Press Releases
The Andersons, Inc.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081104/CLTU081LOGO )
The Grain & Ethanol Group's 2009 operating income was $51.4 million. This compares to an operating income of $43.6 million in 2008. The group's grain business had a record year, while the ethanol business had its second highest year resulting from significantly increased margins during the second half of the year. Full year income from the investment in Lansing Trade Group was lower than 2008, as a good fourth quarter was not enough to offset a modest loss incurred in the first half of the year. Total 2009 revenues for the Grain & Ethanol Group were $2.2 billion; this includes $806 million of grain and ethanol sales made in accordance with origination and marketing agreements between the company and its ethanol joint ventures. In 2008, the group's total revenues were $2.4 billion and included $866 million of the previously mentioned sales. For the fourth quarter, the Grain & Ethanol Group's operating income was $27.8 million, in contrast to $11.9 million earned during the same period in 2008. This fourth quarter increase in operating income was due to markedly improved results in the ethanol business and Lansing Trade Group. The ethanol business had its highest quarter since entering the business four years ago. These improvements were partially offset by lower quarterly results in the grain business due primarily to the late harvest in 2009. Total revenues for the fourth quarter were $722 million; in comparison, the group's revenues for the same period last year were $565 million.
The Rail Group had an operating loss of $1.0 million in 2009, which is down significantly from the $19.8 million earned in 2008. The group continues to be impacted by the double digit declines in national rail traffic. Gross profit from the leasing business was significantly lower than the prior year due mainly to lower utilization rates and the corresponding increase in storage expense from idle cars. The average utilization rate (the percentage of the fleet's railcars in service) for 2009 was 78.1 percent, which was down significantly from the prior year rate of 92.5 percent. The group ended the year with a utilization rate of 70.5 percent. The full year results include gains on sales of railcars and related leases of $1.7 million in 2009, and $4.0 million in 2008. Additionally, both the railcar repair and manufacturing businesses experienced significant decreases in gross profit during the year, as sales were down more than 30 percent. The rail fleet ended the year with approximately 23,800 cars and locomotives, which is comparable to the 2008 year end total. Revenues of $93 million for 2009 were down considerably from the $134 million reported in the prior year. The Rail Group had an operating loss of $1.5 million in the fourth quarter on $21 million of revenues. In 2008, operating income for the same three month period was $3.3 million on revenues of $28 million.
The Plant Nutrient Group ended the year with operating income of $11.3 million. In 2008, the group had an operating loss of $12.3 million due to significant lower of cost or market adjustments caused by sharp declines in nutrient prices. Revenues for 2009 and 2008 were $491 million and $653 million, respectively. Revenues declined in 2009 due to a significant decrease in the average selling price, offset by a modest volume increase. For the fourth quarter, the group's operating income was $1.7 million on $111 million of revenues. Last year the group had an operating loss of $74.5 million during the fourth quarter on revenues of $112 million, due to $84.1 million of the aforementioned adjustments being made during the quarter. The integration of the Hartung Brothers Inc.'s Fertilizer Division, which was acquired on August 1, 2009, was successfully completed by year end.
The Turf & Specialty Group's full year operating income was a record $4.7 million on $125 million of revenues. In 2008, the group had operating income of $2.3 million, and total revenues were $119 million. The 2009 results are mainly attributable to the group's lawn volume increasing by almost 20 percent. The group's focus on proprietary products in its lawn business is continuing to show positive results, even though there has been some softness in the professional product market. The group incurred an operating loss of $1.1 million in the fourth quarter on $19 million of revenues. Last year, its operating loss for the same period was also $1.1 million, on revenues of $20 million.
The Retail Group had an operating loss of $2.8 million in 2009. In the prior year, the group's operating income was $0.8 million. Total sales for the group were $162 million in 2009, or 6 percent below the 2008 total of $173 million. The group continues to be impacted by the weakness in the overall economy and resulting reduced consumer spending. Margins, however, have remained consistent with the prior year. The Retail Group's fourth quarter operating loss was $0.7 million on $42 million of revenues. Last year, during the same three month period, the operating income was $1.0 million, and total revenues were $46 million.
