EX-99 2 sdc988a.htm PRESS RELEASE


Gehl Company
143 Water Street
P.O. Box 179
West Bend, WI 53095-0179
USA
Tel: 262/334-9461
Fax: 262/334-6603
http://www.gehl.com
  Contact:
  Thomas M. Rettler
  Chief Financial Officer
  262-334-6632
  News Release



GEHL COMPANY REPORTS RECORD QUARTERLY SALES;
RAISES FULL YEAR OUTLOOK


        WEST BEND, WI, April 22, 2005 – Gehl Company (NASDAQ NM: GEHL), a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of compact construction and agricultural equipment, today reported record quarterly net sales of $119.0 million for the quarter ended April 2, 2005, an increase of $34.3 million, or 41%, from 2004 first quarter net sales of $84.7 million. Net income for the quarter was $4.9 million, or $.71 per share, compared to net income of $2.9 million, or $.53 per share, earned in the first quarter of 2004.


        Continuing strength of the construction markets resulted in higher sales and earnings for the quarter. The overall economic expansion and significantly improved conditions in the construction market, beginning in early 2004, along with growth in revenues from several new product introductions over the past fifteen months provided the foundation for the record quarterly sales performance. First quarter 2005 sales eclipsed the prior quarterly sales record of $95.5 million posted in the second quarter of 2004. Construction equipment and agricultural equipment net sales were up 54% and 16%, respectively, for the quarter compared to the first quarter of 2004.




( M O R E )



Gehl Company
Gehl Company Reports Record Quarterly Sales;
Raises Full Year Outlook

April 22, 2005
page 2


        Operating profit earned in the quarter of $8.4 million, or 7.1% of sales, compares to $4.6 million, or 5.5% of sales, in the first quarter of 2004. Gross margin rates in the quarter were 19.8% versus 20.5% in the comparable period of 2004. Higher steel and component prices, which have increased dramatically, and the weaker dollar impact on imported product costs caused the slight decline in gross margin rates. More than offsetting the gross margin rate decline was the decrease in the Company’s operating expenses as a percentage of sales. Total operating expenses for the quarter were 12.7% of net sales compared to 15% in the first quarter of 2004. Tight expense management controls, coupled with the fixed cost leverage realized from higher sales volume, led to this improvement.


        “We are off to a good start in 2005,” said William D. Gehl, Chairman and CEO. “Sales of telescopic handlers have been particularly strong as the rental market continues to strengthen. Our compact equipment strategic focus and emphasis on chasing costs out of every facet of our business have proven to be the right course for the Company.”


Full Year Outlook


        The Company is raising both its net sales and earnings per share outlook for the year. It is now expecting 2005 net sales in the range of $440 million to $460 million and earnings of between $2.70 and $2.80 per share.


        “Our first quarter results and our current order backlog have exceeded our initial 2005 forecast and confirm the strength of the markets we serve,” Gehl said. “We anticipate the additional sales growth and our cost control efforts to drive increased earnings for the remainder of the year. Although steel prices have begun to moderate, we do expect other supplier cost increases to continue and put downward pressure on our gross margin rate.”


        Earnings per share listed in this news release are on a fully diluted basis.




( M O R E )



Gehl Company
Gehl Company Reports Record Quarterly Sales;
Raises Full Year Outlook

April 22, 2005
page 3


Forward Looking Statements


        Certain statements included in this press release are “forward-looking statements” intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact, including the statements in the section entitled “Full Year Outlook,” are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, words such as the Company “believes,” “anticipates,” “expects”, “estimates” or “projects” or words of similar meaning are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, some of which are beyond the Company’s control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated as of the date of this press release. Factors that could cause such a variance include, but are not limited to, any adverse change in general economic conditions, unanticipated changes in capital market conditions, the Company’s ability to implement successfully its strategic initiatives, market acceptance of newly introduced products, unexpected issues related to the pricing and availability of raw materials (including steel) and component parts, unanticipated difficulties in securing product from third party manufacturing sources, the ability of the Company to increase its prices to reflect higher prices for raw materials and component parts, the cyclical nature of the Company’s business, the Company’s and its customers’ access to credit, competitive pricing, product initiatives and other actions taken by competitors, disruptions in production capacity, excess inventory levels, the effect of changes in laws and regulations (including government subsidies and international trade regulations), technological difficulties, changes in currency exchange rates or interest rates, the Company’s ability to secure sources of liquidity necessary to fund its operations, changes in environmental laws, the impact of any strategic transactions effected by the Company, and employee and labor relations. Shareholders, potential investors, and other readers are urged to consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this release are only made as of the date of this release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. In addition, the Company’s expectations for fiscal year 2005 are based in part on certain assumptions made by the Company, including those relating to commodities prices, which are strongly affected by weather and other factors and can fluctuate significantly, housing starts and other construction activities, which are sensitive to, among other things, interest rates and government spending, and the performance of the U.S. economy generally. The accuracy of these or other assumptions could have a material effect on the Company’s ability to achieve its expectations.




