Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 


FORM 10-Q

 


 

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

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2007

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from             to            

 


COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Oregon   0-23939   93-0498284

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

  (Commission File Number)  

(IRS Employer

Identification Number)

14375 Northwest Science Park Drive   Portland, Oregon   97229
(Address of principal executive offices)     (Zip Code)

(503) 985-4000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock   The NASDAQ Stock Market

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

 


Indicate by check mark whether registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer  ¨        Accelerated filer  x        Non-accelerated filer  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

The number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on November 1, 2007 was 36,122,547.

 



Table of Contents

COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR COMPANY

SEPTEMBER 30, 2007

INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

 

     PAGE NO.

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  

Item 1 - Financial Statements - Columbia Sportswear Company (Unaudited)

  

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

   2

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

   3

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

   4

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

   5

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

   14

Item 3 - Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

   24

Item 4 – Controls and Procedures

   24

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

  

Item 1A – Risk Factors

   25

Item 6 – Exhibits

   29

Signature

   30

 

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Table of Contents

Item 1 – FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

    

September 30,

2007

   December 31,
2006
ASSETS      

Current Assets:

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 48,914    $ 64,880

Short-term investments

     66,907      155,170

Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $8,902 and $6,732, respectively

     393,643      285,858

Inventories, net (Note 2)

     320,593      212,323

Deferred income taxes

     28,759      26,740

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     17,115      12,713
             

Total current assets

     875,931      757,684

Property, plant, and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $159,683 and $145,569, respectively

     202,869      199,426

Intangibles and other assets (Note 3)

     53,174      52,681

Goodwill (Note 3)

     17,273      17,498
             

Total assets

   $ 1,149,247    $ 1,027,289
             
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY      

Current Liabilities:

     

Notes payable

   $ —      $ 3,540

Accounts payable

     79,828      88,107

Accrued liabilities

     75,305      64,379

Income taxes payable (Note 9)

     17,441      31,523

Deferred income taxes

     1,184      948

Current portion of long-term debt

     204      159
             

Total current liabilities

     173,962      188,656

Deferred income taxes

     9,911      7,794

Other liabilities (Note 9)

     25,811      136
             

Total liabilities

     209,684      196,586

Commitments and contingencies (Note 10)

     

Shareholders’ Equity:

     

Preferred stock; 10,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding

     —        —  

Common stock (no par value); 125,000 shares authorized; 36,122 and 35,998 issued and outstanding

     29,241      24,370

Retained earnings

     855,485      771,939

Accumulated other comprehensive income (Note 4)

     54,837      34,394
             

Total shareholders’ equity

     939,563      830,703
             

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 1,149,247    $ 1,027,289
             

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2007     2006     2007     2006  

Net sales

   $ 471,081     $ 454,140     $ 979,281     $ 925,904  

Cost of sales

     267,550       255,892       558,477       534,595  
                                

Gross profit

     203,531       198,248       420,804       391,309  

Selling, general, and administrative expense

     112,197       108,292       281,780       270,191  

Net licensing income

     (1,256 )     (1,226 )     (3,306 )     (3,350 )
                                

Income from operations

     92,590       91,182       142,330       124,468  

Interest income

     (2,090 )     (1,238 )     (7,150 )     (5,430 )

Interest expense

     30       311       99       690  
                                

Income before income tax

     94,650       92,109       149,381       129,208  

Income tax expense (Note 9)

     32,041       31,778       50,649       44,577  
                                

Net income

   $ 62,609     $ 60,331     $ 98,732     $ 84,631  
                                

Earnings per share (Note 5):

        

Basic

   $ 1.73     $ 1.69     $ 2.73     $ 2.33  

Diluted

     1.72       1.67       2.70       2.30  

Cash dividends per share:

   $ 0.14     $ —       $ 0.42     $ —    

Weighted average shares outstanding :

        

Basic

     36,112       35,687       36,157       36,366  

Diluted

     36,445       36,059       36,517       36,768  

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30,  
     2007     2006  

Cash Provided By (Used In) Operating Activities:

    

Net income

   $ 98,732     $ 84,631  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     22,193       17,729  

Loss on disposal of property, plant, and equipment

     227       289  

Deferred income tax provision (benefit)

     593       (759 )

Stock-based compensation

     5,429       8,436  

Tax benefit from employee stock plans

     2,902       2,536  

Excess tax benefit from employee stock plans

     (1,672 )     (1,023 )

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

    

Accounts receivable

     (97,097 )     (84,000 )

Inventories

     (101,679 )     (76,272 )

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     (3,992 )     (3,166 )

Other assets

     523       (46 )

Accounts payable

     (12,768 )     (12,925 )

Accrued liabilities

     8,691       17,367  

Income taxes payable

     11,875       18,128  
                

Net cash used in operating activities

     (66,043 )     (29,075 )
                

Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities:

    

Purchases of short-term investments

     (218,669 )     (196,805 )

Sales of short-term investments

     307,010       314,300  

Capital expenditures

     (20,132 )     (43,507 )

Acquisitions, net of cash acquired

     —         (35,377 )

Proceeds from sale of licenses

     —         1,700  

Proceeds from sale of property, plant, and equipment

     28       11  

Other liabilities

     12       (532 )
                

Net cash provided by investing activities

     68,249       39,790  
                

Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities:

    

Proceeds from notes payable

     29,550       36,835  

Repayments on notes payable

     (33,174 )     (53,759 )

Repayment of long-term debt

     (17 )     (6,610 )

Proceeds from issuance of common stock

     14,279       14,102  

Excess tax benefit from employee stock plans

     1,672       1,023  

Cash dividends paid

     (15,186 )     —    

Repurchase of common stock

     (17,739 )     (75,489 )
                

Net cash used in financing activities

     (20,615 )     (83,898 )
                

Net Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash

     2,443       1,090  
                

Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents

     (15,966 )     (72,093 )

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period

     64,880       101,091  
                

Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period

   $ 48,914     $ 28,998  
                

Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information:

    

Cash paid during the period for interest, net of capitalized interest

   $ 92     $ 742  

Cash paid during the period for income taxes

     39,529       26,738  

Supplemental Disclosures of Non-Cash Financing Activities:

    

Assumption of Montrail debt

   $ —       $ 5,833  

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR COMPANY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of presentation:

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the management of Columbia Sportswear Company (the “Company”) and in the opinion of management contain all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position as of September 30, 2007, the results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“generally accepted accounting principles”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company, however, believes that the disclosures contained in this report comply with the requirements of Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

Reclassifications:

Certain reclassifications of amounts reported in the prior period financial statements have been made to conform to classifications used in the current period financial statements.

Use of estimates:

The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported period. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates and assumptions. Some of these more significant estimates relate to revenue recognition, allowance for doubtful accounts, inventory, product warranty, and income taxes.

Concentration of credit risk:

The Company had one customer that accounted for approximately 10.8% of accounts receivable outstanding at December 31, 2006. No single customer accounted for greater than or equal to 10 percent of accounts receivable or revenues at September 30, 2007.

Cash and cash equivalents:

Cash and cash equivalents are stated at cost and include investments with maturities of three months or less at the date of acquisition. Cash and cash equivalents were $48,914,000 and $64,880,000 at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively, primarily consisting of money market funds and certificates of deposit.

Short-term investments:

Short-term investments consist of variable rate demand notes and obligations and municipal auction rate notes that generally mature up to 30 years from the purchase date. Investments with maturities beyond one year may be classified as short-term based on their highly liquid nature and because such marketable securities represent the investment of cash that is available for current operations. All cash and short-term investments are classified as available-for-sale securities and are recorded at fair value with any unrealized gains and losses reported, net of tax, in other comprehensive income. Realized gains or losses are determined based on the specific identification method. The Company has no investments considered to be trading securities. The carrying value of available-for-sale securities approximates fair market value due to their short-term interest rate reset periods. At December 31, 2006, short-term investments included $20,000,000 of variable rate demand notes and obligations and municipal auction rate notes that had been redeemed as of a trade date on or before December 31, 2006, but continued to accrue interest until cash settled in January 2007. At September 30, 2007, short-term investments did not include any such variable rate demand notes and obligations or municipal auction rate notes.

 

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COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR COMPANY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)

(Unaudited)

Stock-based compensation:

1997 Stock Incentive Plan

The Company’s 1997 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) provides for issuance of up to 7,400,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock, of which 1,302,085 shares were available for future grants under the Plan at September 30, 2007. The Plan allows for grants of incentive stock options, non-statutory stock options, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units and other stock-based awards. The Company uses original issuance shares to satisfy share-based payments.

Stock Options

Options to purchase the Company’s common stock are granted at prices equal to or greater than the fair market value on the date of grant. Options granted prior to 2001 generally vest and become exercisable ratably over a period of five years from the date of grant and expire ten years from the date of grant. Options granted after 2000 generally vest and become exercisable over a period of four years (25 percent on the first anniversary date following the date of grant and monthly thereafter) and expire ten years from the date of the grant, with the exception of most options granted in 2005. Most options granted in 2005 vest one year from the date of grant and expire ten years from the date of grant.

The Company estimates the fair value of stock options using the Black-Scholes model. Key input assumptions used to estimate the fair value of stock options include the exercise price of the award, the expected option term, the expected volatility of the Company’s stock over the option’s expected term, the risk-free interest rate over the option’s expected term, and the Company’s expected annual dividend yield. Assumptions are evaluated and revised as necessary to reflect changes in market conditions and the Company’s experience. Estimates of fair value are not intended to predict actual future events or the value ultimately realized by people who receive equity awards.

The following table shows the weighted average assumptions for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006:

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
     2007 (2)    2006    2007    2006

Expected term

   —      5.0 years    5.07 years    5.13 years

Expected stock price volatility

   —      31.71%    29.10%    32.74%

Risk-free interest rate

   —      4.78%    4.59%    4.80%

Expected dividend yield (1)

   —      0%    1%    0%

Estimated average fair value per option granted

   —      $17.59    $19.16    $18.29

 

(1)

On November 30, 2006, the Company began paying a quarterly cash dividend.

