Kadant Corporate

News Release

Thermo Fibertek Announces Year-End Results

February 14, 2001 at 12:00 AM EST

WALTHAM, Mass., Feb. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Thermo Fibertek Inc. (Amex: TFT), a Thermo Electron company, today reported net income of $15.1 million, or $.25 per diluted share, for the year ended December 30, 2000, compared with $17.8 million, or $.29 per diluted share, last year. Results for 2000 include a pre- tax gain of $1.7 million from the sale of two businesses, a reversal of $0.5 million in restructuring costs, $2.4 million in startup costs related to its fiber-based composites business, as well as an after-tax charge of $0.9 million representing the cumulative effect of adopting the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC's) new revenue-recognition rules. Results for 1999 include an $11.2 million pre-tax gain from the sale of Thermo Wisconsin, a $6.2 million charge for restructuring costs and unusual items, and $0.2 million in startup costs related to the fiber-based composites business. Excluding these items from both periods, net income would have been $15.8 million and $14.8 million, or $.26 and $.24 per diluted share, in 2000 and 1999, respectively. For the fourth quarter of 2000, reported net income was $4.2 million, or $.07 per diluted share, compared with $5.0 million, or $.08 per diluted share, for the same period in 1999. The impact of unusual items on net income was immaterial in both quarters.

Revenues for the year ended December 30, 2000, were $234.9 million, compared with $228.0 million in 1999. Excluding acquisitions and unfavorable currency effects, revenues increased 5 percent over 1999. Revenues for the fourth quarter of 2000 were $58.1 million, compared with $61.2 million in 1999.

"Our results in 2000 were adversely affected by our investment in our fiber-based composites business," said William A. Rainville, president and chief executive officer of Thermo Fibertek. "We are very pleased, however, with the progress we've made in the development and manufacturing of those products, and we expect the composites business to begin to make a meaningful contribution to Thermo Fibertek in 2001."

As required by the SEC, the company implemented Staff Accounting Bulletin 101 (SAB 101) in the fourth quarter of 2000, retroactive to January 1, 2000. In accordance with the SEC's implementation guidelines, the company restated its results for the first three quarters of 2000 and recorded a cumulative effect of change in accounting principle as of the beginning of the first quarter of 2000. SAB 101 clarifies certain rules regarding revenue recognition. In particular, the rules require all SEC registrants to change the point in time when revenues are recognized for certain sales transactions, including transactions where the seller has agreed to meet customer-specified performance criteria prior to obtaining final customer acceptance. In the past, most sales transactions were recognized as revenue at the time of shipment. SAB 101 now requires that the company recognize revenue on certain transactions at the latter of installation or customer acceptance. As such, Thermo Fibertek has recorded a non-recurring, non-cash charge of $0.9 million in the first quarter of 2000, representing the cumulative, after-tax impact of deferring revenues and related costs on affected sales transactions previously recorded prior to the end of 1999. Although the company restated its results for 2000 in accordance with the requirements of SAB 101, the effect on the full-year results, excluding the cumulative effect, was immaterial to both revenues and net income. The company cannot predict the impact of these requirements on future results, especially since the timing of customer acceptances is not within the company's control.

Thermo Fibertek will release recorded comments on its 2000 results, as well as future expectations, on Friday, February 16, 2001. To hear the comments, please call (888) 266-2081 within the U.S., or (703) 925-2533 outside the U.S., passcode 4944870.

Thermo Fibertek Inc. develops, manufactures, and markets a range of equipment and products for the domestic and international papermaking and paper recycling industries, including de-inking systems, stock-preparation equipment, water-management systems, and accessories. Through its majority- owned Thermo Fibergen subsidiary, the company also develops and commercializes composite building materials produced from natural fiber and recycled plastic. Thermo Fibertek is a public subsidiary of Thermo Electron Corporation. More information is available at http://www.thermo.com/subsid/tft1.html.

