such as our winemakers, and certain key employees at our corporate headquarters, wineries, tasting rooms and vineyards. Our ability to deliver on strategic targets is dependent on our ability to recruit, retain and motivate key employees. Competition for such employees can be intense in the locations in which our facilities are located, and the inability to attract and retain qualified employees necessary to expand our activities may impact our ability to achieve our targets. The high cost of housing and other expenses in Napa and Sonoma Counties, and the other areas in which we have significant operations, can inhibit our ability to recruit top talent from outside the area.

We believe that the nimbleness of our management team has been a major factor in our success and growth. The loss of current key employees could result in the loss of business knowledge, negatively impact relationships with suppliers, distributors or customers or hurt company culture and morale. The inability to attract and retain talent could materially and adversely affect our operating efficiency and financial condition.

If we are unable to secure and protect our intellectual property in domestic and foreign markets, including trademarks for our winery brands, vineyards and wines, the value of our winery brands and intellectual property could decline, which could have a material and adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial results.

Our future success depends significantly on our ability to protect our current and future winery brands and wines and to enforce and defend our trademarks and other intellectual property rights. We rely on a combination of trademark, copyright and trade secret laws, as well as confidentiality procedures and contractual restrictions, to secure and protect our intellectual property rights. We have been granted 58 trademark registrations in the United States, and numerous trademark registrations in other countries covering many of our winery and wine brands, and we have filed, and expect to continue to file, trademark applications seeking to protect newly-developed winery and wine brands. We cannot be sure that trademark registrations will be issued to us under any of our trademark applications. Our trademark applications could be opposed by third parties, and our trademark rights, including registered trademarks, could also be challenged. We cannot assure you that we will be successful in defending our trademarks in actions brought by third parties. There is also a risk that we could fail to timely maintain or renew our trademark registrations or otherwise protect our trademark rights, which could result in the loss of those trademark rights (including in connection with failure to maintain consistent use of these trademarks). If we fail to maintain our trademarks or our trademarks are successfully challenged, we could be forced to rebrand our wineries, wines and other products, which could result in a loss of winery brand recognition and could require us to devote additional resources to the development and marketing of new winery brands.

Notwithstanding any trademark registrations held by us, a third party could bring a lawsuit or other claim alleging that we have infringed that third party’s trademark rights. Any such claims, with or without merit, could require significant resources to defend, could damage the reputation of our winery brands, could result in the payment of compensation (whether as a damages award or settlement) to such third parties, and could require us to stop using our winery brands or otherwise agree to an undertaking to limit that use. In addition, our actions to monitor and enforce trademark rights against third parties may not prevent counterfeit products or products bearing confusingly similar trademarks from entering the marketplace, which could divert sales from us, tarnish our reputation or reduce the demand for our products or the prices at which those products are sold. Any enforcement litigation brought by us, whether or not successful, could require significant costs and resources, and divert the attention of management, which could negatively affect our business, results of

 

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operations and financial results. Third parties may also acquire and register domain names that are confusingly similar to or otherwise damaging to the reputation of our trademarks, and we may not be able to prevent or cancel any such domain name registrations.

We may not be fully insured against catastrophic perils, including catastrophic loss or inaccessibility of wineries, production facilities and/or distribution systems resulting from fire, wildfire, flood, wind events, earthquake and other perils, which may cause us to experience a material financial loss.

A significant portion of our vineyards and supplier and other third party warehouses and distribution centers are located in California, which is prone to seismic activity, wildfires and floods, among other perils. For example, in February 2019, one of our wineries experienced a flood resulting in damages to inventory, machinery, equipment and site improvements. If any of these vineyards or facilities were to experience a catastrophic loss in the future, it could disrupt our operations, delay production, shipments and our recognition of revenue, and result in potentially significant expenses to repair or replace the vineyard or facility. If such a disruption were to occur, we could breach agreements, our reputation could be harmed and our business and operating results could be materially and adversely affected. Although we carry insurance to cover property and inventory damage and business interruption, these coverages are subject to deductibles and self-insurance obligations, as well as caps on coverage that could be below the value of losses we could incur in certain catastrophic perils. Furthermore, claims for recovery against our insurance policies can be time-consuming, and may result in significant delays between when we incur damages and when we receive partial or full payment under our insurance policies. For example, such a delay occurred with respect to our insurance claims related to our February 2019 flood damages, which were not fully resolved until December 2020. We take steps to avoid and minimize the damage that could be caused by potential catastrophic events, but there is no certainty that our efforts will prove successful. If one or more significant catastrophic events occurred damaging our own or third-party assets and/or services, we could suffer a major financial loss and our business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.

Furthermore, increased incidence or severity of natural disasters has adversely impacted our ability to obtain adequate property damage, inventory and business interruption insurance at financially viable rates, if at all. For example, we have observed certain insurers ceasing to offer certain inventory protection policies, and we have supplemented our insurance coverage recently by purchasing policies at higher premiums. If these trends continue and our insurance coverage is adversely affected, and to the extent we elect to increase our self-insurance obligations, we may be at greater risk that similar future events will cause significant financial losses and materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial results.

From time to time, we may become subject to litigation specifically directed at the alcoholic beverage industry, as well as litigation arising in the ordinary course of business.

We and other companies operating in the alcoholic beverage industry are, from time to time, exposed to class action or other private or governmental litigation and claims relating to product liability, alcohol marketing, advertising or distribution practices, alcohol abuse problems or other health consequences arising from the excessive consumption of or other misuse of alcohol, including underage drinking. Various groups have, from time to time, publicly expressed concern over problems related to harmful use of alcohol, including drinking and driving, underage drinking and health consequences from the misuse of alcohol. These campaigns could result in an increased risk of litigation against the Company and our industry. Lawsuits have been brought against beverage alcohol companies alleging problems related to alcohol abuse, negative health consequences from drinking, problems from alleged marketing or sales practices and underage drinking. While these lawsuits have been largely unsuccessful in the past, others may succeed in the future

 

 

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From time to time, we may also be party to other litigation in the ordinary course of our operations, including in connection with commercial disputes, enforcement or other regulatory actions by tax, customs, competition, environmental, anti-corruption and other relevant regulatory authorities, or securities-related class action lawsuits, particularly following any significant decline in the price of our securities. Any such litigation or other actions may be expensive to defend and result in damages, penalties or fines as well as reputational damage to our company and our winery brands and may impact the ability of management to focus on other business matters. Furthermore, any adverse judgments may result in an increase in future insurance premiums, and any judgements for which we are not fully insured may result in a significant financial loss and may materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial results.

Our failure to adequately manage the risks associated with acquisitions or divestitures, or the failure of an entity in which we have an equity or membership interest, could have a material adverse effect on our business, liquidity, financial condition or results of operations.

As part of our growth strategy, we have previously made acquisitions that we believe will provide a strategic fit with our business, including the acquisitions of Calera Wine Company in 2017 and Kosta Browne in 2018, and we may continue to rely on this strategy for growth and expansion. Any future acquisition may come with new or unexpected risks, including potential difficulties integrating the company into our operations and culture, possible loss of key accounts, customers or employees, a negative perception of the acquisition adversely impacting the perception of the Company or exposure to unknown liabilities. We may not effectively assimilate the business or product offerings of acquired companies into our business or within the anticipated costs or timeframes, retain key customers and suppliers or key employees of acquired businesses or successfully implement our business plan for the combined business. In addition, our final determinations and appraisals of the estimated fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in our acquisitions may vary materially from earlier estimates and we may fail to realize fully anticipated cost savings, growth opportunities or other potential synergies. We cannot assure that the fair value of acquired businesses or investments will remain constant. Acquisitions and investments could also result in additional debt and related interest expenses, issuance of additional shares and result in a reduction in our earning per share or other financial results. If the financial performance of our business, as supplemented by the businesses acquired, does not meet our expectations, it may make it more difficult for us to service our debt obligations and our results of operations may fail to meet market expectations.

We may also consider the potential divestiture of assets or businesses that no longer meet our financial or strategic objectives. When selling assets, we may record material losses as a result of market conditions or unfavorable prices for the assets. Additionally, we may provide various indemnifications in connection with the divestiture of businesses or assets. We may also find it difficult to find a suitable or timely buyer of the assets which may result in financial losses or the delay of strategic objectives. The unfavorable outcome or unforeseen risks associated with acquisitions or divestitures may negatively affect our reputation or materially harm our financial results.

We cannot assure that we will realize the expected benefits of acquisitions, divestitures or investments and also cannot assure these ventures will be profitable or without unknown risks. Additionally, we cannot assure that the internal control over financial reporting of entities which we consolidate as a result of our investment activities will be as robust as the internal control over financial reporting for our wholly-owned winery brands. Our failure to adequately manage the risks associated with acquisitions, divestitures or the failure of an entity with which we have an equity or membership interest could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial results.

 

 

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A failure of one or more of our key IT systems, networks, processes, associated sites or service providers could have a material adverse impact on business operations, and if the failure is prolonged, our financial condition.

We rely on IT systems, networks, and services, including internet sites, data hosting and processing facilities and tools, hardware (including laptops and mobile devices), software and technical applications and platforms, some of which are managed, hosted, provided and used by third-parties or their vendors, to assist us in the management of our business. The various uses of these IT systems, networks and services include, but are not limited to: hosting our internal network and communication systems; tracking bulk wine; supply and demand planning; production; shipping wines to customers; hosting our winery websites and marketing products to consumers; collecting and storing customer, consumer, employee, stockholder, and other data; processing transactions; summarizing and reporting results of operations; hosting, processing and sharing confidential and proprietary research, business plans and financial information; complying with regulatory, legal or tax requirements; providing data security; and handling other processes necessary to manage our business.

Increased IT security threats and more sophisticated cybercrimes and cyberattacks, including computer viruses and other malicious codes, ransomware, unauthorized access attempts, denial of service attacks, phishing, social engineering, hacking and other types of attacks pose a potential risk to the security of our IT systems, networks and services, as well as the confidentiality, availability, and integrity of our data, and we have in the past, and may in the future, experience cyberattacks and other unauthorized access attempts to our IT systems. Because the techniques used to obtain unauthorized access are constantly changing and often are not recognized until launched against a target, we or our vendors may be unable to anticipate these techniques or implement sufficient preventative or remedial measures. If we are unable to efficiently and effectively maintain and upgrade our system safeguards, we may incur unexpected costs and certain of our systems may become more vulnerable to unauthorized access. In the event of a ransomware or other cyber-attack, the integrity and safety of our data could be at risk or we may incur unforeseen costs impacting our financial position. Although we carry insurance covering cyber-attacks including ransomware, these coverages are subject to deductibles and self-insurance obligation, as well as caps on coverage that could be below the value of losses we could incur. If the IT systems, networks or service providers we rely upon fail to function properly, or if we suffer a loss or disclosure of business or other sensitive information due to any number of causes ranging from catastrophic events, power outages, security breaches, unauthorized use or usage errors by employees, vendors or other third parties and other security issues, we may be subject to legal claims and proceedings, liability under laws that protect the privacy and security of personal information (also known as personal data), litigation, governmental investigations and proceedings and regulatory penalties, and we may suffer interruptions in our ability to manage our operations and reputational, competitive or business harm, which may adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial results. In addition, such events could result in unauthorized disclosure of material confidential information, and we may suffer financial and reputational damage because of lost or misappropriated confidential information belonging to us or to our employees, stockholders, customers, suppliers, consumers or others. In any of these events, we could also be required to spend significant financial and other resources to remedy the damage caused by a security breach or technological failure and the reputational damage resulting therefrom, to pay for investigations, forensic analyses, legal advice, public relations advice or other services, or to repair or replace networks and IT systems. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, a greater percentage of our employees are working remotely than the historical norm and accessing our IT systems and networks remotely, which may further increase our vulnerability to cybercrimes and cyberattacks and increase the stress on our technology infrastructure and systems. Even though we maintain cyber risk insurance, this insurance may not be sufficient to cover all of our losses from any future breaches or failures of our IT systems, networks and services.

 

 

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Our failure to adequately maintain and protect personal information of our customers or our employees in compliance with evolving legal requirements could have a material adverse effect on our business.

We collect, use, store, disclose or transfer (collectively, “process”) personal information, including from employees and customers, in connection with the operation of our business. A wide variety of local and international laws as well as regulations and industry guidelines apply to the privacy and collecting, storing, use, processing, disclosure and protection of personal information and may be inconsistent among countries or conflict with other rules. Data protection and privacy laws and regulations are changing, subject to differing interpretations and being tested in courts and may result in increasing regulatory and public scrutiny and escalating levels of enforcement and sanctions.

A variety of data protection legislation apply in the United States at both the federal and state level, including new laws that may impact our operations. For example, in June 2018, the State of California enacted the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (“CCPA”), which went into effect on January 1, 2020, and began being enforced on July 1, 2020. The CCPA defines “personal information” in a broad manner and generally requires companies that collect, use, share and otherwise process personal information of California residents to make new disclosures about their data collection, use, and sharing practices, allows consumers to opt-out of certain data sharing with third parties or the sale of personal information, allows consumers to exercise certain rights with respect to any personal information collected and provides a new cause of action for data breaches. Moreover, another privacy law, the California Privacy Rights Act (“CPRA”), which significantly modifies the CCPA and will impose additional data protection obligations on companies doing business in California, including additional consumer rights processes and opt outs for certain uses of sensitive data, was approved by California voters in 2020, though it does not take effect until January 2023. There remains significant uncertainty regarding the timing and implementation of the CPRA in January 2023, but it is expected that a California privacy regulator will be established in the interim period pursuant to the mandates of CPRA. Additionally, the Federal Trade Commission, and many state attorneys general are interpreting federal and state consumer protection laws to impose standards for the online collection, use, dissemination, and security of data. The burdens imposed by the CCPA, CPRA and other similar laws that have been or may be enacted at the federal and state level may require us to modify our data collection and processing practices and related policies and to incur substantial expenditures in order to comply with the additional regulations. To date, we have not experienced substantial compliance costs in connection with fulfilling the requirements under the CCPA or CPRA. However, we cannot be certain that compliance costs will not increase in the future with respect to the CCPA and CPRA.

Global privacy and data protection legislation, enforcement, and policy activity are rapidly expanding and evolving, and may be inconsistent from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. For example, in 2016, the E.U. adopted the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”), which took effect on May 25, 2018. The GDPR imposes requirements that may limit how we are permitted to process data on behalf of ourselves, and we may be required to incur significant additional costs to comply with these requirements. Applicable laws, regulations and court decisions in the E.U. relating to privacy and data protection could also impact our ability to transfer personal information (or personal data as defined by the GDPR) internationally. The GDPR specifies substantial maximum fines for failure to comply. Continued compliance with the GDPR and national laws in the E.U. may require significant changes to our products and practices to ensure compliance with applicable law. On July 16, 2020, the Court of Justice of the European Union, Europe’s highest court, held in the Schrems II case that the E.U.-U.S. Privacy Shield, a mechanism for the transfer of personal information from the E.U. to the United States, was invalid, and imposed additional obligations in connection with the use of standard contractual clauses approved by the European Commission. The impact of this decision on the ability to lawfully transfer personal information from the E.U. to the United States is being assessed and further guidance from European regulators and advisory bodies is awaited. It is possible that the decision will restrict our ability to transfer

 

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personal information from the E.U. to the United States and we may, in addition to other impacts, experience additional costs associated with increased compliance burdens, and we face the potential for regulators in the European Economic Area (“EEA”) to apply different standards to the transfer of personal information from the EEA to the United States and to block, or require, ad hoc verification of measures taken with respect to certain information or data flows from the EEA to the United States. The regulatory environment applicable to the handling of EEA residents’ personal information, and our actions taken in response, may cause us to assume additional liabilities or incur additional costs and could result in our business, operating results and financial condition being harmed. We and our customers may face a risk of enforcement actions by data protection authorities in the EEA relating to personal information transfers to us and by us from the EEA. Any such enforcement actions could result in substantial costs and diversion of resources, distract management and technical personnel, and negatively affect our business, operating results and financial condition. Additionally, we may be or become subject to data localization laws mandating that information or data collected in a foreign country be processed only within that country. If any country in which we have customers were to adopt a data localization law, we could be required to expand our data storage facilities there or build new ones in order to comply. The expenditure this would require, as well as costs of compliance generally, could harm our financial condition.

Further, in June 2016, the U.K. voted to leave the E.U., which resulted in the U.K. exiting the E.U. on January 31, 2020, subject to a transition period that ended December 31, 2020. Brexit has led to, and may continue to lead to, further legislative and regulatory changes. The U.K. implemented the Data Protection Act of 2018 (“DPA 2018”) that substantially implements the E.U. GDPR and implemented a U.K. version of the GDPR (“GDPR-UK”) combining the GDPR-EU and the DPA 2018, which took effect in January 2021. It remains to be seen whether the U.K.’s withdrawal from the E.U. pursuant to Brexit, and the combined requirements of GDPR-UK and DPA 2018 will substantially impact the manner in which U.K. data protection laws or regulations will develop or are enforced in the medium to longer term and how information and data transfers to and from the U.K. will be regulated.

Compliance with these and any other applicable privacy and data protection laws and regulations is a rigorous and time-intensive process, and we may be required to put in place additional mechanisms ensuring compliance with the new privacy and data protection laws and regulations. Our actual or alleged failure to comply with any applicable privacy and data protection laws and regulations, industry standards or contractual obligations, or to protect such information and data that we process, could result in litigation, regulatory investigations, and enforcement actions against us, including fines, orders, public censure, claims for damages by employees, customers and other affected individuals, public statements against us by consumer advocacy groups, damage to our reputation and competitive position and loss of goodwill (both in relation to existing customers and prospective customers) any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. Evolving and changing definitions of personal information, personal data, and similar concepts within the E.U., the United States and elsewhere, especially relating to classification of IP addresses, device identifiers, location data, household data and other information we may collect, may limit or inhibit our ability to operate or expand our business, including limiting strategic partnerships that may involve the sharing of such information and data. Additionally, if third parties that we work with, such as vendors or developers, violate applicable laws or our policies, such violations may also place personal information at risk and have an adverse effect on our business. Even the perception of privacy concerns, whether or not valid, may harm our reputation, subject us to regulatory scrutiny and investigations, and inhibit adoption of our wines by existing and potential customers.

 

 

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Certain data and information in this prospectus were obtained from third-party sources that are subject to certain uncertainties and limitations. If the estimates and assumptions we use to determine the size of our target market are inaccurate, our future growth rate may be impacted and our business could be harmed.

This prospectus contains certain data and information, including regarding our industry and market share, that have been derived from third-party publications and reports that we have not independently verified. Data and information contained in such third-party publications and reports is collected using methodologies that vary based on the source and are subject to certain uncertainties and limitations. For example, data reported by IRI relates to off-premise sales only and does not reflect sales from a significant number of smaller wine suppliers because many subscale wineries have limited or no sales in channels from which IRI generates its reporting data. The sources cited in this prospectus also do not reflect sales data from any retailers and other channel participants who have declined to report sales data to the applicable source. As a result, the market opportunity estimates and growth forecasts contained in this prospectus are subject to uncertainty and are based on data and assumptions that may prove to be incomplete or inaccurate. If the estimates and assumptions we use to determine the size of our target market are inaccurate, our future growth rate may be impacted and our business could be harmed. Even if the market in which we compete meets our size estimates and forecasted growth, our business could fail to grow at similar rates, if at all. For more information regarding the market data and forecasts cited in this prospectus, see “Industry and market data.”

Risks related to regulation

As a producer of alcoholic beverages, we are regularly the subject of regulatory reviews, proceedings and audits by governmental entities, any of which could result in an adverse ruling or conclusion, and which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and future prospects.

We are subject to extensive regulation in the United States by federal, state and local laws regulating the production, distribution and sale of consumable food items, and specifically alcoholic beverages, including by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (the “TTB”) and the Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”). These and other regulatory agencies impose a number of product safety, labeling and other requirements on our operations and sales. In California, where most of our wines are made, we are subject to alcohol-related licensing and regulations by many authorities, including the Department of Alcohol Beverage Control (the “ABC”), which investigates applications for licenses to sell alcoholic beverages, reports on the moral character and fitness of alcohol license applicants and the suitability of premises where sales are to be conducted. Any governmental litigation, fines or restrictions on our operations resulting from the enforcement of these existing regulations or any new legislation or regulations could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial results. Any government intervention challenging the production, marketing, promotion, distribution or sale of beverage alcohol or specific brands could affect our ability to sell our wines. Because litigation and other legal proceedings can be costly to defend, even actions that are ultimately decided in our favor could have a negative impact on our business, results of operations or financial results. Adverse developments in major lawsuits concerning these or other matters could result in management distraction and have a material adverse effect on our business. Changes to the interpretation or approach to enforcement of regulations may require changes to our business practices or the business practices of our suppliers, distributors or customers. The penalties associated with any violations or infractions may vary in severity, and could result in a significant impediment to our business operations, and could cause us to have to suspend sales of our wines in a jurisdiction for a period of time.

 

 

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New and changing environmental requirements, and new market pressures related to climate change, could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial results.

There has been significant public discussion related to concerns that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have an adverse impact on global temperatures, weather patterns and the frequency and severity of extreme weather and natural disasters. Federal regulations govern, among other things, air emissions, wastewater and stormwater discharges, and the treatment, handling and storage and disposal of materials and wastes. State environmental regulations and authorities intended to address and oversee environmental issues are largely state-level analogs to federal regulations and authorities intended to perform the similar purposes. In California, we are also subject to state-specific rules, such as those contained in the California Environmental Quality Act, California Air Resources Act, Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, California Water Code sections 13300-13999 and Title 23 of the California Administrative Code and various sections of the Health and Safety Code. We are subject to local environmental regulations that address a number of elements of our wine production process, including air quality, the handing of hazardous waste, recycling, water use and discharge, emissions and traffic impacts. Compliance with these and other environmental regulation requires significant resources. Continued regulatory and market trends towards sustainability may require or incentivize us to make changes to our current business operations. We may experience significant future increases in the costs associated with environmental regulatory compliance, including fees, licenses and the cost of capital improvements for our vineyards and wineries to meet environmental regulatory requirements. In addition, we may be party to various environmental remediation obligations arising in the normal course of our business or relating to historical activities of businesses we acquire. Due to regulatory complexities, uncertainties inherent in litigation and the risk of unidentified contaminants in our current and former properties, the potential exists for remediation, liability and indemnification costs to differ materially from the costs that we have estimated. We may incur costs associated with environmental compliance arising from events we cannot control, such as unusually severe floods, earthquakes or fires. We cannot assure that our costs in relation to these matters will not exceed our projections or otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial results.

Changes in foreign and domestic laws and government regulations to which we are currently subject, including changes to the method or approach of enforcement of these government rules and regulations, may increase our costs or limit our ability to sell our wines into certain markets, which could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Government laws and regulations may result in increased production and sales costs, including an increase on the applicable tax in various state, federal and foreign jurisdictions in which we do business. The amount of wine that we can sell directly to consumers outside of California is regulated, and in certain states we are not allowed to sell wines directly to consumers at all. Changes in these laws and regulations that tighten current rules could have an adverse impact on sales or increase costs to produce, market, package or sell wine. Changes in regulation that require significant additional source data for registration and sale, in the labeling or warning requirements, or limitations on the permissibility of any component, condition or ingredient, in the places in which our wines can be legally sold could inhibit sales of affected products in those markets.

The wine industry is subject to extensive regulation by a number of foreign and domestic agencies, state liquor authorities and local authorities. These regulations and laws dictate such matters as licensing requirements, land use, production methods, trade and pricing practices, permitted distribution channels, permitted and required labeling, advertising, sequestration of classes of wine and relations with wholesalers and retailers. Any expansion of our existing facilities or development of new vineyards, wineries or tasting rooms may be limited by present and future zoning ordinances, use permit terms, environmental restrictions and other legal

 

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requirements. In addition, new or updated regulations, requirements or licenses, particularly changes that impact our ability to sell DTC and/or retain accounts in California, or new or increased excise taxes, income taxes, property and sales taxes or international tariffs, could affect our financial condition or results of operations. From time to time, states consider proposals to increase state alcohol excise taxes. New or revised regulations or increased licensing fees, requirements or taxes could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are subject to health, safety and labor laws. Regulatory reviews, proceedings and audits by governmental entities could result in an adverse ruling or conclusion, which may have a material adverse effect on our business. Changes to the enforcement or approach of these rules and regulations, may increase our costs or limit our ability to operate, which could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

We are required to comply with labor, health and safety laws and regulations in California, Washington and the other states in which we operate. Our operations are subject to periodic inspections by government authorities. The regulations require, among other things, health and safety protocols and procedures, fair and legal employment and in the case of some workers, health benefits. A failure to comply with these laws and any new or changed regulations could increase our operating costs and materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Risks related to our indebtedness

We have incurred substantial indebtedness and we may not generate sufficient cash flow from operations to meet our debt service requirements, continue our operations and pursue our growth strategy and we may be unable to raise capital when needed or on acceptable terms.

We have incurred substantial indebtedness to fund various corporate activities and our ongoing operations. Our business may not generate sufficient cash flow from operations to meet all of our debt service requirements, to pay dividends and to fund our general corporate and capital requirements.

Our ability to satisfy our debt obligations will depend upon our future operating performance. We do not have complete control over our future operating performance because it is subject to prevailing economic conditions, interest rates, consumer preferences, and financial, business and other factors.

Our current and future debt service obligations and covenants could limit:

 

 

our ability to pay dividends;

 

our ability to obtain financing for future working capital needs or acquisitions or other purposes;

 

our funds available for operations, expansions, dividends or other distributions; and

 

our ability to conduct our business.

Also, our vulnerability to adverse economic conditions may be greater than less leveraged competitors and, as a result, our ability to withstand competitive pressures may be limited.

Restrictive covenants in our Credit Facility place limits on our ability to conduct our business. Covenants in our Credit Facility include those that restrict our ability to:

 

 

make acquisitions, incur debt, encumber or sell assets;

 

amend our constitutional documents;

 

pay dividends;

 

engage in mergers and consolidations;

 

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enter into transactions with affiliates;

 

make investments; and

 

permit our subsidiaries to enter into certain agreements.

Our Credit Facility also contains financial covenants, including a debt to net worth test and fixed charge coverage ratio test.

Our Credit Facility also contains change of control provisions which, if triggered upon the occurrence of a merger or other change of control transaction, may result in an acceleration of our obligation to repay the debt. If we fail to comply with the obligations contained in our Credit Facility or future loan agreements, we could be in default under those agreements, which could require us to immediately repay the related debt and also debt under any other agreements containing cross-acceleration or cross-default provisions.

Our capacity to fund working capital or operational expenses depends upon our net cash available. Any decline in our net cash or changes in the terms of our Credit Facility, lines of credit, bank credit agreements or other sources of credit could limit our access to the capital resources required to fund our expenses.

We rely on cash generated from our operating activities as our primary source of liquidity. To support our operations, execute our growth strategy as planned and pay dividends, if declared, we will need to continue generating significant amounts of cash from operations, including funds required to pay our employees, related benefits and other operating expenses, finance future acquisitions, invest in technologies and pay for the increased direct and indirect costs associated with operating as a public company. If our business does not generate sufficient cash flow from operations to fund these activities, and if sufficient funds are not available under our Credit Facility, we may need to seek additional capital, including by incurring additional debt. Additional capital may not be available to us on acceptable terms or at all. In addition, incurring indebtedness requires that a portion of cash flow from operating activities be dedicated to interest and principal payments. Debt service requirements could reduce our ability to use our cash flow to fund operations and capital expenditures, to capitalize on future business opportunities, including additional acquisitions, or to pay dividends or increase dividends. Any of these risks could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.

We utilize derivative financial instruments to manage our exposure to interest rate fluctuations associated with our variable rate indebtedness. We may be exposed to interest rate risk based on our ability to hedge effectively, as well as risk related to nonperformance based on the creditworthiness of counterparties to these financial instruments.

We have entered interest rate swap derivative instruments to attempt to limit our exposure to changes in variable interest rates. While our intended strategy is to minimize the impact to our interest cost due to increases in interest rates applicable to our variable rate debt, there can be no guarantee that our strategy will be effective. We are also exposed to potential credit losses due to the risk of non-performance of the counterparty to our interest rate swaps. Consequently, we may experience credit-related losses in the future. See Note 10 (Derivative instruments) to our audited consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

We may be adversely affected by the phase-out of, or changes in the method of determining, the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), or the replacement of LIBOR with different reference rates.

LIBOR is the basic rate of interest used in lending between banks on the London interbank market and is widely used as a reference for setting the interest rate on U.S. dollar-denominated loans globally. Our Credit Facility uses LIBOR as a reference rate such that the interest due to our creditors under this facility is calculated using LIBOR.

 

 

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On July 27, 2017, the U.K.’s Financial Conduct Authority (the authority that administers LIBOR) announced that it intends to phase out LIBOR by the end of 2021 and subsequently extended the phase-out period until June 2023. It is unclear whether new methods of calculating LIBOR will be established such that it continues to exist after 2023, or if alternative rates or benchmarks will be adopted. Changes in the method of calculating LIBOR, or the replacement of LIBOR with an alternative rate or benchmark, may adversely affect interest rates and result in higher borrowing costs. This could materially and adversely affect our results of operations, cash flows, and liquidity. We cannot predict the effect of the potential changes to LIBOR or the establishment and use of alternative rates or benchmarks. We may need to renegotiate our Credit Facility or incur other indebtedness, and changes in the method of calculating LIBOR, or the use of an alternative rate or benchmark, may negatively impact the terms of such renegotiated Credit Facility or such other indebtedness. If changes are made to the method of calculating LIBOR or LIBOR ceases to exist, we may need to amend certain contracts and cannot predict what alternative rate or benchmark would be negotiated. This may result in an increase to our interest expense.

Risks related to our common stock and this offering

We are an emerging growth company, and we cannot be certain that the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies will not make our common stock less attractive to investors.

We are an emerging growth company, as defined in the JOBS Act. For as long as we continue to be an emerging growth company, we may take advantage of exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies, including, among others, (1) not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, (2) reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in this prospectus and our periodic reports and proxy statements, (3) exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved and (4) the requirement to present only two years of audited financial statements and only two years of related “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations” in this prospectus. We could be an emerging growth company for up to five years, although circumstances could cause us to lose that status earlier, including if the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $700.0 million as of the end of the second fiscal quarter in any fiscal year before that time or if we have total annual gross revenues of $1.07 billion or more during any fiscal year before that time, in which case we would no longer be an emerging growth company as of the fiscal year end, or if we issue more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during any three-year period before that time we would cease to be an emerging growth company immediately. We cannot predict if investors will find our shares of common stock less attractive because we may rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our common stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our common stock and our share price may be more volatile.

Under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies can also delay adopting new or revised accounting standards until such time as those standards apply to private companies. We have elected to use this extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies until the earlier of the date we (i) are no longer an emerging growth company or (ii) affirmatively and irrevocably opt out of the extended transition period provided in the JOBS Act. Our consolidated financial statements may therefore not be comparable to those of other public companies that comply with such new or revised accounting standards.

 

 

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As a result of being a public company, we are obligated to develop and maintain proper and effective internal control over financial reporting and any failure to maintain the adequacy of these internal controls may negatively impact investor confidence in our company and, as a result, the value of our common stock.

We are required pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act to furnish a report by management on, among other things, the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. This assessment includes disclosure of any material weaknesses identified by our management in our internal control over financial reporting. In addition, our independent registered public accounting firm will be required to attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting in our first annual report required to be filed with the SEC following the date we are no longer an emerging growth company. Any failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting could severely inhibit our ability to accurately report our financial condition or results of operations. If we are unable to conclude that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, or if our independent registered public accounting firm determines we have a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting, we could lose investor confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports, the market price of our common stock could decline, we could be subject to sanctions or investigations by the NYSE, the SEC or other regulatory authorities and our access to the capital markets could be restricted in the future.

TSG will continue to have significant influence over us after this offering, including control over decisions that require the approval of stockholders, which could limit your ability to influence the outcome of matters submitted to stockholders for a vote.

We are currently controlled, and after this offering is completed will continue to be controlled, by investment funds affiliated with TSG. Upon completion of this offering, investment funds affiliated with TSG will control 65.1% of the voting power of our common stock (or 63.6% if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares). As long as TSG owns or controls at least a majority of our outstanding voting power, it will have the ability to exercise substantial control over all corporate actions requiring stockholder approval, irrespective of how our other stockholders may vote, including the election and removal of directors and the size of our board of directors, any amendment of our certificate of incorporation or bylaws, or the approval of any merger or other significant corporate transaction, including a sale of substantially all of our assets. Even if its ownership falls below 50%, TSG will continue to be able to strongly influence or effectively control our decisions.

Additionally, TSG’s interests may not align with the interests of our other stockholders. TSG is in the business of making investments in companies and may acquire and hold interests in businesses that compete directly or indirectly with us. TSG may also pursue acquisition opportunities that may be complementary to our business, and, as a result, those acquisition opportunities may not be available to us.

Certain of our directors have relationships with TSG, which may cause conflicts of interest with respect to our business.

