LMI Aerospace Announces Results for the First Quarter of 2009

Guidance for 2009 Unchanged


ST. LOUIS, May 8, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LMI Aerospace, Inc. (Nasdaq:LMIA), a leading provider of design engineering services, structural components, assemblies and kits to the aerospace, defense and technology industries, today announced financial results for the first quarter of 2009.

Net sales in the quarter ended March 31, 2009, were $64.0 million compared to $60.4 million in the quarter ended March 31, 2008, an increase of 6.0 percent. Net income for the first quarter of 2009 was $3.4 million or $0.30 per diluted share versus $4.5 million, or $0.40, per diluted share in the first quarter of 2008. The results for the first quarter of 2009 include the operations of Intec, which was acquired in January 2009. Earnings for the first quarter of 2009 were reduced by several unusual items, including $0.3 million for expenses related to the acquisition of Intec, $0.2 million from the closing and disposition of our TCA subsidiary, $0.4 million for severance and restructuring charges related to work force reductions, and $0.4 million from revaluation of a customer claim. The net after tax effect of these items on diluted earnings per share was $0.07.

"In the March 2009 quarter, the effects of the Boeing labor strike abated by the end of January, inventory deferrals moderated, and engineering received from our customers mid-quarter allowed us to invoice for tooling related to new development programs," said Ronald S. Saks, President and Chief Executive Officer of LMI Aerospace, Inc. "The benefits of these positive changes were offset in part by reduced demand for large cabin Gulfstream aircraft because of production rate cuts announced in March 2009 and by inventory reductions associated with these actions. We also continued to receive orders for components and subassemblies for the Boeing 747-8 freighter model in the quarter and are beginning to receive orders on the passenger model in the second quarter of 2009. Anticipated increases in demand for Blackhawk product and temporary assistance to a supplier impacted by a factory fire are also adding to demand. The market environment is still challenging and we are working to cover anticipated future production rate cuts in 2010 with new program awards," Saks added.

Net sales for the Aerostructures segment for the first quarter of 2009 and 2008 were as follows:



                                        Q1    % of      Q1      % of
 Category                              2009   Total    2008     Total
 -------------------------------     --------------  ---------------
                                              ($ in millions)
 Corporate and regional aircraft     $  15.8   36.5% $  13.4    36.1%
 Large commercial aircraft              14.7   33.9%    10.7    28.8%
 Military                               11.1   25.6%     9.9    26.7%
 Technology                              0.2    0.5%     2.2     6.0%
 Other                                   1.5    3.5%     0.9     2.4%
                                     --------------  ---------------
 Total                               $  43.3  100.0% $  37.1   100.0%
                                     ==============  ===============

Corporate and regional aircraft sales were positively impacted by $4.7 million in tooling sales, which are not expected to be sustained at that rate through the remainder of the year. Large commercial aircraft benefited from higher sales of the Boeing 747 and 767 aircraft, which were partially offset by lower sales for the Boeing 737. Increased sales for the Sikorsky Blackhawk and Boeing Apache contributed to higher military products sales. The decline in technology sales was due to the lower demand for semiconductor equipment components.

Net sales for the Engineering Services segment for the first quarter of 2009 and 2008 were as follows:



                                        Q1    % of      Q1      % of
 Category                              2009   Total    2008    Total
 -------------------------------     --------------  ---------------
                                             ($ in millions)
 Corporate and regional aircraft     $    4.9  23.6% $    7.2   30.9%
 Large commercial aircraft                9.6  46.1%     11.1   47.7%
 Military                                 5.8  27.9%      3.5   15.0%
 Tooling                                  0.5   2.4%      1.5    6.4%
                                     --------------  ---------------
 Total                               $   20.8 100.0  $   23.3  100.0%
                                     ==============  ===============

The decrease in sales was attributable mainly to having three fewer work days in the first quarter of 2009 versus the year-ago quarter and lower customer overtime requirements. The increase in military revenues, which are derived from support provided on the CH-53 helicopter, F-35, and multiple Navy programs, is consistent with management's strategy to grow and diversify the segment.

