SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549-1004
FORM 10-Q

Quarterly Report Under Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

FOR QUARTER ENDED  October 23, 2004  COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-9656

          LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED          
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                                  MICHIGAN                                                                             38-0751137
                (State or other jurisdiction of                                                                   (I.R.S. Employer
                     incorporation or organization)                                                              Identification No.)

            1284 North Telegraph Road, Monroe, Michigan                                            48162-3390
                   (Address of principal executive offices)                                                     (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code (734) 241-4074


                                                        None                                                         
   (Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report.)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

                                                      Yes   X                                                       No         

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

                                                      Yes   X                                                       No         

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the last practicable date:

                       Class                                                                         Outstanding at October 23, 2004
Common Shares, $1.00 par value                                                                      52,087,932


 

 

 

 





LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED
FORM 10-Q SECOND QUARTER OF FISCAL 2005

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Page
Number(s)
PART I Financial Information   
         Item 1. Financial Statements   
                  Consolidated Statement of Income 3-4
                  Consolidated Balance Sheet
                  Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
                  Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders' Equity
                  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                     Note 1. Basis of Presentation
                     Note 2. Interim Results
                     Note 3. Reclassification
                     Note 4. Earnings per Share
                     Note 5. Inventories 8
                     Note 6. Restructuring 9
                     Note 7. Segment Information 10 
                     Note 8. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets 10
                     Note 9. Stock Option Plans 11 
                     Note 10. Financial Guarantees and Product Warranties 11
                     Note 11. Variable Interest Entities 11-13 
                     Note 12. Pension Plans 13
              
         Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
                     and Results of Operations
                    Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking
                          Statements 14
                    Introduction 14-15
                    Results of Operations 15-18
                    Liquidity and Capital Resources 19
                    Critical Accounting Policies 20
                    Outlook 20
                    Regulatory Developments 21
   
         Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 21
   
         Item 4. Controls and Procedures 21
   
PART II  Other Information   
         Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds 21-22
   
         Item 4. Results of Votes of Security Holders 22
   
         Item 6. Exhibits 23
   
Signature Page 24




 

 

 

 



 


 

PART I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
(Unaudited, amounts in thousands, except per share data)

  Second Quarter Ended
      % Over Percent of Sales
  10/23/04
10/25/03
(Under)
10/23/04
10/25/03
Sales     $ 533,670   $ 511,018   4.4 %   100.0 %   100.0 %
                               
Cost of sales                               
   Cost of goods sold      410,404     394,257   4.1 %   76.9 %   77.2 %
   Restructuring      749     1,976   -62.1 %   0.1 %   0.4 %



     
Total cost of sales       411,153     396,233     3.8 %   77.0 %   77.5 %



     
   Gross profit       122,517     114,785   6.7 %   23.0 %   22.5 %
Selling, general and administrative       106,399     87,727   21.3 %   19.9 %   17.2 %



     
   Operating income       16,118     27,058   -40.4 %   3.0 %   5.3 %
Interest expense       2,607     3,026   -13.8 %   0.5 %   0.6 %
Other income (expense), net       (353   448   -178.8 %   --     0.1 %



     
   Pre-tax income       13,158     24,480   -46.3 %   2.5 %   4.8 %
Income tax expense       5,000     9,303   -46.3 %   38.0 %*   38.0 %*



     
   Income before extraordinary item       8,158     15,177   -46.2 %   1.5 %   3.0 %
Extraordinary gain, net of income
    tax expense of $430
      702     --     N/M     0.1 %   --  



     
   Net income    $ 8,860   $ 15,177   -41.6 %   1.7 %   3.0 %



   
     
Basic weighted average shares       52,040     54,159  


Basic income per share before
    extraordinary gain
   
$

0.16
 
$

0.28
 
Extraordinary gain per share 0.01   --  


Basic net income per share     $ 0.17   $ 0.28  


Diluted weighted average shares       52,101     54,339  


Diluted income per share before
    extraordinary gain
   
$

0.16
 
$

0.28
 
Extraordinary gain per share 0.01 --


Diluted net income per share     $ 0.17   $ 0.28  


Dividends paid per share     $ 0.11 $ 0.10

*As a percent of pre-tax income, not sales.

      The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.

                                                                                                                              3


LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
(Unaudited, amounts in thousands, except per share data)

  Six Months Ended
      % Over Percent of Sales
  10/23/04
10/25/03
(Under)
10/23/04
10/25/03
Sales     $ 1,000,041   $ 962,490   3.9 %   100.0 %   100.0 %
                               
Cost of sales                              
   Cost of goods sold      770,553     746,738   3.2 %   77.1 %   77.6 %
   Restructuring      11,149     8,249   35.2 %   1.1 %   0.8 %



     
Total cost of sales      781,702     754,987     3.5 %   78.2 %   78.4 %



     
   Gross profit       218,339     207,503   5.2 %   21.8 %   21.6 %
Selling, general and administrative       206,064     169,146   21.8 %   20.6 %   17.6 %



     
   Operating income       12,275     38,357   -68.0 %   1.2 %   4.0 %
Interest expense       4,816     6,239   -22.8 %   0.5 %   0.6 %
Other income, net       17     1,720   -99.0 %   --     0.1 %



     
   Pre-tax income       7,476     33,838   -77.9 %   0.7 %   3.5 %
Income tax expense       2,841     12,858   -77.9 %   38.0 %*   38.0 %*



     
  Income before extraordinary item      4,635     20,980   -77.9 %   0.5 %   2.2 %
Extraordinary gain, net of
   income tax expense of $430
      702     --     N/M     --     --  



     
  Net Income    $ 5,337   $ 20,980   -74.6 %   0.5 %   2.2 %



   
     
Basic weighted average shares       52,003     54,444  


Basic income per share before
    extraordinary gain
    $ 0.09   $ 0.39  
Extraordinary gain per share 0.01   --  


Basic net income per share     $ 0.10   $ 0.39  


Diluted weighted average shares       52,062     54,627  


Diluted income per share before
    extraordinary gain
    $ 0.09   $ 0.38  
Extraordinary gain per share 0.01 --


Diluted net income per share     $ 0.10   $ 0.38  


Dividends paid per share     $ 0.22 $ 0.20

*As a percent of pre-tax income, not sales.

      The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.

4


LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
(Unaudited, amounts in thousands)

Increase/(Decrease)
10/23/04
10/25/03
Dollars
Percent
4/24/04
Current assets                                  
  Cash and equivalents     $ 28,677   $ 24,587   $ 4,090    16.6 % $ 33,882  
  Receivables, net       306,386     320,527     (14,141 )  -4.4 %   299,801  
  Inventories, net       282,470     237,655     44,815    18.9 %   250,568  
  Deferred income taxes       38,108     37,057     1,051    2.8 %   37,969  
  Other current assets       21,088     19,411     1,677    8.6 %   31,454  



   
    Total current assets       676,729     639,237     37,492    5.9 %   653,674  
Property, plant and equipment, net       207,447     202,148     5,299    2.6 %   212,739  
Goodwill       68,544     78,807     (10,263 )  -13.0 %   68,116  
Trade names       27,889     71,144     (43,255 )  -60.8 %   27,889  
Other long-term assets       81,348     86,929     (5,581 )  -6.4 %   85,078  



   
        Total assets     $ 1,061,957   $ 1,078,265   $ (16,308 )  -1.5 % $ 1,047,496  



   
Current liabilities                               
  Short-term borrowings     $ 33,686   $ 6,000   $ 27,686    461.4 % $ 37,219  
  Current portion of long-term                               
      debt and capital leases       3,018     4,902     (1,884 )  -38.4 %   5,344  
  Accounts payable       86,716     81,259     5,457    6.7 %   93,298  
  Accrued expenses and other    
      current liabilities       126,992     126,244     748    0.6 %   147,460  



   
    Total current liabilities       250,412     218,405     32,007    14.7 %   283,321  
Long-term debt and capital leases       231,652     196,174     35,478    18.1 %   181,807  
Deferred income taxes       20,143     37,494     (17,351 )  -46.3 %   20,219  
Other long-term liabilities       41,462     38,446     3,016    7.8 %  39,821  
Contingencies and commitments                               
Shareholders' equity                               
  Common shares, $1 par value       52,088     53,408     (1,320 )  -2.5 %   52,031  
  Capital in excess of par value       214,962     215,807     (845 )  -0.4 %   216,156  
  Retained earnings       250,434     318,306     (67,872 )  -21.3 %   253,012  
  Unearned compensation     (1,938 )   --     (1,938 )  N/M     --  
  Accumulated other comprehensive income       2,742     225     2,517    N/M     1,129  



   
    Total shareholders' equity       518,288     587,746     (69,458 )  -11.8 %   522,328  



   
      Total liabilities and                               
        shareholders' equity     $ 1,061,957   $ 1,078,265   $ (16,308 )  -1.5 % $ 1,047,496  



 

      The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.

 

 

 

 


5


LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited, amounts in thousands)

Second Quarter Ended Six Months Ended
10/23/04
10/25/03
10/23/04
10/25/03
Cash flows from operating activities                            
   Net income     $ 8,860   $ 15,177   $ 5,337   $ 20,980  
   Adjustments to reconcile net income to                            
   cash provided by operating activities                            
      Extraordinary gain       (702   --     (702 )   --  
      Restructuring       749     1,976     11,149     8,249  
      Depreciation and amortization       7,092     7,326     14,000     14,637  
      Change in receivables       (55,811 )   (22,926 )   (4,371 )   21,029  
      Change in inventories       (6,618   4,363     (33,902 )   14,882  
      Change in payables       1,530     33,248     (6,582 )   2,328  
      Change in other assets and liabilities       21,040     15,044     (8,803 )   (11,576 )
      Change in deferred taxes       4,712     1,035     (215 )   1,243  



 
        Total adjustments       (28,008   40,066     (29,426 )   50,792  



 
          Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities       (19,148   55,243     (24,089 )   71,772  
          
Cash flows from investing activities                            
   Proceeds from disposals of assets       5,329     1,598     5,597     1,772  
   Capital expenditures       (7,705 )   (7,773 )   (17,179 )   (14,626 )
   Change in other long-term assets       (3,055 )   (4,304 )   (3,850 )   (747 )



 
          Net cash used for investing activities       (5,431 )   (10,479 )   (15,432 )   (13,601 )
          
Cash flows from financing activities                            
   Proceeds from debt       32,499     6,603     102,242     6,922  
   Payments on debt       (4,841 )   (23,570 )   (58,257 )   (23,836 )
   Stock issued for stock option and employee benefits plans       1,275     1,566     2,757     6,012  
   Repurchase of common stock       --     (28,803 )   (2,476 )   (42,220 )
   Dividends paid       (5,723 )   (5,501 )   (11,372 )   (10,987 )



 
          Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities       23,210     (49,705 )   32,894     (64,109 )
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and    
  equivalents       1,081     1,106     1,422     1,708  



 
Net decrease in cash and equivalents       (288 )   (3,835 )   (5,205 )   (4,230 )
Cash and equivalents at beginning of period       28,965     28,422     33,882     28,817  



 
Cash and equivalents at end of period     $ 28,677   $ 24,587   $ 28,677   $ 24,587  



 
          
Cash paid (net of refunds) during period  - income taxes     $ (1,016 $ 9,135   $ 6,398   $ 10,493  
          
Cash paid during period  - interest     $ 1,508   $ 2,648   $ 4,060   $ 6,440  
   

The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.

