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Dean Foods Company Reports Better Than Expected First Quarter Results

DSD Dairy Operations Post Improvement Over Previous Quarters

Strong Sales Growth Across WhiteWave-Morningstar Helps Drive Results

Reporting Segments Realigned to Reflect Changes in the Business

DALLAS, April 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Dean Foods Company (NYSE: DF) today announced that the Company earned $0.21 per diluted share from continuing operations for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, compared with $0.47 per diluted share from continuing operations in the first quarter of 2007. Net income from continuing operations for the first quarter totaled $30.8 million, compared with $63.8 million in the prior year's first quarter.

On an adjusted basis (as defined below), diluted earnings per share were $0.23, compared to $0.50 in the prior year's first quarter. Adjusted net income from continuing operations for the first quarter was $32.4 million, compared to adjusted net income of $67.0 million in the first quarter of 2007. The decrease in adjusted net income and earnings per share is related to the increase in interest expense as a result of the special cash dividend of $15 per share that was paid in April 2007 and lower operating results in the quarter. Interest expense in the quarter totaled $83.8 million, compared to $52.2 million in the first quarter of 2007, accounting for the majority of the year over year decline in adjusted net income.

"On the heels of the most challenging year in our history, I am pleased with the progress we've made in the first quarter of this new year across our business," commented Gregg Engles, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "While we expect continued challenges in the balance of 2008, we believe the difficulties of last year have strengthened our ability to navigate the continued volatility we anticipate in the commodity markets going forward."

In the first quarter, as reflected in this earnings release, the Company realigned its reporting segments to reflect recent changes in the business reporting relationships along business platforms. Morningstar Foods, which is primarily a private label, warehouse delivered, extended shelf life and cultured dairy products business, has been combined with WhiteWave Foods to create the WhiteWave-Morningstar reporting segment, with $2.4 billion in 2007 net sales, reporting to Joe Scalzo. Morningstar results were previously reported as part of the Dairy Group reporting segment.

The newly created DSD Dairy segment, under the leadership of Harrald Kroeker, primarily consists of the Company's conventional fluid milk, ice cream, creamers and other dairy, juice, and tea operations. These products are generally shorter-shelf life products that are produced in local facilities and distributed through the Company's national refrigerated direct store delivery (DSD) system. The DSD Dairy segment had full year net sales of $9.4 billion in 2007.

The Company expects this realignment to allow WhiteWave and Morningstar to leverage the combined operational, selling systems and research and development expertise across this larger base of longer-shelf life, warehouse delivered business over time. For the DSD Dairy business, there is now increased focus on lowering costs and continuing to deliver consistently superior customer service in its high velocity, direct to customer business model. Recast historical financial information reflecting the change in reporting segments is included as an attachment to this press release.


    Summary of Dean Foods First Quarter 2008 Segment and Operating Results
                          (in millions, except EPS)
                                                   Value   % Change from Q107
    DSD Dairy:
      Fluid Milk Volume                              N/A         -1.2%
      Operating Income                            $130.9          -15%

    WhiteWave - Morningstar:
      Net Sales                                   $618.5           17%
      Operating Income                             $45.4            1%
    Consolidated Adjusted Operating Income:       $138.3          -14%
    Interest Expense:                              $83.8           61%
    Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share:           $0.23          -54%


    DEAN FOODS CONSOLIDATED

Net sales for the first quarter totaled $3.1 billion, an increase of 17% from net sales in the first quarter of 2007. Net sales increase in the quarter was due to the pass-through of higher dairy commodity costs and strong sales growth at WhiteWave-Morningstar.

Consolidated operating income in the first quarter totaled $136.1 million, a decrease of 12% from $154.2 million in the first quarter of 2007. Adjusted first quarter consolidated operating income totaled $138.3 million, a decrease of 14% from $159.9 million in the first quarter of 2007.

