Genesco Reports Increased Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2002 Sales and Earnings

March 6, 2002 at 8:10 AM EST
NASHVILLE, Tenn., Mar 6, 2002 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Genesco Inc. (NYSE: GCO) today announced results of operations for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended February 2, 2002. Earnings before discontinued operations, excluding certain unusual items shown on the table following this announcement, were $15.4 million or $0.60 per diluted share for the quarter, compared to $15.0 million or $0.59 per share for the previous year's fourth quarter, also excluding unusual items in that period shown on the table.

The unusual items in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002 include charges and provisions primarily related to previously announced plans to close a manufacturing plant and reduce operating expenses as well as a reduction in the tax provision. The unusual items in the previous year were related to the cancellation of a footwear license by the Company. Including the unusual items in both quarters, earnings before discontinued operations were $15.8 million or $0.61 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002, compared to $12.3 million or $0.49 per share in the same period the year before. Net sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002 increased 4% to $223 million compared to $214 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2001.

For the year ended February 2, 2002, earnings before discontinued operations, excluding the unusual items, were $38.0 million or $1.52 per diluted share, up from $35.6 million or $1.45 per share for the previous year. Earnings before discontinued operations, including the unusual items, rose to $38.3 million or $1.54 per diluted share in fiscal 2002 from $32.8 million or $1.35 per share in fiscal 2001. Net sales for fiscal 2002 increased 10% to $747 million from $680 million the previous year.

Genesco Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ben T. Harris, said, "We were pleased to report fourth quarter results at the high end of our previous range of guidance and above the First Call earnings consensus estimate of $0.58. This solid momentum continues into the first quarter and we remain encouraged about our prospects for this year and beyond.

"The strength of our business and the resolve of our management team were highly evident during fiscal 2002, as we achieved solid results in a year marked by unprecedented events. We grew total sales to $747 million and registered a 1% same store sales gain during the year, while opening 153 new stores and ending fiscal 2002 with 908 stores. We also took a number of decisive actions to improve our businesses and streamline operations.

"Journeys net sales increased 18% during the quarter and same store sales rose 3%. Journeys net sales for the year increased 27% to $382 million and same store sales rose 6%. We opened 19 Journeys stores during the quarter and 97 stores for the full year and ended fiscal 2002 with 519 stores in operation. Journeys remains the leading, mall-based footwear retailer for teenagers and young adults and we expect to double our store count in the next several years."

Harris continued, "The Jarman Group's performance for the quarter began to reflect its progress through the year and the positive impact of the new management team on that business. Overall sales increased 5% in the fourth quarter to $43 million and total same store sales fell 2%, continuing the sequential quarter over quarter improvements under the new management team, and ending the year with a same store sales gain of 14% in January. For the year, the Jarman Group's total sales increased 10% to $120 million and same store sales fell 4%. We are confident that we now have the right products in the stores and the right team to execute a successful business strategy.

"Johnston & Murphy's net sales were $42 million for quarter. Same store sales were down 4%, compared to a 16% decline in the third quarter. Net sales for the brand were $168 million and same store sales fell 9% for the full year. Johnston & Murphy's inventories were down 10% at year end, reflecting the management team's determination to start the new year with an improved inventory position. Given the strength of the brand and our confidence in the new Johnston & Murphy management team we announced last quarter, we expect to see improvement in this business this year.

"Dockers sales were flat for the quarter at $14 million, and increased 13% for the year to $71 million. Although the environment remains somewhat challenging, Dockers is well positioned in the market and it continues to make meaningful inroads in department stores and national footwear chains."

Harris concluded, "We feel good about our business as we enter the new year and expect fiscal 2003 sales to grow at 10% to 15% and earnings per share to grow at 5% to 10%. As we have said in the past, it is our diverse mix of businesses, our lifestyle focus and our management disciplines that combine to give Genesco a solid and stable baseline that may be unique in the industry."

