Penford Reports First Quarter Fiscal Year 2013 Financial Results

Penford Corporation (Nasdaq: PENX), a leader in ingredient systems for industrial and food applications, today reported first quarter 2013 results.

For the first quarter ended November 30, 2012 consolidated sales increased 4.5% to $94.9 million from $90.7 million a year ago. The Company reported first quarter net income of $1.7 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, compared with net income of $0.6 million or $0.05 per diluted share last year.

A table summarizing quarterly and annual financial results is shown below:

Penford Corporation – Financial Highlights
(In thousands)		Q1 FY 13			Q4 FY 12				Q3 FY 12			Q2 FY 12				Q1 FY 12
Food Ingredients:
Sales		$	27,654		$	25,543			$	26,173		$	24,904			$	25,924
Gross margin			8,104			8,098				8,225			7,626				8,221
Operating income			5,355			5,028				5,362			5,247				5,959
Depreciation and amortization			485			473				512			498				505
Industrial Ingredients:
Sales		$	67,205		$	65,962			$	66,751		$	61,284			$	64,822
Gross margin			5,154			3,149				3,229			1,775				3,586
Operating income (loss)			1,387			(767	)			75			(985	)			743
Depreciation and amortization			2,813			2,781				2,772			2,697				2,629
Consolidated:
Sales		$	94,859		$	91,505			$	92,924		$	86,188			$	90,746
Gross margin			13,258			11,247				11,454			9,401				11,808
Operating income			4,020			476				3,573			1,650				4,359
Depreciation and amortization			3,383			3,409				3,632			3,574				3,512

Highlights for the first quarter are as follows:

Food Ingredients Division

• Food Ingredients reported record quarterly sales of $27.7 million.
• Revenue gains of 6.7% were primarily led by strong sales in protein and sauces end markets. The revenue increase was partially offset by a 3% decline in sales of coatings applications, which reflected a pipeline build from a new product introduction in the year ago quarter.
• Operating income declined 10% due to higher investment spending in R&D and commercial resources.

Industrial Ingredients Division

• Revenue for the first quarter increased 4% to $67.2 million on growth in industrial starch volumes, as well as contributions from the Carolina Starches business acquired in January 2012.
• The revenue gain was partially offset by lower ethanol sales, down 28% from weaker pricing and lower volume. The Industrial Division shifted more of its production to higher margin starches. Ethanol revenue represented 35% of Industrial sales in the first quarter, down from 50% last year.
• Gross margin improved 44% to $5.2 million, and operating income rose 87% over the prior year on higher starch sales, lower unit costs and better manufacturing yields, but slightly offset by increased investment in R&D and commercial support for the Company’s bioproducts platform.
• During the quarter the Company received approval from the City of Cedar Rapids, IA for an agreement which will permit the Company to acquire an 11 acre park adjacent to the Company’s Cedar Rapids plant for future expansion of the Company’s bioproducts and other operations.

Consolidated Results

• Interest expense declined by 55% to $1.1 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2013, reflecting the complete redemption of the Series A 15% Preferred Stock in fiscal 2012.
• The Company’s effective tax rate in the first quarter of 2013 was 38.5% compared to 70% for the same period last year. The decrease in the effective rate was primarily due to the redemption of the Company’s preferred stock. Dividends and discount accretion on the preferred stock, which were reported as interest expense, were not deductible for tax purposes.

Conference Call

Penford will host a conference call to discuss fiscal 2013 first quarter results today, January 9, 2013 at 7:30 a.m. Mountain Time (9:30 a.m. Eastern Time). Access information for the call and webcast can be found at www.penx.com. To participate in the call on January 9, 2013, please phone [phone] at 7:20 a.m. Mountain Time. A replay will be available at www.penx.com.

About Penford Corporation

Penford Corporation develops, manufactures and markets specialty, natural-based ingredient systems for a variety of industrial and food applications. Penford has seven manufacturing and/or research locations in the United States.

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