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The Andersons, Inc. Reports Record 2nd Qtr. Earnings EPS $1.17 Vs. $0.99 Last Year
Improvement in Processing, Rail & Retail Segments
PRNewswire-FirstCall
MAUMEE, Ohio

The Andersons, Inc. , today announced second-quarter net income of $8.8 million, or $1.17 per diluted share. In the same three-month period of 2001, the company reported net income of $7.3 million, or $0.99 per diluted share. Total revenues of $301 million for the period were $28 million higher than the second quarter of 2001.

Net income for six months was $10.4 million, or $1.39 per diluted share, with revenues of $516 million. In comparison, net income for the first half of 2001 totaled $6.5 million, or $0.88 per diluted share, on revenues of $491 million. Earnings for the quarter and the first half of the year both established new records for the company. The Andersons has four operating groups: Agriculture, Processing, Rail and Retail.

The Agriculture Group's grain business experienced an operating income decline during the second quarter due to lower earnings generated by the storage of wheat. In recent months, increased sales of soft red wheat to foreign and domestic flour millers have reduced the amount of wheat in the company's elevators. For the past two years, these inventories have been unusually high. The group's agricultural fertilizer businesses had mixed results for this three-month period. With volume and margin growth, its distribution terminals had an excellent quarter and achieved higher operating income. However, lengthy planting delays experienced by farmers in the region caused a reduction in operating income at the company's farm centers. The group's total operating income declined from 2001 results, both for the second quarter and the first six months.

In related news, the Agriculture Group also announced that on September 1, 2002, its Wholesale Fertilizer Division will be renamed the Plant Nutrient Division. According to Division President Denny Addis, the new name was selected to more accurately reflect the full range of products offered by the division.

The Processing Group continued to achieve improved results during the second quarter. Lawn fertilizer volumes were up from last year's second quarter levels, and gross margins improved due to lower ingredient costs. In addition, intensive efforts throughout the past two years to improve operating efficiency resulted in lower expenses for the latest quarter. The group's second quarter and first-half results both reflect a significant turnaround from last year's disappointing bottom line.

Reporting a modest operating income for the latest three-month period, the Rail Group continued to achieve bottom-line growth, overcoming the year- earlier second quarter loss. Contributing to this improvement was an increase in the group's fleet utilization rate and growth in the size of its railcar fleet. Although railcar values and monthly lease rates are still quite depressed from historical averages, the group has a growing number of cars in active lease service and a declining number of idle cars in its fleet. The group's operating income for the first half of 2002 also reflected improvement from its year-earlier performance.

The Retail Group achieved a one percent increase in same-store sales compared to the second quarter of 2001. In addition, average gross margins improved due to a strong lawn and garden business in June. As a result, the group's operating income in the second quarter and the first half both reflected improvement from 2001 results.

"I'm really pleased with our strong performance so far this year, establishing new records for the company's net income and earnings per share," said President and Chief Executive Officer Mike Anderson. "Our year-to-date EBITDA of $27.2 million was also strong, up $3.9 million from the first half of 2001.

"Looking forward, we expect to continue to see positive results from these improvements. However, the unprecedented earnings we've enjoyed for the past year or two from the storage of grain probably cannot be sustained. In fact, we've seen declines from this source in both quarters this year. It also appears that corn and soybean production in our region will likely fall below average this year because of the drought we've experienced so far this growing season."

The company will host a webcast on Thursday, July 25, 2002 at 11:00 A.M. EDT, to discuss its second quarter performance and full-year outlook. The webcast can be accessed under "Financial Information" on its website at http://www.andersonsinc.com/ or at http://www.firstcallevents.com/service/ajwz362313281gf12.html .

The Andersons, Inc. is a respected leader and dominant regional player in grain merchandising. Its strong position in this basic business has allowed the company to diversify into agricultural fertilizer distribution, lawn fertilizer production, railcar marketing, and general merchandise retailing. The Andersons has been in operation since 1947.

This release contains forward-looking statements. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Without limitation, these risks include economic, weather and regulatory conditions, competition, and the risk factors set forth from time to time in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

  The Andersons, Inc. is located on the Internet at http://www.andersonsinc.com/ .


