Financial News Release

06/19/07

La-Z-Boy Reports Fiscal 2007 Fourth-Quarter and Year-End Results

MONROE, Mich., June 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- La-Z-Boy Incorporated (NYSE: LZB) today announced its operating results for the fourth fiscal quarter and full year ended April 28, 2007. Net sales for the quarter were $406.9 million, down 9.4% compared with the prior-year period. The company posted earnings per share from continuing operations of $0.16. This includes a restructuring charge of $0.08 per share, related to the announced closure and consolidation of facilities as well as a reduction in employment, and a gain of $0.14 per share from the sale of various properties.

For the full year ended April 28, 2007, net sales were $1.62 billion, down 4.6% from the prior year. The company posted earnings per share from continuing operations of $0.38 for the full year. The earnings-per-share figure includes:

    -- a $0.17 per share gain on the sale of properties;
    -- income per share of $0.04 related to anti-dumping duties received on
       bedroom furniture imported from China;
    -- a restructuring charge of $0.13 per share; and
    -- a non-cash stock option expense of $0.03 per share.

These results compare with a loss per share of $0.11 last year, which included:

    -- a $0.04 per share gain on the sale of properties;
    -- a restructuring charge of $0.10 per share; and
    -- a $0.44 per share loss from the write-down of intangible assets.

Kurt L. Darrow, La-Z-Boy's President and Chief Executive Officer, said: "We continue to operate in an environment marked by extremely difficult retail conditions across the industry and have remained focused on running our operations with efficiency and ensuring our cost structure is in line with our revenue stream. Despite significantly lower volume in both of our wholesale businesses, we maintained our operating margins this quarter, reflecting the disciplines established throughout our business. Additionally, we continued to concentrate on managing our balance sheet by reducing our debt and inventory levels while generating cash. In our retail segment, we are applying the same operating disciplines as we have in our wholesale operations and expect to make incremental progress throughout fiscal 2008 even though the external environment will undoubtedly remain challenging."

Upholstery

For the fiscal 2007 fourth quarter, sales in the company's upholstery segment were $303.5 million compared with $341.8 million in the prior year's fourth quarter. For the full year, sales were $1.2 billion compared with $1.3 billion last year. Darrow stated, "On a double-digit sales decline in the fourth quarter, we were able to operate with a 6.0% margin, reflecting our focus on lean manufacturing and global sourcing. For the year, on a 5.7% sales decrease, we maintained our operating margin at 6.6%. "

During the quarter, La-Z-Boy finalized the sale of its Sam Moore upholstered chair company to Hooker Furniture for $9.9 million. Additionally, the company announced it would close its Lincolnton, North Carolina and Iuka, Mississippi upholstery manufacturing facilities and consolidate three operations into one at its Taylorsville, North Carolina facility. Darrow stated, "The sale of Sam Moore is part of our strategy to realign our portfolio of companies while the closures of facilities reflect the necessity to right size our company in the current business environment. These moves will allow us to be more competitive going forward."

The company continues to make progress in the expansion of the La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries(R) system into the New Generation format. For the quarter, the La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries(R) store system, which includes both company-owned and independent-licensed stores, opened four new stores, relocated and/or remodeled four and closed eight, bringing the total store count to 336, of which 194 are in the New Generation format. For the full year, the system opened, relocated or remodeled 42 New Generation stores in the overall network. For fiscal 2008, the network plans to open 25 to 30 New Generation format La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries(R) stores, of which 10 to 15 will be new stores and the remainder will be store remodels or relocations.

System-wide, for the first four months of 2007, including company-owned and independent-licensed stores, same-store written sales, which the company tracks as an indicator of retail activity, were down 9.0% and total sales, which includes new stores decreased 5.2%.

Casegoods

For the fourth quarter, casegoods sales were $64.4 million, down 13.3% from the prior year's fourth quarter. For the full year, sales in the segment were off 10.2% at $262.7 million. The segment's quarterly operating margin was 8.0% versus 5.6% in last year's comparable period and, for the year, the operating margin was 7.7%, an increase from 5.9% in the prior year. The operating margin improvement demonstrates the success of the business's transition to primarily an import model with a much greater variable cost structure as well as more efficient domestic manufacturing operations.

