10-K 1 rl-20170401x10k.htm 10-K Document



UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-K
(Mark One)
þ
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the fiscal year ended April 1, 2017
or
o

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Commission File Number: 001-13057
RALPH LAUREN CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
 
13-2622036
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
650 Madison Avenue, New York, New York
 
10022
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
(212) 318-7000
(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
Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value
 
New York Stock Exchange
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Yes  þ   No o 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act.
Yes  o   No þ 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes  þ   No o 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes  þ   No o 
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.
 o 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer þ
 Accelerated filer o
Non-accelerated filer o  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company o
 
Emerging growth company o
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
 o 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).
Yes  o   No þ 
The aggregate market value of the registrant's voting common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $5,674,524,328 as of September 30, 2016, the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter based on the closing price of the common stock on the New York Stock Exchange.
At May 12, 2017, 55,113,976 shares of the registrant's Class A common stock, $.01 par value and 25,881,276 shares of the registrant's Class B common stock, $.01 par value were outstanding.
Part III incorporates information from certain portions of the registrant's definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the fiscal year ended April 1, 2017.





 
 



SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Various statements in this Form 10-K or incorporated by reference into this Form 10-K, in future filings by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), in our press releases, and in oral statements made from time to time by us or on our behalf constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and are indicated by words or phrases such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "we believe," "is or remains optimistic," "currently envisions," and similar words or phrases and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the future results, performance, or achievements expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties, and other factors include, among others:
the loss of key personnel, including Mr. Ralph Lauren, or other changes in our executive and senior management team or to our operating structure, and our ability to effectively transfer knowledge during periods of transition;
the potential impact to our business and future strategic direction resulting from our transition to a new Chief Executive Officer;
our ability to successfully implement our long-term growth strategy, which entails evolving our product, marketing, and shopping experience to increase desirability and relevance, and evolving our operating model to enable sustainable, profitable sales growth by significantly reducing supply chain lead times, improving our sourcing, and executing a disciplined multi-channel distribution and expansion strategy;
the impact to our business resulting from investments and other costs incurred in connection with the execution of our long-term growth strategy, including restructuring-related charges, which may be dilutive to our earnings in the short term;
our ability to achieve anticipated operating enhancements, sales growth, and/or cost reductions from our restructuring plans;
the impact to our business resulting from potential costs and obligations related to the early closure of our stores or termination of our long-term, non-cancellable leases;
our ability to effectively manage inventory levels and the increasing pressure on our margins in a highly promotional retail environment;
our efforts to successfully enhance, upgrade, and/or transition our global information technology systems and e-commerce platform;
our ability to secure our facilities and systems and those of our third-party service providers from, among other things, cybersecurity breaches, acts of vandalism, computer viruses, or similar Internet or email events;
a variety of legal, regulatory, tax, political, and economic risks, including risks related to the importation and exportation of products, tariffs, and other trade barriers which our operations are currently subject to, or may become subject to as a result of potential changes in legislation, and other risks associated with our international operations, such as compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or violations of other anti-bribery and corruption laws prohibiting improper payments, and the burdens of complying with a variety of foreign laws and regulations, including tax laws, trade and labor restrictions, and related laws that may reduce the flexibility of our business;
the impact to our business resulting from the United Kingdom's decision to exit the European Union and the uncertainty surrounding the terms and conditions of such a withdrawal, as well as the related impact to global stock markets and currency exchange rates;
changes in our tax obligations and effective tax rates due to a variety of factors, including potential changes in tax laws and regulations, accounting rules, or the mix and level of earnings by jurisdiction;
our exposure to currency exchange rate fluctuations from both a transactional and translational perspective;
the impact to our business resulting from increases in the costs of raw materials, transportation, and labor;
the impact to our business resulting from changes in consumers' ability or preferences to purchase premium lifestyle products that we offer for sale and our ability to forecast consumer demand, which could result in either a build-up or shortage of inventory;



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our ability to continue to maintain our brand image and reputation and protect our trademarks;
the impact of the volatile state of the global economy, stock markets, and other global economic conditions on us, our customers, our suppliers, and our vendors and on our ability and their ability to access sources of liquidity;
the potential impact to our business resulting from the financial difficulties of certain of our large wholesale customers, which may result in consolidations, liquidations, restructurings, and other ownership changes in the retail industry, as well as other changes in the competitive marketplace, including the introduction of new products or pricing changes by our competitors;
the impact to our business of events of unrest and instability that are currently taking place in certain parts of the world, as well as from any terrorist action, retaliation, and the threat of further action or retaliation;
our ability to continue to expand or grow our business internationally and the impact of related changes in our customer, channel, and geographic sales mix as a result;
changes in the business of, and our relationships with, major department store customers and licensing partners;
our intention to introduce new products or enter into or renew alliances and exclusive relationships;
our ability to access sources of liquidity to provide for our cash needs, including our debt obligations, payment of dividends, capital expenditures, and potential repurchases of our Class A common stock;
our ability to open new retail stores, concession shops, and e-commerce sites in an effort to expand our direct-to-consumer presence;
the potential impact to the trading prices of our securities if our Class A common stock share repurchase activity and/or cash dividend payments differ from investors' expectations;
our ability to maintain our credit profile and ratings within the financial community;
our ability to make certain strategic acquisitions and successfully integrate the acquired businesses into our existing operations; and
the potential impact on our operations and on our suppliers and customers resulting from natural or man-made disasters.
These forward-looking statements are based largely on our expectations and judgments and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are unforeseeable and beyond our control. A detailed discussion of significant risk factors that have the potential to cause our actual results to differ materially from our expectations is described in Part I of this Form 10-K under the heading of "Risk Factors." We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
WEBSITE ACCESS TO COMPANY REPORTS AND OTHER INFORMATION
Our investor website is http://investor.ralphlauren.com. We were incorporated in June 1997 under the laws of the State of Delaware. Our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed with or furnished to the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are available at our investor website under the caption "SEC Filings" promptly after we electronically file such materials with or furnish such materials to the SEC. Information relating to corporate governance at Ralph Lauren Corporation, including our Corporate Governance Policies, our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for all directors, officers, and employees, our Code of Ethics for Principal Executive Officers and Senior Financial Officers, and information concerning our directors, Committees of the Board of Directors, including Committee charters, and transactions involving Ralph Lauren Corporation securities by directors and executive officers are available at our website under the captions "Corporate Governance" and "SEC Filings." Paper copies of these filings and corporate governance documents are available to stockholders without charge by written request to Investor Relations, Ralph Lauren Corporation, 625 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10022.



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In this Form 10-K, references to "Ralph Lauren," "ourselves," "we," "our," "us," and the "Company" refer to Ralph Lauren Corporation and its subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise. Due to the collaborative and ongoing nature of our relationships with our licensees, such licensees are sometimes referred to in this Form 10-K as "licensing alliances." Our fiscal year ends on the Saturday closest to March 31. All references to "Fiscal 2018" represent the 52-week fiscal year ending March 31, 2018. All references to "Fiscal 2017" represent the 52-week fiscal year ended April 1, 2017. All references to "Fiscal 2016" represent the 53-week fiscal year ended April 2, 2016. All references to "Fiscal 2015" represent the 52-week fiscal year ended March 28, 2015.
PART I
Item 1.
Business.
General
Founded in 1967 by Mr. Ralph Lauren, we are a global leader in the design, marketing, and distribution of premium lifestyle products, including apparel, accessories, home furnishings, and other licensed product categories. Our long-standing reputation and distinctive image have been developed across an expanding number of products, brands, sales channels, and international markets. We believe that our global reach, breadth of product offerings, and multi-channel distribution are unique among luxury and apparel companies.
We have diversified our business by geography (North America, Europe, and Asia, among other regions) and channels of distribution (wholesale, retail, and licensing). This allows us to maintain a dynamic balance as our operating results do not depend solely on the performance of any single geographic area or channel of distribution. Our wholesale sales are made principally to major department stores and specialty stores around the world. We also sell directly to consumers through our integrated retail channel, which includes our retail stores, concession-based shop-within-shops, and e-commerce operations around the world. In addition, we license to unrelated third parties for specified periods the right to operate retail stores and/or to use our various trademarks in connection with the manufacture and sale of designated products, such as certain apparel, eyewear, fragrances, and home furnishings.
Effective beginning in the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2017, we organize our business into the following three reportable segments: North America, Europe, and Asia. In addition to these reportable segments, we also have other non-reportable segments. See "Our Segments" for further discussion of our segment reporting structure.
Our global reach is extensive, with merchandise available through our wholesale distribution channels at over 13,000 doors worldwide, the majority in specialty stores. We also sell directly to customers throughout the world via our 466 retail stores and 619 concession-based shop-within-shops, as well as through our various e-commerce sites. In addition to our directly-operated stores and shops, our international licensing partners operate 105 Ralph Lauren stores, 22 Ralph Lauren concession shops, and 136 Club Monaco stores and shops.
We continue to invest in our business. Over the past five fiscal years, we have invested approximately $1.855 billion for acquisitions and capital improvements, primarily funded through strong operating cash flow. We also continue to return value to our shareholders through our common stock share repurchases and payment of quarterly cash dividends. Over the past five fiscal years, the cost of shares of Class A common stock repurchased pursuant to our common stock repurchase program was approximately $2.177 billion and dividends paid amounted to approximately $770 million.
We have been controlled by the Lauren family since the founding of our Company. As of April 1, 2017, Mr. R. Lauren, or entities controlled by the Lauren family, held approximately 83% of the voting power of the Company's outstanding common stock.



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Objectives and Opportunities
We believe that our size and the global scope of our operations provide us with design, sourcing, and distribution synergies across our different businesses. Our core strengths include a portfolio of global premium lifestyle brands, a strong record of developing and extending the distribution of our brands through multiple channels in global markets, an investment philosophy supported by a strong balance sheet, and an experienced management team. Despite the various risks and uncertainties associated with the current global economic environment, as discussed further in Item 7 — "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Current Trends and Outlook," we believe our core strengths will allow us to execute our long-term growth strategy.
In connection with our Way Forward Plan (as described in "Recent Developments"), we have developed a long-term growth strategy with the objective of delivering sustainable, profitable growth and long-term value creation for shareholders. Our growth strategy is comprised of the following key strategic initiatives:
Evolve our brand strategy, with the consumer in the center and a greater focus on our core brands;
Refocus and evolve the product, marketing, and shopping experience to increase desirability and relevance;
Develop a systematic and repeatable way of building a stronger assortment;
Develop a demand-driven supply chain;
Develop best-in-class sourcing to optimize quality, cost, speed, and flexibility;
Develop a disciplined multi-channel distribution and expansion strategy that strengthens the brand and drives high quality growth;
Rightsize our cost structure and develop a disciplined return on investment-driven financial model; and
Continue to strengthen our leadership team and culture.
Recent Developments
Change in Chief Executive Officer
Consistent with our announcement on February 2, 2017, Mr. Stefan Larsson departed as the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") and as a member of our Board of Directors, effective as of May 1, 2017. Subsequently, on May 17, 2017, we announced that Mr. Patrice Louvet will be appointed as the Company's new President and CEO and as a member of our Board of Directors, effective as of July 10, 2017 or such date as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties. See Note 22 to our accompanying consolidated financial statements for further discussion regarding the appointment of Mr. Louvet.
In connection with Mr. Larsson's departure, we recorded other charges of $11.4 million during Fiscal 2017 and expect to incur additional charges of approximately $6 million during Fiscal 2018. See Note 10 to our accompanying consolidated financial statements for further discussion regarding Mr. Larsson's departure.
Way Forward Plan
On June 2, 2016, our Board of Directors approved a restructuring plan with the objective of delivering sustainable, profitable sales growth and long-term value creation for shareholders (the "Way Forward Plan"). We plan to refocus on our core brands and evolve our product, marketing, and shopping experience to increase desirability and relevance. We also intend to evolve our operating model to enable sustainable, profitable sales growth by significantly improving quality of sales, reducing supply chain lead times, improving our sourcing, and executing a disciplined multi-channel distribution and expansion strategy. As part of the Way Forward Plan, we plan to rightsize our cost structure and implement a return on investment-driven financial model to free up resources to invest in the brand and drive high-quality sales. The Way Forward Plan includes strengthening our leadership team and creating a more nimble organization by moving from an average of nine to six layers of management. The Way Forward Plan also includes the discontinuance of our Denim & Supply brand and the integration of our denim product offerings into our Polo Ralph Lauren brand. Collectively, these actions resulted in a reduction in workforce and the closure of certain stores and shop-within-shops during Fiscal 2017, and are expected to result in gross annualized expense savings of approximately $180 million to $220 million.



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On March 30, 2017, our Board of Directors approved the following additional restructuring-related activities associated with our Way Forward Plan: (i) the restructuring of our in-house global e-commerce platform which was in development and shift to a more cost-effective, flexible e-commerce platform through a new agreement with Salesforce's Commerce Cloud, formerly known as Demandware; (ii) the closure of our Polo store at 711 Fifth Avenue in New York City; and (iii) the further streamlining of the organization and the execution of other key corporate actions in line with our Way Forward Plan. These actions, which are expected to be completed by the end of Fiscal 2018, are an important part of our efforts to achieve our stated objective to return to sustainable, profitable growth and invest in the future. These additional restructuring-related activities will result in a further reduction in workforce and the closure of certain corporate office and store locations, and are expected to result in additional gross annualized expense savings of approximately $140 million.
In connection with the Way Forward Plan, we currently expect to incur total estimated charges of approximately $770 million, comprised of cash-related restructuring charges of approximately $450 million and non-cash charges of approximately $320 million. Cumulative cash and non-cash charges incurred during Fiscal 2017 were $289.1 million and $277.3 million, respectively. In addition to these charges, we also incurred an additional non-cash charge of $155.2 million during Fiscal 2017 associated with the destruction of inventory out of current liquidation channels in line with our Way Forward Plan. See Notes 9 and 10 to our accompanying consolidated financial statements for detailed discussions of the charges recorded in connection with the Way Forward Plan.
Our Brands and Products
Our products, which include apparel, accessories, and fragrance collections for men and women, as well as childrenswear and home furnishings, comprise one of the most widely recognized families of consumer brands. Reflecting a distinctive American perspective, we have been an innovator in aspirational lifestyle branding and believe that, under the direction of internationally renowned designer Mr. Ralph Lauren, we have had a considerable influence on the way people dress and the way that fashion is advertised throughout the world.
We combine consumer insight with our design, marketing, and imaging skills to offer, along with our licensing alliances, broad lifestyle product collections with a unified vision:
Apparel — Our apparel products include extensive collections of men's, women's, and children's clothing, which are sold under various brand names, including Ralph Lauren Collection, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Polo Ralph Lauren, Double RL, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Polo and RLX Golf, Polo Ralph Lauren Children, Chaps, and Club Monaco, among others;
Accessories — Our range of accessories encompasses men's and women's, including footwear, eyewear, watches, fine jewelry, hats, belts, and leather goods, including handbags and luggage, which are sold under various brand names, including Ralph Lauren Collection, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Double RL, Polo Ralph Lauren, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren Children, and Club Monaco, among others;
Home — Our coordinated home products include bedding and bath products, furniture, fabric and wallpaper, lighting, tabletop, and giftware;
Fragrance — Our fragrance offerings capture the essence of Ralph Lauren's men's and women's brands with numerous labels, designed to appeal to a variety of audiences. Women's fragrance products are sold under our Ralph Lauren Blue, Romance collection, RALPH collection, and Big Pony collection brands. Men's fragrance products are sold under our Safari, Polo Sport, Polo Green, Polo Blue, Polo Blue Sport, Purple Label, Polo Black, Double Black, Big Pony collection, Polo Red collection, and Polo Supreme Oud brands; and
Restaurants — Our restaurants translate Ralph Lauren's distinctive vision into places to gather with family and friends to enjoy fine food. Our restaurant concepts include The Polo Bar in New York City, RL Restaurant located in Chicago, Ralph's located in Paris, and our Ralph's Coffee concept, with our newest location in London.



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Our lifestyle brand image is reinforced by our distribution through our stores and concession-based shop-within-shops, our wholesale channels of distribution, our global e-commerce sites, and our Ralph Lauren restaurants. We organize our brands into the following groups:
1.
Ralph Lauren Luxury — Our Luxury group includes:
Ralph Lauren Collection and Ralph Lauren Purple Label. The runway sets the stage for each season's Ralph Lauren Collection designs, which includes handmade evening gowns with exquisite detail and refined, hand-tailored suitings. For men, Ralph Lauren Purple Label offers refined suitings, custom tailored made-to-measure suits, and sophisticated sportswear, as well as benchmade footwear and made-to-order dress furnishings, accessories, and luggage. Ralph Lauren Collection and Ralph Lauren Purple Label are available in Ralph Lauren stores around the world, an exclusive selection of the finest specialty stores, and online at our Ralph Lauren e-commerce sites, including RalphLauren.com.
Double RL. Founded in 1993 and named after Ralph Lauren and his wife Ricky's "RRL" ranch in Colorado, Double RL offers a mix of selvedge denim, vintage apparel, sportswear, and accessories, with roots in workwear and military gear. Double RL is available at Double RL stores, at select Ralph Lauren stores, and an exclusive selection of the finest specialty stores around the world, as well as online at our Ralph Lauren e-commerce sites, including RalphLauren.com.
Ralph Lauren Home. Ralph Lauren Home presents home furnishings and accessories that reflect the style and craftsmanship synonymous with the name Ralph Lauren. Ralph Lauren Home includes furniture, bed and bath linens, china, crystal, silver, decorative accessories and gifts, as well as lighting, fabric, wallcovering, and floorcovering. Ralph Lauren Home offers exclusive luxury goods at select Ralph Lauren stores, home specialty stores, trade showrooms, and online at our Ralph Lauren e-commerce sites, including RalphLauren.com. The complete world of Ralph Lauren Home can be explored online at RalphLaurenHome.com.
Ralph Lauren Watches and Fine Jewelry. In 2009, Ralph Lauren, together with internationally renowned luxury group Compagnie Financière Richemont SA, introduced a premier collection of timepieces through the Ralph Lauren Watch & Jewelry Co. The Ralph Lauren Watch & Jewelry Co. also offers premier collections of fine jewelry. Ralph Lauren watches and fine jewelry are available at select Ralph Lauren stores and flagship locations around the world. A selection of watches is also available online at RalphLauren.com and the finest watch retailers.
2.
Polo Ralph Lauren — The Polo Ralph Lauren group includes:
Polo Ralph Lauren. Men's Polo combines Ivy League classics and time-honored English haberdashery with downtown styles and all-American sporting looks in sportswear and tailored clothing. Women's Polo is targeted towards the young, modern girl and mixes romantic bohemian style with cool sportiness. Polo's signature aesthetic includes our renowned polo player logo. Men's and Women's Polo apparel and accessories are available in Polo and Ralph Lauren stores around the world, better department and specialty stores, and online at our Ralph Lauren e-commerce sites, including RalphLauren.com.
Polo and RLX Golf. Tested and worn by top-ranked professional golfers, Polo and RLX Golf for men and women define excellence in the world of golf. With a sharpened focus on the needs of the modern player but rooted in the rich design tradition of Ralph Lauren, the Golf collections combine state-of-the-art performance wear with luxurious finishing touches. Over the years, Polo and RLX Golf have been proud to sponsor Tom Watson, Davis Love III, Jonathan Byrd, Justin Thomas, Luke Donald, Matteo Manassero, and Billy Horschel, among others. The Polo and RLX Golf collections are available in select Polo stores, exclusive private clubs and resorts, and online at RalphLauren.com.
Polo Ralph Lauren Children. Polo Ralph Lauren Children is designed to reflect the timeless heritage and modern spirit of Ralph Lauren's collections for men and women. Signature classics include iconic polo knit shirts and luxurious cashmere cable-knit sweaters. Polo Ralph Lauren Children is available in a full range of sizes, from baby to girls 2-16 and boys 2-20. Polo Ralph Lauren Children can be found in select Polo and Ralph Lauren stores around the world, better department stores, and online at our Ralph Lauren e-commerce sites, including RalphLauren.com, as well as certain of our retailer partner e-commerce sites.