(2)

There were no stock options granted during the three months ended September 30, 2007.

The following table summarizes stock option activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2007:

 

     Number of
Shares
    Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
   Weighted Average
Remaining
Contractual Term
  

Aggregate Intrinsic
Value

(in thousands)

Options outstanding at December 31, 2006

   1,579,150     $ 41.93    6.78    $ 21,761

Granted

   254,942       61.97      

Cancelled

   (35,906 )     52.71      

Exercised

   (381,516 )     37.43      
                  

Options outstanding at September 30, 2007

   1,416,670     $ 46.48    6.80    $ 14,187
                        

Options vested and expected to vest at September 30, 2007

   1,352,171     $ 46.05    6.71    $ 13,990
                        

Options exercisable at September 30, 2007

   939,940     $ 41.59    5.79    $ 12,910
                        

 

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COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR COMPANY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)

(Unaudited)

The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above represents pre-tax intrinsic value that would have been realized if all options had been exercised on the last business day of the period indicated, based on the Company’s closing stock price on that day. Total stock option compensation expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 was $3,397,000 and $8,014,000, respectively. At September 30, 2007 and 2006, unrecognized costs related to stock options totaled approximately $7,650,000 and $8,949,000, respectively, before any related tax benefit. The unrecognized costs related to stock options are being amortized over the related vesting period using the straight-line attribution method. Unrecognized costs related to stock options at September 30, 2007 are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.64 years.

Restricted Stock Units

Service-based restricted stock units are granted at no cost to key employees and generally vest over three years from the date of grant. Performance-based restricted stock units are granted at no cost to certain members of the Company’s senior executive team, excluding the Chairman and the President and Chief Executive Officer and generally vest over a performance period of between two and one-half and three years with an additional required service period of one year. Restricted stock units vest in accordance with the terms and conditions established by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, and are based on continued service and, in some instances, on individual performance and /or Company performance.

Prior to 2007, the fair value of service-based and performance-based restricted stock units was determined based on the number of units granted and the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Effective January 1, 2007, the fair value of service-based and performance-based restricted stock units is discounted by the present value of the future stream of dividends over the vesting period using the Black-Scholes model. The relevant assumptions used in the Black-Scholes model to compute the discount are the vesting period, dividend yield and closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. This change in valuation method is the result of the Company’s initiation of a quarterly cash dividend in the fourth quarter of 2006.

The following table presents the weighted average assumptions for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007:

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30, 2007 (2)
   Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2007
     

Vesting period

   —      3.11 years

Expected dividend yield (1)

   —      1%

Estimated average fair value per restricted stock unit granted

   —      $60.61

 

 

(1)

On November 30, 2006, the Company began paying a quarterly cash dividend.

 

(2)

There were no restricted stock units granted during the three months ended September 30, 2007.

The following table summarizes the restricted stock unit activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2007:

 

     Number of
Shares
    Weighted Average
Grant Date Fair
Value Per Share

Restricted stock units outstanding at December 31, 2006

   99,688     $ 49.06

Granted

   95,540       60.61

Vested

   (21,522 )     49.75

Forfeited

   (12,249 )     53.09
            

Restricted stock units outstanding at September 30, 2007

   161,457     $ 55.50
            

Restricted stock unit compensation expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 was $2,032,000 and $422,000, respectively. At September 30, 2007 and 2006, unrecognized costs related to restricted stock units totaled approximately $6,668,000 and $4,295,000, respectively, before any related tax benefit. The unrecognized costs related to restricted stock units are being amortized over the related vesting period using the straight-line attribution method. These unrecognized costs at September 30, 2007 are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.24 years. The total fair value of restricted stock units vested during the nine months ended September 30, 2007 was $1,071,000. No restricted stock units vested in the nine months ended September 30, 2006.

 

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COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR COMPANY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)

(Unaudited)

Product warranty:

On certain products, the Company provides a limited warranty covering defects in material and workmanship. A reserve is established at the time of sale to cover estimated warranty costs based on the Company’s history of warranty repairs and replacements. A summary of accrued warranties and related activity is as follows (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2007     2006     2007     2006  

Balance at beginning of period

   $ 11,196     $ 10,400     $ 11,162     $ 9,907  

Charged to costs and expenses

     521       1,257       2,029       3,440  

Claims settled

     (320 )     (589 )     (1,794 )     (2,279 )
                                

Balance at end of period

   $ 11,397     $ 11,068     $ 11,397     $ 11,068  
                                

Recent Accounting Pronouncements:

In February 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities - including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115. This standard permits an entity to measure many financial instruments and certain other assets and liabilities at fair value on an instrument-by-instrument basis. SFAS No. 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company does not expect the adoption of this statement to have a material effect on its consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements. SFAS No. 157 establishes a framework for measuring the fair value of assets and liabilities. This framework is intended to increase consistency in how fair value determinations are made under various existing accounting standards that permit, or in some cases require, estimates of fair market value. SFAS No. 157 also expands financial statement disclosure requirements about a company’s use of fair value measurements, including the effect of such measures on earnings. SFAS No. 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company does not expect the adoption of this statement to have a material effect on its consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In July 2006, the FASB issued Financial Accounting Standards Interpretation No. 48 (“FIN 48”), Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109. FIN 48 creates a single model to address accounting for uncertainty in tax positions and clarifies the accounting for income taxes, by prescribing a minimum recognition threshold a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in the financial statements. FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, measurement, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. FIN 48 was adopted in the first quarter of 2007. The cumulative effect, if any, of adopting FIN 48 is recorded in retained earnings. See Note 9.

NOTE 2 – INVENTORIES, NET

Inventories are carried at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out method. The Company periodically reviews its inventory for excess, close-out and slow moving items and makes provisions as necessary to properly reflect inventory value.

Inventories, net, consist of the following (in thousands):

 

     September 30,
2007
   December 31,
2006

Raw materials

   $ 1,656    $ 2,219

Work in process

     9,026      10,664

Finished goods

     309,911      199,440
             
   $ 320,593    $ 212,323
             

 

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COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR COMPANY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)

(Unaudited)

NOTE 3 - INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND GOODWILL

Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are not amortized and are periodically evaluated for impairment. Intangible assets that are determined to have finite lives are amortized over their useful lives.

The following table summarizes the Company’s identifiable intangible assets balance (in thousands):

 

     September 30, 2007     December 31, 2006  
     Carrying
Amount
   Accumulated
Amortization
    Carrying
Amount
   Accumulated
Amortization
 

Intangible assets subject to amortization:

          

Patents

   $ 1,603    $ (512 )   $ 1,603    $ (381 )
                              

Intangible assets not subject to amortization:

          

Trademarks and trade names

   $ 46,771      $ 46,771   

Goodwill

     17,273        17,498   
                  
   $ 64,044      $ 64,269   
                  

Amortization expense for intangible assets subject to amortization is estimated to be $175,000 in each of 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 and $138,000 in 2011.

Other non-current assets totaled $5,312,000 and $4,688,000 at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively.

NOTE 4 - COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of applicable taxes, reported on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets consists of foreign currency translation adjustments and the unrealized gains and losses on derivative transactions. A summary of comprehensive income, net of related tax effects, is as follows (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2007     2006     2007     2006  

Net income

   $ 62,609     $ 60,331     $ 98,732     $ 84,631  

Other comprehensive income (loss):

        

Unrealized derivative holding gains (losses) arising during period

     942       1,672       (514 )     (2,397 )

Reclassification to net income of previously deferred (gains) losses on derivative transactions

     (1,064 )     (292 )     (1,503 )     1,132  

Foreign currency translation adjustments

     14,401       (1,676 )     22,460       8,182  
                                

Other comprehensive income (loss)

     14,279       (296 )     20,443       6,917  
                                

Comprehensive income

   $ 76,888     $ 60,035     $ 119,175     $ 91,548  
                                

Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of related tax effects, consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     Foreign
currency
translation
   Unrealized
holding losses
on derivative
transactions
    Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income

Balance at December 31, 2006

   $ 35,668    $ (1,274 )   $ 34,394

Activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2007

     22,460      (2,017 )     20,443
                     

Balance at September 30, 2007

   $ 58,128    $ (3,291 )   $ 54,837
                     

NOTE 5 - EARNINGS PER SHARE

SFAS No. 128, Earnings per Share requires dual presentation of basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”). Basic EPS is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock. For the calculation of diluted EPS, the basic weighted average number of shares is increased by the dilutive effect of stock option and restricted stock units determined using the treasury stock method.

 

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COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR COMPANY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)

(Unaudited)

A reconciliation of the common shares used in the denominator for computing basic and diluted EPS is as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
     2007    2006    2007    2006

Weighted average common shares outstanding, used in computing basic earnings per share

     36,112      35,687      36,157      36,366

Effect of dilutive stock options and restricted stock units

     333      372      360      402
                           

Weighted-average common shares outstanding, used in computing diluted earnings per share

     36,445      36,059      36,517      36,768
                           

Earnings per share of common stock:

           

Basic

   $ 1.73    $ 1.69    $ 2.73    $ 2.33

Diluted

     1.72      1.67      2.70      2.30

Stock options and service-based restricted stock units representing 313,174 and 613,089 shares of common stock were outstanding for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and 249,183 and 610,020 shares of common stock were outstanding for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, but these shares were excluded in the computation of diluted EPS because their effect would be anti-dilutive. In addition, performance-based restricted stock units representing 25,040 and 10,756 shares for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and 24,075 and 2,971 shares for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, were excluded from the computation of diluted EPS, as these shares were subject to performance conditions that had not been met.

Since the inception of the Company’s stock repurchase plan in 2004, the Company’s Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of $400,000,000 of the Company’s common stock and the Company has repurchased 6,286,603 shares under this program at an aggregate purchase price of approximately $301,615,000. The repurchase program does not obligate the Company to acquire any specific number of shares or to acquire shares over any specified period of time.

