Wolverine World Wide Form 8-K - 04/16/08

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):  April 16, 2008

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 April 16, 2008, 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 shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.


Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

 

 

(d)

Exhibits:

 

 

 

 

99.1

Press Release dated April 16, 2008. This Exhibit shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.









- -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:  April 16, 2008

WOLVERINE WORLD WIDE, INC.
(Registrant)

 

 

 

 

 

/s/  Kenneth A. Grady


 

     Kenneth A. Grady
     General Counsel and Secretary













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EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit Number

 

Document

 

 

 

99.1

 

Wolverine World Wide, Inc. Press Release dated April 16, 2008. This Exhibit shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

Wolverine World Wide Exhibit 99.1 to Form 8-K - 04/16/08

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 RESULTS AND
EARNINGS PER SHARE UP 17.9%;
INCREASES 2008 EARNINGS ESTIMATE


          Rockford, Michigan, April 16, 2008 - Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (NYSE: WWW) today reported record revenue and earnings for the first quarter of 2008 and increased its full year 2008 earnings per share estimate.

          "Wolverine World Wide had a strong first quarter, as demonstrated by our record results and continued execution of our global business model," stated Blake W. Krueger, the Company's CEO and President. "Our unique operating platform consists of a powerful portfolio of eight lifestyle brands, a broad geographic reach that spans nearly 200 countries and territories and a diverse global distribution strategy which focuses on many different consumer groups around the world. Our business model reduces our exposure to any single country, consumer group or fashion trend and permits us to consistently deliver superior results, even in difficult consumer environments."

          The Company's revenue totaled $288.2 million for the first quarter of 2008, a 2.6 percent increase over first quarter 2007 revenue of $281.1 million. Earnings per share increased to $0.46, a 17.9 percent increase over first quarter 2007 earnings per share of $0.39.

          Krueger continued, "During the quarter, revenue growth was strongest in the Outdoor Group and our international businesses. In particular, our royalty-based global licensing and distribution businesses had a very strong quarter. The Outdoor Group remained the Company's leading profit contributor during the quarter led by the Merrell businesses in the U.S. and Europe. This marks the twenty-third consecutive quarter of record revenue and earnings per share for the Company."

"First quarter earnings were strong with gross margin expansion driving operating margin to 12.6 percent, a 100 basis point increase," reported the Company's CFO, Stephen L. Gulis Jr. "The increase resulted primarily from improved pricing margins and the positive impact from a weak U.S. dollar in our Company-owned international wholesale operations.

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1Q 2008

page 2

          "First quarter 2008 inventory levels were down 4.0 percent. Inventory reductions were achieved in several operating groups resulting from the Company's continued focus on inventory management. Accounts receivable increased 12.2 percent due to strong spring shipments towards the end of the quarter. Our balance sheet remains very strong as we repurchased $47.7 million of Company stock during the first quarter and finished the quarter with a cash balance of $47.5 million and total debt of $70.8 million."

          Krueger concluded, "Even in this challenging retail environment, the consumer continues to embrace our global lifestyle brands that offer innovative product offerings that bring style to purpose. We ended the first quarter of 2008 with our order backlog up over 10 percent. On the strength of our order backlog and first quarter 2008 results, we are increasing the Company's 2008 earnings per share estimate from our previous estimate of $1.80 to $1.88 to our new range of $1.83 to $1.90. We continue to expect revenue to range from $1.230 billion to $1.260 billion. The earnings per share estimate is consistent with our stated long-term objective of delivering double-digit earnings per share growth while investing in growth initiatives for 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 "For Our Investors" in the navigation bar, click on "Conference Call" from the top navigation bar of the "For Our Investors" page, and then click on "Webcast." To listen to the webcast, your computer must have Windows Media Player, which can be downloaded for free at www.wolverineworldwide.com. 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 April 30, 2008.

          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 and apparel. The Company's portfolio of highly recognized brands includes: Bates®, Hush Puppies®, HYTEST®, Merrell®, Sebago® and Wolverine®. The Company also is the exclusive footwear licensee of popular brands including Cat®, Harley-Davidson® and Patagonia®. The Company's products are carried by leading retailers in the U.S. and globally in nearly 200 countries and territories. For additional information, please visit our website, www.wolverineworldwide.com.

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1Q 2008

page 3

          This press release contains forward-looking statements, including those relating to projected 2008 sales and earnings, the Company's business model, new business initiatives, corporate growth and expansion into apparel. 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 anti-dumping measures in Europe with respect to leather footwear imported from China and Vietnam and safety footwear imported from China and India; trade defense actions by countries; 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; regulatory or other changes affecting the supply of materials used in manufacturing; 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; integration and operation of newly acquired and licensed businesses; the development of new initiatives in apparel; retail buying patterns; consolidation in the retail sector; changes in economic and market conditions; acts and effects of war and terrorism; weather; and additional factors discussed in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange 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


 

 

March 22,
2008


 

March 24,
2007


 

Revenue

$

288,238

 

$

281,052

 

Cost of products sold

 


166,677


 

 


167,051


 

     Gross margin

 

121,561

 

 

114,001

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling and administrative expenses

 


85,292


 

 


81,335


 

     Operating margin

 

36,269

 

 

32,666

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest (income) expense, net

 

63

 

 

(690

)

Other expense (income)

 


567


 

 


(160


)


 

 


630


 

 


(850


)


     Earnings before income taxes

 

35,639

 

 

33,516

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income taxes

 


11,938


 

 


11,227


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings

$


23,701


 

$


22,289


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share

$


.46


 

$


.39


 



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

 

March 22,
2008


 

March 24,
2007


 

ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Cash & cash equivalents

$

47,484

 

$

62,769

 

     Receivables

 

223,323

 

 

199,003

 

     Inventories

 

188,245

 

 

196,096

 

     Other current assets

 


24,050


 

 


22,339


 

          Total current assets

 

483,102

 

 

480,207

 

     Property, plant & equipment, net

 

85,239

 

 

87,689

 

     Other assets

 


109,832


 

 


101,725


 

          Total Assets

$


678,173


 

$


669,621


 

LIABILITIES & EQUITY:

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Current maturities on long-term debt

$

10,731

 

$

10,730

 

     Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities

 


115,604


 

 


120,452


 

          Total current liabilities

 

126,335

 

 

131,182

 

     Long-term debt

 

60,066

 

 

10,738

 

     Other non-current liabilities

 

36,419

 

 

32,941

 

     Stockholders' equity

 


455,353


 

 


494,760


 

          Total Liabilities & Equity

$


678,173


 

$


669,621