Gross profit for the first quarter of 2009 was $14.6 million or 22.8 percent of sales compared to $15.6 million or 25.9 percent of sales in the first quarter of 2008. In the first quarter of 2009, gross profit for the Aerostructures segment was $11.0 million or 25.4 percent of sales versus $10.8 million or 29.1 percent of sales in the year-ago quarter. Lower gross margins on the 767 wing modification kits and tooling sales affected this measure, as did the unusual items described above. Gross profit for the Engineering Services segment for the first quarter of 2009 was $3.5 million or 16.8 percent of sales versus $4.8 million or 20.6 percent of sales in the first quarter of 2008. The lower margin was due mainly to lower sales, and overtime requirements, as well as an increase in non-billable hours and billable hours.

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $8.8 million in the first quarter of 2009, or 13.8 percent of sales, compared to $8.1 million or 13.4 percent of sales in the year-ago quarter. The first quarter of 2009 contained about $0.9 million in unusual costs, including expenses related to severance and restructuring, expenses related to the Intec acquisition and the discontinuation of the TCA business.

Net interest expense in the first quarter of 2009 was $0.4 million compared to $0.5 million in the first quarter of 2008, reflecting lower interest rates. Income taxes in the first quarter of 2009 were $1.9 million, compared to $2.5 million in the year-ago quarter. The company noted that it has increased its borrowing under its revolving line of credit, due mainly to the acquisition of Intec. The effective tax rate in the first quarter of 2009 was 36.5 percent compared to 36.3 percent in the first quarter of 2008. The backlog at March 31, 2009, was $236 million versus $157 million at March 31, 2008. Backlog at March 31, 2009, for the next twelve months was $179 million.

"On March 11, 2009, LMI announced revisions in guidance for both its Aerostructures and Engineering Services segments as a result of production rate cuts by Gulfstream and some weakness at our Engineering Services segment attributable to the ending of some major customer development programs," Saks said. "The guidance announced in that press release remains unchanged. New developments include three major design and build opportunities being bid to three different customers, negotiations to extend a major long-term contract for an additional five years, and numerous new programs under consideration at our key customers. Despite the day-to-day disappointments that occur in economic declines being experienced throughout the industry, we remain optimistic that we will be able to add meaningful work statement in coming months," Saks said. "We have received approval to transfer certain work to our Mexicali plant and have been awarded a contract with an annual value of $0.5 million for that plant. Our continued emphasis on inventory reduction, cost reduction and limited capital expenditures are expected to result in free cash flow for 2009 of about $20 million, placing us in a good position to supplement our organic businesses and to make strategic acquisitions. As the global economic outlook begins to improve, we believe we will benefit from the positive position we will occupy," Saks concluded.

LMI Aerospace, Inc. is a leading provider of design engineering services, structural components, assemblies and kits to the aerospace, defense and technology industries. Through its Aerostructures segment, the company primarily fabricates machines, finishes and integrates formed, close-tolerance aluminum and specialty alloy components and sheet-metal products, for large commercial, corporate and military aircraft. It manufactures more than 30,000 products for integration into a variety of aircraft platforms manufactured by leading original equipment manufacturers and Tier 1 aerospace suppliers. Through its Engineering Services segment, operated by its D3 Technologies, Inc subsidiary, the company provides a complete range of design, engineering and program management services, supporting aircraft lifecycles from conceptual design, analysis and certification through production support, fleet support and service-life extensions.

The LMI Aerospace, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=4971

This news release includes forward-looking statements related to LMI Aerospace, Inc.'s, outlook for 2009, which are based on current management expectations. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of LMI Aerospace, Inc. Actual results could differ materially from the forward-looking statements as a result of, among other things, the factors detailed from time to time in LMI Aerospace, Inc.'s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Please refer to the Risk Factors contained in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, and any risk factors set forth in our other subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.



