Oct 29,2009

MSA Announces Third Quarter Results

PITTSBURGH, Oct. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MSA (NYSE: MSA) today announced that net sales for the third quarter of 2009 were $228.5 million compared with $285.9 million for the third quarter of 2008, a decrease of $57.4 million, or 20 percent. Net income for the third quarter of 2009 was $11.0 million, or 31 cents per basic share, a decrease of $6.9 million, or 39 percent, compared to $17.9 million, or 50 cents per basic share, for the same quarter last year.

"It's clear from our top line sales that the effects of the ongoing global recession continued to impact MSA's business across each of our geographic segments throughout the third quarter," said William M. Lambert, MSA President and CEO. "This was particularly evident in North America, where demand for industrial and construction-related safety products was impacted by unemployment levels that approached 10 percent for the quarter. We saw similar, significant challenges in Europe, influenced by reduced demand for MSA products in the law enforcement and military end-user markets, as well as industrial markets," he said. "Our margins were also lower in Europe, due in part to a sales mix that was more heavily weighted toward large, lower-margin orders."

Sales in the company's North American segment decreased $33.7 million, or 24 percent, in the third quarter of 2009. The sales decline reflected reduced end-user demand for personal protective equipment, particularly in the construction, oil and gas, and other industrial markets. Sales of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) were down $11.8 million in the current quarter. In the third quarter of 2008, SCBA shipments included $13.2 million in sales of the company's Firehawk® M7 Responder to the U.S. Air Force. Excluding these shipments, SCBA sales were $1.4 million higher in the current quarter. Sales of Advanced Combat Helmets to the U.S. military and CG634 helmets to Canadian Forces were down $8.5 million and $2.1 million, respectively, reflecting the completion of certain contracts. Shipments of head protection and fall protection were down $6.2 million and $2.8 million, respectively, as the effects of the economic recession reduced demand in construction and industrial markets.

Sales in the company's European segment decreased $13.4 million, or 18 percent, in the current quarter. Local currency sales were down $7.5 million, or 10 percent, primarily due to lower shipments to military and law enforcement markets in France and Germany. Currency translation effects decreased European segment sales, when stated in U.S. dollars, by $5.9 million, reflecting the weaker euro.

Sales in MSA's International segment decreased $10.2 million, or 14 percent, in the current quarter. Local currency sales decreased $6.7 million, or 9 percent. Lower local currency sales in Australia, Latin America, and Africa, primarily due to the effects of the economic recession on the mining industry, were partially offset by higher sales in China, reflecting the company's increased presence in that area. Currency translation effects reduced International segment sales, when stated in U.S. dollars, by $3.5 million, primarily due to a weaker Australian dollar and Brazilian real.

Third quarter 2009 net income in the North American segment was essentially flat, down $0.2 million, or 2 percent, on the 24 percent decrease in sales. The small decrease reflects the negative effect of the previously-discussed decrease in sales, substantially offset by the positive effect of ongoing initiatives to reduce and control operating costs.

The European segment reported a net loss of $1.7 million for the third quarter of 2009 compared to net income of $2.4 million for the same quarter last year. Lower European segment results reflect the negative effect of an 18 percent decrease in sales and lower gross profits, related to sales mix, lower production volumes, and recessionary pricing pressures. Lower European gross profits were partially offset by a $2.2 million reduction in local currency selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses. Currency translation effects reduced European segment net income, when stated in U.S. dollars, by approximately $0.3 million.

Net income in MSA's International segment was down $1.1 million, or 32 percent, in the current quarter. The decrease in International segment net income was primarily due to the previously-discussed decrease in sales, partially offset by cost control programs that reduced SG&A expenses by $1.9 million. Currency translation effects reduced International segment net income by approximately $0.3 million.

Mr. Lambert commented that while the economy is showing some signs of stabilization, the recession's impact on unemployment levels will continue to present hurdles for MSA for the balance of 2009 and into 2010. "While I believe we have seen the worst of the recession, there are still many challenges ahead for MSA, as well as for the global economy in general. This means we must, and will, remain diligent in our efforts to manage costs and working capital - steps that have served MSA well throughout the year," he said.

"Our challenges are clear and we are responding to them. Our full focus is on deploying the actions necessary to strengthen our gross margins and improve productivity in our factories, while continuously adjusting our workforce to better align with reduced sales levels during this recession," Mr. Lambert concluded.