 

 

 

6


LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
(Unaudited, amounts in thousands)

  Common shares
Capital in
excess of par
value

Retained
earnings

Unearned
compensation

Accumulated other
comprehensive income
(loss)

Total
     At April 26, 2003     $ 55,027   $ 216,081   $ 342,628   $ -- $ (3,797 ) $ 609,939  
Repurchases of common stock       (3,379)     (69,130)         (72,509 )
Stock issued for stock options                                  
   and employee benefit plans     383   (493 6,824           6,714  
Tax benefit from exercise of  options           568                 568  
Dividends paid                 (21,514)         (21,514 )
Comprehensive income (loss)   
   Net loss                (5,796            
   Unrealized gain on marketable   
        securities, net of taxes                         2,475        
   Realization of gains on marketable   
        securities, net of taxes                         (525      
   Additional minimum pension liability,                            
       net of taxes                        (457
   Translation adjustment                         1,870  
   Change in fair value of cash    
        flow hedges, net of taxes                         1,563        
     Total comprehensive loss                              (870



 


     At April 24, 2004    52,031   216,156   253,012   --     1,129     522,328  
 
Repurchases of common stock     (120)         (2,356 )         (2,476 )
Stock issued for stock options    
   and employee benefit plans     177     (1,194 )   5,813  

(2,039

)         2,757  
Amortization of  unearned compensation                       101         101  
Dividends paid                   (11,372 )         (11,372 )
Comprehensive income (loss)    
   Net income                   5,337              
   Unrealized loss on marketable   
        securities, net of taxes                         (823 )      
   Translation adjustment                         2,488        
Change in fair value of cash                                  
      flow hedges, net of taxes                         (52 )      
     Total comprehensive income                               6,950  







     At October 23, 2004    $ 52,088   $ 214,962   $ 250,434   $

(1,938

) $ 2,742   $ 518,288  







        The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.

7


NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1: Basis of Presentation

  The interim financial information is prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and such principles are applied on a basis consistent with those reflected in our 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, but does not include all the disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles. In the opinion of management, the interim financial information includes all adjustments and accruals, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, which are, in our opinion, necessary for a fair presentation of results for the respective interim period.

Note 2: Interim Results

  The foregoing interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations which will occur for the full fiscal year ending April 30, 2005.

Note 3: Reclassification

        Certain prior year information has been reclassified to be comparable to the current year presentation.

Note 4: Earnings per Share

  Basic earnings per share is computed using the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per share uses the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period plus the additional common shares that would be outstanding if the dilutive potential common shares issuable under employee stock options were issued. A reconciliation of basic and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding follows:

Second Quarter
Ended

Six Months
Ended

(Unaudited, amounts in thousands) 10/23/04
10/25/03
10/23/04
10/25/03
Weighted average common shares                        
     outstanding (basic)     52,040    54,159     52,003    54,444  
Effect of options     61    180     59    183  




Weighted average common shares                      
     outstanding (diluted)     52,101    54,339     52,062    54,627  





  The weighted average common shares outstanding for diluted earnings per share calculation at October 23, 2004 and October 25, 2003 excludes the incremental effect related to outstanding stock options whose exercise price is in excess of the price of our stock at the end of each period. These options are excluded due to their antidilutive effect.

Note 5: Inventories

      A summary of inventory follows:


(Unaudited, amounts in thousands) 10/23/04
10/25/03
4/24/04
Raw materials     $ 75,152   $ 73,354   $ 74,162  
Work in progress       64,388     49,307     53,860  
Finished goods       160,746     128,410     138,500  



   FIFO inventories       300,286     251,071     266,522  
   Excess of FIFO over LIFO       (17,816 )   (13,416 )   (15,954 )



      Inventories, net     $ 282,470   $ 237,655   $ 250,568  



 

8


Note 6: Restructuring

  In the first quarter of fiscal 2005, the decision was made to close three casegoods facilities, an upholstery plant and an upholstery warehouse.  The casegoods facilities will be closed as a result of continued underutilization of our domestic casegoods facilities due to an increase in our importing of product from overseas.  The upholstery plant was closed and production was absorbed in another upholstery facility resulting in better production efficiencies.   Approximately 525 jobs will be eliminated as a result of these closures.  We expect that the remainder of the facilities will be closed during the remainder of fiscal year 2005.  This restructuring will result in pre-tax charges to cost of sales of approximately $13.0 million or $0.16 per diluted share on an after-tax basis for the 2005 fiscal year.   During the first six months of fiscal 2005, pre-tax restructuring charges were $11.1 million or $0.13 per diluted share covering the following:  write-down of certain fixed assets, the write-down of certain inventories and payment of severance and benefits.  We expect to dispose of these plants by sale or abandonment if a sale is not imminent.  The write-down was accounted for in accordance with SFAS No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets."  Severance costs and other costs will be expensed as incurred throughout the rest of the year in accordance with SFAS No. 146, "Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities."  There are 442 employees remaining at these facilities. 

During the first quarter of fiscal 2004, we announced the closing of three of our Casegoods Group manufacturing facilities. This action was the result of underutilization of certain manufacturing facilities as we transitioned to more foreign-sourced products in order to be competitive with imported furniture. The closure of these facilities resulted in the elimination of 480 jobs. Approximately 75 jobs were created at other facilities resulting from the closures.   We expect to dispose of all three of these manufacturing plants by sale and the related write-down has been accounted for in accordance with SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.”  The plants ceased operations in fiscal 2004, leaving 3 employees remaining at these facilities.  The related restructuring charges were $10.4 million in fiscal 2004, covering the write-down of certain fixed assets and inventories, lease costs and severance related costs, which were recorded in cost of sales.


    Fiscal 2005  
(Unaudited, amounts in thousands) 4/24/04
Balance

Charges to
Expense

Cash
Payments
or
Asset
Write-offs

10/23/04
Balance

Fixed asset write-downs     $ --   $ 8,850   $ (8,850 ) $ --
Severance and benefit related costs       329     299    (584 )   44
Inventory write-downs     --     2,000     (2,000 )   --
Other     174    --    (174 )   --




   Total restructuring   $ 503   $ 11,149   $ (11,608 ) $ 44





    Fiscal 2004  
(Unaudited, amounts in thousands) 4/26/03
Balance

Charges to
Expense

Cash
Payments
or
Asset
Write-offs

4/24/04
Balance

Fixed asset write-downs     $ --   $ 4,256   $(4,256 ) $ --  
Severance and benefit related costs    313     1,389     (1,373 )   329  
Inventory write-downs    --     1,729     (1,729 )  --  
Other    543     3,067     (3,436 )   174  




   Total restructuring   $ 856   $ 10,441   $ (10,794 ) $ 503  




 

 

 

 

 

9



Note 7: Segment Information

Our reportable operating segments are the Upholstery Group and the Casegoods Group.

Second Quarter Ended
Six Months Ended
(Unaudited, amounts in thousands) 10/23/04
10/25/03
10/23/04
10/25/03
Sales                    
   Upholstery segment   $ 411,499   $ 392,610   $ 760,000   $ 728,489  
   Casegoods segment     114,169     119,621     219,883    236,130  
   Eliminations/Other     8,002 *   (1,213 )   20,158 *  (2,129 )




      Consolidated   $ 533,670   $ 511,018   $ 1,000,041   $ 962,490  




Operating income                    
   Upholstery segment   $ 27,268   $ 32,446   $ 41,115   $ 55,377  
   Casegoods segment     80     2,002     580     3,077  
   Corporate and other     (10,481 )*   (5,414 )   (18,271 )*  (11,848 )
   Restructuring       (749 )   (1,976 )   (11,149 )   (8,249 )




      Consolidated   $ 16,118   $ 27,058   $ 12,275   $ 38,357  




*The consolidated variable interest entities are included in Corporate and other.  See Note 11 for further information. 

Note 8: Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The following table summarizes goodwill and trade names in the second quarters of fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2004.  There were no changes in the balances during each quarter presented:

  Upholstery Group
  Casegoods Group
  Other
(Unaudited, amounts in thousands) 10/23/04
10/25/03
  10/23/04
10/25/03
  10/23/04
10/25/03
Goodwill $ 60,830   $ 53,177     $ --   $ 25,630     $ 7,714     --
Trade names $ 8,690   $ 16,945     $ 19,199   $ 54,199       --     --

Goodwill for the Upholstery Group increased as a result of our acquisition of several retail stores in the Baltimore area.  Other goodwill is a result of consolidating VIEs under FIN 46.  Goodwill for the Casegoods Group and the trade names for both groups decreased due to impairment losses recorded in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2004.  The impairment losses were a result of our annual evaluation of goodwill and trade names.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10


Note 9: Stock Option Plans

We account for our stock-based compensation plans using the intrinsic value method of recognition and measurement principles under APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and related interpretations. We have adopted the disclosure-only provisions of SFAS No. 123 “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” as amended.

Assuming that we had accounted for our stock-based compensation programs using the fair value method promulgated by SFAS No. 123, proforma net income and net income per share would have been as follows:

Second Quarter Ended
Six Months Ended
(Unaudited, amounts in thousands, except per share data) 10/23/04
10/25/03
10/23/04
10/25/03
Net income     $ 8,860   $ 15,177   $ 5,337   $ 20,980  
Fair value of stock plans     (624   (701   (1,085   (1,267




Proforma net income    $ 8,236   $ 14,476   $ 4,252   $ 19,713  




         
Proforma basic net income per share   $ 0.16   $ 0.27   $ 0.08   $ 0.36  
         
Proforma diluted net income per share   $ 0.16   $ 0.27   $ 0.08   $ 0.36  

Note 10: Financial Guarantees and Product Warranties

We have provided financial guarantees relating to loans and leases in connection with certain La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries® stores, which are not operated by the company.  Loan guarantees are generally for real estate mortgages with a guarantee period of not more than five years.  Lease guarantees are generally for real estate leases and have terms lasting up to five years. These loan and lease guarantees enhance the credit of these dealers. The dealer is required to make periodic fee payments to compensate us for our guarantees. We have recognized liabilities for the fair values of the loan and lease agreements that we have entered into since December 31, 2002, but they are not material to our financial position.

