Polypore International, Inc. Reports 12 Percent Third Quarter Sales Growth


CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 30, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Polypore International, Inc. (NYSE:PPO) today reported its third quarter financial results for the period ended September 29, 2007.



 * Sales were $130.4 million, up 12%, for the quarter, versus the
   comparable period in 2006.
 * Operating income was $22.6 million, compared to an operating loss
   of $18.2 million during the comparable period in 2006.
 * The Company incurred a net loss in the quarter of $14.6 million, or
   $0.36 per diluted share, as compared to a net loss of $24.1
   million, or $0.95 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2006.
      - Included in these results were one-time pre-tax charges of
        $38.1 million (after tax $25.9 million) primarily related to
        the purchase and retirement of the 10.50% senior discount
        notes and to the refinancing of the senior secured credit
        facility in the quarter, and $36.3 million (after tax $22.2
        million) of restructuring costs in the third quarter of 2006.
      - Also included in these results was a one-time income tax
        benefit of $6.1 million related to the impact of German tax
        legislation enacted during the third quarter of 2007.
      - Excluding these one-time items, adjusted net income and
        adjusted diluted EPS in the quarter were $5.2 million and
        $0.13 per share, respectively (as compared to similarly
        adjusted results in the prior year of a net loss of $1.9
        million, or $0.07 per share). A table showing the impact of
        one-time items on net income and earnings per share is
        included in this release.

Commenting on the Company's third quarter results, Robert B. Toth, President and Chief Executive Officer, said: "In the first quarter since completing our IPO and debt refinancing, we achieved strong year-over-year sales growth in all of our businesses. In addition, excluding the one-time costs related to those events, we achieved solid profitability and strong ongoing cash generation."

For the nine month period ended September 29, 2007:



 * Sales were $391.9 million, up 10% from $354.8 million during the
   comparable period in 2006.
 * Operating income was $71.8 million versus operating income of $23.5
   million in the comparable period in 2006.
 * The Company incurred a net loss of $13.5 million, or $0.44 per
   diluted share, during the first nine months of 2007 as compared to
   a net loss of $26.8 million, or $1.06 per diluted share, last year.
      - Included in these results were one-time pre-tax charges of
        $38.3 million (after tax $26.1 million) primarily related to
        the purchase and retirement of the 10.50% senior discount
        notes and refinancing of the senior secured credit facility,
        and $34.8 million (after tax $22.8 million) primarily
        consisting of restructuring costs plus the benefits resulting
        from changes in accounting principle in the comparable 2006
        results.
      - Also included in these results was a one-time income tax
        benefit of $6.1 million related to the impact of German tax
        legislation enacted during the third quarter of 2007.
      - Excluding these one-time items, adjusted net income and
        adjusted diluted EPS for the first nine months of 2007 were
        $6.5 million and $0.21 per share, respectively (as compared
        to similarly adjusted results in the prior year of a net loss
        of $4.1 million, or $0.16 per share). A table showing the
        impact of one-time items on net income and earnings per share
        is included in this release.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA"), as defined in Polypore's senior secured credit facility, was $35.2 million in the third quarter of 2007 compared to $33.1 million in the third quarter of 2006. Adjusted EBITDA for the twelve months ended September 29, 2007 was $148.1 million, up from $137.1 million in the comparable prior year period. Adjusted EBITDA is defined and reconciled to GAAP as noted in the attached table.

Energy Storage

In the quarter, sales for the Energy Storage segment were $94.4 million, an increase of $11.3 million or 14% over the prior year (11% net of the effect of the euro to dollar currency translation). Third quarter highlights include:



 * 10% growth in sales of lead-acid battery separators, driven
   primarily by volume increases, particularly in Asia, higher prices
   and favorable euro to dollar currency translation.
 * 24% growth in sales of lithium battery separators, primarily
   volume-driven and associated with strong demand for consumer
   electronic products and expanding applications for lithium
   batteries.
 * Segment operating income was $20.0 million as compared to $17.7
   million for the same period in the prior year, or approximately 21%
   of net sales in both periods.  A table showing the reconciliation
   of segment operating income to consolidated results is included in
   this release.