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Pink Pony. Established in 2000, the Pink Pony campaign is our worldwide initiative in the fight against cancer. In the U.S., a percentage of sales from Pink Pony products benefit the Pink Pony Fund of The Polo Ralph Lauren Foundation, which supports programs for early diagnosis, education, treatment, and research, and is dedicated to bringing patient navigation and quality cancer care to medically underserved communities. Internationally, a network of local cancer charities around the world benefit from the sale of Pink Pony products. Pink Pony primarily consists of women's sportswear and accessories. Pink Pony items feature our iconic pink polo player – a symbol of our commitment to the fight against cancer. Pink Pony is available at select Polo and Ralph Lauren stores and online at our Ralph Lauren e-commerce sites, including RalphLauren.com. Pink Pony is also available at select Macy's stores and online at Macys.com.
3.
Lauren Ralph Lauren — Our Lauren group includes:
Lauren Ralph Lauren. Lauren for women offers sophisticated sportswear, denim, dresses, activewear, and a wide array of accessories and footwear at a more accessible price point. Lauren for women is available in select department stores around the world and online at our Ralph Lauren e-commerce sites, including RalphLauren.com. Lauren for men offers a complete collection of men's tailored clothing, including suits, sport coats, dress shirts, dress pants, tuxedos, topcoats, and ties at a more accessible price point. Lauren for men is available at select department stores in North America and Europe.
Lauren Home. Launching in 2017, the Lauren Home collection includes accessibly-priced, timeless bath and bedding designs, updated with a fresh, modern spirit. The collection is built upon an assortment of essentials that is designed to be periodically augmented with trend-relevant colors and patterns.
4.
Chaps Chaps represents a complete lifestyle collection for the entire family and home, with casual sportswear, workday essentials, and fashionable dresses. The Chaps men's, women's, and children's collections are available at select stores in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe, and the United Arab Emirates. Chaps Home is available exclusively at Kohl's and online at Kohl's.com.
5.
Club Monaco — Founded in 1985, Club Monaco designs and markets its own clothing and accessories for men and women, offering key fashion pieces with modern, urban sophistication and a selection of updated classics. Club Monaco apparel and accessories are available exclusively at Club Monaco stores around the world, as well as online at our Club Monaco e-commerce sites, ClubMonaco.com and ClubMonaco.ca. Club Monaco is also available in Asia through our licensing arrangements.
Our Segments
Prior to the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2017, we organized our business into the following three reportable segments: wholesale, retail, and licensing. In connection with the Way Forward Plan, we have implemented significant organizational changes that have impacted the manner in which we manage the Company. Accordingly, during the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2017, we realigned our business into the following three reportable segments:
North America — Our North America segment, representing approximately 57% of our Fiscal 2017 net revenues, primarily consists of sales of our Ralph Lauren branded apparel, accessories, home furnishings, and related products made through our wholesale and retail businesses in the U.S. and Canada, which include 7,294 wholesale doors, 46 Ralph Lauren stores, 170 factory stores, and our e-commerce site, www.RalphLauren.com.
Europe — Our Europe segment, representing approximately 23% of our Fiscal 2017 net revenues, primarily consists of sales of our Ralph Lauren branded apparel, accessories, home furnishings, and related products made through our wholesale and retail businesses in Europe and the Middle East, which include 5,690 wholesale doors, 21 Ralph Lauren stores, 61 factory stores, 31 concession-based shop-within-shops, and various e-commerce sites.
Asia — Our Asia segment, representing approximately 13% of our Fiscal 2017 net revenues, primarily consists of sales of our Ralph Lauren branded apparel, accessories, home furnishings, and related products made through our wholesale and retail businesses in Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, which include 187 wholesale doors, 42 Ralph Lauren stores, 47 factory stores, 586 concession-based shop-within-shops, and various third-party digital partner e-commerce sites.



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No operating segments were aggregated to form our reportable segments. In addition to these reportable segments, we also have other non-reportable segments, representing approximately 7% of our Fiscal 2017 net revenues, which primarily consist of (i) sales of our Club Monaco branded products made through our retail businesses in the U.S., Canada, and Europe, (ii) sales of our Ralph Lauren branded products made through our wholesale business in Latin America, and (iii) royalty revenues earned through our global licensing alliances.
This new segment structure is consistent with how we establish our overall business strategy, allocate resources, and assess performance of our Company. All prior period segment information has been recast to reflect the realignment of our segment reporting structure on a comparable basis.
Approximately 40% of our Fiscal 2017 net revenues were earned outside of the U.S. See Note 20 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements for a summary of net revenues and operating income by segment, as well as net revenues and long-lived assets by geographic location.
Our Wholesale Business
Our wholesale business sells our products globally to leading upscale and certain mid-tier department stores, specialty stores, and golf and pro shops. We have continued to focus on elevating our brand by improving in-store product assortment and presentation, as well as full-price sell-throughs to consumers. As of the end of Fiscal 2017, our wholesale products were sold through over 13,000 doors worldwide, with the majority in specialty stores. Our products are also sold through the e-commerce sites of certain of our wholesale customers.
The primary product offerings sold through our wholesale channels of distribution include apparel, accessories, and home furnishings. Our luxury brands — Ralph Lauren Collection and Ralph Lauren Purple Label — are distributed worldwide through a limited number of premier fashion retailers. Department stores are our major wholesale customers in North America. In Latin America, our wholesale products are sold in department stores and specialty stores. In Europe, our wholesale sales are comprised of a varying mix of sales to both department stores and specialty stores, depending on the country. In Asia, our wholesale products are distributed primarily through shop-within-shops at department stores. We also distribute our wholesale products to certain licensed stores operated by our partners in Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
We sell the majority of our excess and out-of-season products through secondary distribution channels worldwide, including our retail factory stores.
Worldwide Wholesale Distribution Channels
The following table presents the number of wholesale doors by segment as of April 1, 2017:
 
 
Doors
North America
 
7,294

Europe
 
5,690

Asia
 
187

Other non-reportable segments
 
166

Total
 
13,337

We have three key wholesale customers that generate significant sales volume. During Fiscal 2017, sales to our largest wholesale customer, Macy's, Inc. ("Macy's"), accounted for approximately 10% of our total net revenues. Further, during Fiscal 2017, sales to our three largest wholesale customers, including Macy's, accounted for approximately 21% of our total net revenues. Substantially all sales to our three largest wholesale customers related to our North America segment.
Our products are sold primarily by our own sales forces. Our wholesale business maintains its primary showrooms in New York City. In addition, we maintain regional showrooms in Milan, Paris, London, Munich, Madrid, Stockholm, and Panama.



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Shop-within-Shops.    As a critical element of our distribution to department stores, we and our licensing partners utilize shop-within-shops to enhance brand recognition, to permit more complete merchandising of our lines by the department stores, and to differentiate the presentation of our products.
The following table presents the number of shop-within-shops by segment as of April 1, 2017:
 
 
Shop-within-Shops
North America
 
16,970

Europe
 
6,164

Asia
 
339

Other non-reportable segments
 
331

Total
 
23,804

The size of our shop-within-shops ranges from approximately 100 to 9,200 square feet. Shop-within-shop fixed assets primarily include items such as customized freestanding fixtures, wall cases and components, decorative items, and flooring. We normally share in the cost of building out these shop-within-shops with our wholesale customers.
Basic Stock Replenishment Program.    Basic products such as knit shirts, chino pants, oxford cloth shirts, select accessories, and home products can be ordered by our wholesale customers at any time through our basic stock replenishment program. We generally ship these products within two to five days of order receipt.
Our Retail Business
Our retail business sells directly to customers throughout the world via our 466 retail stores, totaling approximately 3.7 million square feet, and 619 concession-based shop-within-shops, as well as through our various e-commerce sites. We operate our retail business using an omni-channel retailing strategy that seeks to deliver an integrated shopping experience with a consistent message of our brands and products to our customers, regardless of whether they are shopping for our products in one of our physical stores or online.
Ralph Lauren Stores
Our Ralph Lauren stores feature a broad range of apparel, accessories, watch and jewelry, fragrance, and home product assortments in an atmosphere reflecting the distinctive attitude and image of the Ralph Lauren, Polo, and Double RL brands, including exclusive merchandise that is not sold in department stores. During Fiscal 2017, we opened six new Ralph Lauren stores and closed 41 stores. Our Ralph Lauren stores are primarily situated in major upscale street locations and upscale regional malls, generally in large urban markets.
The following table presents the number of Ralph Lauren stores by segment as of April 1, 2017:
 
 
Ralph Lauren Stores
North America
 
46

Europe
 
21

Asia
 
42

Total
 
109

Our eight flagship Ralph Lauren store locations showcase our iconic styles and products and demonstrate our most refined merchandising techniques. In addition to generating sales of our products, our worldwide Ralph Lauren stores establish, reinforce, and capitalize on the image of our brands. Our Ralph Lauren stores range in size from approximately 700 to 37,900 square feet.



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Factory Stores
We extend our reach to additional consumer groups through our 278 factory stores worldwide, which are principally located in major outlet centers. Our worldwide factory stores offer selections of our apparel, accessories, and fragrances. In addition to these product offerings, certain of our factory stores in North America offer home furnishings. During Fiscal 2017, we opened 14 new factory stores and closed eight factory stores.
The following table presents the number of factory stores by segment as of April 1, 2017:
 
 
Factory Stores
North America
 
170

Europe
 
61

Asia
 
47

Total
 
278

Our factory stores range in size from approximately 1,400 to 26,700 square feet. Factory stores obtain products from our suppliers, our product licensing partners, and our other retail stores and e-commerce operations, and also serve as a secondary distribution channel for our excess and out-of-season products.
Concession-based Shop-within-Shops
The terms of trade for shop-within-shops are largely conducted on a concession basis, whereby inventory continues to be owned by us (not the department store) until ultimate sale to the end consumer. The salespeople involved in the sales transactions are generally our employees and not those of the department store.
The following table presents the number of concession-based shop-within-shops by segment as of April 1, 2017:
 
 
Concession-based
Shop-within-Shops
Europe
 
31

Asia
 
586

Other non-reportable segments
 
2

Total(a)
 
619

 
(a)
Our concession-based shop-within-shops were located at approximately 260 retail locations.
The size of our concession-based shop-within-shops ranges from approximately 200 to 3,300 square feet. We may share in the cost of building out certain of these shop-within-shops with our department store partners.
Club Monaco Stores
Our Club Monaco stores feature fashion apparel and accessories for both men and women with clean and contemporary signature styles. During Fiscal 2017, we opened 12 new Club Monaco stores and closed 10 stores. Our Club Monaco stores range in size from approximately 500 to 17,400 square feet.
The following table presents the number of Club Monaco stores by geographic location as of April 1, 2017:
 
 
Club Monaco Stores
North America
 
74

Europe
 
5

Total(a)
 
79

 
(a)
Our Club Monaco business has been aggregated with other non-reportable segments.



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E-commerce Websites
In addition to our stores, our retail business sells products online in North America and Europe through our various e-commerce sites, which include www.RalphLauren.com and www.ClubMonaco.com, among others. In Asia, we sell products online through e-commerce sites of various third-party digital partners.
Our Ralph Lauren e-commerce sites offer our customers access to a broad array of Ralph Lauren, Polo, and Double RL apparel, accessories, watch and jewelry, fragrance, and home product assortments, and reinforce the luxury image of our brands. While investing in e-commerce operations remains a primary focus, it is an extension of our investment in the integrated omni-channel strategy used to operate our overall retail business, in which our e-commerce operations are interdependent with our physical stores.
Our Club Monaco e-commerce sites offer our domestic and Canadian customers access to our global assortment of Club Monaco apparel and accessories product lines, as well as select online exclusives.
Our Licensing Business
Through licensing alliances, we combine our consumer insight, design, and marketing skills with the specific product or geographic competencies of our licensing partners to create and build new businesses. We generally seek out licensing partners who are leaders in their respective markets, contribute the majority of the product development costs, provide the operational infrastructure required to support the business, and own the inventory. Our licensing business has been aggregated with other non-reportable segments.
Product Licensing
We grant our product licensees the right to manufacture and sell at wholesale specified categories of products under one or more of our trademarks. Each product licensing partner pays us royalties based upon its sales of our products, generally subject to a minimum royalty requirement for the right to use our trademarks and design services. In addition, our licensing partners may be required to allocate a portion of their revenues to advertising our products and sharing in the creative costs associated with these products. Larger allocations typically are required in connection with launches of new products or in new territories. Our license agreements generally have one to five-year terms and may grant the licensees conditional renewal options.
We work closely with all of our licensing partners to ensure that their products are developed, marketed, and distributed to reach the intended consumer and are presented consistently across product categories to convey the distinctive identity and lifestyle associated with our brands. Virtually all aspects of the design, production quality, packaging, merchandising, distribution, advertising, and promotion of Ralph Lauren products are subject to our prior approval and continuing oversight. We perform a broader range of services for most of our Ralph Lauren Home licensing partners than we do for our other licensing partners, including design, operating showrooms, marketing, and advertising.
The following table lists our largest licensing agreements as of April 1, 2017. Except as noted in the table, these product licenses cover North America only.
Category
 
Licensed Products
 
Licensing Partners
Men's Apparel
 
Underwear and Sleepwear
 
Hanesbrands, Inc. (includes Japan)
 
 
Chaps, Lauren, and Ralph Tailored Clothing
 
Peerless Clothing International, Inc.
 
 
 
 
 
Beauty Products
 
Fragrances, Cosmetics, Color, and Skin Care
 
L'Oreal S.A. (global)
 
 
 
 
 
Accessories
 
Eyewear
 
Luxottica Group, S.p.A. (global)
 
 
 
 
 
Home(a)
 
Bedding and Bath
  
Ichida Co., Ltd. and Kohl's Illinois, Inc.
 
 
Utility and Blankets
 
Hollander Sleep Products LLC, Ichida Co., Ltd., and Kohl's Illinois, Inc.
 
 
Fabric and Wallpaper
 
P. Kaufmann, Inc.
 
(a)
Our Home products are sold under our Ralph Lauren Home, Lauren Ralph Lauren, and Chaps Home brands. As of April 1, 2017, we had agreements with 10 Home product licensing partners.



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International Licensing
We believe that international markets offer additional opportunities for our iconic designs and lifestyle image. Our international licensing partners acquire the right to sell, promote, market, and/or distribute various categories of our products in a given geographic area and source products from us, our product licensing partners, and independent sources. The international licensees' rights may include the right to own and operate retail stores. As of April 1, 2017, our international licensing partners operated 105 Ralph Lauren stores, 22 Ralph Lauren concession shops, and 136 Club Monaco stores and shops.
Seasonality of Business
Our business is typically affected by seasonal trends, with higher levels of wholesale sales in our second and fourth fiscal quarters and higher retail sales in our second and third fiscal quarters. These trends result primarily from the timing of seasonal wholesale shipments and key vacation travel, back-to-school, and holiday shopping periods impacting our retail business. As a result of growth and other changes in our business, along with changes in consumer spending patterns and the macroeconomic environment, historical quarterly operating trends and working capital requirements may not be indicative of our future performance. In addition, fluctuations in sales, operating income, and cash flows in any fiscal quarter may be affected by other events affecting retail sales, such as changes in weather patterns.
Working capital requirements vary throughout the year. Working capital requirements typically increase during the first half of the fiscal year as inventory builds to support peak shipping/selling periods and, accordingly, typically decrease during the second half of the fiscal year as inventory is shipped/sold. Cash provided by operating activities is typically higher in the second half of the fiscal year due to reduced working capital requirements during that period.
Product Design
Our products reflect a timeless and innovative interpretation of American style with a strong international appeal. Our consistent emphasis on new and distinctive design has been an important contributor to the prominence, strength, and reputation of the Ralph Lauren brands.
Our Ralph Lauren products are designed by, and under the direction of, Mr. Ralph Lauren and our design staff. We form design teams around our brands and product categories to develop concepts, themes, and products for each brand and category. Through close collaboration with merchandising, sales, and production staff, these teams support all of our businesses in order to gain market information and other valuable input.
Marketing and Advertising
Our marketing and advertising programs communicate the themes and images of our brands and are integral to the success of our product offerings. The majority of our advertising program is created and executed by our in-house creative and advertising agency to ensure consistency of presentation, which is complemented by our marketing experts in each region who help to execute our international strategies.
We create distinctive image advertising for our brands, conveying the particular message of each one within the context of the overall Ralph Lauren aesthetic. Advertisements generally portray a lifestyle rather than a specific item and include a variety of products offered by ourselves and, in some cases, our licensing partners. Our communication campaigns are primarily executed through a combination of print, outdoor, digital, and social media platforms, and, to a lesser extent, through television and cinema.
Our digital advertising programs focus on high impact and innovative digital media outlets, which allow us to convey our key brand messages and lifestyle positioning. We also develop digital editorial initiatives that allow for deeper education and engagement around the Ralph Lauren lifestyle, including the RL Magazine, RL Style Guide, and a wide array of video and social media content. We deploy these marketing and advertising initiatives through online, mobile, email, and social media. Our e-commerce sites present the Ralph Lauren lifestyle online, while offering a broad array of our apparel, accessories, and home product lines.



