Regis (RGS) 8-K Results of Operations and Financial Condition

Exhibit 99

	CONTACTS:
	Investors:	REGIS CORPORATION:
		Paul D. Finkelstein – Chairman & CEO
		Randy L. Pearce – Executive Vice President, CFO
		Kyle P. Didier – Vice President, Finance
		(952) 947-7000
For Immediate Release
	Media:	BERNS COMMUNICATIONS GROUP:
		Melissa Jaffin/Michael McMullan
		(212) 994-4660

REGIS REPORTS FISCAL FIRST QUARTER 2005 RESULTS

-Company Reiterates Plans for Double-Digit Earnings Growth in Fiscal 2005-

     MINNEAPOLIS, October 27, 2004 — Regis Corporation (NYSE:RGS), the global leader in the $150 billion hair care industry, today reported financial results for its fiscal first quarter ended September 30, 2004.

First Quarter 2005 Results

     Consolidated revenues increased 10 percent to a record $506 million compared to $461 million a year ago. Same-store sales increased 0.9 percent. First quarter net income increased two percent to $25.5 million, or $0.55 per diluted share. Hurricanes disrupted salon operations in the Southeast United States and reduced first quarter revenue by approximately $4 million.

     “With over 10,000 salons geographically dispersed across North America and Europe, inclement weather does not typically have a material impact on our business,” commented Paul D. Finkelstein, chairman and chief executive officer. “However, nearly 650 of our corporate salons were closed at least one day during the quarter as a result of the hurricanes. In total, we lost 3,276 salon days due to salon closures. As we noted in our press release dated September 22, 2004, a decision was made to compensate employees despite salons being closed. As a result, we are reporting modest first quarter earnings growth.”

     During the quarter, Regis Corporation added a net total of 100 salons. The Company constructed 121 salons and franchisees built 64 salons. In addition, 65 salons were acquired, including 58 franchise buybacks. A total of 92 salons were closed or relocated during the quarter.

Second Quarter 2005 Outlook

The following points pertain to the second quarter ending December 31, 2004.

• Earnings per diluted share are expected to increase to a range of $0.65 to $0.68, an increase of 8 to 13 percent compared to last year.

• Effective income tax rate is expected to be 34.5 percent.

• Consolidated revenue is forecasted to grow 11 to 12 percent to $525 million to $530 million, compared to $472 million last year. Second quarter revenue range is $5 million lower than our previous guidance due to the timing of anticipated acquisitions.

• Consolidated same-store sales are forecasted to increase 1.0 to 2.0 percent.

Fiscal Year 2005 Outlook

     “Despite modest first quarter growth, high energy prices and challenging fashion trends working against our projected fiscal 2005 results, we remain confident that we will achieve our long-term growth objectives,” commented Mr. Finkelstein. “This confidence stems from our demonstrated ability to execute our growth strategy of building and buying salons. We remain on plan to build over 550 new salons this fiscal year. Further, we plan to announce the purchase of 400 to 500 salons and several beauty schools in the coming months. The addition of these salons and schools should enable Regis to report yet another fiscal year of revenue and earnings growth consistent with our long-term expectations.”

The following points pertain to the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005:

• Including anticipated salon acquisitions, earnings per diluted share are expected to increase to $2.51 to $2.59 versus $2.29 in fiscal year 2004, a projected increase of 10 to 13 percent.

• Including anticipated salon acquisitions, consolidated revenue is forecasted to grow to $2.1 to $2.2 billion, an increase of 10 to 12 percent. Consolidated same-store sales are projected to increase 1.0 to 2.0 percent.

• Service margins are projected to be in the 43 percent range of salon service revenue.

• Product margins are expected to increase to the mid-49 percent range of salon product revenue.

• Rent expense is expected to be in the 15 percent range of company-owned salon revenue.

• Direct salon expense is expected to be in the 9 percent range of company-owned salon revenue.

• Salon level depreciation is expected to be 3.5 percent of company-owned salon revenue.

• Franchise direct costs are forecasted to be in a range of 53 to 55 percent of franchise revenue.

• Corporate and franchise support costs are expected to be less than 9.5 percent of consolidated revenue.

• School direct costs are expected to be in the 75 percent range of school revenue. Excluding potential school acquisitions, we anticipate school revenue to be $26 to $27 million.

• Corporate depreciation and amortization is forecasted to be 0.7 percent of consolidated revenue.

