FRANKLIN PARK, Ill., June 27 /PRNewswire/ — Dean Foods Company (NYSE: DF)
today announced results for its fourth quarter and full fiscal year ending
May 27, 2001.
Fourth quarter sales increased 12.6% to a record $1,160.4 million,
compared to $1,030.7 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2000. The sales
increase reflected improved sales in each of the Company’s business segments.
Net income excluding one-time items was $15.5 million, compared to
$29.9 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2000. Diluted earnings per
share excluding one-time items were $0.43 per share compared to $0.83 per
share last year. Operating earnings excluding one-time items were
$42.4 million versus $61.0 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2000. Net
interest expense was $4.6 million higher this year as a result of higher debt
levels for acquisitions and fiscal 2000 share repurchases.
Full year sales were a record $4,440.4 million, an 8.2% increase over
fiscal 2000. Net income excluding one-time items was $82.2 million compared
to $109.9 million last year. Diluted earnings per share excluding one-time
items were $2.28 versus $2.87 in fiscal 2000.
One-time items in fiscal 2001 included $22.2 million pre-tax,
$13.7 million after-tax, for merger-related costs in the fourth quarter
related to the previously announced merger transaction with Suiza Foods
Corporation and a second quarter pre-tax gain of $10.0 million, $6.2 million
after-tax, from the sale of a note associated with the divestiture of the
Company’s vegetables segment in fiscal 1999. One-time items in fiscal 2000
included plant closure charges of $6.1 million pre-tax, $3.8 million after-
tax, in the fourth quarter.
Howard Dean, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “While sales
have been strong, this has been a challenging year on a number of fronts,
especially with technology issues and cost increases. As demonstrated by our
fourth quarter and full year sales, demand for our products remains strong,
and we will continue to focus on cost savings initiatives and our commitment
to search for all opportunities for pricing adjustments and improvements in
manufacturing efficiencies.”
The Dairy Group’s fourth quarter sales increased 11.9% to $848.6 million
from $758.5 million last year. The increase was the result of higher ice
cream sales, including the impact of our previously announced national
alliance with Baskin-Robbins and higher fluid milk sales, primarily from the
impact of the Land O’Lakes acquisition. Operating earnings excluding one-time
charges were $38.5 million versus $44.5 million in the prior year as
operations were negatively impacted by rising raw milk and butterfat costs,
higher energy and fuel costs, and costs associated with the successful launch
of the Mayfield brand of ice cream in Florida and the start-up of the Baskin-
Robbins alliance.
The Specialty Foods Group reported sales of $205.1 million in the fourth
quarter compared to $198.0 million in the prior year. The sales increase was
primarily due to the acquisition of the Nalley’s pickles business at the
beginning of the fiscal year. Operating earnings, however, declined from
$17.7 million in fiscal 2000 to $11.4 million in fiscal 2001. The decline was
due to increased commodity and energy costs, costs to implement a new
distribution and warehousing network, and higher promotional spending for
pickles products.
The Company continued to generate substantial revenue growth in its
National Refrigerated Products (NRP) Group. Sales increased 43.8% in the
fourth quarter and 37.5% for the full fiscal year as a result of new products,
growth in sales of intermediate and extended shelf life products, and the Land
O’Lakes acquisition. New product introductions, including Dips-for-One and
Marie’s pourable salad dressings, continued to progress well in the fourth
quarter.
Operating earnings in the NRP Group were $3.3 million in the fourth
quarter, versus $9.6 million in the fourth quarter of last year. The Company
continued to support new product introductions by investing approximately
$2.5 million in the fourth quarter in marketing and promotional programs.
Operating earnings were also impacted by the start-up of a new production line
for licensed branded products and inefficiencies associated with complex,
state-of-the-art technology to produce intermediate and extended shelf life
products. The Company made substantial progress on improving the production
processes for intermediate and extended shelf life products during the second
half of the year, and the processes and technology are running at much
improved efficiency levels.
Howard Dean concluded, “In fiscal 2002, we will be committed to reducing
costs and improving our operating profitability.”