We would be required to perform under these agreements only if the dealer were to default on the loan or lease. The maximum amounts of potential future payments under loan guarantees and lease guarantees were $3.4 million and $3.5 million, respectively, as of October 23, 2004. Should a default occur on a collateralized loan, we expect the liquidation of the collateral would cover substantially all of the maximum amount of our potential future payments under our guarantee obligation.

We have, from time to time, entered into agreements which resulted in indemnifying third parties against certain liabilities, mainly environmental. We believe that judgments, if any, against us related to such agreements would not have a material effect on our business or financial condition.

Our accounting policy for product warranties is to accrue an estimated liability at the time the revenue is recognized. This estimate is based on historical claims and adjusted for currently known warranty issues.

A reconciliation of the changes in our product warranty liability is as follows:

Second Quarter
Ended

Six Months
Ended

(Unaudited, amounts in thousands) 10/23/04
10/25/03
10/23/04
10/25/03
Balance as of beginning of the period     $ 19,685   $ 19,028   $ 19,527   $ 19,066  
Accruals during the period     3,540    4,488     7,819    8,542  
Settlements during the period     (3,511 )  (4,144 )   (7,632 )  (8,236 )




Balance as of the end of the period   $ 19,714   $ 19,372   $ 19,714   $ 19,372  




Note 11: Variable Interest Entities

Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 46R, "Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities" ("FIN 46"), which was issued in December 2003, requires the "primary beneficiary" of a variable interest entity ("VIE") to include the VIE's assets, liabilities and operating results in its consolidated financial statements.   In general, a VIE is a corporation, partnership, limited-liability corporation, trust or any other legal structure used to conduct activities or hold assets that either (i) has an insufficient amount of equity to carry out its principal activities without additional subordinated financial support, (ii) has a group of equity owners that are unable to make significant decisions about its activities, or (iii) has a group of equity owners that do not have the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive returns generated by its operations.

11


La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries® stores that are not operated by us are operated by independent dealers. These stores sell La-Z-Boy manufactured product as well as various accessories purchased from approved La-Z-Boy vendors.  In some cases we have extended credit beyond normal trade terms to the independent dealers, made direct loans and/or guaranteed certain loans or leases.  Most of these independent dealers have sufficient equity to carry out their principal operating activities without subordinated financial support, however, there are certain independent dealers that we have determined may not have sufficient equity. Based on the criteria for consolidation of VIEs, we have determined that several dealers are VIEs of which, under FIN 46, we are deemed the primary beneficiary.   The operating results of the consolidated VIEs negatively impacted our diluted earnings per share by $0.05 and $0.09 for the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2005, respectively.  Additionally, there are certain independent dealers that qualify as VIEs; however, we are not the primary beneficiary.  Our interest in these dealers is comprised of accounts and notes receivable of $17.5 million.  The extraordinary gain of $1.1 million ($0.7 million net of income taxes), is a result of the application of purchase accounting relating to the acquisition of a previously consolidated VIE.

In prior years, we have evaluated the collectibility of our trade accounts receivable from our independent dealers and we have provided an appropriate reserve relating to the collectibility of our receivables with these dealers or the contingent payout under any guarantees. There are no VIEs consolidated in our fiscal 2004 second quarter financial statements.  The table below shows the impact of this standard on our consolidated balance sheet and statement of income as of October 23, 2004.  The amounts reflected in the table include the elimination of related payables, receivables, sales, cost of sales, and interest as well as profit in inventory.

 
10/23/04

(Unaudited, amounts in thousands)

VIEs
Consolidated
Assets                  
   Cash and cash equivalents     $ 2,047     $ 28,677  
   Accounts receivable, net      (22,769 ) (1)    306,386  
   Inventories, net       11,770       282,470  
   Deferred income taxes       5,443       38,108  
   Other current assets      1,502       21,088  


       Total current assets      (2,007 )     676,729  
   Property, plant and equipment, net       8,573       207,447  
   Intangibles       7,714       96,433  
   Other long-term assets      (14,707 ) (1)   81,348  


        Total assets     $ (427 )   $ 1,061,957  


Liabilities and shareholders' equity    
   Short-term borrowings     $ --     $ 33,686  
   Current portion of long-term debt and capital leases     1,429   3,018  
   Accounts payable       2,635       86,716  
   Other current liabilities      2,265       126,992  


        Total current liabilities      6,329       250,412  
   Long-term debt and capital leases       6,685       231,652  
   Deferred income taxes      --       20,143  
   Other long-term liabilities      141       41,462  
   Shareholders' equity (deficit)      (13,582     518,288  


       Total liabilities and shareholders' equity    $ (427 )   $ 1,061,957  


(1) Reflects the elimination of intercompany accounts and notes receivable.

 

12


Second Quarter Ended
10/23/04

Six Months Ended
10/23/04

(Unaudited, amounts in thousands)
VIEs
Consolidated
VIEs
Consolidated
Sales     $ 9,654  (2) $ 533,670   $ 23,295  (2) $ 1,000,041  
         
Cost of sales  
    Cost of goods sold     (266 ) (2)   410,404     676  (2)   770,553  
    Restructuring     --     749     --     11,149  




Total cost of sales     (266   411,153     676     781,702  




    Gross profit     9,920     122,517     22,619     218,339  
Selling, general and administrative     12,712     106,399     27,388     206,064  




     Operating income (loss)     (2,792   16,118     (4,769   12,275  
         
Interest expense     69     2,607     236     4,816  
         
Other income (expense), net     (1,093 (3)   (353   (2,387 (3)   17  




     Pre-tax income (loss)     (3,954   13,158     (7,392   7,476  
         
Income tax expense (benefit)     (1,503   5,000     (2,809   2,841  




     Income (loss) before extraordinary item     (2,451   8,158     (4,583   4,635  
     Extraordinary gain, net of income taxes of $430     --     702     --     702  




     Net income (loss)   $ (2,451 $ 8,860   $ (4,583 $ 5,337  




(2) Reflects the elimination of intercompany sales and cost of sales.
(3) Incorporates the elimination of intercompany interest income and interest expense.

Note 12: Pension Plans

The net periodic pension costs were as follows:


 
Second Quarter Ended
 
Six Months Ended
(Unaudited, amounts in thousands) 10/23/04
10/25/03
10/23/04
10/25/03
Service cost     $ 699   $ 677   $ 1,450   $ 1,399  
Interest cost       1,088     1,095     2,238     2,245  
Expected return on plan assets       (1,510 )   (1,619 )   (3,095 )   (3,294 )
Net amortization and deferral       33     564     99     1,161  


 

 
       Net periodic pension cost     $ 310   $ 717   $ 692   $ 1,511  





We do not expect to make any contributions to the plans in fiscal year 2005.

 

 

 

13


ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

We are making forward-looking statements in this item. Generally, forward-looking statements include information concerning possible or assumed future actions, events or results of operations. More specifically, forward-looking statements include the information in this document regarding:

   
future income and margins
future growth
adequacy and cost of financial resources
future economic performance
industry and importing trends
management plans

Forward-looking statements also include those preceded or followed by the words "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "hopes," "plans," "intends" and "expects" or similar expressions.  With respect to all forward-looking statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated or projected due to a number of factors. These factors include, but are not limited to: (a) changes in consumer sentiment or demand; (b) changes in demographics; (c) changes in housing sales; (d) the impact of terrorism or war; (e) energy price changes; (f) the impact of logistics on imports; (g) the impact of interest rate changes; (h) changes to the preliminary ruling on tariffs by the United States Department of Commerce and potential disruptions from Chinese imports; (i) supply price fluctuations; (j) the impact of imports as it relates to continued domestic production; (k) changes in currency rates; (l) competitive factors; (m) operating factors, such as supply, labor, or distribution disruptions including changes in operating conditions or costs; (n) effects of restructuring actions; (o) changes in the domestic or international regulatory environment; (p) not fully realizing cost reductions through restructurings; (q) ability to implement global sourcing organization strategies; (r) the impact of new manufacturing technologies; (s) the future financial performance and condition of independently operated dealers that we are required to consolidate into our financial statements or changes requiring us to consolidate additional independently operated dealers; (t) fair value changes to our intangible assets due to actual results differing from projected; (u) the impact of adopting new accounting principles; (v) the impact from severe weather such as hurricanes and tornadoes; and (w) factors relating to acquisitions and other factors identified from time to time in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, either to reflect new developments, or for any other reason.

Introduction

La-Z-Boy is the largest reclining-chair manufacturer in the world and North America’s largest manufacturer of upholstered furniture.  La-Z-Boy is one of the most widely known consumer brands and is by far the most recognized furniture brand in the United States.  The powerful brand name provides leverage in the marketplace.  In addition to the powerful brand name of La-Z-Boy, we have several other divisions well positioned in the furniture industry.  Our divisions are divided into two segments: Upholstery (upholstered furniture products) and Casegoods (wood furniture products). The La-Z-Boy Upholstery Group companies are Bauhaus, Clayton Marcus, England, La-Z-Boy, La-Z-Boy Contract, La-Z-Boy UK and Sam Moore. The La-Z-Boy Casegoods Group companies are American Drew, American of Martinsville, Hammary, Kincaid, Lea and Pennsylvania House.

One of our major strategic initiatives is to expand the retail opportunities of the La-Z-Boy brand name by opening new stores, relocating stores to better locations and converting stores to our new generation store format.  To accomplish this objective we are in the process of remodeling our La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries® stores—which are mostly independently owned—and adding new stores at an increasing pace.  There are now 90 stores in the more productive new generation store format. We anticipate that during the fiscal year we will open, relocate, or remodel 40 plus La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries® stores in the new generation format, 22 of which we have completed during the first two quarters.  We believe the transition to new generation format stores and the addition of new stores is enhancing our position in the competitive retail market place.  We are focusing our expansion of our company owned retail operations on the top 25 markets in order to increase our market penetration and allow us to create operating efficiencies, particularly in the areas of advertising, logistics, and administration.  Most of our retail operations are owned by independent retailers who resell to end-users.  However, we do currently own and operate 38 stores.  According to October 11, 2004 industry trade publication InFurniture, the La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries® stores retail network represents the largest single-brand U.S. furniture store system. 

We also have an extensive La-Z-Boy in-store gallery program with 337 in-store galleries.  Our other operating units such as Kincaid, Pennsylvania House, Clayton Marcus, England and Lea also have growing in-store gallery programs.  Additionally, our success with La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries® stand alone stores has been expanded to our Kincaid and England operating units.  We have 16 Kincaid and 8 England independently owned stand alone stores.  We plan to continue to grow our proprietary distribution network at an increasing pace over the next few years to capitalize on our well positioned high value products.