                    LMI Aerospace, Inc.
           Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
   (Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

                                               (Unaudited)
                                                 March 31, December 31,
                                                   2009       2008
                                                ---------  ---------
 Assets
 Current assets:
   Cash and cash equivalents                    $     228  $      29
   Trade accounts receivable, net of allowance
    of $338 at March 31, 2009 and $304 at
    December 31, 2008                              39,882     26,887
   Inventories, net                                61,845     62,393
   Prepaid expenses and other current assets        2,813      2,137
   Income taxes receivable                            304        364
                                                ---------  ---------
     Total current assets                         105,072     91,810

 Property, plant and equipment, net                20,306     20,103
 Goodwill                                          53,559     46,258
 Intangible assets, net                            23,066     17,861
 Deferred income taxes                              5,118      5,148
 Other assets                                       1,149      1,167
                                                ---------  ---------
 Total assets                                   $ 208,270  $ 182,347
                                                =========  =========

 Liabilities and shareholders' equity
 Current liabilities:
   Accounts payable                             $  10,993  $  12,363
   Accrued expenses                                10,813      9,936
   Short-term deferred gain on sale of real
    estate                                            233        233
   Current installments of long-term debt
    and capital lease obligations                     467        498
                                                ---------  ---------
     Total current liabilities                     22,506     23,030

 Long-term deferred gain on sale of real estate     3,471      3,540
 Long-term debt and capital lease obligations,
  less current installments                        44,777     25,536
 Deferred income taxes                              9,571      7,441
 Other long-term liabilities                        1,235         --
                                                ---------  ---------
     Total long-term liabilities                   59,054     36,517

 Shareholders' equity:
   Common stock, $.02 par value per share;
    authorized 28,000,000 shares; issued
    11,980,617 shares and 11,926,309 shares
    at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008,
    respectively                                      240        239
   Preferred stock, $.02 par value per share;
    authorized 2,000,000 shares; none issued
    in both periods                                    --         --
   Additional paid-in capital                      70,408     69,855
   Treasury stock, at cost, 363,188 shares
    at March 31, 2009 and 364,088 shares
    at December 31, 2008                           (1,723)    (1,727)
   Retained earnings                               57,785     54,433
                                                ---------  ---------
     Total shareholders' equity                   126,710    122,800
                                                ---------  ---------
 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity     $ 208,270  $ 182,347
                                                =========  =========

             See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated 
                           financial statements.


                       LMI Aerospace, Inc.
         Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
    (Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
                           (Unaudited)

                                               Three Months Ended
                                                    March 31,
                                               2009          2008
                                           ------------  ------------

 Sales and service revenue
   Product sales                           $     42,734  $     36,726
   Service revenues                              21,268        23,691
                                           ------------  ------------
    Net sales                                    64,002        60,417
                                           ------------  ------------
 Cost of sales and service revenue
   Cost of product sales                         31,566        25,888
   Cost of service revenues                      17,850        18,906
                                           ------------  ------------
    Cost of sales                                49,416        44,794
                                           ------------  ------------
 Gross profit                                    14,586        15,623

 Selling, general and administrative
  expenses                                        8,473         8,056
 Severance and restructuring                        362            --
                                           ------------  ------------
 Income from operations                           5,751         7,567

 Other income (expense):
   Interest income (expense), net                  (422)         (543)
   Other, net                                       (41)           (3)
                                           ------------  ------------
 Total other income (expense)                      (463)         (546)
                                           ------------  ------------

 Income before income taxes                       5,288         7,021
 Provision for income taxes                       1,934         2,545
                                           ------------  ------------
 Net income                                $      3,354  $      4,476
                                           ============  ============

 Amounts per common share:
 Net income per common share               $       0.30  $       0.40
                                           ============  ============

 Net income per common share assuming
  dilution                                 $       0.30  $       0.40
                                           ============  ============

 Weighted average common shares
  outstanding                                11,277,789    11,172,857
                                           ============  ============
 Weighted average dilutive common
  shares outstanding                         11,306,410    11,292,151
                                           ============  ============

             See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated
                            financial statements.


