Material Sciences Reports First Quarter Fiscal 2010 Results

- Continued Soft Automotive and Housing Markets Reduce Sales by 44 Percent

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, Ill., July 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Material Sciences
Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board: MASC), a leading provider of material-based
solutions for acoustical and coated applications, today announced results for
its first quarter ended May 31, 2009.

Net sales for the latest three months were $31.8 million compared with $57.2
million in the same period last year, off 44.3 percent. The $4.1 million net
loss for most recent quarter, equal to $0.30 per common share, was higher than
the loss of $1.6 million, equal to $0.11 per common share, a year ago.

Improving Operations in Difficult Markets
"As expected, we saw no improvements in the automotive and housing markets
during our first quarter - and faced a comparison with a much stronger quarter
a year ago," said Clifford D. Nastas, chief executive officer. "In this
difficult operating environment, our focus remained on improving the areas we
can control. We hit cost reduction targets by cutting more discretionary
spending: in cost of goods sold and operating expenses. We also are ahead of
our plan for expected annual cost savings from last year's restructurings.
These activities helped us set a new, five-year record for our cash balance,
and increase cash flows from operations from a year ago."

Lower Sales More than Offset Operational Improvements
Sales of acoustical materials - mainly purchased by automotive manufacturers -
were $15.2 million in the quarter, down 47.9 percent from $29.3 million at
this time last year. Reduced production levels in the North American
automotive market led to significantly lower sales of materials for body
panels, engines and brakes.

Coated materials sales - primarily to appliance, building product and
automotive customers - at $16.6 million compared with $27.9 million in the
year-ago quarter, or down by 40.5 percent. Much of the reduction reflected
softer automotive and building markets. However, $4.7 million of the
difference resulted from no longer having the Morrisville facility, which was
sold in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009. These decreases were partially
offset by a 12.1 percent increase in sales to the appliance and heating,
ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) market.

Gross profit for the most recent three months was $2.5 million, down 63.7
percent from $6.8 million for last year's quarter. As a result, gross margin
represented 7.7 percent of sales for the latest period, compared with 11.9
percent in the prior quarter. Lower product and scrap metal sales more than
offset improvements in net operating efficiencies and reductions in
quality-related costs.

Selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A) were $6.7 million, off
35.7 percent from the prior-year quarter's $10.4 million. The lower figure
reflected a workforce reduction associated with restructurings done in the
second half of fiscal 2009, lower levels of depreciation, and reduced
operating costs associated with the European alliance. This meant that SG&A as
a percentage of sales was 20.9 percent for the latest period compared with
18.1 percent at this time last year.

The quarterly loss from operations was $4.2 million versus $3.6 million for
the year-ago quarter, a 17.9 percent increase. Other income for the latest
three months was $0.2 million compared with $0.6 million, primarily due to
lower income from currency translation gains. All of these factors combined to
give the company a net loss of $4.1 million, equal to $0.30 per common share,
compared with last year's first quarter loss of $1.6 million, equal to $0.11
per common share.

Stronger Financial Condition
Net cash provided by operations during the first three months was $6.4 million
in contrast to $4.4 million in the prior year, a 42.9 percent improvement. The
latest quarter's results reflected lower inventory levels, higher accounts
payable, and income tax refunds. The company invested $0.3 million in capital
improvement projects versus $1.6 million in last year's first quarter.

The cash balance at May 31, 2009, was a five-year record $16.4 million, an
increase of $5.6 million from the same date a year ago, and the company
continued to have no long-term debt.

Automotive Revenues Protected; Focus on New Opportunities
"Two of our customers - General Motors and Chrysler - are involved in very
large bankruptcy filings," Nastas said. "However, none of Material Sciences'
receivables with these companies are at risk, and our company has seen no
increases in bad debt expense.

"We continue to make progress introducing new products and reaching new
markets. ElectroBrite(R) has been approved by a major OEM for use in a suite
of kitchen appliances it plans to introduce next year. We also are exploring
opportunities to supply additional laminated materials to our European
partner. And while sales in the coming fiscal 2010 quarters will remain weak,
we are positioning the company to capitalize on opportunities to grow as our
markets improve," Nastas concluded.

