Exhibit 99.1

 
ROCKY BRANDS, INC.
   
Company Contact:
Jim McDonald
 
Chief Financial Officer
 
 (740) 753-1951
   
Investor Relations:
ICR, Inc.
 
Brendon Frey/Chad Jacobs
 
 (203) 682-8200


ROCKY BRANDS, INC. ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER FISCAL 2009 RESULTS

NELSONVILLE, Ohio, April 28, 2009 – Rocky Brands, Inc. (Nasdaq: RCKY) today announced financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2009.

For the first quarter of 2009, net sales decreased to $50.1 million versus net sales of $60.5 million in the first quarter of 2008. The Company reported a net loss of $1.1 million, or ($0.20) per diluted share versus net income of $0.3 million, or $0.05 per diluted share a year ago.

Mike Brooks, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “As we started the year we anticipated that our top-line would remain under pressure due to the challenging economic environment combined with the tough comparisons we were up against in our retail division during the first quarter. Therefore we continue to focus on better aligning our cost structure with lower sales volumes and this was reflected in a 13%, or $3 million reduction in our SG&A versus a year ago.  We are also focused on improving the profitability of our retail segment by transitioning a greater percentage of those transactions to the Internet and we are pleased by our initial progress.  Looking ahead, we are confident that the strength and diversity of our brand portfolio is intact, and we remain committed to balancing our spending with current growth opportunities until market conditions improve.”

First Quarter Review
Net sales for the first quarter decreased to $50.1 million compared to $60.5 million a year ago. Wholesale sales for the first quarter were $36.0 million compared to $39.7 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 first quarter were $13.7 million compared to $18.9 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 operations to help lower costs as discussed below. Military segment sales for the first quarter were $0.3 million versus $1.8 million for the same period in 2008.

Gross margin in the first quarter of 2009 was $20.1 million, or 40.1% of sales compared to $25.9 million, or 42.9% for the same period last year.  The decrease in gross margin as a percentage of sales was primarily attributable to lower retail sales, which carry a higher gross margin, and to a lesser extent, lower wholesale gross margins due to increased manufacturing costs versus a year ago.

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses decreased $3.1 million or 13.5% to $19.9, or 39.8% of sales for the first quarter of 2009 compared to $23.1 million, or 38.1% of sales, a year ago. The decrease in SG&A expenses was primarily the result of a reduction in salaries & benefits, advertising, sales commissions, freight, professional fees and Lehigh mobile store expenses.

Income from operations was $0.1 million, or 0.3% of net sales, for the period compared to $2.9 million, or 4.8% of net sales, in the prior year.
 


Interest expense decreased $0.6 million, or 26.3% to $1.8 million for the first 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 $7.9 million, or 8.4% to $86.2 million at March 31, 2009 versus $94.1 million at March 31, 2008.

Inventory decreased $1.4 million, or 1.8%, to $78.4 million at March 31, 2009 compared with $79.8 million on the same date a year ago.

Conference Call Information
The Company’s conference call to review first quarter fiscal 2009 results will be broadcast live over the internet today, Tuesday, April 28, 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®, Georgia Boot®, Durango®, Lehigh®, and the licensed brands Dickies®, Michelin® and Mossy Oak®.

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.  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).  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
 
   
March 31, 2009
   
December 31, 2008
   
March 31, 2008
 
   
Unaudited
         
Unaudited
 
ASSETS:
                 
                   
CURRENT ASSETS:
                 
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 3,321,903     $ 4,311,313     $ 4,407,629  
Trade receivables – net
    47,488,146       60,133,493       56,189,187  
Other receivables
    1,806,231       1,394,235       947,296  
Inventories
    78,432,082       70,302,174       79,841,429  
Deferred income taxes
    2,167,966       2,167,966       1,952,536  
Income tax receivable
    1,440,697       75,481       607,910  
Prepaid expenses
    2,137,625       1,455,158       3,049,971  
Total current assets
    136,794,650       139,839,820       146,995,958  
FIXED ASSETS – net
    24,316,954       23,549,319       23,943,273  
IDENTIFIED INTANGIBLES & GOODWILL
    30,883,011       31,020,478       36,361,267  
OTHER ASSETS
    4,005,577       2,452,501       2,099,762  
TOTAL ASSETS
  $ 196,000,192     $ 196,862,118     $ 209,400,260  
                         
                         
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
                       
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
                       
Accounts payable
  $ 10,443,348     $ 9,869,948     $ 12,801,456  
Current maturities – long term debt
    488,271       480,723       331,411  
 Accrued expenses:
                       
 Taxes - other
    508,430       641,670       807,557  
 Other
    5,376,723       4,261,689       5,859,974  
Total current liabilities
    16,816,772       15,254,030       19,800,398  
                         
LONG TERM DEBT – less current maturities
    85,710,049       87,258,939       93,768,649  
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES
    9,438,921       9,438,921       12,951,828  
DEFERRED LIABILITIES
    3,995,754       3,960,472       1,217,206  
TOTAL LIABILITIES
    115,961,496       115,912,362       127,738,081  
                         
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
                       
Common stock, no par value;
                       
25,000,000 shares authorized; issued and outstanding March 31, 2009 - 5,547,215; December 31, 2008 - 5,516,898; March 31, 2008 - 5,508,278
    54,380,256       54,250,064       54,144,545  
                         
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (3,142,331 )     (3,222,215 )     (1,538,049 )
Retained earnings
    28,800,771       29,921,907       29,055,683  
Total shareholders' equity
    80,038,696       80,949,756       81,662,179  
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
  $ 196,000,192     $ 196,862,118     $ 209,400,260  


 
 Rocky Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
 
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
March 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
NET SALES
  $ 50,064,561     $ 60,484,716  
                 
COST OF GOODS SOLD
    29,972,073       34,535,051  
                 
GROSS MARGIN
    20,092,488       25,949,665  
                 
SELLING, GENERAL AND
               
    ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
    19,946,128       23,061,487  
                 
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS
    146,360       2,888,178  
                 
OTHER INCOME AND (EXPENSES):
               
Interest expense
    (1,773,930 )     (2,406,671 )
Other – net
    (124,566 )     (18,592 )
Total other - net
    (1,898,496 )     (2,425,263 )
                 
INCOME/(LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES
    (1,752,136 )     462,915  
                 
INCOME TAX EXPENSE/(BENEFIT)
    (631,000 )     162,000  
                 
NET INCOME/(LOSS)
  $ (1,121,136 )   $ 300,915  
                 
NET INCOME/(LOSS) PER SHARE
               
Basic
  $ (0.20 )   $ 0.05  
Diluted
  $ (0.20 )   $ 0.05  
                 
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF
               
    COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING
               
Basic
    5,546,541       5,507,839  
Diluted
    5,546,541       5,526,479