                       LMI Aerospace, Inc.
                Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
                      (Amounts in thousands)
                          (Unaudited)

                                                   Three Months Ended
                                                        March 31,
                                                     2009      2008
                                                   --------  --------
 Operating activities:
 Net income                                        $  3,354  $  4,476
 Adjustments to reconcile net income to
  net cash used by operating activities:
   Depreciation and amortization                      1,955     1,603
   Charges for bad debt expense                          15        61
   Charges for inventory obsolescence and
    valuation                                           314       339
   Restricted stock compensation                        526       516
   Loss on sale of equipment                             13        --
   Deferred tax provision                                30        --
   Changes in operating assets and
    liabilities, net of
    acquired businesses:
     Trade accounts receivable                      (12,447)   (5,124)
     Inventories                                        521    (5,862)
     Prepaid expenses and other assets                 (668)     (208)
     Current income taxes                             1,983     2,865
     Accounts payable                                (1,553)     (814)
     Accrued expenses                                (2,076)   (1,818)
                                                   --------  --------
   Net cash used by operating activities             (8,033)   (3,966)

 Investing activities:
 Additions to property, plant and equipment            (875)   (1,535)
 Proceeds from sale of equipment                          8        --
 Acquisitions, net of cash acquired                 (10,047)       --
 Other, net                                            (116)       56
                                                   --------  --------
   Net cash used by investing activities            (11,030)   (1,479)

 Financing activities:
 Proceeds from issuance of debt                          --        73
 Principal payments on long-term debt and
  notes payable                                        (130)     (228)
 Net advances on revolving line of credit            19,340     5,582
 Proceeds from exercise of stock options                 52        24
                                                   --------  --------
   Net cash provided by financing
    activities                                       19,262     5,451

                                                   --------  --------
 Net increase in cash and cash equivalents              199         6
 Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of
  year                                                   29        82
                                                   --------  --------
 Cash and cash equivalents, end of quarter         $    228  $     88
                                                   ========  ========

 Supplemental disclosures of cash flow
  information:

 Interest paid                                     $    462  $    223
 Income taxes refunded, net                        $    (60) $   (320)


             See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated
                            financial statements.
 
 
                               Exhibit 1
                          LMI Aerospace, Inc.
 Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Financial Information (Unaudited)
        (Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

The Company reports its financial results in accordance with U.S. GAAP. However, management believes that certain non-GAAP measures may provide investors with additional information regarding the Company's results, trends and ongoing performance on a comparable basis. Specifically, investors should consider the "Adjusted EBITDA" and "Free Cash Flow" reconciliation set forth below. Both "Adjusted EBITDA" and the "Free Cash Flow" are each considered a "non-GAAP financial measure" under the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Neither represents net income or cash flow from operations as those terms are defined by GAAP and neither is necessarily comparable to other similarly titled captions of other companies because of potential inconsistencies in the method of calculations. When analyzing Company's operating performance, readers should use both non-GAAP measures presented below in addition to, and not as an alternative for, net income and cash flow from operations determined in accordance with GAAP.



                                                       Three Months
                                                          Ended
                                                         March 31,
                                                       2009     2008
                                                     -------  -------

 Non-GAAP Financial Information
 Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Depreciation, and Amortization
 (EBITDA)(1):

 Net Income                                          $ 3,354  $ 4,476

   Income tax expense                                  1,934    2,545
   Interest expense                                      422      543
   Other expenses                                         41        3
   Depreciation and amortization                       1,955    1,603
   Stock based compensation                              526      516
   Severance and restructuring costs                     362       --
   Acquisition costs - SFAS 141(R)                       239       --
   TCA wind-up costs                                     249       --
                                                     -------  -------

 Adjusted EBITDA                                     $ 9,082  $ 9,686
                                                     =======  =======

 Free Cash Flow (2):

 Net cash used by operating activities               $(8,033) $(3,966)
 Plus:
   Capital Expenditures                                  875    1,535

 Free Cash Flow                                      $(7,158) $(2,431)
                                                     =======  =======
 
 1. We believe Adjusted EBITDA is a measure important to many
    investors as an indication of operating performance by the
    business. We feel this measure provides additional transparency to
    investors that augments, but does not replace the GAAP reporting
    of net income and provides a good comparative measure. Adjusted
    EBITDA is not a measure of performance defined by GAAP and should
    not be used in isolation or as a substitute for the related GAAP
    measure of net income.
 
 2. We believe Free Cash Flow is a measure of the operating cash flow
    of the Company that is useful to investors. Free Cash Flow is a
    measure of the cash generated by the Company for such purposes as
    repaying debt or funding acquisitions. Free Cash Flow is not a
    measure of performance defined by GAAP and should not be used in
    isolation or as a substitute for the related GAAP measure of cash
    generated (used) by operating activities.


            

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