Purchased, outsourced and other costs
Purchased, outsourced and other costs mainly consist of consultancy fees and corporate bodies fees, advertising and marketing expenses (which include communication and marketing costs, and expenses for advertising, media and events), lease expenses (primarily variable rents which are not dependent on an index or rate), service costs for outsourced manufacturing from third parties on commissions, freight, insurance and selling expenses, utilities and maintenance expenses, as well as other services.
The following table sets forth the purchased, outsourced and other costs for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(Euro thousands, except percentages) | | For the years ended December 31, | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Purchased, outsourced and other costs | | | (353,629 | ) | | | (286,926 | ) | | | (371,697 | ) | | | (66,703 | ) | | | (23.2 | )% | | | 84,771 | | | | 22.8 | % |
Purchased, outsourced and other costs as % of Revenues | | | (27.4 | )% | | | (28.3 | )% | | | (28.1 | )% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Purchased, outsourced and other costs for the year ended December 31, 2021 amounted to €353,629 thousand, an increase of €66,703 thousand or 23.2%, compared to €286,926 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2020.
The increase in purchased, outsourced and other costs was primarily attributable to (i) an increase in consultancy fees and corporate bodies fees of €42,031 thousand, mainly due to €34,092 thousand of costs related to bank services, legal advisors and other consultancy services relating to the Business Combination, (ii) an increase in lease expenses of €23,590 thousand, including the effects of lower rent reductions received in 2021 compared to 2020 as a result of the
COVID-19
pandemic (rent reductions amounted to €12,877 thousand in 2021 compared to €24,931 thousand in 2020) as well as an increase of €8,756 thousand of variable lease payments driven by the increase in DTC sales and (iii) an increase of €9,757 thousand of advertising and marketing expenses mainly due to actions taken by Zegna in 2020 to reduce costs as a result of the
COVID-19
pandemic, partially offset by (iv) a decrease in costs for the outsourcing of production of €6,009 thousand driven by a change in mix of production inputs.
Purchased, outsourced and other costs as a percentage of revenues decreased from 28.3% for the year ended December 31, 2020 to 27.4% for the year ended December 31, 2021, mainly as a result of the significant increase in revenues as described above.
Purchased, outsourced and other costs for the year ended December 31, 2020 amounted to €286,926 thousand, a decrease of €84,771 thousand or 22.8%, compared to €371,697 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2019.
The decrease in purchased, outsourced and other costs in 2020 compared to 2019 was primarily attributable to the effects of the
COVID-19
pandemic, including (i) €8,696 thousand of reduced variable rents as a result of the decline in sales driven by the pandemic, €1,866 thousand of reduced short term rents and low value rental agreements, and €24,931 thousand savings resulting from rent reductions negotiated with landlords, (ii) Zegna’s cost reduction initiatives (including reductions in advertising and marketing activities amounting to €13,322 thousand), (iii) €15,418 thousand reduced costs for outsourced production related to lower volumes due to
COVID-19,
and (iv) lower freight, insurance and selling expenses of €11,572 thousand resulting from the decline in activity due to
COVID-19,
partially offset by (v) higher expenses for royalties of €1,102 thousand in 2020 compared to 2019 thanks to a new partnership agreement with the Fear of God brand.
Purchased, outsourced and other costs as a percentage of revenues increased from 28.1% in 2019 to 28.3% in 2020 mainly as a result of the decrease in revenues caused by the
COVID-19
pandemic.
Personnel costs include expenses related to wages and salaries for Zegna’s employees, social and pension contributions, severance indemnities, uniforms, benefits and other payroll expenses, as well as share-based payments.
The following table sets forth personnel costs for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(Euro thousands, except percentages) | | For the years ended December 31, | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | (367,762 | ) | | | (282,659 | ) | | | (331,944 | ) | | | (85,103 | ) | | | (30.1 | )% | | | 49,285 | | | | 14.8 | % |
Personnel costs as % of revenues | | | (28.5 | )% | | | (27.9 | )% | | | (25.1 | )% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Personnel costs for the year ended December 31, 2021 amounted to €367,762 thousand, an increase of €85,103 thousand or 30.1%, compared to €282,659 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2020.
The increase in personnel costs was primarily attributable to (i) an increase in wages and salaries of €61,802 thousand primarily due to the actions taken in 2020 in response to
COVID-19
(many of which were partially or fully reversed in 2021), including the impact of furlough and other temporary layoff measures taken at our DOSs, cuts on senior and
mid-level
manager salaries and permanently reduced headcount in certain business functions, as well as €10,916 thousand relating to a
one-time
gift of €1,500 to each employee of the Group as a result of the Company’s listing on the NYSE on