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8-K - FORM 8K - OCTOBER 1, 2015 - Lifeway Foods, Inc.form8k_17858.htm
EXHIBIT 99.1
 
 
 

 
Lifeway Foods Reports Financial Results for First Two Quarters of Fiscal 2015
 
Company Announces New Distribution
Board Authorizes 250,000 Share Repurchase Program
Record Cash Position

Morton Grove, IL — October 1, 2015 — Lifeway Foods, Inc., (Nasdaq: LWAY), a leading supplier of cultured dairy products known as kefir and organic kefir, reported financial results for the first two quarters of its fiscal 2015 ended March 31, 2015 and June 30, 2015, respectively.

“I am pleased with our team’s ability to increase distribution across retail channels fueled by new product innovation and heightened consumer awareness of Lifeway,” said Julie Smolyansky, CEO of Lifeway Foods, Inc. “While our recent net sales growth was hindered by capacity constraints in our Illinois facility, we believe we are well positioned to benefit in the second half of 2015 from new production capacity at our Wisconsin facility which began producing kefir in June. The new production capacity will allow us to have greater flexibility in our product offerings as we continue to grow the club channels and other non– traditional grocery outlets.  We are very optimistic about our long-term growth opportunities as we expand into new and existing sales channels.”

Mrs. Smolyansky also stated, “We also announced that the Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program of up to 250,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. This repurchase program reflects our strong financial position and robust cash flows, our confidence in the strength of our business, and our commitment to increasing shareholder value.”

 
Operational Highlights
●   
Recent new distribution at 397 CVS Take Higher Health stores with approximately 500 stores expected by the end of 2015
●   
Lifeway’s new Protein Kefir, the company’s latest kefir innovation, has expanded distribution to Harris Teeter, Ingles, Acme Markets, and natural foods distributor UNFI, which supplies many grocers nationwide
●   
Lifeway’s ProBugs and new 16oz Protein Kefir will begin shipping nationwide to approximately 3,200 Walmart stores in the beginning of November
●   
New distribution to university cafeterias beginning with Ball State University
●   
Lifeway’s new 16oz kefir recently expanded distribution at Target with the store count increasing from approximately 949 to 1,700.

 
First Six Months of Fiscal 2015
Total consolidated net sales increased by $0.7 million, or approximately 1%, to $59.4 million during the six-month period ended June 30, 2015 from $58.7 million during the same six-month period in 2014.
 
 
 
 

 
Cost of goods sold as a percentage of net sales, excluding depreciation expense, was approximately 72% during the first six months of fiscal 2015 compared to approximately 74% for the same period last year. This improvement was primarily driven by significantly lower milk prices, partially offset by costs associated with increased production at the Wisconsin facility as compared to the prior year period.

Selling expenses decreased approximately 5% to $6.8 million during the first six months of 2015 from $7.2 million in the first six months of 2014.

Provision for income taxes was $0.8 million, or a 50.6% effective rate, for the first six months of 2015 compared to $1.1 million, or a 53.4% effective tax rate, during the same period in 2014.

Net income was $0.8 million or $0.05 per share for the six-month period ended June 30, 2015 compared to $1.0 million or $0.06 per share in the same period in 2014.

 
Second Quarter Results
Second quarter 2015 total consolidated net sales increased 1% to $29.8 million from $29.6 million in the second quarter of 2014. The Company’s second quarter net sales were impacted by significantly higher customer promotional allowances and kefir production capacity constraints.

Cost of goods sold as a percentage of net sales, excluding depreciation expense, was approximately 74% during the second quarter compared to approximately 73% for the same period last year. This increase was primarily driven by a significant increase in promotional allowances and discounts given to customers.

Selling expenses decreased approximately 29% to $2.6 million during the second quarter of 2015 from $3.7 million in the second quarter of 2014.

Provision for income taxes was $0.1 million, or a 54.7% effective rate, for the second quarter of 2015 compared to $0.8 million, or a 54.7% effective tax rate, during the same period in 2014.

Net income was $0.1 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, in the three-month period ended June 30, 2015 compared to net income of $0.7 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, in the same period in 2014.

 
First Quarter Results
First quarter 2015 total consolidated net sales increased approximately 2% to $29.6 million from $29.1 million in the first quarter of 2014.

Cost of goods sold as a percentage of net sales, excluding depreciation expense, was approximately 70% during the first quarter compared to approximately 74% for the same period last year. This improvement was primarily driven by lower milk prices, partially offset by costs associated with increased production at the Wisconsin facility.