NOTE 6 - SEGMENT INFORMATION

The Company operates in one industry segment: the design, production, marketing and selling of active outdoor apparel, including outerwear, sportswear, footwear, related accessories and equipment.

The geographic distribution of the Company’s net sales, income before income tax, interest income (expense), income tax expense, depreciation and amortization expense and identifiable assets are summarized in the tables below (in thousands). In addition to the geographic distribution of net sales, the Company’s net sales by major product line are also summarized below. Inter-geographic net sales, which are recorded at a negotiated mark-up and eliminated in consolidation, are not material.

 

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COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR COMPANY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2007     2006     2007     2006  

Net sales to unrelated entities:

        

United States

   $ 284,156     $ 276,301     $ 556,709     $ 539,592  

Europe

     55,240       66,403       141,003       143,464  

Canada

     57,797       53,647       95,533       92,562  

Other International

     73,888       57,789       186,036       150,286  
                                
   $ 471,081     $ 454,140     $ 979,281     $ 925,904  
                                

Income before income tax:

        

United States

   $ 59,761     $ 58,695     $ 85,866     $ 72,379  

Europe

     7,017       11,160       10,074       11,879  

Canada

     15,848       13,645       21,971       20,259  

Other International

     10,007       7,835       24,404       19,618  

Interest and other income and eliminations

     2,017       774       7,066       5,073  
                                
   $ 94,650     $ 92,109     $ 149,381     $ 129,208  
                                

Interest (income) expense, net:

        

United States

   $ (2,457 )   $ (1,547 )   $ (7,636 )   $ (6,204 )

Europe

     1,040       796       2,102       2,129  

Canada

     (272 )     (7 )     (628 )     (36 )

Other International

     (371 )     (169 )     (889 )     (629 )
                                
   $ (2,060 )   $ (927 )   $ (7,051 )   $ (4,740 )
                                

Income tax expense:

        

United States

   $ 18,321     $ 24,867     $ 32,174     $ 33,520  

Europe

     6,458       856       6,969       616  

Canada

     6,574       5,449       8,355       7,499  

Other International

     688       606       3,151       2,942  
                                
   $ 32,041     $ 31,778     $ 50,649     $ 44,577  
                                

Depreciation and amortization expense:

        

United States

   $ 4,920     $ 3,853     $ 13,595     $ 11,980  

Europe

     2,453       1,644       7,233       4,727  

Canada

     58       106       186       327  

Other International

     364       243       1,179       695  
                                
   $ 7,795     $ 5,846     $ 22,193     $ 17,729  
                                
                

September 30,

2007

    December 31,
2006
 

Assets:

        

United States

       $ 1,072,457     $ 988,867  

Europe

         410,287       386,716  

Canada

         135,250       98,054  

Other International

         139,611       133,648  
                    

Total identifiable assets

       $ 1,757,605       1,607,285  

Eliminations and reclassifications

         (608,358 )     (579,996 )
                    

Total assets

       $ 1,149,247     $ 1,027,289  
                    
     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2007     2006     2007     2006  

Net sales to unrelated entities:

        

Outerwear

   $ 215,741     $ 217,802     $ 315,397     $ 316,186  

Sportswear

     161,896       146,653       449,389       400,635  

Footwear

     71,421       69,394       166,810       163,304  

Accessories and equipment

     22,023       20,291       47,685       45,779  
                                
   $ 471,081       454,140     $ 979,281       925,904  
                                

 

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COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR COMPANY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)

(Unaudited)

NOTE 7 - FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND RISK MANAGEMENT

As part of the Company’s risk management programs, the Company uses a variety of financial instruments, including foreign currency option and forward exchange contracts. The Company does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading purposes.

The Company hedges against the currency risk associated with firmly committed and anticipated transactions for the next twelve months denominated in European euros, Canadian dollars and Japanese yen. The Company accounts for these instruments as cash flow hedges. In accordance with SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activity, as amended, such financial instruments are marked to market with the offset to accumulated other comprehensive income and subsequently recognized as a component of cost of goods sold when the underlying transaction is recognized. Hedge effectiveness is determined by evaluating whether gains and losses on hedges will offset gains and losses on the underlying exposures. Hedge ineffectiveness was not material during the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006.

NOTE 8 - ACQUISITIONS

On March 31, 2006, the Company acquired a group of trademarks from Pacific Trail, Inc. (“Pacific Trail”) and the London Fog Group, Inc., as a result of a bankruptcy auction, for $20,400,000. On March 31, 2006, the Company sold the acquired Dockers’ brand licenses formerly owned by the London Fog Group for $1,700,000. The Pacific Trail® brand is known for producing quality outerwear apparel at an exceptional value. Net intangible assets acquired from Pacific Trail consisted of $14,800,000 for the trademarks and $3,900,000 for goodwill. The $14,800,000 of purchase price allocated to the trademarks was determined by management, based in part on a third party appraisal using established valuation techniques.

On January 26, 2006, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of Montrail, Inc. (“Montrail”) for cash consideration of $15,000,000 plus the assumption of certain liabilities less $225,000 for certain purchase price adjustments made in January 2007. The Montrail® brand is recognized as a premium outdoor footwear brand with a reputation for delivering technical, high performance trail running, hiking, and climbing footwear for outdoor enthusiasts. The acquisition was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting and the results of operations have been recorded in the Company’s consolidated financial statements since January 26, 2006. The cost of the acquisition was allocated on the basis of the estimated fair value of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed. The effect of this acquisition was not material to the Company’s results of operations; therefore, pro forma financial information has not been included. The fair values of assets and liabilities acquired are presented below (in thousands):

 

Cash

   $ 23

Accounts receivable

     1,778

Inventory

     6,878

Prepaids and other assets

     112

Property, plant and equipment

     597

Intangible assets

     11,914
      

Total assets acquired

     21,302
      

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     694

Note payable

     5,833
      

Total liabilities assumed

     6,527
      

Net assets acquired

   $ 14,775
      

Intangible assets acquired from Montrail consisted of $10,000,000 for trademarks, $714,000 for goodwill, $700,000 for a patent and $500,000 for order backlog. The $11,200,000 of purchase price allocated to the trademark, patent and order backlog was determined by management, based in part on a third party appraisal using established valuation techniques. Patents are subject to amortization over the lesser of 17 years from the date filed with the United States (U.S.) Patent and Trademark Office or the estimated useful life. At the time of the acquisition, the remaining useful life of the patent was approximately 11 years. The order backlog was amortized over the period for which the orders were shipped in 2006. At June 30, 2006, the order backlog was fully amortized.

The goodwill and trademarks acquired are not subject to amortization because these assets are deemed to have indefinite useful lives. These intangible assets are reviewed for impairment in accordance with SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.

 

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COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR COMPANY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)

(Unaudited)

NOTE 9 - INCOME TAXES

The Company adopted the provisions of FIN 48 on January 1, 2007. The Company did not recognize a material adjustment in the liability for unrecognized tax benefits as a result of the implementation of FIN 48. At the adoption date of January 1, 2007, the Company had $20,307,000 of unrecognized tax benefits, including related penalties and interest, all of which would affect the effective tax rate if recognized. At September 30, 2007, the Company had $25,733,000 of unrecognized tax benefits, including related penalties and interest, all of which would affect the effective tax rate if recognized.

The Company conducts business globally, and as a result, the Company or one or more of its subsidiaries files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state and foreign jurisdictions. The Company is subject to examination by taxing authorities throughout the world, including such major jurisdictions as Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the U.S. At the adoption date, the Company had effectively settled all material income tax matters through the year 2003.

During the third quarter of 2007, the Company effectively settled U.S. tax examinations for the years 2004 and 2005. As a result, the Company reassessed its unrecognized tax benefits under FIN 48 and recognized a tax benefit of $4,883,000 in the third quarter of 2007.

Internationally, the Company is currently under examination in Canada for the tax years 2002 through 2004; France for the tax years 2004 through 2006; and Italy for the tax years 2004 through 2007. Based on developments occurring during the third quarter relative to international tax audits, the Company remeasured certain international tax positions in the third quarter, which in aggregate resulted in the derecognition of $5,548,000 in prior year and current year tax benefits.

Open tax years, including those previously mentioned, contain matters that could be subject to differing interpretations of applicable tax laws and regulations as they relate to the amount, timing, or inclusion of revenue and expenses or the sustainability of income tax credits for a given examination cycle. Based on the status of these examinations and the protocol of finalizing examinations by the relevant taxing authorities, which could include formal legal proceedings, an estimate of the range of significant increase or decrease to previously recorded uncertain tax positions within 12 months of the adoption date cannot be made.

The Company recognizes interest expense and penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense. At the adoption date, the Company had approximately $2,971,000 of accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions. The liability for the payment of interest and penalties did not materially change at September 30, 2007.

Consistent with the provisions of FIN 48, the Company reclassified $21,384,000 of income tax liabilities at the adoption date from current to non-current liabilities because payment of cash is not anticipated within one year from the balance sheet date. These non-current income tax liabilities are recorded in Other Liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. Income tax liabilities for uncertain tax positions at December 31, 2006, prior to the adoption of FIN 48, have not been reclassified.

NOTE 10 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

Letters of credit outstanding were $16,231,000 and $26,422,000 at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively, issued for purchase orders of inventory.

There have not been any other material changes relating to the commitments and contingencies reported on the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

NOTE 11 - SUBSEQUENT EVENT

In October 2007, the Board of Directors approved a quarterly dividend of $0.16 per share, payable on November 29, 2007 to shareholders of record on November 15, 2007.

 

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Item 2 – MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

This quarterly report contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include any statements related to our expectations regarding future performance conditions or market position, including any statements regarding anticipated sales growth across markets, distribution channels and product categories, access to raw materials and factory capacity, and financing and working capital requirements and resources.

These forward-looking statements, and others we make from time to time, are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Many factors may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements, including the risks described below in Part II, Item 1A, Risk Factors. We do not undertake any duty to update forward-looking statements after the date they are made or to conform them to actual results or to changes in circumstances or expectations.