Conference Call
Material Sciences will host a conference call to share its first quarter
results on Monday, July 13, at 8:00 a.m. Central Time. CEO Nastas and James M.
Froisland, senior vice president, chief financial officer, chief information
officer and corporate secretary, will discuss the company's financial
performance and answer questions from the financial community.

The company invites interested investors to listen to the presentation, which
will be carried live on Material Sciences' Web site: www.matsci.com. A replay
of the call will be available on the site for the following 30 days. Those who
wish to listen should go to the Web site several minutes before the discussion
begins. After clicking on the presentation icon, investors should follow the
instructions to ensure their systems are set up to hear the event, or download
the correct applications at no charge.

About Material Sciences
Material Sciences Corporation is a leading provider of material-based
solutions for acoustical and coated applications. Material Sciences uses its
expertise in materials, which it leverages through relationships and a network
of partners, to solve customer-specific problems. The company's stock is
traded on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol MASC.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on
current expectations, forecasts and assumptions. Material Sciences cautions
the reader that the following factors could cause its actual outcomes and
results to differ materially from those stated or implied in this release: the
recent unprecedented deterioration in the overall economy; changes in the
business environment, including the transportation, building and construction,
electronics and durable goods industries; competitive factors, including
domestic and foreign competition for both acoustical and coated applications,
pricing acceptance, union activity, as well as changes in industry capacity;
changes in laws, regulations, policies or other activities of governments,
agencies or similar organizations (including the ruling under Section 201 of
the Trade Act of 1974); the stability of governments and business conditions
inside and outside of the U.S., which may affect a successful penetration of
the company's products; acceptance of brake damping materials, engine
components and body panel laminate parts by customers in North America, Asia
and Europe, and new product introductions; the continued successful operation
of the Application Research Center in Michigan and the Application Development
Center in Europe; increases in the prices of raw and other material inputs
used by the company, as well as their availability; the loss, or changes in
the operations, financial condition, or results of operations, including the
bankruptcy or potential bankruptcy of one or more of the company's significant
customers; Material Sciences' ability to effectively manage its business
objectives including the ability to retain key personnel and maintain good
labor relations with its unions; overcapacity in the coil coating industry;
shifts in the supply model for its products; the impact of future warranty
expenses; environmental risks, costs, recoveries and penalties associated with
the company's past and present manufacturing operations; access to credit,
which may be limited under its asset-based credit agreement; the company's
ability to utilize net operating loss carryforwards; Material Sciences'
ability to maintain a stable liquidity trading environment for its common
stock, traded on the over-the-counter bulletin board market; and other
factors, risks and uncertainties identified in Part I, Item 1A of the
company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 28, 2009,
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 14, 2009, and from
time to time in other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.

Additional information about Material Sciences is available at www.matsci.com.

FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
Material Sciences Corporation and Subsidiaries

Three Months Ended
May 31,
(In thousands, except per share data) 2009 2008
-------------------------------------- ---- ----

Net Sales $31,827 $57,165
Cost of Sales 29,361 50,364
------ ------
Gross Profit 2,466 6,801
Selling, General and Administrative
Expenses 6,655 10,354
Loss from Operations (4,189) (3,553)
------ ------
Other Income, Net:
Interest Income, Net (71) (74)
Equity in Results of Joint Venture (36) (81)
Other, Net (43) (490)
--- ----
Total Other Income, Net (150) (645)
---- ----
Loss from Operations Before
Benefit for Income Taxes (4,039) (2,908)
Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes 18 (1,336)
--- ------
Net Loss $(4,057) $(1,572)
======= =======

Basic Net Loss Per Share $(0.30) $(0.11)
====== ======

Diluted Net Loss Per Share $(0.30) $(0.11)
====== ======

Weighted Average Number of Common
Shares Outstanding Used for Basic
Net Loss Per Share 13,339 13,856
Dilutive Shares - -
--- ---
Weighted Average Number of Common
Shares Outstanding Plus Dilutive
Shares 13,339 13,856
====== ======

