KANSAS CITY, Mo., Nov. 15, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- FCStone Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:FCSX), a commodity risk management firm, today announced higher year-over year revenues and net income for its fiscal fourth quarter and year ending August 31, 2007.
Fourth Quarter Results
Revenues, net of cost of commodities sold, a non-GAAP financial measure, were $75.6 million in the three months ended August 31, 2007, compared to $52.7 million in the prior year quarter, an increase of 43%. Net income increased to $12.0 million, or $0.42 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter, compared to $3.9 million, or $0.18 per diluted share, in the prior year quarter.
The following table presents results on a total and per share basis. All shares and per share disclosures in this press release are based on the post split number of shares from the September 17, 2007 three for two stock split.
Financial Highlights (In thousands, except per share amounts) Three Months Ended Year Ended August 31, August 31, -------------------- -------------------- 2006 2007 2006 2007 -------- -------- -------- -------- NON GAAP-Revenues, net of cost of commodities sold (1) $ 52,668 $ 75,631 $181,856 $257,446 GAAP-Income after minority interest and before income tax expense (1) $ 6,437 $ 19,174 $ 24,757 $ 53,277 GAAP-Net income (2) $ 3,887 $ 11,974 $ 15,257 $ 33,277 Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (3) 21,807 28,753 21,749 25,567 Diluted earnings per share $ 0.18 $ 0.42 $ 0.70 $ 1.30 (1) Amounts for the three months ended and year ended August 31, 2007 include a net amount of $1.2 million for special or one-time items, which include a $2.6 million gain on the sale of a portion of the Company's membership units of FGDI, LLC, a $0.5 million dividend received on Chicago Board of Trade stock, a $3.7 million gain on the sale of CME Group, Inc. common stock and a loss of $5.6 million from investments managed by Sentinel Management. (2) Amounts for the three months ended and year ended August 31, 2007 include after tax effect of the items noted in (1) above of approximately $0.8 million. (3) In March 2007, the Company completed its initial public offering, or IPO, of common stock in which it issued and sold 8,797,500 shares of common stock and in connection therewith, subsequently redeemed 3,258,442 shares of common stock.
The increase in fourth quarter revenues, net of cost of commodities sold, from the prior year fourth quarter, was primarily related to higher exchange-traded volumes due to continued volatility in the grain and energy markets, higher over-the-counter (OTC) volumes primarily from the renewable fuels and Brazilian customers, increased foreign exchange (Forex) commissions and higher interest income from additional investable segregated and OTC customer margin funds.
Costs and expenses, exclusive of cost of commodities sold, were higher compared to the prior year primarily due to higher volume-related costs of broker commissions, pit brokerage and clearing fees, and introducing broker commissions.
"We are proud of our accomplishments this quarter as well as for the entire fiscal year," said Pete Anderson, President and Chief Executive Officer. "2007 was a year in which we accomplished several significant milestones and achievements. Unprecedented market volatility and the rapid expansion of the renewable energy industry allowed the Company to leverage our core expertise in agricultural commodities and the energy industry to drive record revenue and earnings growth. Furthermore, we continued to build our network of risk management consultants, who drive growth by identifying new products, structures and solutions to manage commodity risk. All of these initiatives helped lay the foundation for long-term growth and added value for our stakeholders."
Year-To-Date Results
Revenues, net of cost of commodities sold, a non-GAAP financial measure, were $257.4 million for the fiscal year 2007, compared to $181.9 million during fiscal year 2006, an increase of 41.6%. Net income increased 118% to $33.3 million for fiscal year 2007, or $1.30 per diluted share, compared to $15.3 million, or $0.70 per diluted share during fiscal year 2006.
"Our strong growth in the fourth quarter was consistent with a year that saw both record revenues and net income for the business," said Bob Johnson, Chief Financial Officer. "As we focus on both our core capabilities in traditional markets as well as increased penetration of new customer segments, we look forward to building upon the strong growth momentum that we have generated over the past year."
Operating Segments
FCStone's income (loss) before minority interest and income tax expense by segment and certain other data are outlined below for the periods noted.