DSD DAIRY

DSD Dairy net sales for the first quarter were $2.5 billion, a 17% increase from $2.1 billion in net sales for the first quarter of 2007. The sales increase was due primarily to the pass-through of higher overall dairy commodity costs to customers. The first quarter average Class I mover, which is an indicator of the Company's raw milk costs, averaged $19.12 per hundred- weight, a 39% increase from the same period in 2007 and 9% lower than the fourth quarter of 2007. Class II butterfat prices averaged $1.34 per pound in the first quarter, flat with the same period a year ago and 6% lower than the fourth quarter of 2007.

DSD Dairy segment operating income in the first quarter was $130.9 million, compared to $153.7 million in the first quarter of 2007, as the impact of the pass-through of high dairy commodity costs and other items such as shrink, lower proceeds from excess cream sales, higher fuel costs and consumer mix shift toward private label products continued to pressure results. Additionally, first quarter 2007 results for the DSD Dairy segment include approximately $12 million of one-time benefits not included in the 2008 period.

WHITEWAVE - MORNINGSTAR

The WhiteWave-Morningstar segment reported first quarter net sales of $618.5 million, 17% higher than first quarter 2007 net sales of $529.7 million. Sales growth was strong across the Morningstar business, as well as the entire branded portfolio with net sales of Horizon Organic(R) milk increasing nearly 30% due to continued strong volume growth that was driven by increased promotional activity and lower average prices versus the year ago period. Strong category growth and market share performance led to International Delight(R) and Silk(R) net sales increases in the low double- digits and Land O'Lakes(R) sales grew in the high single-digits over the same period last year.

Segment operating income in the first quarter for WhiteWave-Morningstar was $45.4 million, compared to $45.2 million in the first quarter of 2007. Segment operating margins were 7.3%, compared to 8.5% in the first quarter of 2007, due to the lower contribution from Horizon Organic as a result of increased brand spending and lower overall gross profit margins.

CORPORATE EXPENSE

Corporate and other expenses totaled $38.0 million, compared to $38.9 million in the first quarter of 2007. The decrease in the quarter was driven by on-going cost controls in base general and administrative costs offset by continued investments in support of the Company's strategic initiatives.

CASH FLOW

Net cash provided by continuing operations for the first quarter of 2008 totaled $158 million, compared to $138 million for the first quarter of 2007. The increase in net cash provided by continuing operations is due primarily to decreased working capital requirement, offset by higher year over year interest expense and lower operating results. Also in the first quarter, the company raised approximately $400 million through a stock offering totaling 18.7 million shares.

Capital expenditures for the first quarter of 2008 totaled $45 million, compared to $52 million for the first quarter of 2007.

In the first quarter, debt outstanding decreased by $460 million. Total debt at March 31, 2008, net of $41 million in cash on hand, was approximately $4.8 billion. The Company's funded debt to EBITDA ratio, as defined its credit agreements, declined to 5.56x as of the end of the first quarter.

FORWARD OUTLOOK

"It's clear that our results this year will largely be driven by the commodity markets, which remain highly unsettled and inflationary," continued Mr. Engles. "Longer term, we expect our transformational efforts to increasingly drive our results."

"For the second quarter, the conventional commodity markets remain volatile," commented Jack Callahan, Chief Financial Officer. "Furthermore, the organic milk market is shifting rapidly from a state of oversupply to one of undersupply. Given the current instability in these markets, balanced against the momentum in the business coming off of a strong first quarter, we currently expect adjusted earnings per share for the second quarter in a range of $0.26 to $0.31 per share."

"For the full year 2008, we have relatively greater confidence today compared to the start of the year," However, we believe it is too early to reassess our full year guidance given the dynamic volatility in the commodity markets. Therefore, we are maintaining our full year outlook for adjusted earnings per share of at least $1.20, and we will revisit this guidance in conjunction with our second quarter earnings report."