The following discussion of our results of operations and liquidity and capital resources, including known trends and uncertainties identified by management, should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes that appear elsewhere in this quarterly report.

All references to quarters relate to the quarter ended September 30 of the particular year.

Overview

Since our initial public offering in 1998, our net sales have steadily increased from $427.3 million in 1998 to $1,287.7 million in 2006, which equates to a compound annual growth rate of 15% for this period. Although we cannot predict future results with certainty, our long-term goal is to capitalize on global market opportunities for each of our brands and key product categories. We are committed to our growth strategies of enhancing the channel productivity of our existing customers, leveraging our brands internationally, further developing our existing merchandise categories, increasing our sales into the department store and specialty footwear channels and expanding the global awareness of our brands through license agreements. With our well-developed sourcing and distribution infrastructure and proven design and product development team, we believe that we are well positioned for future long-term growth.

Highlights for the quarter ended September 30, 2007 are as follows:

 

   

Our backlog for the spring 2008 selling season remained constant at $414.4 million as of September 30, 2007 compared to $414.5 million for the comparable period in 2006. Excluding changes in currency exchange rates, spring backlog decreased 3% to $401.7 million. Spring orders increased in our Other International markets and decreased in the United States and Europe. Global spring apparel orders remained flat, spring footwear orders slightly decreased and spring accessories and equipment orders slightly increased. Although we cannot predict with certainty any future results, our reported backlog is one indicator of our anticipated sales for the spring 2008 selling season. Many factors, however, could cause actual sales to differ materially from reported future order backlog. Moreover, our spring backlog is not indicative of, and should not be used in forecasting sales beyond the spring 2008 selling season.

 

   

Net sales increased $17.0 million, or 4%, to $471.1 million from $454.1 million for the comparable period in 2006. Excluding changes in currency exchange rates, net sales increased 2%. The increase in sales was driven by strong sales of Columbia brand outerwear in North America, Columbia brand sportswear in the United States and all major product categories in international distributor markets, offset by significant decreases in Pacific Trail outerwear sales in the United States and European apparel sales.

 

   

Gross margins decreased 50 basis points to 43.2% of net sales from 43.7% of net sales for the comparable period in 2006. The decrease in gross profit was primarily due to an increased volume of spring close-out product sales and higher international distributor shipments, both at lower gross margins, partially offset by favorable foreign currency exchange rates and lower freight costs.

 

   

Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expense increased $3.9 million, or 4%, to $112.2 million from $108.3 million for the comparable period in 2006. As a percentage of net sales, SG&A expense remained flat at 23.8% for the third quarters of 2007 and 2006. We expect full year 2007 SG&A expense, as a percentage of net sales, to expand compared to 2006 due primarily to incremental depreciation expense associated with the recent upgrade of our Portland, Oregon distribution center and the expansion of our distribution center in Cambrai, France.

 

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Table of Contents
   

Net income was $62.6 million or $1.72 per diluted share, compared to $60.3 million or $1.67 per diluted share, for the comparable period in 2006.

Results of Operations

Net income increased $2.3 million, or 4%, to $62.6 million for the third quarter of 2007 from $60.3 million for the comparable period in 2006. Diluted earnings per share was $1.72 for the third quarter of 2007 compared to $1.67 for the third quarter in 2006.

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the percentage relationship to net sales of specified items in our consolidated statements of operations:

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2007     2006     2007     2006  

Net sales

   100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %

Cost of sales

   56.8     56.3     57.0     57.7  
                        

Gross profit

   43.2     43.7     43.0     42.3  

Selling, general and administrative expense

   23.8     23.8     28.8     29.2  

Net licensing income

   (0.3 )   (0.2 )   (0.3 )   (0.3 )
                        

Income from operations

   19.7     20.1     14.5     13.4  

Interest income, net

   (0.4 )   (0.2 )   (0.8 )   (0.5 )
                        

Income before income tax

   20.1     20.3     15.3     13.9  

Income tax expense

   6.8     7.0     5.2     4.8  
                        

Net income

   13.3 %   13.3 %   10.1 %   9.1 %
                        

Quarter Ended September 30, 2007 Compared to Quarter Ended September 30, 2006

Net Sales: Consolidated net sales increased 4% to $471.1 million for the third quarter of 2007 from $454.1 million for the comparable period in 2006. Excluding changes in currency exchange rates, consolidated net sales increased 2%.

Reconciliation of Net Sales Changes to Net Sales Changes Excluding Changes in Currency Exchange Rates (a non-GAAP financial measure)

Net sales from year to year are affected by changes in selling prices and unit volume as well as changes in currency exchange rates where we have sales in foreign locations. Our net sales changes excluding the effect of changes in currency exchange rates are presented below. We disclose changes in sales excluding changes in currency exchange rates because we use the measure to understand sales growth excluding any impact from foreign currency exchange rate changes. In addition, our foreign sales management teams are generally evaluated and compensated in part based on the results of operations excluding currency exchange rate changes for their respective regions. Amounts calculated in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or GAAP, are denoted.

 

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Table of Contents
     Three Months Ended
September 30, 2007
 
     Amount
(millions)
    % Change  
Consolidated:     

Net sales change (GAAP)

   $ 17.0     4 %

Effect of currency exchange rate changes

     (6.5 )   (2 )
              

Net sales change excluding changes in currency exchange rates

   $ 10.5     2 %
              
United States:     

Net sales change (GAAP)

   $ 7.9     3 %
              
Europe:     

Net sales change (GAAP)

   $ (11.1 )   (17 )%

Effect of currency exchange rate changes

     (3.5 )   (5 )
              

Net sales change excluding changes in currency exchange rates

   $ (14.6 )   (22 )%
              
Canada:     

Net sales change (GAAP)

   $ 4.2     8 %

Effect of currency exchange rate changes

     (3.0 )   (6 )
              

Net sales change excluding changes in currency exchange rates

   $ 1.2     2 %
              
Other International:     

Net sales change (GAAP)

   $ 16.0     28 %

Effect of currency exchange rate changes

     —       —    
              

Net sales change excluding changes in currency exchange rates

   $ 16.0     28 %
              

The increase in net sales was driven by our Other International, United States and Canadian businesses, and was offset by a decrease in our European business. By product category, the increase in net sales was led by sportswear, followed by footwear and accessories and equipment, offset by a decrease in outerwear net sales.

Net sales from sportswear increased $15.3 million, or 10%, to $161.9 million for the third quarter of 2007 from $146.6 million for the comparable period in 2006. The increase in sportswear net sales was primarily attributable to an increase in sales in the United States, followed by Other International and Canada, offset by a slight decrease in sales in Europe. The increase in sportswear net sales was driven by continued growth in the United States resulting from a broad assortment of products, competitive pricing and related consumer demand, particularly for fleece and sweaters.

Net sales from outerwear decreased $2.0 million, or 1%, to $215.8 million for the third quarter of 2007 from $217.8 million for the comparable period in 2006. The decrease in outerwear net sales was due to a decline in our European business, offset by an increase in net sales in Canada, Other International and the United States. The decrease in outerwear net sales was partially offset by increased sales of Columbia brand outerwear in the United States, Canada and Other International markets. Growth in sales of Columbia brand outerwear in the United States was largely offset by a significant decrease in Pacific Trail outerwear sales.

Net sales from footwear increased $2.0 million, or 3%, to $71.4 million for the third quarter of 2007 from $69.4 million for the comparable period in 2006. The increase in footwear net sales was led by Other International and Europe, partially offset by a decrease in net sales in the United States and Canada. The increase in Other International footwear sales was largely attributable to sales of Columbia cold weather footwear to key international distributor markets. The decrease in footwear sales in the United States was primarily due to a decline in Sorel and Columbia cold weather footwear sales.

Net sales from accessories and equipment increased $1.7 million, or 8%, to $22.0 million for the third quarter of 2007 from $20.3 million for the comparable period in 2006. Accessories and equipment net sales increased in the United States and Other International, while net sales in Europe and Canada remained essentially flat. The increase in accessories and equipment in the United States was primarily due to an increase in backpacks and bags.

Net sales in the United States increased $7.9 million, or 3%, to $284.2 million for the third quarter of 2007 from $276.3 million for the comparable period in 2006. The increase in net sales in the United States was led by sportswear, followed by accessories and equipment and outerwear, partially offset by a decrease in footwear sales. Sportswear sales growth was primarily attributable to strong sales of fleece and sweaters. Growth in sales of Columbia brand outerwear was largely offset by a significant decrease in Pacific Trail outerwear sales. The decrease in footwear sales was primarily due to a decrease in sales of Sorel and Columbia cold weather footwear.

Net sales in Europe decreased $11.1 million, or 17%, to $55.3 million for the third quarter of 2007 from $66.4 million for the comparable period in 2006. Excluding changes in currency exchange rates, Europe’s net sales decreased 22%. The decrease in net sales in Europe was led by outerwear, followed by sportswear, partially offset by an increase in footwear sales, while accessories and equipment sales remained essentially flat. The decrease in outerwear sales was primarily due to a decrease in pre-season fall orders as a result of the extended periods of unseasonably warm weather conditions throughout Western Europe during the fall and winter seasons of 2006, which resulted in retailers buying less outerwear for the 2007 fall season.

 

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Table of Contents

Net sales in Canada increased $4.2 million, or 8%, to $57.8 million for the third quarter of 2007 from $53.6 million for the comparable period in 2006. Excluding changes in currency exchange rates, Canada’s net sales increased 2%. The increase in net sales in Canada was led by outerwear and sportswear offset by a decrease in net sales of footwear, while accessories and equipment sales remained essentially flat. The increase in sales was driven by strong growth in Columbia brand outerwear sales.

Net sales from Other International, which includes our direct business in Japan and Korea and our international distributor markets worldwide, increased $16.0 million, or 28%, to $73.8 million for the third quarter of 2007 from $57.8 million for the comparable period in 2006. The increase in Other International sales was not affected by changes in currency exchange rates. Sales growth for Other International was predominantly the result of increased sales by our international distributors, followed by increased sales by our Japanese and Korean businesses. International distributor sales growth was the result of a shift in timing of shipments from the second quarter to the third quarter of 2007 as well as the continued strength of our distributors in Russia and Hong Kong/China.

