LaBARGE, INC. REPORTS FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR
FISCAL 2003 THIRD QUARTER AND NINE MONTHS
Sequential Quarterly Improvement in Revenues and Earnings Continues;
Backlog Reaches New Company Record
ST. LOUIS, May 1, 2003 . . . . . LaBarge, Inc. (AMEX: LB) today reported
financial results for its fiscal 2003 third quarter, ended March 30, 2003.
Net sales from continuing operations were $25,794,000 for the fiscal 2003 third
quarter, compared with $29,553,000 for the year-ago period. Net earnings from
continuing operations were $992,000, or $.07 per diluted share, for the fiscal
2003 third quarter, compared with $1,426,000, or $.09 per diluted share, for the
fiscal 2002 third quarter. The net loss from discontinued operations was
$276,000, or $.02 per diluted share, for the fiscal 2003 third quarter, compared
with a net loss of $181,000, or $.01 per diluted share, from these operations in
the year-ago period. Net earnings for the fiscal 2003 third quarter were
$716,000, or $.05 per diluted share, compared with $1,245,000, or $.08 per
diluted share, reported for the fiscal 2002 third quarter.
When compared with this year's second fiscal quarter, fiscal 2003 third-quarter
net sales from continuing operations grew 6 percent. Reflecting an improved
product mix, the gross margin widened to 20.7 percent in the third quarter
from 19.3 percent in the quarter before; and reflecting ongoing cost-control
efforts, selling and administrative expenses dropped to 14.2 percent of sales
from 16.1 percent.Together, these improvements produced a 71 percent increase
in third-quarter net earnings from continuing operations compared with the
fiscal 2003 second quarter.
For the first nine months, net sales from continuing operations were $73,165,000
in fiscal 2003 versus $91,235,000 in fiscal 2002. Net earnings from continuing
operations were $2,026,000, or $.13 per diluted share, for the first nine months
of fiscal 2003, compared with $3,732,000, or $.24 per diluted share, for the
first nine months of fiscal 2002. The net loss from discontinued operations was
$844,000, or $.05 per diluted share, for the fiscal 2003 first nine months,
versus a net loss of $252,000, or $.01 per diluted share, from these operations
for the year-ago period. Net earnings for the fiscal 2003 first nine months were
$1,182,000, or $.08 per diluted share, compared with $3,480,000, or $.23 per
diluted share, for the comparable year-ago period.
During the third fiscal quarter, LaBarge announced that it intends to divest the
remainder of its ScadaNET Network (Trade Mark) remote equipment monitoring
business, which represented less than 1 percent of LaBarge's consolidated
revenues. The Company is currently seeking a buyer for the business.
As a result, the ScadaNET Network business is now accounted for as discontinued
operations and historical results have been adjusted accordingly.
The gross margin from continuing operations was 20.7 percent in the fiscal 2003
third quarter, compared with 19.8 percent for the third fiscal quarter of last
year. Selling and administrative expense from continuing operations increased
3.1 percent in this year's third quarter compared with the same period last
year, and represented 14.2 percent of sales compared with 12.0 percent in the
year-ago quarter. Interest expense in this year's third quarter declined
approximately 27 percent to $197,000 compared with $269,000 for the year-ago
period, reflecting reduced debt levels.
Total debt at March 30, 2003 was $11,459,000, down 26 percent from $15,529,000
at June 30, 2002. Cash and cash equivalents at March 30, 2003 were $5,185,000
versus $2,533,000 at June 30, 2002. Stockholders' equity was $34,771,000, or
$2.33 per basic share, up 3 percent from $33,684,000 at fiscal 2002 year end.
Consolidated backlog from continuing operations set a new company record at the
end of the fiscal 2003 third quarter at $110.4 million, compared with $104.4
million at the end of the second quarter and $98.0 million at fiscal 2002 year
end.
"Although sales and earnings are down from the year-ago period, LaBarge's third-
quarter financial results sustained the sequential quarterly improvement the
Company has achieved throughout this fiscal year," said Chief Executive Officer
and President Craig LaBarge. "Net sales increased 6 percent from second-quarter
levels, fueling a 71 percent increase in third-quarter net earnings from
continuing operations compared with the second quarter. Although the prolonged
weakness in the economy continues to restrain sales and earnings, we are pleased
with our continuing improvement. We are also encouraged by the continuing
strength of new bookings - particularly in the defense and aerospace areas.
"Shipments to defense customers were the largest contributor to third-quarter
sales," continued Mr. LaBarge. "Defense sales represented 55 percent of fiscal
2003 third-quarter sales compared with 47 percent last year. Bookings of
important new defense business remain strong and we expect increased government
defense spending will continue to provide new opportunities for LaBarge.
"Sales to customers in the oil-and-gas and government systems markets declined
from the year-ago period," said Mr. LaBarge. "Oil-and-gas sector sales
represented 17 percent of third-quarter sales compared with 20 percent in the
year-ago period. Weak demand for petroleum products related to a global slowdown
continues to cause customers in the oil-and-gas market to be cautious with
capital expenditures. We anticipate a pickup in demand as the global economy
strengthens.
"Sales to customers in the government systems sector represented 14 percent of
fiscal 2003 third-quarter sales compared with 18 percent in last year's third
quarter. Last year's third quarter included approximately $4 million of revenue
related to a large contract to provide postal sorting equipment. That revenue
was partially replaced in the current year's third quarter by shipments of
electronic equipment for an airport checked-baggage inspection system."