Three Months Ended Year Ended August 31, August 31, -------------------- -------------------- 2006 2007 2006 2007 -------- -------- -------- -------- Segment Data (1): ($ in thousands) Income (loss) before minority interest and income tax expense: Commodity and Risk Management Services (1) $ 6,206 $ 19,083 $ 21,937 $ 45,721 Clearing and Execution Services (1) 2,498 (1,231) 10,981 9,610 Financial Services 83 48 (19) 1,052 Grain Merchandising 481 -- (430) 2,130 Corporate (1) (2,687) 1,274 (7,938) (4,597) -------- -------- -------- -------- $ 6,581 $ 19,174 $ 24,531 $ 53,916 ======== ======== ======== ======== Other Data: EBITDA (1) $ 8,267 $ 20,454 $ 32,136 $ 64,962 Exchange contract trading volume (in millions) 13.0 20.5 47.5 61.0 Customer Segregated Assets, end of period $764,847 $997,436 $764,847 $997,436 (1) Amounts for the three months ended and year ended August 31, 2007 include the following special or one-time items by segment: a $2.6 million gain from the sale of FGDI stock in Corporate; a $0.5 million dividend received on CBOT stock and a $3.7 million gain on the sale of CME stock included in the Commodity and Risk Management Services segment; and a $5.6 million loss from investments managed by Sentinel Management included in the Clearing and Execution Services segment.
In the Commodity and Risk Management Services segment, revenues, net of cost of commodities sold, were $45.5 million in the fourth quarter ended August 31, 2007, compared to $24.8 million in the prior year quarter, an increase of 83%. Segment income before minority interest and income taxes for the fourth quarter 2007 increased to $19.1 million, compared to $6.2 million in the prior year quarter. Fourth quarter 2007 segment revenues, net of cost of commodities sold, were $41.3 million and segment income was $14.9 million before the special non-operating income items.
For the Clearing and Execution Services segment, revenues, net of cost of commodities sold, were $26.0 million in the fourth quarter ended August 31, 2007, compared to $22.6 million in the prior year quarter, an increase of 15%. The segment lost $1.2 million in the fourth quarter, compared to a net income of $2.5 million in the prior year quarter. Fourth quarter 2007 segment revenues, net of cost of commodities sold, were $31.6 million and segment income before minority interest and income taxes was $4.4 million before the Sentinel loss.
The Financial Services segment reported revenues, net of cost of commodities sold, of $1.6 million in the fourth quarter ended August 31, 2007, compared to $1.1 million in the prior year quarter, an increase of 42%. Segment income decreased to $48 thousand for the fourth quarter, compared to $83 thousand in the prior year quarter.
As previously announced on June 1, 2007, the Company sold a portion of its membership units in FGDI, LLC, the Grain Merchandising segment, and now owns a 25% minority interest in this business instead of the previous 70% majority interest. Therefore, such business is no longer consolidated in our financial statements.
As noted above, there were several special or one-time transactions in the fourth quarter. Also in the first quarter of FY 2008 the company sold additional CME Stock and CBOE trading rights for a pre-tax gain of approximately $2.8 million in the Commodity and Risk Management Services segment.
Business Outlook
Commenting on the Company's fiscal year results and overall expectations, Anderson said, "We look forward to building upon the growth and profitability generated over the previous year and we intend to leverage the industry dynamics that are in place to drive Company volumes in the future. Many of the strategic initiatives that we have implemented over previous years are just now beginning to gain traction. We look forward to continuing our impressive pace of growth by utilizing our network of risk management consultants and focusing on our mature client base as well as the underserved markets we have identified both domestically and internationally. The Company will also continue to leverage its agricultural and energy experience into new markets where we see opportunity. All of these factors combine to provide a very positive picture for the future of FCStone and we look forward to a successful fiscal 2008 and beyond."
On July 10, 2007, the Board of Directors approved a three-for-two stock split that was distributed in the form of a 50 percent stock dividend. FCStone's stockholders of record at the close of business on September 17, 2007, received one additional share for every two shares of common stock held on that date. The stock split increased the number of shares of FCStone common stock outstanding from approximately 18.3 million to approximately 27.5 million. All shares and per share disclosures in this press release are based upon the post split number of shares.
As a company dedicated to risk management, the Company believes diversification of the personal portfolio risk of our corporate officers, directors, and other designated insiders, is appropriate. As such, the Company's Board of Directors has established stock trading plans in accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 10b5-1. The Rule 10b5-1 plans allow corporate officers, directors and other designated insiders to diversify their investment portfolios, increase their company stock holdings, spread company stock trades out over a period of time to reduce market impact and avoid concerns about material non-public information they may have when their prearranged 10b5-1 plan sells or purchases stock.
