EX-99.1 2 dex991.htm PRESS RELEASE, DATED JULY 27, 2006 Press release, dated July 27, 2006

Exhibit 99.1

LYDALL ANNOUNCES FINANCIAL RESULTS

FOR THE SECOND QUARTER AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2006

MANCHESTER, CT – July 27, 2006 — LYDALL, INC. (NYSE: LDL) today announced financial results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2006.

Net sales for the second quarter ended June 30, 2006 were $83.4 million compared with $81.5 million for the same period in 2005. Net income for the quarter was $2.5 million, or $.15 per diluted share, compared with $2.1 million, or $.13 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2005. Year-to-date earnings per share increased to $.27 per diluted share on net sales of $165.6 million from $.17 per diluted share on net sales of $154.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2005. Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2006 was $4.4 million compared with $2.7 million for the comparable period in 2005.

Gross margin on net sales for the second quarter of 2006 increased to 22.6 percent from 21.2 percent in the same quarter of 2005. This increase was primarily attributable to gross margin improvements by the Thermal/Acoustical segment, partially offset by lower gross margins for the Filtration/Separation segment.

Selling, product development and administrative expenses were $14.5 million, or 17.3 percent of net sales, for the second quarter ended June 30, 2006 compared with $13.4 million, or 16.5 percent, for the same quarter of 2005. Contributing to the increase in the current quarter compared with 2005 was higher incentive compensation expense of $0.6 million and severance expense of $0.2 million.

Effective June 30, 2006, Lydall froze all accrued pension benefits for its U. S. employees under defined benefit plans not covered under a collective bargaining agreement and increased its 401(k) match. As a result, pension expense was $0.4 million less in the current quarter compared with the same quarter a year ago.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $9.3 million for the second quarter of 2006 compared with $7.4 million in the second quarter of 2005.

David Freeman, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “I’m pleased with Lydall’s overall progress this quarter. All segments recorded sales growth, and the Thermal/Acoustical Segment as well as Other Services and Products posted gross margin improvements. In the Filtration/Separation segment, increased sales of liquid filtration products were countered by lower sales of air filtration products.

“Our Lydall Lean Six Sigma program continues to show tangible results. Although we see progress throughout the organization, our automotive operations in particular have benefited from these efforts.”


Segment Information

Thermal/AcousticalFor the second quarter of 2006, Thermal/Acoustical Segment net sales were $57.3 million compared with $56.2 million for the second quarter of 2005. The increase in segment net sales, compared with the same quarter last year, was attributable to higher sales of automotive parts as well as passive thermal products, primarily used in heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems and appliances. These increases, however, were partially offset by lower sales of automotive tooling and active thermal products. Operating income increased by $1.5 million in the current quarter compared with the same quarter of 2005 principally due to improved gross margin percentages and higher sales volume.

Filtration/SeparationFiltration/Separation segment net sales were $18.5 million in the current quarter compared with $18.2 million in the same period last year. Increased sales of Vital Fluids products and liquid filtration media were partially offset by lower sales of air filtration products. Operating income was $0.8 million for the second quarter of 2006 compared with $1.9 million for the comparable quarter of 2005. Operating income for the quarter was impacted by inventory obsolescence and a quality issue in the Vital Fluids’ business that resulted in charges aggregating approximately $0.5 million. In addition, operating income was negatively impacted by severance expense of $0.2 million in the current period.

Conference Call

Lydall will host a conference call today at 10:00 a.m. EDT to discuss its second quarter ended June 30, 2006 results as well as general matters related to its businesses and markets. The call may be accessed in a listen-only mode at 888-515-2880 and will be webcast live on the Company’s web site www.lydall.com under the Investor Relations’ section.

Lydall, Inc. is a New York Stock Exchange listed company, headquartered in Manchester, Connecticut. The Company, with operations in the U.S., France, and Germany and sales offices in the U.S., Europe, and Asia, focuses on specialty engineered products for the thermal/acoustical and filtration/separation markets.