COMPARISON OF ADJUSTED INFORMATION TO GAAP INFORMATION

The adjusted financial results contained in this press release are from continuing operations and are adjusted to eliminate the net expense or net gain related to the items identified below. This information is provided in order to allow investors to make meaningful comparisons of the Company's operating performance between periods and to view the Company's business from the same perspective as Company management. Because the Company cannot predict the timing and amount of charges associated with non-recurring items or facility closings and reorganizations, management does not consider these costs when evaluating the Company's performance, when making decisions regarding the allocation of resources, in determining incentive compensation for management, or in determining earnings estimates. These costs are not presented in any of the Company's operating segments. This non-GAAP financial information is provided as additional information for investors and is not in accordance with or an alternative to GAAP. These non-GAAP measures may be different than similar measures used by other companies. A full reconciliation for the three month periods ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 calculated according to GAAP and on an adjusted basis is attached.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2008, the adjusted results reported above differ from the Company's results under GAAP by excluding the following facility closing reorganization and other nonrecurring charges:

    --  $2.2 million charge ($1.3 million net of income tax) related to the
        realignment of the Dairy Group's finance and accounting organization,
        the closure of our Denver, CO manufacturing facility and other
        previously announced facility closings; and
    --  $0.6 million charge ($0.3 million net of income tax) related to
        non-recurring special cash dividend costs.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2007, the adjusted results reported above differ from the Company's results under GAAP by excluding the following facility closing and reorganization charges:

    --  a $3.4 million charge ($2.1 million net of income tax) related to
        previously announced facility closings;
    --  a $2.4 million charge ($1.5 million net of income tax) related to the
        realignment of our Dairy Group's finance organization; and
    --  a $0.4 million charge ( $0.2 million net of income tax) related to
        non-recurring special cash dividend costs.


    CONFERENCE CALL WEBCAST

A webcast to discuss the Company's financial results and outlook will be held at 9:30 a.m. ET today and may be heard live by visiting the "Webcast" section of the Company site at http://www.deanfoods.com/investors. There will be a slide presentation along with the webcast.

ABOUT DEAN FOODS

Dean Foods Company is the largest processor and distributor of milk and other dairy products in the United States. The Company sells milk and a full range of other dairy products under more than 50 well-known local and regional brands and a wide array of private labels. The Company's WhiteWave Foods division produces a variety of nationally-branded dairy and dairy-related products, such as Horizon Organic (R) dairy products, Silk (R) soymilk, and International Delight (R) coffee creamers. WhiteWave Foods' Rachel's Organic (R) brand is the largest organic milk brand and second largest organic yogurt brand in the United Kingdom.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some of the statements in this press release are "forward-looking" and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These "forward-looking" statements include statements relating to, among other things, projected sales, operating income, net income and earnings per share. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause results to differ materially from the statements set forth in this press release. The Company's ability to meet targeted financial and operating results, including targeted sales, operating income, net income and earnings per share depends on a variety of economic, competitive and governmental factors, including raw material availability and costs, the demand for the Company's products, and the Company's ability to access capital under its credit facilities or otherwise, many of which are beyond the Company's control and which are described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company's ability to profit from its branding initiatives depends on a number of factors including consumer acceptance of the Company's products. The forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this release. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to such statements to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any changes in the events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.


     Contact:
     Investors:
          Barry Sievert
          Investor Relations
           (214) 303-3437

     Media:
          Marguerite Copel
          Corporate Communications
           (214) 721-1273


                              (Tables to follow)



                                DEAN FOODS COMPANY
                    Condensed Consolidated Income Statements
                       Three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007
                                   (Unaudited)
                  (dollars in thousands, except per share data)


                                                      2008              2007

     Net sales                                   $3,076,960        $2,629,749
     Cost of sales                                2,388,386         1,942,474
       Gross profit                                 688,574           687,275
     Operating costs and expenses                   550,255           527,347
     Facility closings, reorganizations and
      other costs                                     2,215             5,775
       Operating income                             136,104           154,153

     Interest expense                                83,832            52,241
     Other (income) expense                             619               300
       Income from continuing operations
        before income taxes                          51,653           101,612
     Income taxes                                    20,881            38,409
     Income from continuing operations               30,772            63,203
     Income (loss) from discontinued
      operations, net of tax                             -                617
         Net income                                 $30,772           $63,820