Over the course of fiscal 2007, La-Z-Boy continued to evaluate its portfolio of companies and sold American of Martinsville, its hospitality furniture business, and has committed to a plan to sell its Pennsylvania House and Clayton Marcus operation. La-Z-Boy also closed a rough mill lumber operation in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina during the fourth quarter.

Darrow stated, "Going forward, we will continue to focus on increasing the top line through new product introductions, the expansion of channels of distribution and increased service levels to our customers."

Retail

For the quarter, retail sales were $54.5 million, essentially flat against the comparable quarter in fiscal 2006 and, for the full year, sales increased 3.2% to $220.3 million, primarily the result of additional stores. The retail group posted an operating loss for the quarter and full year, with a (14.6%) and (14.1%) margin, respectively. The losses were primarily the result of the difficult retail environment and consolidation costs associated with the markets acquired over the past several years.

Darrow stated, "We continue to make changes to our retail model to ensure the business operates with the efficiency necessary for profitability. In addition to reducing costs through the consolidation of individual market operations, we are opening new stores to garner better penetration and economies of scale in the markets in which we operate and are relocating and/or converting stores to the New Generation format. However, with the challenging retail environment, it has been difficult to achieve top-line traction and we continue to experience negative same-store comps."

During the fourth quarter, the company's retail segment opened two new company-owned stores, relocated one, and converted one store into the New Generation format while closing five. For the full year, the company opened nine new stores, acquired seven, relocated and/or converted 10 stores into the New Generation format and closed nine, including exiting the Rochester, New York and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania markets. At the end of fiscal 2007, the company owned 70 stores, including 47 in the New Generation format, or 67%, versus 63 company-owned stores at the end of fiscal 2006, of which 28, or 44%, were in the new format. For fiscal 2008, La-Z-Boy plans to add six to ten New Generation stores to its company-owned retail segment, which includes new stores as well as relocations and remodels.

Restructuring

During the quarter, a pre-tax restructuring charge of $6.3 million was taken, net of a $1.6 million gain on previously written-down idled assets. The restructuring charge primarily related to expenses associated with the closure and consolidation of facilities as well as the reduction in employment. The balance of the restructuring charge for the full year relates primarily to store closings in the Rochester and Pittsburgh markets and related contract termination costs for leases, severance and benefits and the write-off of certain leasehold improvements.

Balance Sheet

During the year, the company reduced its debt by $35 million and, at fiscal year end, the company's debt to capitalization ratio was 23.5%, a decrease from last quarter's ratio of 25.4% and the fiscal 2006 year-end ratio of 26.5%. Inventories stood at $197.8 million, down from $238.8 million in the prior year, and receivables decreased to $230.4 million, down from $270.6 million last year, with a portion of the reductions relating to the sale and reclassification of discontinued operations.

Cash generated from operations during the quarter was $32 million and the company generated $21.7 million in cash from the disposal of assets. For the year, the company generated more than $120 million in cash from operating activities and the sale of assets and discontinued operations. The company did not repurchase any shares in the fourth quarter and has authorization to purchase approximately 5.4 million additional shares.

Business Outlook

Commenting on the company's business outlook, Darrow said: "The external environment for home furnishings remains very difficult and the first quarter is typically the company's slowest period due to seasonal factors. While we have made progress in managing the cost structure of our wholesale businesses, we believe challenging conditions in the marketplace will prevail and, we will continue to focus on matching costs to our revenue stream. In a move consistent with recent trends among other public companies, we are moving to yearly guidance for sales and earnings and will no longer provide quarterly projections. We expect sales for the fiscal 2008 year to be down 5% to 10% compared with fiscal 2007 and expect earnings per share to be in the range of $0.45 to $0.60 per share compared with $0.38 per share from continuing operations in fiscal 2007. This estimated range does not include restructuring charges, potential income from any anti-dumping monies or gains/losses on the sale of discontinued operations."

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: (a) changes in consumer confidence; (b) changes in demographics; (c) changes in housing sales; (d) the impact of terrorism or war; (e) continued energy price changes; (f) the impact of logistics on imports; (g) the impact of interest rate changes; (h) changes in currency exchange rates; (i) competitive factors; (j) operating factors, such as supply, labor or distribution disruptions including changes in operating conditions or costs; (k) effects of restructuring actions; (l) changes in the domestic or international regulatory environment; (m) ability to implement global sourcing organization strategies; (n) fair value changes to our intangible assets due to actual results differing from those projected; (o) the impact of adopting new accounting principles; (p) the impact from natural events such as hurricanes, earthquakes and tornadoes; (q) the impact of retail store relocation costs, the success of new stores or the timing of converting stores to the New Generation format; (r) the ability to procure fabric rolls or cut and sewn fabric sets domestically or abroad; (s) the ability to sell the discontinued operations for their recorded fair value; (t) those matters discussed in Item 1A of the company's 10K and 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.

