UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): September 21, 2007 (September 21, 2007)

GENESCO INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Tennessee		1-3083		62-0211340
(State or Other Jurisdiction		(Commission		(I.R.S. Employer
of Incorporation)		File Number)		Identification No.)

1415 Murfreesboro Road
Nashville, Tennessee		37217-2895
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)		(Zip Code)

(615) 367-7000

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

     Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

     o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

     o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

     o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

     o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

ITEM 8.01. OTHER EVENTS.

Genesco Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing that it has filed suit in Chancery Court in Nashville, Tennessee, seeking a court order requiring The Finish Line, Inc. to consummate its merger with the Company and to enforce The Finish Line’s rights under a commitment letter provided by UBS Loan Finance LLC and UBS Securities LLC. The press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

ITEM 9.01. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

     (d) Exhibits

          The following exhibit is furnished herewith:

Exhibit Number		Description
99.1		Press Release, dated September 21, 2007, issued by Genesco Inc.

SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

		GENESCO INC.
Date: September 21, 2007		By:		/s/ Roger G. Sisson
		Name:		Roger G. Sisson
		Title:		Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel

EXHIBIT INDEX

No.		Exhibit
99.1		Press Release, dated September 21, 2007, issued by Genesco Inc.

Exhibit 99.1

Financial Contact:		James S. Gulmi (615) 367-8325
Media Contact:		Claire S. McCall (615) 367-8283

GENESCO FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST THE FINISH LINE SEEKING SPECIFIC
PERFORMANCE OF MERGER AGREEMENT

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept 21, 2007 -— Genesco Inc. (NYSE: GCO) announced today that it has filed suit in Chancery Court in Nashville, Tennessee, seeking an order requiring The Finish Line, Inc. to consummate its merger with Genesco and to enforce The Finish Line’s rights against UBS under the Commitment Letter for financing the transaction.

     Commenting on the filing, Genesco Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Hal N. Pennington said, “No more delays by The Finish Line and UBS; no more reservation of rights; no more bankers’ putting their pencils down. We want a court of competent jurisdiction to enforce our rights under the Merger Agreement and for The Finish Line and UBS to live up to their obligations.”

     Pennington continued, “We have launched this litigation in an effort to speed consummation of the merger and to force impartial review of the aspersions that The Finish Line and its bankers have cast on Genesco’s business and reputation. I, along with other members of the management team and our Board of Directors, are proud to be the stewards of a company that is a leader and innovator in its industry with a rich history dating to 1924. I am proud to be the leader of a group of employees who have helped build a wonderful business for the benefit of our shareholders.”

     Robert V. Dale, the presiding independent director of Genesco’s Board of Directors, said, “Our Board of Directors stands united in this call for The Finish Line and UBS to perform their obligations and pay our shareholders $54.50 per share in cash. Our Board, our management team and our advisors are confident that the steps we are taking are in the best interests of our shareholders.”

     Pennington concluded, “Commencing litigation is always a difficult decision, but continued delay by The Finish Line and UBS is simply not acceptable. Accordingly, we are seeking expedited hearings on all of our claims. I caution our shareholders and employees that there will likely be

claims made back against Genesco. When they come, we will be ready.”

About Genesco Inc.

     Genesco Inc., a Nashville-based specialty retailer, sells footwear, headwear and accessories in more than 2,050 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 www.journeys.com, www.journeyskidz.com, www.undergroundstation.com, www.johnstonmurphy.com, www.lids.com, www.hatworld.com, and www.lidscyo.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.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

     Certain statements contained in this press release regard matters that are not historical facts and are forward looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, and the rules promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Because such forward looking statements contain risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such forward looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to: (1) the outcome of the litigation referred to in this release; (2) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement; (3) the outcome of any legal proceedings that have been or may be instituted against Genesco and others following announcement of the proposal or the merger agreement; (4) the inability to complete the merger due to the failure to obtain shareholder approval or the failure to satisfy other conditions to the completion of the merger, (5) the failure by The Finish Line, Inc. to obtain the necessary debt financing arrangements set forth in commitment letters they received in connection with the merger; (6) risks that the proposed transaction disrupts current plans and operations and the potential difficulties in employee retention as a result of the merger; and (7) the

amount of the costs, fees, expenses and charges related to the merger. Our business is also subject to a number of risks generally such as: (1) changing consumer preferences; (2) the companies’ inability to successfully market their footwear, apparel, accessories and other merchandise; (3) price, product and other competition from other retailers (including internet and direct manufacturer sales); (4) the unavailability of products; (5) the inability to locate and obtain favorable lease terms for the companies’ stores; (6) the loss of key employees; (7) general economic conditions and adverse factors impacting the retail athletic industry; (8) management of growth; and (9) other risks that are set forth in the “Risk Factors,” “Legal Proceedings” and “Management Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition” sections of, and elsewhere, in our SEC filings, copies of which may be obtained 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.