Three of our directors are affiliated with TSG. Our TSG-affiliated directors have fiduciary duties to us and, in addition, have duties to TSG. As a result, these directors may face real or apparent conflicts of interest with respect to matters affecting both us and TSG, whose interests may be adverse to ours in some circumstances.

We are considered a “controlled company” under the NYSE rules and, as a result, qualify for, and intend to rely on, exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements; you will not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to such requirements.

Because TSG controls a majority of the voting power of our outstanding common stock, we are considered a “controlled company” within the meaning of the NYSE corporate governance standards. Under these rules, a

 

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company of which more than 50% of the voting power for the election of directors is held by an individual, group or another company is a “controlled company” and may elect not to comply with certain corporate governance requirements, including the requirements that, within one year of the date of the listing of our common stock:

 

 

we have a board of directors that is composed of a majority of “independent directors,” as defined under the NYSE rules;

 

 

we have a compensation committee that is composed entirely of independent directors; and

 

 

we have a nominating and corporate governance committee that is composed entirely of independent directors.

We currently utilize certain of these exemptions. Accordingly, for so long as we are a “controlled company,” you will not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all of the NYSE corporate governance requirements. Our status as a controlled company could make our common stock less attractive to some investors or otherwise harm our stock price.

Provisions of our corporate governance documents could make an acquisition of our Company more difficult and may prevent attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our current management, even if beneficial to our stockholders.

In addition to TSG’s beneficial ownership of a controlling percentage of our common stock, our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) contain provisions that could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us, even if doing so might be beneficial to our stockholders. These provisions include:

 

 

the division of our board of directors into three classes and the election of each class for three-year terms;

 

 

advance notice requirements for stockholder proposals and director nominations;

 

 

the ability of the board of directors to fill a vacancy created by the expansion of the board of directors;

 

 

the ability of our board of directors to issue new series of, and designate the terms of, preferred stock, without stockholder approval, which could be used to, among other things, institute a rights plan that would have the effect of significantly diluting the stock ownership of a potential hostile acquirer, likely preventing acquisitions that have not been approved by our board of directors;

 

 

limitations on the ability of stockholders to call special meetings and to take action by written consent following the date that the funds affiliated with TSG no longer beneficially own a majority of our common stock; and

 

 

the required approval of holders of at least 75% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of our capital stock to adopt, amend or repeal certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws or remove directors for cause, in each case following the date that the funds affiliated with TSG no longer beneficially own a majority of our common stock.

Because our board of directors is responsible for appointing the members of our management team, these provisions could in turn affect any attempt to replace current members of our management team. As a result, you may lose your ability to sell your stock for a price in excess of the prevailing market price due to these protective measures, and efforts by stockholders to change the direction or management of the Company may be unsuccessful. See “Description of capital stock.”

 

 

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Your percentage ownership in us may be diluted by future issuances of capital stock, which could reduce your influence over matters on which stockholders vote.

Pursuant to our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, our board of directors has the authority, without action or vote of our stockholders, to issue all or any part of our authorized but unissued shares of common stock, including shares issuable upon the exercise of options, or shares of our authorized but unissued preferred stock. Issuances of common stock or voting preferred stock would reduce your influence over matters on which our stockholders vote and, in the case of issuances of preferred stock, would likely result in your interest in us being subject to the prior rights of holders of that preferred stock.

We are subject to additional laws, regulations and stock exchange listing standards, which impose additional costs on us and may strain our resources and divert our management’s attention.

We are subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, as amended, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, the listing requirements of the New York Stock Exchange and other applicable securities laws and regulations. Compliance with these laws and regulations increase our legal and financial compliance costs and make some activities more difficult, time- consuming or costly. We also expect that being a public company and being subject to new rules and regulations will make it more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance, and we may be required to accept reduced coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain coverage. However, the incremental costs that we incur as a result of becoming a public company could exceed our estimate. These factors may therefore strain our resources, divert management’s attention and affect our ability to attract and retain qualified members of our board of directors.

Our stock price could be extremely volatile, and, as a result, you may not be able to resell your shares at or above the price you paid for them.

Since our IPO, the price of our common stock, as reported by the NYSE, has ranged from a low of $16.16 on May 13, 2021 to a high of $24.55 on June 22, 2021. In addition, in recent years the stock market in general has been highly volatile. As a result, the market price and trading volume of our common stock is likely to be similarly volatile, and investors in our common stock may experience a decrease, which could be substantial, in the value of their stock, including decreases unrelated to our results of operations or prospects, and could lose part or all of their investment. The price of our common stock could be subject to wide fluctuations in response to a number of factors, including those described elsewhere in this report and others such as:

 

 

variations in our operating performance and the performance of our competitors;

 

 

actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly or annual operating results;

 

 

publication of research reports by securities analysts about us or our competitors or our industry;

 

 

the public’s reaction to our press releases, our other public announcements and our filings with the SEC;

 

 

our failure or the failure of our competitors to meet analysts’ projections or guidance that we or our competitors may give to the market;

 

 

the effect of COVID-19 on our business and operations;

 

 

additions and departures of key personnel;

 

 

strategic decisions by us or our competitors, such as acquisitions, divestitures, spin-offs, joint ventures, strategic investments or changes in business strategy;

 

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the passage of legislation or other regulatory developments affecting us or our industry;

 

 

speculation in the press or investment community;

 

 

changes in accounting principles;

 

 

terrorist acts, acts of war or periods of widespread civil unrest;

 

 

natural disasters and other calamities; and

 

 

changes in general market and economic conditions.

In the past, securities class action litigation has often been initiated against companies following periods of volatility in their stock price. This type of litigation could result in substantial costs and divert our management’s attention and resources, and could also require us to make substantial payments to satisfy judgments or to settle litigation.

A significant portion of our total outstanding shares are restricted from immediate resale but may be sold into the market in the near future. This could cause the market price of our common stock to drop significantly, even if our business is performing well.

Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market could occur at any time. These sales, or the perception in the market that the holders of a large number of shares intend to sell shares, could reduce the market price of our common stock. In connection with this offering, our officers, directors and the selling stockholders will enter into 90-day lock-up agreements with the underwriters. These shares will, however, be able to be resold after the expiration of the lock-up agreement, as described in the “Shares eligible for future sale” section of this prospectus. We have also filed a Form S-8 under the Securities Act to register all shares of common stock that we may issue under our equity compensation plans. In addition, TSG has certain demand registration rights that could require us in the future to file registration statements in connection with sales of our stock by TSG. See “Certain relationships and related party transactions—Registration rights agreement.” Such sales by TSG could be significant. Once we register these shares, they can be freely sold in the public market upon issuance, subject to the lock-up agreements described in the “Underwriting” section of this prospectus. As restrictions on resale end, the market price of our stock could decline if the holders of currently restricted shares sell them or are perceived by the market as intending to sell them.

We have no current plans to pay regular cash dividends on our common stock following this offering, and as such you may not receive any return on investment unless you sell your common stock for a price greater than that which you paid for it.

We do not anticipate paying any regular cash dividends on our common stock following this offering. Any decision to declare and pay dividends in the future will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on, among other things, our results of operations, financial condition, cash requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant. In addition, our ability to pay dividends is, and may be, limited by covenants of existing and any future outstanding indebtedness we or our subsidiaries incur. Therefore, any return on investment in our common stock is solely dependent upon the appreciation of the price of our common stock on the open market, which may not occur. See “Dividend policy” for more detail.

 

 

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If securities or industry analysts do not continue to publish research or reports about our business, if they adversely change their recommendations regarding our shares or if our results of operations do not meet their expectations, our share price and trading volume could decline.

The trading market for our shares is influenced by the research and reports that industry or securities analysts publish about us and our business. We do not have any control over these analysts. In the event one or more of these analysts cease coverage of our Company or fail to publish reports on us regularly, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause our share price or trading volume to decline. Moreover, if one or more of the analysts who cover us downgrade our stock, or if our results of operations do not meet their expectations, our share price could decline.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation designates courts in the State of Delaware as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our stockholders, and also provides that the federal district courts will be the exclusive forum for resolving any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act, each of which could limit our stockholders’ ability to choose the judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, stockholders or employees.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, subject to limited exceptions, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the sole and exclusive forum for:

 

 

any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf;

 

 

any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers or other employees to us or our stockholders;

 

 

any action asserting a claim against us arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, our certificate of incorporation or our bylaws;

 

 

any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of our certificate of incorporation or bylaws; and

 

 

any other action asserting a claim against us that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine (each, a “Covered Proceeding”).

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation also provides that the federal district courts of the United States of America are the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action against us or any of our directors, officers, employees or agents and arising under the Securities Act. However, Section 22 of the Securities Act provides that federal and state courts have concurrent jurisdiction over lawsuits brought the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. To the extent the exclusive forum provision restricts the courts in which claims arising under the Securities Act may be brought, there is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce such a provision. We note that investors cannot waive compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. This provision does not apply to claims brought under the Exchange Act.

Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to these provisions. These provisions may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers or other employees, which may discourage such lawsuits against us and our directors, officers and employees. Alternatively, if a court were to find these provisions of our certificate of incorporation inapplicable to, or unenforceable in respect of, one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could adversely affect our business and financial condition.

 

 

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General risks

Our operating results and share price may be volatile, and the market price of our common stock after this offering may drop below the price you pay.

Our quarterly operating results are likely to fluctuate in the future. In addition, securities markets worldwide have experienced, and are likely to continue to experience, significant price and volume fluctuations. This market volatility, as well as general economic, market or political conditions, could subject the market price of our shares to wide price fluctuations regardless of our operating performance. We and the underwriters will negotiate to determine the public offering price. You may not be able to resell your shares at or above the price at which you purchase shares of our common stock. Our operating results and the trading price of our shares may fluctuate in response to various factors, including:

 

 

market conditions in the broader stock market;

 

 

actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly financial and operating results;

 

 

introduction of new wines by us or our competitors;

 

 

issuance of new or changed securities analysts’ reports or recommendations;

 

 

results of operations that vary from expectations of securities analysis and investors;

 

 

guidance, if any, that we provide to the public, any changes in this guidance or our failure to meet this guidance;

 

 

strategic actions by us or our competitors;

 

 

announcement by us, our competitors or our vendors of significant contracts or acquisitions;

 

 

sales, or anticipated sales, of large blocks of our stock;

 

 

additions or departures of key personnel;

 

 

regulatory, legal or political developments;

 

 

public response to press releases or other public announcements by us or third parties, including our filings with the SEC;

 

 

litigation and governmental investigations;

 

 

changing economic conditions;

 

 

changes in accounting principles;

 

 

default under agreements governing our indebtedness;

 

 

exchange rate fluctuations; and

 

 

other events or factors, including those from natural disasters, war, actors of terrorism or responses to these events.

These and other factors, many of which are beyond our control, may cause our operating results and the market price and demand for our shares to fluctuate substantially. While we believe that operating results for any particular quarter are not necessarily a meaningful indication of future results, fluctuations in our quarterly operating results could limit or prevent investors from readily selling their shares and may otherwise negatively

 

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affect the market price and liquidity of our shares. In addition, in the past, when the market price of a stock has been volatile, holders of that stock have sometimes instituted securities class action litigation against the company that issued the stock. If any of our stockholders brought a lawsuit against us, we could incur substantial costs defending the lawsuit. Such a lawsuit could also divert the time and attention of our management from our business, which could significantly harm our profitability and reputation.

We may require additional debt and equity capital to pursue our business objectives and respond to business opportunities, challenges or unforeseen circumstances. If such capital is not available to us, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

We may require additional capital to pursue our business objectives and respond to business opportunities, challenges or unforeseen circumstances, including to increase our marketing expenditures to improve our winery brand awareness, build and maintain our product inventory, develop new wines, enhance our operating infrastructure and acquire complementary businesses. Accordingly, we may need to engage in equity or debt financings to secure additional funds. However, additional funds may not be available when we need them on terms that are acceptable to us or at all. Moreover, any debt financing that we secure in the future could involve restrictive covenants, which may make it more difficult for us to obtain additional capital and to pursue business opportunities. Volatility in the credit markets may also have an adverse effect on our ability to obtain debt financing. If we raise additional funds through further issuances of equity or convertible debt securities, our existing stockholders could suffer significant dilution, and any new equity securities we issue could have rights, preferences and privileges superior to those of holders of our common stock. If we are unable to obtain adequate financing or financing on terms satisfactory to us when we require it, we may be forced to obtain financing on undesirable terms or our ability to continue to pursue our business objectives and to respond to business opportunities, challenges or unforeseen circumstances could be significantly limited, and our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

Changes in tax laws or in their implementation may adversely affect our business and financial condition.

As part of Congress’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, commonly referred to as the “FFCR Act,” was enacted on March 18, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, the act commonly referred to as the “CARES Act,” was enacted on March 27, 2020, the act commonly known as the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 was enacted on December 27, 2020, and the act commonly known as the American Rescue Plan Act was enacted on March 11, 2021. Each contains numerous tax provisions. In particular, the CARES Act retroactively and temporarily (for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2021) suspended application of the 80%-of-taxable-income limitation on the use of NOLs, which was enacted as part of the TCJA. It also provided that NOLs arising in any taxable year beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2021 are generally eligible to be carried back up to five years. The CARES Act also temporarily (for taxable years beginning in 2019 or 2020) relaxed the limitation of the tax deductibility for net interest expense by increasing the limitation from 30% to 50% of adjusted taxable income.

Regulatory guidance under the TCJA, the FFCR Act, the CARES Act, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act is and continues to be forthcoming, and such guidance could ultimately increase or lessen impact of these laws on our business and financial condition. It is also likely that Congress will enact additional legislation in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, some of which could have an impact on our Company. In addition, it is uncertain if and to what extent various states will conform to the TCJA, the FFCR Act, the CARES Act, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 or the American Rescue Plan Act. The Biden Administration has also proposed a significant number of changes to U.S. tax laws, including an increase in the maximum tax rate applicable to U.S. corporations and certain individuals, which could potentially have retroactive effect and may significantly affect our business.

 

 

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International operations, worldwide and domestic economic trends and financial market conditions, geopolitical uncertainty or changes to international trade agreements and tariffs, import and excise duties, other taxes or other governmental rules and regulations could have a material adverse effect on our business, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.

Our wines are sold in numerous countries, and we source production materials from foreign countries, including barrels from France, glass bottles from Mexico and China and cork from Portugal. Risks associated with international operations, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, liquidity, financial condition and/or results of operations, include:

 

 

changes in local political, economic, social, and labor conditions;

 

 

potential disruption from socio-economic violence, including terrorism and drug-related violence;

 

 

restrictions on foreign ownership and investments or on repatriation of cash earned in countries outside the United States;

 

 

import and export requirements and border accessibility;

 

 

currency exchange rate fluctuations;

 

 

a less developed and less certain legal and regulatory environment in some countries, which, among other things, can create uncertainty regarding contract enforcement, intellectual property rights, privacy obligations, real property rights and liability issues; and

 

 

inadequate levels of compliance with applicable anti-bribery laws, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Our wine aging programs often incorporate the use of French oak barrels. We contract with barrel cooperages in Europe for French oak wine barrels that meet our specifications. These contracts are paid in Euros once per year. We hedge our exposure to foreign currency fluctuations with respect to Euro-U.S. Dollar conversion rates by entering foreign currency forward contracts. We cannot perfectly hedge our exposure to foreign currency fluctuations, and such exposure could negatively impact our results of operations.

Unfavorable global or regional economic conditions, including economic slowdown and the disruption, volatility and tightening of credit and capital markets, as well as unemployment, tax increases, governmental spending cuts, a return of high levels of inflation, or public perception that any of these adverse effects have occurred or may occur in the future, could affect consumer spending patterns and purchases of our wines. These could also create or exacerbate credit issues, cash flow issues and other financial hardships for us and our suppliers, distributors, retailers and consumers. The inability of suppliers, distributors and retailers to access liquidity could impact our ability to produce and distribute our wines.

We are also exposed to risks associated with interest rate fluctuations. We could experience changes in our ability to manage fluctuations in interest rates and, accordingly, there can be no assurance that we will be successful in reducing those risks.

We could also be affected by nationalization of our international operations, unstable governments, unfamiliar or biased legal systems, intergovernmental disputes or animus against the United States. Any determination that our operations or activities did not comply with applicable U.S. or foreign laws or regulations could result in the imposition of fines and penalties, interruptions of business, terminations of necessary licenses and permits, and other legal and equitable sanctions.

 

 

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The United States and other countries in which we operate impose duties, excise taxes, and/or other taxes on beverage alcohol products, and/or on certain raw materials used to produce our beverage alcohol products, in varying amounts. The U.S. federal government or other governmental bodies may propose changes to international trade agreements, tariffs, taxes and other government rules and regulations. Significant increases in import and excise duties or other taxes on, or that impact, beverage alcohol products could have a material adverse effect on our business, liquidity, financial condition and/or results of operations. Any such tariffs, particularly on imports from Mexico and any retaliatory tariffs imposed by the Mexican government, may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, including our sales and profitability.

In addition, federal, state, provincial, local and foreign governmental agencies extensively regulate the beverage alcohol products industry concerning such matters as licensing, warehousing, trade and pricing practices, permitted and required labeling, advertising and relations with wholesalers and retailers. Certain federal, state or local regulations also require warning labels and signage. New or revised regulations or increased licensing fees, requirements or taxes could have a material adverse effect on our business, liquidity, financial condition and/or results of operations. Additionally, various jurisdictions may seek to adopt significant additional product labeling or warning requirements or limitations on the marketing or sale of our wines because of what our wines contain or allegations that our wines cause adverse health effects. If these types of requirements become applicable to our wines under current or future environmental or health laws or regulations, they may inhibit sales of such products.

These international, economic and political uncertainties and regulatory changes could have a material adverse effect on our business, liquidity, financial condition and/or results of operations, especially to the extent these matters, or the decisions, policies or economic strength of our suppliers and distributors, affect our business, liquidity, financial condition and/or results of operations.

Changes to U.S. and foreign trade policies and tariffs may adversely impact our operating results.

Unfavorable trade policies in the United States or countries in which we sell our wine could result in the decrease of our foreign sales. While we do not import a significant amount of materials with respect to which tariffs may materially harm our costs, we do export approximately five percent of our wines. The United States and other countries in which we operate impose duties, excise taxes and/or other taxes on beverage alcohol products, and/or on certain raw materials used to produce our beverage alcohol products, in varying amounts. The U.S. federal government or other governmental bodies may propose changes to international trade agreements, tariffs, taxes and other government rules and regulations. Significant increases in import and excise duties or other taxes on, or that impact, alcoholic beverage products could result in significant price increase for our customers, and may reduce our ability to complete with local products or products from other localities that are subject to more favorable trade relationships. This may cause a decrease in foreign sales, potentially damage consumer views of our winery brands, and may materially harm our sales and profitability.

 

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Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements

This prospectus contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies and other future conditions. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “potential,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “continue,” “contemplate” and other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Important factors that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following:

 

 

our ability to manage the growth of our business;

 

 

our reliance on our brand name, reputation and product quality;

 

 

the effectiveness of our marketing and advertising programs;

 

 

general competitive conditions, including actions our competitors may take to grow their businesses;

 

 

overall decline in the health of the economy and consumer discretionary spending;

 

 

the occurrence of severe weather events (including fires, floods and earthquakes), catastrophic health events, natural or man-made disasters, social and political conditions or civil unrest;

 

 

risks associated with disruptions in our supply chain for grapes and raw and processed materials, including corks, glass bottles, barrels, winemaking additives and agents, water and other supplies;

 

 

the impact of COVID-19 on our customers, suppliers, business operations and financial results;

 

 

disrupted or delayed service by the distributors and government agencies we rely on for the distribution of our wines outside of California;

 

 

our ability to successfully execute our growth strategy;

 

 

decreases in our wine score ratings by wine rating organizations;

 

 

quarterly and seasonal fluctuations in our operating results;

 

 

our success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, our officers, key employees or directors;

 

 

our ability to protect our trademarks and other intellectual property rights, including our brand and reputation;

 

 

our ability to comply with laws and regulations affecting our business, including those relating to the manufacture, sale and distribution of wine;

 

 

the risks associated with the legislative, judicial, accounting, regulatory, political and economic risks and conditions specific to both domestic and to international markets;

 

 

claims, demands and lawsuits to which we are, and may in the future, be subject and the risk that our insurance or indemnities coverage may not be sufficient;

 

 

our ability to operate, update or implement our IT systems;

 

 

our ability to successfully pursue strategic acquisitions and integrate acquired businesses;

 

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our potential ability to obtain additional financing when and if needed;

 

 

our substantial indebtedness and our ability to maintain compliance with restrictive covenants in the documents governing such indebtedness;

 

 

TSG’s significant influence over us and our status as a “controlled company” under the rules of the NYSE;

 

 

the potential liquidity and trading of our securities; and

 

 

the future trading prices of our common stock and the impact of securities analysts’ reports on these prices.

You should not rely on forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. We have based the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus primarily on our current expectations and projections about future events, and trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition and operating results. The outcome of the events described in these forward-looking statements is subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors described in the section titled “Risk factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus. Moreover, we operate in a highly competitive environment. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all risks and uncertainties that could have an impact on the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus. The results, events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur, and actual results, events or circumstances could differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.

In addition, statements that “we believe” and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based on information available to us as of the date of this prospectus. And while we believe that information provides a reasonable basis for these statements, that information may be limited or incomplete. Our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain, and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely on these statements.

The forward-looking statements in this prospectus represent our views as of the date of this prospectus. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not rely on our forward-looking statements in making your investment decision. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements we make. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures or investments.

 

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Industry and market data

This prospectus includes market data and forecasts with respect to the wine industry. We have obtained this market data and certain industry forecasts from various independent third-party sources, including industry publications, reports by market research firms, surveys and other independent sources. Some data and information is based on management’s estimates and calculations, which are derived from our review and interpretation of internal company research and data, surveys and independent sources. We believe the data regarding the industry in which we compete and our market position and market share within this industry generally indicate size, position and market share within this industry; however, this data is inherently imprecise and is subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and risks due to a variety of factors, including those described in “Risk factors.” These and other factors could cause our future performance to differ materially from our assumptions and estimates. See “Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements.”

These sources of certain statistical data, estimates and forecasts contained in this prospectus include the following independent industry publications or reports:

 

 

Information Resources, Inc. (“IRI”), U.S. food channel ranking, 2012–2020(1);

 

IWSR, U.S. Still Wine by Price Band, May 2021;

 

IWSR, Luxury Wine Producers (Value), May 2021;

 

Nielsen, Open Stores Selling Wine or Spirits Only, December 2020;

 

Statista Consumer Market Outlook, as of Oct. 2020; and

 

Wines Vines Analytics, U.S. Wineries By State, January 2020.

 

(1)   IRI data captures an estimated one-third of the total U.S. off-premise wine market value. This data does not reflect sales from any retailers or other channel participants who have declined to report sales data to the applicable source. In addition, this data does not reflect sales from a significant number of smaller wine suppliers, because many subscale wineries have limited or no sales in channels from which IRI generates its reporting data. However, we believe IRI provides the most complete data available for our industry.

 

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Use of proceeds

The selling stockholders will receive all of the net proceeds from this offering. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of shares of common stock offered by the selling stockholders. We will, however, bear the costs associated with the sale of shares by the selling stockholders, other than underwriting discounts and commissions. For more information, see “Certain relationships and related party transactions—Registration rights agreement,” “Principal and selling stockholders” and “Underwriting.”

Dividend policy

Our board of directors does not currently intend to pay dividends on our common stock. However, we expect to re-evaluate our dividend policy on a regular basis and may, subject to compliance with the covenants contained in our Credit Facility and other considerations, determine to pay dividends in the future. The declaration, amount and payment of any future dividends on shares of our common stock will be at the sole discretion of our board of directors, which may take into account general economic conditions, our financial condition and results of operations, our available cash and current and anticipated cash needs, capital requirements, contractual, legal, tax and regulatory restrictions, the implications of the payment of dividends by us to our stockholders or by our subsidiaries to us, including restrictions under our Credit Facility and other indebtedness we may incur, and any other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant. In the event that we do pay a dividend, we intend to cause our operating subsidiaries to make distributions to us in an amount sufficient to cover such dividend. Our operating subsidiaries are currently subject to certain restrictions and covenants under the Credit Facility, including limits on amounts of leverage, interest charges and capital expenditures. These restrictions and covenants may restrict the ability of those entities to make distributions to The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc. See “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations,” “Description of certain indebtedness” and “Risk factors” included elsewhere in this prospectus regarding restrictions on our ability to pay dividends.

 

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Capitalization

The following table sets forth our cash and capitalization as of July 31, 2021.

You should read this information together with our audited financial statements and related notes incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the information set forth under the headings “Selected consolidated financial and other data” and “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations.”

 

   
     As of July 31, 2021  
(in thousands except share data)    Actual  

Cash

   $ 4,244  
  

 

 

 

Long-term debt, including current portion:

  

Revolver Facility(1)

     124,000  

Credit Facility(2)

     126,512  
  

 

 

 

Total debt

     250,512  

Equity:

  

Common stock, $0.01 par value; 500,000,000 shares authorized, 115,046,793 issued and outstanding;

     1,150  

Additional paid-in capital

     726,903  

Retained earnings

     73,634  

Non-controlling interest

     551  
  

 

 

 

Total equity

     802,238  
  

 

 

 

Total capitalization

   $ 1,052,750  

 

 

 

(1)   Revolver Facility (as defined herein) excludes discount and debt issuance costs of $2.7 million.

 

(2)   Credit Facility excludes discount and debt issuance cost of $0.6 million.

The table above excludes the following:

 

 

1,552,648 shares of common stock underlying stock options having an average weighted exercise price of $17.11 that we granted to certain employees and directors pursuant to the 2021 Equity Plan that were outstanding as of July 31, 2021;

 

 

555,950 shares of common stock underlying restricted stock units that we granted to certain employees and directors pursuant to the 2021 Equity Plan that were outstanding as of July 31, 2021;

 

 

6,828,348 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under the 2021 Equity Plan; and

 

 

1,250,509 shares of common stock authorized for sale under the 2021 ESPP.

 

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Selected consolidated financial and other data

The following selected consolidated statements of operations data for the fiscal years ended July 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 and the consolidated statements of financial position data as of July 31, 2021 and 2020 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any other period in the future.

The selected consolidated financial data in this section are not intended to replace the consolidated financial statements and related notes. The tables presented should be read in conjunction with “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations” included elsewhere in this prospectus and the consolidated financial statements and related notes incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

 

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56

Consolidated statements of operations data:

 

   
     Fiscal years ended July 31,  
(in thousands, except share amounts)    2021     2020     2019  

Net sales (net of excise taxes of $4,855, $3,220 and $2,564, respectively)

   $ 336,613   $ 270,648   $ 241,207

Cost of sales

     169,265     133,766     128,204
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     167,348     136,882     113,003

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     89,816     65,908     65,741

Impairment loss

           11,830    

Casualty gain, net

     (6,559     (4,047     (8,606
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from operations

     84,091     63,191     55,868

Interest expense

     13,618     17,924     20,937

Other (income) expense, net

     (6,505     2,457     4,988
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other expenses

     7,113     20,381     25,925
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     76,978     42,810     29,943
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income tax expense

     21,008     10,432     7,842
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

     55,970     32,378     22,101
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Less: Net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interest

     6     (1     (4
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income attributable to The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc.

   $ 55,976   $ 32,377   $ 22,097

Net income per share of common stock:

      

Basic

   $ 0.52   $ 0.32   $ 0.22

Diluted

   $ 0.52   $ 0.32   $ 0.22

Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding:

      

Basic

     106,681,496     101,713,460     101,713,460

Diluted

     106,934,853     101,713,460     101,713,460

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated balance sheet data:

 

   
     July 31,  
(in thousands)    2021      2020  

Cash

   $ 4,244      $ 6,252  

Working capital(1)

   $ 257,620      $ 228,906  

Total assets

   $ 1,183,117      $ 1,158,591  

Long-term debt, including current maturities(2)

   $ 247,292      $ 378,948  

Total liabilities

   $ 380,879      $ 503,987  

Total equity

   $ 802,238      $ 654,604  

 

 

 

(1)   Working capital is defined as total current assets, including cash, minus total current liabilities.
(2)   Net of discount and debt issuance costs.


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Non-GAAP financial data:

 

   
     Fiscal year ended July 31,  
(in thousands)    2021      2020      2019  

Adjusted EBITDA(1)

   $ 117,208      $ 105,080      $ 98,357  

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)   Wherever presented in this prospectus, we define adjusted EBITDA as net income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, non-cash equity-based compensation expense, purchase accounting adjustments, casualty losses or gains, impairment losses, changes in the fair value of derivatives and certain other items which are not related to our core operating performance.

Adjusted EBITDA is a key performance measure we use in evaluating our operational results. We believe adjusted EBITDA is a helpful measure to provide investors an understanding of how we regularly monitor our core operating performance, as well as how we make operational and strategic decisions in allocating resources. We believe adjusted EBITDA also provides management and investors consistency and comparability with our past financial performance and facilitates period to period comparisons of operations, as it eliminates the effects of certain variations unrelated to our overall performance. Adjusted EBITDA has certain limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under U.S. GAAP. Some of these limitations include:

 

 

although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized may have to be replaced in the future, and adjusted EBITDA does not reflect cash capital expenditure requirements for such replacements or for new capital expenditure requirements;

 

 

adjusted EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs;

 

 

adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the significant interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments, on our debt;

 

 

adjusted EBITDA does not reflect income tax payments that may represent a reduction in cash available to us; and

 

 

other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate adjusted EBITDA differently, which reduce their usefulness as comparative measures.

Because of these limitations, you should consider adjusted EBITDA alongside other financial performance measures, including net income and our other GAAP results. In evaluating adjusted EBITDA, you should be aware that in the future we may incur expenses that are the same as or similar to some of the adjustments in this presentation. Our presentation of adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by the types of items excluded from the calculation of adjusted EBITDA.

 

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The following table provides a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to the most comparable financial measure reported under U.S. GAAP, net income (loss) attributable to The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc., for the periods presented:

 

   
     Fiscal years ended July 31,  
(in thousands)    2021     2020     2019  

Net income attributable to The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc.

   $ 55,976     $ 32,377     $ 22,097  

Interest expense

     13,618       17,924       20,937  

Income tax expense

     21,008       10,432       7,842  

Depreciation and amortization expense

     21,343       22,755       25,070  
  

 

 

 

EBITDA

     111,945       83,488       75,946  

Purchase accounting adjustments(a)

     1,690       5,457       19,771  

Transaction expenses(b)

     3,984       193       3,900  

Impairment loss(c)

           11,830        

Change in fair value of derivatives(d)

     (5,848     2,340       4,902  

Equity-based compensation(e)

     10,602       1,154       1,126  

Casualty gain, net(f)

     (7,832     (4,047     (8,606

Bulk wine loss, net(g)

           2,815        

Loss on debt extinguishment(h)

     272             163  

IPO preparation costs(i)

     405       475       1,155  

Wildfire costs, net(j)

     1,273              

COVID-19 costs(k)

     717       1,375        
  

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 117,208     $ 105,080     $ 98,357  

 

 

 

(a)   Purchase accounting adjustments relate to the impacts of prior business combination accounting for our acquisition by TSG in Fiscal 2017, our subsequent acquisitions of Calera and Kosta Browne in Fiscal 2018 and Fiscal 2019, respectively, and certain other transactions consummated prior to our acquisition by TSG, which resulted in fair value adjustments to deferred revenue, inventory and long-lived assets.

 

(b)   Transaction expenses include legal and professional fees and change of control payments incurred in connection with our acquisition of Kosta Browne in August 2018 and our IPO in March 2021. Also included are expenses incurred for abandoned transactions. These expenses were incremental to our normal operating expenses and were directly related to such transactions.

 

(c)   Impairment loss relates to impairments for certain of the Company’s trade names identified in Fiscal 2020. The impairments were primarily the result of changes to the Company’s sales forecasts for certain of the Company’s ultra-luxury brands experiencing sales channel and consumer spending disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The impairment charge was also impacted by an increase in the discount rate applied in the fair value calculations due to changes in economic outlook. See Note 7 (Goodwill and other intangible assets) to our consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus for additional information.

 

(d)   See Note 10 (Derivative instruments) to our consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus for additional information.

 

(e)   See Note 15 (Equity-based compensation) to our consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus for additional information.

 

(f)   Casualty gain, net, in Adjusted EBITDA pertains to a flood event at one of our wineries in Fiscal 2019, and was primarily comprised of insurance proceeds received pursuant to our claim, offset by flood damage and remediation costs. The proceeds received, offset by costs incurred, are reported on the casualty gain, net line in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. See Note 17 (Casualty gain) to our consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus for additional information.

 

(g)   Bulk wine loss, net, primarily relates to net losses on bulk wine sold in the spot bulk markets at quantities and price points, which were unusual and infrequent for our business. During Fiscal 2020 (during which the 2019 harvest occurred), we observed significant and unprecedented oversupply and price volatility in the bulk wine markets that resulted in premium tiers of bulk wine spot prices reaching historic lows. We have not historically sold a significant quantity of bulk wine into the spot bulk markets. However, during Fiscal 2020, we obtained alternative supply that we believe is of higher quality than certain bulk wine that we held at that time, and we responded by selling certain bulk quantities at a net loss. We do not to expect to engage in sales of significant amounts of bulk quantities to the bulk wine market, and therefore have excluded the loss from these sales from adjusted EBITDA as they are not indicative of our core operational performance.

