Wolverine World Wide Form 8-K - 10/01/08

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):  October 1, 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 October 1, 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 October 1, 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:  October 1, 2008

WOLVERINE WORLD WIDE, INC.
(Registrant)

 

 

 

 

 

/s/  Donald T. Grimes


 

     Donald T. Grimes
     Senior Vice President, Chief Financial
     Officer and Treasurer








- -3-


EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit Number

 

Document

 

 

 

99.1

 

Wolverine World Wide, Inc. Press Release dated October 1, 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 - 10-01-08

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:  Don Grimes
(616) 863-4404


WOLVERINE WORLD WIDE, INC. REPORTS 25th
CONSECUTIVE QUARTER OF RECORD RESULTS;
INCREASES FULL YEAR EPS ESTIMATE

          Rockford, Michigan, October 1, 2008 -Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (NYSE: WWW) today reported record sales and earnings for the third quarter of 2008, the Company's 25th consecutive quarter of record revenue and earnings per share results.

          Revenue totaled $318.9 million in the quarter ended September 6, 2008, a 2.8% increase over revenue of $310.2 million in the prior year. Fully diluted earnings per share were $0.62 versus $0.54 in the third quarter of 2007, an increase of 14.8%. For the first three quarters of 2008, revenue reached $874.5 million, a 3.9% gain over the $841.5 million reported for the first three quarters of 2007. Year-to-date reported earnings per share were $1.41 per share, up 16.4% from $1.21 per share for the same period of 2007.

          Blake W. Krueger, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and President commented, "We are pleased to report strong results for the third quarter, particularly in light of continuing tough global economic conditions. Our team's focused execution against our multi-brand, multi-country and multi-category brand-building model enables us to consistently post excellent financial results. The Company's financial performance in the quarter was highlighted by the Merrell brand, which delivered a high single-digit revenue gain and a double-digit increase in earnings contribution.

          "While 2008 has thus far proven to be a challenging year for the footwear industry, we are extremely proud of the balanced performance of our global brand portfolio. The Company remains focused on executing our global lifestyle brand strategy, while simultaneously driving operating efficiencies to help support that strategy."

          Don Grimes, the Company's Chief Financial Officer, commented, "Operating margin of 14.5% in the quarter is a 22 basis point improvement over the prior year, and was driven by modest gross margin expansion and operating expense leverage. Inventory levels were down 2.1% for the quarter, while accounts receivable increased 2.1% on the 2.8% revenue increase. The Company repurchased approximately 745,000 shares of stock in the quarter for $19.0 million, and ended the third quarter with a cash balance of $74.3 million. The Company's balance sheet remains one of the strongest in the industry."


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          Based on the strength of reported third quarter results and its diversified global business model, the Company is raising its full-year earnings guidance to a range of $1.87 to $1.92 per fully diluted share on a revised revenue range of $1.220 to $1.240 billion. The revised earnings per share range represents growth of 10% to 13% over 2007 earnings per share of $1.70.

          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 15, 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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          This press release contains forward-looking statements, including those relating to projected 2008 sales and earnings, the Company's business model and corporate growth. 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 defe nse 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; the development of 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 Comm ission 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 6,
2008


 

September 8,
2007


 

September 6,
2008


 

September 8,
2007


 

Revenue

$

318,852

 

$

310,168

 

$

874,452

 

$

841,549

 

Cost of products sold

 


190,122


 

 


185,216


 

 


521,762


 

 


507,068


 

     Gross profit

 

128,730

 

 

124,952

 

 

352,690

 

 

334,481

 

     Gross margin

 

40.4%

 

 

40.3%

 

 

40.3%

 

 

39.7%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling and administrative expenses

 


82,389


 

 


80,548


 

 


244,192


 

 


233,845


 

     Operating profit

 

46,341

 

 

44,404

 

 

108,498

 

 

100,636

 

     Operating margin

 

14.5%

 

 

14.3%

 

 

12.4%

 

 

12.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest (income) expense, net

 

309

 

 

(179

)

 

674

 

 

(973

)

Other (income) expense

 


(880


)


 


252


 

 


(1


)


 


424


 

 

 


(571


)


 


73


 

 


673


 

 


(549


)


     Earnings before income taxes

 

46,912

 

 

44,331

 

 

107,825

 

 

101,185

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income taxes

 


15,721


 

 


14,848


 

 


36,121


 

 


33,895


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings

$


31,191


 

$


29,483


 

$


71,704


 

$


67,290


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share

$


.62


 

$


.54


 

$


1.41


 

$


1.21


 



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

 

September 6,
2008


 

September 8,
2007


ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

     Cash & cash equivalents

$

74,310

 

$

24,770

     Receivables

 

240,522

 

 

235,525

     Inventories

 

194,062

 

 

198,318

     Other current assets

 


21,703


 

 


25,616


          Total current assets

 

530,597

 

 

484,229

     Property, plant & equipment, net

 

83,258

 

 

86,026

     Other assets

 


107,839


 

 


102,158


          Total Assets

$


721,694


 

$


672,413


LIABILITIES & EQUITY:

 

 

 

 

 

     Current maturities on long-term debt

$

10,725

 

$

10,730

     Short-term debt

 

70,897

 

 

-

     Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities

 


140,518


 

 


141,460


          Total current liabilities

 

222,140

 

 

152,190

     Long-term debt

 

-

 

 

10,731

     Other non-current liabilities

 

37,369

 

 

36,052

     Stockholders' equity

 


462,185


 

 


473,440


          Total Liabilities & Equity

$


721,694


 

$


672,413