Jul 28,2010

MSA Reports Higher Sales on Strength in Industrial Markets

PITTSBURGH, July 28, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- MSA (NYSE: MSA) today announced that net sales for the second quarter of 2010 were $237.2 million, compared with $227.2 million for the second quarter of 2009, an increase of $10.0 million, or 4 percent. Net income for the second quarter of 2010 was $11.8 million, or 33 cents per basic share, a decrease of $0.7 million, or 5 percent, compared with $12.5 million, or 35 cents per basic share, for the same quarter last year.

MSA's consolidated sales in the second quarter reflected continued strengthening in the company's core industrial market, noted William Lambert, MSA President and CEO. "We continue to see signs of economic stabilization in the U.S. economy and in many parts of the world in which we operate," Mr. Lambert said. "Our core industrial business, which comprises two thirds of our global sales and covers the energy, construction, mining and manufacturing markets, to name a few, showed continued strength in the second quarter with sales growth over the same period last year," he said.

For the quarter, sales in the company's North American segment increased $4.4 million, or 4 percent, compared to the same period in 2009. The increase reflects strengthening in end-user demand in industrial markets. Sales of head protection and instruments were up $4.3 million and $4.7 million, respectively, on improved demand in manufacturing and the oil, gas and petrochemical (OGP) markets. These increases were partially offset by lower ballistic helmet sales to the military, down $2.9 million, reflecting the transition to a new contract. Product shipments to the fire service market were down $2.1 million.

Sales in the company's European segment decreased $4.9 million, or 8 percent, in the current quarter. Local currency sales were down $1.7 million during the second quarter of 2010, or 3 percent, reflecting decreased fire service sales as government spending there responds to the continuing effects of the recession. Core industrial sales in Europe were up slightly from a year ago. Currency translation effects decreased second quarter European segment sales, when stated in U.S. dollars, by $3.2 million, due to a weaker euro.

Sales in MSA's International segment increased by $10.4 million, or 19 percent, in the current quarter. Local currency sales were up $6.0 million or 10 percent, on higher shipments to the mining and other industrial markets. This strength was partially offset by weakness in fire service and military market products. Currency translation effects increased International segment sales, when stated in U.S. dollars, by $4.4 million.

Net income in the company's North American segment was flat on the 5 percent increase in sales in the second quarter of 2010.

MSA's European segment reported a net loss for the second quarter of $3.1 million, compared to net income of $1.0 million during the second quarter of 2009. The current quarter loss includes a $1.0 million after-tax restructuring charge related to the company's previously announced initiative to streamline European operations. Excluding this one-time charge, European segment net income was down $3.1 million in the current quarter. The decrease was primarily due to the previously discussed decrease in sales and lower gross profits.

International segment net income for the second quarter was $3.0 million, an increase of $2.1 million, compared to $0.9 million in the same quarter last year. Higher net income was primarily related to improved gross profits, reflecting a more favorable product and geographic sales mix.

"Without question the upswing in our International and North American core industrial business over the past several months has been accelerated by the favorable effects of economic stimulus plans implemented by governments around the world. While defensive measures certainly helped us weather the economic recession, our most recent focus on offensive, strategic measures have clearly helped us achieve higher levels of sales and margins this quarter. As we look to the second half of 2010, we remain highly committed to our corporate strategy to grow our core product lines and core markets, and we plan to continue to invest in those targeted areas that will help us to accelerate growth, generate greater shareholder value, and build a foundation for MSA's long-term success," 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 in the United States, Europe, Asia and Latin America, 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 earnings per share)


                            Three Months Ended         Six Months Ended
                                 June 30                   June 30
                                 -------                   -------
                             2010           2009     2010           2009
                             ----           ----     ----           ----

    Net sales            $237,173       $227,232 $449,607       $445,407
    Other income               15            672    1,320          1,531
                              ---            ---    -----          -----
                          237,188        227,904  450,927        446,938
                          -------        -------  -------        -------

