EX-99 2 exh991.txt 2008 4TH QUARTER PRESS RELEASE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRESS RELEASE L.B. Foster Company 415 Holiday Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15220 Contact: David J. Russo Phone: (412) 928-3417 FAX: (412) 928-7891 Email: investors@LBFosterCo.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE L.B. FOSTER REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER OPERATING RESULTS PITTSBURGH, PA, January 30, 2009 - L.B. Foster Company (NASDAQ: FSTR), a leading manufacturer, fabricator, and distributor of products and services for rail, construction, energy and utility markets, today reported that net sales increased 26.1% to $143.8 million compared to $114.0 million in the prior year quarter. Gross profit margin was 13.9%, down 360 basis points from the prior year quarter primarily as a result of increased LIFO expense and decreased billing margins partially offset by improved manufacturing variances. Fourth quarter LIFO expense was approximately $4.9 million compared to a $0.2 million credit in the prior year. 2008 Fourth Quarter Results In the fourth quarter of 2008, L.B. Foster had income from continuing operations of $5.7 million or $0.55 per diluted share compared to income from continuing operations of $86.2 million or $7.79 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2007. The prior year fourth quarter results included a $122.9 million gain on the sale of the Company's investment in the DM&E Railroad. Excluding this gain, income from continuing operations was $8.1 million or $0.73 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2007. Accordingly, the fourth quarter of 2008 was $0.18 per share or 24.7% less than the 2007 fourth quarter adjusted earnings per diluted share. Selling and administrative expenses increased $2.2 million or 23.9% over last year's quarter due primarily to increased bad debt expense as well as increased salaries. Fourth quarter interest expense was $0.5 million, a 35.4% decrease from the prior year quarter due principally to decreased borrowings as well as decreased interest rates. The Company's income tax rate from continuing operations was 33.9% in the fourth quarter compared to 35.8% in the prior year quarter. The lower tax rate in the current year quarter was due primarily to an increase in the domestic production activities deduction. "While we are pleased to report that increases across all product segments contributed to a 26.1% sales increase for the quarter and another record performance for the year, LIFO expense and bad debt expense had a significant negative impact on our fourth quarter results. The 2008 LIFO expense was the largest in the Company's history. Additionally, we recorded a $1.5 million bad debt expense related to a single customer. Bookings for the quarter were strong, up 13.3% to $99.5 million compared to $87.8 million last year and backlog was $132.6 million, down 4.1% from last year," commented Stan Hasselbusch, President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Hasselbusch also announced, "L.B. Foster purchased 71,223 shares of its stock in November for approximately $1.7 million in addition to the previously announced 224,400 shares purchased in October pursuant to share repurchase programs authorized by our Board of Directors in May and October 2008. Our 2008 L.B. Foster share purchases now total 865,532 shares totaling $26.5 million of the $40.0 million authorized." 2008 Total Year Results For the twelve months ended December 31, 2008, L.B. Foster reported income from continuing operations of $27.7 million or $2.57 per diluted share. These results include a $2.0 million first quarter pretax gain related to a favorable working capital adjustment pursuant to the prior year sale of the Company's investment in the DM&E Railroad, as well as a $1.5 million pretax gain on the sale and lease-back of our threaded products facility in Houston, Texas. Excluding these gains and the aforementioned 2007 gain on the sale of our DM&E investment as well as $8.5 million of incremental dividend income recorded in the third quarter of 2007 related to the DM&E sale, earnings per diluted share from continuing operations were $2.36 compared to $2.28 in 2007, an increase of 3.5%. Net sales for the twelve months of 2008 increased 0.7% to $512.6 million compared to $509.0 million in 2007. Gross profit margin was 15.6%, up 60 basis points from 2007, primarily as a result of increased billing margins and improved manufacturing variances, substantially offset by increased LIFO expense. Selling and administrative expenses increased $3.6 million or 9.5% over the prior year due primarily to salaries and bad debt expense. Interest expense decreased 50.5% from the prior year to $2.0 million due principally to decreased borrowings and, to a lesser extent, decreased interest rates. The Company's income tax rate from continuing operations was 35.9% compared to 34.3% in the prior year. Cash provided from operations was approximately $14.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2008 and $24.1 million for the full year compared to $41.4 million (as adjusted for the DM&E transactions) in 2007. Capital expenditures for 2008 were $4.8 million compared to $5.3 million in the prior year. "As we enter 2009, we expect to be challenged by a difficult business environment. During the fourth quarter, we have diligently prepared for the impending downturn by implementing certain measures to control costs, focus on ways to maximize free cash flow, improve our operational excellence and continue to look for opportunities to leverage our strong balance sheet, all with the goal of maintaining sales and minimizing profit erosion," noted Mr. Hasselbusch as he concluded, "We have strong liquidity, access to credit and we continue to look for value as we target synergistic and accretive acquisitions." The Company also announced that its 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders is scheduled for May 21, 2009 at the Company's headquarters at 415 Holiday Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15220. The record date for shareholders entitled to vote at the meeting will be on the close of business on March 20, 2009. L.B. Foster Company will conduct a conference call and