"Clearly, our full year earnings were heavily influenced by the results within our agricultural business units," CEO Mike Anderson stated. "The record full year earnings in our grain business, reflects our solid position in this industry. The significant turn around in ethanol margins enabled our ethanol business to report its best ever quarterly results. Our Turf & Specialty Group had a record year. Our Plant Nutrient Group returned to profitability, following the extraordinary loss incurred in 2008," Mr. Anderson added. "Our 2009 Rail and Retail Group results, however, were negatively impacted by the weak economy. Economic conditions such as these confirm that our strategy of purposeful diversification allows us to remain a strong company, even when external factors are significantly impacting one or more of our groups."
The company will host a webcast on Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at 11:00 A.M. ET, to discuss its performance. This can be accessed under the heading "Investor" on its website at www.andersonsinc.com.
The Andersons, Inc. is a diversified company with interests in the grain, ethanol and plant nutrient sectors of U.S. agriculture, as well as in railcar leasing and repair, turf products production, and general merchandise retailing. Founded in Maumee, Ohio, in 1947, the company now has operations in 16 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, plus rail equipment leasing interests in Canada and Mexico.
This release contains forward-looking statements. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Without limitation, these risks include economic, weather and regulatory conditions, competition, and the risk factors set forth from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although the Company believes that the assumptions upon which the financial information and its forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these assumptions will prove to be correct.
The Andersons, Inc. is located on the Internet at www.andersonsinc.com
FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW . . .
The Andersons, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)
Three Months ended Twelve Months ended
December 31 December 31
(in thousands, except for
per share amounts) 2009 2008 2009 2008
---- ---- ---- ----
Sales and merchandising
revenues $915,958 $770,065 $3,025,304 $3,489,478
Cost of sales and
merchandising revenues 846,170 757,839 2,769,798 3,231,649
------- ------- --------- ---------
Gross profit 69,788 12,226 255,506 257,829
Operating, administrative and
general expenses 54,560 50,394 199,116 190,230
Interest expense 4,714 6,099 20,688 31,239
Other income (loss):
Equity in earnings (loss)
of affiliates 15,078 (11,768) 17,463 4,033
Other income - net 1,925 (148) 8,331 6,170
----- ---- ----- -----
Income before income taxes 27,517 (56,183) 61,496 46,563
Income tax provision 9,127 (21,579) 21,930 16,466
----- ------- ------ ------
Net income 18,390 (34,604) 39,566 30,097
Net (income) loss attributable
to the noncontrolling
interest (2,159) 1,215 (1,215) 2,803
------ ----- ------ -----
Net income attributable to The
Andersons, Inc. $16,231 $(33,389) $38,351 $32,900
======= ======== ======= =======
Per common share:
Basic earnings $0.89 $(1.84) $2.10 $1.82
===== ====== ===== =====
Diluted earnings $0.88 $(1.84) $2.08 $1.79
===== ====== ===== =====
Dividends paid $0.0875 $0.0850 $0.3475 $0.3250
======= ======= ======= =======
The Andersons, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
December 31 December 31
(in thousands) 2009 2008
---- ----
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $145,929 $81,682
Restricted cash 3,123 3,927
Accounts receivable, net 137,195 126,255
Margin deposits, net 27,012 13,094
Inventories 407,845 436,920
Commodity derivative assets - current 24,255 84,919
Other current assets 41,464 109,165
------ -------
Total current assets 786,823 855,962
Investments and other assets 182,989 153,488
Commodity derivative assets 3,137 3,662
Railcar assets leased to others (net) 179,154 174,132
Property, plant and equipment (net) 132,288 121,529
------- -------
$1,284,391 $1,308,773
========== ==========
Liabilities and shareholders' equity
Current liabilities:
Commodity derivative
