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Aug 6, 2010

Johnson Outdoors Announces Fiscal 2010 Third Quarter Results

RACINE, Wis., Aug 6, 2010 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX News Network) -- Johnson Outdoors Inc. (Nasdaq:JOUT), a leading global outdoor recreation company, today announced higher earnings and increased net sales for its third fiscal quarter ended July 2, 2010. Total net sales for the quarter were $124.0 million compared to $114.9 million in the prior year period. Net income of $10.4 million, or $1.09 per diluted share, compared favorably to net income of $9.0 million, or $0.97 per diluted share, in the same quarter last year.

"Outdoor recreational markets are recovering, and we have leveraged our leading brand equities to grow share in a highly competitive marketplace. Improved operational efficiency and aggressive working capital management efforts have enabled us to grow profits faster than sales, a key objective of our three year transformation plan for sustained profitable growth," said Helen Johnson-Leipold, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

THIRD QUARTER RESULTS

Third quarter sales historically reflect customer inventory replenishment due to consumer demand during the primary retail selling period for the industry's warm-weather seasonal outdoor products. Total net sales increased 7.9 percent compared to the prior year quarter, due to the success of targeted new product investments and initial industry recovery. Key factors behind the results were:

  --  Marine Electronics revenues surged 17.9 percent ahead of last year due
      to growth in Minn Kota(R), Humminbird(R) and Cannon(R) brands across all
      distribution channels in both international and domestic boat markets.
  --  Outdoor Equipment sales jumped 21.3 percent above last year driven by
      double-digit growth in all segments.
  --  Watercraft revenues decreased 3.5 percent below the prior year on
      declines in Europe and the U.S. specialty channel.
  --  Diving revenues were 9.0 percent behind last year due to a negative 3.5
      percent impact from currency translation, product availability and a
      late-quarter slow-down of sales in key international markets.


Total Company operating profit grew 26 percent to $13.4 million for the third fiscal quarter compared to operating profit of $10.6 million in the prior year quarter. Key factors contributing to the comparison were:

  --  Higher sales in Marine Electronics and Outdoor Equipment.
  --  Gross margin improvement in all businesses yielding a 1.4 point gain in
      total Company margins.
  --  Sustainable cost reductions implemented in 2009 which included
      company-wide restructuring and manufacturing consolidation in
      Watercraft.
  --  Discretionary bonus and retirement contributions added $2.8 million to
      operating expenses versus no related expenses in the prior year quarter.


Third quarter net income increased 16 percent over the previous year third quarter. Key factors in the quarter-over-quarter comparison were:

  --  Reduced interest expense of $1.3 million resulting from lower debt
      levels, lower swap amortization and lower borrowing costs.
  --  Tax benefits of $1.4 million in the prior year quarter.



TRANSFORMATION UPDATE

On November 20, 2009, the Company outlined plans to further transform Johnson Outdoors to achieve sustained profitable growth focusing on continued cost-structure reductions, enhanced product price/value, targeted revenue gains and strong balance sheet management. At the end of the third fiscal quarter:

  --  Restructuring efforts delivered cost-savings in line with expectations.
  --  Working capital declined as inventories remained at targeted levels.
  --  Interest expense for the quarter declined 47 percent below the prior
      year quarter.


YEAR-TO-DATE RESULTS

Net sales in the first nine months of fiscal 2010 were $307.3 million versus $291.2 million in the same nine-month period last year, a 5.5 percent increase. Key drivers in the year-to-date period were:

  --  Continued recovery of key outdoor recreation markets.
  --  Increased total Company sales bolstered by successful new products in
      Marine Electronics, Outdoor Equipment and Diving.
  --  Favorable currency translation of 1.3 percent.


Total Company operating profit rose substantially to $17.9 million during the first nine months of fiscal 2010 compared to operating profit of $11.2 million during the prior year-to-date period. Discretionary bonus and employee retirement contribution accruals added $4.9 million to operating expense year-to-date compared to no related expense in the prior year-to-date period. Net income more than doubled during the first nine months of the year to $12.4 million, or $1.30 per diluted share, versus net income of $4.6 million, or $0.49 per diluted share, in the first nine months of the prior year. Primary drivers behind the year-to-date comparison were consistent with those during the third quarter in addition to a 46 percent decline in interest expense versus the same period last year attributable to the Company's improved debt restructuring announced in September 2009.

OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION

The Company's debt level was $31.9 million at the end of the third quarter versus $60.8 million at the end of the prior year quarter, and debt, net of cash, was $6.4 million at the end of the current quarter versus $26.9 million at the end of the previous year quarter. Depreciation and amortization was $7.4 million year-to-date, compared to $8.0 million during the first nine months of the prior year. Capital spending totaled $5.7 million during the first nine months of fiscal 2010 compared with $5.2 million in same period in 2009.

"Outdoor recreational markets remain sensitive to fluctuations in both domestic and international economic conditions. Process and systems improvements have given us the flexibility needed to react quickly to changing marketplace demand and maintain strong margins," said David W. Johnson, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

New accounting rules concerning treatment of participating securities, including non-vested stock, in earnings per share calculations reduced previously reported 2009 third quarter earnings per share by ($0.01) and had no impact on earnings per share in the 2009 year-to-date period.

WEBCAST

The Company will host a conference call and audio web cast at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Friday August 6, 2010. A live listen-only web cast of the conference call may be accessed at Johnson Outdoors' home page. A replay of the call will be available for 30 days on the Internet.

ABOUT JOHNSON OUTDOORS INC.

JOHNSON OUTDOORS is a leading global outdoor recreation company that turns ideas into adventure with innovative, top-quality products. The company designs, manufactures and markets a portfolio of winning, consumer-preferred brands across four categories: Watercraft, Marine Electronics, Diving and Outdoor Equipment. Johnson Outdoors' familiar brands include, among others: Old Town(R) canoes and kayaks; Ocean Kayak(TM) and Necky(R) kayaks; Carlisle paddles; Extrasport(R) personal flotation devices; Minn Kota(R) motors; Cannon(R) downriggers; Humminbird(R) fishfinders; Geonav(R)marine electronics; SCUBAPRO(R) and SUBGEAR(R) dive equipment; Silva(R) compasses; Tech4O(R) digital instruments; and Eureka!(R) tents.

        Visit Johnson Outdoors at http://www.johnsonoutdoors.com


SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

Certain matters discussed in this press release are "forward-looking statements," intended to qualify for the safe harbors from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements other than statements of historical fact are considered forward-looking statements. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases such as "anticipate,'' "believe,'' "could,'' "expect,'' "intend,'' "may,'' "planned,'' "potential,'' "should,'' "will,'' "would'' or the negative of those terms or other words of similar meaning.Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those currently anticipated. Factors that could affect actual results or outcomes include changes in consumer spending patterns; the Company's success in implementing its strategic plan, including its focus on innovation; actions of and disputes with third parties, including companies that compete with the Company; the Company's success in managing inventory and its continuing efforts to implement sustainable cost-cutting and sales growth initiatives; the risk that the Company's lenders may be unwilling to provide a waiver or amendment if the Company were to violate financial covenants and the cost to the Company of obtaining any waiver or amendment that the lenders would be willing to provide; risk of future write-downs of goodwill or other intangible assets; ability of the Company's customers to meet payment obligations; movements in foreign currencies or interest rates; the Company's success in its on-going cost-structure reduction efforts; the success of suppliers and customers; the ability of the Company to deploy its capital successfully; adverse weather conditions; and other risks and uncertainties identified in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Shareholders, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included herein are only made as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

                                       JOHNSON OUTDOORS INC.
  (thousands, except per
   share amounts)
                                      THREE MONTHS                        NINE MONTHS
                                          ENDED                               ENDED

                                     July 2            July 3            July 2            July 3
  Operating Results                    2010              2009              2010              2009
  -----------------------  ----------------  ----------------  ----------------  ----------------
  Net sales                       $ 123,954         $ 114,850         $ 307,311         $ 291,236

