Balchem Corporation Announces Second Quarter 2011 Results

The second quarter results continue to reflect a strong, diversified yet balanced growth platform. While all three segments did not achieve record levels, overall volume growth of 15% drove very exciting top line growth.

Aug 4 2011 --- Record net sales of $74.7 million were achieved for the quarter ended June 30, 2011, as two of our business segments set quarterly sales records. This is an increase of 21.5% above the $61.5 million result of the prior year comparative quarter. Correspondingly, record quarter net earnings were achieved of $9.6 million, an increase of $1.2 million, or 14.8% as compared with the same period last year. The $9.6 million generated diluted net earnings of $0.32 per common share versus $0.28 per common share for the prior year comparable period, an increase of 14.3%.

In this second quarter of 2011, sales of the Animal Nutrition & Health ("ANH") segment, including specialties, choline and industrial derivative product sales, totaled a quarterly record $51.8 million, an increase of 27.3% or $11.1 million from the prior year comparable quarter. Our global feed grade choline product sales were up double digit, a result of increased volumes sold from our North American operations to both domestic and international customers and increases in selling price, partially offsetting raw material cost increases. Data from USDA Broiler statistics and market conditions now project that broiler chick placements and egg sets will be slightly lower for the second half of 2011, as poultry integrators continue to see weak prices and demand from the domestic food service and retail markets served. Export opportunities are expected to remain stable for this same period.  The ANH specialty ingredients, largely targeted to the ruminant animal markets, realized approximately 25% sales growth from the prior year comparable quarter, as regional US and certain export markets showed improvement in dairy economics, supporting greater demand for these products. Particularly strong were sales of Reashure, Nitroshure and Aminoshure-L, our rumen protected lysine.  Sales of industrial grade products again realized significant growth from the prior year comparable quarter, and comprised approximately 35% of the sales in this segment for the quarter. This improvement came from sales of various choline and choline derivatives for industrial applications, including natural gas fracking, as well as intermediate sales of our Italian-produced methylamines. Earnings from operations for the entire ANH segment increased approximately 12% to a quarterly record of $6.7 million as compared to $6.0 million in the prior year comparable quarter. This quarterly earnings result reflects favorable operating efficiencies due to an overall 16% volume improvement in sales; however, unfavorably impacted by increases in petro-chemical commodities used to manufacture choline. Key raw materials again rose at a very swift rate during the quarter, outpacing our pricing initiatives. Additional price increases have been implemented in the third quarter, as our products are likely to remain affected by these higher costs for the balance of 2011.

The ARC Specialty Products segment generated record quarterly sales of $12.0 million, an increase of 17.6% from the comparable prior year quarter. This increase was principally the result of strong volumes of ethylene oxide for medical device sterilization and propylene oxide in support of the June 2010 acquisition of the Aberco business, which targets nut meat and spice fumigation. Earnings from operations for this segment, at $4.5 million, improved 25.5% from the prior year comparable quarter due to operating efficiencies from increased volumes and a favorable product mix, which were also partially offset by increases in petro-chemical commodities.

Sales of the Food, Pharma & Nutrition segment were $10.9 million, which was a modest 3.0% improvement over the prior year comparable quarter. In the quarter, we did realize double digit growth in sales of our human choline products for nutritional enhancement. Food sector sales remained strong with steady sales of encapsulated ingredients for baking, prepared food, preservation and confection markets.  Most notably, sales on a comparative basis were unfavorably impacted by the previously announced decision to sell our calcium product line.  Earnings from operations for this segment were $2.8 million which was even with the prior year quarter, but up 13% sequentially from the first quarter of 2011.

Consolidated gross margin for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 improved to $21.8 million, as compared to $19.1 million for the prior year comparable period. Gross margin percentage declined slightly to 29.1% of sales as compared to 31.1% in the prior year comparative period, principally due to the previously mentioned raw material cost increases. We did, however, realize a $2.6 million increase, which was principally a result of a 15.4% increase in consolidated sales volumes after giving effect to these cost increases. We continue to leverage our plant capabilities, driving efficiencies from core volume growth, broadening product applications of our human and animal health specialty products into both the domestic and international markets, as well as capitalizing logistically on our varied manufacturing and warehousing capabilities. Enhancing strategic technology and capacity investments in our manufacturing facilities as required, facilitates the growing, sustainable demand for certain products. During the quarter, we successfully completed the de-bottlenecking of our feed grade choline production capacity in St. Gabriel, Louisiana and Verona, Missouri, which are both currently producing at the expected increased levels.  Operating (Selling, R&D, and General and Administrative) expenses at $7.7 million were up 15.4% from the prior year comparable quarter, particularly related to increased amortization expense related to the Aberco acquisition, an increase of employee headcount, other payroll related expenses and consultancy fees incurred to study acquisition opportunities. Operating expenses as a percentage of sales, however, did decline to 10.3% from 10.9% in the prior year quarter and expenses were only up 3% sequentially.

The company continues to maintain a healthy balance sheet with diligent working capital controls, particularly effective inventory and accounts receivable management. The $125 million of net working capital on June 30, 2011 included a cash balance of $89.7 million, up from $77.3 million at December 31, 2010, reflecting continued strong cash flows.

Commenting on these second quarter results, Dino A. Rossi, Chairman, CEO and President of Balchem said, "The second quarter results continue to reflect a strong, diversified yet balanced growth platform. While all three segments did not achieve record levels, overall volume growth of 15% drove very exciting top line growth. Escalating raw material costs continue to be a challenge, but our methodology of actively advising customers about new pricing is working well. This has led to some margin erosion near-term, but we continue to aggressively negotiate raw material sourcing and position to ultimately recapture the previous levels. The volume growth has helped generate on-going plant efficiencies, efficiencies required to meet strong growing global demand for our products. In quarter three, we will be launching a couple of new enhanced products for ANH Specialties, based on new innovative process technology. These products were developed in response to the marketplace need for more bio-available, economically effective products. Our balance sheet continues to strengthen as we study strategic opportunities to effectively leverage this asset for the continued growth of all segments."