Ceradyne, Inc. Reports Third Quarter, Nine-Month 2009 Financial Results

October 27, 2009 6:00 AM EDT

COSTA MESA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Ceradyne, Inc. (Nasdaq: CRDN) reported financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2009.

Sales for the third quarter 2009 were $108.0 million, compared with $167.7 million in third quarter 2008. Net income for the three months ended September 30, 2009 was $4.9 million, or $0.19 per fully diluted share. The net income for the third quarter 2009 included a pre-tax charge for losses on auction rate securities of $1.8 million that reduced earnings per share by approximately $0.07.

The Company is adjusting its guidance for the full fiscal year 2009 from $.70 per fully diluted share to approximately $.60 per fully diluted share and from sales of $420 to $440 million to sales of $410 to $415 million. The forward looking estimated fully diluted earnings per share guidance does not include the impact of the total restructuring and impairment pre-tax charges for all of 2009, which are estimated to be approximately $0.55 per fully diluted share.

Gross profit margin was 26.5% of net sales in the third quarter 2009 compared to 39.7% in the same period in 2008. The provision for income taxes was 22.4% in third quarter 2009, compared to a provision for income taxes of 36.1% in the same period in 2008.

Sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 were $303.0 million, compared with $541.3 million in the same period last year. Net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was $5.6 million, or $0.22 per fully diluted share. The loss included charges for restructuring and impairment that had a negative impact by reducing fully diluted earnings per share by approximately $0.51 for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. The charges for restructuring and impairment totaled $17.3 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2009 which included a pre-tax $11.9 million restructuring charge for the closure of its plant in Bazet, France and other severance expenses, a non-cash pre-tax impairment charge of $3.8 million to write down the value of goodwill of its Ceradyne Canada reporting unit to reflect the current industry and economic environment and accelerated depreciation of $1.6 million resulting from a revision of the estimated useful lives of certain assets.

Gross profit margin was 24.8% of net sales in the nine months ended September 30, 2009 compared to 39.5% in the same period in 2008. The provision for income taxes was 9.7% in the nine months ended September 30, 2009, compared to a provision for income taxes of 36.2% in the same period in 2008.

New orders for the three months ended September 30, 2009 were $100.5 million, compared to $119.4 million for the same period last year. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, new orders were $330.6 million, compared to $476.6 million for the comparable period last year.

Total backlog as of September 30, 2009 was $156.3 million, compared to total backlog at September 30, 2008 of $174.9 million.

Joel P. Moskowitz, Ceradyne president and chief executive officer, commented: "Our target of a balanced advanced technical ceramic company with sales approximately equally divided between defense and non-defense markets has been achieved in 2009 with defense sales of about 52% of the Company's total. As we look forward to 2010, again we see significant opportunities in the non-defense sector, particularly in solar energy, aluminum smelting, oil and gas drilling, and certain novel, entirely new applications of our materials used in the manufacturing of glass and automobile-related components.

"Although lightweight ceramic body armor programs declined significantly in 2009, we believe that in 2010 body armor along with other defense programs will reach a sustainable level. Future defense opportunities include a new lighter weight generation of body armor, body armor for our Allies, vehicle armor components for U.S. as well as European vehicle manufacturers, and potential new business for our recently acquired military helmet operation. We are also more actively evaluating non-defense opportunities in China.

"Recent examples of our progress towards 2010 product and market objectives include:

    --  A recently completed successful oil and gas drilling event in which
        Ceradyne's proprietary ceramic bearing allowed the drilling of a
        directional hole through a difficult Texas formation without removing
        the drill and changing the bearing. We believe this bearing is the
        beginning of a series of proprietary ceramic bearing products for oil
        and gas drilling.
    --  Our ESK Ceramics subsidiary received its first order for its newly
        developed oil/particle separator designed for removing hard erosive
        particles from the oil in offshore applications, particularly in the
        North Sea. This initial component is expected to be put into use early
        in 2010.
    --  Ceradyne together with its Fortune 500 customer have developed several
        new products used in the fabrication of a new glass system.
    --  Our long-time research efforts in the field of aluminum smelting are
        beginning to show promise. Recent orders in North America and interest
        expressed in China for our cathode product are encouraging.
    --  The U.S. Marines have requested that our Ceradyne/Diaphorm division
        further develop the ECH (Enhanced Combat Helmet) design based on our
        original submission. Although we expect this will delay final evaluation
        by several months, we continue to expect a decision by early 2010.

