- Excellent Operating Margin - - Solid EPS Growth - COLUMBUS, Ohio, Feb. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD) today announced fourth quarter results for 2009. Provided below are the highlights: -- Sales in local currency declined by 5% in the quarter compared with the prior year. Reported sales growth was 0% due to a 5% benefit from currency. -- Net earnings per diluted share as reported (EPS) were $2.01, compared with $1.84 in the fourth quarter of 2008. Adjusted EPS was $2.09, a 5% increase over the prior-year amount of $2.00. Adjusted EPS is a non-GAAP measure and excludes purchased intangible amortization, discrete tax items, restructuring charges and other one-time items. A reconciliation to EPS is provided on the last page of the attached schedules. Fourth Quarter Results Olivier Filliol, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We saw improved business conditions in some segments during the quarter, particularly in China. With our solid market positions, comprehensive product portfolio and extensive marketing programs, we are benefiting as our markets gradually recover from the economic downturn. Markets remain challenging in the Americas and Europe in our core industrial and food retailing businesses. Improved market conditions and the benefits of our cost reduction programs helped us to generate record operating margins in the quarter. We are pleased that we generated operating profit and EPS growth in the quarter despite the decline in sales." EPS was $2.01, compared with the prior-year amount of $1.84. Adjusted EPS was $2.09, compared with the prior-year amount of $2.00. Sales were $511.7 million, a 5% decline in local currency sales, as compared with $509.7 million in the prior year. Reported sales growth was 0% due to a 5% currency benefit. By region, local currency sales decreased 10% in Europe and 5% in the Americas. In Asia / Rest of World, local currency sales increased 3%. Adjusted operating income amounted to $107.3 million, a 6% increase from the prior-year amount of $101.0 million. Adjusted operating income is a non-GAAP measure, and a reconciliation to earnings before taxes is provided in the attached schedules. Cash flow from operations was $44.1 million, compared with $62.5 million in 2008. Full Year 2009 Results EPS was $5.03, compared with the prior-year amount of $5.79. Adjusted EPS was $5.58, compared with the prior-year amount of $5.84. Sales were $1.73 billion, a 10% decline in local currency sales, as compared with $1.97 billion in 2008. Reported sales declined by 12%, which includes a negative 2% currency impact. By region, local currency sales decreased 14% in Europe, 11% in the Americas and 2% in Asia / Rest of World. Adjusted operating income amounted to $294.5 million, a 5% decrease from the prior-year amount of $311.0 million. Cash flow from operations was $232.6 million, compared with $223.1 million in 2008. In the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company announced a Cost Reduction Program aimed at reducing costs by approximately $100 million annually. The Program, which consisted primarily of work force reductions and other cost efficiency measures, is substantially completed and will meet its target. Total restructuring charges associated with the Program are expected to be $40 million, of which $37.8 million has been incurred to date. Bolt-On Acquisitions Recently, the Company paid approximately $27 million for two small bolt-on acquisitions. One acquisition, completed at the end of 2009, extends the Company's offering in the Product Inspection business with vision inspection technology. The other acquisition, which occurred in early 2010, expands the Company's market penetration for Liquid Handling products in Europe. The Company expects these acquisitions will add modestly to sales growth in 2010 and will be neutral to earnings. Share Repurchase Program The Company announced that late in the fourth quarter 2009 it re-started its share repurchase program which was suspended in the fourth quarter 2008 due to uncertainty in the global economy and instability in the financial markets. 