About Dean Foods:
Dean Foods is one of the nation’s leading dairy processors and
distributors producing a full line of branded and private label products,
including fluid milk, ice cream and extended shelf life products, which are
sold under the Dean’s and other strong regional brand names. Dean Foods is
the industry leader in other food products including pickles, powdered non-
dairy coffee creamers, aseptically packaged foodservice products, and
refrigerated dips and salad dressings.
The Company’s quarterly earnings conference call will be held today at
8:00 a.m. Central Time. The call may be heard live at the Company’s website,
http://www.deanfoods.com , using Real Player8 Basic Software. The basic version of
Real Player8 may be downloaded at no charge from
http://www.real.com/products/player/index.html prior to the call. Please allow
approximately 15 minutes to download the software. Replays will be available
at the same internet address.
Some of the statements in this press release are “forward-looking” and are
made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. These statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that
may cause actual results to differ materially from expectations as of the date
of this press release. These risks include, but are not limited to, the
ability to integrate acquisitions, adverse weather conditions resulting in
poor harvest conditions, raw milk, resin, and fuel costs, interest rate
fluctuations, the level of promotional spending, competitive pricing
pressures, the effectiveness of marketing and cost management programs, and
shifts in market demand.
Other Legal Information:
Dean Foods and Suiza Foods expect to file with the SEC a join proxy
statement/prospectus and other relevant documents concerning the proposed
merger transaction. Investors are urged to read the joint proxy
statement/prospectus when it becomes available and any amendments or
supplements to the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed
with the SEC free of charge at the SEC’s website ( http://www.sec.gov ). In
addition, the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed by
Dean Foods and Suiza Foods with the SEC may be obtained free of charge by
contacting Dean Foods, 3600 North River Road, Franklin Park, Illinois 60131,
Attn: Investor Relations (tel 847-678-1680) or Suiza Foods, 2515 McKinney
Avenue, Suite 1200, Dallas, Texas 75201, Attn: Investor Relations
(tel 214-303-3400).
Dean, Suiza and their respective directors and executive officers may be
deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders
of Dean and Suiza in favor of the transaction. The directors and executive
offices of Dean and their beneficial ownership of Dean common stock are set
forth in the proxy statement for the 2000 annual meeting of Dean. The
directors and executive officers of Suiza and their beneficial ownership of
Suiza common stock are set forth in the proxy statement for the 2001 annual
meeting of Suiza. You may obtain the proxy statement of Dean and Suiza free
of charge at the SEC’s website ( http://www.sec.gov ). Stockholders of Dean
and Suiza may obtain additional information regarding the interest of such
participants by reading the joint proxy statement prospectus when it becomes
available.
DEAN FOODS COMPANY CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME (Unaudited) (In millions, except for per share amounts) Fourth Quarter Ended Twelve Months Ended May 27, May 28, May 27, May 28, 2001 2000 * 2001 2000 * Net sales $1,160.4 $1,030.7 $4,440.4 $4,102.6 Costs of products sold 893.3 771.7 3,387.7 3,108.0 Delivery, selling and administrative expenses 224.7 198.0 848.9 765.9 Merger related costs 22.2 - 22.2 - Plant closure charges - 6.1 - 6.1 Operating earnings 20.2 54.9 181.6 222.6 Interest expense, net of interest income 17.4 12.8 70.7 49.3 Gain on sale of note - - 10.0 - Income before income taxes 2.8 42.1 120.9 173.3 Provision for income taxes 1.0 16.0 46.2 67.2 Net income $1.8 $26.1 $74.7 $106.1 Net income per share: Basic $0.05 $0.72 $2.10 $2.79 Diluted $0.05 $0.72 $2.07 $2.77 Weighted average common shares: Basic 35.6 36.1 35.6 