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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

or

Commission File Number 0-238001

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.   Yes    X    No  ___

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2).    Yes  ___  No    X  

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Common Stock, $.01 par value, outstanding as of April 23, 2004: 5,881,092 shares

LaCrosse Footwear, Inc.

Form 10-Q Index

For the Quarter Ended March 27, 2004

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PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. Financial Statements

LACROSSE FOOTWEAR, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

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LACROSSE FOOTWEAR, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

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LACROSSE FOOTWEAR, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

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LACROSSE FOOTWEAR, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

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ITEM 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth selected financial information derived from our condensed consolidated financial statements. The discussion that follows the table should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements. In addition, please see Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, audited financial statements and related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003.

Overview

Our business is seasonal with lower revenues historically being generated during the first two quarters of the year. As a result, revenue for the first quarter ended March 27, 2004 may not be indicative of results to be reported for the balance of the fiscal year.

The second half of the year is typically when we generate more sales, due to our cold and wet weather product offerings. We continue to augment our offerings with more year-round work and uniform products, as well as spring offerings of outdoor cross-training products. Weather, especially in the fall and winter, will continue to be a risk factor in our results. In the first quarter of 2004, we experienced increased net sales in both the LaCrosse® and Danner® brands. The increase in the LaCrosse brand is due to the introduction of the Quad Comfort™ line of work boots and increased sales of sporting boots, as well as strong sales of winter boots and waders due to extended cold weather. Increased Danner sales are due mainly to a large Government Services Administration, “GSA” order by the U.S. military to buy branded boots. This large GSA order is not considered to be an ongoing part of our normal business operations. Net sales for the Safety and Industrial channel of distribution declined from the first quarter of the previous year due in part to reduced sales to customers directly sourcing lower priced or commodity products.

Gross margin in the first quarter of 2004 increased to 30.5% from 30.1% in the first quarter of 2003. Improvements in sales margins for in-line products were partially offset by a higher sales volume of slow-moving inventory. Sales of slow-moving close-out inventory reduced gross margin by 350 basis points in the first quarter of 2004. During the first quarter of 2003, sales of close-out inventory reduced margins by 210 basis points.

Operating expenses decreased from the comparable quarter in 2003. Excluding a nonrecurring cash receipt of $0.9 million received from a former vendor, the Company’s selling and administrative expenses in the first quarter of 2004 would have increased $0.6 million from the same period in 2003. The increase reflects the Company’s strategic decision to invest more in its product development and marketing efforts.

We recently secured a more favorable banking relationship to help fund our future growth. Our new credit agreement provides for lower interest rate options to fund our working capital needs. The interest rate under our current credit agreement, which expires in June 2004, is either prime rate plus 0.50% or LIBOR plus 2.75%. Our new credit agreement provides for interest rate options of prime rate or LIBOR plus 1.50%.

As a result of our improved profitability and operating cash flows, we have reduced our overall bank debt by $7 million from the same date a year ago. During the first quarter of 2004 we reduced our bank debt by $2.9 from year-end 2003 by using our operating cash flows generated during the quarter. Such operating cash flow was generated in part due to our continued profitability as well as a reduction in our inventory levels from year-end 2003 due to increased sales of close-out merchandise and continued improvement in inventory management processes.

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Net Sales

Net sales for the quarter ended March 27, 2004 increased $3.9 million, or 19.4%, to $23.7 million from $19.9 million for the same period in 2003. Net sales for the retail channel of the LaCrosse brand improved, and net sales for the Danner brand improved over the same period last year. Net sales increases in the LaCrosse brand retail channel were due, in part, to the introduction of the Quad Comfort line of leather work boots, sales of sporting rubber, and close-out sales of pac boots and waders. Net sales growth for the Danner® brand was primarily related to the successful introduction of new recreational products, as well as the GSA delivery order to supply branded boots to the U.S. military. This purchase is not part of an on-going contract. Excluding this large GSA purchase, Danner sales grew over the same period last year. Net sales for the Safety and Industrial channel of distribution declined from the first quarter of the previous year due to a strategic reduction in the number of products being offered for sale in the private label and mass merchant markets, the strategic elimination of low-margin accounts, and reduced sales of lower priced or commodity products. The reduction of sales of lower priced or commodity products above is related to customers sourcing many of these products directly which increases the likelihood of future market share declines of lower priced products.