This release contains forward-looking statements, including those dealing with expectations for the Company's and each division's performance for the current fiscal year and thereafter. Any statements that do not reflect historical information involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results could be materially different. The factors that could cause materially different results include lower than expected consumer demand for the Company's products, whether caused by weakness in the overall economy or by changes in fashions or tastes that the Company fails to anticipate or respond appropriately to, changes in buying patterns by significant wholesale customers, disruptions in product supply or distribution, including the impact of plans to open a new distribution center, the inability to adjust inventory levels to sales and changes in business strategies by the Company's competitors. Other factors that could cause results to differ from expectations include the Company's ability to open, staff and support additional retail stores on schedule and at acceptable expense levels, and the outcome of litigation and environmental matters involving the Company. Forward-looking statements reflect the expectations of the Company at the time they are made, and investors should rely on them only as expressions of opinion about what may happen in the future and only at the time they are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

The Company's live conference call on March 6, 2002, at 10:00 a.m. (Central time) may be accessed through the Company's internet website, www.genesco.com. The Company expects to discuss results from the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2002, and its current expectations for the first quarter and fiscal year ending February 1, 2003, during the call. To listen live, please go to the website at least 15 minutes early to register, download and install any necessary software. A replay will be available shortly after the call for 14 days.

Genesco, based in Nashville, sells footwear and accessories in more than 900 retail stores in the U.S., principally under the names Journeys, Journeys Kidz, Johnston & Murphy, Jarman and Underground Station, and on internet websites www.journeys.com and www.johnstonmurphy.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.

                                    GENESCO INC.


          Consolidated Earnings Summary
                                           Fourth Quarter   Fiscal Year Ended
          In Thousands                    2002      2001      2002      2001

          Net sales                    $222,588  $214,193  $746,821  $680,166
          Cost of sales                 119,014   110,614   396,891   356,653
          Selling and administrative
           expenses                      76,429    78,124   281,376   258,893
          Restructuring and other
           charges(A)                     5,395     4,433     5,126     4,433
          Earnings from operations
           before interest               21,750    21,022    63,428    60,187
          Interest expense, net           1,982     1,606     7,564     7,200
          Earnings before income taxes
           and
             discontinued operations     19,768    19,416    55,864    52,987
          Income tax expense              3,957     7,094    17,541    20,156
          Earnings before discontinued
           operations                    15,811    12,322    38,323    32,831
          Discontinued operations (net
           of tax):
             Operating income (loss)         --        --        --      (226)
             Provision for
              discontinued operations      (545)      (32)   (1,253)   (3,007)
          Net Earnings                  $15,266   $12,290   $37,070   $29,598

       (A) Restructuring and other charges includes $0.3 million and $1.0
           million of inventory write-down in Fiscal 2002 and 2001,
           respectively


          Earnings Per Share
           Information
                                            Fourth Quarter   Fiscal Year Ended
          In Thousands (except per          2002      2001      2002      2001
           share amounts)

          Preferred dividend
           requirements                     $74       $74       $294      $299

          Average common shares -
           Basic EPS                     21,810    21,499     21,881    21,513

          Basic earnings per share:
            Before discontinued
             operations                   $0.72     $0.57      $1.74     $1.51
            Net earnings                  $0.70     $0.57      $1.68     $1.36

          Average common and common
              equivalent shares -
               Diluted EPS               27,171    27,073     27,293    27,023

          Diluted earnings per share:
            Before discontinued
             operations                   $0.61     $0.49      $1.54     $1.35
            Net earnings                  $0.59     $0.49      $1.49     $1.23



                                 GENESCO INC.


          Consolidated Earnings Summary
                                          Fourth Quarter    Fiscal Year Ended
          In Thousands                    2002      2001      2002      2001
          Sales:
              Journeys                 $123,198  $104,100  $381,736  $300,758
              Jarman                     42,623    40,742   120,242   109,791
              Johnston & Murphy          42,440    51,894   167,989   188,060
              Licensed Brands(A)         14,327    17,457    76,854    81,557
              Net Sales                 222,588   214,193   746,821   680,166
          Pretax Earnings (Loss):
              Journeys                  $19,854   $17,902   $51,925   $41,869
              Jarman                      5,684     5,332     5,319     8,395
              Johnston & Murphy           2,655     7,611    14,125    24,636
              Licensed Brands(B)          1,005       553     8,001     4,695
              Corporate and Other(C)     (2,053)   (5,943)  (10,816)  (14,975)
              Restructuring and Other
               Charges                   (5,395)   (4,433)   (5,126)   (4,433)
             Operating income            21,750    21,022    63,428    60,187

             Interest, net                1,982     1,606     7,564     7,200

          Total Pretax Earnings          19,768    19,416    55,864    52,987
          Income tax expense              3,957     7,094    17,541    20,156
          Earnings before discontinued
           operations                    15,811    12,322    38,323    32,831

          Discontinued operations (net
           of tax):
             Operating income (loss)         --        --        --      (226)
             Provision for
              discontinued operations      (545)      (32)   (1,253)   (3,007)