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We advertise in consumer and trade print and digital media, and participate in cooperative advertising on a shared cost basis with some of our retail and licensing partners. We also provide point-of-sale fixtures and signage to our wholesale customers to enhance the presentation of our products at their retail locations. In addition, when our licensing partners are required to spend an amount equal to a percentage of their licensed product sales on advertising, we coordinate the advertising placement on their behalf. We believe our investments in shop-within-shop environments and retail stores, including our global flagship locations, contribute to and enhance the themes of our brands to consumers. Advertising and marketing expenses amounted to $219.9 million, $280.0 million, and $274.6 million in Fiscal 2017, Fiscal 2016, and Fiscal 2015, respectively. In Fiscal 2017, reductions in promotional programs, store count, and marketing staffing drove substantial savings in comparison to the prior fiscal year.
We also conduct a variety of public relations activities. Each spring and fall, our Ralph Lauren Women's Collection is presented during New York Fashion Week. We also introduce each of the spring and fall menswear and womenswear collections at press presentations in major cities such as New York City and Milan. These fashion events, in addition to celebrity red carpet dressing moments, model appearances, and events hosted in our stores and restaurants, including The Polo Bar in New York City, generate extensive domestic and international media and social coverage.
We continue to be the official outfitter for all on-court officials at both the Wimbledon and the U.S. Open tennis tournaments. Both tournaments provide worldwide exposure for our brand in a relevant lifestyle environment. We also continue to be the exclusive Official Parade Outfitter for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams, with the right to manufacture, distribute, advertise, promote, and sell products in the U.S. which replicate the Parade Outfits and associated leisure wear. Most recently, we dressed Team U.S.A. for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. As part of our involvement with Team U.S.A., we have established a partnership with athletes serving as brand ambassadors and as the faces of our advertising, marketing, and public relations campaigns. Additionally, under our agreement with the United States Golf Association ("USGA"), we continue to be the official apparel outfitter for the USGA and the U.S. Open Championships and serve as the championship's largest on-site apparel supplier.
We believe our partnerships with such prestigious global athletic events reinforce our brand's sporting heritage in a truly authentic way and serve to connect our Company and brands to our consumers through their individual areas of passion.
Sourcing, Production and Quality
We contract for the manufacture of our products and do not own or operate any production facilities. Approximately 600 different manufacturers worldwide produce our apparel, accessories, and home products, with no one manufacturer providing more than 4% of our total production during Fiscal 2017. We source both finished products and raw materials. Raw materials include fabric, buttons, and other trim. Finished products consist of manufactured and fully assembled products ready for shipment to our customers. In Fiscal 2017, over 97% of our products (by dollar value) were produced outside of the U.S., primarily in Asia, Europe, and Latin America. See "Import Restrictions and Other Government Regulations" and Item 1A — "Risk Factors — Our business is subject to risks associated with importing products and could suffer as a result of increases in the price of raw materials, freight, or labor; or a manufacturer's inability to produce our goods on time and to our specifications."
Most of our businesses must commit to the manufacturing of our garments before we sell finished goods, whether to wholly-owned retail stores or to wholesale customers. We also must commit to the purchase of fabric from mills well in advance of our sales. If we overestimate our primary customers' demand for a particular product or the need for a particular fabric or yarn, we primarily sell the excess products or garments made from such fabric or yarn in our factory stores or through other secondary distribution channels.
Suppliers operate under the close supervision of our global manufacturing division and buying agents headquartered in Asia, the Americas, the Middle East, and Europe. All products are produced according to our specifications and standards. Production and quality control staff in Asia, the Americas, the Middle East, and Europe monitor manufacturing at supplier facilities in order to correct problems prior to shipment of the final product. Procedures have been implemented under our vendor certification and compliance programs so that quality assurance is reviewed early in the production process, allowing merchandise to be received at the distribution facilities and shipped to customers with minimal interruption.



14
 



Competition
Competition is very strong in the segments of the fashion and consumer product industries in which we operate. We compete with numerous designers and manufacturers of apparel and accessories, fragrances, and home furnishing products, both domestic and international. We also face increasing competition from companies selling our product categories through the Internet. Some of our competitors may be significantly larger and have substantially greater resources than us. We compete primarily on the basis of fashion, quality, value, and service, which depend on our ability to:
anticipate and respond to changing consumer demands in a timely manner;
create and maintain favorable brand recognition, loyalty, and reputation for quality;
develop and produce high quality products that appeal to consumers;
competitively price our products and create an acceptable value proposition for consumers;
provide strong and effective marketing support;
source raw materials at cost-effective prices;
anticipate and maintain proper inventory levels;
ensure product availability and optimize supply chain and distribution efficiencies; and
obtain additional points of distribution and sufficient retail floor space, and effectively present our products to consumers.
See Item 1A — "Risk Factors — We face intense competition worldwide in the markets in which we operate."
Distribution
To facilitate global distribution, our products are shipped from manufacturers to a network of distribution centers around the world for inspection, sorting, packing, and delivery to our retail locations and e-commerce and wholesale customers. This network includes the following primary distribution facilities:
Facility Location
 
Geographic Region Serviced
 
Facility
Ownership
Greensboro, North Carolina
 
U.S.
 
Owned
N. Pendleton Street, High Point, North Carolina
 
U.S.
 
Owned
NC Highway 66, High Point, North Carolina
 
U.S.
 
Leased
Eagle Hill Drive, High Point, North Carolina
 
U.S.
 
Leased
Chino Hills, California
 
U.S.
 
Third-party
Miami, Florida
 
U.S.
 
Third-party
Toronto, Ontario
 
Canada
 
Third-party
Parma, Italy
 
Europe
 
Third-party
Yokohama, Japan
 
Japan
 
Third-party
Bugok, South Korea
 
South Korea
 
Leased
Tuen Mun, Hong Kong
 
Greater China and Southeast Asia(a)
 
Third-party
Colón, Panama
 
Latin America
 
Third-party

(a) 
Includes Australia, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
All facilities are designed to allow for high-density cube storage and value-added services, and utilize unit and carton tracking technology to facilitate process control and inventory management. The distribution network is managed through globally integrated information technology systems.



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Management Information Systems
Our management information systems make the design, marketing, manufacturing, importation, and distribution of our products more efficient by providing, among other things:
comprehensive order processing;
production and design information;
accounting information; and
an enterprise view of information for our design, marketing, manufacturing, importing, and distribution functions.
The point-of-sale registers, in conjunction with other systems in our stores, enable us to track inventory from store receipt to final sale on a real-time basis. We believe our merchandising and financial systems, coupled with our point-of-sale registers and software programs, allow for efficient stock replenishment, effective merchandise planning, and real-time inventory and sales accounting.
In the U.S. and Europe, we utilize an automated replenishment system to facilitate the processing of basic stock replenishment orders from our retail business and wholesale customers, the movement of goods through distribution channels, and the collection of information for planning and forecasting purposes. In the U.S. and Europe, we also utilize an automated allocation system to facilitate the flow of inventory for our retail business.
We recently completed the implementation of a global operating and financial reporting information technology system, SAP, as part of a multi-year plan to integrate and upgrade our systems and processes. We substantially completed the migration of our North America operations to SAP during Fiscal 2015, and the migration of our Europe operations to SAP was completed during the first quarter of Fiscal 2018. In addition to implementing SAP, we also completed the migration of our North America and Europe operations to a new procure-to-pay platform during Fiscal 2016 and Fiscal 2017, respectively. Further, we have plans to transition our e-commerce operations to a third-party cloud-based platform during Fiscal 2018.
See Item 1A — "Risk Factors — Risk and uncertainties associated with the implementation of information systems may negatively impact our business," "Risk Factors A data security or privacy breach could damage our reputation and our relationships with our customers or employees, expose us to litigation risk, and adversely affect our business," and "Risk Factors Our business could suffer if our computer systems and websites are disrupted or cease to operate effectively."
Wholesale Credit Control
We manage our own credit function. We sell our merchandise principally to major department stores and extend credit based on an evaluation of the wholesale customer's financial capacity and condition, usually without requiring collateral. We monitor credit levels and the financial condition of our wholesale customers on a continuing basis to minimize credit risk. We do not factor or underwrite our accounts receivables, or maintain credit insurance to manage the risk of bad debts. In North America, collection and deduction transactional activities are provided through a third-party service provider. See Item 1A — "Risk Factors — A substantial portion of our revenue is derived from a limited number of large wholesale customers. Our business could suffer as a result of consolidations, liquidations, restructurings, other ownership changes in the retail industry, and/or any financial instability of our large wholesale customers."



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Wholesale Backlog
We generally receive wholesale orders approximately three to five months prior to the time the products are delivered to customers, with the exception of orders received through our basic stock replenishment program, which ship within two to five days of order receipt. Our wholesale orders are generally subject to broad cancellation rights.
The following table presents our wholesale backlog by segment as of April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016:
 
 
April 1,
2017
 
April 2,
2016
 
 
(billions)
North America
 
$
0.8

 
$
1.0

Europe
 
0.4

 
0.4

Total
 
$
1.2

 
$
1.4

We expect that substantially all of our backlog orders as of April 1, 2017 will be filled within the next fiscal year.
The size of our order backlog depends upon a number of factors, including the timing of the market weeks for our particular lines during which a significant percentage of our orders are received and the timing of shipments, which varies from year-to-year with consideration for holidays, consumer trends, concept plans, and the basic stock replenishment program's usage. As a consequence, a comparison of the size of our order backlog from period-to-period may not be meaningful, nor may it be indicative of eventual shipments.
Trademarks
We own the RALPH LAUREN, POLO, POLO BY RALPH LAUREN DESIGN, and the famous polo player astride a horse trademarks in the U.S. and approximately 120 countries worldwide. Other trademarks that we own include:
PURPLE LABEL;
DOUBLE RL;
RRL;
RLX;
LAUREN RALPH LAUREN;
PINK PONY;
LAUREN;
RALPH;
CHAPS;
CLUB MONACO; and
Various other trademarks, including those pertaining to fragrances and cosmetics.
Mr. Ralph Lauren has the royalty-free right to use as trademarks RALPH LAUREN, DOUBLE RL, and RRL in perpetuity in connection with, among other things, beef and living animals. The trademarks DOUBLE RL and RRL are currently used by the Double RL Company, an entity wholly owned by Mr. R. Lauren. In addition, Mr. R. Lauren has the right to engage in personal projects involving film or theatrical productions (not including or relating to our business) through RRL Productions, Inc., a company wholly owned by Mr. R. Lauren. Any activity by these companies has no impact on us.



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Our trademarks are the subject of registrations and pending applications throughout the world for use on a variety of items of apparel, apparel-related products, home furnishings, restaurant and café services, online services and online publications, and beauty products, as well as in connection with retail services, and we continue to expand our worldwide usage and registration of related trademarks. In general, trademarks remain valid and enforceable as long as the marks are used in connection with the related products and services and the required registration renewals are filed. We regard the license to use the trademarks and our other proprietary rights in and to the trademarks as extremely valuable assets in marketing our products and, on a worldwide basis, vigorously seek to protect them against infringement. As a result of the appeal of our trademarks, our products have been the object of counterfeiting. While we have a broad enforcement program which has been generally effective in protecting our intellectual property rights and limiting the sale of counterfeit products in the U.S. and in most major markets abroad, we face greater challenges with respect to enforcing our rights against trademark infringement in certain parts of Asia.
In markets outside of the U.S., our rights to some or all of our trademarks may not be clearly established. In the course of our international expansion, we have experienced conflicts with various third parties who have acquired ownership rights in certain trademarks, including POLO and/or a representation of a Polo Player Design, which impede our use and registration of our principal trademarks. While such conflicts are common and may arise again from time to time as we continue our international expansion, we have, in general, successfully resolved such conflicts in the past through both legal action and negotiated settlements with third-party owners of the conflicting marks (see Item 1A — "Risk Factors — Our trademarks and other intellectual property rights may not be adequately protected outside the U.S." and Item 3 — "Legal Proceedings" for further discussion). Although we have not suffered any material restraints or restrictions on doing business in desirable markets in the past, we cannot assure that significant impediments will not arise in the future as we expand product offerings and introduce trademarks to new markets.
Import Restrictions and Other Government Regulations
Virtually all of our merchandise imported into the Americas, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand is subject to duties. In addition, most of the countries to which we ship could impose safeguard quotas and duties to protect their local industries from import surges that threaten to create market disruption. The U.S. and other countries may also unilaterally impose additional duties in response to a particular product being imported (from China or other countries) at unfairly traded prices in such increased quantities that would cause (or threaten) injury to the relevant domestic industry (generally known as "anti-dumping" actions). If dumping is suspected in the U.S., the U.S. government may self-initiate a dumping case on behalf of the U.S. textile industry which could significantly affect our costs. Furthermore, additional duties, generally known as countervailing duties, can also be imposed by the U.S. government to offset subsidies provided by a foreign government to foreign manufacturers if the importation of such subsidized merchandise injures or threatens to injure a U.S. industry. Legislative proposals have been introduced which, if adopted, would treat a manipulation by China of the value of its currency as actionable under the anti-dumping or countervailing duty laws.
In addition, each of the countries in which our products are sold has laws and regulations covering imports. Because the U.S. and the other countries in which our products are manufactured and sold may, from time to time, impose new duties, tariffs, surcharges, or other import controls or restrictions, including the imposition of a "safeguard quota," or adjust presently prevailing duty or tariff rates or levels, we maintain a program of intensive monitoring of import restrictions and opportunities. We seek to minimize our potential exposure to import-related risks through, among other measures, adjustments in product design and fabrication, shifts of production among countries and manufacturers, and through geographical diversification of our sources of supply.
As almost all of our products are manufactured by foreign suppliers, the enactment of new legislation or the administration of current international trade regulations or executive action affecting textile agreements, or changes in sourcing patterns could adversely affect our operations. See Item 1A — "Risk Factors  Our ability to conduct business globally may be affected by a variety of legal, regulatory, political, and economic risks" and "Risk Factors  Our business is subject to risks associated with importing products and could suffer as a result of increases in the price of raw materials, freight, or labor; or a manufacturer's inability to produce our goods on time and to our specifications."
We are also subject to other international trade agreements, such as the North American Free Trade Agreement, the Central American Free Trade Agreement, the U.S.-Peru Free Trade Agreement, the U.S.-Jordan Free Trade Agreement, the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement and other special trade preference programs. A portion of our imported products are eligible for certain of these duty-advantaged programs. Apparel and other products sold by us are under the jurisdiction of multiple governmental agencies, including, in the U.S., the Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Consumer Products Safety Commission.



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Our products are also subject to regulation in the U.S. and other countries, including the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, which imposes limitations on the permissible amounts of lead and phthalates allowed in children's products. These regulations relate principally to product labeling, licensing requirements, and consumer product safety requirements and regulatory testing, particularly with respect to products used by children. Any failure to comply with such requirements could result in significant penalties and require us to recall products, which could have a material adverse effect on our business or operating results. We believe that we are in substantial compliance with these regulations, as well as applicable federal, state, local, and foreign rules and regulations governing the discharge of materials hazardous to the environment. We do not anticipate any significant capital expenditures for environmental control matters either in the next fiscal year or in the near future. Our licensed products, licensing partners, buying/sourcing agents, and the vendors and factories with which we contract for the manufacture and distribution of our products are also subject to regulation. Our agreements require our licensing partners, buying/sourcing agents, vendors, and factories to operate in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, and we are not aware of any violations which could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on our business or operating results.
We are also subject to disclosure and reporting requirements, established under existing or new federal or state laws, such as the requirements to identify the origin and existence of certain "conflict minerals" under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, and disclosures of specific actions to eradicate abusive labor practices in our supply chain under the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act. While we require our suppliers to operate in compliance with all applicable laws and our operating guidelines which promote ethical and socially responsible business practices, any violation of labor, environmental, health, and safety or other laws, or any divergence by an independent supplier's labor practices from generally accepted industry standards, could damage our reputation, disrupt our sourcing capabilities, and increase the cost of doing business, adversely affecting our results of operations. See Item 1A — "Risk Factors  Our business could suffer if we fail to comply with labor laws or if one of our manufacturers fails to use acceptable labor or environmental practices."
Although we have not suffered any material restriction from doing business in desirable markets in the past, we cannot assure that significant impediments will not arise in the future as we expand product offerings and introduce additional trademarks to new markets.
Employees
As of April 1, 2017, we had approximately 23,300 employees, comprised of approximately 13,200 full-time and approximately 10,100 part-time employees. Approximately 12,800 of our employees are located in the U.S. and approximately 10,500 are located in foreign countries. Approximately 25 of our U.S. production employees in the womenswear business are members of Workers United (which was previously known as UNITE HERE) under an industry association collective bargaining agreement, which our womenswear subsidiary has adopted. We consider our relations with both our union and non-union employees to be good.



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Executive Officers
The following are our current executive officers and their principal recent business experience:
Ralph Lauren
  
Age 77
  
Mr. Ralph Lauren founded our business in 1967 and, for nearly five decades, has cultivated the iconography of America into a global lifestyle brand. He is currently our Executive Chairman and Chief Creative Officer and has been a director of the Company since prior to our initial public offering in 1997. He had previously been our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since prior to our initial public offering in 1997 until November 2015. In addition, he was previously a member of our Advisory Board or the Board of Directors of our predecessors since their organization.
 
 
 
Valérie Hermann
 
Age 54
 
Ms. Hermann has been our President, Global Brands since September 2016, with responsibility for all aspects of the development of our global brand groups, including Ralph Lauren Luxury, Polo Ralph Lauren, Lauren, Chaps, and Ralph Lauren Home. She served as our Global Brand President of Luxury, Women's Collections, and World of Accessories from April 2016 through September 2016, and was our President of Luxury Collections from April 2014 through April 2016. Ms. Hermann was President and Chief Executive Officer of Reed Krakoff Co. from April 2011 through March 2014. From 2005 to 2011, she served as Chief Executive Officer of Saint Laurent Paris. Prior to that, Ms. Hermann held various positions at LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, including Director of Women's Ready to Wear at Dior.
 
 
 
David Lauren
 
Age 45
 
Mr. David Lauren has been our Chief Innovation Officer and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors since October 2016. From November 2010 to October 2016, he served as our Executive Vice President of Global Advertising, Marketing and Communications. Prior to that, he served in numerous leadership roles at the Company with responsibility for advertising, marketing and communications. He has been a director of the Company since August 2013. Mr. D. Lauren oversees the Company's innovation processes and capabilities to drive its brand strength and financial performance across all channels. He has been instrumental in growing the Company's global e-commerce business and pioneering our technology initiatives. He serves on the board of trustees of the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and the board of directors of The National Museum of American History. Mr. D. Lauren is also the President of The Polo Ralph Lauren Foundation. Before joining the Company in 2000, he was Editor-In-Chief and President of Swing, a general interest publication for Generation X. Mr. D. Lauren is the son of Mr. Ralph Lauren.
 
 
 
 
 
Jane Hamilton Nielsen
 
Age 53
 
Ms. Nielsen has been our Chief Financial Officer since September 2016. She served as Chief Financial Officer of Coach, Inc. from September 2011 to August 2016. From 2009 to 2011, she was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of PepsiCo Beverages Americas and the Global Nutrition Group, divisions of PepsiCo, Inc., with responsibility for all financial management including financial reporting, performance management, capital allocation, and strategic planning. Prior to that, Ms. Nielsen held various senior roles in finance at PepsiCo, Inc. and Pepsi Bottling Group starting in 1996. She also serves on the board of directors of Pinnacle Foods Inc. Ms. Nielsen received her M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School and B.A. from Smith College.
 
 
 
 
 



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Item 1A.
Risk Factors
There are risks associated with an investment in our securities. The following risk factors should be read carefully in connection with evaluating our business and the forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Any of the following risk factors could materially adversely affect our business, our prospects, our results of operations, our financial condition, our liquidity, the trading price of our securities, and/or the actual outcome of matters as to which forward-looking statements are made in this report. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently view as immaterial may also materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition in future periods or if circumstances change.
Recent changes in our executive and senior management team, including the departure of Mr. Stefan Larsson and the appointment of Mr. Patrice Louvet, may be disruptive to, or cause uncertainty in, our business, results of operations, financial condition, and the market price of our common stock.
Consistent with our announcement on February 2, 2017, Mr. Stefan Larsson departed as the Company's President and CEO and as a member of our Board of Directors, effective as of May 1, 2017. Subsequently, on May 17, 2017, we announced that Mr. Patrice Louvet will be appointed as the Company's new President and CEO and as a member of our Board of Directors, effective as of July 10, 2017 or such date as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties. Our ability to continue to execute our long-term growth strategy, including our Way Forward Plan initiatives, may be adversely affected or delayed by the uncertainty associated with the transition to a successor CEO. In addition to Mr. Larsson's departure, certain other members of our executive and senior management team have departed in recent years, and we plan to continue to implement other management and organizational changes in connection with our long-term growth strategy. These changes in our executive and senior management team may be disruptive to, or cause uncertainty in, our business and future strategic direction. The departure of certain key executives, including Mr. Larsson, and the failure to ensure a smooth transition and effective transfer of knowledge involving senior employees could hinder or delay our strategic planning and execution, as well as adversely affect our ability to attract and retain experienced and talented employees. Any such disruption or uncertainty could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations, financial condition, and the market price of our common stock. Further, such disruption may hinder our ability to maintain an effective system of internal controls and compliance with the requirements under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
The loss of the services of Mr. Ralph Lauren, members of our executive management team, or other key personnel could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Mr. Ralph Lauren's leadership in the design and marketing areas of our business has been a critical element of our success since the inception of our Company. Mr. R. Lauren is instrumental to, and closely identified with, our brand that bears his name. Our ability to maintain our brand image and leverage the goodwill associated with Mr. R. Lauren's name may be damaged if we were to lose his services. The death or disability of Mr. R. Lauren or other extended or permanent loss of his services, or any negative market or industry perception with respect to him or arising from his loss, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
We also depend on the service and management experience of other key executive officers and other members of senior management who have substantial experience and expertise in our industry and our business and have made significant contributions to our growth and success. The loss of the services of any of our key executive officers or other members of senior management, or one or more of our other key personnel, or the concurrent loss of several of these individuals or any negative public perception with respect to these individuals, could also have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
We are not protected by a material amount of key-man or similar life insurance covering our executive officers, including Mr. R. Lauren, or other members of senior management. We have entered into employment agreements with certain of our executive officers, but competition for experienced executives in our industry is intense and the non-compete period with respect to certain of our executive officers could, in some circumstances in the event of their termination of employment with our Company, end prior to the employment term set forth in their employment agreements.



