EX-99.1 10 ex99-1_17915.htm PRESS RELEASE

EXHIBIT 99.1

Lifeway Foods, Inc. Announces Results for the Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2015

Morton Grove, IL — March 15, 2016 — Lifeway Foods, Inc., (Nasdaq: LWAY), the leading U.S. supplier of kefir cultured dairy products, today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2015.

"In 2015, we took decisive steps to better position Lifeway for future growth," said Julie Smolyansky, CEO of Lifeway Foods, Inc. "These include strategic investments in new product innovation, continued investment in Lifeway's production capabilities, and new additions to our team. Additionally, we ramped our marketing and advertising initiatives as well as increased our investments in trade promotions, both of which have led to a strong start thus far in 2016."

Fourth Quarter Results

Fourth quarter 2015 net sales decreased 2% to $29.5 million from $30.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2014. Gross sales increased 4.9% driven by higher sales of the Company's Kefir products that were more than offset by increased trade promotions and allowances.

Gross profit as a percent of net sales improved to 24.2% from 22.9%% in the year ago period. The margin rate improvement reflects lower milk costs, offset partially by increased trade promotion and higher labor costs.

Selling expenses decreased approximately 28% to $3.3 million during the fourth quarter of 2015 from $4.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2014. The reduction reflects reduced salaries and administrative related costs in the fourth quarter of 2015. General and administrative expenses increased $0.5 million to $2.8 million from $2.3 million compared to the same period last year primarily due to the elevated level of professional fees.

Net income was approximately $328,000, or $0.02 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to a loss of $26,000, or $0.00 per diluted share, in the same period in 2014.

Fiscal 2015

Net sales for the year ended December 31, 2015 were $118.6 million, essentially consistent with the $119.0 million reported last year. The net sales performance reflects a 5.4% increase in gross sales driven by higher volume of the Company's drinkable Kefir. The total volume increase was slightly more than offset by elevated trade promotions and allowances.

Gross profit as a percent of net sales improved to 26.6% from 24.3% in the year ago period. The margin rate improvement reflects lower milk costs, offset partially by increased trade promotion and higher labor costs.

Selling expenses decreased approximately 12% to $12.8 million in fiscal 2015 from $14.5 million in the prior year. The decline in selling expenses reflects reduced salaries and administrative expenses, partially offset by higher advertising costs. General and administrative expenses increased $4.3 million to $13.7 million in fiscal 2015 from $9.4 million last year. The higher general and administrative expenses is primarily a result of higher salaries and higher professional fees due in part to costs associated with remediating internal accounting controls and the related delays in the Company's financial reporting as well as redundancies associated with and the change in Lifeway's certified public accountants.

The effective tax rate for fiscal 2015 was 50.6%% compared to 53.4% in the same period in 2014. The higher tax rate in 2014 reflects provisions for tax exposures that did not recur in 2015.

Net income was $2.0 million, or $0.12 per share, for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to $2.0 million, or $0.12 per share, in fiscal 2014.

Balance Sheet/Cash Flow Highlights

The Company had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $5.6 million as of December 31, 2015 compared to cash and cash equivalents of $3.3 million as of December 31, 2014. The Company generated $6.7 million in cash from operating activities during 2015 compared to $5.1 million during 2014 primarily driven by reductions in net working capital.

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call to discuss these results with additional comments and details on Wednesday, March 16, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. ET. The call will be broadcast live over the Internet hosted at the Investor Relations section of Lifeway Foods' website at www.lifewaykefir.com, and will be archived online through March 29, 2016. In addition, listeners may dial 877-407-3982 in North America, and international listeners may dial 201-493-6780. Participants from the Company will be Julie Smolyansky, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ed Smolyansky, Chief Operating Officer, and John Waldron, Chief Financial Officer.

About Lifeway Foods

Lifeway Foods, Inc. (LWAY), recently named one of Forbes' Best Small Companies, is America's leading supplier of the probiotic fermented beverage known as kefir. In addition to its line of drinkable kefir, the company also produces frozen kefir, specialty cheeses and a ProBugs line for kids. Lifeway's tart and tangy cultured dairy products are available throughout the United States and on a small, but growing basis, in Canada, Latin America and the United Kingdom. Learn how Lifeway is good for more than just you at www.lifewaykefir.com.