2010 Outlook The Company stated that forecasting continues to be challenging given the ongoing uncertainty in the global economy. Based on today's assessment, management anticipates that local currency sales growth in 2010 will be in the range of 3% to 5% and Adjusted EPS will be in the range of $5.90 to $6.15, an increase of 6% to 10%. Adjusted EPS excludes purchased intangible amortization, discrete tax items, restructuring charges and other one-time items. For the first quarter 2010, the Company anticipates local currency sales to be in the range of 1% to 3% and Adjusted EPS in the range of $0.98 to $1.04, an increase of 3% to 9%. While the Company has provided an outlook for Adjusted EPS, it has not provided an outlook for EPS. EPS guidance would require an estimate of non-recurring items, which are not yet known. Conclusion Filliol concluded, "Although the business environment remains challenging, we enter 2010 well positioned to capitalize on improving market conditions. Our product pipeline is very strong, including numerous launches in the coming months for our laboratory business as well as products developed specifically for emerging markets. We have continued to invest in sales and marketing programs throughout the downturn, which we believe further strengthens our competitive position. We expect to see growth in emerging markets; however conditions in Europe and the Americas are likely to remain challenging. We will continue to be diligent in our cost management and will benefit from the cost reduction actions taken in 2009. Our capital structure and cash flow generation are very strong, and we have re-started the share repurchase program." Other Matters The Company will host a conference call to discuss its fourth quarter results today (Thursday, February 4) at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. To hear a live webcast or replay of the call, visit the investor relations page on the Company's website at http://www.mt.com/investors. The presentation referenced in the conference call will be located on the website prior to the call. METTLER TOLEDO is a leading global supplier of precision instruments and services. The Company is the world's largest manufacturer and marketer of weighing instruments for use in laboratory, industrial and food retailing applications. The Company also holds top-three market positions in several related analytical instruments and is a leading provider of automated chemistry systems used in drug and chemical compound discovery and development. In addition, the Company is the world's largest supplier of metal detection and other end-of-line inspection systems used in production and packaging and holds a leading position in certain process analytics applications. Additional information about METTLER TOLEDO can be found at "http://www.mt.com/." Statements in this press release which are not historical facts constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our or our businesses' actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "intend," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential" or "continue" or the negative of those terms or other comparable terminology. For a discussion of these risks and uncertainties, please see the discussion on forward-looking statements in our current report on Form 8-K to which this release has been furnished as an exhibit. All of the forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the factors discussed under the captions "Factors affecting our future operating results" and in the "Business" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of our annual report on Form 10-K for the most recently completed fiscal year, which describe risks and factors that could cause results to differ materially from those projected in those forward-looking statements. METTLER-TOLEDO INTERNATIONAL INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (amounts in thousands except share data) (unaudited) Three months ended % Three months ended % December 31, 2009 of sales December 31, 2008 of sales Net sales $511,682 (a) 100.0 $509,687 100.0 Cost of sales 241,694 47.2 245,449 48.2 ------- ---- ------- ---- Gross profit 269,988 52.8 264,238 51.8 Research and development 23,731 4.6 24,771 4.9 Selling, general and administrative 138,968 27.2 138,495 27.2 Amortization 3,110 0.6 2,753 0.5 Interest expense 6,142 1.2 6,667 1.3 Other charges (income), net 3,205 0.7 6,361 1.2 ----- --- ----- --- Earnings before taxes 94,832 18.5 85,191 16.7 Provision for taxes 25,394 4.9 22,267 4.4 ------ --- ------ --- Net earnings $69,438 13.6 $62,924 12.3 ======= ==== ======= ==== Basic earnings per common share: Net earnings $2.05 $1.88 Weighted average number of common shares 33,815,082 33,553,946 Diluted earnings per common share: Net earnings $2.01 $1.84 Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares 34,560,581 34,153,116 Note: (a) Local currency sales decreased 5% as compared to the same period in 2008. RECONCILIATION OF EARNINGS BEFORE