38.0 Diluted 36.0 36.1 36.0 38.3 * Restated for the adoption of EITF 00-10 "Accounting for Shipping and Handling Fees". Upon adoption of this EITF, during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2001, shipping and handling costs classified as a reduction of Net sales were reclassified to Costs of products sold or to Delivery, selling and administrative expenses. This reclassification did not affect the Company's financial position or results of operations. DEAN FOODS COMPANY SUPPLEMENTAL NET INCOME PER SHARE DATA (Unaudited) Fourth Quarter Twelve Months Ended Ended May 27, May 28, May 27, May 28, 2001 2000 2001 2000 Basic net income (loss) per share: Net income before merger related costs, gain on sale of note and plant closure charges $0.43 $0.83 $2.31 $2.89 Merger related costs (0.38) - (0.38) - Gain on sale of note - - 0.17 - Plant closure charges - (0.11) - (0.10) Net income $0.05 $0.72 $2.10 $2.79 Diluted net income (loss) per share: Net income before merger related costs, gain on sale of note and plant closure charges $0.43 $0.83 $2.28 $2.87 Merger related costs (0.38) - (0.38) - Gain on sale of note - - 0.17 - Plant closure charges - (0.11) - (0.10) Net income $0.05 $0.72 $2.07 $2.77 DEAN FOODS COMPANY BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION (Unaudited) (In millions) For the Three Months Ended May 27, 2001 and May 28, 2000 National Specialty Refrigerated Dairy Foods Products Corporate Consolidated Fiscal 2001 Net sales $848.6 $205.1 $106.7 $ - $1,160.4 Operating earnings (loss) $38.5 $ 11.4 $3.3 $(33.0)(A) $20.2(A) Fiscal 2000 Net sales * $758.5 $198.0 $74.2 $ - $1,030.7 Operating earnings (loss) $38.4(B) $17.7 $9.6 $(10.8) $54.9(B) For the Twelve Months Ended May 27, 2001 and May 28, 2000 National Specialty Refrigerated Dairy Foods Products Corporate Consolidated Fiscal 2001 Net sales $3,255.9 $784.9 $399.6 $ - $4,440.4 Operating earnings (loss) $156.9 $73.0 $10.4 $(58.7)(C) $181.6(C) Fiscal 2000 Net sales * $3,070.7 $741.3 $290.6 $ - $4,102.6 Operating earnings (loss) $141.8(D) $81.5 $37.5 $(38.2) $222.6(D) * Restated for the adoption of EITF 00-10 "Accounting for Shipping and Handling Fees". (A) Includes $22.2 million of merger related costs. Before the merger related costs, Corporate expenses were $10.8 million and consolidated operating earnings were $42.4 million. (B) Includes $6.1 million of plant closure charges. Before the plant closure charges, Dairy Group operating earnings were $44.5 million and consolidated operating earnings were $61.0 million. (C) Includes $22.2 million of merger related costs. Before the merger related costs, Corporate expenses were $36.5 million and consolidated operating earnings were $203.8 million. (D) Includes $6.1 million of plant closure charges. Before the plant closure charges, Dairy Group operating earnings were $147.9 million and consolidated operating earnings were $228.7 million. DEAN FOODS COMPANY CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (In millions) May 27, May 28, 2001 2000 ASSETS Current Assets: Cash and temporary cash investments $22.6 $26.6 Accounts and notes receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts 363.1 302.6 Inventories 220.1 178.4 Other current assets 89.2 92.7 Total current assets 695.0 600.3 Property, Plant and Equipment, net 919.3 815.3 Other Assets 703.1 587.9 Total Assets $2,317.4 $2,003.5 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Current Liabilities: Current installments of long-term obligations $4.4 $3.6 Accounts payable and accrued expenses 486.4 396.4 Dividends payable 8.2 7.9 Federal and state income taxes 24.6 41.2 Total current liabilities 523.6 449.1 Long-Term Obligations 940.2 758.7 Deferred Liabilities 149.0 138.0 Shareholders' Equity 704.6 657.7 Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity $2,317.4 $2,003.5
SOURCE Dean Foods Company
Web site: http://www.deanfoods.com
Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/109161.htmlor fax, 800-758-5804, ext. 109161
CONTACT: Barbara Klein, Vice President, Finance and CFO, orWilliam Luegers, Vice President and Treasurer, both of Dean FoodsCompany, 847-678-1680