UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

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

For the quarterly period ended May 31, 2019

OR

☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from   to 

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 0-22793

PriceSmart, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	33-0628530
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

9740 Scranton Road, San Diego, CA	92121
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

(858) 404-8800

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:
Title of each class	Trading Symbol	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.0001 par value	PSMT	NASDAQ Global Select Market

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☒ No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files).

Yes  ☒ No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, 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. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer  ☒	Accelerated filer  ☐
Non-accelerated filer  ☐	Smaller Reporting Company  ☐
	Emerging growth company  ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.   ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes  ☐ No  ☒

The registrant had 30,539,308 shares of its common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, outstanding at June 30, 2019.

PRICESMART, INC.

INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

		Page
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1.	FINANCIAL STATEMENTS	1
	CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AS OF MAY 31, 2019  (UNAUDITED) AND AUGUST 31, 2018	2
	CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED MAY 31, 2019 AND 2018 - UNAUDITED	4
	CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED MAY 31, 2019 AND 2018 - UNAUDITED	5
	CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED MAY 31, 2019 AND 2018 - UNAUDITED	6
	CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED MAY 31, 2019 AND 2018 - UNAUDITED	8
	NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - UNAUDITED	10
ITEM 2.	MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS	34
ITEM 3.	QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK	59
ITEM 4.	CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES	60
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1.	LEGAL PROCEEDINGS	60
ITEM 1A.	RISK FACTORS	60
ITEM 2.	UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS	61
ITEM 3.	DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES	61
ITEM 4.	MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES	61
ITEM 5.	OTHER INFORMATION	61
ITEM 6.	EXHIBITS	62

i

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

PriceSmart, Inc.’s (“PriceSmart,” “we” or the “Company”) unaudited consolidated balance sheet as of May 31, 2019 and the consolidated balance sheet as of August 31, 2018, the unaudited consolidated statements of income for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2019 and 2018, the unaudited consolidated statements of comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2019 and 2018, the unaudited consolidated statements of equity for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2019 and 2018, and the unaudited consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine months ended May 31, 2019 and 2018 are included herein.  Also included herein are the notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

1

PRICESMART, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)

	May 31,
	2019		August 31,
	(Unaudited)		2018
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	106,445	$	93,460
Short-term restricted cash		4,136		405
Short-term investments		17,023		32,304
Receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $165 as of May 31, 2019 and $97 as of August 31, 2018, respectively.		9,543		8,859
Merchandise inventories		326,724		321,025
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		36,649		31,800
Total current assets		500,520		487,853
Long-term restricted cash		3,402		3,049
Property and equipment, net		629,063		594,403
Goodwill		46,158		46,329
Other intangibles, net		13,182		14,980
Deferred tax assets		13,846		10,166
Other non-current assets (includes $2,742 and $4,364 as of May 31, 2019 and August 31, 2018, respectively, for the fair value of derivative instruments)		44,983		48,854
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates		10,710		10,758
Total Assets	$	1,261,864	$	1,216,392
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Short-term borrowings	$	2,152	$	—
Accounts payable		271,298		255,739
Accrued salaries and benefits		23,813		22,836
Deferred income		25,070		23,018
Income taxes payable		4,219		4,636
Other accrued expenses		29,576		28,281
Dividends payable		10,672		—
Long-term debt, current portion		23,480		14,855
Total current liabilities		390,280		349,365
Deferred tax liability		1,766		1,894
Long-term portion of deferred rent		9,867		8,885
Long-term income taxes payable, net of current portion		4,538		4,622
Long-term debt, net of current portion		69,476		87,720
Other long-term liabilities (includes $1,161 and $502 for the fair value of derivative instruments and $5,376 and $4,715 for post-employment plans as of May 31, 2019 and August 31, 2018, respectively)		6,882		5,268
Total Liabilities		482,809		457,754

2

Stockholders' Equity:
Common stock $0.0001 par value, 45,000,000 shares authorized; 31,440,379 and 31,372,752 shares issued and 30,539,966 and 30,460,353 shares outstanding (net of treasury shares) as of May 31, 2019 and August 31, 2018, respectively		3		3
Additional paid-in capital		440,373		432,882
Tax benefit from stock-based compensation		11,486		11,486
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(141,168)		(121,216)
Retained earnings		505,127		473,954
Less: treasury stock at cost, 900,413 shares as of May 31, 2019 and 912,399 shares as of August 31, 2018		(37,228)		(39,107)
Total stockholders' equity attributable to PriceSmart, Inc. stockholders		778,593		758,002
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated subsidiaries		462		636
Total stockholders' equity		779,055		758,638
Total Liabilities and Equity	$	1,261,864	$	1,216,392

See accompanying notes. 

3

PRICESMART, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(UNAUDITED—AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	May 31,		May 31,		May 31,		May 31,
	2019		2018		2019		2018
Revenues:
Net merchandise sales	$	755,009	$	750,473	$	2,322,742	$	2,312,447
Export sales		8,281		9,967		23,314		27,252
Membership income		13,132		12,852		38,717		37,930
Other revenue and income		12,134		8,909		37,845		11,207
Total revenues		788,556		782,201		2,422,618		2,388,836
Operating expenses:
Cost of goods sold:
Net merchandise sales		649,894		641,249		1,996,595		1,977,840
Export sales		7,872		9,466		22,136		25,900
Non-merchandise		4,121		1,979		13,194		1,979
Selling, general and administrative:
Warehouse club and other operations		78,231		76,259		228,161		217,712
General and administrative		24,532		24,079		76,835		63,167
Pre-opening expenses		1,647		352		1,759		863
Asset impairment		—		—		—		1,929
Loss/(gain) on disposal of assets		262		388		735		587
Total operating expenses		766,559		753,772		2,339,415		2,289,977
Operating income		21,997		28,429		83,203		98,859
Other income (expense):
Interest income		310		370		1,124		1,138
Interest expense		(915)		(1,362)		(2,949)		(3,609)
Other income (expense), net		159		(575)		(2,032)		(87)
Total other income (expense)		(446)		(1,567)		(3,857)		(2,558)
Income before provision for income taxes and income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates		21,551		26,862		79,346		96,301
Provision for income taxes		(7,478)		(8,128)		(26,721)		(40,950)
Income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates		(4)		(18)		(48)		3
Net income	$	14,069	$	18,716	$	52,577	$	55,354
Less: net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		27		(22)		(59)		(22)
Net income attributable to PriceSmart, Inc.	$	14,096	$	18,694	$	52,518	$	55,332
Net income attributable to PriceSmart, Inc. per share available for distribution:
Basic	$	0.46	$	0.61	$	1.73	$	1.82
Diluted	$	0.46	$	0.61	$	1.73	$	1.82
Shares used in per share computations:
Basic		30,198		30,137		30,192		30,105
Diluted		30,205		30,137		30,202		30,105
Dividends per share	$	—	$	—	$	0.70	$	0.70

See accompanying notes. 

4

PRICESMART, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(UNAUDITED—AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	May 31,		May 31,		May 31,		May 31,
	2019		2018		2019		2018
Net income	$	14,069	$	18,716	$	52,577	$	55,354
Less: net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		27		(22)		(59)		(22)
Net income attributable to PriceSmart, Inc.	$	14,096	$	18,694	$	52,518	$	55,332
Other Comprehensive Income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments (1)		(9,697)		(2,461)		(17,972)		(126)
Defined benefit pension plan:
Net gain (loss) arising during period		42		—		129		—
Amortization of prior service cost and actuarial gains included in net periodic pensions cost		(19)		42		(56)		101
Total defined benefit pension plan		23		42		73		101
Derivative instruments: (2)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on change in fair value of interest rate swaps		(1,385)		79		(2,053)		1,516
Total derivative instruments		(1,385)		79		(2,053)		1,516
Other comprehensive income (loss)		(11,059)		(2,340)		(19,952)		1,491
Comprehensive income		3,037		16,354		32,566		56,823
Less: comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest		59		8		80		8
Comprehensive income attributable to PriceSmart, Inc. to stockholders	$	2,978	$	16,346	$	32,486	$	56,815

⁽¹⁾ Translation adjustments arising in translating the financial statements of a foreign entity have no effect on the income taxes of that foreign entity. They may, however, affect: (a) the amount, measured in the parent entity's reporting currency, of withholding taxes assessed on dividends paid to the parent entity and (b) the amount of taxes assessed on the parent entity by the government of its country.  The Company has determined that the reinvestment of earnings of its foreign subsidiaries are indefinite because of the long-term nature of the Company's foreign investment plans. Therefore, deferred taxes are not provided for on translation adjustments related to non-remitted earnings of the Company's foreign subsidiaries.

⁽²⁾ See Note 8 - Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.

See accompanying notes. 

5

PRICESMART, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY

(UNAUDITED—AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)

	Three Months Ended
																Total
						Tax Benefit		Accumulated								Stockholder's
				Additional		From		Other								Equity
	Common Stock			Paid-in		Stock Based		Comprehensive		Retained		Treasury Stock				Attributable to		Noncontrolling	Total
	Shares	Amount		Capital		Compensation		Income (Loss)		Earnings		Shares	Amount			PriceSmart, Inc.		Interest	Equity
Balance at February 28, 2018	31,311	$	3	$	427,545	$	11,486	$	(106,250)	$	436,207	896	$	(37,757)	$	731,234	$	—	$	731,234
Acquisition of Aeropost	—		—		—		—		—		—	—		—		—		562		562
Purchase of treasury stock	—		—		—		—		—		—	2		(83)		(83)		—		(83)
Issuance of restricted stock	58		—		—		—		—		—	—		—		—		—		—
Forfeiture of restricted stock awards	—		—		—		—		—		—	—		—		—		—		—
Exercise of stock options	—		—		—		—		—		—	—		—		—		—		—
Stock-based compensation	—		—		2,588		—		—		—	—		—		2,588		—		2,588
Dividend paid to stockholders	—		—		—		—		—		—	—		—		—		—		—
Dividend payable to stockholders	—		—		—		—		—		—	—		—		—		—		—
Net income	—		—		—		—		—		18,694	—		—		18,694		22		18,716
Other comprehensive income (loss)	—		—		—		—		(2,326)		—	—		—		(2,326)		8		(2,318)
Balance at May 31, 2018	31,369	$	3	$	430,133	$	11,486	$	(108,576)	$	454,901	898	$	(37,840)	$	750,107	$	592	$	750,699
Balance at February 28, 2019	31,447	$	3	$	442,273	$	11,486	$	(130,109)	$	491,031	951	$	(41,524)	$	773,160	$	430	$	773,590
Purchase of treasury stock	—		—		—		—		—		—	12		(728)		(728)		—		(728)
Issuance of treasury stock	(63)		—		(5,024)		—		—		—	(63)		5,024		—		—		—
Issuance of restricted stock	79		—		—		—		—		—	—		—		—		—		—
Forfeiture of restricted stock awards	(23)		—		—		—		—		—	—		—		—		—		—
Exercise of stock options	—		—		—		—		—		—	—		—		—		—		—
Stock-based compensation	—		—		3,124		—		—		—	—		—		3,124		—		3,124
Dividend paid to stockholders	—		—		—		—		—		—	—		—		—		—		—
Dividend payable to stockholders	—		—		—		—		—		—	—		—		—				—
Net income	—		—		—		—		—		14,096	—		—		14,096		(27)		14,069
Other comprehensive income (loss)	—		—		—		—		(11,059)		—	—		—		(11,059)		59		(11,000)
Balance at May 31, 2019	31,440	$	3	$	440,373	$	11,486	$	(141,168)	$	505,127	900	$	(37,228)	$	778,593	$	462	$	779,055

See accompanying notes.

6

PRICESMART, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY

(UNAUDITED—AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)

	Nine Months Ended
																Total
						Tax Benefit		Accumulated								Stockholder's
				Additional		From		Other								Equity
	Common Stock			Paid-in		Stock Based		Comprehensive		Retained		Treasury Stock				Attributable to		Noncontrolling	Total
	Shares	Amount		Capital		Compensation		Income (Loss)		Earnings		Shares	Amount			PriceSmart, Inc.		Interest	Equity
Balance at August 31, 2017	31,276	$	3	$	422,395	$	11,486	$	(110,059)	$	420,866	875	$	(35,924)	$	708,767	$	—	$	708,767
Acquisition of Aeropost	—		—		—		—		—		—	—		—		—		562		562
Purchase of treasury stock	—		—		—		—		—		—	23		(1,916)		(1,916)		—		(1,916)
Issuance of restricted stock award	96		—		—		—		—		—	—		—		—		—		—
Forfeiture of restricted stock awards	(7)		—		—		—		—		—	—		—		—		—		—
Exercise of stock options	4		—		269		—		—		—	—		—		269		—		269
Stock-based compensation	—		—		7,469		—		—		—	—		—		7,469		—		7,469
Dividend paid to stockholders	—		—		—		—		—		(10,645)	—		—		(10,645)		—		(10,645)
Dividend payable to stockholders	—		—		—		—		—		(10,652)	—		—		(10,652)		—		(10,652)
Net income	—		—		—		—		—		55,332	—		—		55,332		22		55,354
Other comprehensive income (loss)	—		—		—		—		1,483		—	—		—		1,483		8		1,491
Balance at May 31, 2018	31,369	$	3	$	430,133	$	11,486	$	(108,576)	$	454,901	898	$	(37,840)	$	750,107	$	592	$	750,699
Balance at August 31,2018	31,373	$	3	$	432,882	$	11,486	$	(121,216)	$	473,954	912	$	(39,107)	$	758,002	$	636	$	758,638
Purchase of treasury stock	—		—		—		—		—		—	51		(3,145)		(3,145)		—		(3,145)
Issuance of treasury stock	(63)		—		(5,024)		—		—		—	(63)		5,024		—		—		—
Issuance of restricted stock award	155		—		—		—		—		—	—		—		—		—		—
Forfeiture of restricted stock awards	(25)		—		—		—		—		—	—		—		—		—		—
Stock-based compensation	—		—		12,515		—		—		—	—		—		12,515		—		12,515
Dividend paid to stockholders	—		—		—		—		—		(10,673)	—		—		(10,673)		(313)		(10,986)
Dividend payable to stockholders	—		—		—		—		—		(10,672)	—		—		(10,672)		—		(10,672)
Net income	—		—		—		—		—		52,518	—		—		52,518		59		52,577
Other comprehensive income (loss)	—		—		—		—		(19,952)		—	—		—		(19,952)		80		(19,872)
Balance at May 31, 2019	31,440	$	3	$	440,373	$	11,486	$	(141,168)	$	505,127	900	$	(37,228)	$	778,593	$	462	$	779,055

See accompanying notes. 

7

PRICESMART, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(UNAUDITED—AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)

	Nine Months Ended
	May 31,		May 31,
	2019		2018
Operating Activities:
Net income	$	52,577	$	55,354
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		40,365		38,378
Allowance for doubtful accounts		68		25
Asset impairment and closure costs		—		1,929
(Gain)/loss on sale of property and equipment		735		587
Deferred income taxes		(2,737)		6,537
Equity in (gains)/losses of unconsolidated affiliates		48		(3)
Stock-based compensation		12,515		7,469
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other current assets, non-current assets, accrued salaries and benefits, deferred membership income and other accruals		1,668		3,173
Merchandise inventories		(5,699)		(15,254)
Accounts payable		13,412		(7,408)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		112,952		90,787
Investing Activities:
Business acquisition, net of cash acquired		—		(23,895)
Additions to property and equipment		(86,409)		(74,788)
Short-term investments		(14,204)		(72,953)
Proceeds from settlements of short-term investments		29,485		19,063
Deposits for land purchase option agreements		—		300
Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment		157		93
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		(70,971)		(152,180)
Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term bank borrowings		—		28,500
Repayment of long-term bank borrowings		(9,509)		(28,931)
Proceeds from short-term bank borrowings		5,180		82,092
Repayment of short-term bank borrowings		(3,028)		(81,758)
Cash dividend payments		(10,986)		(10,645)
Purchase of treasury stock for tax withholding on stock compensation		(3,145)		(1,916)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		—		269
Other financing activities		(59)		(22)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		(21,547)		(12,411)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash		(3,365)		(985)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents		17,069		(74,789)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period		96,914		165,712
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	$	113,983	$	90,923
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Dividends declared but not paid	$	10,672	$	10,652

8

PRICESMART, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

The following table provides a breakdown of cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported within the statement of cash flows:

	Nine Months Ended
	May 31,		May 31,
	2019		2018
Cash and cash equivalents	$	106,445	$	87,274
Short-term restricted cash		4,136		676
Long-term restricted cash	$	3,402	$	2,973
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown in the Consolidated statements of cash flows	$	113,983	$	90,923

See accompanying notes. 

9

PRICESMART, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

May 31, 2019

NOTE 1 – COMPANY OVERVIEW AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

PriceSmart, Inc.’s (“PriceSmart,” the “Company,” or "we") business consists primarily of international membership shopping warehouse clubs similar to, but smaller in size than, warehouse clubs in the United States.  As of  May 31, 2019, the Company had 42 warehouse clubs in operation in 12 countries and one U.S. territory (seven each in Colombia and Costa Rica;    six in Panama; four each in Trinidad and Dominican Republic;  three each in Guatemala and Honduras,  two each in El Salvador and Nicaragua; and one each in Aruba, Barbados,  Jamaica, and the United States Virgin Islands), of which the Company owns 100% of the corresponding legal entities (see Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies). In May 2018, the Company acquired land in the Dominican Republic upon which the Company built a new warehouse club, which opened in June 2019. This warehouse club, the fifth in the Dominican Republic, was designed using our new small warehouse club format with sales floor square footage between 30,000 to 40,000 square feet, compared to 50,000 to 60,000 sales floor square footage within our most recent standard format warehouse club openings. In September 2018 (fiscal year 2019), the Company acquired land in San Cristobal, Guatemala, upon which the Company is constructing a standard format warehouse club. San Cristobal is expected to open in the fall of 2019 (fiscal year 2020). In November 2018 (fiscal year 2019), PriceSmart leased land within the Metropark development on the south eastern side of Panama City, Panama, upon which the Company is constructing a standard format warehouse club. The Metropark club will be the Company’s seventh warehouse club in Panama and is expected to open in the fall of 2019 (fiscal year 2020). Once these new warehouse clubs are open, the Company will operate 45 warehouse clubs. The Company continues to explore and negotiate for other potential sites for future warehouse clubs in Central America, the Caribbean and Colombia.

PriceSmart is expanding its omni-channel capabilities, including through its e-commerce platform, by investing in and integrating technology, talent and cross-border logistics infrastructure obtained as part of the acquisition of a company in March 2018. PriceSmart expects these investments and this integration to enhance the membership shopping experience, drive efficiencies and fuel sales growth. The Company acquired by PriceSmart also operates a legacy (i.e., marketplace and casillero) business through the Aeropost brand in 38 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, many of which overlap with markets where PriceSmart operates its warehouse clubs.

Basis of Presentation –  The interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q for interim financial reporting pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  These interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2018 (the “2018 Form 10-K”).  The interim consolidated financial statements include the accounts of PriceSmart, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries.  Inter-company transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries have been eliminated in consolidation.

NOTE 2 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Principles of Consolidation – The interim consolidated financial statements of the Company included herein include the assets, liabilities and results of operations of the Company’s wholly owned subsidiaries, subsidiaries in which it has a controlling interest, and the Company’s joint ventures for which the Company has determined that it is the primary beneficiary.  The Company reports noncontrolling interests in consolidated entities as a component of equity separate from the Company’s equity. The Company’s net income excludes income attributable to its noncontrolling interests.  Additionally, the consolidated financial statements also include the Company's investment in, and the Company's share of the income (loss) of, joint ventures recorded under the equity method.  All significant inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.  The interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC and reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) that are, in the opinion of management, necessary to fairly present the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented.  The results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results for the year.

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

The Company determines whether any of the joint ventures in which it has made investments is a Variable Interest Entity (“VIE”) at the start of each new venture and if a reconsideration event has occurred.  At this time, the Company also considers whether it must consolidate a VIE and/or disclose information about its involvement in a VIE.  A reporting entity must consolidate a VIE if that reporting entity has a variable interest (or combination of variable interests) that will absorb a majority of the VIE's expected losses, receive a majority of the VIE's expected residual returns, or both.  A reporting entity must consider the rights and obligations conveyed by its variable interests and the relationship of its variable interests with variable interests held by other parties to determine whether its variable interests will absorb a majority of a VIE's expected losses, receive a majority of the VIE's expected residual returns, or both.  The reporting entity that consolidates a VIE is called the primary beneficiary of that VIE.  If the Company determines that it is not the primary beneficiary of the VIE, then the Company records its investment in, and the Company's share of the income (loss) of, joint ventures recorded under the equity method. Due to the nature of the joint ventures that the Company participates in and the continued commitments for additional financing, the Company determined these joint ventures are VIEs.