Gross Profit

Gross profit for the quarter ended March 27, 2004 increased to $7.2 million, or 30.5% of net sales, from $6.0 million, or 30.1% of net sales, for the first quarter of 2003. Gross margin as a percent of net sales has improved due to an increasing percentage of sales coming from higher margin products coupled with the on-going elimination of lower-margin product lines, and elimination of mass merchant and lower margin accounts. Sales of slow-moving close-out inventory partially offset the margin improvement for the quarter.

Selling and Administrative Expenses

Selling and administrative expenses decreased $0.3 million, or 5.2%, to $6.0 million for the quarter ended March 27, 2004 compared to $6.3 million for the same period a year ago. The decrease is mainly the result of a one-time, nonrecurring cash receipt of $0.9 million in the settlement of a dispute with a former vendor recorded as a reduction of selling and administrative expense. Factoring out the $0.9 million received in the settlement, selling and administrative expenses in the first quarter of 2004 would have increased $0.6 million from the same period in 2003. The $0.6 million increase in selling and administrative expenses is primarily the result of the Company’s increased expenses for product development and marketing.

Non-Operating Expenses

Non-operating expenses of $0.1 million decreased for the quarter ended March 27, 2004, from $0.3 million for the quarter ended March 29, 2003. Interest expense decreased due to lower interest rates and lower average borrowings.

Income Taxes

No income tax provision has been presented for the quarter ended March 27, 2004 due to the utilization of net operating loss carryforwards and a reduction in the deferred tax asset valuation allowance. Due to the uncertainty surrounding the realization and timing of the benefits from the Company’s deferred tax assets, the Company has recorded a valuation allowance on its otherwise recognizable deferred tax assets. Once the Company has attained a sustained level of profitability, the need for such a valuation allowance will be reconsidered.

Direct Charge to Equity

At March 27, 2004, the Company’s pension plan had accumulated benefit obligations in excess of the respective plan assets and accrued pension liabilities. This obligation in excess of plan assets and accrued liabilities resulted in an equity reduction of $1.4 million at December 31, 2002. In 2003, the charge to equity was reduced by $0.2 million to $1.2 million.

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

We have historically funded working capital requirements and capital expenditures with cash generated from operations and borrowings under a revolving credit agreement or other long-term lending arrangements. We require working capital to support fluctuating accounts receivable and inventory levels caused by our seasonal business cycle. Borrowing requirements are generally the lowest in the first quarter and the highest during the third quarter.

Our current revolving credit agreement provides for advances based on a percentage of eligible accounts receivable and inventory with maximum borrowings of $47.5 million. The current credit agreement will be used to support working capital requirements until June 2004. Our new three-year credit agreement will become effective in June 2004 and provides for advances based on a percentage of eligible accounts receivable and inventory with maximum borrowings of $30.0 million. This reduced amount of borrowings reflects our more efficient business model which requires less borrowings to support our working capital needs and to fund future growth. Excess cash flows from operations are used to pay down the credit agreement. At March 27, 2004, we had $4.7 million of outstanding borrowings under our current credit agreement and net unused borrowing availability of $7.5 million. At the Company’s option, the interest rate on the current revolving credit agreement is either prime rate plus 0.50% or LIBOR plus 2.75%. Our new agreement provides for interest rate options of prime rate or LIBOR plus 1.50%. We expect that our new credit agreement will allow us to save up to approximately $125,000 in annual interest expense. The weighted average interest rate for the outstanding borrowings at March 27, 2004 was 4.50% under our current credit agreement. Borrowings under the current and new credit agreements and cash flows generated from operations are expected to be sufficient to meet our cash requirements for the next 12 months. At the end of the first quarter of 2004, we were in compliance with all covenants in our credit agreement.

In addition to the revolving credit agreement, the Company had a term loan that was to expire on May 28, 2004. In the first quarter of 2004, we repaid the remaining $2.2 million balance of the term loan.

