UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) March 11, 2014

 

Oil-Dri Corporation of America
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) 

 

Delaware   001-12622   36-2048898
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation)
  (Commission File
Number)
  (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

410 North Michigan Avenue
Suite 400
Chicago, Illinois
  60611-4213
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (312) 321-1515

 

  
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.) 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

¨Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 
 

 

 

 

Item 2.02Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

 

On March 11, 2014, Oil-Dri Corporation of America (the “Registrant”) issued a press release announcing its results of operations for its second quarter ended January 31, 2014. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and the information contained therein is incorporated herein by reference. The information contained in this Item 2.02, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), and it shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act of 1933, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

 

 
 

 

 

 

Item 9.01Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)Exhibits

 

Exhibit    
Number   Description of Exhibits
     
99.1   Press Release of the Registrant dated March 11, 2014 (Quarterly Earnings)

 

 
 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

  OIL-DRI CORPORATION OF AMERICA
     
  By: /s/   Douglas A. Graham  
    Douglas A. Graham
    Vice President and General Counsel

 

Date: March 11, 2014

 

 
 

 

 

 

Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit    
Number   Description of Exhibits
     
99.1   Press Release of the Registrant dated March 11, 2014 (Quarterly Earnings)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

Oil-Dri Announces Record Sales for Second Quarter

and First Six-Months of Fiscal 2014

 

CHICAGO—(March 11, 2014)—Oil-Dri Corporation of America (NYSE: ODC) today announced net sales of $69,305,000 for the second quarter ended January 31, 2014, a 13% increase compared with net sales of $61,122,000 in the same quarter one year ago. Net income for the second quarter was $4,281,000, or $0.60 per diluted share, up 94% from net income of $2,146,000, or $0.31 per diluted share, for the same quarter of fiscal 2013.

 

Net sales for the six-month period were $132,851,000, an 8% increase compared with net sales of $122,539,000 in the same period one year ago. Net income for the six-month period was $7,168,000, or $1.01 per diluted share, up 7% from net income of $6,598,000, or $0.94 per diluted share, in the same period of fiscal 2013.

 

Net income was up in both periods due to increased sales and decreased selling, general and administrative expenses, including advertising. Net income was adversely impacted by increased costs, predominately the rising cost of natural gas. Compared to fiscal 2013, the cost of natural gas used increased 28% in the quarter and 33% for the first six months.

 

Business Review

 

President and Chief Executive Officer Daniel S. Jaffee said, “We are pleased to report record sales results for the quarter and six-month period. Strong growth occurred in many of our market areas. For example, demand increased for our Pure-Flo bleaching earth and Calibrin animal health products. This demand is consistent with the continued global growth of vegetable oils and fats as well as livestock consumption.

 

“Additionally, sales of Cat’s Pride Fresh & Light grew 60% in the second quarter versus the same quarter last year, contributing to an 18% increase in overall branded cat litter sales. Private label cat litter sales also increased significantly in the second quarter driven primarily by the previously reported acquisition of certain assets of MFM Industries, Inc. (“MFM”) on November 1, 2013. New private label cat litter sales to MFM-related customers accounted for more than $3,000,000 in sales for the quarter.

 

“Our team united to effectively meet the challenge of servicing the business and customers we acquired in the MFM acquisition which occurred at the beginning of the quarter.”

 

Reagan B. Culbertson

Investor Relations, Oil-Dri Corporation of America

reagan.culbertson@oildri.com

(312) 706 3256

 

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Segment Review

 

Business to Business
Products
  Second Quarter
November 1 – January 31
   Change 
   Fiscal 2014   Fiscal 2013     
Net Sales  $25,264,000   $21,715,000    16%
Segment Income  $7,993,000   $7,101,000    13%

 

The increase in net sales of Business to Business products in the second quarter can be attributed to a favorable product mix, higher selling prices and a 3% volume increase. Segment income was positively impacted by improved sales, but limited by increases in materials and freight costs. Net sales of Pure-Flo and Select fluids purification products were up in both domestic and foreign markets, as were sales of Calibrin bacterial and fungal toxin binders, which are sold in foreign markets. Sales of Agsorb used as agricultural chemical carriers increased while co-packaged coarse cat litter sales were down slightly.

