KAI Form 8-K 11-1-2006
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
______________________________________________________________

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): November 1, 2006  


KADANT INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)



Delaware
1-11406
52-1762325
(State or Other Jurisdiction
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer
of Incorporation)
 
Identification No.)

One Technology Park Drive
   
Westford, Massachusetts
 
01886
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
 
(Zip Code)

(978) 776-2000
Registrant's telephone number, including area code

One Acton Place
Acton, Massachusetts 01720
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 
o
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 
o
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 




KADANT INC.
 
Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On November 1, 2006, Kadant Inc. (the “Company”) announced its financial results for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2006. The full text of the press release issued in connection with the announcement is furnished as Exhibit 99 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

The information in this Form 8-K (including Exhibit 99) shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 
(c) Exhibit
 
 
The following exhibit relating to Item 2.02 shall be deemed to be furnished and not filed.
     
 
Exhibit
No.  
 
Description of Exhibit
     
 
99
Press Release issued by the Company on November 1, 2006.
     




 


2

KADANT INC.
 
SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 

   
KADANT INC.
     
Date: November 1, 2006
                      By
/s/ Thomas M. O’Brien    
   
Thomas M. O’Brien
Executive Vice President and
    Chief Financial Officer


3






























KAI Form 8-K Exhibit 99 11-1-2006
Exhibit 99

[LOGO]                                                                                                                                         0;                                                                                                                                                            NEWS
KADANT
AN ACCENT ON INNOVATION
One Technology Park Drive
Westford, MA 01886
 
Investor contact: Thomas M. O’Brien, 978-776-2000

  Kadant Reports Results for Third Quarter 2006
 
More Than Doubles EPS from Continuing Operations

WESTFORD, Mass., November 1, 2006 - Kadant Inc. (NYSE:KAI) reported that revenues from continuing operations grew 40 percent in the third quarter of 2006 to a record $90.6 million, compared with $64.8 million in the third quarter of 2005. The 2006 period included $3.2 million in revenues from recently acquired Kadant Jining and a $1.6 million favorable foreign currency effect. Excluding the acquisition and favorable foreign currency effect, revenues grew 32 percent to $85.8 million in 2006, from $64.8 million in 2005. Operating income from continuing operations in the 2006 quarter increased 95 percent to $9.3 million, versus $4.7 million in 2005. Income from continuing operations (after-tax) was $5.8 million in 2006, or $.41 of diluted earnings per share (EPS), versus income of $2.6 million, or $.19 of diluted EPS a year ago. Including the discontinued operation, net income in the 2006 period was $5.6 million, or $.40 per diluted share, versus $0.4 million, or $.03 per diluted share, in 2005.

“We are pleased to report another great quarter,” said William A. Rainville, chairman and chief executive officer of Kadant. “We exceeded the high end of our EPS guidance by $.04 per diluted share on slightly higher than expected revenues. We had solid revenue growth in all our major product lines, with particularly strong performance from our stock preparation and fluid-handling product lines. Stock preparation revenues in China, which now include those of Kadant Jining, reached a record $21.8 million in the third quarter of 2006, more than triple the level of revenues achieved in the third quarter of 2005. Our European-based stock preparation revenues grew 49 percent over last year, including a 7 percent favorable foreign currency effect. Sales of our fluid-handling products, which grew 31 percent, continue to benefit from investments in energy saving technologies by our customers worldwide.

“Our bookings in the third quarter were $83 million, up 25 percent over last year. Our bookings performance illustrates the scope and breadth of our global presence. During the quarter, we received a repeat order of more than $7 million from Sappi Saiccor of South Africa for two Chemi-Washers® to be used in textile production. We also received an order for approximately $3 million from a Chinese customer that produces corrugated container board from recycled fiber.

“During the year we have forecasted a sequentially lower fourth quarter in GAAP diluted EPS, based on the extraordinary bookings performance in the first half of 2006 which contributed to the record sales levels in the second and third quarters. Although bookings were strong in the third quarter of 2006, as we expected they were not at the same levels as earlier in the year, partly due to the variability from quarter to quarter of large stock preparation systems orders. As a result, we expect to report GAAP diluted earnings per share from continuing operations of $.24 to $.27, including $.01 of restructuring costs, for the fourth quarter of 2006, on revenues of $82 to $84 million. For the full year, we are increasing the low end of our guidance and now expect to earn $1.25 to $1.28 of GAAP diluted EPS from continuing operations, from an earlier estimate of $1.20 to $1.28. We are also raising our 2006 revenue guidance and now expect revenues of $338 to $340 million, from our previous forecast of $320 to $330 million.”  

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Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to the financial measures prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), we use certain non-GAAP financial measures, including revenues that exclude the results from our acquisition and the effects of foreign currency translation, and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA). We believe that the inclusion of such measures helps investors to gain a better understanding of our underlying operations and future prospects, consistent with how management measures and forecasts Kadant's performance, especially when comparing such results to previous periods or forecasts. We also believe this information is responsive to investors' requests and gives them an additional measure of Kadant's performance.