 During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2004, we were required to include in our consolidated financial statements several of our La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries® stores, which are owned and operated by independent dealers. This requirement was due to Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 46R, "Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities” (“VIEs”) ("FIN 46").  We have determined that a limited number of independent dealers are VIEs, of which, under FIN 46, we are deemed the primary beneficiary, and accordingly we began including them in our consolidated financial statements as of April 24, 2004.  The extraordinary gain of $1.1 million ($0.7 million net of income taxes), is a result of the application of purchase accounting relating to the acquisition of a previously consolidated VIE.

 

14


Over the last few years we have been gradually transitioning from a domestic producer of casegood products to primarily an importer and marketer.  In the first quarter we continued to right-size our casegoods manufacturing capacities as we announced plans to close two of our Pennsylvania House facilities and a Kincaid facility in Hudson, NC. With the change in world wide supply, we were no longer competitive and it became necessary to close our Pennsylvania House plants.  It is anticipated that upon completion of these residential casegoods plant closings, approximately 75% of our residential casegoods finished goods will be imported.  We expect that once the transition is complete, we will have competitively priced quality products to market under several already established brand names over a wide distribution network. 

Results of Operations

Analysis of Operations: Quarter Ended October 23, 2004
(Second Quarter 2005 compared with 2004)

(Unaudited, amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)
Quarter ended

 
 
10/23/04


10/25/03

Percent
change

Upholstery sales     $ 411,499   $ 392,610     4.8%  
Casegoods sales      114,169     119,621     -4.6%  
Other/eliminations       8,002     (1,213 )   N/M  
Consolidated sales    $ 533,670   $ 511,018     4.4%  
     
Consolidated gross profit    $ 122,517   $ 114,785     6.7%  
Consolidated gross margin      23.0%     22.5%        
     
Consolidated S, G&A     $ 106,399   $ 87,727     21.3%  
S,G&A as a percent of sales       19.9%     17.2%        
     
Upholstery operating income    $ 27,268   $ 32,446     -16.0%  
Casegoods operating income      80     2,002     -96.0%  
Corporate/other       (10,481 )   (5,414   -93.6%  
Restructuring       (749 )   (1,976   62.1%  
Consolidated operating income     $ 16,118   $ 27,058     -40.4%  
     
Upholstery operating margin      6.6%     8.3%        
Casegoods operating margin      0.1%     1.7%        
Consolidated operating margin       3.0%     5.3%        
                       
Net income     8,860   15,177     -41.6%  
                      
Diluted earnings per share    0.17   0.28     -39.3%  

N/M – not meaningful

Our consolidated sales increased primarily from Upholstery Group sales and the consolidation of the VIEs.   This increase was partially offset by the Casegoods Group sales volume decrease.  Included in corporate and other are the VIEs, which we began consolidating at the end of fiscal 2004.  The VIEs accounted for $9.7 million of the $22.7 million overall increase in sales.  Our consolidated sales for the 2005 second quarter increased, although our consolidated customer orders were flat when compared to the 2004 second fiscal quarter.  Upholstery orders for the second quarter were up 1.3% and Casegoods orders were down 3.0% in comparison to the prior year’s second quarter. 

Upholstery Group sales increased based on the strength of the La-Z-Boy Branded product sold through general furniture dealers as well as the La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries® store system.  Although most of our La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries® stores are independently owned, we do track the sales activity of the total store system to monitor retail activity.  This information is on a calendar quarter basis, versus our reporting periods which are on a fiscal basis.  For the calendar third quarter, La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries® store system comparable same store sales were flat and the overall store system (including newly opened stores) sales increased by approximately 3.4%. In regards to company owned stores, we have opened or acquired several company-operated stores since October of last fiscal year.  The Baltimore stores, which we acquired in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2004, accounted for approximately 10% of the Upholstery Group increase. 

15


Casegoods Group sales decreased in the second quarter in comparison to the comparable prior year quarter. Over the last several quarters our casegoods contract business had posted significant declines due to the economic conditions within the hospitality industry. However, our contract business during the current second quarter rebounded by posting double digit growth over the second quarter of fiscal 2004.  The majority of the remaining Casegoods Group was still below our expectations.  There were several contributing factors to the decline in sales: 

  i)   Temporary logistic issues relating to the recent hurricanes on the east coast.

 

  ii)   Anti-dumping uncertainties have temporarily disrupted our flow of imports.

 

  iii)   Retailers are also buying direct from China and other countries to procure furniture for their retail operations. According to an industry trade publication Furniture/Today survey, 72% of large retailers and 28% of small stores will import directly in calendar 2004.

 

  iv)   Exporting directly to the United States has grown with the emergence of furniture manufacturing in China and other countries in the last several years causing increased competition.


To keep pace with the changing casegoods industry over the past three years we have decreased our casegoods domestic manufacturing capacity by approximately two-thirds of the original capacity.   

Our gross profit as a percent of sales (“gross margin”) increased 0.5 percentage points, which was mainly due to our requirement to begin consolidating our VIEs beginning this fiscal year.  The VIEs have a larger gross margin which contributed a 1.5 percentage point increase to our gross margin.  Notwithstanding the increase in our margins due to the VIEs, our remaining businesses’ gross margin was down in the second quarter of fiscal 2005 in comparison to the prior year second quarter due to escalating prices in raw materials such as steel and lumber.  Steel prices for our recliner mechanisms, springs, fasteners and other metal parts increased our cost of sales by approximately 1.0% of net sales compared to the previous year’s costs.  The increased cost of plywood negatively affected our gross profit by approximately 0.3% of net sales. The escalating steel and lumber prices increased our raw material costs more significantly than anticipated, which was further aggravated by the heavier concentration of upholstery as a percentage of our overall business.  This was magnified by the relatively large portion of recliners within our upholstery business mix which requires more steel because of the recliner mechanism. When coupled with advanced customer orders anticipating our product price increases, our backlog during the quarter did not mature to the new pricing as quickly as we expected and we absorbed the vast majority of these increases.  We are continuing to take price increases where necessary to combat increases in raw material costs.  Our gross margin has also been negatively impacted over the last few years by price deflation in Casegoods furniture. Also during the fiscal 2005 first quarter we announced the closure of the Pennsylvania House plants.  In the second quarter, Pennsylvania House experienced significant manufacturing inefficiencies relating to the scheduled closures of the plants, which will occur during the third quarter.  There were additional costs due to the transition of moving product overseas or to other domestic manufacturers. 

Selling, general and administrative expenses (“S,G&A”) increased in the second quarter of fiscal 2005 compared to the prior year second quarter, both in dollar amount and as a percent of sales.  As a result of opening several new stores and acquiring four new stores in comparison to last year, our S,G&A has increased primarily from rent and selling expenses in our retail operations.  Also, the consolidation of the VIEs has added to our S,G&A costs in dollars as well as a percent of sales.  Our non-retail based operation’s S,G&A expense for the 2005 fiscal second quarter was flat in terms of percentage when compared to the prior year second quarter.  The retail and VIE operations have a higher gross margin but they also have a higher S,G&A percentage than our manufacturing operations.   Since retail operations by nature have a higher S,G&A concentration, our consolidated S,G&A as a percent of sales increased due to the expansion of our retail operations and the VIEs that we are now required to consolidate. 

The operating margins at our Upholstery and Casegoods Group were both adversely affected by the increase in our raw material costs.  A majority of our upholstery companies announced price increases during our April 2004 market as well as during the summer, but those higher sales prices will not have a significant impact on our margins until the third fiscal quarter of 2005.  The operating margin in our Upholstery Group was also impacted by the increase in S,G&A at our retail operations.  The operating margin for both fiscal years was negatively impacted by restructuring costs.  The operating margin for the second quarter of fiscal 2005 was 3.0% and included 0.1 percentage points of restructuring costs.  The fiscal 2004 second quarter operating margin was 5.3% and included 0.4 percentage points of restructuring costs.  Corporate/other operating profit decreased by $5.1 million, 55% of which was due to VIEs. 

 

 

16


Interest expense for the 2005 second quarter was lower than the 2004 second quarter due mainly to a decrease in our effective interest rate.  Our weighted average debt increased over last year second quarter due to our increase in short-term borrowings.  However, we took advantage of lower rates on our short-term borrowings during our fiscal 2005 second quarter.   

Our effective tax rate was 38% in both fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2004. 

We purchased a significant amount of stock in fiscal 2004 which lowered our diluted weighted average shares outstanding in fiscal 2005 in comparison to fiscal 2004 second quarter.  The decrease in diluted weighted average shares increased diluted earnings per share of $0.01 in the current second quarter.

Analysis of Operations: Six Months Ended October 23, 2004
(First Six Months of 2005 compared with 2004)

(Unaudited, amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)
Six months ended

 
 
10/23/04


10/25/03

Percent
change

Upholstery sales     $ 760,000   $ 728,489     4.3%  
Casegoods sales      219,883     236,130     -6.9%  
Other       20,158     (2,129 )   N/M  
Consolidated sales    $ 1,000,041   $ 962,490     3.9%  
     
Consolidated gross profit    $ 218,339   $ 207,503     5.2%  
Consolidated gross margin      21.8%     21.6%        
     
Consolidated S, G&A     $ 206,064   $ 169,146     21.8%  
S,G&A as a percent of sales       20.6%     17.6%        
     
Upholstery operating income    $ 41,115   $ 55,377     -25.8%  
Casegoods operating income      580     3,077     -81.2%  
Corporate/other       (18,271 )   (11,848   -54.2%  
Restructuring       (11,149 )   (8,249   -35.2%  
Consolidated operating income     $ 12,275   $ 38,357     -68.0%  
     
Upholstery operating margin      5.4%     7.6%        
Casegoods operating margin      0.3%     1.3%        
Consolidated operating margin       1.2%     4.0%        
                       
Net income     5,337   20,980     -74.6%  
                      
Diluted earnings per share    0.10   0.38     -73.7%  

N/M – not meaningful

Consolidated sales for the first six months of fiscal 2005 were up modestly in comparison to fiscal 2004. Included in our corporate and other group are the VIEs, which we began consolidating at the end of fiscal 2004.  The VIEs accounted for $23.3 million of the $37.6 million overall increase in sales. 

Upholstery Group sales increased based on the strength of the La-Z-Boy Branded product, which includes our retail stores’ sales.  We acquired four stores in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2004 in the Baltimore region and we have opened several company-operated stores since the end of the second quarter in fiscal 2004.  The Baltimore acquisition accounted for approximately 12% of the Upholstery Group increase. 

