Johnson Outdoors Announces Full Year and Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2010 Results

RACINE, Wis., Dec. 3, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Johnson Outdoors Inc.
(Nasdaq:JOUT), a leading global outdoor recreation company, today announced
increased revenues and earnings for fiscal 2010. Operating profit rose
substantially as the Company benefited from company-wide sustained cost
reduction initiatives implemented over the past 18 months. Net income advanced
to $6.5 million or $0.68 per diluted share in the current fiscal year compared
to a net loss of $9.7 million or ($1.06) per diluted share in the prior fiscal
year.

"We have transformed Johnson Outdoors, taking aggressive, strategic action to
enhance competitiveness and profitability now and in the future. We streamlined
operations, simplified processes and kept working capital within target levels
while investing strategically in innovative new products and programs to
strengthen our market-leading positions. As a result, this year's revenue growth
outpaced our markets as we gained share and outperformed the competition.
Importantly, significant improvement in operating efficiency enabled us to grow
profits faster than sales, a key objective of our strategic plan. Continued
industry recovery and focused, disciplined execution of our strategic plan are
key to realizing ongoing marketplace success and sustained profitable growth in
the year ahead," said Helen Johnson-Leipold, Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer.

YEAR-TO-DATE RESULTS

Total net sales grew 7 percent to $382.4 million in fiscal 2010 versus $356.5
million in fiscal 2009. On a constant currency basis, net sales grew 6 percent.
Key contributing factors in the year-over-year increase were:

-- Initial recovery of key outdoor recreational markets.
-- Double-digit growth in Minn Kota(R) and Humminbird(R) brands in all
channels and markets.
-- Double-digit growth in Eureka!(R) across consumer and military segments.

-- Increased revenues in Diving, which nearly offset declines in Watercraft
sales.
-- Successful new products in all businesses which generated more than a
third of total Company revenues.

Total Company operating profit grew significantly to $14.6 million for fiscal
2010 compared to operating profit of $0.3 million in fiscal 2009. Primary
drivers behind the year-over-year comparison were:

-- Improved cost absorption as a result of higher sales.
-- Nonrecurring items, including restructuring costs of $7.5 million in the
prior fiscal year versus $2.0 million in the current fiscal year.
-- Ongoing cost savings of $10.7 million, including more than $5.0 million
in savings related to Watercraft consolidation, which were in addition
to sustained cost reductions realized in fiscal 2009.
-- Discretionary bonus and retirement contributions in the current year
versus no related expenses in the prior fiscal year.

Net income for the year was $6.5 million or $0.68 per diluted share, versus a
net loss of $9.7 million, or ($1.06) per diluted share, in the prior year. The
Company's interest expense was reduced by about half due primarily to new debt
agreements secured last fall. On November 18, 2010 the Company announced those
agreements had been amended and are expected to reduce fiscal 2011 borrowing
costs by 15 percent below fiscal 2010 levels.

FOURTH QUARTER RESULTS

Due to the seasonality of the warm-weather outdoor recreational products
industry, the Company's fourth quarter results historically reflect an
industry-wide slowing of sales and production. Total Company net sales continued
a year-long positive upward trend to increase 15 percent compared to the prior
year quarter. Key factors behind the results were:

-- Double-digit increases in Marine Electronics and Outdoor Equipment
sales.
-- Positive response across the specialty channel to new Watercraft
products and programs.
-- Unfavorable currency translation of 2.6 percent impacted Diving sales.

Total Company operating loss declined 70 percent to ($3.3) million for the
fourth fiscal quarter from an operating loss of ($10.9) million in the prior
year quarter. Key factors contributing to the comparison were:

-- Higher sales in all businesses.
-- Gross margin improvement in all businesses yielding a 7.2 point gain in
total Company margins.
-- Discretionary bonus, profit sharing and retirement contributions added
$2.4 million in operating expense versus no related expenses in the
prior year quarter.

The Company reported a 60 percent decline in its quarterly net loss of $5.8
million, or ($0.62) per diluted share, during the fourth fiscal quarter,
compared to a net loss from continuing operations of $14.2 million, or ($1.55)
per diluted share, in the same quarter last year. Interest expense for the
quarter was 60 percent below the prior year period. Increased tax expense was
largely due to a deferred tax asset valuation allowance in Italy.

OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION

The Company's debt to total capitalization stood at 16 percent at the end of the
year versus 21 percent at October 2, 2009. Cash, net of debt, was $9.5 million
at year-end versus debt, net of cash, of $3.7 million at October 2, 2009.
Depreciation and amortization was $10.0 million year-to-date compared with $12.9
million in the prior year. Capital spending totaled $10.0 million in 2010
compared with last year's $8.3 million.

"The strength of our balance sheet is reflected in our having ended fiscal 2010
with debt at an all-time low and a $19 million dollar improvement in cash flow
year-over-year. Looking ahead, we will continue to carefully manage inventories
to keep working capital in check while helping to ensure our ability to meet
marketplace demand," said David W. Johnson, Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer.

WEBCAST

The Company will host a conference call and audio web cast at 11:00 a.m. Eastern
Time on Friday December 3, 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.

FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW

JOHNSON OUTDOORS INC.

(thousands, except per

share amounts)

THREE MONTHS
YEAR
ENDED
ENDED

October 1 October 2
October 1 October 2
Operating Results 2010 2009
2010 2009
----------------------- ------------------- -------------------
------------------- -------------------
Net sales $ 75,121 $ 65,287 $
382,432 $ 356,523

Cost of sales 44,827 43,674
228,909 223,741
----------------------- ------------------- -------------------
------------------- -------------------
Gross profit 30,294 21,613
153,523 132,782

Operating expenses 33,592 32,496
138,969 132,510
----------------------- ------------------- -------------------
------------------- -------------------
Operating (loss) profit (3,298) (10,883)
14,554 272
Interest expense, net 1,027 2,553
4,995 9,756

Other expense, net 273 392
367 594
----------------------- ------------------- -------------------
------------------- -------------------
(Loss) income before

income taxes (4,598) (13,828)
9,192 (10,078)

Income tax expense

(benefit) 1,242 398
2,653 (407)
----------------------- ------------------- -------------------
------------------- -------------------
Net (loss) income (5,840) (14,226)
6,539 (9,671)

Less: undistributed

earnings reallocated

to non-vested stock -- --
201 --
----------------------- ------------------- -------------------
------------------- -------------------
Diluted earnings $ (5,840) $ (14,226)
$ 6,338 $ (9,671)
Diluted average common

shares outstanding 9,409 9,191
9,267 9,165

Net (loss) income per

common share - Diluted $ (0.62) $ (1.55)
$ 0.68 $ (1.06)
----------------------- ------------------- -------------------
------------------- -------------------

Segment Results

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------
Net sales:

Marine electronics $ 28,337 $ 22,091 $
185,494 $ 165,343
Outdoor equipment 10,612 8,830
48,690 41,387
Watercraft 12,927 11,201
64,001 69,422
Diving 23,393 23,277
85,076 80,835

Other/eliminations (148) (112)
(829) (464)
----------------------- ------------------- -------------------
------------------- -------------------

Total $ 75,121 $ 65,287 $
382,432 $ 356,523
----------------------- ------------------- -------------------
------------------- -------------------
Operating (loss)

profit:

Marine electronics $ (2,443) $ (3,670)
$ 13,938 $ 9,265
Outdoor equipment 726 101
5,881 3,360
Watercraft (37) (5,864)
1,826 (6,149)
Diving 1,009 96
3,030 1,620

Other/eliminations (2,553) (1,546)
(10,121) (7,824)
----------------------- ------------------- -------------------
------------------- -------------------

Total $ (3,298) $ (10,883)
$ 14,554 $ 272
----------------------- ------------------- -------------------
------------------- -------------------

Balance Sheet Information (End of Period)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------
Cash and cash

equivalents
$ 33,316 $ 27,895
Accounts receivable,

net
46,928 43,459
Inventories, net
72,095 61,085
Total current assets
160,128 142,355
Total assets
226,756 210,282
Short-term debt
8,871 15,474
Total current

liabilities
67,015 60,841
Long-term debt
14,939 16,089

Shareholders' equity
126,369 115,825
----------------------- ------------------- -------------------
------------------- -------------------

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