Cautionary Note Concerning Factors That May Affect Future Results

Stockholders are referred to Lydall’s 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Cautionary Note Concerning Factors That May Affect Future Results,” and “Risk Factors” which outline certain risks regarding the Company’s forward-looking statements. Such risks include, among others: a major downturn of the automotive market, which accounted for approximately 53 percent of Lydall’s 2006 year-to-date sales, dependence on large customers, pricing for automotive products, unforeseen changes in raw material pricing and supply, specifically, aluminum and other metals used in most of the Company’s heat-shield products and various fibers used in thermal/acoustical and filtration/separation products. In addition, increases in energy pricing, inherent risks at international operations, the timing and performance of new-product introductions, and compliance with


environmental laws and regulations can impact Lydall’s projected results. For further details on these risks and other pertinent information on Lydall, copies of the Company’s Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K are available on Lydall’s web site, www.lydall.com. Information may also be obtained from the Company Contact: Thomas P. Smith, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, at One Colonial Road, Manchester, CT 06042; Telephone 860-646-1233, email: investor@lydall.com


Lydall, Inc. News Release

Summary of Operations

In thousands except per share data

(Unaudited)

 

     Quarter Ended
June 30,
   Six Months Ended
June 30,
     2006    2005    2006     2005

Net sales

   $ 83,445    $ 81,474    $ 165,633     $ 153,995

Cost of sales

     64,599      64,163      128,855       120,604
                            

Gross margin

     18,846      17,311      36,778       33,391

Selling, product development and administrative expenses

     14,456      13,406      28,966       28,109
                            

Operating income

     4,390      3,905      7,812       5,282

Interest expense

     422      502      877       832

Other expense (income), net

     46      140      (17 )     190
                            

Income before income taxes

     3,922      3,263      6,952       4,260

Income tax expense

     1,449      1,171      2,567       1,525
                            

Net income

   $ 2,473    $ 2,092    $ 4,385     $ 2,735
                            

Basic earnings per common share

   $ 0.15    $ 0.13    $ 0.27     $ 0.17

Diluted earnings per common share

   $ 0.15    $ 0.13    $ 0.27     $ 0.17

Weighted average common shares outstanding

     16,138      16,067      16,138       16,064

Weighted average common shares and equivalents outstanding

     16,197      16,137      16,193       16,148

Summary of Segment Information

In thousands

(Unaudited)

 

     Quarter Ended
June 30,
    Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2006     2005     2006     2005  

Net Sales

        

Thermal/Acoustical

   $ 57,270     $ 56,196     $ 113,627     $ 103,995  

Filtration/Separation

     18,504       18,194       36,881       35,689  

Other Products and Services

     8,315       7,818       16,383       15,577  

Reconciling Items

     (644 )     (734 )     (1,258 )     (1,266 )
                                

Consolidated Totals

   $ 83,445     $ 81,474     $ 165,633     $ 153,995  
                                

Operating Income

        

Thermal/Acoustical

   $ 6,631     $ 5,134     $ 12,878     $ 9,003  

Filtration/Separation

     843       1,913       1,801       3,820  

Other Products and Services

     1,036       718       1,599       1,307  

Corporate Office Expenses

     (4,120 )     (3,860 )     (8,466 )     (8,848 )
                                

Consolidated Totals

   $ 4,390     $ 3,905     $ 7,812     $ 5,282  
                                

Financial Position

In thousands except ratio data

 

     June 30,
2006
   December 31,
2005
     (Unaudited)     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 2,923    $ 2,162

Working capital

   $ 59,404    $ 57,705

Total debt

   $ 24,314    $ 33,441

Stockholders’ equity

   $ 155,029    $ 143,229

Total capitalization

   $ 179,343    $ 176,670

Current ratio

     2.41      2.42

Total debt to total capitalization

     0.14      0.19


Cash Flows

In thousands

(Unaudited)

 

     Quarter Ended
June 30,
    Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2006     2005     2006     2005  

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 9,326     $ 7,393     $ 14,487     $ 8,058  

Net cash used for investing activities

   $ (2,070 )   $ (3,267 )   $ (4,029 )   $ (8,683 )

Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities

   $ (6,685 )   $ (4,064 )   $ (9,909 )   $ 691  

Depreciation and amortization

   $ 3,933     $ 3,846     $ 7,860     $ 7,542  

Capital expenditures

   $ 2,070     $ 3,267     $ 4,029     $ 8,683  

Common Stock Data

Quarter Ended June 30,

 

     2006    2005

High

   $ 9.79    $ 11.12

Low

   $ 8.62    $ 7.94

Close

   $ 9.22    $ 8.62

During the second quarter of 2006, 1,164,400 shares of Lydall common stock (LDL) were traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

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