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EX-32.1 - SECTION 906 CERTIFICATION OF C.E.O. - Lifeway Foods, Inc.exh32-1_17940.htm
10-Q - FORM 10Q - MARCH 31, 2016 - Lifeway Foods, Inc.lw10q_17940.htm
EX-32.2 - SECTION 906 CERTIFICATION OF C.F.O. - Lifeway Foods, Inc.exh32-2_17940.htm
EX-31.1 - SECTION 302 CERTIFICATION OF C.E.O. - Lifeway Foods, Inc.exh31-1_17940.htm
EX-31.2 - SECTION 302 CERTIFICATION OF C.F.O. - Lifeway Foods, Inc.exh31-2_17940.htm
EXHIBIT 99.1
 


Lifeway Foods, Inc. Announces Results for the First Quarter Ended March 31, 2016

First Quarter Net Sales Increase 10% Year-Over-Year to $32.6 Million

Morton Grove, IL — May 10, 2016 — Lifeway Foods, Inc., (Nasdaq: LWAY), the leading U.S. supplier of kefir cultured dairy products, today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2016.

"We are pleased to announce an encouraging start to 2016 in which we achieved double-digit top-line revenue growth and a sequential increase in profitability," said Julie Smolyansky, CEO of Lifeway Foods, Inc. "Our solid first quarter results demonstrate the success of our strategic initiatives. In addition, increased distribution and brand awareness of our probiotic and functional dairy health food products drove our improved operational and financial performance. This positive momentum has us well-positioned for growth and we are confident in our ability to increase value for our shareholders."

First Quarter Results

First quarter of 2016 net sales increased 10.0% to $32.6 million from $29.6 million in the first quarter of 2015.  Gross sales increased 12% driven by higher sales of the Company's Kefir products slightly offset by increased trade promotions and allowances.

Gross profit as a percent of net sales declined to 26.4% from 28.3% in the same period last year.  The first quarter of 2016 gross margin decline reflects increased manufacturing costs primarily related to the ramp up of the Waukesha facility, which continued to expand its production volumes during the quarter. Milk prices were essentially flat versus the year ago period.

Selling expenses decreased approximately 10.8% to $2.9 million during the first quarter of 2016 from $3.3 million in the first quarter of 2015.  The decrease in selling expenses reflects lower advertising programs. General and administrative expenses increased $0.9 million to $4.4 million from $3.5 million compared to the same period last year primarily due to the increased professional fees associated with legal and regulatory functions.

Net income was approximately $0.6 million, or $0.04 per diluted share for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, consistent with the first quarter of 2015.

The effective tax rate for first quarter of 2016 was 38.8% compared to 49.9% in the first quarter of 2015.  The lower tax rate in the first quarter of 2016 was driven by the deductibility of certain operating expenses for federal income tax purposes that were not fully deductible in 2015.

Balance Sheet

Cash and cash equivalents were approximately $3.8 million as of March 31, 2016 compared to cash and cash equivalents of $5.6 million as of December 31, 2015 reflecting the unfavorable timing of payments to suppliers and service providers as well as share repurchase activity.

The Company repurchased approximately 39,000 shares of common stock at a cost of $0.4 million in the three months ended March 31, 2016. Approximately 76,000 shares remained available to repurchase under this program as of March 31, 2016.  The stock repurchase program has no expiration date and may be suspended or discontinued at any time.


Conference Call
The Company will host a conference call to discuss these results with additional comments and details on Tuesday, May 10, 2016 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.lifewaykefir.com, and will be archived online through May 24, 2016. 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, Ed Smolyansky, Chief Operating Officer, and John Waldron, Chief Financial Officer.

About Lifeway Foods
Lifeway Foods, Inc. (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 available throughout the United States and on a small, but growing basis, in 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 Balance Sheets
March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015
(In thousands)
 
 
 
March 31, 2016
(Unaudited)
   
December 31,
2015
 
Current assets
           
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
3,786
   
$
5,646
 
Investments, at fair value
   
2,484
     
2,216
 
Certificates of deposits in financial institutions
   
150
     
513
 
Inventories
   
8,291
     
7,664
 
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts and discounts of $1,600 and $1,800 at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 respectively
   
10,187
     
9,604
 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
   
287
     
201
 
Deferred income taxes
   
532
     
556
 
Refundable income taxes
   
877
     
449
 
Total current assets
   
26,594
     
26,849
 
 
               
Property and equipment, net
   
21,080
     
21,375
 
 
               
Intangible assets
               
Goodwill & indefinite-lived intangibles
   
14,068
     
14,068
 
Other intangible assets, net
   
2,166
     
2,344
 
Total intangible assets
   
16,234
     
16,412
 
 
               
Other Assets
               
Long-term accounts receivable, net of current portion
   
270
     
282
 
Total assets
 
$
64,178
   
$
64,918
 
 
               