Conference Call & Web Cast
A conference call will be held today, Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. (ET). A live web cast of the conference call as well as a replay will be available online on the Company's corporate web site at http://www.fcstone.com. Participants can also access the call by dialing 800-240-2430 (within the United States and Canada), or 303-262-2142 (international callers). A replay of the call will be available approximately two hours after the call has ended and will be available until 11:59 p.m. (CT) on Thursday, November 29, 2007. To access the replay, dial 800-405-2236 (within the United States and Canada), or 303-590-3000 (international callers) and enter the conference ID number: 11101780.
About FCStone Group, Inc.
FCStone Group, Inc., along with its affiliates, is an integrated commodity risk management company providing risk management consulting and transaction execution services to commercial commodity intermediaries, end-users and producers. The firm assists primarily middle market customers in optimizing their profit margins and mitigating exposure to commodity price risk. In addition to risk management consulting services, FCStone, LLC, operates one of the leading independent clearing and execution platforms for exchange-traded futures and options contracts. FCStone Group, Inc., serves more than 7,500 customers and in the 12 months ended August 31, 2007, executed 61.7 million derivative contracts in the exchange-traded and over-the-counter markets. The FCStone Group companies work in all the major commodity areas including agriculture, energy, renewable fuels, foods, forestry, and currency exchange. Headquartered in the Midwest, it has offices located throughout the world and is a clearing member of all major North American Futures exchanges. FCStone Group, Inc., trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "FCSX."
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may include forward-looking statements regarding, among other things, our plans, strategies and prospects, both business and financial. All statements other than statements of current or historical fact contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "should," "plan," "will," "may," "could," "intend," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "continue" or the negative of these terms and similar expressions, as they relate to FCStone Group, Inc., are intended to identify forward-looking statements.
We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions, including the risks, uncertainties and assumptions described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking statements in this press release may not occur and actual results could differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. When you consider these forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind these risk factors and other cautionary statements in this press release.
Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Use of NON-GAAP Financial Information
In this press release we disclose "revenues, net of cost of commodities sold", and "EBITDA", both of which are non-GAAP financial measures. For purposes of Regulation G, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company's performance, financial position, or cash flows that either excludes or includes amounts that are not normally excluded or included in the most directly comparable measure, calculated and prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United Sates (GAAP). Revenues, net of cost of commodities sold, is not a substitute for the GAAP measure of total revenues. EBITDA is not a substitute for the GAAP measure of net income or cash flows. Such non-GAAP financial measures are reconciled to its closest GAAP measure, in accordance with the Securities and Exchange Commission rules, and are included in the attached supplemental data. Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to both management and its stockholders in their analysis of the company's business and operating performance.
FCSTONE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (in thousands, except per share amounts) Three Months Ended Year Ended August 31, August 31, ---------------------- ---------------------- 2006 2007 2006 2007 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Revenues: Commissions and clearing fees $ 30,987 $ 43,530 $ 105,622 $ 145,077 Service, consulting and brokerage fees 8,790 18,527 33,388 47,679 Interest 7,897 11,785 23,174 42,957 Other 158 1,794 2,638 4,186 Sales of commodities 269,305 -- 1,129,983 1,101,752 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Total revenues 317,137 75,636 1,294,805 1,341,651 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Costs and expenses: Cost of commodities sold 264,469 5 1,112,949 1,084,205 Employee compensation and broker commissions 13,566 14,900 44,229 49,524 Pit brokerage and clearing fees 13,987 20,796 47,613 67,978 Introducing broker commissions 