The Company has determined that for its ownership interest in store-front joint ventures within its marketplace and casillero business, the Company has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of these VIE’s. Therefore, the Company has determined that it is the primary beneficiary of these VIEs and has consolidated these entities within its consolidated financial statements.  The Company's ownership interest in these store-front joint ventures, for which the Company has consolidated their financial statements as of May 31, 2019 are listed below:

Marketplace and Casillero Store-front Joint Ventures	Countries	Ownership		Basis of Presentation
El Salvador	EL Salvador	60.0	%	Consolidated
Guatemala	Guatemala	60.0	%	Consolidated
Tortola	British Virgin Islands	50.0	%	Consolidated
Trinidad	Trinidad	50.0	%	Consolidated

For the Company's ownership interest in real estate development joint ventures, since all rights, obligations and the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIE's economic performance is shared equally by both parties within each joint venture, the Company has determined that it is not the primary beneficiary of the VIEs and, therefore, has accounted for these entities under the equity method.  Under the equity method, the Company's investments in unconsolidated affiliates are initially recorded as an investment in the stock of an investee at cost and are adjusted for the carrying amount of the investment to recognize the investor's share of the earnings or losses of the investee after the date of the initial investment.  The Company's ownership interest in real estate development joint ventures for which the Company has recorded under the equity method as of May 31, 2019 are listed below:

Real Estate Development Joint Ventures	Countries	Ownership		Basis of Presentation
GolfPark Plaza, S.A.	Panama	50.0	%	Equity(1)
Price Plaza Alajuela PPA, S.A.	Costa Rica	50.0	%	Equity(1)

⁽¹⁾ Joint venture interests are recorded as investment in unconsolidated affiliates on the consolidated balance sheets.

Use of Estimates – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents–The Company considers as cash and cash equivalents all cash on deposit, highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase, and proceeds due from credit and debit card transactions in the process of settlement.

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PRICESMART, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

Restricted Cash – The changes in restricted cash are disclosed within the consolidated statement of cash flows based on the nature of the restriction. The following table summarizes the restricted cash reported by the Company (in thousands):

	May 31,		August 31,
	2019		2018
Short-term restricted cash:
Restricted cash for land purchase option agreements	$	4,136	$	400
Other short-term restricted cash		—		5
Total short-term restricted cash	$	4,136	$	405
Long-term restricted cash:
Other long-term restricted cash (1)	$	3,402	$	3,049
Total long-term restricted cash	$	3,402	$	3,049
Total restricted cash	$	7,538	$	3,454

⁽¹⁾ Other long-term restricted cash consists mainly of cash deposits held within banking institutions in compliance with federal regulatory requirements in Costa Rica and Panama.

Short-Term Investments –The Company considers as short-term investments certificates of deposit and similar time-based deposits with financial institutions with maturities over three months and up to one year.

Goodwill and Other Intangibles – Goodwill and other intangibles totaled $59.3 million as of May 31, 2019 and $61.3 million as of August 31, 2018.  The Company reviews reported goodwill and other intangibles at the cash-generating unit level for impairment. The Company tests Goodwill for impairment at least annually or when events or changes in circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not that the asset is impaired.

Tax Receivables –The Company pays Value Added Tax (“VAT”) or similar taxes (“input VAT”), income taxes, and other taxes within the normal course of the Company’s business in most of the countries in which the Company operates related to the procurement of merchandise and/or services it acquires and/or on sales and taxable income.  The Company also collects VAT or similar taxes on behalf of the government (“output VAT”) for merchandise and/or services it sells.  If the output VAT exceeds the input VAT, then the difference is remitted to the government, usually on a monthly basis.  If the input VAT exceeds the output VAT, this creates a VAT receivable. In most countries where the Company operates, the governments have implemented additional collection procedures, such as requiring credit card processors to remit a portion of sales processed via credit card directly to the government as advance payments of VAT and/or income tax.  In the case of VAT, these procedures alter the natural offset of input and output VAT and generally leave us with a net VAT receivable, forcing us to process significant refund claims on a recurring basis.  With respect to income taxes paid, if the estimated income taxes paid or withheld exceed the actual income tax due this creates an income tax receivable.  The Company either requests a refund of these tax receivables or applies the balance to expected future tax payments.  These refund or offset processes can take anywhere from several months to several years to complete.

In most countries where the Company operates, the VAT refund process is defined and structured with regular refunds or offsets. However, the Company, together with its tax and legal advisers, is currently seeking clarification in court in one country without a clearly defined process and expects to prevail. The balance of the VAT receivable in the country with undefined refund mechanisms was approximately $4.3million and $3.1 million as of May 31, 2019 and August 31, 2018, respectively.  In another country in which the Company has warehouse clubs, beginning in fiscal year 2015, a new minimum income tax mechanism took effect, which requires the Company to pay taxes based on a percentage of sales rather than income.  As a result, the Company is making income tax payments substantially in excess of those it would expect to pay based on taxable income. The rules (which the Company has challenged in court) effective for fiscal years 2015 to 2018 do not clearly allow us to obtain a refund or offset this excess income tax against other taxes. As of May 31, 2019,  the Company had deferred tax assets of approximately $2.3 million in this country. Also, the Company had an income tax receivable balance of $7.5 million as of May 31, 2019 related to excess payments from fiscal years 2015 to 2019. In the third quarter of fiscal year 2018, a revised minimum tax law was passed in this country, which beginning in fiscal year 2020 will reduce the minimum tax rate. Additionally, this law clarifies rules on a go-forward basis for reimbursement of excess minimum tax paid beginning in fiscal year 2019, but does not address periods prior to fiscal year 2019.  Nevertheless, the Company has not placed any type of allowance on the recoverability of these tax receivables or deferred tax assets because the Company believes that it is more likely than not that it will ultimately succeed in its refund requests, related appeals and/or court challenge on these matters.

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PRICESMART, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

The Company’s policy for classification and presentation of VAT receivables, income tax receivables and other tax receivables is as follows:

· Short-term VAT and Income tax receivables, recorded as Other current assets: This classification is used for any countries where the Company’s subsidiary has generally demonstrated the ability to recover the VAT or income tax receivable within one year.  The Company also classifies as short-term any approved refunds or credit notes to the extent that the Company expects to receive the refund or use the credit notes within one year.

· Long-term VAT and Income tax receivables, recorded as Other non-current assets:  This classification is used for amounts not approved for refund or credit in countries where the Company’s subsidiary has not demonstrated the ability to obtain refunds within one year and/or for amounts which are subject to outstanding disputes.  An allowance is provided against VAT and income tax receivable balances in dispute when the Company does not expect to eventually prevail in its recovery. The Company does not currently have any allowances provided against VAT and income tax receivables.

The following table summarizes the VAT receivables reported by the Company (in thousands):

	May 31,		August 31,
	2019		2018
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	3,751	$	5,921
Other non-current assets		21,385		19,224
Total amount of VAT receivables reported	$	25,136	$	25,145

The following table summarizes the Income tax receivables reported by the Company (in thousands):

	May 31,		August 31,
	2019		2018
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	13,080	$	6,344
Other non-current assets		15,294		18,165
Total amount of Income tax receivables reported	$	28,374	$	24,509

Lease Accounting – Certain of the Company's operating leases where the Company is the lessee provide for minimum annual payments that increase over the life of the lease. The aggregate minimum annual payments are expensed on the straight-line basis beginning when the Company takes possession of the property and extending over the term of the related lease including renewal options when the exercise of the option is reasonably assured as an economic penalty may be incurred if the option is not exercised. The amount by which straight-line rent exceeds actual lease payment requirements in the early years of the leases is accrued as deferred rent and reduced in later years when the actual cash payment requirements exceed the straight-line expense. The Company also accounts in its straight-line computation for the effect of any “rental holidays” and lessor-paid tenant improvements. In addition to the minimum annual payments, in certain locations, the Company pays additional contingent rent based on a contractually stipulated percentage of sales.

Operating leases where the Company is the lessor with lease payments that have fixed and determinable rent increases are recognized as revenue on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company also accounts in its straight-line computation for the effect of any "rental holidays."

Merchandise Inventories – Merchandise inventories, which include merchandise for resale, are valued at the lower of cost (average cost) or net realizable value.  The Company provides for estimated inventory losses and obsolescence between physical inventory counts on the basis of a percentage of sales.  The provision is adjusted periodically to reflect the trend of actual physical inventory count results, with physical inventories occurring primarily in the second and fourth fiscal quarters.  In addition, the Company may be required to take markdowns below the carrying cost of certain inventory to expedite the sale of such merchandise.

Stock Based Compensation–The Company utilizes three types of equity awards: restricted stock awards (“RSAs”), restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and performance based restricted stock units (“PSUs”).  Compensation related to RSAs, RSUs and PSUs is based on the fair market value at the time of grant.  The Company recognizes the compensation cost related to RSAs and RSUs over the requisite service period as determined by the grant, amortized ratably or on a straight-line basis over the life of the grant.  The Company also recognizes compensation cost for PSUs over the performance period. The Company assesses

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

the probability of vesting for awards with performance conditions and adjusts compensation cost based on the probability that performance metrics will be achieved. If the Company determines that an award is unlikely to vest, any previously recorded expense is then reversed.

The Company accounts for actual forfeitures as they occur.  The Company records the tax savings resulting from tax deductions in excess of expense for stock-based compensation and the tax deficiency resulting from stock-based compensation in excess of the related tax deduction as income tax expense or benefit. In addition, the Company reflects the tax savings (deficiency) resulting from the taxation of stock-based compensation as an operating cash flow in its consolidated statement of cash flows.

RSAs are outstanding shares of common stock and have the same cash dividend and voting rights as other shares of common stock. Shares of common stock subject to RSUs are not issued nor outstanding until vested, and RSUs do not have the same dividend and voting rights as common stock.  However, all outstanding RSUs have accompanying dividend equivalents, requiring payment to the employees and directors with unvested RSUs of amounts equal to the dividend they would have received had the shares of common stock underlying the RSUs been actually issued and outstanding.  Payments of dividend equivalents to employees are recorded as compensation expense.

PSUs, similar to RSUs, are awarded with dividend equivalents, provided that such amounts become payable only if the performance metric is achieved. At the time the Compensation Committee confirms the performance metric has been achieved, the accrued dividend equivalents are paid on the PSUs.

In October 2018, the Company’s then Chief Executive Officer (“former C.E.O.”), resigned by mutual agreement with the Board of Directors. In connection with his departure, the Company recognized a one-time separation charge of approximately $3.8 million ($3.6 million net of tax) in the first quarter of fiscal year 2019. This amount was comprised of approximately $2.9 million of non-cash charges related to the acceleration of certain equity awards and approximately $892,000 for other separation costs. Given that the former C.E.O. had substantially rendered the required services per his separation agreement, the Company recorded these charges in the first quarter of fiscal 2019.  This charge was recorded in the General and administrative caption within the Consolidated Statements of Income and is recorded in the Company’s United States segment. The Company will substantially fulfill all payment obligations by the end of the third quarter of fiscal year 2020.

Treasury Stock – Shares of common stock repurchased by the Company are recorded at cost as treasury stock and result in the reduction of stockholders’ equity in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.  The Company may reissue these treasury shares as part of its stock-based compensation programs.  When treasury shares are reissued, the Company uses the first in/first out (“FIFO”) cost method for determining cost of the reissued shares.  If the issuance price is higher than the cost, the excess of the issuance price over the cost is credited to additional paid-in capital (“APIC”).  If the issuance price is lower than the cost, the difference is first charged against any credit balance in APIC from treasury stock and the balance is charged to retained earnings. During the nine months ended May 31, 2019, the Company reissued 63,000 treasury shares.

Fair Value Measurements – The Company measures the fair value for all financial and nonfinancial assets and liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the consolidated financial statements on a recurring or nonrecurring basis.  The fair value of an asset is the price at which the asset could be sold in an orderly transaction between unrelated, knowledgeable and willing parties able to engage in the transaction.  A liability’s fair value is defined as the amount that would be paid to transfer the liability to a new obligor in a transaction between such parties, not the amount that would be paid to settle the liability with the creditor.

The Company has established a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring and revaluing fair value.  These tiers include: Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets; Level 2, defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable; and Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions.  The Company was not required to revalue any assets or liabilities utilizing Level 1 or Level 3 inputs at the balance sheet dates.  The Company's Level 2 assets and liabilities revalued at the balance sheet dates, on a recurring basis, consisted of cash flow hedges (interest rate swaps and cross-currency interest rate swaps) and forward foreign exchange contracts.  In addition, the Company utilizes Level 2 inputs in determining the fair value of long-term debt.  The Company did not make any significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value tiers during the periods reported on herein.

Non-financial assets and liabilities are revalued and recognized at fair value subsequent to initial recognition when there is evidence of impairment.  For the periods reported, no impairment of such non-financial assets was recorded.

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PRICESMART, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

The Company’s current and long-term financial assets and liabilities have fair values that approximate their carrying values. The Company’s long-term financial liabilities consist of long-term debt, which is recorded on the balance sheet at issuance price and adjusted for any applicable unamortized discounts or premiums and debt issuance costs.  There have been no significant changes in fair market value of the Company’s current and long-term financial assets, and there have been no material changes to the valuation techniques utilized in the fair value measurement of assets and liabilities as disclosed in the Company’s 2018 Form 10-K.

Derivatives Instruments and Hedging Activities – The Company uses derivative financial instruments for hedging and non-trading purposes to manage its exposure to changes in interest and currency exchange rates.  In using derivative financial instruments for the purpose of hedging the Company’s exposure to interest and currency exchange rate risks, the contractual terms of a hedged instrument closely mirror those of the hedged item, providing a high degree of risk reduction and correlation.  Contracts that are effective at meeting the risk reduction and correlation criteria (effective hedge) are recorded using hedge accounting.  If a derivative financial instrument is an effective hedge, changes in the fair value of the instrument will be reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) until the hedged item completes its contractual term. Instruments that do not meet the criteria for hedge accounting, or contracts for which the Company has not elected hedge accounting, are valued at fair value with unrealized gains or losses reported in earnings during the period of the change.  The Company did not change valuation techniques utilized in the fair value measurement of assets and liabilities presented on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets from previous practice during the reporting period. The Company seeks to manage counterparty risk associated with these contracts by limiting transactions to counterparties with which the Company has an established banking relationship.  There can be no assurance, however, that this practice effectively mitigates counterparty risk.

Cash Flow Instruments.  The Company is a party to receive floating interest rate, pay fixed-rate interest rate swaps to hedge the interest rate risk of certain U.S. dollar denominated debt within its international subsidiaries.  The swaps are designated as cash flow hedges of interest expense risk.  These instruments are considered effective hedges and are recorded using hedge accounting.  The Company is also a party to receive variable interest rate, pay fixed interest rate cross-currency interest rate swaps to hedge the interest rate and currency exposure associated with the expected payments of principal and interest of U.S. denominated debt within its international subsidiaries whose functional currency is other than the U.S. dollar.  The swaps are designated as cash flow hedges of the currency risk and interest-rate risk related to payments on the U.S. denominated debt.  These instruments are also considered to be effective hedges and are recorded using hedge accounting.  Under cash flow hedging, the entire gain or loss of the derivative, calculated as the net present value of the future cash flows, is reported on the consolidated balance sheets in accumulated other comprehensive loss.  Amounts recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss are released to earnings in the same period that the hedged transaction impacts consolidated earnings.  See Note 8 - Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities for information on the fair value of interest rate swaps and cross-currency interest rate swaps as of May 31, 2019 and August 31, 2018.

Fair Value Instruments.  The Company is exposed to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations in the normal course of business.  This includes exposure to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations on U.S. dollar denominated liabilities within the Company’s international subsidiaries whose functional currency is other than the U.S. dollar.  The Company manages these fluctuations, in part, through the use of non-deliverable forward foreign-exchange contracts that are intended to offset changes in cash flows attributable to currency exchange movements.  The contracts are intended primarily to economically address exposure to U.S. dollar merchandise inventory expenditures made by the Company’s international subsidiaries whose functional currency is other than the U.S. dollar.  Currently, these contracts are treated for accounting purposes as fair value instruments and do not qualify for derivative hedge accounting, and as such the Company does not apply derivative hedge accounting to record these transactions.  As a result, these contracts are valued at fair value with unrealized gains or losses reported in earnings during the period of the change.  The Company seeks to mitigate foreign currency exchange-rate risk with the use of these contracts and does not intend to engage in speculative transactions.  These contracts do not contain any credit-risk-related contingent features and are limited to less than one year in duration.

Self-Insurance –As of October 1, 2017, PriceSmart, Inc. became self-insured for its U.S. employee medical health benefits and in doing so the Company has assumed the financial risk for providing health care benefits to its employees.  The Company contracted with Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (“CHLIC”), a third party administrator, to process claims on its behalf under an Administrative Services Only (ASO) agreement.  The Company has elected to purchase “Stop Loss Insurance” to cover the risk in excess of certain dollar limits. The Company establishes an estimated accrual for its insurance program based on available comparable claims data, trends and projected ultimate costs of claims. This accrual is based on estimates prepared with the assistance of outside actuaries, and the ultimate cost of these claims may vary from initial estimates and established accrual. The actuaries periodically update their estimates, and the Company records such adjustments in the period in which such determination is made. The accrued obligation for this self-insurance program is included in “Accrued salaries and benefits” in the consolidated balance sheets and is $637,000 as of May 31, 2019 and $801,000 as of August 31, 2018. 

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PRICESMART, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

Cost of Goods Sold – The Company includes the cost of merchandise, food service and bakery raw materials in cost of goods sold, net merchandise sales. The Company also includes in cost of goods sold: net merchandise sales the external and internal distribution and handling costs for supplying merchandise, raw materials and supplies to the warehouse clubs. External costs include inbound freight, duties, drayage, fees, insurance, and non-recoverable value-added tax related to inventory shrink, spoilage and damage. Internal costs include payroll and related costs, utilities, consumable supplies, repair and maintenance, rent expense and building and equipment depreciation at the Company's distribution facilities and payroll and other direct costs for in-store demonstrations. 

For export sales, the Company includes the cost of merchandise and external and internal distribution and handling costs for supplying merchandise in cost of goods sold, exports.

For the marketplace and casillero operations, the Company includes the costs of external and internal shipping, handling and other direct costs incurred to provide delivery, insurance and customs processing services in cost of goods sold, non-merchandise.

Vendor consideration consists primarily of volume rebates, time-limited product promotions, slotting fees, demonstration reimbursements and prompt payment discounts. Volume rebates that are not threshold based are incorporated into the unit cost of merchandise reducing the inventory cost and cost of goods sold. Volume rebates that are threshold based are recorded as a reduction to cost of goods sold when the Company achieves established purchase levels that are confirmed by the vendor in writing or upon receipt of funds. On a quarterly basis, the Company calculates the amount of rebates recorded in cost of goods sold that relates to inventory on hand and this amount is reclassified as a reduction to inventory, if significant.  Slotting fees are related to consideration received by the Company from vendors for preferential "end cap" placement of the vendor's products within the warehouse club. Demonstration reimbursements are related to consideration received by the Company from vendors for the in store promotion of the vendors' products. The Company records the reduction in cost of goods sold on a transactional basis for these programs. Prompt payment discounts are taken in substantially all cases, and therefore, are applied directly to reduce the acquisition cost of the related inventory, with the resulting effect recorded to cost of goods sold when the inventory is sold.

Selling, General and Administrative – Selling, general and administrative costs are comprised primarily of expenses associated with operating warehouse clubs and freight forwarding operations. These operations include the operating costs of the Company’s warehouse clubs and freight forwarding activities, including payroll and related costs, utilities, consumable supplies, repair and maintenance, rent expense, building and equipment depreciation, bank, credit card processing fees, and amortization of intangibles. Also included in selling, general and administrative expenses are the payroll and related costs for the Company’s U.S. and regional management and purchasing centers.

Pre-Opening Costs – The Company expenses pre-opening costs (the costs of start-up activities, including organization costs and rent) for new warehouse clubs as incurred.

Contingencies and Litigation – The Company records and reserves for loss contingencies if (a) information available prior to issuance of the consolidated financial statements indicates that it is probable that an asset had been impaired or a liability had been incurred at the date of the consolidated financial statements and (b) the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated.  If one or both criteria for accrual are not met, but there is at least a reasonable possibility that a material loss will occur, the Company does not record and reserve for a loss contingency but describes the contingency within a note and provides detail, when possible, of the estimated potential loss or range of loss. If an estimate cannot be made, a statement to that effect is made.

Foreign Currency Translation – The assets and liabilities of the Company’s foreign operations are translated to U.S. dollars when the functional currency in the Company’s international subsidiaries is the local currency and not U.S. dollars.  Assets and liabilities of these foreign subsidiaries are translated to U.S. dollars at the exchange rate on the balance sheet date, and revenue, costs and expenses are translated at average rates of exchange in effect during the period.  The corresponding translation gains and losses are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income or loss.  These adjustments will affect net income upon the sale or liquidation of the underlying investment. 

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PRICESMART, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

The following table discloses the net effect of translation into the reporting currency on other comprehensive income (loss) for these local currency denominated accounts for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2019 and 2018:

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	May 31,		May 31,		May 31,			May 31,
	2019		2018		2019			2018
Effect on other comprehensive (loss) income due to foreign currency translation	$	(9,697)	$	(2,461)	$	(17,972)	$	(126)

Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the functional currency of the respective entity (primarily U.S. dollars) are revalued to the functional currency using the exchange rate on the balance sheet date.  These foreign exchange transaction gains (losses), including transactions recorded involving these monetary assets and liabilities, are recorded as Other income (expense) in the consolidated statements of income.