About MSA:

Established in 1914, MSA is a global leader in the development, manufacture and supply of safety products that protect people's health and safety. Many MSA products typically integrate any combination of electronics, mechanical systems and advanced materials to protect users against hazardous or life-threatening situations. The company's comprehensive line of products is used by workers around the world in the fire service, oil, gas and petrochemical industry, homeland security, construction, mining and other industries, as well as the military. Principal products include self-contained breathing apparatus, gas masks, gas detection instruments, head protection, ballistic body armor, fall protection devices and thermal imaging cameras. The company also provides a broad range of consumer and contractor safety products through retail channels. These products are marketed and sold under the MSA Safety Works brand. MSA has annual sales of approximately $1 billion, manufacturing operations throughout the United States and Europe, and more than 40 international locations. Additional information is available on the company's Web site at www.msanet.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

Except for historical information, certain matters discussed in this press release may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements, including without limitation all projections and anticipated levels of future performance, involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those discussed herein. Actual results can be affected by any number of factors, many of which are outside of management's control. Among the factors that could cause such differences are spending patterns of government agencies, competitive pressures, product liability claims and our ability to collect related insurance receivables, the success of new product introductions, currency exchange rate fluctuations, the identification and successful integration of acquisitions and the risks of doing business in foreign countries. These risks, uncertainties and other factors are detailed from time to time in our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). You are strongly urged to review all such filings for a more detailed discussion of such risks and uncertainties. MSA's SEC filings are readily obtainable at no charge at www.sec.gov, as well as on a number of other commercial web sites.


    Mine Safety Appliances Company
    Consolidated Condensed Statement of Income (Unaudited)
    (In thousands, except per share amounts)


                               Three Months Ended        Nine Months Ended
                                  September 30              September 30
                              ----------------------  --------------------
                                 2009           2008      2009        2008
                              ----------------------  --------------------

     Net sales               $228,486       $285,941  $673,893    $845,447
     Other income                 150          1,607     1,681       4,130
                              ----------------------  --------------------
                              228,636        287,548   675,574     849,577
                              ----------------------  --------------------

     Cost of products sold    145,354        177,203   422,469     518,768
     Selling, general and
      administrative           57,313         67,921   170,174     202,934
     Research and
      development               7,119          9,485    21,405      26,039
     Restructuring and other
      charges                     840          1,045     9,901       3,276
     Interest                   1,681          2,307     5,442       7,082
     Currency exchange
      losses (gains)               42           (879)     (305)      3,139
                              ----------------------  --------------------
                              212,349        257,082   629,086     761,238
                              ----------------------  --------------------

     Income before income
      taxes                    16,287         30,466    46,488      88,339
     Provision for income
      taxes                     5,154         12,342    15,754      34,119
                              ----------------------  --------------------
     Net income                11,133         18,124    30,734      54,220
     Net income attributable
      to noncontrolling
      interests                  (179)          (181)     (101)       (296)
                              ----------------------  --------------------
     Net income attributable
      to Mine Safety
      Appliances Company       10,954         17,943    30,633      53,924
                              ======================  ====================

     Basic earnings per
      common share              $0.31          $0.50     $0.86       $1.51
                              ======================  ====================
     Diluted earnings per
      common share              $0.30          $0.50     $0.85       $1.50
                              ======================  ====================
     Dividends per common
      share                     $0.24          $0.24     $0.72       $0.70
                              ======================  ====================

     Basic shares
      outstanding              35,680         35,617    35,662      35,584
     Diluted shares
      outstanding              35,938         35,961    35,860      35,990




    Mine Safety Appliances Company
    Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet (Unaudited)
    (In thousands)


                                                  September 30, December 31,
                                                       2009         2008
                                                  -------------------------
     Current assets
          Cash and cash equivalents                  $58,581      $50,894
          Trade receivables, net                     182,632      198,622
          Inventories                                140,697      159,428
          Other current assets                        52,768       68,831
                                                    ---------------------
           Total current assets                      434,678      477,775

     Property, net                                   147,733      141,409
     Prepaid pension cost                             81,901       78,037
     Goodwill                                         85,134       83,211
     Other noncurrent assets                         116,634       95,378
                                                    ---------------------
           Total                                     866,080      875,810
                                                    =====================

     Current liabilities
          Notes payable and current portion of
           long-term debt                            $38,232      $60,849
          Accounts payable                            49,150       50,126
          Other current liabilities                   99,095      108,712
                                                    ---------------------
           Total current liabilities                 186,477      219,687

     Long-term debt                                   82,120       94,082
     Pensions and other employee benefits            125,793      120,494
     Deferred tax liabilities                         36,393       36,491
     Other noncurrent liabilities                     11,524        9,931
     Equity                                          423,773      395,125
                                                    ---------------------
           Total                                     866,080      875,810
                                                    =====================




    Mine Safety Appliances Company
    Segment Information (Unaudited)
    (In thousands)


                             Three Months Ended       Nine Months Ended
                                September 30             September 30
                             ------------------------------------------
                               2009           2008     2009        2008
                             ------------------------------------------

     Net sales
          North America    $107,054       $140,819 $330,133    $436,143
          Europe             59,361         72,796  172,112     210,054
          International      62,071         72,326  171,648     199,250
                            -------------------------------------------
           Total            228,486        285,941  673,893     845,447
                            ===========================================

     Net income (loss)
      attributable to Mine
      Safety Appliances
      Company
          North America     $10,767        $10,972  $25,403     $37,166
          Europe             (1,660)         2,430      837       7,928
          International       2,266          3,354    4,349      10,476
          Reconciling          (419)         1,187       44      (1,646)
                             ------------------------------------------
           Total             10,954         17,943   30,633      53,924
                            ===========================================

SOURCE MSA

Mark Deasy
MSA
+1-412-967-3357