Mr. LaBarge concluded, "In the second half of the current fiscal year, we are
achieving the stronger sales and operating income we anticipated. We foresee
continued improvement in the quarters ahead, most immediately in the fourth
fiscal quarter, which we expect will exceed third-quarter results."
LaBarge, Inc. reports the following . . . .
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LaBarge, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(dollars in thousands, except per-share data)
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
March 30, March March 30, March 31,
31,
2003 2002 2003 2002
--------------------------- -------- -------- ------- --------
Net sales $25,794 $29,553 $73,165 $91,235
Cost of sales 20,447 23,710 58,590 73,507
Selling and administrative
expense 3,660 3,551 11,542 11,261
Interest expense 197 269 622 920
Other income, net (37) (239) (668) (436)
-------------------------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Income before income taxes 1,527 2,262 3,079 5,983
Income tax expense 535 836 1,053 2,251
-------------------------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net earnings from continuing
operations 992 1,426 2,026 3,732
-------------------------- -------- -------- --------------------
Discontinued operations:
Loss from discontinued
operations(less applicable
income taxes of
($170),($106),
($389) and ($152), (276) (181) (632) (252)
respectively)
Loss on disposal of
discontinued operations of
$2,222 (less applicable
income taxes - - (212) -
of $2,434)
-------------------------- -------- -------- ---------------
Net earnings $716 $1,245 $1,182 $3,480
-------------------------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Basic earnings per share:
Net income from continuing
operations $.07 $.09 $.14 $.25
Net loss from discontinued
operations (.02) (.01) (.06) (.02)
-------------------------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Basic net earnings $.05 $.08 $.08 $.23
-------------------------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Average common shares
outstanding 14,950 14,964 14,994 14,969
-------------------------- -------- -------- -------- ---------
Diluted earnings per share:
Net income from continuing
operations $.07 $.09 $.13 $.24
Net loss from discontinued
operations (.02) (.01) (.05) (.01)
-------------------------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Diluted net earnings $.05 $.08 $.08 $.23
--------------------------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Average common shares
outstanding 15,053 15,499 15,170 15,344
-------------------------- -------- -------- -------- ---------
Other data:
Earnings from continuing
operations before interest,
taxes, depreciation and
amortization (EBITDA) $2,363 $2,531 $5,438 $8,548
====================== ======== ======== ======= =======
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LaBarge, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(dollars in thousands)
March 30, June 30,
2003 2002
=========================================== ========= ==========
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 5,185 $2,533
Accounts and notes receivable, net 14,732 16,569
Inventories 26,071 22,255
Prepaid expenses 655 537
Deferred tax assets, net 803 627
Current assets of discontinued operations 208 727
------------------------------------------- ---------- ----------
Total current assets $47,654 $43,248
=========================================== ========== ==========
Property, plant and equipment, net 13,979 13,828
Deferred tax assets, net 272 937
Intangible assets, net 535 609
Other assets, net 6,055 4,980
Non-current assets of discontinued
operations 251 4,604
------------------------------------------- ---------- ----------
$68,746 $68,206
=========================================== ========== ==========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Short-term borrowings $ - $2,583
Current maturities of subordinated debt 4,297 5,621
Current maturities of long-term debt 394 278
Trade accounts payable 7,543 6,510
Accrued employee compensation 5,548 5,448
Other accrued liabilities 5,751 3,486
Current liabilities of discontinued 164 85
operations
------------------------------------------- ---------- ----------
Total current liabilities $23,697 $24,011
------------------------------------------- ---------- ----------
Other long-term liabilities 3,510 2,103
Other long-term liabilities of discontinued
operations - 1,361
Long-term debt 6,768 7,047
------------------------------------------- ---------- ----------
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock, $.01 par value. Authorized
40,000,000 shares; issued 15,773,253 at
March 30, 2003 and 15,773,253 shares at
June 30, 2002 including shares in treasury 158 158
Additional paid-in capital 13,500 13,515
Retained earnings 23,917 22,736
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (42) (131)
Less cost of common stock in treasury,
845,880 shares at March 30, 2003 and
806,956 shares at June 30, 2002 (2,762) (2,594)
--------------------------------------- ----------- -------------- -
Total stockholders' equity $34,771 33,684
------------------------------------------- ---------- ----------
$68,746 $68,206
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LaBarge, Inc. is a broad-based provider of electronics to technology-driven
companies in diverse industrial markets. The Company provides its customers with
sophisticated electronic products through contract design and manufacturing
services. Headquartered in St. Louis, LaBarge has operations in Arkansas,
Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. The Company's Web site address is
http://www.labarge.com.
Statements contained in this release relating to LaBarge, Inc. that are not
historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
federal securities laws. Matters subject to forward-looking statements are
subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including economic,
competitive and other factors that may cause LaBarge or its industry's actual
results, levels of activity, performance and achievements to be materially
different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Important
factors that could cause LaBarge's actual results to differ materially from
those projected in, or inferred by, forward-looking statements are (but are not
necessarily limited to) the following: the impact of increasing competition or
deterioration of economic conditions in LaBarge's markets; cutbacks in defense
spending by the U.S. Government; loss of one or more large customers; LaBarge's
ability to replace completed and expired contracts on a timely basis; the
outcome of litigation the Company is party to; increases in the cost of raw
materials, labor and other resources necessary to operate LaBarge's business;
the availability, amount, type and cost of financing for LaBarge and any changes
to that financing; and other factors summarized in our reports filed from time
to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Given these uncertainties,
undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements. Unless
otherwise required by law, LaBarge disclaims any obligation to update any
forward-looking statements or to publicly announce any revisions thereto to
reflect future events or developments.
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