 

17


The Casegoods Group had experienced several quarters of double digit decline in sales.  However, in the last six months the Casegoods Group sales decline has started to level off.  Import pressures have driven a change in the composition of the Casegoods Group.  Over the past three years we have decreased our Casegoods Group manufacturing facilities by 78%.  While the pace of our casegoods sales decline appears to have been slowed, we are still in the transition mode as we began closing a few more domestic plants in the first quarter.  This transition to more imports is expected to have a temporary adverse effect on our sales for the first six months.  In addition, our import sales for the quarter were adversely affected by the hurricanes, which delayed shipments into domestic ports.  Another contributing factor was the uncertainty of the anti-dumping in the first quarter, which also disrupted the flow of imports in the second quarter.  The tariff ruling on Chinese manufacturers of bedroom furniture as discussed under Regulatory Developments is expected to have a minimal long-term effect on our Casegoods sales and profitability.

Our gross margin increased 0.2 percentage points, which was mainly due to our consolidating our VIEs beginning this fiscal year.  The VIEs have a higher gross margin which contributed a 1.8 percentage point increase to our gross margin.  Notwithstanding the increase in our margins due to the VIEs, our remaining businesses’ gross margin was down in the first six months of fiscal 2005 in comparison to the prior year first six months due to escalating prices in raw materials such as steel and lumber.  Steel for our recliner mechanisms, springs, fasteners and other metal parts increased our cost of sales for the first six months of fiscal 2005 by approximately 0.9% of net sales compared to the previous year six month's costs.  Steel prices have more than doubled from last year due to demand for steel from China, high energy costs, and the weak U.S. dollar. The cost impact was magnified by the relatively large portion of recliners within our upholstery business mix which require more steel because of the recliner mechanism. When coupled with advanced customer orders anticipating our product price increases, our backlog during the six months did not mature to the new pricing as quickly as we expected and we absorbed the vast majority of these increases. The cost of plywood, which mainly impacts our upholstered products, negatively affected our gross profit by approximately 0.4% of net sales.  We expect our sales price increases to somewhat offset raw material cost increases.

We had restructuring expense of $11.1 million and $8.2 million in the first six months of 2005 and 2004, respectively.  The decision was made in the first quarter of fiscal 2005 to close our two Pennsylvania House plants, one of our Kincaid plants, a satellite upholstery plant in Mississippi and an upholstery warehouse in North Carolina. We believe these closings will help offset the negative trends relating to the under-absorption of factory costs by increasing labor efficiencies and better absorbing fixed costs.

S,G&A increased in fiscal 2005 compared to the prior year, both in dollar amount and as a percent of sales.  We have increased the company owned retail operations since October of last year by opening new stores and acquiring some stores.  We currently have 38 company owned stores compared to 30 last year.  Additionally, we began consolidating several independently owned stores as VIEs at the end of fiscal 2004 due to the adoption of FIN 46.  The retail and VIE operations have a higher gross margin but they also have a higher S,G&A percentage than our manufacturing operations.   Since retail operations by nature have a higher S,G&A concentration, our consolidated S,G&A as a percent of sales increased due to the expansion of our retail operations and the VIEs that we are now required to consolidate.  Our non-retail based operation’s S,G&A expense in the first six months of fiscal 2005 was flat in terms of percentage when compared to the prior year six months.

Contributing to the lower operating margin were significant increases in raw material costs and higher S,G&A.  We anticipate that our price increases will mitigate some of the impact of raw material cost increases in the third quarter. The operating margin for both fiscal years was negatively impacted by restructuring costs.  The operating margin for fiscal 2005 was 1.2% of net sales and included 1.1 percentage points of restructuring costs.  The fiscal 2004 operating margin was 4.0% and included 0.8 percentage points of restructuring costs.

The decrease in the Upholstery Group operating margin was primarily due to the increase in S,G&A at our retail operations and the cost increases in certain raw materials, especially steel and plywood. 

Our Casegoods Group operating margin was also negatively impacted by wood price increases.  Additionally, the decrease in sales contributed to the decrease in operating margin.  During the first quarter we announced the closure of our Pennsylvania House plants.  Pennsylvania House is transitioning to becoming mostly an importer from a hybrid of domestic manufacturing and importing.  During the second quarter Pennsylvania House had manufacturing inefficiencies due to the announced plant closings. 

Corporate/other operating profit decreased by $6.4 million, 74% of which was due to VIEs. 

Interest expense for the 2005 first six months was lower than the 2004 first six months due mainly to a decrease in our effective interest rate.  Our interest expense also decreased due to capitalization of interest in the first quarter relating to two major capital projects that are underway.

Our effective tax rate was 38% in both fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2004. 

We purchased a significant amount of stock in fiscal 2004 which lowered the diluted weighted average shares outstanding in fiscal 2005 in comparison to fiscal 2004 first six months.  The decrease in diluted weighted average shares increased diluted earnings per share less than $0.01 in the first six months of the current year.

 

 

 

18


Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our total assets increased by 1.4% as compared to April 2004.  Our total debt increased by $44.0 million in comparison to the end of the 2004 fiscal year. 

Our sources of cash liquidity include cash and equivalents, cash from operations and amounts available under credit facilities.  These sources have been adequate for day-to-day operations, stock repurchases, dividends to shareholders and capital expenditures.  We expect these sources of liquidity to continue to be adequate for the future.  Capital expenditures for fiscal 2005 are planned at $30 million to $35 million compared to $31.6 million in fiscal 2004.  There are no material commitments for capital expenditures at October 23, 2004.  As of October 23, 2004, we had unused lines of credit and commitments of $140.1 million under several credit arrangements.

The following table illustrates the main components of our cash flows:

(Unaudited amounts in thousands)
First six months ended
Cash Flows From (Used For)
10/23/04
10/25/03
Operating activities              
Net income, depreciation and deferred taxes     $ 19,122   $ 36,860  
Restructuring     11,149     8,249  
Working capital and other     (54,360   26,663  
     
Investing activities     (15,432 )   (13,601 )


     
Subtotal     (39,521   58,171  
     
Financing activities            
Repurchase of common stock    (2,476 )   (42,220 )
Net increase (decrease) in debt     43,985     (16,914 )
Other financing activities and exchange rate changes     (7,193 )   (3,267 )
     


Net decrease in cash and equivalents   $ (5,205 $ (4,230 )


Operating activities

The decrease in 2005 operating cash flows over 2004 was due primarily to inventory and accounts receivable.  In fiscal 2005, inventories were a $33.9 million use of cash and in fiscal 2004 inventories were a $14.9 million source of cash.  The inventory was higher in fiscal 2005 mainly due to the following:  (i) higher production for our increased order level at the La-Z-Boy division; (ii) increased retail stores over the prior year period; (iii) increased sourcing for our Casegoods Group from overseas and (iv) improved order rates for our hospitality operations in the second quarter led to increased production and higher inventory levels.   Accounts receivable was a use of cash of $4.4 million and $21.0 million source of cash in fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2004, respectively.  The major contributing factor for receivables changing to a use of cash this year is due to the sales growth during the past six months being higher than the cash collection in comparison to last year.  Offsetting the decrease in operating cash flows during the second quarter was income tax refunds received during the fiscal 2005 second quarter.

Investing activities

During the first six months of fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2004, net cash used in investing activities was $15.4 million and $13.6 million, respectively. The increase in cash used for investing activities in fiscal 2005 primarily reflected higher capital expenditures

Financing activities

Our financing activities included borrowings and payments on our debt facilities, dividend payments, issuances of stock and stock repurchases.  In fiscal 2005 we had a source of cash from financing activities of $32.9 million. In contrast, in fiscal 2004 we had a use of cash from financing activities of $64.1 million. The change in cash flows from financing activities was due to the decrease in stock repurchases of $39.7 million in the first six months of fiscal 2005 in comparison to last year’s first six months.  We also had a net increase in debt of $44.0 million in fiscal 2005 first six months in comparison to the prior year’s comparable six months when we decreased debt by $16.9 million. 

 

19


Our debt-to-capitalization percentage was 34.1% at October 23, 2004, 30.0% at April 24, 2004, and 26.1% at October 25, 2003.  Our debt-to-capitalization ratio is total debt as a percent of the sum of shareholders’ equity plus total debt.  We believe that the availability of funds under our unused lines of credit and the cash flows from operations are sufficient to fund our capital needs.  Management has targeted our debt-to-capitalization percentage to be in the mid-twenties range in order to effectively blend our cost of equity with the cost of debt.  The increase in our debt-to-capitalization percentage at the end of fiscal 2004 was mainly due to the write-down of trade names and goodwill and the consolidation of VIEs.  These two factors combined to raise our debt-to-capitalization percentage by 3.4 and 3.0 percentage points at October 23, 2004 and April 24, 2004, respectively.

Our debt-to-capitalization ratio continues to be above our targeted range mainly due to the largely non-cash charges taken during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2004 and the first quarter of fiscal 2005.  Therefore, in the second quarter we did not repurchase any of our common stock. 

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations of the types specified:

    Payments by Period
(Amounts in thousands)
Total
Less than 1
Year

1-3 Years
4-5 Years
More than 5
Years

Long-term debt obligations     $ 232,038   $ 1,655   $ 5,284   $ 123,443   $ 101,656  
Capital lease obligations     1,962     662     1,149     93     58  
Operating lease obligations    176,063     23,349    46,278     38,370    68,066  
Other long-term liabilities not                           
   reflected on our balance sheet    3,324    1,500    1,618     156    50  





   Total contractual obligations   $ 413,387   $ 27,166   $ 54,329   $ 162,062   $ 169,830  

 

 

Critical Accounting Policies

Our critical accounting policies are disclosed in our Form 10-K for the year ended April 24, 2004.  There were no new accounting pronouncements that had a material effect on our second quarter or our critical accounting policies.  

Outlook

Consumer confidence has dropped in recent months leading up to the election. It is too early to decipher what effect the results of the election will have on consumer confidence during our third quarter.  While consumer confidence is an unknown, we believe our price increases will help offset some of the degradation of operating margins we had during the second quarter.  However, with steel prices remaining at record levels and the uncertainty of lumber prices, the outlook for improved margins in the furniture industry remains clouded for the third quarter.  Demand for steel, higher energy costs, and the weak U.S. dollar have all factored into steel prices more than doubling over last year and we do not anticipate much relief in the third quarter.  Demand from China’s rapidly expanding economy is a contributing factor to the increase in steel prices.  China is now the largest consumer of steel and its demand for steel is increasing, as evidenced by an increase of approximately 20% in consumption in 2003.  We do not anticipate seeing any relief in steel prices for the rest of the year. In light of consumer confidence, price increases and our high raw material costs, we expect our third quarter operating margins to be slightly below our second quarter and lower than the third quarter of last year.