Gross Profit: Gross profit, as a percentage of net sales, decreased to 43.2% for the third quarter of 2007 from 43.7% for the comparable period in 2006. The decrease in gross profit was predominantly due to a higher volume of spring close-out product sales and higher international distributor shipments, both at lower margins, partially offset by favorable effects of foreign currency exchange rates and lower freight costs. While our international distributor sales generally carry lower gross margins, they incur significantly lower SG&A expense than our direct sales.

Sales of spring close-out products increased significantly from the comparable period in 2006 as a result of a higher than normal level of United States spring order cancellations due to wet and cool weather conditions in the spring of 2007.

Improvement in foreign currency hedge rates for our fall 2007 selling season favorably affected our gross profit. Since our global supply of inventory is generally purchased with U.S. dollars, the gross profit of our direct international businesses is partially dependent on the valuation of the U.S. dollar. For our fall 2007 selling season, the hedge rates for our European and Canadian businesses improved from our fall 2006 selling season.

Our gross profits may not be comparable to those of other companies in our industry because some include all of the costs related to their distribution network in cost of sales. We, like others, have chosen to include these expenses as a component of SG&A expense.

Selling, General and Administrative Expense: SG&A expense includes all costs associated with our design, merchandising, marketing, distribution and corporate functions including related depreciation and amortization.

SG&A expense increased $3.9 million, or 4%, to $112.2 million for the third quarter of 2007 from $108.3 million for the comparable period in 2006. As a percentage of net sales, SG&A expense remained flat at 23.8% of net sales for the third quarters of 2007 and 2006. Selling expenses decreased $2.8 million, or 7%, and general and administrative expenses increased $6.7 million, or 10%.

Selling expenses, including commissions and advertising, decreased to 8.2% of net sales for the third quarter of 2007 from 9.1% of net sales for the comparable period in 2006. The decrease in selling expenses as a percentage of net sales was attributable to reduced commission rates in the United States and the change in mix of internal versus agency sales in Europe. The decrease was also attributable to a reduction in advertising expense in the United States, partially offset by an increase in promotional spending.

The increase in general and administrative expenses primarily resulted from an increase in personnel related costs, depreciation expense and bad debt expense. The increase in personnel related costs was largely the result of incremental labor needed to support our Portland distribution center in its first major shipping season following the upgrade of this distribution center completed in April 2007. Depreciation and amortization included in SG&A expense totaled $7.5 million for the third quarter of 2007 compared to $5.6 million for the same period in 2006. The increase in depreciation was related to the implementation of our Portland and European distribution projects. The increase in bad debt expense was primarily the result of the credit risk contained in the composition of our accounts receivable portfolio.

Net Licensing Income: We derive net licensing income from income that we earn through licensing our trademarks across a range of categories that complement our current product offerings. Products distributed by our licensees for the third quarter of 2007 included socks, bicycles, insulated products including soft-sided coolers, leather accessories, camping gear, eyewear, leather outerwear, performance base layer, watches, home furnishings, and other accessories.

Net licensing income increased $0.1 million, or 8%, for the third quarter of 2007 to $1.3 million from $1.2 million for the comparable period in 2006. The components of licensing income were led by licensed leather outerwear, followed by Columbia licensed socks, insulated products, leather accessories, and eyewear.

 

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Interest (Income) Expense, Net: Interest income was $2.1 million for the third quarter of 2007 compared to $1.2 million for the same period in 2006. The increase in interest income was due to a higher level of cash and cash equivalents compared to the same period in 2006. Interest expense was nominal for the third quarter of 2007 compared to $0.3 million for the comparable period in 2006. The decrease in interest expense was primarily attributable to a reduction in long-term debt.

Income Tax Expense: The provision for income taxes increased to $32.0 million for the third quarter of 2007 from $31.8 million for the comparable period in 2006 due to higher income at a lower effective income tax rate for the third quarter of 2007 compared to the same period in 2006. Our effective income tax rate was 33.9% for the third quarter of 2007 compared to 34.5% for the same period in 2006.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2006

Net Sales: Consolidated net sales increased 6% to $979.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 from $925.9 million for the comparable period in 2006. Excluding changes in currency exchange rates, consolidated net sales increased 4%.

Reconciliation of Net Sales Changes to Net Sales Changes Excluding Changes in Currency Exchange Rates (a non-GAAP financial measure)

 

     Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2007
 
     Amount
(millions)
    % Change  
Consolidated:     

Net sales change (GAAP)

   $ 53.4     6 %

Effect of currency exchange rate changes

     (13.3 )   (2 )
              

Net sales change excluding changes in currency exchange rates

   $ 40.1     4 %
              
United States:     

Net sales change (GAAP)

   $ 17.2     3 %
              
Europe:     

Net sales change (GAAP)

   $ (2.5 )   (2 )%

Effect of currency exchange rate changes

     (10.7 )   (7 )
              

Net sales change excluding changes in currency exchange rates

   $ (13.2 )   (9 )%
              
Canada:     

Net sales change (GAAP)

   $ 3.0     3 %

Effect of currency exchange rate changes

     (2.5 )   (2 )
              

Net sales change excluding changes in currency exchange rates

   $ 0.5     1 %
              
Other International:     

Net sales change (GAAP)

   $ 35.7     24 %

Effect of currency exchange rate changes

     (0.1 )   —    
              

Net sales change excluding changes in currency exchange rates

   $ 35.6     24 %
              

The increase in net sales was led primarily by our Other International business, followed by our United States and Canadian businesses, and was offset by a slight decrease in our European business. By product category, the increase in net sales was led by sportswear, followed by footwear and accessories and equipment, and was offset by a slight decrease in outerwear net sales.

Net sales from sportswear increased $48.8 million, or 12%, to $449.4 million from $400.6 million for the comparable period in 2006. The increase in sportswear net sales was primarily attributable to an increase in sales in the United States, followed by Other International, Europe and Canada. The increase in sportswear net sales was driven by continued growth in the United States resulting from a broad assortment of products, competitive pricing and related consumer demand, particularly for our fleece, sweaters, knit and woven tops, shorts and pants.

 

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Net sales from outerwear decreased $0.8 million, or 0.3%, to $315.4 million from $316.2 million for the comparable period in 2006. The decrease in outerwear net sales was due to a decline in our European business, offset by an increase in net sales in Other International, Canada and the United States. The decrease in outerwear sales in Europe was primarily due to lower pre-season fall orders as a result of the extended periods of unseasonably warm weather conditions throughout Western Europe during the fall and winter seasons of 2006, which resulted in retailers buying less outerwear for the 2007 fall season. Other International outerwear sales growth was attributable to continued strength in certain key international distributor markets, including Russia and Hong Kong/China.

Net sales from footwear increased $3.5 million, or 2%, to $166.8 million from $163.3 million for the comparable period in 2006. Footwear sales growth was led by Other International, followed by Europe, offset by a decrease in net sales in the United States and Canada. Other International footwear sales growth was largely attributable to strong sales of men’s and women’s spring footwear and Columbia cold weather footwear to key international distributor markets. Our footwear business, in general, has suffered from strong competition, undifferentiated product and several changes within our footwear merchandising and design leadership team. Despite these challenges, we believe that we have built a strong team and have a portfolio of authentic outdoor brands to execute our footwear strategies.

Net sales from accessories and equipment increased $1.9 million, or 4%, to $47.7 million from $45.8 million for the comparable period in 2006. Accessories and equipment sales growth was led by Other International, followed by the United States, offset by decreased sales in Europe and Canada.

Net sales in the United States increased $17.2 million, or 3%, to $556.8 million from $539.6 million for the comparable period in 2006. The increase in net sales in the United States was predominantly the result of the continued strength of sales of our sportswear. Sales growth was particularly strong in our fleece, sweaters, knit and woven tops, shorts and pants. Columbia brand outerwear sales increased for the year and were partially offset by a significant decrease in Pacific Trail outerwear sales. The decrease in footwear sales was primarily due to decreased sales of our Columbia and Sorel cold weather footwear.

Net sales in Europe decreased $2.5 million, or 2%, to $141.0 million from $143.5 million for the comparable period in 2006. Excluding changes in currency exchange rates, Europe’s net sales decreased 9%. The decrease in net sales in Europe was led by outerwear, offset by an increase in sales of sportswear and footwear, while sales of accessories and equipment remained essentially flat. The decrease in outerwear sales was primarily due to a decrease in pre-season fall orders as a result of the extended periods of unseasonably warm weather conditions throughout Western Europe during the fall and winter seasons of 2006, which resulted in retailers buying less outerwear for the 2007 fall season.

Net sales in Canada increased $3.0 million, or 3%, to $95.5 million from $92.5 million for the comparable period in 2006. Excluding changes in currency exchange rates, Canada’s net sales increased 1%. The increase was primarily attributable to increased Columbia brand outerwear sales offset by a decline in cold weather footwear sales.

Net sales from Other International, which includes our direct business in Japan and Korea and our international distributor markets worldwide, increased $35.7 million, or 24%, to $186.0 million from $150.3 million for the comparable period in 2006. The percentage increase in Other International sales was not affected by changes in currency exchange rates. Sales growth for Other International was predominantly the result of increased sales by our international distributors, followed by increased sales by our Korean and Japanese businesses. International distributor sales growth was primarily attributable to the continued strength of our distributors in Russia and Hong Kong/China.

Gross Profit: Gross profit, as a percentage of net sales, increased to 43.0% for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 from 42.3% for the comparable period in 2006. The increase in gross profit was due to several factors including improvements in our sportswear gross margins, favorable effects of foreign currency exchange rates, prior year unfavorable effect of marking the Montrail inventory to market upon acquisition in January 2006 and higher costs associated with certain international promotional campaigns in Europe in 2006. The favorable gross profit effect of these items was partially offset by increased sales of spring close-out product sales and higher international distributor shipments, both at lower gross margins.

