Attached files

file filename
8-K - 8-K - LANCASTER COLONY CORPd341026d8k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    SYMBOL: LANC  
Thursday, April 26, 2012    TRADED: Nasdaq

LANCASTER COLONY REPORTS THIRD QUARTER SALES AND EARNINGS

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Apr. 26 — Lancaster Colony Corporation (Nasdaq: LANC) today reported results for the company’s third fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2012. Highlights of the quarter:

 

   

Net sales increased seven percent to $271 million versus $253 million in the third quarter last year, reflecting strong sales growth in the Specialty Foods segment.

 

   

Net income totaled $18,222,000 compared with $19,441,000 for the corresponding quarter a year ago, primarily reflecting higher costs experienced within the Specialty Foods segment. Third quarter net income per diluted share totaled $.67 compared to $.71 a year ago.

 

   

Specialty Foods sales increased nine percent to a third quarter record of $237 million on higher volume and pricing. Both retail and foodservice sales volumes improved, with this year’s earlier Easter helping retail sales. Pricing contributed approximately half the quarter’s increase in sales. The segment’s operating income totaled $29.6 million compared to $31.7 million in the third quarter last year. Increased material, freight and marketing costs were only partially offset by improved pricing.

 

   

Glassware and Candles sales declined four percent to $34 million on lower candle volume. However, the segment’s operating income increased to $1.0 million from $0.7 million in the third quarter last year. Modest pricing improvement and a better sales mix helped offset lower sales.

 

   

The company’s balance sheet remained strong with no debt outstanding at March 31, 2012, and $168 million in cash and equivalents.

 

   

The quarterly cash dividend was continued at the higher level of $.36 per share set last quarter.

For the nine months ended March 31, 2012, net sales were $857 million compared to $834 million a year ago. Net income was $69,853,000, or $2.56 per diluted share. Net income for the nine months last year totaled $77,071,000, or $2.77 per diluted share. Current year-to-date net income included pretax income of $2.7 million (six cents per share after taxes) from a second-quarter distribution received under the Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act (CDSOA). In the prior year, net income included a pretax CDSOA distribution of $1.0 million (two cents per share after taxes).

John B. Gerlach, Jr., chairman and CEO, said, “We were pleased with the improvement in Specialty Foods sales, given the widely reported challenges faced by consumers. Our quarterly results were affected by the timing of certain marketing expenditures, as well as higher material and freight costs.”

MORE. . .


PAGE 2 / LANCASTER COLONY REPORTS THIRD QUARTER SALES AND EARNINGS

Looking ahead, Mr. Gerlach added, “We anticipate that retail food sales during our fiscal fourth quarter will be affected by the earlier Easter timing and continued economic pressures on consumers. Our Specialty Foods segment should benefit from ongoing success with recent retail product introductions, somewhat higher average pricing, lower marketing costs and less unfavorable commodity cost comparisons. In a seasonally slower fourth quarter, our Glassware and Candles segment will likely experience a continuation of third quarter trends. We believe that throughout fiscal 2012 we have maintained a solid base upon which to build further growth in fiscal 2013.”

Conference Call on the Web

The company’s third quarter conference call is scheduled for this morning, April 26, at 10:00 a.m. ET. You may access the call through a live webcast by using the link provided on the company’s Internet home page at www.lancastercolony.com. Replays of the webcast will be made available on the company website.

About the Company

Lancaster Colony Corporation is a diversified manufacturer and marketer of consumer products focusing primarily on specialty foods for the retail and foodservice markets.

Forward-Looking Statements

We desire to take advantage of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “PSLRA”). This news release contains various “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the PSLRA and other applicable securities laws. Such statements can be identified by the use of the forward-looking words “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” “believe,” “intend,” “plan,” “expect,” “hope” or similar words. These statements discuss future expectations; contain projections regarding future developments, operations or financial conditions; or state other forward-looking information. Such statements are based upon assumptions and assessments made by us in light of our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments; and other factors we believe to be appropriate. These forward-looking statements involve various important risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ as a result of factors over which we have no, or limited, control. Management believes these forward-looking statements to be reasonable; however, you should not place undue reliance on such statements that are based on current expectations. For example, fluctuations in material and freight costs, over which we have limited control, may significantly influence our financial results. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update such forward-looking statements, except as required by law. More detailed statements regarding significant events that could affect our financial results are included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are available on our website at www.lancastercolony.com.

# # # #

 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

John B. Gerlach, Jr., Chairman and CEO, or

John L. Boylan, Vice President, Treasurer and CFO

Lancaster Colony Corporation

Phone: 614/224-7141

—or—

Investor Relations Consultants, Inc.

Phone: 727/781-5577 or E-mail: lanc@mindspring.com

MORE. . .


PAGE 3 / LANCASTER COLONY REPORTS THIRD QUARTER SALES AND EARNINGS

LANCASTER COLONY CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)

(In thousands except per-share amounts)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
     Nine Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2012      2011      2012      2011  

Net sales

   $ 271,098       $ 252,623       $ 857,400       $ 833,912   

Cost of sales

     217,296         200,089         678,309         645,063   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross margin

     53,802         52,534         179,091         188,849   

Selling, general & administrative expenses

     25,848         23,060         74,915         72,441   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating income

     27,954         29,474         104,176         116,408   

Interest income and other – net

     39         54         2,774         1,110   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     27,993         29,528         106,950         117,518   

Taxes based on income

     9,771         10,087         37,097         40,447   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 18,222       $ 19,441       $ 69,853       $ 77,071   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income per common share:(a)

           

Net income – basic and diluted

   $ .67       $ .71       $ 2.56       $ 2.77   

Cash dividends per common share

   $ .36       $ .33       $ 1.05       $ .96   

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

           

Basic

     27,216         27,494         27,237         27,755   

Diluted

     27,251         27,520         27,268         27,781   

 

(a) Based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding during each period.

MORE…


PAGE 4 / LANCASTER COLONY REPORTS THIRD QUARTER SALES AND EARNINGS

LANCASTER COLONY CORPORATION

BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION (Unaudited)

(In thousands)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
    Nine Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2012     2011     2012     2011  

NET SALES

        

Specialty Foods

   $ 237,432      $ 217,436      $ 740,604      $ 692,539   

Glassware and Candles

     33,666        35,187        116,796        141,373   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 271,098      $ 252,623      $ 857,400      $ 833,912   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

OPERATING INCOME

        

Specialty Foods

   $ 29,561      $ 31,664      $ 109,510      $ 121,025   

Glassware and Candles

     973        676        2,272        5,044   

Corporate expenses

     (2,580     (2,866     (7,606     (9,661
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 27,954      $ 29,474      $ 104,176      $ 116,408   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

LANCASTER COLONY CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)

(In thousands)

 

     March 31,
2012
     June 30,
2011
 

ASSETS

     

Current assets:

     

Cash and equivalents

   $ 167,960       $ 132,266   

Receivables – net of allowance for doubtful accounts

     86,495         63,762   

Total inventories

     100,284         111,885   

Deferred income taxes and other current assets

     24,021         25,283   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total current assets

     378,760         333,196   

Net property, plant and equipment

     184,017         185,282   

Other assets

     103,297         103,611   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 666,074       $ 622,089   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

     

Current liabilities:

     

Accounts payable

   $ 43,489       $ 42,570   

Accrued liabilities

     37,360         33,586   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     80,849         76,156   

Other noncurrent liabilities and deferred income taxes

     32,695         28,394   

Shareholders’ equity

     552,530         517,539   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 666,074       $ 622,089   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

# # # #