Fbi Wind Down (FBN) 8-K Furniture Brands International Reports Second Quarter 2009 Financial Results

Exhibit 99.1

INFORMATION
	Furniture Brands International, Inc.
	1 North Brentwood Blvd.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	St. Louis, Missouri 63105
	For Further Information Call
	John Hastings
	314-863-1100

FURNITURE BRANDS INTERNATIONAL REPORTS
SECOND QUARTER 2009 FINANCIAL RESULTS

St. Louis, Missouri, August 4, 2009 — Furniture Brands International (NYSE: FBN) announced today its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2009.

Net sales from continuing operations for the 2009 second quarter were $288.3 million, compared with $449.9 million in the second quarter of 2008. Results from continuing operations were a loss of $0.33 per diluted share in the 2009 quarter compared to a loss of $0.49 per diluted share for the second quarter of 2008.

Ralph P. Scozzafava, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, commented: “Global and domestic economic indicators point to continued weak consumer spending trends that offer little immediate relief from the industry’s current depressed state. Furniture Brands’ sales results for the quarter reflect these trends as well as management’s decisions to limit the credit exposure to weak retail partners and by exiting unprofitable licensing arrangements. The long-term benefit to Furniture Brands’ balance sheet from these decisions more than outweighs the short-term gains of overhead absorption that come from unprofitable sales. While we are not satisfied with our results for this seasonally weak quarter, the decisive actions that we are taking in the face of a rapidly deteriorating market have enabled us to stabilize our gross profit margin and protect our balance sheet, making us a much more resilient company.”

Gross margin for the 2009 second quarter was 21.4% compared to 22.3% in the same quarter of 2008. Selling, general, and administrative costs for the 2009 second quarter totaled $76.0 million, which is a significant decrease from the $132.0 million in SG&A costs reported in the 2008 quarter. Results for both quarters include numerous selected items that are detailed in a table attached to this press release.

At June 30, 2009 the company reported cash and cash equivalents of $77.3 million and debt of $129.0 million resulting in net debt of $51.7 million The company expects to generate positive cash flow for the year, exclusive of changes in debt balances and without the impact of tax refunds.

“Furniture Brands continues to focus on the key areas that are very much under our control: operational efficiency and effectiveness, cost control and balance sheet strength. Maintaining gross margins and lowering operating expenses during this severe industry downturn helps to strengthen our balance sheet while creating operating leverage that will benefit financial performance when industry conditions improve,” Mr. Scozzafava said. “In addition, Furniture

Brands is investing in product development and marketing programs that leverage the power of our brands and drive traffic to our retail partners. Several of these initiatives include new websites that enhance the on-line presence of our brands, the success of Broyhill’s quick-ship upholstery program, the Lane mobile showroom national tour, and a new e-mail marketing campaign that better connects the nation’s top interior designers with our high-end brands — Henredon, Hickory Chair, Pearson, Laneventure and Maitland-Smith. At Thomasville, we’re preparing for a strong Labor Day sales event featuring new products from April market and supported by national television advertising. These and other commercial initiatives underscore our commitment to helping our dealers and retail partners drive their business through this challenging period,” Mr. Scozzafava said.

Upcoming Investor Event

A conference call will be held to discuss second quarter results at 7:30 a.m. (Central Time) on August 5, 2009. The call can be accessed in Upcoming Investor Events on the company’s website at furniturebrands.com under “Investor Info”. Access to the call and the release will be archived for one year.

About Furniture Brands

Furniture Brands International (NYSE: FBN) is a global operating company that is one of the nation’s leading designers, manufacturers, and retailers of home furnishings. It markets through a wide range of retail channels, from mass merchant stores to single-brand and independent dealers to specialized interior designers. Furniture Brands serves its customers through some of the best known and most respected brands in the furniture industry, includingBroyhill,Lane,Thomasville, Drexel Heritage,Henredon,Pearson,Hickory Chair,Laneventure, andMaitland-Smith.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Matters discussed in this document and in our public disclosures, whether written or oral, relating to future events or our future performance, including any discussion, express or implied, of our anticipated growth, operating results, future earnings per share, plans and objectives, contain 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. These statements are often identified by the words “will,” “believe,” “positioned,” “estimate,” “project,” “target,” “continue,” “intend,” “expect,” “future,” “anticipates,” and similar expressions that are not statements of historical fact. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Our actual results and timing of certain events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including, but not limited to, those set forth under “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, and in our other public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such factors include, but are not limited to: risks associated with the execution of our strategic plan; changes in economic conditions; loss of market share due to competition; failure to forecast demand or anticipate or respond to changes in consumer tastes and fashion trends; failure to achieve projected mix of product sales; business failures of large customers; distribution and cost savings programs; manufacturing realignments; increased reliance on offshore (import) sourcing of various products; fluctuations in the cost, availability and quality of raw materials; product liability uncertainty; environmental regulations; future acquisitions; impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets; anti-takeover provisions which could result in a decreased valuation of our common stock; loss of funding sources; and

our ability to open and operate new retail stores successfully. It is routine for internal projections and expectations to change as the year or each quarter in the year progresses, and therefore it should be clearly understood that all forward-looking statements and the internal projections and beliefs upon which we base our expectations included in this report or other periodic reports are made only as of the date made and may change. While we may elect to update forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