 
 

 
Selling expenses increased approximately 20% to $4.2 million during the first quarter of 2015 from $3.5 million in the first quarter of 2014. This increase was primarily attributable to increased advertising expenses of $1.1 million associated with launch of the Company’s first national TV commercial.

Provision for income taxes was $0.7 million, or a 50% effective rate, for the first quarter of 2015 compared to $0.3 million, or a 50% effective tax rate, during the same period in 2014.

Net income was $0.7 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, in the three-month period ended March 31, 2015 compared to $0.3 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, in the same period in 2014.

 
Cash Flow Highlights
The Company had record cash and cash equivalents of approximately $5.9 million as of June 30, 2015 compared to cash and cash equivalents of $3.3 million as of December 31, 2014.  The Company also generated a record $4.7 million in cash from operating activities in the first six-months of 2015.

 
Stock Repurchase Program
In September, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program for up to 250,000 shares of common stock or up to $3.5 million. The primary source of funds for stock repurchases will be cash flows from operations net of investing activities. Repurchases under the program may be made through open market transactions at prevailing market prices, with block trades permitted from time to time and in the discretion of the Company’s management and as market conditions allow. The timing of the repurchases and the actual amount repurchased will depend on a variety of factors, including the amount of cash flow available for repurchases, the market price of Lifeway Food’s shares and general market and economic conditions. No repurchases have been made under the program to date.

 
Conference Call
The Company will host a conference call to discuss these results with additional comments and details on Thursday, October 1, 2015 at 4:30 p.m. ET. The call will be broadcast live over the Internet hosted at the Investor Relations section of Lifeway Foods’ website at www.lifeway.net, and will be archived online through October 15, 2015. In addition, listeners may dial 877-407-3982 in North America, and international listeners may dial 201-493-6780. Participants from the Company will be Julie Smolyansky, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Edward Smolyansky, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, and John Waldron, Vice President of Finance.

 
 

 
About Lifeway Foods
Lifeway Foods (LWAY), recently named one of Forbes Best Small Companies, is America’s leading supplier of the probiotic fermented beverage known as kefir. In addition to its line of drinkable kefir, the company also produces frozen kefir, specialty cheeses and a ProBugs line for kids. Lifeway’s tart and tangy cultured dairy products are now sold across the United States, Canada, Latin America and the United Kingdom. Learn how Lifeway is good for more than just you at www.lifewaykefir.com.

Find Lifeway Foods, Inc. on Facebook: www.facebook.com/lifewaykefir
Follow Lifeway Foods on Twitter: http://twitter.com/lifeway_kefir
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/lifewaykefir

 
Forward Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, competitive pressures and other important factors detailed in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 
Contact:
   
Lifeway Foods, Inc.
 
Phone: 877.281.3874
 
Email: info@Lifeway.net
 
 
Investor Relations:
 
   
ICR
 
   
Katie Turner
Hunter Wells
 
646.277.1228
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
LIFEWAY FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition
June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014

 
 
   
June 30,
2015
   
December 31,
2014
 
   
(Unaudited)
       
ASSETS
           
             
Current assets
           
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
5,873,079
   
$
3,260,244
 
Investments, at fair value
   
2,849,752
     
2,779,140
 
Certificates of deposits in financial institutions
   
434,981
     
149,965
 
Inventories
   
6,289,816
     
5,814,219
 
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful
               
accounts and discounts of $2,100,000 and $1,050,000 at
June 30, 2015 and  December 31, 2014, respectively
   
10,349,813
     
10,213,541
 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
   
113,751
     
251,922
 
Other receivables
   
28,794
     
134,338
 
Deferred income taxes
   
451,198
     
408,340
 
Refundable income taxes
   
741,302
     
1,140,796
 
Total current assets
   
27,132,486
     
24,152,505
 
                 
Property and equipment, net
   
21,974,931
     
21,892,395
 
                 
Intangible assets
               
Goodwill
   
14,068,091
     
14,068,091
 
Other intangible assets, net
   
2,701,925
     
3,059,764
 
Total intangible assets
   
16,770,016
     
17,127,855
 
                 
Other Assets
               
Long-term accounts receivable, net of current portion
   
267,458
     
251,683
 
Total assets
 
$
66,144,891
   
$
63,424,438
 
                 
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
                 
Current liabilities
               
Current maturities of notes payable
 
$
840,000
   
$
872,285
 
Accounts payable
   
5,725,222
     
5,586,755
 
Accrued expenses
   
4,702,762
     
2,066,076
 
Accrued income taxes
   
14,600
     
 
Total current liabilities
   
11,282,584
     
8,525,116
 
                 
Notes payable
   
7,539,328
     
8,124,515
 
                 
Deferred income taxes
   
1,812,296
     
2,075,095
 
Total liabilities
   
20,634,208
     
18,724,726
 
                 
Stockholders’ equity
               
Common stock, no par value; 40,000,000 shares authorized;
               
