Genesco Inc. Announces Special Meeting Date

July 26, 2007 at 5:14 PM EDT
-Meeting to Include Vote to Adopt Merger Agreement for Acquisition of Genesco Inc.-
NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 26, 2007 /PRNewswire via COMTEX News Network/ -- Genesco Inc. (NYSE: GCO) announced today that it will hold a special meeting of Genesco's shareholders on September 17, 2007 at 11:00 a.m., local time, at Genesco's executive offices, located at Genesco Park, 1415 Murfreesboro Road, Nashville, Tennessee. At the special meeting, Genesco's shareholders will vote on the previously announced merger agreement under which The Finish Line, Inc. will acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Genesco for $54.50 per share in cash as well as a proposal to approve and adopt a charter amendment to permit the redemption of Genesco's Employees' Subordinated Convertible Preferred Stock after the completion of the merger. Shareholders of record as of the close of business on August 6, 2007 will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the special meeting.

Genesco Inc., a Nashville-based specialty retailer, sells footwear, headwear and accessories in more than 2,050 retail stores in the United States and Canada, principally under the names Journeys, Journeys Kidz, Shi by Journeys, Johnston & Murphy, Underground Station, Hatworld, Lids, Hat Shack, Hat Zone, Head Quarters and Cap Connection, and on internet websites www.journeys.com, www.journeyskidz.com, www.undergroundstation.com, www.johnstonmurphy.com, www.lids.com and www.lidskids.com . The Company also sells footwear at wholesale under its Johnston & Murphy brand and under the licensed Dockers brand. Additional information on Genesco and its operating divisions may be accessed at its website www.genesco.com .

Important Additional Information will be Filed with the SEC

In connection with the proposed merger, on July 11, 2007, Genesco filed a preliminary proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE ADVISED TO READ THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE, BECAUSE IT WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE MERGER AND THE PARTIES THERETO. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of the definitive proxy statement (when available) and other documents filed by Genesco at the Securities and Exchange Commission's Web site at http://www.sec.gov/. The definitive proxy statement and such other documents may also be obtained for free from Genesco by directing such request to Genesco, Office of the Secretary, 1415 Murfreesboro Road, Nashville, Tennessee 37217, telephone (615) 367-8441.

Genesco and its directors, executive officers and other members of its management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from its stockholders in connection with the proposed merger. Information concerning the interests of Genesco's participants in the solicitation, which may be different than those of Genesco stockholders generally, is set forth in Genesco's proxy statements and Annual Reports on Form 10-K, previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in the proxy statement relating to the merger when it becomes available.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release regard matters that are not historical facts and are forward looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, and the rules promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Because such forward looking statements contain risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such forward looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to: (1) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement; (2) the outcome of any legal proceedings that have been or may be instituted against Genesco and others following announcement of the proposal or the merger agreement; (3) the inability to complete the merger due to the failure to obtain shareholder approval or the failure to satisfy other conditions to the completion of the merger, (4) the failure to obtain the necessary debt financing arrangements set forth in commitment letters received in connection with the merger; (5) risks that the proposed transaction disrupts current plans and operations and the potential difficulties in employee retention as a result of the merger; (6) the ability to recognize the benefits of the merger; (7) the amount of the costs, fees, expenses and charges related to the merger and the actual terms of certain financings that will be obtained for the merger; and (8) the impact of the substantial indebtedness incurred to finance the consummation of the merger. Our businesses are also subject to a number of risks generally such as: (1) changing consumer preferences; (2) the companies' inability to successfully market their footwear, apparel, accessories and other merchandise; (3) price, product and other competition from other retailers (including internet and direct manufacturer sales); (4) the unavailability of products; (5) the inability to locate and obtain favorable lease terms for the companies' stores; (6) the loss of key employees; (7) general economic conditions and adverse factors impacting the retail athletic industry; (8) management of growth; and (9) other risks that are set forth in the "Risk Factors," "Legal Proceedings" and "Management Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition" sections of, and elsewhere, in their SEC filings, copies of which may be obtained by contacting the investor relations departments of each company via their websites www.finishline.com and www.genesco.com. Many of the factors that will determine the outcome of the subject matter of this press release are beyond The Finish Line's and Genesco's ability to control or predict. The companies undertake no obligation to release publicly the results of any revisions to these forward looking statement that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

SOURCE Genesco Inc.

Media, Claire S. McCall, +1-615-367-8283, or Financial, James S. Gulmi,
+1-615-367-8325
http://www.genesco.com

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