The following constitutes a "Safe Harbor" statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This press release contains forward- looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are set forth under the heading "Forward-looking Statements" in Exhibit 13 to the company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 1, 2000. These include risks and uncertainties relating to: the company's dependence on the paper industry and pulp and paper prices, international operations, competition, the company's dependence on patents and proprietary rights, and the company's acquisition strategy.

   
    Consolidated Statement of Income
                                       Three Months Ended  Twelve Months Ended

    (In thousands except per share      Dec. 30, Jan. 1,  Dec. 30,  Jan. 1,
    amounts)                              2000   2000(a)    2000    2000(a)

    Revenues                            $58,111  $61,189  $234,913  $228,036

    Costs and Operating Expenses:
    Cost of revenues                     36,281   35,444   145,111   134,893
    Selling, general, and
     administrative expenses             14,883   15,791    60,901    61,345
    Research and development expenses     1,884    1,865     7,687     7,278
    Gain on sale of property and
     business                                 _        _    (1,700)  (11,154)
    Restructuring and unusual costs
     (income)                              (506)       _      (506)    6,152
                                         52,542   53,100   211,493   198,514

    Operating Income                      5,569    8,089    23,420    29,522
    Interest Income                       2,404    2,240    10,466     8,478
    Interest Expense                     (1,882)  (1,878)   (7,503)   (7,449)

    Income Before Provision for Income
     Taxes, Minority Interest, and        6,091    8,451    26,383    30,551
      Cumulative Effect of Change in
       Accounting Principle
    Provision for Income Taxes           (2,807)  (3,304)  (10,947)  (11,852)
    Minority Interest Income (Expense)      926     (176)      576      (921)

    Income Before Cumulative Effect of
     Change in Accounting Principle       4,210    4,971    16,012    17,778
    Cumulative Effect of Change in
     Accounting Principle (net of
     income taxes of $580)                    _        _      (870)        _

    Net Income                           $4,210   $4,971   $15,142   $17,778

    Basic and Diluted Earnings per
     Share Before Cumulative Effect of
      Change in Accounting Principle       $.07     $.08      $.26      $.29

    Basic and Diluted Earnings per
     Share                                 $.07     $.08      $.25      $.29

    Weighted Average Shares:
      Basic                              61,362   61,197    61,298    61,186

      Diluted                            61,438   61,526    61,490    61,559




    (a) Results in 1999 have not been restated for the adoption of SAB 101.



    Thermo Fibertek's results for the first three quarters of 2000, as
    restated to reflect the adoption of SAB 101, are as follows:

    Consolidated Statement of Income
                                                  Three Months Ended
    (In thousands except per share          April 1,     July 1,    Sept. 30,
    amounts)                                  2000        2000        2000

    Revenues                                 $57,922     $60,565     $58,315

    Costs and Operating Expenses:
     Cost of revenues                         34,607      37,930      36,293
     Selling, general, and administrative
      expenses                                15,831      15,749      14,438
     Research and development expenses         1,863       1,953       1,987
     Gain on sale of property and
      business                                     _        (971)       (729)
                                              52,301      54,661      51,989

    Operating Income                           5,621       5,904       6,326
    Interest Income                            2,503       2,691       2,868
    Interest Expense                          (1,890)     (1,865)     (1,866)

    Income Before Provision for Income
     Taxes, Minority Interest, and
     Cumulative Effect of Change in
      Accounting Principle                     6,234       6,730       7,328
    Provision for Income Taxes                 2,525       2,775       2,840
    Minority Interest Expense                    149          45         156

    Income Before Cumulative Effect of
     Change in Accounting Principle            3,560       3,910       4,332
    Cumulative Effect of Change in
     Accounting Principle (net of income
     taxes of $580)                             (870)          _           _

    Net Income                                $2,690      $3,910      $4,332

    Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share
     Before Cumulative Effect of
     Change in Accounting Principle             $.06        $.06        $.07

    Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share        $.04        $.06        $.07

    Weighted Average Shares:
     Basic                                    61,244      61,283      61,303

     Diluted                                  61,597      61,506      61,418

CONTACT: Investor: 781-622-1111 or Media: 781-622-1252 of Thermo Electron/

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