News Release

NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 4, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --

Genesco Inc. (NYSE: GCO) today reported earnings from continuing operations of $31.4 million, or $1.34 per diluted share for the fourth quarter ended January 29, 2011, compared to earnings from continuing operations of $25.8 million, or $1.08 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter ended January 30, 2010. Fiscal 2011 fourth quarter earnings were favorably impacted by $0.08 per share due to a lower effective tax rate offset by pretax items totaling $2.8 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, after tax, primarily related to network intrusion expenses, fixed asset impairments and purchase price accounting adjustments. Fiscal 2010 fourth quarter earnings reflected pretax charges of $2.9 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, after tax, primarily related to asset impairments, loss on early retirement of debt and tax rate adjustments, partially offset by a gain related to other legal matters.

Adjusted for the listed items in both periods, earnings from continuing operations were $31.3 million, or $1.33 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2011, compared to earnings from continuing operations of $27.7 million, or $1.16 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2010. For consistency with Fiscal 2011'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 fourth quarter of Fiscal 2011 increased 17% to $560.5 million from $479.0 million in the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2010. Comparable store sales in the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2011 increased by 9%. The Lids Sports Group's comparable store sales increased by 6%, the Journeys Group increased by 12%, Johnston & Murphy Retail increased by 12%, and Underground Station decreased by 4%.

Robert J. Dennis, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Genesco, said, "We are very pleased with our fourth quarter results. Solid organic growth combined with contributions from our recent acquisitions drove quarterly sales above $500 million. Our top-line performance also helped us achieve our highest level of fourth quarter profitability in four years, representing a great way to close out a successful Fiscal 2011.

"Fiscal 2012 is off to a good start with February comparable store sales across all the Company's retail businesses up 10%. While we expect these trends will moderate, we feel good about our prospects for spring based on our merchandising strategies and solid inventory position.

"Based on current visibility we expect Fiscal 2012 diluted earnings per share to be in the range of $2.78 to $2.85, which represents a 12% to 15% increase over last year's earnings. 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 sales of 3% 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.

Dennis concluded, "Our Fiscal 2011 performance underscores our key competitive advantages, especially in our two largest businesses, the Journeys Group and the Lids Sports Group and, with regard to Lids Sports, is an early validation of our strategy to create a leading destination for licensed sports merchandise and team apparel. We now have two very strong and differentiated growth vehicles, supported by strong performances from Johnston & Murphy and Licensed Brands, and a solid balance sheet to support our expansion plans. Looking ahead, we believe that our business model will generate solid cash flow and put us in a position to pursue further growth opportunities."

Fiscal Year 2011

The Company also reported earnings from continuing operations for the fiscal year ended January 29, 2011, of $54.5 million, or $2.29 per diluted share, compared to earnings from continuing operations of $29.1 million, or $1.31 per diluted share, for the fiscal year ended January 30, 2010. Fiscal 2011 earnings reflected after-tax charges of $0.19 per diluted share, including asset impairments, purchase price accounting adjustments, network intrusion-related expenses, flood loss and other legal matters, partially offset by a lower effective tax rate. Fiscal 2010 earnings reflected after-tax charges of $0.56 per diluted share, including asset impairments, loss on early retirement of debt and tax rate adjustments, partially offset by a gain related to other legal matters. In addition, Fiscal 2010 reflected additional interest expense due to the adoption in the first quarter of Fiscal 2010 of FSP APB 14-1, a new accounting standard that applied to the Company's convertible debt.

Adjusted for the listed items in both years, earnings from continuing operations were $59.0 million, or $2.48 per diluted share, for Fiscal 2011, compared to earnings from continuing operations of $43.1 million, or $1.87 per diluted share, for Fiscal 2010. For consistency with previously announced earnings expectations, which did not reflect 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 Fiscal 2011 increased 13.7% to $1.79 billion from $1.57 billion in Fiscal 2010.

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 March 4, 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 commentary 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, 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 2,300 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 division 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.