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We may not fully realize the expected cost savings and/or operating efficiencies from our restructuring plans.
We have implemented, and plan to continue to implement, restructuring plans to support key strategic initiatives, such as the Way Forward Plan, as described in Item 1 — "Business  Recent Developments." These restructuring plans are designed to deliver long-term sustainable growth by enhancing our operating effectiveness and efficiency, rightsizing and increasing the quality of our distribution channels, and reducing our operating costs. Restructuring plans present significant potential risks that may impair our ability to achieve anticipated operating enhancements and/or cost reductions, or otherwise harm our business, including:
higher than anticipated costs in implementing planned workforce reductions, particularly in highly regulated locations outside the U.S.;
higher than anticipated lease termination and store closure costs (see "Our business is subject to risks associated with leasing real estate and other assets under long-term, non-cancellable leases");
failure to meet operational targets or customer requirements due to the loss of employees or inadequate transfer of knowledge;
failure to maintain adequate controls and procedures while executing, and subsequent to completing, our restructuring plans;
diversion of management attention and resources from ongoing business activities and/or a decrease in employee morale;
attrition beyond any planned reduction in workforce; and
damage to our reputation and brand image due to our restructuring-related activities, including the closure of certain of our stores.
If we are not successful in implementing and managing our restructuring plans, we may not be able to achieve targeted operating enhancements, sales growth, and/or cost reductions, which could adversely impact our business, results of operations, and financial condition. Our failure to achieve targeted operating enhancements, sales growth, and/or cost reductions could also result in the implementation of additional restructuring-related activities, which may be dilutive to our earnings in the short term.
Our business is subject to risks associated with leasing real estate and other assets under long-term, non-cancellable leases.
We generally operate most of our retail stores under long-term, non-cancellable leasing arrangements. Our leases typically require us to make minimum rental payments, and often contingent rental payments based upon sales. In addition, our leases generally require us to pay our proportionate share of the cost of insurance, taxes, maintenance, and utilities. We generally cannot cancel our leases at our option. If an existing store is not profitable, and we decide to close it, we may be required to record an impairment charge and/or exit costs associated with the disposal of the store. In addition, we may remain obligated under the applicable lease for, among other things, payment of the base rent for the remaining lease term. Such costs and obligations related to the early closure of our stores or termination of our leases, such as the recent closing of our Polo store at 711 Fifth Avenue in New York City, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
We cannot assure the successful implementation of our growth strategy.
In connection with our Way Forward Plan, we have developed a long-term growth strategy with the objective of delivering sustainable, profitable growth and long-term value creation for shareholders. We plan to refocus on our core brands and evolve our product, marketing, and shopping experience to increase desirability and relevance. We also intend to evolve our operating model by significantly improving quality of sales, reducing supply chain lead times, improving our sourcing, and executing a disciplined multi-channel distribution and expansion strategy. Our growth strategy also includes the rightsizing of our cost structure and implementation of a return on investment-driven financial model, as well as continuing to strengthen our leadership team.
Our ability to successfully execute our growth strategy is subject to various risks and uncertainties, as described within this "Risk Factors" section of our Form 10-K. Although we believe that our growth strategy will lead to long-term growth in revenue and profitability, there can be no assurance regarding the timing of or extent to which we will realize the anticipated benefits, if at all. Our failure to realize the anticipated benefits, which may be due to our inability to execute the various elements of our growth strategy, changes in consumer preferences, competition, economic conditions, and other risks described herein, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Our failure could also result in the implementation of additional restructuring-related activities, which may be dilutive to our earnings in the short term.



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Achievement of our growth strategy may require investment in new capabilities, distribution channels, and technologies. These investments may result in short-term costs without accompanying current revenues and, therefore, may be dilutive to our earnings in the short term. In addition, we may also incur other costs associated with the execution of our growth strategy, including restructuring-related charges, which may also be dilutive to our earnings in the short term. There can be no assurance regarding the timing of or extent to which we will realize the anticipated benefits of these investments and other costs, if at all.
See Item 1 — "Business  Objectives and Opportunities" for additional discussion regarding our growth strategy.
We may not be successful in the expansion of our multi-channel distribution network.
Implementation of our growth strategy involves the continuation and expansion of our multi-channel distribution network on a global basis, including our e-commerce operations, which is subject to many factors, including, but not limited to, our ability to:
identify new markets where our products and brand will be accepted by consumers;
identify desirable freestanding and department store locations, the availability of which may be out of our control;
negotiate acceptable lease terms, including desired tenant improvement allowances;
efficiently build-out stores and shop-within-shop locations;
source sufficient inventory levels to meet the needs of the new stores and shop-within-shops;
hire, train, and retain competent store personnel;
integrate new stores and shop-within-shops into our existing systems and operations; and
maintain and upgrade our e-commerce platform to provide our customers with a seamless shopping experience (see "Risks and uncertainties associated with the implementation of information systems may negatively impact our business").
Any of these challenges could delay or otherwise prevent us from successfully executing our distribution expansion strategy. There can be no assurance that our new stores and shop-within-shops will be successful and profitable or if the capital costs associated with the build-out of such new locations will be recovered. In addition, as we continue to expand and increase the global presence of our e-commerce business, sales from our brick and mortar stores and wholesale channels of distribution in areas where e-commerce sites are introduced may decline due to changes in consumer shopping habits and cannibalization.
Our failure to adequately address any of these challenges could result in reduced market share or sales or increased costs, which could adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
Our profitability may decline if we are unable to effectively manage inventory or as a result of increasing pressure on margins.
We have implemented key strategic initiatives designed to optimize our inventory levels and improve the efficiency and responsiveness of our supply chain. Although we have shortened lead times for the design, sourcing, and production of certain of our product lines, we expect to continue to place orders with our vendors for the majority of our products in advance of the related selling season. Our failure to continue to shorten lead times or to correctly anticipate consumer preferences and demand could result in the build-up of excess inventory. If that occurs, we may be forced to rely on markdowns, promotional sales, destruction, or donations to dispose of excess, slow-moving inventory, which may negatively impact our overall profitability and/or impair the image of our brands.
Additionally, our industry is subject to significant pricing pressure caused by many factors, including intense competition and a highly promotional retail environment, consolidation in the retail industry, pressure from retailers to reduce the costs of products, and changes in consumer spending patterns. These factors may cause us to reduce our sales prices to retailers and consumers, which could cause our gross margin to decline if we are unable to appropriately manage inventory levels and/or otherwise offset price reductions with comparable reductions in our costs. If our sales prices decline and we fail to sufficiently reduce our product costs or operating expenses, our profitability will decline. This could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition. In addition, changes in our customer, channel, and geographic sales mix could have a negative impact on our profitability.



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Risks and uncertainties associated with the implementation of information systems may negatively impact our business.
We are continually improving and upgrading our computer systems and software. For example, we recently completed the implementation a global operating and financial reporting information technology system, SAP, as part of a multi-year plan to integrate and upgrade our operational and financial systems and processes. We substantially completed the migration of our North America operations to SAP during Fiscal 2015, and the migration of our Europe operations to SAP was completed during the first quarter of Fiscal 2018. In addition to implementing SAP, we also completed the migration of our North America and Europe operations to a new procure-to-pay platform during Fiscal 2016 and Fiscal 2017, respectively. Further, we have plans to transition our e-commerce operations to a third-party cloud-based platform during Fiscal 2018.
Implementation of new information systems, such as the global operating and financial reporting system recently implemented, or the transition to a new e-commerce platform, involves risks and uncertainties. Any disruptions, delays, or deficiencies in the design, implementation, or transition of such systems could result in increased costs, disruptions in the sourcing, sale, and shipment of our product, delays in the collection of cash from our customers, and/or adversely affect our ability to timely report our financial results, all of which could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition. For additional discussion of risks related to our information systems, see "Our business could suffer if our computer systems and websites are disrupted or cease to operate effectively."
A data security or privacy breach could damage our reputation and our relationships with our customers or employees, expose us to litigation risk, and adversely affect our business.
We are dependent on information technology systems and networks, including the Internet, for a significant portion of our direct-to-consumer sales, including our e-commerce operations and retail business credit card transaction authorization and processing. We are also responsible for storing data relating to our customers and employees and rely on third parties for the operation of our e-commerce websites and for the various social media tools and websites we use as part of our marketing strategy. In our normal course of business, we often collect, retain, and transmit certain sensitive and confidential customer information, including credit card information, over public networks. There is significant concern by consumers, employees, and lawmakers alike over the security of personal information transmitted over the Internet, consumer identity theft, and user privacy.
We have a longstanding information security risk program committed to regular risk management practices surrounding the protection of confidential data. This program includes various technical controls, including security monitoring, data leakage protection, network segmentation and access controls around the computer resources that house confidential or sensitive data. In response to recent security and risk trends, we continually evaluate the security environment surrounding the handling and control of our critical data, especially the private data we receive from our customers, employees and partners, and have instituted additional measures to help protect us from system intrusion or data breaches. Additionally, we have purchased network security and cyber liability insurance in order to provide a level of financial protection, should a data breach occur.
Despite the security measures we currently have in place, our facilities and systems and those of our third-party service providers may be vulnerable to security breaches, acts of vandalism, computer viruses, misplaced or lost data, programming and/or human errors, or other Internet or email events. The increased use of smartphones, tablets, and other devices may also heighten these and other operational risks. The retail industry in particular has been the target of many recent cyber-attacks, which are becoming increasingly more difficult to anticipate and prevent due to their rapidly evolving nature. Any perceived or actual electronic or physical security breach involving the misappropriation, loss, or other unauthorized disclosure of confidential or personally identifiable information, including penetration of our network security, whether by us or by a third party, could disrupt our business, severely damage our reputation and our relationships with our customers or employees, expose us to risks of litigation, fines and penalties, and liability, and result in deterioration in our customers' and employees' confidence in us, and adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition. Since we do not control third-party service providers and cannot guarantee that no electronic or physical computer break-ins and security breaches will occur in the future, any perceived or actual unauthorized disclosure of personally identifiable information regarding our customers or website visitors could harm our reputation and credibility, reduce our e-commerce net sales, impair our ability to attract website visitors, and reduce our ability to attract and retain customers. As these threats develop and grow, we may find it necessary to make significant further investments to protect data and our infrastructure, including the deployment of additional personnel and protection-related technologies, engagement of third-party consultants, and training of employees. In addition, as the regulatory environment relating to information security and privacy is becoming increasingly demanding, we may also incur significant costs in complying with the various applicable state, federal, and foreign laws regarding protection of, and unauthorized disclosure of, personal information.



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Our business could suffer if our computer systems and websites are disrupted or cease to operate effectively.
We are dependent on our computer systems to record and process transactions and manage and operate our business, including in designing, marketing, manufacturing, importing, tracking, and distributing our products, processing payments, accounting for and reporting results, and managing our employees and employee benefit programs. We also utilize an automated replenishment system to facilitate the processing of basic replenishment orders from our retail business and our wholesale customers, the movement of goods through distribution channels, and the collection of information for planning and forecasting. In addition, we have e-commerce and other informational Internet websites in North America, Europe, and Asia, including Australia and New Zealand, and have plans for additional e-commerce sites in other parts of the world. Given the complexity of our business and the significant number of transactions that we engage in on a daily basis, it is imperative that we maintain uninterrupted operation of our computer hardware and software systems. Despite our preventative efforts, our systems are vulnerable to damage or interruption from, among other things, security breaches, computer viruses, technical malfunctions, inadequate system capacity, power outages, and usage errors by our employees. Any material disruptions in our information technology systems could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
Our ability to conduct business globally may be affected by a variety of legal, regulatory, political, and economic risks.
Our ability to capitalize on growth in new international markets and to maintain our current level of operations in our existing markets is subject to certain risks associated with operating in various locations around the globe. These include, but are not limited to:
complying with a variety of U.S. and foreign laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, trade, labor, and product safety trading restrictions, as well as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits U.S. companies from making improper payments to foreign officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business, and similar foreign country laws, such as the U.K. Bribery Act, which prohibits U.K. and related companies from any form of bribery;
adapting to local customs and culture;
unexpected changes in laws, judicial processes, or regulatory requirements;
the imposition of additional duties, tariffs, taxes, and other charges or other barriers to trade;
changes in diplomatic and trade relationships;
political instability and terrorist attacks; and
general economic fluctuations in specific countries or markets.
Changes in regulatory, geopolitical, social, economic, or monetary policies and other factors may have a material adverse effect on our business in the future, or may require us to exit a particular market or significantly modify our current business practices. For example, the U.S. is considering a comprehensive tax reform, which could include a border-adjustment tax or other increased taxes on imports, a limit on the ability to defer U.S. taxation on foreign earnings until those earnings are repatriated to the U.S., and a lower U.S. federal tax rate. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, which represents a coalition of member countries, is also supporting changes to numerous long-standing tax principles through its Base Erosion and Profit Shifting project, which is focused on a number of issues, including the shifting of profits among affiliated entities located in different tax jurisdictions. In addition to these proposed tax reforms, the U.S. is also considering potential changes to its participation in, or the renegotiation of, certain international trade agreements, such as the North American Free Trade Agreement. We cannot predict which, if any, of these proposals will be enacted into law or the resulting impact any such enactment will have on our consolidated financial statements. However, if new legislation were enacted, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
Additionally, in June 2016, voters in the United Kingdom approved an advisory referendum to withdraw from the European Union, commonly referred to as "Brexit." Subsequently, in March 2017, the United Kingdom's government invoked Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union, which formally triggered the two-year negotiation process to exit the European Union. Negotiations to determine the United Kingdom's future relationship with the European Union, including terms of trade, will likely be complex and there can be no assurance regarding the terms or timing of any such arrangements. A withdrawal could significantly disrupt the free movement of goods, services, and people between the United Kingdom and the European Union, and result in increased legal and regulatory complexities, as well as potential higher costs of conducting business in Europe. The United Kingdom's decision to exit the European Union could also result in similar referendums or votes in other European countries in which we do



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business. The uncertainty surrounding the terms of the United Kingdom's withdrawal and its consequences could adversely impact consumer and investor confidence, and the level of consumer purchases of discretionary items and luxury retail products, including our products. Any of these effects, among others, could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition. Brexit has also caused significant volatility and uncertainty in global stock markets and currency exchange rates. Such volatility could continue as the United Kingdom negotiates its exit from the European Union. For a discussion of risks related to currency exchange fluctuations, see "Our business is exposed to domestic and foreign currency fluctuations."
Our business is subject to risks associated with importing products and could suffer as a result of increases in the price of raw materials, freight, or labor; or a manufacturer's inability to produce our goods on time and to our specifications.
We do not own or operate any manufacturing facilities and depend exclusively on independent third parties for the manufacture of our products. Our products are manufactured to our specifications through arrangements with approximately 600 foreign manufacturers in various countries. In Fiscal 2017, over 97% of our products (by dollar value) were produced outside of the U.S., primarily in Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Risks inherent in importing our products include:
changes in social, political, and economic conditions or terrorist acts that could result in the disruption of trade from the countries in which our manufacturers or suppliers are located;
the imposition of additional regulations relating to imports or exports, and costs of complying with such regulations and other laws relating to the identification and reporting of the sources of minerals used in our products;
the imposition of additional duties, taxes, and other charges on imports or exports, such as a potential U.S. border-adjustment tax;
significant fluctuations in the cost of raw materials and commodities;
increases in the cost of labor, travel, and transportation;
disruptions of shipping and international trade caused by natural and man-made disasters, labor strikes, or other unforeseen events;
heightened terrorism-related security concerns, which could subject imported or exported goods to additional, more frequent, or more thorough inspections, leading to delays in the delivery of cargo;
decreased scrutiny by customs officials for counterfeit goods, leading to lost sales, increased costs for our anti-counterfeiting measures, and damage to the reputation of our brands;
pandemic and epidemic diseases, which could result in closed factories, reduced workforces, scarcity of raw materials, and scrutiny or embargoing of goods produced in infected areas;
the imposition of anti-dumping or countervailing duty proceedings resulting in the potential assessment of special anti-dumping or countervailing duties; and
the imposition of sanctions in the form of additional duties either by the U.S. or its trading partners to remedy perceived illegal actions by national governments.
Any one of these factors could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition. For a discussion of risks related to the potential imposition of additional regulations and laws, see "Our ability to conduct business globally may be affected by a variety of legal, regulatory, political, and economic risks."
In addition, the inability of a manufacturer to ship orders of our products in a timely manner or to meet our strict quality standards could cause us to miss the delivery date requirements of our customers for those items, which could result in cancellation of orders, refusal to accept deliveries, or a substantial reduction in purchase prices, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition. Prices of raw materials used to manufacture our products may also fluctuate, and increases in prices of such raw materials could have a material adverse effect on our cost of sales. Furthermore, the cost of labor at many of our third-party manufacturers has been increasing significantly and, as the middle class in developing countries such as China continues to grow, it is unlikely that such cost pressure will abate. The cost of transportation remains significant as well, and it is likely that such cost will fluctuate significantly if oil prices remain volatile. We may not be able to offset such increases in raw materials, freight, or labor costs through pricing actions or other means.



