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): November 4, 2004
FOOT LOCKER, INC.
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(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
New York
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(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
1-10299 13-3513936
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(Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification Number)
112 West 34th Street, New York, New York 10120
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(212-720-3700)
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(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
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(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
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:
[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities
Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
(17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ] 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 November 4, 2004, Foot Locker, Inc. issued a press release
announcing its sales results for the third quarter of 2004. A
copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1, which,
in its entirety, is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(c) Exhibits
99.1 Press Release of Foot Locker, Inc. dated November 4, 2004
reporting sales results for the third quarter of 2004.
SIGNATURE
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.
FOOT LOCKER, INC.
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(Registrant)
Date: November 4, 2004 By: /s/ Bruce L. Hartman
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Bruce L. Hartman
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
EXHIBIT 99.1
FOOT LOCKER, INC.
N E W S R E L E A S E
Contact: Peter D. Brown
Vice President, Treasurer and
Investor Relations
Foot Locker, Inc.
(212)720-4254
FOOT LOCKER, INC. REPORTS THIRD QUARTER SALES
o Third Quarter Total Sales Increased 14.3 Percent
o Third Quarter Comparable-Store Sales Increased 1.2
Percent
o Third Quarter Earnings Per Share Expected to Increase 10
to 15 Percent, within our Previous Guidance
NEW YORK, NY, November 4, 2004 - Foot Locker, Inc. (NYSE: FL), the New
York-based specialty athletic retailer, today reported sales for the 13-week
period ended October 30, 2004 of $1,365 million, versus $1,194 million in the
comparable period last year, an increase of 14.3 percent. For this same 13-week
period, comparable store sales increased 1.2 percent.
For the 39-week period ended October 30, 2004, sales increased 10.9 percent to
$3,820 million, from $3,445 million in the Company's corresponding period last
year. Comparable-store sales for the Company's first nine months of its 2004
fiscal year increased 0.3 percent.
Excluding the effect of foreign currency fluctuations, total sales for the
13-week and 39-week periods increased 12.3 percent and 8.5 percent,
respectively.
"We are encouraged that our third quarter comparable-store sales improved versus
the results generated during the first six months of the year," stated Matthew
D. Serra, Foot Locker, Inc.'s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "This
improving comparable-store sales trend was largely driven by increases at Champs
Sports, Lady Foot Locker, and our international Foot Locker stores in Canada and
Australia. We have estimated that the September 2004 hurricanes negatively
impacted our third quarter comparable-store sales increase by approximately 0.6
percent, primarily as a result of disruptions to our operations in Florida and
Puerto Rico where we have almost 300 stores. The Company's total sales increase
reflects the 349-store Footaction chain that was acquired in May and the Foot
Locker store expansion program in Europe, both of which continue to enhance our
market share and profits."
Mr. Serra continued, "Comparable-store sales were also somewhat tempered as part
of our planned effort to reduce our overall promotional posture during the third
quarter versus the first six months of this year. This strategy resulted in an
improved year-to-date merchandise margin rate. On a quarter-over-quarter
comparison versus 2003, we continued to reduce our SG&A expenses, as a
percentage of sales, which offset a gross margin rate decline as compared to
last year's strong performance. We remain on track to deliver a 10 to 15 percent
increase in fully diluted earnings per share from continuing operations versus
the third quarter of last year, which is within our previous guidance."
Foot Locker, Inc. plans to report third quarter 2004 and year-to-date results on
Thursday, November 18, 2004. A conference call is scheduled on Friday, November
19, 2004 for 10:00 a.m. EST to discuss these results and provide guidance with
regard to its earnings outlook for the balance of 2004. This conference call may
be accessed live from the Investor Relations section of the Foot Locker, Inc.
website at http://www.footlocker-inc.com. Please log-on to the website at least
15 minutes prior to the call in order to download any necessary software. The
webcast conference call will be available for replay until 5:00 p.m. Tuesday,
November 23, 2004. News releases are also available on the Internet at
http://www.prnewswire.com or on Foot Locker, Inc.'s website at
http://www.footlocker-inc.com.
Foot Locker, Inc. is a specialty athletic retailer that operates approximately
4,000 stores in 18 countries in North America, Europe and Australia. Through its
Foot Locker, Footaction, Lady Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker and Champs Sports
retail stores, as well as its direct-to-customer channel Footlocker.com/Eastbay,
the Company is the leading provider of athletic footwear and apparel.
Foot Locker, Inc. 112 West 34th Street, New York, NY 10120
Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, which reflect
management's current views of future events and financial performance. These
forward-looking statements are based on many assumptions and factors detailed in
the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the
effects of currency fluctuations, customer demand, fashion trends, competitive
market forces, uncertainties related to the effect of competitive products and
pricing, customer acceptance of the Company's merchandise mix and retail
locations, the Company's reliance on a few key vendors for a majority of its
merchandise purchases (including a significant portion from one key vendor),
unseasonable weather, risks associated with foreign global sourcing, including
political instability, changes in import regulations, disruptions to
transportation services and distribution, and the presence of severe acute
respiratory syndrome, economic conditions worldwide, any changes in business,
political and economic conditions due to the threat of future terrorist
activities in the United States or in other parts of the world and related U.S.
military action overseas, the ability of the Company to execute its business
plans effectively with regard to each of its business units, including its plans
for the marquee and launch footwear component of its business, and its plans for
the integration of the Footaction stores. Any changes in such assumptions or
factors could produce significantly different results. The Company undertakes no
obligation to update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events, or otherwise.
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