MGP Ingredients: Growth in Premium Spirits Drives Improving Product Mix

Net sales for the third quarter were approximately even with the same quarter a year ago. Significantly higher beverage alcohol sales were offset by a reduction in sales for certain industrial alcohol applications.

9 Nov 2012 --- MGP Ingredients, Inc. has reported results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2012. Net income of $418,000, or $0.02 per diluted share, compared favorably with a net loss of $5.5 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, in the prior year.

Net sales for the third quarter were approximately even with the same quarter a year ago. Significantly higher beverage alcohol sales were offset by a reduction in sales for certain industrial alcohol applications. The recently acquired Lawrenceburg, Indiana, distillery continues to increase production of premium spirits, including bourbon and rye whiskeys. The food ingredients segment reported lower sales for the period due to decreased volume partially offset by improved pricing.

Net income for the third quarter was favorably impacted by unrealized hedging gains as recorded in the cost of sales. This was partially offset by the record-high corn basis, combined with competitive pricing in certain industrial alcohol markets. Net income compares favorably to the same period last year in which the Company reported an operating loss of $2.6 million, including significant losses on open derivative commodity contracts. Net income for the third quarter of 2012 also included a net loss of $135,000 from the ICP joint venture, which compares favorably to the prior-year period's net loss of $2.9 million from the ICP joint venture.

Net income for the first nine months of 2012 improved to $1.4 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, compared with a net loss of $15.1 million, or $0.91 per diluted share over the same period a year ago. Net sales for the first nine months of 2012 were $247.9 million, an increase of 18.6 percent over the same period last year.

"This was the most challenging quarter of the year in our alcohol markets, characterized by record-high corn prices and increased competition from fuel alcohol producers who are facing negative margins," said Tim Newkirk, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We most likely lost some market share at the lower end of the value spectrum, which tends to be more price-sensitive. Other products performed well, which is more reflective of our unique formulations and value-added services. The decline in industrial sales for the quarter was substantially offset by growth in our premium spirits. So, while our third quarter alcohol sales were relatively flat, our profit profile actually improved due to a stronger contribution from beverages."

Post-acquisition progress continues at the Indiana distillery. Production rates have more than doubled since the company assumed ownership in December 2011. Capital improvements and cost reduction programs, including a switch to natural gas, are expected to further increase manufacturing capacity at a lower cost per unit. Newkirk added, "We've made great inroads with our line of premium spirits this year, despite the fact that most of the important year-end order activity for 2012 took place before we acquired the facility. Our new beverage sales team is encouraged by the high level of interest among our key customers."

Distillery products sales for the third quarter were $61.5 million, an increase of 1.6 percent compared to the prior year quarter. Increases in sales of premium spirits and distillers feed were offset by declines in lower-grade industrial products as previously mentioned. Results from the prior-year period did not include beverage sales from the Indiana distillery, as well as fees related to the storage of barrels used in the aging of whiskey and bourbon.
 
The distillery products segment reported third quarter pre-tax operating income of $3.5 million, or 5.7 percent of sales, compared to $379,000, or less than 1 percent, during the same quarter a year ago. Quarter over quarter, pricing for distillery products out-paced the increased costs for corn, excluding the impact of accounting for open commodity contracts. Current quarter cost of sales related to open commodity contracts had a $1.7 million favorable impact compared with an unfavorable impact of $2.6 million in the prior year. For the third quarter, the per-bushel cost of corn averaged 9.2 percent higher than a year ago, with natural gas declining by an average of 19.6 percent over the same period.
 
Distillery products sales for the first nine months of 2012 were $205.1 million, an increase of 25 percent over the prior year period. Pre-tax segment operating income for the nine months was $9.9 million, an increase of 113 percent over the same period a year ago.

Ingredient segment sales for the third quarter were $14.1 million, a decrease of approximately 8 percent from the prior year's quarter. Higher average pricing was offset by declines in unit volume.
 
The ingredients segment reported third quarter pre-tax operating income of $2.1 million, or 15.4 percent of sales, compared with $1.5 million, or 10.3 percent, for the same quarter a year ago. Profitability improved significantly from the prior year due to higher average selling prices and lower costs for natural gas and raw materials, principally flour.
 
Ingredients segment sales for the first nine months of 2012 were $41.8 million, a 6.1 percent decrease from the prior year period. Pre-tax segment operating income for the nine months improved significantly to $4.7 million compared with $1.5 million over the same period a year ago.