Rocky Brands, Inc. Announces Second Quarter Fiscal 2009 Results

NELSONVILLE, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rocky Brands, Inc. (Nasdaq: RCKY) today announced financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2009.

For the second quarter of 2009, net sales decreased to $51.2 million versus net sales of $60.5 million in the second quarter of 2008. The Company reported a net loss of $1.4 million, or ($0.25) per diluted share versus net income of $0.7 million, or $0.13 per diluted share a year ago.

Mike Brooks, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Our operating performance continued to be affected by the difficult retail environment during the second quarter. Sales were down as retailers remained cautious with inventory commitments as the result of decreases in consumer spending and store traffic. Our gross margin was also negatively impacted due to higher closeout sales versus a year ago combined with the deleveraging of our manufacturing costs from lower sales volumes. Importantly, our operating expenses are down over 13%, or nearly $6 million year-to-date and we move forward a much leaner, more efficient organization. Looking ahead, the combination of lower SG&A levels, our current order book, and easier comparisons, has us optimistic that we can deliver improved profitability year-over-year during the second half of 2009."

Second Quarter Review

Net sales for the second quarter decreased to $51.2 million compared to $60.5 million a year ago. Wholesale sales for the second quarter were $37.9 million compared to $42.5 million for the same period in 2008. The decline in wholesale sales was primarily attributable to lower than expected orders as many accounts are choosing to operate with leaner inventory levels during this challenging economy. Retail sales for the second quarter were $12.3 million compared to $16.2 million for the same period last year. Retail sales were down year-over-year as a result of the ongoing transition to more internet driven transactions and the decision to remove a portion of our Lehigh mobile stores from operation to help lower costs as discussed below. Military segment sales for the second quarter were $0.9 million versus $1.8 million for the same period in 2008.

Gross margin in the second quarter of 2009 was $17.7 million, or 34.6% of sales compared to $24.4 million, or 40.3% for the same period last year. The decrease in gross margin as a percentage of sales was primarily attributable to higher closeout sales, lower retail sales, which carry a higher gross margin, and increased manufacturing costs versus a year ago.

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses decreased $2.8 million or 13.4% to $18.1 million, or 35.4% of sales for the second quarter of 2009 compared to $20.9 million, or 34.5% of sales, a year ago. The decrease in SG&A expenses was primarily the result of a reduction in salaries & benefits, freight, sales commissions and Lehigh mobile store expenses.

Loss from operations was $0.4 million for the period compared to income from operations of $3.5 million in the prior year.

Interest expense decreased $0.5 million or 20.8% to $1.9 million for the second quarter of 2009 versus $2.4 million for the same period last year. The decrease is the result of a reduction in average borrowings combined with lower interest rates compared to the same period last year.

The Company's funded debt decreased $13.9 million, or 13.7% to $87.5 million at June 30, 2009 versus $101.4 million at June 30, 2008.

Inventory decreased $6.2 million, or 7.3%, to $79.3 million at June 30, 2009 compared with $85.5 million on the same date a year ago.

Conference Call Information

The Company's conference call to review second quarter fiscal 2009 results will be broadcast live over the internet today, Monday, July 27, 2009 at 4:30 pm Eastern Time. The broadcast will be hosted at www.rockybrands.com.

About Rocky Brands, Inc.

Rocky Brands, Inc. is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of premium quality footwear and apparel marketed under a portfolio of well recognized brand names including Rocky Outdoor Gear(R), Georgia Boot(R), Durango(R), Lehigh(R), and the licensed brands Dickies(R), Michelin(R) and Mossy Oak(R).

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Those statements include, but may not be limited to, all statements regarding intent, beliefs, expectations, projections, forecasts, and plans of the Company and its management, and include statements in this press release regarding improved profitability (paragraph 3). These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, the various risks inherent in the Company's business as set forth in periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 (filed March 3, 2009) and the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 (filed May 4, 2009). One or more of these factors have affected historical results, and could in the future affect the Company's businesses and financial results in future periods and could cause actual results to differ materially from plans and projections. Therefore there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this press release will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included herein, the Company, or any other person should not regard the inclusion of such information as a representation that the objectives and plans of the Company will be achieved. All forward-looking statements made in this press release are based on information presently available to the management of the Company. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.


