Finalists Announced for the Kentucky Public Company of the Year Award

Winning Company to be Announced at INVESTKentucky Equity Conference Ceremony


LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 5, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The top performing public companies headquartered in Kentucky have been selected as finalists for the inaugural Kentucky Public Company of the Year Award (#BestKYCompanies), to be presented at the INVESTKentucky Equity Conference on June 5 at Churchill Downs.

Since 2004, INVESTKentucky has provided professional investors, analysts and business professionals the opportunity to hear executives from top Kentucky public companies and the latest economic and business commentary.

The finalists, presented below in alphabetical order, are:

  • Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM).Humana is a leading health and well-being company focused on making it easy for people to achieve their best health with clinical excellence through coordinated care. Headquarters: Louisville. 2014 revenues: $48.50 billion. 2014 net income: $1.15 billion. Kentucky employment: 13,400 (24% of total employment).
  • Papa John's International, Inc. (Nasdaq:PZZA). Papa John's is the world's third largest pizza delivery company. For 13 of the past 15 years, consumers have rated Papa John's No. 1 in customer satisfaction among all national pizza chains in the American Customer Satisfaction Index. Headquarters: Louisville. 2014 revenues: $1.60 billion. 2014 net income: $73.3 million. Kentucky employment: 1,556 (13% of total).
  • Tempur Sealy International, Inc. (NYSE:TPX). As the world's largest bedding provider, Tempur Sealy develops, manufactures and markets mattresses, foundations, pillows and other products. The Company's brand portfolio includes many of the most highly recognized brands in the industry, including Tempur®, Tempur-Pedic®, Sealy®, Sealy Posturepedic®, OptimumTM and Stearns & Foster®. Headquarters: Lexington. 2014 revenues: $2.99 billion. 2014 net income: $108.9 million. Kentucky employment: 411 (6% of total).
  • Texas Roadhouse, Inc. (Nasdaq:TXRH).Texas Roadhouse is a full service, casual dining restaurant chain, offering an assortment of specially seasoned and aged steaks and a selection of ribs, fish, seafood, chicken, pork, vegetable plates and other items. The Company operates over 450 restaurants in 49 states and 4 foreign countries. Headquarters: Louisville. 2014 revenues: $1.58 billion. 2014 net income: $87.0 million. Kentucky employment: 1,870 (5% of total).

"We are delighted to have the opportunity to highlight these companies, which contribute so widely to the Commonwealth of Kentucky and touch consumers both domestically and internationally," said Terry McWilliams, chairman of INVESTKentucky.

The selections were determined by a special team from the CFA Society of Louisville, a professional group that represents analysts and fund managers, and the Louisville chapter of Financial Executives International, comprised of senior financial executives at public and private companies.

To choose five finalists, the group developed and applied a set of weighted quantitative metrics to all Kentucky public companies, said INVESTKentucky steering committee member Lou Lemos, who is portfolio manager at First Kentucky Trust and a former CFA Society of Louisville president. The committee evaluated company performance covering a two-year period and applied metrics that included both accounting and market performance measures. Additionally, each finalist was asked to submit information about strategy, philanthropy and employment, in the event of a tie.

Lexmark, Inc., identified as one of the five best Kentucky corporate performers, declined to participate.Headquartered in Lexington, the digital document company had revenues of $3.7 billion and net income of $79.1 million in 2014.

Attending The Kentucky Public Company of the Year Awards

The Awards event is open to the public and begins at noon in Churchill Downs' Triple Crown Room. Individual tickets to the KY Public Company of the Year Honors are $60, and include the INVESTKentucky Keynote Address, lunch and the Awards Ceremony. Tickets are available through Event Brite at www.tinyurl.com/kypubco.

The ceremony is included for those who are registered for the INVESTKentucky conference. Professional investors and CFA and FEI members attend as INVESTKentucky guests. A registration code is available on the conference invitation, and from INVESTKentucky, the CFA Society and FEI. See the registration page on the INVESTKentucky website for full details.

An InvestKY Digital Program Guide, an iBook with information about the conference and Company of the Year finalists, will be available for download from the Apple iBooks Store from any iPad.

Title Sponsor for INVESTKentucky is the region's premier investment banking firm, Hilliard Lyons, joined by professional services firms Crowe Horwath LLP and Frost Brown Todd LLC as Platinum sponsors and a host of Gold sponsors. The CFA Society, FEI and Mozaic IR are organizing partners. 

Information: www.investky.com.

InvestKY Registration: www.tinyurl.com/INVESTKY2015        

KY Company of Year Tickets: www.tinyurl.com/kypubco


            

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