liabilities - current $24,871 $67,055
Other current liabilities 454,250 458,208
------- -------
Total current liabilities 479,121 525,263
Deferred items and other long-term
liabilities 90,138 80,687
Commodity derivative liabilities 830 3,706
Long-term debt non-recourse 19,270 40,055
Long-term debt 288,756 293,955
Shareholders' equity 406,276 365,107
------- -------
$1,284,391 $1,308,773
========== ==========
Segment Data
Grain & Plant Turf &
Ethanol Rail Nutrient Specialty
------- ---- -------- ---------
Quarter ended December
31, 2009
Revenues from external
customers $722,294 $21,101 $111,447 $19,400
Gross Profit 35,692 3,104 14,585 4,956
Equity in earnings
(loss) of affiliates 15,076 - 2 -
Other income (loss), net 419 232 160 303
Income before income
taxes 29,969 (1,471) 1,671 (1,090)
Income attributable to
the noncontrolling
interest (2,159) - - -
Operating income (loss)(a) 27,810 (1,471) 1,671 (1,090)
Quarter ended December
31, 2008
Revenues from external
customers $565,189 $27,552 $111,521 $20,116
Gross Profit 45,359 7,795 (59,815) 5,336
Equity in earnings
(loss) of affiliates (11,770) - 2 -
Other income (loss), net (19) (76) 165 181
Income before income
taxes 10,702 3,318 (74,457) (1,064)
Income attributable to
the noncontrolling
interest 1,215 - - -
Operating income (loss)(a) 11,917 3,318 (74,457) (1,064)
Twelve months ended
December 31, 2009
Revenues from external
customers $2,153,978 $92,789 $491,293 $125,306
Gross Profit 106,804 16,816 59,419 25,457
Equity in earnings
(loss) of affiliates 17,452 - 8 -
Other income (loss), net 2,319 485 1,755 1,131
Income before income
taxes 52,569 (1,034) 11,294 4,735
Income attributable to
the noncontrolling
interest (1,215) - - -
Operating income (loss)(a) 51,354 (1,034) 11,294 4,735
Twelve months ended
December 31, 2008
Revenues from external
customers $2,411,144 $133,898 $652,509 $118,856
Gross Profit 110,954 37,055 33,990 24,704
Equity in earnings
(loss) of affiliates 4,027 - 6 -
Other income (loss), net 4,751 526 893 446
Income before income
taxes 40,784 19,782 (12,325) 2,321
Income attributable to
the noncontrolling
interest 2,803 - - -
Operating income (loss)(a) 43,587 19,782 (12,325) 2,321
Retail Other Total
------ ----- -----
Quarter ended December 31, 2009
Revenues from external customers $41,716 $- $915,958
Gross Profit 11,451 - 69,788
Equity in earnings (loss) of
affiliates - - 15,078
Other income (loss), net 325 486 1,925
Income before income taxes (721) (841) 27,517
Income attributable to the
noncontrolling interest - - (2,159)
Operating income (loss) (a) (721) (841) 25,358
Quarter ended December 31, 2008
Revenues from external customers $45,687 $- $770,065
Gross Profit 13,551 - 12,226
Equity in earnings (loss) of
affiliates - - (11,768)
Other income (loss), net 259 (658) (148)
Income before income taxes 1,015 4,303 (56,183)
Income attributable to the
noncontrolling interest - - 1,215
Operating income (loss) (a) 1,015 4,303 (54,968)
Twelve months ended December 31, 2009
Revenues from external customers $161,938 $- $3,025,304
Gross Profit 47,010 - 255,506
Equity in earnings (loss) of
affiliates - 3 17,463
Other income (loss), net 683 1,958 8,331
Income before income taxes (2,843) (3,225) 61,496
Income attributable to the
noncontrolling interest - - (1,215)
Operating income (loss) (a) (2,843) (3,225) 60,281
Twelve months ended December 31, 2008
Revenues from external customers $173,071 $- $3,489,478
Gross Profit 51,126 - 257,829
Equity in earnings (loss) of
affiliates - - 4,033
Other income (loss), net 692 (1,138) 6,170
Income before income taxes 843 (4,842) 46,563
Income attributable to the
noncontrolling interest - - 2,803
Operating income (loss) (a) 843 (4,842) 49,366
(a) Operating income (loss) for each Group is defined as net sales
and merchandising revenues plus identifiable other income less all
identifiable operating expenses, including interest expense for
carrying working capital and long-term assets and is reported net
of the noncontrolling interest share of (income) loss.
First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: debra_crow@andersonsinc.com
SOURCE: The Andersons, Inc.
CONTACT: Nicholas C. Conrad, VP, Finance & Treasurer, +1-419-891-6415,
Web Site: http://www.andersonsinc.com/