Release Details

Minerals Technologies Achieves Record Earnings per Share of $1.11 for the Second Quarter

July 26, 2012
 
Company Reports Operating Income of $29.5 million, Up 18% over Prior Year
 
 ----------
  
Highlights:
 
 
·  
Record Company Earnings for First Six Months
  
·  
Operating Income as a Percentage of Sales Increased 25% to 11.6%
  
·  
Three Commercial Agreements Signed for FulFill(TM) E-325 Higher-Filler Technology
  
·  
Signed Contract to Conduct All Refractory Maintenance for United Steel Company at a New Steel Mill in Bahrain
  
·  
Strong Operating Performance from Processed Minerals
 
 
NEW YORK, July 26, 2012-Minerals Technologies Inc. (NYSE: MTX) today reported record second quarter diluted earnings per common share of $1.11 compared with $0.90 per share in the same period in 2011, a 23-percent increase. Net income for the second quarter was $19.7 million, a 20-percent increase over the prior year.
 
 
"We continued our strong financial performance, achieving record earnings for both the second quarter and the first half of 2012," said Joseph C. Muscari, chairman and chief executive officer. "We saw improvement in operating income and return on capital as our new products continue to gain traction with adoption of our FulFill(TM) higher-filler technology by three paper mills-two in Europe and one in Asia. We now have nine commercial agreements with papermakers around the world."
 
 
Operating income increased 18 percent to $29.5 million from $25.1 million in the second quarter of 2011. The improvement in operating income occurred in both the Specialty Minerals and Refractories Segments and was attributable to increased pricing, higher productivity, lower material and energy costs and to cost and expense control. The company also generated $40.0 million in cash flow from operations, and return on capital was 9.4 percent, an increase of 19 percent from the same quarter in 2011.
 
 
Improved earnings and operating income was achieved despite a decrease in sales. Second quarter worldwide sales decreased 5 percent to $254.0 million from the $268.4 million recorded in the same period in 2011. Foreign exchange had an unfavorable impact on sales of approximately $8.6 million, or 3 percentage points. Sales were also affected negatively by the permanent and temporary shutdowns of two satellite PCC facilities in Europe and the deconsolidation of the company's Refractories operations in Korea in the third quarter of 2011. The combined effect of these items, including foreign currency, adversely affected sales by 6 percent. Sales were also affected by weakening market conditions in Europe.
 
 
Second quarter worldwide sales for the Specialty Minerals segment, which includes the Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC) and Processed Minerals product lines, decreased 2 percent to $168.1 million from $171.8 million recorded in the second quarter of 2011. Income from operations increased 19 percent to a record $22.1 million from $18.6 million in the same period in 2011. The growth in operating income was due to strong operating results from our Performance Minerals business, which includes the Processed Minerals and Specialty PCC product lines, and higher profits in our North American Paper PCC product line.
 
 
PCC Products, which are used mainly in the manufacturing processes of the paper industry, recorded sales of $136.3 million, a 3-percent decrease from the $140.2 million recorded in the same period of the previous year. Foreign exchange had an unfavorable impact on sales of approximately $5.6 million, or 4 percentage points. Sales were also affected by volume declines associated with the permanent and temporary closure of two paper mills in Europe. Volumes increased in North America, Latin America and Asia.
 
 
The company recently signed commercial agreements with three additional paper mills for the adoption of the FulFill(TM) higher-filler technology. That brings the total number of agreements to nine since the FulFill portfolio was introduced in the fourth quarter of 2010. These new agreements were signed with the Mondi Group for a paper mill in Ruomberok, Slovakia, as well as with another paper mill in Europe and one in Asia-both of which wish to remain unnamed for competitive reasons.
 
 
The Fulfill(TM) brand is a portfolio of high-filler technologies that offers papermakers a variety of efficient, flexible solutions that decreases dependency on natural fiber and reduces costs. The FulFill(TM) E-325 series allows papermakers to increase loading levels of PCC, which replaces higher cost pulp, by three to five points, and increases PCC usage between 20 to 30 percent.
 
