EX-99 2 a2164528zex-99.htm EX-99
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Exhibit 99

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For Immediate Release

FOR:    QUIXOTE CORPORATION    
CONTACT: Daniel P. Gorey
Chief Financial Officer
Joan R. Riley
Director of Investor Relations
(312) 467-6755
  Investor Relations:
Christine Mohrmann/Jim Olecki
Financial Dynamics
(212) 850-5600


QUIXOTE CORPORATION REPORTS FISCAL 2006 FIRST QUARTER RESULTS

    First quarter sales of $39.4 million, a 4% increase from last year

    Operating profit for the first quarter improves $1.5 million

    First quarter EPS of $0.03, meeting Company's expectations

        CHICAGO, IL, October 27, 2005—Quixote Corporation (Nasdaq: QUIX) today reported results for its first quarter ended September 30, 2005.

        For the fiscal 2006 first quarter, net sales increased 4% to $39,391,000, compared to net sales of $37,987,000 in the first quarter of fiscal 2005. Operating profit increased significantly to $1,627,000 in the fiscal 2006 first quarter, compared to operating profit of $137,000 in the first quarter last year. For the first quarter of fiscal 2006, the Company reported net earnings of $276,000, or $0.03 per diluted share, compared with a net loss of $261,000, or $0.03 per diluted share, in the first quarter of fiscal 2005. Fiscal 2006 first quarter net earnings include approximately $0.02 per diluted share related to the expensing of stock options and an after-tax gain of $392,000, or $0.04 per diluted share, resulting from a settlement of claims with the seller of Peek Traffic.

        Leslie J. Jezuit, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Our 2006 fiscal first quarter results were in line with our previous expectations. During the first quarter we were encouraged to see healthy growth from our Inform Group, where revenues increased 10% compared to the first quarter last year due to increased sales across nearly all major product lines. Importantly, sales of traffic and intersection control products increased 5% for the first quarter. Sales for our Protect and Direct Group declined 3% during the quarter primarily due to decreased international sales. However, overall international sales increased 4% during the first quarter."

        Mr. Jezuit continued, "As we stated previously, although the new federal highway spending bill (SAFETEA-LU) was signed into law in August, we don't expect to realize significant benefits of the bill's passage until the second half of fiscal 2006. In the meantime, we continue to focus on strengthening the Company as a whole through new product development, diligent cost management and increased sales efforts. During the first quarter, we made increased investments in research and development to ensure we offer our customers the best products and maintain our position as the leader in our industry. We believe these actions will enable Quixote to continue to achieve its financial expectations and position the Company to take advantage of increased funding levels resulting from the new highway spending bill."

        Mr. Jezuit concluded, "Looking forward, we have a great deal of confidence in Quixote's strong fundamentals and long-term prospects. We have seen increased sales activity resulting in backlog growth that should benefit the Company as we proceed through the year. As we enter into the typical seasonal low-point for our business, we expect diluted earnings per share for the fiscal 2006 second quarter to be between break-even and a loss of $0.04 per diluted share."

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        Quixote Corporation will be hosting a telephone conference call at 10 a.m., Eastern Time, today, October 27, 2005, to further discuss its quarterly results and corporate developments. This conference call will be broadcast simultaneously over the Internet at www.quixotecorp.com and may be accessed and listened to by clicking the icon on the Company's homepage.

        Quixote Corporation, (www.quixotecorp.com), through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Quixote Transportation Safety, Inc., Quixote Traffic Corporation and Quixote Transportation Technologies, Inc., is the world's leading manufacturer of energy-absorbing highway crash cushions, electronic wireless measuring and sensing devices, weather forecasting stations, computerized highway advisory radio transmitting systems, intelligent intersection control systems, automated red light enforcement systems, mobile and permanent variable electronic message signs, flexible post delineators and other transportation safety products.

        Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this news release are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements set forth above involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any such statement, including the risks and uncertainties discussed in the Company's Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended June 30, 2005, under the caption "Forward-Looking Statements" in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, which discussion is incorporated herein by this reference. Other factors may be described from time to time in the Company's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, news releases and other communications. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

(2 Tables to Follow)

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Quixote Corporation
Earnings Summary

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,

 
 
  2005
  2004
 
Net sales   $ 39,391,000   $ 37,987,000  
Cost of sales     28,445,000     26,715,000  
   
 
 

Gross profit

 

 

10,946,000

 

 

11,272,000

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Selling & administrative     7,889,000     9,875,000  
  Research & development     1,430,000     1,260,000  
   
 
 
      9,319,000     11,135,000  

Operating profit

 

 

1,627,000

 

 

137,000

 

Other income (expense)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Interest income     1,000     34,000  
  Interest expense     (1,183,000 )   (592,000 )
   
 
 
      (1,182,000 )   (558,000 )

Earnings (loss) before income taxes

 

 

445,000

 

 

(421,000

)
Income tax provision (benefit)     169,000     (160,000 )
   
 
 

Net earnings (loss)

 

$

276,000

 

$

(261,000

)
   
 
 

Per share data—basic:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Net earnings (loss)   $ 0.03   $ (0.03 )
  Average common shares outstanding     8,909,581     8,761,368  

Per share data—diluted:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Net earnings (loss)   $ 0.03   $ (0.03 )
  Average common shares outstanding     9,061,500     8,761,368  

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Quixote Corporation
Balance Sheet

 
  As of
September 30,
2005

  As of
June 30,
2005

Assets            
  Current assets            
    Cash and cash equivalents   $ 399,000   $ 156,000
    Accounts receivable, net     34,011,000     32,745,000
    Inventories     28,016,000     27,411,000
    Other current assets     7,594,000     6,925,000
   
 
      70,020,000     67,237,000
   
 
 
Net property, plant and equipment

 

 

24,094,000

 

 

25,008,000
  Intangible assets and other, net     44,158,000     44,545,000
   
 
    Total assets   $ 138,272,000   $ 136,790,000
   
 

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Current liabilities   $ 21,538,000   $ 24,304,000
  Long-term debt, net     55,384,000     49,587,000
  Other long-term liabilities     1,049,000     1,053,000
  Shareholders' equity     60,301,000     61,846,000
   
 
    Total liabilities and shareholders' equity   $ 138,272,000   $ 136,790,000
   
 

Other Information

 
  Three months ended September 30,
 
 
  2005
  2004
 
Operating cash flow   $ (1,400,000 ) $ (200,000 )
Depreciation and amortization expense   $ 1,600,000   $ 1,400,000  
Capital expenditures   $ 300,000   $ 800,000  

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QUIXOTE CORPORATION REPORTS FISCAL 2006 FIRST QUARTER RESULTS