ATCHISON, Kan., Aug. 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MGP Ingredients, Inc. (NASDAQ:MGPI), a leading provider of branded and distilled spirits and food ingredient solutions, today reported results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024. "This quarter, our MGP team delivered strong results driven largely by the continued momentum in our premium plus branded spirits portfolio and solid brown goods sales. Our increasing investments behind our key brands and exciting new product innovation continue to yield positive results, helping us expand our distribution footprint and accelerate our transition into a premier branded spirits company," said David Bratcher, CEO and president of MGP Ingredients. He added, "We remain agile in a dynamic environment for the spirits industry and given our strong first half performance, we are reiterating our full year sales, adjusted EBITDA, and EPS guidance." 2024 second quarter financial highlights compared to 2023 second quarter: Due primarily to the Atchison distillery closure, sales decreased 9% to $190.8 million. Excluding the impact of the Atchison distillery, consolidated sales increased by 7% during the quarter. Net income was largely flat at $32.0 million. Adjusted net income increased 15% to $38.0 million. Net income margin increased 150 basis points to 16.8%. Adjusted net income margin increased by 410 basis points to 19.9%. Adjusted EBITDA increased 7% to $57.5 million. Adjusted EBITDA margin increased by 450 basis points to 30.2%, our highest quarterly adjusted EBITDA margin. Basic earnings per common share ("EPS") decreased to $1.43 per share from $1.44 per share. Adjusted basic EPS increased 15% to $1.71 per share from $1.49 per share. Capital expenditures were $22.6 million year-to-date. We continue to expect approximately $85 million of capital expenditures for the full year, which includes the construction of additional warehouses to support our future growth. Net debt leverage ratio stands at approximately 1.4x as of June 30, 2024. Reiterate full year 2024 guidance of sales in the range of $742 million to $756 million, adjusted EBITDA in the range of $218 to $222 million, and adjusted basic EPS in the range of $6.12 to $6.23. Consolidated ResultsExcluding the impact of the Atchison distillery, MGP consolidated sales increased by 7% in the second quarter compared to the prior year quarter driven by higher Distilling Solutions and Branded Spirits segment sales. Consolidated gross profit increased 9% to $83.2 million, representing 43.6% of sales. Excluding the impact of the Atchison distillery, second quarter consolidated gross margin improved approximately 80 basis points from the prior year period reflecting strong margin expansion in the Branded Spirits segment. Second quarter operating income and diluted EPS decreased 2% and $0.01 to $43.4 million and $1.43 per share, respectively. On an adjusted basis, operating income increased 12% to $51.3 million and diluted EPS increased by 15% to $1.71 per share. Distilling SolutionsFor the second quarter, as expected, sales for the Distilling Solutions segment decreased 20% to $93.4 million due to the Atchison distillery closure. Excluding the impact of the Atchison distillery, segment sales increased 9% to $93.3 million, including higher brown goods sales. Gross profit, as reported, increased to $42.5 million, or 45.5% of segment sales, compared to $38.7 million, or 33.1% of segment sales, in the second quarter 2023. Branded SpiritsBranded Spirits segment second quarter sales increased 11% to $64.0 million, driven primarily by the ongoing momentum in our premium plus portfolio. Sales of our premium plus price tier spirits brands grew 29% during the quarter reflecting our focused initiatives across the American whiskey and tequila categories. Branded Spirits gross profit increased by 29% to record-high $33.6 million, or 52.5% of segment sales, compared to $26.0 million, or 45.1% of segment sales, in the prior year period. Ingredient SolutionsIngredient Solutions segment sales decreased 3% to $33.4 million during the second quarter. Gross profit decreased to $7.1 million, or 21.4% of segment sales, compared to $11.6 million, or 33.6% of segment sales, in the second quarter 2023. Excluding the impact of the Atchison distillery and the associated intercompany credit for the waste starch slurry by-product, gross profit decreased to $7.1 million compared to $10.0 million in the second quarter 2023. Additional HighlightsAdvertising and promotion expenses for the second quarter 2024 increased $3.0 million, or 35%, to $11.7 million as compared to the second quarter 2023. Corporate selling, general, and administrative ("SG&A") expenses for the second quarter 2024 decreased $0.8 million, or 3%, to $22.8 million as compared to the second quarter 2023. During the second quarter 2024, the change in fair value of the contingent consideration related to the Penelope acquisition totaled $5.4 million. The corporate effective tax rate for the second quarter 2024 was 24.0%, compared with 25.3% from the year ago period. 2024 Financial Outlook MGP is confirming the following consolidated guidance for fiscal 2024: Sales are projected to be in the range of $742 million to $756 million, following the closure of the Atchison distillery in December 2023. Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be in the range of $218 million to $222 million, inclusive of the add back of share-based compensation expense. Adjusted basic earnings per common share are forecasted to be in the $6.12 to $6.23 range, with basic weighted average shares outstanding expected to be approximately 22.3 million at year end. Conference Call and Webcast InformationMGP Ingredients will host a conference call for analysts and institutional investors today, August 1, 2024, at 10 a.m. ET to discuss these results and current business trends. Investors can dial 844-308-6398 or 412-717-9605 (international) to listen to the live call. A live webcast will be available at "News and Events" section of the company's Investor Relations section at ir.mgpingredients.com/news-events. A replay of the conference call will be available on the company's website. About MGP Ingredients, Inc.MGP Ingredients, Inc. (NASDAQ:MGPI) is a leading producer of premium branded and distilled spirits, as well as food ingredient solutions. Since 1941, we have combined our expertise and energy aimed at formulating excellence, bringing product ideas to life collaboratively with our customers. As one of the largest distillers in the U.S., MGP's offerings include bourbon and rye whiskeys, gins, and vodkas, which are created at the intersection of science and imagination, for customers of all sizes, from crafts to multinational brands. With distilleries in Kentucky and Indiana, and bottling operations in Missouri, Ohio, and Northern Ireland, MGP has the infrastructure and expertise to create on any scale. MGP's branded spirits portfolio covers a wide spectrum of brands in every segment, including iconic brands from Luxco, which was founded in 1958 by the Lux Family. Luxco is a leading producer, supplier, importer, and bottler of beverage alcohol products. Our branded spirits mission is to meet the needs and exceed the expectations of consumers, associates, and business partners. Luxco's award-winning spirits portfolio includes well-known brands from four distilleries: Bardstown, Kentucky-based Lux Row Distillers, home of Ezra Brooks, Rebel, Blood Oath, David Nicholson, and Daviess County; Lebanon, Kentucky-based Limestone Branch Distillery, maker of Yellowstone Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Minor Case Straight Rye Whiskey, and Bowling & Burch Gin; Jalisco, Mexico-based Destiladora González Lux, producer of 100% agave tequilas, El Mayor, Exotico, and Dos Primos; and the historic Ross & Squibb Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, where Penelope Bourbon, Remus Straight Bourbon Whiskey, and Rossville Union Straight Rye Whiskey are produced. The innovative and high-quality brand portfolio also includes Everclear Grain Alcohol, Pearl Vodka, Green Hat Gin, Saint Brendan's Irish Cream, The Quiet Man Irish Whiskey, and other well-recognized brands. In addition, our Ingredient Solutions segment offers specialty proteins and starches that help customers harness the power of plants and provide a host of functional, nutritional, and sensory benefits for a wide range of food products. The transformation of American grain into something more is in the soul of our people, products, and history. We're devoted to unlocking the creative potential of this extraordinary resource. For more information, visit mgpingredients.com. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including without limitation statements about optimism regarding investments by MGP Ingredients, Inc. (the "Company" or "MGP") and their ability to yield positive results, expand its distribution footprint, and transition to a premier branded spirits company and the Company's 2024 outlook, including its expectations for sales, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted basic earnings per common share ("EPS"), and shares outstanding. Forward looking statements are usually identified by or are associated with words such as "intend," "plan," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "anticipate," "project," "forecast," "hopeful," "should," "may," "will," "could," "encouraged," "opportunities," "potential," and similar terminology. These forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and estimates of future economic circumstances, industry conditions, Company performance, Company financial results, and Company financial condition and are not guarantees of future performance. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations include without limitation any effects of changes in consumer preferences and purchases and our ability to anticipate or react to those changes; our ability to compete effectively; damage to our reputation or that of any of our key customers or their brands; failure to introduce successful new brands and products or have effective marketing or advertising; changes in public opinion about alcohol or our products; our reliance on our distributors to distribute our branded spirits; our reliance on fewer, more profitable customer relationships; interruptions in our operations or a catastrophic event at our facilities; decisions concerning the quantity of maturing stock of our aged distillate; warehouse expansion issues; our reliance