          Net Earnings                  $15,266   $12,290   $37,070   $29,598

       (A) Includes Nautica sales of $0.0 million, $3.2 million, $6.1 million
           and $18.8 million for the fourth quarter and year of Fiscal 2002
           and 2001, respectively.
       (B) Includes Nautica operating losses of $0.1 million, $0.4 million,
           $0.6 million and $2.5 million for the fourth quarter and year of
           of Fiscal 2002 and 2001, respectively.
       (C) Includes unusual credits of $0.1 million for litigation and
           severance in the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2002 and 2001 and unusual
           charges of $0.4 million and $0.1 million for litigation and
           severance in Fiscal 2002 and 2001, respectively.  In addition, the
           fourth quarter and year of Fiscal 2002 includes an insurance credit
           of $0.3 million.


                                 GENESCO INC.


          Consolidated Balance Sheet
                                                      February 2,  February 3,
          In Thousands                                   2002          2001
          Assets
          Cash and short-term
           investments                                  $46,384       $60,382
          Accounts receivable                            19,857        22,700
          Inventories                                   142,856       134,236
          Other current assets                           20,659        26,069
          Current assets of
           discontinued operations*                          --           359
          Total current assets                          229,756       243,746
          Plant, equipment and capital
           leases                                       112,550        87,747
          Other non-current assets                       20,749        20,040
          Non-current assets of
           discontinued operations*                         499           630
          Total Assets                                 $363,554      $352,163
          Liabilities and
           Shareholders' Equity
          Total current liabilities                      74,226        98,820
          Long-term debt and capital
           leases                                       103,245       103,500
          Other long-term liabilities                    24,896        11,618
          Shareholders' equity                          161,187       138,225
          Total Liabilities and
           Shareholders' Equity                        $363,554      $352,163

    *Current and non-current assets of discontinued operations include
     Volunteer Leather.



                                     GENESCO INC.


          Retail Units Operated - Twelve Months Ended February 2, 2002

                                 Balance                              Balance
                                 02/03/01  Open  Conversions  Close   02/02/02

          Journeys Group            425    111      (1)         2       533
              Journeys              425     97      (1)         2       519
              Journeys Kidz           0     14       0          0        14
          Jarman Group              207     32       1         13       227
              Jarman Retail         150      0      (8)        12       130
              Underground Station    57     32       9          1        97
          Johnston & Murphy         147     10       0          9       148
              Shops                 115      9       0          8       116
              Factory Outlets        32      1       0          1        32
          Total Retail Units        779    153       0         24       908


          Retail Units Operated - Three Months Ended February 2, 2002

                                 Balance                              Balance
                                 11/03/01  Open  Conversions  Close   02/2/02

          Journeys Group            513     21      (1)         0       533
              Journeys              501     19      (1)         0       519
              Journeys Kidz          12      2       0          0        14
          Jarman                    225      4       1          3       227
              Jarman Retail         134      0      (1)         3       130
              Underground Station    91      4       2          0        97
          Johnston & Murphy         148      2       0          2       148
              Shops                 115      2       0          1       116
              Factory Outlets        33      0       0          1        32
          Total Retail Units        886     27       0          5       908


          Constant Store Sales
                               Three Months Ended     Twelve Months Ended
                             February 2,  February 3, February 2, February 3,
                                2002        2001         2002        2001

          Journeys                3%          7%           6%         12%
          Jarman                 -2%          5%          -4%          6%
            Jarman Retail         0%          4%          -4%          4%
            Underground Station  -5%         12%          -3%         24%
          Johnston & Murphy      -4%         -1%          -9%          3%
            Shops                -7%          1%         -10%          4%
            Factory Outlets       9%         -9%          -4%         -1%
          Total Constant Store
           Sales                  1%          5%           1%          8%



                                     GENESCO INC.

          Earnings Per Share Information
                                             Fourth Quarter - Fiscal 2002
          In Thousands (except per share
          amounts)                         Income       Shares       Amount
          Basic earnings per share:
            Earnings before discontinued
             operations as reported       $15,811       21,810    $  0.72(A)
             Unusual items:
                Restructuring and other
                 charges (net of tax)       3,373       21,810       0.15
                Insurance proceeds           (326)      21,810      (0.01)
                Other adjustments (net of
                 tax)                         (56)      21,810       0.00
                Adjustment of tax
                 liability                 (3,452)      21,810      (0.16)
              Adjusted totals             $15,350       21,810    $  0.70

          (A) Includes adjustment of $74,000 for preferred dividends in the
              fourth quarter of Fiscal 2002.