 

Business to Business
Products
  Six Months
August 1 – January 31
   Change 
   Fiscal 2014   Fiscal 2013     
Net Sales  $49,179,000   $43,497,000    13%
Segment Income  $15,644,000   $14,624,000    7%

 

The increase in net sales for the segment in the six-month period can also be attributed to a favorable product mix, higher selling prices and a 3% volume increase. Segment income increased from one year ago due to improved sales, but was again adversely impacted by materials, freight and packaging costs. Net sales of fluids purification and animal health products led the growth, including increased sales of Calibrin broad-spectrum toxin binders. Agsorb carriers sold to corn rootworm pesticide producers were also up and co-packaged coarse cat litter sales were down slightly compared to the first six months of fiscal 2013.

 

Reagan B. Culbertson

Investor Relations, Oil-Dri Corporation of America

reagan.culbertson@oildri.com

(312) 706 3256

 

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Retail and Wholesale
Products
  Second Quarter
November 1 – January 31
   Change 
   Fiscal 2014   Fiscal 2013     
Net Sales  $44,041,000   $39,407,000    12%
Segment Income  $2,982,000   $1,936,000    54%

 

The increase in net sales of Retail and Wholesale products in the second quarter can be attributed to a 15% increase in volume but was partially offset by increased trade spending. Private label cat litter sales increased approximately 24% due to additional sales from the acquisition of MFM. Net sales of industrial absorbents and for our foreign subsidiaries were down. Segment income increased due to higher sales and lower advertising and promotional expenses, and was decreased by packaging and materials costs. Income was also reduced by higher manufacturing costs and lower margins on private label products.

 

Retail and Wholesale
Products
  Six Months
August 1 – January 31
   Change 
   Fiscal 2014   Fiscal 2013     
Net Sales  $83,672,000   $79,042,000    6%
Segment Income  $4,257,000   $6,460,000    -34%

 

The increase in net sales for the segment in the first six months can be attributed to a 6% increase in volume from one year ago but was partially offset by an increase in trade spending. Private label cat litter sales increased approximately 5% due to additional sales from the MFM acquisition. Sales declined for industrial absorbents and for our foreign subsidiaries. Segment income was reduced by an approximate 5% increase in costs for packaging, freight and materials and by higher selling, general and administrative expenses, including sales commissions. Income was also reduced by higher manufacturing costs and lower margins on private label products.

 

Reagan B. Culbertson

Investor Relations, Oil-Dri Corporation of America

reagan.culbertson@oildri.com

(312) 706 3256

 

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Financial Review

 

The MFM acquisition, along with the payment of the annual incentive bonus, repayments of notes payable and quarterly dividends were the primary reasons for the reduction of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments to $19,682,000 at January 31, 2014.

 

Capital expenditures for the six-month period totaled $6,782,000, which was $1,922,000 more than depreciation and amortization of $4,860,000. Capital expenditures were made for equipment replacement at our manufacturing facilities and capacity expansion projects. Capital expenditures were $5,009,000 for the first six-months of fiscal 2013.

 

Cash provided by operating activities was $2,400,000 in the first six months of fiscal 2014, which was lower than the $10,811,000 in the first six months of fiscal 2013. The primary reason for the change between years was an increase in inventory and accounts receivable associated with higher sales and a decrease in accrued expenses.

 

On December 11, 2013, Oil-Dri’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.19 per share of outstanding Common Stock and $0.1425 per share of outstanding Class B Stock. The dividends were paid on March 7, 2014 to stockholders of record at the close of business on Friday, February 21, 2014. The Company has paid cash dividends continuously since 1974 and has increased dividends annually for each of the past ten years.

 

At the end of the second quarter, the annualized dividend yield on the Company’s Common Stock was 2.2%, based on the quarter’s closing stock price of $34.35 per share and an annual cash dividend of $0.76.

 

Looking Forward

 

Jaffee continued, “We believe net income for the second half of fiscal 2014 will be negatively impacted by cost pressures. This expectation is based on the assumptions that higher natural gas and other manufacturing costs will persist throughout fiscal 2014 and our effective tax rate for the year will be closer to historic norms rather than the approximate 17% reported for the full year of fiscal 2013. We also have a robust marketing program for Cat’s Pride Fresh & Light planned for the back half of the year and accordingly annual advertising and promotional spending is expected to be higher than in fiscal 2013.