7,251 10,842 22,826 36,050 Employee benefits and payroll taxes 2,509 2,426 9,801 10,678 Interest 1,370 868 5,705 9,937 Depreciation 460 412 1,674 1,748 Bad debt expense 200 -- 1,909 1,632 Other expenses 6,744 6,213 23,568 25,983 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Total costs and expenses 310,556 56,462 1,270,274 1,287,735 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Income before income tax expense and minority interest 6,581 19,174 24,531 53,916 Minority interest 144 -- (226) 639 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Income after minority interest and before income tax expense 6,437 19,174 24,757 53,277 Income tax expense 2,550 7,200 9,500 20,000 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Net income $ 3,887 $ 11,974 $ 15,257 $ 33,277 ========== ========== ========== ========== Weighted average shares outstanding: Basic 21,807 27,419 21,749 24,500 Diluted 21,807 28,753 21,749 25,567 Earnings per share: Basic $ 0.18 $ 0.44 $ 0.70 $ 1.36 Diluted $ 0.18 $ 0.42 $ 0.70 $ 1.30 FCSTONE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION (in thousands, except share amounts) August 31, ---------------------- 2006 2007 ---------- ---------- ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents Unrestricted $ 59,726 $ 90,053 Restricted 4,010 -- Segregated 14,221 14,250 Commodity deposits and receivables: Commodity exchanges and clearing organizations - customer segregated 604,536 686,441 Proprietary commodity accounts 20,133 77,690 Receivables from customers, net of allowance for doubtful accounts 29,166 16,868 ---------- ---------- Total commodity deposits and accounts receivable 653,835 780,999 ---------- ---------- Marketable securities, at fair value - customer segregated and other 149,609 307,828 Trade accounts receivable 42,176 6,923 Open contracts receivable 37,424 120,219 Counterparty deposits and accounts receivable 23,607 19,610 Notes receivable 14,971 42,368 Inventories - grain and fertilizer 26,628 -- Exchange Stock, available-for-sale -- 2,948 Exchange memberships and stock, at cost 6,587 7,418 Furniture, equipment, software, and improvements, net 7,386 4,763 Deferred income taxes 4,697 6,736 Investments in affiliates and other organizations 5,537 7,369 Other assets 6,793 8,710 ---------- ---------- Total assets $1,057,207 $1,420,194 ========== ========== LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Liabilities Checks written in excess of bank balance $ 6,436 $ -- Commodity and customer regulated accounts payable 726,920 935,515 Trade accounts payable and advances 128,349 115,145 Open contracts payable 41,301 121,101 Accrued expenses 26,876 38,632 Repurchase obligation -- 13,594 Notes payable 48,169 21,539 Subordinated debt 7,000 1,000 Obligations under capital leases 3,575 -- ---------- ---------- Total liabilities 988,626 1,246,526 ---------- ---------- Minority interest 3,607 -- Redeemable common stock held by employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) 6,079 -- Stockholders' equity: Common stock, $0.0001 par value, authorized 20,000,000 and 40,000,000 at August 31, 2006 and 2007, respectively; issued and outstanding 21,805,812 and 27,416,567 shares at August 31, 2006 and 2007 21,747 104,267 Additional paid-in capital 120 1,115 Treasury stock -- (376) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (1,955) (3,620) Retained earnings 45,062 72,282 ---------- ---------- 64,974 173,668 Less maximum cash obligation related to ESOP shares (6,079) -- ---------- ---------- Total stockholders' equity 58,895 173,668 ---------- ---------- Commitments and contingencies Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $1,057,207 $1,420,194 ========== ========== FCSTONE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (in thousands) Year ended August 31, ---------------------- 2006 2007 ---------- ---------- Cash flows from operating activities: Net income $ 15,257 $ 33,277 Depreciation 1,674 1,748 Amortization of discount on note receivable (46) (55) Gain on sale of FGDI membership units -- (2,595) Gain on sale of exchange memberships and stock -- (3,671) Gain on conversion of exchange membership to common stock -- (105) Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of distributions 591 17 Minority interest, net of distributions (237) 639 Change in commodity accounts receivable/payable, marketable securities and customer segregated funds, net (16,186) (55,898) Change in open contracts receivable/payable, net (30,001) (21,371) Decrease in trade accounts receivable and advances on grain 1,191 2,989 Decrease in counterparty deposits and accounts receivable 24,514 3,997 Increase in inventories (12,023) (4,635) Increase in other assets (3,588) (5,290) Increase in trade accounts payable and advances 50,632 10,018 Increase in accrued expenses 9,233 11,176 ---------- ---------- Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 41,011 (29,759) ---------- ---------- Cash flows from investing activities: Purchase of