 

(h)   Loss on debt extinguishment includes charges for unamortized deferred financing fees we recognized in connection with amendments to our Credit Facility. See Note 9 (Debt) to our consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus for further information.

 

(i)   IPO preparation costs include professional fees incurred for outside consultants to advise us on legal, accounting and tax matters related to our preparation for becoming a public company, which are not directly attributable to an offering.

 

(j)  

Wildfire costs, net, include the cost of unharvested fruit that was damaged and rendered useless, charges we incurred to respond to imminent wildfire threat with fire-fighting crews to protect our assets, clean-up and smoke remediation expenses to restore operations at our tasting rooms after the fires, testing fees to evaluate our fruit for possible smoke damage, and washing or other grape processing costs prior to vinification to reduce the risk of smoke in finished wine. These costs, shown net of crop insurance proceeds received, are reported on the casualty gain, net line in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. See Note 17 (Casualty gain) to our consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus for additional information. While we expect the potential for wildfires to be an ongoing risk to

 

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running an agricultural business in California, we believe the wildfires and related costs we experienced are not indicative of our core operating performance.

 

(k)   COVID-19 costs include certain incremental expenses incurred during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the short-term closure mandates imposed by government officials in the jurisdictions in which we operate. These costs include tasting room expenses incurred during a period of mandatory closure and reduced capacity, salaries and severance expenses for certain employees and other immaterial costs to transfer inventory.

 

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Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the related notes to those statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus. In addition to historical financial information, the following discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. See “Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements” included elsewhere in this prospectus. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including those discussed under “Risk factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus.

Overview

The Duckhorn Portfolio is the premier scaled producer of luxury wines in North America. We have delighted millions of consumers with authentic, high-quality, approachable wines for over four decades. We champion a curated and comprehensive portfolio of highly acclaimed luxury wines across multiple varietals, appellations, brands and price points. Our portfolio is focused exclusively on the desirable luxury segment, which we define as wines sold for $15 or higher per 750ml bottle.

We sell our wines in all 50 states and over 50 countries at prices ranging from $20 to $200 per bottle under a world-class luxury portfolio of winery brands, including Duckhorn Vineyards, Decoy, Kosta Browne, Goldeneye, Paraduxx, Calera, Migration, Canvasback, Greenwing and Postmark. Our wines have a strong record of achieving critical acclaim, vintage after vintage. Each winery brand boasts its own winemaking team to create distinct experiences for consumers, ensure product quality and continuity and galvanize sustainable farming practices. Beyond our winemaking teams is an organization comprised of passionate, talented employees, including a highly tenured executive team that has approximately 100 years of cumulative experience with Duckhorn.

We sell our wines to distributors and directly to retail accounts in California, which together comprise our wholesale channel. We also sell directly to consumers through our DTC channel, which comprised approximately 18% of our net sales during Fiscal 2021. Our powerful omni-channel sales model drives strong margins by leveraging long-standing relationships developed over the past forty years. We believe our iconic winery brands together with our scaled, quality-focused production, omni-channel distribution and dedicated employees, set the standard for North American luxury wine.

The strength of our omni-channel sales approach continued to propel our business growth period over period, delivering Fiscal 2021 net sales of $336.6 million, which represents a 24.4% increase from Fiscal 2020 net sales and a compound annual growth rate of 18.1% from Fiscal 2019 net sales. Led by wholesale channel sales for the periods presented, we continued to weather the global pandemic with resilience as consumer spending shifts toward off-premise sales marked lower sales at on-premise retailers, and stay-at-home orders at times limited in-person experiences with customers at our visitor centers. As Fiscal 2021 represented a full year of pandemic-impacted operating results, compared with a partial-year impact on Fiscal 2020, our dedicated workforce continued to produce quality wine with revised safety protocols, to engage effectively to drive sales results despite restrictions on travel and in-person interaction, and to manage administrative functions while integrating significantly higher levels of telework.

 

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Our unique and diversified sourcing strategy supported gross profit growth of 22.3% during Fiscal 2021, and 21.1% during Fiscal 2020, versus prior periods. During the 2020 harvest, despite numerous wildfires throughout California, we moved swiftly and decisively to maintain our production capacity and future required production levels while keeping our people and our assets safe. We also continued to innovate with new products, supported by marketing efforts to foster consumer adoption.

Adjusted EBITDA grew to $117.2 million, up 11.5% for Fiscal 2021 versus prior year, on top of Fiscal 2020 growth of 6.8% over Fiscal 2019, resulting from our consistent gross profit profile and operating cost discipline.

Key financial metrics

We use net sales, gross profit and adjusted EBITDA to evaluate the performance of our business, identify trends in our business, prepare financial forecasts and make capital allocation decisions. We believe the following metrics are useful in evaluating our performance, but adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for any other financial information depicting our results prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Certain judgments and estimates are inherent in our processes to calculate these metrics.

 

   
     Fiscal years ended July 31,  
(in thousands)    2021      2020      2019  

Net sales

   $ 336,613    $ 270,648    $ 241,207

Gross profit

   $ 167,348    $ 136,882    $ 113,003

Net income attributable to The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc.

   $ 55,976    $ 32,377    $ 22,097

Adjusted EBITDA(1)

   $ 117,208    $ 105,080    $ 98,357

 

1.   See “Selected consolidated financial and other data—Non-GAAP financial data” for information regarding the use of adjusted EBITDA and the reconciliation to net income, the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure.

Net sales

Our net sales represent revenues less discounts, promotions and excise taxes.

Gross profit

Gross profit is equal to our net sales less cost of sales. Cost of sales includes all wine production costs, winemaking, bottling, packaging, warehousing and shipping and handling costs. Our gross profit and gross profit margins on net sales are impacted by the mix of winery brands we sell in our portfolio. See “—Components of results of operation and key factors affecting our performance” for additional information.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure that we calculate as net income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, non-cash equity-based compensation expense, purchase accounting adjustments, casualty losses or gains, impairment losses, changes in the fair value of derivatives and certain other items which are not related to our core operating performance. Adjusted EBITDA is a key metric we use to evaluate business performance in comparison to budgets, forecasts and prior year financial results, providing a measure that Management believes reflects the Company’s core operating performance.

For comparative periods presented, our primary operational drivers of adjusted EBITDA have been sustained sales growth in our wholesale channel and steady growth in our DTC channel, management of our cost of sales through our diversified supply planning strategy and discipline over selling, general and administrative expenses relative to our sales growth.

See “Selected consolidated financial and other data—Non-GAAP financial data” for information regarding the use of adjusted EBITDA and the reconciliation to net income, the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure.

 

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Key operating metrics

We monitor the following key metrics to help us evaluate our business, identify trends affecting our business, measure our performance, formulate business plans and make strategic decisions. We believe the following metrics are useful in evaluating our business but should not be considered in isolation or, solely with respect to price / mix contribution, as a substitute for financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. Certain judgments and estimates are inherent in our processes to calculate these metrics.

Net sales percentage by channel

We calculate net sales percentage by channel as net sales made through our wholesale channel to distributors, through our wholesale channel directly to retail accounts in California and through our DTC channel, respectively, as a percentage of our total net sales. We monitor net sales percentage across these three routes to market to understand the effectiveness of our omni-channel distribution model and to ensure we are deploying resources effectively to optimize engagement with our customers across our complementary distribution channels.

 

   
     Fiscal years ended July 31,  
      2021      2020      2019  

Wholesale—Distributors

     65.3%        60.0%        59.4%  

Wholesale—California direct to retail

     16.9%        18.9%        17.8%  

DTC

     17.8%        21.1%        22.8%  

The variations in net sales percentage by channel between the years ended July 31, 2021 and 2020 were largely driven by the impact of COVID-19 when considering a full fiscal year of pandemic-related impact on our business in contrast to a partial-year impact for the comparative period. In particular, the increase in net sales percentage attributable to our wholesale—distributors channel and the decrease in net sales percentage attributable to our DTC channel for the comparison periods was primarily driven by a prolonged shift in consumer purchasing and consumption patterns away from on-premise sales toward off-premise sales primarily serviced by our wholesale—distributors channel, a decrease in wholesale-California direct to retail due to a higher concentration of on-premise accounts experiencing sales declines of our higher-priced ultra luxury wines and increased purchasing by our distributors in anticipation of strong off-premise demand as well as gradual reductions in COVID-19 related health and safety restrictions at on-premise sale locations in certain markets. We expect that our channel mix will begin to normalize in future periods as consumer purchasing and consumption patterns return to normal following the COVID-19 pandemic.

We experienced only small variations in net sales percentage by channel between Fiscal 2020 and Fiscal 2019. For further discussion of intra-period seasonality, see “Components of our results of operation and key factors affecting our performance—Seasonality”.

Net sales percentage by brand

We calculate net sales percentage by brand as net sales for our Duckhorn Vineyards and Decoy winery brands and net sales for our other winery brands, respectively, as a percentage of our total net sales. We monitor net sales percentage by brand as an important measure of the sales mix contributed by our winery brands, Duckhorn Vineyards and Decoy, and our eight other complementary winery brands. We monitor net sales percentage by brand on an annual basis to normalize the impact of seasonal fluctuations in demand and sale

 

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cycles across our brands from quarter to quarter that we do not believe are reflective of the overall performance of our brands or our business. See “—Components of results of operation and key factors affecting our performance—Seasonality.”

 

   
     Fiscal years ended July 31,  
      2021      2020      2019  

Duckhorn Vineyards & Decoy

     76.3%        73.0%        71.1%  

Other winery brands

     23.7%        27.0%        28.9%  

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net sales percentage by brand attributable to Duckhorn Vineyards and Decoy increased steadily from Fiscal 2019 to Fiscal 2021, primarily as a result of the continued growth in consumer demand for those brands. We expect Duckhorn Vineyards and Decoy to continue to drive the substantial majority of our net sales in future periods.

Net sales growth contribution

Net sales growth is defined as the percentage increase of net sales in the period compared to the prior period. Contribution to net sales growth is calculated based on the portion of changes in net sales for a given period that is driven by two factors: changes in sales volume and changes in sales price and mix. Volume contribution presents the percentage increase in cases sold in the current period compared to the prior period. Price / mix contribution presents net sales growth less volume contribution and reflects that, in addition to changes in sales volume, changes in net sales are primarily attributable to changes in sales price and mix.

 

   
     Fiscal years ended July 31,  
      2021      2020      2019  

Net sales growth

     24.4%        12.2%        22.9%  

Volume contribution

     32.4%        19.9%        11.5%  

Price / mix contribution

     (8.0)%        (7.7)%        11.4%  

For Fiscal 2021 as compared to Fiscal 2020, growth in net sales was mainly attributable to strong volume contribution and partially offset by negative price / mix contribution, demonstrating that increased sales volumes continues to be the primary driver of our net sales growth. The negative price / mix contribution was primarily attributable to increases in sales of our luxury winery brands, which sell at lower average sales prices than our ultra-luxury winery brands, decreases in average selling prices as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic driven shift away from on-premise and DTC sales, both of which have historically accounted for a larger portion of sales of our higher priced ultra-luxury wines and our consistent use of distributor and retail sales discounts and promotions in our wholesale channel to gain market share, which presented downward pressure on price / mix contribution given the increase in net sales from our wholesale channel relative to total net sales during the periods. Price / mix for Fiscal 2019 was favorably impacted by the integration of Kosta Browne due to the average SRP for that brand. We do not expect a price / mix contribution to continue at Fiscal 2019 levels in future periods. We expect price / mix contribution will begin to return toward historical levels as consumption and purchasing habits return to normal following the COVID-19 pandemic, but we expect that volume contribution will continue to be the primary driver of changes in our net sales in future periods.

Components of results of operation and key factors affecting our performance

Net sales

Our net sales consist primarily of wine sales to distributors and directly to retail accounts in California, which together comprise our wholesale channel, and directly to individual consumers through our DTC channel. Net

 

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sales generally represent wine sales and shipping, when applicable. Sales are generally recorded at the point of shipment and are recorded net of returns, consideration provided to customers through various incentive programs, other promotional discounts and excise taxes.

We refer to the volume of wine we sell in terms of cases, each of which represents a standard 12 bottle case of wine (in which each bottle has a volume of 750 milliliters). Cases sold represent wine sales through our wholesale and DTC channels. Depletions, in turn, represent sell-through from our distributors, including our California wholesale sales channel, to retail accounts nationally.

The following factors and trends in our business have driven net sales growth over the past fiscal years and are expected to be key drivers of our net sales growth for the foreseeable future:

 

 

Further leverage brand strength.    We believe our comprehensive growth plan will continue to increase brand awareness and grow sales of our winery brands to our existing consumer base and a new generation of consumers. This plan is made possible by our omni-channel platform, which enables us to grow, both through increased volume with existing and new customers and accounts as well as through periodic price increases, particularly on our higher end, smaller lot DTC wines.

 

 

Insightful and targeted portfolio evolution.    Our curated portfolio and historical growth result from long-term dedication to continuous evolution and alignment with the luxury wine consumer. We believe we can drive additional sales through our wholesale and DTC channels. As we continue to scale, we believe our growth mindset, coupled with our differentiated production and distribution platform, will enable us to adapt and remain at the forefront of our industry.

 

 

Distribution expansion and acceleration.    Purchasing by distributors and loyal accounts that continue to feature our wines are key drivers of net sales. We plan to continue broadening distribution of the wines in our portfolio as well as to increase the volume of wine sold to existing accounts. We believe our long-standing existing commercial relationships coupled with exceptional portfolio strength position us to capture distribution growth opportunities and accelerate sales to existing distributors and retail accounts in California.

 

 

Continued investment in DTC channel.    We expect to continue to invest in our DTC channel, leveraging wine clubs and brand-specific tasting rooms to engage with our consumers, create brand evangelists and drive adoption across our portfolio.

 

 

Opportunistic evaluation of strategic acquisitions.    Our strategic and opportunistic approach to evaluating acquisitions has led to the successful acquisition of two winery brands in the past three years: Kosta Browne and Calera. While our growth and success are not contingent upon future acquisitions, we believe our team has the capabilities and track record both to execute and to integrate meaningful acquisitions when opportunities arise to create stockholder value.

The primary market for our wines is the United States, which represented approximately 95% of our net sales for each of Fiscal 2021, 2020 and 2019. Accordingly, our results of operations are primarily dependent on U.S. consumer discretionary spending.

Sales channels

Our sales and distribution platform is based on long-standing relationships with a highly-developed network of distributor accounts in all U.S. states (except California, where we sell directly to retail accounts) and in over 50 countries globally. We also have developed strong relationships with consumers who buy our wines directly from us in the DTC channel. Channel mix can affect our performance and results of operations, particularly gross profit and gross profit margin.

 

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Wholesale channel.    Consistent with sales practices in the wine industry, sales to retailers in California and to distributors in other states occur below SRP. We work closely with our distributors to increase the volume of our wines and number of products that are sold by the retail accounts in their respective territories. In California, where we make sales directly to retail accounts, we benefit from greater control over our sales and higher profit margins by selling directly to retailers in the state. Our wholesale channel comprises a greater proportion of our net sales than our DTC channel.

 

 

DTC channel.    Wines sold through our DTC channels are generally sold at SRP. Our DTC channel continues to grow as a result of a number of factors, including a shift to more consumption and corporate engagement in the home.

Wholesale channel sales made on credit terms generally require payment within 90 days of delivery, and a substantial majority are collected within 60 days. In periods where the net sales channel mix reflects a greater concentration of wholesale sales (which typically occurs in our first and second fiscal quarters), we typically experience an increase in accounts receivable for the period to reflect the change in sales mix, with payment collections in the subsequent period generally reducing accounts receivable and having a positive impact on cash flows in such subsequent period.

While we seek to increase sales in both channels, we expect that our future sales will continue to be substantially comprised of sales in the wholesale channel. We intend to maintain and strengthen our long-standing relationships within our network of distributors, which we believe will be critical to our continued growth and success. In the wholesale channel, we are positioned as a one-stop luxury and ultra-luxury wine shop, offering a diverse mix of high-quality winery brands and varietals at varying luxury and ultra-luxury price points. We believe this strategy will enable us to continue increasing our share of the wholesale luxury and ultra-luxury wine market in the future, as customers will have greater opportunity to engage with and experience wines across our broad portfolio. We continue to innovate with new products at all price points within the portfolio. We strive to enhance customer engagement and increase sales as new customers encounter our wines and existing customers trade up to higher-priced wines.

Our sales mix within our wholesale channel has shifted in favor of off-premise sales while on-premise sales have experienced variability during the COVID-19 pandemic, which began impacting our sales in March 2020. Our responses to periods of historical disruption in the wholesale channel have focused on strengthening relationships with our accounts and distributors, introducing new products and maintaining and strengthening our winery brand engagement. We believe this approach has enabled us to strengthen our portfolio and increase our market share relative to competitors during this period of market disruption.

We routinely offer sales discounts and promotions through various programs to distributors around the country and retail accounts in California. These programs, where permissible, include volume-based discounts on sales orders, depletion-based incentives we pay distributors and certain other promotional activities. The expense associated with these discounts and promotions is estimated and recorded as a reduction in total sales in order to arrive at reported net sales. While our promotional activities may result in some variance in total net sales from quarter to quarter, historically, the total impact of such activities on annual net sales has been generally stable, and we expect this trend to continue in the future.

In the DTC channel, our holistic approach to consumer engagement both online and offline is supported by an integrated e-commerce platform and portfolio wine shop, seven distinctive tasting room experiences located throughout Northern California and Washington, and several award-winning wine clubs, all of which enable us to cross-sell wines within our portfolio. These strategies are designed to maximize each winery brand and property while driving awareness for the Company’s other world-class wines and properties, resulting in more and deeper customer connections. We strive to evolve our offerings, experiences and communication to match

 

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the generational shifts in wine engagement preferences and related purchasing decisions. In addition, we anticipate that our holistic consumer engagement approach will help our DTC sales remain strong through the near-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on consumer purchasing behaviors.

Increasing customer engagement is a key driver of our business and results of operations. We continue to invest in our DTC channel and in performance marketing to drive customer engagement. In addition to developing new offerings and cross-selling wines in our portfolio of winery brands, we focus on increasing customer conversion and customer retention. As we continue to invest in enhancing our DTC channel, we expect to continue to increase customer engagement, which we believe will result in greater customer satisfaction and retention.

Seasonality

Our net sales are typically highest in the first half of our fiscal year due to increased consumer demand around major holidays. Net sales seasonality differs for wholesale and DTC channels, resulting in quarterly seasonality in our net sales that depends on the channel mix for that period. We typically experience a higher concentration of sales through our wholesale channel during our first and second fiscal quarters due to increased purchasing by distributors in anticipation of higher consumer demand during the holiday season, which has the effect of lowering average selling prices as a result of the use of distributor and retail sales discounts and promotions in our wholesale channel. See “—Key operating metrics.” In Fiscal 2021, our net sales in the first, second, third and fourth fiscal quarters represented approximately 27%, 25%, 27% and 21%, respectively, of our total net sales for the year. In Fiscal 2020, our net sales in the first, second, third and fourth fiscal quarters represented approximately 27%, 28%, 25% and 20%, respectively, of our total net sales for the year. In Fiscal 2019, our net sales in the first, second, third and fourth fiscal quarters represented approximately 27%, 27%, 26% and 20%, respectively, of our total net sales for the year.

Gross profit

Gross profit is equal to our net sales minus our cost of sales. Cost of sales includes grape and bulk wine purchase costs. For grapes we grow, cost of sales includes amounts incurred to develop and farm the vineyards we own and lease. Cost of sales also includes all winemaking and processing charges, bottling, packaging, warehousing and shipping and handling. Costs associated with storing and maintaining wines that age longer than one year prior to sale continue to be capitalized until the wine is bottled and available for sale.

As we continue to grow our business in the future, we expect gross profit to increase as our sales grow and as we effectively manage our cost of sales, subject to any future unexpected volatility in the grape and bulk wine markets and increased seasonal labor costs. Additionally, we expect gross profit as a percentage of net sales to remain consistent with historical levels or to improve to the extent we observe a return to normalized consumer spending behavior across the industry and within our business, particularly with respect to on-premise sales in the wholesale channel, which would favorably influence our gross profit margins on net sales.

Agribusiness

We have developed a diversified sourcing and production model, supported by our eight wineries and world-class and strategically located Estate vineyards and strong relationships with quality-oriented growers. In addition, our sourcing model includes the purchase of high-quality bulk wine from established suppliers to add a highly flexible element of diversity to our supply model. Generally, over 85% of our total production is sourced from third-party growers and, to a significantly lesser extent, the bulk wine market. Our ability to adjust the composition of a particular vintage among our grape and bulk wine sourcing supply channels allows us to tailor inputs based on varying market or seasonal factors, which we believe enables us to produce the highest possible quality wine while optimizing gross profit.

 

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Consistent with other agriculture enterprises, the cost of our wine fluctuates due to annual harvest yields, which vary due to weather and other events. In addition to agricultural factors, price volatility in the grape and bulk wine markets, competition for supply and seasonal labor costs also impact our cost of sales. We may continue to experience fluctuations in the costs of producing wine, which could impact our gross profit.

Selling, general and administrative expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses consists of selling expenses, marketing expenses and general and administrative expenses. Selling expenses consist primarily of direct selling expenses in our wholesale and DTC channels, including payroll and related costs, product samples and tasting room operating costs, including processing fees and outside services. Marketing expenses consist primarily of advertising costs to promote winery brand awareness, customer retention costs, payroll and related costs. General and administrative expenses consist primarily of payroll and related costs, administrative expenses to support corporate functions, legal and professional fees, depreciation, accounting and information technology, tenancy expenses and other costs related to management. Although we expect selling, general and administrative expenses to increase as sales and related support needs expand, we expect our sales growth rate to outpace the rate of increased selling, general and administrative expenses as we achieve further efficiencies of scale. We also expect to incur greater selling, general and administrative expenses as a result of operating as a publicly traded company.

Other expenses

Other expenses consist primarily of interest expense we incur on balances outstanding under the terms of our Credit Facility and unrealized gains or losses on our derivative instruments.

Income tax expense

Income tax expense consists of federal and state taxes payable to various federal, state and local tax authorities.

Inventory lifecycle

Grape growing on our estate vineyards

Although generally over 85% of our wine is typically derived from grapes grown by third party growers and, to a significantly lesser extent, bulk wine we purchase, the remainder is sourced from our Estate vineyards that we own or lease. Once a vineyard reaches consistent yield levels, approximately three to five years after planting, it will generally produce a relatively consistent amount of fruit for approximately 15 to 25 years, at which time blocks of the vineyard will gradually be replanted in stages after a period of lying fallow. The length of time between initial investment and ultimate sale of our Estate wines, coupled with the ongoing investment required to produce quality wine, is not typical of most agricultural industries. In the future, as our business grows, we expect Estate vineyards to represent a smaller relative share of our overall sourcing model.

Harvest-to-release

Of the total case volume we produce and sell, the majority is comprised of red wines from grape varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Merlot, which can have production lifecycles spanning months and years from harvest until the time the wine is released, depending on the aging requirements prescribed by the winemakers responsible for each of our winery brands. Our red wines generally have a harvest-to-release inventory lifecycle that can range from 15 to 48 months. Our white, rosé and sparkling wines generally have a harvest-to-release inventory lifecycle that can range from five to 35 months. During aging and storage, we continue to capitalize overhead costs into the carrying value of the wine.

 

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Given the long-term nature of our investment, grape purchasing and bulk wine purchasing decisions, our production planning processes are designed to mitigate the risk of over-supply by sourcing a portion of our production needs in the spot markets to the degree appropriate based on winery brand and vintage. This opportunistic approach to grape purchases also helps reduce our exposure to future grape price volatility.

Other factors impacting the comparability of our results of operations

Impacts of COVID-19

In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic due to the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by a novel strain of coronavirus. As governmental authorities implemented various measures limiting the activities of businesses and individuals to reduce the spread of COVID-19, wine producers in the United States were generally classified as essential businesses, which enabled us to continue producing and selling our wine. For the safety of our employees and the individuals with whom we work, we adapted our policies and protocols to meet applicable federal, state and local requirements, and we continue to monitor and revise our policies as appropriate.

The comparability of our results of operations for Fiscal 2021, Fiscal 2020, and Fiscal 2019 has been significantly impacted by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, industry, customer behavior, key markets where we operate, and as a result of macroeconomic factors. Accordingly, certain period-over-period comparisons have been and may continue to be influenced by disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the third quarter of Fiscal 2020, we experienced a significant decrease in sales of ultra-luxury wines sold through our on-premise wholesale sales channel and a significant increase of sales of ultra-luxury and luxury wines sold at off-premise retailers. Historically, our ultra-luxury winery brands have delivered higher gross profit margins, and generally sell in larger volumes on-premise than our luxury winery brands, which typically see higher sales volumes off-premise. This shift in sales channel mix continued through the majority of Fiscal 2021. As we observe signs of reopening in recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, we expect on-premise sales to increase from their pandemic lows, which we believe will result in further increased sales of our ultra-luxury winery brands. At the same time, the significant growth in off-premise sales that we are experiencing during the pandemic may be tempered, and the rate of growth may marginally slow at off-premise retailers. Although we have observed strong customer demand throughout Fiscal 2021 as partially influenced by stay-at-home restrictions, and cannot predict the future impact on consumer spending as these restrictions are relaxed, we believe that the diverse offerings of The Duckhorn Portfolio, which include a broad spectrum of price points, mitigates some of the risk to our future operations in periods in which the on- and off-premise relative mix fluctuates.

During the pandemic, our tasting rooms have also experienced lower tasting fee revenue due to reduced capacities or mandatory closure in order to comply with applicable regulations despite sustained operating levels of expenses, primarily comprised of tasting room operating expenses during periods of capacity restrictions or mandatory closure. Conversely, e-commerce sales increased substantially as customers sought to purchase our wines in a manner that reduced human contact. We believe that our tasting rooms will see significant increases in tasting fee revenue as the pandemic wanes, tourism increases and regulations limiting occupancy are eased. At the same time, we believe that customers who used e-commerce platforms to purchase our wines will continue to enjoy the convenience of those platforms to purchase wines from The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc.

Impact of wildfires

During Fiscal 2020 and the first quarter of Fiscal 2021, several wildfires occurred in Northern California. These fires have adversely affected industry grape supplies, though the full extent is not yet known. Other than smoke exposure to grapes that had not been harvested, our own vineyards did not sustain damage during the fires.

 

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However, smoke and fire damage to vineyards in the primary regions and markets where we source fruit rendered some of the available grapes unacceptable for the Company’s production needs. In response, we took steps to obtain alternative sources of supply that we believe substantially mitigates the impact of the fires on our supply. Based on our internal analysis of the impacts of the Fiscal 2020 wildfires, we believe the potential future impact on our operational results to be immaterial. We intend to continue monitoring the ongoing effects on our business for any material changes to that conclusion. Wildfires and smoke damage to grape yields have resulted in disruption and could continue to disrupt the overall grape supply market, introduce changes to our production plan, impact the quantity or release timing of expected case sales in our sales forecast, or result in changes to future gross profit margins as compared to prior periods.

We continue to enhance our wildfire response plan and to mitigate the supply risk associated with wildfires in the following ways:

 

 

our diversified sourcing strategy, with a mix of our owned or leased Estate properties and high-quality grower contracts, covers a wide geographic footprint across California and Washington; and

 

 

we have assembled a team of winemakers and operational leadership with deep industry experience, enabling us to respond effectively to supply disruption in our active grape sourcing markets or to expand into new sourcing markets if needed.

Impacts of purchase accounting due to prior acquisitions

We were acquired by TSG in Fiscal 2017, and subsequently completed acquisitions of Calera and Kosta Browne in Fiscal 2018 and Fiscal 2019, respectively. In applying business combination accounting pursuant to U.S. GAAP authoritative literature in connection with each of these transactions, we recorded acquired assets and liabilities at their fair values. The impacts of these purchase accounting adjustments primarily resulted in reductions to deferred revenue, increases to inventory, increases to long-lived assets and recognition of indefinite-lived intangible assets and definite-lived intangible assets which amortize over their assigned useful lives ranging from 9 to 14 years. See Note 7 (Goodwill and other intangible assets) to our consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus for additional information.

The effects of purchase accounting adjustments on our operational performance caused our pre-tax income from operations to be lower than we would otherwise have recognized due to reduced revenue for the fair value adjustment to deferred revenue, increased cost of sales due to step-up on inventory and increased operating expenses due to step-up depreciation on property and equipment and amortization of definite-lived intangible assets. The table below reflects the line items of our Consolidated Statements of Operations impacted by these purchase accounting adjustments:

 

   
     Fiscal years ended July 31,  
(in thousands)    2021     2020     2019  

Purchase accounting adjustment to deferred revenue

   $   $   $ (1,875
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Impact of purchase accounting on net sales

                 (1,875
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Purchase accounting adjustments to cost of sales

     1,690     5,457     17,896
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Impact of purchase accounting on gross profit

     (1,690     (5,457     (19,771

Amortization of customer relationships and other intangible assets

     7,683     7,683     7,683
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Impact of purchase accounting on selling, general and administrative expenses

     7,683     7,683     7,683
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Impacts of purchase accounting on income before income taxes

   $ (9,373 )    $ (13,140 )    $ (27,454 ) 

 

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Casualty gain

In February 2019, one of our wineries experienced a flood resulting in damages to inventory, machinery and equipment, and site improvements. As a result of the flood, we filed an insurance claim that was settled in December 2020 for $32.5 million. The casualty gain primarily consists of incremental payments we received from our insurer throughout Fiscal 2021, 2020 and 2019 in excess of recognized losses.

Equity-based compensation

Previously, under our 2016 Equity Incentive Plan, certain employees were issued profit interest units (Class M Common Units), which are discussed further in Note 15 (Equity-based compensation) to our consolidated financial statements. Vesting of certain of the outstanding Class M Common Units accelerated upon the occurrence of our IPO. We recognized $8.5 million of additional equity-based compensation expense on the vesting of certain outstanding Class M Common Units which were converted to common shares of The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc. during the third quarter of Fiscal 2021. In addition, we granted employees, non-employee directors and other service providers restricted stock units and/or options with respect to an aggregate of 1,627,929 shares of our common stock in connection with the consummation of the IPO and an additional 489,067 shares of our common stock were granted in the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2021. Any related equity-based compensation expense was included in cost of sales or selling, general and administrative expenses for the period or capitalized into inventory, as applicable.

Results of operations

The following table sets forth our results of operations for the periods presented and expresses the relationship of each line item shown as a percentage of net sales for the periods indicated. The table below should be read in conjunction with the corresponding discussion and our consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus:

 

   
     Fiscal years ended
July 31,
 
(in thousands, except percentages)    2021     2020     2019  

Net sales

   $ 336,613     100.0%     $ 270,648     100.0%     $ 241,207     100.0%  

Cost of sales

     169,265     50.3     133,766     49.4     128,204     53.2
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     167,348     49.7     136,882     50.6     113,003     46.8

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     89,816     26.7     65,908     24.4     65,741     27.3

Impairment loss (Note 7)

                 11,830     4.4            

Casualty gain, net

     (6,559     (1.9     (4,047     (1.5     (8,606     (3.6
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from operations

     84,091     25.0     63,191     23.3     55,868     23.2

Interest expense

     13,618     4.0     17,924     6.6     20,937     8.7

Other (income) expense, net

     (6,505     (1.9     2,457     0.9     4,988     2.1
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other expenses

     7,113     2.1     20,381     7.5     25,925     10.7
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     76,978     22.9     42,810     15.8     29,943     12.4

Income tax expense

     21,008     6.2     10,432     3.9     7,842     3.3
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

     55,970     16.6     32,378     12.0     22,101     9.2
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Less: Net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interest

     6           (1           (4      
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income attributable to The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc.

   $ 55,976     16.6%     $ 32,377     12.0%     $ 22,097     9.2%  

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Comparison of the fiscal years ended July 31, 2021 and 2020

Net sales

 

     
     Fiscal years ended
July 31,
     Change  
(in thousands)    2021      2020      $      %  

Net sales

   $ 336,613    $ 270,648    $ 65,965      24.4%  

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net sales for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2021 increased $66.0 million, or 24.4%, to $336.6 million compared to $270.6 million for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2020. The increase was primarily driven by volume growth, partially offset by negative mix contribution, with our Wholesale to Distributor channel growth outpacing the growth in our California Direct to Retail and DTC channels. There were no material pricing changes for the periods presented.

Cost of sales

 

     
     Fiscal years ended
July 31,
     Change  
(in thousands)    2021      2020      $      %  

Cost of sales

   $ 169,265    $ 133,766    $ 35,499      26.5%  

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cost of sales increased by $35.5 million, or 26.5%, to $169.3 million for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2021 compared to $133.8 million for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2020. The increase was directly driven by higher sales volume and decreased impact of step-up cost of wine due to purchase accounting adjustments from prior acquisitions.

