EX-99.1 2 dex991.htm PRESS RELEASE Press Release

EXHIBIT 99.1

 

LOGO    LOGO

Omega Protein Reports 2007 Results

HOUSTON, March 12, 2008 – Omega Protein Corporation (NYSE symbol: OME), the nation’s leading producer of Omega-3 fish oil and specialty fish meal products, today reported net income of $12.1 million ($0.72 a share) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, compared with net income of $4.6 million ($0.19 a share) for the year ended December 31, 2006.

For the year ended December 31, 2007, the Company had revenues of $157.1 million, compared with $139.8 million in revenues for the year ended December 31, 2006. Omega Protein recorded operating income of $27.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2007, versus operating income of $8.0 million for the comparable period a year earlier.

Revenues for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2007 were $44.3 million compared with revenues of $26.1 million for the comparable quarter in 2006. Omega Protein recorded operating income of $8.8 million for the 2007 fourth quarter, versus operating income of $0.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2006.

Omega Protein’s 2007 results reflect increased margins primarily due to higher sales prices received during the current year, partially offset by a decline in sales volume of both fish meal and fish oil. Additionally, results for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2007 were favorably impacted by the settlement of the lawsuit with its property insurance carriers pertaining to damages sustained from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. The results for the year ended December 31, 2007 were also impacted by the net loss incurred during the first quarter of 2007 primarily due to the write-off of approximately $3.0 million in deferred debt issuance costs and prepayment fees resulting from the refinancing of the Company’s prior credit agreement with a new credit facility which closed in March 2007. Excluding the settlement of the lawsuit and the write-off from the reported 2007 net income would have resulted in Omega Protein reporting approximately $7.2 million in net income ($0.43 a share).

About Omega Protein

Omega Protein Corporation is the nation’s largest manufacturer of heart-healthy fish oils containing Omega-3 fatty acids for human consumption, as well as specialty fish meals and fish oil used as value-added ingredients in aquaculture, swine and other livestock feeds. Omega Protein makes its products from menhaden, an Omega-3 rich fish that is not utilized as seafood, but which is abundantly available along the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Coasts.


SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: The statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The actual results of future events described in any of these forward-looking statements could differ materially from those stated in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to be materially different from those forward-looking statements include, among others: (1) the Company’s ability to meet its raw material requirements through its annual menhaden harvest, which is subject to fluctuations due to natural conditions over which the Company has no control, such as varying fish population, fish oil yields, adverse weather conditions and disease; (2) the impact of worldwide supply and demand relationships on prices for the Company’s products; (3) Omega Protein’s expectations regarding demand for OmegaPure® proving to be incorrect; and (4) fluctuations in the Company’s quarterly operating results due to the seasonality of the Company’s business and its deferral of inventory sales based on worldwide prices for competing products. These and other factors are described in further detail in Omega’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its reports on Form 10-K, Form10-Q and Form 8-K. The Company also posts its latest internally generated price list for various products on its Company website, www.omegaproteininc.com. Pricing and product availability information disclosed in the price list are subject to change or discontinuance without prior notice, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update such information.

 


OMEGA PROTEIN CORPORATION

Statement of Operations

(unaudited)

 

     Three Months
Ended December 31,
    Twelve Months
Ended December 31,
 
     2007     2006     2007     2006  
     (in thousands, except per share amounts)  

Revenues

   $ 44,336     $ 26,104     $ 157,149     $ 139,834  

Cost of sales

     35,650       22,577       122,455       116,638  
                                

Gross profit

     8,686       3,527       34,694       23,196  

Selling, general and administrative expense

     4,730       3,239       16,386       13,683  

Research and development expense

     529       —         1,194       —    

(Insurance recoveries) losses relating to natural disaster and other, net

     (5,393 )     177       (10,326 )     1,557  
                                

Operating income

     8,820       111       27,440       7,956  

Interest income (expense), net

     (1,111 )     (895 )     (5,121 )     (1,938 )

Loss resulting from debt refinancing

     —         —         (3,024 )     —    

Other income (expense), net

     (87 )     (85 )     (333 )     (244 )
                                

Income (loss) before income taxes

     7,622       (869 )     18,962       5,774  

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

     2,839       (473 )     6,823       1,202  
                                

Net income (loss)

   $ 4,783     $ (396 )   $ 12,139     $ 4,572  
                                

Basic earnings (loss) per share

   $ 0.27     $ (0.02 )   $ 0.72     $ 0.19  
                                

Weighted average common shares outstanding

     17,407       22,026       16,830       24,322  
                                

Diluted earnings (loss) per share

   $ 0.27     $ (0.02 )   $ 0.70     $ 0.18  
                                

Weighted average common shares and potential common share equivalents outstanding

     17,768       22,026       17,432       25,200  
                                

 


OMEGA PROTEIN CORPORATION

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET

(Unaudited)

 

     December 31,
2007
   December 31,
2006
     (in thousands)

ASSETS

     

Current assets

   $ 107,651    $ 89,759

Property and equipment, net

     96,659      100,776

Deferred tax assets, net

     175      4,103

Other assets

     3,344      6,080
             

Total assets

   $ 207,829    $ 200,718
             

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

     

Current liabilities

   $ 24,190    $ 18,683

Long-term debt, less current maturities

     58,976      72,693

Pension liabilities, net and other

     6,208      8,252

Stockholders’ equity

     118,455      101,090
             

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 207,829    $ 200,718
             

Book value per share outstanding

   $ 6.79    $ 6.24
             

CONTACT:

Investor Relations, (713) 623-0060 OR hq@omegahouston.com

Web site: www.buyomegaprotein.com

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