PENX (MM)

Penford Corporation (Nasdaq: PENX), a global leader in ingredient systems for food and industrial applications, today reported record sales for the quarter ended May 31, 2007. Consolidated sales increased $16.3 million to $95.4 million from $79.1 million a year ago and gross margin increased $6.5 million to $18.6 million from $12.1 million last year. Third quarter operating income grew 145% to a record $8.5 million from $3.5 million in fiscal 2006. Net income for the quarter was $5.0 million, or $0.54 per diluted share, compared to net income of $2.0 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, for the same quarter last year. Quarterly revenue rose on higher average unit pricing in all businesses, new product introductions by the North American Food Ingredients segment, and product mix improvements. A 10% appreciation in the Australian Dollar also contributed to the sales increase. Consolidated gross margin as a percent of sales expanded to 19.5% from 15.2% a year ago, driven by pricing gains and lower manufacturing costs worldwide. Consolidated operating expenses as a percent of sales declined to 10.6% of sales from 10.9% last year. Interest expense for the quarter was $1.4 million compared to $1.5 million last year. Interest expense of $0.1 million associated with the Company�s ethanol construction project was capitalized in the third quarter. During the third quarter, Penford capitalized $5.3 million of costs attributable to the ethanol project, for a total of $11.2 million at May 31, 2007. Reported net income for the first nine months of fiscal 2007 was $9.2 million, or $1.01 per diluted share, compared to net income of $1.7 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, a year ago. Consolidated sales for the nine months ended May 31, 2007 grew 13.7% to $266.1 million and operating income expanded to $16.5 million from $5.0 million last year. Third Quarter Fiscal 2007 Segment Results The Company�s North American Industrial Ingredients business reported quarterly sales rose 26.7% to $53.0 million from $41.8 million last year. International shipments expanded 32% and volumes of Specialty Products grew 39%. Higher unit prices and mix improvements contributed $5.2 million to revenue. The impact from passing through higher corn prices to customers added $7.8 million. These gains more than offset 6% lower volumes as sales of toll manufactured products declined. Quarterly gross margin improved by $4.3 million, or 66%, on increased revenue and lower manufacturing expenses. Gross margin as a percent of sales increased to 20.4% from 15.6% a year ago despite a 3.5% negative impact on the ratio from the effect of passing through higher corn costs. Operating income doubled to $7.1 million from $3.5 million last year. The construction of the ethanol plant within the Cedar Rapids site is on schedule with production targeted for the end of this calendar year. The designed output capacity has been expanded to 45 million gallons with a proportional cost increase that maintains our $1.00 - $1.05 per gallon capital investment in this project. Quarterly sales in the North American Food Ingredients business grew 24.3% to $17.1 million from $13.7 million last year. Volume increases contributed 9% to the gain while higher unit pricing and improved mix added another 15%. Sales of potato coating and protein applications expanded at double-digit rates. Products with formulations designed for the pet chew and treat markets were introduced during the quarter and this category accounted for one-third of the sales gain during the quarter. Gross margin increased $1.4 million to $5.1 million, reflecting revenue expansion and higher plant utilization rates. Operating income for the third quarter rose 67% to $2.9 million from $1.7 million last year. Revenue at the Company�s Australia/New Zealand business was $25.7 million, up $2.0 million from last year. Volumes decreased 3.6%, primarily in categories experiencing competition from products manufactured in countries with weaker currencies than Australia. Price increases overcame a $0.9 million increase in grain costs, reflecting the Company�s program to offset the impact of the recent drought. Improved manufacturing efficiencies lowered production costs and more than compensated for slower volumes. Gross margin as a percent of sales improved to 10.4% from 7.9% last year. Operating income for the third quarter tripled to $0.9 million from $0.3 million a year ago. �The third quarter results represent a step-change in performance for Penford,� said Tom Malkoski, Penford Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer. �Our Australian business is advancing programs that align costs and resources with sensible initiatives for margin improvement. North America Food Ingredients continues to build its established business while extending technologies into new applications and markets. The Industrial business is operating its core business well, continuing the solid pace of growth in high value Specialty Products and constructing capacity for ethanol production. I believe these broad-based initiatives will deliver value for our shareholders into the future.