October 28, 2003
Contact: Geoff Hibner, Chief Financial Officer
Mark A. Fleming, investor and corporate communications
BANTA REPORTS 2003 THIRD QUARTER RESULTS
o Third quarter 2003 sales of $352 million equaled sales reported for the
same period last year.
o Special charges recorded in the third quarter, related to the previously
announced restructuring, resulted in pretax charges totaling $2.0 million
($1.2 million, or 5 cents per share, after tax).
o Including the charges, Banta reported third quarter diluted earnings per
share of 62 cents compared with 76 cents in the same period last year.
o Excluding the charges, Banta's third quarter diluted earnings per share
were 67 cents compared with 76 cents in 2002's comparable period.
o As previously announced, contributing to the lower third quarter results
was the temporary use of less efficient catalog production, which reduced
EPS by 9 cents per share compared with earlier projections of a 10- to
12-cent reduction.
MENASHA, WI . . . Banta Corporation (NYSE: BN) today reported results for
2003's third quarter and first nine months. Sales for the quarter ended
September 27 were $352 million, equal to sales reported in the same period last
year. Net earnings for the three-month period, including restructuring charges,
were $16.0 million compared with 2002's $19.5 million. Third quarter diluted
earnings per share were 62 cents, based on 25.8 million diluted shares
outstanding. Diluted earnings per share for the third quarter of 2002 were 76
cents.
Special charges affecting third quarter pretax results totaled $2.0 million
($1.2 million, or 5 cents per diluted share, after tax). The charges primarily
relate to the previously announced restructuring and realignment of Banta's
consumer catalog and global supply-chain management operations. There were no
special charges incurred during the third quarter of 2002.
Excluding special charges, third quarter net earnings were $17.2 million
compared with the prior year's $19.5 million. Diluted earnings per share before
the charges were
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67 cents compared with last year's 76 cents. The corporation believes that
providing earnings and diluted earnings per share excluding special charges
allows investors to more meaningfully analyze and benchmark ongoing operating
performance.
"Our third quarter results demonstrate the importance of our business
diversity, especially the value of our supply-chain management sector, which has
gained sales momentum and has made significant operational progress," says
President and Chief Executive Officer Stephanie A. Streeter. "Our
special-interest magazine and healthcare operations also continued to deliver
strong performance. Their solid results, along with supply chain, helped counter
the effects of pricing pressures and a continuing sluggish advertising and
promotions environment in our commercial print business."
Banta's Print Sector reported lower sales and operating earnings in the
third quarter than during the same period in 2002. Half of the decline in Print
Sector earnings was attributable to the consumer catalog division's delayed
consolidation and modernization project, which was discussed in the
corporation's second quarter earnings announcement. "During the catalog
division's transition period we placed our highest priority on customer service
and retention, which negatively impacted profitability in the quarter," explains
Streeter. "I am pleased that through these efforts during this difficult period
we successfully met the delivery requirements of our customers and continued to
win new customers.
"Our supply-chain management business again turned in an excellent
performance, with both sales and earnings significantly higher than during the
same period last year," notes Streeter. "We are encouraged by the outlook for
this business, with the economy showing signs of growth and prospects for
increased technology spending improving."
For the nine months ended September 27, 2003, consolidated sales for the
corporation were $1.02 billion, comparable to the same period last year. Net
earnings, including special charges, were $34.5 million ($1.34 per diluted
share) compared with the prior year's $43.4 million ($1.70 per diluted share).
Special charges recorded during the first nine months of 2003 totaled $13.1
million pretax ($8.1 million, or 32 cents per diluted share, after tax). There
were no special charges incurred during the first nine months of 2002. Excluding
the charges, earnings for the first nine months of 2003 were
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$42.6 million ($1.66 per diluted share) compared with $43.4 million ($1.70 per
diluted share) for the same period in 2002. Average diluted shares outstanding
for the first nine-month periods were 25.6 million in both 2003 and 2002.