Outstanding Common Stock Options Having
No Dilutive Effect 472 372
=== ===

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
Material Sciences Corporation and Subsidiaries

May 31, February 28,
(In thousands) 2009 2009
-------------- ---- ----
Assets:
Current Assets:
Cash and Cash Equivalents $16,352 $10,664
Receivables, Less Reserves of $2,695
and $2,965, Respectively 12,938 13,297
Income Taxes Receivable 701 2,567
Prepaid Expenses 1,396 657
Inventories 20,742 24,657
Assets Held for Sale 3,275 3,329
Total Current Assets 55,404 55,171
------ ------

Property, Plant and Equipment 171,064 170,010
Accumulated Depreciation (124,751) (122,264)
-------- --------
Net Property, Plant and
Equipment 46,313 47,746
------ ------

Other Assets:
Notes Receivable 4,072 4,363
Investment in Joint Venture 2,428 2,288
Other 431 471
--- ---
Total Other Assets 6,931 7,122
----- -----

Total Assets $108,648 $110,039
======== ========

Liabilities:
Current Liabilities:
Accounts Payable $14,122 $10,442
Accrued Payroll Related Expenses 4,763 3,269
Accrued Expenses 5,437 8,284
----- -----
Total Current Liabilities 24,322 21,995
------ ------

Long-Term Liabilities:
Pension and Postretirement
Liabilities 10,288 10,574
Other 3,246 3,250
----- -----
Total Long-Term Liabilities 13,534 13,824
------ ------

Commitments and Contingencies

Shareowners' Equity:
Preferred Stock - -
Common Stock 380 380
Additional Paid-In Capital 79,764 79,696
Treasury Stock at Cost (56,520) (56,146)
Retained Earnings 51,103 55,161
Accumulated Other Comprehensive
Income (3,935) (4,871)
------ ------
Total Shareowners' Equity 70,792 74,220
------ ------

Total Liabilities and Shareowners'
Equity $108,648 $110,039
======== ========

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
Material Sciences Corporation and Subsidiaries

Three Months Ended
May 31,
(In thousands) 2009 2008
-------------- ---- ----

Cash Flows From:
Operating Activities:
Net Income (Loss) $(4,057) $(1,572)
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss)
to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities:
Depreciation, Amortization and Accretion 2,237 2,680
Change in Provision for Deferred Income
Taxes - (1,705)
Compensatory Effect of Stock Plans 68 91
Foreign Currency Transaction Gain - (354)
(Gain) on Derivative Instruments (107) -
Other, Net (36) (81)
Changes in Assets and Liabilities:
Receivables 822 (1,116)
Income Taxes Receivable 1,866 303
Prepaid Expenses (732) (1,001)
Inventories 4,128 2,295
Accounts Payable 3,596 4,540
Accrued Expenses (1,316) (112)
Other, Net (115) 479
---- ---
Net Cash Provided by Operating
Activities 6,354 4,447
----- -----

Investing Activities:
Capital Expenditures (345) (1,639)
Proceeds from Sale of Marketable Securities - 2,800
---- -----
Net Cash Provided by (Used in)
Investing Activities (345) 1,161
---- -----

Financing Activities:
Purchases of Treasury Stock (374) (2,706)
---- ------
Net Cash Used in Financing
Activities (374) (2,706)
---- ------

Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash 53 (14)

Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash 5,688 2,888
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of
Period 10,664 7,913
------ -----
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of
Period $16,352 $10,801
======= =======

Non-Cash Transactions:
Capital Expenditures in Accounts Payable
at End of Period $84 $461

Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures:
Interest Paid $15 $26
Income Taxes Paid $46 $8

SOURCE Material Sciences Corporation

James M. Froisland, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief
Information Officer and Corporate Secretary of Material Sciences Corporation,
+1-847-718-8020; or Lynne Franklin of Wordsmith, +1-847-729-5716, for Material
Sciences Corporation