     Basic earnings per share:
       Income from continuing operations              $0.22             $0.49
       Income (loss) from discontinued operations       -                0.01
          Net income                                  $0.22             $0.50
       Basic average common shares (000's)          137,883           128,890
     Diluted earnings per share:
       Income from continuing operations              $0.21             $0.47
       Income (loss) from discontinued operations        -                 -
          Net income                                  $0.21             $0.47
       Diluted average common shares (000's)        143,289           134,521



                               DEAN FOODS COMPANY
                      Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
                                   (Unaudited)
                             (dollars in thousands)

                                                 March 31,        December 31,
     ASSETS                                         2008              2007

     Cash and cash equivalents                     $40,976           $32,555
     Other current assets                        1,440,803         1,499,429
       Total current assets                      1,481,779         1,531,984
     Property, plant & equipment                 1,807,868         1,798,378
     Intangibles & other assets                  3,724,434         3,702,994
     Total Assets                               $7,014,081        $7,033,356


     LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

     Total current liabilities, excluding debt    $960,153          $907,270
     Total long-term debt, including
      current portion                            4,812,379         5,272,351
     Other long-term liabilities                   805,053           802,468
     Stockholders' equity:
       Common stock                                  1,515             1,322
       Additional paid-in capital                  483,976            70,214
       Retained earnings                            98,305            67,533
       Other comprehensive income (loss)          (147,300)          (87,802)
         Total stockholders' equity                436,496            51,267
     Total Liabilities and Stockholders'
      Equity                                    $7,014,081        $7,033,356



                               DEAN FOODS COMPANY
                  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
                     Three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007
                                   (Unaudited)
                             (dollars in thousands)


     Operating Activities                             2008              2007
     Net income                                    $30,772           $63,820
     (Income) loss from discontinued
      operations                                         -              (617)
     Depreciation and amortization                  59,379            57,343
     Deferred income taxes                          26,709                 -
     Share-based compensation                        8,491             8,303
     Write-down of impaired assets                     649             4,760
     Changes in current assets and
      liabilities                                   32,604             3,730
     Other                                            (343)              669
       Net cash provided by continuing
        operations                                 158,261           138,008
       Net cash used in discontinued
        operations                                       -                 -
       Net cash provided by operating
         activities                                158,261           138,008


     Investing Activities
     Additions to property, plant and
      equipment                                    (44,759)          (51,781)
     Cash outflows for acquisitions                (51,800)         (125,839)
     Proceeds from divestitures                          -            10,706
     Proceeds from sale of fixed assets              2,550             1,550
        Net cash used in continuing
         operations                                (94,009)         (165,364)
        Net cash used in discontinued
         operations                                      -                 -
        Net cash used in investing
         activities                                (94,009)         (165,364)


     Financing Activities
     Repayment of debt                              (8,995)          (61,075)
     Net proceeds from (payments for)
      revolver and receivables-backed
        facility                                  (452,300)           71,400
     Issuance of common stock, net                 405,464            18,026
     Tax savings on share-based
      compensation                                       -             5,819
        Net cash provided (used) by
         continuing operations                     (55,831)           34,170
        Net cash provided by discontinued
         operations                                      -                 -
        Net cash provided (used) by
         financing activities                      (55,831)           34,170

     Increase in cash and cash equivalents           8,421             6,814
     Beginning cash balance                         32,555            31,140

     Ending cash balance                           $40,976           $37,954



                        Computation of Free Cash Flow
                            Provided by Operations
                      Three months ended March 31, 2008
                                   and 2007
                            (dollars in thousands)

                                                     2008              2007
     Net cash provided by continuing operations   $158,261          $138,008
    Additions to property, plant and equipment     (44,759)          (51,781)
      Free cash flow provided by operations       $113,502           $86,227



                               DEAN FOODS COMPANY
                               Segment Information
                     Three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007
                                   (Unaudited)
                             (dollars in thousands)