Current liabilities
               
Current maturities of notes payable
 
$
840
   
$
840
 
Accounts payable
   
7,339
     
8,393
 
Accrued expenses
   
1,849
     
1,538
 
Accrued income taxes
   
     
52
 
Total current liabilities
   
10,028
     
10,823
 
 
               
Notes payable
   
6,909
     
7,119
 
 
               
Deferred income taxes
   
1,719
     
1,719
 
Total liabilities
   
18,656
     
19,661
 
 
               
Stockholders' equity
               
Common stock, no par value; 40,000 shares authorized;
               
17,274, shares issued; 16,171 and 16,210 shares
               
outstanding at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 respectively
   
6,509
     
6,509
 
Paid-in-capital
   
2,054
     
2,033
 
Treasury stock, at cost
   
(10,170
)
   
(9,730
)
Retained earnings
   
47,164
     
46,516
 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of taxes
   
(35
)
   
(71
)
Total stockholders' equity
   
45,522
     
45,257
 
 
               
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
 
$
64,178
   
$
64,918
 

 

 



LIFEWAY FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income
For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per share data)
 
 
   
2016
   
2015
 
Gross Sales
 
$
37,030
   
$
33,103
 
Less: discounts and allowances
   
(4,460
)
   
(3,481
)
Net sales
   
32,570
     
29,622
 
 
               
Cost of goods sold
   
23,351
     
20,648
 
Depreciation expense
   
631
     
591
 
Total cost of goods sold
   
23,982
     
21,239
 
 
               
Gross profit
   
8,588
     
8,383
 
 
               
Selling expenses
   
2,944
     
3,302
 
General and administrative
   
4,356
     
3,492
 
Amortization expense
   
176
     
179
 
Total operating expenses
   
7,476
     
6,973
 
 
               
Income from operations
   
1,112
     
1,410
 
 
               
Other income (expense):
               
Interest expense
   
(58
)
   
(65
)
Loss on sale of investments, net reclassified from OCI
   
(12
)
   
(5
)
Gain on sale of equipment
   
     
36
 
Impairment of investments
   
     
(180
)
Other income (expense), net
   
17
     
108
 
Total other income (expense)
   
(53
)
   
(106
)
 
               
Income before provision for income taxes
   
1,059
     
1,304
 
 
               
Provision for income taxes
   
411
     
650
 
 
               
Net income
 
$
648
   
$
654
 
 
               
Basic and diluted earnings per common share
 
$
0.04
   
$
0.04
 
                 
Weighted average number of shares outstanding
   
16,189
     
16,346
 
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
               
Net income
 
$
648
   
$
654
 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
               
Unrealized gains (losses) on investments, net of $(23) and $23 of taxes
   
36
     
(35
)
Reclassifications to earnings:
               
Other than temporary impairment of investments, net of $(76) of taxes
   
     
104
 
Realized (gains) losses on investments, net of $-- and $2 of taxes
   
     
(3
)
Comprehensive income
 
$
684
   
$
720
 

 

 


LIFEWAY FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 and 2015
 (Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per share data)
 
 
                   
Cash flows from operating activities:
   
2016
     
2015
   
Net income
 
$
648
 
 
$
654
 
 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to operating cash flow:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
 
807
 
 
 
770
 
 
Loss on sale of investments, net
 
 
12
 
 
 
5
   
Impairment of investments
   
 
   
180
 
 
Deferred income taxes
 
 
 
 
 
(196
)
 
Stock based compensation
   
21
     
   
(Gain) on sale of equipment
 
 
 
 
 
(36
 
(Increase) decrease in operating assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accounts receivable
 
 
(584
 
 
(33
)
 
Inventories
 
 
(627
 
 
(513
)
 
Refundable income taxes
 
 
(427
)
 
 
1,050
   
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
 
 
(71
)
 
 
180
   
Increase (decrease) in operating liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accounts payable
 
 
(1,054
)
 
 
(1,464
 
Accrued expenses
 
 
311
 
 
 
1,395
 
 
Income taxes payable
 
 
(52
 
 
145
   
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities
 
 
(1,016
)
 
 
2,137
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Purchases of investments
 
 
(373
)
 
 
(1,005
)
 
Proceeds from sale of investments
 
 
152
 
 
 
693
 
 
Redemption of certificates of deposits
 
 
363
 
 
 
100
 
 
Investments in certificates of deposit
 
 
 
 
 
(85
 
Purchases of property and equipment
 
 
(336
)
 
 
(1,040
)
 
Proceeds from sale of equipment
 
 
 
 
 
36
 
 
Net cash used in investing activities
 
 
(194
)
 
 
(1,301
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                   
Purchase of treasury stock
 
 
(440
 
 
 
 
Repayment of notes payable
 
 
(210
)
 
 
(271
)
 
Net cash used in financing activities
 
 
(650
)
 
 
(271
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
 
 
(1,860
)
 
 
565
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
 
 
5,646
 
 
 
3,260
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year
 
$
3,786
 
 
$
3,825
 
 
Supplemental cash flow information:
                 
Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds
 
$
886
   
$
40
   
Cash paid for interest
 
$
58
   
$
65