We use non-GAAP financial measures, in addition to GAAP financial measures, as the basis for measuring our underlying operating performance and comparing such performance to that of prior periods or forecasts and to the performance of our competitors. Such measures are also used by us in our financial and operating decision-making and for compensation purposes.

The non-GAAP financial measures included in this press release are not meant to be considered superior to or a substitute for the results of operations prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the non-GAAP financial measures included in this press release have limitations associated with their use as compared to the most directly comparable GAAP measure, in that they may be different from, and therefore not comparable to, similar measures used by other companies.

Reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are set forth in the accompanying tables.
 
Conference Call

Kadant will hold its earnings conference call on Thursday, November 2, 2006, at 11 a.m. Eastern time. To listen, call 800-709-2159 within the U.S., or 973-582-2810 outside the U.S. You can also listen to the call live on the Web by visiting www.kadant.com and clicking on "Investors." An audio archive of the call will be available on our Web site until November 30, 2006.

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Financial Highlights (unaudited)
                 
(In thousands, except per share amounts and percentages)
                 
                   
   
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
Consolidated Statement of Income
 
Sept. 30, 2006
 
Oct. 1, 2005
 
Sept. 30, 2006
 
Oct. 1, 2005
 
                   
Revenues
 
$
90,586
 
$
64,799
 
$
255,744
 
$
180,629
 
                           
Costs and Operating Expenses:
                         
Cost of revenues 
   
58,366
   
38,557
   
162,187
   
110,924
 
Selling, general, and administrative expenses 
   
21,536
   
20,267
   
66,155
   
53,658
 
Research and development expenses 
   
1,429
   
1,315
   
4,470
   
3,610
 
Restructuring and other costs (income), net 
   
-
   
(78
)
 
138
   
(78
)
 
   
81,331
   
60,061
   
232,950
   
168,114
 
                           
Operating Income
   
9,255
   
4,738
   
22,794
   
12,515
 
Interest Income
   
233
   
337
   
743
   
1,188
 
Interest Expense
   
(881
)
 
(826
)
 
(2,479
)
 
(1,301
)
                           
Income from Continuing Operations Before Provision for
                         
Income Taxes and Minority Interest Expense
   
8,607
   
4,249
   
21,058
   
12,402
 
Provision for Income Taxes (a)
   
2,693
   
1,519
   
6,677
   
3,376
 
Minority Interest Expense
   
90
   
96
   
195
   
158
 
 
                         
Income from Continuing Operations
   
5,824
   
2,634
   
14,186
   
8,868
 
                           
Loss from Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax
   
(183
)
 
(2,252
)
 
(924
)
 
(2,408
)
                           
Net Income
 
$
5,641
 
$
382
 
$
13,262
 
$
6,460
 
                           
                           
Basic Earnings per Share
                         
 Income from Continuing Operations (a)
 
$
.42
 
$
.19
 
$
1.03
 
$
.64
 
 Loss from Discontinued Operation
   
(.02
)
 
(.16
)
 
(.06
)
 
(.18
)
 Net Income
 
$
.40
 
$
.03
 
$
.97
 
$
.46
 
                           
Diluted Earnings per Share
                         
 Income from Continuing Operations (a)
 
$
.41
 
$
.19
 
$
1.01
 
$
.63
 
 Loss from Discontinued Operation
   
(.01
)
 
(.16
)
 
(.07
)
 
(.17
)
 Net Income
 
$
.40
 
$
.03
 
$
.94
 
$
.46
 
                           
Weighted Average Shares
                         
 Basic
   
13,946
   
13,861
   
13,743
   
13,893
 
                           
 Diluted
   
14,216
   
14,167
   
14,038
   
14,186
 
                           
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
Business Segment Information (b)
   
Sept. 30, 2006
   
Oct. 1, 2005
   
Sept. 30, 2006
   
Oct. 1, 2005
 
                           
Revenues:
                         
 Pulp and Papermaking Systems
 
$
88,101
 
$
62,879
 
$
244,601
 
$
172,978
 
 Other
   
2,485
   
1,920
   
11,143
   
7,651
 
                           
   
$
90,586
 
$
64,799
 
$
255,744
 
$
180,629
 
Gross Profit Margin:
                         
 Pulp and Papermaking Systems
   
36
%
 
42
%
 
37
%
 
39
%
 Other
   
27
%
 
7
%
 
29
%
 
32
%
                           
     
36
%
 
40
%
 
37
%
 
39
%
                           
Operating Income (c):
                         
 Pulp and Papermaking Systems
 
$
11,651
 
$
6,388
 
$
29,418
 
$
16,163
 
 Corporate and Other
   
(2,396
)
 
(1,650
)
 
(6,624
)
 
(3,648
)
                           
