Gunnison Bunker Boot Contract Supports LaCrosse's Growth in Fire Market
PORTLAND, Ore., Nov. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- LaCrosse Footwear, Inc. (NASDAQ:BOOT), a leading provider of branded work and outdoor footwear for expert users, announced today that the City of Calgary has awarded the Company a supply and delivery contract for the Gunnison Bunker Boot for the Calgary Fire Department.
The City of Calgary contract commences immediately for a one-year term with nine optional years. The first order is expected to be fulfilled as early as December 31, 2006. Over 1,000 firefighters staff the Calgary Fire Department, located in the largest city in Alberta, Canada. The Gunnison Bunker Boot is manufactured in the Company's ISO-9001 certified manufacturing facility, located in Portland, Oregon. LaCrosse has been awarded several quality contracts this year, most recently with the City of Chicago to supply the Phoenix Bunker Boot.
"We are proud to receive such great support of our new fire boots," said Joseph P. Schneider, president and CEO of LaCrosse Footwear. "We build our fire boots with leading-edge technologies and materials to support men and women who put their lives on the line. They want and deserve the best equipment available. We are honored to receive this contract and further grow this area of our business." Only the best technologies and innovative materials are used for LaCrosse fire boots. The Gunnison is built to provide better strength and thermal protection while reducing weight, certified to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA-1971) standards. It is constructed with a 7.5 oz. Leather/DEFENDER(TM) 750 Kevlar/Nomex(R) combination upper, instead of traditional all leather.
Additional safety features that make the Gunnison the best bunker boot on the market include a broader ASTM certified steel toe, CROSSTECH(R) protective fabric lining and a stitchdown, thermo-molded heel counter for comfort and added stability. The Gunnison was the first boot to offer puncture protection with LaCrosse's new Flex-Shield midsole, offering more lightweight, flexible puncture protection then a traditional steel midsole and additionally does not transfer heat or cold.
LaCrosse developed the Gunnison with the new Vibram(R) Olympia Fire & Ice outsole to provide remarkable traction on icy and frozen surfaces. The outsole resists the chemical changes that take place in a traditional outsole after being rapidly heated and cooled. The Gunnison also includes comfort fit features, from resolable stitchdown construction to a tapered upper design with pull straps for easy entry.
About LaCrosse Footwear LaCrosse Footwear is a leading developer and marketer of branded, premium and innovative footwear for expert work and outdoor users. The Company's trusted Danner(R) and LaCrosse(R) brands are distributed domestically through a nationwide network of specialty retailers and distributors, and internationally through distributors and retailers in Asia, Europe and Canada. Work customers include people in law enforcement, agriculture, firefighting, construction, industry, military services and other occupations that need high-performance and protective footwear as a critical tool for the job. Outdoor customers include people active in hunting, outdoor cross training, hiking and other outdoor recreational activities. For more information about LaCrosse Footwear products, please visit our Internet websites at http://www.lacrossefootwear.com/ and http://www.danner.com/ . For additional investor information, see our corporate website at http://www.lacrossefootwearinc.com/ .
Forward-Looking Statements All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this release, including without limitation, statements regarding our future financial position, business strategy, budgets, projected costs, goals and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," will," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "project," "believe," "continue," or "target" or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology. All forward-looking statements made in this release are based on information presently available to our management. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements have a reasonable basis, we can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: *Potential problems or delays associated with the manufacture,
transportation and delivery of foreign-sourced products, primarily in
China. In particular, the exclusive manufacturer of certain of our rubber footwear products has experienced work stoppages with its work force and
our ability to fill customer orders for this type of footwear would be
negatively impacted if these labor issues were to continue. *Difficulties with accurate forecasting and controlling inventory levels,
particularly for foreign sourced products with longer manufacturing lead
times. *Reliance on foreign-sourced products and concentrations of currency,
labor, and political risks, primarily in China. *Concentration of credit risk as our retail channel customers continue to
consolidate and fund expansion of store growth. Our top six customers
represent approximately 25% of our net sales. *Weather and its impact on the demand for outdoor footwear. *Product offerings that do not create customer demand. *The variable effects of seasonality in the second half of the year, which may have a disproportionate effect on overall financial condition and
results of operations for the entire year. *General domestic economic conditions, including interest rates and
foreign currency exchange rates. *Consumer confidence, unemployment rates and related demand for footwear,
including work and outdoor footwear. *Restrictions imposed under United States and/or foreign trading rules,
regulations and policies, including export/import regulations, duties,
and regulations affecting manufacturers and/or importers. *Commodity price increases, including rubber and petroleum, which affect
transportation costs, footwear component costs, and ultimately product
costs.
You should consider these important factors in evaluating any statement contained in this release and/or made by us or on our behalf. For more information concerning these factors and other risks and uncertainties that could materially affect our consolidated financial results, please refer to Part I, Item 1A -- Risk Factors, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, as may be updated or amended in our 2006 quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, which information is incorporated herein by reference. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of future events or circumstances. DATASOURCE: LaCrosse Footwear, Inc.
CONTACT: Erin Patterson, Public Relations Manager of LaCrosse Footwear, Inc., +1-503-262-0110, ext. 1393, or ; or investors, Michael Newman, Investor Relations of StreetConnect, Inc., 800-654-3517, or , for LaCrosse Footwear, Inc.
Web site: http://www.lacrossefootwearinc.com/
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