We are still transitioning from our recent restructuring so we do not expect to see any significant improvements in the Casegoods Group until the transition is complete.  We remain optimistic that with our Casegoods Group shifting more domestic production to overseas manufacturers, we will begin to see positive signs from this Group in the future.  We expect that the Upholstery Group and Casegoods Group sales performance will be similar to the second quarter performance.  However, we believe that our contract business revenues during the third quarter will continue to improve in comparison to last year, which is a positive sign that our casegoods hospitality business may be recovering.   

We are currently expecting sales for the January quarter to be flat to slightly up compared to last year’s third quarter, and we anticipate reported earnings for the third quarter to be in the range of $0.11 - $0.14 per diluted share, which includes restructuring of $0.01 per diluted share and a  $0.03 per diluted share loss on the VIEs, versus the $0.29 we earned per diluted share in the same quarter of fiscal 2004, which included a $0.01 restructuring charge.   We have VIEs—which are independent dealers that we do not own—that own several stores that we are required to consolidate due to an accounting interpretation that we adopted at the end of fiscal 2004.  Prior to and subsequent to adoption we have been evaluating these VIEs to determine whether these entities meet our financial objectives. The operating results of a portion of these VIEs are less than desirable and we have and are in the process of taking specific actions to rectify those operations’ results.

Our debt-to-capitalization ratio continues to be above our targeted range because of the largely non-cash charges taken during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2004 and the first quarter of fiscal 2005 and consolidation of our VIEs.  This ratio is expected to decrease in the subsequent quarters.  Although we will be opportunistic in execution of our stock repurchases, our prime focus is to bring our debt-to-capitalization ratio within our targeted range.

20


Regulatory Developments

In the summer of 2004, the United States Department of Commerce announced its preliminary ruling that Chinese manufacturers are dumping wood bedroom furniture in the U.S. market.  The preliminary duties on imports range from 4.9% to 198%.  More specifically, the seven largest Chinese bedroom manufacturers received varying duty rates ranging from 4.9% to 30.52% and 102 Chinese manufacturers received a 12.91% tariff rate.   The remaining Chinese manufacturers received a 198% tariff rate. In November, the Department of Commerce will make their final rate determination.  Subsequently, in December 2004, the International Trade Commission will determine if the rate should go into effect.  We import bedroom products from China; however, we do not anticipate the tariffs to have a significant effect on our Casegoods operations as a majority of our Chinese suppliers received tariff rates at or below 12.91%.  Additionally, the wood bedroom furniture only represents approximately 14.1% of our Casegoods Group sales, which equals 3.1% of our six month consolidated sales in fiscal 2005.  

 The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 has introduced many new requirements regarding corporate governance and financial reporting. Among many other requirements is the requirement under Section 404 of the Act, beginning with our 2005 Annual Report, for management to report on the company's internal controls over financial reporting and for our registered public accountant to attest to this report. During fiscal 2004, we commenced actions to ensure our ability to comply with these requirements.  We expect to continue to devote substantial time and incur additional significant costs during fiscal 2005 to ensure compliance.

ITEM 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

We are exposed to market risk from changes in interest rates. Our exposure to interest rate risk results from our floating rate $150 million revolving credit facility under which we had $80 million borrowed at October 23, 2004.  In August 2004, we entered into several interest rate swap agreements with counter-parties that are participants in the revolving credit facility to negate the impact of changes in interest rates on our floating rate debt.  We believe that potential credit loss from counter-party non-performance is minimal.  The purpose of these swaps is to fix interest rates on a notional amount of $10 million of floating rate debt for a two year period at a blended rate of 3.05% plus our applicable borrowing spread on the floating rate debt.  Upon maturity of this swap, the debt under our revolving credit facility will be on a floating rate basis. Management estimates that a 1% change in interest rates would not have a material impact on the results of operations for fiscal 2005 based upon the year end levels of exposed liabilities.

We are exposed to market risk from changes in the value of foreign currencies. Our exposure to changes in the value of foreign currencies was reduced through our use of foreign currency forward contracts from time to time. At October 23, 2004, we had foreign exchange forward contracts outstanding relating to the Canadian dollar. Substantially all of our imported purchased parts are denominated in U.S. dollars.  However, we also have risk if China allows its currency to float since it has been essentially fixed in relation to the U.S. dollar.  Today this currency issue cannot be hedged and we do not believe it will become a risk in our fiscal 2005 year. We believe that gains or losses resulting from changes in the value of foreign currencies will not be material to our results from operations in fiscal year 2005.

ITEM 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have evaluated our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in the rules of the SEC, as of the end of the period covered by this report and have concluded that such controls and procedures were effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.

There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM  2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

During the second quarter of fiscal 2005, we sold shares of our common stock to our non-employee directors pursuant to our Restricted Stock Plan for Non-Employee Directors without registration under the Securities Act of 1933 in reliance on the exemption provided in Section 4(2) of the Act.  In accordance with the terms of the plan, we sold these shares to our non-employee directors upon their acceptance of awards granted to them to purchase shares at 25% of their fair market value on the date of grant.  The following table shows the date of each sale, the number of shares sold, and the per share and aggregate sales prices.

Date of Sale
Number of
Shares Sold

Per Share
Price

Aggregate
Price

August 2004   12,000   $4.17   $50,040  
 
September 2004  6,000   $4.17   25,020  
           
 
     Total:          $75,060  

21


Our Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of company stock.  On October 28, 1987, our Board of Directors announced the authorization of the plan to repurchase company stock.  The plan originally authorized 1.0 million shares and subsequent to October 1987, 22.0 million additional shares have been added to this plan for repurchase.    As of October 23, 2004, 6.7 million additional shares could be purchased pursuant to this authorization.  As a result of our higher debt-to-capital ratio in fiscal 2005, our repurchase program may be at slower pace this year in comparison to fiscal 2004; but we have no commitments for repurchases. During the second quarter we did not purchase any company stock.

ITEM  4. RESULTS OF VOTES OF SECURITY HOLDERS

The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of La-Z-Boy Incorporated was held on August 10, 2004.  The shareholders elected four directors for three-year terms expiring in 2007 .

Election of Directors: Shares Voted
In Favor

Percent Shares
In Favor

Shares
Withheld

             
David K. Hehl       41,579,619     95 %   2,271,168  
Rocque E. Lipford     26,683,403     61 %   17,167,384  
Mel R. Martinez     41,315,047     94 %   2,535,740  
Jack L. Thompson     42,549,724     97 %   1,301,063  



Management Proposals:
Shares Voted
in Favor

Shares Voted
Against

Shares
Abstained

Broker
Non-votes

Approval of La-Z-Boy Incorporated
2004 Long-term Equity Award Plan

30,003,179

5,133,843

2,517,234

6,196,531
 
Ratification of selection of
independent registered public
accounting firm


42,809,592


704,085


337,110


--

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

22


ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

       


  (11)   Statement of Computation of Per Share Earnings See note 4 to the financial statements included in this report.


  (31)   Certifications of Executive Officers pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)


  (32)   Certifications of Executive Officers pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350(b)


  (99.1)   Press Release dated November 9, 2004


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



23


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 thereunto duly authorized.

LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED
——————————————
(Registrant)


Date: November 9, 2004



BY: /S/Louis M. Riccio, Jr.
——————————————
Louis M. Riccio, Jr.
Corporate Controller
On behalf of the registrant and as
Chief Accounting Officer


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

24


Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATIONS OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-14(a)

I, Kurt L. Darrow, certify that:


1.     I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of La-Z-Boy Incorporated;

2.     Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.     Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.     The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

(a)     Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b)     [omitted]

(c)     Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d)     Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.     The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a)     All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b)     Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.


   
Date: November 9, 2004 /s/ Kurt L. Darrow           
Kurt L. Darrow
Chief Executive Officer




 

 


Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATIONS OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-14(a)

I, David M. Risley, certify that:

1.     I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of La-Z-Boy Incorporated;

2.     Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.     Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.     The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

(a)     Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b)     [omitted]

(c)     Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d)     Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.     The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a)     All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b)     Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.


   
Date: November 9, 2004 /s/ David M. Risley           
David M. Risley
Chief Financial Officer




 

 


EXHIBIT (32)

CERTIFICATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. 1350*

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. section 1350, each of the undersigned officers of La-Z-Boy Incorporated (the “Company”) hereby certifies, to such officer’s knowledge, that the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended October 23, 2004 (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d), as applicable, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

/s/ Kurt L. Darrow                       
Kurt L. Darrow
President and Chief Executive Officer
November 9, 2004

/s/ David M. Risley                    
David M. Risley
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
November 9, 2004

*The foregoing certification is being furnished solely pursuant to 18 U.S.C. section 1350 and is not being filed as part of the Report or as a separate disclosure document.


Exhibit 99.1

NEWS RELEASE

Contact:   Mark Stegeman                                                    (734) 241-4418                                                       mark.stegeman@la-z-boy.com

LA-Z-BOY REPORTS SECOND QUARTER OPERATING RESULTS

MONROE, MI. November 9, 2004 – La-Z-Boy Incorporated (NYSE, PCX: LZB) today reported its operating results for the second fiscal quarter ended October 23, 2004. Net sales for the quarter were $534 million, up $23 million or 4.4% compared to a year earlier, with earnings of $0.17 per fully-diluted share. The quarter includes after-tax restructuring charges of $0.01 per share, an extraordinary gain of $0.01 per share, and $10 million of additional sales and an after-tax loss of $0.05 per share related to the consolidation of certain Variable Interest Entities (VIEs). These VIEs were not reflected in our results in the year earlier reporting periods. This quarter’s per share earnings compare against $0.28 per fully diluted share earned in the fiscal 2004 second quarter, including $0.02 per share of restructuring charges.

For the six months ended October 23, 2004 net sales were $1 billion, an increase of $38 million or 3.9% from the year earlier sales of $962 million. Fully diluted earnings per share for the first half totaled $0.10, including restructuring charges of $0.13 per share on an after-tax basis, an extraordinary gain of $0.01 per share, and $23 million of additional sales and an after-tax loss of $0.09 per share related to the consolidation of certain VIEs. This compares to $0.38 per share in the first half of fiscal 2004, including restructuring charges of $0.09 per share on an after-tax basis.

Operating margin for the most recent quarter was 3.0%, down from 5.3% a year earlier. This year’s fiscal second quarter included restructuring charges amounting to 0.1% of net sales versus 0.4% last year. First half fiscal 2005 operating margin was 1.2% including 1.1% of net sales for restructuring charges, down from 4.0% in the same period of fiscal 2004. Last year’s fiscal first half included restructuring charges amounting to 0.8% of net sales.