 

In spite of the expected effect of these items on earnings in fiscal 2014, we are very optimistic going forward as the second half of the year will be a busy and exciting period. We anticipate the completion of the capacity expansion project for our fluids purification products, the grand opening of Amlan Trading (Shenzhen) Company, Ltd. and the introduction of Varium, our new animal gut health product.”

 

###

 

Reagan B. Culbertson

Investor Relations, Oil-Dri Corporation of America

reagan.culbertson@oildri.com

(312) 706 3256

 

4
 

 

 

 

 

Oil-Dri Corporation of America is a leading supplier of specialty sorbent products for agricultural, horticultural, fluids purification, specialty markets, industrial and automotive, and is the world’s largest manufacturer of cat litter.

 

The Company will offer a live webcast of the second quarter earnings teleconference on Wednesday, March 12, 2014 from 10:00 am to 10:30 am, Central Time. To listen via the web, visit www.streetevents.com or www.oildri.com. An archived recording of the call and written transcripts of all teleconferences are posted on the Oil-Dri website.

 

Agsorb, Amlan, Calibrin, Cat’s Pride, Fresh & Light, Pure-Flo and Select are registered trademarks of Oil-Dri Corporation of America. Varium is a trademark of Oil-Dri Corporation of America.

 

Oil-Dri Corporation of America is a leading supplier of specialty sorbent products for agricultural, horticultural, fluids purification, specialty markets, industrial and automotive, and is the world’s largest manufacturer of cat litter.

 

Certain statements in this press release, including the reasons for comparisons between fiscal 2014 and 2013 earnings, may contain forward-looking statements that are based on our current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about our future performance, our business, our beliefs, and our management’s assumptions. In addition, we, or others on our behalf, may make forward-looking statements in other press releases or written statements, or in our communications and discussions with investors and analysts in the normal course of business through meetings, webcasts, phone calls, and conference calls. Words such as “expect,” “outlook,” “forecast,” “would”, “could,” “should,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “continue,” “believe,” “seek,” “estimate,” “anticipate, “may,” “assume,” variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

 

Such statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially including, but not limited to, the dependence of our future growth and financial performance on successful new product introductions, intense competition in our markets, volatility of our quarterly results, risks associated with acquisitions, our dependence on a limited number of customers for a large portion of our net sales and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are described in Item 1A (Risk Factors) of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, intended, expected, believed, estimated, projected or planned. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Except to the extent required by law, we do not have any intention or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements after the distribution of this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, or otherwise.

 

Reagan B. Culbertson

Investor Relations, Oil-Dri Corporation of America

reagan.culbertson@oildri.com

(312) 706 3256

 

5
 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Income

(in thousands, except for per share amounts)

(unaudited)

 

   Second Quarter Ended January 31, 
   2014   % of Sales   2013   % of Sales 
Net Sales  $69,305    100.0%  $61,122    100.0%
Cost of Sales   (52,412)   75.6%   (44,853)   73.4%
Gross Profit   16,893    24.4%   16,269    26.6%
Operating Expenses   (11,159)   16.1%   (12,834)   21.0%
Capacity Rationalization Charges       0.0%   (50)   0.1%
                     
Operating Income   5,734    8.3%   3,385    5.5%
Interest Expense   (385)   0.6%   (446)   0.7%
Other Income   181    -0.3%   92    -0.2%
                     
Income Before Income Taxes   5,530    8.0%   3,031    5.0%
Income Taxes   (1,249)   1.8%   (885)   1.4%
Net Income  $4,281    6.2%  $2,146    3.5%
                     
Net Income Per Share:                    
Basic Common  $0.65        $0.33      
Basic Class B Common  $0.49        $0.25      
Diluted  $0.60        $0.31      
                     
Average Shares Outstanding:                    
Basic Common   4,979         4,896      
Basic Class B Common   2,005         1,976      
Diluted   7,007         6,922      

 