TAXES TO ADJUSTED OPERATING INCOME Three months ended % Three months ended % December 31, 2009 of sales December 31, 2008 of sales Earnings before taxes $94,832 $85,191 Amortization 3,110 2,753 Interest expense 6,142 6,667 Other charges (income), net 3,205 (b) 6,361 (b) ----- ----- Adjusted operating income $107,289 (c) 21.0 $100,972 19.8 ======== ======== Notes: (b) Includes restructuring charges of $3.0 million and $6.4 million which primarily represent severance and lease termination costs during the three months ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. (c) Adjusted operating income increased 6% as compared to the same period in 2008. METTLER-TOLEDO INTERNATIONAL INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (amounts in thousands except share data) (unaudited) Twelve months ended % Twelve months ended % December 31, 2009 of sales December 31, 2008 of sales Net sales $1,728,853 (a) 100.0 $1,973,344 100.0 Cost of sales 839,516 48.6 980,263 49.7 ------- ---- ------- ---- Gross profit 889,337 51.4 993,081 50.3 Research and development 89,685 5.2 102,282 5.2 Selling, general and administrative 505,177 29.2 579,806 29.4 Amortization 11,844 0.7 10,553 0.5 Interest expense 25,117 1.4 25,390 1.3 Other charges (income), net 32,752 1.9 8,981 0.4 ------ --- ----- --- Earnings before taxes 224,762 13.0 266,069 13.5 Provision for taxes 52,169 3.0 63,291 3.2 ------ --- ------ --- Net earnings $172,593 10.0 $202,778 10.3 ======== ==== ======== ==== Basic earnings per common share: Net earnings $5.12 $5.92 Weighted average number of common shares 33,716,353 34,250,310 Diluted earnings per common share: Net earnings $5.03 $5.79 Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares 34,290,771 35,048,859 Note: (a) Local currency sales decreased 10% as compared to the same period in 2008. RECONCILIATION OF EARNINGS BEFORE TAXES TO ADJUSTED OPERATING INCOME Twelve months ended % Twelve months ended % December 31, 2009 of sales December 31, 2008 of sales Earnings before taxes $224,762 $266,069 Amortization 11,844 10,553 Interest expense 25,117 (b) 25,390 Other charges (income), net 32,752 (c) 8,981 (c) ------ ----- Adjusted operating income $294,475 (d) 17.0 $310,993 15.8 ======== ======== Notes: (b) Includes costs to tender $75 million of the Company's 4.85% $150 million Senior Notes and other financing-related costs totaling $1.8 million during the twelve months ended December 31, 2009. (c) Includes restructuring charges of $31.4 million and $6.4 million which primarily represent severance and lease termination costs during the twelve months ended December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. (d) Adjusted operating income decreased 5% as compared to the same period in 2008. METTLER-TOLEDO INTERNATIONAL INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (amounts in thousands) (unaudited) December 31, 2009 December 31, 2008 Cash and cash equivalents $85,031 $78,073 Trade accounts receivable, net 312,998 348,614 Inventories 168,042 170,613 Other current assets and prepaid expenses 80,036 73,565 ------ ------ Total current assets 646,107 670,865 Property, plant and equipment, net 316,334 285,008 Goodwill and other intangible assets, net 546,234 520,721 Other non-current assets 210,112 187,462 ------- ------- Total assets $1,718,787 $1,664,056 ========== ========== Short-term borrowings $89,968 $12,492 Trade accounts payable 103,160 111,442 Accrued and other liabilities 301,547 300,938 ------- ------- Total current liabilities 494,675 424,872 Long-term debt 203,590 441,588 Other non-current liabilities 309,384 294,349 ------- ------- Total liabilities 1,007,649 1,160,809 Shareholders' equity 711,138 503,247 ------- ------- Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $1,718,787 $1,664,056 ========== ========== METTLER-TOLEDO INTERNATIONAL INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (amounts in thousands) (unaudited) Three months ended Twelve months ended December 31, December 31, 2009 2008 2009 2008 Cash flows from operating activities: Net earnings $69,438 $62,924 $172,593 $202,778 Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation 7,708 6,793 29,634 28,987 Amortization 3,110 2,753 11,844 10,553 Deferred tax provision 19,539 12,094 3,766 4,137 Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements (1,528) (610) (2,137) (1,609) Other 3,048 1,232 11,533 5,339 Increase (decrease) in cash resulting from changes in operating assets and liabilities (57,185) (22,662) 5,372 (27,036) ------- ------- ----- ------- Net cash provided by operating activities 