 
"The continued adoption of FulFill(TM) by the global paper industry adds to the growing momentum of this new technology and substantiates the efficacy of the cost-savings it generates  as well as the revitalization of our new product development pipeline," said Mr. Muscari. "In addition, we are actively engaged with 26 other paper mills interested in our FulFill(TM) portfolio of technologies."
 
 
Sales in Processed Minerals products, which include ground calcium carbonate (GCC) and talc used in the building materials, polymers, ceramics, paints and coatings, glass and other manufacturing industries, increased 1 percent to $31.8 million from $31.6 million in the second quarter of 2011.
 
 
Sales in the Refractories segment for the second quarter of 2012 declined 11 percent to $85.9 million from $96.6 million in the same period last year. Foreign exchange had an unfavorable impact on sales of approximately $3.0 million or 3 percentage points. The remaining sales decline in the segment was attributable primarily to volume declines associated with deconsolidation of the company's Refractory operations in Korea and to weakness in the European steel industry during the quarter. Sales of Refractory products declined 13 percent to $65.4 million from $75.3 million in the prior year. Metallurgical products sales decreased 4 percent to $20.5 million from $21.3 million in the second quarter of 2011.
 
 
The Refractories segment recorded operating income of $8.7 million, a 12-percent increase over the $7.8 million recorded in the second quarter of 2011. The increase in operating income was attributable to lower materials costs, higher productivity and reduced overhead expenses.
 
 
During the second quarter, the company announced that Minteq International Inc., the operating unit responsible for the Refractories segment, signed an agreement with United Steel Company B.S.C. (SULB) to perform all refractory maintenance at a greenfield steel mill in the Al-Hidd industrial area in Bahrain that is due to start up during the third quarter of 2012. Minteq, working with other refractory companies, will be responsible for conducting all refractory maintenance of the steel furnaces and the other steel-production vessels.
 
 
"We have been able to achieve record financial performance despite weak market conditions, particularly in Europe," said Mr. Muscari. "We will build upon this strong performance during the second half of 2012 by continuing to deploy our key strategies of geographic expansion and market penetration of our new products that will provide us with additional opportunities for future growth," said Mr. Muscari.
 
 ----------
 
 
The company declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.05 per share on its common stock, which is payable on September 13, 2012 to shareholders of record on August 30, 2012. Minerals Technologies Inc. also repurchased $6.0 million in company stock in the second quarter and has repurchased a total of $8.9 million in stock under the current two-year $75 million share repurchase authorization.
  
----------
 
 
Minerals Technologies will sponsor a conference call tomorrow, July 27, 2012 at 11 a.m. The conference call will be broadcast live on the company web site, which can be found at www.mineralstech.com.
 
 
This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which describe or are based on current expectations. Actual results may differ materially from these expectations. In addition, any statements that are not historical fact (including statements containing the words "believes," "plans," "anticipates," "expects," "estimates," and similar expressions) should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Forward-looking statements in this document should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect our businesses, particularly those mentioned in the risk factors and other cautionary statements in our 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K and in our other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
For further information about Minerals Technologies Inc. look on the internet at http://www.mineralstech.com.
 

 
 

 



 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
 
MINERALS TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
 
 
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
 
 (unaudited)
 
                                           
         
Quarter Ended
 
% Growth
 
Six Months Ended
 
% Growth
 
         
July 1,
 
April 1,
 
July 3,
           
July 1,
 
July 3,
     
         
2012
 
2012
 
2011
 
Prior Qtr.
 