on a limited number of suppliers; our reliance on a limited number of suppliers; work disruptions or stoppages; climate change and measures to address climate change; our closure of our Atchison, Kansas distillery; regulation and taxation and compliance with existing or future laws and regulations; tariffs, trade relations, and trade policies; excise taxes, incentives and customs duties; our ability to protect our intellectual property rights and defend against alleged intellectual property rights infringement claims; failure to secure and maintain listings in control states; labeling or warning requirements or limitations on the availability of our products; product recalls or other product liability claims; anti-corruption laws, trade sanctions and restrictions; class action or other litigation; higher costs or the unavailability and cost of raw materials, product ingredients, energy resources, or labor; failure of our information technology systems, networks, processes, associated sites, or service providers; acquisitions and potential future acquisitions; interest rate increases; reliance on key personnel; commercial, political, and financial risks; covenants and other provisions in our credit arrangements; pandemics or other health crises; ability to pay any dividends; limited rights of common stockholders and anti-takeover provisions in our governing documents; the impact of issuing shares of our common stock; and the effectiveness or execution of our strategic plan. For further information on these risks and uncertainties and other factors that could affect the Company's business, see the "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31 and June 30, 2024, as well as the Company's other SEC filings. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements or information in this press release, except as required by law. Non-GAAP Financial Measures In addition to reporting financial information in accordance with U.S. GAAP, the Company provides certain non-GAAP financial measures that are not in accordance with, or alternatives for, GAAP. In addition to the comparable GAAP measures, the Company has disclosed measures excluding the impact of the Atchison disclosure, adjusted operating income, adjusted income before income taxes, adjusted net income, adjusted net income margin, adjusted MGP earnings, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, net debt, net debt leverage ratio, and adjusted basic and diluted EPS, as well as guidance for adjusted EBITDA and adjusted basic EPS. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures should be reviewed in conjunction with operating income, income before income taxes, net income, net income used in earnings per common share calculation, debt, and basic and diluted EPS computed in accordance with U.S. GAAP and should not be considered a substitute for the GAAP measure. We believe that the non-GAAP measures provide useful information to investors regarding the Company's performance and overall results of operations. In addition, management uses these non-GAAP measures in conjunction with GAAP measures when evaluating the Company's operating results compared to prior periods on a consistent basis, assessing financial trends, and for forecasting purposes. Non-GAAP financial measures may not provide information that is directly comparable to other companies, even if similar terms are used to identify such measures. The attached schedules provide a full reconciliation of historical non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure. Full year 2024 guidance measures of adjusted EBITDA and adjusted basic EPS are provided on a non-GAAP basis without a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP measures because the Company is unable to predict with a reasonable degree of certainty certain items contained in the GAAP measures without unreasonable efforts. Such items include without limitation, acquisition related expenses, restructuring and related expenses, and other items not reflective of the Company's ongoing operations. For More Information Investors:Amit Media:Greg MGP INGREDIENTS, INC.OPERATING INCOME ROLLFORWARD(Dollars in thousands) Operating income, quarter versus quarter   Operating Income   Change   Operating income for the quarter ended June 30, 2023   $ 44,143         Decrease in gross profit - Ingredient Solutions segment     (4,488 )   (10)%   Increase in gross profit - Branded Spirits segment     7,630     17   pp(a) Increase in gross profit - Distilling Solutions segment     3,795     9   pp Increase in advertising and promotion expenses     (3,026 )   (7 ) pp Decrease in SG&A expenses     754     2   pp Impairment of long-lived assets and other     (21 )   (1 ) pp Change in fair value of contingent consideration     (5,400 )   (12 ) pp Operating income for the quarter ended June 30, 2024   $ 43,387     (2)%                   Operating income, year to date versus year to date   Operating Income   Change   Operating income for the year to date ended June 30, 2023   $ 85,702         Decrease in gross profit - Ingredient Solutions segment     (10,511 )   (12)%   Increase in gross profit - Branded Spirits segment     5,569     7   pp(a) Increase in gross profit - Distilling Solutions segment     4,850     6   pp