LYTS LSI Industries Inc

CINCINNATI, Feb. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- LSI Industries Inc. (NASDAQ:LYTS) today announced that it has been included in the new NASDAQ Dividend Achievers Index as a founding member. Quoting, in part, from the February 22, 2006 press release of The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc: The NASDAQ Dividend Achievers Index is designed to track the performance of U.S. companies that are listed on NASDAQ and meet Dividend Achievers requirements of increased annual regular dividend payment for the last 10 or more consecutive years. A subset of Mergent's Broad Dividend Achievers Index, the Index offers a unique approach for NASDAQ investors seeking a long-term portfolio of higher risk-adjusted returns. NASDAQ Executive Vice President, John Jacobs commented, "The NASDAQ Dividend Achievers Indexes will provide investors with a new and useful tool that seeks to track the performance of some of NASDAQ's largest and industry leading companies. We are pleased to collaborate with Mergent to create indexes that are comprised of diverse sets of NASDAQ companies. Indexing is a recognized strategy that appeals to many investors." Mergent's Dividend Achievers are companies that have increased their annual regular dividends for at least the past 10 consecutive years and have met specific liquidity screening criteria. The Dividend Achievers are typically companies with strong cash reserves, solid balance sheets and a proven record of consistent earnings growth. Mergent has been identifying these strong dividend-paying companies for more than 25 years. The NASDAQ Dividend Achievers Index is calculated using a market capitalization weighting methodology. The index will be calculated and disseminated on a price return basis (NASDAQ:DIVQ) and a total return basis (NASDAQ:DVQT). Bob Ready, President and CEO of LSI Industries commented, "We are pleased to be included in this new NASDAQ Index. As our shareholders know, we believe a regular and growing stream of cash dividends is an important and valuable component to increasing shareholder returns. LSI Industries began payment of regular cash dividends in 1989 and has increased its indicated annual rate thirteen times. The current annual rate of $0.48 per share represents a 20% increase over the fiscal 2005 annual rate of $0.40 per share. The Company also paid an additional special year-end cash dividend of $0.10 per share on September 13, 2005." LSI Industries cash dividend policy calls for an indicated annual dividend rate that will be set between 40% and 60% of the expected net income for the current fiscal year. Consideration will also be given by the Board to special year-end cash or stock dividends. The declaration and amount of any cash and stock dividends will be determined by the Board of Directors in its discretion based upon its evaluation of earnings, cash flow requirements and future business developments and opportunities, including acquisitions. About the Company LSI Industries is an Image Solutions company, combining integrated design, manufacturing, and technology to supply its own high quality lighting fixtures and graphics elements for applications in the retail, specialty niche, and commercial markets. The Company's Lighting Segment produces high performance products dedicated to the outdoor, architectural outdoor, indoor, architectural indoor and accent/downlight markets. The Graphics Segment provides a vast array of products and services including signage, menu board systems, active digital signage, decorative fixturing, design support, engineering and project management for custom programs for today's retail environment. LSI's major markets are the petroleum / convenience store, multi-site retail (including automobile dealerships, restaurants and national retail accounts) and the commercial / industrial lighting markets. LSI employs approximately 1,700 people in fifteen facilities located in Ohio, California, New York, North Carolina, Kansas, Kentucky, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas and Washington. The Company's common shares are traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol LYTS. Additional note: Today's news release, along with past releases from LSI Industries, is available on the Company's internet site at http://www.lsi-industries.com/ or by email or fax, by calling the Investor Relations Department at (513) 793-3200. First Call Analyst: FCMN Contact: DATASOURCE: LSI Industries Inc. CONTACT: Bob Ready, Chief Executive Officer and President, or Ron Stowell, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer of LSI Industries Inc., +1-513-793-3200 Web site: http://www.lsi-industries.com/

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