Delta and Pine Land Company Announces Second Quarter and Six-Month Operating Results

Delta and Pine Land Company Announces Second Quarter and Six-Month Operating Results

SCOTT, Miss., April 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Delta and Pine Land Company (NYSE: DLP) ("D&PL" or the "Company"), a leading commercial breeder, producer and marketer of cotton planting seed, today announced results for the second quarter and six-month period ended February 28, 2007.

Second Quarter Results

Net loss for the 2007 second quarter was $0.06 per diluted share, compared to last year's second quarter net income of $0.40 per diluted share. The second quarter net loss includes charges of $0.02 per diluted share related to the proposed merger with Monsanto. The prior year second quarter included $0.01 per diluted share in Pharmacia/Monsanto litigation expenses.

Revenues were $45.0 million in the 2007 second quarter, compared to $115.0 million recorded in the year-ago quarter. The revenue decrease was largely attributable to lower domestic sales volumes, offset by increased revenues from the International division, primarily in Brazil, which continues to benefit from the introduction of transgenic cotton varieties and higher acreage, as it did in the first quarter. Domestic sales volumes were lower as a result of customer indecision related to planting intentions, as higher corn prices have increased the number of anticipated acres planted to corn. The loss for the quarter was mitigated by lower operating expenses, compared to the prior year quarter, primarily due to reduced legal fees associated with various arbitration proceedings with Monsanto that were either dismissed or stayed pending the proposed merger.

Six Month Results

After charges of $0.08 per diluted share related to the proposed merger with Monsanto, net loss for the 2007 six-month period was $0.35 per diluted share, compared to net income of $0.14 per diluted share for the same period last year. Net income in 2006 included a reduction of $0.03 per diluted share for Pharmacia/Monsanto litigation expenses for the six-month period.

Revenues for the 2007 six-month period were $57.9 million, compared to $124.8 million in the prior year. As previously indicated, the revenue decrease was primarily attributable to lower domestic sales volumes, partially offset by higher international sales in South America. South America sales volumes benefited primarily from the introduction of transgenic cotton varieties in Brazil as well as an increase in Brazilian cotton acreage. The loss for the six-month period was partially mitigated by lower operating expenses, compared to the prior year period, largely due to reduced legal fees associated with various arbitration proceedings with Monsanto that were either dismissed or stayed pending the proposed merger.

Subsequent to the issuance of the Company's 2007 first quarter consolidated financial statements, the Company recorded a correction to such previously-issued financial statements relating to a misstatement of a marketing accrual. The correction of approximately $1.3 million ($800,000 after taxes) was not material to the Company's consolidated financial position or results of operations for the previous quarter ended November 30, 2006. This correction does not impact the year-to-date results.

Revised 2007 Earnings Guidance

For the fiscal year 2007, assuming that cotton acreage planted declines 21% as now forecasted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture ("USDA") in its March 31 Planting Intentions Report and the Company maintains its market share and product sales mix, D&PL expects earnings per diluted share of $0.53 to $0.63, after charges of $0.26 per diluted share related to its proposed merger with Monsanto. The previously issued fiscal 2007 guidance had anticipated that planted cotton acreage would be consistent with the prior year. D&PL provides guidance based on an estimate of U.S. cotton acreage issued by the USDA. For illustrative purposes, for every 500,000 acre decrease in planted cotton acreage in states east of Texas, the Company estimates that its earnings could be reduced by as much as $0.12 to $0.14 per diluted share.

Tom Jagodinski, President and Chief Executive Officer, said: "While the short-term forecast calls for U.S. cotton acreage to decline as a result of the increase in acreage planted to other crops, mainly corn, we believe that farmers will rely more than ever on our leading products for superior yield, consistency and reliability. Our farmer customers are in a period of uncertainty regarding commodity prices, the upcoming U.S. Farm bill, and international trade negotiations. Despite the fluctuating environment, we will continue to invest, as we have for over 95 years, in the necessary research and development of future varieties and technologies to bring increased value to our farmer customers. With respect to the pending merger with Monsanto we continue to work with Monsanto on completing the regulatory review process in order to obtain U.S. Department of Justice clearance to complete the merger."

Conference Call

D&PL will hold a conference call this morning at 11:00 a.m. EDT/10:00 a.m. CDT to review this announcement. The call can be accessed by dialing 800-374- 0532 (International, 706-634-0148) and access code 2466319. Live audio of the conference call will also be accessible at http://www.vcall.com/. The call will be available on the website for 90 days, and will also be available by replay from noon EDT/ 11:00 a.m. CDT on Monday, April 9, 2007 through midnight EDT/ 11:00 p.m. CDT on Monday, April 16, 2007 by dialing 800-642-1687 (International, 706-645-9291) and entering the access code 2466319.

About Delta and Pine Land Company

Delta and Pine Land Company is a leading commercial breeder, producer and marketer of cotton planting seed. Headquartered in Scott, Mississippi, with multiple offices in eight states and facilities in several foreign countries, D&PL also breeds, produces and markets soybean planting seed in the U.S. For more information, please refer to the Company's Web site at http://www.deltaandpine.com/.