Prior Year
   
2012
 
2011
 
Prior Year
 
                                           
 
Net sales
 
$
253,969
$
257,138
$
268,399
 
(1)%
 
(5)%
 
$
511,107
$
530,919
 
(4)%
 
                                           
 
Cost of goods sold
 
197,627
 
202,201
 
214,725
 
(2)%
 
(8)%
   
399,828
 
424,303
 
(6)%
 
                                           
 
Production margin
 
56,342
 
54,937
 
53,674
 
3%
 
5%
   
111,279
 
106,616
 
4%
 
                                           
 
Marketing  and administrative expenses
 
21,840
 
22,898
 
23,710
 
(5)%
 
(8)%
   
44,738
 
46,839
 
(4)%
 
 
Research and development expenses
 
5,026
 
5,047
 
4,897
 
(0)%
 
3%
   
10,073
 
9,766
 
3%
 
 
Restructuring and other charges
 
0
 
0
 
0
 
*
 
*
   
0
 
230
 
(100)%
 
   
Income from operations
 
29,476
 
26,992
 
25,067
 
9%
 
18%
   
56,468
 
49,781
 
13%
 
                                           
 
Non-operating income (deductions) - net
 
(768)
 
(598)
 
(799)
 
28%
 
(4)%
   
(1,366)
 
(1,636)
 
(17)%
 
                                           
   
Income from continuing operations, before tax
 
28,708
 
26,394
 
24,268
 
9%
 
18%
   
55,102
 
48,145
 
14%
 
                                           
 
Provision for taxes on income
 
8,469
 
7,786
 
7,112
 
9%
 
19%
   
16,255
 
14,299
 
14%
 
                                           
   
Consolidated net income
 
20,239
 
18,608
 
17,156
 
9%
 
18%
   
38,847
 
33,846
 
15%
 
                                           
 
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests
 
524
 
576
 
743
 
(9)%
 
(29)%
   
1,100
 
1,652
 
(33)%
 
                                           
   
Net Income attributable to  Minerals Technologies Inc. (MTI)
$
19,715
$
18,032
$
16,413
 
9%
 
20%
 
$
37,747
$
32,194
 
17%
 
                                           
 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
                                   
                                           
   
Basic
   
17,724
 
17,718
 
18,177
           
17,721
 
18,227
     
                                           
   
Diluted
   
17,790
 
17,800
 
18,290
           
17,795
 
18,353
     
                                           
 
Earnings per share attributable to MTI:
                                   
                                           
                                           
   
Basic:
 
$
1.11
$
1.02
$
0.90
 
9%
 
23%
 
$
2.13
$
1.77
 
20%
 
                                           
   
Diluted:
 
$
1.11
 
1.01
 
0.90
 
10%
 
23%
   
2.12
 
1.75
 
21%
 
                                           
 
Cash dividends declared per common share
$
0.05
$
0.05
$
0.05
         
$
0.10
$
0.10
     
                                           
 
* Percentage not meaningful
                                   


 
 

 
   MINERALS TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES    
  NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS    
                               
                               
1)
For comparative purposes, the quarterly periods ended July 1, 2012 and July 3, 2011 contain 91 days.   The quarterly period ended April 1, 2012 consists of 92 days.  The six month periods ended July 1, 2012 and July 3, 2011 contain 183 days and 184 days, respectively.
             
                               
2)
Restructuring and other exit costs recorded are as follows:
                           
                               
 
(millions of dollars):
                           
     
Quarter Ended
     
Six Months Ended
   
     
July 1,
 
April 1,
 
July 3,
     
July 1,
 
July 3,
   
     
2012
 
2012
 
2011
     
2012
 
2011
   
 
      Restructuring and other costs
                           
 
                         Severance and other employee benefits
$
0.0
$
0.0
$
0.0
   
$
0.0
$
(0.5)
   
 
                         Other exit costs
 
0.0
 
0.0
 
0.0
     
0.0
 
0.7
   
   
$
0.0
$
0.0
$
0.0
   
$
0.0
$
0.2
   
                               
                               
                               
3)
To supplement the Company's consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP, the following is a presentation of the Company's non-GAAP income (loss), excluding special items, for the three month periods ended July 1, 2012, April 1, 2012 and July 3, 2011 and the six month periods ended July 1, 2012 and July 3, 2011;  and a reconciliation to net income (loss) for such periods.  The Company's management believes these non-GAAP measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding its performance as inclusion  of such special items are not indicative of the ongoing operating results and thereby affect the comparability  of results between periods. The Company feels inclusion of these non-GAAP measures also provides consistency in its financial reporting and facilitates investors' understanding of historic operating trends.
 