• Operating income is expected to be in the low-to-mid 9 percent range of consolidated revenue.

• Interest expense is projected to be approximately $20 million.

• The effective income tax rate is expected to be in the low 35 percent range. However, our quarterly rate may fluctuate modestly.

• We plan to build 550 to 600 new corporate salons and we anticipate franchisees to build approximately 300 franchised salons, excluding salon closures.

• Net of salon closures, relocations and franchise buybacks, we anticipate adding over 1,000 salons.

• Excluding acquisitions, capital expenditures are projected to be $100 to $115 million, including $40 million for salon maintenance.

• We anticipate spending $75 to $90 million to acquire 400 to 500 salons and up to an additional $50 million to acquire beauty schools.

• Total debt could reach $375 million, with debt-to-capitalization expected to be in the low 30 percent range.

     Regis Corporation will broadcast its first quarter conference call live on the internet, Wednesday, October 27, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. Central Time. Interested parties are invited to listen by logging ontowww.regiscorp.com. An archive of the conference call will be available at this website shortly after the conclusion of the live broadcast. Regis Corporation will release October 2004 revenue results, including same-store sales, on November 5, 2004.

     Regis Corporation, a Fortune 1000 company, is the largest owner, operator and franchisor of hair and retail product salons and beauty schools in the world. As of September 30, 2004, the Company owned or franchised 10,262 salons and beauty schools operating under concepts such as Supercuts, Jean Louis David, Vidal Sassoon, Regis Salons, MasterCuts, Trade Secret, SmartStyle and Cost Cutters. These salons are located in the United States and in ten other countries throughout North America and Europe.

     Regis Corporation is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Company’s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol RGS. For additional information about the Company, including a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial information and current financial outlook, please visit the Investor Information section of the corporate website atwww.regiscorp.com.

     This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements concerning anticipated future events and expectations that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward–looking statements in this document reflect management’s best judgment at the time they are made, but all such statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the statements herein. Such forward-looking statements are often identified herein by use of words including, but not limited to, “may,” “believe,” “project,” “forecast,” “expect,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” and “plan.” In addition, the following factors could affect the Company’s actual results and cause such results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. These factors include competition within the personal hair care industry, which remains strong, both domestically and internationally, and price sensitivity; changes in economic condition; changes in consumer tastes and fashion trends; labor and benefit costs; legal claims; risk inherent to international development (including currency fluctuations); the continued ability of the Company and its franchisees to obtain suitable locations and financing for new salon development; governmental initiatives such as minimum wage rates, taxes and possible franchise legislation; the ability of the Company to successfully identify and acquire salons that support its growth objectives; or other factors not listed above. The ability of the Company to meet its expected revenue growth is dependent on salon acquisitions, new salon construction and same-store sales increases, all of which are affected by many of the aforementioned risks. Additional information concerning potential factors that could affect future financial results is set forth the Company’s Annual Report onForm 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2004 and included inForm S-3 Registration Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 4, 2004. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. However, your attention is directed to any further disclosures made in our subsequent annual and periodic reports filed or furnished with the SEC on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K and Proxy Statements on Schedule 14A.

(TABLES TO FOLLOW)

REGIS CORPORATION (NYSE:RGS)
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (Unaudited)
as of September 30, 2004 and June 30, 2004
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

	September 30,		June 30,
	2004		2004
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	82,416	$	73,567
Receivables, net		36,065		35,033
Inventories		177,237		161,304
Deferred income taxes		14,405		15,285
Other current assets		21,416		28,253
Total current assets		331,539		313,442
Property and equipment, net		389,937		381,903
Goodwill		469,034		457,140
Other intangibles, net		79,658		79,174
Other assets		42,976		40,200
Total assets	$	1,313,144	$	1,271,859
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Long-term debt, current portion	$	9,051	$	19,128
Accounts payable		59,862		53,112
Accrued expenses		120,975		129,721
Total current liabilities		189,888		201,961
Long-term debt		300,100		282,015
Other noncurrent liabilities		105,288		100,322
Total liabilities		595,276		584,298
Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, authorized 250,000 shares at September 30, 2004 and June 30, 2004
Common stock, $.05 par value; issued and outstanding, 44,349,357 and 44,283,949 common shares at September 30, 2004 and June 30, 2004, respectively		2,217		2,214
Additional paid-in capital		222,109		220,204
Accumulated other comprehensive income		45,335		40,642
Retained earnings		448,207		424,501
Total shareholders’ equity		717,868		687,561
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	1,313,144	$	1,271,859