Net cash provided by operating activities of $2.9 million in the first quarter of 2004, compared to net cash used of $1.4 million for the same period in 2003, consisted of net income of $1.1 million, adjusted for non-cash items including depreciation and amortization totaling $0.4 million, and changes in working capital components, primarily an increase in accounts receivable of $1.2 million, a decrease in inventory of $3.0 million, a decrease in accounts payable of $0.2 million, and a decrease in accrued expenses of $0.2 million. The increase in accounts receivable was related primarily to a large GSA order to sell branded military boots to the U.S. military, as discussed above. The decrease in inventory is related to sales of close-out items and improved inventory management processes. In the first quarter of 2003, the Company incurred a net loss of $0.6 million offset by non-cash charges including depreciation and amortization of $0.4 million, and changes in working capital components, primarily a decrease in accounts receivable of $3.0 million, an increase in inventory of $0.3 million, a decrease in accounts payable of $1.3 million, and an increase in accrued expenses of $0.1 million.

Net cash used in investing activities was $0.1 million in the first quarter of 2004 compared to $0.2 million for the same period in 2003. The majority of the cash used in both years was for capital expenditures.

Net cash used in financing activities was $2.9 million in the first quarter of 2004 compared to $1.2 million for the same period in 2003. During the first quarter of 2004, the Company repaid $0.6 million of short-term borrowings and $2.2 million of long-term obligations compared to repayments of $0.5 million of short-term borrowings and $0.6 million of long-term obligations for the same period in 2003.

At the end of the first quarter of 2004, we were in compliance with all covenants in our credit agreement.

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A summary of our contractual cash obligations at March 27, 2004 is as follows:

We also have commercial commitments as described below:

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our significant accounting policies and estimates are summarized in the footnotes to our annual consolidated financial statements. Some of our accounting policies require management to exercise significant judgment in selecting the appropriate assumptions for calculating financial estimates. Such judgments are subject to an inherent degree of uncertainty. These judgments are based on our historical experience, known trends in our industry, terms of existing contracts and other information from outside sources, as appropriate. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions and conditions. Certain of the most critical policies that require significant judgment are as follows:

Revenue Recognition. We recognize revenue in accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin 101, Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements. Revenues are recognized when all of the following criteria are met: when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the selling price is fixed or determinable and collectibility is reasonably assured. Revenue for our product sales is recognized at the time products are shipped to customers. Revenue is recorded net of estimated discounts and returns.

Allowances for Doubtful Accounts and Discounts. We establish estimates of the uncollectibility of accounts receivable. Our management analyzes accounts receivable, historical write-offs as bad debts, customer concentrations, customer credit-worthiness, current economic trends and changes in customer payment terms when evaluating the adequacy of the allowance for doubtful accounts. We maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts at an amount that we estimate to be sufficient to provide adequate protection against losses resulting from collecting less than full payment on receivables. A considerable amount of judgment is required when assessing the realizability of receivables, including assessing the probability of collection and the current credit-worthiness of each customer. If the financial condition of our customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, an additional provision for doubtful accounts may be required. We have not experienced significant bad debts expense and our reserve for doubtful accounts of $0.4 million should be adequate for any exposure to loss in our March 27, 2004 accounts receivable.

Product Warranties. We provide a limited warranty for the replacement of defective products. Our standard warranties require us to repair or replace defective products at no cost to the consumer. We estimate the costs that may be incurred under our basic limited warranty and record a liability in the amount of such costs at the time product revenue is recognized. Factors that affect our warranty liability include the number of units sold, historical and anticipated rates of warranty claims, and cost per claim. We periodically assess the adequacy of our recorded warranty liabilities and adjust the amounts as necessary. We utilize historical trends and information received from customers to assist in determining the appropriate loss reserve levels. We believe our warranty liability of $0.8 million at March 27, 2004 should be adequate to cover the estimated costs we will incur in the future for warranty claims on products sold before March 27, 2004.