44,130 62,524 232,605 223,149 ------ ------ ------- ------- Cash flows from investing activities: Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 102 123 2,081 13,307 Purchase of property, plant and equipment (23,395) (23,548) (60,041) (61,008) Acquisitions (14,450) (392) (14,620) (999) Net cash used in investing activities (37,743) (23,817) (72,580) (48,700) ------- ------- ------- ------- Cash flows from financing activities: Proceeds from borrowings 63,364 70,892 261,436 306,602 Repayments of borrowings (98,864) (138,443) (422,812) (259,566) Debt issuance costs (50) (264) (670) (3,349) Debt extinguishment costs - - (1,316) - Proceeds from exercise of stock options 4,995 1,909 11,068 5,228 Repurchases of common stock (5,988) (4,375) (5,988) (229,671) Excess tax benefits from share- based payment arrangements 1,528 610 2,137 1,609 Other financing activities (314) 372 (1,298) 615 ---- --- ------ --- Net cash used in financing activities (35,329) (69,299) (157,443) (178,532) ------- ------- -------- -------- Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 25 (2,374) 4,376 934 Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents (28,917) (32,966) 6,958 (3,149) Cash and cash equivalents: Beginning of period 113,948 111,039 78,073 81,222 End of period $85,031 $78,073 $85,031 $78,073 ======= ======= ======= ======= RECONCILIATION OF NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES TO FREE CASH FLOW Net cash provided by operating activities $44,130 $62,524 $232,605 $223,149 Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements 1,528 610 2,137 1,609 Payments in respect of restructuring activities 3,649 667 22,187 667 Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 102 123 2,081 13,307 Purchase of property, plant and equipment (23,395) (23,548) (60,041) (61,008) ------- ------- ------- ------- Free cash flow $26,014 $40,376 $198,969 $177,724 ======= ======= ======== ======== METTLER-TOLEDO INTERNATIONAL INC. OTHER OPERATING STATISTICS LOCAL CURRENCY SALES GROWTH BY DESTINATION (unaudited) Europe Americas Asia/RoW Total ------ -------- -------- ----- Three Months Ended December 31, 2009 -10% -5% 3% -5% Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2009 -14% -11% -2% -10% RECONCILIATION OF DILUTED EPS AS REPORTED TO ADJUSTED DILUTED EPS (unaudited) Three months ended Twelve months ended December 31, December 31, ------------ ------------ % % 2009 2008 Growth 2009 2008 Growth ---- ---- ------ ---- ---- ------ EPS as reported, diluted $2.01 $1.84 9% $5.03 $5.79 -13% Restructuring charges, net of tax 0.06 (a) 0.14 (a) 0.67 (a) 0.14 (a) Debt extinguishment and financing costs, net of tax - - 0.04 (b) - Purchased intangible amortization, net of tax 0.02 (c) 0.02 (c) 0.08 (c) 0.08 (c) Discrete tax items - - (0.24)(d) (0.17)(e) --- --- ----- ----- Adjusted EPS, diluted $2.09 $2.00 5% $5.58 $5.84 -4% ===== ===== ===== ===== Notes: (a) Represents the EPS impact of restructuring charges of $3.0 million ($2.2 million after tax) and 31.4 million ($23.0 million after tax) for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2009, respectively and $6.4 million ($4.7 million after tax) for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2008, which primarily include severance and lease termination costs. (b) Represents the EPS impact of costs to tender $75 million of the Company's 4.85% $150 million Senior Notes and other financing-related costs totaling $1.8 million ($1.3 million after tax) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2009. (c) Represents the EPS impact of purchased intangibles amortization, net of tax, of $0.7 million for both the three months ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 and $2.7 million for both the twelve months ended December 31, 2009 and 2008. (d) Discrete tax items in 2009 pertain to the EPS impact of a net tax benefit of $8.3 million primarily related to the favorable resolution of certain prior year tax matters recorded during the first quarter. (e) Discrete tax items in 2008 pertain to the EPS impact of a discrete tax benefit of $2.5 million related to favorable withholding tax law changes in China recorded during the first quarter and a discrete net tax benefit of $3.5 million related to the closure of certain tax matters recorded during the third quarter. DATASOURCE: Mettler-Toledo International Inc. CONTACT: Mary T. Finnegan, Treasurer, Investor Relations, Mettler-Toledo International Inc., +1-614-438-4748, Fax: +1-614-438-4646 Web Site: http://www.mt.com/

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