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Brown Group Plans to Close Plants, Cut 2,400 Jobs: The St. Louis-based shoe company reported a second-quarter net loss of $8.4 million, or 48 cents a share, down from a profit of $7.4 million, or 42 cents a share, for the quarter last year. Revenue declined to $342.9 million from $353 million. The loss includes a $9.6-million, or 55 cent a share, after-tax charge to cover the cost of factory closings. The plants to be closed are in Cabool and Steelville, Mo.; Dyer and Lexington, Tenn., and Pocahontas, Ark. About 2,400 factory jobs will be eliminated, along with another 60 in the company’s headquarters, Brown Group said.