    Cost of products
     sold                 146,947        141,917  276,928        277,115
    Selling, general and
     administrative        60,912         56,041  122,820        112,861
    Research and
     development            8,282          7,273   16,018         14,286
    Restructuring and
     other charges          2,618            966    9,427          9,061
    Interest                1,685          1,914    3,225          3,761
    Currency exchange
     (gains) losses        (1,477)           579   (3,635)          (347)
                           ------            ---   ------           ----
                          218,967        208,690  424,783        416,737
                          -------        -------  -------        -------

    Income before income
     taxes                 18,221         19,214   26,144         30,201
    Provision for income
     taxes                  6,287          6,986    9,090         10,600
                            -----          -----    -----         ------
    Net income             11,934         12,228   17,054         19,601
    Net (income) loss
     attributable to the
    noncontrolling
     interests
                             (107)           230     (321)            78
                             ----            ---     ----            ---
    Net income
     attributable to
     Mine Safety
    Appliances Company
                           11,827         12,458   16,733         19,679
                           ======         ======   ======         ======

    Basic earnings per
     common share           $0.33          $0.35    $0.47          $0.55
                            =====          =====    =====          =====
    Diluted earnings per
     common share           $0.32          $0.35    $0.46          $0.55
                            =====          =====    =====          =====
    Dividends per common
     share                  $0.25          $0.24    $0.49          $0.48
                            =====          =====    =====          =====

    Basic shares
     outstanding           35,839         35,672   35,768         35,652
    Diluted shares
     outstanding           36,481         35,818   36,352         35,821


    Mine Safety Appliances Company
    Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet (Unaudited)

    (In thousands)


                                        June 30,        December 31,
                                        --------        ------------
                                              2010               2009
                                              ----               ----
    Current assets
        Cash and cash equivalents          $60,141            $61,983
        Trade receivables, net             182,184            173,355
        Inventories                        130,364            123,944
        Other current assets                59,914             74,743
                                            ------             ------
          Total current assets             432,603            434,025

    Property, net                          135,594            144,575
    Prepaid pension cost                   112,332            105,812
    Goodwill                                82,439             84,727
    Other noncurrent assets                126,651            106,089
                                           -------            -------
          Total                            889,619            875,228
                                           =======            =======

    Current liabilities
        Notes payable and current
         portion of long-term
         debt                              $54,677            $16,326
        Accounts payable                    62,719             43,487
        Other current liabilities           89,863            108,637
                                            ------            -------
          Total current liabilities        207,259            168,450

    Long-term debt                          82,111             82,114
    Pensions and other
     employee benefits                     118,583            125,387
    Deferred tax liabilities                44,841             44,800
    Other noncurrent
     liabilities                            14,259             15,077
    Equity                                 422,566            439,400
                                           -------            -------
          Total                            889,619            875,228
                                           =======            =======


    Mine Safety Appliances Company
    Segment Information (Unaudited)

    (In thousands)


                           Three Months Ended          Six Months Ended
                                June 30                     June 30
                                -------                     -------
                            2010           2009      2010            2009
                            ----           ----      ----            ----

    Net sales
        North America   $116,774       $112,358  $215,888        $223,079
        Europe            56,406         61,292   113,030         121,674
        International     63,993         53,582   120,689         100,654
                          ------         ------   -------         -------
          Total          237,173        227,232   449,607         445,407
                         =======        =======   =======         =======

    Net income (loss)
     attributable to
    Mine Safety
     Appliances Company
        North America    $10,834        $10,912   $14,269         $14,636
        Europe            (3,131)           994    (6,946)          3,215
        International      3,024            902     6,949           1,365
        Reconciling        1,100           (350)    2,461             463
                           -----           ----     -----             ---
          Total           11,827         12,458    16,733          19,679
                          ======         ======    ======          ======



SOURCE MSA