Genesco Reports Third Quarter Fiscal 2009 Results

November 25, 2008 at 7:34 AM EST

--Company Reports Earnings of $0.43 Per Share Before Discontinued Operations--

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Genesco Inc. (NYSE: GCO) reported earnings from continuing operations of $9.5 million, or $0.43 per diluted share, for the third quarter ended November 1, 2008. These results include $2.5 million of restructuring charges and merger-related expenses, offset by an approximately equivalent after-tax amount of favorable adjustment to the Company's provision for income taxes. In the third quarter last year, the Company reported earnings from continuing operations of $5.6 million, or $0.23 per diluted share. Last year's results included $6.2 million of merger-related and restructuring expenses. Adjusting for these items, earnings from continuing operations would have been $10.0 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, in the third quarter last year.

Because of the magnitude of the merger-related expenses in last year's results and for consistency with this year's previously announced results and earnings expectations, which excluded the listed items, the Company believes that disclosure of earnings from continuing operations adjusted for these items will be useful to investors. A reconciliation of the adjusted financial measures to their corresponding measures as reported pursuant to U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles is included on Schedule B to this press release.

Net sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2009 increased by 5% to $390 million, compared to net sales for the third quarter of the previous year of $372 million. Comparable store sales for the Company increased 2%.

Third Quarter Business Unit Performance

Genesco President and Chief Executive Officer Robert J. Dennis said, "Our third quarter results reflect solid performances at Journeys, Hat World and Dockers, partially offset by challenges at Johnston & Murphy."

"Net sales in the Journeys Group grew 10% from the prior year period to $201 million. Same store sales for the Journeys Group were up 5% for the quarter and same store sales in the Journeys stores were up 4%, compared to a 3% decline last year. Footwear unit comps in Journeys rose 2% and average selling price increased 4% in the quarter. The solid results were driven by continued strength in Journeys' skate and women's boot business.

"Net sales in the Hat World Group increased 6% from the prior year period to approximately $93 million and same store sales increased 2% in the third quarter, with urban stores up 4% and non-urban stores up 2%. Core and fashion Major League Baseball performed well and action brands were also very strong. Hat World once again generated significant operating margin expansion in the quarter.

"Net sales for the Underground Station Group were $24 million for the third quarter. Same store sales increased 1% from the prior year period and footwear unit comps rose 10%. Despite the modest comp gain, Underground Station essentially met its profit expectations due to better than expected gross margins driven by changes in product mix.

"Johnston & Murphy Group's net sales were approximately $42 million, with wholesale sales down 2% from the third quarter last year. Same store sales for the Johnston & Murphy shops declined 16% from the prior year period. Johnston & Murphy's business continues to be negatively affected by the economic climate.

"Third quarter sales of Licensed Brands increased 3% from the third quarter last year to approximately $30 million. Dockers(R) Footwear sales increased 11% during the quarter driven by a solid performance in the moderate and specialty footwear chains and a positive response to a new product line."

Fiscal 2009 Outlook

As previously reported, based on a same store sales range of negative 1% to negative 4% for the fourth quarter, the Company expects to report earnings per diluted share in the range of $1.06 to $1.20 for the fourth quarter (calculated on the same basis as the Company's previous annual guidance and reconciled to U.S. GAAP on Schedule C).

Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements, including those regarding the performance outlook for the Company and its individual businesses, and all other statements not addressing solely historical facts or present conditions. Actual results could vary materially from the expectations reflected in these statements. A number of factors could cause differences. These include adjustments to estimates reflected in forward- looking statements, continuing weakness in the consumer economy, fashion trends that affect the sales or product margins of the Company's retail product offerings, inability of customers to obtain credit, changes in the timing of holidays or in the onset of seasonal weather affecting period-to- period sales comparisons, changes in buying patterns by significant wholesale customers, bankruptcies or deterioration in financial condition of significant wholesale customers, disruptions in product supply or distribution, further unfavorable trends in fuel costs, foreign exchange rates, foreign labor and materials costs, and other factors affecting the cost of products, and competition in the Company's markets. Additional factors that could affect the Company's prospects and cause differences from expectations include the ability to open, staff and support additional retail stores on schedule and at acceptable expense levels and to renew leases in existing stores on schedule and at acceptable expense levels, the ability to negotiate acceptable lease terminations and otherwise to execute the previously announced store closing plans on schedule and at expected expense levels, unexpected changes to the market for our shares, the impact of any future stock repurchases, variations from expected pension-related charges caused by conditions in the financial markets, and the outcome of litigation, investigations and environmental matters involving the Company. Additional factors are cited in the "Risk Factors," "Legal Proceedings" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of, and elsewhere, in our SEC filings, copies of which may be obtained from the SEC website, http://www.sec.gov , or by contacting the investor relations department of Genesco via our website, http://www.genesco.com . Many of the factors that will determine the outcome of the subject matter of this release are beyond Genesco's ability to control or predict. Genesco undertakes no obligation to release publicly the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Forward-looking statements reflect the expectations of the Company at the time they are made. The Company disclaims any obligation to update such statements.