La-Z-Boy Incorporated President and CEO Kurt L. Darrow said, “In spite of challenging industry conditions we met our sales expectations for the quarter and are increasing market share with our La-Z-Boy branded business.” Operating margins were weaker than last year primarily as a result of three factors:

    Continued and unprecedented increased raw material pricing coupled with our inability to immediately pass on these rising costs to our customers,

 

    Operating losses from several retail VIEs and,

 

    Significant unanticipated production inefficiencies at our Lewisburg, PA manufacturing facility of Pennsylvania House which we are in the process of closing.


He added, “During the second half of our fiscal year the increased material costs, including steel and plywood, should be partially offset by previously announced price increases to our customers.”

Upholstery Segment

The second quarter fiscal 2005 upholstery segment sales increased 4.8% from a year earlier and were up 4.3% through the first six months of the fiscal year. Darrow noted, “Our La-Z-Boy branded business experienced strong growth as we continue to increase market share through opening new distribution, new product offerings and the continued strength of executing our proprietary retail store strategy. The non-branded portion of our upholstery segment’s sales more closely mirrored the industry, experiencing softness in sales and difficulty initiating the price increases needed to offset raw material price increases. We continue to see encouraging trends in upholstery orders particularly in our branded upholstery business.” The upholstery segment operating margin for the quarter was 6.6% compared to a reported 8.3% for last year’s second quarter, while first half operating margin declined to 5.4% from 7.6% a year earlier.

Darrow continued, “During this quarter we continued to strengthen our proprietary distribution network of mostly independently operated La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries® stores by opening new stores and converting existing stores to the “New Generation” format introduced in mid 2001. These stores are generating increased traffic levels, higher average sales per square foot and greater total sales volumes than the previous format stores. During our second quarter of fiscal 2005, two New Generation stores were opened and 11 were remodeled or relocated and three old format stores were closed bringing the total to 90 in this new format. Plans are to open 40 plus of these updated format stores during the current fiscal year, with over 20 of these being new stores and the remainder being store remodels or relocations. Thus far this year we have opened 22 of these new format stores. Currently, there are 324 stand-alone stores, of which 38 are company-owned.”

System-wide, the mostly independent La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries® stores’ same store sales dollars were flat for the 2004 calendar third quarter and up 2.7% in the first nine months of calendar 2004. Total sales for the stores were up 3.4% for the calendar third quarter and up 6.6% in the first nine months of calendar 2004.

Casegoods Segment

Casegoods sales declined 4.6% from a year earlier for the October quarter and were down 6.9% through the first six months. The casegoods segment’s operating margin for the October 2005 quarter was 0.1% compared to 1.7% for last year and the first half operating margin declined to 0.3% from 1.3% a year earlier. Darrow commented, “Our casegoods sales trends, though still negative, have been steadily improving as several new product groups began to see good sell-through at retail. The contract portion of this segment, serving primarily the hospitality industry, is now beginning to demonstrate improving trends and appears to be entering the beginning stages of recovering from a prolonged severe downturn. We are extremely encouraged by recent order trends.”

He added, “Margins also were strained by the transition of our business model from primarily a domestic manufacturer to primarily an importer, marketer and distributor of casegoods and the continued pricing pressure from imports, rising material prices, and aggressive competitor promotions.”

Restructuring charge

As previously announced, we began the closure of several production facilities during our second fiscal quarter and expect that production will be phased out at the last facility during the third fiscal quarter. During the second quarter charges of $0.01 per diluted share on an after-tax basis were incurred representing severance and relocation costs.

FIN 46

FIN 46 requires us to consolidate certain Variable Interest Entities (VIEs) beginning April 2004 which is included in corporate and other. Certain of our independent dealers meet this criteria and the attached schedule outlines the impact and offers further explanation. Darrow mentioned, “The operating results of a portion of these VIEs is less than desirable and we have and are in the process of taking specific actions to rectify those operations’ results.” The extraordinary gain is a result of the application of purchase accounting relating to the acquisition of a previously consolidated VIE.

Balance sheet

During the quarter accounts receivable increased $56 million primarily reflecting higher sales volumes. Inventories increased $7 million primarily as a result of the shifting mix of business to imports and additional company owned retail locations.

Total debt at quarter end was $268 million, and the company’s second quarter debt-to-capitalization ratio was 34.1%. Darrow stated, “This ratio is higher than our targeted range of mid-twenties as a result of the write-down of trade names and goodwill in fiscal 2004‘s fourth quarter and the consolidation of VIEs which had a combined effect of increasing this ratio by 3.4 percentage points. Although management is opportunistic in execution of its stock repurchases, our prime focus is to bring our debt-to-capitalization ratio within our targeted range.” At quarter-end, 6.7 million shares remained available under the company’s existing stock repurchase authorization.

Business Outlook

Commenting on the business outlook, Darrow said, “We continue to face record high energy and raw material costs, rising interest rates, indifferent consumer confidence and are somewhat cautious about consumer discretionary spending in the coming months. Considering the current tone of the economy, in our third fiscal quarter we expect our sales to be even or slightly ahead compared to the prior year period, and we anticipate reported earnings for the third quarter to be in the range of $0.11 — $0.14 per diluted share, which includes restructuring charges of $0.01 and up to a $0.03 potential loss from the consolidation of VIEs. This would compare to the $0.29 we earned per diluted share in fiscal 2004‘s third quarter, which included $0.01 of restructuring charges.”

Forward-looking Information

Any forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based on current information and assumptions and represent management’s best judgment at the present time. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated or projected due to a number of factors. These factors include, but are not limited to: changes in consumer sentiment or demand, changes in demographics, changes in housing sales, the impact of terrorism or war, energy price changes, the impact of logistics on imports, the impact of interest rate changes, the ultimate effect of the antidumping duties imposed by the U.S. International Trade Commission on wooden bedroom furniture imported from China and potential disruptions of Chinese imports, the availability and cost of capital, the impact of imports as it relates to continued domestic production, changes in currency rates, competitive factors, operating factors, such as supply, labor, or distribution disruptions including changes in operating conditions or costs, effects of restructuring actions, changes in the domestic or international regulatory environment, not fully realizing cost reductions through restructurings, ability to implement global sourcing organization strategies, the future financial performance and condition of independently owned dealers that we are required to consolidate into our financial statements or changes requiring us to consolidate additional independently owned dealers, the impact of new manufacturing technologies, the impact of adopting new accounting principles, fair value changes to our intangible assets due to actual results differing from projected, factors relating to acquisitions and other factors identified from time to time in the company’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, either to reflect new developments, or for any other reason.

Additional Information

This news release is just one part of La-Z-Boy’s financial disclosures and should be read in conjunction with other information filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which is available at http://www.la-z-boy.com/about/investorRelations/sec_filings.aspx. Investors and others wishing to be notified of future La-Z-Boy news releases, SEC filings and quarterly investor conference calls may sign up at:

http://www.la-z-boy.com/about/investorRelations/IR_email_alerts.aspx.

Background Information

With annual sales of $2 billion, La-Z-Boy Incorporated is one of the world’s leading residential furniture producers, marketing furniture for every room of the home and office, as well as for the hospitality, health care and assisted-living industries. The La-Z-Boy Upholstery Group companies are Bauhaus, Centurion, Clayton Marcus, England, La-Z-Boy, La-Z-Boy Contract and Sam Moore. The La-Z-Boy Casegoods Group companies are American Drew, American of Martinsville, Hammary, Kincaid, Lea and Pennsylvania House.

The corporation’s vast proprietary distribution network is dedicated exclusively to selling La-Z-Boy Incorporated products and brands, and includes 324 stand-alone La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries® stores and 337 La-Z-Boy In-Store Gallerys, in addition to in-store gallery programs at the company’s Kincaid, Pennsylvania House, Clayton Marcus, England and Lea operating units. According to industry trade publication Furniture/Today, the La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries retail network by itself represents the industry’s fourth largest U.S. furniture retailer and the second largest single source furniture retailer. Additional information is available at http://www.la-z-boy.com/.



LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
(Unaudited, amounts in thousands, except per share data)

  Second Quarter Ended
      % Over Percent of Sales
  10/23/04
10/25/03
(Under)
10/23/04
10/25/03
Sales     $ 533,670   $ 511,018   4.4 %   100.0 %   100.0 %
                               
Cost of sales                               
   Cost of goods sold      410,404     394,257   4.1 %   76.9 %   77.2 %
   Restructuring      749     1,976   -62.1 %   0.1 %   0.4 %



     
Total cost of sales       411,153     396,233     3.8 %   77.0 %   77.5 %



     
   Gross profit       122,517     114,785   6.7 %   23.0 %   22.5 %
Selling, general and administrative       106,399     87,727   21.3 %   19.9 %   17.2 %



     
   Operating income       16,118     27,058   -40.4 %   3.0 %   5.3 %
Interest expense       2,607     3,026   -13.8 %   0.5 %   0.6 %
Other income (expense), net       (353   448   -178.8 %   --     0.1 %



     
   Pre-tax income       13,158     24,480   -46.3 %   2.5 %   4.8 %
Income tax expense       5,000     9,303   -46.3 %   38.0 %*   38.0 %*



     
   Income before extraordinary item       8,158     15,177   -46.2 %   1.5 %   3.0 %
Extraordinary gain, net of income
    tax expense of $430
      702     --     N/M     0.1 %   --  



     
   Net income    $ 8,860   $ 15,177   -41.6 %   1.7 %   3.0 %



   
     
Basic weighted average shares       52,040     54,159  


Basic income per share before
    extraordinary gain
   
$

0.16
 
$

0.28
 
Extraordinary gain per share 0.01   --  


Basic net income per share     $ 0.17   $ 0.28  


Diluted weighted average shares       52,101     54,339  


Diluted income per share before
    extraordinary gain
   
$

0.16
 
$

0.28
 
Extraordinary gain per share 0.01 --


Diluted net income per share     $ 0.17   $ 0.28  


Dividends paid per share     $ 0.11 $ 0.10

*As a percent of pre-tax income, not sales.