In the first nine months of the year, Energy Storage segment sales were $280.7 million, an increase of $26.6 million or 11% over the prior year (8% net of the effect of the euro to dollar currency translation). Year to date highlights include:



 * 11% growth in sales of lead acid battery separators.
 * 10% growth in sales of lithium battery separators.
 * Segment operating income was $59.8 million and 21% of net sales as
   compared to $53.2 million and 21% for the same period in the prior
   year.

Separations Media

In the quarter, sales for the Separations Media segment were $36.0 million, up $2.7 million or 8% from the third quarter of 2006 (2% net of the effect of the euro to dollar currency translation). Third quarter highlights include:



 * 2% growth in sales of healthcare products. Strong growth in sales
   of synthetic hemodialysis membranes combined with the favorable
   impact of euro to dollar currency translation offset the expected
   decline of cellulosic hemodialysis membranes due to our previously
   announced exit of this product line.
 * 21% growth in sales of filtration and specialty products, driven
   primarily by continued strong demand for high performance
   filtration applications and the favorable impact of euro to dollar
   currency translation.
 * Segment operating income was $3.1 million and 9% of net sales as
   compared to $0.5 and 1% of net sales for the same period in the
   prior year, largely driven by a favorable change in mix of product
   sales.

In the first nine months of the year, Separations Media segment sales were $111.2 million, an increase of $10.5 million or 10% over the prior year (4% net of the effect of the euro to dollar currency translation). Year to date highlights include:



 * 6% growth in sales of healthcare products.
 * 20% growth in sales of filtration and specialty products.
 * Segment operating income was $12.7 million and 11% of net sales as
   compared to $5.5 million and 5% of net sales for the same period in
   the prior year.

Outlook

Based upon results for the third quarter, the Company is updating its previously issued guidance for the year ending December 28, 2007.

The Company now expects to achieve net sales modestly above its previous range of $500 - $520 million and Adjusted EBITDA in the range of $150 - $152 million. Excluding one time items, the Company expects full year adjusted EPS to be in the range of $0.44 to $0.48 per diluted share, based on a full year weighted average fully diluted share count of 33.2 million shares. The estimated number of fully diluted shares for the fourth quarter of 2007 is 40.6 million shares.

The Company estimates that total capital expenditures in fiscal year 2007 will be approximately $35.0 million.

Going forward, the Company intends to provide 2008 sales, Adjusted EBITDA and EPS guidance in conjunction with the fourth quarter and full year 2007 earnings release.

Commenting on the Company's outlook, Mr. Toth said, "Looking ahead, we remain confident about our performance prospects and are excited about the global growth opportunities available to Polypore. Our enabling technology in microporous membranes positions us well to capitalize on the growing demand for mobile power and for purity as it relates to high performance filtration applications."

Conference Call

Polypore International, Inc. will hold a conference call to discuss the Company's third quarter financial results and business outlook on Wednesday, October 31, 2007 at 9:00 AM Eastern time. The call will be webcast live and archived for one week in the Investor Relations section of the Company's web site at http://investor.polypore.net/.

In addition, the Company filed a Form 8K with Supplemental Financial Information that is located on the Company's web site.

Non-GAAP Supplemental Information

Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted EPS (earnings per share) are non-GAAP financial measures presented in this press release as supplemental disclosures to net income and reported results. Adjusted EBITDA is defined in Polypore's credit agreement and represents earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and certain non-operating items, business restructuring costs, costs incurred in connection with the purchase of our 10.50% senior discount notes and refinancing of our credit facilities and other non-cash or non-recurring charges. Polypore defines adjusted net income as net income excluding one-time items such as costs incurred in connection with the purchase of our 10.50% senior discount notes and refinancing of our credit facilities, business restructuring costs and the one-time income tax impact of German tax reform. Polypore defines adjusted EPS as adjusted net income divided by the number of diluted shares of common stock outstanding. For more information regarding the computation of Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted EPS, the reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income to net income and the reconciliation of adjusted EPS to earnings per share, please see the attached financial tables.

