CLEVELAND, Feb. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lamson & Sessions (NYSE: LMS) today announced that the Company's net sales were $115.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2006, compared with $143.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2005. Net income for the quarter was $4.0 million, or 25 cents per diluted share, compared with $14.6 million, or 93 cents per diluted share, in the prior year's fourth quarter. As announced in the Company's press release of January 16, 2007, the sales and earnings declines in the fourth quarter occurred primarily because of weakness in the residential construction market and an industry-wide inventory reduction affecting the Company's PVC Pipe business segment.

For the full year, net sales were a record $561.3 million, an increase of 13.6 percent from last year's previous record of $494.2 million. The Company also achieved record earnings for the second consecutive year as net income for 2006 was $39.1 million, or $2.43 per diluted share, up 42.9 percent from $27.4 million, or $1.82 per diluted share, a year ago.

"Our strong performance for the year resulted from increased activity in the commercial and utility construction markets, as well as sales growth in the telecommunications and natural gas collection markets," said Michael J. Merriman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Operationally, during the second half of the year, we began to realize savings from the process control and quality improvements that we implemented at our PVC Pipe extrusion plants. Accordingly, our focus in 2007 will continue to be on long-term shareholder value creation flowing from our solid operating foundation and progressively enhanced efficiency and productivity."

Gross profit for the full year increased to $123.2 million, or 21.9 percent of net sales, compared with $101.6 million, or 20.6 percent of sales, in 2005. While raw material costs were 8 percent to 11 percent higher on average than in the prior year, much of these additional costs were offset by price increases at the beginning of 2006.

Operating income for 2006 was $66.1 million, or 11.8 percent of net sales, up from $50.6 million, or 10.2 percent of net sales, last year. Operating expenses increased to $57.1 million in 2006 from $51.0 million the previous year, but declined as a percent of sales to 10.1 percent from 10.4 percent in 2005.

"I am proud of the stellar performance delivered by my colleagues at Lamson & Sessions in 2006," said John B. Schulze, Chairman. "The Board of Directors and management team remain acutely focused on building shareholder value, which is the hallmark of our ongoing strategy." Schulze was succeeded by Merriman as President and Chief Executive Officer in November 2006.

Business Segment Performance

Of the Company's three business segments, Carlon experienced the greatest sales growth rate for the year. Net sales for Carlon were $261.4 million in 2006, an increase of 17.0 percent from $223.5 million for the prior year. This sales increase was driven by the growing commercial and industrial construction markets, infrastructure expansion projects in the telecommunications and utility markets, and strong sales of high density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe to the natural gas collection market. Operating income was $38.1 million for the year, up 41.2 percent from $27.0 million in 2005.

Net sales in the Lamson Home Products business segment increased 7.7 percent to $113.1 million for the year, as compared with $105.0 million a year ago. Substantially all of the sales improvement came from price increases that were implemented early in 2006 to offset rising raw material costs. Operating income for the year was $15.6 million, an increase of 3.6 percent over the prior year's $15.0 million.

Although the PVC Pipe segment experienced a decline in sales during the fourth quarter, its net sales for the full year grew 12.7 percent to $186.7 million, as compared with $165.7 million in 2005. Average selling prices were approximately 12 percent higher for the year, while PVC resin costs averaged 8 percent higher. Volume sold in 2006 was approximately even with 2005. Operating income rose 29.6 percent to $22.6 million for the year, compared with $17.5 million in 2005.

Other Financial Highlights

Interest expense continued its downward trend in 2006, declining to $4.1 million for the year, from $6.9 million in 2005. Continued improvement in operating income resulted in a rise of more than 50 percent in cash provided by operating activities to $46.4 million in 2006, as compared with $30.2 million the previous year. Accounts receivable at the end of 2006 totaled $55.1 million, compared with $68.5 million in 2005 which was affected by exceptionally high fourth quarter sales levels in the aftermath of last year's Gulf Coast hurricanes. Due to the lower sales in the fourth quarter of 2006, inventory turns declined to 6.3 times for the year, compared with a record 9.1 times for the previous year.