Conference Call

The Company's live conference call on November 25, 2008, at 7:30 a.m. (Central time) may be accessed through the Company's internet website, http://www.genesco.com . To listen live, please go to the website at least 15 minutes early to register, download and install any necessary software.

About Genesco Inc.

Genesco Inc., a Nashville-based specialty retailer, sells footwear, headwear and accessories in more than 2,225 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 http://www.journeys.com , http://www.journeyskidz.com , http://www.shibyjourneys.com , http://www.undergroundstation.com , http://www.johnstonmurphy.com , http://www.dockersshoes.com , and http://www.lids.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 http://www.genesco.com .



                                   GENESCO INC.

     Consolidated Earnings Summary
                                   Three Months Ended       Nine Months Ended
                               November 1, November 3, November 1, November 3,
     In Thousands                    2008        2007        2008        2007
     Net sales                   $389,767    $372,496  $1,099,840  $1,035,124
     Cost of sales                191,853     184,445     539,207     511,610
     Selling and administrative
      expenses                    179,365     174,194     532,831     499,326
     Restructuring and other, net   2,284          56    (196,293)      6,809
     Earnings from operations      16,265      13,801     224,095      17,379
     Interest expense, net          2,480       3,504       6,797       8,906
     Earnings before income taxes
      from continuing operations   13,785      10,297     217,298       8,473

     Income tax expense             4,322       4,687      82,872       3,600
     Earnings from continuing
      operations                    9,463       5,610     134,426       4,873

     Provision for discontinued
      operations                      (25)        (10)     (5,479)     (1,235)
     Net Earnings                  $9,438      $5,600    $128,947      $3,638


     Earnings Per Share Information
                                    Three Months Ended       Nine Months Ended
                               November 1, November 3, November 1, November 3,
                                     2008      2007        2008        2007
     In Thousands (except per
      share amounts)
     Preferred dividend
      requirements                    $49       $49        $148        $167

     Average common shares - Basic
      EPS                          18,638    22,454      19,401      22,420

     Basic earnings per share:
          Before discontinued
           operations               $0.51     $0.25       $6.92       $0.21
          Net earnings              $0.50     $0.25       $6.64       $0.15

     Average common and common
         equivalent shares -
          Diluted EPS              23,375    26,918      24,170      22,994

     Diluted earnings per share:
          Before discontinued
           operations               $0.43     $0.23       $5.64       $0.20
          Net earnings              $0.43     $0.23       $5.41       $0.15



             GENESCO INC.


     Consolidated Earnings Summary
                                    Three Months Ended       Nine Months Ended
                               November 1, November 3, November 1, November 3,
     In Thousands                    2008      2007        2008        2007
     Sales:
         Journeys Group          $200,745  $182,587    $530,467    $486,599
         Underground Station Group 24,266    26,792      76,867      81,122
         Hat World Group           93,131    87,815     283,037     257,119
         Johnston & Murphy Group   41,785    46,403     132,370     138,354
         Licensed Brands           29,649    28,769      76,542      71,357
         Corporate and Other          191       130         557         573
         Net Sales               $389,767  $372,496  $1,099,840  $1,035,124
     Operating Income (Loss):
         Journeys Group           $16,901   $15,336     $24,587     $27,136
         Underground Station Group (2,234)   (2,930)     (6,253)     (9,991)
         Hat World Group            6,721     4,639      21,900      14,709
         Johnston & Murphy Group    1,525     4,377       8,202      12,459
         Licensed Brands            3,892     4,019       9,538       9,193
         Corporate and Other*     (10,540)  (11,640)    166,121     (36,127)
        Earnings from operations   16,265    13,801     224,095      17,379
        Interest, net               2,480     3,504       6,797       8,906
     Earnings before income taxes
      from continuing operations   13,785    10,297     217,298       8,473
     Income tax expense             4,322     4,687      82,872       3,600
     Earnings from continuing
      operations                    9,463     5,610     134,426       4,873

     Provision for discontinued
      operations                      (25)      (10)     (5,479)     (1,235)
     Net Earnings                  $9,438    $5,600    $128,947      $3,638

    *  Includes $2.3 million of other charges in the third quarter of Fiscal
       2009 which includes $1.9 million in asset impairments and $0.4 million
       for lease terminations and includes $196.3 million credit in the first
       nine months of Fiscal 2009 of which $204.1 million were proceeds as a
       result of the settlement of merger-related litigation with The Finish
       Line and its investment bankers offset by $5.5 million in asset
       impairments, $1.2 million for lease terminations and $1.1 million for
       other legal matters.  The third quarter and nine months of Fiscal 2009
       also includes $0.2 million and $7.8 million, respectively, of merger
       related expenses.