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Fluctuations in our tax obligations and effective tax rate may result in volatility of our operating results.
We are subject to income taxes in many U.S. and certain foreign jurisdictions, with the applicable tax rates varying by jurisdiction. We record tax expense based on our estimates of future payments, which include reserves for uncertain tax positions in multiple tax jurisdictions. At any one time, multiple tax years are subject to audit by various taxing authorities. The results of these audits and negotiations with taxing authorities may affect the ultimate settlement of these issues. As a result, we expect that throughout the year there could be ongoing variability in our quarterly tax rates as events occur and exposures are evaluated. Our effective tax rate in a given financial statement period may also be materially impacted by changes in the mix and level of earnings by jurisdiction or by changes to existing accounting rules. For example, Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2016-09, "Improvement to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting" ("ASU 2016-09"), which is effective for our Company beginning in our Fiscal 2018, will likely result in increased volatility in the provision of income taxes. See Note 4 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements for further discussion of ASU 2016-09. In addition, the tax laws and regulations in the countries where we operate may change or there may be changes in interpretation and enforcement of existing tax laws, which could materially affect our income tax expense in our consolidated financial statements. For a discussion of risks related to the potential imposition of additional regulations and laws, see "Our ability to conduct business globally may be affected by a variety of legal, regulatory, political, and economic risks."
We have significant undistributed earnings held by our subsidiaries outside the U.S. As of April 1, 2017, we had $1.353 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments, of which $1.118 billion were held by our subsidiaries domiciled outside the U.S. We currently intend to reinvest these funds in order to fund strategic initiatives, working capital requirements, and debt repayments (both third-party and intercompany) of such foreign subsidiaries. However, if our plans change and we choose to repatriate any funds to the U.S. in the future, we would be subject to applicable U.S. and foreign taxes.
Our business is exposed to domestic and foreign currency fluctuations.
We generally purchase our products in U.S. Dollars. However, we source most of our products overseas. As a result, the cost of these products may be affected by changes in the value of the relevant currencies. Changes in currency exchange rates may also impact consumers' willingness or ability to travel abroad and/or purchase our products while traveling, as well as affect the U.S. Dollar value of the foreign currency denominated prices at which our international businesses sell products. In addition, the operating results of our international subsidiaries are exposed to foreign exchange rate fluctuations as their financial results are translated from the respective local currency into U.S. Dollars during the financial statement consolidation process. Foreign currencies that we are exposed to from a transactional and translational perspective primarily include the Euro, the Japanese Yen, the South Korean Won, the Australian Dollar, the Canadian Dollar, the Swiss Franc, the British Pound Sterling, the Chinese Renminbi, and the Hong Kong Dollar. Our international expansion will increase our exposure to foreign currency fluctuations. Although we hedge certain exposures to changes in foreign currency exchange rates arising in the ordinary course of business, we cannot fully anticipate all of our currency exposures and therefore foreign currency fluctuations may have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, and financial condition. In addition, factors that could impact the effectiveness of our hedging activities include the volatility of currency markets, the accuracy of forecasted transactions, and the availability of hedging instruments. As such, our hedging activities may not completely mitigate the impact of foreign currency fluctuations on our results of operations. See Item 7 — "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Market Risk Management."
The success of our business depends on our ability to retain the value of our brands, to continue to develop products that resonate with our existing customers and attract new customers, and to provide a seamless shopping experience to our customers.
Our success depends on the value of our brands and our ability to consistently anticipate and respond to customers' demands, preferences, and fashion trends in the design, pricing, and production of our products, including the preference for certain products to be manufactured in the U.S. Any failure on our part to anticipate, identify, and respond effectively to these consumer demands, preferences, and trends could adversely affect acceptance of our products. The Ralph Lauren name is integral to our business and our business could be adversely affected if Mr. Ralph Lauren's public image or reputation were to be tarnished. Merchandise missteps or unfavorable publicity, especially through social media which accelerates and increases the potential scope of negative publicity, could negatively impact the image of our brands with our customers and could result in diminished loyalty to our brands, which could adversely impact our business, results of operations, and financial condition.



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The success of our business also depends on our ability to continue to develop and maintain a reliable omni-channel experience for our customers. Our business has evolved from an in-store experience to a shopping experience through multiple technologies, including computers, smartphones, tablets, and other devices, as our customers have become increasingly technologically savvy. If we are unable to develop and continuously improve our customer-facing technologies, we may not be able to provide a convenient and consistent experience to our customers regardless of the sales channel. This could negatively affect our ability to compete with other retailers and result in diminished loyalty to our brands, which could adversely impact our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
The success of our business depends on our ability to respond to constantly changing fashion and retail trends and consumer demands in a timely manner.
The industries in which we operate have historically been subject to rapidly changing fashion trends and consumer preferences. Our success depends in large part on our ability to originate and define fashion product and home product trends, as well as to anticipate, gauge, and react to changing consumer demands in a timely manner. Our products must appeal to a broad range of consumers worldwide whose preferences cannot be predicted with certainty and are subject to rapid change, influenced by fashion trends, current economic conditions, and weather conditions, among other factors. This issue is further compounded by the increasing use of digital and social media by consumers and the speed by which information and opinions are shared across the globe. We cannot assure that we will be able to continue to develop appealing styles or successfully meet constantly changing consumer demands in the future. In addition, we cannot assure that any new products or brands that we introduce will be successfully received by consumers. Any failure on our part to anticipate, identify, and respond effectively to changing consumer demands and fashion trends could adversely affect retail and consumer acceptance of our products and leave us with a substantial amount of unsold inventory or missed opportunities. If that occurs, we may be forced to rely on less preferred distribution channels, markdowns, promotional sales, destruction, or donations to dispose of excess, slow-moving inventory, which may negatively impact our overall profitability and/or impair the image of our brands. Conversely, if we underestimate consumer demand for our products or if manufacturers fail to supply quality products in a timely manner, we may experience inventory shortages, which may result in unfilled orders, negatively impact customer relationships, diminish brand loyalty, and result in lost revenues. Any of these outcomes could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
Additionally, if our products do not meet applicable safety standards or our customers' expectations regarding safety, we could experience lost sales, incur increased costs, and/or be exposed to legal and reputational risk. Events that give rise to actual, potential, or perceived product safety concerns could expose us to government enforcement action and/or private litigation. Reputational damage caused by real or perceived product safety concerns could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition. See Item 1 — "Business — Sourcing, Production and Quality."
We face intense competition worldwide in the markets in which we operate.
We face increasing competition from companies selling apparel, accessories, home, and other of our product categories through the Internet. Although we sell our products through the Internet, increased competition and promotional activity in the worldwide apparel, accessory, and home product industries from Internet-based competitors could reduce our sales, prices, and margins and adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition. We also face intense competition from other domestic and foreign fashion-oriented apparel, footwear, accessory, and casual apparel producers that sell products through brick and mortar stores and wholesale and licensing channels. We compete with these companies primarily on the basis of:
anticipating and responding in a timely fashion to changing consumer demands and shopping preferences, including the increasing shift to digital brand engagement, social media communications, and online shopping;
creating and maintaining favorable brand recognition, loyalty, and a reputation for quality;
developing and producing innovative, high-quality products in sizes, colors, and styles that appeal to consumers;
competitively pricing our products and creating an acceptable value proposition for consumers;
providing strong and effective marketing support;
obtaining sufficient retail floor space and effective presentation of our products at retail stores;
sourcing raw materials at cost-effective prices;
anticipating and maintaining proper inventory levels;



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ensuring product availability and optimizing supply chain and distribution efficiencies with manufacturers and retailers;
recruiting and retaining key employees;
maintaining and growing market share; and
protecting our intellectual property.
Some of our competitors may be significantly larger and more diversified and may have greater financial and marketing resources, more desirable store locations, and/or greater e-commerce presence than us, among other competitive advantages. Such competitive advantages may enable them to better withstand unfavorable economic conditions, compete more effectively on the basis of price and production, and/or more quickly respond to rapidly changing fashion trends and consumer demands than us. In addition, the retail industry's low barriers to entry allow for the introduction of new competitors and products at a rapid pace.
Any increased competition, or our failure to adequately address any of these competitive factors, could result in reduced market share or sales, which could adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
A general economic downturn may affect consumer purchases of discretionary items and luxury retail products, which in turn could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
The industries in which we operate are cyclical. Many economic factors outside of our control affect the level of consumer spending in the apparel, cosmetic, fragrance, accessory, jewelry, watch, and home product industries, including, among others:
general business conditions;
economic downturns;
employment levels and wage rates;
downturns in the stock market;
interest rates;
foreign currency exchange rates;
the housing market;
consumer debt levels;
the availability of consumer credit;
commodity prices, including fuel and energy costs;
taxation; and
consumer confidence in future economic conditions.
Consumer purchases of discretionary items and luxury retail products, including our products, tend to decline during recessionary periods and at other times when disposable income is lower. Unfavorable economic conditions may also reduce consumers' willingness and ability to travel to major cities and vacation destinations in which our stores are located. Further, consumers may prefer to spend more of their discretionary income on "experiences," such as dining and entertainment, over consumer goods, including our products. A downturn or an uncertain outlook in the economies in which we, or our wholesale and licensing partners, sell our products may materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition. See Item 7 — "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Current Trends and Outlook" for further discussion.
In addition, general domestic and international political conditions, such as the heightened level of uncertainty surrounding potential changes to U.S. policies related to global trade, taxation, immigration, and healthcare, may also affect consumer confidence. The threat, outbreak, or escalation of terrorism, military conflicts, or other hostilities could also lead to a decrease in consumer spending and may materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition.



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A substantial portion of our revenue is derived from a limited number of large wholesale customers. Our business could suffer as a result of consolidations, liquidations, restructurings, other ownership changes in the retail industry, and/or any financial instability of our large wholesale customers.
Several of our department store customers, including some under common ownership, account for a significant portion of our wholesale net sales. A substantial portion of sales of our licensed products by our domestic licensing partners are also made to our largest department store customers. During Fiscal 2017, sales to our largest wholesale customer, Macy's, accounted for approximately 10% of total net revenues. Further, sales to our three largest wholesale customers, including Macy's, accounted for approximately 21% of total net revenues for Fiscal 2017, and constituted approximately 34% of our total gross trade accounts receivable outstanding as of April 1, 2017. Substantially all sales to our three largest wholesale customers related to our North America segment.
We typically do not enter into long-term agreements with our customers. Instead, we enter into a number of purchase order commitments with our customers for each of our product lines every season. A decision by the controlling owner of a group of stores or any other significant customer, whether motivated by competitive conditions, financial difficulties, or otherwise, to decrease or eliminate the amount of merchandise purchased from us or our licensing partners or to change their manner of doing business with us or our licensing partners or their new strategic and operational initiatives, including their continued focus on further development of their "private label" initiatives, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
In addition, as a result of unfavorable economic conditions, certain of our large wholesale customers, particularly those located in the U.S., have been highly promotional in recent years and have aggressively marked down their merchandise, including our products. Such promotional activity could negatively impact our brand image and/or lead to requests from those customers for increased markdown allowances at the end of the season, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition. The department store sector has also experienced numerous consolidations, restructurings, reorganizations, and other ownership changes in recent years, and we expect such changes will continue as a result of current economic conditions. Such actions could result in a reduction in the number of stores that carry our products, and the stores that remain open may purchase fewer of our products and/or reduce the retail floor space designated to our brands. As a result, there can be no assurance that consolidations, restructurings, reorganizations, or other ownership changes in the department store sector will not have a material adverse effect on our wholesale business. Additionally, in connection with our Way Forward Plan, we have begun to strategically reduce shipments to certain of our wholesale customers. Although we believe this strategic reduction of shipments will result in improved quality of sales for both our wholesale customers and us, there can be no assurance that the intended benefits will be realized.
We sell our wholesale merchandise primarily to major department stores across North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, and extend credit based on an evaluation of each wholesale customer's financial condition, usually without requiring collateral. However, the financial difficulties of a wholesale customer could cause us to limit or eliminate our business with that customer. We may also assume more credit risk relating to that customer's receivables. Our inability to collect on our trade accounts receivable from any one of these customers could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition. See Item 1 — "Business  Wholesale Credit Control."
Economic conditions could have a negative impact on our major customers, suppliers, and lenders, which in turn could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
Although we believe that our cash provided by operations and available borrowing capacity under our credit facilities and commercial paper borrowing program will provide us with sufficient liquidity, the impact of economic conditions on our major customers, suppliers, and lenders and their ability to access global capital markets cannot be predicted. The inability of major manufacturers to ship our products could impair our ability to meet the delivery date requirements of our customers. Deterioration in global financial markets could affect our ability to access sources of liquidity to provide for our future cash needs, increase the cost of any future financing, or cause our lenders to be unable to meet their funding commitments under our credit facilities. A disruption in the ability of our significant customers to access liquidity could cause serious disruptions or an overall deterioration of their businesses which could lead to a significant reduction in their future orders of our products and the inability or failure on their part to meet their payment obligations to us, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.



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Our business could suffer if we need to replace manufacturers or distribution centers.
We compete with other companies for the production capacity of our manufacturers. Some of these competitors have greater financial and other resources than we have, and thus may have an advantage in securing production capacity. If we experience a significant increase in demand, or if an existing manufacturer of ours must be replaced, we may have to expand our third-party manufacturing capacity. We cannot guarantee that this additional capacity will be available when required on terms that are acceptable to us. See Item 1 — "Business — Sourcing, Production and Quality." We enter into a number of purchase order commitments each season specifying a time for delivery, method of payment, design and quality specifications, and other standard industry provisions, but do not have long-term contracts with any manufacturer. None of the manufacturers we use produce our products exclusively.
In addition, we rely on a number of owned and independently-operated distribution facilities around the world to warehouse and ship products to our customers and perform other related logistic services. Our ability to meet the needs of our customers depends on the proper operation of these distribution centers. If any of our distribution centers were closed or were to become inoperable for any reason, we could experience a substantial loss of inventory, disruption of deliveries to our customers and our retail stores, increased costs, and longer lead times associated with the distribution of products during the period that would be required to reopen or replace the facility. These disruptions could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
Our results of operations could be affected by natural disasters and other catastrophic events in the locations in which we or our customers or suppliers operate.
We have operations, including retail, distribution, and warehousing operations, in locations subject to natural disasters, such as severe weather, geological events, and epidemic diseases, and other catastrophic events, such as terrorist attacks and military conflict, any of which could disrupt our operations. In addition, our suppliers and customers also have operations in these locations and could experience similar disruptions. The occurrence of natural disasters or other catastrophic events may result in sudden disruptions in the business operations of the local economies affected, as well as of the regional and global economies. In addition, our business can be affected by unseasonable weather conditions, such as extended periods of unseasonably warm temperatures in the winter or unseasonably cold temperatures in the summer. Any of these events could result in decreased demand for our products and disruptions in our sales channels and manufacturing and distribution networks, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
Our trademarks and other intellectual property rights may not be adequately protected outside the U.S.
We believe that our trademarks, intellectual property, and other proprietary rights are extremely important to our success and our competitive position. We devote substantial resources to the establishment and protection of our trademarks and anti-counterfeiting activities worldwide. However, significant counterfeiting and imitation of our products continues to exist. In the course of our international expansion we have experienced conflicts with various third parties that have acquired or claimed ownership rights to some of our key trademarks that include Polo and/or a representation of a polo player astride a horse, or otherwise have contested our rights to our trademarks. We have resolved certain of these conflicts through both legal action and negotiated settlements. We cannot guarantee that the actions we have taken to establish and protect our trademarks and other proprietary rights will be adequate to prevent counterfeiting, lost business, or brand dilution, any of which may have a material adverse effect on our business. We expect to continue to devote substantial resources to challenge brands arising from imitation of our products. Also, there can be no assurance that others will not assert rights in, or ownership of, trademarks and other proprietary rights of ours or that we will be able to successfully resolve these types of conflicts to our satisfaction or at all. In addition, the laws of certain foreign countries do not protect trademarks or other proprietary rights to the same extent as do the laws of the U.S. and, as a result, our intellectual property may be more vulnerable and difficult to protect in such countries. See Item 1 — "Business — Trademarks," and Item 3 — "Legal Proceedings."



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Our business could suffer if we fail to comply with labor laws or if one of our manufacturers fails to use acceptable labor or environmental practices.
We are subject to labor laws governing relationships with employees, including minimum wage requirements, overtime, working conditions, and citizenship requirements. Compliance with these laws may lead to increased costs and operational complexity and may increase our exposure to governmental investigations or litigation.
In addition, we require our licensing partners and independent manufacturers to operate in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. While our internal and vendor operating guidelines promote ethical business practices and our employees periodically visit and monitor the operations of our independent manufacturers, we do not control these manufacturers or their labor practices. The violation of labor, environmental, or other laws by an independent manufacturer used by us or one of our licensing partners, or the divergence of an independent manufacturer's or licensing partner's labor or environmental practices from those generally accepted as ethical or appropriate in the U.S., could interrupt or otherwise disrupt the shipment of finished products to us or damage our reputation. Any of these events, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
Certain legal proceedings, regulatory matters, and accounting changes could adversely impact our results of operations.
We are involved in certain legal proceedings and regulatory matters and are subject from time to time to various claims involving alleged breach of contract claims, intellectual property and other related claims, escheatment and unclaimed property, credit card fraud, security breaches in certain of our retail store information systems, employment issues, consumer matters, and other litigation. Certain of these lawsuits and claims, if decided adversely to us or settled by us, could result in material liability to our Company or have a negative impact on our reputation or relations with our employees, customers, licensees, or other third parties. In addition, regardless of the outcome of any litigation or regulatory proceedings, such proceedings could result in substantial costs and may require our Company to devote substantial time and resources to defend itself. Further, changes in governmental regulations both in the U.S. and in other countries where we conduct business operations could have an adverse impact on our business, results of operations, and financial condition. See Item 3 — "Legal Proceedings" for further discussion of our Company's legal matters.
In addition, we are subject to changes in accounting rules and interpretations issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board and other regulatory agencies. If and when effective, such changes to accounting standards could have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. See Note 4 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements for further discussion of recent amendments to current accounting standards.
The trading prices of our securities periodically may rise or fall based on the accuracy of predictions of our earnings or other financial performance, including our ability to return value to shareholders.
Our business planning process is designed to maximize our long-term strength, growth, and profitability, and not to achieve an earnings target in any particular fiscal quarter. We believe that this longer-term focus is in the best interests of our Company and our stockholders. At the same time, however, we recognize that, from time to time, it may be helpful to provide investors with guidance as to our quarterly and annual forecast of net sales and earnings. While we generally expect to provide updates to our guidance when we report our results each fiscal quarter, we do not have any responsibility to update any of our forward-looking statements at such times or otherwise. If, or when, we announce actual results that differ from those that have been predicted by us, outside analysts, or others, the market price of our securities could be adversely affected. Investors who rely on these predictions when making investment decisions with respect to our securities do so at their own risk. We take no responsibility for any losses suffered as a result of such changes in the prices of our securities.
In addition, we periodically return value to shareholders through our common stock share repurchases and payment of quarterly cash dividends. Investors may have an expectation that we will repurchase all shares available under our Class A common stock repurchase program, continue to pay quarterly cash dividends, and/or further increase our cash dividend rate. Our ability to repurchase our Class A common stock and pay quarterly cash dividends will depend on our ability to generate sufficient cash flows from operations in the future. This ability may be subject to certain economic, financial, competitive, and other factors that are beyond our control, such as potential changes to taxation policies made by the U.S. or other countries. Further, our Board of Directors may, at its discretion, elect to suspend or otherwise alter these programs at any time. The market price of our securities could be adversely affected if our Class A common stock share repurchase activity and/or cash dividend payments differ from investors' expectations.