Improvement in foreign currency hedge rates for our spring and fall 2007 selling seasons favorably affected our gross profit. Since our global supply of inventory is generally purchased with U.S. dollars, the gross profit of our direct international businesses is partially dependent on the valuation of the U.S. dollar. For our spring and fall 2007 selling seasons, the hedge rates for our European and Canadian businesses improved from our spring and fall 2006 selling seasons.

Selling, General and Administrative Expense: SG&A expense increased $11.6 million, or 4%, to $281.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 from $270.2 million for the comparable period in 2006. As a percentage of net sales, SG&A expense decreased to 28.8% of net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 from 29.2% of net sales for the comparable period in 2006. Selling expenses increased $0.2 million, or 0.2%, and general and administrative expenses increased $11.4 million, or 6%.

 

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Selling expenses, including commissions and advertising, decreased to 8.5% of net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 from 9.0% of net sales for the comparable period in 2006. The decrease in selling expenses as a percentage of net sales was largely attributable to a reduction in commissions expense resulting from changes to our sales agency structures in Europe and reduced commission rates in the United States as well as lower advertising expenses offset by increased promotional spending and sample costs.

The increase in general and administrative expenses primarily resulted from an increase in depreciation expense, personnel related costs and bad debt expense, partially offset by a decrease in stock-based compensation expense. Depreciation and amortization included in SG&A expense totaled $21.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 compared to $16.9 million for the same period in 2006. The increase in bad debt expense was primarily the result of the credit risk contained in the composition of our accounts receivable portfolio.

Net Licensing Income: Net licensing income decreased $0.1 million, or 3%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 to $3.3 million from $3.4 million for the comparable period in 2006. The components of licensing income were led by Columbia licensed bicycles, followed by Columbia licensed socks, insulated products, leather accessories, camping gear and eyewear.

Interest (Income) Expense, Net: Interest income was $7.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 compared to $5.4 million for the same period in 2006. The increase in interest income was due to a higher cash and cash equivalents balance compared to the same period in 2006. Interest expense was nominal for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 compared to $0.7 million for the comparable period in 2006. The decrease in interest expense was primarily attributable to a reduction in long-term debt.

Income Tax Expense: The provision for income taxes increased to $50.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 from $44.6 million for the comparable period in 2006 due to higher income at a lower effective income tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 compared to the same period in 2006. Our effective income tax rate was 33.9% for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 compared to 34.5% for the same period in 2006.

Backlog

We typically receive the bulk of our orders for each of the fall and spring seasons at least three months prior to the date the products are shipped to customers. Generally, orders are subject to cancellation prior to the date of shipment. At September 30, 2007, our order backlog was $692.7 million, compared to $693.9 million at September 30, 2006. For a variety of reasons, including the timing of shipments, timing of order deadlines, timing of receipt of orders, product mix of customer orders, order cancellations, the amount of in-season orders, and fluctuations in foreign currency rates, backlog at September 30 may not be a reliable measure of future sales for any succeeding period. For these reasons backlog figures in one year also may not be directly comparable to backlog figures in another year when measured at the same date.

Seasonality of Business

Our business is affected by the general seasonal trends common to the outdoor apparel industry, with sales and profits highest in the third calendar quarter. Our products are marketed on a seasonal basis, with product sales mix weighted substantially toward the fall season. Results of operations in any period should not be considered indicative of the results to be expected for any future period. Sales of our products are subject to substantial cyclical fluctuation and impacts from unseasonable weather conditions. Sales tend to decline in periods of recession or uncertainty regarding future economic prospects that affect consumer spending, particularly on discretionary items. This cyclicality and any related fluctuation in consumer demand could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, cash flows and financial position.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our primary ongoing funding requirements are to finance working capital and for the continued growth of the business. At September 30, 2007, we had total cash and cash equivalents of $48.9 million compared to $64.9 million at December 31, 2006. Net cash used in operating activities was $66.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and $29.1 million for the same period in 2006. The change was primarily due to an increase in inventories as a result of higher levels of carryover, core, and replenishment inventory as well as increased levels of retail inventory to support our retail expansion plan in the United States.

Our primary capital requirements are for working capital, investing activities associated with the expansion of our global operations and general corporate needs. Net cash provided by investing activities was $68.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and $39.8 million for the comparable period in 2006. For the 2007 period, net cash provided by investing

 

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activities primarily consisted of net sales of short-term investments of $88.3 million, offset by $20.1 million used for capital expenditures. For the 2006 period, net cash used in investing activities primarily consisted of net sales of short-term investments of $117.5 million, offset by $33.7 million used for the acquisitions of Montrail and Pacific Trail, net of $1.7 million for the sale of the acquired Dockers licenses, and $43.5 million in capital expenditures related to the expansion of our distribution center in Cambrai, France and the upgrade of our distribution center in Portland, Oregon.

Cash used in financing activities was $20.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 compared to $83.9 million for the comparable period in 2006. For the 2007 period, net cash used in financing activities primarily consisted of the repurchase of $17.7 million of common stock, payment of dividends of $15.2 million and the net repayments of notes payable of $3.6 million, partially offset by proceeds from the issuance of common stock under employee stock plans of $14.3 million. For the 2006 period, net cash used in financing activities primarily consisted of the repurchase of $75.5 million of common stock, the net repayments of notes payable of $16.9 million and of long-term debt of $6.6 million, partially offset by proceeds from the issuance of common stock under employee stock plans of $14.1 million.

To fund our domestic working capital requirements, we have available unsecured revolving lines of credit with aggregate seasonal limits ranging from $50.0 million to $125.0 million, of which $25.0 million to $100.0 million is committed. At September 30, 2007, no balance was outstanding under these lines of credit. Internationally, our subsidiaries have local currency operating lines in place guaranteed by us with a combined limit of approximately $120.3 million at September 30, 2007, of which $3.6 million is designated as a European customs guarantee. At September 30, 2007, no balance was outstanding under these lines of credit.

We expect to fund our future capital expenditures with existing cash and cash provided by operations. If the need arises for additional expenditures, we may need to seek additional funding. Our ability to obtain additional financing will depend on many factors, including prevailing market conditions, our financial condition, and our ability to negotiate favorable terms and conditions. Financing may not be available on terms that are acceptable or favorable to us, if at all.

Our operations are affected by seasonal trends typical in the outdoor apparel industry, and have historically resulted in higher sales and profits in the third calendar quarter. This pattern has resulted primarily from the timing of shipments to wholesale customers for the fall outerwear season. We believe that our liquidity requirements for at least the next 12 months will be adequately covered by existing cash, cash provided by operations and existing short-term borrowing arrangements.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We maintain unsecured and uncommitted import lines of credit with a combined limit of $150.0 million at September 30, 2007, available for issuing documentary letters of credit. At September 30, 2007, we had letters of credit outstanding of $16.2 million issued for purchase orders for inventory.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based on our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make various estimates and judgments that affect reported amounts of assets, liabilities, sales, cost of sales and expenses and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. We believe that the estimates, assumptions and judgments involved in the accounting policies described below have the greatest potential impact on our financial statements, so we consider these to be our critical accounting policies and estimates. Because of the uncertainty inherent in these matters, actual results could differ from the estimates we use in applying the critical accounting policies. We base our ongoing estimates on historical experience and other various assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Many of these critical accounting policies affect working capital account balances, including the policy for revenue recognition, the allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable, the provision for potential excess, close-out and slow moving inventory, product warranty, income taxes and stock-based compensation.

Management and our independent auditors regularly discuss with our audit committee each of our critical accounting estimates, the development and selection of these accounting estimates, and the disclosure about each estimate in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. These discussions typically occur at our quarterly audit committee meetings and include the basis and methodology used in developing and selecting these estimates, the trends in and amounts of these estimates, specific matters affecting the amount of and changes in these estimates, and any other relevant matters related to these estimates, including significant issues concerning accounting principles and financial statement presentation.

 

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Revenue Recognition

We record wholesale and licensed product revenues when title passes and the risks and rewards of ownership have passed to the customer, based on the terms of sale. Title generally passes upon shipment or upon receipt by the customer depending on the country of the sale and the agreement with the customer. Retail store revenues are recorded at the time of sale.

In some countries outside of the United States where title passes upon receipt by the customer, predominantly where we sell directly in Western Europe, precise information regarding the date of receipt by the customer is not readily available. In these cases, we estimate the date of receipt by the customer based on historical and expected delivery times by geographic location. We periodically test the accuracy of these estimates based on actual transactions. Delivery times vary by geographic location, generally from one to five days. To date, we have found these estimates to be materially accurate.

At the time of revenue recognition, we also provide for estimated sales returns and miscellaneous claims from customers as reductions to revenues. The estimates are based on historical rates of product returns and claims. However, actual returns and claims in any future period are inherently uncertain and thus may differ from the estimates. If actual or expected future returns and claims are significantly greater or lower than the reserves that we have established, we will record a reduction or increase to net revenues in the period in which we make such a determination. Over the three year period ended December 31, 2006, our actual annual sales returns and miscellaneous claims from customers were less than two percent of net sales.

Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts Receivable

We make ongoing estimates of the uncollectibility of our accounts receivable and maintain an allowance for estimated losses resulting from the inability of our customers to make required payments. In determining the amount of the allowance, we consider our historical level of credit losses and we make judgments about the creditworthiness of customers based on ongoing credit evaluations. We analyze specific customer accounts, customer concentrations, credit insurance coverage, current economic trends, and changes in customer payment terms. Because we cannot predict future changes in the financial stability of our customers, actual future losses from uncollectible accounts may differ from our estimates. If the financial condition of our customers deteriorates, resulting in their inability to make payments, a larger allowance may be required. If we determine that a smaller or larger allowance is appropriate, we will record a credit or a charge to SG&A expense in the period in which we make such a determination.

