ATCHISON, Kansas, June 29, 2015 - MGP Ingredients, Inc. (Nasdaq: MGPI), a leading supplier of premium distilled spirits and specialty wheat proteins and starches, today announced it was added to the Russell 3000® Index and Russell 2000® Index as Russell Investments reconstituted its comprehensive set of U.S. and global equity indexes on June 29, 2015.
“We are pleased to be added to the Russell 2000, which reflects our continued positive momentum and efforts to increase shareholder value,” said Gus Griffin, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We expect our inclusion will raise our profile and generate greater interest in our stock among institutional investors.”
Russell indexes are widely used by investment managers and institutional investors for both index funds and as benchmarks for passive and active investment strategies. In the U.S. marketplace, approximately 98% of the U.S. equity assets are benchmarked by the Russell 3000, representing more than $4 trillion. MGP Ingredients will hold its membership until Russell reconstitutes its indexes in June 2016.
The annual reconstitution of the Russell 3000 captures the 3,000 largest U.S. stocks as of the end of May, ranking them by total market capitalization. The largest 1,000 companies in this ranking comprise the Russell 1000 and the next 2,000 companies become the Russell 2000.
The Russell 3000 also serves as the U.S. component to the Russell Global Index, which Russell launched in 2007.
About MGP Ingredients, Inc.
MGP is a leading supplier of premium distilled spirits and specialty wheat proteins and starches. Distilled spirits include bourbon and rye whiskeys, gins and vodkas, which are carefully crafted through a combination of art and science and backed by over 150 years of experience. The company’s proteins and starches are created in the same manner and provide a host of functional, nutritional and sensory benefits for a wide range of food products. MGP additionally is a top producer of high quality industrial alcohol for use in both food and non-food applications. The company is headquartered in Atchison, Kansas, where distilled alcohol products and food ingredients are produced. Premium spirits are also distilled and matured at the company facility in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. For more information, visit mgpingredients.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements as well as historical information. Forward-looking statements are usually identified by or are associated with such words as “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “hopeful,” “should,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “encouraged,” “opportunities,” “potential” and/or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology. They reflect management's current beliefs and estimates of future economic circumstances, industry conditions, Company performance and Company financial results and are not guarantees of future performance. All such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the relevant forward-looking statement. Investors should not place undue reliance upon forward-looking statements and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations include, among others: (i) disruptions in operations at our Atchison facility or Indiana distillery, or at the Illinois Corn Processing, LLC (“ICP”) facility, (ii) the availability and cost of grain and flour and fluctuations in energy costs, (iii) the effectiveness of our corn purchasing program to mitigate our exposure to commodity price fluctuations, (iv) the effectiveness or execution of our five-year strategic plan, (v) the competitive environment and related market conditions, (vi) the ability to effectively pass raw material price increases on to customers, (vii) the positive or adverse impact to our earnings as a result of the high volatility in our equity method investment's, ICP's, operating results, (viii) ICP's access to capital, (ix) our limited influence over the ICP joint venture operating decisions, strategies or financial decisions (including investments, capital spending and distributions), (x) our ability to source product from the ICP joint venture or unaffiliated third parties, (xi) our ability to maintain compliance with all applicable loan agreement covenants, (xii) our ability to realize operating efficiencies, (xiii) actions of governments, (xiv) consumer tastes and preferences, and (xv) the volatility in our earnings resulting from the timing differences between a business interruption and a potential insurance recovery. For further information on these and other risks and uncertainties that may affect our business, including risks specific to our Distillery and Ingredient segments, see Item 1A. Risk Factors of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.