Genesco Reports Third Quarter Sales Increase of 6% and EPS of $0.33

November 27, 2001 at 8:01 AM EST

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Genesco Inc. (NYSE: GCO) today reported earnings before discontinued operations of $8.0 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, for the third quarter ended November 3, 2001, compared with $8.8 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, for the third quarter last year. Net sales for the quarter increased 5.6% to $186.0 million from $176.1 million in the third quarter a year ago.

Genesco Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ben T. Harris said, "Despite the unprecedented circumstances of the last two months, which have adversely affected the general retail environment, we were still able to grow our top line, register a positive same store sales gain and report earnings per share within our previously announced range of guidance."

Harris continued, "Journeys' 8% same store sales gain for the quarter, after a 14% increase last year, is further evidence of the ongoing strength and resilience of the concept. Total sales for Journeys increased 23% to $97.1 million and we ended the quarter with 513 stores in operation.

"We were also pleased with the solid improvement in the Jarman Group, with total sales up 7% to $29.6 million and total same store sales down only 3%. The continued quarter-to-quarter improvement indicates that efforts to bring the merchandising and operational disciplines responsible for Journeys' performance into the Jarman Group are proving successful."

Harris further commented, "Johnston & Murphy, while susceptible to economic trends and the challenging department store environment, continues to be a profitable business. However, we believe that we need to improve our focus on the Johnston & Murphy customer, particularly in the product area. We have recently named David Zumbach as chief executive officer of Johnston & Murphy. David's keen marketing perspective and strong leadership skills will be invaluable as we look to revitalize the business and return it to historic rates of growth. We remain focused on controlling inventories and reducing expenses through this challenging climate.

"Dockers Footwear performed well at retail, but sales declined slightly during the quarter to $18.0 million, due primarily to efforts in the volume moderate distribution channels to control inventory levels by slowing purchases. We believe that our ability to provide the market with updated styles and our ongoing commitment to quality and value will ensure that Dockers remains an important resource for retailers in the future."

Earlier this month, the Company announced that it had reached an agreement with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to contribute a lump sum toward sediment removal in a lake adjacent to the Company's former leather tannery in Whitehall, Michigan. The agreement, which resolves a longstanding dispute with Michigan environmental authorities over what the authorities claim was tannery-related contamination in the lake, releases Genesco from further state claims related to lake sediments for a payment of $3.35 million, much of which the Company has provided for in earlier periods. The Company has provided for the remainder of the contribution with an additional after-tax charge to discontinued operations of approximately $700,000 in the third quarter. This charge is not reflected in earnings per share from continuing operations.

For the nine months ended November 3, 2001, earnings before discontinued operations were $22.5 million, or $0.92 per diluted share, compared with $20.5 million, or $0.86 per diluted share, last year. Net sales for the nine months increased 12.5% to $524.4 million from $466.0 million for the same period a year ago.

Genesco stated that it now expects fiscal 2002 sales to range from $744 million to $751 million and diluted earnings per share to range from $1.47 to $1.52. For fiscal 2003, the Company expects sales and diluted earnings per share to increase by 10% to 15% and 5% to 10% respectively.

Harris concluded, "While the economic environment is unquestionably challenging and we must be realistic in our expectations, we remain enthusiastic about the potential in all our businesses. We look for Journeys and the Jarman Group, which together will represent about 70% of our business, to outperform the industry, for Dockers to hold its strong position in its market and for Johnston & Murphy to improve its focus and build on its heritage."

The Company's live conference call on November 27, 2001, at 8:00 a.m. (Central time) may be accessed through the Company's internet website, www.genesco.com. The Company expects to discuss results from the third quarter and its current expectations for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ending February 2, 2002, 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.

This release includes certain forward-looking statements, including all statements that do not refer to past or present events or conditions. Actual results could differ materially from those reflected by the forward-looking statements in this release and a number of factors may adversely affect future results, liquidity and capital resources. These factors include lower than expected consumer demand for the Company's products, whether caused by further weakening 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, the inability to adjust inventory levels to sales and changes in business strategies by the Company's competitors. Any greater than expected weakness in demand or disruption in supply could have an especially pronounced effect on the Company's performance in the fourth quarter, because of the importance of the Holiday selling season. 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. The impact of the September terrorist attacks on the United States, the responses by the U. S. government, and their effects on consumer demand, product supply and distribution and other conditions, limit the Company's ability to predict results and increase the uncertainty inherent in forward-looking statements. 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.