Inventory Obsolescence and Product Warranty

We make ongoing estimates of potential future excess, close-out or slow moving inventory and product warranty costs. We identify our excess inventory, a component of which is planned, and evaluate our purchase commitments, sales forecasts, and historical experience, and make provisions as necessary to properly reflect inventory value at the lower of cost or estimated market value. When we evaluate our reserve for warranty costs, we consider our historical claim rates by season, product mix, current economic trends, and the historical cost to repair, replace, or refund the original sale. If we determine that a smaller or larger reserve is appropriate, we will record a credit or a charge to cost of sales in the period we make such a determination.

Income Taxes

We use the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, we recognize income tax expense for the amount of taxes payable or refundable for the current year and for the amount of deferred tax liabilities and assets for the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in our financial statements or tax returns. We make assumptions, judgments and estimates to determine our current provision for income taxes, our deferred tax assets and liabilities, and our uncertain tax positions in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Interpretation No. 48 (“FIN 48”), Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109. Our judgments, assumptions and estimates relative to the current provision for income tax take into account current tax laws, our interpretation of current tax laws and possible outcomes of current and future audits conducted by foreign and domestic tax authorities. Changes in tax law or our interpretation of tax laws and the resolution of current and future tax audits could significantly affect the amounts provided for income taxes in our consolidated financial statements. Our assumptions, judgments and estimates relative to the value of a deferred tax asset take into account predictions of the amount and category of future taxable income. Actual operating results and the underlying amount and category of income in future years could cause our current assumptions, judgments and estimates of recoverable net deferred taxes to be inaccurate. Any of the assumptions, judgments and estimates mentioned above could cause our actual income tax obligations to differ from our estimates, which could materially affect our financial position and results of operations.

On a quarterly basis, we estimate what our effective tax rate will be for the full fiscal year and record an appropriate quarterly income tax provision, in accordance with the anticipated effective rate. As the calendar year progresses, we periodically refine our estimate based on actual events and earnings by jurisdiction during the year. This ongoing estimation process can result in changes to our expected effective tax rate for the full calendar year. When this occurs, we adjust the income tax provision during the quarter in which the change in estimate occurs so that our year-to-date provision equals our expected annual effective tax rate.

 

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Stock-Based Compensation

We account for stock-based compensation in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123(R), Share-Based Payment. Under the provisions of SFAS No. 123R, stock-based compensation cost is estimated at the grant date based on the award’s fair-value and is recognized as expense over the requisite service period using the straight-line attribution method. Estimation of stock-based compensation for stock options granted, utilizing the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, requires various highly subjective assumptions including volatility and expected option life. Further, as required under SFAS No. 123R, we estimate forfeitures for stock-based awards granted, which are not expected to vest. If any of these inputs or assumptions changes significantly, stock-based compensation expense may differ materially in the future from that recorded in the current period.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities—including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115. This standard permits us to measure many financial instruments and certain other assets and liabilities at fair value on an instrument-by-instrument basis. SFAS No. 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. We do not expect the adoption of this statement to have a material effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements. SFAS No. 157 establishes a framework for measuring the fair value of assets and liabilities. This framework is intended to increase consistency in how fair value determinations are made under various existing accounting standards that permit, or in some cases require, estimates of fair market value. SFAS No. 157 also expands financial statement disclosure requirements about a company’s use of fair value measurements, including the effect of such measures on earnings. SFAS No. 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. We do not expect the adoption of this statement to have a material effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In July 2006, the FASB issued FIN 48. FIN 48 creates a single model to address accounting for uncertainty in tax positions and clarifies the accounting for income taxes, by prescribing a minimum recognition threshold a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in the financial statements. FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, measurement, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. FIN 48 was adopted in the first quarter of 2007. The cumulative effect, if any, of adopting FIN 48 is recorded in retained earnings. See Note 9 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Item 3 – QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

There has not been any material change in the market risk disclosure contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

Item 4 – CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Our management has evaluated, under the supervision and with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). Based on that evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is (1) recorded, processed, summarized and reported in a timely manner, and (2) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2007 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1A. RISK FACTORS

In addition to the other information contained in this Form 10-Q, the following risk factors should be considered carefully in evaluating our business. Our business, financial condition, or results of operations may be materially adversely affected by any of these risks. Please note that additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business and operations.

We May be Adversely Affected by Weather Conditions

Our business is adversely affected by unseasonable weather conditions. Sales of our outerwear and cold weather footwear are dependent in part on the weather and may decline in years in which weather conditions do not favor the use of these products. For example, in certain prior fall seasons, unseasonably warm weather in the United States caused customers to delay, and in some cases reduce or cancel, orders for our outerwear, which had an adverse effect on our net sales and profitability. Periods of unseasonably warm weather in the fall or winter or unseasonably cold or wet weather in the spring may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. Inventory accumulation by retailers resulting from unseasonable weather in one season may negatively affect orders in future seasons, which may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition in future periods.

We May be Adversely Affected by an Economic Downturn or Economic Uncertainty

Sales of our products are subject to substantial cyclical fluctuation. Consumer demand for our products may not reach our growth targets, or may decline, when there is an economic downturn or economic uncertainty in our key markets, particularly markets in North America and Europe. For example, a slower economy in the United States in 2002 and 2003 created additional uncertainties for our customers and our business. In addition, continued volatility in the global oil markets has resulted in rising fuel prices, which shipping companies may pass on to us. Because we price our products to our customers in advance and external cost increases may be difficult to anticipate, we may not be able to pass these increased costs on to our customers. Rising oil prices and interest rates may also adversely affect consumer demand. Our sensitivity to economic cycles and any related fluctuation in consumer demand and rising shipping and other costs may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

Our International Operations Involve Many Risks

We are subject to the risks generally associated with doing business abroad. These risks include foreign laws and regulations, foreign tax regimes and examinations, foreign consumer preferences, political unrest, disruptions or delays in shipments and changes in economic conditions in countries in which we manufacture or sell products. In addition, disease outbreaks, terrorist acts and United States military operations have increased the risks of doing business abroad. These factors, among others, may affect our ability to sell products in international markets, our ability to manufacture products or procure materials, and our cost of doing business. If any of these or other factors make the conduct of business in a particular country undesirable or impractical, our business may be materially and adversely affected. In addition, many of our imported products are subject to duties, tariffs or quotas that affect the cost and quantity of various types of goods imported into the United States or into our other sales markets. For example, the European Commission recently imposed additional duties on certain leather footwear imported into Europe from Vietnam and China. These duties may significantly affect the sale of our footwear in Europe. Any country in which our products are produced or sold may eliminate, adjust or impose new quotas, duties, tariffs, antidumping penalties or other charges or restrictions, any of which may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

We May be Adversely Affected by the Financial Health of Retailers

We extend credit to our customers based on an assessment of a customer’s financial condition, generally without requiring collateral. To assist in the scheduling of production and the shipping of seasonal products, we offer customers discounts for placing pre-season orders and extended payment terms for taking delivery before the peak shipping season. These extended payment terms increase our exposure to the risk of uncollectible receivables. In addition, we face increased risk of order reduction or cancellation when dealing with financially ailing retailers or retailers struggling with economic uncertainty. Some of our significant customers have had financial difficulties in the past, which in turn have had an adverse effect on our business. A slowing economy in our key markets may also have an adverse effect on the financial health of our customers, which may in turn have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

 

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We Operate in Very Competitive Markets

The markets for outerwear, sportswear, footwear, related accessories and equipment are highly competitive, as are the markets for our licensed products. In each of our geographic markets, we face significant competition from global and regional branded apparel, footwear, accessories and equipment companies. Retailers who are our customers often pose our most significant competitive threat by marketing apparel, footwear and equipment under their own labels. For example, in 2006 our European business was negatively affected by a key customer’s decision to expand its private label program, which resulted in reduced outerwear and footwear orders from that key customer. We also compete with other companies for the production capacity of independent manufacturers that produce our products and for import quota capacity. Many of our competitors are significantly larger than us, have substantially greater financial, distribution, marketing and other resources than we have, and have achieved greater recognition for their products than we have. Increased competition may result in reductions in display areas in retail locations, reductions in sales, or reductions in our profit margins, any of which may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

We May be Adversely Affected by Retailer Consolidation

When retailers combine their operations through mergers, acquisitions, or other transactions, their consolidated order volume may decrease while their bargaining power and the competitive threat they pose by marketing products under their own label may increase. Some of our significant customers have consolidated their operations in the past, which in turn has had a negative effect on our business. We expect retailer consolidation to continue, which may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

We Face Risks Associated with Consumer Preferences and Fashion Trends

Changes in consumer preferences or consumer interest in outdoor activities may have a material adverse effect on our business. In addition, although we believe that our products have not been significantly affected by past fashion trends, changes in fashion trends may have a greater impact as we expand our offerings to include more product categories in more geographic areas. We also face risks because our business requires us to anticipate consumer preferences. Our decisions about product designs often are made far in advance of consumer acceptance. Although we try to manage our inventory risk through early order commitments by retailers, we must generally place production orders with manufacturers before we have received all of a season’s orders, and orders may be cancelled by retailers before shipment. If we fail to anticipate and respond to consumer preferences, we may have lower sales, excess inventories and lower profit margins, any of which may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

Our Success Depends on Our Use of Proprietary Rights

Our registered and common law trademarks have significant value and are important to our ability to create and sustain demand for our products. We also place significant value on our trade dress, the overall appearance and image of our products. From time to time, we discover products that are counterfeit reproductions of our products or design “knock offs,” or that otherwise infringe on our proprietary rights. Counterfeiting activities typically increase as brand recognition increases, especially in markets outside the United States. If we are unsuccessful in challenging a party’s products on the basis of trademark or design infringement, continued sales of these products may adversely affect our sales and our brand and result in a shift of consumer preference away from our products. The actions we take to establish and protect trademarks and other proprietary rights may not be adequate to prevent imitation of our products by others or to prevent others from seeking to block sales of our products as violations of proprietary rights. Additionally, in markets outside of the United States, it may be more difficult for us to establish our proprietary rights and to successfully challenge use of those rights by other parties. Actions or decisions in the management of our intellectual property portfolio may affect the strength of the brand, which may in turn have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

Although we have not been materially inhibited from selling products in connection with trademark and trade dress disputes, as we extend our brand into new product categories and new product lines and expand the geographic scope of our marketing, we may become subject to litigation based on allegations of the infringement of intellectual property rights of third parties including third party copyright and patent rights. Future litigation also may be necessary to defend us against such claims or to enforce and protect our intellectual property rights. Any intellectual property litigation may be costly and may divert management’s attention from the operation of our business. Adverse determinations in any litigation may result in the loss of our proprietary rights, subject us to significant liabilities or require us to seek licenses from third parties, which may not be available on commercially reasonable terms, if at all. This may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

Our Success Depends on Our Distribution Facilities

Our ability to meet customer expectations, manage inventory, complete sales and achieve objectives for operating efficiencies depends on the proper operation of our existing distribution facilities, the development or expansion of additional distribution

 

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capabilities and the timely performance of services by third parties (including those involved in shipping product to and from our distribution facilities). In the United States, we rely primarily on our distribution centers in Portland, Oregon and Robards, Kentucky; in Canada, we rely primarily on our distribution center in Strathroy, Ontario; and in Europe we rely primarily on our distribution center in Cambrai, France.