For the three and nine months ended May 31, 2019, we had a net expense associated with foreign currency transactions of approximately $192,000 and $1.9million, respectively.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements – Not Yet Adopted

FASB ASC 815 ASU 2018-16 – Derivatives and Hedging — Inclusion of the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) Overnight Index Swap (OIS) Rate as a Benchmark Interest Rate for Hedge Accounting Purposes

In October 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board “FASB” issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2018-16, Derivatives and Hedging—Inclusion of the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) Overnight Index Swap (OIS) Rate as a Benchmark Interest Rate for Hedge Accounting Purposes, which expands the list of United States benchmark interest rates permitted in the application of hedge accounting. The amendments in this ASU allow use of the Overnight Index Swap (OIS) rate based on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) as a U.S. benchmark interest rate for hedge accounting purposes under Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging. The amendments in this ASU are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and interim periods within those annual periods. The Company will evaluate the impact adoption of this guidance may have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

FASB ASC 810 ASU 2018-15 – Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s accounting for implementation costs incurred in a cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract. ASU No. 2018-15 aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal-use software license). As such, the amendment in this ASU requires an entity (customer) in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract to follow the guidance in subtopic 350-40 in order to determine which implementation costs to capitalize as an asset and which costs to expense.

Additionally, the amendments in this ASU require the entity to expense the capitalized implementation costs of a hosting arrangement that is a service contract over the term of the hosting arrangement. The amendments in this ASU are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019 and interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted. The Company will evaluate the impact adoption of this guidance may have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

FASB ASC 718 ASU 2018-07 -Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718) —Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting 

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which expands the scope to include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from non-employees. The amendments in this ASU apply to all share-based payment transactions in which a grantor acquires goods or services to be used or consumed in the grantor’s own operations by issuing share-based payment awards. The amendments in this ASU are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted. The Company will evaluate the impact adoption of this guidance may have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

FASB ASC 350 ASU 2017-04-Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment

In January 2017, the FASB issued Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. This ASU simplifies the manner in which an entity is required to test goodwill for impairment by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Under the amendments in this ASU, an entity should (1) perform its annual or interim goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount, and (2) recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, with the understanding that the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit.

Additionally, ASU 2017-04 requires any reporting unit with a zero or negative carrying amount to perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test. The amendments in this ASU are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. The Company will evaluate the impact adoption of this guidance may have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

FASB ASC 842 ASU 2016-02 -Leases (Topic 842): Amendments to the FASB Accounting Standards Codification

In February 2016, the FASB issued guidance codified in ASC 842, Leases, which requires lease assets and liabilities to be recorded on the balance sheet. Certain qualitative and quantitative disclosures are also required. ASC 842 will be effective for the Company on September 1, 2019, and the Company expects to apply the transition practical expedients allowed by the standard. Additionally, the Company expects to elect the optional transition method that allows for a cumulative-effect adjustment in the period of adoption and will not restate prior periods. The Company is currently implementing a new lease system and evaluating the changes to business processes and controls to support the adoption of this accounting standard update.

While the Company continues to evaluate the provisions of ASC 842, we currently expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated balance sheets due to the creation of lease liabilities with corresponding right-of-use assets, resulting in a significant increase in the assets and liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet upon adoption. However, the Company does not expect a material change to its net income attributable to the company on its consolidated statement of income or opening retained earnings on its consolidated balance sheet, or on the net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents as reported on its consolidated statement of cash flows. 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Adopted

FASB ASC 715 ASU 2017-09 -Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718)—Scope of Modification Accounting

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting, which seeks to provide clarity, reduce diversity in practice, and reduce cost and complexity when applying the guidance in Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation, regarding a change to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award.  This ASU provides guidance concerning which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting in Topic 718. Specifically, an entity is to account for the effects of a modification unless all of the following are satisfied: (1) the fair value (or calculated value or intrinsic value, if such an alternative measurement method is used) of the modified award is the same as the fair value (or calculated value or intrinsic value, if such an alternative measurement method is used) of the original award immediately before the original award is modified; (2) the vesting conditions of the modified award are the same as the vesting conditions of the original award immediately before the original award is modified; and (3) the classification of the modified award as an equity instrument or as a liability instrument is the same as the classification of the original award immediately before the original award is modified. The amendments in this ASU are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted this guidance, prospectively, as of September 1, 2018.

FASB ASC 715 ASU 2017-07-Compensation—Retirement Benefits (Topic 715) —Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-07, Compensation—Retirement Benefits (Topic 715) — Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. This ASU is designed to improve guidance related to the presentation of defined benefit costs in the income statement. In particular, ASU 2017-07 requires that an employer report the service cost component in the same line item(s) as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the pertinent employees during the period. The amendments in this ASU are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted this ASU retrospectively, beginning September 1, 2018, and elected to use the practical expedient as the estimation basis for applying the retrospective presentation requirements. The service cost component of the Company’s pension and postretirement expenses

18

PRICESMART, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

is reported in the Warehouse club and other operations financial statement line item. The other components of pension and post-retirement expenses are classified in Other income (expense), net.   Adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

FASB ASC 606 ASU 2014-09 - Revenue from Contracts with Customers

In May 2014, the FASB issued guidance on the recognition of revenue from contracts with customers. The guidance converges the requirements for reporting revenue and requires disclosures sufficient to describe the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows. The new standard is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company adopted this guidance at the beginning of its first quarter of fiscal year 2019, using the modified retrospective approach through a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings. The Company adopted this guidance as of September 1, 2018 and has disclosed the impact adoption that this guidance had for the Company’s consolidated financial statements with Note 3 – Revenue Recognition.

NOTE 3 – REVENUE RECOGNITION

Revenue Recognition - In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). This ASU is a comprehensive new revenue recognition model that requires a company to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to a customer at an amount that reflects the consideration it expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. The Company adopted the ASU on September 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective approach. The Company’s updated accounting policies and related disclosures are set forth below, including the disclosure for disaggregated revenue. The impact of adopting the ASU was not material to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

The Company uses the five-step model to recognize revenue:

· Identify the contract with the customer;

· Identity the performance obligation(s);

· Determine the transaction price;

· Allocate the transaction price to each performance obligation if multiple obligations exist; and

· Recognize the revenue as the performance obligations are satisfied.

Performance Obligations

Merchandise Sales.  The Company recognizes merchandise sales revenue, net of sales taxes, on transactions where the Company has determined that it is the principal in the sale of merchandise. These transactions costs may include shipping commitments and/or shipping revenue if the transaction involves delivery to the customer. 

Non-merchandise Sales. The Company recognizes non-merchandise revenue, net of sales taxes, on transactions where the Company has determined that it is the agent in the transaction.  These transactions primarily consist of contracts the Company enters into with its customers to provide delivery, insurance and customs processing services for products its customers purchase online in the United States either directly from other vendors utilizing the vendor’s website or through the Company’s marketplace site. Revenue is recognized when the Company’s performance obligations have been completed (that is when delivery of the items have been made to the destination point) and is recorded in “non-merchandise revenue” on the Consolidated Statements of Income.  Prepayment of orders for which the Company has not fulfilled its performance obligation are recorded as unearned revenue. Additionally, the Company records revenue at the net amounts retained, i.e., the amount paid by the customer less amounts remitted to the respective merchandise vendors, as the Company is acting as an agent and is not the principal in the sale of those goods being purchased from the vendors by the Company’s customers.

Membership Fee Revenue. Membership income represents annual membership fees paid by the Company’s warehouse club members, which are recognized ratably over the 12-month term of the membership.  Membership refunds are prorated over the remaining term of the membership; accordingly, no refund reserve is required to be established for the periods presented. Membership fee revenue is included in membership income in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Income. The deferred membership fee is included in deferred income in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Platinum Points Reward Programs. The Company began offering Platinum memberships in Costa Rica during fiscal year 2013 and expanded this offering into Panama, Dominican Republic, Trinidad, the United States Virgin Islands, Honduras, Jamaica and Barbados during fiscal years 2018 and 2019.  The Company plans to offer this program to additional markets during fiscal year 2019. The annual fee for a Platinum membership in most markets is approximately $75. The Platinum membership provides members with a 2% rebate on most items, up to an annual maximum of $500. The rebate is issued annually to Platinum members on March 1 and expires August 31.  Platinum members can apply this rebate to future purchases at the warehouse club

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PRICESMART, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

during the redemption period.  The Company records this 2% rebate as a reduction of revenue at the time of the sales transaction.  Accordingly, the Company has reduced warehouse sales and has accrued a liability within other accrued expenses, platinum rewards. The Company periodically reviews expired unused rebates outstanding, and the expired unused rebates are recognized as “Other revenue and income” on the consolidated statements of income. The Company has determined that breakage revenue is 5% of the awards issued; therefore, it records 95% of the Platinum membership liability at the time of sale.

Co-branded Credit Card Points Reward Programs.  Most of the Company’s subsidiaries have points reward programs related to Co-branded Credit Cards. These points reward programs provide incremental points that can be used at a future time to acquire merchandise within the Company’s warehouse club.  This results in two performance obligations, the first performance obligation being the initial sale of the merchandise or services purchased with the co-branded credit card and the second performance obligation being the future use of the points rewards to purchase merchandise or services.  As a result, upon the initial sale, the Company allocates the transaction price to each performance obligation with the amount allocated to the future use points rewards recorded as a contract liability within other accrued expenses on the consolidated balance sheet. The portion of the selling price allocated to the reward points is recognized as Net merchandise sales when the points are used or when the points expire. The Company reviews on an annual basis expired points rewards outstanding, and the expired rewards are recognized as Net merchandise sales on the consolidated statements of income within markets where the co-branded credit card agreement allows for such treatment.   

Gift Cards. Members’ purchases of gift cards, to be utilized at the Company's warehouse clubs are not recognized as sales until the card is redeemed and the customer purchases merchandise using the gift card. The outstanding gift cards are reflected as other accrued expenses, gift cards in the consolidated balance sheets. These gift cards generally have a one-year stated expiration date from the date of issuance and are generally redeemed prior to expiration.  However, the absence of a large volume of transactions for gift cards impairs the Company's ability to make a reasonable estimate of the redemption levels for gift certificates; therefore, the Company assumes a 100% redemption rate prior to expiration of the gift certificate. The Company periodically reviews unredeemed outstanding gift certificates, and the gift certificates that have expired are recognized as “Other revenue and income” on the consolidated statements of income.

Co-branded Credit Card Revenue Sharing Agreements. As part of the co-branded credit card agreements that the Company has entered into with financial institutions within its markets, the Company often enters into revenue sharing agreements. As part of these agreements, in some countries, the Company receives a portion of the interest income generated from the average outstanding balances on the co-branded credit cards from these financial institutions (“interest generating portfolio” or “IGP”).   The Company recognizes its portion of interest received as revenue.  As a result of the adoption of ASC 606, the Company has determined that this revenue should be recognized as “Other revenue and income” on the consolidated statements of income. In prior periods, this income was recognized as a reduction of credit card transaction fees in “Warehouse club and other operations” financial statement line item under Selling, general, and administrative expenses. Since the Company determined to adopt this guidance under the modified retrospective approach, this reclassification slightly reduces the comparability year over year of “Other revenue and income” and “Warehouse club and other operations.” Please see “Item 2: Management and Discussion Analysis – Other Revenue” for the Company’s explanation of the changes.

Determining the Transaction Price

The transaction price is the amount of consideration the Company expects to receive under the arrangement. The Company is required to estimate variable consideration (if any) and to factor that estimate into the determination of the transaction price. The Company may offer sales incentives to customers, including discounts. For retail transactions, the Company has significant experience with returns and refund patterns and relied on this experience in its determination that expected returns are not material; therefore, returns are not factored when determining the transaction price.

Discounts given to customers are usually in the form of coupons and instant markdowns and are recognized as redeemed and recorded in contra revenue accounts, as they are part of the transaction price of the merchandise sale. Manufacturer coupons that are available for redemption at all retailers are not recorded as a reduction to the sale price of merchandise.  Manufacturer coupons or discounts that are specific to the Company are recorded as a reduction to the cost of sales.

Agent Relationships

The Company evaluates the criteria outlined in ASC 606-10-55, Principal versus Agent Considerations, in determining whether it is appropriate in these arrangements to record the gross amount of merchandise sales and related costs, or the net amount earned as commissions. When the Company is considered the principal in a transaction, revenue is recorded gross; otherwise, revenue is recorded on a net basis. The Company's Non-merchandise Sales revenues are recorded on a net basis.

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PRICESMART, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

Significant Judgments

For arrangements that contain multiple performance obligations, the Company allocates the transaction price to each performance obligation on a relative standalone selling price basis.

Incremental costs to obtain contracts are not material to the Company.

Policy Elections

In addition to those previously disclosed, the Company has made the following accounting policy elections and practical expedients:

· Taxes - The Company excludes from the transaction price any taxes collected from customers that are remitted to taxing authorities.

· Shipping and Handling Charges - Charges that are incurred after the customer obtains control of goods are deemed to be fulfillment costs. Therefore, the act of shipping after the customer obtains control of goods is not a separate performance obligation. Fulfillment costs are classified as “Costs of goods sold” in the consolidated statements of income because they are incurred to fulfill a revenue obligation.

· Time Value of Money - The Company's payment terms are less than one year from the transfer of goods. Therefore, the Company does not adjust promised amounts of consideration for the effects of the time value of money.

Contract Performance Liabilities

Contract performance liabilities as a result of transactions with customers primarily consist of deferred membership income, other deferred income, deferred gift card revenue, Platinum points programs, and liabilities related to co-branded credit card points rewards programs which are included in deferred income and other accrued expenses in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The following table provides these contract balances from transactions with customers as of the dates listed (in thousands):

	Contract Liabilities
	May 31, 2019		August 31, 2018
Deferred membership income	$	24,571	$	22,996
Other contract performance liabilities	$	2,808	$	2,773

Disaggregated Revenues

In the following table, net merchandise sales are disaggregated by merchandise category (in thousands):

		Three Months Ended			Nine Months Ended
		May 31, 2019		May 31, 2018		May 31, 2019		May 31, 2018
Foods & Sundries	$	384,902	$	383,546	$	1,174,087	$	1,169,928
Fresh Foods		209,452		205,144		630,657		617,713
Hardlines		83,606		85,122		274,596		285,021
Softlines		38,700		38,514		127,158		123,696
Other Business		38,349		38,147		116,244		116,089
Net Merchandise Sales	$	755,009	$	750,473	$	2,322,742	$	2,312,447

H

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PRICESMART, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

NOTE 4 – EARNINGS PER SHARE

The Company presents basic net income per share using the two-class method.  The two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that treats a participating security as having rights to earnings that otherwise would have been available to common stockholders and that determines basic net income per share for each class of common stock and participating security according to dividends declared (or accumulated) and participation rights in undistributed earnings that would have been available to common stockholders.  A participating security is defined as a security that may participate in undistributed earnings with common stock.  The Company’s capital structure includes securities that participate with common stock on a one-for-one basis for distribution of dividends.  These are the restricted stock awards and restricted stock units issued pursuant to the 2013 Equity Incentive Award Plan.  The Company determines the diluted net income per share by using the more dilutive of the two class-method or the treasury stock method and by including the basic weighted average of outstanding performance stock units in the calculation of diluted net income per share under the two-class method and including all potential common shares assumed issued in the calculation of diluted net income per share under the treasury stock method.

The following table sets forth the computation of net income per share for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2019 and 2018 (in thousands, except per share amounts):

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	May 31,		May 31,		May 31,		May 31,
	2019		2018		2019		2018
Net income attributable to PriceSmart, Inc.	$	14,096	$	18,694	$	52,518	$	55,332
Less: Allocation of income to unvested stockholders		(189)		(244)		(414)		(642)
Net income attributable to PriceSmart, Inc. per share available for distribution	$	13,907	$	18,450	$	52,104	$	54,690
Basic weighted average shares outstanding		30,198		30,137		30,192		30,105
Add dilutive effect of performance stock units (two-class method)		7		—		10		—
Diluted average shares outstanding		30,205		30,137		30,202		30,105
Basic net income per share	$	0.46	$	0.61	$	1.73	$	1.82
Diluted net income per share	$	0.46	$	0.61	$	1.73	$	1.82

NOTE 5 – STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Dividends

The following table summarizes the dividends declared and paid during fiscal year 2019 and 2018 (amounts are per share).

First Payment

Second Payment

Declared

Amount

Record Date

Date Paid

Date Payable

Amount

Record Date

Date Paid

Date Payable

Amount

1/30/2019

$

0.70

2/15/2019

2/28/2019

N/A

$

0.35

8/15/2019

N/A

8/30/2019

$

0.35

1/24/2018

$

0.70

2/14/2018

2/28/2018

N/A

$

0.35

8/15/2018

8/31/2018

N/A

$

0.35

The Company anticipates the ongoing payment of semi-annual dividends in subsequent periods, although the actual declaration of future dividends, the amount of such dividends, and the establishment of record and payment dates is subject to final determination by the Board of Directors at its discretion after its review of the Company’s financial performance and anticipated capital requirements.

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PRICESMART, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

Comprehensive Income and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

The following tables disclose the effects of each component of other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax (in thousands):

	Attributable to		Noncontrolling
	PriceSmart		Interests		Total
Beginning balance, September 1, 2018	$	(121,216)	$	(1)	$	(121,217)
Foreign currency translation adjustments		(17,972)		80		(17,892)
Defined benefit pension plans		73		—		73
Derivative instruments (1)		(2,053)		—		(2,053)
Ending balance, May 31, 2019	$	(141,168)	$	79	$	(141,089)

	Attributable to		Noncontrolling
	PriceSmart		Interests		Total
Beginning balance, September 1, 2017	$	(110,059)	$	—	$	(110,059)
Foreign currency translation adjustments		(134)		8		(126)
Defined benefit pension plans		101		—		101
Derivative Instruments (1)		1,516		—		1,516
Ending balance, May 31, 2018	$	(108,576)	$	8	$	(108,568)

	Attributable to		Noncontrolling
	PriceSmart		Interests		Total
Beginning balance, September 1, 2017	$	(110,059)	$	—	$	(110,059)
Foreign currency translation adjustments		(12,890)		(1)		(12,891)
Defined benefit pension plans		(87)		—		(87)
Derivative Instruments (1)		1,779		—		1,779
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (2)		41		—		41
Ending balance, August 31, 2018	$	(121,216)	$	(1)	$	(121,217)

⁽¹⁾ See Note 8 - Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.

⁽²⁾ Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) related to the minimum pension liability are included in warehouse club and other operations in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Income.

Retained Earnings Not Available for Distribution

The following table summarizes retained earnings designated as legal reserves of various subsidiaries which cannot be distributed as dividends to PriceSmart, Inc. according to applicable statutory regulations (in thousands):

	May 31,		August 31,
	2019		2018
Retained earnings not available for distribution	$	7,378	$	6,798

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PRICESMART, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

NOTE 6 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Legal Proceedings

From time to time, the Company and its subsidiaries are subject to legal proceedings, claims and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business related to the Company’s operations and property ownership.  The Company evaluates such matters on a case by case basis, and vigorously contests any such legal proceedings or claims which the Company believes are without merit.  The Company believes that the final disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations or liquidity.  It is possible, however, that the Company's results of operations for a particular quarter or fiscal year could be impacted by changes in circumstances relating to such matters.

The Company establishes an accrual for legal proceedings if and when those matters reach a stage where they present loss contingencies that are both probable and reasonably estimable.  In such cases, there may be a possible exposure to loss in excess of any amounts accrued.  The Company monitors those matters for developments that would affect the likelihood of a loss and the accrued amount, if any, thereof, and adjusts the amount as appropriate.  If the loss contingency at issue is not both probable and reasonably estimable, the Company does not establish an accrual, but will continue to monitor the matter for developments that will make the loss contingency both probable and reasonably estimable.  If it is at least a reasonable possibility that a material loss will occur, the Company will provide disclosure regarding the contingency.

On May 22, 2019, a class action complaint was filed against PriceSmart, Inc., as well as certain former and current officers in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. The complaint alleges violations of Section 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, in connection with the Company’s 2017 Form 10-K and 2018 Form 10-Qs. The complaint has not yet been served. The Company believes the claims are without merit and intends to vigorously defend itself against such claims.  However, the outcome of the legal proceeding is uncertain at this point.  Based on information available to the Company at present, the Company cannot reasonably estimate a range of loss and accordingly has not accrued any liability associated with this action.

Taxes

Income Taxes – The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method.  Under the asset and liability method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributed to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences and carry-forwards are expected to be recovered or settled.  The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to amounts expected to be realized.

The Company has historically applied foreign tax credits, generated from taxes withheld on certain payments PriceSmart receives from its foreign subsidiaries, to reduce U.S. income tax liabilities. However, as an incidental result of U.S. tax reform, following the reduction of the U.S. corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, the Company expects foreign tax credits generated to exceed U.S. income tax liabilities for the foreseeable future. Therefore, as of May 31, 2019, the Company has recorded a valuation allowance of $2.8million against its foreign tax credits.

The Company is required to file federal and state tax returns in the United States and various other tax returns in foreign jurisdictions.  The preparation of these tax returns requires the Company to interpret the applicable tax laws and regulations in effect in such jurisdictions, which could affect the amount of tax paid by the Company. The Company, in consultation with its tax advisors, bases its tax returns on interpretations that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.  The tax returns, however, are subject to routine reviews by the various taxing authorities in the jurisdictions in which the Company files its returns.  As part of these reviews, a taxing authority may disagree with respect to the interpretations the Company used to calculate its tax liability and therefore require the Company to pay additional taxes.