Certain matters discussed in this release are "forward-looking statements," including statements about the Company's future plans, goals and other events, which have not yet occurred. These statements are intended to qualify for the safe harbors from liability provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. They can generally be identified because the context of such statements will include words such as "believes," "anticipates," "expects" or words of similar import. It is the nature of agricultural seed businesses that supply, demand and their timing are affected by many variables, including commodity prices, weather and government policy. Due to the seasonal nature of the seed business, the Company typically incurs losses in its first and fourth quarters. Additional risks and uncertainties with respect of the Company's business and forward looking statements are set forth in the Company's latest filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

               DELTA AND PINE LAND COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                  CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                        FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED
                 (in thousands, except per share amounts)
                               (Unaudited)


                                                   February 28, February 28,
                                                       2007        2006

  NET SALES AND LICENSING FEES                        $45,009     $114,977
  COST OF SALES                                        31,327       74,145
  GROSS PROFIT                                         13,682       40,832

  OPERATING EXPENSES:
     Research and development                           6,206        6,145
     Selling                                            3,426        3,910
     General and administrative                         5,724        7,225
          Total operating expenses                     15,356       17,280

  OPERATING  (LOSS) INCOME                             (1,674)      23,552

  INTEREST INCOME, NET                                    462          177
  OTHER EXPENSE, NET                                   (2,399)        (730)
  EQUITY IN NET LOSS OF AFFILIATE                        (417)        (780)
  MINORITY INTEREST IN (EARNINGS) LOSS OF SUBSIDIARIES   (390)         131

  (LOSS) INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES                    (4,418)      22,350
  INCOME TAX BENEFIT (EXPENSE)                          2,348       (7,680)

  NET (LOSS) INCOME                                    (2,070)      14,670
  DIVIDENDS ON PREFERRED STOCK                           (182)        (160)
  NET (LOSS) INCOME APPLICABLE TO COMMON SHARES       $(2,252)     $14,510

  BASIC (LOSS) EARNINGS PER SHARE                      $(0.06)       $0.41

  NUMBER OF SHARES USED IN BASIC (LOSS)
   EARNINGS PER SHARE CALCULATIONS                     36,604       35,688

  DILUTED (LOSS) EARNINGS PER SHARE                    $(0.06)       $0.40

  NUMBER OF SHARES USED IN DILUTED (LOSS)
   EARNINGS PER SHARE CALCULATIONS                     36,604       36,914

  DIVIDENDS PER COMMON SHARE                            $0.17        $0.15

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


               DELTA AND PINE LAND COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                  CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                         FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED
                 (in thousands, except per share amounts)
                               (Unaudited)

                                                   February 28, February 28,
                                                       2007        2006

  NET SALES AND LICENSING FEES                        $57,893     $124,803
  COST OF SALES                                        40,062       80,809
  GROSS PROFIT                                         17,831       43,994

  OPERATING EXPENSES:
     Research and development                          12,364       11,786
     Selling                                            7,191        7,316
     General and administrative                        11,778       13,452
          Total operating expenses                     31,333       32,554

  OPERATING  (LOSS) INCOME                            (13,502)      11,440

  INTEREST INCOME, NET                                  2,032        1,205
  OTHER EXPENSE, NET                                   (6,818)      (1,933)
  EQUITY IN NET LOSS OF AFFILIATE                        (958)      (1,594)
  MINORITY INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF SUBSIDIARIES        (2,062)        (701)

  (LOSS) INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES                   (21,308)       8,417
  INCOME TAX BENEFIT (EXPENSE)                          9,053       (3,192)

  NET (LOSS) INCOME                                   (12,255)       5,225
  DIVIDENDS ON PREFERRED STOCK                           (363)        (320)
  NET (LOSS) INCOME APPLICABLE TO COMMON SHARES      $(12,618)      $4,905

  BASIC (LOSS) EARNINGS PER SHARE                      $(0.35)       $0.14

  NUMBER OF SHARES USED IN BASIC (LOSS)
   EARNINGS PER SHARE CALCULATIONS                     36,527       35,882

  DILUTED (LOSS) EARNINGS PER SHARE                    $(0.35)       $0.14

  NUMBER OF SHARES USED IN DILUTED (LOSS)
   EARNINGS PER SHARE CALCULATIONS                     36,527       37,145

  DIVIDENDS PER COMMON SHARE                            $0.34        $0.30

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


               DELTA AND PINE LAND COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                       CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
            (in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
                               (Unaudited)

                                          February     August     February
                                             28,         31,         28,
                                            2007        2006        2006
  ASSETS
  CURRENT ASSETS:
  Cash and cash equivalents                $21,453     $69,691     $13,420
  Marketable securities                          -      27,600           -
  Receivables, net                          62,406     270,354     138,193
  Income taxes receivable                    6,078           -           -
  Inventories                               73,183      31,600      69,389
  Prepaid expenses                           1,126       2,173       1,657
  Deferred income taxes                      9,495       7,849       6,047
      Total current assets                 173,741     409,267     228,706

  PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET        60,585      61,066      61,507
  EXCESS OF COST OVER NET ASSETS OF
        BUSINESSES ACQUIRED                  4,183       4,183       4,183
  INTANGIBLES, NET                           8,368       8,276       8,459
  DEFERRED INCOME TAXES                     21,527      22,383      11,238
  OTHER ASSETS                               1,029       1,079       1,214
  TOTAL ASSETS                            $269,433    $506,254    $315,307

  LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
  CURRENT LIABILITIES:
  Notes payable and current maturities of
  long-term debt                            $3,256      $6,428      $8,448
  Accounts payable                          20,244      28,866      21,776
  Accrued expenses                          71,557     275,643     120,814
  Income taxes payable                           -      14,179       8,872
       Total current liabilities            95,057     325,116     159,910
  LONG-TERM DEBT                                 -       1,455       3,471
  MINORITY INTEREST IN SUBSIDIARIES          6,622       5,027       5,577
  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

  STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
  Preferred stock, par value $0.10 per
    share; 2,000,000 shares authorized;
    Series A Junior Participating
    Preferred, par value $0.10 per share;
    501,989 shares authorized; no
    shares issued or outstanding;                -           -           -
  Series M Convertible Non-Voting
    Preferred, par value $0.l0 per share;
    1,066,667 shares authorized,
    issued and outstanding                     107         107         107
  Common stock, par value $0.10 per
    share; 100,000,000 shares authorized;
    42,615,436, 42,053,167 and
    40,965,695 shares issued;
    36,977,072, 36,415,567 and
    35,495,589 shares outstanding            4,262       4,205       4,097
  Capital in excess of par value           129,166     112,099      83,989
  Retained earnings                        172,647     197,750     193,933
  Accumulated other comprehensive loss      (1,381)     (2,489)     (3,440)
  Treasury stock, at cost;  5,638,364,
  5,637,600 and 5,470,106 shares          (137,047)   (137,016)   (132,337)
  TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY               167,754     174,656     146,349
  TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS'
  EQUITY                                  $269,433    $506,254    $315,307

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


               DELTA AND PINE LAND COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                  CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                         FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED
                              (in thousands)
                               (Unaudited)

                                                 February 28,   February 28,
                                                      2007          2006

  CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
     Net (loss) income                              $(12,255)       $5,225
     Adjustments to reconcile net (loss)
      income to net cash used in
      operating activities:
        Depreciation and amortization                  4,832         4,358
        (Gain) loss on sale of assets                    (87)           59
        Excess tax benefits from stock-
        based compensation arrangements               (3,682)            -
        Equity in net loss of affiliate                  958         1,594
        Foreign exchange loss                              9            33
        Accretion of debt discount                        72           227
        Minority interest in earnings of
         subsidiaries                                  2,062           701
        Stock-based compensation expense               1,271         1,641
        Change in deferred income taxes                 (782)         (229)
        Changes in assets and liabilities:
          Receivables                                209,454        90,695
          Inventories                                (42,560)      (42,340)
          Prepaid expenses                             1,048           226
          Intangibles and other assets                  (298)          (52)
          Accounts payable                            (8,801)        3,374
          Accrued expenses                          (203,945)     (101,331)
          Income taxes payable                       (20,241)       (4,070)
        Net cash used in operating activities        (72,945)      (39,889)

  CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
    Sales of marketable securities                    27,600             -
    Purchases of property and equipment               (3,721)       (5,336)
    Sales of investments and property                    162            23
    Acquisition of business                                -        (2,620)
    Investment in affiliate                           (1,140)       (1,525)
                Net cash provided by
                 (used in) investing activities       22,901        (9,458)

  CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
    Proceeds from short-term debt                          -           266
    Payments of short-term debt                       (4,707)       (5,925)
    Dividends paid                                   (12,849)      (11,034)
    Payments to acquire treasury stock                     -       (15,083)
    Minority interest in dividends paid
      by subsidiaries                                   (467)            -
   Cash settlement of employee stock awards              (31)            -
    Proceeds from exercise of stock options           15,854           712
    Excess tax benefits from stock-based
      compensation arrangements                        3,682             -
                Net cash provided by
                 (used in) financing activities        1,482       (31,064)

  EFFECTS OF FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATES             324           756

  NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS          (48,238)      (79,655)
  CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, August 31                69,691        93,075
  CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, November 30             $21,453       $13,420

  SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
     Cash paid during the six months for:
        Income taxes                                  $8,272        $6,859
     Noncash financing activities:
        Tax benefit of stock option exercises         $3,567           $54

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


  Contact:
  Investors
  Tom Jagodinski
  Delta and Pine Land Company
  662-742-4518

  Media
  Jonathan Gasthalter/Cassandra Bujarski
  Sard Verbinnen & Co
  212-687-8080
Website: http://www.deltaandpine.com/



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