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Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans. The determination of our obligation and expense for pension and other postretirement benefits is dependent on our selection of certain assumptions used by actuaries in calculating such amounts. Those assumptions are described in Note 7 to our annual consolidated financial statements and include, among others, the discount rate and expected long-term rate of return on plan assets. In accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, actual results that differ from our assumptions are accumulated and amortized over future periods and therefore, generally affect our recognized expense and recorded obligation in such future periods. While we believe that our assumptions are appropriate, significant differences in our actual experience or significant changes in our assumptions may materially affect our pension and other postretirement obligations, our future expense and equity. See also Item 3 in this 10-Q for further sensitivity analysis regarding our estimated pension obligation.

Allowance for Slow-Moving Inventory. On a periodic basis, we analyze the level of inventory on hand, its cost in relation to market value and estimated customer requirements to determine whether write-downs for slow-moving inventory are required. Actual customer requirements in any future periods are inherently uncertain and thus may differ from estimates. If actual or expected requirements were significantly greater or lower than the established reserves, a reduction or increase to the allowance would be recorded in the period in which such a determination was made. We have established reserves for slow-moving inventories and believe the reserve of $1.6 million at March 27, 2004 is adequate.

Valuation of Long-Lived and Intangible Assets. As a matter of policy, we review our major assets for impairment at least annually, and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Our major long-lived and intangible assets are goodwill and property and equipment. We depreciate our property and equipment over their estimated useful lives. In assessing the recoverability of our goodwill of $10.8 million related to Danner, Inc. subsidiary and the investments we have made in our other long-term investments, primarily property and equipment of $4.4 million, we have made assumptions regarding estimated future cash flows and other factors to determine the fair value of the respective assets. If these estimates or their related assumptions change in the future, we may be required to record impairment charges for these assets. Please refer to the “Forward-Looking Statements” caption below for a discussion of factors that will have an effect on our ability to attain future levels of product sales and cash flows.

Forward-Looking Statements

We caution you that this quarterly report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements are only predictions or statements of our current plans, which we review on a continual basis. Forward-looking statements are intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can generally be identified as such because the context of the statement includes phrases such as we “believe,” “expect,” or other words of similar import. Similarly, statements that describe our future plans, objectives or goals are also forward looking statements. 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. All forward-looking statements may differ from actual results due to, but not limited to:

You should consider these important factors in evaluating any statement contained in this report and/or made by us or on our behalf.

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ITEM 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Our primary market risk results from fluctuations in interest rates. Our outstanding line of credit of $4.7 million at March 27, 2004 is sensitive to changes in interest rates. At our option, the interest rate is either the prime rate plus 0.50% or the LIBOR rate plus 2.75%. The weighted average interest rate for the outstanding balance at March 27, 2004 was 4.50%. Based on average floating rate borrowing of $10.0 million, a one percent change in the applicable rate would have caused our annual interest expense to change by approximately $0.1 million. We believe that these amounts are not material to our earnings.

We are also exposed to market risk related to the assumptions we make in estimating our pension liability. The assumed discount rate used, in part, to calculate the pension plan obligation is related to the prevailing long-term interest rates. At December 31, 2003, we used an estimated discount rate of 6.5%. A one-percentage point reduction in the discount rate would result in an increase in the actuarial present value of projected pension benefits of approximately $2.0 million at December 31, 2003 with a similar charge to equity. Furthermore, a plus or minus one percent change (increase or decrease) in the actual rate of return on pension plan assets would affect the additional minimum pension plan liability by approximately $0.1 million.

ITEM 4. Controls and Procedures

(a)     Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures. In accordance with Rule 13a-15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the Company’s management evaluated, with the participation of the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a- 15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act). Based upon their evaluation of these disclosure controls and procedures, the President and Chief Executive Officer and the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the date of such evaluation to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, was made known to them by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q was being prepared.

(b)     Changes in internal controls. There was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. Legal Proceedings

We are party to routine litigation arising in the normal course of business. We do not expect these matters, individually or in the aggregate, to have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

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ITEM 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

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LaCrosse Footwear, Inc.

Exhibit Index to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q

For the Quarter Ended March 27, 2004

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