                                                    2008              2007
     Net sales:
       DSD Dairy                                $2,458,476        $2,100,066
       WhiteWave-Morningstar                       618,484           529,683
         Total                                  $3,076,960        $2,629,749

     Segment operating income (loss):
       DSD Dairy                                  $130,908          $153,650
       WhiteWave-Morningstar                        45,392            45,178
       Corporate / Other                           (37,981)          (38,900)
          Subtotal                                 138,319           159,928
          Facility closings, reorganizations and
           other costs                              (2,215)           (5,775)
            Total operating income                $136,104          $154,153



                                DEAN FOODS COMPANY
                    Recast Historical Segment Information (1)
               Fiscal Years ended December 31, 2005, 2006, and 2007
                                   (Unaudited)
                              (dollars in thousands)

                                                   2007
                                               Quarter ended
                                March 31     June 30     Sept 30      Dec 31
     Net sales:
       DSD Dairy               $2,100,066  $2,252,786  $2,498,634  $2,559,616
       WhiteWave-Morningstar      529,683     590,859     618,162     672,097
         Total                 $2,629,749  $2,843,645  $3,116,796  $3,231,713

     Segment operating income
      (loss):
       DSD Dairy                 $153,650    $141,154    $116,543    $126,616
       WhiteWave-Morningstar       45,178      55,824      43,062      60,887
       Corporate / Other          (38,900)    (39,541)    (36,483)    (38,284)
         Subtotal                 159,928     157,437     123,122     149,219
         Facility closings,
          reorganizations and
          other costs              (5,775)     (3,800)    (19,816)     (6,718)
           Total operating
            income               $154,153    $153,637    $103,306    $142,501



                                              2007        2006         2005
     Net sales:
       DSD Dairy                         $9,411,102   $8,030,637   $8,194,208
       WhiteWave-Morningstar              2,410,801    2,067,918    1,980,510
         Total                          $11,821,903  $10,098,555  $10,174,718

     Segment operating income (loss):
       DSD Dairy                           $537,963     $610,223     $577,269
       WhiteWave-Morningstar                204,951      207,140      179,724
       Corporate / Other                   (153,208)    (141,552)    (141,447)
         Subtotal                           589,706      675,811      615,546
         Facility closings,
          reorganizations and other
          costs                             (36,109)     (25,116)     (35,451)
           Total operating income          $553,597     $650,695     $580,095

     (1) The historical segment information has been recast to reflect the
         change in reporting segments. The change in presentation had no
         impact on consolidated net sales or operating income.



                               DEAN FOODS COMPANY
                  Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
                   Three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007
                                   (Unaudited)
                  (dollars in thousands, except per share data)


                                                       2008             2007
     Reconciliation of GAAP to adjusted operating
      income from continuing operations

     GAAP operating income from continuing
      operations                                      $136,104      $154,153
     Adjustment:
       Facility closings, reorganizations and
        other costs                                      2,215         5,775
       Adjusted operating income from continuing
        operations                                    $138,319      $159,928


     Reconciliation of GAAP to adjusted net
      income from continuing operations

     GAAP net income from continuing operations        $30,772       $63,203
     Adjustments, net of tax:
       Facility closings, reorganizations and other
        costs                                            1,320         3,592
       Debt refinancing and special dividend costs         340           235
       Adjusted net income from continuing
        operations                                     $32,432       $67,030


     Reconciliation of GAAP to adjusted
      diluted earnings per share

     GAAP diluted earnings per share from
      continuing operations                              $0.21         $0.47
     Adjustments, net of tax                              0.02          0.03
       Adjusted diluted earnings per share               $0.23         $0.50

SOURCE Dean Foods Company

CONTACT: Investors, Barry Sievert, Investor Relations, +1-214-303-3437, or Media, Marguerite Copel, Corporate Communications, +1-214-721-1273, both of Dean Foods Company

 

Contact:

Investors:

Barry Sievert
Investor Relations
(214) 303-3437


Media:
Marguerite Copel
Corporate Communications
(214) 721-1273


SOURCE Dean Foods Company