MARION, N.Y., Jan. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Seneca Foods Corporation (NASDAQ:SENEA) (NASDAQ:SENEB) reported
net earnings for the fiscal nine months ended December 31, 2016 of $14.3 million, or $1.43 per diluted share, compared to net
earnings of $40.6 million, or $4.04 per diluted share for the same period in the prior year. A significant portion of the
earnings decrease is attributable to the Company recording a gain of $24.3 million related to the contractual payment received in
conjunction with a relationship transfer agreement with General Mills in the prior year. In the nine months ended December
31, 2016, net sales increased $7.9 million, or 0.8% to $979.6 million. The increase is attributable to a sales volume increase of
$68.4 million partially offset by unfavorable sales mix and lower selling prices of $60.5 million.
The Company reported for the third quarter of 2017, net earnings of $8.2 million, or $0.82 per diluted share,
compared to net earnings of $31.1 million, or $3.10 per diluted share, in the fiscal third quarter of 2016. Net sales
for the third quarter ended December 31, 2016 decreased from the third quarter ended December 26, 2015 by 14.5%, or $62.5 million
to $369.7 million. The decrease is attributable to a sales volume decrease of $48.5 million and an unfavorable sales mix and
lower selling prices of $14.0 million. The sales decrease is mostly a timing difference attributable to a change in contract terms
for Green Giant.
During the first nine months of fiscal 2017, the Company recorded a restructuring charge of $2.8 million
primarily related to severance and the cost of moving equipment from a plant that was closed in the prior fiscal year. In
addition, during the first nine months of fiscal 2017, the Company incurred a non-cash after-tax LIFO charge of $0.3 million,
compared to a non-cash after-tax LIFO credit of $8.6 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2016.
Operating income, as reported, was $13.9 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2016 and $48.5 million for
the quarter ended December 26, 2015. During the nine months ended December 31, 2016 and the nine months ended December 26,
2015, this was $26.7 million and $66.4 million, respectively. Operating income, excluding the LIFO charge/credit and the
restructuring charge/credit, was $11.3 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2016 and $46.4 million for the quarter ended
December 26, 2015. During the nine months ended December 31, 2016 and the nine months ended December 26, 2015, this was $29.9
million and $62.8 million, respectively.
About Seneca Foods Corporation
Seneca Foods is North America’s leading provider of packaged fruits and vegetables, with facilities located throughout the United
States. Its high quality products are primarily sourced from over 2,000 American farms. Seneca holds the largest share of the
retail private label, food service, and export canned vegetable markets, distributing to over 90 countries. Products
are also sold under the highly regarded brands of Libby’s®, Aunt Nellie’s®, Cherryman®, READ®, Seneca Farms® and Seneca labels,
including Seneca snack chips. In addition, Seneca provides vegetable products under a contract packing agreement with B&G
Foods North America, under the Green Giant label. Seneca’s common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Stock Market
under the symbols “SENEA” and “SENEB”. SENEA is included in the S&P SmallCap 600, Russell 2000 and Russell 3000 indices.
Non-GAAP Financial
Measures—Operating Earnings Excluding LIFO and Plant Restructuring Impact, EBITDA and FIFO
EBITDA
Operating earnings excluding LIFO and plant restructuring, EBITDA and FIFO EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures. The Company
believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide a basis for comparison to companies that do not use LIFO or have plant
restructuring and enhance the understanding of the Company’s historical operating performance. The Company does not intend
for this information to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for other measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.
Set forth below is a reconciliation of reported Operating Earnings excluding LIFO and plant restructuring.
| |
|
Quarter Ended |
|
Nine Months Ended |
| |
|
In millions |
|
In millions |
| |
|
12/31/2016 |
|
12/26/2015 |
|
12/31/2016 |
|
12/26/2015 |
| |
|
FY 2017 |
|
FY 2016 |
|
FY 2017 |
|
FY 2016 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Operating earnings, as reported: |
$ |
13.9 |
|
$ |
48.5 |
|
$ |
26.7 |
$ |
66.4 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| LIFO (credit) charge |
|
(3.9 |
) |
|
(11.7 |
) |
|
0.4 |
|
(13.2 |
) |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Plant restructuring charge |
|
1.3 |
|
|
9.6 |
|
|
2.8 |
|
9.6 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Operating earnings, excluding LIFO and plant restructuring impact |
$ |
11.3 |
|
$ |
46.4 |
|
$ |
29.9 |
$ |
62.8 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Set forth below is a reconciliation of reported net earnings to EBITDA and FIFO EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes,
depreciation, amortization, non-cash charges and credits related to the LIFO inventory valuation method). The Company does not
intend for this information to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for other measures prepared in accordance with
GAAP.
| |
|
Nine Months Ended |
| EBITDA and FIFO EBITDA: |
|
December 31, 2016 |
|
December 26, 2015 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
(In thousands) |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Net earnings |
$ |
14,263 |
|
$ |
40,613 |
|
| Income tax expense |
|
6,217 |
|
|
19,924 |
|
| Interest expense, net of interest income |
|
6,709 |
|
|
5,772 |
|
| Depreciation and amortization |
|
18,209 |
|
|
15,884 |
|
| Interest amortization |
|
(270 |
) |
|
(226 |
) |
| EBITDA |
|
45,128 |
|
|
81,967 |
|
| LIFO charge (credit) |
|
(434 |
) |
|
(13,249 |
) |
| FIFO EBITDA |
$ |
44,694 |
|
$ |
68,718 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forward-Looking Information
The information contained in this release contains, or may contain, forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements appear in a number of places in this
release and include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company or its officers (including
statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates” or similar expressions) with
respect to various matters.
Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements, which
speak only as of the date the statements were made. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially
are:
- general economic and business conditions;
- cost and availability of commodities and other raw materials such as vegetables, steel and packaging materials;
- transportation costs;
- climate and weather affecting growing conditions and crop yields;
- availability of financing;
- leverage and the Company’s ability to service and reduce its debt;
- foreign currency exchange and interest rate fluctuations;
- effectiveness of the Company’s marketing and trade promotion programs;
- changing consumer preferences;
- competition;
- product liability claims;
- the loss of significant customers or a substantial reduction in orders from these customers;
- changes in, or the failure or inability to comply with, United States, foreign and local governmental regulations, including
environmental and health and safety regulations; and
- other risks detailed from time to time in the reports filed by the Company with the SEC.
Except for ongoing obligations to disclose material information as required by the federal securities laws, the
Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or
circumstances after the date of the filing of this report or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
| |
|
|
| Seneca Foods Corporation |
|
|
| Unaudited Selected Financial Data |
|
|
| For the Periods Ended December 31, 2016 and December
26, 2015 |
|
|
| (In thousands of dollars, except share data) |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Third Quarter |
|
Year-to-Date |
|
|
| |
|
Fiscal 2017 |
|
Fiscal 2016 |
|
Fiscal 2017 |
|
Fiscal 2016 |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Net sales |
$ |
369,705 |
|
$ |
432,198 |
$ |
979,566 |
|
$ |
971,658 |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Plant restructuring expense (note 2) |
$ |
1,316 |
|
$ |
9,624 |
$ |
2,778 |
|
$ |
9,558 |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Other operating (expense) income net (note 3) |
$ |
(1,153 |
) |
$ |
24,197 |
$ |
(1,172 |
) |
$ |
24,600 |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Operating income (note 1) |
$ |
13,890 |
|
$ |
48,450 |
$ |
26,689 |
|
$ |
66,441 |
|
|
| (Earnings) Loss from equity investment |
|
(333 |
) |
|
46 |
|
(500 |
) |
|
132 |
|
|
| Interest expense, net |
|
2,414 |
|
|
2,191 |
|
6,709 |
|
|
5,772 |
|
|
| Earnings before income taxes |
$ |
11,809 |
|
$ |
46,213 |
$ |
20,480 |
|
$ |
60,537 |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Income taxes expense |
|
3,628 |
|
|
15,090 |
|
6,217 |
|
|
19,924 |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Net earnings |
$ |
8,181 |
|
$ |
31,123 |
$ |
14,263 |
|
$ |
40,613 |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Earnings attributable to common stock (note 4) |
$ |
8,100 |
|
$ |
30,832 |
$ |
14,115 |
|
$ |
40,180 |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Basic earnings per share |
$ |
0.83 |
|
$ |
3.12 |
$ |
1.44 |
|
$ |
4.06 |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Diluted earnings per share |
$ |
0.82 |
|
$ |
3.10 |
$ |
1.43 |
|
$ |
4.04 |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Weighted average shares outstanding basic |
|
9,770,245 |
|
|
9,884,024 |
|
9,790,234 |
|
|
9,891,160 |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Weighted average shares outstanding diluted |
|
9,839,915 |
|
|
9,953,784 |
|
9,859,904 |
|
|
9,960,920 |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Note 1: The effect of the LIFO inventory valuation method on
third quarter pre-tax results increased operating earnings by $3,941,000 for |
|
| the three month period ended December 31, 2016 and increased operating
earnings by $11,662,000 for the three month period ended December |
|
| 26, 2015. The effect of the LIFO inventory valuation
method on year-to-date pre-tax results decreased operating earnings by |
|
| $434,000 for the nine month period ended December 31, 2016 and
increased operating earnings by $13,249,000 for the nine month period |
|
| ended December 26, 2015. |
|
| Note 2: The nine month period ended December 31, 2016 included a
restructuring charge primarily for severance and moving costs of $2,778,000. |
|
| The nine month period ended December 26, 2015 included a restructuring
charge for plant closure costs of $9,558,000. |
|
| Note 3: Other loss for the nine month period ended December 31, 2016
of $1,172,000 represents a charge for impairment of a long-term asset of |
|
| $1,052,000, a net loss on the sale of unused fixed assets of
$149,000 and a gain of $29,000 to adjust a previously recorded environmental charge. |
|
| Other operating income for the nine month period ended December 26,
2015 of $24,600,000 represents a $24,275,000 assignment payment related |
|
| to the relationship transfer agreement among General Mills, B & G
Foods and the Company, a $200,000 credit related to a contingency accrual for |
|
| Prop 65, net gain on the sale of unused fixed assets of $43,000
and a credit of $82,000 related to an adjustment to an environmental accrual. |
|
| Note 4: The Company uses the "two-class" method for basic earnings per
share by dividing the earnings attributable to common shareholders |
|
| by the weighted average of common shares outstanding during the
period. |
|
| |
|
Contact: Timothy J. Benjamin, Chief Financial Officer 315-926-8100