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REGIS CORPORATION (NYSE:RGS)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

	Three Months Ended
	September 30,
	2004			2003
Revenues:
Company-owned salons:
Service	$	333,874		$	300,037
Product		139,800			131,592
		473,674			431,629
Franchise revenues:
Royalties and fees		18,668			18,109
Product sales		7,824			7,937
		26,492			26,046
School revenues		6,056			3,046
		506,222			460,721
Operating expenses:
Company-owned salons:
Cost of service		190,595			169,395
Cost of product		71,393			68,247
Direct salon		42,306			38,148
Rent		71,537			62,819
Depreciation		16,119			14,543
		391,950			353,152
Franchise direct costs, including product and equipment		13,946			13,671
General and administrative		48,838			45,505
School direct costs		4,606			1,979
Depreciation and amortization		3,676			3,083
Total operating expenses		463,016			417,390
Operating income		43,206			43,331
Other income (expense):
Interest		(4,308	)		(4,368	)
Other, net		677			340
Income before income taxes		39,575			39,303
Income taxes		(14,096	)		(14,345	)
Net income	$	25,479		$	24,958
Net income per share:
Basic	$	0.57		$	0.57
Diluted	$	0.55		$	0.55
Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding:
Basic		44,322			43,637
Diluted		46,293			45,596
Cash dividends declared per common share	$	0.04		$	0.03

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REGIS CORPORATION (NYSE:RGS)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(Dollars in thousands)

	Three Months Ended September 30,
	2004			2003
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	25,479		$	24,958
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation		18,928			16,924
Amortization		867			891
Deferred income taxes		1,393			2,267
Other		(168	)		(273	)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities*:
Receivables		(407	)		(1,411	)
Inventories		(15,474	)		(1,114	)
Other current assets		6,930			1,645
Other assets		(1,843	)		(1,988	)
Accounts payable		2,825			4,002
Accrued expenses		(7,423	)		3,310
Other noncurrent liabilities		4,271			3,368
Net cash provided by operating activities		35,378			52,579
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures		(21,905	)		(15,980	)
Proceeds from sale of assets		220			217
Business and salon acquisitions, net of cash acquired		(11,801	)		(25,360	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(33,486	)		(41,123	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on revolving credit facilities		443,150			223,515
Payments on revolving credit facilities		(426,526	)		(207,815	)
Repayments of long-term debt		(11,888	)		(15,171	)
Other, primarily increase (decrease) in negative book cash balances		2,136			(4,813	)
Dividends paid		(1,772	)		(1,309	)
Repurchase of common stock		—			(2,990	)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock		1,311			2,978
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		6,411			(5,605	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		546			723
Increase in cash and cash equivalents		8,849			6,574
Cash and cash equivalents:
Beginning of period		73,567			55,454
End of period	$	82,416		$	62,028

* Changes in operating assets and liabilities do not include assets and liabilities assumed through acquisitions.

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REGIS CORPORATION (NYSE:RGS)
Salon / School Counts and Revenues

	September 30,		June 30,
	2004		2004
SYSTEM-WIDE LOCATIONS:
Company-owned salons		6,349		6,227
Franchise salons		3,902		3,924
Beauty career schools		11		11
		10,262		10,162
SALON LOCATION SUMMARY

	September 30,			June 30,
	2004			2004
NORTH AMERICA:
REGIS SALONS
Open at beginning of period		1,085			1,095
Salons constructed		10			33
Acquired		—			4
Less relocations		6			10
Salon openings		4			27
Conversions		—			(2	)
Salons closed		(6	)		(35	)
Total, Regis Salons		1,083			1,085
MASTERCUTS
Open at beginning of period		604			590
Salons constructed		17			34
Acquired		—			3
Less relocations		5			9
Salon openings		12			28
Conversions		—			1
Salons closed		(2	)		(15	)
Total, Mastercuts		614			604

