Balchem Corporation Report Q1 2009 Results; Food, Pharma and Nutrition Sales Down 10.6%

Detailing this first quarter of 2009, the Animal Nutrition and Health segment achieved quarterly sales of $35.9 million, a decrease of $3.2 million, or 8.3%, from the prior year quarter. Sales in this segment were negatively impacted by approximately 4% due to foreign currency fluctuation associated with the Italian operation.

04/05/09 For the first quarter ended March 31, 2009, the company achieved record net earnings of $6.1 million, an increase of $1.5 million, or 31.4%. The $6.1 million generated diluted net earnings per common share of $0.32 versus $0.25 for the prior year comparable period, an increase of 28.0%. Net sales of $53.0 million was a decrease of approximately 6.8% below the $56.9 million result of the prior year comparable quarter, and off a modest 2.0% sequentially from fourth quarter 2008.

Detailing this first quarter of 2009, the Animal Nutrition and Health segment achieved quarterly sales of $35.9 million, a decrease of $3.2 million, or 8.3%, from the prior year quarter. Sales in this segment were negatively impacted by approximately 4% due to foreign currency fluctuation associated with the Italian operation. Within this segment, the specialty animal nutrition and health products, targeted predominantly for ruminant animals, realized approximately 4.1% growth over the 2008 first quarter results and 10.0 % growth sequentially, with continued strong sales of Reashure and Nitroshure, in addition to new sales generated from AminoShure-L., our rumen protected lysine. These increases were partially offset by slowness in international sales of the chelated mineral products. Sales of feed grade choline and industrial derivatives declined approximately 10.3% from the prior year quarter principally due to declines in volumes sold into the well-publicized soft poultry industry, including slower international sales largely related to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar in 2009 versus a weakening dollar in 2008. Sales of industrial derivatives (both choline and methylamines) were impacted by softness in the industrial sector, principally caused by the general economic downturn. Through all of these market activities, earnings from operations for the entire ANH segment did increase to $5.0 million as compared to $3.3 million in the prior year comparable quarter, largely due to favorable product mix, strong sales from our Italian operation, and reductions in the cost of certain petro-chemical commodities used to manufacture choline and derivatives.

Sales of the Food, Pharma and Nutrition segment were $8.3 million, a decrease of 10.6% or $1.0 million from the prior year comparable quarter; however, sales did grow approximately 9.6% on a sequential basis. Quarterly comparative sales results for this segment continue to reflect the roller-coaster effect of pipeline fills, inventory level management, and some effects of the worldwide economic downturn. The domestic food sector was up, as we continued to see growth from the launch of Choline into new food applications, as well as growth in the bakery, tortilla and preservation markets. We also saw strong double digit increases in our VitaShure products for nutritional enhancement. These results were offset by slowness in sales of calcium products sold into the over-the-counter pharmaceutical markets. Earnings from operations for this segment were $1.0 million, as compared to $1.5 million in the prior year comparable quarter, due to the softness in sales volume; however, on a sequential basis, this result reflects a 35.8% increase from the fourth quarter of 2008.

The ARC Specialty Products segment generated record first quarter sales of $8.8 million, an increase of 4.1% over the comparable prior year quarter. This growth was particularly due to continued strong sales of ethylene oxide for medical device sterilization. Earnings from operations for this segment, at $3.4 million, improved strongly over the prior year quarter, principally from reductions in the cost of certain petro-chemical raw materials.

Consolidated gross profit for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 was $16.3 million, as compared to $13.5 million for the prior year comparable period. This increase, from 23.7% of sales to 30.8% of sales, was a result of certain segments’ product mix, price increases and declines in certain raw material costs. As previously noted, we continue to focus on gross margin improvement, implementing raw material cost driven price increases, production and supply chain improvements, and sales volume generation through new product launches. Operating (Selling, R&D, and Administrative) expenses at $7.0 million, increased $0.9 million over the prior year comparable quarter, as we had some modest expansion of employees, and as we increased some accounts receivable reserves for international accounts.

Balance sheet ratios and cash flow continue to be strong. Early in 2007, we borrowed $39 million; the proceeds of which were used to fund the Chinook and Akzo acquisitions. At March 31, 2009, our outstanding borrowings were $9.2 million, but zero net of our cash balance of approximately $18.6 million, reflecting accelerated payments of $18.4 million over the scheduled term payments of the loan. We continue to aggressively manage our working capital. Our accounts receivable balance was $25 million at March 31, 2009 and our inventory levels were reduced to $15.3 million, a decrease of 8% from December 31, 2008.