Gross profit

 

     
     Fiscal years ended
July 31,
     Change  
(in thousands)    2021      2020      $      %  

Gross profit

   $ 167,348    $ 136,882    $ 30,466      22.3%  

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross profit increased $30.5 million, or 22.3%, to $167.3 million for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2021 compared to $136.9 million for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2020. The change in gross profit was primarily the result of:

 

 

higher sales volume; and

 

 

a reduction in step-up cost of wine sold for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2021 versus the same period prior year, due to lower balances of remaining inventory with associated step-up from purchase accounting in previous periods; partially offset by a change in mix due to increased wholesale sales.

Gross profit margin was 49.7% for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2021 compared to 50.6% for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2020. The decrease depicts the shift in sales mix in favor of luxury wines sold in the Wholesale to Distributor channel in the current periods.

 

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Operating expenses

Selling, general and administrative expense

 

     
     Fiscal years ended
July 31,
     Change  
(in thousands)    2021      2020      $      %  

Selling expenses

   $ 36,780    $ 35,085    $ 1,695      4.8%  

Marketing expenses

     9,117      6,801      2,316      34.1

General and administrative expenses

     43,919      24,022      19,897      82.8
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total selling, general and administrative expenses

   $ 89,816    $ 65,908    $ 23,908      36.3%  

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $23.9 million, or 36.3%, to $89.8 million for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2021 compared to $65.9 million for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2020. The increase was largely attributable to higher equity-based compensation in the current period, transaction expenses related to our IPO, lower expenses in the prior year comparative period given the uncertainty surrounding the early impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, timing of compensation-related accruals, higher marketing spend to support new product innovation in the current period and new and ongoing costs related to being a public company.

General and administrative expenses were higher for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2021, primarily due to equity-based compensation costs of $9.1 million, increased compensation related expenses, and transaction expenses related to the IPO and abandoned transactions of $4.0 million incurred in Fiscal 2021. See Note 15 (Equity-based compensation) to our consolidated financial statements for further information. Selling expenses increased in Fiscal 2021 versus Fiscal 2020 predominately due to compensation costs including equity-based compensation partially offset by the impacts of reduced business travel and the related costs of in-person sales activities that have been constrained due to COVID-19 restrictions in key markets where we operate. We typically expect selling expenses to trend in line with our sales growth (or slightly lag sales growth rates in periods we benefit from scale efficiencies) as the activities are intended to generate revenues. Marketing expenses increased by $2.3 million for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2021 versus the comparative periods due to increased marketing and promotional events including new product innovation, in addition to increases in equity-based and other compensation costs further increased spend in the current period.

Impairment loss

 

     
     Fiscal years
ended July 31,
     Change  
(in thousands)    2021      2020      $     %  

Impairment loss

   $    $ 11,830    $ (11,830     (100.0 )%   

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

In Fiscal 2020 we recorded an impairment charge for certain trade names in the amount of $11.8 million. The impairment was driven by reductions to our sales forecasts for certain of our ultra-luxury winery brands experiencing sales channel and consumer spending disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as changes in discount rates. See Note 7 (Goodwill and other intangible assets) to our consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus for additional information.

Casualty gain, net

 

     
     Fiscal years ended
July 31,
    Change  
(in thousands)    2021     2020     $     %  

Casualty gain, net

   $ (6,559   $ (4,047   $ (2,512     62.1%  

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Casualty gain, net increased by $2.5 million, or 62.1%, to $6.6 million for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2021 compared to $4.0 million for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2020. The increase was primarily due to the receipt of insurance proceeds of $8.6 million in excess of recognized losses in the current year versus $4.1 million of insurance proceeds, net of losses incurred received in the prior year. The primary driver of the insurance proceeds related to flood damages, which originally occurred in Fiscal 2019, the proceeds from which we received over both Fiscal 2020 and 2021. Additionally, we received insurance proceeds related to the losses incurred from the impacts of wildfires, which resulted in fruit damage in Fiscal 2021. See Note 17 (Casualty gain) to our consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus for further information.

Other expenses

 

     
     Fiscal years ended
July 31,
     Change  
(in thousands)    2021     2020      $     %  

Interest expense

   $ 13,618   $ 17,924    $ (4,306     (24.0 )%   

Other (income) expense, net

     (6,505     2,457      (8,962     (364.8  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other expenses, net

   $ 7,113   $ 20,381    $ (13,268     (65.1 )%   

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other expenses, net decreased by $13.3 million, or 65.1%, to $7.1 million for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2021 compared to $20.4 million for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2020. The change in our other expenses was primarily driven by downward pressure on LIBOR, which reduced the liability balance on our interest rate swap, resulting in a gain for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2021 as compared to losses in the same periods in the prior year. In addition, our interest expense was also reduced year over year driven by lower debt balances outstanding for the period, in conjunction with lower average interest rates on our variable debt. See “—Liquidity and capital resources” for discussion of our Credit Facility.

Income tax expense

 

     
     Fiscal years ended
July 31,
     Change  
(in thousands)    2021      2020      $      %  

Income tax expense

   $ 21,008    $ 10,432    $ 10,576      101.4%  

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income tax expense increased $10.6 million, or 101.4%, to $21.0 million the fiscal year ended July 31, 2021 compared to $10.4 million for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2020. The change in our income tax expense was primarily due to non-deductible stock based compensation.

Comparison of the fiscal years ended July 31, 2020 and 2019

Net sales

 

     
     Fiscal years ended
July 31,
     Change  
(in thousands)    2020      2019      $      %  

Net sales

   $ 270,648    $ 241,207    $ 29,441      12.2%  

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net sales for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2020 increased $29.4 million, or 12.2%, to $270.6 million compared to $241.2 million for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2019. This increase was fueled by growth in our wholesale channel and strong sell-through depletion of distributor and retailer inventory during the year. Wholesale sales accounted for a proportionally greater portion of the growth in the back half of the fiscal year ended July 31, 2020 as compared to the fiscal year ended July 31, 2019 given the impact of the pandemic, driving higher sales that were partially offset by higher discounts as compared to the prior year and resulting in a lower average net sales price per case sold.

 

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Cost of sales

 

     
     Fiscal years ended
July 31,
     Change  
(in thousands)    2020      2019      $      %  

Cost of sales

   $ 133,766    $ 128,204    $ 5,562      4.3%  

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cost of sales increased by $5.6 million, or 4.3%, from the fiscal year ended July 31, 2019 to the fiscal year ended July 31, 2020, primarily due to an increase in cost of wine sold of $13.4 million given higher sales volume for the year, increased delivery and warehousing costs of $1.7 million due to increased sales, and a $2.9 million increase in cost of bulk wine sold, partially offset by a $12.4 million decrease in step-up cost of wine sold as compared to prior year due to the lessening impact of purchase accounting adjustments in connection with the Kosta Browne acquisition.

Gross profit

 

     
     Fiscal years ended
July 31,
     Change  
(in thousands)    2020      2019      $      %  

Gross profit

   $ 136,882    $ 113,003    $ 23,879      21.1%  

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross profit increased $23.9 million, or 21.1%, from the fiscal year ended July 31, 2019 to the fiscal year ended July 31, 2020 due to higher sales and lower impacts in Fiscal 2020 from step-up on inventory from purchase accounting. Gross profit margin improved from 46.8% in the fiscal year ended July 31, 2019 to 50.6% in the fiscal year ended July 31, 2020.

Operating expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

     
     Fiscal years ended
July 31,
     Change  
(in thousands)    2020      2019      $     %  

Selling expenses

   $ 35,085    $ 31,322    $ 3,763     12.0%  

Marketing expenses

     6,801      6,661      140     2.1

General and administrative expenses

     24,022      27,758      (3,736     (13.5
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total selling, general and administrative expenses

   $ 65,908    $ 65,741    $ 167     0.3%  

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total selling, general and administrative expenses increased by $0.2 million from the fiscal year ended July 31, 2019 to the fiscal year ended July 31, 2020. Within selling, general and administrative expenses, we experienced an increase in our selling expenses of $3.8 million, primarily driven by an increase in salaries and related expenses. The increased expense resulted in part from increased headcount to support increased sales volumes, as well as an increase in direct selling activities to generate sales growth. This was offset by a decrease in our general and administrative expenses predominantly due to transaction costs surrounding the Kosta Browne acquisition of $3.9 million recorded in Fiscal 2019, compared to $0.2 million in Fiscal 2020.

Impairment loss

 

     
     Fiscal years ended
July 31,
     Change  
(in thousands)    2020      2019      $      %  

Impairment loss

     $11,830      $—      $11,830      100.0%  

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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In Fiscal 2020 we recorded an impairment charge for certain trade names in the amount of $11.8 million. The impairment was driven by reductions to our sales forecasts for certain of our ultra-luxury winery brands experiencing sales channel and consumer spending disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as changes in discount rates. See Note 7 (Goodwill and other intangible assets) to our consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus for additional information.

Casualty gain, net

 

     
     Fiscal years ended
July 31,
    Change  
(in thousands)    2020     2019     $      %  

Casualty gain, net

   $ (4,047   $ (8,606   $ 4,559      (53.0 )%   

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

The casualty gain in both the fiscal year ended July 31, 2019 and the fiscal year ended July 31, 2020, related to a flood at one of our wineries, decreased by $4.6 million, or 53.0%, from the fiscal year ended July 31, 2019 to the fiscal year ended July 31, 2020. The casualty gain represents insurance proceeds we received in amounts that exceeded our recorded losses for each period presented.

Other expenses

 

     
     Fiscal years ended
July 31,
     Change  
(in thousands)    2020      2019      $     %  

Interest expense

   $ 17,924    $ 20,937    $ (3,013     (14.4 )%   

Other expense, net

     2,457      4,988      (2,531     (50.7  

Total other expenses, net

   $ 20,381    $ 25,925    $ (5,544     (21.4 )%   

 

 

 

Total other expenses decreased by $5.5 million, or 21.4%, from the fiscal year ended July 31, 2019 to the fiscal year ended July 31, 2020. Interest expense decreased by $3.0 million or 14.4% for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2020 compared to the fiscal year ended July 31, 2019 primarily due to an overall decrease in the LIBOR-based interest rate on our Credit Facility as well as a net reduction of our outstanding debt balances during the year. Other expense, net decreased by $2.5 million, or 50.7%, from the fiscal year ended July 31, 2019 to the fiscal year ended July 31, 2020 due to unrealized gains in the interest rate swap balance we use to hedge our exposure to floating interest rates on our Credit Facility.

Income tax expense

 

     
     Fiscal years ended
July 31,
     Change  
(in thousands)    2020      2019      $      %  

Income tax expense

   $ 10,432    $ 7,842    $ 2,590      33.0%  

Income tax expense increased $2.6 million, or 33.0%, from the fiscal year ended July 31, 2019 to the fiscal year ended July 31, 2020, directly related to an increase in our taxable income, offset by a slight decrease in our effective tax rate from 26.1% in Fiscal 2019 to 24.4% in Fiscal 2020. Income tax expense of $10.4 million for the year ended July 31, 2020 (an effective tax rate of 24.4%) differs from the expected tax expense (computed by applying the current U.S. Federal corporate tax rate of 21% to earnings before taxes) primarily due to state income taxes and non-deductible equity-based compensation costs.

Income tax expense of $7.8 million for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2019 (an effective tax rate of 26.1%) differs from the expected tax expense (computed by applying the current U.S. federal corporate tax rate of 21% to

 

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earnings before taxes) primarily due to state income taxes as well as non-deductible expenses related to transaction costs incurred for the Kosta Browne acquisition and equity-based compensation. The Kosta Browne acquisition transaction costs accounted for 193 basis points of our effective tax rate in Fiscal 2019.

Liquidity and capital resources

Sources of liquidity

Our primary cash needs are for working capital purposes, such as producing or purchasing inventory and funding operating and capital expenditures. We fund our operational cash requirements with cash flows from operating activities and borrowings under our Credit Facility. As of July 31, 2021, we held $4.2 million in cash and had $301.0 million available in undrawn capacity on our revolving line of credit, subject to the terms of our Credit Facility.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we evaluated risks related to our inventory and liquidity management, which we determined to be sufficiently mitigated, subject to reassessment in the future in response to pandemic-related impacts as they occur. The full impact of COVID-19 on our future operations remains uncertain and will be determined by the length and severity of pandemic-related disruption. Consequently, unforeseen future events could negatively impact our operations, results of operations, cash flows and liquidity.

Due to the seasonal nature of our operations, our cash needs are generally greatest during harvest, a period which can span from August to November based on agricultural conditions and other factors outside our control. We believe that our expected operating cash flows, cash on hand and borrowing capacity on our revolving line of credit, will be adequate to meet our cash needs for the next 12 months. However, changes in our business growth plan, planned capital expenditures or responses to the impacts of the global pandemic or to an ever-changing and highly competitive industry landscape may result in changes to our cash requirements.

Beyond the next 12 months, we expect cash flows generated from operations, in addition to our Credit Facility will be our primary sources of liquidity. Based on our current operating performance, we believe these sources will be adequate to meet the cash requirements necessary to meet our future business growth plans and contractual obligations. Our liquidity needs generally include expected working capital requirements, planned capital expenditures, operating lease payments, estimated tax liabilities and principal and interest payments contractually due pursuant to the terms of our Credit Facility. We have approximately $11.3 million in scheduled principal payments plus accrued interest due over the next 12 months and approximately $239.2 million of principal payments plus accrued interest due thereafter until our Credit Facility matures. See Note 9 (Debt) to our consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus, where our Credit Facility is described in greater detail. Our future minimum operating lease payments due within the next 12 months total approximately $4.1 million with $20.1 million due in the following years. See Note 14 (Commitments and contingencies) to our consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus for further information on our operating leases and other commitments.

We expect to be able to satisfy our liquidity needs for the next 12 months and beyond using cash generated from operations. If our cash needs change in the future, we may seek alternative or incremental funding sources to respond to changes in our business. To the extent required, we may seek to fund additional liquidity through debt or equity financing, although we can provide no assurance that such forms of capital will be available when needed, if at all, or available on terms that are acceptable.

 

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Cash flows

The following table presents the major components of net cash flows.

 

   
     Fiscal years ended July 31,  
(in thousands)    2021     2020     2019  

Cash flows provided by (used in):

      

Operating activities

   $ 64,272   $ 55,179   $ 42,466

Investing activities

     (13,567     (13,535     (221,412

Financing activities

     (52,713     (39,157     129,547
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (decrease) increase in cash

   $ (2,008   $ 2,487   $ (49,399

Operating activities

Our cash flows from operating activities consist primarily of net income adjusted for certain non-cash transactions, including depreciation and amortization, amortization of debt issuance costs, changes in the fair values of derivatives, equity-based compensation, impairment losses and deferred income taxes. Operating cash flows also reflect the periodic changes in working capital, primarily inventory, accounts receivable, prepaid expenses, accounts payable and accrued expenses.

Fiscal 2021 compared to Fiscal 2020.    For Fiscal 2021, net cash provided by operating activities was $64.3 million, compared to $55.2 million for Fiscal 2020, an increase of $9.1 million. The increase in cash provided by operating activities was driven primarily by the following factors:

 

 

Operating cash flows increased due to an increase in net income of $18.5 million after adjusting for non-cash items;

 

 

Increased prepaid insurance premiums on new and existing policies, increased prepaid rent on new storage facilities, and an increase in bottled wine to support higher demand resulted in a decrease to operating cash flow of $17.8 million;

 

 

Our wholesale sales channel, generally subject to credit terms, saw an increase in net sales, which drove a corresponding increase in accounts receivable and resulted in a $2.8 million decrease in operating cash flow;

 

 

Changes in accounts payable and accrued expenses increased operating cash flows $7.9 million due primarily to timing of invoice payments;

 

 

Increases in accrued compensation of $5.9 million based on the timing of certain bonus payments and other compensation resulted in an increase in operating cash flow; and

 

 

The timing related to list member sales as compared to previous periods decreased deferred revenues and operating cash flows by $1.3 million.

Fiscal 2020 compared to Fiscal 2019.    For Fiscal 2020, net cash provided by operating activities was $55.2 million, compared to $42.5 million in Fiscal 2019, an increase of $12.7 million. The increase in cash provided by operating activities was driven by the following factors:

 

 

Operating cash flow increased due to an increase in net income of $15.6 million after adjusting for non- cash items;

 

 

Relative to an overall increase in net sales, the increase in the wholesale sales channel, generally subject to credit terms, was greater than the increase in the DTC channel. This change in sales mix resulted in a corresponding increase in accounts receivable, which contributed to a reduction in operating cash flows of $6.7 million;

 

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Changes in accounts payable, accrued expenses and inventory increased operating cash flows $3.6 million due to timing of invoices related to grape grower, bulk wine supply management, and other costs related to harvest and inventory production movements;

 

 

Additionally, operating cash flows increased $4.5 million due to increases in accrued compensation based on the timing of certain bonus payments and other compensation; and

 

 

Operating cash flow decreased $3.5 million due to changes in deferred revenues resulting from a Fiscal 2019 increase in deferred revenues related to list member sales.

Investing activities

Fiscal 2021 compared to Fiscal 2020.    For Fiscal 2021, net cash used in investing activities was $13.6 million, compared to $13.5 million for Fiscal 2020, an increase of $0.1 million. Capital expenditures were $13.7 million for Fiscal 2021 and $13.6 million for Fiscal 2020. From time to time we evaluate wineries, vineyards and production facilities for potential opportunities to make strategic acquisitions to support our growth. Any such transactions may require us to make additional investments and capital expenditures in the future.

Fiscal 2020 compared to Fiscal 2019.    For Fiscal 2020, net cash used in investing activities was $13.5 million, compared to $221.4 million in Fiscal 2019, a decrease of $207.9 million. The decrease in cash used in investing activities primarily relates to the Fiscal 2019 business acquisition of Kosta Browne for $203.1 million. Additional decreases in Fiscal 2020 relate to a decrease in purchases of property and equipment.

Financing activities

Fiscal 2021 compared to Fiscal 2020.    For Fiscal 2021, net cash used in financing activities was $52.7 million as compared to $39.2 million, for Fiscal 2020, an increase of $13.5 million. The increase in cash used in financing activities was primarily the result of no cash borrowings on our term debt in Fiscal 2021 compared to cash borrowings on $13.1 million in the same period of prior year.

Our IPO in Fiscal 2021 resulted in several largely offsetting financing activities. In February, prior to the IPO, we paid a dividend of $100.0 million to our owner, funded with borrowings from our revolving line of credit. At the completion of our IPO, we received proceeds of $187.5 million, net of underwriting discounts and commissions of $12.5 million, partially offset by payments of deferred offering costs of $6.7 million. IPO net proceeds of $180.0 million were used to pay down our line of credit, including the $100.0 million drawn to fund the dividend.

Fiscal 2020 compared to Fiscal 2019.    For Fiscal 2020, net cash used in financing activities was $39.2 million, compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $129.5 million in Fiscal 2019, an increase of $168.7 million. The increase in cash used in financing activities was primarily related to a decrease in capital contributions from our parent of $111.0 million received to partially fund the Kosta Browne acquisition in Fiscal 2019 and a reduction in utilization of our Credit Facility in 2020 for operational needs.

Capital resources

Credit facility

On October 14, 2016, we entered into the Credit Facility with a syndicated group of lenders. The Credit Facility provides a combination of term and revolving line of credit features. The term and revolving line of credit borrowings have variable interest rates, based primarily on LIBOR plus an applicable margin as defined in the First Lien Loan Agreement. Interest is paid monthly or quarterly based on loan type. Our debt is collateralized by substantially all of our cash, trade accounts receivable, real and personal property. Pursuant to the terms and conditions of the First Lien Loan Agreement, we have issued the instruments discussed below.

 

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As of July 31, 2021, outstanding principal balances on the debt instruments were $124.0 million for the revolving line of credit, $8.9 million for the capital expenditure loan, $103.4 million for the term loan (tranche one) and $14.2 million for term loan (tranche two). See Note 9 (Debt) to our consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus for additional information.

The First Lien Loan Agreement contains customary affirmative covenants, including delivery of audited financial statements and customary negative covenants that, among other things, limit our ability to incur additional indebtedness or to grant certain liens. As of July 31, 2021, we were not in violation of any covenants.

Revolving line of credit

The revolving line of credit allows us to borrow up to a principal amount of $425.0 million (including a letter of credit sub-facility of the revolving loan facility in the aggregate of $15.0 million and a swingline sub-facility of the revolving loan facility in the aggregate of $15.0 million), with an incremental seasonal borrowing amount for harvest costs increasing the total amount to a maximum of $455.0 million. The revolving line of credit matures on August 1, 2023. The interest rate ranges from LIBOR plus 125 basis points to LIBOR plus 175 basis points depending on the average availability of the revolving line of credit.

Capital expenditure loan

The capital expenditure loan has a maximum, non-revolving draw-down limit of $25.0 million with quarterly principal payments and the remaining unpaid principal and interest due upon maturity on August 1, 2023. As of July 31, 2021, the $25.0 million limit was fully drawn. This instrument has an interest rate of LIBOR plus 190 basis points.

Term loans

The first tranche of term loans was issued in 2016 for a principal balance of $135.0 million with quarterly principal payments and the remaining unpaid principal and interest due upon maturity on August 1, 2023. This tranche of the term loans has an interest rate of LIBOR plus 190 basis points.

The second tranche of term loans was issued in August 2018, allowed for a principal balance up to $25.0 million with quarterly principal payments and the remaining unpaid principal and interest due upon maturity on August 1, 2023. We drew $16.4 million of the second tranche of the term loan in November 2018. This tranche of the term loans has an interest rate of LIBOR plus 163 basis points.

Off-balance sheet arrangements

As of July 31, 2021, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that had, or are reasonably likely to have in the future, a material effect on our financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.

Critical accounting policies and estimates

Our management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based on our consolidated financial statements, which are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires the application of appropriate technical accounting rules and guidance, as well as the use of estimates. The application of these policies requires judgments regarding future events. These estimates and judgments could materially impact the consolidated financial statements and disclosures based on varying assumptions, as future events rarely develop exactly as forecasted, and even the best estimates routinely require adjustment.

 

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While all significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note 2 (Basis of presentation and significant accounting policies) to our consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus, we believe that the following accounting policies and estimates are critical to our business operations and understanding of our financial results.

Revenue recognition

We recognize revenue from the sale of wine to customers when that performance obligation is fulfilled and control transfers to the customer, either at the point of shipment or delivery as dictated by the shipping terms. Payment terms vary by location and customer, however, the duration between when revenue is recognized and when payment is due is less than one year, indicating we do not have any significant financing components to recognize. We have elected to treat shipping and handling costs that we bill our customers as fulfillment activities rather than as separate performance obligations.

Deferred revenue results from cash payments received from customers where all of the criteria for revenue recognition have not yet been met. Such transactions are primarily related to cash collected during DTC club sales or list member offering periods throughout the year, as the period that elapses from a customer’s payment for their allocated purchase to the shipment date may cross reporting periods. Deferred revenue is reported separately on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position until all revenue recognition criteria have been met (generally when the goods are shipped), at which time revenue is recognized.

Revenue subject to variability is constrained to an amount which will not result in a significant reversal in future periods when the contingency that creates variability in revenue is resolved. Revenue is recorded net of excise taxes, and net of consideration given to customers through various customer incentive programs, including depletion-based incentives paid to distributors, volume discounts and pricing discounts on single transactions. The consideration to customers is deemed variable consideration under ASC 606, and is estimated and recognized as a reduction of the transaction price at the time of revenue recognition for the related sale.

Income taxes

Income taxes are recognized using enacted tax rates and are accounted for based on the asset and liability approach, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the consolidated financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities at the applicable statutory tax rates. Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Other significant temporary differences that impact the Company’s deferred taxes primarily relate to the tax basis of assets that were acquired in business combinations that remain at historical bases although the assets were recorded at fair value for financial reporting purposes. The differences primarily relate to inventory, property and equipment and intangible assets. Other temporary differences include differing depreciation and inventory costing methods. Goodwill associated with a prior period acquisition of the Company created a permanent difference. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. We evaluate the realizability of our deferred tax assets by assessing our valuation allowance and by adjusting the amount of such allowance, if necessary. The factors used to assess the likelihood of realization include our forecast of future taxable income and available tax planning strategies that could be implemented to realize the net deferred tax assets. Failure to achieve forecasted taxable income in applicable tax jurisdictions could affect the ultimate realization of deferred tax assets and could result in an increase in our effective tax rate on future earnings.

 

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Equity-based compensation

Certain of our employees have received grants of equity awards. Pursuant to U.S. GAAP authoritative literature, we estimate the fair value of these awards at the grant date using an option pricing model in accordance with relevant authoritative literature. The inputs to the option pricing model are highly subjective and require us to apply judgment in determining expected term, volatility, risk-free rates, dividends and adjustments for lack of marketability based on the characteristics of the awards. The assumptions used in calculating the fair value of equity awards represent Management’s best estimates, but these estimates involve inherent uncertainties. Some of the factors we considered in selecting fair value assumptions were based on observable market or other external data, internal analysis and limited Company-specific market data. Changes in these inputs and assumptions may materially affect the measure of estimated fair value of our equity-based compensation. See Note 15 (Equity-based compensation) to our consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus for further information.

Compensation cost is recognized over the requisite service period (generally the vesting period), net of actual forfeitures, and the awards are equity classified in the consolidated statements of financial position. For awards with performance-based conditions impacting the timing or number of awards vesting, compensation cost is recognized when a performance condition is probable of being met. If a performance condition is not met, no compensation cost is recognized and any previously recognized compensation cost is reversed.

Goodwill and intangible assets

We recognize goodwill in accounting for business combinations based on the amount by which the total consideration transferred, plus the fair value of any non-controlling interest, exceeds the fair value of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Identifiable intangible assets other than goodwill are primarily comprised of indefinite-lived trade names and customer relationships which amortize on a straight-line basis over an assigned useful life based on management’s estimate of the period the asset is expected to contribute to future cash flows.

We assess our goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment at least annually, or more frequently if factors indicate impairment may exist. Our quantitative goodwill impairment test consists of comparing the reporting unit carrying value to its fair value, which is estimated as the amount for which it could be sold in a current transaction between willing parties. If the carrying value exceeds fair value, an impairment charge is recognized in an amount equal to that excess, not to exceed the carrying amount of goodwill. While we are permitted to consider qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, we relied on quantitative tests for our Fiscal 2021 and Fiscal 2020 periods. We determine fair value estimated based on quantitative fair value methods, generally a combination of discounted cash flow and comparative market valuation approaches. Based on our quantitative test results, the Company determined that the reporting unit fair value substantially exceeded its carrying value in each testing period, and the reporting unit was therefore not at risk of failing the quantitative impairment tests in either fiscal year.

Our trade name intangible asset impairment testing consists of a comparison of the fair value of each trade name with its carrying value, with any excess of carrying value over fair value being recognized as an impairment loss. In estimating the fair value of our trade names, we consider market, cost and income approaches, primarily relying on the Relief-from-Royalty (“RFR”) method, a form of income approach, as the most appropriate for analyzing the trade names. The RFR method estimates the cost we avoid by owning rather than licensing the trade names and includes an estimate of the royalty income that would be negotiated in an arm’s-length transaction if the subject intangible assets were licensed from a third party. The primary variables we apply in the RFR method are estimation of future revenues, selection of appropriate royalty rates and

 

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selection of discount rates to calculate present value. We consider the following in determining the significant assumptions used in evaluating the fair value of trade names:

 

 

Net sales growth—our estimates include judgments and assumptions regarding future net sales growth rates based on internally-developed forecasts as well as terminal growth rates in order to quantify the net sales we expect to be attributable to the trade names;

 

 

Royalty rates—selected royalty rates are based on industry benchmarking and market data for companies with similar trade names and activities, giving consideration to the historical and projected profitability of operations and trade name market strength; and

 

 

Discount rates—royalty savings are discounted to their present value equivalent using an appropriate discount rate, adjusted for risk premiums appropriate for the trade names and the Company’s risk profile.

Our use of assumptions requires us to apply judgment in selecting appropriate inputs for trade name valuation, and these assumptions are subject to change over time.

We also evaluate the remaining useful lives of our trade name intangible assets to determine whether current events and circumstances continue to support an indefinite useful life. See Note 7 (Goodwill and other intangible assets) to our audited consolidated financial statements.

We assess the impairment of definite-lived intangible assets whenever events or changing circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable or that the remaining useful life may no longer be supportable.

Inventories

Inventory primarily includes bulk and bottled wine and is carried at the lower of cost (calculated using the first-in-first-out method) or net realizable value. The cost basis for inventory includes the costs related to winemaking. Consistent with industry practices, the Company classifies inventory as a current asset, although a substantial portion of inventory may be aged for periods longer than one year prior to being sold due to the specific aging requirements for a given wine varietal and vintage. The Company reduces the carrying value of inventories that are obsolete or for which market conditions indicate cost will not be recovered to estimated net realizable value. The Company’s estimate of net realizable value is based on analysis and assumptions including, but not limited to, historical experience, future demand and market requirements. Reductions to the carrying value of inventories are recorded in cost of sales. See Note 2 (Basis of presentation and significant accounting policies) for additional description of our inventory.

Recent accounting pronouncements

See Note 2 (Basis of presentation and significant accounting policies) to our consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus for additional information regarding recent accounting pronouncements.

Emerging growth company status

We are an emerging growth company, as defined in the JOBS Act. Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that any decision to opt out

 

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of the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards is irrevocable. We have elected to use this extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies. As a result, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with the new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.

Quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk

Our ongoing business operations cause us to be exposed to certain market risks, including fluctuations in interest rates, commodity prices and other costs related to production inputs, foreign currencies and inflation.

Interest rates

We are subject to interest rate risk in connection with changes in interest rates on our credit facilities which bear interest at variable rates based upon LIBOR plus applicable margins or predetermined alternative rates, as applicable, pursuant to the terms of our Credit Facility. As of July 31, 2021, our outstanding borrowings at variable interest rates totaled $247.3 million. An increase of 100 basis points in the effective interest rate applied to these borrowings would result in a $2.5 million increase in interest expense on an annualized basis and could have a material effect on our results of operation or financial condition in the future. We manage our interest rate risk through normal operating and financing activities and through the use of derivative financial instruments. To mitigate exposure to fluctuations in interest rates, we entered into an interest rate swap in March 2020. See Note 10 (Derivative instruments) to our consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus for further information on the interest rate swap.

Inflation

We do not believe that inflation has had a material impact on our business, results of operations or financial condition to date. We continue to track the impact of inflation in an attempt to minimize its effects through pricing strategies and cost reductions. If, however, our operations are impacted by significant inflationary pressures, we may not be able to fully offset such impacts through price increases on our products, supply negotiations or production improvements. A higher than anticipated rate of inflation in the future could harm our operations and financial condition.

Foreign currency

Our revenues and costs are denominated in U.S. dollars and are not subject to significant foreign exchange risk. Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates may cause us to recognize transaction gains and losses in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company uses foreign exchange forward contracts to offset a portion of the foreign currency exchange risks associated with forecasted purchases of barrels from France. The maximum term for the Company’s outstanding foreign exchange forward contracts was two months as of July 31, 2021, see Note 10 (Derivative instruments) to our consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus for further information.

Sensitivity due to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates was not material as of July 31, 2021.

Commodity prices

The primary commodity in our product is grapes, and generally more than 85% of our input grapes are sourced from third party suppliers in the form of grapes or bulk wine. For these purchased grapes and bulk wine, prices are subject to many factors beyond our control, such as the yield of different grape varietals in different geographies, the annual demand for these grapes and the vagaries of these farming businesses, including poor

 

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harvests due to adverse weather conditions, natural disasters and pestilence. Our grape and bulk wine supply mix varies from year to year between pre-contracted purchases and spot purchases; the variation from year to year is based on market conditions and sales demands. We do not engage in commodity hedging on our forecasted purchases of grapes and bulk wine. We continue to diversify our sources of supply and look to changes annually to our product line to optimize the grapes available each harvest year.

Other raw materials we source include glass, corks and wine additives. We currently source these materials from multiple vendors. We have and will continue to negotiate prices with these suppliers on an annual basis, conducting a competitive bidding process for all raw materials to leverage our volume in lowering the input costs of production. We do not engage in forward, future or other derivative hedging activities to attempt to manage future price volatility of raw materials or other production-related inputs. As a result, some of these prices change over time, and future changes to commodity prices, raw materials, or other significant inputs in our wine production could have a material impact on our future results of operations.

 

 

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Business

The Duckhorn Portfolio: The standard for American fine wine

The Duckhorn Portfolio is the premier scaled producer of luxury wines in North America. We have delighted millions of consumers with authentic, high-quality, approachable wines for over four decades. Founded by our namesake Dan and Margaret Duckhorn in 1976, we began by pioneering Merlot wines in Napa Valley and now champion a curated and comprehensive portfolio of highly acclaimed luxury wines across multiple winery brands, varietals, appellations and price points. Our portfolio is focused exclusively on the desirable luxury segment, which we define as wines sold for $15 or higher per 750ml bottle.