Polypore presents these non-GAAP financial measures because it believes that they are a useful indicator of its operating performance. Adjusted EBITDA is a measure used in our credit agreement to determine the availability of borrowings under our revolving credit facility. Polypore's management also uses Adjusted EBITDA to review and assess its operating performance in connection with employee incentive programs and the preparation of its annual budget and financial projections. Adjusted net income and adjusted EPS exclude amounts that we do not consider part of our ongoing operating results when assessing performance of the Company or our operating segments. We believe that our non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate the comparison of results for current periods and guidance for future periods with results for past periods.

Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted EPS are not measurements of financial performance under GAAP and such financial measures should not be considered as an alternative to net income, operating income, cash flows from operating activities or other measures of performance determined in accordance with GAAP. In addition, Polypore's calculation of these non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to the calculation of similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

Polypore also presents a range for Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted EPS on a forward-looking basis. The most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP measure for Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income is net income; the most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP measure for adjusted EPS is earnings per share. Polypore is unable to provide a quantitative reconciliation of these forward-looking non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP measure because we cannot reliably forecast certain items included in the GAAP measures. Please note that the unavailable reconciling items could significantly impact the Company's future financial results.

This release contains statements that are forward-looking in nature. Statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions or that include words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," and similar expressions are forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results and performance to be materially different from any future results or performance expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These factors include the following: the highly competitive nature of the markets in which we sell our products; the failure to continue to develop innovative products; the loss of our customers; the vertical integration by our customers of the production of our products into their own manufacturing process; increases in prices for raw materials or the loss of key supplier contracts; our substantial indebtedness; interest rate risk related to our variable rate indebtedness; our inability to generate cash; restrictions related to the senior secured credit facility; employee slowdowns, strikes or similar actions; product liability claims exposure; risks in connection with our operations outside the United States; the incurrence of substantial costs to comply with, or as a result of violations of, or liabilities under, environmental laws; the failure to protect our intellectual property; the failure to replace lost senior management; the incurrence of additional debt, contingent liabilities and expenses in connection with future acquisitions; the adverse impact on our financial condition from past restructuring activities; the failure to effectively integrate newly acquired operations; the absence of expected returns from the amount of intangible assets we have recorded; and natural disasters, epidemics, terrorist acts and other events beyond our control. Additional information concerning these and other important factors can be found in Item 1A. "Risk Factors" of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Polypore expressly disclaims any obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Polypore's expectations with regard thereto or change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.



 Polypore International, Inc.
 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operation
 (unaudited, in millions, except share data)