Rocky Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

                                 June 30, 2009  December 31, 2008  June 30, 2008

                                 Unaudited                         Unaudited

ASSETS:

CURRENT ASSETS:

Cash and cash equivalents        $ 2,865,461    $ 4,311,313        $ 3,025,144

Trade receivables - net          44,454,476     60,133,493         59,245,156

Other receivables                1,924,195      1,394,235          1,010,254

Inventories                      79,286,477     70,302,174         85,542,820

Deferred income taxes            2,167,966      2,167,966          1,952,536

Prepaid & refundable income      2,413,523      75,481             729,024
taxes

Prepaid expenses                 1,396,308      1,455,158          2,703,446

Total current assets             134,508,406    139,839,820        154,208,380

FIXED ASSETS - net               23,777,945     23,549,319         24,090,519

IDENTIFIED INTANGIBLES           30,769,248     31,020,478         36,207,210

OTHER ASSETS                     4,236,066      2,452,501          2,323,778

TOTAL ASSETS                     $ 193,291,665  $ 196,862,118      $ 216,829,887

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS'
EQUITY:

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

Accounts payable                 $ 8,504,099    $ 9,869,948        $ 13,238,830

Current maturities - long term   495,976        480,723            338,314
debt

Accrued expenses:

Taxes - other                    502,032        641,670            840,751

Other                            4,504,202      4,261,689          4,703,591

Total current liabilities        14,006,309     15,254,030         19,121,486

LONG TERM DEBT - less current    87,023,125     87,258,939         101,042,347
maturities

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES            9,438,921      9,438,921          12,951,828

DEFERRED LIABILITIES             4,095,782      3,960,472          1,257,606

TOTAL LIABILITIES                114,564,137    115,912,362        134,373,267

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:

Common stock, no par value;
25,000,000 shares authorized;
issued and outstanding June 30,  54,384,172     54,250,064         54,168,292
2009 - 5,547,215; December 31,
2008 - 5,516,898; June 30, 2008
- 5,508,278

Accumulated other comprehensive  (3,062,448)    (3,222,215)        (1,500,197)
loss

Retained earnings                27,405,804     29,921,907         29,788,525

Total shareholders' equity       78,727,528     80,949,756         82,456,620

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND            $ 193,291,665  $ 196,862,118      $ 216,829,887
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY




Rocky Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

                       Three Months Ended           Six Months Ended

                       June 30,                     June 30,

                       2009           2008          2009           2008

NET SALES              $ 51,188,615   $ 60,507,421  $ 101,253,176  $ 120,992,137

COST OF GOODS SOLD     33,470,943     36,111,328    63,443,016     70,646,379

GROSS MARGIN           17,717,672     24,396,093    37,810,160     50,345,758

SELLING, GENERAL AND
ADMINISTRATIVE         18,119,173     20,875,459    38,065,301     43,936,946
EXPENSES

(LOSS)/INCOME FROM     (401,501)      3,520,634     (255,141)      6,408,812
OPERATIONS

OTHER INCOME AND
(EXPENSES):

Interest expense       (1,936,490)    (2,409,515)   (3,710,420)    (4,816,186)

Other - net            158,023        15,723        33,457         (2,869)

Total other - net      (1,778,467)    (2,393,792)   (3,676,963)    (4,819,055)

(LOSS)/INCOME BEFORE   (2,179,968)    1,126,842     (3,932,104)    1,589,757
INCOME TAXES

INCOME TAX             (785,000)      394,000       (1,416,000)    556,000
(BENEFIT)/EXPENSE

NET (LOSS)/INCOME      $ (1,394,968)  $ 732,842     $ (2,516,104)  $ 1,033,757

NET (LOSS)/INCOME PER
SHARE

Basic                  $ (0.25)       $ 0.13        $ (0.45)       $ 0.19

Diluted                $ (0.25)       $ 0.13        $ (0.45)       $ 0.19

WEIGHTED AVERAGE
NUMBER OF COMMON
SHARES OUTSTANDING

Basic                  5,547,215      5,508,278     5,546,880      5,508,058

Diluted                5,547,215      5,520,625     5,546,880      5,523,265




    Source: Rocky Brands, Inc.