The Company accrues an amount for its estimate of probable additional income tax liability.  In certain cases, the impact of an uncertain income tax position on the income tax return must be recognized at the largest amount that is more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon audit by the relevant tax authority.  An uncertain income tax position will not be recognized if it has less than 50% likelihood of being sustained. There were no significant changes in the Company's uncertain income tax positions since August 31, 2018.

In evaluating the exposure associated with various non-income tax filing positions, the Company accrues for probable and estimable exposures for non-income tax related tax contingencies.  As of May 31, 2019 and August 31, 2018, the Company

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PRICESMART, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

has recorded within other accrued expenses a total of $3.4million and 3.0 million, respectively, for various non-income tax related tax contingencies.

While the Company believes the recorded liabilities are adequate, there are inherent limitations in projecting the outcome of litigation, in estimating probable additional income tax liability taking into account uncertain tax positions and in evaluating the probable additional tax associated with various non-income tax filing positions.  As such, the Company is unable to make a reasonable estimate of the sensitivity to change of estimates affecting its recorded liabilities.  As additional information becomes available, the Company assesses the potential liability and revises its estimates as appropriate.

The Company has various appeals pending before tax courts in its subsidiaries' jurisdictions.  Any possible settlement could increase or decrease earnings but is not expected to be significant. Audit outcomes and the timing of audit settlements are subject to significant uncertainty. One of the Company’s subsidiaries received assessments claiming $2.6 million of taxes, penalties and interest related to withholding taxes on certain charges for services rendered by the Company.  Based on a review of the Company's tax advisers' interpretation of local law, rulings and jurisprudence (including Supreme Court precedents with respect to the deductibility assessment), the Company expects to prevail in this instance and has not recorded a provision for these assessments. However, the Company had to submit $2.6 million as advance payments to the government while it appeals.

In another country in which the Company has warehouse clubs, beginning in fiscal year 2015, a new minimum income tax mechanism took effect, which requires the Company to pay taxes based on a percentage of sales rather than income.  As a result, the Company is making income tax payments substantially in excess of those it would expect to pay based on taxable income.  The current rules (which the Company has challenged in court) do not clearly allow the Company to obtain a refund or to offset this excess income tax against other taxes.  As of May 31, 2019 and August 31, 2018, the Company had deferred tax assets of approximately $2.3million and $2.1 million in this country, respectively.  Also, the Company had an income tax receivable balance of $7.5 million and $7.1 million as of May 31, 2019 and August 31, 2018, respectively, related to excess payments from fiscal years 2015 to 2019.  In the third quarter of fiscal year 2018, a revised minimum tax law was passed in this country, which beginning in fiscal 2020 will reduce the minimum tax rate. Additionally, this law clarifies rules on a going-forward basis for reimbursement of excess minimum tax paid beginning in fiscal year 2019, but does not address periods prior to fiscal year 2019. Nevertheless, the Company has not placed any type of allowance on the recoverability of these tax receivables or deferred tax assets, because the Company believes that it is more likely than not that it will succeed in its refund request and/or court challenge on this matter.

Other Commitments

The Company is committed under non-cancelable operating leases for the rental of facilities and land.  Future minimum lease commitments for facilities under these leases with an initial term in excess of one year are as follows (in thousands):

	Open
Years ended May 31,	Locations(1)
2020	$	13,583
2021		13,708
2022		12,903
2023		13,069
2024		12,770
Thereafter		183,840
Total	$	249,873	(2)

⁽¹⁾ Operating lease obligations have been reduced by approximately $2.5 million to reflect sub-lease income.  Certain obligations under leasing arrangements are collateralized by the underlying asset being leased.

⁽²⁾ Future minimum lease payments include $1.8 million of lease payment obligations for the prior leased Miami distribution center.  For the purposes of calculating the minimum lease payments, a reduction is reflected for the actual sub-lease income the Company expects to receive during the remaining lease term.  This sub-lease income was also considered, for the purposes of calculating the exit obligation, which was immaterial as of May 31, 2019 and August 31, 2018.

In January 2017, the Company purchased a distribution center in Medley, Miami-Dade County, Florida.  The Company transferred its Miami dry distribution center activities that were previously in the leased facility to the new facility during the third quarter of fiscal year 2017.  As of May 31, 2019, all of the vacated space has been subleased (and/or returned to the landlord).  As part of the subleases the Company provided the landlord of the leased facility a letter of credit (“LOC”) for the initial amount of $500,000 which entitled the landlord to draw on the LOC based on a decreasing scale over four years, if certain conditions occur related to nonpayment by the new tenant.  The balance of this LOC decreases at an annual rate of $125,000 starting in

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PRICESMART, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

August 2018.  As of May 31, 2019, the remaining balance of the LOC was $375,000.  Although this agreement is considered a guarantee, in measuring the fair value, the Company considers the risk and probability of default by the third party tenant as not likely nor probable based on the Company’s review of the third party tenant’s financial position as well as the third party’s considerable capital investment into the leased facility.  Therefore, the Company has not recorded a liability for this guarantee. 

The Company is also committed to non-cancelable construction services obligations for various warehouse club developments and expansions.  As of May 31, 2019 and August 31, 2018, the Company had approximately $18.3million and $10.6 million, respectively, in contractual obligations for construction services not yet rendered.

The Company has entered into land purchase option agreements that have not been recorded as commitments, for which the Company has recorded within restricted cash and deposits as of May 31, 2019 and August 31, 2018 approximately $4.1million and $400,000, respectively. The Company’s land purchase option agreements are typically subject to various conditions, including, but not limited to, the ability to obtain necessary governmental permits or approvals. A deposit under an agreement is typically returned to the Company if all permits or approvals are not obtained. Generally, the Company has the right to cancel any of our agreements to purchase land without cause by forfeiture of some or all of the deposits we have made pursuant to the agreement. The Company does not have a timetable of when or if it will exercise these land purchase options, due to the uncertainty related to the completion of the Company's due diligence reviews. The Company's due diligence reviews include evaluations of the legal status of each property, the zoning and permitting issues related to acquiring approval for the construction and operation of a warehouse club and any other issues related to the property itself that could render the property unsuitable or limit the property's economic viability as a warehouse club site. If the purchase option agreements are exercised, the cash use would be approximately $52.1 million.

The table below summarizes the Company’s interest in real estate joint ventures, commitments to additional future investments and the Company’s maximum exposure to loss as a result of its involvement in these joint venture as of May 31, 2019 (in thousands):

Entity	% Ownership		Initial Investment		Additional Investments		Net (Loss)/Income Inception to Date		Company’s Variable Interest in Entity		Commitment to Future Additional Investments(1)		Company's Maximum Exposure to Loss in Entity(2)
GolfPark Plaza, S.A.	50	%	$	4,616	$	2,402	$	194	$	7,212	$	99	$	7,311
Price Plaza Alajuela PPA, S.A.	50	%		2,193		1,236		69		3,498		785		4,283
Total			$	6,809	$	3,638	$	263	$	10,710	$	884	$	11,594

⁽¹⁾ The parties intend to seek alternate financing for the project, which could reduce the amount of investments each party would be required to provide.  The parties may mutually agree on changes to the project, which could increase or decrease the amount of contributions each party is required to provide.

⁽²⁾ The maximum exposure is determined by adding the Company’s variable interest in the entity and any explicit or implicit arrangements that could require the Company to provide additional financial support.

The Company contracts for distribution center services in Mexico and for off-site data recovery services, as part of its disaster recovery plan. Future minimum service commitments related to both these contracts are not material. 

26

PRICESMART, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

NOTE 7 – DEBT

Short-term borrowings consist of unsecured lines of credit. The following table summarizes the balances of total facilities, facilities used and facilities available (in thousands):

			Facilities Used
	Total Amount		Short-term		Letters of		Facilities		Weighted average
	of Facilities		Borrowings		Credit		Available		interest rate
May 31, 2019	$	69,000	$	2,152	$	572	$	66,276	6.5	%
August 31, 2018	$	69,000	$	—	$	632	$	68,368	—	%

As of May 31, 2019 and August 31, 2018, the Company had approximately $40.0 million of short-term facilities in the U.S. that require compliance with certain quarterly financial covenants.  As of May 31, 2019 and August 31, 2018, the Company was in compliance with respect to these covenants. Each of the facilities expires annually except for the U.S. facility, which expires bi-annually. The facilities are normally renewed.

The following table provides the changes in long-term debt for the nine-months ended May 31, 2019:

(Amounts in thousands)	Current portion of long-term debt		Long-term debt (net of current portion)		Total
Balances as of August 31, 2018	$	14,855	$	87,720	$	102,575	(1)
Regularly scheduled loan payments		(2,838)		(6,671)		(9,509)
Reclassifications of long-term debt		11,644		(11,644)		—
Translation adjustments on foreign currency debt of subsidiaries whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar (2)		(181)		71		(110)
Balances as of May 31, 2019	$	23,480	$	69,476	$	92,956	(3)

⁽¹⁾ The carrying amount of non-cash assets assigned as collateral for these loans was $125.9million.  No cash assets were assigned as collateral for these loans.

⁽²⁾ These foreign currency translation adjustments are recorded within Other comprehensive income.

⁽³⁾ The carrying amount of non-cash assets assigned as collateral for these loans was $115.0 million.  No cash assets were assigned as collateral for these loans.

As of May 31, 2019, the Company had approximately $86.0 million of long-term loans in the U.S., Trinidad, Panama, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica and Colombia that require these subsidiaries to comply with certain annual or quarterly financial covenants, which include debt service and leverage ratios.  As of May 31, 2019, the Company was in compliance with all covenants or amended covenants.

As of August 31, 2018, the Company had approximately $93.6 million of long-term loans in Trinidad, Panama, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Barbados, and Colombia that require these subsidiaries to comply with certain annual or quarterly financial covenants.

Annual maturities of long-term debt are as follows (in thousands):

Twelve Months Ended May 31,	Amount
2020	$	23,480
2021		8,342
2022		11,640
2023		4,827
2024		15,554
Thereafter		29,113
Total	$	92,956

27

PRICESMART, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

NOTE 8 – DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

The Company is exposed to interest rate risk relating to its ongoing business operations.  To manage interest rate exposure, the Company enters into hedge transactions (interest rate swaps) using derivative financial instruments.  The objective of entering into interest rate swaps is to eliminate the variability of cash flows in the LIBOR interest payments associated with variable-rate loans over the life of the loans.  As changes in interest rates impact the future cash flow of interest payments, the hedges provide a synthetic offset to interest rate movements.

In addition, the Company is exposed to foreign currency and interest rate cash flow exposure related to non-functional currency long-term debt of three of its wholly owned subsidiaries.  To manage this foreign currency and interest rate cash flow exposure, the Company’s subsidiaries entered into cross-currency interest rate swaps that convert their U.S. dollar denominated floating interest payments to functional currency fixed interest payments during the life of the hedging instrument.  As changes in foreign exchange and interest rates impact the future cash flow of interest payments, the hedges are intended to offset changes in cash flows attributable to interest rate and foreign exchange movements.

These derivative instruments (cash flow hedging instruments) are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges, with the entire gain or loss on the derivative reported as a component of other comprehensive income (loss).  Amounts are deferred in other comprehensive income (loss) and reclassified into earnings in the same income statement line item that is used to present earnings effect of the hedged item when the hedged item affects earnings.

The Company is exposed to foreign-currency exchange-rate fluctuations in the normal course of business, including foreign-currency exchange-rate fluctuations on U.S. dollar denominated liabilities within its international subsidiaries whose functional currency is other than the U.S. dollar.  The Company manages these fluctuations, in part, through the use of non-deliverable forward foreign-exchange contracts that are intended to offset changes in cash flow attributable to currency exchange movements.  These contracts are intended primarily to economically address exposure to U.S. dollar merchandise inventory expenditures made by the Company’s international subsidiaries whose functional currency is other than the U.S. dollar.  Currently, these contracts do not qualify for derivative hedge accounting.  The Company seeks to mitigate foreign-currency exchange-rate risk with the use of these contracts and does not intend to engage in speculative transactions.  These contracts do not contain any credit-risk-related contingent features.

Cash Flow Hedges

As of May 31, 2019, all of the Company’s interest rate swap and cross-currency interest rate swap derivative financial instruments are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges. The Company formally documents the hedging relationships for its derivative instruments that qualify for hedge accounting.

28

PRICESMART, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

The following table summarizes agreements for which the Company has recorded cash flow hedge accounting for the nine months ended May 31, 2019:

Subsidiary	Date Entered into	Derivative Financial Counter- party	Derivative Financial Instruments	Initial US$ Notional Amount		Bank US$ loan  Held with	Floating Leg (swap counter-party)	Fixed Rate for PSMT Subsidiary		Settlement Dates	Effective Period of swap
Panama	25-Jun-18	Bank of Nova Scotia ("Scotiabank")	Interest rate swap	$	14,625,000	Bank of Nova Scotia	Variable rate 3-month Libor plus 3.0%	5.99	%	23rd day of each month beginning on July 23, 2018	June 25, 2018 - March 23, 2023
Honduras	26-Feb-18	Citibank, N.A. ("Citi")	Cross currency interest rate swap	$	13,500,000	Citibank, N.A.	Variable rate 3-month Libor plus 3.00%	9.75	%	29th day of May, August, November and February beginning May 29, 2018	February 26, 2018 - February 24, 2024
PriceSmart, Inc	7-Nov-16	MUFG Union Bank, N.A. ("Union Bank")	Interest rate swap	$	35,700,000	Union Bank	Variable rate 1-month Libor plus 1.7%	3.65	%	1st day of each month beginning on April 1, 2017	March 1, 2017 - March 1, 2027
Costa Rica	28-Aug-15	Citibank, N.A. ("Citi")	Cross currency interest rate swap	$	7,500,000	Citibank, N.A.	Variable rate 3-month Libor plus 2.50%	7.65	%	28th day of August, November, February, and May beginning on November 30, 2015	August 28, 2015 - August 28, 2020
El Salvador	16-Dec-14	Bank of Nova Scotia ("Scotiabank")	Interest rate swap	$	4,000,000	Bank of Nova Scotia	Variable rate 30-day Libor plus 3.5%	4.78	%	29th day of each month beginning  on December 29, 2014	December 1, 2014 - August 29, 2019
Colombia	10-Dec-14	Citibank, N.A. ("Citi")	Cross currency interest rate swap	$	15,000,000	Citibank, N.A.	Variable rate 3-month Libor plus 2.8%	8.25	%	4th day of March, June, Sept, Dec. beginning on March 4, 2015	December 4, 2014 - December 3, 2019
Panama	9-Dec-14	Bank of Nova Scotia ("Scotiabank")	Interest rate swap	$	10,000,000	Bank of Nova Scotia	Variable rate 30-day Libor plus 3.5%	5.16	%	28th day of each month beginning December 29, 2014	November 28, 2014 - November 29, 2019
Panama	1-Aug-14	Bank of Nova Scotia ("Scotiabank")	Interest rate swap	$	5,000,000	Bank of Nova Scotia	Variable rate 30-day Libor plus 3.5%	4.89	%	21st day of each month beginning on September 22, 2014	August 21, 2014 - August 21, 2019

For the three and nine months ended May 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company included the gain or loss on the hedged items (that is, variable-rate borrowings) in the same line item—interest expense—as the offsetting gain or loss on the related interest rate swaps as follows (in thousands):

Income Statement Classification	Interest expense on borrowings(1)		Cost of swaps (2)		Total
Interest expense for the three months ended May 31, 2019	$	1,204	$	110	$	1,314
Interest expense for the three months ended May 31, 2018	$	1,136	$	277	$	1,413
Interest expense for the nine months ended May 31, 2019	$	3,606	$	380	$	3,986
Interest expense for the nine months ended May 31, 2018	$	2,859	$	774	$	3,633

⁽¹⁾ This amount is representative of the interest expense recognized on the underlying hedged transactions.

⁽²⁾ This amount is representative of the interest expense recognized on the cross-currency interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedging instruments.

The total notional balance of the Company’s pay-fixed/receive-variable interest rate swaps and cross-currency interest rate swaps was as follows (in thousands):

	Notional Amount as of
	May 31,		August 31,
Floating Rate Payer (Swap Counterparty)	2019		2018
Union Bank	$	35,487	$	35,700
Citibank N.A.		25,125		27,825
Scotiabank		19,658		25,149
Total	$	80,270	$	88,674

29

PRICESMART, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

Derivatives listed on the table below were designated as cash flow hedging instruments.  The table summarizes the effect of the fair value of interest rate swap and cross-currency interest rate swap derivative instruments that qualify for derivative hedge accounting and its associated tax effect on accumulated other comprehensive (income)/loss (in thousands):

		May 31, 2019						August 31, 2018
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedging instruments	Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value		Net Tax Effect		Net OCI		Fair Value		Net Tax Effect		Net OCI
Cross-currency interest rate swaps	Other non-current assets	$	2,741	$	(862)	$	1,879	$	2,405	$	(819)	$	1,586
Interest rate swaps	Other non-current assets		1		—		1		1,959		(434)		1,525
Interest rate swaps	Other long-term liabilities		(587)		154		(433)		(8)		2		(6)
Cross-currency interest rate swaps	Other long-term liabilities		(574)		172		(402)		(494)		148		(346)
Net fair value of derivatives designated as hedging instruments		$	1,581	$	(536)	$	1,045	$	3,862	$	(1,103)	$	2,759

NOTE 9 – SEGMENTS

The Company and its subsidiaries are principally engaged in the international operation of membership shopping in 42 warehouse clubs located in 12 countries and one U.S. territory that are located in Central America, the Caribbean and Colombia.  In addition, the Company operates distribution centers and corporate offices in the United States.  The Company has aggregated its warehouse clubs, distribution centers and corporate offices into reportable segments.  The Company’s reportable segments are based on management’s organization of these locations into operating segments by general geographic location, used by management and the Company's chief operating decision maker in setting up management lines of responsibility, providing support services, and making operational decisions and assessments of financial performance.  Segment amounts are presented after converting to U.S. dollars and consolidating eliminations.  Certain revenues, operating costs and inter-company charges included in the United States segment are not allocated to the segments within this presentation, as it is impractical to do so, and they appear as reconciling items to reflect the amount eliminated on consolidation of intersegment transactions. From time to time, the Company revises the measurement of each segment's operating income and net income, including certain corporate overhead allocations, and other measures as determined by the information regularly reviewed by the Company's chief operating decision maker. When the Company does so, the previous period amounts and balances are reclassified to conform to the current period's presentation.

30

PRICESMART, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

The following tables summarize by segment certain revenues, operating costs and balance sheet items (in thousands):

	United States Operations		Central American Operations		Caribbean Operations (1)		Colombia Operations		Reconciling Items(2)		Total
Three Months Ended May 31, 2019
Revenue from external customers	$	17,454	$	448,118	$	228,586	$	94,398	$	—	$	788,556
Intersegment revenues		284,205		3,401		1,032		444		(289,082)		—
Depreciation, Property and equipment		1,312		6,200		3,551		2,132		—		13,195
Amortization, Intangibles		606		—		—		—		—		606
Operating income (loss)		1,139		26,314		10,295		3,294		(19,045)		21,997
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart, Inc. (3)		(1,655)		22,725		9,514		2,528		(19,016)		14,096
Capital expenditures, net		143		13,322		8,010		1,093		—		22,568
Nine Months Ended May 31, 2019
Revenue from external customers	$	51,614	$	1,372,918	$	702,954	$	295,132	$	—	$	2,422,618
Intersegment revenues		924,624		7,620		3,375		1,119		(936,738)		—
Depreciation, Property and equipment		3,958		18,072		10,181		6,356		—		38,567
Amortization, Intangibles		1,798		—		—		—		—		1,798
Operating income		4,565		90,681		37,346		10,327		(59,716)		83,203
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart, Inc. (3)		(3,885)		75,009		32,536		8,632		(59,774)		52,518
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)		85,638		339,950		157,186		105,384		—		688,158
Intangibles, net		13,182		—		—		—		—		13,182
Goodwill		11,315		24,606		10,237		—		—		46,158
Total assets		152,322		605,399		331,999		172,144		—		1,261,864
Capital expenditures, net		3,759		56,695		24,271		3,831		—		88,556
Three Months Ended May 31, 2018
Revenue from external customers	$	17,802	$	451,597	$	214,506	$	98,296	$	—	$	782,201
Intersegment revenues		291,925		—		1,087		376		(293,388)		—
Depreciation and amortization		2,245		6,050		2,934		2,337		—		13,566
Operating income/(loss)		(883)		31,257		11,538		2,989		(16,472)		28,429
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart, Inc.		(2,792)		25,485		10,074		2,377		(16,450)		18,694
Capital expenditures, net		3,024		12,803		14,368		873		—		31,068
Nine Months Ended May 31, 2018
Revenue from external customers	$	35,087	$	1,397,668	$	663,317	$	292,764	$	—	$	2,388,836
Intersegment revenues		906,114		—		3,265		693		(910,072)		—
Depreciation and amortization		5,680		17,459		8,343		6,896		—		38,378
Operating income		3,354		100,463		36,763		8,198		(49,919)		98,859
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart, Inc.		(17,182)		82,997		33,000		6,414		(49,897)		55,332
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)		72,343		312,468		148,789		125,699		—		659,299
Intangibles, net		15,593		—		—		—		—		15,593
Goodwill		16,033		30,770		4,548		—		—		51,351
Total assets		160,793		562,401		333,985		189,291		—		1,246,470
Capital expenditures, net		4,612		35,364		33,997		2,729		—		76,702
As of August 31, 2018
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)	$	67,650	$	320,612	$	150,516	$	118,284	$	—	$	657,062
Intangibles, net		14,980		—		—		—		—		14,980
Goodwill		11,230		30,646		4,453		—		—		46,329
Total assets		186,174		536,756		310,411		183,051		—		1,216,392

⁽¹⁾ Management considers its club in the U.S. Virgin Islands to be part of its Caribbean operations.