 


LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
(Unaudited, amounts in thousands, except per share data)

  Six Months Ended
      % Over Percent of Sales
  10/23/04
10/25/03
(Under)
10/23/04
10/25/03
Sales     $ 1,000,041   $ 962,490   3.9 %   100.0 %   100.0 %
                               
Cost of sales                              
   Cost of goods sold      770,553     746,738   3.2 %   77.1 %   77.6 %
   Restructuring      11,149     8,249   35.2 %   1.1 %   0.8 %



     
Total cost of sales      781,702     754,987     3.5 %   78.2 %   78.4 %



     
   Gross profit       218,339     207,503   5.2 %   21.8 %   21.6 %
Selling, general and administrative       206,064     169,146   21.8 %   20.6 %   17.6 %



     
   Operating income       12,275     38,357   -68.0 %   1.2 %   4.0 %
Interest expense       4,816     6,239   -22.8 %   0.5 %   0.6 %
Other income, net       17     1,720   -99.0 %   --     0.1 %



     
   Pre-tax income       7,476     33,838   -77.9 %   0.7 %   3.5 %
Income tax expense       2,841     12,858   -77.9 %   38.0 %*   38.0 %*



     
  Income before extraordinary item      4,635     20,980   -77.9 %   0.5 %   2.2 %
Extraordinary gain, net of
   income tax expense of $430
      702     --     N/M     --     --  



     
  Net Income    $ 5,337   $ 20,980   -74.6 %   0.5 %   2.2 %



   
     
Basic weighted average shares       52,003     54,444  


Basic income per share before
    extraordinary gain
    $ 0.09   $ 0.39  
Extraordinary gain per share 0.01   --  


Basic net income per share     $ 0.10   $ 0.39  


Diluted weighted average shares       52,062     54,627  


Diluted income per share before
    extraordinary gain
    $ 0.09   $ 0.38  
Extraordinary gain per share 0.01 --


Diluted net income per share     $ 0.10   $ 0.38  


Dividends paid per share     $ 0.22 $ 0.20

*As a percent of pre-tax income, not sales.
 


   

 

 


LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
(Unaudited, amounts in thousands)

      Increase/(Decrease)  
  10/23/04
10/25/03
Dollars
Percent
4/24/04
Current assets                                  
  Cash and equivalents     $ 28,677   $ 24,587   $ 4,090    16.6 % $ 33,882  
  Receivables, net       306,386     320,527     (14,141 )  -4.4 %   299,801  
  Inventories, net       282,470     237,655     44,815    18.9 %   250,568  
  Deferred income taxes       38,108     37,057     1,051    2.8 %   37,969  
  Other current assets       21,088     19,411     1,677    8.6 %   31,454  



   
    Total current assets       676,729     639,237     37,492    5.9 %   653,674  
Property, plant and equipment, net       207,447     202,148     5,299    2.6 %   212,739  
Goodwill       68,544     78,807     (10,263 )  -13.0 %   68,116  
Trade names       27,889     71,144     (43,255 )  -60.8 %   27,889  
Other long-term assets       81,348     86,929     (5,581 )  -6.4 %   85,078  



   
        Total assets     $ 1,061,957   $ 1,078,265   $ (16,308 )  -1.5 % $ 1,047,496  



   
Current liabilities                               
  Short-term borrowings     $ 33,686   $ 6,000   $ 27,686    461.4 % $ 37,219  
  Current portion of long-term                               
      debt and capital leases       3,018     4,902     (1,884 )  -38.4 %   5,344  
  Accounts payable       86,716     81,259     5,457    6.7 %   93,298  
  Accrued expenses and other    
      current liabilities       126,992     126,244     748    0.6 %   147,460  



   
    Total current liabilities       250,412     218,405     32,007    14.7 %   283,321  
Long-term debt and capital leases       231,652     196,174     35,478    18.1 %   181,807  
Deferred income taxes       20,143     37,494     (17,351 )  -46.3 %   20,219  
Other long-term liabilities       41,462     38,446     3,016    7.8 %  39,821  
Contingencies and commitments                               
Shareholders' equity                               
  Common shares, $1 par value       52,088     53,408     (1,320 )  -2.5 %   52,031  
  Capital in excess of par value       214,962     215,807     (845 )  -0.4 %   216,156  
  Retained earnings       250,434     318,306     (67,872 )  -21.3 %   253,012  
  Unearned compensation     (1,938 )   --     (1,938 )  N/M     --  
  Accumulated other comprehensive income       2,742     225     2,517    N/M     1,129  



   
    Total shareholders' equity       518,288     587,746     (69,458 )  -11.8 %   522,328  



   
      Total liabilities and                               
        shareholders' equity     $ 1,061,957   $ 1,078,265   $ (16,308 )  -1.5 % $ 1,047,496  



 



LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited, amounts in thousands)

  Second Quarter Ended Six Months Ended
  10/23/04
10/25/03
10/23/04
10/25/03
Cash flows from operating activities                            
   Net income     $ 8,860   $ 15,177   $ 5,337   $ 20,980  
   Adjustments to reconcile net income to                            
   cash provided by operating activities                            
      Extraordinary gain       (702   --     (702 )   --  
      Restructuring       749     1,976     11,149     8,249  
      Depreciation and amortization       7,092     7,326     14,000     14,637  
      Change in receivables       (55,811 )   (22,926 )   (4,371 )   21,029  
      Change in inventories       (6,618   4,363     (33,902 )   14,882  
      Change in payables       1,530     33,248     (6,582 )   2,328  
      Change in other assets and liabilities       21,040     15,044     (8,803 )   (11,576 )
      Change in deferred taxes       4,712     1,035     (215 )   1,243  



 
        Total adjustments       (28,008   40,066     (29,426 )   50,792  



 
          Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities       (19,148   55,243     (24,089 )   71,772  
          
Cash flows from investing activities                            
   Proceeds from disposals of assets       5,329     1,598     5,597     1,772  
   Capital expenditures       (7,705 )   (7,773 )   (17,179 )   (14,626 )
   Change in other long-term assets       (3,055 )   (4,304 )   (3,850 )   (747 )



 
          Net cash used for investing activities       (5,431 )   (10,479 )   (15,432 )   (13,601 )
          
Cash flows from financing activities                            
   Proceeds from debt       32,499     6,603     102,242     6,922  
   Payments on debt       (4,841 )   (23,570 )   (58,257 )   (23,836 )
   Stock issued for stock option and employee benefits plans       1,275     1,566     2,757     6,012  
   Repurchase of common stock       --     (28,803 )   (2,476 )   (42,220 )
   Dividends paid       (5,723 )   (5,501 )   (11,372 )   (10,987 )



 
          Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities       23,210     (49,705 )   32,894     (64,109 )
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and    
  equivalents       1,081     1,106     1,422     1,708  



 
Net decrease in cash and equivalents       (288 )   (3,835 )   (5,205 )   (4,230 )
Cash and equivalents at beginning of period       28,965     28,422     33,882     28,817  



 
Cash and equivalents at end of period     $ 28,677   $ 24,587   $ 28,677   $ 24,587  



 
          
Cash paid (net of refunds) during period  - income taxes     $ (1,016 $ 9,135   $ 6,398   $ 10,493  
          
Cash paid during period  - interest     $ 1,508   $ 2,648   $ 4,060   $ 6,440  
   

 

 

LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED
Impact of FIN46 on Consolidation

 
10/23/04

(Unaudited, amounts in thousands)

VIEs
Consolidated
Assets                
   Cash and cash equivalents     $ 2,047     $ 28,677
   Accounts receivable, net      (22,769 ) (1)    306,386
   Inventories, net       11,770       282,470
   Deferred income taxes       5,443       38,108
   Other current assets      1,502       21,088


       Total current assets      (2,007 )     676,729
   Property, plant and equipment, net       8,573       207,447
   Intangibles       7,714       96,433
   Other long-term assets      (14,707 ) (1)   81,348


        Total assets     $ (427 )   $ 1,061,957


Liabilities and shareholders' equity    
   Short-term borrowings     $ --     $ 33,686
   Current portion of long-term debt and capital leases     1,429   3,018
   Accounts payable       2,635       86,716
   Other current liabilities      2,265       126,992


        Total current liabilities      6,329       250,412
   Long-term debt and capital leases       6,685       231,652
   Deferred income taxes      --       20,143
   Other long-term liabilities      141       41,462
   Shareholders' equity (deficit)      (13,582     518,288


       Total liabilities and shareholders' equity    $ (427 )   $ 1,061,957


(1) Reflects the elimination of intercompany accounts and notes receivable.

  Second Quarter Ended
10/23/04

Six Months Ended
10/23/04

(Unaudited, amounts in thousands)
VIEs
Consolidated
VIEs
Consolidated
Sales     $ 9,654  (2) $ 533,670   $ 23,295  (2) $ 1,000,041  
         
Cost of sales  
    Cost of goods sold     (266 ) (2)   410,404     676  (2)   770,553  
    Restructuring     --     749     --     11,149  




Total cost of sales     (266   411,153     676     781,702  




    Gross profit     9,920     122,517     22,619     218,339  
Selling, general and administrative     12,712     106,399     27,388     206,064  




     Operating income (loss)     (2,792   16,118     (4,769   12,275  
         
Interest expense     69     2,607     236     4,816  
         
Other income (expense), net     (1,093 (3)   (353   (2,387 (3)   17  




     Pre-tax income (loss)     (3,954   13,158     (7,392   7,476  
         
Income tax expense (benefit)     (1,503   5,000     (2,809   2,841  




     Income (loss) before extraordinary item     (2,451   8,158     (4,583   4,635  
     Extraordinary gain, net of income taxes of $430     --     702     --     702  




     Net income (loss)   $ (2,451 $ 8,860   $ (4,583 $ 5,337  




(2) Reflects the elimination of intercompany sales and cost of sales.
(3) Incorporates the elimination of intercompany interest income and interest expense.

La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries® stores that are not operated by us are operated by independent dealers. These stores sell La-Z-Boy manufactured product as well as various accessories purchased from approved La-Z-Boy vendors.  In some cases we have extended credit beyond normal trade terms to the independent dealers, made direct loans and/or guaranteed certain loans or leases.  Most of these independent dealers have sufficient equity to carry out their principal operating activities without subordinated financial support, however, there are certain independent dealers that we have determined may not have sufficient equity. Based on the criteria for consolidation of VIEs, we have determined that several dealers are VIEs of which, under FIN 46, we are deemed the primary beneficiary.   The operating results of the consolidated VIEs negatively impacted our diluted earnings per share by $0.05 and $0.09 for the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2005, respectively.  Additionally, there are certain independent dealers that qualify as VIEs; however, we are not the primary beneficiary.  Our interest in these dealers is comprised of accounts and notes receivable of $17.5 million.  The extraordinary gain of $1.1 million ($0.7 million net of income taxes), is a result of the application of purchase accounting relating to the acquisition of a previously consolidated VIE.

In prior years, we have evaluated the collectibility of our trade accounts receivable from our independent dealers and we have provided an appropriate reserve relating to the collectibility of our receivables with these dealers or the contingent payout under any guarantees. There are no VIEs consolidated in our fiscal 2004 second quarter financial statements.  The table above shows the impact of this standard on our consolidated balance sheet and statement of income as of October 23, 2004.  The amounts reflected in the table include the elimination of related payables, receivables, sales, cost of sales, and interest as well as profit in inventory.