DRYR Dreyers GR Ice Cr (MM)

Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream Holdings, Inc. (the company or Dreyer's) (NNM:DRYR) today announced results for the second quarter ended June 25, 2005. Net sales of Dreyer's and Edy's(R) Slow Churned(TM) Light ice cream, Dreyer's and Edy's classic premium ice cream, and strong introductory sales of superpremium Haagen-Dazs(R) Light ice cream, Dreyer's and Edy's Dibs(TM) frozen snack products and Nestle kids frozen snacks drove a 17 percent increase in company brand net sales for the second quarter versus the same period in the prior year. As a result, dollar sales of Dreyer's company brands of packaged ice cream sold in the US grocery channel grew five percent in the quarter and reached a market share of 23 percent, the highest second quarter share ever held by the company. The company reported a net loss available to Class A callable puttable and Class B common stockholders for the quarter ended June 25, 2005 of $(99,400,000), or $(1.04) per diluted share, compared with $(88,367,000), or $(.94) per diluted share, for the quarter ended June 26, 2004. Operating Results Versus the Same Period in the Prior Year Total net revenues for the second quarter of 2005 increased $37,792,000, or nine percent, to $467,633,000. Net sales of company brands increased $59,444,000, or 17 percent, to $414,822,000 after promotional costs for the second quarter of 2005. The increase was driven primarily by net sales increases for the company's premium and superpremium products reflecting continued strong sales of premium Dreyer's and Edy's Slow Churned Light ice cream, the introduction of the superpremium Haagen-Dazs Light brand, and continued strong growth of classic Dreyer's and Edy's Grand ice cream. The increase also reflects an increase in net sales of the company's frozen snacks primarily due to the addition of The Skinny Cow(R) products to the company-owned portfolio following the acquisition of Silhouette Brands, Inc. in July 2004, as well as the recent introductions of Dreyer's and Edy's Dibs and Nestle kids frozen snacks. Net sales of partner brands, products distributed for other manufacturers, decreased $17,051,000, or 27 percent, to $46,091,000 for the second quarter of 2005. The decrease was primarily due to the classification of the net sales of The Skinny Cow product line as company brands during the period. The decrease also reflects reduced net sales of certain other brands. The decrease was partially offset by the classification of the sales of the Dreamery(R), Whole Fruit(TM) Sorbet and Godiva(R) brands as partner brands as a result of a September 2004 agreement with Integrated Brands, Inc. (Integrated Brands), a subsidiary of CoolBrands International, Inc. (CoolBrands). Other revenues decreased $4,601,000, or 41 percent, to $6,720,000 for the second quarter of 2005. The decrease in other revenues was driven primarily by a $4,327,000 decrease in revenues received from Integrated Brands for transitional manufacturing and distribution. Company brands represented 89 percent, partner brands represented 10 percent and other revenues represented one percent of total net revenues for the second quarter of 2005, compared with 83 percent, 15 percent, and two percent, respectively, for the same period in 2004. Cost of goods sold increased $31,858,000, or eight percent, to $414,659,000 for the second quarter of 2005. The increase was driven by higher sales and the related increase in distribution expenses offset by a $12,300,000 decrease in the cost of cream and a decrease in drayage expense paid to CoolBrands for the delivery of certain of the company's products. The company's gross profit increased by $5,934,000, or 13 percent, to $52,974,000 for the second quarter of 2005, representing an 11 percent gross margin compared with an 11 percent gross margin for the same period in 2004. The increase in gross profit was driven primarily by a $12,300,000 decrease in the cost of cream, a product mix shift from sales of lower margin partner brands to higher margin company brands and a decrease in drayage expense paid to Coolbrands. The increase was partially offset by increased promotional costs, primarily associated with new product launches. Selling, general and administrative expense increased by $1,813,000, or two percent, to $75,075,000 for the second quarter of 2005, representing 16 percent of total net revenues, compared with $73,262,000, or 17 percent of total net revenues, for the same period in 2004. The increase was driven primarily by increases in marketing expenses, partially offset by decreased professional fees. Interest expense increased by $2,091,000, or 96 percent, to $4,268,000 for the second quarter of 2005, primarily due to higher average borrowings. Royalty expense paid to affiliates increased by $1,759,000, or 23 percent, to $9,474,000 for the second quarter of 2005 driven by increased sales of products marketed under brand names or incorporating technology which is licensed to the company by affiliates of Nestle S.A. Finally, other expense was $723,000 for the second quarter of 2005, driven primarily by $1,541,000 in losses from butter trading activities, partially offset by earnings from joint ventures and equity affiliates. Other expense was $3,667,000 for the second quarter of 2004 driven primarily by $4,100,000 in losses from butter trading activities. Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream Holdings, Inc., and its subsidiaries manufacture and distribute a full spectrum of ice cream and frozen dessert products. Brands of frozen dessert products currently manufactured or distributed by Dreyer's in the United States include Grand, Slow Churned(TM) Light, Haagen-Dazs(R), Nestle(R) Drumstick(R), Nestle Crunch(R), Butterfinger(R), Toll House(R), Carnation(R), Dibs(TM), Push-Up(R), Dole(R), Homemade, Fruit Bars, Starbucks(R), The Skinny Cow(R), and Skinny Carb Bar(TM). The company's premium products are marketed under the Dreyer's brand name throughout the western states and Texas, and under the Edy's name throughout the remainder of the United States. Internationally, the Dreyer's brand extends to select markets in the Far East and the Edy's brand extends to the Caribbean and South America. For more information on the company, please visit www.dreyersinc.com. Edy's, the Dreyer's and Edy's logo design, Slow Churned, Dibs and Homemade are all trademarks or trade names of Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream, Inc. The Nestle and Haagen-Dazs trademarks in the U.S. are licensed to Dreyer's by Nestle. All other trademarks and trade names are owned by their respective companies and licensed to Dreyer's. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release, the forthcoming conference call, simultaneous webcast and audio replay are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding expectations, beliefs, intentions, or strategies regarding the future. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties at the time such statements are made which may cause the company's actual actions or results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Specific factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, the following: the level of consumer spending for frozen dessert products; the company's ability to achieve efficiencies in its manufacturing and distribution operations without negatively affecting sales; costs or difficulties related to the company's combination of Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream, Inc. and Nestle Ice Cream Company, LLC, including the integration of the operations of those businesses and the compliance with the Federal Trade Commission's order relating to the divestiture of assets; costs or difficulties related to the expansion and closing of the company's manufacturing and distribution facilities; the cost of energy and gasoline used in manufacturing and distribution; the cost of dairy raw materials and other commodities, such as vanilla, used in the company's products; the company's ability to develop, manufacture, market and sell new frozen dessert products; the success of the company's marketing and promotion programs and competitors' responses; market conditions affecting the prices of the company's products; responsiveness of both the trade and consumers to the company's new products and marketing and promotional programs; and the costs associated with any litigation proceedings. -0- *T DREYER'S GRAND ICE CREAM HOLDINGS, INC. SECOND QUARTER 2005 FINANCIAL RESULTS Consolidated Statement of Operations (In thousands, except per share amounts - unaudited) Quarter Ended Half-YearEnded June 25, June 26, June 25, June 26, 2005 2004 2005 2004 Revenues: Net sales $460,913 $418,520 $ 798,458 $ 744,579 Other revenues 6,720 11,321 14,346 23,145 -------- -------- --------- --------- Total net revenues 467,633 429,841 812,804 767,274 -------- -------- --------- --------- Costs and expenses: Cost of goods sold 414,659 382,801 753,322 699,144 Selling, general and administrative expense 75,075 73,262 113,281 121,624 Interest, net of amounts capitalized 4,268 2,177 6,311 3,663 Royalty expense to affiliates 9,474 7,715 15,655 12,698 Other expense (income), net 723 3,667 2,347 (1,972) Severance and retention (adjustment) expense (202) 133 (224) 3,230 -------- -------- --------- --------- 503,997 469,755 890,692 838,387 -------- -------- --------- --------- Loss before income tax benefit (36,364) (39,914) (77,888) (70,663) Income tax benefit 10,178 15,566 20,805 27,559 -------- -------- --------- --------- Net loss (26,186) (24,348) (57,083) (43,104) Accretion of Class A callable puttable common stock (73,214) (64,019) (144,156) (125,622) -------- -------- --------- --------- Net loss available to Class A callable puttable and Class B common stockholders $(99,400) $(88,367)$(201,239)$(168,726) ======== ======== ========= ========= Weighted average shares of Class A callable puttable and Class B common stock 95,433 94,472 95,346 94,296 ======== ======== ========= ========= Net loss per share of Class A callable puttable and Class B common stock - basic and diluted $ (1.04) $ (.94)$ (2.11)$ (1.79) ======== ======== ========= ========= Dividends declared per share of Class A callable puttable and Class B common stock $ .06 $ .06 $ .12 $ .12 ======== ======== ========= ========= Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet (In thousands - unaudited) June 25, Dec. 25, 2005 2004 Assets Current Assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 506 $ 870 Receivables 185,343 98,645 Inventories 204,477 178,107 Prepaid expenses and other 25,626 26,450 Income taxes refundable 2,457 11,797 Deferred income taxes 5,643 5,643 ---------- ---------- Total current assets 424,052 321,512 Property, plant and equipment, net 591,269 519,562 Other assets 14,127 14,578 Other intangibles, net and Goodwill 2,386,176 2,391,042 ---------- ---------- Total assets $3,415,624 $3,246,694 ========== ========== Liabilities, Class A Callable Puttable Common Stock and Stockholders' Equity Current Liabilities: Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 244,944 $ 240,319 ---------- ---------- Total current liabilities 244,944 240,319 Nestle S.A. credit facility 604,800 354,600 Long-term stock option liability 49,553 73,209 Other long-term obligations 40,495 41,655 Deferred income taxes 12,212 38,400 ---------- ---------- Total liabilities 952,004 748,183 Class A callable puttable common stock 2,428,839 2,251,040 Stockholders' equity 34,781 247,471 ---------- ---------- Total liabilities, Class A callable puttable common stock and stockholders' equity $3,415,624 $3,246,694 ========== ========== *T Conference Call Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream Holdings, Inc. (NNM:DRYR) will hold a conference call for analysts and investors on Friday, August 5, 2005, at 10:30 a.m. EDT (7:30 a.m. PDT) to discuss this news release. The call will be webcast in its entirety from the Investor Relations section of www.dreyersinc.com. A replay of the call will be available for a limited period from the audio archives at the same website location and is incorporated by reference into this news release.