                          Three Months Ended       Nine Months Ended
                        ----------------------  ----------------------
                         Sept. 29,   Sept. 30,   Sept. 29,   Sept. 30,
                            2007        2006        2007        2006
  --------------------------------------------------------------------
  Net sales              $   130.4   $  116.4    $  391.9    $  354.8
  Cost of goods sold         84.4        78.3       249.7       231.8
                        ----------------------  ----------------------
  Gross profit               46.0        38.1       142.2       123.0
  Selling, general, and
   administrative
   expenses                  23.2        20.0        70.0        64.5
  Business
   restructuring              0.2        36.3         0.4        37.6
 Change in accounting
  principle related to
  postemployement
  benefits                     --          --          --        (2.6)
                        ----------------------  ----------------------
  Operating income
   (loss)                    22.6       (18.2)       71.8        23.5
 Other (income) expense:
  Interest expense, net      16.7        22.9        64.2        68.6
  Costs related to
   purchase of 10.50%
   senior discount notes     30.0          --        30.0          --
  Write-off of loan
   acquisition costs
   associated with
   refinancing of
   senior secured
   credit facilities          7.2          --         7.2          --
  Foreign currency and
   other                      0.4         0.3         0.7         2.3
                        ----------------------  ----------------------
                             54.3        23.2       102.1        70.9
                        ----------------------  ----------------------
  Loss before income
   taxes                    (31.7)      (41.4)      (30.3)      (47.4)
  Income taxes              (17.1)      (17.3)      (16.8)      (20.4)
                        ----------------------  ----------------------
 Loss before cumulative
  effect of change in
  account principle         (14.6)      (24.1)      (13.5)      (27.0)
 Cumulative effect of a
  change in accounting
  principle related to
  stock compensation,
  net of income taxes          --          --          --         0.2
                        ----------------------  ----------------------
  Net loss               $  (14.6)   $  (24.1)   $  (13.5)   $  (26.8)
                        ======================  ======================
 Net loss per share -
  basic and diluted:
  Loss before cumulative
   effect of a change in
   accounting principle  $  (0.36)   $  (0.95)   $  (0.44)   $  (1.07)
  Cumulative effect of
   a change in
   accounting principle 
   related to stock
   compensation,
   net of income taxes         --          --          --        0.01
                        ----------------------  ----------------------
  Net loss               $  (0.36)   $  (0.95)   $  (0.44)   $  (1.06)
                        ======================  ======================
 Weighted average
  shares outstanding -
  basic and diluted    40,306,928  25,347,470  30,483,644  25,301,683



  Polypore International, Inc.
  Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
  (in millions)

                                  Sept. 29, 2007    Dec. 30, 2006 (a)
                                    (unaudited)
                                  -----------------------------------
 Assets:
 -------
 Cash and equivalents                $   60.7          $   54.7
 Other current assets                   186.3             183.2
                                     --------------------------
   Current assets                       247.0             237.9

 Property, plant and
  equipment, net                        384.1             363.5
 Goodwill                               568.9             567.6
 Intangibles and loan
  acquisition costs, net                191.8             204.6
 Other                                   17.3              16.3
                                     --------------------------

 Total assets                        $1,409.1          $1,389.9
                                     ==========================

 Liabilities and
  shareholders' equity:
 ----------------------
 Current liabilities                 $   96.3          $   90.4
 Debt and capital lease
  obligations, less current
  portion                               809.6           1,043.6
 Other                                  184.8             186.2
 Shareholders' equity                   318.4              69.7
                                     --------------------------
 Total liabilities and
  shareholders' equity               $1,409.1          $1,389.9
                                     ==========================

 (a) Derived from audited consolidated financial statements.



 Polypore International, Inc.
 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
 (unaudited, in millions)
                                                    Nine Months Ended
                                                  --------------------
                                                  Sept. 29,  Sept. 30,
                                                     2007       2006
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 Operating activities:
 Net loss                                          $ (13.5)   $ (26.8)
  Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net
    cash provided by operating activities:
   Depreciation and amortization expense              52.0       64.2
   Deferred income taxes                             (25.9)     (29.1)
   Business restructuring                              0.4       37.6
   Costs related to purchase
    of 10.50% senior discount notes                   30.0         --
   Write-off of loan acquisition
    costs associated with refinancing
    of senior secured credit facilities                7.2         --
   Other adjustments impacting net
    cash provided by operating activities              1.6       (1.5)
   Changes in operating assets and liabilities        10.4        6.0
                                                  --------------------
 Net cash provided by operating activities            62.2       50.4
 Investing activities:
 Purchases of property, plant and equipment          (16.3)     (15.9)
 Acquisition of business                              (5.5)        --
 Proceeds from sale of property,
  plant and equipment                                   --        0.1
                                                  --------------------
 Net cash used in investing activities               (21.8)     (15.8)
 Financing activities:
 Proceeds from the senior secured credit facility    370.0         --
 Principal payments on debt                         (371.2)      (1.1)
 Purchase of the 10.50% senior discount notes       (293.6)        --
 Proceeds from initial public offering,
  net of underwriting fees and other
  offering related costs                             264.8         --
 Loan acquisition costs                               (8.7)        --
 Repurchase of common stock                           (0.3)        --
 Issuance of common stock                               --        0.4
                                                  --------------------
 Net cash used in financing activities               (39.0)      (0.7)
 Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
  and cash equivalents                                 4.6        1.8
                                                  --------------------
 Net increase in cash and cash equivalents             6.0       35.7
 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning 
  of period                                           54.7       28.1
                                                  --------------------
 Cash and cash equivalents at end of 
  the period                                      $   60.7    $  63.8
                                                  ====================