Genesco, based in Nashville, sells footwear and accessories in more than 875 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(1)

                                              Three Months Ended
                                    November 3,                October 28,
    In Thousands                     2001                        2000
    Net sales                      $185,955                   $176,086
    Cost of sales                    99,937                     93,424
    Selling and administrative
     expenses                        70,935                     66,242
    Restructuring credit(2)              --                         --
    Earnings from operations
     before interest                 15,083                     16,420
    Interest expense, net             2,159                      2,080
    Earnings before income taxes
     and discontinued operations     12,924                     14,340
    Income tax expense                4,898                      5,555
    Earnings before discontinued
     operations                       8,026                      8,785
    Discontinued operations (net
     of tax):
       Operating income (loss)           --                         --
       Provision for discontinued
        operations                     (708)                        --
    Net  Earnings                    $7,318                     $8,785

(1) Certain reclassifications have been made to prior periods to account

for shipping and handling fees as revenue.

(2) Adjustment to Nautica closedown provision in second quarter of Fiscal

        2002 including a $0.1 million reversal of inventory writedown.

                                   GENESCO INC.
                      Consolidated Earnings Summary(1)

                                             Nine Months Ended
                                   November 3,                October 28,
    In Thousands                       2001                       2000
    Net sales                      $524,416                   $465,973
    Cost of sales                   278,000                    246,039
    Selling and administrative
     expenses                       204,951                    180,769
    Restructuring credit(2)            (269)                        --
    Earnings from operations
     before interest                 41,734                     39,165
    Interest expense, net             5,582                      5,594
    Earnings before income taxes
     and discontinued operations     36,152                     33,571
    Income tax expense               13,605                     13,062
    Earnings before discontinued
     operations                      22,547                     20,509
    Discontinued operations (net
     of tax):
       Operating income (loss)           --                       (226)
       Provision for discontinued
        operations                     (708)                    (2,975)
    Net  Earnings                   $21,839                    $17,308

(1) Certain reclassifications have been made to prior periods to

account for shipping and handling fees as revenue.

(2) Adjustment to Nautica closedown provision in second quarter of Fiscal

        2002 including a $0.1 million reversal of inventory writedown.


                        Earnings Per Share Information

                                          Three Months Ended
                                     November 3,           October 28,
    In Thousands (except per share     2001                     2000
     amounts)
    Preferred dividend
     requirements                       $73                      $75

    Average common shares - Basic
     EPS                             21,907                   21,470

    Basic earnings per share:
      Before discontinued operations  $0.36                    $0.41
      Net earnings                    $0.33                    $0.41

    Average common and common
        equivalent shares -
        Diluted EPS                  27,234                   26,977

    Diluted earnings per share:
      Before discontinued operations  $0.33                    $0.36
     Net earnings                     $0.30                    $0.36

                 Earnings Per Share Information

                                                 Nine Months Ended
                                        November 3,                October 28,
    In Thousands (except per share        2001                       2000
     amounts)
    Preferred dividend
     requirements                         $220                       $225
    Average common shares - Basic
     EPS                                21,905                     21,518

    Basic earnings per share:
      Before discontinued operations     $1.02                      $0.94
      Net earnings                       $0.99                      $0.79

    Average common and common
        equivalent shares -
         Diluted EPS                    27,334                     26,995

    Diluted earnings per share:
      Before discontinued operations     $0.92                      $0.86
      Net earnings                       $0.90                      $0.74


                                 GENESCO INC.
                       Consolidated Earnings Summary

                                            Three Months Ended
                                    November 3,             October 28,
    In Thousands                      2001                      2000
    Sales:
        Journeys                    $97,143                    $78,766
        Jarman                       29,592                     27,531
        Johnston & Murphy            41,145                     47,179
        Licensed Brands(1)           18,075                     22,610
        Net Sales                   185,955                    176,086
    Pretax Earnings (Loss):
        Journeys                    $12,666                    $10,886
        Jarman                         (264)                     1,870
        Johnston & Murphy             2,868                      5,720
        Licensed Brands(2)            2,006                      1,535
        Corporate and Other          (2,193)                    (3,591)
        Nonrecurring charges(3)          --                         --
       Operating income              15,083                     16,420

       Interest, net                  2,159                      2,080

    Total Pretax Earnings            12,924                     14,340
    Income tax expense                4,898                      5,555
    Earnings before discontinued
     operations                       8,026                      8,785

    Discontinued operations (net
     of tax):
       Operating income (loss)           --                         --
       Provision for discontinued
        operations                     (708)                        --

    Net Earnings                     $7,318                     $8,785

(1) Includes Nautica sales of $0.1 million, $4.0 million, $6.1 million and

        $15.6 million for the third quarter and nine months of Fiscal 2002 and
        2001, respectively.

(2) Includes Nautica operating losses of $0.0 million, $1.0 million, $0.7

        million and $2.2 million for the third quarter and nine months of
        Fiscal 2002 and 2001, respectively.