Increase in advertising and promotion expenses     (3,976 )   (5 ) pp Decrease in SG&A expenses     307     —   pp Impairment of long-lived assets and other     (137 )   —   pp Change in fair value of contingent consideration     (9,500 )   (11 ) pp Operating income for the year to date ended June 30, 2024   $ 72,304     (16)%                   (a) Percentage points ("pp"). MGP INGREDIENTS, INC.EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE ("EPS") ROLLFORWARD Change in EPS, quarter versus quarter   EPS   Change   Basic and Diluted EPS for the quarter ended June 30, 2023   $ 1.44         Change in operating income (b)     (0.03 )   (2)%   Change in interest expense, net (b)     (0.03 )   (2 ) pp(a) Change in other income (expense), net(b)     0.04     3   pp Change in effective tax rate     0.02     1   pp Change in weighted average shares outstanding     (0.01 )   (1 ) pp Basic and Diluted EPS for the quarter ended June 30, 2024   $ 1.43     (1)%                   Change in EPS, year to date versus year to date   EPS   Change   Basic EPS for the year to date ended June 30, 2023   $ 2.84         Change in operating income(b)     (0.46 )   (16)%   Change in interest expense, net (b)     (0.07 )   (2 ) pp(a) Change in other income (expense), net(b)     0.03     1   pp Change in effective tax rate     0.03     1   pp Change in weighted average shares outstanding     (0.01 )   —   pp Basic and Diluted EPS for the year to date ended June 30, 2024   $ 2.36     (17)%                   (a) Percentage points ("pp").(b) Items are net of tax based on the effective tax rate for the base year (2023). MGP INGREDIENTS, INC.SALES BY OPERATING SEGMENT(Dollars in thousands)   DISTILLING SOLUTIONS SALES   Quarter Ended June 30,   Quarter versus Quarter Sales Change Increase/(Decrease)     2024     2023   $ Change   % Change Brown goods $ 75,443   $ 73,124   $ 2,319     3 % Warehouse services   8,392     6,747     1,645     24   White goods and other co-products   9,553     36,994     (27,441 )   (74 ) Total Distilling Solutions $ 93,388   $ 116,865   $ (23,477 )   (20)%                   BRANDED SPIRITS SALES   Quarter Ended June 30,   Quarter versus Quarter Sales Change Increase/(Decrease)     2024     2023   $ Change   % Change Premium plus $ 30,707   $ 23,763   $ 6,944     29 % Mid   17,061     17,090     (29 )   —   Value   11,655     11,578     77     1   Other   4,618     5,185     (567 )   (11 ) Total Branded Spirits $ 64,041   $ 57,616   $ 6,425     11 %                             INGREDIENT SOLUTIONS SALES   Quarter Ended June 30,   Quarter versus Quarter Sales Change Increase / (Decrease)     2024     2023   $ Change   % Change Specialty wheat starches $ 19,203   $ 17,095   $ 2,108     12 % Specialty wheat proteins   11,200     12,588     (1,388 )   (11 ) Commodity wheat starches   2,973     4,837     (1,864 )   (39 ) Commodity wheat proteins   —     —     —     —   Total Ingredient Solutions $ 33,376   $ 34,520   $ (1,144 )   (3)%                 MGP INGREDIENTS, INC.SALES BY OPERATING SEGMENT(Dollars in thousands)   DISTILLING SOLUTIONS SALES   Year to Date Ended June 30,   Year to Date versus Year to Date Sales Change Increase/(Decrease)     2024     2023   $ Change   % Change Brown goods $ 141,774   $ 141,448   $ 326     — % Warehouse services   16,348     13,605     2,743     20   White goods and other co-products   20,118     75,035     (54,917 )   (73 ) Total Distilling Solutions $ 178,240   $ 230,088   $ (51,848 )   (23)%                   BRANDED SPIRITS SALES   Year to Date Ended June 30,   Year to Date versus Year to Date Sales Change Increase/(Decrease)     2024     2023   $ Change   % Change Premium plus $ 51,613   $ 42,509   $ 9,104     21 % Mid   31,822     37,925     (6,103 )   (16 ) Value   21,664     24,999     (3,335 )   (13 ) Other   9,088     9,066     22     —   Total Branded Spirits $ 114,187   $ 114,499   $ (312 )   — %                   INGREDIENT SOLUTIONS SALES   Year to Date Ended June 30,   Year to Date versus Year to Date Sales Change Increase/(Decrease)     2024     2023   $ Change   % Change Specialty wheat starches $ 41,474   $ 31,781   $ 9,693     30 % Specialty wheat proteins   21,195     24,478     (3,283 )   (13 ) Commodity wheat starches   6,235     8,644     (2,409 )   (28 ) Commodity wheat proteins   37     521     (484 )   (93 ) Total Ingredient Solutions $ 68,941   $ 65,424   $ 3,517     5 %                 MGP INGREDIENTS, INC.CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)     Quarter Ended June 30,   Year to Date Ended June 30,       2024       2023       2024       2023   Sales   $ 190,805     $ 209,001     $ 361,368     $ 410,011   Cost of sales     107,573       132,706       215,341       263,892   Gross profit     83,232       76,295       146,027       146,119                     Advertising and promotion expenses     11,665       8,639       20,348       16,372   Selling, general, and administrative expenses     22,759       23,513       43,738       44,045   Impairment of long-lived assets and other     21       —       137       —   Change in fair value of contingent consideration     5,400       —       9,500       —   Operating income     43,387       44,143       72,304       85,702                     Interest expense, net     (2,205 )     (1,282