We sell our wines in all 50 states and over 50 countries at SRPs ranging from $20 to $200 per bottle under a world-class luxury portfolio of brands, including Duckhorn Vineyards, Decoy, Kosta Browne, Goldeneye, Paraduxx, Calera, Migration, Canvasback, Greenwing and Postmark.

Our powerful omni-channel sales model drives strong margins. We sell our wines in our wholesale channel, to distributors and directly to retail accounts in California, and to consumers in our DTC channel, all of which leverage long-standing relationships developed over the past forty years. Our comprehensive sales force builds deep and impactful relationships with distributors and direct to retail accounts in our wholesale channel. In addition, our DTC channel leverages our multi-winery e-commerce website, and it features our award-winning subscription wine clubs and tasting rooms. Combined, our California direct to retail accounts business and DTC channel made up 34.7% of our net sales in Fiscal 2021, delivering strong margins and greater connectivity with consumers and retailers alike.

 

 

LOGO

 

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Financial highlights

For the year ended July 31, 2021, compared to the year ended July 31, 2020, we delivered the following:

 

 

$66.0 million increase in net sales.

 

 

$23.6 million increase in net income.

 

 

$12.1 million increase in adjusted EBITDA.

For an explanation of how we calculate adjusted EBITDA and for a reconciliation to net income (loss), the most directly comparable financial measure stated in accordance with U.S. GAAP, see “Selected consolidated financial and other data—Non-GAAP financial data.”

Industry background

Our target market

We operate in the large and stable global wine industry that, according to Statista, is projected to exceed $380 billion in sales value in 2021. A majority of our wine is sold in the growing U.S. market, which boasts over 500,000 licensed retail accounts according to Nielsen. According to Statista, the United States consumes more wine than any other nation, and we expect its global wine market share by volume to continue to increase. According to data from Statista capturing on-premise and off-premise sales, the total sales value of wine in the United States was more than $53 billion in 2019, having grown steadily since 2012. While the COVID-19 pandemic has adversely impacted on-premise sales, including in bars and restaurants, it has benefited grocery and other off-premise sales. As a result, the total sales value of wine in the United States is expected to remain relatively resilient to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We believe favorable trends will continue and that wine will take further alcohol beverage market share in the United States, led by established brands with diversified portfolio offerings.

Luxury wine and premiumization

American Millennials and Generation X adults have come of age in a culture where cooking shows, celebrity chefs, farmers’ markets and food blogs are the norm. U.S. consumers have had an increasing hunger and thirst for high-quality food and drinks and are willing to pay more for items perceived to be superior. Wine continues to benefit from this premiumization trend. We believe that Millennial wine buyers are often spending more per bottle than any other generation and that as their careers progress and incomes grow, both Millennials and Generation X wine enthusiasts are poised to spend more on wines, particularly those from experiential brands with authentic heritages.

The luxury wine segment, which we believe comprised between 10% and 15% of the total U.S. wine market in 2020, expanded at more than double the pace of the broader wine industry from 2012 to 2020, according to sales value data from IRI as of December 27, 2020. With suggested retail prices of $20 to $200 per bottle, our portfolio is strategically positioned to benefit from premiumization.

We have consistently increased our market share in the growing luxury wine segment, both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we believe premiumization will continue to benefit our business as consumers seek trusted brands. According to data from IWSR, wine sold for $20 per 750ml bottle or higher outpaced the overall wine category from 2010 to 2020. During this period, the sales value of wine sold for $20 per bottle or higher grew at an 7.7% CAGR, compared to a 3.1% CAGR for the total U.S. wine industry. According to IRI data, the U.S. luxury wine segment grew at over 20% in sales value in the twelve month period ending on December 27, 2020 and encompassing the period of economic uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to the same period in the prior year, while the overall wine industry grew approximately 13% over the same period.

 

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Luxury producer fragmentation and distributor consolidation

As the luxury wine segment is highly fragmented, we have the advantage of being one of only a few luxury wine producers of scale. Our brands compete for consumers with a wide range of competitors, from the vast number of small volume local wineries, to divisions of large conglomerates.

In recent years, extensive growth in the number of wineries in the United States has been accompanied by a decrease in wine distributors, with approximately 1,800 wineries and 3,000 wine distributors in 1995, compared to over 10,400 wineries and 950 wine distributors in 2020, according to Wines Vines Analytics. The substantial consolidation of distributors has been driven primarily by mergers and acquisitions, and we expect this trend to continue.

In this environment of distributor consolidation and a fragmented universe of many subscale luxury producers, we believe our position as a scaled luxury producer is highly appealing to large distributors and retailers and that our comprehensive portfolio offering provides a “one-stop shop” solution for all of their luxury wine needs.

Key drivers of our continued success

We attribute our success to the following strengths:

Curated and comprehensive portfolio of luxury wines.    Our portfolio encompasses ten luxury brands that champion 18 varietals in 25 AVA designations. Duckhorn Vineyards, Decoy and Kosta Browne are the cornerstones of this curated and comprehensive portfolio and reinforce the credibility and brand strength of our entire portfolio. We believe the breadth and depth of our luxury brands, coupled with our scale, position us as a premier supplier of luxury wines. Our singular focus on sustainable luxury winemaking energizes our employees, fosters trust and credibility in our customer and grower relationships, and ultimately results in high-quality, award-winning wines that we believe deeply resonate with consumers.

Our portfolio breadth and depth also allow us to offer tiered pricing within the luxury wine segment, enabling us to attract new consumers with affordable wines and deepen our relationship with them as they seek more premium offerings. The Decoy brand provides high-quality wines at accessible prices, often serving as the customer gateway into our luxury wine offerings across our broader portfolio. Duckhorn Vineyards, Kosta Browne and our other winery brands provide the consumer an opportunity to both elevate and broaden their experience with the wines in our diverse luxury portfolio. While we are unable to predict future shifts in consumer demand, we believe our curated and comprehensive portfolio is well-positioned to meet the needs of distributors, our accounts and consumers.

 

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Focused portfolio of powerful brands

 

 

LOGO

Exceptional brand strength and critical acclaim.    The Duckhorn Portfolio has consistently received stellar reviews across varietals, geographies and price points from the industry’s top critics and publications. Two of our wines, the Kosta Browne Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir and the Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley Three Palms Vineyard Merlot, have received one of the industry’s most prestigious awards, Wine Spectator magazine’s Wine

 

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of the Year. We are the only wine company to have more than one winery brand in our portfolio to have received this award in the 21st century. Critics within our industry widely use a 100 point scale to score individual wines, and we take pride in our consistent track record of 90+ point wines, scores that indicate superior quality. The strength of our winery brands is also demonstrated by our market-leading sales in some of the most popular varietals in the U.S. luxury market. During the twelve months ended December 27, 2020, we had the top selling luxury wine for Cabernet Sauvignon (the largest luxury varietal during the period), Sauvignon Blanc (the fastest growing luxury varietal during the period) and Merlot, according to U.S. sales value data from IRI. These three varietals combined represented approximately 30% of the total U.S. luxury wine market during the same period.

Scaled luxury platform.    We are the largest pure-play luxury wine company in the United States. We believe our approach and dedicated focus on luxury wines continues to be highly appealing to the modern wine consumer seeking authenticity and enables category excellence versus our more broadly-focused, scaled competitors. We also have an advantage over our fragmented, smaller-scale competitors because our individual brands each benefit from their place in our larger portfolio, leveraging more efficient operational, branding, marketing and distribution capabilities. For example, our depth of operational capabilities enables us to simultaneously present a curated offering of the most popular wine varietals and prudently develop new offerings in new, high-growth categories, all with the credentials of a pure-play luxury producer of scale.

Our large, highly knowledgeable sales force is a key advantage of our scale relative to small luxury producers. We deploy our sales force in the wholesale channel to evangelize our portfolio to our vast network of distributors and retail accounts. Understanding how consumers will connect with winery brands is critical to gaining shelf and menu space, and while smaller luxury wine brands rely on distributors to introduce and promote brands, our sales force takes direct action to strengthen our account relationships. As a credentialed luxury supplier of choice, we expect to benefit from further enhanced distributor prioritization due to sell-through confidence and operational efficiency.

Differentiated omni-channel sales and distribution platform.    Our innovative, scalable platform enables us to fulfill consumer needs through an integrated experience across channels at attractive margins. Our ideal consumers interact with us seamlessly across channels, through our wine clubs and tasting rooms and when grocery shopping or ordering at a restaurant.

We leverage our long-standing wholesale channel nationwide (with over 52,600 accounts domestically), including our direct to retail accounts business in California (with approximately 2,600 accounts in Fiscal 2021), to build deep, impactful relationships with our trade accounts. These channels provide a critical path for our winery brands to succeed both on-premise and off-premise, across a wide range of outlets and geographies.

Since our founding more than 40 years ago, we have been selling directly to retail accounts in California, a point of distinction among large California wine producers, many of which sell through a distributor in the state. We believe our direct to retail accounts business in California gives us a competitive advantage for several reasons. First, our direct connection with the retail accounts allows us more control over sales, branding and other marketing support. Second, our approach gives us more visibility into sell-through rates. Finally, we enjoy significantly stronger margins selling directly to retail accounts, rather than selling through a distributor.

Our DTC channel is a powerful marketing engine. This part of our business encompasses our multi-winery e-commerce website, featuring award-winning subscription wine clubs, and is reinforced by our seven stylistically unique and high-touch tasting rooms located throughout Northern California and Washington. Our ultra-luxury wines, which we consider to be wines with suggested retail prices of $25 or higher per 750ml bottle, are prominently featured in this channel, yielding high average bottle prices. Early access to new releases, a compelling slate of member benefits and active cross-marketing throughout the portfolio drive wine club

 

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member loyalty and sales. These strategies maximize each winery brand and property while driving awareness for the Company’s other world-class wines and properties, resulting in more and lasting connections with consumers and wholesale customers.

We believe the strategic combination of our complementary paths to consumers has been an important driver of our sustained growth and will continue to enable long-term scalability, though ultimately the success of our business depends on our ability to develop connections between our customers and our winery brands. We balance the market accessibility of a broad wholesale reach with direct and authentic customer and consumer touchpoints that drive connectivity, insights and trust. Combined, our California direct to retail accounts business and DTC channel make up 34.7% of our combined net sales for Fiscal 2021.

We believe our comprehensive omni-channel route-to-market is a key differentiator of our leading U.S. luxury wine platform and allows us to engage with distributors, customers and consumers on multiple fronts and meet their needs across price points, varietals and appellations, driving long-term sustainable growth.

Diversified and scalable production model.    The success of The Duckhorn Portfolio is underpinned by our strategic, diversified and scalable supply and production platform. We strive for capital efficiency and secure the majority of our grape supply by leveraging long-standing relationships within a vast, geographically diversified network of more than 322 trusted growers and bulk wine suppliers, designed to help us mitigate agricultural risk, optimize costs and quality and flexibly scale. At our eight state-of-the-art wineries, we are able to directly control the quality of the wine we produce.

To complement this scaled platform, we control (owned or leased) 30 distinct Estate vineyards spanning 843 acres. Some of our most prestigious wines are created from Estate grapes grown in these vineyards under our own viticultural heritage utilizing sustainable winegrowing and employing responsible land and water stewardship practices.

This diversified sourcing model provides many benefits:

 

 

Luxury credentials.    Estate grapes are used primarily in our DTC-only wines to give a sense of place to our iconic winery brand heritage and showcase our award-winning winemaking capabilities.

 

 

Reliability of supply.    We have a long history of creating a portfolio of wines year after year, at scale, that consistently meet the highest standards of quality. Given our industry’s exposure to climate change risks and extreme weather events, we regularly evaluate impacts of climate change on our business and plan to disclose any such impacts to provide transparency with respect to our efforts to effectively manage the risks and opportunities presented by climate change. We are committed to continuing to take measures to achieve climate resiliency and to expand our agile supply chain with highly diversified grape sourcing to help ensure we mitigate the impact of climate change and unforeseen natural events.

 

 

Rapid scalability.    Contracted supply from our trusted grape grower and bulk wine supplier network enables us to react to market trends and grow luxury winery brands, like Decoy, quickly while maintaining quality excellence.

 

 

Cost management.    Our scale provides us with operating leverage, and we believe our strategy both to Estate-grow and contract our grape supply provides us with increased visibility into our cost structure and makes us less susceptible to market volatility.

Our diversified and scalable production model enables us to efficiently adapt to changing consumer demand, drive toward our environmental sustainability goals and rapidly bring to market diversified case lot sizes.

 

 

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Exceptional leadership team.    We have an exceptional, culture-driven leadership team at the helm of The Duckhorn Portfolio. The highly tenured executive team has approximately 100 years of cumulative experience with Duckhorn and is led by Alex Ryan, who began his work with luxury wine at Duckhorn over 33 years ago. The executive leadership team is made up of six strategic and functionally focused professionals dedicated to the success and growth of The Duckhorn Portfolio. Since 2010, this leadership team has grown net sales by approximately 650%, successfully managing the business through multiple economic cycles, challenging environmental externalities and the integration of two acquisitions. Supporting this leadership team is a deep bench of highly talented managers, many of whom have a long history at the Company and with our winery brands. Throughout our history, we believe we have been able to attract the highest caliber employees in the winemaking industry because of our reputation, prioritization of sustainability and corporate responsibility, holistic focus on our team members and commitment to developing, empowering, supporting and promoting our employees, which is a core element of our leadership.

Our strategy for continuous growth

Our entire organization is growth-oriented. From product innovation and category expansion to expanding points of distribution, every department plays a role in the growth of The Duckhorn Portfolio. We have a long, successful track record of enhancing our growth initiatives and delivering on our commitment to excellence in luxury winemaking.

Our growth plan relies on core competencies demonstrated by our organization throughout our history. We expect to deliver meaningful increases in stockholder value by continuing to execute the following strategies:

Leverage our sales and marketing strength to gain market share in a consolidating marketplace.

We believe our comprehensive sales and marketing plan will continue to increase awareness across our luxury wine portfolio, reinforce the strength of our winery brands and expand our market share.

Our commitment to excellence has resulted in a track record of industry awards, and we believe these recognitions provide our entire luxury wine portfolio with a halo of prestige. The success of our business relies on our ability to maintain the prestige of our portfolio, and we expect to continue to be honored with critical acclaim and 90+ point wine scores, which we believe will drive consumer engagement and further solidify the reputation of our entire luxury wine portfolio.

We believe leveraging our sales and marketing strength will increase brand awareness and grow sales for our winery brands to existing consumers and a new generation of consumers. This plan is made possible by our omni-channel sales platform, which enables us to grow, both through volume increases, and through periodic price increases, particularly on our higher-end, smaller lot DTC wines.

We also plan to continue to invest in our wholesale channel sales force to expand our network of distributor and account advocates and grow our retail presence. We expect this differentiated platform advantage will continue to increase our brand awareness and presence in the fragmented luxury wine segment.

Establishing and maintaining the awareness of The Duckhorn Portfolio as a premier luxury winemaker is paramount to our growth and success, and we believe our sales and marketing strength will reinforce this and enable us to gain market share in a consolidating marketplace. Additionally, we are steadfast in our desire to be an industry leader in ESG practices, as we have long believed that investing in sustainable business practices complements our business success in the luxury wine market.

 

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Insightful and targeted portfolio evolution.

We maintain close connectivity to luxury wine consumers through our omni-channel sales model, which coupled with our high-quality, flexible production assets, allows us to thoughtfully tailor our portfolio to meet consumers’ needs. One of our most successful growth initiatives has been the long-term development and evolution of Decoy, which began with a single offering and now includes 13 different labels across our Decoy and Decoy Limited offerings. We expect to further enhance Decoy as a luxury winery brand and we see great potential for further extensions, as evidenced by some of the following recent innovations. During 2020 and 2021, we successfully launched four new Decoy labels, each of which received strong consumer reception. Four of these labels are in our new upmarket tier, Decoy Limited, which consists of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley Red Blend and Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. In addition, we inaugurated a new category offering, Decoy Brut Cuvée Sparkling. We also launched a line of premium Decoy-branded wine-based seltzers in February 2021, which we believe will have broad appeal to current Decoy wine drinkers and lead to incremental drinking occasions in this dynamic category. We expect to launch other Decoy extensions in the future and intend to continue evolving and strategically broadening The Duckhorn Portfolio to drive future growth.

Our curated and comprehensive portfolio and historical growth result from long-term dedication to continuous evolution and alignment with the luxury wine consumer. As we continue to scale, we believe our growth mindset, coupled with our differentiated production and distribution platform, will enable us to continue to adapt and remain at the forefront of our industry.

Expand and accelerate wholesale channel distribution.

We see an opportunity to continue to expand our retail accounts and increase cases sold per retail account, most prominently by leveraging the strength of our powerhouse Decoy brand. In Fiscal 2021, we increased the number of our accounts by 11.4% to over 52,600. Over the same period, our domestic case sales per account increased by 10% and our number of distribution points increased by approximately 36%. With over 500,000 total licensed retail accounts in the United States, according to Nielsen, there remains ample opportunity to continue broadening distribution of the wines in our portfolio as well as to increase the volume of wine sold to existing accounts. While the wholesale channel has experienced significant distributor consolidation and increased competition in recent years, we believe our long-standing existing commercial relationships coupled with exceptional portfolio strength, built over the last four decades, position us to capture this distribution growth opportunity and accelerate sales to existing distributors and retail accounts in California.

Continue to invest in DTC capabilities.

We plan to continue to invest in our DTC channel, which currently comprises approximately 18% of sales in Fiscal 2021 and features seven tasting rooms. This robust channel provides an important means for us to engage with consumers, create brand evangelists and drive adoption across our portfolio. This channel also favorably impacts margins, as wines sold through our DTC programs are often more exclusive, higher-priced wines. We believe the growth of our DTC channel is a meaningful testament to our wines and their appeal to American luxury wine consumers. Our DTC channel will continue to play a critical role in authenticating our luxury credentials with consumers, and we believe our scaled presence and expertise in the channel separates us from our competitors.

 

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Evaluate strategic acquisitions opportunistically.

As part of our ongoing growth strategy, we strategically evaluate acquisition opportunities. While our growth and success are not contingent upon future acquisitions, we believe our leadership and operational teams have the capabilities and experience to execute and integrate acquisitions to create stockholder value. We actively track and evaluate acquisition opportunities that could create strategic advantages for our business.

This approach has led to the successful acquisition of two winery brands over the past four years: Kosta Browne and Calera. Both brands offer highly acclaimed wines with deeply connected consumer followings. In addition to complementing our portfolio, both acquisitions had unique strategic rationale: Kosta Browne expanded our DTC capabilities and Calera further diversified our supply chain and production resilience by broadening our grape-sourcing relationships within the Central Coast of California. These renowned wineries have continued to thrive and grow in prominence under our stewardship.

Competitive landscape

While there are thousands of companies that supply wines in the United States, sales in the industry are relatively concentrated among a limited number of companies. In the 52-week period ended December 27, 2020, nearly 50% of off-premise U.S. origin wine sales were generated by E&J Gallo, Constellation, Trinchero, Jackson Family Wines, Ste. Michelle and The Wine Group, according to sales value data from IRI. These companies supply many brands across multiple price segments, including luxury and lower-price segments, and IRI estimates that the average off-premise selling price per bottle for these ten competitors combined over the same period was approximately $8.00.

We are the largest pure-play luxury wine supplier and the eleventh largest wine supplier by sales value overall in the United States, based on our share of off-premise wine sales during the 52-week period ended December 27, 2020, according to sales value data from IRI. We target and compete in the luxury price segment, and our off-premise average selling price per bottle over this period was $20.24, the highest of the top 10 U.S. wine suppliers, as measured by IRI. We estimate that our on-premise average selling price per bottle is typically between two and three times the off-premise average selling price. In the 52-week period ended December 27, 2020, our off-premise sales grew 34.1% year over year, the greatest increase of the top 15 wine suppliers, according to sales value data from IRI. In every calendar year since 2012, our off-premise sales growth value has materially exceeded both the luxury segment average growth rate and the total industry average growth rate, as reported by IRI as of December 27, 2020.

The tail of the United States wine industry is relatively fragmented. In the 52-week period ending December 27, 2020, there were over 200 domestic wine suppliers with off-premise wine sales of $1 million to $100 million, representing 95% of total wine producers with greater than $1 million in sales, according to sales value data from IRI. Smaller producers with sales between $1 million and $100 million tend to skew towards the luxury segment. There are over 10,400 wineries in the United States, according to Wines Vines Analytics, and substantially more foreign brands who sell their wine into the United States.

The Duckhorn Portfolio sits at the intersection of scale, luxury and growth and we are the only pure-play U.S. luxury wine company of scale. We believe we compete with our competitors, large and small, on price, quality, perceived luxury authenticity, portfolio depth, innovation, product visibility and channel presence.

 

 

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Our commitment to environmental, social and governance leadership

We believe that leadership in the Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) challenges and opportunities we and our industry face is a central element of our Company’s mission because our success is tied to how responsibly and sustainably we run our business. Over the past few years, we have taken steps to address environmental concerns and climate change, strengthen the support of our employees and the communities in which we live and adhere to best practices in corporate governance and risk assessment and mitigation. As we evaluated how best to develop the ESG program at our Company, we decided that aligning our Company ESG objectives with elements of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (“UN SDGs”) would not only make the greatest impact on solving sustainability challenges in our society, but also best reflect our belief that how we manage business-relevant ESG factors impacts the long-term interests of our stakeholders. Further, we expect to release our ESG Stakeholder Report that will provide a discussion of our oversight and management of ESG elements that are material to our business under the industry-specific ESG framework recommended by the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (“SASB”) for the alcoholic beverage industry.

Our ESG initiative is organized into three pillars, which, in turn, contain focus areas for our attention and action:

 

 

Environmental.    The Environmental pillar is focused on climate change and sustainable winegrowing practices, improved resource utilization and responsible packaging.

 

 

Social.    The Social pillar is focused on promoting diversity and inclusion, enhancing community involvement and charitable engagement, reinforcing our holistic commitment to our employees and their safety, maintaining customer data privacy and encouraging the responsible consumption of our wines.

 

 

Governance.    The Governance pillar is focused on upholding our commitment to ethical business conduct, integrity and corporate responsibility, discerning climate-related risks and opportunities, enhancing sustainability reporting within the Company and integrating strong governance and enterprise risk management oversight across all aspects of our business.

Our ESG initiative is led by our Administration Department, which supports the execution of the initiative’s priorities by stakeholders across all departments in the Company. The Company’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors, as well as our President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, provide direction with respect to the evolving priorities of the ESG initiative and receive quarterly reports with respect to the quantitative and qualitative progress of goal attainment. In addition, we will report to our stockholders with respect to the results of the ESG initiative on a periodic basis, beginning with our inaugural report which we intend to publish in November 2021.

Farming and winery operations

We farm and control (owned or leased) 843 Estate vineyard acres throughout the premier grape-growing regions in California and Washington. Between 2015 and 2020, our Estate vineyards produced on average more than 10% of the grapes required to meet our wine production needs, while more than 85% of our total production was sourced from third-party growers and, to a lesser extent, the bulk wine market. Due to our ongoing reinvestment in our vineyard infrastructure, the natural lifecycle of grapevines and other business and agricultural considerations, the exact number of acres that are fallow, bearing fruit or producing a specific varietal is in perpetual fluctuation. We currently engage in a number of sustainable winegrowing practices and are working diligently to address climate change vulnerability consistent with UN SDG 13 (Climate Action), as part of the Environmental pillar of our ESG initiative. Also in accordance with SDG 15 (Life on Land), we further our commitment to responsible land stewardship by designing our vineyards to minimize impact on the surrounding environment and utilizing sophisticated farming practices to encourage soil enhancement, erosion control and healthy ecosystems by using native cover crops and water-efficient rootstock.

 

 

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To supplement our Estate-grown fruit, we purchase additional grapes from grower partners and, to a significantly lesser extent, bulk wine from trusted producers. We source grapes and bulk wine from more than 322 counterparties, many of whom we have worked with for decades. In addition to grapes and bulk wine, we use additives to support and develop the fermentation, filtration, clarification and stabilization of the wine from tank to bottle. We also use barrels sourced from France, glass bottles from Mexico and China, cork from Portugal and metal packaging components from the United States and Europe. We are focused on diversifying our supply chain and grape sourcing to be best positioned to respond to unforeseen natural events.

Quality control is a priority at every stage of wine production at The Duckhorn Portfolio, from harvesting the fruit at the desired brix to storage and transportation of the cased goods at the appropriate temperature. Our wineries leverage state-of-the-art technology designed to ensure optimal quality, allowing our winemaking teams a high level of visibility in reaching the desired results. Much of our wine is currently produced at an ISO-9001-certified plant. Once wine grapes have been harvested, the fruit is brought via truck from the vineyard to the winery to begin the winemaking process. Most of our winemaking activities occur at one of our eight wineries, under the direction of one of our winemaking teams, who design and implement quality control plans for each stage of the production process. Winemaking activities for some of our wines take place under our direction at custom crush partners. Between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2020, approximately 70% of our grape crush mix by net weight was processed at one of our wineries, and the remaining 30% was processed under our direction at custom crush partners. Great care is taken in the grape selection process, particularly with respect to our ultra-luxury wines, to maximize the quality of grape clusters that are used in our wines. Once the winemaking team is satisfied that the grapes are of consistent ripeness and quality, the grapes are destemmed, crushed and later pumped into fermentation tanks. During the fermentation process, the winemaking team continually observes, measures and mixes the juice as the sugars convert to alcohol. Once the fermentation process is complete, the wine is racked into barrels or storage tanks for cellaring. Nearly all of our wines are bottled at one of our facilities, which allows us to nimbly change bottling schedules at our facilities to meet changing demand. Across our facilities, we believe we have sufficient infrastructure, equipment and entitlements to bottle approximately three million gallons of wine per year. Our red wines generally have a harvest-to-release inventory lifecycle that can range from 15 to 48 months. Our white, rosé and sparkling wines generally have a harvest-to-release inventory lifecycle that can range from five to 35 months.

At the end of bottling, labeled bottles are loaded into cases and placed in storage ready for transit. Wine must be transported by trucks, trailers or rail that are able to maintain the proper temperature to maintain the quality and integrity of the wine. Most wine sold through the DTC channel, unless collected by the customer at a tasting room, is shipped from one of several storage locations via common carrier in compliance with applicable regulations. Wine sold through the wholesale channel in California is transported by carrier to the retail account. Wine sold in the wholesale channel to distributors outside of California and exported internationally is transported by carriers to the distributor or foreign importer that purchased the wine. The distributor or foreign importer stores our wines at staging locations and fulfills orders from on- and off-premise accounts in its respective territory.

In aligning our objectives with UN SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), which focuses on sustainable consumption and production, we aim to be a responsible consumer-packaged-goods producer and utilize reusable and recyclable packaging sourced from sustainable producers. As shipping is often the biggest producer of greenhouse gases in the wine supply chain, we have moved toward the use of lighter weight bottles, thereby decreasing our annual green house gas emissions. All of our packaging, including glass bottles, screwcaps, shipping boxes and cork, are recyclable and renewable, further reducing the carbon footprint in our packaging lifecycle.

 

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Our omni-channel sales and distribution platform

Once our wine is produced, there are two primary routes for it to reach our consumers: our wholesale channel, which includes direct sales to retail accounts in California and indirect sales through distributors, and our DTC channel, through which we sell directly to our consumers. In the United States, the alcoholic beverage sales regulatory framework generally prohibits alcohol producers from selling alcohol in the wholesale channel directly to retail accounts located outside of the producer’s home state. However, we are able to sell directly to retail accounts in California, as a benefit of our California (Type 02) winegrowers license.

Our wholesale business outside of California operates as a part of the state government-mandated three-tier system, which establishes three categories of licensees: the producer (the party that makes the wine), the distributor (the party that buys the wine from the producer and, in turn, sells it to the retailer) and the retailer (the party that sells the wine to the ultimate consumer).

We have an extensive network of salespeople across both our wholesale and DTC channels. We deploy our sales force, which included approximately 100 dedicated sales professionals as of July 31, 2021, in our wholesale channel to evangelize our vast network of distributors and retail accounts. Understanding how consumers will connect with brands is critical in allocating shelf and menu space, and while smaller luxury brands rely on distributors to introduce and promote their brands, our sales force takes direct action to deepen our existing distributor relationships as well as to work directly with retail accounts. In addition, our team of approximately 80 hospitality professionals (including seasonal and on-call employees) serve as ambassadors for our winery brands in our seven tasting rooms.

The wholesale channel

We distribute our wines in all 50 states and over 50 foreign countries. In some states, an exclusive distributor must be assigned for each brand, and that distributor retains long-term rights to sell the brand in that state. We pride ourselves on our strong relationships with our distributors and structure these relationships within applicable law to maximize continuity and flexibility. We are sensitive to the detrimental effect on consumer buying behavior if a wine is unavailable, and we work closely with distributors to seek to maximize inventory availability.

In California, our right to sell directly to retail accounts enhances profitability and allows us to have greater control of brand messaging and focus within the state. While few scaled producers utilize this route to market, The Duckhorn Portfolio has made use of this approach in California since 1980. In Fiscal 2021, California represented approximately 17% of our wholesale net sales, with approximately 2,600 retail accounts. Additionally, a small percentage of our wines are sold directly to accounts outside of California, including cruise ships, airlines and duty-free shops. Our margins for direct sales of wine are higher than our margins on wine we sell through distributors.

The DTC channel

Our DTC channel activities encompass seven tasting rooms, several popular and award-winning wine clubs, a robust multi-winery e-commerce website and universal shopping cart, a powerful Kosta Browne member allocation model and high-touch customer service teams.

We have historically hosted over 100,000 guests annually in our unique tasting rooms. One catalyst of the DTC business is by-appointment seated tasting experiences supported by highly trained wine specialists who connect guests with our rarest wines, dynamic people and beautiful properties. The tasting room experience is designed to turn each guest into a brand evangelist and encourage future connections and purchases throughout our portfolio and channels.

 

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Nearly all winery brands are available on the website via our universal shopping cart so that a consumer who discovers us for one brand or particular label will quickly be exposed to our other winery brands to fulfill their future wine needs. These strategies maximize each brand and property while driving awareness for our other world-class wines and properties, resulting in more and lasting connections with consumers and accounts. DTC is both a profitable channel and critical marketing engine that creates brand strength and drives sales of our most expensive wines.

Marketing

Strategy

Our marketing strategy is centered around our goal of making The Duckhorn Portfolio the producer of choice for luxury wine consumers and accounts. Our marketing activities are organized around three major functional areas: consumer marketing, account marketing and new product development. The consumer marketing activities are focused on increasing awareness and creating engaged consumers through public relations, advertising, rich content creation and social/digital engagement for both our wines and tasting experiences offered in our DTC channel. Our account marketing activities are focused on cultivating strong relationships and success with our top distributors and national chain accounts, including merchandising, promotions and distribution expansion. Our functional marketing approach enables us to effectively leverage and cross-promote our three top selling winery brands: Decoy, Duckhorn Vineyards and Kosta Browne.

New product development and innovation are core to our marketing strategy. A significant portion of sales are derived from labels developed within the last five years, including Postmark Napa Valley, Decoy Rosé and Duckhorn Vineyards Rutherford Cabernet. We believe the recent additions of a sparkling Decoy Brut Cuvee and a higher-priced Decoy Limited tier are paving the way for Decoy to become a luxury winery brand with both breadth and depth.

As a globally recognized wine brand, we strive to consistently and responsibly market our products in a legal, safe and compliant manner as part of the Social pillar of our ESG initiative. Consistent with UN SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), we promote health and safety by requiring our employees, partners and vendors involved in the promotion of our winery brands to engage in practices and messaging consistent with responsible and safe consumption of our wines.

Marketing spend

Our annual marketing spend is divided into three major components: account-focused activities to create unique and dynamic programs; consumer-focused activities to raise winery portfolio awareness, create engagement and ultimately make a sale; and marketing efforts for Kosta Browne. Account spending primarily includes support for national accounts and merchandising materials, support for the burgeoning e-commerce curbside pick-up and grocery delivery services and other advertising. Consumer spending includes public relations, advertising, events (both virtual and in-person), content creation and digital spend on podcast ads and influencer marketing. Given the industry consolidation over the past 20 years, having a strategic focus and budget dedicated to our top customers has yielded strong relationships and results. Kosta Browne marketing predominantly supports the three annual member offers, digital marketing programs and high-touch collateral for member unboxing experiences and events.

Social media and engagement

Our social media marketing is designed to employ captivating content to re-create the powerful community-building prowess of our founders online. With over 250,000 followers combined across Instagram, Facebook

 

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and Twitter as of the date of this prospectus, we surpass many of our wine company competitors and are capitalizing on the current social media consumption trends to drive awareness, engagement, lead generation and sales. Duckhorn Vineyards and Decoy primarily focus on driving awareness and engagement, while Kosta Browne is particularly adept at using “sign-up required” social engagement like the KB Kitchen Series featuring acclaimed top chefs to drive new DTC members. A material portion of the annual marketing budget is spent on influencer marketing, social advertising and social monitoring. These efforts primarily support our Decoy winery brand given its larger audience size.