� Conference Call Penford will host a conference call to discuss third quarter financial and operational results today, June 28, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight time. Access information for the call and webcast can be found at www.penx.com. A replay will be available at www.penx.com. About Penford Corporation Penford Corporation develops, manufactures and markets specialty natural-based ingredient systems for various applications, including papermaking, textiles and food products. Penford has nine locations in the United States, Australia and New Zealand. The statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that represent management�s beliefs and assumptions based on currently available information. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as �believes,� �may,� �will,� �looks,� �should,� �could,� �anticipates,� �expects,� or comparable terminology or by discussions of strategies or trends. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot give any assurances that these expectations will prove to be correct. Such statements by their nature involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect expected results. Actual future results could differ materially from those described in such forward-looking statements, and the Company does not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are the risks and uncertainties discussed in this release and those described from time to time in the Company�s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission which include, but are not limited to, competition; the possibility of interruption of business activities due to equipment problems, accidents, strikes, weather or other factors; product development risk; changes in corn and other raw material prices and availability; unanticipated ethanol facility construction or procurement delays that could result in delay in the timing of the commencement of ethanol production; unexpected cost overruns; technical difficulties, nonperformance by contractors or mandated changes in project requirements or specifications; changes in general economic conditions or developments with respect to specific industries, markets or customers which affect demand for the Company�s products, including unfavorable shifts in product mix; adverse litigation results or unanticipated third party claims; interest rate, chemical and energy cost volatility; foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; changes in assumptions used for determining employee benefit expense and obligations; or other unforeseen developments in the industries in which Penford operates. Penford Corporation Financial Highlights Three months ended May 31 Nine months ended May 31 (In thousands except per share data) 2007� 2006� 2007� 2006� (unaudited) � Consolidated Results � Sales $ 95,406� $ 79,130� $ 266,147� $ 234,111� � Net income $ 4,955� $ 1,991� $ 9,234� $ 1,675� � Earnings per share, diluted $ 0.54� $ 0.22� $ 1.01� $ 0.19� � � Results by Segment � Industrial Ingredients: � Sales $ 52,965� $ 41,809� $ 143,650� $ 121,454� Gross margin 20.4% 15.6% 16.4% 11.4% Operating income 7,066� 3,521� 13,896� 4,877� � Food Ingredients � North America: � Sales $ 17,091� $ 13,747� $ 46,892� $ 42,404� Gross margin 29.6% 26.8% 29.6% 26.4% Operating income 2,918� 1,750� 7,931� 5,636� � Australia/New Zealand: � Sales $ 25,668� $ 23,718� $ 76,296� $ 70,795� Gross margin 10.4% 7.9% 8.7% 8.4% Operating income 856� 276� 1,607� 1,071� May 31, August 31, 2007� 2006� (unaudited) � Current assets $ 105,157� $ 89,916� Property, plant and equipment, net 138,173� 124,829� Other assets 38,279� 35,923� Total assets 281,609� 250,668� � Current liabilities 59,100� 57,843� Long-term debt 67,589� 53,171� Other liabilities 32,429� 32,202� Shareholders� equity 122,491� 107,452� Total liabilities and equity $ 281,609� $ 250,668� Penford Corporation Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited) Three months ended May 31 Nine months ended May 31 (In thousands except per share data) 2007� 2006� 2007� 2006� (unaudited) � Sales $95,406� $79,130� $266,147� $234,111� � Cost of sales 76,838� 67,070� 221,983� 203,107� Gross margin 18,568� 12,060� 44,164� 31,004� � Operating expenses 8,375� 7,020� 22,808� 21,429� Research and development expenses 1,737� 1,584� 4,886� 4,592� � Income from operations 8,456� 3,456� 16,470� 4,983� � Non-operating income, net 344� 563� 1,095� 1,410� Interest expense 1,443� 1,522� 4,437� 4,388� � Income before income taxes 7,357� 2,497� 13,128� 2,005� � Income tax expense 2,402� 506� 3,894� 330� � Net income $ 4,955� $ 1,991� $ 9,234� $ 1,675� � Weighted average common shares and equivalents outstanding, diluted 9,258� 9,050� 9,159� 8,978� � Earnings per share, diluted $ 0.54� $ 0.22� $ 1.01� $ 0.19� � Dividends declared per common share $ 0.06� $ 0.06� $ 0.18� $ 0.18