Find Lifeway Foods, Inc. on Facebook: www.facebook.com/lifewaykefir

Follow Lifeway Foods on Twitter: http://twitter.com/lifeway_kefir

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/lifewaykefir

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, competitive pressures and other important factors detailed in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contact:

Lifeway Foods, Inc. |
Phone: 877.281.3874 |
Email: info@Lifeway.net |
Investor Relations: |
ICR |
Katie Turner Hunter Wells |
646.277.1228 |

LIFEWAY FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income

December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013

(In thousands, except per share data)

|  | 2015 |  |  | 2014 |  |  | 2013 |
Gross Sales |  | $ | 137,244 |  |  | $ | 130,216 |  |  | $ | 108,966 |
Less: discounts and allowances |  |  | (18,657 | ) |  |  | (11,256 | ) |  |  | (11,442 | )
Net sales |  |  | 118,587 |  |  |  | 118,960 |  |  |  | 97,524 |
Cost of goods sold |  |  | 84,573 |  |  |  | 87,561 |  |  |  | 68,275 |
Depreciation expense |  |  | 2,413 |  |  |  | 2,536 |  |  |  | 1,626 |
Total cost of goods sold |  |  | 86,986 |  |  |  | 90,097 |  |  |  | 69,901 |
Gross profit |  |  | 31,601 |  |  |  | 28,863 |  |  |  | 27,623 |
Selling expenses |  |  | 12,752 |  |  |  | 14,534 |  |  |  | 11,296 |
General and administrative |  |  | 13,730 |  |  |  | 9,378 |  |  |  | 7,583 |
Amortization expense |  |  | 716 |  |  |  | 716 |  |  |  | 713 |
Total operating expenses |  |  | 27,198 |  |  |  | 24,628 |  |  |  | 19,592 |
Income from operations |  |  | 4,403 |  |  |  | 4,235 |  |  |  | 8,031 |
Other income (expense): |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest and dividend income |  |  | 112 |  |  |  | 122 |  |  |  | 116 |
Rental income |  |  | 7 |  |  |  | 4 |  |  |  | 12 |
Interest expense |  |  | (236 | ) |  |  | (277 | ) |  |  | (203 | )
Gain (Loss) on sale of investments, net reclassified from OCI |  |  | (72 | ) |  |  | 99 |  |  |  | 195 |
Gain (Loss) on sale of equipment |  |  | 253 |  |  |  | 7 |  |  |  | (305 | )
Impairment of investments |  |  | (475 | ) |  |  | -- |  |  |  | -- |
Other Income (Expense) |  |  | -- |  |  |  | 8 |  |  |  | 11 |
Total other income (expense) |  |  | (411 | ) |  |  | (37 | ) |  |  | (174 | )
Income before provision for income taxes |  |  | 3,992 |  |  |  | 4,198 |  |  |  | 7,857 |
Provision for income taxes |  |  | 2,020 |  |  |  | 2,242 |  |  |  | 2,867 |
Net income |  | $ | 1,972 |  |  | $ | 1,956 |  |  | $ | 4,990 |
Basic and diluted earnings per common share |  | $ | 0.12 |  |  | $ | 0.12 |  |  | $ | 0.31 |
Weighted average number of shares outstanding |  |  | 16,331 |  |  |  | 16,346 |  |  |  | 16,346 |
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income |  | $ | 1,972 |  |  | $ | 1,956 |  |  | $ | 4,990 |
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unrealized gains (losses) on investments, net of $30, $94 and ($50) of taxes |  |  | (47 | ) |  |  | (146 | ) |  |  | 64 |
Reclassifications to earnings: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other than temporary impairment of investments, net of $84 of taxes |  |  | 130 |  |  |  | -- |  |  |  | -- |
Realized (gains) losses on investments, net of ($28), $39 and $85 of taxes |  |  | 44 |  |  |  | (60 | ) |  |  | (110 | )
Comprehensive income |  | $ | 2,099 |  |  | $ | 1,750 |  |  | $ | 4,944 |

LIFEWAY FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Balance Sheets

December 31, 2015 and 2014

(In thousands)

|  | December 31, |  |
|  | 2015 |  |  | 2014 |
Current assets |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents |  | $ | 5,646 |  |  | $ | 3,260 |
Investments, at fair value |  |  | 2,216 |  |  |  | 2779 |
Certificates of deposits in financial institutions |  |  | 513 |  |  |  | 150 |
Inventories |  |  | 7,664 |  |  |  | 5,814 |
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts and discounts of $1,800 and $1,050 in 2015 and 2014 respectively |  |  | 9,604 |  |  |  | 10,214 |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |  |  | 156 |  |  |  | 252 |
Other receivables |  |  | 45 |  |  |  | 134 |
Deferred income taxes |  |  | 556 |  |  |  | 408 |
Refundable income taxes |  |  | 449 |  |  |  | 1,141 |
Total current assets |  |  | 26,849 |  |  |  | 24,152 |
Property and equipment, net |  |  | 21,375 |  |  |  | 21,892 |
Intangible assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill & indefinite-lived intangibles |  |  | 14,068 |  |  |  | 14,068 |
Other intangible assets, net |  |  | 2,344 |  |  |  | 3,060 |
Total intangible assets |  |  | 16,412 |  |  |  | 17,128 |
Other Assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term accounts receivable, net of current portion |  |  | 282 |  |  |  | 252 |
Total assets |  | $ | 64,918 |  |  | $ | 63,424 |
Current liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Current maturities of notes payable |  | $ | 840 |  |  | $ | 872 |
Accounts payable |  |  | 7,138 |  |  |  | 5,587 |
Accrued expenses |  |  | 2,793 |  |  |  | 2,066 |
Accrued income taxes |  |  | 52 |  |  |  | -- |
Total current liabilities |  |  | 10,823 |  |  |  | 8,525 |
Notes payable |  |  | 7,119 |  |  |  | 8,125 |
Deferred income taxes |  |  | 1,719 |  |  |  | 2,074 |
Total liabilities |  |  | 19,661 |  |  |  | 18,724 |
Stockholders' equity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common stock, no par value; 40,000 shares authorized; |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
17,274, shares issued; 16,210 and 16,346 shares |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
outstanding at 2015 and 2014 |  |  | 6,509 |  |  |  | 6,509 |
Paid-in-capital |  |  | 2,033 |  |  |  | 2,033 |
Treasury stock, at cost |  |  | (9,730 | ) |  |  | (8,188 | )
Retained earnings |  |  | 46,516 |  |  |  | 44,544 |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of taxes |  |  | (71 | ) |  |  | (198 | )
Total stockholders' equity |  |  | 45,257 |  |  |  | 44,700 |
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity |  | $ | 64,918 |  |  | $ | 63,424 |