Because of the uncertainty concerning some of our programs, we are establishing a wide range for our initial guidance for 2010 as follows:

    --  Sales range from $380 million to $430 million
    --  Earnings range from $0.60 to $1.05 per fully diluted share

This assumes an annual tax rate of 31% with fully diluted average shares of 25.8 million."

Ceradyne will host a conference call today at 8:00 a.m. PDT (11:00 a.m. EDT) to discuss its third quarter 2009 results. To participate in the teleconference, please call toll free 877-717-3046 (or 706-634-6364 for international callers) approximately 10 minutes prior to the above start time and provide Conference ID 35999659. Investors or other interested parties may listen to the teleconference live via the Internet at www.ceradyne.com or www.earnings.com. These web sites will also host an archive of the teleconference. A telephonic playback will be available beginning at 11:00 a.m. PDT today through 11:00 a.m. PDT on October 29, 2009. The playback can be accessed by calling 800-642-1687 (or 706-645-9291 for international callers) and providing Conference ID 35999659.

Ceradyne develops, manufactures and markets advanced technical ceramic products and components for defense, industrial, automotive/diesel and commercial applications. Additional information can be found at the Company's web site: www.ceradyne.com.

Except for the historical information contained herein, this press release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and the future performance of Ceradyne that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Words such as "anticipates," "believes," "plans," "expects," "intends," "future," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, and its quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date thereof.


CERADYNE, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

                              Three Months Ended        Nine Months Ended
                              September 30,             September 30,

                              2009         2008         2009         2008

                              (Unaudited)               (Unaudited)

NET SALES                     $ 107,954    $ 167,746    $ 302,993    $ 541,258

COST OF GOODS SOLD              79,329       101,082      227,717      327,504

Gross profit                    28,625       66,664       75,276       213,754

OPERATING EXPENSES

Selling                         6,758        8,443        20,643       24,966

General and administrative      10,779       11,703       30,976       35,208

Acquisition related charge      (795    )    9,783        (795    )    9,783

Research and development        2,862        4,527        9,512        10,979

Restructuring - plant           88           -            11,931       -
closure and severance

Goodwill impairment             -            -            3,832        -

                                19,692       34,456       76,099       80,936

INCOME (LOSS) FROM              8,933        32,208       (823    )    132,818
OPERATIONS

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):

Interest income                 901          1,772        2,424        6,273

Interest expense                (1,520  )    (1,977  )    (5,469  )    (5,891  )

Gain on early extinguishment    96           -            1,881        -
of debt

Loss on auction rate            (1,849  )    (2,958  )    (3,480  )    (3,545  )
securities

Miscellaneous                   (197    )    382          (694    )    1,702

                                (2,569  )    (2,781  )    (5,338  )    (1,461  )

INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE            6,364        29,427       (6,161  )    131,357
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES

PROVISION (BENEFIT) FOR         1,428        10,609       (595    )    47,546
INCOME TAXES

NET INCOME (LOSS)             $ 4,936      $ 18,818     $ (5,566  )  $ 83,811

BASIC INCOME (LOSS) PER       $ 0.19       $ 0.72       $ (0.22   )  $ 3.15
SHARE

DILUTED INCOME (LOSS) PER     $ 0.19       $ 0.71       $ (0.22   )  $ 3.12
SHARE

WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES
OUTSTANDING:

BASIC                           25,681       26,272       25,737       26,568

DILUTED                         25,798       26,563       25,737       26,888




CERADYNE, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Amounts in thousands, except share data)

                                                     September 30,  December 31,
                                                     2009           2008

                                                     (Unaudited)