          Diluted earnings per share:
            Earnings before discontinued
             operations as reported       $15,811       27,171    $  0.61(B)
             Unusual items:
                Restructuring and other
                 charges (net of tax)       3,373       27,171       0.13
                Insurance proceeds           (326)      27,171      (0.01)
                Other adjustments (net of
                 tax)                         (56)      27,171       0.00
                Adjustment of tax
                 liability                 (3,452)      27,171      (0.13)
              Adjusted totals             $15,350       27,171    $  0.60

         (B) Includes adjustments of $74,000 for preferred dividends and
             $968,000 for interest add back in the fourth quarter of
             Fiscal 2002.


                                             Fourth Quarter - Fiscal 2001
          In Thousands (except per share
           amounts)                       Income        Shares      Amount
          Basic earnings per share:
            Earnings before discontinued
             operations as reported       $12,322      21,499    $  0.57(C)
             Unusual items:
                Restructuring and other
                 charges (net of tax)       2,748      21,499       0.13
                Other adjustments (net of
                 tax)                         (46)     21,499       0.00
              Adjusted totals             $15,024      21,499    $  0.70

          (C) Includes adjustment of $74,000 for preferred dividends in the
              fourth quarter of Fiscal 2001.


          Diluted earnings per share:
            Earnings before discontinued
             operations as reported       $12,322      27,073    $  0.49(D)
             Unusual items:
                Restructuring and other
                 charges (net of tax)       2,748      27,073       0.10
                Other adjustments (net of
                 tax)                         (46)     27,073       0.00
              Adjusted totals             $15,024      27,073    $  0.59

          (D) Includes adjustments of $74,000 for preferred dividends and
              $970,000 for interest add back in the fourth quarter of
              Fiscal 2001.


                                 GENESCO INC.

          Earnings Per Share Information
                                                      Fiscal 2002
          In Thousands (except per share
           amounts)                         Income       Shares      Amount
          Basic earnings per share:
            Earnings before discontinued
             operations as reported       $38,323        21,881    $  1.74(A)
             Unusual items:
                Restructuring and other
                 charges (net of tax)       3,200        21,881       0.15
                Insurance proceeds           (326)       21,881      (0.02)
                Other adjustments (net of
                 tax)                         225        21,881       0.01
                Adjustment of tax
                 liability                 (3,452)       21,881      (0.16)
              Adjusted totals             $37,970        21,881    $  1.72

          (A) Includes adjustment of $294,000 for preferred dividends in
              Fiscal 2002.


          Diluted earnings per share:
            Earnings before discontinued
             operations as reported       $38,323        27,293    $  1.54(B)
             Unusual items:
                Restructuring and other
                 charges (net of tax)       3,200        27,293       0.12
                Insurance proceeds           (326)       27,293      (0.01)
                Other adjustments (net of
                 tax)                         225        27,293       0.01
                Adjustment of tax
                 liability                 (3,452)       27,293      (0.13)
              Adjusted totals             $37,970        27,293    $  1.52

          (B) Includes adjustments of $294,000 for preferred dividends and
              $3,875,000 for interest add back in Fiscal 2002.


                                                      Fiscal 2001
          In Thousands (except per share
           amounts)                         Income      Shares      Amount
          Basic earnings per share:
            Earnings before discontinued
             operations as reported       $32,831       21,513    $  1.51(C)
             Unusual items:
                Restructuring and other
                 charges (net of tax)       2,748       21,513       0.13
                Other adjustments (net of
                 tax)                          33       21,513       0.00
              Adjusted totals             $35,612       21,513    $  1.64

          (C) Includes adjustment of $299,000 for preferred dividends in
              Fiscal 2001

          Diluted earnings per share:
            Earnings before discontinued
             operations as reported       $32,831       27,023    $  1.35(D)
             Unusual items:
                Restructuring and other
                 charges (net of tax)       2,748       27,023       0.10
                Other adjustments (net of
                 tax)                          33       27,023       0.00
              Adjusted totals             $35,612       27,023    $  1.45

         (D) Includes adjustments of $299,000 for preferred dividends and
             $3,881,000 for interest add back in Fiscal 2001.
SOURCE Genesco Inc.

CONTACT:          financial, James S. Gulmi, +1-615-367-8325, or media, Claire S.
                  McCall, +1-615-367-8283, both of Genesco Inc.
                  /Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/gh/cnoc/comp/352750.html

URL:              http://www.johnstonmurphy.com
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