17,273,776 shares issued; 16,346,017 shares outstanding
               
at June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014
   
6,509,267
     
6,509,267
 
Paid-in-capital
   
2,032,516
     
2,032,516
 
Treasury stock, at cost
   
( 8,187,682
)
   
( 8,187,682
)
Retained earnings
   
45,296,249
     
44,543,618
 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of taxes
   
( 139,667
)
   
( 198,007
)
Total stockholders’ equity
   
45,510,683
     
44,699,712
 
                 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
 
$
66,144,891
   
$
63,424,438
 


 
 
 

 
LIFEWAY FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income
For the Three Months and Six Months Ended June 30, 2015 and 2014
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
   
Three Months Ended June 30,
   
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
   
2015
   
2014
     
2015
     
2014
 
Gross sales
 
$
36,291,842
   
$
32,594,048
   
$
69,394,925
   
$
64,655,195
 
Less: discounts and promotional allowances
   
(6,470,654
)
   
(3,028,637
)
   
(9,951,613
)
   
(5,958,073
)
Net sales
   
29,821,188
     
29,565,411
     
59,443,312
     
58,697,122
 
                                 
Cost of goods sold
   
22,201,129
     
21,432,624
     
42,849,096
     
43,114,535
 
Depreciation expense
   
604,531
     
627,878
     
1,195,158
     
1,411,238
 
                                 
Total cost of goods sold
   
22,805,660
     
22,060,502
     
44,044,254
     
44,525,773
 
                                 
Gross profit
   
7,015,528
     
7,504,909
     
15,399,058
     
14,171,349
 
                                 
Selling expenses
   
2,617,399
     
3,693,821
     
6,779,802
     
7,173,509
 
General and administrative
   
4,170,155
     
2,107,197
     
6,802,051
     
4,487,827
 
Amortization expense
   
178,920
     
178,919
     
357,839
     
357,839
 
                                 
Total operating expenses
   
6,966,474
     
5,979,937
     
13,939,692
     
12,019,175
 
                                 
Income from operations
   
49,054
     
1,524,972
     
1,459,366
     
2,152,174
 
                                 
Other income (expense):
                               
Interest and dividend income
   
35,739
     
35,227
     
61,218
     
63,925
 
Rental income
   
1,800
     
1,200
     
3,600
     
1,700
 
Interest expense
   
(58,429
)
   
(66,724
)
   
(123,770
)
   
(132,293
)
(Loss)/Gain on sale of investments, net
                               
reclassified from OCI
   
(16,844
)
   
57,321
     
( 21,937
)
   
62,130
 
Gain on sale of property and equipment
   
207,083
     
(76,484
)
   
243,083
     
(76,484
)
Other income (expense), net
   
136
     
1,672
     
(98,796)
     
1,672
 
Total other income (expense)
   
169,485
     
(47,788
)
   
63,398
     
(79,350
)
                                 
Income before provision for
                               
   income taxes
   
218,539
     
1,477,184
     
1,522,764
     
2,072,824
 
                                 
Provision for income taxes
   
119,626
     
807,768
     
770,133
     
1,106,229
 
                                 
Net income
 
$
98,913
   
$
669,416
   
$
752,631
   
$
966,595
 
                                 
Basic and diluted earnings
                               
   per common share
 
$
0.01
   
$
0.04
   
$
0.05
   
$
0.06
 
                                 
Weighted average number of
                               
   common shares outstanding
   
16,346,017
     
16,346,017
     
16,346,017
     
16,346,017
 
                                 
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
                               
                                 
Net income
 
$
98,913
   
$
669,416
   
$
752,631
   
$
966,595
 
                                 
Other comprehensive income
                               
(loss), net of tax:
                               
Unrealized gains (losses) on
                               
    investments (net of tax)
   
(18,215
)
   
63,111
     
(64,475
)
   
71,155
 
Less reclassification adjustment
                               
    for (gains) losses and other than
    temporary impairments included in
                               
    net income (net of taxes)
   
10,435
     
(34,393
)
   
122,815
     
( 37,110
)
                                 
Comprehensive income
 
$
91,133
   
$
698,134
   
$
810,971
   
$
1,000,640
 
 
 