furniture, equipment, and improvements (1,255) (2,847) Proceeds from the sale of FGDI membership units, net of cash -- 3,934 Acquisition of equity investment (2,405) -- Acquisition of minority interest (911) -- Purchase of marketable securities -- (25,000) Issuance of notes receivable, net (5,458) (27,342) Purchase of exchange membership and stock (5,403) (1,855) Proceeds from the sale of exchange membership and stock 613 3,859 Proceeds from conversion of exchange membership to common stock -- 378 ---------- ---------- Net cash used in investing activities (14,819) (48,873) ---------- ---------- Cash flows from financing activities: (Decrease) increase in checks written in excess of bank balance 1,556 (1,656) Proceeds from notes payable, net 11,258 35,996 Proceeds from initial public offering, net of issuance and registration costs -- 129,643 Proceeds from issuance of common stock -- 1,373 Proceeds from issuance of redeemable common stock held by ESOP 223 -- Payment for redemption of common stock -- (48,496) Dividends paid (2,898) (6,057) Payments under capital lease held for sale (550) (413) Monies deposited in escrow (2,600) (54) Monies released from escrow -- 3,623 Proceeds from subordinated debt 4,500 9,500 Payments on subordinated debt (3,000) (14,500) ---------- ---------- Net cash provided by financing activities 8,489 108,959 ---------- ---------- Net increase in cash and cash equivalents - unrestricted 34,681 30,327 Cash and cash equivalents - unrestricted - beginning of period 25,045 59,726 ---------- ---------- Cash and cash equivalents - unrestricted - end of period $ 59,726 $ 90,053 ========== ========== Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: Interest paid $ 5,587 $ 10,164 Income taxes paid $ 10,335 $ 19,632 ========== ========== Noncash financing activities: Increase (decrease) in maximum cash obligation related to ESOP shares $ 1,369 $ (6,079) ========== ==========
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The following table reconciles revenues, net of cost of commodities sold, with our total revenues.
Three Months Ended Year Ended August 31, August 31, ---------------------- ---------------------- 2006 2007 2006 2007 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ($ in thousands) Revenues: Commissions and clearing fees $ 30,987 $ 43,530 $ 105,622 $ 145,077 Service, consulting and brokerage fees 8,790 18,527 33,388 47,679 Interest 7,897 11,785 23,174 42,957 Other 158 1,794 2,638 4,186 Sales of commodities 269,305 -- 1,129,983 1,101,752 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Total revenues 317,137 75,636 1,294,805 1,341,651 Less: Cost of commodities sold 264,469 5 1,112,949 1,084,205 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Revenues, net of cost of commodities sold $ 52,668 $ 75,631 $ 181,856 $ 257,446 ========== ========== ========== ==========
The following table reconciles EBITDA with our net income.
Three Months Ended Year Ended August 31, August 31, ---------------------- ---------------------- 2006 2007 2006 2007 ------- ------- ------- ------- ($ in thousands) Net income: $ 3,887 $11,974 $15,257 $33,277 Plus: interest expense 1,370 868 5,705 9,937 Plus: depreciation and amortization 460 412 1,674 1,748 Plus income tax expense 2,550 7,200 9,500 20,000 ------- ------- ------- ------- EBITDA $ 8,267 $20,454 $32,136 $64,962 ======= ======= ======= ======= Commodity and Risk Management Services Segment: The following table provides the financial performance for this segment. Three Months Ended Year Ended August 31, August 31, ---------------------- ---------------------- 2006 2007 2006 2007 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ($ in thousands) Sales of commodities $ 6,139 ($1) $ 11,336 $ 3,806 Cost of commodities sold 5,940 5 11,053 3,727 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Gross profit on commodities sold 199 -6 283 79 Commissions and clearing fees 12,034 16,277 36,886 54,367 Service, consulting and brokerage fees 8,939 18,679 33,990 48,227 Interest 3,523 6,264 9,610 20,445 Other revenues (1) 65 4,329 148 4,476 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Revenues, net of cost of commodities sold 24,760 45,543 80,917 127,594 Other costs and expenses: Expenses (excluding interest expense) 18,486 26,351 58,825 81,480 Interest expense 68 109 155 393 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Total costs and expenses (excluding cost of commodities sold) 18,554 26,460 58,980 81,873 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Segment income before minority interest and income taxes (1) $ 6,206 $ 19,083 $ 21,937 $ 45,721 ========== ========== ========== ========== Exchange contract trading volume (millions) 0.9 0.9 2.5 3.1 OTC Contract volume 137,682 287,499 326,785 750,909 (1) Includes $4.2 million from the combined gain on the sale of CME stock and dividends from CBOT stock in the three months ended and year ended August 31, 2007. Clearing and Execution Segment: The following table provides