CURRENT ASSETS

Cash and cash equivalents                            $ 143,718      $ 215,282

Restricted cash                                        3,130          2,702

Short-term investments                                 78,739         6,140

Accounts receivable, net of allowances for doubtful
accounts of $840 and $686 at September 30, 2009 and    65,618         64,631
December 31, 2008, respectively

Other receivables                                      4,094          5,316

Inventories, net                                       98,751         101,017

Production tooling, net                                13,620         14,563

Prepaid expenses and other                             24,100         24,170

Deferred tax asset                                     15,290         11,967

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS                                   447,060        445,788

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, net                     247,363        251,928

LONG TERM INVESTMENTS                                  24,978         24,434

INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net                                 90,380         84,384

GOODWILL                                               44,096         45,324

OTHER ASSETS                                           2,512          2,669

TOTAL ASSETS                                         $ 856,389      $ 854,527

CURRENT LIABILITIES

Accounts payable                                     $ 30,577       $ 22,954

Accrued expenses                                       23,400         21,999

Income taxes payable                                   2,142          -

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES                              56,119         44,953

LONG-TERM DEBT                                         81,338         102,631

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS                                      21,071         19,088

OTHER LONG TERM LIABILITY                              46,406         41,816

DEFERRED TAX LIABILITY                                 6,967          7,045

TOTAL LIABILITIES                                      211,901        215,533

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 15)

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

Common stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000,000
authorized, 25,680,354 and 25,830,374 shares issued    257            259
and outstanding at September 30, 2009 and December
31, 2008, respectively

Additional paid-in capital                             163,089        163,291

Retained earnings                                      456,175        461,741

Accumulated other comprehensive income                 24,967         13,703

TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY                             644,488        638,994

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY           $ 856,389      $ 854,527




CERADYNE, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Amounts in thousands)

                                                       Nine Months Ended
                                                       September 30,

                                                       2009          2008

                                                       (Unaudited)

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

Net (loss) income                                      $ (5,566   )  $ 83,811

ADJUSTMENTS TO RECONCILE NET INCOME (LOSS) TO NET
CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

Depreciation and amortization                            28,649        30,122

Non cash interest expense on convertible debt            2,817         2,887

Gain on early extinguishment of debt                     (1,880   )    -

Payments of accreted interest on repurchased             (2,956   )    -
convertible debt

Deferred income taxes                                    (3,047   )    (656    )

Stock compensation                                       2,906         2,233

Loss on marketable securities                            3,480         3,545

Goodwill impairment                                      3,832         -

Loss on equipment disposal                               425           125

Change in operating assets and liabilities (net of
effect of businesses acquired):

Accounts receivable, net                                 94            22,680

Other receivables                                        1,352         (3,597  )

Inventories, net                                         5,387         (5,079  )

Production tooling, net                                  995           2,597

Prepaid expenses and other assets                        476           (18,129 )

Accounts payable and accrued expenses                    8,985         (5,456  )

Income taxes payable                                     1,900         549

Other long term liability                                (510     )    10,350

Employee benefits                                        1,071         1,014

NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES                48,410        126,996

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

Purchases of property, plant and equipment               (13,588  )    (35,938 )

Changes in restricted cash                               (428     )    (39     )

Purchases of marketable securities                       (136,173 )    -

Proceeds from sales and maturities of marketable         64,051        21,700
securities

Cash paid for acquisitions                               (9,655   )    (26,855 )

Proceeds from sale of equipment                          72            24

NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES                    (95,721  )    (41,108 )

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

Proceeds from issuance of stock due to exercise of       14            302
options

Excess tax benefit due to exercise of stock options      24            287

Shares repurchased                                       (5,099   )    (34,919 )

Reduction on long term debt                              (20,239  )    -

NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES                    (25,300  )    (34,330 )

EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATES ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS    1,047         (2,175  )

(DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS         (71,564  )    49,383

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD           215,282       155,103

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD               $ 143,718     $ 204,486

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW ACTIVITIES:

Interest paid                                          $ 1,555       $ 1,744

Income taxes paid                                      $ 692         $ 62,692




    Source: Ceradyne, Inc.


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