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

La-Z-Boy Incorporated is one of the world's leading residential furniture producers, marketing furniture for every room of the home. The La-Z-Boy Upholstery Group companies are Bauhaus, England, La-Z-Boy and La-Z-Boy, U.K. The La-Z-Boy Casegoods Group companies are American Drew, Hammary, Kincaid and Lea.

The corporation's proprietary distribution network is dedicated exclusively to selling La-Z-Boy Incorporated products and brands, and includes 336 stand-alone La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries(R) stores and 304 La-Z-Boy In- Store Galleries, in addition to in-store gallery programs at the company's Kincaid, England and Lea operating units. According to industry trade publication In Furniture, the La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries retail network is North America's largest single-brand furniture retailer. Additional information is available at http://www.la-z-boy.com/.



                            LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED
                CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS


                                   Unaudited
                             For the Quarter Ended      For the Year Ended

    (Amounts in              4/28/07      4/29/06       4/28/07     4/29/06
     thousands, except per (13 weeks)   (13 weeks)     (52 weeks)  (52 weeks)
     share data)

    Sales                 $  406,949   $  449,376   $  1,617,302  $1,695,012

    Cost of sales
      Cost of goods sold     295,539      331,821      1,187,876   1,273,505
       Restructuring           3,771           68          3,371       8,479

        Total cost of
         sales               299,310      331,889      1,191,244   1,281,987

        Gross profit         107,639      117,487        426,055     413,028
    Selling, general and
     administrative           92,340       98,305        386,438     375,793
    Restructuring              2,542           --          7,662          --
    Write-down of
     intangibles                  --       22,695             --      22,695

       Operating income
       (loss)                 12,757       (3,513)        31,955      14,540
    Interest expense           2,316        2,744         10,206      11,540
    Income from
     Continued Dumping
     and Subsidy Act, net         --           --          3,430          --
    Other income, net          1,428          215          4,679       2,168

    Income (loss) from
    continuing operations
     before income taxes      11,869       (6,042)        29,858       5,168
    Income tax expense         3,434        6,335         10,090      10,758

    Income (loss) from
     continuing operations     8,435      (12,377)        19,768      (5,590)

    Income (loss) from
     discontinued operations
    (net of tax)                (724)       2,107        (15,629)      2,549

       Net income (loss)    $  7,711     $(10,270)       $ 4,139     $(3,041)


    Basic average shares
     outstanding              51,373       51,747         51,475    $ 51,801
    Basic net income
    (loss) per share:
    Income (loss) from
     continuing operations    $ 0.16   $    (0.24)        $ 0.38    $  (0.11)

    Income (loss) from
     discontinued operations
    (net of  tax)              (0.01)        0.04          (0.30)       0.05

    Net income (loss)
     per basic share       $    0.15    $   (0.20)       $  0.08     $ (0.06)


    Diluted weighted
     average shares
     outstanding              51,522       51,747         51,606      51,801

    Diluted net income
    (loss) per share:
    Income (loss) from
     continuing
     operations            $    0.16    $  ( 0.24)        $ 0.38     $(0.11)
    Income (loss) from
     discontinued
     operations (net of
     tax)                      (0.01)        0.04          (0.30)      0.05

   Net income (loss)
    per diluted share         $ 0.15    $   (0.20)       $  0.08     $(0.06)

   Dividends paid per
    share                   $   0.12   $     0.11        $  0.48     $ 0.44



          LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

    (Amounts in thousands)                  4/28/07            4/29/06

    Current assets
      Cash and equivalents              $    51,721           $  24,089
      Receivables, net                      230,399             270,578
      Inventories, net                      197,790             238,826
      Deferred income
       taxes - current                       17,283              12,854
      Assets of discontinued
       operations                            24,278                  --
      Other current
       assets                                19,327              23,730