⁽²⁾ The reconciling items reflect the amount eliminated on consolidation of intersegment transactions.

⁽³⁾ In March 2018, the Company acquired technology, talent and cross-border logistics infrastructure that operated a marketplace and casillero business. Investments in the technology, talent and infrastructure to expand our omni-channel capabilities, together with the operating results from the marketplace and casillero business, negatively impacted Net income attributable to PriceSmart, Inc. by $2.9 million for the quarter and $11.0 million for the nine months ended May 31, 2019. Management considers this business to be part of its United States operations.

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PRICESMART, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

NOTE 10 – ACQUISITION

On March 15, 2018, the Company acquired technology, talent and cross-border logistics infrastructure through a marketplace and casillero business operated by Aeropost, Inc. This acquisition has been accounted for in conformity with ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations.  PriceSmart is actively integrating and investing in the technology, talent and infrastructure from this business to expand its omni-channel capabilities. The Company paid $29.0 million in cash for this acquisition. Under the merger agreement, $5.0 million of the total consideration has been placed in escrow and its release to the sellers is contingent upon certain key Aeropost, Inc. executives remaining employed with the Company for 15 months from the date of closing. The amount placed in escrow also can be used to satisfy any indemnification claims and post-closing adjustments in favor of the Company. This contingent consideration is accounted for as post-combination compensation expense, reduces the total consideration and will be recorded over this 15 month period. The post-acquisition compensation expense is recorded as prepaid expenses and other current assets on the consolidated balance sheet, and has been treated as use of cash from operating activities on the consolidated statement of cash flows. The 15-month period lapsed on June 15, 2019, and the key Aeropost, Inc. executives remained employed with the Company during this time, as such, no claim in this respect will be made against the escrow balance for this concept. However, certain indemnification claims and post-closing adjustments submitted by the Company are still pending final resolution with the sellers.

Below is the table that summarizes the total purchase price consideration (in thousands):

Estimated consideration on the acquisition date	$	30,046
Estimated assumed net liabilities at acquisition date		(1,093)
Total cash consideration		28,953
Post-combination compensation expense, net of claims		(3,754)
Business acquisition, net assets acquired	$	25,199
Cash acquired		1,208
Business acquisition, net of cash acquired	$	23,991

Below summarizes the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed (in thousands):

Current assets	$	4,196
Other non-current assets		746
Property, plant and equipment		2,059
Intangible assets		16,100
Goodwill		11,411
Deferred tax assets, long-term		4,078
Total assets acquired	$	38,590
Current liabilities		(5,862)
Non-current liabilities		(6,967)
Noncontrolling interest		(562)
Net assets acquired	$	25,199

Goodwill represents the excess of the total purchase price over the fair value of the underlying assets. The goodwill is not expected to be deductible for tax purposes.

The following sets forth the results of the amounts preliminarily assigned to the identifiable intangible assets acquired (in thousands):

	Amortization		Fair value of
	Period		Assets Acquired
Trade name	25 years	$	5,100
Developed technology	5 years		11,000
Total assets acquired		$	16,100

32

PRICESMART, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

The fair value of the intangible assets is measured based on assumptions and estimations with regards to variable factors such as the amount and timing of future cash flows, appropriate risk-adjusted discount rates, nonperformance risk or other factors that market participants would consider. The trade name and developed technology were valued using the income-based approach and royalty income method, respectively. Intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over the amortization periods noted above, which is included in general and administrative expenses on the accompanying consolidated statements of income.

The following unaudited pro forma financial information shows the combined results of operations of the Company, including Aeropost, Inc., as if the acquisition had occurred as of the beginning of the periods presented (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended		Nine Months Ended
	May 31,		May 31,
	2018		2018
Pro forma total revenues	$	791,413	$	2,410,581
Pro forma net income attributable to PriceSmart, Inc. (1)	$	15,778	$	46,202
Pro forma net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	$	124	$	415

⁽¹⁾ Includes the pro forma recognition of $723,000 and $2.2 million post-combination compensation expense, which represents three and nine months of continued service amortization required to satisfy the $3.8 million remaining purchase price contingency.

The following is summary financial information for Aeropost, Inc., including costs to expand omni-channel capabilities for fiscal year 2019 (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	May 31,		May 31,		May 31,		May 31,
	2019		2018		2019		2018
Total revenue	$	8,973	$	7,835	$	28,100	$	7,835
Net loss (net of tax benefits)	$	(2,879)	$	(2,290)	$	(10,980)	$	(2,290)

NOTE 11 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

The Company has evaluated all events subsequent to the balance sheet date of May 31,  2019 through the date of issuance of these consolidated financial statements and has determined that, except as set forth below, there are no subsequent events that require disclosure.

Real Estate Transactions

In June 2019, the Company acquired land in Guatemala City, Guatemala, for potential development. No date has yet been set for the start of construction.

33

PRICESMART, INC.

ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements concerning PriceSmart, Inc.'s ("PriceSmart," the "Company" or "we") anticipated future revenues and earnings, adequacy of future cash flows, proposed warehouse club openings, the Company's performance relative to competitors and related matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements containing the words “expect,” “believe,” “will,” “may,” “should,” “project,” “estimate,” “anticipated,” “scheduled,” and like expressions, and the negative thereof. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially including, but not limited to, the following risks:

· Natural disasters that might cause damages not covered by insurance;

· Negative macroeconomic conditions;

· Volatility in foreign currency exchange rates and limitations on our ability to convert foreign currency to U.S. dollars;

· Changes in, and inconsistent enforcement of, laws and regulations in countries where we operate, including those related to tariffs and taxes;

· Compliance risks;

· Crime and security concerns, which can adversely affect the economies of the countries in which we operate and which require us to incur additional costs to provide additional security at our warehouse clubs;

· Recoverability of moneys owed to PriceSmart from governments in countries where we do business;

· The possibility of operational interruptions, including those related to union work stoppages;

· Political instability, such as recent unrest in Honduras, the ongoing anti-government protests in Nicaragua that have disrupted our operations there, and a general strike in Costa Rica led by public-sector unions that disrupted normal commerce in September 2018;

· In March 2019, the President of the United States directed the U.S. State Department to cut off $450 million of planned aid to Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. Eliminating this aid could adversely impact the economies of these countries and lead to further political instability, with the resulting impact on our business;

· Changes in consumer shopping preferences;

· Significant competition, including from international online retailers or the market entrance of other club operators;

· Limitations on the availability of appropriate sites for new warehouse clubs, which could adversely affect growth;

· Failure to establish an e-commerce presence to allow our members to choose a physical or online shopping channel that is convenient for them and efficient for us may materially adversely affect our market position, net sales and financial performance, and costs associated with our increasing investments in technological resources intended to fuel sales growth and drive efficiencies may adversely affect our short-term results of operations;

· Acquisitions, such as our acquisition of Aeropost, Inc. in March 2018, may expose us to additional risks, such as retention of key personnel, previously undisclosed liabilities or compliance issues, integration challenges, impairment of goodwill or intangible assets, and diversion of management resources;

· Cost increases from product and service providers;

· Interruption of supply chains, which might adversely impact on our ability to import merchandise;

· Failure to maintain our brand’s reputation;

· Exposure to product liability claims and product recalls;

· Failure to maintain our computer systems and/or disruption in those systems;

· Cybersecurity risks, such as a failure to maintain the security of the information we hold relating to our company, our members, employees and suppliers;

· Risks associated with executive leadership and organizational transition, failure to attract and/or retain other qualified employees, increases in wage and benefit costs, changes in laws and other labor issues;

· Changes in accounting standards affecting management's financial assumptions, projections, estimates and judgments; and

· A few of our stockholders own approximately 24.4% of our voting stock as of May 31, 2019, which may make it difficult to complete some corporate transactions without their support and may impede a change in control.

The risks described above as well as the other risks detailed in the Company’s U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) reports, including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2018 filed on October 25, 2018 (see “Part I - Item 1A - Risk Factors”) could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. These risks are not the only risks that the Company faces. The Company could also be affected by additional factors that apply to all companies operating globally and in the U.S., as well as other risks that are not presently known to the Company or that the Company currently considers to be immaterial.

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The following discussion and analysis compares the results of operations for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2019 and 2018 and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes included therein.

Our business consists primarily of operating international membership shopping warehouse clubs similar to, but smaller in size than, warehouse clubs in the United States.  We operate in 12 countries and one U.S. territory that are located in Latin America and the Caribbean. Our ownership in all operating subsidiaries as of May 31, 2019 is 100%, and they are presented on a consolidated basis.  The number of warehouse clubs for each country or territory are as follows:

	Number of		Number of		Anticipated			Anticipated
	Warehouse Clubs		Warehouse Clubs		Warehouse			Warehouse
	in Operation as of		in Operation as of		Club Openings			Club Openings
Country/Territory	May 31, 2018		May 31, 2019		In Fiscal Year 2019			In Fiscal Year 2020
Colombia		7		7		—			—
Costa Rica		7		7		—			—
Panama		5		6					1
Trinidad		4		4		—			—
Dominican Republic		4		4		1	(1)		—
Guatemala		3		3		—			1
Honduras		3		3		—			—
El Salvador		2		2		—			—
Nicaragua		2		2		—			—
Aruba		1		1		—			—
Barbados		1		1		—			—
U.S. Virgin Islands		1		1		—			—
Jamaica		1		1		—			—
Totals		41		42		1			2

(1)     Small format warehouse club.

Our warehouse clubs and local distribution centers are located in Latin America and the Caribbean, and our corporate headquarters, U.S. buying operations and regional distribution centers are located primarily in the United States.  Our operating segments are the United States, Central America, the Caribbean and Colombia.

In May 2018, the Company acquired land in the Dominican Republic upon which the Company built a new warehouse club, which opened in June 2019.  This warehouse club, the fifth in the Dominican Republic, was designed using our new small warehouse club format with sales floor square footage between 30,000 to 40,000 square feet, compared to 50,000 to 60,000 sales floor square footage within our most recent standard format warehouse club openings. This warehouse club represents one of our first developments of these smaller format stores intended to reach into additional geographic areas and provide more convenience for our members. In September 2018 (fiscal year 2019), we acquired land in San Cristobal, Guatemala, upon which the Company is constructing a standard format warehouse club. San Cristobal is expected to open in the fall of 2019.  In November 2018 (fiscal year 2019), PriceSmart leased land within the Metropark development on the south eastern side of Panama City, Panama, upon which the Company is constructing a standard format warehouse club. The Metropark club will be the Company’s seventh warehouse club in Panama and is expected to open in the fall of 2019. Once these three new clubs are open, we will operate 45 warehouse clubs. We continue to explore and negotiate for other potential sites for future warehouse clubs in Central America, the Caribbean and Colombia.

General Market Factors

Our sales and profits vary from market to market depending on general economic factors, including GDP growth; consumer spending patterns; foreign currency exchange rates; political policies and social conditions; local demographic characteristics (such as population growth); the number of years we have operated in a particular market; and the level of retail and wholesale competition in that market.

Currency fluctuations can be one of the largest variables affecting our overall sales and profit performance, as we have experienced in prior fiscal years, because many of our markets are susceptible to foreign currency exchange rate volatility. During the first nine months of fiscal year 2019 and fiscal year 2018, approximately 78% of our net merchandise sales were in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Of those sales, 52% were comprised of sales of products we purchased in U.S. dollars.

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A devaluation of local currency reduces the value of sales and membership income that is generated in that country when translated to U.S. dollars for our consolidated results.  In addition, when local currency experiences devaluation, we may elect to increase the local currency price of imported merchandise to maintain our target margins, which could impact demand for the merchandise affected by the price increase. We may also modify the mix of imported versus local merchandise, and/or the source of imported merchandise, in order to mitigate the impact of currency fluctuations. Information about the effect of local currency devaluations is discussed in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Net Merchandise Sales and Comparable Sales.”

From time to time, one or more markets in which we operate may experience economic slowdowns, which can negatively impact our business. For example, Trinidad, which depends on oil and gas exports as a major source of income, has been experiencing overall difficult economic conditions for the past three years. These adverse economic conditions, combined with government policies intended to manage foreign currency reserves, have adversely affected consumer spending. Other countries where recent general market conditions have provided a difficult operating environment during fiscal year 2019 include Costa Rica, Panama, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Barbados.  Our business in USVI, where Hurricanes Irma and Maria had a severe impact on the infrastructure of the island in September 2017 and October 2017, has rebounded due to the re-construction efforts and the difficulty other retailers are having in becoming fully operational. Significant reductions in US Financial Aid to countries where we operate may also impact our markets.

Our capture of total retail and wholesale sales can vary from market to market due to competition and the availability of other shopping options for our members.  In larger, more developed countries, such as Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Panama, and Colombia, customers may have more alternatives available to them to satisfy their shopping needs, than in other smaller countries, such as Jamaica and Nicaragua, where consumers have a limited number of shopping options.

Demographic characteristics within each of our markets can also affect both the overall level of sales and also future sales growth opportunities.  Island countries such as Aruba, Barbados and the U.S. Virgin Islands offer us limited upside for sales growth given their overall market size.  Countries with a smaller upper and middle class consumer population, such as Honduras, El Salvador, Jamaica and Nicaragua, also have a more limited potential opportunity for sales growth as compared to more developed countries with larger upper and middle class consumer populations.

Political and other factors in each of our markets may have significant effects on our business.  For example, beginning in April 2018, protests against social reforms and violent clashes with national security forces significantly impeded normal economic activity in Nicaragua, the effect of which has continued during the first nine months of fiscal year 2019. Also, labor strikes in Costa Rica disrupted normal commerce in September 2018. Social unrest in Honduras in May 2019 caused similar disruptions to commerce. U.S. foreign policy can also have an impact on social and economic stability in the countries where we operate. Additionally, changes in tax policies in certain countries which affect consumers’ personal tax rates and/or added consumption taxes, such as VAT (value-added taxes), can effectively raise the prices of our products.

In the past, we have experienced a lack of availability of U.S. dollars in certain markets (U.S. dollar illiquidity).  This impedes our ability to convert local currencies obtained through merchandise sales into U.S. dollars to settle the U.S. dollar liabilities associated with our imported products, increasing our foreign exchange exposure to any devaluation of the local currency relative to the U.S. dollar.  During fiscal year 2018 and during the first nine months of fiscal year 2019, we experienced this situation in Trinidad (“TT”).  We are working with our banks in Trinidad to source tradeable currencies (including Euros, British Pounds, and Canadian dollars), but until the central bank in Trinidad makes more U.S. dollars available, this illiquidity condition is likely to continue. As of May 31, 2019, our Trinidad subsidiary had a net U.S. dollar denominated asset position of approximately $37.3 million, an increase of $24.3 million from August 31, 2018 when our Trinidad subsidiary had net U.S. dollar denominated asset position of approximately $13.0 million. We are carefully monitoring the situation, which may require us to limit future shipments from the U.S. to Trinidad in line with our ability to exchange Trinidad dollars for tradeable currencies to manage our exposure to any potential devaluation. 

Business Strategy

Our business strategy is to improve the quality of life for our business and family members. We make available a wide range of high quality merchandise sourced from around the world at exceptional values. The annual membership fee enables us to operate our business, as well as offer services, and offer a tailored selection of products with lower margins than traditional retail stores.  Through the use of technology and the development of an omni-channel platform, we are pursuing opportunities to respond to how our members expect to shop, create additional efficiencies in the distribution process and increase our significance in our members’ lives. We are working to create a shopping experience that blends the attributes and appeal of our brick and mortar business with the conveniences associated with technology-supported transactions and online shopping.

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Growth

We measure our growth primarily by the amount of the period-over-period activity in our net merchandise sales, our comparable net merchandise sales and our membership income. Our investments are focused on the long-term growth of the Company. These investments can impact near-term results, such as when we incur fixed costs in advance of achieving full projected sales, negatively impacting near-term operating profit and net income, or when we open a new warehouse club in an existing market, which can reduce reported comparable net merchandise sales due to the transfer of sales from existing warehouse clubs.

Current and Future Management Actions

Logistics and distribution efficiencies are fundamental to delivering high quality merchandise at low prices to our members.  We continue to explore ways to improve efficiency, reduce costs and ensure a good flow of merchandise to our warehouse clubs. As we continue to refine our logistics and distribution infrastructure, we are exploring ways to improve our supply chain effectiveness through regional distribution centers that place our merchandise closer to our members.  During fiscal year 2018, we entered into a long-term lease for a 165,000 square foot distribution center in Costa Rica. We began operating in this distribution center during the fall of 2018. 

Purchasing land and constructing warehouse clubs is generally our largest ongoing capital investment.  Securing land for warehouse club locations is challenging within our markets, especially in Colombia, because suitable sites at economically feasible prices are difficult to find. We believe real estate ownership provides a number of advantages as compared to leasing, including lower operating expenses, flexibility to expand or otherwise enhance our buildings, long-term control over the use of the property and the residual value that the real estate may have in future years. While our preference is to own rather than lease real estate, we have entered into real estate leases in certain cases and will likely do so in the future.  Most recently, we have entered into a real estate lease in Panama City, Panama, for the construction of a warehouse club. 

In recent years we have been evaluating options to replace our existing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. While we are not currently undergoing an ERP migration, we continue to enhance our IT systems and infrastructure to respond to and focus on evolving business requirements, but we are doing so in a manner we believe to be consistent with a future ERP migration process.

We are developing an expansion of our omni-channel capability, including through our e-commerce platform, by investing in and integrating the technology, talent and cross-border logistics infrastructure obtained as part of the acquisition, in March 2018, of a company which also operates a marketplace and casillero business. We expect these investments and this integration to enhance the membership shopping experience, including greater convenience for our members, drive efficiencies and fuel sales growth.  The first significant step in this process is the launch in the Dominican Republic of an e-commerce platform in conjunction with the opening of our new club there, which opened in June of 2019.

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Financial highlights for the three months ended May 31, 2019 included:

· Total revenues increased 0.8% over the comparable prior year period.

· Net merchandise sales increased 0.6% over the comparable prior-year period.  We ended the quarter with 42 warehouse clubs compared to 41 warehouse clubs at the end of the third quarter of fiscal year 2018. 

· Comparable net merchandise sales (that is, sales in the 40 warehouse clubs that have been open for greater than 13 ½ calendar months) for the 13 weeks ended June 2, 2019 decreased 0.8%, impacted primarily by the devaluation of the Costa Rica Colon and Colombian Peso, an increasingly competitive retail environment in Panama, and ongoing instability in Nicaragua. The effects of currency devaluations had an approximately $27.5 million or 380 basis point (3.8%) negative constant currency impact on comparable net merchandise sales for the thirteen week period.

· Membership income for the third quarter of fiscal year 2019 increased 2.2% to $13.1 million over the comparable prior-year period.

· Merchandise gross profits (net merchandise sales less associated cost of goods sold) decreased 3.8% over the comparable prior year period and warehouse gross profits as a percent of net merchandise club sales were 13.9%, a decrease of 70 basis points (0.7%) from the same period last year.

· Investments in technology, talent and infrastructure to expand our omni-channel capabilities, together with the operating results from our marketplace and casillero business, negatively impacted Net income attributable to PriceSmart, Inc. by $2.9 million or $0.09 per share.

· Operating income for the third quarter of fiscal year 2019 was $22.0 million, compared to $28.4 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2018.

· We recorded a $192,000 net currency gain from currency transactions in the current quarter compared to a $575,000 net loss in the same period last year.

· The tax provision of $7.5 million resulted in an effective tax rate for the third quarter of fiscal year 2019 of 34.7%. The effective tax rate for the third quarter of fiscal year 2018 was 30.3%. 

· Net income attributable to PriceSmart, Inc. for the third quarter of fiscal year 2019 was $14.1 million, or $0.46 per diluted share, compared to $18.7 million, or $0.61 per diluted share, in the comparable prior-year period.

Financial highlights for the nine months ended May 31, 2019 included:

· Total revenues increased 1.4% over the comparable prior year period. Revenues from our marketplace and casillero operations of $20.3 million contributed 80 basis points (0.8%) of this increase.

· Net merchandise sales increased 0.4% over the comparable prior-year period.  We ended the quarter with 42 warehouse clubs compared to 41 warehouse clubs at the end of the third quarter of fiscal year 2018. 

· Comparable net merchandise sales (that is, sales in the 40 warehouse clubs that have been open for greater than 13 ½ calendar months) for the 39 weeks ended June 2, 2019 decreased 1.3%, impacted primarily by the Costa Rica Colon and Colombian Peso devaluation, an increasingly competitive retail environment in Panama, and ongoing instability in Nicaragua. The effects of currency devaluations had an approximately $76.1 million or 340 basis point (3.4%) negative constant currency impact on comparable net merchandise sales for the thirty-nine week period.

