Wolverine World Wide Form 8-K - 10/04/06

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 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):  October 4, 2006

Wolverine World Wide, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as
Specified in its Charter)

 

Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)

001-06024
(Commission
File Number)

38-1185150
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 



9341 Courtland Drive
Rockford, Michigan

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

49351
(Zip Code)

 

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (616) 866-5500

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 2.02

Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

                    On October 4, 2006, Wolverine World Wide, Inc. issued the press release attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K, which is here incorporated by reference. This Report and the Exhibit are furnished to, and not filed with, the Commission.


Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

 

 

(d)

Exhibits:

 

 

 

 

99.1

Press Release dated October 4, 2006. This Exhibit is furnished to, and not filed with, the Commission.













- -2-


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.


Dated:  October 4, 2006

WOLVERINE WORLD WIDE, INC.
(Registrant)

 

 

 

 

 

/s/  Stephen L. Gulis, Jr.


 

     Stephen L. Gulis, Jr.
     Executive Vice President, Chief Financial
     Officer and Treasurer















- -3-


EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit Number

 

Document

 

 

 

99.1

 

Wolverine World Wide, Inc. Press Release dated October 4, 2006. This Exhibit is furnished to, and not filed with, the Commission.

Wolverine World Wide Exhibit 99.1 to Form 8-K - 10-04-06

EXHIBIT 99.1



WOLVERINE WORLD WIDE, INC.
9341 Courtland Drive, Rockford, MI 49351
Phone (616) 866-5500; FAX (616) 866-0257

 


 


 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:  Stephen L. Gulis Jr.
(616) 866-5570


WOLVERINE WORLD WIDE, INC. ANNOUNCES
RECORD THIRD QUARTER RESULTS
AND INCREASES 2006 EARNINGS ESTIMATE

          Rockford, Michigan, October 4, 2006 - Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (NYSE: WWW) today reported record revenue and earnings for its third quarter of 2006, and increased its full year 2006 earnings per share estimate.

          Third quarter 2006 revenue totaled $298.9 million, a 7.1 percent increase over third quarter 2005 revenue of $279.1 million. Earnings per share for the third quarter of 2006 were $0.46 compared to $0.42 reported for the third quarter of 2005, an increase of 9.5 percent. The 2006 results include a $0.03 per share decrease in earnings related to both FAS123(R) stock incentive expense and investment spending for the Patagonia Footwear and Merrell Apparel initiatives.

          For the first three quarters of 2006, revenue reached $800.2 million, an 8.0 percent gain over the $740.0 million reported for the first three quarters of 2005. Earnings per share for the first three quarters of 2006 grew to $1.05 per share, up 15.4 percent from $0.91 per share for the same period of 2005.

          "We are pleased to have achieved our seventeenth consecutive quarter of record revenue and earnings per share," stated Timothy J. O'Donovan, the Company's Chairman and CEO. "Our strategy of building a strong portfolio of global consumer brands continues to drive consistent growth and exceptional earnings performance. Three of our four major operating groups, the Hush Puppies Company, the Heritage Brands Group and the Outdoor Group, all posted revenue and earnings gains in the quarter, and the Wolverine Footwear Group experienced a decline principally due to the planned reduction in the Bates military business. Our International businesses contributed significantly to the quarter's revenue increase, particularly in Europe, where the Caterpillar, Hush Puppies, Merrell, and Sebago brands all posted revenue gains."



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3Q 2006

Page 2



          "Our business model continues to generate strong results, as evidenced by revenue and earnings gains in the quarter," stated the Company's CFO, Stephen L. Gulis Jr. "Solid gross margin expansion drove an increase in operating margin in the quarter while we continued to invest in our brands and the Patagonia Footwear and Merrell Apparel growth initiatives. Our balance sheet remained strong in the quarter. Accounts receivable growth was below the rate of our revenue growth, inventories increased modestly, and we ended the quarter with a cash balance of approximately $70 million."

          Mr. O'Donovan continued, "The order backlog for footwear at the end of the third quarter was up nearly 6 percent. This backlog was impacted by the planned decrease in the Bates military business as the Department of Defense continued to scale back its purchases. The backlog increase, excluding Bates, approximated 10 percent.

          "Due to the Company's strong third quarter results and current backlog position, we are increasing the Company's 2006 earnings per share estimate. We now expect earnings per share to range from $1.41 to $1.44 up from our previous estimate of $1.38 to $1.42. Our 2006 revenue range estimate remains $1.120 to $1.140 billion.

          "Looking ahead to 2007, our initial estimates are for revenue to range from $1.200 to $1.230 billion and earnings per share to range from $1.56 to $1.62. Our 2007 estimates are in line with our stated long-term financial objectives of annually growing revenue in the mid to upper single-digit range and generating double-digit earnings per share growth. We will continue to invest in future growth initiatives in 2007 while driving further operating leverage."

          Mr. O'Donovan concluded, "We are pleased with the Company's performance. Our brands are resonating with consumers around the world, and we have a number of exciting growth initiatives in place to support our continued expansion. We look forward to the retail launch of Patagonia Footwear in early Spring 2007 and Merrell Apparel in Fall 2007. We are confident that these initiatives, along with the steady growth of our global brand portfolio, position Wolverine to continue rewarding our shareholders both today and in the future."