Our distribution facilities in the United States and France are highly automated, which means that their operations are complicated and may be subject to a number of risks related to computer viruses, the proper operation of software and hardware, electronic or power interruptions, and other system failures. In 2007, we upgraded our Portland distribution center. Risks associated with upgrading or expanding these facilities may significantly disrupt or increase the cost of our operations.

Our distribution facilities may also be interrupted by disasters, such as earthquakes (which are known to occur in the Northwestern United States) or fires. We maintain business interruption insurance, but it may not adequately protect us from the adverse effect that may be caused by significant disruptions in our distribution facilities.

Our Success Depends on Our Information Systems

Our business is increasingly reliant on information technology. Information systems are used in all stages of our production cycle, from design to distribution, and are used as a method of communication between employees, with our subsidiaries and liaison offices overseas, as well as with our customers. We also rely on our information systems to allocate resources and forecast operating results. System failures or service interruptions may occur as the result of a number of factors, including computer viruses, hacking or other unlawful activities by third parties, disasters, or our failure to properly protect, repair, maintain, or upgrade our systems. Any interruption of critical business information systems may have a material adverse affect on our results of operations and financial condition.

Our Success Depends on Our Growth Strategies

We face many challenges in implementing our growth strategies. For example, our expansion into international markets involves countries where we have little sales or distribution experience and where our brands are not yet widely known. Expanding our product categories involves, among other things, gaining experience with new brands and products, gaining consumer acceptance, and establishing and protecting intellectual property rights. Increasing sales to department stores and improving the sales productivity of our customers will each depend on various factors, including strength of our brand names, competitive conditions, our ability to manage increased sales and future expansion, the availability of desirable locations and the negotiation of terms with retailers. Future terms with customers may be less favorable to us than those under which we now operate. Large retailers in particular increasingly seek to transfer various costs of business to their vendors, such as the cost of lost profits from product price markdowns.

To implement our business strategy, we must manage growth effectively. We must continue to modify various aspects of our business, to maintain and enhance our information systems and operations to respond to increased demand and to attract, retain and manage qualified personnel. Growth may place an increasing strain on management, financial, product design, marketing, distribution and other resources, and we may have operating difficulties as a result. For example, in recent years, we have undertaken a number of new initiatives that require significant management attention and corporate resources, including the development or expansion of distribution facilities on two continents, the acquisition of the Sorel and Pacific Trail brands, and the acquisition and integration of Mountain Hardwear, Inc. and the Montrail brand. This growth involves many risks and uncertainties that, if not managed effectively, may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

We May be Adversely Affected by Currency Exchange Rate Fluctuations

Although we generally purchase products in U.S. dollars, the cost of these products, which are generally produced overseas, may be affected by changes in the value of the relevant currencies. Price increases caused by currency exchange rate fluctuations may make our products less competitive or have an adverse effect on our margins. Our international revenues and expenses generally are derived from sales and operations in foreign currencies, and these revenues and expenses may be materially affected by currency fluctuations, including amounts recorded in foreign currencies and translated into U.S. dollars for consolidated financial reporting. Currency exchange rate fluctuations may also disrupt the business of the independent manufacturers that produce our products by making their purchases of raw materials more expensive and more difficult to finance. As a result, foreign currency fluctuations may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

 

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We May be Adversely Affected by Labor Disruptions

Our business depends on our ability to source and distribute products in a timely manner. Labor disputes at factories, shipping ports, transportation carriers, or distribution centers create significant risks for our business, particularly if these disputes result in work slowdowns, lockouts, strikes, or other disruptions during our peak manufacturing and importing seasons, and may have a material adverse effect on our business, potentially resulting in cancelled orders by customers, unanticipated inventory accumulation, and reduced revenues and earnings.

We Depend on Independent Manufacturers

Our products are produced by independent manufacturers worldwide. We do not operate or own any production facilities. Although we enter into a number of purchase order commitments each season, we generally do not maintain long-term manufacturing contracts. Because of these factors, manufacturing operations may fail to perform as expected or our competitors may obtain production or quota capacities that effectively limit or eliminate the availability of these resources to us. If a manufacturer fails to ship orders in a timely manner or to meet our standards or if we are unable to obtain necessary production or quota capacities, we may miss delivery deadlines, or incur additional costs, which may result in cancellation of orders, refusal to accept deliveries, a reduction in purchase prices, or increased costs, any of which may have a material adverse effect on our business. Reliance on independent manufacturers also creates quality control risks. A failure in our quality control program may result in diminished product quality, which may result in increased order cancellations and returns and decreased consumer demand for our products, which may have a material adverse affect on our results of operations and financial condition. Finally, if a manufacturer violates labor or other laws, or engages in practices that are not generally accepted as ethical in our key markets, we may be subject to significant negative publicity, consumer demand for our products may decrease, and under some circumstances we may be subject to liability for the manufacturer’s practices, any of which may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

We Depend on Key Suppliers

Some of the materials that we use may be available from only one source or a very limited number of sources. For example, some specialty fabrics are manufactured to our specification by one source or a few sources and zippers are supplied by one manufacturer. From time to time, we have difficulty satisfying our raw material and finished goods requirements. Although we believe that we can identify and qualify additional manufacturers to produce these materials as necessary, there are no guarantees that additional manufacturers will be available. In addition, depending on the timing, any changes may result in increased costs or production delays, which may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

Our Advance Purchases of Products May Result in Excess Inventories

To minimize our purchasing costs, the time necessary to fill customer orders and the risk of non-delivery, we place orders for our products with manufacturers prior to receiving all of our customers’ orders and we maintain an inventory of various products that we anticipate will be in greater demand. We may not be able to sell the products we have ordered from manufacturers or that we have in our inventory. Customers are allowed to cancel an order prior to shipment with sufficient notice. Inventory levels in excess of customer demand may result in inventory write-downs and the sale of excess inventory at discounted prices, which may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

We Depend on Key Personnel

Our future success will depend in part on the continued service of key personnel, particularly Timothy Boyle, our President and Chief Executive Officer, and Gertrude Boyle, our Chairman and widely-recognized advertising spokesperson. Our future success will also depend on our ability to attract and retain key managers, designers, sales people and others. We face intense competition for these individuals worldwide, and there is a significant concentration of well-funded apparel and footwear competitors in and around Portland, Oregon (including NIKE, Inc. and adidas AG). We may not be able to attract qualified new employees or retain existing employees, which may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

Our Business Is Affected by Seasonality

Our results of operations are likely to continue to fluctuate significantly from period to period. Our products are marketed on a seasonal basis; our results of operations for the quarter ended September 30 in the past have been much stronger than the results for the other quarters. This seasonality, along with other factors that are beyond our control, and that are discussed elsewhere in this section, may adversely affect our business and cause our results of operations to fluctuate. Our operating margins are also sensitive to a number of factors that are beyond our control, including shifts in product sales mix, geographic sales trends, and currency exchange rate fluctuations, all of which we expect to continue as we expand our product offerings and geographic penetration. Results of operations in any period should not be considered indicative of the results to be expected for any future period.

 

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We Face Risks of Product Liability and Warranty Claims

Our products are used in outdoor activities, sometimes in severe conditions. Although we have not incurred any significant expense as the result of product recalls or product liability claims, recalls or claims in the future may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. Some of our products carry warranties for defects in quality and workmanship. We maintain a warranty reserve for future warranty claims, but the actual costs of servicing future warranty claims may exceed the reserve, which may also have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

Our Common Stock Price May Be Volatile

The price of our common stock has fluctuated substantially since our initial public offering. Our common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, which is likely to continue to have significant price and volume fluctuations that may adversely affect the market price of our common stock without regard to our operating performance. Factors such as fluctuations in financial results, variances from financial market expectations, changes in earnings estimates by analysts, or announcements by us or our competitors may also cause the market price of our common stock to fluctuate, perhaps substantially.

Insiders Control a Majority of Our Common Stock and May Sell Shares

Three shareholders— Timothy Boyle, Gertrude Boyle and Sarah Bany— beneficially own a majority of our common stock. As a result, if acting together, they can effectively control matters requiring shareholder approval without the cooperation of other shareholders. Shares held by these three insiders are available for resale, subject to the requirements of, and the rules under, the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The sale or the prospect of the sale of a substantial number of these shares may have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.

Item 6 – EXHIBITS

 

  (a) Exhibits

 

31.1    Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Timothy P. Boyle, President and Chief Executive Officer
31.2    Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Bryan L. Timm, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
32.1    Section 1350 Certification of Timothy P. Boyle, President and Chief Executive Officer
32.2    Section 1350 Certification of Bryan L. Timm, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

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SIGNATURE

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

 

Date: November 6, 2007     COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR COMPANY
      /s/ BRYAN L. TIMM
    Bryan L. Timm
    Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

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