FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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, Kansas, November 12, 2014 - 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.
 
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






MGP INGREDIENTS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(unaudited)
Quarter Ended
Year to Date Ended
(Dollars in thousands, except per share)
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2013
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2013
Sales
$
83,966

 
$
80,709

$
254,451

 
$
253,134

Less:  excise taxes
6,451

 
538

17,373

 
7,164

Net sales
77,515

 
80,171

237,078

 
245,970

Cost of sales
70,204

 
79,356

214,658

 
232,645

Gross profit
7,311

 
815

22,420

 
13,325

Selling, general and administrative expenses
4,966

 
6,760

15,204

 
17,405

Insurance recoveries
(1,293
)
 

(1,223
)
 

Other operating costs and losses on sale of assets
1

 
1

1

 
59

Income (loss) from operations
3,637

 
(5,946
)
8,438

 
(4,139
)
Interest expense, net
(199
)
 
(269
)
(615
)
 
(829
)
Equity method investment earnings (loss)
1,621

 
(91
)
7,287

 
(962
)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes
5,059

 
(6,306
)
15,110

 
(5,930
)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
(1,169
)
 
19

(1,002
)
 
44

Net income (loss) from continuing operations
6,228

 
(6,325
)
16,112

 
(5,974
)
Discontinued operations, net of tax

 


 
1,406

Net income (loss)
6,228

 
(6,325
)
16,112

 
(4,568
)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
(123
)
 
(111
)
202

 
(401
)
Comprehensive income (loss)
$
6,105

 
$
(6,436
)
$
16,314

 
$
(4,969
)
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share
 

 
 

 
 
 
Net income (loss)
$
0.34

 
$
(0.37
)
$
0.89

 
$
(0.27
)
Weighted average shares outstanding – Basic
17,334,330

 
17,045,001

17,286,258

 
17,045,001

Weighted average shares outstanding – Diluted
17,334,559

 
17,045,001

17,286,258

 
17,045,001






MGP INGREDIENTS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (UNAUDITED)
(Dollars in thousands)
September 30, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
 
(Dollars in thousands)
September 30, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
 
Current Assets:
 
 
 
 
Current Liabilities:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$

 
$
2,857

 
Current maturities of long-term debt
$
2,598

 
$
1,557

Receivables
31,550

 
27,821

 
Accounts payable
14,101

 
23,107

Inventory
31,465

 
34,917

 
Accounts payable to affiliate, net
3,424

 
1,204

Prepaid expenses
1,435

 
848

 
Accrued expenses
7,987

 
8,282

Deferred income taxes
2,532

 
4,977

 
Total Current Liabilities
28,110

 
34,150

Refundable income taxes
225

 
466

 
Other Liabilities:
 

 
 

Total Current Assets
67,207

 
71,886

 
Long-term debt, less current maturities
8,329

 
3,611

 
 

 
 

 
Revolving credit facility
5,736

 
18,000

Property and equipment
198,549

 
194,687

 
Deferred credit
4,259

 
3,925

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
(133,337
)
 
(124,443
)
 
Accrued retirement, health and life insurance benefits
3,654

 
4,423

 
 
 
 
 
Other noncurrent liabilities
706

 
640

Net Property, Plant
 

 
 

 
Deferred income taxes
1,318

 
4,977

and Equipment
65,212

 
70,244

 
Total Liabilities
52,112

 
69,726

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

 

 
 
 
Equity method investments
14,364

 
7,123

 
Stockholders’ equity
96,997

 
81,603

Other noncurrent assets
2,326

 
2,076

 
 
 
 
 
TOTAL ASSETS
$
149,109

 
$
151,329

 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
$
149,109

 
$
151,329

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Capital Structure
 

 
 

 
 
 

 
 

Net Investment in:
 

 
 

 
Financed By:
 

 
 

Working capital
$
39,097

 
$
37,736

 
Long-term debt*
$
14,065

 
$
21,611

Property, plant and equipment
65,212

 
70,244

 
Deferred liabilities
9,937

 
13,965

Other noncurrent assets
16,690

 
9,199

 
Stockholders’ equity
96,997

 
81,603

Total
$
120,999

 
$
117,179

 
Total
$
120,999

 
$
117,179

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