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The voting shares of our Company's stock are concentrated in one majority stockholder.
As of April 1, 2017, Mr. Ralph Lauren, or entities controlled by the Lauren family, held approximately 83% of the voting power of the outstanding common stock of our Company. In addition, Mr. R. Lauren serves as our Executive Chairman and Chief Creative Officer, Mr. R. Lauren's son, Mr. David Lauren, serves as our Chief Innovation Officer and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, and we employ other members of the Lauren family. From time to time, we may have other business dealings with Mr. R. Lauren, members of the Lauren family, or entities affiliated with Mr. R. Lauren or the Lauren family. As a result of his stock ownership and position in our Company, Mr. R. Lauren has the ability to exercise significant control over our business, including, without limitation, (i) the election of our Class B common stock directors, voting separately as a class and (ii) any action requiring the approval of our stockholders, including the adoption of amendments to our certificate of incorporation and the approval of mergers or sales of all or substantially all of our assets.
Our Company has an exclusive relationship with certain customers for some of our products. The loss or significant decline in business of these customers could negatively impact our business.
We have exclusive relationships with certain customers for the distribution of some of our products. Our arrangement with these companies makes us dependent on those companies' financial and operational health for the sale of such products. The loss of these relationships could have an adverse effect on our business.
We rely on our licensing partners to preserve the value of our licenses. Failure to maintain licensing partners could harm our business.
The risks associated with our own products also apply to our licensed products in addition to any number of possible risks specific to a licensing partner's business, including risks associated with a particular licensing partner's ability to:
obtain capital;
manage its labor relations;
maintain relationships with its suppliers and customers; and
manage its credit and bankruptcy risks effectively.
Although a number of our license agreements prohibit our licensing partners from entering into licensing arrangements with our competitors, our licensing partners generally are not precluded from offering, under other non-competitor brands, the types of products covered by their license agreements with us. A substantial portion of sales of our products by our domestic licensing partners are also made to our largest customers. While we have significant control over our licensing partners' products and advertising, we rely on our licensing partners for, among other things, operational and financial control over their businesses. Changes in management, reduced sales of licensed products, poor execution, or financial difficulties with respect to any of our licensing partners could adversely affect our revenues, both directly from reduced licensing revenue received and indirectly from reduced sales of our other products.
Although we believe that we could replace our existing licensing partners in most circumstances, if necessary, our inability to do so for any period of time could adversely affect our revenues, both directly from reduced licensing revenue received and indirectly from reduced sales of our other products. See Item 1 — "Business — Our Licensing Business."
Item 1B.
Unresolved Staff Comments.
Not applicable.



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Item 2.
Properties.
We lease space for our retail stores, showrooms, warehouses, and offices in various domestic and international locations. We do not own any real property except for our distribution facility and an adjacent parcel of land in Greensboro, North Carolina; our retail e-commerce call center and distribution facility in High Point, North Carolina; and our retail stores in Southampton and Easthampton, New York, and Nantucket, Massachusetts.
We believe that our existing facilities are well maintained, in good operating condition, and are adequate for our present level of operations.
The following table sets forth information relating to our key properties as of April 1, 2017:
Location
 
Use
 
Approximate
Square Feet
 
 
 
 
 
Greensboro, NC
 
Wholesale and retail distribution facility
 
1,300,000
NC Highway 66, High Point, NC
 
Wholesale and retail distribution facility
 
847,000
N. Pendleton Street, High Point, NC
 
Retail e-commerce call center and distribution facility
 
805,000
625 Madison Avenue, NYC
 
Corporate offices and showrooms
 
362,000
Eagle Hill Drive, High Point, NC
 
Wholesale distribution facility
 
343,000
650 Madison Avenue, NYC
 
Executive and corporate offices, design studio, and showrooms
 
270,000
Lyndhurst, NJ
 
Corporate and retail administrative offices
 
178,000
Geneva, Switzerland
 
European corporate offices
 
107,000
7th Avenue, NYC
 
Corporate offices, design studio, and Women's showrooms
 
104,000
Manhattan Place, Hong Kong
 
Asia sourcing offices
 
46,000
Gateway Office, Hong Kong
 
Asia corporate offices
 
37,500
5th Avenue, NYC(a)
 
Retail flagship store
 
39,000
888 Madison Avenue, NYC
 
Retail flagship store
 
37,900
N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago
 
Retail flagship store
 
37,500
New Bond Street, London, UK
 
Retail flagship store
 
31,500
867 Madison Avenue, NYC
 
Retail flagship store
 
27,700
Paris, France
 
Retail flagship store
 
25,700
Tokyo, Japan
 
Retail flagship store
 
25,000
N. Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills
 
Retail flagship store
 
19,400
Regent Street, London, UK
 
Retail flagship store
 
19,000
 
(a)
During during the first quarter of Fiscal 2018, we closed our 5th Avenue Polo flagship store in New York City in connection with our Way Forward Plan (as described in Item 1 — "Business  Recent Developments").
As of April 1, 2017, we directly operated 466 retail stores, totaling approximately 3.7 million square feet. We anticipate that we will be able to extend our retail store leases, as well as those leases for our non-retail facilities, which expire in the near future on satisfactory terms or relocate to desirable alternate locations. We generally lease our freestanding retail stores for initial periods ranging from 5 to 15 years, with renewal options. See Item 1A — "Risk Factors — Our business is subject to risks associated with leasing real estate and other assets under long-term, non-cancellable leases."



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Item 3.
Legal Proceedings.
We are involved, from time to time, in litigation, other legal claims, and proceedings involving matters associated with or incidental to our business, including, among other things, matters involving credit card fraud, trademark and other intellectual property, licensing, importation and exportation of products, taxation, unclaimed property, and employee relations. We believe at present that the resolution of currently pending matters will not individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial statements. However, our assessment of any litigation or other legal claims could potentially change in light of the discovery of facts not presently known or determinations by judges, juries, or other finders of fact which are not in accord with management's evaluation of the possible liability or outcome of such litigation or claims.
Item 4.
Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.



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PART II
Item 5.
Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
Our Class A common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") under the symbol "RL." The following table sets forth the high and low sales prices per share of our Class A common stock, as reported on the NYSE Composite Tape, and the cash dividends per common share declared for each quarterly period in our two most recent fiscal years:
 
 
Market Price of
Class A
Common Stock
 
Dividends
Declared per
Common Share
 
 
High
 
Low
 
Fiscal 2017:
 
 
 
 
 
 
First Quarter
 
$
98.50

 
$
83.66

 
$
0.50

Second Quarter
 
109.85

 
87.26

 
0.50

Third Quarter
 
114.00

 
89.24

 
0.50

Fourth Quarter
 
93.05

 
75.62

 
0.50

Fiscal 2016:
 
 
 
 
 
 
First Quarter
 
$
141.08

 
$
127.77

 
$
0.50

Second Quarter
 
135.67

 
104.34

 
0.50

Third Quarter
 
137.38

 
103.29

 
0.50

Fourth Quarter
 
115.85

 
82.15

 
0.50

Since 2003, we have maintained, and intend to continue to maintain, a regular quarterly cash dividend program on our common stock. However, any decision to declare and pay dividends in the future will be made at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend on our results of operations, cash requirements, financial condition, and other factors that the Board of Directors may deem relevant.
As of May 12, 2017, there were 715 holders of record of our Class A common stock and 6 holders of record of our Class B common stock. All of our outstanding shares of Class B common stock are owned by Mr. Ralph Lauren, Executive Chairman and Chief Creative Officer, and entities controlled by the Lauren family. Shares of our Class B common stock may be converted immediately into Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis by the holder. There is no cash or other consideration paid by the holder converting the shares and, accordingly, there is no cash or other consideration received by the Company. The shares of Class A common stock issued by the Company in such conversions are exempt from registration pursuant to Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. No shares of our Class B common stock were converted into Class A common stock during the fiscal quarter ended April 1, 2017.
The following table sets forth repurchases of shares of our Class A common stock during the fiscal quarter ended April 1, 2017:
 
 
Total Number of Shares Purchased
 
Average
Price
Paid per
Share
 
Total Number of
Shares Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Plans or
Programs
 
Approximate Dollar
Value of Shares
That May Yet Be
Purchased Under the
Plans or Programs(a)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(millions)
January 1, 2017 to January 28, 2017
 

 
$

 

 
$
200

January 29, 2017 to February 25, 2017
 

 

 

 
200

February 26, 2017 to April 1, 2017
 
1,255,098

(b) 
79.81

 
1,253,031

 
100

 
 
1,255,098

 
 
 
1,253,031

 
 
 
(a) 
As of April 1, 2017, the remaining availability under our Class A common stock repurchase program was approximately $100 million, reflecting the May 11, 2016 approval by our Board of Directors to expand the program by up to an additional $200 million of Class A common stock repurchases. Repurchases of shares of Class A common stock are subject to overall business and market conditions.
(b) 
Includes 2,067 shares surrendered or withheld in satisfaction of withholding taxes in connection with the vesting of awards issued under our long-term stock incentive plans.



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The following graph compares the cumulative total stockholder return (stock price appreciation plus dividends) on our Class A common stock to the cumulative total return of the Standard & Poor's 500 Index and a peer group index of companies that we believe are closest to ours (the "Peer Group") for the period from March 31, 2012, the last day of our 2012 fiscal year, through April 1, 2017, the last day of our 2017 fiscal year. Our Peer Group consists of Burberry Group PLC, Coach, Inc., Compagnie Financière Richemont SA, The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., Hermes International, Kering, Luxottica Group, LVMH, PVH Corp., Tiffany & Co., Tod's S.p.A., and V.F. Corporation. All calculations for foreign companies in our Peer Group are performed using the local foreign issue of such companies. The returns are calculated by assuming an investment in the Class A common stock and each index of $100 on March 31, 2012, with all dividends reinvested.
COMPARISON OF 5 YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*
Among Ralph Lauren Corporation, the S&P 500 Index, and a Peer Group
rl-20170401x10k_charta03.jpg
*$100 invested on March 31, 2012 in stock or index, including reinvestment of dividends. Index calculated on a month-end basis.
Item 6.
Selected Financial Data
See the "Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Information," and specifically "Selected Financial Information" appearing at the end of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This selected financial data should be read in conjunction with Item 7 — "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and Item 8 — "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Historical results may not be indicative of future results.



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Item 7.
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations ("MD&A") should be read together with our audited consolidated financial statements and footnotes, which are included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We utilize a 52-53 week fiscal year ending on the Saturday closest to March 31. As such, Fiscal 2017 ended on April 1, 2017 and was a 52-week period; Fiscal 2016 ended on April 2, 2016 and was a 53-week period; Fiscal 2015 ended on March 28, 2015 and was a 52-week period; and Fiscal 2018 will end on March 31, 2018 and will be a 52-week period.
INTRODUCTION
MD&A is provided as a supplement to the accompanying consolidated financial statements and footnotes to help provide an understanding of our results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity. MD&A is organized as follows:
Overview.    This section provides a general description of our business, global economic developments, and a summary of our financial performance for Fiscal 2017. In addition, this section includes a discussion of recent developments and transactions affecting comparability that we believe are important in understanding our results of operations and financial condition, and in anticipating future trends.
Results of operations.    This section provides an analysis of our results of operations for Fiscal 2017 and Fiscal 2016 as compared to the respective prior fiscal year.
Financial condition and liquidity.    This section provides a discussion of our financial condition and liquidity as of April 1, 2017, which includes (i) an analysis of our financial condition compared to the prior fiscal year-end; (ii) an analysis of changes in our cash flows for Fiscal 2017 and Fiscal 2016 as compared to the respective prior fiscal year; (iii) an analysis of our liquidity, including the availability under our commercial paper borrowing program and credit facilities, common stock repurchases, payments of dividends, and our outstanding debt and covenant compliance; and (iv) a summary of our contractual and other obligations as of April 1, 2017.
Market risk management.    This section discusses how we manage our risk exposures related to foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates, and our investments as of April 1, 2017.
Critical accounting policies.    This section discusses accounting policies considered to be important to our results of operations and financial condition, which typically require significant judgment and estimation on the part of management in their application. In addition, all of our significant accounting policies, including our critical accounting policies, are summarized in Note 3 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
Recently issued accounting standards.    This section discusses the potential impact on our reported results of operations and financial condition of certain accounting standards that have been recently issued or proposed.
OVERVIEW
Our Business
Our Company is a global leader in the design, marketing, and distribution of premium lifestyle products, including apparel, accessories, home furnishings, and other licensed product categories. Our long-standing reputation and distinctive image have been developed across an expanding number of products, brands, sales channels, and international markets. Our brand names include Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Collection, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Polo Ralph Lauren, Double RL, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren Children, Chaps, and Club Monaco, among others.
We have diversified our business by geography (North America, Europe, and Asia, among other regions) and channels of distribution (wholesale, retail, and licensing). This allows us to maintain a dynamic balance as our operating results do not depend solely on the performance of any single geographic area or channel of distribution. Our wholesale sales are made principally to major department stores and specialty stores around the world. We also sell directly to consumers through our integrated retail channel, which includes our retail stores, concession-based shop-within-shops, and e-commerce operations around the world. In addition, we license to unrelated third parties for specified periods the right to operate retail stores and/or to use our various trademarks in connection with the manufacture and sale of designated products, such as certain apparel, eyewear, fragrances, and home furnishings.



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Effective beginning in the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2017, we organize our business into the following three reportable segments:
North America — Our North America segment, representing approximately 57% of our Fiscal 2017 net revenues, primarily consists of sales of our Ralph Lauren branded products made through our wholesale and retail businesses in the U.S. and Canada.
Europe — Our Europe segment, representing approximately 23% of our Fiscal 2017 net revenues, primarily consists of sales of our Ralph Lauren branded products made through our wholesale and retail businesses in Europe and the Middle East.
Asia — Our Asia segment, representing approximately 13% of our Fiscal 2017 net revenues, primarily consists of sales of our Ralph Lauren branded products made through our wholesale and retail businesses in Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.
In addition to these reportable segments, we also have other non-reportable segments, representing approximately 7% of our Fiscal 2017 net revenues, which primarily consist of (i) sales of our Club Monaco branded products made through our retail businesses in the U.S., Canada, and Europe, (ii) sales of our Ralph Lauren branded products made through our wholesale business in Latin America, and (iii) royalty revenues earned through our global licensing alliances.
Approximately 40% of our Fiscal 2017 net revenues were earned outside of the U.S. See Note 20 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements for further discussion of our segment reporting structure.
Our business is typically affected by seasonal trends, with higher levels of wholesale sales in our second and fourth fiscal quarters and higher retail sales in our second and third fiscal quarters. These trends result primarily from the timing of seasonal wholesale shipments and key vacation travel, back-to-school, and holiday shopping periods impacting our retail business.
Global Economic Developments
Although the global economy has shown signs of modest improvement in certain geographic areas, global consumer retail traffic remains relatively weak and inconsistent. Certain worldwide events, including political unrest, acts of terrorism, monetary policy changes, and currency and commodity price changes, increase volatility in the global economy. In addition, the current domestic and international political environment, including potential changes to U.S. policies related to global trade, taxation, immigration, and healthcare, as well as the United Kingdom's decision to exit the European Union, have also resulted in greater uncertainty surrounding the future state of the global economy. As the majority of our products are produced outside of the U.S., major changes in tax policies or trade relations could have a material adverse effect on our business or operating results.
While certain geographic regions are withstanding these pressures better than others, the level of consumer travel and spending on discretionary items remains constrained in certain markets, with trends likely to continue throughout calendar 2017 and potentially beyond. As a result of these collective factors, among others, many retailers, including certain of our large wholesale customers, have been highly promotional and have aggressively marked down their merchandise in an attempt to offset traffic declines with increased levels of conversion. The retail industry has also experienced numerous consolidations, restructurings, reorganizations, and other ownership changes in recent years, and we expect such changes will continue as a result of current economic conditions. Certain of our operations have experienced, and have been impacted by, these dynamics, with variations across the geographic regions and businesses in which we operate.
If challenging economic conditions and industry trends continue or worsen, consumer spending and consumption behavior could be negatively impacted, which could have a material adverse effect on our business or operating results. Furthermore, our results have been, and are expected to continue to be, impacted by foreign exchange rate fluctuations. We have implemented various operating strategies to mitigate these challenges, and continue to build a foundation for long-term profitable growth. Accordingly, we are strengthening our consumer facing areas of product, stores, and marketing and driving a more efficient operating model, including our restructuring activities, as described within "Recent Developments" below, while continually monitoring macroeconomic risks. Although we continue to expect that the dilutive effects of investments that we are making in our business and our quality of sales initiatives will create operating profit pressure in the near-term, we expect that these initiatives will create longer-term shareholder value. We will continue to monitor these risks and evaluate and adjust our operating strategies and foreign currency and cost management opportunities to mitigate the related impact on our results of operations, while remaining focused on the long-term growth of our business and protecting the value of our brand.



39
 



For a detailed discussion of significant risk factors that have the potential to cause our actual results to differ materially from our expectations, see Part I, Item 1A — "Risk Factors" included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Summary of Financial Performance
Operating Results
In Fiscal 2017, we reported net revenues of $6.653 billion, a net loss of $99.3 million, and net loss per diluted share of $1.20, as compared to net revenues of $7.405 billion, net income of $396.4 million, and net income per diluted share of $4.62 in Fiscal 2016. The comparability of our operating results has been affected by restructuring-related charges, impairment of assets, and certain other charges, as well as the 53rd week in Fiscal 2016 and unfavorable foreign currency effects, all as discussed further below.
During Fiscal 2017, net revenues declined 10.2% on a reported basis and 9.9% on a constant currency basis, as defined within "Transactions and Trends Affecting Comparability of Results of Operations and Financial Condition" below. The decline in reported net revenues during Fiscal 2017 reflected lower net revenues from our North America, Europe, and Asia segments, and also reflected the absence of the 53rd week, which resulted in incremental net revenues of $72.2 million during Fiscal 2016.
Our gross profit as a percentage of net revenues declined by 160 basis points to 54.9% during Fiscal 2017, primarily driven by higher non-cash inventory-related charges recorded in connection with our restructuring plans and net unfavorable foreign currency effects, partially offset by increased profitability driven by favorable geographic and channel mix and our quality of sales initiatives, including lower levels of promotional activity within our international businesses.
Selling, general, and administrative ("SG&A") expenses as a percentage of net revenues increased by 150 basis points to 47.3% during Fiscal 2017, primarily due to operating deleverage on lower net revenues and continued investments in our stores and concession shops, facilities, and infrastructure consistent with our longer-term initiatives, partially offset by our operational discipline and cost savings associated with our restructuring activities.
Net income declined by $495.7 million to a loss of $99.3 million in Fiscal 2017 as compared to Fiscal 2016, primarily due to a $676.7 million decrease in operating income, partially offset by a $161.0 million decline in our income tax provision. Net income per diluted share declined by $5.82 to a loss of $1.20 per share in Fiscal 2017 as compared to Fiscal 2016, due to lower net income and lower weighted-average diluted shares outstanding during Fiscal 2017.
Our operating results during Fiscal 2017 and Fiscal 2016 were negatively impacted by restructuring-related charges, impairment of assets, and certain other charges totaling $770.3 million and $211.8 million, respectively, which had an after-tax effect of reducing net income by $592.1 million and $150.1 million, respectively, or $7.10 per diluted share and $1.74 per diluted share, respectively. In addition, our net loss during Fiscal 2017 reflected unfavorable foreign currency impacts of $63.6 million, or $0.77 per diluted share, partially offset by the favorable impact of $15.9 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, related to the reversal of an income tax reserve resulting from a change in tax law that impacted an interest assessment on a prior year withholding tax. Net income during Fiscal 2016 reflected the favorable impact of the inclusion of the 53rd week, which increased net income by $8.3 million, or $0.10 per diluted share.
Financial Condition and Liquidity
We ended Fiscal 2017 in a net cash and investments position (cash and cash equivalents plus short-term and non-current investments, less total debt) of $786.2 million, compared to $559.2 million as of the end of Fiscal 2016. The increase in our net cash and investments position was primarily due to our operating cash flows of $952.3 million, partially offset by our use of cash to invest in our business through $284.0 million in capital expenditures, to support Class A common stock repurchases of $215.2 million, including withholdings in satisfaction of tax obligations for stock-based compensation awards, and to make cash dividend payments of $164.8 million.
We generated $952.3 million of cash from operations during Fiscal 2017, compared to $1.007 billion during Fiscal 2016. The decrease in our operating cash flows was primarily due to a decline in net income before non-cash charges, partially offset by a net favorable change related to our operating assets and liabilities, including our working capital.
Our equity declined to $3.300 billion as of April 1, 2017, compared to $3.744 billion as of April 2, 2016, primarily due to our Class A common stock repurchases, dividends declared, and comprehensive loss, partially offset by the net impact of stock-based compensation arrangements during Fiscal 2017.