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	September 30,			June 30,
	2004			2004
TRADE SECRET
Company-owned salons:
Open at beginning of period		549			517
Salons constructed		15			26
Acquired		—			12
Franchise buybacks		—			2
Less relocations		3			5
Salon openings		12			35
Conversions		—			1
Salons closed		(2	)		(4	)
Total company-owned salons		559			549
Franchise salons:
Open at beginning of period		24			25
Salons constructed		—			1
Acquired		—			—
Salon openings		—			1
Franchise buybacks		—			(2	)
Salons closed		—			—
Total franchise salons		24			24
Total, Trade Secret		583			573
SMARTSTYLE/COST CUTTERS IN WAL-MART
Company-owned salons:
Open at beginning of period		1,263			1,033
Salons constructed		45			174
Acquired		—			—
Franchise buybacks		7			61
Less relocations		—			—
Salon openings		52			235
Conversions		—			—
Salons closed		(2	)		(5	)
Total company-owned salons		1,313			1,263
Franchise salons:
Open at beginning of period		201			230
Salons constructed		9			33
Acquired		—			—
Less relocations		—			—
Salon openings		9			33
Conversions		—			—
Franchise buybacks		(7	)		(61	)
Salons closed		—			(1	)
Total franchise salons		203			201
Total, SmartStyle/Cost Cutters in Wal-Mart		1,516			1,464

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	September 30,			June 30,
	2004			2004
STRIP CENTERS
Company-owned salons:
Open at beginning of period		2,310			1,928
Salons constructed		29			166
Acquired		7			162
Franchise buybacks		51			133
Less relocations		7			8
Salon openings		80			453
Conversions		(3	)		(8	)
Salons closed		(23	)		(63	)
Total company-owned salons		2,364			2,310
Franchise salons:
Open at beginning of period		2,105			2,172
Salons constructed		32			146
Acquired (2)		—			—
Less relocations		1			10
Salon openings		31			136
Conversions		3			8
Franchise buybacks		(51	)		(133	)
Salons closed		(12	)		(78	)
Total franchise salons		2,076			2,105
Total, Strip Centers		4,440			4,415
INTERNATIONAL (1)
Company-owned salons:
Open at beginning of period		416			395
Salons constructed		5			19
Acquired		—			18
Franchise buybacks		—			10
Salon openings		5			47
Conversions		—			—
Salons closed		(5	)		(26	)
Total company-owned salons		416			416
Franchise salons:
Open at beginning of period		1,594			1,627
Salons constructed		23			88
Acquired (2)		—			—
Salon openings		23			88
Conversions		—			—
Franchise buybacks		—			(10	)
Salons closed		(18	)		(111	)
Total franchise salons		1,599			1,594
Total, International		2,015			2,010
BEAUTY CAREER SCHOOLS
Open at beginning of period		11			5
Acquired		—			6
Salon openings		—			6
Total beauty career schools		11			11

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	September 30,			June 30,
	2004			2004
TOTAL SYSTEM-WIDE SALONS / SCHOOLS
Company-owned salons:
Open at beginning of period		6,227			5,558
Salons constructed		121			452
Acquired		7			199
Franchise buybacks		58			206
Less relocations		21			32
Salon openings		165			825
Conversions		(3	)		(8	)
Salons closed		(40	)		(148	)
Total company-owned salons		6,349			6,227
Franchise salons:
Open at beginning of period		3,924			4,054
Salons constructed		64			268
Acquired (2)		—			—
Less relocations		1			10
Salon openings		63			258
Conversions		3			8
Franchise buybacks		(58	)		(206	)
Salons closed		(30	)		(190	)
Total franchise salons		3,902			3,924
Beauty career schools:
Open at beginning of period		11			5
Acquired		—			6
Salon openings		—			6
Total beauty career schools		11			11
Grand total, system-wide		10,262			10,162

(1) Canadian and Puerto Rican salons are included in the Regis Salons, Strip Center, MasterCuts and Trade Secret concepts and not included in the International salon totals.

(2) Represents primarily the acquisition of franchise networks.

Relocations represent a transfer of location by the same salon concept. Conversions represent the transfer of one salon concept to another concept.

	(Dollars in thousands)
	Three Months Ended
	September 30,
	2004		2003
Revenues by Concept:
Regis Salons	$	116,457	$	117,955
MasterCuts		42,519		43,546
Trade Secret		61,461		58,941
SmartStyle		82,283		68,447
Strip Centers		145,708		125,644
International salons		51,738		43,142
Beauty career schools		6,056		3,046
	$	506,222	$	460,721

Included in the table above are franchise revenues of $26,492 and $26,046 for the three months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

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