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8-K - FORM 8-K - LANCASTER COLONY CORPd289315d8k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

LOGO

Lancaster Colony Corporation

37 West Broad Street

Columbus, Ohio 43215

614/224-7141

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

  SYMBOL: LANC

Thursday, January 26, 2012

  TRADED: Nasdaq

LANCASTER COLONY REPORTS SECOND QUARTER SALES AND EARNINGS

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 26 — Lancaster Colony Corporation (Nasdaq: LANC) today reported the following highlights for the company’s second fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2011:

 

   

Net sales decreased one percent to $312 million versus $316 million in the second quarter last year.

 

   

Net income totaled $30,373,000 compared with $34,863,000 for the corresponding quarter a year ago. Net income per diluted share was $1.11 versus $1.25 in the year-ago quarter. The current year’s quarter included pretax income of approximately $2.7 million (six cents per share after taxes) from a distribution received under the Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act (CDSOA). A year ago, second quarter results included a pretax CDSOA distribution of approximately $1.0 million (two cents per share after taxes).

 

   

Specialty Foods sales increased five percent in the quarter to a record $266.2 million, reflecting higher sales to both retail and foodservice channels. Retail sales growth benefited from higher pricing and from recently introduced products. Foodservice sales improved primarily due to higher pricing. Segment operating income totaled $44.8 million, off 13 percent from last year’s level primarily due to increased raw material, distribution and promotional costs not offset by higher pricing. The estimated unfavorable impact from raw material costs approximated six percent of segment net sales. The greater investment in product promotion included support for recently introduced products and expansion into new geographic markets.

 

   

Glassware and Candles sales declined 26 percent to $45.6 million, largely reflecting the exiting of several lower margin programs. While these lower sales volumes influenced the segment’s operating income decline to $1.6 million from the prior year second quarter’s $4.4 million, higher pricing was also offset by higher material costs and less favorable production levels.

 

   

Corporate expenses in the current year’s quarter decreased approximately $1.0 million primarily due to reduced costs associated with idle real estate held for sale.

 

   

The company’s balance sheet remained strong with no debt at December 31, 2011 as well as over $162 million in cash and equivalents.

 

   

The quarterly cash dividend was increased during the quarter by nine percent to $.36 per share.

For the six months ended December 31, 2011, net sales were $586 million compared to $581 million for the first half last year. Net income was $51,631,000, or $1.89 per diluted share. In the prior year, six-month net income totaled $57,630,000, or $2.06 per diluted share.

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PAGE 2 / LANCASTER COLONY REPORTS SECOND QUARTER SALES AND EARNINGS

 

Chairman and CEO John B. Gerlach, Jr. said, “Our food segment grew its top line in the face of very unsettled consumer spending patterns. As expected, marked increases in input costs and lower candle sales impacted our operating income.”

Looking ahead, Mr. Gerlach said, “We believe that Specialty Foods sales and operating results should benefit from pricing actions taken this month on many retail products. Recently introduced products such as our New York BRAND® Hand-Tied Garlic Knots and Sister Schubert’s® Soft Pretzel Rolls should also help sales. Should commodity costs stabilize near current levels, our recent unfavorable cost comparisons will become progressively less pronounced over the remainder of the fiscal year. Key uncertainties are consumer reaction to higher pricing and broad, persistent economic challenges. The company’s path to long-term growth is well supported by our strong brand positioning, product development efforts and solid financial condition.”

Conference Call on the Web

The company’s second quarter conference call is scheduled for this morning, January 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.

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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

 

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PAGE 3 / LANCASTER COLONY REPORTS SECOND QUARTER SALES AND EARNINGS

 

LANCASTER COLONY CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)

(In thousands except per-share amounts)

 

September 30, September 30, September 30, September 30,
       Three Months Ended        Six Months Ended  
       December 31,        December 31,  
       2011        2010        2011        2010  

Net sales

     $ 311,786         $ 316,238         $ 586,302         $ 581,289   

Cost of sales

       241,927           237,994           461,013           444,974   
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Gross margin

       69,859           78,244           125,289           136,315   

Selling, general & administrative expenses

       26,149           26,136           49,067           49,381   
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Operating income

       43,710           52,108           76,222           86,934   

Interest income and other – net

       2,739           1,040           2,735           1,056   
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

       46,449           53,148           78,957           87,990   

Taxes based on income

       16,076           18,285           27,326           30,360   
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net income

     $ 30,373         $ 34,863         $ 51,631         $ 57,630   
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net income per common share:(a)

                   

Net income – basic and diluted

     $ 1.11         $ 1.25         $ 1.89         $ 2.06   

Cash dividends per common share

     $ .36         $ .33         $ .69         $ .63   

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

                   

Basic

       27,206           27,758           27,248           27,886   

Diluted

       27,240           27,785           27,277           27,911   

 

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

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PAGE 4 / LANCASTER COLONY REPORTS SECOND QUARTER SALES AND EARNINGS

 

LANCASTER COLONY CORPORATION

BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION (Unaudited)

(In thousands)

 

September 30, September 30, September 30, September 30,
       Three Months Ended      Six Months Ended  
       December 31,      December 31,  
       2011      2010      2011      2010  

NET SALES

             

Specialty Foods

     $ 266,225       $ 254,591       $ 503,172       $ 475,103   

Glassware and Candles

       45,561         61,647         83,130         106,186   
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     $ 311,786       $ 316,238       $ 586,302       $ 581,289   
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

OPERATING INCOME

             

Specialty Foods

     $ 44,750       $ 51,388       $ 79,949       $ 89,361   

Glassware and Candles

       1,636         4,366         1,299         4,368   

Corporate expenses

       (2,676      (3,646      (5,026      (6,795
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     $ 43,710       $ 52,108       $ 76,222       $ 86,934   
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

LANCASTER COLONY CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)

(In thousands)

 

September 30, September 30,
       December 31,        June 30,  
       2011        2011  

ASSETS

         

Current assets:

         

Cash and equivalents

     $ 162,381         $ 132,266   

Receivables – net of allowance for doubtful accounts

       84,246           63,762   

Total inventories

       93,303           111,885   

Deferred income taxes and other current assets

       19,343           25,283   
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total current assets

       359,273           333,196   

Net property, plant and equipment

       185,836           185,282   

Other assets

       103,626           103,611   
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total assets

     $ 648,735         $ 622,089   
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

         

Current liabilities:

         

Accounts payable

     $ 37,196         $ 42,570   

Accrued liabilities

       35,944           33,586   
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

       73,140           76,156   

Other noncurrent liabilities and deferred income taxes

       32,192           28,394   

Shareholders’ equity

       543,403           517,539   
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

     $ 648,735         $ 622,089   
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

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