          The Company will host a conference call at 8:30 a.m. EDT today to discuss these results and current business trends. To listen to the call at the Company's website, go to www.wolverineworldwide.com, click on "Investors" in the navigation bar, and then click "Webcast" from the top navigation bar of the "Investors" page. To listen to the webcast, your computer must have Windows Media Player, which can be downloaded for free on the Wolverine World Wide website. In addition, the conference call can be heard at www.streetevents.com. A replay of the call will be available at the Company's website through October 19, 2006.



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3Q 2006

Page 3



          With a commitment to service and product excellence, Wolverine World Wide, Inc. is one of the world's leading marketers of branded casual, active lifestyle, work, outdoor sport and uniform footwear. The Company's portfolio of highly recognized brands includes: Bates®, Hush Puppies®, HYTEST®, Merrell®, Sebago® and Wolverine®. The Company is also the exclusive footwear licensee of popular brands including CAT®, Harley-Davidson®, Patagonia® and Stanley®. The Company's products are carried by leading retailers in the U.S. and globally in over 170 countries. For additional information, please visit our website, www.wolverineworldwide.com.

          This press release contains forward-looking statements, including those relating to 2006 and 2007 sales and earnings per share, order backlog, new business initiatives, achievement of future operating margin and long-term financial objectives and future success. In addition, words such as "estimates," "expects," "intends," "should," "will," variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions ("Risk Factors") that are difficult to predict with regard to timing, extent, likelihood and degree of occurrence. Therefore, actual results and outcomes may materially differ from what may be expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. Risk Factors include, among others: changes in duty structures in countries of import and export including the outcome of final anti-dumping measures being considered in Europe with respect to leather footwear imported from China and Vietnam; changes in consumer preferences or spending patterns; cancellation of orders for future delivery; changes in planned customer demand, re-orders or at-once orders; the availability and pricing of foreign footwear factory capacity; reliance on foreign sourcing; the availability of power, labor and resources in key foreign sourcing countries, including China; the impact of competition and pricing; the impact of changes in the value of foreign currencies, including the Chinese Yuan, and the relative value to the U.S. Dollar; the impact of changes in business strategy or acquisitions; integration and operations of newly acquired and licensed businesses; retail buying patterns; consolidation in the retail sector; changes in economic and market conditions; acts and effects of war and terrorism; and additional factors discussed in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exc hange Commission and exhibits thereto. Other Risk Factors exist, and new Risk Factors emerge from time to time that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. Furthermore, the Company undertakes no obligation to update, amend or clarify forward-looking statements.

# # #






WOLVERINE WORLD WIDE, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
($000's, except per share data)

 

12 Weeks Ended


 

36 Weeks Ended


 
 

September 9,
2006


 

September 10,
2005


 

September 9,
2006


 

September 10,
2005


 

Revenue

$

298,856

 

$

279,116

 

$

800,150

 

$

739,997

 

Cost of products sold

 

181,314


   

170,455


   

486,329


   

450,476


 

   Gross margin

 

117,542

   

108,661

   

313,821

   

289,521

 
                         

Selling and administrative expenses

 

78,079


   

72,087


   

223,063


   

208,487


 

   Operating margin

 

39,463

   

36,574

   

90,758

   

81,034

 
                         

Interest (income) expense, net

 

(122

)

 

293

   

16

   

1,292

 

Other (income) expense

 

452


   

(158


)

 

917


   

(172


)

   

330


   

135


   

933


   

1,120


 

   Earnings before income taxes

 

39,133

   

36,439

   

89,825

   

79,914

 
                         

Income taxes

 

12,993


   

11,805


   

29,823


   

25,891


 
                         

Net earnings

$


26,140


 

$


24,634


 

$


60,002


 

$


54,023


 
                         

Diluted earnings per share

$


.46


 

$


.42


 

$


1.05


 

$


.91


 


CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
($000's)

 

September 9,
2006


 

September 10,
2005


 

ASSETS:

           

   Cash & cash equivalents

$

70,339

 

$

47,794

 

   Receivables

 

218,034

   

205,255

 

   Inventories

 

205,318

   

196,397

 

   Other current assets

 

20,480


   

15,210


 

      Total current assets

 

514,171

   

464,656

 

   Plant & equipment, net

 

89,395

   

92,303

 

   Other assets

 

112,704


   

113,321


 

      Total Assets

$


716,270


 

$


670,280


 

LIABILITIES & EQUITY:

           

   Current maturities on long-term debt

$

10,730

 

$

11,735

 

   Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities

 

146,076


   

123,653


 

      Total current liabilities

 

156,806

   

135,388

 

   Long-term debt

 

21,461

   

32,154

 

   Other non-current liabilities

 

39,976

   

38,825

 

   Stockholders' equity

 

498,027


   

463,913


 

      Total Liabilities & Equity

$


716,270


 

$


670,280