   Six Months Ended January 31, 
   2014   % of Sales   2013   % of Sales 
Net Sales  $132,851    100.0%  $122,539    100.0%
Cost of Sales   (99,458)   74.9%   (89,039)   72.7%
Gross Profit   33,393    25.1%   33,500    27.3%
Operating Expenses   (23,317)   17.6%   (23,654)   19.3%
Capacity Rationalization Charges       0.0%   (62)   0.1%
                     
Operating Income   10,076    7.6%   9,784    8.0%
Interest Expense   (809)   0.6%   (927)   0.8%
Other Income   156    -0.1%   231    -0.2%
                     
Income Before Income Taxes   9,423    7.1%   9,088    7.4%
Income Taxes   (2,255)   1.7%   (2,490)   2.0%
Net Income  $7,168    5.4%  $6,598    5.4%
                     
Net Income Per Share:                    
Basic Common  $1.09        $1.02      
Basic Class B Common  $0.82        $0.77      
Diluted  $1.01        $0.94      
                     
Average Shares Outstanding:                    
Basic Common   4,967         4,887      
Basic Class B Common   1,999         1,960      
Diluted   6,991         6,904      

 

Investor Relations Contact

Reagan Culbertson

reagan.culbertson@oildri.com

(312) 706 3256

 

6
 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except for per share amounts)

(unaudited)

 

   As of January 31, 
   2014   2013 
Current Assets          
Cash and Cash Equivalents  $12,082   $25,430 
Restricted Cash   500     
Short-term Investments   7,100    10,388 
Accounts Receivable, net   37,022    31,004 
Inventories   22,734    22,186 
Prepaid Expenses   9,915    8,169 
Total Current Assets   89,353    97,177 
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net   68,959    65,117 
Other Assets   25,548    14,124 
Total Assets  $183,860   $176,418 
           
Current Liabilities          
Current Maturities of Notes Payable  $3,500   $5,000 
Accounts Payable   7,699    6,172 
Dividends Payable   1,242     
Accrued Expenses   16,686    18,223 
Total Current Liabilities   29,127    29,395 
Noncurrent Liabilities          
Notes Payable   18,900    22,400 
Other Noncurrent Liabilities   27,775    34,782 
Total Noncurrent Liabilities   46,675    57,182 
Stockholders' Equity   108,058    89,841 
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity  $183,860   $176,418 
           
Book Value Per Share Outstanding  $15.51   $13.12 
           
Acquisitions of          
Property, Plant and Equipment Second Quarter  $3,400   $2,852 
Year to Date  $6,782   $5,009 
Depreciation and Amortization Charges   Second Quarter  $2,629   $2,220 
  Year to Date  $4,860   $4,475 

 

Investor Relations Contact

Reagan Culbertson

reagan.culbertson@oildri.com

(312) 706 3256

 

7
 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

   For the Six Months Ended 
   January 31, 
Cash Flows From Operating Activities  2014   2013 
         
Net Income  $7,168   $6,598 
           
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities, net of acquisition:          
Depreciation and Amortization   4,860    4,475 
Capacity Rationalization Plan Charges       62 
Increase in Accounts Receivable   (5,919)   (812)
Increase in Inventories   (1,347)   (2,513)
Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable   381    (168)
(Decrease) Increase in Accrued Expenses   (3,558)   690 
Increase in Pension and Postretirement Benefits   528    882 
Other   287    1,597 
Total Adjustments   (4,768)   4,213 
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities   2,400    10,811 
           
Cash Flows From Investing Activities          
Capital Expenditures   (6,782)   (5,009)
Acquisition of Business   (12,505)    
Restricted Cash   (500)    
Net Dispositions (Purchases) of Investment Securities   11,361    (1,222)
Other   16    34 
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities   (8,410)   (6,197)
           
Cash Flows From Financing Activities          
Principal Payments on Long-Term Debt   (3,500)   (2,300)
Dividends Paid   (2,478)   (4,630)
Purchase of Treasury Stock   (13)   (175)
Other   72    852 
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities   (5,919)   (6,253)
           
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents   (24)   (24)
           
Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents   (11,953)   (1,663)
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period   24,035    27,093 
Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period  $12,082   $25,430 

 

Investor Relations Contact

Reagan Culbertson

reagan.culbertson@oildri.com

(312) 706 3256

 

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