        Total current assets                540,798             570,077

    Property, plant and
     equipment, net                         183,218             209,986
    Deferred income taxes
     - long-term                             15,380                  --
    Goodwill                                 55,659              56,926
    Trade names                               9,472              18,794
    Other long-term
     assets, net                             74,164             100,969

         Total assets                  $    878,691         $   956,752

    Current liabilities
      Short-term borrowings            $         --         $     8,000
      Current portion of
       long-term debt and capital
       leases                                37,688               2,844
      Accounts payable                       68,089              85,561
      Other current
       liabilities                          122,433             128,318

        Total current liabilities           228,210             224,723

    Long-term debt                          111,714             173,368
    Deferred income taxes                        --                 126
    Other long-term
     liabilities                             53,419              48,190
    Shareholders' equity                    485,348             510,345

    Total liabilities and
     shareholders' equity                $  878,691         $   956,752


                            LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED
                CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

                                 Unaudited Quarter Ended      Year Ended

    (Amounts in thousands)         4/28/07   4/29/06      4/28/07   4/29/06

    Cash flows from operating
     activities
     Net income (loss)             $7,711    $(10,270)    $4,139    $(3,041)
    Adjustments to reconcile
     net income (loss) to
     cash provided by operating
     activities
       Write-down of intangibles       --      22,695         --     22,695
       Write-down of assets from
        businesses held for sale
        (net of tax)                1,262          --     14,936         --
       (Gain)Loss on sale of
        discontinued operations
        (net of tax)                  345          --       (935)        --
       Restructuring                6,313      (1,768)    11,033      6,643
       Depreciation and
        amortization                7,082       7,559     27,204     29,234
       Provision for doubtful
        accounts                      899         824      3,790      4,527
       Stock option and
        restricted stock
        expense                       748         221      3,959        762
       Change in working
        capital                    14,810      14,992    (14,503)    32,360
       Change in deferred
        taxes                      (7,354)      3,646    (16,390)    (3,403)

          Total adjustments        24,105      48,169     29,094     92,818

       Net cash provided by
        operating
        activities                 31,816      37,899     33,233     89,777

    Cash flows from
     investing activities
       Proceeds from disposals
        of assets                  21,698       2,874     46,974     11,499
       Proceeds from sale of
        discontinued
        operations                  9,493          --     42,659         --
       Capital expenditures        (4,817)     (7,512)   (25,811)   (27,991)
       Purchases of
        investments                (4,704)     (3,309)   (18,165)   (25,289)
       Proceeds from sale of
        investments                 5,508       3,868     17,342     12,983
       Acquisitions, net of
        cash acquired                  --          --         --         --
       Change in other
        long-term assets           (1,298)        585       (955)    (1,875)
       Net cash (provided
        by) investing
        activities                 25,880      (3,494)    62,044    (30,673)

    Cash flows from
     financing activities
       Net changes in debt        (16,728)    (26,048)   (36,696)   (43,102)
       Stock transactions               7         724     (5,607)    (7,211)
       Dividends paid              (6,212)     (5,723)   (24,886)   (22,923)

         Net cash (used for)
          financing
          activities              (22,933)    (31,047)   (67,189)   (73,236)

    Effect of exchange
     rate changes on cash
     and equivalents                 (526)        223       (456)       516

    Change in cash and
     equivalents                   34,237       3,581     27,632    (13,616)
    Cash and equivalents
     at beginning of
     period                        17,484      20,508     24,089     37,705

    Cash and equivalents
     at end of period             $51,721     $24,089    $51,721    $24,089




                            LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED
                             Segment Information
                                Unaudited
                          For the Quarter Ended     For the Year Ended

                          4/28/07      4/29/06      4/28/07      4/29/06
                         (13 weeks)   (13 weeks)   (52 weeks)   (52 weeks)

    (Amounts in thousands)

    Sales
      Upholstery Group    $303,545     $341,803   $1,194,220   $1,265,952
      Casegoods Group       64,404       74,254      262,721      292,553
      Retail Group          54,481       54,106      220,319      213,438
      VIEs/Eliminations    (15,481)     (20,787)     (59,958)     (76,931)

         Consolidated     $406,949     $449,376   $1,617,302   $1,695,012

    Operating income
     (loss)
      Upholstery Group     $18,286      $31,535      $78,724      $83,160
      Casegoods Group        5,126        4,158       20,289       17,125
      Retail Group          (7,939)      (8,537)     (31,161)     (26,006)
      Corporate and other*   3,597       (7,906)     (24,864)     (28,565)
      Restructuring         (6,313)         (68)     (11,033)      (8,479)
      Write-down of
       intangibles              --      (22,695)          --      (22,695)

         Consolidated      $12,757      $(3,513)     $31,955      $14,540

     * Variable Interest Entities ("VIEs") are included in corporate and
       other.



