News Releases
Phoenix Footwear Group Reports Fiscal 2008 Results
CARLSBAD, Calif., April 20, 2009 -- Phoenix Footwear Group, Inc. (NYSE Alternext US: PXG) today reported results for the fourth quarter and year ended January 3, 2009. In addition, the Company provided an update on its strategic process.
Fourth Quarter and Full 2008 Fiscal Year Results
For the fourth quarter ended January 3, 2009, net sales from continuing operations totaled $16.5 million, down 15% from sales of $19.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2007. For the full 2008 fiscal year, net sales from continuing operations were $75.1 million, a 9% decrease from $82.9 million for fiscal 2007.
The net loss from continuing operations was $14.2 million, or $1.74 per share for the fourth quarter of 2008, compared to a net loss from continuing operations of $12.8 million, or $1.59 per share for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007. Included in the net loss for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 were $10.8 million in non-cash impairment charges compared to $6.0 million in non-cash impairment charges for the same period in the previous fiscal year. For the full 2008 fiscal year, net losses from continuing operations totaled $18.8 million, or $2.31 per share inclusive of the $10.8 million impairment charges. In fiscal 2007, the Company recorded a net loss from continuing operations of $16.6 million, or $2.07 per share inclusive of the $6.0 million impairment charges.
Net sales in the Company’s accessories and footwear businesses declined during fiscal 2008 reflecting an unusually weak retail environment and an effort by the Company’s major customers to reduce their inventories on hand.
The Company’s accessories segment generated net sales of $37.4 million for fiscal 2008, a $4.1 million decrease from $41.5 million for fiscal 2007, primarily attributable to softness in the women’s mass and specialty channels. Footwear sales (including both the footwear and premium footwear segments) were $37.7 million for fiscal 2008, a decrease of $3.6 million from footwear sales of $41.3 million in fiscal 2007. Net sales decreased in all primary footwear distribution channels, including independent retailers, department stores and catalog vendors, as the retail market continued to experience unprecedented softness during the second half of fiscal 2008.
Gross profits declined by $1.1 million for the 2008 fiscal year as the Company’s net sales declined; gross margins, however, improved by two percentage points from 31% in fiscal 2007 to 33% in fiscal 2008. This improvement resulted from fewer closeout sales during fiscal 2008 and the streamlining of the Company’s sourcing operations during the latter half of fiscal 2007.
As a result of aggressive inventory management, the Company finished fiscal 2008 with net inventories of $18.0 million, a 10% reduction in inventories from the prior fiscal year end level of $19.9 million.
“With the economic headwinds, this past year was an especially challenging one,” said Russell Hall, President and CEO of Phoenix Footwear Group, Inc. “We are disappointed in our net sales decline and resulting net loss; however we have made some important gains in managing our inventory and gross margins and in restructuring and right sizing our business as detailed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2008 which we filed today with the SEC. Our productivity improvements, combined with our new organizational structure, position us to produce better results once retail conditions normalize.”
The Company has been in continuing default on its bank debt since September 27, 2008. As a result of this and the fact that the Company has had net losses for the past two fiscal years, the Company's independent registered public accountants have included a going concern explanatory paragraph in their report on the Company’s financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 2008 fiscal year that the Company filed today with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This announcement of a qualification is being made in compliance with NYSE Alternext US Company Guide Rule 610(b) requiring a public announcement of the receipt of an audit opinion that contains a going concern qualification and does not reflect any change or amendment to the consolidated financial statements as filed. Further information regarding the going concern qualification is contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K referred to above.
Strategic Initiative Update
Phoenix Footwear also provided the following update on its strategic initiatives to return the Company to profitability and reduce or eliminate its bank debt.
In February 2009, the Company terminated its Tommy Bahama license agreement. At the same time, the Company discontinued production and sales of Tommy Bahama branded products other than pending orders and sales to Tommy Bahama Group to fulfill a products purchase agreement. By shutting down the Tommy Bahama footwear division, the Company eliminated a division which incurred operating losses of $2.4 million and $3.5 million during fiscal 2008 and fiscal 2007, respectively. Additionally, the Company is in the process of monetizing the associated working capital and plans to use the resulting proceeds to reduce its bank debt by an estimated $2.5 million. In the first quarter of fiscal 2009, the Company will report the results of its Tommy Bahama business as discontinued operations. In connection with this action, in the first quarter of fiscal 2009, a pre-tax charge of between $680,000 and $830,000 will be recorded.
During the first quarter of fiscal 2009, the Company took further steps to reduce its corporate overhead. In addition to the 3 positions eliminated relating to Tommy Bahama, 13 managerial and support positions were also eliminated. This restructuring is expected to result in an estimated savings of greater than $2.0 million in annual payroll and related expenses. In connection with this action, in the first quarter of fiscal 2009, a pre-tax restructuring charge of approximately $1.0 million for these activities will be recorded.
Recently, Wrangler Apparel Inc. advised the Company of its intent to directly enter the accessories business and take in-house its Wrangler mass license business. In the wake of this development, the Company has decided to sell the Chambers private label accessories business and certain assets. More specifically, the Company is negotiating with interested parties the terms of a sale transaction which would include Chambers manufacturing equipment, certain Chambers inventory at cost and certain intellectual property and customer relationships. The Company does not plan to include in the Chambers sale the division's accounts receivables or Wrangler licenses. Upon closing a transaction, the Company plans to collect these receivables and proceeds and wind-down the divisions remaining activities as the Wrangler licenses expire unrenewed.
The Company expects that the Tommy Bahama transaction and Chambers transaction would yield sufficient net proceeds to extinguish its bank debt during fiscal 2009. Until a Chambers transaction is agreed upon and entered into, the Company cannot provide any assurance that a sale will occur or the ultimate amount of proceeds that will result from it.
About Phoenix Footwear Group, Inc.
Phoenix Footwear Group, Inc., headquartered in Carlsbad, California, designs, develops and markets men's and women's footwear and accessories. Phoenix Footwear’s brands include Trotters ®, SoftWalk ®, H.S. Trask ® and it is a licensee of the Wrangler brand. Emphasizing quality, fit and traditional and authentic designs, these brands are primarily sold through department stores, specialty retailers, mass merchants and catalogs. Phoenix Footwear Group, Inc. is traded on the NYSE Alternext US under the symbol PXG.
Forward-Looking Statements
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 Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. The words “anticipates,” “will,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans” and words of similar meaning identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements also include statements concerning the Company’s expectations or beliefs concerning future events that involve risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding the proposed Chambers sale transaction, the expected closing and timing of that transaction and the expected net proceeds from that transaction and the monetization of Chambers’ working capital and the Tommy Bahama transaction and the repayment of the Company’s debt and other risks detailed in the Company’s periodic report filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, the possibility that a Chambers transaction is not successfully concluded, or the unexpected liabilities related to the disposition arise or the transactions do not yield the anticipated proceeds. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to release publicly any update or revision to any forward-looking statement contained herein if there are changes in the Company's expectations or if any events, conditions or circumstances on which any such forward-looking statement is based.
Contact:
Dennis Nelson
Chief Financial Officer
Phoenix Footwear Group, Inc.
(760) 602-9688