The following table provides a reconciliation of net earnings and diluted
earnings per share reported in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles to earnings and diluted earnings per share excluding special charges,
for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 27, 2003, and September
28, 2002:
Three Nine
Months Ended Months Ended
--------------- ---------------
Net Earnings (dollars in millions) 2003 2002 2003 2002
- ---------------------------------- ------ ------ ------ ------
GAAP net earnings, as reported $ 16.0 $ 19.5 $ 34.5 $ 43.4
Restructuring charge 1.2 -- 5.3 --
Litigation settlement -- -- 2.8 --
------ ------ ------ ------
Earnings excluding special charges $ 17.2 $ 19.5 $ 42.6 $ 43.4
====== ====== ====== ======
Diluted Earnings per Share (EPS)
- --------------------------------
GAAP diluted EPS, as reported $ 0.62 $ 0.76 $ 1.34 $ 1.70
Restructuring charge 0.05 -- 0.21 --
Litigation settlement -- -- 0.11 --
------ ------ ------ ------
Diluted EPS excluding special charges $ 0.67 $ 0.76 $ 1.66 $ 1.70
====== ====== ====== ======
OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS
o Banta's Supply-Chain Management Sector continued its strong momentum,
delivering significant gains in sales and operating earnings in the third
quarter. Sales were 33 percent above 2002's third quarter sales as Banta
gained additional opportunities with both existing and new customers.
Operating earnings increased 35 percent over the year-ago level due to a
favorable product mix, cost reductions and increased volumes at most
locations.
o Print Sector sales of $244 million for the third quarter were 9 percent
below the $267 million reported during the same period last year. Impacting
revenues and earnings were a continued weakness in direct marketing
activity, lower capacity availability in the consumer catalog division,
decreased educational product
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volume and reduced paper sales. Print Sector operating earnings were also
below last year's third quarter due to continued competitive pricing,
restructuring charges and costs associated with the catalog division's
consolidation project.
o Banta's publications division delivered both improved sales and
earnings in the third quarter, despite the continued industry trend
toward lower magazine page counts. Total print impressions for the
division, a measure of actual print activity, increased 9 percent over
the comparable 2002 period due to market share gains.
o Sales and earnings for the book division were below last year's third
quarter, the result of decreased activity in both the educational and
trade book markets, and lower paper sales. Banta's literature
management services continue to expand, as the demand for
print-related outsourcing services grows and the division leverages
the significant capacity additions brought on line earlier this year.
o Sales and earnings in the catalog division were lower in the third
quarter than in the same period last year due both to the effects of
its major consolidation and modernization project, and to difficult
industry pricing. Environmental permitting delays altered the staged
and orderly transfer of equipment from the division's closed St. Paul
plant to its Minneapolis plant, and postponed the installation of new
equipment. This both constrained print capacity and required more
costly production solutions. The added costs reduced third quarter
diluted earnings per share by approximately 9 cents, an improvement
over the 10-cent to 12-cent reduction projected in the corporation's
2003 second quarter earnings release.
o The direct marketing division reported lower sales and earnings due to
a reluctance by direct marketers to launch major promotional and
direct mail campaigns. Although competitive pricing remains an issue
for the
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business, an encouraging sign is that print estimating activity
increased during September.
o Banta's single-use healthcare products business recorded an 11 percent
increase in third quarter revenue, reflecting the division's success in
driving revenue growth by gaining new business opportunities with existing
customers. Operating earnings decreased modestly, the result of a sales
force reorganization.
"We made significant progress on several important initiatives in the third
quarter that position us for future growth," says Streeter. "In our print
sector, both our catalog and literature management production platforms have
been expanded and modernized. Our supply-chain management business has good
momentum going into the fourth quarter and is solidly positioned with a number
of major customers who we expect will lead the tech sector recovery.
"We continue to believe our fourth quarter operating results will be
comparable to the same period last year, before special charges," notes
Streeter. "The restructuring that was announced in January of this year is
proceeding as planned. We will conclude these projects in the fourth quarter and
expect total charges to be at the lower end of the previously announced range of
$15 million to $18 million. I am encouraged by the prospects for an improved
economy in the coming year and our ability to benefit from a more favorable
environment. Our balance sheet remains solid with low debt and a strong cash
position, giving us important financial flexibility to aggressively pursue
opportunities to further build and expand our businesses."
Banta will host a conference call to discuss its third quarter results on
Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 2:45 p.m. CST (3:45 p.m. EST). This call will be
simultaneously broadcast in the Investor Information area of Banta's Website at
www.banta.com, and a replay of the call will be available.
Banta Corporation is a technology and market leader in printing and
supply-chain management. Banta provides a comprehensive combination of printing
and digital imaging solutions to leading publishers and direct marketers,
including advanced digital content management and e-business services. Banta's
global supply-chain management
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businesses provide a wide range of outsourcing capabilities to the world's
largest companies. Services range from materials sourcing, product configuration
and customized kitting, to order fulfillment and global distribution.