(millions of dollars)
 
Quarter Ended
     
Six Months Ended
   
     
July 1,
 
April 1,
 
July 3,
     
July 1,
 
July 3,
   
     
2012
 
2012
 
2011
     
2012
 
2011
   
 
Net Income attributable to MTI, as reported
$
19.7
$
18.0
$
16.4
   
$
37.7
$
32.2
   
                               
 
Special items:
                           
 
Restructuring and other costs
 
0.0
 
0.0
 
0.0
     
0.0
 
0.2
   
 
Related tax effects on special items
 
0.0
 
0.0
 
0.0
     
0.0
 
(0.1)
   
                               
                               
 
Net income attributable to MTI, excluding special items
$
19.7
$
18.0
$
16.4
   
$
37.7
$
32.3
   
                               
 
Basic earnings per share, excluding special items
$
1.11
$
1.02
$
0.90
   
$
2.13
$
1.77
   
 
Diluted earnings per share, excluding special items
$
1.11
$
1.01
$
0.90
   
$
2.12
$
1.76
   
                               
4)
Free cash flow is defined as cash flow from operations less capital expenditures. The following is a presentation of the Company's non-GAAP free cash flow for the quarterly periods ended July 1, 2012, April 1, 2012  and July 3, 2011  and the six month periods ended July 1, 2012 and July 3, 2011 and a reconciliation to cash flow from operations for such periods.  The Company's management believes this non-GAAP measure provides meaningful supplemental information as management uses this measure to evaluate the Company's ability to maintain capital assets, satisfy current and future obligations, repurchase stock, pay dividends and fund future business opportunities.  Free cash flow is not a measure of cash available for discretionary expenditures since the Company has certain non-discretionary obligations such as debt service that are not deducted from the measure.  The Company's definition of free cash flow may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.
     
Quarter Ended
     
Six Months Ended
   
 
(millions of dollars)
 
July 1,
 
April 1,
 
July 3,
     
July 1,
 
July 3,
   
     
2012
 
2012
 
2011
     
2012
 
2011
   
 
Cash flow from operations
$
40.1
$
24.7
$
37.6
   
$
64.8
$
56.7
   
 
Capital expenditures
 
14.4
 
9.4
 
13.8
     
23.8
 
22.0
   
 
Free cash flow
$
25.7
$
15.3
$
23.8
   
$
41.0
$
34.7
   
                               
                               
5)
The following table reflects the components of non-operating income and deductions:
                           
                               
 
(millions of dollars)
 
Quarter Ended
     
Six Months Ended
   
     
July 1,
 
April 1,
 
July 3,
     
July 1,
 
July 3,
   
     
2012
 
2012
 
2011
     
2012
 
2011
   
 
          Interest income
$
0.8
$
1.0
$
1.0
   
$
1.8
$
1.8
   
 
          Interest expense
 
(0.8)
 
(0.8)
 
(0.8)
     
(1.6)
 
(1.6)
   
 
          Foreign exchange gains (losses)
 
(0.3)
 
(0.4)
 
(0.8)
     
(0.7)
 
(1.3)
   
 
          Other deductions
 
(0.5)
 
(0.4)
 
(0.2)
     
(0.9)
 
(0.5)
   
 
             Non-operating deductions, net
$
(0.8)
$
(0.6)
$
(0.8)
   
$
(1.4)
$
(1.6)
   
                               
                               
6)
The analyst conference call to discuss operating results for the second quarter is scheduled for Friday, July 27, 2012 at 11:00 am and will be broadcast over the Company's website (www.mineralstech.com).  The broadcast will remain on the Company's website for no less than one year.
         