   
$
9,255
 
$
4,738
 
$
22,794
 
$
12,515
 
Bookings from Continuing Operations:
                         
 Pulp and Papermaking Systems
 
$
80,148
 
$
63,997
 
$
264,262
 
$
169,542
 
 Other
   
2,748
   
2,061
   
11,105
   
7,529
 
                           
   
$
82,896
 
$
66,058
 
$
275,367
 
$
177,071
 
Capital Expenditures from Continuing Operations:
                         
 Pulp and Papermaking Systems
 
$
1,339
 
$
741
 
$
2,314
 
$
1,493
 
 Corporate and Other
   
105
   
303
   
236
   
426
 
                           
   
$
1,444
 
$
1,044
 
$
2,550
 
$
1,919
 
                           
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Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
Cash Flow and Other Data from Continuing Operations
 
Sept. 30, 2006
 
Oct. 1, 2005
 
Sept. 30, 2006
 
Oct. 1, 2005
 
                   
Cash Provided by Operations
 
$
4,109
 
$
6,267
 
$
3,753
 
$
11,150
 
Depreciation and Amortization Expense
 
$
1,859
 
$
2,148
 
$
5,614
 
$
4,867
 
                           
                           
Balance Sheet Data
               
Sept. 30, 2006
   
Dec. 31, 2005
 
                           
Cash and Cash Equivalents
             
$
39,089
 
$
40,822
 
Short- and Long-term Debt
             
$
55,947
 
$
55,500
 
Shareholders' Investment
             
$
232,516
 
$
207,625
 
                           
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
EBITDA Data (b)
   
Sept. 30, 2006
   
Oct. 1, 2005
   
Sept. 30, 2006
   
Oct. 1, 2005
 
                           
Consolidated
                         
 Operating Income
 
$
9,255
 
$
4,738
 
$
22,794
 
$
12,515
 
 Depreciation and Amortization
   
1,859
   
2,148
   
5,614
   
4,867
 
                           
 EBITDA (d)
 
$
11,114
 
$
6,886
 
$
28,408
 
$
17,382
 
                           
Pulp and Papermaking Systems
                         
 Operating Income (c)
 
$
11,651
 
$
6,388
 
$
29,418
 
$
16,163
 
 Depreciation and Amortization
   
1,734
   
1,952
   
5,164
   
4,385
 
                           
 EBITDA (d)
 
$
13,385
 
$
8,340
 
$
34,582
 
$
20,548
 
                           
Corporate and Other
                         
 Operating Loss (c)
 
$
(2,396
)
$
(1,650
)
$
(6,624
)
$
(3,648
)
 Depreciation and Amortization
   
125
   
196
   
450
   
482
 
                           
 EBITDA
 
$
(2,271
)
$
(1,454
)
$
(6,174
)
$
(3,166
)
 
(a)
 
Includes a tax benefit of $882, or $.06 per diluted share, in the nine-month period ended October 1, 2005, received from our former parent company under a tax agreement.
                   
(b)
 
"Other" includes the results from the Fiber-based Products business and the Casting Products business.
 
       
(c)
 
Information in the 2005 period has been reclassified to conform to the 2006 presentation.
 
                   
 (d)   Includes $406 and $626 of costs associated with acquired profit in inventory in the three-month and nine-month periods ended October 1, 2005, respectively, related to the sale of inventory that was revalued at the Kadant Johnson acquisiton date. Also includes restructuring and other costs (income) of $138 in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2006 and ($78) in the three- and nine-month periods ended October 1, 2005.
 
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About Kadant

Kadant Inc. is a leading supplier to the global pulp and paper industry, with a range of products and services for improving efficiency and quality in pulp and paper production, including paper machine accessories, and systems for stock preparation, fluid handling, and water management. Our fluid-handling products are also used to optimize production in the steel, rubber, plastics, food, and textile industries. In addition, we produce granules from papermaking byproducts for agricultural and lawn and garden applications. Kadant is based in Westford, Massachusetts, with revenues of $244 million in 2005 and approximately 2,000 employees in 16 countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.kadant.com.

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, including forward-looking statements about our expected future financial and operating performance, demand for our products, and growth opportunities and strategies. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such statements are set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” in Kadant’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended July 1, 2006. These include risks and uncertainties relating to our dependence on the pulp and paper industry; significance of sales from China; international sales and operations; competition; our debt obligations; restrictions in our credit agreement; retention of liabilities and warranty claims associated with composite building products manufactured prior to the sale of the business; our ability to successfully integrate Kadant Johnson; our ability to successfully integrate Kadant Jining; our acquisition strategy; our ability to realize the anticipated benefits from the restructuring of our French subsidiary; the impact of high natural gas prices on the manufacture of fiber-based products; availability of raw materials related to the manufacture of fiber-based products; protection of patents and proprietary rights; fluctuations in quarterly operating results; and anti-takeover provisions. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

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