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995:
This news release includes forward-looking statements. Statements that describe
future expectations, including revenue and earnings projections, plans, results
or strategies, are considered forward-looking. Such statements are subject to
certain risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ
materially from those currently anticipated. Factors that could affect actual
results include, among others, changes in customers' order patterns or demand
for the corporation's products and services, pricing, changes in raw material
costs and availability, unanticipated changes in sourcing of raw materials
(including paper) by customers, unanticipated changes in operating expenses,
unanticipated production difficulties, including with respect to the catalog
group modernization, changes in the pattern of outsourcing supply-chain
management functions by customers, unanticipated acquisition or loss of
significant customer contracts or relationships, unanticipated issues related to
the restructurings in the catalog and supply-chain management businesses and
expected cost savings related thereto, and any unanticipated delay in the
economic recovery. These factors should be considered in evaluating the
forward-looking statements, and undue reliance should not be placed on such
statements. The forward-looking statements included herein are made as of the
date hereof, and Banta undertakes no obligation to update publicly such
statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.
An electronic version of this news release, as well as other information about
Banta Corporation, is available through the company's World Wide Web home site
at www.banta.com
#
Banta Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Income Statement
($000's omitted, except per share data)
3 Months Ended September 9 Months Ended September
-------------------------- --------------------------
2003 2002 2003 2002
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net Sales $ 351,615 $ 352,076 $ 1,024,776 $ 1,018,306
Cost of Sales 276,134 270,026 804,189 793,744
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Gross Profit 75,481 82,050 220,587 224,562
SG&A Expense 46,765 48,820 147,098 146,127
Restructuring Charge 2,048 -- 8,517 --
Litigation Settlement -- -- 4,602 --
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Earnings from Operations 26,668 33,230 60,370 78,435
Other Income (Expense)
Interest Expense (1,835) (2,063) (6,461) (8,116)
Other, net 592 758 1,348 852
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Earnings before Income Taxes 25,425 31,925 55,257 71,171
Provision for Income Taxes 9,470 12,386 20,800 27,764
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net Income $ 15,955 $ 19,539 $ 34,457 $ 43,407
=========== =========== =========== ===========
Basic Earnings per Share $ 0.62 $ 0.77 $ 1.36 $ 1.72
Diluted Earnings per Share $ 0.62 $ 0.76 $ 1.34 $ 1.70
Average Shares Outstanding:
Basic 25,534 25,333 25,402 25,205
Diluted 25,784 25,678 25,620 25,567
Composite Tax Rate 37.2% 38.8% 37.6% 39.0%
SEGMENT INFORMATION
3 Months Ended September 9 Months Ended September
-------------------------- --------------------------
Net Sales 2003 2002 2003 2002
- ------------------------------ ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Printing and digital imaging $ 243,630 $ 267,157 $ 707,231 $ 739,712
Supply-chain management 83,400 62,849 244,946 205,476
Healthcare 24,585 22,070 72,599 73,118
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
$ 351,615 $ 352,076 $ 1,024,776 $ 1,018,306
=========== =========== =========== ===========
Earnings from Operations
- ------------------------------
Printing and digital imaging $ 20,157 $ 28,860 $ 43,067 $ 66,783
Supply-chain management 8,860 6,566 23,294 16,992
Healthcare 2,527 2,626 8,915 7,591
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Segment earnings from operations 31,544 38,052 75,276 91,366
Unallocated corporate expenses (4,876) (4,822) (14,906) (12,931)
Interest expense (1,835) (2,063) (6,461) (8,116)
Other expense 592 758 1,348 852
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Earnings before income taxes $ 25,425 $ 31,925 $ 55,257 $ 71,171
=========== =========== =========== ===========
Depreciation/Amortization $ 15,278 $ 18,491 $ 46,552 $ 55,572
Capital Expenditures $ 19,710 $ 6,016 $ 51,486 $ 21,020
9 Months Ended September
-------------------------
ASSETS 2003 2002
---------- ----------
Cash and short-term investments $170,244 $143,508
Receivables 220,235 204,858
Inventories 68,603 66,711
Other current assets 27,911 23,240
-------- --------
Total current assets 486,993 438,317
-------- --------
Plant and equipment, net 283,689 293,952
Other assets 70,959 88,361
-------- --------
Total Assets $841,641 $820,630
======== ========
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' INVESTMENT
Accounts Payable $116,967 $ 95,663
Other accrued liabilities 60,148 68,036
Current maturities of long-term debt 19,110 19,416
-------- --------
Total current liabilities 196,225 183,115
-------- --------
Long-term debt 93,934 113,659
Deferred income taxes 16,033 21,412
Other noncurrent liabilities 46,032 42,447
Shareholders' investment 489,417 459,997
-------- --------
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Investment $841,641 $820,630
======== ========