Full Press Release Details
KEWAUNEE SCIENTIFIC REPORTS RESULTS FOR THE SECOND QUARTER AND QUARTERLY
STATESVILLE, N.C., Nov. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Kewaunee Scientific
Corporation (Nasdaq: KEQU) today reported results for its second quarter ended
Net earnings for the quarter were $569,000, or $0.23 per diluted share, an
increase of 138% over net earnings of $239,000, or $0.10 per diluted share, in
the same period last year. Earnings for the quarter benefited from increased
profit margins, lower manufacturing and operating costs, and increased earnings
of the Company's international operations.
Sales for the quarter were $21,385,000, a decrease of 4.2% from sales of
$22,319,000 in the same period last year. The volume of domestic sales continues
to be adversely affected as larger portions of the construction budget dollars
of pharmaceutical companies are being allocated to overseas projects to take
advantage of lower research costs. The Company's international business
continued to experience strong growth in sales and earnings, as sales of the
Company's Asian subsidiaries during the quarter doubled from the same period
last year to $4.3 million. Sales from domestic operations, which declined from
the same period last year, were also unfavorably impacted by delays in the
awarding of construction projects, as many project budgets are reexamined
because of higher than expected project costs. The order backlog at October 31,
2006 was $34.3 million, down from $36.4 million at April 30, 2006.
"We made good progress during the quarter in a number of important areas,"
said William A. Shumaker, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Our factories
are running extremely well. We are now experiencing much lower manufacturing
costs from the Company's capital projects completed in the second half of last
year and from our 'Lean' manufacturing initiatives, which allow us to produce
parts just in time to meet customer requirements. Our strategy to increase sales
representation and capabilities in India and China is progressing well, and our
Asian subsidiaries have become a significant source of our revenue and earnings.
Also, after many months of what seemed to be relentless increases in material
and energy costs, we received some welcome relief during the quarter as steel
prices stabilized and energy prices abated.
"We remain optimistic about Kewaunee's long-term success and profitability,
both in the domestic and international markets," Mr. Shumaker continued.
"Regarding our current fiscal year, we expect the last six months to be
profitable and much improved over the same period last year."
The Company's balance sheet remained strong at the end of the quarter.
Working capital was $11.6 million, up from $11.0 million at April 30, 2006.
Total bank debt and capital lease obligations at October 31, 2006 were $9.1
million, unchanged from April 30, 2006, resulting in a debt to equity ratio of
.35-to-1 at the end of the quarter.
Net earnings for the six months ended October 31, 2006 were $702,000, or
$0.28 per diluted share. Net earnings for the comparable period of the prior
year, which benefited from an after-tax gain of $540,000 related to the sale of
the Company's property in Texas, were $1,002,000, or $0.40 per diluted share.
Excluding this gain on the sale of property, net earnings in the prior year
period were $462,000, or $0.18 per diluted share.
Sales for the six months ended October 31, 2006 were $40,679,000, a decrease
of 4.6% from sales of $42,627,000 in the same period last year. Sales of the
Company's Asian subsidiaries increased 66.5%, while sales from domestic
operations declined 12.3% from the prior year period.
The Company also announced today that its Board of Directors approved a cash
dividend of seven cents per outstanding share to stockholders of record at the
close of business on December 11, 2006, payable on December 22, 2006.
Kewaunee Scientific Corporation is a recognized leader in the design,
manufacture, and installation of scientific and technical furniture. The
Company's corporate headquarters and manufacturing facilities are located in
Statesville, North Carolina. The Company also has subsidiaries in Singapore and
Bangalore, India that serve the Asian markets. Kewaunee Scientific's website is
located at http://www.kewaunee.com.
Certain statements in this release constitute "forward-looking" statements
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such
forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors that could significantly impact results or achievements expressed
or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are
not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental, and technological factors
affecting the Company's operations, markets, products, services, and prices.
Contact: D. Michael Parker
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per share data)
* Includes a non-recurring pretax gain of $884,000 and an after-tax gain of
$540,000, or $.22 per diluted share, on the sale of property.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
------------ ------------
Cash and cash equivalents $ 738 $ 929
Restricted cash 404 399
Receivables, less allowances 22,358 23,199
Inventories 5,346 5,860
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 1,136 1,011
Total current assets 29,982 31,398
Net property, plant and equipment 11,068 11,163
Other assets 8,182 7,911
Total Assets $ 49,232 $ 50,472
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Short-term borrowings $ 8,137 $ 8,216
Current obligations under capital leases 343 260
Accounts payable 6,377 9,074
Other current liabilities 3,506 2,823
Total current liabilities 18,363 20,373
Other non-current liabilities 4,955 4,553
Total stockholders' equity 25,914 25,546
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity $ 49,232 $ 50,472
SOURCE Kewaunee Scientific Corporation
/CONTACT: D. Michael Parker of Kewaunee Scientific Corporation,
/Web site: http://www.kewaunee.com /