Outlook for 2007

The first quarter of the calendar year is generally the seasonally weakest of the year and 2007 appears to be consistent with historical trends in our key end markets. The residential housing construction market weakened significantly in the fourth quarter of 2006 and that softness in demand has continued through the first quarter of 2007 to date. Order patterns are not likely to show any tangible strengthening until March or April as weather improves and the spring construction season gets under way.

This timing is also indicative of the expected demand trends for the non- residential construction and telecommunications and utility infrastructure construction markets. Overall, we believe that the first quarter of 2007 will show a moderate strengthening of demand from the fourth quarter of 2006, but less than the exceptionally strong first quarter of 2006 which benefited from a more robust residential housing market and higher energy costs which drove raw material costs and selling prices higher.

Operationally in 2007, the Company anticipates further improvements, particularly in its PVC Pipe business segment, due to continuing investments in production equipment, as business demand improves in the second and third quarters of the year. In addition, the Company anticipates that its new distribution center in Dallas will lead to improved market share in the central part of the country and result in lower freight costs as well.

The Company utilizes a number of economic forecasts in developing its business plan, particularly for its key end markets. The general consensus suggests moderately improving demand as the year progresses with the second half of the year being stronger than the first half of 2007.

Consistent with prior years, the Company's estimate of its financial performance will only encompass the first quarter at this time. The Company continues to evaluate energy cost trends to assess their impact on raw material costs, particularly polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin, and will provide further forecast information as the year progresses and demand patterns become clearer, especially in the anticipated recovery of the residential construction market.

At this time, the Company projects net sales for the first quarter of 2007 in the range of $110 million to $120 million. If this net sales level is realized, net earnings should range from $3.2 million to $4.9 million, or 20 cents to 30 cents per diluted share.

In the first quarter of 2006, the Company reported net sales of $135.4 million and net income of $9.2 million, or 58 cents per diluted share. Last year's market conditions for PVC resin were atypical due to the material shortages in the fourth quarter of 2005 and resulted in historically high prices and costs. The Company's PVC Pipe segment reported operating income of $9.0 million which would be approximately 34 cents per diluted share in the first quarter of 2006. Market conditions softened dramatically in the second half of 2006 for PVC resin and resulted in an operating loss for this segment in the fourth quarter of 2006. This market softness still exists today and is reflected in our projected results for the first quarter of 2007.

The Company has significantly reduced its debt level over the past several years and expects to generate strong operating cash flow again in 2007. The Company generally consumes cash in the first half of the year for working capital and capital investment purposes, but should generate positive cash flow in the second half of the year.

On February 12, 2007, the Company announced that it has engaged Perella Weinberg Partners to assist in the evaluation of the Company's strategic and financial alternatives. There can be no assurance that this evaluation will result in a transaction. The Company will disclose developments regarding the process only if and when the Board of Directors has approved a specific transaction or course of action.

Conference Call

A live Internet broadcast of the Company's conference call regarding its fourth quarter 2006 financial performance can be accessed via the investor relations page on the Company's Web site (www.lamson-sessions.com) at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, February 16, 2007.

Lamson & Sessions is a leading producer of thermoplastic enclosures, fittings, wiring outlet boxes and conduit for the electrical, telecommunications, consumer, power and wastewater markets. For additional information, please visit our Web site at: www.lamson-sessions.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those expected as a result of a variety of factors, such as: (i) the volatility of resin pricing, (ii) the ability of the Company to pass through raw material cost increases to its customers, (iii) the continued availability of raw materials and consistent electrical power supplies, (iv) maintaining a stable level of housing starts, telecommunications infrastructure spending, consumer confidence and general construction trends, (v) any adverse change in the country's general economic condition affecting the markets for the Company's products and (vi) the impact, outcome and effects of the Company's exploration of strategic alternatives. Because forward-looking statements are based on a number of beliefs, estimates and assumptions by management that could ultimately prove to be inaccurate, there is no assurance that any forward- looking statement will prove to be accurate.