NEWS RELEASE
CONTACT: Peter D. Brown
Vice President, Investor
Relations
and Treasurer
Foot Locker, Inc.
(212) 720-4254
·
First
Quarter Earnings Guidance Confirmed at 10-to-20 Percent Increase
·
Profitable
Growth Strategies Updated
·
Financial
Objectives Outlined
NEW
YORK, NY, March 30, 2004 – Matthew D. Serra, Chairman and CEO, and Bruce
Hartman, EVP and CFO, of Foot Locker, Inc. (NYSE: FL), the New York-based
specialty athletic retailer, today provided attendees at the Banc of America
Securities Conference in New York City with an update on the Company’s key
profitable growth strategies and outlined its financial objectives. Mr. Serra also stated that the Company was
on track to meet its previously stated guidance of a 10-to-20 percent increase
in earnings per share for its first fiscal quarter of 2004.
Foot
Locker, Inc. is a specialty athletic retailer that operates approximately 3,600
stores in 16 countries in North America, Europe and Australia. Through its Foot Locker, Lady Foot Locker,
Kids Foot Locker and Champs Sports retail stores, as well as its
direct-to-customer channel Footlocker.com/Eastbay, the Company is the leading
provider of athletic footwear and apparel.
Disclosure Regarding
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, which reflect
management’s current views of future events and financial performance. These forward-looking statements are based
on many assumptions and factors detailed in the Company’s filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, including the effects of currency
fluctuations, customer demand, fashion trends, competitive market forces,
uncertainties related to the effect of competitive products and pricing,
customer acceptance of the Company’s merchandise mix and retail locations, the
Company’s reliance on a few key vendors for a majority of its merchandise
purchases (including a significant portion from one key vendor), unseasonable
weather, risks associated with foreign global sourcing, including political
instability, changes in import regulations, disruptions to transportation
services and distribution, and the presence of severe acute respiratory
syndrome, economic conditions worldwide, any changes in business, political and
economic conditions due to the threat of future terrorist activities in the
United States or in other parts of the world and related U.S. military action
overseas, and the ability of the Company to execute its business plans effectively
with regard to each of its business units, including its plans for the marquee
and launch footwear component of its business.
Any changes in such assumptions or factors could produce significantly
different results. The Company
undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements, whether as a
result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
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