EX-99.1 2 dex991.htm PRESS RELEASE OF CERADYNE, INC. Press release of Ceradyne, Inc.

EXHIBIT 99.1

 

Jerrold J. Pellizzon   Phil Bourdillon/Gene Heller
Chief Financial Officer   Silverman Heller Associates
(714) 549-0421 x8262   (310) 208-2550

CERADYNE, INC. REPORTS 2006 THIRD QUARTER, NINE-MONTH RESULTS

Sales and Net Income Record Results Continue

Costa Mesa, Calif.–November 1, 2006–Ceradyne, Inc. (Nasdaq: CRDN) reported financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2006, including record sales and record net income.

Sales for third-quarter 2006 rose to a record $185.8 million from $94.4 million in third-quarter 2005. Net income for the third-quarter 2006 increased to a record $36.9 million, or $1.34 per diluted share, compared to $13.3 million, or $0.53 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2005. Fully diluted average shares outstanding for the third quarter were 27.5 million compared to 25.1 million in the same period in 2005.

Gross profit margin was 38.0% of net sales in third-quarter of 2006, up from 36.9% in third-quarter of 2005.

The provision for income taxes was 31.7% in third-quarter 2006, compared to 35.2% in third-quarter 2005.

Sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 reached a record $484.2 million, up from $254.1 million in the same period last year. Net income for the first nine months of 2006 increased to a record $90.7 million, or $3.31 per diluted share, on 27.4 million shares, from $30.7 million, or $1.23 per diluted share, on 25.0 million shares, for the same nine-month period in 2005.

New bookings for the third quarter of 2006 were $138.3 million, compared to $67.8 million for the same period last year. For the first nine months of 2006, new bookings increased to a record $416.5 million, compared to $242.8 million for the comparable period last year.

Total backlog as of September 30, 2006 was $209.1 million compared to total backlog at September 30, 2005 of $189.6 million.

Joel Moskowitz, Ceradyne president and chief executive officer, commented: “The above record-setting results for third quarter 2006 reflect the continuing strength and increased volume of our body armor production in California and Lexington, Kentucky in both ESAPI body armor and ESBI side plates. Additionally, the 2004 acquisition of ESK Ceramics (Kempten, Germany) has resulted in a vertically integrated technical ceramic manufacturing process from raw man-made powder to finished product, which is expected to enable Ceradyne to meet future requirements in both military and commercial production applications.

“During the quarter, the Company continued to staff and facilitize its Ceradyne Canada operation in Chicoutimi, Quebec in order to begin production of radioactive shielding components for nuclear waste containment vessels, as well as other metal matrix composite (MMC—aluminum plus ceramic) components for military applications.


“In the past week, Ceradyne broke ground in Tianjin, China for a wholly owned 105,000 square foot ceramic manufacturing facility designed to meet the growing demand from within China for high purity ceramic crucibles used in the manufacture of silicon photovoltaic solar cells. We anticipate that this new plant will commence operations in early to mid-2007.

“The recent expansions in Canada and China are part of our longer range strategy to increase our commercial businesses with a worldwide focus.”

Moskowitz added, “Our strong balance sheet as of September 30, 2006 with $175 million in cash, cash equivalents and short term investments provides us with the financial resources to meet our strategic objectives of acquisitions, as well as expansion of our commercial and military businesses.”

Ceradyne will host a conference call today at 8:00 a.m. PST to discuss its 2006 third quarter results and provide 2006 and 2007 guidance. 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 11:30 a.m. PST on November 1 through 9:00 pm. PST on November 3, 2006. The playback can be accessed by calling 800-642-1687 (or 706-645-9291 for international callers) and providing Conference ID 9853919.

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, 2005, 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 hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

-more-

 

2


Below is a summary of unaudited comparative results. Amounts in thousands except per share data:

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2006     2005     2006     2005  

NET SALES

   $ 185,796     $ 94,406     $ 484,159     $ 254,100  

Cost of product sales

     115,265       59,576       295,962       164,823  
                                

GROSS PROFIT

     70,531       34,830       188,197       89,277  
                                

Operating expenses:

        

Selling

     5,678       5,015       17,368       15,309  

General and administrative

     8,744       5,442       26,117       15,179  

Research and development

     2,532       2,037       7,731       5,641  
                                
     16,954       12,494       51,216       36,129  
                                

INCOME FROM OPERATIONS

     53,577       22,336       136,981       53,148  

Other income (expense):

        

Other income

     1,526       129       4,068       528  

Interest (expense)

     (1,023 )     (1,872 )     (3,081 )     (4,987 )
                                
     503       (1,743 )     987       (4,459 )

INCOME BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES

     54,080       20,593       137,968       48,689  

Provision for income taxes

     17,158       7,254       47,304       17,965  
                                

NET INCOME

   $ 36,922     $ 13,339     $ 90,664     $ 30,724  
                                

Earnings per share, basic

   $ 1.37     $ 0.54     $ 3.37     $ 1.25  

Earnings per share, diluted

   $ 1.34     $ 0.53     $ 3.31     $ 1.23  

Average shares outstanding, basic

     27,000       24,586       26,887       24,530  

Average shares outstanding, diluted

     27,461       25,092       27,372       25,006  

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands):

 

     September 30,
2006
   December 31,
2005

Cash, cash equivalents and investments

   $ 175,507    $ 99,381

Other current assets

     183,549      155,836

Net property, plant and equipment

     175,291      153,259

Other assets

     27,523      21,717
             

Total assets

   $ 561,870    $ 430,193
             

Current liabilities

   $ 65,094    $ 42,908

Long term debt

     121,000      121,000

Non current liabilities

     12,921      11,229

Deferred tax liability

     5,206      4,536

Stockholders’ equity

     357,649      250,520
             

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 561,870    $ 430,193
             

###

 

3