MGP Ingredients, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2014 Results

Growth in Beverage Alcohol and Lower Costs Drive Profit Improvement for 3rd Consecutive Quarter

Quarterly Highlights

• Income from operations improved $9.6 million compared to the year ago quarter
• Net income grew $12.6 million compared to the year ago quarter
• Selling, general and administrative expenses lower due to $1.8 million of proxy costs in the year ago quarter
• Joint venture results improved $1.7 million compared to the year ago quarter
• Gains from insurance recovery added $1.9 million to operating income; income tax benefit contributed $1.2 million to net income

ATCHISON, Kan., Nov. 12, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MGP Ingredients, Inc. (Nasdaq:MGPI) (the "Company") today reported results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2014. Net sales were $77.5 million for the third quarter. The Company's gross profit for the third quarter was $7.3 million, or 9.4 percent of net sales, compared to $0.8 million, or 1.0 percent of net sales in the prior year period. Third quarter income from operations was $3.6 million compared to a loss of $5.9 million a year ago. Net income was $6.2 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $6.3 million, or $0.37 per diluted share, in the third quarter of the prior year.

"Our profit growth this quarter is a result of continued improvement in our distillery products segment, and reflects a favorable shift towards premium spirits," said President and CEO, Gus Griffin. "Ingredient solutions, while profitable, is not growing the way we would like. We are confident that we have identified opportunities and the appropriate strategies to drive growth for this business. Our quarterly results also benefited from a strong contribution from the ICP joint venture."

For the first nine months of 2014 net sales were $237.1 million. Gross profit improved by $9.1 million, to 9.5 percent of net sales, compared to a year ago. Income from operations for year-to-date was $8.4 million compared to a loss of $4.1 million the same period a year ago. Net income of $16.1 million for the year-to-date period compared to a net loss of $4.6 million for the prior year-to-date period.

Distillery Products

Total distillery net sales for the third quarter were $63.7 million. Compared to a year ago, sales volumes for alcohol, excluding by-product volumes, increased 11.50 percent. While overall pricing was lower, price declines were less than the decrease in cost of goods sold, due to strong product pricing and a lessening of the historic correlation between product pricing and commodity prices. As a result, overall pre-tax operating income increased to $6.5 million from a loss of $1.6 million in the prior year.

Total distillery net sales for the nine months were $194.0 million. Compared to one year ago, sales volumes for alcohol, excluding by-product volumes, increased 20.2 percent. Overall pricing was lower, but the change was less than decreases in cost of goods led by decreases in the cost of corn, increasing pre-tax operating income margin to 9.3 percent from 2.9 percent. As a result, distillery segment pre-tax operating income for the year-to-date period was $18.0 million compared to pre-tax operating income of $5.8 million for the same period a year ago.

Ingredient Solutions

Total ingredient net sales for the third quarter were $13.8 million. Compared to one year ago, total sales volume grew 3.6 percent, with average selling price declining by 5.5 percent, in a market that saw our flour price decline 9.1 percent. Third quarter pre-tax operating income was $1.1 million compared to income of $1.3 million for the same quarter a year ago.

Total ingredient net sales for the first nine months were $43.0 million. Compared to one year ago, total sales volume grew 2.2 percent, with average selling price declining by 6.4 percent, during a period when our flour prices declined 11.3 percent. Pre-tax operating income for the year-to-date period was $2.8 million compared to income of $3.9 million for the same period a year ago.

Other Factors

Corporate selling, general and administrative expenses were $5.0 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2014, compared to $6.8 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2013. Corporate selling, general and administrative expenses were $15.2 million for the year-to-date period ended September 30, 2014 compared to $17.4 million in the year ago period. The decreases were primarily due to $1.8 million of proxy costs accrued in the quarter and year-to-date periods ended September 30, 2013.

Joint venture (including ICP) equity method investment earnings were $1.6 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2014, compared to a loss of $0.1 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2013. Joint venture (including ICP) equity method investment earnings were $7.3 million for the year-to-date period ended September 30, 2014, versus a loss of $1.0 million in the prior year-to-date period. The significant quarter-versus-quarter and period-versus-period increases in earnings were due to much improved margins in the production of chemical intermediates, fuel grade alcohol, and high quality food grade alcohol.

Third quarter income from operations included $1.9 million from an insurance recovery, net of losses and out-of-pocket expenses totaling $0.1 million, related to a claim for a fire at the Company's Indiana distillery in early 2014. In addition, the Company evaluated the potential realization of its deferred income tax assets and concluded that $1.2 million of the existing valuation allowance on its deferred income tax assets was no longer required. Accordingly, an income tax benefit of $1.2 million was recorded for the quarter ended September 30, 2014. The impact for the year-to-date period ended September 30, 2014, was an income tax benefit of $1.0 million, net of $0.2 million of tax expense recorded prior to the third quarter.

About MGP Ingredients

MGP is a leading independent supplier of premium spirits, offering flavor innovations and custom distillery blends to the beverage alcohol industry. The Company also produces high quality food grade alcohol and formulates grain-based starches and proteins into nutritional and functional innovations for the consumer packaged goods industry. The Company is headquartered in Atchison, Kansas, where it has facilities for the production of distilled spirits and food ingredients. Distilled spirits are also produced at the Company's facility in Indiana. For more information, visit mgpingredients.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements as well as historical information. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q regarding the prospects of our industry and our prospects, plans, financial position and business strategy may constitute forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements are usually identified by or are associated with such words as "intend," "plan," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "anticipate," "hopeful," "should," "may," "will," "could," "encouraged," "opportunities," "potential" and/or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology. They reflect management's current beliefs and estimates of future economic circumstances, industry conditions, Company performance and financial results and are not guarantees of future performance. All such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the relevant forward-looking statement. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations include, among others: (i) disruptions in operations at our Atchison facility, Indiana plant, or at the Illinois Corn Processing, LLC ("ICP") facility, (ii) the availability and cost of grain and flour and fluctuations in energy costs, (iii) the effectiveness of our corn purchasing program to mitigate our exposure to commodity price fluctuations, (iv) the competitive environment and related market conditions, (v) the ability to effectively pass raw material price increases on to customers, (vi) the volatility in operating results of the ICP joint venture, (vii) ICP's revolving credit agreement with an affiliate of SEACOR Holdings Inc. (our greater than 9 percent equity owner and the parent company of ICP Holdings, LLC, who is our 70 percent joint venture partner in ICP), (viii) our limited influence over the ICP joint venture operating decisions, strategies or financial decisions (including investments, capital spending and distributions), (ix) our ability to source product from the ICP joint venture or unaffiliated third parties, (x) our ability to maintain compliance with all applicable loan agreement covenants, (xi) our ability to realize operating efficiencies, (xii) actions of governments, (xiii) and consumer tastes and preferences. For further information on these and other risks and uncertainties that may affect our business, including risks specific to our Distillery and Ingredient segments, see Item 1A. Risk Factors of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, as updated by Item 1A. Risk Factors of the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the periods ended March 31, 2014, June 30, 2014 and September 30, 2014.

*Excludes short-term portion. Short-term portion is included within working capital.

CONTACT: For More Information
         Investors & Analysts:
         George Zagoudis, Investor Relations
         913-360-5441 or george.zagoudis@mgpingredients.com
         Media:
         Shanae Randolph, Corporate Director of Communications
         913-360-5442 or shanae.randolph@mgpingredients.com

Released November 12, 2014