LIFEWAY FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the Years Ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013

(In thousands)

|  | December 31, |
|  | 2015 |  |  | 2014 |  |  | 2013 |
Cash flows from operating activities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income |  | $ | 1,972 |  |  | $ | 1,956 |  |  | $ | 4,990 |
Adjustments to reconcile net income to operating cash flow: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Depreciation and amortization |  |  | 3,129 |  |  |  | 3,252 |  |  |  | 2,339 |
Loss (Gain) on sale of investments, net |  |  | 72 |  |  |  | (99 | ) |  |  | (196 | )
Impairment of investments |  |  | 475 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |
Deferred income taxes |  |  | (585 | ) |  |  | (720 | ) |  |  | (238 | )
Bad debt expense |  |  | 73 |  |  |  | 205 |  |  |  | 33 |
(Gain) Loss on sale of equipment |  |  | (253 | ) |  |  | (7 | ) |  |  | 305 |
(Increase) decrease in operating assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounts receivable |  |  | 537 |  |  |  | 55 |  |  |  | (1,742 | )
Other receivables |  |  | 59 |  |  |  | (31 | ) |  |  | (94 | )
Inventories |  |  | (1,849 | ) |  |  | 1,085 |  |  |  | (960 | )
Refundable income taxes |  |  | 691 |  |  |  | (126 | ) |  |  | (930 | )
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |  |  | 95 |  |  |  | (124 | ) |  |  | (6 | )
Increase (decrease) in operating liabilities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounts payable |  |  | 1,551 |  |  |  | (1,136 | ) |  |  | 2,466 |
Accrued expenses |  |  | 726 |  |  |  | 782 |  |  |  | 128 |
Income taxes payable |  |  | 52 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | (254 | )
Net cash provided by operating activities |  |  | 6,745 |  |  |  | 5,092 |  |  |  | 5,841 |
Cash flows from investing activities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Purchases of investments |  |  | (1,489 | ) |  |  | (3,280 | ) |  |  | (3,519 | )
Proceeds from sale of investments |  |  | 1,714 |  |  |  | 2,774 |  |  |  | 3,001 |
Redemption of certificates of deposits |  |  | 272 |  |  |  | 15 |  |  |  | 424 |
Investments in certificates of deposit |  |  | (635 | ) |  |  | (150 | ) |  |  | — |
Purchases of property and equipment |  |  | (1,995 | ) |  |  | (3,684 | ) |  |  | (8,480 | )
Proceeds from sale of equipment |  |  | 353 |  |  |  | 65 |  |  |  | 711 |
Net cash used in investing activities |  |  | (1,780 | ) |  |  | (4,261 | ) |  |  | (7,863 | )
Cash flows from financing activities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Purchase of treasury stock |  |  | (1,542 | ) |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |
Dividends paid |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | (1,308 | )
Net proceeds from debt issuance |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 4,975 |
Repayment of notes payable |  |  | (1,037 | ) |  |  | (877 | ) |  |  | (625 | )
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities |  |  | (2,579 | ) |  |  | (877 | ) |  |  | 3,042 |
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |  |  | 2,386 |  |  |  | (46 | ) |  |  | 1,020 |
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year |  |  | 3,260 |  |  |  | 3,306 |  |  |  | 2,286 |
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year |  | $ | 5,646 |  |  | $ | 3,260 |  |  | $ | 3,306 |
Supplemental cash flow information: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash paid for income taxes |  | $ | 2,245 |  |  | $ | 3,080 |  |  | $ | 4,363 |
Cash paid for interest |  | $ | 235 |  |  | $ | 267 |  |  | $ | 206 |