· Membership income for the first nine months of fiscal year 2019 increased 2.1% to $38.7 million over the comparable prior-year period.

· Merchandise gross profits (net merchandise sales less associated cost of goods sold) decreased 2.5% over the comparable prior year period and warehouse gross profits as a percent of net merchandise club sales were 14.0%, a decrease of 50 basis points 0.5% from the same period last year.

· Investments in technology, talent and infrastructure to expand our omni-channel capabilities, together with the operating results from our marketplace and casillero business, negatively impacted Net income attributable to PriceSmart, Inc. by $11.0million or $0.36 per share.

· Operating income for the first nine months of fiscal year 2019 was $83.2 million, compared to $98.9 million in the first nine months of fiscal year 2018.

· We recorded a $1.9 million net currency loss from currency transactions in the current nine-month period compared to an $87,000 net loss in the same period last year.

· The effective tax rate for the first nine months of fiscal year 2019 was 33.7%, as compared to the effective tax rate for the first nine months of fiscal year 2018 of 42.5% primarily related to a one-time transitional repatriation tax on unremitted foreign earnings totaling $13.4 million recorded in the prior year period as part of U.S. Tax Reform.  

· Net income attributable to PriceSmart, Inc. for the first nine months of fiscal year 2019 was $52.5 million, or $1.73 per diluted share, compared to $55.3 million, or $1.82 per diluted share, in the comparable prior-year period.

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COMPARISON OF THE three and nine months ended May 31, 2019 and 2018

The following discussion and analysis compares the results of operations for the three-month and nine-month periods ended on May 31, 2019 with the three-month and nine-month periods ended on May 31, 2018 and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes included elsewhere in this report.  Unless otherwise noted, all tables on the following pages present U.S. dollar amounts in thousands.  Certain percentages presented are calculated using actual results prior to rounding.

Net Merchandise Sales

The following tables indicate the net merchandise club sales in the segments in which we operate and the percentage growth in net merchandise sales by segment during the three and ninemonths ended May 31, 2019 and 2018.

	Three Months Ended
	May 31, 2019								May 31, 2018
	Amount		% of net sales		Increase/ (decrease) from prior year		Change		Amount		% of net sales
Central America	$	437,602	58.0	%	$	(5,378)	(1.2)	%	$	442,980	59.0	%
Caribbean		224,906	29.8			13,717	6.5			211,189	28.2
Colombia		92,501	12.2			(3,803)	(3.9)			96,304	12.8
Net merchandise sales	$	755,009	100.0	%	$	4,536	0.6	%	$	750,473	100.0	%

	Nine Months Ended
	May 31, 2019								May 31, 2018
	Amount		% of net sales		Increase/ (decrease) from prior year		Change		Amount		% of net sales
Central America	$	1,341,147	57.7	%	$	(30,779)	(2.2)	%	$	1,371,926	59.3	%
Caribbean		692,129	29.8			38,670	5.9			653,459	28.3
Colombia		289,466	12.5			2,404	0.8			287,062	12.4
Net merchandise sales	$	2,322,742	100.0	%	$	10,295	0.4	%	$	2,312,447	100.0	%

Comparison of Three and Nine Months Ended May 31, 2019 and 2018

Overall, total net merchandise sales grew 0.6% for the third quarter and 0.4% for the nine-month period ended May 31, 2019. The third quarter increase resulted from a 3.9% increase in transactions and a 3.2% decrease in average ticket. For the nine-month period, the increase resulted from a 3.3% increase in transactions and a 2.8% decrease in average ticket.

Net merchandise sales in our Central America segment decreased 1.2% and 2.2% for the third quarter and the nine-months ended May 31, 2019, respectively, when compared to the same period last year. These declines had a 70 basis point (0.7%) and 130 basis point (1.3%) negative impact on total net merchandise sales growth, respectively.  Economic weakness, currency devaluation, and political instability led to decreased sales within our Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua markets, offset by year-on-year increased merchandise sales within our El Salvador market.

Net merchandise sales in our Caribbean segment grew 6.5% and 5.9% for the third quarter and the nine-months ended May 31, 2019, when compared to the same period last year. These increases had a 180 basis point (1.8%) and 160 basis point (1.6%) positive impact on total net merchandise sales growth, respectively. With the exception of our Barbados market, all markets within this segment showed increased net merchandise sales year-on-year.

Net merchandise sales in our Colombia segment decreased 3.9% for the third quarter and increased 0.8% for the nine-months ended May 31, 2019, when compared to the same period last year. The decrease for the third quarter had a 50 basis point (0.5%) negative impact, while the increase for the nine-month period had a 10 basis points (0.1%) positive impact on total net merchandise sales growth.  The decline for the third quarter is due to unfavorable foreign currency devaluation during the period.

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In discussing our operating results, the term “currency exchange rates” refers to the currency exchange rates we use to convert the operating results for all countries where the functional currency is not the U.S. dollar into U.S. dollars. We calculate the effect of changes in currency exchange rates as the difference between current period activities translated using the current period's currency exchange rates, and the comparable prior year period's currency exchange rates. The disclosure of constant currency amounts or results permits investors to better understand our underlying performance without the effects of currency exchange rate fluctuations. The following table indicates the impact that currency exchange rates had on our net merchandise sales in dollars and the percentage change from the three- and nine-month periods ended May 31, 2019.

	Currency exchange rate fluctuations for the
	Three Months Ended
	May 31, 2019
	Amount		% change
Central America	$	(13,281)	(3.0)	%
Caribbean		(2,522)	(1.1)
Colombia		(12,070)	(13.0)
Net merchandise sales	$	(27,872)	(3.7)	%

	Currency exchange rate fluctuations for the
	Nine Months Ended
	May 31, 2019
	Amount		% change to prior year
Central America	$	(42,123)	(3.1)	%
Caribbean		(9,218)	(1.3)
Colombia		(25,599)	(8.8)
Net merchandise sales	$	(76,940)	(3.3)	%

Overall, the effects of currency devaluations within our markets had an approximate $27.9 million and $76.9 million, or 370 basis point (3.7%) and 330 basis points (3.3%), negative constant currency impact on net merchandise sales for the quarter and nine-months ended May 31, 2019.

Currency devaluations had a $13.3 million and $42.1 million, or 300 basis point (3.0%) and 310 basis point (3.1%), negative constant currency impact on net merchandise sales in our Central America segment for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2019. The currency devaluations contributed approximately 180 basis points (1.8%) of the total negative impact on total net merchandise sales, for both the quarter and year-to-date period. Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras and our Nicaragua markets all experienced currency devaluation when compared to the same period last year. 

Currency devaluations had a $2.5 million and $9.2 million, or 110 basis point (1.1%) and 130 basis point (1.3%), negative constant currency impact on reported net merchandise sales in our Caribbean segment for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2019. The currency devaluations contributed approximately 30 basis points (0.3%) and 40 basis points (0.4%) of the total negative impact on total net merchandise sales for the quarter and the nine months period, respectively. This is reflective of the offsetting devaluation and appreciation of the mix of currencies within the markets in this segment when compared to the same period a year ago.

Currency devaluations had a $12.1 million and $25.6 million, or 1,300 basis point (13.0%) and 880 basis point (8.8%), negative constant currency impact on net merchandise sales in our Colombia segment for the three and ninemonths ended May 31, 2019.  The currency devaluations contributed approximately 160 basis points (1.6%) and 110 basis points (1.1%)  to the total negative impact on total net merchandise sales, respectively.

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Comparable Merchandise Sales

We report comparable merchandise club sales on a “same week” basis with 13 weeks in each quarter beginning on a Monday and ending on a Sunday.  The periods are established at the beginning of the fiscal year to provide as close a match as possible to the calendar month and quarter that is used for financial reporting purposes.  This approach equalizes the number of weekend days and weekdays in each period for improved sales comparison, as we experience higher merchandise club sales on the weekends.  Each of the warehouse clubs used in the calculations was open for at least 13 ½ calendar months before its results for the current period were compared with its results for the prior period.  For example, sales related to our warehouse club in the Dominican Republic opened on May 3, 2018 will not be used in the calculation of comparable sales until July 2019, and the sales related to our warehouse club opened in Panama on May 1, 2019 will not be used in the calculation of comparable sales until July 2020. Therefore, comparable net merchandise sales includes 40 warehouse clubs for the thirteen and thirty-nine week periods ended June 2, 2019.

The following table indicates comparable net merchandise sales in the reportable segments in which we operate, and the percentage increase or decrease in net merchandise sales by segment during fiscal years 2019 and 2018.

	Thirteen Weeks Ended
	June 2, 2019		June 3, 2018
	% Increase/(decrease) in comparable net merchandise sales		% Increase/(decrease) in comparable net merchandise sales
Central America	(1.8)	%	(1.0)	%
Caribbean	2.9		4.5
Colombia	(4.5)		17.9
Consolidated segments	(0.8)	%	2.7	%

	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
	June 2, 2019		June 3, 2018
	% Increase/(decrease) in comparable net merchandise sales		% Increase/(decrease) in comparable net merchandise sales
Central America	(2.9)	%	0.1	%
Caribbean	1.4		5.1
Colombia	0.6		13.6
Consolidated segments	(1.3)	%	3.0	%

Comparison of Thirteen Week Period and Thirty-Nine Week Period Ended May 31, 2019 and 2018

Comparable merchandise club sales for those warehouse clubs that were open for at least 13 ½ months for some or all of the thirteen week period ended June 2, 2019 decreased 0.8% when compared to the prior year.  Comparable merchandise club sales that were open for at least 13 ½ months for some or all of the thirty-nine week period ended on June 2, 2019 decreased 1.3%.

Comparable merchandise sales in our Central America segment decreased 1.8% and 2.9% for the thirteen weekperiod and the thirty-nine week period ended June 2, 2019. These decreases contributed approximately 100 basis points (1.0%) and 170 basis points (1.7%) of the decrease in total comparable merchandise sales, respectively.

For the thirteen week period, the negative economic conditions, foreign currency devaluation, and socio-political conditions within our Costa Rica, Panama, Honduras, and Nicaragua markets contributed approximately 150 basis points (1.5%) of the decrease, which was offset by a 50 basis point (0.5%) increase in Guatemala and El Salvador. For the thirty-nine week period, this segment’s comparable merchandise sales were impacted by the opening of our seventh warehouse club in Costa Rica in an area called Santa Ana. Often times, new warehouse clubs that we open are not far from existing warehouse clubs that are included in the calculation for comparable warehouse club sales resulting in a transfer of some sales from an existing club (in this case Escazu) to the new club.  This transfer of sales from existing warehouse clubs that are included in the calculation of comparable merchandise sales to new warehouse clubs that are not included in the calculation can have an adverse impact on reported comparable warehouse club sales. New warehouse clubs attract new members from areas not previously served by us and also create the opportunity for some existing members, particularly those who now find the new clubs closer to their homes or businesses, to shop more frequently. We estimate that the transfer of sales associated with the Santa Ana opening negatively impacted the Central America segment comparable merchandise sales by 50 basis points (0.5%) for the thirty-nine week period ending June 2, 2019. The balance of the decline in comparable merchandise sales for the Central America segment in the thirty-

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nine week period is attributable to negative economic conditions, foreign currency devaluation, and socio-political conditions in our Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala, and Nicaragua markets. These conditions contributed approximately 150 basis points (1.5%) of the decrease, which was offset by a 30 basis point (0.3%) increase in Honduras and El Salvador.

Comparable merchandise sales in our Caribbean segment increased 2.9% and 1.4% for the thirteen week period and thirty-nine week period ended June 2, 2019. These increases contributed approximately 80 basis points (0.8%) and 30 basis points (0.3%) of the positive impact in total comparable merchandise sales, respectively.

The opening of our fourth warehouse club in the Dominican Republic in May 2018 impacted this segment’s comparable merchandise sales.  We estimate that the transfer of sales associated with this warehouse club opening negatively impacted the Caribbean segment comparable merchandise sales by 50 basis points (0.5%) and 70 basis points (0.7%) for the respective periods.

Comparable merchandise sales in our Colombia segment decreased 4.5% for the thirteen week period and 0.6% for the thirty-nine week period ended June 2, 2019. The decrease contributed approximately 60 basis points (0.6%) of negative impact in total comparable sales for the respective period and 10 basis points (0.1%) of the positive impact in total comparable merchandise sales for the respective period.

The following table illustrates the impact that changes in foreign currency exchange rates had on our comparable merchandise sales in dollars and the percentage change from the thirteen week and thirty-nine week periods ended June 2, 2019.

	Currency Exchange Rate Fluctuations for the
	Thirteen Weeks Ended
	June 2, 2019
	Amount		% change
Central America	$	(13,057)	(3.0)	%
Caribbean		(2,303)	(1.1)
Colombia		(12,136)	(13.3)
Comparable merchandise sales	$	(27,496)	(3.8)	%

	Currency Exchange Rate Fluctuations for the
	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
	June 2, 2019
	Amount		% change
Central America	$	(42,084)	(3.2)	%
Caribbean		(8,149)	(1.2)
Colombia		(25,899)	(9.0)
Comparable merchandise sales	$	(76,132)	(3.4)	%

Overall, the effects of currency devaluations within our markets had an approximate $27.5 million and $76.1 million, or 380 basis point (3.8%) and 340 basis points (3.4%), negative constant currency impact on comparable net merchandise sales for the thirteen week and thirty-nine week periods ended June 2, 2019, respectively.

Currency devaluations within our Central America segment accounted for approximately 180 basis points (1.8%) and 190 basis points (1.9%) of the impact of currency devaluations on total comparable merchandise sales for the thirteen week and thirty-nine week period, respectively. Our Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua markets all experienced currency devaluation when compared to the same period last year.

Currency devaluations within our Caribbean segment accounted for approximately 30 basis points (0.3%) and 40 basis points (0.4%) of the impact of currency devaluations on total comparable merchandise sales for the thirteen week and thirty-nine week period, respectively. This is reflective of the offsetting devaluation and appreciation of the mix of currencies within the markets in this segment when compared to the same period a year ago.

Currency devaluations within our Colombia segment accounted for approximately 170 basis points (1.7%) and 110 basis points (1.1%) of the impact of currency devaluations on total comparable merchandise sales for the thirteen week and thirty-nine period, respectively.  This reflects the devaluation of the Colombia peso when compared to the same period a year ago.

42

Membership Income

Membership income is recognized ratably over the one-year life of the membership. The increase in membership income primarily reflects a growth in membership accounts. The table below represents the change in membership income by segment and as a percentage of net merchandise club sales of each segment:

	Three Months Ended
	May 31,								May 31,
	2019								2018
	Amount		Increase/ (decrease) from prior year		% Change		Membership income % to net merchandise club sales		Amount
Membership income - Central America	$	7,908	$	38	0.5	%	1.8	%	$	7,870
Membership income - Caribbean		3,475		349	11.2		1.5			3,126
Membership income - Colombia		1,749		(107)	(5.8)		1.9			1,856
Membership income - Total	$	13,132	$	280	2.2	%	1.7	%	$	12,852

	Nine Months Ended
	May 31,								May 31,
	2019								2018
	Amount		Increase (decrease) from prior year		% Change		Membership income % to net merchandise club sales		Amount
Membership income - Central America	$	23,281	$	(83)	(0.4)	%	1.7	%	$	23,364
Membership income - Caribbean		10,235		945	10.2		1.5			9,290
Membership income - Colombia		5,201		(75)	(1.4)		1.8			5,276
Membership income - Total	$	38,717	$	787	2.1	%	1.7	%	$	37,930
Number of accounts - Central America		852,013		10,357	1.2	%				841,656
Number of accounts - Caribbean		423,987		14,897	3.6					409,090
Number of accounts - Colombia		342,016		11,927	3.6					330,089
Number of accounts - Total		1,618,016		37,181	2.4	%				1,580,835

Comparison of Three and Nine Months Ended May 31, 2019 and 2018

The number of member accounts during the first nine months of fiscal year 2019 was 2.4% higher than the year before. Membership income increased 2.1% over the same period.

The growth in membership accounts during fiscal year 2019 in our Caribbean market was primarily attributable to the opening of the new San Isidro warehouse club in the Dominican Republic in May 2018. Membership accounts in Colombia increased during the same period primarily due to an improving economy and the continued growth in the market’s acceptance of the warehouse club concept. Membership accounts in Central America during the same period remained stable at 1.2% growth. The Company’s twelve-month renewal rate was 85%for the nine-month periods ended May 31, 2019 and May 31, 2018.

Additionally, we continued expanding our platinum membership program. During the third quarter of fiscal year 2019, we began offering platinum memberships in Honduras in March 2019 along with Jamaica and Barbados both in May 2019. We expect to expand our platinum membership program to additional markets this year.

43

Other Revenue

Other revenue primarily consists of non-merchandise revenue from freight and handling fees generated from our marketplace and casillero operations, interest generating portfolio from our co-branded credit cards, and rental income from operating leases where the Company is the lessor.

	Three Months Ended
	May 31, 2019						May 31, 2018
	Amount		Increase from prior year		% Change		Amount
Non-merchandise revenue	$	8,891	$	1,056	13.5	%	$	7,835
Miscellaneous income		2,401		2,064	612.5			337
Rental income		842		105	14.2			737
Other revenue	$	12,134	$	3,225	36.2	%	$	8,909

	Nine Months Ended
	May 31, 2019						May 31, 2018
	Amount		Increase from prior year		% Change		Amount
Non-merchandise revenue	$	27,910	$	20,075	256.2	%	$	7,835
Miscellaneous income		7,465		6,330	557.9			1,135
Rental income		2,470		233	10.4			2,237
Other revenue	$	37,845	$	26,638	237.7	%	$	11,207

Comparison of Three and Nine Months Ended May 31, 2019 and 2018

Other revenue for the quarter and nine-months ended May 31, 2019 includes non-merchandise revenue generated by our marketplace and casillero operations primarily from freight and handlings charges for on-line orders placed from customers in Latin America to retailers in the United States and delivered to locations throughout Latin America from a business we acquired in March 2018.  For the quarter, the net increase of $2.1 million in Miscellaneous income was primarily due to a $1.2million increase mainly resulting from the adoption of the new revenue standard ASC 606 in the first quarter of fiscal year 2019, which results in interest generating portfolio (“IGP”) income being included in Miscellaneous income. In prior periods, including the third quarter of fiscal 2018, IGP was recorded as a reduction of general and administrative costs in accordance with the previous revenue guidance in effect at that time. There was also a $666,000 reimbursement, from a credit card vendor for underpayment of income earned on our co-branded credit card IGP.  

For the nine-months ended May 31, 2019, Miscellaneous income increased $6.3 million, of which $3.4million is the result of the inclusion of IGP in Miscellaneous income. The remaining $2.9million is a reimbursement we received during the second and third quarter of this fiscal year for underpayment of income earned on our co-branded credit card IGP.  

44

Results of Operations

	Three Months Ended
Results of Operations Consolidated		May 31, 2019			May 31, 2018			Increase/(Decrease)
(Amounts in thousands, except percentages and number of warehouse clubs)
Net merchandise sales
Net merchandise sales	$	755,009		$	750,473		$	4,536
Merchandise sales gross margin	$	105,115		$	109,224		$	(4,109)
Merchandise sales gross margin percentage		13.9	%		14.6	%		(0.7)	%
Revenues
Total revenues	$	788,556		$	782,201		$	6,355
Percentage change from prior period								0.8	%
Comparable merchandise sales
Total comparable merchandise sales increase (decrease)		(0.8)	%		2.7	%		(3.5)	%
Gross margin
Total gross margin	$	126,669		$	129,507		$	(2,838)
Gross margin percentage to total revenues		16.1	%		16.6	%		(0.5)	%
Selling, general and administrative
Selling, general and administrative	$	104,672		$	101,078		$	3,594
Selling, general and administrative percentage of total revenues		13.3	%		12.9	%		0.4	%

	Three Months Ended
		May 31,	% of			May 31,	% of
Results of Operations Consolidated		2019	Total Revenue			2018	Total Revenue
Operating income- by segment
Central America	$	26,314	3.4	%	$	31,257	4.0	%
Caribbean		10,295	1.3			11,538	1.5
Colombia		3,294	0.4			2,989	0.3
United States		1,139	0.1			(883)	(0.1)
Reconciling Items (1)		(19,045)	(2.4)			(16,472)	(2.1)
Operating income - Total	$	21,997	2.8	%	$	28,429	3.6	%

⁽¹⁾ The reconciling items reflect the amount eliminated on consolidation of intersegment transactions.