 
 

 


                                     
  SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
  MINERALS TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
  (millions of dollars)
  (unaudited)
                                     
     
Quarter Ended
 
% Growth
   
Six Months Ended
 
 % Growth
 
SALES DATA
 
July 1,
 
April 1,
 
July 3,
           
July 1,
 
July 3,
   
     
2012
 
2012
 
2011
 
Prior Qtr
 
Prior Year
   
2012
 
2011
 
Prior Year
                                     
 
United States
$
143.3
$
145.8
$
141.2
 
(2)%
 
1%
 
$
289.1
$
280.6
 
3%
 
International
 
110.7
 
111.3
 
127.2
 
(1)%
 
(13)%
   
222.0
 
250.3
 
(11)%
 
      Net Sales
$
254.0
$
257.1
$
268.4
 
(1)%
 
(5)%
 
$
511.1
$
530.9
 
(4)%
                                     
 
Paper PCC
$
119.3
$
121.7
$
123.6
 
(2)%
 
(3)%
 
$
241.0
$
252.8
 
(5)%
 
Specialty PCC
 
17.0
 
16.4
 
16.6
 
4%
 
2%
   
33.4
 
32.2
 
4%
 
PCC Products
$
136.3
$
138.1
$
140.2
 
(1)%
 
(3)%
 
$
274.4
$
285.0
 
(4)%
                                     
 
Talc
$
13.1
$
12.1
$
12.7
 
8%
 
3%
 
$
25.2
$
24.1
 
5%
 
Ground Calcium Carbonate
 
18.7
 
17.5
 
18.9
 
7%
 
(1)%
   
36.2
 
36.0
 
1%
 
Processed Minerals Products
$
31.8
$
29.6
$
31.6
 
7%
 
1%
 
$
61.4
$
60.1
 
2%
                                     
 
Specialty Minerals Segment
$
168.1
$
167.7
$
171.8
 
0%
 
(2)%
 
$
335.8
$
345.1
 
(3)%
                                     
 
Refractory products
$
65.4
$
69.1
$
75.3
 
(5)%
 
(13)%
 
$
134.5
$
144.9
 
(7)%
 
Metallurgical Products
 
20.5
 
20.3
 
21.3
 
1%
 
(4)%
   
40.8
 
40.9
 
(0)%
 
Refractories Segment
$
85.9
$
89.4
$
96.6
 
(4)%
 
(11)%
 
$
175.3
$
185.8
 
(6)%
                                     
 
       Net Sales
$
254.0
$
257.1
$
268.4
 
(1)%
 
(5)%
 
$
511.1
$
530.9
 
(4)%
                                     
                                     
 
SEGMENT OPERATING INCOME (LOSS) DATA
                                 
                                     
 
Specialty Minerals Segment
$
22.1
$
19.9
$
18.6
 
11%
 
19%
 
$
42.0
$
37.9
 
11%
                                     
 
Refractories Segment
$
8.7
$
9.1
$
7.8
 
(4)%
 
12%
 
$
17.8
$
14.7
 
21%
                                     
 
Unallocated Corporate Expenses
$
(1.3)
$
(2.0)
$
(1.3)
 
(35)%
 
0%
 
$
(3.3)
$
(2.8)
 
18%
                                     
 
Consolidated
$
29.5
$
27.0
$
25.1
 
9%
 
18%
 
$
56.5
$
49.8
 
13%
                                     
                                     
 
SEGMENT RESTRUCTURING and
                                 
 
     IMPAIRMENT COSTS
                                 
                                     
 
Specialty Minerals Segment
$
0.0
$
0.0
$
0.0
 
*
 
*
 
$
0.0
$
0.4
 
(100)%
                                     
 
Refractories Segment
$
0.0
$
0.0
$
0.0
 
*
 
*
 
$
0.0
$
(0.2)
 