webcast to discuss its fourth quarter 2008 operating results and general market activity and business conditions on Friday, January 30, 2009 at 11:00am ET. The call will be hosted by Mr. Stan Hasselbusch, President and Chief Executive Officer. Listen via audio on the L.B. Foster web site: www.lbfoster.com, by accessing the Investor Relations page. The Company wishes to caution readers that various factors could cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those indicated by forward-looking statements in news releases, and other communications, including oral statements, such as references to future profitability, made from time to time by representatives of the Company. Specific risks and uncertainties that could affect the Company's profitability include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, sudden and/or sharp declines in steel prices, adequate funding for infrastructure projects, production delays or problems encountered at our manufacturing facilities, and the availability of existing and new piling and rail products. There are also no assurances that the Canadian Pacific Railway will proceed with the Powder River Basin project and trigger any contingent payments to L.B. Foster related to the Company's sale of its investment in the DM&E. Matters discussed in such communications are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Sentences containing words such as "anticipates," "expects," or "will," generally should be considered forward-looking statements. More detailed information on these and additional factors which could affect the Company's operating and financial results are described in the Company's Forms 10-K, 10-Q and other reports, filed or to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company urges all interested parties to read these reports to gain a better understanding of the many business and other risks that the Company faces. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made only as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED INCOME L. B. FOSTER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES (In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended December 31, December 31, ------------------------------ ------------------------------ 2008 2007 2008 2007 ------------------------------ ------------------------------ (unaudited) (unaudited) NET SALES $143,768 $114,015 $512,592 $508,981 COSTS AND EXPENSES: Cost of goods sold 123,763 94,054 432,374 432,598 Selling and administrative expenses 11,552 9,322 40,969 37,403 Interest expense 452 700 1,995 4,031 Dividend income - - - (9,214) Gain on sale of DM&E investment - (122,885) (2,022) (122,885) Gain on sale of property - - (1,486) - Interest income (657) (1,175) (2,675) (1,196) Other expense (income) 94 (226) 158 (267) ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- 135,204 (20,210) 469,313 340,470 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES 8,564 134,225 43,279 168,511 INCOME TAX EXPENSE 2,907 47,991 15,533 57,787 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS 5,657 86,234 27,746 110,724 DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS: LOSS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS - (2) - (47) INCOME TAX BENEFIT - - - (16) ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- LOSS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS - - - (31) NET INCOME $ 5,657 $ 86,232 $ 27,746 $110,693 ========== ========== ========== ========== BASIC EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE: FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS $0.55 $7.98 $2.60 $10.39 FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS 0.00 (0.00) 0.00 (0.00) ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- BASIC EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE $0.55 $7.98 $2.60 $10.39 ========== ========== ========== ========== DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE: FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS $0.55 $7.79 $2.57 $10.09 FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS 0.00 (0.00) 0.00 (0.00) ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE $0.55 $7.79 $2.57 $10.09 ========== ========== ========== ========== AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING - BASIC 10,248 10,806 10,670 10,653 ========== ========== ========== ========== AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING - DILUTED 10,365 11,068 10,811 10,970 ========== ========== ========== ==========

L.B. Foster Company and Subsidiaries Consolidated Balance Sheet (In thousands) December 31, 2008 2007 ---------- ---------- ASSETS (Unaudited) CURRENT ASSETS: Cash and cash items $115,074 $121,097 Accounts and notes receivable: Trade 63,271 52,856 Other 1,042 754 Inventories 102,916 102,447 Current deferred tax assets 2,870 3,615 Other current assets 1,221 1,131 Property held for resale - 2,497 ---------- ---------- Total Current Assets 286,394 284,397 ---------- ---------- OTHER ASSETS: Property, plant & equipment-net 39,989 44,136 Goodwill 350 350 Other intangibles - net 37 50 Deferred tax assets 1,258 1,411 Investments 2,856 - Other non-current assets 407 428 ---------- ---------- Total Other Assets 44,897 46,375 ---------- ---------- $331,291 $330,772 ========== ========== LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY CURRENT LIABILITIES: Current maturities on long-term debt $ 5,777 $ 6,191 Accounts payable-trade and other 62,612 53,689 Accrued payroll and employee benefits 8,000 11,490 Current deferred tax liabilities 61 3,541 Other accrued liabilities 7,680 8,841 ---------- ---------- Total Current Liabilities 84,130 83,752 ---------- ---------- LONG-TERM DEBT, TERM LOAN 13,333 16,190 ---------- ---------- OTHER LONG-TERM DEBT 8,401 11,866 ---------- ---------- DEFERRED TAX LIABILITIES 1,278 1,638 ---------- ---------- OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES 6,587 3,500 ---------- ---------- STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY: Class A Common stock 111 109 Paid-in capital 47,585 45,147 Retained earnings 197,060 169,314 Treasury stock (26,482) - Accumulated other comprehensive loss (712) (744) ---------- ---------- Total Stockholders' Equity 217,562 213,826 ---------- ---------- $331,291 $330,772 ========== ==========