Diversity and inclusion, which is one of the focus areas of the Social pillar of our ESG initiative as part of our commitment to UN SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), have been foundational elements in our content strategy for many years and can be seen threaded throughout our posts.

 

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Facilities

Vineyards

Through a combination of ownership and leases, we control 843 acres of Estate vineyards across Washington and California.

 

 

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Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir grown in the premier wine growing region of the North Coast of California are the focus of our Estate vineyard portfolio.

 

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Wineries and tasting rooms

The Duckhorn Portfolio controls and operates eight wineries located in California and Washington. Seven of these locations also feature tasting rooms where we welcome guests.

 

 

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Corporate offices

Our headquarters are located at 1201 Dowdell Lane, St. Helena, CA. This 12,000 square foot space is leased pursuant to an agreement that expires on March 1, 2024. We also lease approximately 8,700 square feet of office space at 3663 N. Laughlin Road, Santa Rosa, CA, a portion of which is leased until December 31, 2022 and the remainder of which is leased until December 31, 2024. In addition, many of our employees work in office space at our winery and tasting room facilities, consistent with applicable zoning and other regulations.

Seasonality

Our net sales are typically highest in the first half of our fiscal year due to increased consumer demand around major holidays. Net sales seasonality differs for wholesale and DTC channels, resulting in quarterly seasonality in our net sales that depends on the channel mix for that period. We typically experience a higher concentration of sales through our wholesale channel during our first and second fiscal quarters due to increased purchasing by distributors in anticipation of higher consumer demand during the holiday season, which has the effect of lowering average selling prices as a result of the use of distributor and retail sales discounts and promotions in our wholesale channel. See “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations—Key Operating Metrics.” In Fiscal 2021, our net sales in the first, second, third and fourth fiscal quarters represented approximately 27%, 25%, 27% and 21%, respectively, of our total net sales for the year. In Fiscal 2020, our net sales in the first, second, third and fourth fiscal quarters represented approximately 27%, 28%, 25% and 20%, respectively, of our total net sales for the year. In Fiscal 2019, our net sales in the first, second, third and fourth fiscal quarters represented approximately 27%, 27%, 26% and 20%, respectively, of our total net sales for the year.

Our team

Our values

Our values are an integral part of our Company’s success and provide the foundation for continued growth. Our company culture has evolved as we have grown, but it has remained rooted in the shared values that were central to the vision of our founders, who focused on respect, hard work, collaboration, innovation and a commitment to our mission. We are proud that the average tenure of our full-time employees, at approximately four years, meets the 2020 industry average of four years, which we believe is partially a result of programs in our employee enrichment focus area of the Social pillar of our ESG initiative. For example, because many roles at the Company have a physical component, we maintain a comprehensive injury and illness prevention program to enhance employee safety, consistent with UN SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being). We believe our company culture is a key competitive advantage and a strong contributor to our success.

Our employees

As of July 31, 2021, we had approximately 400 full-time employees and 74 part-time and seasonal employees. All of our employees are employed in the United States except for one. We rely on temporary personnel to supplement our workforce, primarily on our farming teams. None of our employees are represented by a labor union or covered by a collective bargaining agreement. We consider our relationship with our employees to be good.

Our organizational structure

Our Company is led by Alex Ryan, our President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, who began working at Duckhorn full time in 1988, and has served as our President since 2005, our Chief Executive Officer since 2011

 

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and our Chairman since 2012. Alex leads the Company’s executive team, which, in addition to Alex, is comprised of the five executive vice presidents, each of which leads one of the Company’s departments.

 

 

The Sales Department, which handles all wholesale wine sales in California, throughout the United States and in foreign markets, sales operations, strategic market development and related functions, is led by Pete Przybylinski, our Executive Vice President, Chief Sales Officer, who joined the Company in 1995.

 

 

The Marketing and DTC Department, which leads strategic marketing, business development, new product development, consumer marketing, trade marketing, corporate communications, public relations, DTC sales, wine clubs and the hospitality program globally, is led by Carol Reber, our Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing and DTC Officer, who joined the Company in 2010.

 

 

The Production Department, which includes all aspects of winemaking, farming, production, supply sourcing, grower relations and operations, is led by Zach Rasmuson, our Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, who joined the Company in 2003.

 

 

The Finance and IT Department, which manages capital structure, tax strategy, financial planning, reporting and analysis, accounting and IT, is led by Lori Beaudoin, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, who joined the Company in 2009.

 

 

The Administration Department, which houses legal, compliance, mergers and acquisitions, SEC reporting, human resources, ESG, governmental relations and safety, is led by Sean Sullivan, Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel, who joined the Company in 2019 after having previously advised the Company and our board of directors as outside counsel for nine years.

IT systems

We rely on various IT systems, owned by us and third parties, to effectively manage our sales and marketing, accounting, financial, legal and compliance functions. We have established policies designed to safeguard our systems and data. All of our tasting rooms use a computerized, third-party hosted point of sale system to enroll customers as wine club or offer list members, update member information, process sales transactions, as well as track and analyze sales, membership statistics, member tenure, billing performance and demographic profiles by member.

Our websites are hosted by third parties, and we rely on third-party vendors for regulatory compliance for order processing, shipments and e-commerce functionality. We believe these systems are scalable to support our growth plans. Our financial, legal, compliance, sales, production and other administrative computer systems are comprised of a variety of technologies designed to assist in the management and analysis of our revenues, costs and key operational metrics, inventory tracking and management, production records, as well as support the daily operations of our Company, some of which are hosted on third-party systems. Additionally, we utilize third parties to track our shipments and depletions and other third parties to supply us with specific retail information regarding our and our competitor’s sales volumes.

We recognize the value of enhancing and extending the uses of IT in virtually every area of our business. Our IT strategy is aligned to support our business strategy and operating plans in the foreseeable future. Consistent with the customer privacy focus area of the Social pillar of our ESG initiative, we also strive to maintain the integrity of customer information.

We maintain an ongoing comprehensive multi-year program to replace or upgrade key systems, enhance security and optimize their performance. Additionally, we understand the importance of safeguarding our technology systems. We guard our systems through a multilayer technology stack and a strict security protocol

 

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intended to aid in the harmonization of our multi-process security systems and solutions. We continuously monitor our systems, regularly conduct third-party security audits and testing of our systems to verify our network’s integrity to protect against the compromise of our systems from both internal and external sources.

In addition to identifying information security risks, we have put robust controls in place to seek to reduce or mitigate such risks. We further supplement our security processes with required monthly Company-wide security training and testing.

Regulatory matters

Regulatory framework

We, along with our contract growers, producers, manufacturers, distributors, retail accounts and ingredients and packaging suppliers, are subject to extensive regulation in the United States by federal, state and local government authorities with respect to registration, production processes, product attributes, packaging, labeling, storage and distribution of wine and other products we make.

We are also subject to state and local tax requirements in all states where our wine is sold. We monitor the requirements of relevant jurisdictions to maintain compliance with all tax liability and reporting matters. In California, we are subject to a number of governmental authorities, and are also subject to city and county building, land use, licensing and other codes and regulations.

Alcohol-related regulation

We are subject to extensive regulation in the United States by federal, state and local laws regulating the production, distribution and sale of consumable food items, and specifically alcoholic beverages, including by the TTB and the FDA. The TTB is primarily responsible for overseeing alcohol production records supporting tax obligations, issuing wine labeling guidelines, including grape source and bottle fill requirements, as well as reviewing and issuing certificates of label approval, which are required for the sale of wine through interstate commerce. We carefully monitor compliance with TTB rules and regulations, as well the state law of each state in which we sell our wines. In California, where most of our wines are made, we are subject to alcohol-related licensing and regulations by many authorities, including the ABC. ABC agents and representatives investigate applications for licenses to sell alcoholic beverages, report on the moral character and fitness of alcohol license applicants and the suitability of premises where sales are to be conducted and enforce California alcoholic beverages laws. We are subject to municipal authorities with respect to aspects of our operations, including applicable land use laws and the terms of our use permits. These regulations, as well as the land use permits to which our properties are subject, limit the production of wine, set restrictions on certain business activities, control the sale of wine and regulate the time, place and manner of hospitality in our tasting rooms, among other elements.

Employee and occupational safety regulation

We are subject to certain state and federal employee safety and employment practices regulations, including regulations issued pursuant to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Act (“OSHA”), and regulations governing prohibited workplace discriminatory practices and conditions, including those regulations relating to COVID-19 virus transmission mitigation practices. These regulations require us to comply with manufacturing safety standards, including protecting our employees from accidents, providing our employees with a safe and non-hostile work environment and being an equal opportunity employer. In California, we are also subject to employment and safety regulations issued by state and local authorities. Consistent with the employee

 

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enrichment focus area of the Social pillar of our ESG initiative and UN SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), we seek to go beyond required standards to give employees the tools and training that give rise to a proactive safety culture in which employees demonstrate our shared commitment to eliminating foreseeable dangers that could lead to injuries, work-related illnesses and other hazardous conditions. For example, our Estate vineyard employees are required to attend at least 16 hours of safety training annually.

Environmental regulation

As a result of our agricultural and wine production activities, we and certain third parties with which we work, are subject to federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations. Federal regulations govern, among other things, air emissions, wastewater and stormwater discharges, and the treatment, handling and storage and disposal of materials and wastes. State environmental regulations and authorities intended to address and oversee environmental issues are largely state-level analogs to federal regulations and authorities intended to perform the similar purposes. In California, we are also subject to state-specific rules, such as those contained in the California Environmental Quality Act, California Air Resources Act, Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, California Water Code sections 13300-13999 and Title 23 of the California Administrative Code and various sections of the Health and Safety Code. We are subject to local environmental regulations that address a number of elements of our wine production process, including air quality, the handling of hazardous waste, recycling, water use and discharge, emissions and traffic impacts. In addition to compliance with environmental laws and regulations, our practices are rooted in the focus of the Environmental pillar of our ESG initiative, which focuses on thoughtfully responding to climate change, using resources in a sustainable manner and shifting towards more responsible packaging.

Labeling regulation

Many of our wines are identified by their appellation of origin, which are among the most highly regarded wine growing regions in the world. An appellation may be present on a wine label only if it meets the requirements of applicable state and federal regulations that seek to ensure the consistency and quality of wines from a specific terroir. These appellations designate the specific geographic origin of most or all (depending on the appellation) of the wine’s grapes, and can be a political subdivision (e.g., a country, state or county) or a designated viticultural area. The rules for vineyard designation are similar. Most of our labels maintain the same appellation of origin from year to year. The label of our famed Duckhorn Vineyard Napa Valley Merlot from the Three Palms Vineyard, for example, has borne the same AVA and vineyard designation for decades. From time to time, our winemakers choose to change the appellation of one of our wines to take advantage of high-quality grapes in other areas or to change the profile of a wine, such as the 2018 change of appellation of our Decoy Cabernet Sauvignon from Sonoma County to California.

Agricultural and production-related regulation

In addition to the federal, state and local authorities which govern our business and activities in the areas noted above, we are also subject to regulations specific to agriculture and production activities. These rules allow regulators to inspect facilities, dictate agricultural worker protocols, regulate and inspect equipment and records with respect to weights and measures, in addition to allowing regulators to promulgate regulations with respect to the health and safety of employees working in agricultural and production settings.

Privacy and security regulation

Our Company collects personal information from individuals. Accordingly, we are subject to several data privacy and security related regulations, including but not limited to: U.S. state privacy, security and breach

 

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notification laws; the GDPR; and other European privacy laws as well as privacy laws being adopted in other regions around the world. In addition, the FTC and many state attorneys general are interpreting existing federal and state consumer protection laws to impose evolving standards for the online collection, use, dissemination and security of information about individuals. Certain states have also adopted robust data privacy and security laws and regulations. For example, the CCPA, which took effect in 2020, imposes obligations and restrictions on businesses regarding their collection, use, and sharing of personal information and provides new and enhanced data privacy rights to California residents, such as affording them the right to access and delete their personal information and to opt out of certain sharing of personal information. In response to the data privacy laws and regulations discussed above and those in other countries in which we do business, we have implemented several technological safeguards, processes, contractual third-parties provisions, and employee trainings to help ensure that we handle information about our employees and customers in a compliant manner. We maintain a global privacy policy and related procedures, and train our workforce to understand and comply with applicable privacy laws.

Intellectual property

We strive to protect the reputation of our winery brands and rely on a combination of aggressive defense of our intellectual property rights and the maintenance of control over our web and social media presence to achieve what we believe is an optimal level of protection.

We establish, protect and defend our intellectual property in a number of ways, including through employee and third-party nondisclosure agreements, copyright laws, domestic and foreign trademark protections, intellectual property licenses and social media and information security policies for employees. We focus significant resources on tracking and monitoring our trademarks for potentially infringing marks. We, in conjunction with outside counsel, review information on a weekly basis from a number of sources, including the USPTO Official Gazette Watch, USPTO Pending Application Watch, COLA Watch and internal watch lists, as well as other foreign national gazettes, to uncover potentially infringing marks.

Our trademarks are valuable assets that reinforce the distinctiveness of our winery brand and our strong portfolio strength. As of July 31, 2021, we had three registered copyrights, 59 unique-mark trademarks, 24 pending trademark applications and 159 issued trademarks with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, foreign nations and international IP organizations, such as WIPO.

In addition to trademark protection, we own numerous URL designations, including Duckhorn.com, Decoywines.com, KostaBrowne.com, DuckhornPortfolio.com and DuckhornWineShop.com. We maintain and actively manage numerous company websites and social media accounts on social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn. We claim copyright ownership of all unique content created by and for our Company published on those websites and platforms.

We also rely on, and carefully protect, proprietary knowledge and expertise, including the sources of certain supplies, formulations, production processes, innovation regarding product development and other trade secrets necessary to maintain and enhance our competitive position.

Legal proceedings

From time to time, we are involved in legal proceedings and subject to claims that arise in the ordinary course of business. Although the results of legal proceedings and claims cannot be predicted with certainty, we believe we are not currently party to any legal proceedings which, if determined adversely to us, would individually or taken together have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, cash flows or financial

condition. We also pursue litigation to protect our legal rights and additional litigation may be necessary in the future to enforce our intellectual property and our contractual rights, to protect our confidential information or to determine the validity and scope of the proprietary rights of others.

 

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Management

Executive officers and directors

Below is a list of the names, ages, positions and a brief account of the business experience of the individuals who serve as our executive officers and directors as of the date of this prospectus.

 

     
Name    Age        Position
Alex Ryan      55        President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman

Lori Beaudoin

     61        Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

Sean Sullivan

     41        Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel

Pete Przybylinski

     53        Executive Vice President, Chief Sales Officer

Zach Rasmuson

     48        Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer

Carol Reber(1)

     53        Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing and DTC Officer

Daniel Costello

     40        Director

Melanie Cox

     61        Director

Charles Esserman

     63        Director

Michelle Gloeckler

     55        Director

Deirdre Mahlan

     59        Director

James O’Hara

     55        Director

 

(1)   Ms. Reber has given us notice of her intention to leave her position as Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer and DTC Officer, and is expected to depart the role when a new CMO is named, following the effectiveness of this registration statement.

Alex Ryan has served as our President since 2005, our Chief Executive Officer since 2011 and our Chairman of the board of directors since 2012. Mr. Ryan previously served as our General Manager and Chief Operating Officer beginning in 2000. Mr. Ryan moved to St. Helena in 1976 and began working at Duckhorn part-time during high school and joined the Company full-time after earning his degree in viticulture from California State University at Fresno in 1988. Mr. Ryan was the Vineyard Manager throughout the early 1990s, and later became the Vice President of Vineyard and Winery Operations. In the years since he became President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Ryan successfully launched the Migration brand, featuring the first Chardonnay in the Company’s three-decade history, rolled out an expanded Decoy line, established Canvasback in Washington State and spearheaded the acquisitions of Calera Wine Company in 2017 and Kosta Browne in 2018. Mr. Ryan was honored as the Wine Enthusiast Wine Star Awards Wine Executive of the Year in 2018. We believe Mr. Ryan’s extensive knowledge of the wine industry and his experience as a member of our management team qualifies him to serve on our board of directors.

Lori Beaudoin has served as our Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer since June 2009, and leads the accounting, financial reporting, financial planning and analysis and IT departments. From 2007 to 2009, Ms. Beaudoin served as Chief Financial Officer of the personal care segment of Hain Celestial Group, Inc. Prior to that role, Ms. Beaudoin served as Chief Financial Officer of Avalon Natural Products, Inc., a sponsor-backed consumer goods company. Ms. Beaudoin began her career in public accounting and has more than two decades of experience guiding sponsor-backed, growth-oriented consumer products companies. Ms. Beaudoin is a Certified Public Accountant and received her bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Idaho.

 

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Sean Sullivan has served as our Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel since February 2019, after having previously advised the Company and our board of directors as outside counsel from 2007 to 2016. From 2012 to 2019, Mr. Sullivan was an attorney at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, advising consumer products, life sciences and technology companies on IPOs and other securities offerings, mergers and acquisitions and public company SEC filings. Prior to that, Mr. Sullivan worked as an investment banker in Credit Suisse Group AG’s technology, media and telecom group, after having earlier worked as an attorney at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP. Mr. Sullivan received a JD from Columbia Law School and Bachelor of Arts degrees in economics and politics from St. Mary’s College of California.

Pete Przybylinski has served as our Executive Vice President, Chief Sales Officer since July of 2010. Mr. Przybylinski leads our wholesale sales team and focuses his efforts on team leadership, distributor management and executive-level strategy development. Prior to his current role, he held a number of sales roles of increasing responsibility in the organization since joining Duckhorn in 1995. Mr. Przybylinski holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Risk Management and Insurance from the University of Georgia, Terry College of Business.

Zach Rasmuson has served as our Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer since 2012, after serving as the winemaker and general manager for Goldeneye since joining the Company in 2003. Previously, Mr. Rasmuson worked for wineries such as Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Robert Sinskey Vineyards and Husch Vineyards. Mr. Rasmuson received his bachelor’s degree from St. John’s College.

Carol Reber has served as our Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing and DTC Officer since 2010. Ms. Reber leads our marketing and DTC teams and focuses her efforts on team development, portfolio development, consumer marketing, trade marketing and guest experiences. She has more than two decades of experience guiding growth at entertainment and beverage-alcohol companies, including roles at E. & J. Gallo, Treasury Wine Estates and the Walt Disney Company. Ms. Reber holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of California, San Diego.

Charles Esserman has served as a director since 2016. Mr. Esserman has over 30 years of private equity investment experience and co-founded TSG Consumer Partners, where he currently serves as Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Investment Committee. Prior to TSG Consumer Partners, Mr. Esserman was with Bain & Company. Mr. Esserman holds a Bachelors of Science in electrical engineering and computer science, with top honors, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Master of Business Administration degree from Stanford University, where he was an Arjay Miller Scholar. We believe Mr. Esserman’s experience as co-founder and chief executive officer of a private equity firm and as a director of various companies qualifies him to serve on our board of directors.

James O’Hara has served as a director since 2016. Mr. O’Hara joined TSG Consumer Partners in 1998 and currently serves as President and senior member of the Investment Committee. Mr. O’Hara is a former practicing corporate and securities attorney and a former consultant with Bain & Company. Mr. O’Hara holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and philosophy and a JD, both from Georgetown University. We believe Mr. O’Hara’s experience as president of a private equity firm and as a director of various companies qualifies him to serve on our board of directors.

Daniel Costello has served as a director since 2016. Mr. Costello joined TSG Consumer Partners in 2007 and currently serves as Managing Director and member of the Investment Committee. Prior to TSG Consumer Partners, Mr. Costello served as an investment banker with Wachovia Securities. Mr. Costello holds a Bachelor of Science in finance from Miami University. We believe Mr. Costello’s experience as a managing director of a private equity firm and as a director of various companies qualifies him to serve on our board of directors.

 

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Melanie Cox has served as a director since 2021. Ms. Cox has served as the Chief Executive Officer of Backcountry.com LLC, a leading online retailer of premium outdoor sports gear and apparel, since June 2020. She has also served on its board of directors since March 2020. In July 2020, she was appointed to, and currently serves on, the board of directors, as well as the audit and compensation committees of Revolve Group, Inc. Prior to joining to Backcountry, she was an independent consultant to private equity firms including Apax Partners, Versa Capital Management, Guardian Capital Partners, Hitachi Consulting and was an operating executive at Prentice Capital Management and Cerberus Capital Management. She has held interim CEO roles in the skincare and medical device industries in addition to the fashion retail and wholesale segments Ms. Cox founded MBC Consulting and, from April 2017 until June 2020, and April 2009 until April 2015, Ms. Cox served as its Chief Executive Officer, where she advised private equity firms on retail strategy and diligence and also held interim chief executive officer roles at rue21 and American Laser Skincare. From April 2015 through March 2017, Ms. Cox served as managing director at Versa Capital Management, a private equity firm, where she also served as Chief Executive Officer on its behalf at Wet Seal. Each of rue21 and Wet Seal filed a voluntary petition under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in May 2017 and February 2017, respectively. Prior to Versa Capital Management, Ms. Cox held executive-level positions at various companies and private equity firms, including Scoop NYC, Gymboree, Urban Outfitters, Contempo Casuals, Rave Stores, Prentice Capital and Cerberus Capital Management. Ms. Cox completed coursework in American studies at the University of Texas at Austin. We believe Ms. Cox’s operational experience as chief executive officer and as a director of various companies qualifies her to serve on our board of directors.

Deirdre Mahlan has served as a director since 2021. From October 2015 to June 2020, she served as President of Diageo North America, where she oversaw Diageo’s US and Canadian spirits and beer businesses. From October 2010 to October 2015, she served as Chief Financial Officer of Diageo plc, prior to which she was Deputy Financial Officer after previously serving as Head of Tax and Treasury. Ms. Mahlan joined Diageo in 2001. Ms. Mahlan began her career at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where she gained experience in audit across a number of diversified global companies. She was appointed as a non-executive director of Experian plc in September 2012 and currently serves as the Audit Committee Chair. Ms. Mahlan is a certified public accountant and received her Masters of Business Administration degree with a concentration in finance and international business from Columbia University, and her bachelor’s degree in accounting from New York University. We believe Ms. Mahlan’s financial expertise as chief financial officer and as a director of various companies qualifies her to serve on our board of directors.

Michelle Gloeckler has served as a director since 2021. From August 2016 to January 2019, Ms. Gloeckler was the Chief Merchant and President International at Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. Previously, Ms. Gloeckler was an executive at Walmart from 2009 to 2016 and led Health & Wellness, Pharmacy, Consumables, Home and Grocery categories over her career. In addition, Ms. Gloeckler led the President’s Global Council of Women Leaders and the US Manufacturing commitment for Walmart. Prior to Walmart, Ms. Gloeckler spent 21 years at The Hershey Company in various sales and marketing executive roles. Ms. Gloeckler currently serves on the Board of Directors of BJ’s Wholesale Club (since September 2019), where she sits on the nominating and governance committee. Ms. Gloeckler served on Benson Hill Board and audit committee from 2019 to 2021. Ms. Gloeckler is an advisor to Blendid, GO-2 Devices and is a member of the LSA Dean’s Advisory Council at University of Michigan. Ms. Gloeckler has served on various not for profit boards, including Walton Arts Center, NACDS, Komen of the Ozarks, Network of Executive Women (National Chair) and United Way. Ms. Gloeckler holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communication and Psychology from the University of Michigan. We believe Ms. Gloeckler’s experience in retail, CPG and her executive leadership qualifies her to serve on our board of directors.

 

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Board composition and director independence

Our business and affairs are managed under the direction of the board of directors. Our certificate of incorporation provides that our board of directors shall consist of at least three directors but not more than fifteen directors and that the number of directors may be fixed from time to time by resolution of our board of directors. Our board of directors is divided into three classes, as follows:

 

 

Class I, which consists of Alex Ryan, Daniel Costello and Deirdre Mahlan, whose terms will expire at our annual meeting of stockholders to be held in the fiscal year ending July 31, 2022;

 

 

Class II, which consists of Melanie Cox and James O’Hara, whose terms will expire at our annual meeting of stockholders to be held in the fiscal year ending July 31, 2023; and

 

 

Class III, which consists of Charles Esserman and Michelle Gloeckler, whose terms will expire at our annual meeting of stockholders to be held in the fiscal year ending July 31, 2024.

Upon the expiration of the initial term of office for each class of directors, each director in such class shall be elected for a term of three years and serve until a successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. Subject to the terms of the Stockholders Agreement, any additional directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors or a vacancy may be filled by the directors then in office.

In connection with our IPO, we entered into a stockholders agreement with investment funds affiliated with TSG governing certain nomination rights with respect to our board of directors. Pursuant to the terms of the Stockholders Agreement, investment funds affiliated with TSG have the right to appoint a majority of the directors serving on our board. Under the agreement, we are required to take all necessary action to cause the board of directors to include individuals designated by TSG in the slate of nominees recommended by the board of directors for election by our stockholders, as follows:

 

 

for so long as TSG owns at least 50% of the shares of our common stock held by TSG immediately prior to the completion of the IPO, TSG will be entitled to designate four individuals for nomination;

 

 

for so long as TSG owns less than 50% but at least 25% of the shares of our common stock held by TSG immediately prior to the completion of the IPO, TSG will be entitled to designate three individuals for nomination;

 

 

for so long as TSG owns less than 25% but at least 10% of the shares of our common stock held by TSG immediately prior to the completion of the IPO, TSG will be entitled to designate two individuals for nomination; and

 

 

for so long as TSG owns less than 10% but at least 5% of the shares of our common stock held by TSG immediately prior to the completion of the IPO, TSG will be entitled to designate one individual for nomination.

Investment funds affiliated with TSG also have the exclusive right to remove their designees and to fill vacancies created by the removal or resignation of their designees, and we are required to take all necessary action to cause such removals and fill such vacancies at the request of TSG.

We are a “controlled company” under the rules of the NYSE because more than 50% of the voting power of our common stock will be held by investment funds affiliated with TSG. See “Principal and selling stockholders.” We intend to rely upon the “controlled company” exception relating to the board of directors and committee independence requirements under the rules of the NYSE. Pursuant to this exception, we are exempt from the rules that would otherwise require that our board of directors consist of a majority of independent directors

 

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and that our compensation committee and nominating and governance committee be composed entirely of independent directors. The “controlled company” exception does not modify the independence requirements for the audit committee, and we intend to comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules of the NYSE, which require that our audit committee have at least one independent director upon consummation of our IPO, consist of a majority of independent directors within 90 days following the effective date of our IPO and exclusively of independent directors within one year following the effective date of our IPO.

Our board of directors has determined that Melanie Cox, Deirdre Mahlan and Michelle Gloeckler are independent directors under the rules of the NYSE. In making this determination, the board of directors considered the relationships that Melanie Cox, Deirdre Mahlan, and Michelle Gloeckler have with our Company and all other facts and circumstances that the board of directors deemed relevant in determining their independence, including ownership interests in us.

Board committees

Our board of directors has three standing committees: the audit committee; the compensation committee; and the nominating and corporate governance committee. Each of the committees operates under its own written charter adopted by the board of directors, each of which is available on our website at ir.duckhorn.com/governance.

Pursuant to the terms of our stockholders agreement, investment funds affiliated with TSG have the right to appoint a director to serve on each of our board committees, for so long as investment funds affiliated with TSG has the right to designate a director for nomination, subject to applicable laws and NYSE regulations.

Audit committee

Our audit committee is composed of Daniel Costello, Michelle Gloeckler and Deirdre Mahlan, with Deirdre Mahlan serving as chairperson of the committee. Our audit committee has determined that Michelle Gloeckler and Deirdre Mahlan meet the definition of “independent director” under the rules of the NYSE and under Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. Within one year following the effective date of our IPO, the audit committee will consist exclusively of independent directors. None of our audit committee members simultaneously serves on the audit committees of more than three public companies, including ours. Our board of directors has determined that Deirdre Mahlan is an “audit committee financial expert” within the meaning of the SEC’s regulations and applicable listing standards of the NYSE. The audit committee’s responsibilities include:

 

 

appointing, approving the compensation of, and assessing the qualifications, performance and independence of our independent registered public accounting firm;

 

 

pre-approving audit and permissible non-audit services, and the terms of such services, to be provided by our independent registered public accounting firm;

 

 

reviewing the audit plan with the independent registered public accounting firm and members of management responsible for preparing our financial statements;

 

 

reviewing and discussing with management and the independent registered public accounting firm our annual and quarterly financial statements and related disclosures as well as critical accounting policies and practices used by us;

 

 

reviewing the adequacy of our internal control over financial reporting;

 

 

reviewing all related person transactions for potential conflict of interest situations and approving all such transactions;

 

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establishing policies and procedures for the receipt and retention of accounting-related complaints and concerns;

 

 

recommending, based upon the audit committee’s review and discussions with management and the independent registered public accounting firm, the inclusion of our audited financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K;

 

 

reviewing and assessing the adequacy of the committee charter and submitting any changes to the board of directors for approval;

 

 

monitoring our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements as they relate to our financial statements and accounting matters;

 

 

preparing the audit committee report required by the rules of the SEC to be included in our annual proxy statement; and

 

 

reviewing and discussing with management and our independent registered public accounting firm our earnings releases.

Compensation committee

Our compensation committee is composed of Melanie Cox, Deirdre Mahlan and James O’Hara, with James O’Hara, serving as chairperson of the committee. The compensation committee’s responsibilities include:

 

 

determining and approving the compensation of our chief executive officer, including annually reviewing and approving corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of our chief executive officer, and evaluating the performance of our chief executive officer in light of such corporate goals and objectives;

 

 

reviewing and approving the corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of our other executive officers;

 

 

reviewing and approving the compensation of our other executive officers;

 

 

appointing, compensating and overseeing the work of any compensation consultant, legal counsel or other advisor retained by the compensation committee;

 

 

conducting the independence assessment outlined in the rules of the NYSE with respect to any compensation consultant, legal counsel or other advisor retained by the compensation committee;

 

 

reviewing and assessing the adequacy of the committee charter and submitting any changes to the board of directors for approval;

 

 

reviewing and establishing our overall management compensation philosophy and policy;

 

 

overseeing and administering our equity compensation and similar plans;

 

 

reviewing and approving our policies and procedures for the grant of equity-based awards and granting equity awards;

 

 

reviewing and making recommendations to the board of directors with respect to director compensation; and

 

 

reviewing and discussing with management the compensation discussion and analysis to be included in our annual proxy statement or Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

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Nominating and corporate governance committee

Our nominating and corporate governance committee is composed of Daniel Costello, Melanie Cox and Michelle Gloeckler, with Daniel Costello serving as chairperson of the committee. The nominating and corporate governance committee’s responsibilities include:

 

 

developing and recommending to the board of directors criteria for board and committee membership;

 

 

establishing procedures for identifying and evaluating board of director candidates, including nominees recommended by stockholders;

 

 

identifying individuals qualified to become members of the board of directors;

 

 

recommending to the board of directors the persons to be nominated for election as directors and to each of the board’s committees;

 

 

developing and recommending to the board of directors a set of corporate governance principles;

 

 

articulating to each director what is expected, including reference to the corporate governance principles and directors’ duties and responsibilities;

 

 

reviewing and recommending to the board of directors practices and policies with respect to directors;

 

 

reviewing and recommending to the board of directors the functions, duties and compositions of the committees of the board of directors;

 

 

reviewing and assessing the adequacy of the committee charter and submitting any changes to the board of directors for approval;

 

 

provide for new director orientation and continuing education for existing directors on a periodic basis;

 

 

performing an evaluation of the performance of the committee; and

 

 

overseeing the evaluation of the board of directors and management.

Board oversight of risk management

While the full board of directors has the ultimate oversight responsibility for the risk management process, its committees oversee risk in certain specified areas. In particular, our audit committee oversees management of enterprise risks as well as financial risks. Our compensation committee is responsible for overseeing the management of risks relating to our executive compensation plans and arrangements and the incentives created by the compensation awards it administers. Our nominating and corporate governance committee oversees risks associated with corporate governance, business conduct and ethics, and is responsible for overseeing the review and approval of related party transactions. Pursuant to the board of directors’ instruction, management regularly reports on applicable risks to the relevant committee or the full board of directors, as appropriate, with additional review or reporting on risks conducted as needed or as requested by the board of directors and its committees.

Compensation committee interlocks and insider participation

None of the members of our compensation committee has been one of our officers or employees. None of our executive officers currently serves, or in the past fiscal year has served, as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving on our board of

 

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directors or compensation committee. For a description of transactions between us and members of our compensation committee and affiliates of such members, see “Certain relationships and related party transactions.”

Code of ethics

We have adopted a code of ethics that applies to all of our employees, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer. Our code of ethics is available on our website at ir.duckhorn.com/governance. If we make any substantive amendments to the code of ethics or grant any waiver, including an implicit waiver, from a provision of the code of conduct to our officers, we will disclose the nature of such amendment or waiver on that website or in a report on Form 8-K.

 

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Certain relationships and related party transactions

In addition to the compensation arrangements discussed in the sections titled “Management” and “Executive compensation,” the following is a description of each transaction since August 1, 2018 and each currently proposed transaction in which:

 

 

we have been or are to be a participant;

 

 

the amount involved exceeds or will exceed $120,000; and

 

 

any of our directors, executive officers, or holders of more than 5% of our capital stock, or any immediate family member of, or person sharing the household with any of these individuals had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.