FURNITURE BRANDS INTERNATIONAL
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)

	Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
	June 30,			June 30,			June 30,			June 30,
	2009			2008			2009			2008
Net sales	$	288,263		$	449,870		$	645,134		$	927,070
Cost of sales		226,635			349,520			503,165			715,701
Gross profit		61,628			100,350			141,969			211,369
Selling, general & administrative expenses		76,015			131,979			159,229			233,960
Operating loss		(14,387	)		(31,629	)		(17,260	)		(22,591	)
Interest expense		1,512			2,802			3,300			6,945
Other income, net		761			1,081			1,687			3,317
Loss from continuing operations before income tax expense (benefit)		(15,138	)		(33,350	)		(18,873	)		(26,219	)
Income tax expense (benefit)		855			(9,354	)		1,296			(5,971	)
Net loss from continuing operations		(15,993	)		(23,996	)		(20,169	)		(20,248	)
Net earnings from discontinued operations		—			52			—			29,920
Net earnings (loss)	$	(15,993	)	$	(23,944	)	$	(20,169	)	$	9,672
Earnings per common share — Basic and Diluted:
Loss from continuing operations	$	(0.33	)	$	(0.49	)	$	(0.41	)	$	(0.42	)
Earnings from discontinued operations	$	—		$	0.00		$	—		$	0.61
Net earnings (loss)	$	(0.33	)	$	(0.49	)	$	(0.41	)	$	0.20
Weighted average common shares outstanding — Basic and Diluted		48,712			48,806			48,738			48,683

Selected Items Included in Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

The following items are included in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the periods indicated and are the result of our strategic initiatives and other matters.

	Three Months Ended					Six Months Ended
	June 30,			June 30,		June 30,			June 30,
	2009			2008		2009			2008
	(in thousands)					(in thousands)
Selected items increasing / (decreasing) loss before income tax expense:
Factory downtime costs	$	3,427		$	7,505	$	5,713		$	9,804
Restructuring severance charges		1,788			74		2,206			74
Impairment charges		—			18		—			18
Total cost of sales	$	5,215		$	7,597	$	7,919		$	9,896
Closed store expense	$	610		$	11,207	$	2,005		$	13,420
Gain on sale of assets		(175	)		—		(175	)		(1,243	)
Restructuring severance charges		124			—		124			—
Accounts receivable charges		—			11,111		—			11,111
Professional fees (shared services and proxy advisory)		—			6,063		—			8,161
Total selling, general and administrative expenses	$	559		$	28,381	$	1,954		$	31,449
Valuation allowance — tax assets (included in income tax expense (benefit))	$	6,104		$	—	$	7,207		$	—

FURNITURE BRANDS INTERNATIONAL
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)

	June 30,		December 31,
	2009		2008
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	77,263	$	106,580
Receivables, less allowances of $26,853 ($34,372 at December 31, 2008)		136,849		178,590
Income tax refund receivable		2,282		38,090
Inventories		306,844		350,026
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		13,452		12,592
Total current assets		536,690		685,878
Property, plant and equipment, net		144,680		150,864
Trade names		127,300		127,300
Other assets		34,827		35,476
	$	843,497	$	999,518
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	$	19,000	$	30,000
Accounts payable		58,725		85,206
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		76,439		112,296
Total current liabilities		154,164		227,502
Long-term debt		110,000		160,000
Deferred income taxes		28,542		27,917
Pension liability		134,780		137,199
Other long-term liabilities		68,696		80,406
Shareholders’ equity		347,315		366,494
	$	843,497	$	999,518

FURNITURE BRANDS INTERNATIONAL
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW
(in thousands)
(unaudited)

	Six Months Ended
	June 30,			June 30,
	2009			2008
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	$	(20,169	)	$	9,672
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation		10,834			13,022
Compensation expense (credit) related to stock option grants and restricted stock awards		(1,414	)		2,024
Provision (benefit) for deferred income taxes		717			(6,134	)
Gain on sale of discontinued operations		—			(48,109	)
Other, net		(1,639	)		(2,349	)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		40,947			42,038
Income tax refund receivable		35,808			4,173
Inventories		45,069			17,843
Prepaid expenses and other assets		(686	)		316
Accounts payable and other accrued expenses		(62,771	)		10,325
Other long-term liabilities		(11,159	)		(3,206	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		35,537			39,615
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of stores, net of cash acquired		—			(9,505	)
Proceeds from the sale of business, net of cash sold		—			73,359
Proceeds from the disposal of assets		2,159			3,297
Additions to property, plant and equipment		(6,003	)		(9,025	)
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities		(3,844	)		58,126
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments of long-term debt		(61,000	)		(100,800	)
Restricted cash used for the payment of long-term debt		—			20,000
Payments of cash dividends		—			(3,892	)
Other		(10	)		(8	)
Net cash used by financing activities		(61,010	)		(84,700	)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(29,317	)		13,041
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		106,580			118,764
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	77,263		$	131,805
Supplemental disclosure:
Cash payments (refunds) for income taxes, net	$	(35,224	)	$	7,269
Cash payments for interest expense	$	3,686		$	8,539