45

	Nine Months Ended
Results of Operations Consolidated		May 31, 2019			May 31, 2018			Increase/(Decrease)
(Amounts in thousands, except percentages and number of warehouse clubs)
Net merchandise sales
Net merchandise sales	$	2,322,742		$	2,312,447		$	10,295
Merchandise sales gross margin	$	326,147		$	334,607		$	(8,460)
Merchandise gross margin percentage		14.0	%		14.5	%		(0.5)	%
Revenues
Total revenues	$	2,422,618		$	2,388,836		$	33,782
Percentage change from comparable period								1.4	%
Comparable merchandise sales
Total calendar comparable merchandise sales increase (decrease)		(1.3)	%		3.0	%		(4.3)	%
Gross margin
Total gross margin	$	390,693		$	383,117		$	7,576
Gross Margin percentage to total revenues		16.1	%		16.0	%		0.1	%
Selling, general and administrative
Selling, general and administrative	$	307,490		$	284,258		$	23,232
Selling, general and administrative percentage of total revenues		12.7	%		11.9	%		0.8	%

	Nine Months Ended
		May 31,	% of			May 31,	% of
Results of Operations Consolidated		2019	Total Revenue			2018	Total Revenue
Operating income- by segment
Central America	$	90,681	3.7	%	$	100,463	4.2	%
Caribbean		37,346	1.5			36,763	1.5
Colombia		10,327	0.4			8,198	0.4
United States		4,565	0.2			3,354	0.1
Reconciling Items (1)		(59,716)	(2.4)			(49,919)	(2.1)
Operating income - Total	$	83,203	3.4	%	$	98,859	4.1	%

Warehouse clubs
Warehouse clubs at period end	42	41	1
Warehouse club square feet at period end	2,123	2,074	49

⁽¹⁾ The reconciling items reflect the amount eliminated on consolidation of intersegment transactions.

46

The following table summarizes the selling, general and administrative expense for the periods disclosed.

	Three Months Ended
		May 31,	% of			May 31,	% of
		2019	Total Revenue			2018	Total Revenue
Warehouse club and other operations	$	78,231	9.9	%	$	76,259	9.8	%
General and administrative		24,532	3.1			24,079	3.1
Pre-opening expenses		1,647	0.3			352	—
Loss/(gain) on disposal of assets		262	—			388	—
Total Selling, General and Administrative	$	104,672	13.3	%	$	101,078	12.9	%

	Nine Months Ended
		May 31,	% of			May 31,	% of
		2019	Total Revenue			2018	Total Revenue
Warehouse club and other operations	$	228,161	9.4	%	$	217,712	9.1	%
General and administrative		76,835	3.2			63,167	2.7
Pre-opening expenses		1,759	0.1			863	—
Asset impairment		—	—			1,929	0.1
Loss/(gain) on disposal of assets		735	—			587	—
Total Selling, General and Administrative	$	307,490	12.7	%	$	284,258	11.9	%

The following table summarizes the costs recorded as part of our consolidation of Aeropost-related activities (net of tax benefit), including costs to expand our omni-channel capabilities, the net operating results of our marketplace and casillero business and ongoing costs we recorded as part of our post-acquisition purchase accounting.

	Three Months Ended		Nine Months Ended
	May 31, 2019		May 31, 2019
Negative impact of Aeropost-related activities (net of tax benefit) on Net income attributable to PriceSmart, Inc., before amortization	$	1,714	$	7,415
Amortization of intangibles (net of tax benefit)		471		1,398
Amortization of compensation expense		694		2,167
Negative impact of Aeropost-related activities (net of tax benefit) on Net income attributable to PriceSmart, Inc.	$	2,879	$	10,980
Impact of Aeropost-related activities (net of tax benefit) on earnings per share	$	(0.09)	$	(0.36)

Comparison of Three and Nine Months Ended May 31, 2019 and 2018

On a consolidated basis, net merchandise sales gross margin for the third quarter of fiscal year 2019 as a percentage of total net merchandise sales were 13.9%,  70 basis points (0.7%) lower than the third quarter of fiscal year 2018. Net merchandise margins decreased across all segments with the Central America segment contributing 40 basis points (0.4%), the Caribbean segment contributing 20 basis points (0.2%), and the Colombia segment contributing 10 basis points (0.1%) to the overall decline. The decline was driven largely from pricing actions to drive sales.

For the nine-month period, consolidated net merchandise sales gross margin as a percentage of total net merchandise sales were 14.0%, which is 50 basis points (0.5%) lower than the same period of fiscal year 2018. Net merchandise margins decreased across all segments with the Central America segment contributing 30 basis points (0.3%), and the Caribbean and Colombia segments each contributing 10 basis point (0.1%) to the overall decline. The decline was driven largely from pricing actions to drive sales.

Total gross margin to total revenues decreased 50 basis points (0.5%) for the three-month period presented. The quarter to date decrease is mainly due to lower net merchandise margins along with lower margins on non-merchandise revenues of our marketplace and casillero business, which decreased the gross margin to total revenues ratio by approximately 10 basis points (0.1%). Membership income, rental income and miscellaneous income gross margin percentage remained unchanged. The reclassification of income generated from the IGP as a result of the implementation of new revenue recognition standards along with a credit card contract incentive increased total gross margins by approximately 30 basis points (0.3%) for the quarter.

47

Total gross margin to total revenues increased 10 basis points (0.1%) for the nine-month period presented. The year to date increase is mainly due to higher margins on non-merchandise revenues of our marketplace and casillero business, which increased the gross margin to total revenues ratio by approximately 30 basis points (0.3%). Membership income, rental income and miscellaneous income gross margin percentage remained unchanged. The reclassification of income generated from the IGP as a result of the implementation of new revenue recognition standards along with a refund payment from a credit card vendor increased total gross margins by approximately 30 basis points (0.3%) for the year to date period.

Selling, general, and administrative expenses consist of warehouse club and other operations, general and administrative expenses, pre-opening expenses, and loss/(gain) on disposal of assets. In total, selling, general and administrative expenses increased $3.6 million to 13.3% of total revenues compared to 12.9% of total revenues in the third quarter of fiscal year 2018.

Warehouse club and other operations expense increased to 9.9% of total revenues compared to 9.8% for the third quarter of fiscal year 2018. This slight increase was attributable to operating an additional warehouse club compared to the prior year period. General and administrative expenses remained flat at 3.1% of total revenues for both comparable periods. Pre-opening expense increased to $1.3 million or 0.2% of total revenues compared to the prior year period. This increase is attributable to costs incurred to open our 42nd warehouse club and for the three remaining warehouse clubs expected to open this calendar year. 

Selling, general, and administrative expenses increased $23.2 million to 12.7% of total revenues for the nine-month period ended May 31, 2019 compared to 11.9% for the same period during fiscal year 2018.  

Warehouse club and other operations expense increased to 9.4% of total revenues compared to 9.1% for the nine-month period ended of fiscal year 2018. Our marketplace and casillero business added approximately $8.1 million or 30 basis points (0.3%) for the nine-month period.

General and administrative expenses increased to 3.2% compared to 2.7% for the nine-month period ended fiscal year 2018. Our investments to expand our omni-channel capabilities, together with our marketplace and casillero business added approximately $12.1 million or 50 basis points (0.5%), in costs to this line item for the nine-month period.

Operating income in the third quarter of fiscal year 2019 decreased to $22.0 million (2.8% of total revenue) compared to $28.4 million (3.6% of total revenue) for the same period last year, which reflects the decrease in gross margins on net merchandise sales and higher expenses year-on-year related to investments to expand our omni-channel capabilities, together with net operating results from our marketplace and casillero business.

Operating income for the nine-months ended May 31, 2019, decreased to $83.2 million (3.4% of total revenue) compared to $98.9 million (4.1% of total revenue) for the same period last year. As described above, lower merchandise margins as a percent of sales, higher expenses year-on-year related to investments to expand our omni-channel capabilities, together with the inclusion for the full nine months ended May 31, 2019 of the net operating results from our marketplace and casillero business acquired in March 2018 were the primary factors for the decrease in operating income. 

Interest Expense

	Three Months Ended
	May 31,				May 31,
	2019				2018
	Amount		Increase/ (decrease) from prior year		Amount
Interest expense on loans	$	1,407	$	(40)	$	1,447
Interest expense related to hedging activity		110		(167)		277
Capitalized interest		(602)		(240)		(362)
Net interest expense	$	915	$	(447)	$	1,362

48

	Nine Months Ended
	May 31,				May 31,
	2019				2018
	Amount		Increase/ (decrease) from prior year		Amount
Interest expense on loans	$	4,209	$	425	$	3,784
Interest expense related to hedging activity		380		(394)		774
Less: Capitalized interest		(1,640)		(691)		(949)
Net interest expense	$	2,949	$	(660)	$	3,609

Comparison of Three and Nine Months Ended May 31, 2019 and 2018

Net interest expense reflects borrowings by PriceSmart, Inc. and our wholly owned foreign subsidiaries to finance new land acquisition and construction for new warehouse clubs, warehouse club expansions and distribution centers, the capital requirements of warehouse club and other operations and ongoing working capital requirements.

Net interest expense decreased for the three- and nine-month periods ended May 31, 2019. Interest expense related to loans decreased for the three- month period ended May 31, 2019 due to lower average loan balances, while the expense increased for the nine-month period ended May 31, 2019 due to higher variable interest rates. Interest expense related to hedging activity decreased during the three- and nine-month periods due to the pay-off of the various loans held by our subsidiaries that were hedged and the remaining hedged loans having positive, or “in the money,” positions. Additional capitalized interest for the three- and nine-month periods of fiscal year 2019 compared to fiscal year 2018 resulted from higher levels of construction activities. 

Other Income (Expense), net

Other income consists of currency gain or loss, as well as net benefit costs related to our defined benefit plans.

	Three Months Ended
	May 31,						May 31,
	2019						2018
	Amount		Increase from prior year		%Change		Amount
Other income (expense), net	$	159	$	734	127.7	%	$	(575)

	Nine Months Ended
	May 31,						May 31,
	2019						2018
	Amount		(Decrease) from prior year		%Change		Amount
Other income (expense), net	$	(2,032)	$	(1,945)	(2,235.6)	%	$	(87)

Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the functional currency of the respective entity (primarily U.S. dollars) are revalued to the functional currency using the exchange rate on the balance sheet date.  These foreign exchange transaction gains (losses) are recorded as currency gains or losses.  Additionally, gains or losses from transactions denominated in currencies other that the functional currency of the respective entity also generate currency gains or losses.

49

Comparison of Three and Nine Months Ended May 31, 2019 and 2018

For the three-month period ended May 31, 2019, we had a net gain associated with foreign currency transactions of approximately $192,000. For the nine-month period ended May 31, 2019, we had a net expense associated with foreign currency transactions of approximately $1.9 million. These losses resulted from the revaluation of net U.S. dollar assets and liabilities in markets where the local functional currency revalued or devalued against the U.S. dollar, and from exchange transactions, net of any exchange reserve movements.  The main driver of the gain in the quarter and the loss for the year to date period is attributable to movements in the Jamaican dollar. Although, the Jamaican dollar depreciated resulting in a gain of $406,000 for the three-month period ended May 31, 2019, we incurred a $1.2 million loss for the nine-month period ended May 31, 2019 due to the Jamaican dollar appreciating 7.6% during the first seven months of this fiscal year. The appreciation of the Jamaican dollar adversely affected the overall value of our Jamaican assets due to our having an average U.S. dollar net asset position of $19.4 million during fiscal 2019. The Jamaican dollar (JMD) strengthening is primarily due to the Jamaican Central Bank’s intervention as part of its efforts to manage inflation this fiscal year.

Provision for Income Taxes

U.S. Tax Reform in December 2017 lowered the federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% and made numerous other law changes. The table below summarizes the effect that U.S. Tax Reform had on net income and earnings per share attributable to PriceSmart available for distribution:

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
(In thousands, except per share amounts)	May 31,		May 31,		May 31,		May 31,
	2019		2018		2019		2018
Income before provision for income taxes and income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates	$	21,551	$	26,862	$	79,346	$	96,301
Provision for income taxes calculated prior to U.S. tax law change		(6,568)		(9,204)		(26,553)		(29,231)
U.S. Tax Reform: Current tax rate reduction		557		587		1,666		2,014
U.S. Tax Reform: Re-measurement of net deferred tax assets/liabilities		—		489		—		(333)
U.S. Tax Reform: Other tax incentives		317		—		951		—
Incidental to U.S. Tax Reform: Valuation Allowances on Deferred Tax Assets		(1,784)		—		(2,785)		—
U.S. Tax Reform: Transition Tax		—		—		—		(13,400)
Subtotal of U.S. Tax Reform Effects		(910)		1,076		(168)		(11,719)
Total provision for income taxes	$	(7,478)	$	(8,128)	$	(26,721)	$	(40,950)
Income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates		(4)		(18)		(48)		3
Net income	$	14,069	$	18,716	$	52,577	$	55,354
Less: net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest		27		(22)		(59)		(22)
Net income attributable to PriceSmart, Inc.	$	14,096	$	18,694	$	52,518	$	55,332
Net income attributable to PriceSmart, Inc. per share available for distribution:
Basic net income per share	$	0.46	$	0.61	$	1.73	$	1.82
Diluted net income per share	$	0.46	$	0.61	$	1.73	$	1.82
Subtotal of U.S. Tax Reform Effects	$	(910)	$	1,076	$	(168)	$	(11,719)
Impact of U.S Tax Reform on basic and diluted net income per share	$	(0.03)	$	0.03	$	—	$	(0.38)

50

	Three Months Ended
	May 31,					May 31,
	2019					2018
	Amount			Increase/ (decrease)  from prior year		Amount
Current tax expense	$	9,298		$	1,039	$	8,259
Net deferred tax provision (benefit)		(1,820)			(1,689)		(131)
Provision for income taxes	$	7,478		$	(650)	$	8,128
Effective tax rate		34.7	%				30.3	%

	Nine Months Ended
	May 31,					May 31,
	2019					2018
	Amount			Increase/ (decrease)  from prior year		Amount
Current tax expense	$	29,457		$	(4,956)	$	34,413
Net deferred tax provision (benefit)		(2,736)			(9,273)		6,537
Provision for income taxes	$	26,721		$	(14,229)	$	40,950
Effective tax rate		33.7	%				42.5	%

Comparison of Three and Nine Months Ended May 31, 2019 and 2018

For the three months ended May 31, 2019, the effective tax rate was 34.7%. The increase in the effective tax rate versus the prior year was primarily attributable to the following factors: 

· A comparably unfavorable net impact of 6.4%, resulting from U.S. Tax Reform, which is the combination of: rate reduction, resulting in a 0.4% favorable impact; the favorable impact of 1.5% resulting from new export-related sales and service tax incentives; and the unfavorable impact of 8.3% from valuation allowances on deferred tax assets from foreign tax credits that are no longer deemed recoverable.

· The comparably favorable impact of 2.2% resulting from the effective tax rate impact of costs incurred to expand our omni-channel capabilities and the net operating results of our marketplace and casillero business.

For the nine months ended May 31, 2019, the effective tax rate was 33.7%. The decrease in the effective tax rate versus the prior year was primarily attributable to the following factors:

· The favorable impact of 13.9% resulting from nonrecurrence of the U.S. Tax Reform Transition Tax. A comparably unfavorable net impact of 2.3%, resulting from the combination of: the favorable impact of 1.2% resulting from new export-related sales and service tax incentives; and the unfavorable impact of 3.5% from allowances on deferred tax assets from foreign tax credits that are no longer deemed recoverable

· The comparably unfavorable impact of 1.9% resulting from the effective tax rate impact of costs incurred to expand our omni-channel capabilities and the net operating results of our marketplace and casillero business.

51

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

	Three Months Ended
	May 31,						May 31,
	2019						2018
	Amount		(Decrease) from prior year		% Change		Amount
Other comprehensive income (loss)	$	(11,059)	$	(8,719)	(372.6)	%	$	(2,340)

	Nine Months Ended
	May 31,						May 31,
	2019						2018
	Amount		(Decrease) from prior year		% Change		Amount
Other comprehensive income (loss)	$	(19,952)	$	(21,443)	(1,438.2)	%	$	1,491

Comparison of Three and Nine Months Ended May 31, 2019 and 2018

Our other comprehensive loss of approximately $11.1 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2019 resulted primarily from comprehensive loss of approximately $9.7 million from foreign currency translation adjustments related to assets and liabilities and the translation of revenue, costs and expenses on the statements of income of our subsidiaries whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar, combined with comprehensive loss of approximately $1.4 million related to unrealized gains on changes in derivative obligations. When the functional currency in our international subsidiaries is the local currency and not U.S. dollars, the assets and liabilities of such subsidiaries are translated to U.S. dollars at the exchange rate on the balance sheet date, and revenue, costs and expenses are translated at average rates of exchange in effect during the period.  The corresponding translation differences are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income or loss.  These adjustments would not affect net income unless the underlying investment in our local subsidiaries were liquidated.  The reported other comprehensive income or loss reflects the unrealized increase or decrease in the value in U.S. dollars of the net assets of the subsidiaries as of the date of the balance sheet, which will vary from period to period as exchange rates fluctuate. The change year over year for the three months ended is primarily due to higher foreign currency translation adjustments of $7.2 million and losses on our derivative instruments of $1.5 million. For the nine months ended May 31, 2019, other comprehensive loss of approximately $20.0 million resulted primarily from a comprehensive loss of approximately $18.0 million from foreign currency translation adjustments related to assets and liabilities and the translation of revenue, costs and expenses on the statements of income of our subsidiaries whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar. Additionally, there was a comprehensive loss of approximately $2.1 million related to unrealized gains on changes in derivative obligations.The change year over year for the nine months ended is primarily due to higher foreign currency translation adjustments of $17.8 million and losses on our derivative instruments of $3.6 million.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Financial Position and Cash Flow

Our operations have historically supplied us with a significant source of liquidity. Our cash flows provided by operating activities, supplemented with our long-term debt and short-term borrowings, have generally been sufficient to fund our operations while allowing us to invest in activities that support the long-term growth of our operations and to pay dividends on our common stock. We evaluate our funding requirements on a regular basis to cover any shortfall in our ability to generate sufficient cash from operations to meet our capital requirements. We may consider funding alternatives to provide additional liquidity when necessary.

The following table summarizes the cash and cash equivalents held by our foreign subsidiaries and domestically (in thousands).  Repatriation of cash and cash equivalents held by foreign subsidiaries may require us to accrue and pay taxes.  We have no plans at this time to repatriate cash through the payment of cash dividends by our foreign subsidiaries to our domestic operations and, therefore, have not accrued taxes that would be due from repatriation.

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The following table summarizes the cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash, held by our foreign subsidiaries and domestically (in thousands).

	May 31,		August 31,
	2019		2018
Amounts held by foreign subsidiaries	$	95,915	$	79,454
Amounts held domestically		18,068		17,460
Total cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash	$	113,983	$	96,914

The following table summarizes the short-term investments held by our foreign subsidiaries and domestically (in thousands).

	May 31,		August 31,
	2019		2018
Amounts held by foreign subsidiaries	$	17,023	$	32,304
Amounts held domestically		—		—
Total short-term investments	$	17,023	$	32,304

From time to time, we have experienced a lack of availability of U.S. dollars in certain markets (U.S. dollar illiquidity).  This impedes our ability to convert local currencies obtained through merchandise sales into U.S. dollars to settle the U.S. dollar liabilities associated with our imported products. Since fiscal year 2017, we have experienced this situation in Trinidad and have been unable to source a sufficient level of tradeable currencies in Trinidad.  We are working with our banks in Trinidad to source tradeable currencies. We expect the illiquid market conditions in Trinidad to continue.

Our cash flows are summarized as follows (in thousands):

	Nine Months Ended
	May 31,		May 31,		Increase/
	2019		2018		(Decrease)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$	112,952	$	90,787	$	22,165
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		(70,971)		(152,180)		81,209
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		(21,547)		(12,411)		(9,136)
Effect of exchange rates		(3,365)		(985)		(2,380)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	$	17,069	$	(74,789)	$	91,858

We reported a year-on-year increase in the cash and cash equivalents used of approximately $91.9 million.  The primary factors in the year-on-year improvement in the use of cash were changes in cash used in investing activities and cash provided by operating activities offset by cash used in financing activities. Net cash used in investing activities decreased approximately $81.2 million year-on-year. This was primarily due to the year-on-year net decrease in cash used for short-term investments of approximately $58.7 million and net cash paid for Aeropost of $23.9 million in the prior period. The primary driver of the decrease in cash used in short-term investments is greater purchases of surplus hard currency (such as Euros and US dollars) in Trinidad compared to the prior year period. The increase in cash provided from operating activities was approximately $22.2 million.  This was primarily due to the year-on-year increase in accounts payable due to timing of payments, a year-on-year decrease in cash used for inventory, and a year-on-year increase in stock-based compensation of approximately $20.8 million, $9.6 million, and $5.0 million, respectively. These factors positively affecting net cash provided by operating activities were offset by a year-on-year decrease in deferred income taxes, the absence of impairment charges in the current year, and a year-on-year net decrease of other operating assets and liabilities of approximately $9.3 million, $1.9 million, and $1.5 million, respectively. The year-on-year increases in cash provided by operating activities were offset by year-on-year increases in cash used in financing activities of $9.1 million, which primarily relates to payments on our long-term debt.

The following table summarizes the dividends declared and paid during fiscal year 2019 and 2018.  

First Payment

Second Payment

Declared

Amount

Record Date

Date Paid

Date Payable

Amount

Record Date

Date Paid

Date Payable

Amount

1/30/2019

$

0.70

2/15/2019

2/28/2019

N/A

$

0.35

8/15/2019

N/A

8/30/2019

$

0.35

1/24/2018

$

0.70

2/14/2018

2/28/2018

N/A

$

0.35

8/15/2018

8/31/2018

N/A

$

0.35

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We anticipate the ongoing payment of semi-annual dividends in subsequent periods, although the actual declaration of future dividends, the amount of such dividends, and the establishment of record and payment dates is subject to final determination by the Board of Directors at its discretion after its review of the Company’s financial performance and anticipated capital requirements.