Services agreement

On October 14, 2016, we entered into a services agreement with Mallard Management, LLC, an affiliate of TSG (the “Management Company”), pursuant to which the Management Company has provided certain management and advisory services to Mallard Holdco, LLC and certain of its subsidiaries, including the Company (the “Mallard Parties”). In exchange for these services, the Mallard Parties reimburses the Management Company for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by it relating to operations of the Mallard Parties and in connection with the provision of services pursuant to the management agreement. In Fiscal 2019, Fiscal 2020 and Fiscal 2021, we paid $15,686, $6,798 and $12,136, respectively, in respect of reimbursable expenses payable to the Management Company under the services agreement. In addition, we agreed to indemnify the Management Company and certain persons affiliated with the Management Company to the fullest extent permitted by law from and against all losses arising from the Management Company’s performance under the services agreement.

The services agreement automatically terminated in connection with the IPO.

Grape purchase agreement

On May 16, 2016, we entered into grape purchase agreement with Alex Ryan, our President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, to purchase up to 25 tons of Merlot grapes per year at the then-current market price, subject to annual adjustment to reflect changes in market prices. The agreement was amended in August 2017. The agreement may be terminated by either party, effective at the conclusion of any harvest year, upon delivery of written notice on or prior to March 1 of such year. During Fiscal 2020 and Fiscal 2021, we paid Mr. Ryan $71,628 and $55,372, respectively, pursuant to the grape purchase agreement.

Stockholders agreement

In connection with our IPO, we entered into a stockholders agreement with investment funds affiliated with TSG. Pursuant to the stockholders agreement, we are required to take all necessary action to cause the board of directors and its committees to include director candidates designated by TSG in the slate of director nominees recommended by the board of directors for election by our stockholders. These nomination rights are described in this prospectus in the sections titled “Management—Board Composition and Director Independence” and “Management—Board Committees.” The stockholders agreement also provides that we will obtain customary director indemnity insurance.

 

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Registration rights agreement

In connection with our IPO, we entered into a registration rights agreement with investment funds affiliated with TSG. The registration rights agreement provides TSG with certain demand registration rights, including shelf registration rights, in respect of any shares of our common stock held by it, subject to certain conditions. In addition, in the event that we register additional shares of common stock for sale to the public, we are required to give notice of such registration to TSG, and, subject to certain limitations, include shares of common stock held by them in such registration. The agreement includes customary indemnification provisions in favor of TSG, any person who is or might be deemed a control person (within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act) and related parties against certain losses and liabilities (including reasonable costs of investigation and legal expenses) arising out of or based upon any filing or other disclosure made by us under the securities laws relating to any such registration.

Indemnification agreements

Prior to the completion of our IPO, we entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors. These agreements require us to indemnify these individuals and, in certain cases, affiliates of such individuals, to the fullest extent permissible under Delaware law against liabilities that may arise by reason of their service to us or at our direction, and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy and is therefore unenforceable.

Employment agreements

We have entered into employment agreements with our named executive officers. For more information regarding the agreements with our named executive officers, see the section entitled “Executive and director compensation,” incorporated by reference to our Annual Report on Form 10-K in this prospectus.

Equity award grants to executive officers and directors

We have granted equity awards to certain of our executive officers and directors as more fully described in the section entitled “Executive and director compensation,” incorporated by reference to our Annual Report on Form 10-K in this prospectus.

Related person transactions policy

In connection with our IPO, we adopted a policy with respect to the review, approval and ratification of related person transactions. Under the policy, our audit committee is responsible for reviewing and approving related person transactions. In the course of its review and approval of related person transactions, our audit committee will consider the relevant facts and circumstances to decide whether to approve such transactions.

 

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Principal and selling stockholders

The following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common stock for (a) each person, or group of affiliated persons, known by us to own beneficially more than 5% of our outstanding shares of common stock, (b) each member of our board of directors, (c) each of our named executive officers, (d) all of our directors and executive officers as a group and (e) the selling stockholders.

Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with SEC rules. The information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. In general, under these rules a beneficial owner of a security includes any person who, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise has or shares voting power or investment power with respect to such security. A person is also deemed to be a beneficial owner of a security if that person has the right to acquire beneficial ownership of such security within 60 days. To our knowledge, except as otherwise indicated, and subject to applicable community property laws, the persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all common stock beneficially owned by that person.

The number of common stock outstanding and percentage of beneficial ownership before this offering set forth below, is computed on the basis of 115,046,793 share of our common stock issued and outstanding as of July 31, 2021. The number of shares of common stock and percentage of beneficial ownership after the consummation of this offering set forth below are based on the number of share to be issued and outstanding immediately after the consummation of this offering.

Except as otherwise noted below, the address for each person or entity listed in the table is c/o The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc., 1201 Dowdell Lane, St. Helena, California 94574.

 

         

(Name and address of

beneficial owner)

  Shares beneficially
owned prior to this
offering
    Number
of shares
being
offered
    Shares beneficially
owned after
this offering
(no exercise of
option to purchase
additional shares)
    Shares beneficially
owned after
this offering
(full exercise of
option  to purchase
additional shares)
 
  Number     Percentage     Number     Percentage     Number     Percentage  

5% stockholders:

             

Mallard Holdco, LLC(1)

    86,432,303       75.1%       11,497,000       74,935,030       65.1%       73,135,303       63.6%  

Directors and named executive officers:

             

Alex Ryan(2)

    1,902,283       1.7%       151,000       1,751,283       1.5%       1,751,283       1.5%  

Lori  Beaudoin(3)

    983,940       *       72,000       911,940       *       911,940       *  

Sean Sullivan(4)

    212,514       *       25,000       187,514       *       187,514       *  

Pete  Przybylinski(5)

    655,959       *       85,000       570,959       *       570,959       *  

Zach  Rasmuson(6)

    655,959       *       85,000       570,959       *       570,959       *  

Carol Reber(7)

    655,959       *       85,000       570,959       *       570,959       *  

Charles  Esserman(8)

                                         

Daniel Costello(8)

                                         

Melanie Cox

                                         

Michelle Gloeckler

                                         

Deirdre Mahlan

                                         

James O’Hara(8)

                                         

All executive officers and directors as a group (12 persons)

    5,066,614       4.4%       503,000       4,563,614       4.0%       4,563,614       4.0%  

 

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*   Represents beneficial ownership or voting power of less than 1%.

 

(1)   Consists of 86,432,303 shares of common stock, held directly by Mallard Holdco, LLC. Voting and investment decisions with respect to securities held by Mallard Holdco, LLC are made by a committee of three or more individuals, none of whom individually has the power to direct such decisions. The address of Mallard Holdco, LLC is c/o TSG Consumer Partners, LLC, 600 Montgomery Street, Suite 2900, San Francisco, California 94111.

 

(2)   Includes 87,648 shares of restricted stock subject to time-based vesting conditions, which vest on August 1, 2022, held by the Alex and Jeanine Ryan 2015 Revocable Trust, for which Mr. Ryan is trustee.

 

(3)   Includes 45,335 shares of restricted stock subject to time-based vesting conditions, which vest on August 1, 2022, held by the Brian and Lori Beaudoin Trust 2005, as amended and restated in 2012, for which Ms. Beaudoin is trustee.

 

(4)   Includes 42,503 shares of restricted stock subject to time-based vesting conditions, which vest on August 1, 2022, held by Mr. Sullivan.

 

(5)   Includes 30,224 shares of restricted stock subject to time-based vesting conditions, which vest on August 1, 2022, held by The Przybylinski Family Trust dated July 24, 2006, for which Mr. Przybylinski is trustee.

 

(6)   Includes 30,224 shares of restricted stock subject to time-based vesting conditions, which vest on August 1, 2022, held by Mr. Rasmuson.

 

(7)   Includes 30,224 shares of restricted stock subject to time-based vesting conditions, which vest on August 1, 2022, held by The Robert and Carol Reber Revocable Living Trust, for which Ms. Reber is trustee.

 

(8)   Does not include shares of common stock beneficially owned by Mallard Holdco, LLC. Mr. Esserman is Chief Executive Officer of TSG, Mr. Costello is Managing Director of TSG and Mr. O’Hara is President of TSG and therefore may be deemed to beneficially own such shares, however each disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares. The address of each of Messrs. Esserman, O’Hara and Costello is c/o TSG Consumer Partners, LLC, 600 Montgomery Street, Suite 2900, San Francisco, California 94111.

 

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Description of certain indebtedness

Credit facility

General

On October 14, 2016, we entered into certain credit facilities with Bank of the West as the administrative agent. The credit facilities originally consisted of (i) a first lien facility of $135.0 million term loan, $280.0 million revolver and $25.0 million capital expenditure loan and (ii) a second lien facility consisting of $25.0 million term loan. On April 19, 2018, parties amended the first lien facility to add a new tranche of revolving loan facility of $100.0 million, thus increasing the total commitments from $440.0 million to $540.0 million and we repaid the second lien facility of $25.0 million. On August 1, 2018, parties entered into a third amendment, pursuant to which commitments were increased and amended as follows: (i) $425.0 million as a revolving credit facility (the “Revolver Facility”), (ii) $123.4 million as term loan one (“Term Loan One”), (iii) $25.0 million as term loan two (“Term Loan Two” and, together with Term Loan One, the “Term Loans”) and (iv) $23.8 million as capital expenditure loans (the “Capital Expenditure Loans”). On August 1, 2018, our wholly-owned subsidiary, Duckhorn Wine Company, a California corporation, also entered into a bridge facility of $50.0 million which was repaid in full on November 28, 2018. On August 17, 2020, the Company entered into an amendment which amended the terms of the Capital Expenditure Loans and the Term Loans. This amendment extended the maturity dates of the Capital Expenditure Loans and Term Loan One to August 1, 2023, and modified the interest rate margins in the Credit Facility to reflect market conditions. On February 22, 2021, we amended the credit agreement governing the Credit Facility with the approval of the requisite lenders to allow The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc. (formerly Mallard Intermediate, Inc.) to be released from its obligations under the Credit Facility. Selway Wine Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, was added as a guarantor of the Credit Facility, and it provided security over its assets subject to certain limitations specified therein. The amendment further amended the terms of the Credit Facility to permit this public offering and to amend certain other terms as requested by the Company.

As of July 31, 2021, outstanding principal balances on the debt instruments were $124.0 million for the revolving line of credit, $8.9 million for the capital expenditure loan, $103.4 million for the term loan (tranche one) and $14.2 million for term loan (tranche two). During each period commencing on October 1 of any calendar year through and including January 31 of the immediately succeeding calendar year, we have the option to elect the Harvest Period Loan which allows us to increase the Revolver Facility from $425.0 million to $455.0 million.

The Credit Facility provides that the borrowers have the right at any time to request additional loans and commitments in aggregate amount of up to $100.0 million. The lenders under the Credit Facility are not under any obligation to provide any such additional term loans or commitments, and any additional term loans or increase in commitments are subject to certain conditions precedent and limitations.

Interest rates and fees

Borrowings under the Credit Facility bear interest depending on the availability as per the following table:

 

           

Level

 

   Average
availability
     Revolver Facility      Term Loan One      Term Loan Two      Capital
Expenditure Loans
 
   LIBOR      Adjusted
base rate
     LIBOR      Adjusted
base rate
     LIBOR      Adjusted
base rate
     LIBOR      Adjusted
base rate
 

I

     £ 33%        1.75%        0.75%        1.90%        0.90%        1.625%        0.625%        1.90%        0.90%  

II

   >  33% £ 66%        1.50%        0.50%        1.90%        0.90%        1.625%        0.625%        1.90%        0.90%  

III

     > 66%        1.25%        0.25%        1.90%        0.90%        1.625%        0.625%        1.90%        0.90%  

 

 

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In addition to paying interest on outstanding principal, we are required to pay a commitment fee to the lenders under the Revolver Facility in respect of the unutilized commitments thereunder at a rate ranging from 0.15% to 0.10% subject to availability.

Prepayments

We may voluntarily prepay any outstanding Term Loans or Capital Expenditure Loans at any time prior to the maturity date without any prepayment penalty.

Additionally, we are required to mandatorily prepay any loans outstanding under the Credit Facility upon occurrence of certain events. We are required to prepay loans under the Credit Facility subject to certain exceptions, with (1) 50% of net proceeds from issuance of equity interests, (2) 100% of the net cash proceeds of non-ordinary course asset sales or other dispositions of assets (including casualty events), subject to reinvestments rights and certain other exceptions, (3) 100% of net cash proceeds from receipt of extraordinary receipts subject to certain exceptions and (4) 100% of net cash proceeds of any incurrence of indebtedness by us. In the event of an overadvance, we are also required to repay amounts outstanding under the Revolver Facility in an amount sufficient to reduce the principal balance of the Revolver Facility to the borrowing base. Other than in case of receipt of proceeds from asset sale, the mandatory prepayments are to be applied first towards the scheduled principal installments of the Term Loans (pro rata between Term Loan One and Term Loan Two), second towards the scheduled principal installments of the Capital Expenditure Loans, third towards the Revolver Facility and lastly to cash collateralize any outstanding letters of credit.

Amortization and final maturity

The maturity date for all loans under the Credit Facility is August 1, 2023.

With respect to term loans, we are required to (i) pay $1,662,300 every fiscal quarter as amortization amount for term loan one and (ii) pay amortization with respect to Term Loan Two, in an amount equal to the aggregate of (a) 1/100th of 75% of the appraised “as-is” fair market value of certain real estate assets plus (b) 1/28th of 100% of the liquidation value of equipment owned by our subsidiary KB Wines Corporation.

With respect to Capital Expenditure Loans, we are required to repay on the first day of each fiscal quarter in an amount as follows: (i) the original principal amount of any capital expenditure loan, times (ii)(x) in respect of any Capital Expenditure Loan used to purchase eligible equipment consisting of wine barrels, 1/12th, (y) in case of any Capital Expenditure Loans used to purchase eligible equipment other than wine barrels, 1/28th and (z) in respect to Capital Expenditure Loans used to purchase any real estate, 1/100th.

Guarantees and security

The obligations have been guaranteed by us. The obligations are secured by substantially all assets of the borrowers including a first priority pledge of 100% of certain of the capital stock or equity interests held by Selway Wine Company and our wholly-owned subsidiary, Heritage Wine, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Covenants and other matters

The Credit Facility contains a number of covenants that, among other things and subject to certain exceptions, restrict our ability to:

 

 

incur additional indebtedness;

 

incur certain liens;

 

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make capital expenditures;

 

make distributions and payments, including dividends on capital stock;

 

make investments, loan or advances;

 

dispose certain assets;

 

make payments on subordinated debt;

 

enter into any hedging arrangement;

 

engage in transactions with affiliates;

 

consolidate or merge; and

 

alter the business conduction by us or any of the loan parties.

In addition, we are required to comply with the following financial covenants:

 

 

our debt to net worth ratio must be no greater than 1.50:1.00 measured at the end of each fiscal quarter; and

 

our fixed charge coverage ratio must be at least 1.25:1.00 measured at the end of each fiscal quarter.

The credit agreement contains certain customary affirmative covenants and events of default.

This summary describes the material provisions of the Credit Facility, but may not contain all information that is important to you. We urge you to read the provisions of the credit agreement governing the Credit Facility, which has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. See “Where you can find more information.”

 

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Description of capital stock

General

The following description of our capital stock is intended as a summary only and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, and to the applicable provisions of the DGCL.

Our authorized capital stock consists of 500,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share. As of July 31, 2021, there were 115,046,793 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding.

Common stock

Voting rights.    Holders of our common stock are entitled to cast one vote per share on all matters submitted to stockholders for their approval. Holders of our common stock are not entitled to cumulate their votes in the election of directors. Holders of our common stock vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to stockholders for their vote or approval.

Generally, all matters to be voted on by stockholders must be approved by a majority of votes cast affirmatively or negatively on a matter by stockholders (or, in the case of election of directors, by a plurality) voting together as a single class. Except as otherwise provided by law, amendments to the amended and restated certificate of incorporation must be approved by a majority or, in some cases, a super-majority of the combined voting power of all shares entitled to vote, voting together as a single class.

Dividend rights.    Holders of common stock share ratably (based on the number of shares of common stock held) if and when any dividend is declared by the board of directors out of funds legally available therefor, subject to any statutory or contractual restrictions on the payment of dividends and to any restrictions on the payment of dividends imposed by the terms of any outstanding preferred stock.

Liquidation rights.    On our liquidation, dissolution or winding up and after payment in full of all amounts required to be paid to creditors and to the holders of preferred stock having liquidation preferences, if any, each holder of common stock will be entitled to a pro rata distribution of any assets available for distribution to common stockholders.

Other matters.    No shares of common stock are subject to redemption or have preemptive rights to purchase additional shares of common stock. Holders of shares of our common stock do not have subscription, redemption or conversion rights. There is no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock. All the outstanding shares of common stock is validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

Preferred stock

Our board of directors may, without further action by our stockholders, from time to time, direct the issuance of shares of preferred stock in series and may, at the time of issuance, determine the designations, powers, preferences, privileges and relative participating, optional or special rights, as well as the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, including dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption and liquidation preferences, any or all of which may be greater than the rights of the common stock. Satisfaction of any dividend preferences of outstanding shares of preferred stock would reduce the amount of funds available for the payment of dividends on shares of our common stock. Holders of shares of preferred stock may be entitled to receive a preference payment in the event of our liquidation before any

 

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payment is made to the holders of shares of our common stock. Under certain circumstances, the issuance of shares of preferred stock may render more difficult or tend to discourage a merger, tender offer or proxy contest, the assumption of control by a holder of a large block of our securities or the removal of incumbent management. Upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of directors then in office, our board of directors, without stockholder approval, may issue shares of preferred stock with voting and conversion rights which could adversely affect the holders of shares of our common stock and the market value of our common stock. Upon consummation of this offering, there are no shares of preferred stock outstanding, and we have no present intention to issue any shares of preferred stock.

Stockholders agreement

In connection with our IPO, we entered into a stockholders agreement with investment funds affiliated with TSG pursuant to which investment funds affiliated with TSG have specified board representation rights, governance rights and other rights. See “Certain relationships and related party transactions—Stockholders agreement.”

Registration rights

Investment funds affiliated with TSG are entitled to rights with respect to the registration of their shares under the Securities Act. These registration rights are contained in our registration rights agreement. See “Certain relationships and related party transactions—Registration rights agreement.”

Anti-takeover effects of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws contain provisions that may delay, defer or discourage another party from acquiring control of us. We expect that these provisions will discourage coercive takeover practices or inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with the board of directors, which we believe may result in an improvement of the terms of any such acquisition in favor of our stockholders. However, they may also discourage acquisitions that some stockholders may favor.

These provisions include:

 

 

Classified board of directors.    Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our board of directors is divided into three classes of directors. As a result, approximately one-third of our board of directors will be elected each year. The classification of directors has the effect of making it more difficult for stockholders to change the composition of our board of directors. Our board of directors is composed of seven members.

 

 

No cumulative voting.    The DGCL provides that stockholders are not entitled to the right to cumulate votes in the election of directors unless the certificate of incorporation specifically authorizes cumulative voting. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation does not authorize cumulative voting.

 

 

Requirements for removal of directors.    Following the date on which the TSG no longer beneficially owns a majority of our common stock, directors may only be removed for cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75% of the voting power of our outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote thereon.

 

 

Advance notice procedures.    Our amended and restated bylaws establish an advance notice procedure for stockholder proposals to be brought before an annual meeting of our stockholders, including proposed

 

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nominations of persons for election to the board of directors. Stockholders at an annual meeting will only be able to consider proposals or nominations specified in the notice of meeting or brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the board of directors or by a stockholder who was a stockholder of record on the record date for the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has given our secretary timely written notice, in proper form, of the stockholder’s intention to bring that business before the meeting. Although the amended and restated bylaws do not give the board of directors the power to approve or disapprove stockholder nominations of candidates or proposals regarding other business to be conducted at a special or annual meeting, the amended and restated bylaws may have the effect of precluding the conduct of certain business at a meeting if the proper procedures are not followed or may discourage or deter a potential acquiror from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of our Company.

 

 

Actions by written consent; special meetings of stockholders.    Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, following the date on which TSG no longer beneficially owns a majority of our common stock, stockholder action can be taken only at an annual or special meeting of stockholders and cannot be taken by written consent in lieu of a meeting. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation also provides that, except as otherwise required by law, special meetings of the stockholders can only be called by or at the direction of the chairman of the board of directors, a majority of the board of directors, or, until the date on which TSG no longer beneficially owns a majority of our common stock, by the secretary at the request of the holders of 50% or more of our outstanding shares of common stock.

 

 

Supermajority approval requirements.    Following the date on which TSG no longer beneficially owns a majority of our common stock, certain amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and stockholder amendments to our bylaws will require the affirmative vote of at least 75% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote thereon.

 

 

Authorized but unissued shares.    Our authorized but unissued shares of common and preferred stock are available for future issuance without stockholder approval. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.

 

 

Business combinations with interested stockholders.    We have elected in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation not to be subject to Section 203 of the DGCL, an antitakeover law. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a business combination, such as a merger, with a person or group owning 15% or more of the corporation’s voting stock for a period of three years following the date the person became an interested stockholder, unless (with certain exceptions) the business combination or the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder is approved in a prescribed manner. While we will not be subject to any anti-takeover effects of Section 203, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains provisions that have the same effect as Section 203, except that they provide that investment funds affiliated with TSG will not be deemed to be an “interested stockholder,” regardless of the percentage of our voting stock owned by investment funds affiliated with TSG, and accordingly we will not be subject to such restrictions.

Exclusive forum

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation requires, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that (i) derivative actions or proceedings brought on behalf of the Company, (ii) actions against directors, officers and employees asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed to the Company or the Company’s stockholders, (iii) actions asserting a claim against the Company arising pursuant to the DGCL or the Company’s

 

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amended and restated certificate of incorporation or bylaws, (iv) actions to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation or amended and restated bylaws or (v) actions asserting a claim against the Company governed by the internal affairs doctrine, may be brought only in specified courts in the State of Delaware. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation also provides that the federal district courts of the United States of America will be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action against us or any of our directors, officers, employees or agents and arising under the Securities Act. However, Section 22 of the Securities Act provides that federal and state courts have concurrent jurisdiction over lawsuits brought the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. To the extent the exclusive forum provision restricts the courts in which claims arising under the Securities Act may be brought, there is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce such a provision. We note that investors cannot waive compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. This provision does not apply to claims brought under the Exchange Act. See “Risk factors—Risks related to our common stock and this offering – Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation designates courts in the State of Delaware as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our stockholders, and also provide that the federal district courts will be the exclusive forum for resolving any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act, each of which could limit our stockholders’ ability to choose the judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, stockholders or employees.”

Corporate opportunities

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we renounce any interest or expectancy in the business opportunities of TSG and of its officers, directors, agents, stockholders, members, partners, affiliates and subsidiaries and each such party shall not have any obligation to offer us those opportunities unless presented to one of our directors or officers in his or her capacity as a director or officer.

Limitations on liability and indemnification of directors and officers

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation limits the liability of our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL and requires that we will provide them with customary indemnification. We also entered into customary indemnification agreements with each of our directors that provide them, in general, with customary indemnification in connection with their service to us or on our behalf. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy and is therefore unenforceable. We also maintain officers’ and directors’ liability insurance that insures against liabilities that our officers and directors may incur in such capacities.

Transfer agent and registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC.

Listing

Our common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol “NAPA.”

 

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Shares eligible for future sale

Future sales of substantial amounts of our common stock, including shares issued upon the exercise of outstanding options, in the public market, or the perception that those sales may occur, could cause the prevailing market price for our common stock to fall or impair our ability to raise capital through sales of our equity securities.

As of July 31, 2021, we had outstanding an aggregate of 115,046,793 shares of common stock. All                  shares sold in this offering will be freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act unless purchased by our “affiliates,” as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act. Shares purchased by our affiliates may not be resold except pursuant to an effective registration statement or an exemption from registration, including the safe harbor under Rule 144 of the Securities Act described below.

The remaining shares of our common stock will continue to be “restricted securities,” as defined in Rule 144. As a result, absent registration under the Securities Act or compliance with Rule 144 thereunder or an exemption therefrom, these shares of common stock will not be freely transferable to the public. However, in connection with our IPO, we entered into a registration rights agreement with our existing stockholder, Mallard Holdco, LLC, that requires us to register under the Securities Act the resale of these shares of common stock. See “—Registration rights.” Such securities registered under any registration statement will be available for sale in the open market unless restrictions apply.

Lock-up agreements

We and each of our directors, executive officers and holders of substantially all of our outstanding capital stock or other equity interests in us have agreed that, without the prior written consent of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, we and they will not, subject to limited exceptions, directly or indirectly sell or dispose of any shares of common stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of common stock for a period of 90 days after the date of this prospectus. The lock-up restrictions and specified exceptions are described in more detail under “Underwriting.”

Rule 144

In general, under Rule 144, any person who is not our affiliate and has held their shares of common stock for at least six months, including the holding period of any prior owner other than one of our affiliates, may sell shares without restriction, subject to the availability of current public information about us. In addition, under Rule 144, any person who is not our affiliate and has not been our affiliate at any time during the preceding three months and has held their shares of common stock for at least one year, including the holding period of any prior owner other than one of our affiliates, would be entitled to sell an unlimited number of shares of common stock immediately upon the completion of this offering without regard to whether current public information about us is available.

A person who is our affiliate or who was our affiliate at any time during the preceding three months and who has beneficially owned restricted securities for at least six months, including the holding period of any prior owner other than one of our affiliates, is entitled to sell a number of shares of common stock within any three-month period that does not exceed the greater of: (i) 1% of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding, which equals approximately 1,150,468 shares as of July 31, 2021; and (ii) the average weekly trading volume of our common stock on the NYSE during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect to the sale.

 

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Sales under Rule 144 by our affiliates are also subject to certain manner of sale provisions, notice requirements and the availability of current public information about us.

Rule 701

In general, under Rule 701 under the Securities Act, any of our employees, directors, officers, consultants or advisors who acquired shares of common stock from us in connection with a written compensatory stock or option plan or other written agreement in compliance with Rule 701 is entitled to sell such shares in reliance on Rule 144 but without compliance with certain of the requirements contained in Rule 144. Accordingly, subject to any applicable lock-up agreements, under Rule 701 persons who are not our affiliates may resell those shares without complying with the minimum holding period or public information requirements of Rule 144, and persons who are our affiliates may resell those shares without compliance with Rule 144’s minimum holding period requirements.

Equity incentive plans

We have filed a registration statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act covering the shares of common stock that are subject to options and other awards issuable pursuant to our equity incentive plans. Shares covered by such registration statement are available for sale in the open market following the effective date, subject to certain Rule 144 limitations applicable to affiliates and the terms of lock-up agreements applicable to those shares.

Registration rights

Subject to the lock-up agreements described above, certain investment funds affiliated with TSG may demand that we register the sale of their shares under the Securities Act or, if we file another registration statement under the Securities Act other than a Form S-8 covering securities issuable under our equity plans or on Form S-4, may elect to include their shares of common stock in such registration. Following such registered sales, the shares will be freely tradable without restriction under the Securities Act, unless held by our affiliates. See “Certain relationships and related party transactions—Registration rights agreement.”

 

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Material U.S. federal income tax considerations for Non-U.S. Holders of shares of our common stock

The following discussion is a summary of certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences to Non-U.S. Holders (as defined below) of the purchase, ownership and disposition of shares of our common stock issued pursuant to this offering, but does not purport to be a complete analysis of all potential tax effects. The effects of other U.S. federal tax laws, such as estate and gift tax laws, and any applicable state, local or non-U.S. tax laws are not discussed. This discussion is based on the Code, Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial decisions and published rulings and administrative pronouncements of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), in each case, in effect as of the date hereof. These authorities may change or be subject to differing interpretations. Any such change or differing interpretation may be applied retroactively in a manner that could adversely affect a Non-U.S. Holder of shares of our common stock. We have not sought and will not seek any rulings from the IRS regarding the matters discussed below. There can be no assurance the IRS or a court will not take a contrary position to that discussed below regarding the U.S. federal tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of shares of our common stock.

This discussion is limited to Non-U.S. Holders that hold shares of our common stock as a “capital asset” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment). This discussion does not address all U.S. federal income tax consequences relevant to a Non-U.S. Holder’s particular circumstances. In addition, it does not address consequences relevant to Non-U.S. Holders subject to special rules, including, without limitation:

 

 

U.S. expatriates and former citizens or long-term residents of the United States;

 

 

persons holding shares of our common stock as part of a hedge, straddle or other risk reduction strategy or as part of a conversion transaction or other integrated investment;

 

 

banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions;

 

 

brokers, dealers or traders in securities;

 

 

“controlled foreign corporations,” “passive foreign investment companies” and corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax;

 

 

tax-exempt organizations or governmental organizations;

 

 

persons deemed to sell shares of our common stock under the constructive sale provisions of the Code;

 

 

persons who hold or receive shares of our common stock pursuant to the exercise of any employee stock option or otherwise as compensation;

 

 

tax-qualified retirement plans;

 

 

“qualified foreign pension funds” as defined in Section 897(l)(2) of the Code and entities all of the interests of which are held by qualified foreign pension funds; and

 

 

persons subject to special tax accounting rules as a result of any item of gross income with respect to shares of our common stock being taken into account in an applicable financial statement.

This discussion does not address the tax treatment of entities or arrangements classified as partnerships or other pass-through entities (including S corporations), for U.S. federal income tax purposes, or persons who hold shares of our common stock through partnerships or other pass-through entities or arrangements. If an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds shares of our

 

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common stock, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will depend on the status of the partner, the activities of the partnership and certain determinations made at the partner level. Accordingly, entities or arrangements classified as partnerships holding shares of our common stock and the partners in such partnerships should consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences to them.

THIS DISCUSSION IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TAX ADVICE. INVESTORS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE APPLICATION OF THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAWS TO THEIR PARTICULAR SITUATIONS, AS WELL AS ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF SHARES OF OUR COMMON STOCK ARISING UNDER THE U.S. FEDERAL ESTATE OR GIFT TAX LAWS OR UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY STATE, LOCAL OR NON-U.S. TAXING JURISDICTION OR UNDER ANY APPLICABLE INCOME TAX TREATY.

Definition of a Non-U.S. Holder

For purposes of this discussion, a “Non-U.S. Holder” is any beneficial owner of shares of our common stock that is neither a “U.S. person” nor an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership or other pass-through entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A U.S. person is any person that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is or is treated as any of the following:

 

 

an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;

 

 

a corporation created or organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia;

 

 

an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or

 

 

a trust that (1) is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and the control of one or more “United States persons” (within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) or (2) has a valid election in effect to be treated as a United States person for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Distributions

As described in the section entitled “Dividend policy,” we do not anticipate declaring or paying any cash dividends to holders of shares of our common stock in the foreseeable future. However, if we do make distributions of cash or property on shares of our common stock, such distributions will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Amounts not treated as dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes will constitute a return of capital and first be applied against and reduce a Non-U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its common stock, but not below zero. Any excess will be treated as capital gain and will be treated as described below under “—Sale or other taxable disposition of shares of our common stock.”

Subject to the discussion below on effectively connected income, FATCA (as defined herein), and backup withholding, dividends paid to a Non-U.S. Holder in respect of shares of our common stock will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at a rate of 30% of the gross amount of the dividends or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty, provided the Non-U.S. Holder furnishes a valid IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or other applicable documentation) certifying qualification for the lower treaty rate to the applicable withholding agent prior to the payment of dividends. A Non-U.S. Holder that does not timely furnish the required documentation to the applicable withholding agent, but that qualifies for a reduced treaty rate, may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim for refund with the IRS. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding their entitlement to benefits under any applicable income tax treaty.

 

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If dividends paid to a Non-U.S. Holder are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the Non-U.S. Holder maintains a permanent establishment in the United States to which such dividends are attributable), the Non-U.S. Holder will be exempt from the U.S. federal withholding tax described above. To claim the exemption, the Non-U.S. Holder must furnish to the applicable withholding agent a valid IRS Form W-8ECI (or successor form), certifying that the dividends are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States.

Any such effectively connected dividends will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at the regular graduated rates. A Non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation also may be subject to a branch profits tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on its effectively connected earnings and profits attributable to such dividends, as adjusted for certain items. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding any applicable tax treaties that may provide for different rules.

Sale or other taxable disposition of shares of our common stock

Subject to the discussion below on backup withholding and FATCA, a Non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any gain realized upon the sale or other taxable disposition of shares of our common stock unless:

 

 

the gain is effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the Non-U.S. Holder maintains a permanent establishment in the United States to which such gain is attributable);

 

 

the Non-U.S. Holder is a nonresident alien individual present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year of the disposition and certain other requirements are met; or

 

 

shares of our common stock constitute a U.S. real property interest (“USRPI”) by reason of our status as a U.S. real property holding corporation (“USRPHC”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Gain described in the first bullet point above generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at the regular graduated rates. A Non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation also may be subject to a branch profits tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on such effectively connected earnings and profits attributable to such gain, as adjusted for certain items.