       Includes $0.1 million of other charges in the third quarter of Fiscal
       2008 for asset impairments and includes $6.8 million of other charges
       in the first nine months of Fiscal 2008 of which $6.8 million is asset
       impairments and $0.3 million for lease terminations offset by $0.3
       million in excise tax refunds.  The third quarter and nine months of
       Fiscal 2008 also includes $6.1 million and $11.6 million, respectively,
       of merger-related expenses.



                                    GENESCO INC.

     Consolidated Balance Sheet
                                                      November 1, November 3,
     In Thousands                                            2008        2007
     Assets
     Cash and cash equivalents                            $16,000     $17,980
     Accounts receivable                                   30,727      29,213
     Inventories                                          379,614     395,965
     Other current assets                                  42,631      52,716
     Total current assets                                 468,972     495,874
     Property and equipment                               245,364     250,020
     Other non-current assets                             177,525     171,524
     Total Assets                                        $891,861    $917,418
     Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
     Accounts payable                                    $153,043    $138,844
     Other current liabilities                             77,098      62,068
     Total current liabilities                            230,141     200,912
     Long-term debt                                       135,920     215,220
     Other long-term liabilities                           89,897      89,767
     Shareholders' equity                                 435,903     411,519
     Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity          $891,861    $917,418



                                    GENESCO INC.


       Retail Units Operated - Nine Months Ended November 1, 2008

                              Balance
                             02/03/07      Open    Conv    Close


       Journeys Group             853       118       0        4
           Journeys               768        41       0        4
           Journeys Kidz           73        42       0        0
           Shi by Journeys         12        35       0        0
       Underground Station Group  223         2       0       33
       Hat World Group            785        98       0       21
       Johnston & Murphy Group    148        11       0        5
           Shops                  109         8       0        4
           Factory Outlets         39         3       0        1
       Total Retail Units       2,009       229       0       63


       Retail Units Operated - Nine Months Ended November 1, 2008

                              Balance                               Balance
                             02/02/08     Open    Conv    Close    11/01/08

       Journeys Group             967       43       0        2       1,008
           Journeys               805       15       0        2         818
           Journeys Kidz          115       22       0        0         137
           Shi by Journeys         47        6       0        0          53
       Underground Station Group  192        0       0        8         184
       Hat World Group            862       30       0       13         879
       Johnston & Murphy Group    154        6       0        3         157
           Shops                  113        4       0        3         114
           Factory Outlets         41        2       0        0          43
       Total Retail Units       2,175       79       0       26       2,228



    Retail Units Operated - Three Months Ended November 1, 2008
                         Balance                              Balance
                        08/02/08    Open    Conv    Close    11/01/08
    Journeys Group           993      15       0        0       1,008
        Journeys             813       5       0        0         818
        Journeys Kidz        128       9       0        0         137
        Shi by Journeys       52       1       0        0          53
    Underground
     Station Group           185       0       0        1         184
     Hat World Group         869      14       0        4         879
     Johnston & Murphy Group 155       3       0        1         157
        Shops                112       3       0        1         114
        Factory Outlets       43       0       0        0          43
      Total Retail Units   2,202      32       0        6       2,228


    Constant Store Sales
                               Three Months Ended        Nine Months Ended
                            November 1,  November 3,  November 1,  November 3,
                                  2008          2007        2008         2007
       Journeys Group               5%           -3%          3%          -2%
       Underground Station Group    1%          -19%          7%         -21%
       Hat World Group              2%            2%          4%          -1%
       Johnston & Murphy Group    -15%            2%         -7%           3%
          Shops                   -16%            3%         -7%           4%
          Factory Outlets         -10%           -2%         -7%           3%
       Total Constant Store Sales   2%           -3%          2%          -4%



                                                                   Schedule B

                                        Genesco Inc.
                Adjustments to Reported Earnings from Continuing Operations
                  Three Months Ended November 1, 2008 and November 3, 2007