Short-Term Borrowings and Long-Term Debt

Short-term borrowings consist of unsecured lines of credit. The following table summarizes the balances of total facilities, facilities used and facilities available (in thousands):

			Facilities Used
	Total Amount		Short-term		Letters of		Facilities		Weighted average
	of Facilities		Borrowings		Credit		Available		interest rate
May 31, 2019	$	69,000	$	2,152	$	572	$	66,276	6.5	%
August 31, 2018	$	69,000	$	—	$	632	$	68,368	—	%

As of May 31, 2019 and August 31, 2018, the Company had approximately $40.0 million of short-term facilities in the U.S. that require compliance with certain quarterly financial covenants.  As of May 31, 2019 and August 31, 2018, the Company was in compliance with respect to these covenants.  Each of the facilities expires annually except for the U.S. facility, which expires bi-annually. The facilities are normally renewed.

The following table provides the changes in our long-term debt for the nine months ended May 31, 2019:

(Amounts in thousands)	Current portion of long-term debt		Long-term debt (net of current portion)		Total
Balances as of August 31, 2018	$	14,855	$	87,720	$	102,575	(1)
Regularly scheduled loan payments		(2,838)		(6,671)		(9,509)
Reclassifications of long-term debt		11,644		(11,644)		—
Translation adjustments on foreign currency debt of subsidiaries whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar (2)		(181)		71		(110)
Balances as of May 31, 2019	$	23,480	$	69,476	$	92,956	(3)

⁽¹⁾ The carrying amount of non-cash assets assigned as collateral for these loans was $125.9 million.  No cash assets were assigned as collateral for these loans.

⁽²⁾ These foreign currency translation adjustments are recorded within Other comprehensive income.

⁽³⁾ The carrying amount of non-cash assets assigned as collateral for these loans was $115 million.  No cash assets were assigned as collateral for these loans.

As of May 31, 2019, the Company had approximately $86.0 million of long-term loans in the U.S., Trinidad, Panama, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Barbados and Colombia that require compliance with certain annual or quarterly financial covenants, which include debt service and leverage ratios.  As of May 31, 2019, the Company was in compliance with all covenants or amended covenants.

As of August 31, 2018, the Company had approximately $93.6 million of long-term loans in Trinidad, Panama, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Barbados and Colombia that require these subsidiaries to comply with certain annual or quarterly financial covenants.  As of August 31, 2018, the Company was in compliance with all covenants or amended covenants.

Derivatives

We are exposed to certain risks relating to our ongoing business operations.  We manage the exposure associated with interest rate and foreign currency exchange rate risks by using derivative financial instruments.  The objective of entering into derivatives is to eliminate the variability of cash flows resulting from changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates associated with servicing our debt and our subsidiaries’ merchandise-related foreign currency commitments. We measure the fair value for all financial assets and liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis during the reporting period.

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The following table summarizes the effect of the fair value of interest rate swap and cross-currency interest rate swap derivative instruments that we have designated and qualify for derivative hedge accounting and its associated tax effect on accumulated other comprehensive (income) / loss (in thousands): 

		May 31, 2019						August 31, 2018
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedging instruments	Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value		Net Tax Effect		Net OCI		Fair Value		Net Tax Effect		Net OCI
Cross-currency interest rate swaps	Other non-current assets	$	2,741	$	(862)	$	1,879	$	2,405	$	(819)	$	1,586
Interest rate swaps	Other non-current assets		1		—		1		1,959		(434)		1,525
Interest rate swaps	Other long-term liabilities		(587)		154		(433)		(8)		2		(6)
Cross-currency interest rate swaps	Other long-term liabilities		(574)		172		(402)		(494)		148		(346)
Net fair value of derivatives designated as hedging instruments		$	1,581	$	(536)	$	1,045	$	3,862	$	(1,103)	$	2,759

From time to time, we enter into non-deliverable forward exchange contracts.  These contracts are treated for accounting purposes as fair value contracts and do not qualify for derivative hedge accounting.  As of May 31, 2019 and August 31, 2018, the Company did not have any open non-deliverable forward foreign-exchange contracts. 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

The Company does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have had, or are reasonably likely to have, a material current or future effect on its financial condition or consolidated financial statements.

Repurchase of Equity Securities and Reissuance of Treasury Shares

At the vesting dates for restricted stock awards to our employees, we repurchase a portion of the shares that have vested at the prior day's closing price per share and apply the proceeds to pay the employees' minimum statutory tax withholding requirements related to the vesting of restricted stock awards.  We do not currently have a stock repurchase program. The company expects to continue this practice going forward.

Shares of common stock repurchased by us are recorded at cost as treasury stock and result in the reduction of stockholders’ equity in our consolidated balance sheets. We may reissue these treasury shares. 

	Nine Months Ended
	May 31,		May 31,
	2019		2018
Shares repurchased		51,144		22,519
Cost of repurchase of shares (in thousands)	$	3,145	$	1,916

We have reissued treasury shares as part of our stock-based compensation programs.  During the nine months ended May 31, 2019 the Company reissued 63,000 treasury shares.  We did not reissue any treasury shares during the first nine months of fiscal 2018.

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Critical Accounting Estimates

The preparation of our consolidated financial statements requires that management make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period.  Some of our accounting policies require management to make difficult and subjective judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates of matters that are inherently uncertain.  Management continues to review its accounting policies and evaluate its estimates, including those related to business acquisitions, contingencies and litigation, income taxes, value added taxes, and long-lived assets.  We base our estimates on historical experience and on other assumptions that management believes to be reasonable under the present circumstances.  Using different estimates could have a material impact on our financial condition and results of operations.

Income Taxes:We account for income taxes using the asset and liability method.  Under the asset and liability method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences and carry-forwards are expected to be recovered or settled.  The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to amounts expected to be realized. As of May 31, 2019, we evaluated our deferred tax assets and liabilities and determined that a valuation allowance was necessary for certain deferred tax asset balances, primarily because of the existence of significant negative objective evidence, such as the fact that certain subsidiaries are in a cumulative loss position for the past three years, indicating that certain net operating loss carry-forward periods are not sufficient to realize the related deferred tax assets. We also specifically considered whether foreign tax credit balances could be utilized in the foreseeable future in light of current and future U.S. tax liabilities. We have historically applied foreign tax credits, generated from taxes withheld on certain payments PriceSmart receives from its foreign subsidiaries, to reduce U.S. income tax liabilities. However, as an incidental result of U.S. tax reform, following the reduction of the U.S. corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, we expect foreign tax credits generated to exceed U.S. income tax liability for the foreseeable future. Therefore, as of May 31, 2019, we have recorded a  valuation allowance of $2.8 million against our foreign tax credits.

We are required to file federal and state income tax returns in the United States and various other tax returns in foreign jurisdictions.  The preparation of these tax returns requires us to interpret the applicable tax laws and regulations in effect in such jurisdictions, which could affect the amount of tax we pay.  We, in consultation with our tax advisors, base our tax returns on interpretations that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances.  The tax returns, however, are subject to routine reviews by the various taxing authorities in the jurisdictions in which we file our tax returns.  As part of these reviews, a taxing authority may disagree with respect to the interpretations we used to calculate our tax liability and, therefore, require us to pay additional taxes.

We accrue an amount for our estimate of probable additional income tax liability.  In certain cases, the impact of an uncertain income tax position on the income tax return must be recognized at the largest amount that is more likely than not to be sustained upon audit by the relevant tax authority.  An uncertain income tax position will not be recognized if it has less than 50% likelihood of being sustained.  This requires significant judgment, the use of estimates, and the interpretation and application of complex tax laws.  When facts and circumstances change, we reassess these probabilities and record any changes in the consolidated financial statements as appropriate.  There were no material changes in our uncertain income tax positions as of May 31, 2019 and August 31, 2018. 

Tax Receivables: We pay a Value Added Tax (“VAT”) or similar taxes (“input VAT”), income taxes, and other taxes within the normal course of our business in most of the countries in which we operate related to the procurement of merchandise and/or services we acquires and/or on sales and taxable income.  We also collect VAT or similar taxes on behalf of the government (“output VAT”) for merchandise and/or services we sell.  If the output VAT exceeds the input VAT, then the difference is remitted to the government, usually on a monthly basis.  If the input VAT exceeds the output VAT, this creates a VAT receivable. In most countries where we operate, the governments have implemented additional collection procedures, such as requiring credit card processors to remit a portion of sales processed via credit card directly to the government as advance payments of VAT and/or income tax.  In the case of VAT, these procedures alter the natural offset of input and output VAT and generally leave us with a net VAT receivable, forcing us to process significant refund claims on a recurring basis.  With respect to income taxes paid, if the estimated income taxes paid or withheld exceed the actual income tax due this creates an income tax receivable.  We either request a refund of these tax receivables or apply the balance to expected future tax payments.  These refund or offset processes can take anywhere from several months to several years to complete.

In most countries where we operate, the VAT refund process is defined and structured with regular refunds or offsets.  However, we, together with our tax and legal advisers, is currently seeking clarification in court in one country without a clearly defined process but where we expect to prevail. The balance of the VAT receivable in the country with undefined refund mechanisms was approximately $4.3 million and $3.1 million as of May 31, 2019 and August 31, 2018, respectively.  In another country in which we have warehouse clubs, beginning in fiscal year 2015, a new minimum income tax mechanism took effect,

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which requires us to pay taxes based on a percentage of sales rather than income.  As a result, we are making income tax payments substantially in excess of those we would expect to pay based on taxable income. The rules (which we have challenged in court) effective for fiscal years 2015 to 2018 do not clearly allow us to obtain a refund or offset this excess income tax against other taxes. As of May 31, 2019, we had deferred tax assets of approximately $2.3 million in this country.  Also, we had an income tax receivable balance of $7.5 million as of May 31, 2019 related to excess payments from fiscal year 2015 to 2019. In the third quarter of fiscal year 2018, a revised minimum tax law was passed in this country, which beginning in fiscal year 2020 will reduce the minimum tax rate. Additionally, this law clarifies rules on a go-forward basis for reimbursement of excess minimum tax paid beginning in fiscal year 2019, but not for prior years. Nevertheless, we have not placed any type of allowance on the recoverability of these tax receivables or deferred tax assets because we believe that it is more likely than not that we will ultimately succeed in these refund requests, related appeals and/or court challenge on these matters.

Our policy for classification and presentation of VAT receivables, income tax receivables and other tax receivables is as follows:

· Short-term VAT and Income tax receivables, recorded as Other current assets: This classification is used for any countries where our subsidiary has generally demonstrated the ability to recover the VAT or income tax receivable within one year.  We also classify as short-term any approved refunds or credit notes to the extent that we expect to receive the refund or use the credit notes within one year.

· Long-term VAT and Income tax receivables, recorded as Other non-current assets: This classification is used for amounts not approved for refund or credit in countries where our subsidiary has not demonstrated the ability to obtain refunds within one year and/or for amounts which are subject to outstanding disputes.  An allowance is provided against VAT and income tax receivable balances in dispute when we do not expect to eventually prevail in its recovery of such balances. We do not currently have any allowances provided against VAT and income tax receivables.

Long-lived Assets: We periodically evaluate our long-lived assets for indicators of impairment.  Indicators that an asset may be impaired are:

· the asset's inability to continue to generate income from operations and positive cash flow in future periods;

· loss of legal ownership or title to the asset;

· significant changes in its strategic business objectives and utilization of the asset(s); and

· the impact of significant negative industry or economic trends.

Management's judgments are based on market and operational conditions at the time of the evaluation and can include management's best estimate of future business activity, which in turn drives estimates of future cash flows from these assets. These periodic evaluations could cause management to conclude that impairment factors exist, requiring an adjustment of these assets to their then-current fair market value. Loss/(gain) on disposal of assets recorded during the years reported resulted from improvements to operations and normal preventive maintenance.

Business Combinations: We applied the provisions of ASC 805, Business Combinations, in accounting for the acquisition of Aeropost. It required us to recognize separately from goodwill the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed at the acquisition date fair values. Goodwill as of the acquisition date is measured as the excess of consideration transferred over the net of the acquisition date fair values of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed. While we used our best estimates and assumptions to accurately value assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date as well as any contingent consideration, where applicable, our estimates are inherently uncertain and subject to refinement. As a result, during the measurement period, which may be up to one year from the acquisition date, we may record adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed with the corresponding offset to goodwill. Upon the conclusion of the measurement period or final determination of the values of assets acquired or liabilities assumed, whichever comes first, any subsequent adjustments will be recorded to our consolidated statements of operations.

Accounting for a business combination required our management to make significant estimates and assumptions, especially at the acquisition date, including our estimates of the value of intangible assets, contractual obligations assumed, pre-acquisition contingencies and any contingent consideration, where applicable. Although we believe that the assumptions and estimates we have made for the acquisition of Aeropost are reasonable and appropriate, they are based in part on historical experience and information obtained from the management of the acquired company and are inherently uncertain.

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Examples of critical estimates in valuing certain of the intangible assets we have acquired include but are not limited to:

· future expected cash flows from the existing revenue streams of Aeropost, including the related estimates of amounts and timing and estimated costs to sell, market, deliver and support such revenues, among other estimates;

· future expected cash flows from acquired developed technology including estimated amounts to be received for such developed technology and the time period over which such cash flows are expected to be received, among other estimates; and

· discount rates.

Unanticipated events and circumstances may occur that may affect the accuracy or validity of such assumptions, estimates or actual results.

We may identify certain pre-acquisition contingencies as of the acquisition date and may extend our review and evaluation of these pre-acquisition contingencies throughout the measurement period in order to obtain sufficient information to assess whether we should include these contingencies as a part of the fair value estimates of assets acquired and liabilities assumed and, if so, determine their estimated amounts.

If we cannot reasonably determine the fair value of a pre-acquisition contingency (non-income tax related) by the end of the measurement period, which is generally the case given the nature of such matters, we will recognize an asset or a liability for such pre-acquisition contingency if: (1) it is probable that an asset existed or a liability had been incurred at the acquisition date and (2) the amount of the asset or liability can be reasonably estimated.

Subsequent to the measurement period, changes in our estimates of such contingencies will affect earnings and could have a material effect on our results of operations and financial position.

In addition, uncertain tax positions and tax-related valuation allowances assumed in connection with a business combination are initially estimated as of the acquisition date. We reevaluate these items quarterly, with any adjustments to our preliminary estimates being recorded to goodwill if identified within the measurement period. Subsequent to the measurement period or our final determination of the tax allowance’s or contingency’s estimated value, whichever comes first, changes to these uncertain tax positions and tax-related valuation allowances will affect our provision for income taxes in our consolidated statement of operations and could have a material impact on our results of operations and financial position. For the period ended May 31, 2019, there were no significant changes in the estimates of these positions or valuation allowances.

Seasonality

Historically, our merchandising businesses have experienced holiday retail seasonality in their markets.  In addition to seasonal fluctuations, our operating results fluctuate quarter-to-quarter as a result of economic and political events in markets that we serve, the timing of holidays, weather, the timing of shipments, product mix, and currency effects on the cost of U.S.-sourced products which may make these products more or less expensive in local currencies and therefore more or less affordable.  Because of such fluctuations, the results of operations of any quarter are not indicative of the results that may be achieved for a full fiscal year or any future quarter.  In addition, there can be no assurance that our future results will be consistent with past results or the projections of securities analysts.

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ITEM 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Market risks relating to our operations result primarily from changes in interest rates and changes in currency exchange rates.  There have been no material changes in our market risk factors at May 31, 2019 compared to those disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2018. The gross fair value of our derivative financial instruments designated as cash flow hedges has decreased by $2.3 million since August 31, 2018, primarily due to the fluctuations in interest rates, fluctuations in exchange rates for the currencies that are being hedged, and changes in the scheduled maturities of the underlying instruments during the nine months ended May 31, 2019. Movements in currency exchange rates and the related impact on the translation of the balance sheets of our subsidiaries whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar were the cause of the $18.0 million loss in the foreign currency translation adjustments category of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the nine months ended May 31, 2019.

In addition, the monetary assets and liabilities of our subsidiaries whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar that are denominated in currencies other than the functional currency of the respective entity (primarily U.S. dollars) are revalued to the functional currency using the exchange rate on the balance sheet date.  These foreign exchange transaction gains (losses), including transactions recorded involving these monetary assets and liabilities, are recorded as currency gain (loss) within Other income (expense) in the consolidated statements of income.

The following table summarizes the amounts recorded for the three and nine months ending May 31, 2019 and 2018 (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	May 31,		May 31,		May 31,		May 31,
	2019		2018		2019		2018
Currency gain (loss)	$	192	$	(575)	$	(1,930)	$	(87)

From time to time, we have experienced a lack of availability of U.S. dollars in certain markets (U.S. dollar illiquidity).  This impedes our ability to convert local currencies obtained through merchandise sales into U.S. dollars to settle the U.S. dollar liabilities associated with our imported products. Since fiscal year 2017, we have experienced this situation in Trinidad and have been unable to source a sufficient level of tradeable currencies in Trinidad.  We are working with our banks in Trinidad to source tradeable currencies. We expect the illiquid market conditions in Trinidad to continue.

As of May 31, 2019, our Trinidad subsidiary had net U.S. dollar denominated assets of approximately $37.3 million, an increase of $24.3 million from August 31, 2018 when our Trinidad subsidiary had a net U.S. dollar denominated asset of approximately $13.0 million. We are carefully monitoring the situation, which may require us to limit future shipments from the U.S. to Trinidad in line with our ability to exchange Trinidad dollars for tradeable currencies to manage our exposure to any potential devaluation.

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ITEM 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the timelines specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decision regarding required disclosure.  In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can only provide reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and in reaching a reasonable level of assurance, management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.  Also, we have investments in certain unconsolidated entities.  Because we do not control or manage those entities, our control procedures with respect to those entities were substantially more limited than those we maintain with respect to our consolidated subsidiaries.

As required by SEC Rules 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e), we carried out an evaluation as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures.  Based upon their evaluation, the Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.

In the ordinary course of business, we review our system of internal control over financial reporting and make changes to our systems and processes to improve controls and increase efficiency, while ensuring that we maintain an effective internal control environment.  Changes may include such activities as implementing new, more efficient systems and automating manual processes.  There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) during our most recently completed fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

The certifications required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are filed as Exhibit 31.1 and 31.2 to this report.

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

We are often involved in claims arising in the ordinary course of business seeking monetary damages and other relief. Based upon information currently available to us, none of these claims is expected to have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

On May 22, 2019, a class action complaint was filed against PriceSmart, Inc., as well as certain former and current officers in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. The Complaint alleges violations of Section 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, in connection with the Company’s 2017 Form 10-K and 2018 Form 10-Qs. The Company intends to vigorously defend itself against any obligations or liability to the plaintiffs with respect to such claims. The Company believes the claims are without merit.

ITEM 1A.  RISK FACTORS

In addition to the other information set forth in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the reader should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2018.  There have been no material changes in the Company's risk factors from those disclosed in Part I, Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2018.

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ITEM 2.  UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

(a)           None.

(b)           None.

(c)           Purchase of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers. 

Upon vesting of restricted stock awarded by the Company to employees, the Company repurchases shares and withholds the amount of the repurchase payment to cover employees’ tax withholding obligations.  As set forth in the table below, during the quarter ended May 31, 2019, the Company repurchased 12,000 shares in the indicated months.  These were the only repurchases of equity securities made by the Company during the third quarter of fiscal year 2019. The Company does not have a stock repurchase program.

Period	(a) Total Number of Shares Purchased		(b) Average Price Paid Per Share		(c) Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs		(d) Maximum Number of Shares That May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
March 1, 2019 - March 31, 2019		3,698	$	61.99		—		N/A
April 1, 2019 - April 30, 2019		8,502	$	58.66		—		N/A
May 1, 2019 - May 31, 2019		—	$	—		—		N/A
Total		12,200	$	59.67		—		—

ITEM 3.  DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

ITEM 4.  MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

ITEM 5.  OTHER INFORMATION

None.

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ITEM 6.  EXHIBITS

(a) Exhibits:

3.1(1)	Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company.
3.2(2)	Certificate of Amendment of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company.
3.3(3)	Certificate of Amendment of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company.
3.4(4)	Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company.
10.1(5)*	Employment Agreement dated March 4, 2019 between Sherry S. Bahrambeygui and the Company
31.1	Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2	Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1**	Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2**	Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

*	Identifies management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
**	These certifications are being furnished solely to accompany this Report pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, and are not being filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of PriceSmart, Inc., whether made before or after the date hereof, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.

⁽¹⁾ Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 1997 filed with the Commission on November 26, 1997.

⁽²⁾ Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended February 29, 2004 filed with the Commission on April 14, 2004.

⁽³⁾ Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2004 filed with the Commission on November 24, 2004.

⁽⁴⁾ Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on July 17, 2015.

⁽⁵⁾ Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on March 7, 2019.

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SIGNATURES

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

		PRICESMART, INC.
Date:	July 10, 2019	By:	/s/ SHERRY S. BAHRAMBEYGUI
			Sherry S. Bahrambeygui
			Chief Executive Officer
			(Principal Executive Officer)
Date:	July 10, 2019	By:	/s/ MAARTEN O. JAGER
			Maarten O. Jager
			Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
			(Principal Financial Officer and
			Principal Accounting Officer)

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