Richardson Electronics Reports Third Quarter Fiscal 2014 Results and Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend: Invests in Key Initiatives

LaFox, IL, April 9, 2014: Richardson Electronics, Ltd. (NASDAQ: RELL), today reported sales and earningsfor its third quarter ended March 1, 2014. The Company also announced that its Board of Directors declared a $0.06 per share quarterly cash dividend.

Net sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2014 were $32.9 million, a 2.2% decrease compared to net sales of $33.6 million in the prior year. Sales for the company’s EDG business were relatively flat while sales for Canvys were down 6.5%, compared to the prior year’s quarter. Gross margin decreased to $9.7 million, or 29.3% of net sales during the third quarter of fiscal 2014, compared to $9.9 million, or 29.5% of net sales during fiscal 2013. Operating expenses were $10.5 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2014, compared to $9.3 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2013. Operating loss for the third quarter of fiscal 2014 was $0.9 million compared to operating income of $0.6 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2013.

Loss from continuing operations for the third quarter of fiscal 2014 was $0.1 million compared to
income from continuing operations for the third quarter of fiscal 2013 of $0.6 million, or $0.04 per diluted common share.

“We remain committed to profit improvement with growth initiatives that allow us to leverage our global infrastructure. While we are not satisfied with our current financial performance, we are pleased to see pockets of growth in key geographic areas and markets. Sales in both the Asia and European regions improved versus the prior year. In terms of key markets, we are seeing growth in industrial markets as well as the automotive markets which utilize laser cutting equipment,” said Edward J. Richardson, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President.

“We believe our fourth quarter sales should be in the range of $34 to $36 million. We continue to
focus on acquisition targets, and to invest in key initiatives such as vacuum capacitors and our new product development team focused on microwave solutions. Both take advantage of our global infrastructure and provide significant opportunity for sustainable growth over the long term,” said Mr. Richardson.

FINANCIAL SUMMARY – THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 1, 2014

  • Net sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2014 were $32.9 million, down 2.2%, compared to net sales of $33.6 million during the third quarter of fiscal 2013.
  • Gross margin decreased to 29.3% during the third quarter of fiscal 2014 compared to 29.5% during last year’s third quarter.
  • Selling, general, and administrative expenses increased to $10.5 million, or 32.0% of net sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2014 compared to $9.3 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2013, or 27.7% of net sales. Operating expenses during the third quarter of fiscal 2014 included approximately $0.4 million of expenses associated with evaluating potential acquisitions, $0.1 million for new product development costs, and $0.2 million of increased information technology expenses for a new system implementation.
  • Operating loss during the third quarter of fiscal 2014 was $0.9 million compared to operating income of $0.6 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2013.
  • Other income for the third quarter of fiscal 2014 was $0.7 million compared to expense of $0.2 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2013. Other income for the third quarter of fiscal 2014 included $0.4 million of proceeds from a class action lawsuit settlement.
  • Loss from continuing operations during the third quarter of fiscal 2014 was $0.1 million compared to income from continuing operations for the third quarter of fiscal 2013 of $0.6 million, or $0.04 per diluted common share.
  • Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, was $0.4 million during the third quarter of fiscal 2014 compared to $0.2 million during the third quarter of fiscal 2013.
  • Net loss during the third quarter of fiscal 2014 was $0.5 million compared to net income of $0.4 million, or $0.03 per diluted common share, during the third quarter of fiscal 2013.

FINANCIAL SUMMARY – NINE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 1, 2014

  • Net sales for the first nine months of fiscal 2014 were $102.6 million, down 3.1%, compared to net sales of $105.9 million during the first nine months of fiscal 2013. Gross margin increased to 30.1% during the first nine months of fiscal 2014 compared to 29.6% during the first nine months of fiscal 2013.
  • Selling, general, and administrative expenses increased to $31.1 million, or 30.3% of net sales, for the first nine months of fiscal 2014 compared to $29.7 million, or 28.0% of net sales, for the first nine months of fiscal 2013. Operating expenses during the nine months of fiscal 2014 included $0.8 million of expenses associated with evaluating potential acquisitions, $0.2 million for new product development costs, and $0.5 million of increased information technology expenses for a new system implementation.
  • Operating loss during the first nine months of fiscal 2014 was $0.2 million compared to operating income of $1.6 million during the first nine months of fiscal 2013.
  • Other income for the first nine months of fiscal 2014 was $3.3 million compared to other income of $0.3 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2013. Other income for the first nine months of fiscal 2014 included $2.5 million of proceeds from a class action lawsuit settlement.
  • Income from continuing operations during the first nine months of fiscal 2014 was $2.5 million, or $0.17 per diluted common share, versus $1.9 million, or $0.12 per diluted common share, during the first nine months of fiscal 2013.
  • Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, was $0.5 million during the first nine months of fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2013.
  • Net income during the first nine months of fiscal 2014 was $2.0 million, or $0.13 per diluted common share, compared to net income of $1.4 million, or $0.09 per diluted common share, during the first nine months of fiscal 2013.

CASH DIVIDEND AND SHARE REPURCHASES
The Company also announced today that its Board of Directors declared a $0.06 quarterly dividend per share to holders of common stock and a $0.054 cash dividend per share to holders of Class B common stock. The dividend will be payable on May 23, 2014, to common stockholders of record on May 9, 2014.

“Cash and investments at the end of our third quarter were $132.2 million. As of today, the Company currently has 11.8 million outstanding shares of common stock and 2.2 million outstanding shares of Class B common stock. With our strong balance sheet, we are committed to returning value to our shareholders,” said Mr. Richardson.

CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION
On Thursday, April 10, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. CT, Edward J. Richardson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Kathleen S. Dvorak, Chief Financial Officer, will host a conference call to discuss the Company’s third quarter results for fiscal 2014. A question and answer session will be included as part of the call’s agenda. To listen to the call, please dial (888) 339-2688 and enter passcode 13408790 approximately five minutes prior to the start of the call. A replay of the call will be available beginning at 11:59 p.m. CT on April 10, 2014, for seven days. The telephone numbers for the replay are (USA) (888) 286-8010 and (International) (617) 801-6888; passcode 35522088.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This release includes certain “forward-looking” statements as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements in this press release regarding the Company’s business which are not historical facts represent “forward-looking” statements that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on July 26, 2013. The Company assumes no responsibility to update the “forward-looking” statements in this release as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

ABOUT RICHARDSON ELECTRONICS, LTD.
Richardson Electronics, Ltd. is a leading global provider of engineered solutions, power grid and microwave tubes and related consumables, and customized display solutions serving customers in the alternative energy, aviation, broadcast, communications, industrial, marine, medical, military, scientific and semiconductor markets. The Company’s strategy is to provide specialized technical expertise and “engineered solutions” based on our core engineering and manufacturing capabilities. The Company provides solutions and adds value through design-in support, systems integration, prototype design and manufacturing, testing, logistics, and aftermarket technical service and repair. More information is available online at www.rell.com.

Richardson Electronics common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol RELL.