( M O R E )



Gehl Company
Gehl Company Reports Record Quarterly Sales;
Raises Full Year Outlook

April 22, 2005
page 4


About Gehl Company


        Gehl Company (Nasdaq NM: GEHL) is a manufacturer of compact equipment used worldwide in construction and agricultural markets. Founded in 1859, the Company is headquartered in West Bend, WI, with manufacturing facilities in West Bend, WI; and Madison and Yankton, SD. The Company markets its products under the Gehl ® and Mustang ® brand names. Mustang product information is available on the Mustang Manufacturing website (www.mustangmfg.com). CE Attachments, Inc. information is available at (www.ceattach.com). Gehl Company information is available at (www.gehl.com) or contact: Gehl Company, 143 Water Street, West Bend, WI 53095 (telephone: 262-334-9461).




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Gehl Company
Gehl Company Reports Record Quarterly Sales;
Raises Full Year Outlook

April 22, 2005
page 5


GEHL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(unaudited and in thousands, except per share data)


For the First Quarter Ended
April 2,
2005

March 27,
2004


NET SALES
    $ 119,041   $ 84,687  
     Cost of goods sold    95,500    67,291  



GROSS PROFIT
    23,541    17,396  

     Selling, general and administrative expenses
    15,116    12,782  



INCOME FROM OPERATIONS
    8,425    4,614  

     Interest expense
    (1,440 )  (588 )
     Interest income    1,133    426  
     Other expense    (658 )  (117 )



INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
    7,460    4,335  

     Provision for income taxes
    2,536    1,430  



NET INCOME
   $ 4,924   $ 2,905  



NET INCOME PER SHARE
  

Diluted
   $ 0.71   $ 0.53  
     Weighted average number of common shares and  
        common stock equivalents    6,934    5,496  

Basic
   $ 0.74   $ 0.54  
     Weighted average number of common shares    6,673    5,356  




Gehl Company
Gehl Company Reports Record Quarterly Sales;
Raises Full Year Outlook

April 22, 2005
page 6


GEHL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(unaudited and in thousands)


April 2,
2005

December 31,
2004

 March 27,
 2005

ASSETS                
     Cash   $ 26,142   $ 5,262   $ 2,774  
     Accounts receivable - net    158,449    123,514    122,868  
     Finance contracts receivable - net    40,667    73,343    4,980  
     Inventories    42,614    38,925    34,287  
     Deferred income taxes    8,104    8,104    7,128  
     Prepaid expenses and other current assets    3,030    2,859    4,655  



             Total current assets    279,006    252,007    176,692  

     Property, plant and equipment - net
    34,683    34,072    34,780  
     Goodwill    11,748    11,748    11,748  
     Other assets    24,294    10,373    5,821  



     Total assets   $ 349,731   $ 308,200   $ 229,041  




LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
  
     Total current liabilities   $ 104,970   $ 89,159   $ 75,254  
     Long-term debt obligations    87,456    69,045    42,070  
     Other long-term liabilities    12,983    12,288    8,435  
     Deferred income taxes    1,247    1,247    1,742  
     Total shareholders' equity    143,075    136,461    101,540  




     Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
   $ 349,731   $ 308,200   $ 229,041  






Gehl Company
Gehl Company Reports Record Quarterly Sales;
Raises Full Year Outlook

April 22, 2005
page 7


GEHL COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited and in thousands)


For the First Quarter Ended
April 2,
2005

March 27,
2004

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:            
     Net income   $ 4,924   $ 2,905  
     Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash  
        used for operating activities:  
           Depreciation and amortization    1,415    1,241  
           Compensation expense for long-term incentive stock grants    53    --  
           Cost of sales of finance contracts    (717 )  (246 )
           Proceeds from the sales of finance contracts    46,643    23,535  
           Increase in finance contracts receivable    (35,546 )  (26,382 )
           Net change in remaining working capital items    (23,139 )  (17,797 )


              Net cash used for operating activities    (6,367 )  (16,744 )

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
  
     Property, plant and equipment additions    (2,053 )  (847 )
     Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment    --    212  
     Other    (2 )  (104 )


              Net cash used for investing activities    (2,055 )  (739 )

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
  
     Proceeds from revolving credit loans    32,160    15,730  
     Repayments of other borrowings - net    (5,027 )  (39 )
     Proceeds from issuance of common stock    2,169    878  


              Net cash provided by financing activities    29,302    16,569  

     Net increase (decrease) in cash
    20,880    (914 )
     Cash, beginning of period    5,262    3,688  


     Cash, end of period   $ 26,142   $ 2,774