SCHEID VINEYARDS INC. REPORTS YEAR END RESULTS

REVENUES INCREASE 70%

 

MARINA DEL REY, CA - February 19, 1998 - Scheid Vineyards Inc. (NASDAQ-NMS: SVIN) announced today record sales and earnings for the year ended December 31, 1997.

For 1997, revenues increased 70% to $19.9 million from $11.7 million in 1996. Net income, before a one-time, non-cash charge to earnings of $1.4 million for a deferred tax adjustment, rose to $4.8 million, or $0.91 per share, for 1997 compared with pro forma net income of $2.3 million, or $0.53 per share, for 1996. Weighted average shares outstanding for 1997 were 5.3 million compared to 4.4 million for 1996.

The deferred tax adjustment arose from the reorganization of the Company's business from an S-Corporation and partnerships to a taxable C-corporation in connection with the Company’s initial public offering in July 1997. Net income, after deducting the one-time deferred tax charge, was $3.5 million, or $0.65 per share for 1997.

"1997 was a record year for Scheid Vineyards," said Mr. Al Scheid, CEO of Scheid Vineyards. "We harvested about 15,500 tons, compared to 11,200 tons in 1996. We are very pleased that in our first year as a publicly held company, we were able to outperform expectations and produce such excellent results." Mr. Scheid added a comment on the effects of El Nino, "The heavy rains brought by El Nino have had no ill effects on our vineyards. The vines are dormant and can withstand excessive ground water for weeks at a time."

Scheid Vineyards Inc. is a leading independent producer of premium wine grapes and operates 4,950 acres of vineyards, primarily in Monterey County, California. The Company sells most of its grape production under long-term contracts to wineries producing primarily premium quality table wines, and the Company also produces a small amount of ultra premium wine under its own labels.

SCHEID VINEYARDS INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(amounts in thousands, except per share data)

 

Three Months Ended

December  31, (Unaudited)

Year Ended

December 31,

 

1998

1997

1998

1997

REVENUES:

       

Sales

$ 14,682

$ 6,257

$ 16,436

$ 18,683

Vineyard management, services and other fees

341

283

1,037

1,187

 

Total revenues

15,023

6,540

17,473

19,870

COST OF SALES

7,099

1,686

7,911

6,222

 

GROSS PROFIT

7,924

4,854

9,562

13,648

General and administrative expenses

1,236

1,497

4,274

4,215

Deferred compensation provision

(706)

Interest expense (income), net

(43)

27

(46)

700

 

INCOME BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES

6,731

3,330

6,040

8,733

PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES

2,697

1,457

2,421

3,887

INCOME BEFORE DEFERRED TAX ADJUSTMENT

1,873

3,619

4,846

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES FROM REORGANIZATION TO C CORPORATION

1,390

 

 

NET INCOME

$ 4,034

$ 1,873

$ 3,619

$ 3,456

BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE 1

$ 0.62

$ 0.28

$ 0.55

$ 0.65

 

PRO FORMA AMOUNTS 2:

       

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES AS REPORTED

 

$ 3,330

$ 8,733

PRO FORMA INCOME TAX PROVISION

 

1,332

 

3,493

   

 

PRO FORMA NET INCOME

 

$ 1,998

$ 5,240

   

 

PRO FORMA NET INCOME PER SHARE

 

$ 0.30

 

$ 0.98

WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING

6,474

6,700

6,611

5,344

 

1 There is no difference between basic and diluted loss per share.

2 Prior to the Company’s initial public offering in July 1997, the Company was organized as an S Corporation and partnerships. In connection with the offering, the Company was reorganized as a C Corporation. Pro forma net income per share is derived by providing an income tax provision as if the Company had been a C Corporation during the entirety of the year ended December 31, 1997.