40
 



Recent Developments
Change in Chief Executive Officer
Consistent with our announcement on February 2, 2017, Mr. Stefan Larsson departed as the Company's President and CEO and as a member of our Board of Directors, effective as of May 1, 2017. Subsequently, on May 17, 2017, we announced that Mr. Patrice Louvet will be appointed as the Company's new President and CEO and as a member of our Board of Directors, effective as of July 10, 2017 or such date as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties. See Note 22 to our accompanying consolidated financial statements for further discussion regarding the appointment of Mr. Louvet.
In connection with Mr. Larsson's departure, we recorded other charges of $11.4 million during Fiscal 2017 and expect to incur additional charges of approximately $6 million during Fiscal 2018. See Note 10 to our accompanying consolidated financial statements for further discussion regarding Mr. Larsson's departure.
Way Forward Plan
On June 2, 2016, our Board of Directors approved a restructuring plan with the objective of delivering sustainable, profitable sales growth and long-term value creation for shareholders (the "Way Forward Plan"). We plan to refocus on our core brands and evolve our product, marketing, and shopping experience to increase desirability and relevance. We also intend to evolve our operating model to enable sustainable, profitable sales growth by significantly improving quality of sales, reducing supply chain lead times, improving our sourcing, and executing a disciplined multi-channel distribution and expansion strategy. As part of the Way Forward Plan, we plan to rightsize our cost structure and implement a return on investment-driven financial model to free up resources to invest in the brand and drive high-quality sales. The Way Forward Plan includes strengthening our leadership team and creating a more nimble organization by moving from an average of nine to six layers of management. The Way Forward Plan also includes the discontinuance of our Denim & Supply brand and the integration of our denim product offerings into our Polo Ralph Lauren brand. Collectively, these actions resulted in a reduction in workforce and the closure of certain stores and shop-within-shops during Fiscal 2017, and are expected to result in gross annualized expense savings of approximately $180 million to $220 million.
On March 30, 2017, our Board of Directors approved the following additional restructuring-related activities associated with our Way Forward Plan: (i) the restructuring of our in-house global e-commerce platform which was in development and shift to a more cost-effective, flexible e-commerce platform through a new agreement with Salesforce's Commerce Cloud, formerly known as Demandware; (ii) the closure of our Polo store at 711 Fifth Avenue in New York City; and (iii) the further streamlining of the organization and the execution of other key corporate actions in line with our Way Forward Plan. These actions, which are expected to be completed by the end of Fiscal 2018, are an important part of our efforts to achieve our stated objective to return to sustainable, profitable growth and invest in the future. These additional restructuring-related activities will result in a further reduction in workforce and the closure of certain corporate office and store locations, and are expected to result in additional gross annualized expense savings of approximately $140 million.
In connection with the Way Forward Plan, we currently expect to incur total estimated charges of approximately $770 million, comprised of cash-related restructuring charges of approximately $450 million and non-cash charges of approximately $320 million. Cumulative cash and non-cash charges incurred during Fiscal 2017 were $289.1 million and $277.3 million, respectively. In addition to these charges, we also incurred an additional non-cash charge of $155.2 million during Fiscal 2017 associated with the destruction of inventory out of current liquidation channels in line with our Way Forward Plan. See Notes 9 and 10 to our accompanying consolidated financial statements for detailed discussions of the charges recorded in connection with the Way Forward Plan.



41
 



Global Reorganization Plan
On May 12, 2015, our Board of Directors approved a reorganization and restructuring plan comprised of the following major actions: (i) the reorganization of the Company's operating structure in order to streamline our business processes to better align our cost structure with our long-term growth strategy; (ii) a strategic store and shop-within-shop performance review conducted by region and brand; (iii) a targeted corporate functional area review; and (iv) the consolidation of certain of our luxury lines (collectively, the "Global Reorganization Plan"). The Global Reorganization Plan has resulted in a reduction in workforce and the closure of certain stores and shop-within-shops. Actions associated with the Global Reorganization Plan were substantially completed during Fiscal 2016 and are expected to result in improved operational efficiencies by reducing annual operating expenses by approximately $125 million.
Since its inception, we have recorded total cumulative charges of $147.4 million in connection with the Global Reorganization Plan, of which $4.9 million was recorded during Fiscal 2017. Actions associated with the Global Reorganization Plan are now complete and no additional charges are expected to be incurred in relation to this plan. See Notes 9 and 10 to our accompanying consolidated financial statements for detailed discussions of the charges recorded in connection with the Global Reorganization Plan.
Transactions and Trends Affecting Comparability of Results of Operations and Financial Condition
The comparability of our operating results for the three fiscal years presented herein has been affected by certain events, including:
charges incurred in connection with our restructuring plans, as well as certain other asset impairments and other charges, as summarized below (references to "Notes" are to the notes to the accompanying consolidated financial statements):
 
 
Fiscal Years Ended
 
 
April 1,
2017
 
April 2,
2016
 
March 28,
2015
 
 
(millions)
Impairments of assets (see Note 9)(a)
 
$
(253.8
)
 
$
(48.8
)
 
$
(6.9
)
Restructuring and other charges (see Note 10)
 
(318.6
)
 
(142.6
)
 
(10.1
)
Restructuring-related inventory charges (see Note 10)(b)
 
(197.9
)
 
(20.4
)
 

Total charges
 
$
(770.3
)
 
$
(211.8
)
 
$
(17.0
)
 
 
(a) 
Fiscal 2017 and Fiscal 2016 included non-cash impairment charges of $234.6 million and $27.2 million, respectively, recorded in connection with our restructuring plans.
(b) 
Non-cash restructuring-related inventory charges are recorded within cost of goods sold in the consolidated statements of operations.
the reversal of an income tax reserve resulting from a change in tax law that impacted an interest assessment on a prior year withholding tax, which favorably impacted our income tax benefit by $15.9 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, during Fiscal 2017.
the inclusion of the 53rd week in Fiscal 2016, which resulted in incremental net revenues of $72.2 million and net income of $8.3 million, or $0.10 per diluted share.



42
 



Since we are a global company, the comparability of our operating results reported in U.S. Dollars is also affected by foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations because the underlying currencies in which we transact change in value over time compared to the U.S. Dollar. These rate fluctuations can have a significant effect on our reported results. As such, in addition to financial measures prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. ("U.S. GAAP"), our discussions often contain references to constant currency measures, which are calculated by translating the current-year and prior-year reported amounts into comparable amounts using a single foreign exchange rate for each currency. We present constant currency financial information, which is a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure, as a supplement to our reported operating results. We use constant currency information to provide a framework to assess how our businesses performed excluding the effects of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. We believe this information is useful to investors to facilitate comparisons of operating results and better identify trends in our businesses. The constant currency performance measures should be viewed in addition to, and not in lieu of or superior to, our operating performance measures calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Reconciliations between this non-U.S. GAAP financial measure and the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure are included in the "Results of Operations" section where applicable.
Our discussion also includes reference to comparable store sales. Comparable store sales refer to the growth of sales in stores that are open for at least one full fiscal year. Sales for stores that are closed during a fiscal year are excluded from the calculation of comparable store sales. Sales for stores that are either relocated, enlarged (as defined by gross square footage expansion of 25% or greater), or generally closed for 30 or more consecutive days for renovation are also excluded from the calculation of comparable store sales until such stores have been in their new location or in their newly renovated state for at least one full fiscal year. Sales from our e-commerce sites are included within comparable store sales for those geographies that have been serviced by the related site for at least one full fiscal year. Sales for e-commerce sites that are shut down during a fiscal year are excluded from the calculation of comparable store sales. We use an integrated omni-channel strategy to operate our retail business, in which our e-commerce operations are interdependent with our physical stores. All comparable store sales metrics were calculated on a 52-week basis.
Our "Results of Operations" discussion that follows includes the significant changes in operating results arising from these items affecting comparability. However, unusual items or transactions may occur in any period. Accordingly, investors and other financial statement users should consider the types of events and transactions that have affected operating trends.



43
 



RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Fiscal 2017 Compared to Fiscal 2016
The following table summarizes our results of operations and expresses the percentage relationship to net revenues of certain financial statement captions. All percentages shown in the below table and the discussion that follows have been calculated using unrounded numbers.
 
 
Fiscal Years Ended
 
 
 
 
 
 
April 1,
2017
 
April 2,
2016
 
$
Change
 
% / bps
Change
 
 
(millions, except per share data)
 
 
Net revenues
 
$
6,652.8

 
$
7,405.2

 
$
(752.4
)
 
(10.2
%)
Cost of goods sold(a) 
 
(3,001.7
)
 
(3,218.5
)
 
216.8

 
(6.7
%)
Gross profit
 
3,651.1

 
4,186.7

 
(535.6
)
 
(12.8
%)
Gross profit as % of net revenues
 
54.9
%
 
56.5
%
 
 
 
(160 bps)

Selling, general, and administrative expenses(a) 
 
(3,149.4
)
 
(3,389.7
)
 
240.3

 
(7.1
%)
SG&A expenses as % of net revenues
 
47.3
%
 
45.8
%
 
 
 
150 bps

Amortization of intangible assets
 
(24.1
)
 
(23.7
)
 
(0.4
)
 
2.0
%
Impairment of assets
 
(253.8
)
 
(48.8
)
 
(205.0
)
 
NM

Restructuring and other charges
 
(318.6
)
 
(142.6
)
 
(176.0
)
 
123.4
%
Operating income (loss)
 
(94.8
)
 
581.9

 
(676.7
)
 
(116.3
%)
Operating income (loss) as % of net revenues
 
(1.4
%)
 
7.9
%
 
 
 
(930 bps)

Foreign currency gains (losses)
 
1.1

 
(3.8
)
 
4.9

 
(128.8
%)
Interest expense
 
(12.4
)
 
(21.0
)
 
8.6

 
(41.0
%)
Interest and other income, net
 
6.4

 
5.6

 
0.8

 
14.3
%
Equity in losses of equity-method investees
 
(5.2
)
 
(10.9
)
 
5.7

 
(52.5
%)
Income (loss) before income taxes
 
(104.9
)
 
551.8

 
(656.7
)
 
(119.0
%)
Income tax benefit (provision)
 
5.6

 
(155.4
)
 
161.0

 
(103.6
%)
Effective tax rate(b)
 
5.3
%
 
28.2
%
 
 
 
(2,290 bps)

Net income (loss)
 
$
(99.3
)
 
$
396.4

 
$
(495.7
)
 
(125.1
%)
Net income (loss) per common share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
$
(1.20
)
 
$
4.65

 
$
(5.85
)
 
(125.8
%)
  Diluted
 
$
(1.20
)
 
$
4.62

 
$
(5.82
)
 
(126.0
%)
 
(a) 
Includes total depreciation expense of $283.4 million and $285.7 million for Fiscal 2017 and Fiscal 2016, respectively.
(b) 
Effective tax rate is calculated by dividing the income tax benefit (provision) by income (loss) before income taxes.
NM Not meaningful.
Net Revenues.    Net revenues decreased by $752.4 million, or 10.2%, to $6.653 billion in Fiscal 2017. This decrease reflected net unfavorable foreign currency effects of $21.2 million, as well as the absence of the 53rd week, which resulted in incremental net revenues of $72.2 million during the prior fiscal year. On a constant currency basis, net revenues decreased by $731.2 million, or 9.9%.
The following table summarizes the percentage change in our Fiscal 2017 consolidated comparable store sales as compared to the prior fiscal year on both a reported and constant currency basis:
 
 
As
Reported
 
Constant
Currency
E-commerce comparable store sales
 
(10
%)
 
(10
%)
Comparable store sales excluding e-commerce
 
(7
%)
 
(7
%)
Total comparable store sales
 
(7
%)
 
(7
%)



44
 



Our global average store count increased by 44 stores and concession shops during Fiscal 2017 compared with the prior fiscal year, due to new global store openings, primarily in Asia, partially offset by store closures, primarily associated with our Way Forward Plan. The following table details our retail store presence by segment as of the periods presented:
 
 
April 1,
2017
 
April 2,
2016
Freestanding Stores:
 
 
 
 
North America
 
216

 
224

Europe
 
82

 
87

Asia
 
89

 
105

Other non-reportable segments
 
79

 
77

Total freestanding stores
 
466

 
493

 
 
 
 
 
Concession Shops:
 
 
 
 
North America
 

 
2

Europe
 
31

 
34

Asia
 
586

 
545

Other non-reportable segments
 
2

 
2

Total concession shops
 
619

 
583

Total stores
 
1,085

 
1,076

In addition to our stores, we sell products online in North America and Europe through our various e-commerce sites, which include www.RalphLauren.com and www.ClubMonaco.com, among others. In Asia, we sell products online through e-commerce sites of various third-party digital partners.
Net revenues for our segments, as well as a discussion of the changes in each reportable segment's net revenues from the prior fiscal year, are provided below:
 
 
Fiscal Years Ended
 
$ Change
 
Foreign Exchange Impact
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
 
April 1,
2017
 
April 2,
2016
 
As
Reported
 
 
Constant Currency
 
As
Reported
 
Constant
Currency
 
 
(millions)
 
 
 
 
Net Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
North America
 
$
3,795.0

 
$
4,493.9

 
$
(698.9
)
 
$
(0.4
)
 
$
(698.5
)
 
(15.6
%)
 
(15.5
%)
Europe
 
1,543.4

 
1,561.8

 
(18.4
)
 
(64.3
)
 
45.9

 
(1.2
%)
 
2.9
%
Asia
 
882.9

 
893.5

 
(10.6
)
 
43.6

 
(54.2
)
 
(1.2
%)
 
(6.1
%)
Other non-reportable segments
 
431.5

 
456.0

 
(24.5
)
 
(0.1
)
 
(24.4
)
 
(5.4
%)
 
(5.3
%)
Total net revenues
 
$
6,652.8

 
$
7,405.2

 
$
(752.4
)
 
$
(21.2
)
 
$
(731.2
)
 
(10.2
%)
 
(9.9
%)
North America net revenues — Net revenues decreased by $698.9 million, or 15.6%, during Fiscal 2017 as compared to Fiscal 2016. This decrease reflected net unfavorable foreign currency effects of $0.4 million, as well as the absence of the 53rd week, which resulted in incremental net revenues of $38.2 million during the prior fiscal year. On a constant currency basis, net revenues decreased by $698.5 million, or 15.5%.
The $698.9 million net decline in North America net revenues was driven by:
a $511.4 million net decrease related to our North America wholesale business, reflecting lower sales across all of our major apparel and accessories businesses, due in part to a strategic reduction of shipments in connection with our Way Forward Plan and a decline in department store traffic, which contributed to a more competitive retail environment. This decrease also reflected the absence of the 53rd week, which resulted in incremental net revenues of $10.0 million during the prior fiscal year;



45
 



a $165.5 million net decrease in comparable store sales, primarily driven by lower sales from certain of our retail stores and Ralph Lauren e-commerce operations due in part to a decline in traffic. The following table summarizes our comparable store sales percentages on both a reported and constant currency basis related to our North America retail business:
 
 
As
Reported
 
Constant
Currency
E-commerce comparable store sales
 
(15
%)
 
(15
%)
Comparable store sales excluding e-commerce
 
(8
%)
 
(8
%)
Total comparable store sales
 
(10
%)
 
(10
%)
a $22.0 million net decrease in non-comparable store sales, primarily driven by the absence of the 53rd week, which resulted in incremental net revenues of $28.2 million during the prior fiscal year, partially offset by new store openings during Fiscal 2017.
Europe net revenues — Net revenues decreased by $18.4 million, or 1.2%, during Fiscal 2017 as compared to Fiscal 2016. This decrease reflected net unfavorable foreign currency effects of $64.3 million, as well as the absence of the 53rd week, which resulted in incremental net revenues of $14.3 million during the prior fiscal year. On a constant currency basis, net revenues increased by $45.9 million, or 2.9%.
The $18.4 million net decline in Europe net revenues was driven by:
a $57.1 million net decrease in comparable store sales, including net unfavorable foreign currency effects of $26.9 million. Our comparable store sales decreased by $30.2 million on a constant currency basis, primarily driven by lower sales from certain retail stores due in part to a decline in traffic, as well as lower levels of promotional activity in connection with our Way Forward Plan, partially offset by higher sales from our Ralph Lauren e-commerce operations. The following table summarizes our comparable store sales percentages on both a reported and constant currency basis related to our Europe retail business:
 
 
As
Reported
 
Constant
Currency
E-commerce comparable store sales
 
7
%
 
11
%
Comparable store sales excluding e-commerce
 
(10
%)
 
(6
%)
Total comparable store sales
 
(8
%)
 
(4
%)
This decline was partially offset by:
a $25.4 million net increase related to our Europe wholesale business, reflecting increased sales across all of our major apparel and accessories businesses. This increase is net of unfavorable foreign currency effects of $23.0 million; and
a $13.3 million net increase in non-comparable store sales, primarily driven by new store openings during Fiscal 2017, partially offset by net unfavorable foreign currency effects of $14.4 million and the absence of the 53rd week, which resulted in incremental net revenues of $14.3 million during the prior fiscal year.
Asia net revenues — Net revenues decreased by $10.6 million, or 1.2%, during Fiscal 2017 as compared to Fiscal 2016, reflecting the absence of the 53rd week, which resulted in incremental net revenues of $15.4 million during the prior fiscal year. This decrease is inclusive of net favorable foreign currency effects of $43.6 million. On a constant currency basis, net revenues decreased by $54.2 million, or 6.1%.
The $10.6 million net decline in Asia net revenues was driven by:
a $17.4 million net decrease in non-comparable store sales, primarily driven by the absence of the 53rd week, which resulted in incremental net revenues of $15.4 million during the prior fiscal year, as well as lower sales from certain of our stores and concession shops due in part to a decline in traffic, lower levels of promotional activity in connection with our Way Forward Plan, and the strategic closure of certain of our locations, partially offset by net favorable foreign currency effects of $11.1 million and new store openings during Fiscal 2017; and



46
 



a $5.5 million net decrease related to our Asia wholesale business, primarily driven by lower sales in Greater China and Southeast Asia, partially offset by net favorable foreign currency effects of $3.4 million.
These declines were partially offset by:
a $12.3 million net increase in comparable store sales, including net favorable foreign currency effects of $29.1 million. Our comparable store sales decreased by $16.8 million on a constant currency basis, primarily driven by lower sales from certain of our stores and concession shops due in part to a decline in traffic, and lower levels of promotional activity in connection with our Way Forward Plan. The following table summarizes our comparable store sales percentage on both a reported and constant currency basis related to our Asia retail business:
 
 
As
Reported
 
Constant
Currency
Total comparable store sales(a)
 
2
%
 
(3
%)
 