                                  3 mos      Impact     3 mos       Impact
    In Thousands (except per   Nov 1, 2008   on EPS   Nov 3, 2007   on EPS
     share amounts)
     Earnings from continuing
      operations, as reported       $9,463    $0.43       $5,610     $0.23

     Adjustments: (1)
     Merger-related expenses           141      -          3,698      0.14
     Impairment & lease
      termination charges            1,356     0.06           52      0.00
     Other legal matters                 7      -            -         -
     (Higher)/lower effective
      tax rate                      (1,463)   (0.06)         599      0.02


     Adjusted earnings from
      continuing operations (2)     $9,504    $0.43       $9,959     $0.39

    (1)  All adjustments are net of tax.  The tax rate for the third quarter
         of Fiscal 2009 before the impact of the settlement of merger-related
         litigation and deductibility of prior year merger-related expenses
         and a positive adjustment of $1.2 million of a previously accrued FIN
         48 item is 40.8% excluding a FIN 48 discreet item of $73,000.  The
         tax rate for the third quarter of Fiscal 2008 is 39.7%.

    (2)  Reflects 23.4 million share count which includes convertible shares
         and common stock equivalents.

    The Company believes that disclosure of earnings and earnings per share
    from continuing operations on a pro forma basis adjusted for the items not
    reflected in the previously announced expectations will be meaningful to
    investors, in light of the impact of changes in effective tax rates and
    other items not reflected in those expectations.



                                                                   Schedule C

                                       Genesco Inc.
              Adjustments to Forecasted Earnings from Continuing Operations
                          Fourth Quarter Ending January 31, 2009

                                                High Guidance   Low Guidance
    In Thousands (except per share amounts)      Fiscal 2009    Fiscal 2009
    Forecasted earnings from
     continuing operations                     $26,654  $1.15  $23,303   1.01

    Adjustments: (1)
    Impairment and lease termination charges     1,892   0.08    1,892   0.08
    Lower effective tax rate                      (791) (0.03)    (791) (0.03)

    Adjusted forecasted earnings from
     continuing operations (2)                 $27,755  $1.20  $24,404  $1.06

    (1)  All adjustments are net of tax.  The tax rate for Fiscal 2009 before
         the impact of the settlement of merger-related litigation and
         deductibility of prior year merger-related expenses is 40.8%
         excluding FIN 48 discreet items of $62,000.

    (2)  Reflects 23.6 million share count which includes convertible shares
         and common stock equivalents.

    This reconciliation reflects estimates and current expectations of future
    results. Actual results may vary materially from these expectations and
    estimates, for reasons including those included in the discussion of
    forward-looking statements elsewhere in this release. The Company
    disclaims any obligation to update such expectations and estimates.



                                       Genesco Inc.
              Adjustments to Forecasted Earnings from Continuing Operations
                          Fiscal Year Ending January 31, 2009

                                              High Guidance   Low Guidance
    In Thousands (except per share amounts)    Fiscal 2009    Fiscal 2009
    Forecasted earnings from
     continuing operations                  $161,083   $6.80  $157,943  $6.67

    Adjustments: (1)
    Settlement of merger-related litigation (120,812)  (5.03) (120,812) (5.03)
    Merger-related expenses                    4,627    0.19     4,627   0.19
    Impairment and lease termination charges   5,898    0.25     5,898   0.25
    Other legal matters                          639    0.03       639   0.03
    Lower effective tax rate                  (6,789)  (0.28)   (6,789) (0.28)

    Adjusted forecasted earnings from
     continuing operations                   $44,646   $1.96   $41,506  $1.83

    (1)  All adjustments are net of tax.  The tax rate for Fiscal 2009 before
         the impact of the settlement of merger-related litigation and
         deductibility of prior year merger-related expenses and a positive
         adjustment of $1.2 million of a previously accrued FIN 48 item is
         40.8% excluding FIN 48 discreet items of $288,000.

    This reconciliation reflects estimates and current expectations of future
    results. Actual results may vary materially from these expectations and
    estimates, for reasons including those included in the discussion of
    forward-looking statements elsewhere in this release. The Company
    disclaims any obligation to update such expectations and estimates.

SOURCE  Genesco Inc.
    -0-                             11/25/2008
    /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/comp/352750.html /
    /Web site:  http://www.genesco.com /
    (GCO)

CO:  Genesco Inc.
ST:  Tennessee
IN:  REA FAS TEX
SU:  ERN ERP CCA

BF-JK
-- CLTU008 --
2834 11/25/2008 07:31 EST http://www.prnewswire.com

Subscribe