(100)%
                                     
 
Consolidated
$
0.0
$
0.0
$
0.0
 
*
 
*
 
$
0.0
$
0.2
 
(100)%
                                     
                                     
 
To supplement the Company's consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP, the following is a presentation of the Company's non-GAAP operating income, excluding special items (the restructuring and impairment costs set forth in the above table), for the three-month periods ended July 1, 2012, April 1, 2012 and July 3, 2011 and the six month periods ended July 1, 2012 and July 3, 2011, constituting a reconciliation to GAAP operating income set forth above.  The Company's management believe these non-GAAP measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding its performance as inclusion of such special items are not indicative of ongoing operating results and thereby affect the comparability of results between periods.  The Company feels inclusion of these non-GAAP measures also provides consistency in its financial reporting and facilitates investors' understanding of historic operating trends.
                                     
                                     
     
Quarter Ended
 
% Growth
   
Six Months Ended
 
% Growth
 
SEGMENT OPERATING INCOME,
 
July 1,
 
April 1,
 
July 3,
           
July 1,
 
July 3,
   
 
     EXCLUDING SPECIAL ITEMS
 
2012
 
2012
 
2011
 
Prior Qtr.
 
Prior Year
   
2012
 
2011
 
Prior Year
                                     
 
Specialty Minerals Segment
$
22.1
$
19.9
$
18.6
 
11%
 
19%
 
$
42.0
$
38.3
 
10%
                                     
 
Refractories Segment
$
8.7
$
9.1
$
7.8
 
(4)%
 
12%
 
$
17.8
$
14.5
 
23%
                                     
 
Unallocated Corporate Expenses
$
(1.3)
$
(2.0)
$
(1.3)
 
(35)%
 
0%
 
$
(3.3)
$
(2.8)
 
18%
                                     
 
Consolidated
$
29.5
$
27.0
$
25.1
 
9%
 
18%
 
$
56.5
$
50.0
 
13%
                                     
 
* Percentage not meaningful
                                 


 
 

 

MINERALS TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
             
             
             
ASSETS
         
             
 
(In Thousands of Dollars)
       
       
July 1,
 
December 31,
       
2012*
 
2011**
             
Current assets:
         
 
Cash & cash equivalents
$
421,459
$
395,152
 
Short-term investments
 
19,268
 
18,494
 
Accounts receivable, net
 
196,509
 
194,317
 
Inventories
   
90,573
 
90,760
 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
 
20,348
 
21,566
   
Total current assets
 
748,157
 
720,289
             
 
Property, plant and equipment
 
1,259,970
 
1,248,649
 
Less accumulated depreciation
 
945,375
 
930,515
   
Net property, plant & equipment
 
314,595
 
318,134
             
 
Goodwill
   
65,316
 
64,671
 
Other assets and deferred charges
 
57,313
 
61,861
             
             
   
Total assets
$
1,185,381
$
1,164,955
             
             
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
             
Current liabilities:
       
 
Short-term debt
$
4,417
$
5,846
 
Current maturities of long-term debt
 
9,976
 
8,552
 
Accounts payable
 
107,030
 
103,354
 
Restructuring liabilities
 
586
 
1,411
 
Other current liabilities
 
58,854
 
61,739
   
Total current liabilities
 
180,863
 
180,902
             
 
Long-term debt
 
83,751
 
85,449
 
Other non-current liabilities
 
123,196
 
130,584
   
Total liabilities
 
387,810
 
396,935
             
 
Total MTI shareholders' equity
 
772,793
 
741,612
 
Non-controlling Interest
 
24,778
 
26,408
   
Total shareholders' equity
 
797,571
 
768,020
             
   
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
$
1,185,381
$
1,164,955
             
             
*
Unaudited
         
**
Condensed from audited financial statements.
       

Contact:
Rick B. Honey
(212) 878-1831

HUG#1629528