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

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20091027005558/en

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 closure and severance 88 - 11,931 -
Goodwill impairment - - 3,832 -
19,692 34,456 76,099 80,936
INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS 8,933 32,208 (823 ) 132,818
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 of debt 96 - 1,881 -
Loss on auction rate securities (1,849 ) (2,958 ) (3,480 ) (3,545 )
Miscellaneous (197 ) 382 (694 ) 1,702
(2,569 ) (2,781 ) (5,338 ) (1,461 )
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES 6,364 29,427 (6,161 ) 131,357
PROVISION (BENEFIT) FOR INCOME TAXES 1,428 10,609 (595 ) 47,546
NET INCOME (LOSS) $ 4,936 $ 18,818 $ (5,566 ) $ 83,811
BASIC INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE $ 0.19 $ 0.72 $ (0.22 ) $ 3.15
DILUTED INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE $ 0.19 $ 0.71 $ (0.22 ) $ 3.12
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 December 31, 2008, respectively 65,618 64,631
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 and outstanding at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively 257 259
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 convertible debt (2,956 ) -
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 securities 64,051 21,700
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 options 14 302
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

Ceradyne, Inc.
Jerrold J. Pellizzon
Chief Financial Officer
714-549-0421
or
Silverman Heller Associates
Phil Bourdillon/Gene Heller
310-208-2550

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