                            LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED
                      Unaudited Quarterly Financial Data

    Quarter ended         7/29/06      10/28/06      1/27/07      4/28/07
                        (13 weeks)    (13 weeks)    (13 weeks)   (13 weeks)

    (Amounts in thousands,
     except per share data)

    Sales                 $392,851     $413,628     $403,874     $406,949
    Cost of sales
       Cost of goods sold  295,584      305,893      290,860      295,539
       Restructuring            --         (400)          --        3,771

       Total cost of
        sales              295,584      305,493      290,860      299,310

       Gross profit         97,267      108,135      113,014      107,639
    Selling, general and
     administrative         94,035       99,359      100,704       92,340
    Restructuring               --        2,265        2,855        2,542

       Operating income      3,232        6,511        9,455       12,757
    Interest expense         2,526        2,614        2,750        2,316
    Income from continued
     Dumping and Subsidy
     Offset Act, net            --           --        3,430           --
    Other income, net          270        1,348        1,633        1,428

      Pre-tax income           976        5,245       11,768       11,869
    Income tax expense
     (benefit)                (116)       1,949        4,823        3,434

    Income from continuing
     operations              1,092        3,296        6,945        8,435
    Income (loss) from
     discontinued operations
     (net of tax)            1,203       (1,342)     (14,766)        (724)

        Net income (loss)   $2,295       $1,954     $(7,821)       $7,711

    Diluted weighted average
     shares outstanding     51,971       51,639       51,609       51,522

    Diluted income from
     continuing operations
     per share               $0.02        $0.06        $0.13        $0.16
    Diluted net income
     (loss) per share        $0.04        $0.04      $(0.15)        $0.15


                            LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED
                      Unaudited Quarterly Financial Data

    (Amounts in thousands,
     except per share data)
    Quarter ended               7/30/05     10/29/05    1/28/06    4/29/06
                              (13 weeks)   (13 weeks)  (13 weeks) (13 weeks)

    Sales                      $396,695    $402,327    $446,614   $449,376
    Cost of sales
       Cost of goods sold       300,068     309,932     331,684    331,821
       Restructuring                 --       7,817         594         68

         Total cost of sales    300,068     317,749     332,278    331,889

         Gross profit            96,627      84,578     114,336    117,487
       Selling, general and
        administrative           89,864      90,976      96,648     98,305

       Write-down of intangibles     --          --          --     22,695

          Operating income
           (loss)                 6,763      (6,398)     17,688     (3,513)

    Interest expense              2,741       3,090       2,965      2,744
    Other income, net               149         414       1,390        215

    Income (loss) from
     continuing operations
     before income taxes          4,171      (9,074)     16,113     (6,042)
    Income tax expense
     (benefit)                    1,556      (3,265)      6,132      6,335

    Income (loss) from
     continuing operations        2,615      (5,809)      9,981    (12,377)
    Income (loss) from
     discontinued operations
     (net of tax)                   593        (638)        487      2,107

         Net income (loss)       $3,208     $(6,447)    $10,468   $(10,270)

    Diluted weighted average
     shares outstanding          52,195      51,655      51,857     51,747

    Diluted income (loss)
     from continuing operations
     per share                    $0.05      $(0.11)      $0.19     $(0.24)
    Diluted net income (loss)
     per share                    $0.06      $(0.12)      $0.20     $(0.20)
SOURCE  La-Z-Boy Incorporated
    -0-                             06/19/2007
    /CONTACT:  Kathy Liebmann of La-Z-Boy Incorporated, +1-734-241-2438,
kathy.liebmann@la-z-boy.com /
    /Web site:  http://www.la-z-boy.com /
    (LZB)

CO:  La-Z-Boy Incorporated
ST:  Michigan
IN:  REA HOU
SU:  ERN ERP

AM-BS
-- CLTU091 --
1074 06/19/2007 17:10 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com