Katy Industries, Inc. Reports 2010 First Quarter Results

BRIDGETON, Mo., May 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Katy Industries, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: KATY) today reported a net loss in the first quarter of 2010 of $2.2 million ($0.27 per share), versus a net loss of $2.4 million ($0.30 per share), in the first quarter of 2009.  Operating loss in accordance with GAAP was $2.0 million (6.0% of net sales) in the first quarter of 2010, compared to $2.0 million (5.8% of net sales) for the same period in 2009.  Excluding the non-cash impact of an adjustment to our LIFO reserves in both quarters, operating loss would have been $1.6 million in the first quarter of 2010, versus an operating loss of $3.2 million in the first quarter of 2009.  

Financial highlights for the first quarter of 2010, as compared to the same period in the prior year, included:

• Net sales in the first quarter of 2010 were $33.8 million, a decrease of $1.3 million, or 3.6%, compared to the same period in 2009.  Overall, this decline was a result of two fewer shipping days in the quarter (64 days in the three months ended April 2, 2010 versus 66 days in the three months ended April 3, 2009).  
• Gross margin was 11.8% in the first quarter of 2010, a decrease from 14.6% in the first quarter of 2009.  Gross margin was impacted by an unfavorable variance in our LIFO adjustment of $1.6 million resulting from an increase in resin prices.  Excluding the LIFO adjustment, gross margin increased 1.7 percentage points from the first quarter of 2009.  The increase was a result of improvements in productivity, including the related impact on material costs and scrap reduction, as well as better sourcing results from lower cost countries.
• Selling, general and administrative expenses were $1.1 million lower in the first quarter of 2010 than in the first quarter of 2009.  The decrease was primarily due to prior year expenses associated with the transition and hiring of executive level personnel and a decrease in self-insurance accruals.

Operations used $1.7 million of free cash flow in the first quarter of 2010 compared to generating $1.2 million during the same period a year ago.  The fluctuation was a result of an increase in accounts receivable and inventories, partially offset by an increase in accounts payable.  The change in accounts receivable was due to increased sales from the fourth quarter of 2009 to the first quarter of 2010, and the increase in inventory was due to the timing of mop purchases.  The increase in accounts payable was primarily a result of improved payment terms with certain vendors and the timing of mop and resin purchases.  Free cash flow, a non-GAAP financial measure, is discussed further below.

Debt at April 2, 2010 was $18.0 million (62% of total capitalization), versus $15.8 million (54% of total capitalization) at December 31, 2009.

"Our first quarter operating loss excluding the LIFO adjustment reflects positive year over year improvement for the fifth consecutive quarter," stated David J. Feldman, Katy's President and Chief Executive Officer.  "On the revenue side our sales per shipping day were flat versus the prior year which we believe is a positive sign that the economy is stabilizing.  We remain optimistic that our performance will continue to improve with further economic growth."

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To provide transparency about measures of Katy's financial performance which management considers most relevant, the Company supplements the reporting of Katy's consolidated financial information under GAAP with a non-GAAP financial measure, Free Cash Flow.  Free Cash Flow is defined by Katy as cash flow from operating activities less capital expenditures. A reconciliation of this non-GAAP measure to a comparable GAAP measure is provided in the "Statements of Cash Flows" accompanying this press release. This non-GAAP financial measure should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute or superior to, the other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. Using only the non-GAAP financial measure to analyze the Company's performance would have material limitations because its calculation is based on the subjective determinations of management regarding the nature and classification of events and circumstances that investors may find material.  Management compensates for these limitations by utilizing both the GAAP and non-GAAP measures reflected below to understand and analyze the results of its business. Katy believes this measure is nonetheless useful to management and investors in measuring cash generated that is available for repayment of debt obligations, investment in growth through acquisitions, new business development and stock repurchases.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  Forward-looking statements include all statements of the Company's plans, beliefs or expectations with respect to future events or developments and often may be identified by such words or phrases as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "projects," "may," "should," "will," "continue," "is subject to," or similar expressions.  These forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and beliefs of Katy's management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, the Company's management.  Additionally, the forward-looking statements are based on Katy's current expectations and projections about future events and trends affecting the financial condition of its business.  The forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may lead to results that differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement made by the Company or on its behalf.  These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, conditions in the general economy and in the markets served by the Company, including changes in the demand for its products; success of any restructuring or cost control efforts; an increase in interest rates; competitive factors, such as price pressures and the potential emergence of rival technologies; interruptions of suppliers' operations or other causes affecting availability of component materials or finished goods at reasonable prices; changes in product mix, costs and yields; labor issues at the Company's facilities or those of its suppliers; legal claims or other regulator actions; and other risks identified from time to time in the Company's filings with the SEC, including its Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. Katy undertakes no obligation to revise or update such statements to reflect current events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Katy Industries, Inc. is a diversified corporation focused on the manufacture, import and distribution of commercial cleaning products and consumer home products.

SOURCE Katy Industries, Inc.