                          The Andersons, Inc.
                     Consolidated Statements of Income

                                     Three Months ended   Six Months ended
                                          June 30             June 30
  (in thousands, except for per
   share amounts)                      2002      2001      2002      2001

  Sales and merchandising revenues   $301,098  $273,064  $515,929  $491,072
  Cost of sales and merchandising
   revenues                           252,015   224,804   430,826   407,697
  Gross profit                         49,083    48,260    85,103    83,375

  Operating, administrative and
   general expenses                    34,761    35,473    66,548    68,825
  Interest expense                      2,573     2,867     5,286     6,481
  Other income/Gains:
    Other income                          838       792     1,630     1,377
    Gain on involuntary conversion        -         -         -         338
  Income before income taxes and
   cumulative effect
   of accounting change                12,587    10,712    14,899     9,784
  Income taxes                          3,827     3,438     4,530     3,140
  Income before cumulative effect of
   accounting change                    8,760     7,274    10,369     6,644
  Cumulative effect of accounting
   change, net of income tax benefit      -         -         -        (185)
  Net income                           $8,760    $7,274   $10,369    $6,459

  Per common share:
    Basic earnings                      $1.20     $1.00     $1.42     $0.88
    Diluted earnings                    $1.17     $0.99     $1.39     $0.88
    Dividends paid                     $0.065    $0.065    $0.130    $0.130

  Weighted average shares
   outstanding-basic                    7,299     7,305     7,294     7,338
  Weighted average shares
   outstanding-diluted                  7,509     7,319     7,445     7,351

  Depreciation and amortization                            $7,041    $7,169


                              The Andersons, Inc.
                          Consolidated Balance Sheets
                                 (Unaudited)

                                          June 30   December 31   June 30
             (in thousands)                 2002        2001        2001

  Assets
  Current assets:
    Cash and cash equivalents               $7,072      $5,697      $9,255
    Accounts receivable (net) and
     margin deposits                        67,537      54,836      56,234
    Inventories                            149,582     238,291     147,932
    Other current assets                    17,058      27,849      18,313
  Total current assets                     241,249     326,673     231,734

  Other assets                               6,160       6,300       7,312
  Railcar assets leased to others (net)     31,577      26,102      23,448
  Property, plant and equipment (net)       94,537      95,001      96,058
                                          $373,523    $454,076    $358,552

  Liabilities and shareholders' equity
  Current liabilities:
    Notes payable                          $41,800     $82,600     $50,300
    Other current liabilities              126,799     169,068     119,767
  Total current liabilities                168,599     251,668     170,067

  Deferred items, long-term liabilities
   and minority interest                    14,830      16,158      15,874
  Long-term debt                            85,617      91,316      79,370
  Shareholders' equity                     104,477      94,934      93,241
                                          $373,523    $454,076    $358,552


                                 Segment Data

  Quarter ended June 30, 2002            Agriculture    Processing     Rail

  Revenues from external customers         $209,197     $32,283      $4,056
  Other income                                  220         166          30
                                           $209,417     $32,449      $4,086

  Operating income (loss)                    $9,522       $(113)       $140

  Quarter ended June 30, 2001
  Revenues from external customers         $177,262     $33,537      $7,256
  Other income                                  310          80         (25)
                                           $177,572     $33,617      $7,231

  Operating income (loss)                   $10,186     $(1,783)      $(628)

  Six months ended June 30, 2002
  Revenues from external customers         $344,037     $73,264      $8,216
  Other income                                  487         289          33
                                           $344,524     $73,553      $8,249

  Operating income (loss)                   $12,046      $2,305        $520

  Six months ended June 30, 2001
  Revenues from external customers         $314,774     $75,783     $13,003
  Other income                                  498         176         (14)
  Gain on involuntary conversion                338         -           -
                                           $315,610     $75,959     $12,989

  Operating income (loss)                   $13,515     $(2,026)      $(923)


                                 Segment Data

  Quarter ended June 30, 2002               Retail      Other        Total

  Revenues from external customers         $55,562        $-       $301,098
  Other income                                 255         167          838
                                           $55,817        $167     $301,936

  Operating income (loss)                   $4,307     $(1,269)     $12,587

  Quarter ended June 30, 2001
  Revenues from external customers         $55,009        $-       $273,064
  Other income                                 199         228          792
                                           $55,208        $228     $273,856

  Operating income (loss)                   $3,785       $(848)     $10,712

  Six months ended June 30, 2002
  Revenues from external customers         $90,412        $-       $515,929
  Other income                                 374         447        1,630
                                           $90,786        $447     $517,559

  Operating income (loss)                   $2,568     $(2,540)     $14,899

  Six months ended June 30, 2001
  Revenues from external customers         $87,512        $-       $491,072
  Other income                                 334         383        1,377
  Gain on involuntary conversion               -           -            338
                                           $87,846        $383     $492,787

  Operating income (loss)                     $792     $(1,574)      $9,784

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SOURCE: The Andersons, Inc.

CONTACT: Gary Smith of The Andersons, Inc., +1-419-891-6417