the financial performance for this segment. Three Months Ended Year Ended August 31, August 31, ---------------------- ---------------------- 2006 2007 2006 2007 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ($ in thousands) Sales of commodities $ -- $ -- $ -- $ -- Cost of commodities sold -- -- -- -- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Gross profit on commodities sold -- -- -- -- Commissions and clearing fees 19,095 27,533 69,246 91,486 Service, consulting and brokerage fees -- -- -- -- Interest 3,468 3,985 10,702 15,707 Other revenues (1) -- (5,525) -- (5,420) ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Revenues, net of cost of commodities sold 22,563 25,993 79,948 101,773 Other costs and expenses: Expenses (excluding interest expense) 19,890 27,203 68,541 91,570 Interest expense 175 21 426 593 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Total costs and expenses (excluding cost of commodities sold) 20,065 27,224 68,967 92,163 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Segment income before minority interest and income taxes (1) $ 2,498 $ (1,231) $ 10,981 $ 9,610 ========== ========== ========== ========== Exchange contract trading volume (millions) 12.1 19.6 45.0 57.9 (1) Includes a loss of $5.6 million from investments managed by Sentinel Management in the three months ended and year ended August 31, 2007 Financial Services Segment: The following table provides the financial performance for this segment. Three Months Ended Year Ended August 31, August 31, ---------------------- ---------------------- 2006 2007 2006 2007 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ($ in thousands) Sales of commodities $ 16,865 $ 1 $ 41,094 $ 20,007 Cost of commodities sold 16,803 -- 40,906 19,904 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Gross profit on commodities sold 62 1 188 103 Commissions and clearing fees -- -- -- -- Service, consulting and brokerage fees -- -- -- -- Interest 668 1,118 3,320 7,179 Other revenues 382 463 1,491 1,798 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Revenues, net of cost of commodities sold 1,112 1,582 4,999 9,080 Other costs and expenses: Expenses (excluding interest expense) 542 723 2,302 2,344 Interest expense 487 811 2,716 5,684 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Total costs and expenses (excluding cost of commodities sold) 1,029 1,534 5,018 8,028 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Segment income (loss) before minority interest and income taxes $ 83 $ 48 $ (19) $ 1,052 ========== ========== ========== ========== Grain Merchandising Segment: The following table provides the financial performance for this segment. Three Months Ended Year Ended August 31, August 31, ---------------------- ---------------------- 2006 2007 2006 2007 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ($ in thousands) Sales of commodities $ 246,301 $ -- $1,077,553 $1,077,939 Cost of commodities sold 241,884 -- 1,061,557 1,061,017 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Gross profit on commodities sold 4,417 -- 15,996 16,922 Commissions and clearing fees -- -- -- -- Service, consulting and brokerage fees -- -- -- -- Interest 268 -- 693 94 Other revenues 272 -- 1,582 1,010 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Revenues, net of cost of commodities sold 4,957 -- 18,271 18,026 Other costs and expenses: Expenses (excluding interest expense) 3,890 -- 15,357 11,414 Interest expense 586 -- 3,344 4,482 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Total costs and expenses (excluding cost of commodities sold) 4,476 -- 18,701 15,896 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Segment income before minority interest and income taxes $ 481 $ -- $ (430) $ 2,130 ========== ========== ========== ========== Quarterly Financial Highlights: The following table provides summary financial highlights by quarter for fiscal year 2007. Three Months Ended ---------------------------------------- Nov. 30, Feb. 28, May 31, Aug. 31, 2006 2007 2007 2007 ---------------------------------------- ($ in thousands) NON GAAP-Revenues, net of cost of commodities sold $57,348 $60,098 $64,369 $75,631(A)(B) GAAP-Income after minority interest and before income tax expense $10,114 $11,045 $12,944 $19,174(B) GAAP-Net income $ 6,314 $ 6,920 $ 8,069 $11,974(B) (A) The fourth quarter did not include any revenues, net of cost of commodities sold from the Grain Merchandising segment as the majority interest in such entity was sold on June 1, 2007. (B) The fourth quarter included a pre-tax gain on the sale of FGDI of $2.6 million, a pre-tax gain on the sale of CME stock of $3.7 million, a special dividend from the CBOT of $0.5 million and a pre-tax loss on short-term investments with Sentinel Management Group of $5.6 million. Without these items our fourth quarter income after minority interest and before income tax expense would have been $18.0 million and Net Income would have been $11.2 million.