 

 
LIFEWAY FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2015 and 2014
(Unaudited)
 

   
June 30,
 
   
2015
   
2014
 
             
Cash flows from operating activities:
           
Net income
 
$
752,631
   
$
966,595
 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
               
cash flows from operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
   
1,552,997
     
1,769,077
 
Loss (gain) on sale of investments, net
   
21,937
     
(62,130
)
Impairment of investments
   
179,500
     
 
Deferred income taxes
   
(351,818
)
   
(440,285
)
Bad debt expense
   
250
     
156,049
 
Gain on sale of property and equipment
   
(243,083
)
   
76,484
 
(Increase) decrease in operating assets:
               
Accounts receivable
   
(166,829
)
   
728,281
 
Other receivables
   
105,544
     
46,591
 
Inventories
   
(475,597
)
   
88,467
 
Refundable income taxes
   
399,494
     
(562,986
)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
   
138,171
     
(28,125
)
Increase (decrease) in operating liabilities:
               
Accounts payable
   
138,467
     
(1,972,157
)
Accrued expenses
   
2,636,686
     
1,336,163
 
Accrued income taxes
   
14,600
     
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
   
4,702,950
     
2,102,024
 
                 
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Purchases of investments
   
(1,286,664
)
   
(1,774,734
)
Proceeds from sale of investments
   
1,133,647
     
1,419,362
 
Redemption of certificates of deposits
   
99,965
     
15,000
 
Investments in certificates of deposits
   
(384,981
)
   
 
Purchases of property and equipment
   
(1,377,390
)
   
(1,761,401
)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment
   
342,780
     
4,000
 
Net cash used in investing activities
   
(1,472,643
)
   
(2,097,773
)
                 
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Repayment of notes payable
   
(617,472
)
   
(441,221
)
Net cash used in financing activities
   
(617,472
)
   
(441,221
)
                 
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
   
2,612,835
     
(436,970
)
                 
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period
   
3,260,244
     
3,306,608
 
                 
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period
 
$
5,873,079
   
$
2,869,638
 
 
 
Supplemental cash flow information
 
Cash paid for income taxes
 
$
1,120,000
   
$
2,109,500
 
Cash paid for interest
 
$
124,043
   
$
132,415
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
LIFEWAY FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 and 2014
(Unaudited)
 

   
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
   
2015
   
2014
 
Gross sales
  $ 33,103,084     $ 32,061,147  
Less: discounts and promotional allowances
   
(3,480,960
)    
(2,929,436
)
Net sales
   
29,622,124
     
29,131,711
 
                 
Cost of goods sold
   
20,647,967
     
21,681,910
 
Depreciation expense
   
590,627
     
783,361
 
                 
Total cost of goods sold
   
21,238,594
     
22,465,271
 
                 
Gross profit
   
8,383,530
     
6,666,440
 
                 
Selling expenses
   
4,162,403
     
3,479,688
 
General and administrative
   
2,631,896
     
2,380,631
 
Amortization expense
   
178,919
     
178,919
 
                 
Total operating expenses
   
6,973,218
     
6,039,238
 
                 
Income from operations
   
1,410,312
     
627,202
 
                 
Other income (expense):
               
Interest and dividend income
   
25,479
     
28,698
 
Rental income
   
1,800
     
500
 
Interest expense
   
(65,341
)
   
(65,569
)
(Loss)/Gain on sale of investments, net
               
reclassified from OCI
   
(5,093
)
   
4,808
 
Gain on sale of equipment
   
36,000
     
 
Other income (expense), net
   
(98,932
)
   
 
Total other income (expense)
   
(106,087
)
   
(31,563
)
                 
Income before provision for
               
   income taxes
   
1,304,225
     
595,639
 
                 
Provision for income taxes
   
650,507
     
298,461
 
                 
Net income
 
$
653,718
   
$
297,178
 
                 
Basic and diluted earnings
               
   per common share
   
0.04
     
0.02
 
                 
Weighted average number of
               
   common shares outstanding
   
16,346,017
     
16,346,017
 
                 
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
               
                 
Net income
 
$
653,718
   
$
297,178
 
                 
Other comprehensive income
               
(loss), net of tax:
               
Unrealized gains (losses) on
               
  investments (net of tax)
   
(46,260
)
   
8,044
 
Less reclassification adjustment
               
  for (gains) losses and other than
  temporary impairments included in
               
  net income (net of taxes)
   
112,380
     
(2,717
)
                 
Comprehensive income
 
$
719,838
   
$
302,505