(3) Includes litigation and severance charges offset by an adjustment to

        the Nautica closedown provision of $0.3 million in the nine months of
        Fiscal 2002.

                                GENESCO INC.
                     Consolidated Earnings Summary

                                            Nine Months Ended
                                   November 3,                October 28,
    In Thousands                       2001                       2000
    Sales:
        Journeys                   $258,538                   $196,658
        Jarman                       77,619                     69,049
        Johnston & Murphy           125,732                    136,166
        Licensed Brands(1)           62,527                     64,100
        Net Sales                   524,416                    465,973
    Pretax Earnings (Loss):
        Journeys                    $32,071                    $23,967
        Jarman                         (365)                     3,063
        Johnston & Murphy            11,526                     17,025
        Licensed Brands(2)            6,996                      4,142
        Corporate and Other          (8,313)                    (9,032)
        Nonrecurring charges(3)        (181)                         -
       Operating income              41,734                     39,165

       Interest, net                  5,582                      5,594

    Total Pretax Earnings            36,152                     33,571
    Income tax expense               13,605                     13,062
    Earnings before discontinued
     operations                      22,547                     20,509

    Discontinued operations (net
     of tax):
       Operating income (loss)           --                       (226)
       Provision for discontinued
        operations                     (708)                    (2,975)

    Net Earnings                    $21,839                    $17,308

(1) Includes Nautica sales of $0.1 million, $4.0 million, $6.1 million and

        $15.6 million for the third quarter and nine months of Fiscal 2002 and
        2001, respectively.

(2) Includes Nautica operating losses of $0.0 million, $1.0 million, $0.7

        million and $2.2 million for the third quarter and nine months of
        Fiscal 2002 and 2001, respectively.

(3) Includes litigation and severance charges offset by an adjustment to

        the Nautica closedown provision of $0.3 million in the nine months of
        Fiscal 2002.


                                    GENESCO INC.
                           Consolidated Balance Sheet

                                   November 3,                October 28,
    In Thousands                       2001                       2000
    Assets
    Cash and short-term
     investments                     $9,926                    $16,060
    Accounts receivable              26,334                     30,493
    Inventories                     183,676                    154,102
    Other current assets             28,553                     24,802
    Current assets of discontinued
     operations*                         --                      3,834
    Total current assets            248,489                    229,291
    Plant, equipment and capital
     leases                         104,336                     85,386
    Other non-current assets         19,639                     18,486
    Non-current assets of
     discontinued operations*           535                        563
    Total Assets                   $372,999                   $333,726
    Liabilities and Shareholders'
     Equity
    Total current liabilities        95,478                     96,544
    Long-term debt and capital
     leases                         103,272                    103,526
    Other long-term liabilities      11,132                     10,852
    Shareholders' equity            163,117                    122,804
    Total Liabilities and
     Shareholders' Equity          $372,999                   $333,726

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

                                GENESCO INC.

       Retail Units Operated - Nine Months Ended November 3, 2001

                                        Balance                  Balance
                                         2/3/01  Open Conv Close 11/3/01
    Journeys                               425    78    0     2    501
    Journeys Kidz                            0    12    0     0     12
    Jarman Group                           207    28    0    10    225
     Jarman Retail                         150     0   (7)    9    134
     Underground Station                    57    28    7     1     91
    Johnston & Murphy                      147     8    0     7    148
     Shops                                 115     7    0     7    115
     Factory Outlets                        32     1    0     0     33
    Total Retail Units                     779   126    0    19    886

Retail Units Operated - Three Months Ended November 3, 2001

                                        Balance                Balance
                                        8/4/01  Open Conv Close 11/3/01
    Journeys                              462     40    0     1    501
    Journeys Kidz                           8     4     0     0     12
    Jarman Group                          217    11     0     3    225
     Jarman Retail                        138     0    (1)    3    134
     Underground Station                   79    11     1     0     91
    Johnston & Murphy                     144     6     0     2    148
     Shops                                112     5     0     2    115
     Factory Outlets                       32     1     0     0     33
    Total Retail Units                    831    61     0     6    886


                         Constant Store Sales

                             Three Months Ended          Nine Months Ended
                          November 3,    October 28,   November 3, October 28,
                              2001         2000            2001       2000

        Journeys               8%            14%            7%        14%
        Jarman Group          -3%             9%           -5%         7%
         Jarman Retail        -4%             6%           -7%         3%
         Underground Station  -2%            33%           -1%        33%
        Johnston & Murphy    -16%             2%          -11%         4%
         Shops               -18%             3%          -12%         5%
         Factory Outlets      -8%             0%           -9%         1%
        Total Constant Store
         Sales                 1%            10%            1%        10%

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./

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