  Cost of sales                      72,467            68,755           184,082           180,067
  -----------------------  ----------------  ----------------  ----------------  ----------------
  Gross profit                       51,487            46,095           123,229           111,169

  Operating expenses                 38,134            35,509           105,377           100,014
  -----------------------  ----------------  ----------------  ----------------  ----------------
  Operating profit                   13,353            10,586            17,852            11,155
  Interest expense, net               1,367             2,629             3,968             7,203

  Other (income) expense,
   net                                  565             (421)                94               243
  -----------------------  ----------------  ----------------  ----------------  ----------------
  Income before income
   taxes                             11,421             8,378            13,790             3,709

  Income tax expense
   (benefit)                            989             (612)             1,411             (805)
  -----------------------  ----------------  ----------------  ----------------  ----------------
  Income from continuing
   operations                        10,432             8,990            12,379             4,514

  Income from
   discontinued
   operations                            --                --                --                41
  -----------------------  ----------------  ----------------  ----------------  ----------------

  Net income                       $ 10,432           $ 8,990          $ 12,379           $ 4,555
  -----------------------  ----------------  ----------------  ----------------  ----------------
  Net income as reported           $ 10,432           $ 8,990          $ 12,379           $ 4,555

  Less: undistributed
   earnings reallocated
   to non-vested stock                (352)             (102)             (367)              (41)
  -----------------------  ----------------  ----------------  ----------------  ----------------

  Diluted earnings                 $ 10,080           $ 8,888          $ 12,012           $ 4,514
  -----------------------  ----------------  ----------------  ----------------  ----------------
  Diluted average common
   shares outstanding                 9,290             9,185             9,260             9,168
  Net income per common
   share - Diluted:
   Continuing operations             $ 1.09            $ 0.97            $ 1.30            $ 0.49

   Discontinued
    operations                           --                --                --                --
  -----------------------  ----------------  ----------------  ----------------  ----------------

  Segment Results
  -----------------------  ----------------  ----------------  ----------------  ----------------
  Net sales:
  Marine electronics               $ 61,966          $ 52,542         $ 157,157         $ 143,252
  Outdoor equipment                  15,578            12,845            38,078            32,557
  Watercraft                         24,605            25,502            51,074            58,221
  Diving                             21,994            24,173            61,683            57,558

  Other/eliminations                  (189)             (212)             (681)             (352)
  -----------------------  ----------------  ----------------  ----------------  ----------------

  Total                           $ 123,954         $ 114,850         $ 307,311         $ 291,236
  -----------------------  ----------------  ----------------  ----------------  ----------------
  Operating profit
   (loss):
  Marine electronics                $ 8,790           $ 6,757          $ 16,381          $ 12,935
  Outdoor equipment                   2,490             1,929             5,155             3,259
  Watercraft                          2,873             1,559             1,862             (285)
  Diving                              1,805             2,427             2,021             1,524

  Other/eliminations                (2,605)           (2,086)           (7,567)           (6,278)
  -----------------------  ----------------  ----------------  ----------------  ----------------

  Total                            $ 13,353          $ 10,586          $ 17,852          $ 11,155
  -----------------------  ----------------  ----------------  ----------------  ----------------

  Balance Sheet
   Information (End of
   Period)
  -----------------------  ----------------  ----------------  ----------------  ----------------
  Cash and cash
   equivalents                                                         $ 25,480          $ 33,945
  Accounts receivable,
   net                                                                   76,280            82,449
  Inventories, net                                                       62,276            62,157
  Total current assets                                                  171,156           186,981
  Total assets                                                          236,888           254,039
  Short-term debt                                                        16,065                --
  Total current
   liabilities                                                           78,066            51,708
  Long-term debt                                                         15,785            60,801

  Shareholders' equity                                                  124,262           128,048
  -----------------------  ----------------  ----------------  ----------------  ----------------

This news release was distributed by GlobeNewswire, www.globenewswire.com

SOURCE: Johnson Outdoors Inc.

CONTACT:  Johnson Outdoors Inc.
David Johnson, VP & Chief Financial Officer
262-631-6600
Cynthia Georgeson, VP - Worldwide Communication
262-631-6600

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