News Release

NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 26, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --

Genesco Inc. (NYSE: GCO) today reported earnings from continuing operations for the first quarter ended April 30, 2011 of $15.0 million, or $0.63 per diluted share, compared to earnings from continuing operations of $8.6 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, for the first quarter ended May 1, 2010. Fiscal 2012 first quarter earnings reflected pretax charges of $1.2 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, related to fixed asset impairments and other expenses. Fiscal 2011 first quarter earnings reflected pretax charges of $2.4 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, primarily for fixed asset impairments.

Adjusted for the listed items in both periods, earnings from continuing operations were $15.7 million, or $0.67 per diluted share, for the first quarter of Fiscal 2012, compared to $10.1 million, or $0.42 per diluted share, for the first quarter of Fiscal 2011. For consistency with Fiscal 2012's previously announced earnings expectations and the adjusted results for the prior period announced last year, neither of which reflected the listed items, the Company believes that disclosure of earnings from continuing operations adjusted for those 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 in Schedule B to this press release.

Net sales for the first quarter of Fiscal 2012 increased 20% to $482 million from $401 million in the first quarter of Fiscal 2011. Comparable store sales in the first quarter of Fiscal 2012 increased by 14%. The Journeys Group's comparable store sales for the quarter rose by 15%, the Lids Sports Group's increased by 16%, Underground Station's comps were up 6%, and Johnston & Murphy Retail's increased by 10%. Internet and catalog sales across the Company increased 24% on a comp basis in the quarter.

Robert J. Dennis, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Genesco, said, "We were very pleased with the strong sales and earnings growth we generated in the first quarter. Our performance was driven by our two largest businesses, Journeys and Lids Sports, both of which delivered mid-teens comparable store sales increases and grew operating income 94% and 49%, respectively. These contributions helped us achieve a significant improvement in profitability and provided us with good momentum to start the year."

Dennis also discussed the Company's updated outlook. "Based on our first quarter performance and current visibility, we are raising our Fiscal 2012 guidance. We now expect full year diluted earnings per share to be in the range of $2.90 to $2.97, which represents a 17% to 20% increase over last year's earnings, up from our previous guidance range of $2.78 to $2.85. Consistent with previous guidance, these expectations do not include expected non-cash asset impairments and other charges, which are projected to total approximately $4 million to $5 million pretax, or $0.10 to $0.13 per share, after tax, in Fiscal 2012. This guidance assumes comparable store sales of 5% to 6% for the full fiscal year." A reconciliation of the adjusted financial measures cited in the guidance to their corresponding measures as reported pursuant to U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles is included in Schedule B to this press release. The Company noted that the revised guidance does not reflect the effects of a possible disruption of the 2011-2012 NFL season. The Company estimates that the loss of the full season could result in a reduction of up to $5.5 million in pretax earnings in the Lids Sports Group, reducing consolidated earnings per share by up to $0.14.

Dennis concluded, "The pace of our business has been better than expected over the past several quarters. As a result, we are currently tracking ahead of our current 5-year growth plans which include achieving $2.3 billion in revenues and 8% operating margins by Fiscal 2015. We are encouraged by our recent performance and are optimistic that we have the strategies, infrastructure, and financial flexibility to further build our market positions and create meaningful long-term value for our shareholders."

Conference Call and Management Commentary

The Company has posted detailed financial commentary in writing on its website, www.genesco.com, in the investor relations section. The Company's live conference call on May 26, 2011 at 7:30 a.m. (Central time) may be accessed through the Company's internet website, www.genesco.com. To listen live, please go to the website at least 15 minutes early to register, download and install any necessary software.

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 the costs of responding to and liability in connection with the network intrusion announced in December 2010, the effects of a disruption of the NFL season on Lids Sports' and the Company's results, adjustments to estimates reflected in forward-looking statements, including the timing and amount of non-cash asset impairments; weakness in the consumer economy, competition in the Company's markets; inability of customers to obtain credit; fashion trends that affect the sales or product margins of the Company's retail product offerings; changes in buying patterns by significant wholesale customers; bankruptcies or deterioration in financial condition of significant wholesale customers; disruptions in product supply or distribution, unfavorable trends in fuel costs, foreign exchange rates, foreign labor and material costs, and other factors affecting the cost of products; the Company's ability to continue to complete acquisitions, expand its business and diversify its product base; and changes in the timing of holidays or in the onset of seasonal weather affecting period-to-period sales comparisons. Additional factors that could affect the Company's prospects and cause differences from expectations include the ability to build, open, staff and support additional retail stores and to renew leases in existing stores and maintain reductions in occupancy costs achieved in recent lease negotiations, and to conduct required remodeling or refurbishment on schedule and at expected expense levels; deterioration in the performance of individual businesses or of the Company's market value relative to its book value, resulting in impairments of fixed assets or intangible assets or other adverse financial consequences; unexpected changes to the market for the Company's shares; 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, www.sec.gov, or by contacting the investor relations department of Genesco via our website, 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.

About Genesco Inc.

Genesco Inc., a Nashville-based specialty retailer, sells footwear, headwear, sports apparel and accessories in more than 2,285 retail stores throughout the U.S. and Canada, principally under the names Journeys, Journeys Kidz, Shi by Journeys, Lids and Lids Locker Room, Johnston & Murphy, and Underground Station, and on internet websites www.journeys.com, www.journeyskidz.com, www.shibyjourneys.com, www.undergroundstation.com, www.johnstonmurphy.com, www.dockersshoes.com, and www.lids.com. The Company's Lids Sports Group operates the Lids headwear stores and the lids.com website, the Lids Locker Room and other team sports fan shops and single team clubhouse stores, and the Lids Team Sports team dealer business. In addition, Genesco sells wholesale footwear under its Johnston & Murphy brand, the licensed Dockers brand and other brands. For more information on Genesco and its operating divisions, please visit www.genesco.com.

SOURCE Genesco Inc.