Gain described in the second bullet point above will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty), but may be offset by certain U.S.-source capital losses (even though the individual is not considered a resident of the United States), provided that the Non-U.S. Holder has timely filed U.S. federal income tax returns with respect to such losses.

With respect to the third bullet point above, we believe we currently are not, and we do not anticipate becoming, a USRPHC. Because the determination of whether we are a USRPHC depends on the fair market value of our USRPIs relative to the fair market value of our non-U.S. real property interests and our other business assets, there can be no assurance that we are not currently a USRPHC and that we will not become a USRPHC in the future. Even if we are or were to become a USRPHC, gain arising from the sale or other taxable disposition by a Non-U.S. Holder of shares of our common stock will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax if shares of our common stock are “regularly traded” (as defined by applicable Treasury Regulations) on an established securities market, and such Non-U.S. Holder owned, actually and constructively, 5% or less of shares of our common stock throughout the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of the sale or other taxable disposition or the Non-U.S. Holder’s holding period.

 

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Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding any applicable income tax treaties that may provide for different rules.

Information reporting and backup withholding

Payments of dividends on shares of our common stock will not be subject to backup withholding, provided the applicable withholding agent does not have actual knowledge or reason to know the holder is a United States person and the holder either certifies its non-U.S. status, by furnishing a valid and properly completed IRS Form W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E or W-8ECI (or applicable successor forms), or otherwise establishes an exemption. However, we are required to file information returns with the IRS in connection with any dividends on shares of our common stock paid to the Non-U.S. Holder, regardless of whether any tax was actually withheld. In addition, proceeds of the sale or other taxable disposition of shares of our common stock within the United States or conducted through certain U.S.-related brokers generally will not be subject to backup withholding or information reporting, if the applicable withholding agent receives the certification described above and does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that such holder is a United States person, or the holder otherwise establishes an exemption. Proceeds from a disposition of shares of our common stock conducted through a non-U.S. office of a non-U.S. broker generally will not be subject to backup withholding or information reporting.

Copies of information returns that are filed with the IRS may also be made available under the provisions of an applicable treaty or agreement to the tax authorities of the country in which the Non-U.S. Holder resides or is established.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against a Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

Additional withholding tax on payments made to foreign accounts

Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code and related Treasury Regulations, together with other Treasury Department or IRS guidance issued thereunder, and intergovernmental agreements, legislation, rules and other official guidance adopted pursuant to such intergovernmental agreements (“FATCA”) generally impose a U.S. federal withholding tax of 30% on certain payments, including dividends on our common stock, to certain non-U.S. entities (including certain intermediaries) unless such persons establish that they are compliant with or exempt from FATCA. This regime requires, among other things, a broad class of persons to enter into agreements with the IRS to obtain, disclose and report information about their investors and account holders. An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and an applicable foreign country may, however, modify these requirements. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the possible impact of these rules on their investment in our common stock, and the possible impact of these rules on the entities through which they hold our common stock.

Under the applicable Treasury Regulations and administrative guidance, withholding under FATCA generally applies to payments of dividends on shares of our common stock. While withholding under FATCA would have also applied to payments of gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of stock on or after January 1, 2019, proposed Treasury Regulations (on which taxpayers may currently rely) eliminate FATCA withholding on payments of gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of stock entirely. Taxpayers generally may rely on these proposed Treasury Regulations until final Treasury Regulations are issued.

Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the potential application of withholding under FATCA to their investment in shares of our common stock.

 

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Underwriting

The selling stockholders are offering the shares of common stock described in this prospectus through a number of underwriters. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Jefferies LLC are acting as representatives of the underwriters. The selling stockholders have entered into an underwriting agreement with the underwriters. Subject to the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement, the selling stockholders have agreed to sell to the underwriters, and each underwriter has severally agreed to purchase, at the public offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, the number of shares of common stock listed next to its name in the following table.

 

   
Underwriter    Number
of shares
 

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

  

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

  

Jefferies LLC

  

 

 

The underwriters propose to offer the shares of common stock directly to the public at the offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus and to certain dealers at that price less a concession not in excess of $                per share. Any such dealers may resell shares to certain other brokers or dealers at a discount of up to $                per share from the offering price. After the public offering of the shares, the underwriters may change the offering price and the other selling terms. Sales of any shares made outside of the United States may be made by affiliates of the underwriters.

The underwriters have an option to buy up to additional 1,800,000 shares of common stock from the selling stockholders to cover sales of shares by the underwriters which exceed the number of shares specified in the table above. The underwriters have 30 days from the date of this prospectus to exercise this option to purchase additional shares. If any shares are purchased with this option to purchase additional shares, the underwriters will purchase shares in approximately the same proportion as shown in the table above. If any additional shares of common stock are purchased, the underwriters will offer the additional shares on the same terms as those on which the shares are being offered.

The underwriting fee is equal to the public offering price per share of common stock less the amount paid by the underwriters to the selling stockholders per share of common stock. The underwriting fee is $                per share. The following table shows the per share and total underwriting discounts and commissions to be paid to the underwriters assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares.

 

     
     Paid by the company      Paid by the selling
stockholder
 
      No exercise      Full exercise      No exercise      Full exercise  

Per share

   $                    $                    $                    $                

Total

   $        $        $        $    

 

 

We estimate that the total expenses of this offering, including registration, filing fees, printing fees and legal and accounting expenses, but excluding the underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $870,000. We have agreed to reimburse the underwriters for certain expenses in connection with this offering in the amount not exceeding $35,000. The underwriters have agreed to reimburse certain of our expenses incurred in connection with this offering.

A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the web sites maintained by one or more underwriters, or selling group members, if any, participating in the offering. The underwriters may agree to allocate a number of shares to underwriters and selling group members for sale to their online brokerage

 

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account holders. Internet distributions will be allocated by the representatives to underwriters and selling group members that may make Internet distributions on the same basis as other allocations.

We have agreed that we will not (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, or submit to, or file with, the SEC a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to, any shares of our common stock or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for any shares of our common stock, or publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge, loan disposition or filing or (2) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers all or a portion of the economic consequences associated with the ownership of any shares of common stock or any such other securities (regardless of whether any of these transactions are to be settled by the delivery of shares of common stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise), in each case without the prior written consent of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC for a period of 90 days after the date of this prospectus, other than the shares of our common stock to be sold in this offering.

The restrictions on our actions, as described above, do not apply to certain transactions, including (i) the issuance of shares of common stock or securities convertible into or exercisable for shares of our common stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange of convertible or exchangeable securities or the exercise of warrants or options (including net exercise) or the settlement of RSUs (including net settlement), in each case outstanding on the date of the underwriting agreement and described in this prospectus; (ii) grants of stock options, stock awards, restricted stock, RSUs, or other equity awards and the issuance of shares of our common stock or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of our common stock (whether upon the exercise of stock options or otherwise) to our current or former employees, officers, directors, advisors, or consultants pursuant to the terms of an equity compensation plan in effect as of the closing of this offering and described in this prospectus, provided that such recipients enter into a lock-up agreement with the underwriters; (iii) the issuance of up to 10% of the outstanding shares of our common stock, or securities convertible into, exercisable for, or which are otherwise exchangeable for, our common stock, immediately following the closing of this offering, in acquisitions or other similar strategic transactions, provided that such recipients enter into a lock-up agreement with the underwriters; (iv) our filing of any registration statement on Form S-8 relating to securities granted or to be granted pursuant to any plan in effect on the date of the closing of this offering and described in this prospectus or any assumed benefit plan pursuant to an acquisition or similar strategic transaction; (v) the common stock to be sold in this offering; (vi) facilitating the establishment of a trading plan on behalf of a shareholder, officer or director of the Company pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act for the transfer of shares of Stock; or (vii) the issuance of common stock or other securities to effect the redemption transactions described in this prospectus.

Our directors and executive officers, and all of our shareholders (such persons, the “lockup parties”) have entered into lock-up agreements with the underwriters prior to the commencement of this offering pursuant to which each lock-up party, with limited exceptions, for a period of 90 days after the date of this prospectus (such period, the “restricted period”), may not (and may not cause any of their direct or indirect affiliates to), without the prior written consent of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of our common stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for our common stock (including, without limitation, common stock or such other securities which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by such lock-up parties in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and securities which may be issued upon exercise of a stock option or warrant (collectively with the common stock, the “lock-up securities”)), (2) enter into any hedging, swap or other agreement or transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the lock-up securities, whether any such transaction

 

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described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of lock-up securities, in cash or otherwise, (3) make any demand for, or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any lock-up securities, or (4) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing. Such persons or entities have further acknowledged that these undertakings preclude them from engaging in any hedging or other transactions or arrangements (including, without limitation, any short sale or the purchase or sale of, or entry into, any put or call option, or combination thereof, forward, swap or any other derivative transaction or instrument, however described or defined) designed or intended, or which could reasonably be expected to lead to or result in, a sale or disposition or transfer (by any person or entity, whether or not a signatory to such agreement) of any economic consequences of ownership, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, of any lock-up securities, whether any such transaction or arrangement (or instrument provided for thereunder) would be settled by delivery of lock-up securities, in cash or otherwise.

The restrictions described in the immediately preceding paragraph and contained in the lock-up agreements between the underwriters and the lock-up parties do not apply, subject in certain cases to various conditions, to certain transactions, including (a) transfers or disposals of lock-up securities: (i) as bona fide gifts, or for bona fide estate planning purposes, (ii) by will, other testamentary document or intestate succession, (iii) to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the lock-up party or any immediate family member, (iv) to a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other entity of which the lock-up party and/or one or more members of the immediate family members of the lock-up party are, directly or indirectly, the legal and beneficial owner of all of the outstanding equity securities or similar interests, (v) to a nominee or custodian of a person or entity to whom a disposition or transfer would be permissible under clauses (i) through (iv), (vi) in the case of a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other business entity, (A) to another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other business entity that is an affiliate of the lock-up party, or to any investment fund or other entity controlling, controlled by, managing or managed by or under common control with the lock-up party or its affiliates or (B) as part of a distribution or other transfer or distribution to general or limited partners, members or stockholders of, or other holders of equity interest in, the lock-up party; (vii) by operation of law, (viii) to us from an employee upon death, disability or termination of employment of such employee, (ix) as part of a sale of lock-up securities acquired in open market transactions after the completion of this offering, (x) to us in connection with the vesting, settlement or exercise of restricted stock units, options, warrants or other rights to purchase shares of our common stock (including “net” or “cashless” exercise), including for the payment of exercise price and tax and remittance payments, (xi) pursuant to a bona fide third-party tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction approved by our board of directors and made to all shareholders involving a change in control, provided that if such transaction is not completed, all such lock-up securities would remain subject to the restrictions in the immediately preceding paragraph, or (xii) as a bona fide charitable contribution of up to an aggregate of 0.25% of lock-up securities beneficially owned by such holder and its affiliates as of the date of this prospectus before giving effect to the closing of this offering, provided that such transfer does not involve a disposition for value; (b) exercise of the options, settlement of RSUs or other equity awards, or the exercise of warrants granted pursuant to plans or other equity compensation arrangements described in this prospectus, provided that any lock-up securities received upon such exercise, vesting or settlement would be subject to restrictions similar to those in the immediately preceding paragraph; (c) the conversion of outstanding preferred stock, warrants to acquire preferred stock, or convertible securities into shares of our common stock or warrants to acquire shares of our common stock, provided that any common stock or warrant received upon such conversion would be subject to restrictions similar to those in the immediately preceding paragraph; (d) the establishment by lock-up parties of trading or disposition plans under Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act, provided that such plan does not provide for the transfer or disposition of lock-up securities during the restricted period; (e) the sale of the lock-up securities by the lock-up parties pursuant to the terms of the underwriting agreement; and (f) the transfer, conversion, reclassification, redemption or exchange of any securities pursuant to the redemption transactions described in this prospectus, provided that any shares of common stock or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common stock received in the reorganization transactions remain subject to the terms of the lock-up agreements.

 

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J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, in their sole discretion, may release the securities subject to any of the lock-up agreements with the underwriters described above, in whole or in part at any time.

We and the selling stockholders have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Our common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol “NAPA.”

In connection with this offering, the underwriters may engage in stabilizing transactions, which involves making bids for, purchasing and selling shares of common stock in the open market for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the common stock while this offering is in progress. These stabilizing transactions may include making short sales of common stock, which involves the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of shares of common stock than they are required to purchase in this offering, and purchasing shares of common stock on the open market to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales may be “covered” shorts, which are short positions in an amount not greater than the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares referred to above, or may be “naked” shorts, which are short positions in excess of that amount. The underwriters may close out any covered short position either by exercising their option to purchase additional shares, in whole or in part, or by purchasing shares in the open market. In making this determination, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market compared to the price at which the underwriters may purchase shares through the option to purchase additional shares. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the common stock in the open market that could adversely affect investors who purchase in this offering. To the extent that the underwriters create a naked short position, they will purchase shares in the open market to cover the position.

The underwriters have advised us that, pursuant to Regulation M of the Securities Act, they may also engage in other activities that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the common stock, including the imposition of penalty bids. This means that if the representatives of the underwriters purchase common stock in the open market in stabilizing transactions or to cover short sales, the representatives can require the underwriters that sold those shares as part of this offering to repay the underwriting discount received by them.

These activities may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of the common stock or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the common stock, and, as a result, the price of the common stock may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. If the underwriters commence these activities, they may discontinue them at any time. The underwriters may carry out these transactions on the NYSE, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the websites maintained by one or more underwriters, or selling group members, if any, participating in the offering. The underwriters may agree to allocate a number of shares of common stock to underwriters and selling group members for sale to their online brokerage account holders. Internet distributions will be allocated by the representatives to underwriters and selling group members that may make Internet distributions on the same basis as other allocations.

Sales of shares of common stock made outside of the United States may be made by affiliates of the underwriters.

 

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Other than in the United States, no action has been taken by us, the selling stockholders or the underwriters that would permit a public offering of the securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. The securities offered by this prospectus may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, nor may this prospectus or any other offering material or advertisements in connection with the offer and sale of any such securities be distributed or published in any jurisdiction, except under circumstances that will result in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations of that jurisdiction. Persons into whose possession this prospectus comes are advised to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to the offering and the distribution of this prospectus. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or a solicitation is unlawful.

Other relationships

Certain of the underwriters and their affiliates have provided in the past to us and our affiliates and may provide from time to time in the future certain commercial banking, financial advisory, investment banking and other services for us and such affiliates in the ordinary course of their business, for which they have received and may continue to receive customary fees and commissions. Further, certain of the underwriters or their respective affiliates are lenders under our Revolver Facility. In addition, from time to time, certain of the underwriters and their affiliates may effect transactions for their own account or the account of customers, and hold on behalf of themselves or their customers, long or short positions in our debt or equity securities or loans, and may do so in the future.

Selling restrictions

Other than in the United States, no action has been taken by us or the underwriters that would permit a public offering of the securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. The securities offered by this prospectus may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, nor may this prospectus or any other offering material or advertisements in connection with the offer and sale of any such securities be distributed or published in any jurisdiction, except under circumstances that will result in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations of that jurisdiction. Persons into whose possession this prospectus comes are advised to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to the offering and the distribution of this prospectus. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or a solicitation is unlawful.

Notice to prospective investors in Canada

The shares may be sold only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the shares must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.

Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.

 

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Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.

Notice to prospective investors in the United Kingdom

This document is only being distributed to and is only directed at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom, or (ii) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Order”), or (iii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling with Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order or (iv) persons to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended (the “FSMA”)) in connection with the issue or sale of any securities may otherwise lawfully be communicated or be caused to be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). The securities are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.

No offer of securities which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this prospectus may be made to the public in the United Kingdom, other than:

 

 

at any time to any legal entity which is a “qualified investor” as defined in Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation;

 

 

at any time to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than “qualified investors” as defined in Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation) in the United Kingdom subject to obtaining the prior consent of the underwriters; or

 

 

at any time in any other circumstances falling within Section 86 of the FSMA,

provided that no such offer of securities referred to above shall result in a requirement for us or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Section 85 of the FSMA or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the UK Prospectus Regulation.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression “an offer of securities to the public” in relation to any securities means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the securities and the expression “UK Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.”

Notice to prospective investors in the European Economic Area

In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area (each, a “Relevant State”), no offer of securities which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this prospectus may be made to the public in that Relevant State, other than:

 

 

at any time to any legal entity which is a “qualified investor” as defined in the Prospectus Regulation;

 

 

at any time to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than “qualified investors” as defined in the Prospectus Regulation), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the underwriters; or

 

 

at any time in any other circumstances falling within Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation,

 

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provided that no such offer of securities referred to above shall result in a requirement for us or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation or a supplemental prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the Prospectus Regulation.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer of securities to the public” in relation to any securities in any Relevant State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the securities, and the expression “Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.

Notice to prospective investors in Switzerland

The shares may not be publicly offered in Switzerland and will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (“SIX”) or on any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. This document has been prepared without regard to the disclosure standards for issuance prospectuses under art. 652a or art. 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or the disclosure standards for listing prospectuses under art. 27 ff. of the SIX Listing Rules or the listing rules of any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the shares or the offering may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.

Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the offering, the Company or the shares have been or will be filed with or approved by any Swiss regulatory authority. In particular, this document will not be filed with, and the offer of shares will not be supervised by, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA, and the offer of shares has not been and will not be authorized under the Swiss Federal Act on Collective Investment Schemes (“CISA”). The investor protection afforded to acquirers of interests in collective investment schemes under the CISA does not extend to acquirers of shares.

Notice to prospective investors in the Dubai International Financial Centre

This document relates to an Exempt Offer in accordance with the Markets Rules 2012 of the Dubai Financial Services Authority (“DFSA”). This document is intended for distribution only to persons of a type specified in the Markets Rules 2012 of the DFSA. It must not be delivered to, or relied on by, any other person. The DFSA has no responsibility for reviewing or verifying any documents in connection with Exempt Offers. The DFSA has not approved this prospectus supplement nor taken steps to verify the information set forth herein and has no responsibility for this document. The securities to which this document relates may be illiquid and/or subject to restrictions on their resale. Prospective purchasers of the securities offered should conduct their own due diligence on the securities. If you do not understand the contents of this document you should consult an authorized financial advisor.

In relation to its use in the Dubai International Financial Centre (the “DIFC”), this document is strictly private and confidential and is being distributed to a limited number of investors and must not be provided to any person other than the original recipient, and may not be reproduced or used for any other purpose. The interests in the securities may not be offered or sold directly or indirectly to the public in the DIFC.

Notice to prospective investors in Australia

This prospectus:

 

 

does not constitute a disclosure document or a prospectus under Chapter 6D.2 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (the “Corporations Act”);

 

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has not been, and will not be, lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (“ASIC”), as a disclosure document for the purposes of the Corporations Act and does not purport to include the information required of a disclosure document for the purposes of the Corporations Act; and

 

 

may only be provided in Australia to select investors who are able to demonstrate that they fall within one or more of the categories of investors, available under section 708 of the Corporations Act (“Exempt Investors”).

The shares may not be directly or indirectly offered for subscription or purchased or sold, and no invitations to subscribe for or buy the shares may be issued, and no draft or definitive offering memorandum, advertisement or other offering material relating to any shares may be distributed in Australia, except where disclosure to investors is not required under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act or is otherwise in compliance with all applicable Australian laws and regulations. By submitting an application for the shares, you represent and warrant to us that you are an Exempt Investor.

As any offer of shares under this document will be made without disclosure in Australia under Chapter 6D.2 of the Corporations Act, the offer of those securities for resale in Australia within 12 months may, under section 707 of the Corporations Act, require disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D.2 if none of the exemptions in section 708 applies to that resale. By applying for the shares you undertake to us that you will not, for a period of 12 months from the date of sale of the shares, offer, transfer, assign or otherwise alienate those shares to investors in Australia except in circumstances where disclosure to investors is not required under Chapter 6D.2 of the Corporations Act or where a compliant disclosure document is prepared and lodged with ASIC.

Notice to prospective investors in Hong Kong

The shares have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold in Hong Kong, by means of any document, other than (a) to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571 of the Laws of Hong Kong) (the “SFO”) of Hong Kong and any rules made thereunder; or (b) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32) of Hong Kong) (the “CO”) or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the CO. No advertisement, invitation or document relating to the shares has been or may be issued or has been or may be in the possession of any person for the purposes of issue, whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere, which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public of Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to shares which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” as defined in the SFO and any rules made thereunder.

Notice to prospective investors in Japan

The shares have not been and will not be registered pursuant to Article 4, Paragraph 1 of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act. Accordingly, none of the shares nor any interest therein may be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any “resident” of Japan (which term as used herein means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to or for the benefit of a resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan in effect at the relevant time.

 

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Notice to prospective investors in Singapore

Each underwriter has acknowledged that this prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, each underwriter has represented and agreed that it has not offered or sold any shares or caused the shares to be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase and will not offer or sell any shares or cause the shares to be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, and has not circulated or distributed, nor will it circulate or distribute, this prospectus or any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the shares, whether directly or indirectly, to any person in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor (as defined in Section 4A of the Securities and Futures Act (Chapter 289) of Singapore, as modified or amended from time to time (the “SFA”)) pursuant to Section 274 of the SFA, (ii) to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA) pursuant to Section 275(1) of the SFA and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.

Where the shares are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is:

 

 

a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or

 

 

a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an accredited investor,

securities or securities-based derivatives contracts (each term as defined in Section 2(1) of the SFA) of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the shares pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except:

 

 

to an institutional investor or to a relevant person, or to any person arising from an offer referred to in Section 276(4)(i)(B) of the SFA;

 

 

where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer;

 

 

where the transfer is by operation of law;

 

 

as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA; or

 

 

as specified in Regulation 37A of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Securities and Securities-based Derivatives Contracts) Regulations 2018.

 

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Legal matters

The validity of the issuance of our common stock offered in this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Ropes & Gray LLP, San Francisco, California. Ropes & Gray LLP and some of its attorneys are limited partners of RGIP, LP, which is an investor in certain investment funds affiliated with TSG and often a co-investor with such funds. Upon the consummation of the offering, RGIP, LP will directly or indirectly own less than 1% of the outstanding shares of our common stock. The underwriters are being represented by Latham & Watkins LLP, New York, New York.

Experts

The financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 31, 2021 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

Where you can find more information

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of common stock offered hereby. This prospectus, which constitutes a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement or the exhibits filed therewith. For further information with respect to us and the common stock offered hereby, please refer to the registration statement and the exhibits filed therewith. Statements contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus regarding the contents of any contract or any other document that is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement are not necessarily complete, and each such statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the full text of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC. The SEC’s website address is www.sec.gov.

We file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Such periodic reports, proxy statements and other information will be available for inspection and copying at the public reference room and website of the SEC referred to above.

Incorporation by reference

The rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission allow us to incorporate by reference into this prospectus the information we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This means that we are disclosing important information to you by referring to other documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, except for any information superseded by information contained directly in this prospectus. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below (other than any portions thereof, which under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and applicable Securities and Exchange Commission rules, are not deemed “filed” under the Exchange Act):

 

 

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2021, filed on October 4, 2021.

 

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If we have incorporated by reference any statement or information in this prospectus and we subsequently modify that statement or information with information contained in this prospectus, the statement or information previously incorporated in this prospectus is also modified or superseded in the same manner.

We will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request of such person, a copy of any or all of the documents referred to above which have been incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You should direct requests for those documents to The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc., 1201 Dowdell Lane, Saint Helena, California, 94574; Attention: Corporate Secretary (telephone: (707) 963-7108).

Exhibits to any documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus will not be sent, however, unless those exhibits have been specifically referenced in this prospectus.

 

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Part II

Information not required in prospectus

Item 13. Other expenses of issuance and distribution

The following table sets forth the costs and expenses, other than the underwriting discounts and commissions, payable by the registrant in connection with the sale of common stock being registered. All amounts are estimates except for the SEC registration fee and the FINRA filing fee.

 

   
Item   

Amount to be

paid

 

SEC registration fee

   $ 27,428  

FINRA filing fee

   $ 44,231  

Blue sky fees and expenses

   $ 10,000  

Printing and engraving expenses

   $ 150,000  

Legal fees and expenses

   $ 400,000  

Accounting fees and expenses

   $ 200,000  

Transfer agent and registrar fees and expenses

   $ 7,800  

Miscellaneous expenses

   $ 30,541  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 870,000  

 

 

Item 14. Indemnification of directors and officers

Section 145(a) of the DGCL grants each corporation organized thereunder the power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation), by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent shall not, of itself, create a presumption that such person did not act in good faith and in a manner which such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that such person’s conduct was unlawful.

Section 145(b) of the DGCL grants each corporation organized thereunder the power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person

 

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shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL enables a corporation in its certificate of incorporation or an amendment thereto to eliminate or limit the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its stockholders of monetary damages for violations of the director’s fiduciary duty, except (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL (providing for liability of directors for unlawful payment of dividends or unlawful stock purchases or redemptions) or (iv) for any transaction from which a director derived an improper personal benefit. Our restated certificate of incorporation includes a provision that eliminates the personal liability of directors for monetary damages for actions taken as a director to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL.

We have also entered into indemnification agreements with certain of our directors. Such agreements generally provide for indemnification by reason of being our director, as the case may be. These agreements are in addition to the indemnification provided by our certificate of incorporation and bylaws. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy and is therefore unenforceable.

In any underwriting agreement we enter into in connection with the sale of common stock being registered hereby, the underwriters will agree to indemnify, under certain conditions, us, our directors, our officers and persons who control us within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, against certain liabilities.

Our amended and restated bylaws indemnify the directors and officers to the full extent of the DGCL and also allow the board of directors to indemnify all other employees. Such right of indemnification is not exclusive of any right to which such officer or director may be entitled as a matter of law and shall extend and apply to the estates of deceased officers and directors. Section 145(f) of the DGCL further provides that a right to indemnification or to advancement of expenses arising under a provision of the bylaws shall not be eliminated or impaired by an amendment to such provision after the occurrence of the act or omission which is the subject of the civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding for which indemnification or advancement of expenses is sought.

We also maintain a directors’ and officers’ insurance policy. The policy insures directors and officers against unindemnified losses arising from certain wrongful acts in their capacities as directors and officers and reimburses us for those losses for which we have lawfully indemnified the directors and officers. The policy contains various exclusions that are normal and customary for policies of this type. Section 145(g) of the DGCL provides that a corporation shall have power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under that section.

Item 15. Recent sales of unregistered securities

None.

 

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Item 16. Exhibits and financial statement schedules

(a) Exhibits

The following documents are filed as exhibits to this registration statement.

 

   
Exhibit
number
     Description of exhibit
  1.1        Form of Underwriting Agreement
  3.1        Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 001-40240, filed on March 30, 2021)
  3.2        Amended and Restated Bylaws of The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 001-40240, filed on March 30, 2021)
  4.1        Form of Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A, File No. 333-253412, filed on March 3, 2021)
  5.1        Opinion of Ropes & Gray LLP
  10.1        Registration Rights Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 001-40240, filed on March 30, 2021)
  10.2        Stockholders Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-K, File No. 001-40240, filed on March 30, 2021)
  10.3        Form of Director Indemnification Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A, File No. 333-253412, filed on March 3, 2021)
  10.4        The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 001-40240, filed on March 30, 2021)
  10.5        Form of Non-Statutory Stock Option Agreement under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A, File No. 333-253412, filed on March 10, 2021)
  10.6        Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A, File No. 333-253412, filed on March 10, 2021)
  10.7        First Lien Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of October  14, 2016, among Mallard Intermediate, Inc., Mallard Buyer Corp., Vineyard Acquisition Sub LLC, Heritage Wine, LLC, Bank of the West, ING Capital LLC, American AgCredit, PCA, AgStar Financial Services, PCA/FLCA, City Union National Bank, and MUFG Union Bank, N.A. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-253412, filed on February 23, 2021)
  10.8        Amendment Number One to First Lien Loan and Security Agreement, dated July  28, 2017, entered into by and among Mallard Intermediate, Inc., Mallard Buyer Corp., each other Subsidiary of Mallard Intermediate, Inc., the financial institutions party to the Agreement from time to time as lenders and Bank of the West (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-253412, filed on February 23, 2021)

 

 

 

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Exhibit
number
     Description of exhibit
  10.9        Amendment Number Two to First Lien Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of April  19, 2018, entered into by and among Mallard Intermediate, Inc., Mallard Buyer Corp., each other Subsidiary of Mallard Intermediate, Inc., the Lenders party hereto and Bank of the West (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-253412, filed on February 23, 2021)
  10.10      Amendment Number Three to First Lien Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of August  1, 2018, entered into by and among Mallard Intermediate, Inc., Mallard Buyer Corp., each other Subsidiary of Mallard Intermediate, Inc., the Lenders party hereto and Bank of the West (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-253412, filed on February 23, 2021)
  10.11      Amendment Number Four to First Lien Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of October  30, 2018, entered into by and among Mallard intermediate, Inc., Mallard Buyer Corp., each other Subsidiary of Mallard Intermediate, Inc., the Lenders party hereto and Bank of the West (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-253412, filed on February 23, 2021)
  10.12      Amendment Number Five to First Lien Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of June  7, 2019, entered into by and among Mallard Intermediate, Inc., Mallard Buyer Corp., each other Subsidiary of Mallard Intermediate, Inc., the Lenders party hereto and Bank of the West (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-253412, filed on February 23, 2021)
  10.13      Amendment Number Six to First Lien Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of August  17, 2020, entered into by and among Mallard Intermediate, Inc., Mallard Buyer Corp., each other Subsidiary of Mallard Intermediate, Inc. the Lenders party hereto and Bank of the West (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-253412, filed on February 23, 2021)
  10.14      Amendment Number Seven to First Lien Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of February  22, 2021, entered into by and among Mallard Intermediate, Inc., Selway Wine Company, Mallard Buyer Corp., each other Subsidiary of Mallard Intermediate, Inc. the Lenders party hereto and Bank of the West (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-253412, filed on February 23, 2021)
  10.15      Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc., Duckhorn Wine Company and Alex Ryan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A, File No. 333-253412, filed on March 10, 2021)
  10.16      Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc., Duckhorn Wine Company and Lori Beaudoin (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A, File No. 333-253412, filed on March 10, 2021)
  10.17      Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc., Duckhorn Wine Company and Pete Przybylinski (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, File No. 001-40240, filed on October 4, 2021)
  10.18      Amended and Restated Mallard Holdco, LLC 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A, File No.333-253412, filed on February 23, 2021)

 

 

 

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Exhibit
number
     Description of exhibit
   10.19      Form of Class  M Common Unit Award Agreement under the Amended and Restated Mallard Holdco,  LLC 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No.  333-253412, filed on February 23, 2021)
   10.20      The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc. 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 001-40240, filed on March 30, 2021)
   10.21      [Reserved]
   10.22      The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc. 2021 Cash Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-253412, filed on February 23, 2021)
   10.23      Non-employee Director Letter Agreement, dated as of February 10, 2017, with Dan Duckhorn (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-253412, filed on February 23, 2021)
   10.24      Form of Deferred Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-253412, filed on February 23, 2021)
   10.25      Grape Purchase Agreement, dated as of May  11, 2016, between Duckhorn Wine Company and Alex  Ryan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.25 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-253412, filed on February 23, 2021)
   10.26      Amendment to Grape Purchase Agreement, entered into as of August  7, 2017, between Duckhorn Wine Company and Alex Ryan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.26 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-253412, filed on February 23, 2021)
   21.1        Subsidiaries of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 21.1 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, File No. 001-40240, filed on October 4, 2021)
   23.1        Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent registered public accounting firm
   23.2        Consent of Ropes & Gray LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
   24.1        Power of Attorney (included in the signature pages attached to this Registration Statement)

 

 

(b) Financial statement schedules

Schedules not listed above have been omitted because the information required to be set forth therein is not applicable or is shown in the financial statements or notes thereto.

Item 17. Undertakings

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:

 

(1)   For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance on Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be a part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

 

(2)   For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

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Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Saint Helena, State of California, on October 12, 2021.

 

The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc.
By:  

/s/ Alex Ryan

  Alex Ryan
  President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman

*                *                 *

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of Lori Beaudoin and Sean Sullivan as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign this registration statement. and any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) or supplements thereto and any new registration statement with respect to the offering contemplated thereby filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises hereby ratifying and confirming all the said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature    Title    Date

/s/ Alex Ryan

Alex Ryan

  

President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman

(Principal Executive Officer)

   October 12, 2021

/s/ Lori Beaudoin

Lori Beaudoin

  

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

   October 12, 2021

/s/ Daniel Costello

Daniel Costello

   Director    October 12, 2021

/s/ Melanie Cox

Melanie Cox

   Director    October 12, 2021

/s/ Charles Esserman

Charles Esserman

   Director    October 12, 2021

/s/ Michelle Gloeckler

Michelle Gloeckler

   Director    October 12, 2021

/s/ Deirdre Mahlan

Deirdre Mahlan

   Director    October 12, 2021

/s/ James O’Hara

James O’Hara

   Director    October 12, 2021

 

 

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