(a) 
Comparable store sales for our Asia segment was comprised solely of sales made through our stores and concession shops.
Gross Profit.    Gross profit decreased by $535.6 million, or 12.8%, to $3.651 billion in Fiscal 2017. Gross profit during Fiscal 2017 and Fiscal 2016 reflected non-cash inventory-related charges of $197.9 million and $20.4 million, respectively, recorded in connection with our restructuring plans. Gross profit as a percentage of net revenues declined by 160 basis points to 54.9% in Fiscal 2017 from 56.5% in Fiscal 2016. This decline was primarily driven by the higher non-cash inventory-related charges recorded in connection with our restructuring plans during Fiscal 2017 as compared to the comparable prior year period and net unfavorable foreign currency effects, partially offset by increased profitability driven by favorable geographic and channel mix and our quality of sales initiatives, including lower levels of promotional activity within our international businesses.
Gross profit as a percentage of net revenues is dependent upon a variety of factors, including changes in the relative sales mix among distribution channels, changes in the mix of products sold, the timing and level of promotional activities, foreign currency exchange rates, and fluctuations in material costs. These factors, among others, may cause gross profit as a percentage of net revenues to fluctuate from year to year.
Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses.    SG&A expenses primarily include compensation and benefits, advertising and marketing, distribution, bad debt, information technology, facilities, legal, and other costs associated with finance and administration. SG&A expenses decreased by $240.3 million, or 7.1%, to $3.149 billion in Fiscal 2017. This decrease included a net unfavorable foreign currency effect of $5.3 million. SG&A expenses as a percentage of net revenues increased by 150 basis points to 47.3% in Fiscal 2017 from 45.8% in Fiscal 2016. This increase was primarily due to operating deleverage on lower net revenues, as previously discussed, and the continued investment in, and expansion of, our retail businesses (which typically carry higher operating expense margins) through new store and concession shop openings (as previously discussed); investments in our facilities and infrastructure; and investments in new business initiatives. These increases were partially offset by our operational discipline and cost savings associated with our restructuring activities.
The $240.3 million decline in SG&A expenses was driven by:
 
 
Fiscal 2017
Compared to
Fiscal 2016
 
 
(millions)
SG&A expense category:
 
 
Compensation-related expenses
 
$
(107.2
)
Marketing and advertising expenses
 
(60.1
)
Consulting fees
 
(23.0
)
Rent and occupancy expenses
 
(19.3
)
Shipping and handling costs
 
(12.9
)
Other
 
(17.8
)
Total decline in SG&A expenses
 
$
(240.3
)



47
 



During Fiscal 2018, we continue to expect a certain amount of operating expense deleverage driven by an anticipated decline in sales associated with our quality of sale initiatives and unfavorable foreign currency effects, which are affecting operating expenses at a lower rate than sales. In addition, we will continue to invest in our long-term strategic initiatives, including expansion and renovations of our retail stores and concession shops, which will partially offset anticipated cost savings related to our restructuring activities (see "Recent Developments").
Amortization of Intangible Assets.    Amortization of intangible assets increased slightly by $0.4 million, or 2.0%, to $24.1 million in Fiscal 2017, due to net unfavorable foreign currency effects.
Impairment of Assets.   During Fiscal 2017, we recorded non-cash impairment charges of $248.6 million to write off certain fixed assets related to our domestic and international stores, shop-within-shops, and corporate offices, as well as our in-house global e-commerce platform previously under construction, of which $234.6 million was recorded in connection with the Way Forward Plan and $14.0 million was recorded in connection with underperforming stores subject to potential future closure. Additionally, as a result of the realignment of our segment reporting structure, we recorded a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $5.2 million during Fiscal 2017. During Fiscal 2016, we recognized non-cash impairment charges of $48.8 million, primarily to write off certain fixed assets related to our domestic and international retail stores and shop-within-shops, of which $27.2 million was recorded in connection with the Global Reorganization Plan and $21.6 million was recorded in connection with underperforming stores that were subject to potential future closure. See Note 9 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
Restructuring and Other Charges.   During Fiscal 2017 and Fiscal 2016, we recorded restructuring charges of $294.0 million and $94.9 million, respectively, in connection with our restructuring plans, consisting of severance and benefits costs, lease termination and store closure costs, and other cash charges, as well as non-cash accelerated stock-based compensation expense. In addition, during Fiscal 2017, we recorded other charges of $24.6 million related to the anticipated settlement of certain non-income tax issues and the departure of Mr. Stefan Larsson. During Fiscal 2016, we recorded other charges of $47.7 million primarily related to a pending customs audit and the settlement of certain litigation claims. See Note 10 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
Operating Income (Loss).    During Fiscal 2017, we reported an operating loss of $94.8 million, as compared to operating income of $581.9 million during Fiscal 2016. Our operating results during Fiscal 2017 and Fiscal 2016 were negatively impacted by restructuring-related charges, impairment of assets, and certain other charges totaling $770.3 million and $211.8 million, respectively, as previously discussed. The $676.7 million decline in operating income also included a net unfavorable foreign currency effect of $67.4 million. Operating loss as a percentage of net revenues was 1.4% during Fiscal 2017, reflecting a 930 basis point decline from the prior fiscal year. The overall decline in operating income as a percentage of net revenues was primarily driven by the decline in our gross profit margin and the increase in restructuring-related charges, impairment of assets, and certain other charges, as well as the increase in SG&A expenses as a percentage of net revenues, all as previously discussed.
Operating income (loss) and margin for our segments, as well as a discussion of the changes in each reportable segment's operating margin from the prior fiscal year, are provided below:
 
 
Fiscal Years Ended
 
 
 
 
 
April 1, 2017
 
April 2, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
Operating
Income
(Loss)
 
Operating
Margin
 
Operating
Income
(Loss)
 
Operating
Margin
 
$
Change
 
Margin
Change
 
(millions)
 
 
 
(millions)
 
 
 
(millions)
 
 
Segment:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
North America
 
$
674.7

 
17.8%
 
$
951.6

 
21.2%
 
$
(276.9
)
 
(340 bps)
Europe
 
302.6

 
19.6%
 
280.1

 
17.9%
 
22.5

 
170 bps
Asia
 
(85.8
)
 
(9.7%)
 
(0.1
)
 
—%
 
(85.7
)
 
(970 bps)
Other non-reportable segments
 
68.7

 
15.9%
 
103.9

 
22.8%
 
(35.2
)
 
(690 bps)
 
 
960.2

 
 
 
1,335.5

 
 
 
(375.3
)
 
 
Unallocated corporate expenses
 
(736.4
)
 
 
 
(611.0
)
 
 
 
(125.4
)
 
 
Unallocated restructuring and other charges
 
(318.6
)
 
 
 
(142.6
)
 
 
 
(176.0
)
 
 
Total operating income (loss)
 
$
(94.8
)
 
(1.4%)
 
$
581.9

 
7.9%
 
$
(676.7
)
 
(930 bps)



48
 



North America operating margin declined by 340 basis points, primarily due to the unfavorable impact of 190 basis points related to higher non-cash charges recorded in connection with our restructuring plans during Fiscal 2017 as compared to the prior fiscal year and a 170 basis point decline related to decreased profitability in our core wholesale business, largely driven by the impact of a more competitive retail environment. These declines in operating margin were partially offset by a 20 basis point increase related to improved profitability in our core retail business.
Europe operating margin increased by 170 basis points, primarily due to the favorable impact of 390 basis points and 200 basis points related to improved profitability of our core wholesale and retail businesses, respectively, largely driven by a decline in SG&A expenses as a percentage of net revenues and lower levels of promotional activity in connection with our Way Forward Plan. These increases in operating margin were partially offset by unfavorable foreign currency effects of 340 basis points, as well as an 80 basis point decline attributable to higher non-cash charges recorded in connection with our restructuring plans during Fiscal 2017 as compared to the prior fiscal year.
Asia operating margin declined by 970 basis points, primarily due to the unfavorable impact of 1,710 basis points related to higher non-cash charges recorded in connection with our restructuring plans during Fiscal 2017 as compared to the prior fiscal year. This decline in operating margin was partially offset by the favorable impact of 740 basis points primarily related to improved profitability of our core retail business, largely driven by a decline in SG&A expenses as a percentage of net revenues, lower levels of promotional activity in connection with our Way Forward Plan, and the strategic closure of certain of our locations.
Unallocated corporate expenses increased by $125.4 million, primarily due to higher non-cash impairment charges of $117.0 million, higher depreciation and amortization expense of $13.5 million, higher non-income tax related charges of $9.3 million, and higher other operating expenses of $37.4 million. These increases were partially offset by a decline in compensation-related expenses of $33.4 million and a decline in consulting fees of $18.4 million.
Unallocated restructuring and other charges increased by $176.0 million to $318.6 million in Fiscal 2017, as previously discussed above and in Note 10 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
Non-operating Expense, Net.    Non-operating expense, net is comprised of net foreign currency gains (losses), interest expense, interest and other income, net, and equity in losses from our equity-method investees. Non-operating expense, net decreased by $20.0 million to $10.1 million in Fiscal 2017 from $30.1 million in Fiscal 2016. The decline in non-operating expense was driven by:
an $8.6 million decrease in interest expense driven by the net favorable impact of our swap contracts entered into during Fiscal 2016, partially offset by the inclusion of twelve months of interest expense during the current fiscal year related to the 2.625% unsecured senior notes issued in August 2015, as compared to approximately seven months of interest expense during the prior year period. See Note 14 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements for further discussion of our swap contracts;
a $5.7 million decrease in equity in losses of equity-method investees, primarily related to our share in losses from our joint venture, the Ralph Lauren Watch and Jewelry Company Sárl, which is accounted for under the equity method of accounting; and
a $4.9 million decrease in foreign currency losses, largely related to the net favorable revaluation and settlement of foreign currency-denominated intercompany receivables and payables, inclusive of the impact of forward foreign currency exchange contracts, as compared to the prior fiscal year period (foreign currency gains (losses) do not result from the translation of the operating results of our foreign subsidiaries to U.S. Dollars).



49
 



Income Tax Benefit (Provision).    The income tax benefit (provision) represents federal, foreign, state and local income taxes. During Fiscal 2017, we reported an income tax benefit of $5.6 million, as compared to an income tax provision of $155.4 million during Fiscal 2016. The $161.0 million decrease in the income tax provision was largely driven by lower pretax income resulting in a pretax loss in Fiscal 2017. The 5.3% effective tax rate for Fiscal 2017 is lower than the statutory tax rate primarily due to the tax impact of earnings in foreign jurisdictions, valuation allowances and adjustments recorded on deferred tax assets, and income tax reserves largely associated with an income tax settlement and certain income tax audits, partially offset by the reversal of an income tax reserve resulting from a change in tax law that impacted an interest assessment on a prior year withholding tax. The 28.2% effective tax rate for Fiscal 2016 was lower than the statutory tax rate primarily due to the tax impact of earnings in foreign jurisdictions and a change to the assessment period associated with certain tax liabilities, partially offset by the reversal of certain deferred tax assets that were determined to not be realizable. Our effective tax rate will change from period to period based on various factors including, but not limited to, the geographic mix of earnings, the timing and amount of foreign dividends, enacted tax legislation, state and local taxes, tax audit findings and settlements, and the interaction of various global tax strategies.
Net Income (Loss).    During Fiscal 2017, we reported a net loss of $99.3 million, as compared to net income of $396.4 million during Fiscal 2016. The $495.7 million decrease in net income was primarily due to the decline in operating income, partially offset by the reduction in our income tax provision, as previously discussed. Our operating results during Fiscal 2017 and Fiscal 2016 were negatively impacted by restructuring-related charges, impairment of assets, and certain other charges totaling $770.3 million and $211.8 million, respectively, which had an after-tax effect of reducing net income by $592.1 million and $150.1 million, respectively. In addition, our net loss during Fiscal 2017 reflected unfavorable foreign currency impacts of $63.6 million, partially offset by the favorable impact of $15.9 million related to the reversal of an income tax reserve resulting from a change in tax law that impacted an interest assessment on a prior year withholding tax, as previously discussed. Our net income during Fiscal 2016 reflected the favorable impact of the inclusion of the 53rd week, which increased net income by $8.3 million.
Net Income (Loss) per Diluted Share.    During Fiscal 2017, we reported a net loss per diluted share of $1.20, as compared to net income per diluted share of $4.62 during Fiscal 2016. The $5.82 per share decline was due to lower net income, as previously discussed, and lower weighted-average diluted shares outstanding during Fiscal 2017, driven by our share repurchases over the last twelve months. Net income (loss) per diluted share during Fiscal 2017 and Fiscal 2016 was negatively impacted by $7.10 per share and $1.74 per share, respectively, as a result of restructuring-related charges, impairment of assets, and certain other charges, as previously discussed. In addition, our net loss per diluted share during Fiscal 2017 reflected unfavorable foreign currency impacts of $0.77 per share, partially offset by the favorable impact of $0.19 per share related to the reversal of an income tax reserve resulting from a change in tax law that impacted an interest assessment on a prior year withholding tax, as previously discussed. Net income per diluted share during Fiscal 2016 reflected the favorable impact of the inclusion of the 53rd week, which increased net income per diluted share by $0.10 per share.



50
 



Fiscal 2016 Compared to Fiscal 2015
The following table summarizes our results of operations and expresses the percentage relationship to net revenues of certain financial statement captions. All percentages shown in the below table and the discussion that follows have been calculated using unrounded numbers.
 
 
Fiscal Years Ended
 
 
 
 
 
 
April 2,
2016
 
March 28,
2015
 
$
Change
 
% / bps
Change
 
 
(millions, except per share data)
 
 
Net revenues
 
$
7,405.2

 
$
7,620.3

 
$
(215.1
)
 
(2.8
%)
Cost of goods sold(a) 
 
(3,218.5
)
 
(3,242.4
)
 
23.9

 
(0.7
%)
Gross profit
 
4,186.7

 
4,377.9

 
(191.2
)
 
(4.4
%)
Gross profit as % of net revenues
 
56.5
%
 
57.5
%
 
 
 
(100 bps)

Selling, general, and administrative expenses(a) 
 
(3,389.7
)
 
(3,300.3
)
 
(89.4
)
 
2.7
%
SG&A expenses as % of net revenues
 
45.8
%
 
43.3
%
 
 
 
250 bps

Amortization of intangible assets
 
(23.7
)
 
(25.2
)
 
1.5

 
(6.2
%)
Impairment of assets
 
(48.8
)
 
(6.9
)
 
(41.9
)
 
NM

Restructuring and other charges
 
(142.6
)
 
(10.1
)
 
(132.5
)
 
NM

Operating income
 
581.9

 
1,035.4

 
(453.5
)
 
(43.8
%)
Operating income as % of net revenues
 
7.9
%
 
13.6
%
 
 
 
(570 bps)

Foreign currency losses
 
(3.8
)
 
(25.9
)
 
22.1

 
(85.2
%)
Interest expense
 
(21.0
)
 
(16.7
)
 
(4.3
)
 
25.7
%
Interest and other income, net
 
5.6

 
6.1

 
(0.5
)
 
(7.9
%)
Equity in losses of equity-method investees
 
(10.9
)
 
(11.5
)
 
0.6

 
(5.3
%)
Income before income taxes
 
551.8

 
987.4

 
(435.6
)
 
(44.1
%)
Income tax provision
 
(155.4
)
 
(285.2
)
 
129.8

 
(45.5
%)
Effective tax rate(b) 
 
28.2
%
 
28.9
%
 
 
 
(70 bps)

Net income
 
$
396.4

 
$
702.2

 
$
(305.8
)
 
(43.6
%)
Net income per common share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
$
4.65

 
$
7.96

 
$
(3.31
)
 
(41.6
%)
  Diluted
 
$
4.62

 
$
7.88

 
$
(3.26
)
 
(41.4
%)
 
(a)
Includes total depreciation expense of $285.7 million and $269.2 million for Fiscal 2016 and Fiscal 2015, respectively.
(b)
Effective tax rate is calculated by dividing the income tax provision by income before income taxes.
NM
Not meaningful.
Net Revenues.    Net revenues decreased by $215.1 million, or 2.8%, to $7.405 billion during Fiscal 2016. This decrease included the favorable impact of the 53rd week in Fiscal 2016, which resulted in incremental net revenues of $72.2 million. On a constant currency basis, net revenues increased by $59.8 million, or 0.8%.
The following table summarizes the percentage change in our Fiscal 2016 consolidated comparable store sales as compared to the prior fiscal year on both a reported and constant currency basis:
 
 
As
Reported
 
Constant
Currency
E-commerce comparable store sales
 
2
%
 
3
%
Comparable store sales excluding e-commerce
 
(8
%)
 
(4
%)
Total comparable store sales
 
(7
%)
 
(3
%)



51
 



Our global average store count increased by 91 stores and concession shops during Fiscal 2016 compared with the prior fiscal year, due to new global store openings, primarily in Asia, partially offset by store closures. The following table details our retail store presence by reportable segment as of the periods presented:
 
 
April 2,
2016
 
March 28,
2015
Freestanding Stores:
 
 
 
 
North America
 
224

 
223

Europe
 
87

 
81

Asia
 
105

 
98

Other non-reportable segments
 
77

 
64

Total freestanding stores
 
493

 
466

 
 
 
 
 
Concession Shops:
 
 
 
 
North America
 
2

 
2

Europe
 
34

 
24

Asia
 
545

 
508

Other non-reportable segments
 
2

 
2

Total concession shops
 
583

 
536

Total stores
 
1,076

 
1,002

In addition to our stores, we sold products online in North America, Europe, and Asia through our various e-commerce sites, which include www.RalphLauren.com and www.ClubMonaco.com, among others.
Net revenues for our segments, as well as a discussion of the changes in each reportable segment's net revenues from the prior fiscal year, are provided below:
 
 
Fiscal Years Ended
 
$ Change
 
Foreign Exchange Impact
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
 
April 2,
2016
 
March 28,
2015
 
As
Reported
 
 
Constant Currency
 
As
Reported
 
Constant
Currency
 
 
(millions)
 
 
 
 
Net Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
North America
 
$
4,493.9

 
$
4,645.7

 
$
(151.8
)
 
$
(17.8
)
 
$
(134.0
)
 
(3.3
%)
 
(2.9
%)
Europe
 
1,561.8

 
1,620.0

 
(58.2
)
 
(177.4
)
 
119.2

 
(3.6
%)
 
7.4
%
Asia
 
893.5

 
915.5

 
(22.0
)
 
(66.4
)
 
44.4

 
(2.4
%)
 
4.9
%
Other non-reportable segments
 
456.0

 
439.1

 
16.9

 
(13.3
)
 
30.2

 
3.8
%
 
6.9
%
Total net revenues
 
$
7,405.2

 
$
7,620.3

 
$
(215.1
)
 
$
(274.9
)
 
$
59.8

 
(2.8
%)
 
0.8
%
North America net revenues — Net revenues decreased by $151.8 million, or 3.3%, during Fiscal 2016 as compared to Fiscal 2015, inclusive of the favorable impact of the 53rd week in Fiscal 2016, which resulted in incremental net revenues of $38.2 million. The decrease also included net unfavorable foreign currency effects of $17.8 million. On a constant currency basis, net revenues decreased by $134.0 million, or 2.9%.
The $151.8 million net decline in North America net revenues was driven by:
a $152.1 million net decrease related to our North America wholesale business, reflecting lower sales across all of our major apparel and accessories businesses, due in part to a decline in foreign tourist traffic in major metropolitan locations, which contributed to a more competitive retail environment. This decrease also reflected net unfavorable foreign currency effects of $14.3 million, and was net of the favorable impact of the 53rd week in Fiscal 2016, which resulted in incremental net revenues of $10.0 million; and



52
 



an $80.8 million net decrease in comparable store sales, primarily driven by lower sales from certain of our retail stores. The following table summarizes our comparable store sales percentages on both a reported and constant currency basis related to our North America retail business:
 
 
As
Reported
 
Constant
Currency
E-commerce comparable store sales
 
%
 
%
Comparable store sales excluding e-commerce
 
(6
%)
 
(6
%)
Total comparable store sales
 
(5