 Polypore International, Inc.
 Supplemental Information
 Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA
 (unaudited, in millions)
                                Three      Twelve    Three     Twelve
                                Months     Months    Months    Months
                                Ended      Ended     Ended     Ended
                              Sept. 29,  Sept. 29, Sept. 30, Sept. 30,
                                2007        2007     2006       2006
                              -------------------- -------------------
 Net loss                       $(14.6)   $(16.3)   $(24.1)    $(27.2)
 Add:
   Depreciation                    7.6      34.9      10.4       38.1
   Amortization                    4.5      17.9       4.4       17.7
   Interest expense, net          16.7      87.8      22.9       89.5
   Provision for income taxes    (17.1)    (19.5)    (17.3)     (22.3)
                              -------------------- -------------------
 EBITDA                           (2.9)    104.8      (3.7)      95.8
   Foreign currency loss           0.4       2.0       0.5        1.6
   Loss on disposal of
    property, plant,
    and equipment                   --       1.2       0.1        1.1
   Stock compensation              0.2       0.8       0.2        0.1
   Business restructuring          0.2       0.1      36.3       39.5
   Costs related to purchase
    of 10.50% senior
    discount notes                30.0      30.0        --         --
   Write-off of loan
     acquisition costs
     associated with
     refinancing of senior
     secured credit facilities     7.2       7.2        --         --
   Other non-cash or
    non-recurring charges          0.1    $  2.0     (0.3)     $(1.0)
                               ------------------- -------------------
 Adjusted EBITDA                $ 35.2    $148.1    $ 33.1     $137.1
                               =================== ===================



 Polypore International, Inc.
 Supplemental Information
 Reconciliation of Segment Operating Income
  to Loss Before Income Taxes
 (unaudited, in millions)

                               Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
                              ----------------------------------------
                              Sept. 29,  Sept. 30, Sept. 29, Sept. 30,
                                2007       2006      2007      2006
                               ------------------  -------------------
 Operating income:
   Energy Storage              $ 20.0     $ 17.7    $ 59.8     $ 53.2
   Separations Media              3.1        0.5      12.7        5.5
   Corporate                     (0.3)      (0.1)     (0.3)      (0.2)
                               ------------------   ------------------
 Total segment operating
  income                         22.8       18.1      72.2       58.5
 Business restructuring           0.2       36.3       0.4       37.6
 Change in accounting principle
  related to postemployment
  benefits                         --         --        --      (2.6)
                               ------------------   ------------------
 Total operating income (loss)   22.6      (18.2)     71.8       23.5
 Reconciling items:
   Interest expense              16.7       22.9      64.2       68.6
   Costs related to purchase
    of 10.50% senior
    discount notes               30.0         --      30.0         --
   Write-off of loan
    acquisition costs
    associated with
    refinancing of senior
    secured credit facilities     7.2         --       7.2         --
   Foreign currency and other     0.4        0.3       0.7        2.3
                               ------------------   ------------------
 Loss before income taxes      $(31.7)    $(41.4)   $(30.3)    $(47.4)
                               ==================   ==================



 Polypore International, Inc.
 Supplemental Information
 Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income (Loss) and Adjusted EPS
 (unaudited, in millions, except share data)

                         Three Months Ended        Nine Months Ended
                       -----------------------  ---------------------- 
                         Sept. 29,   Sept. 30,   Sept. 29,   Sept. 30,
                           2007        2006        2007        2006
                       -----------------------  ----------------------
 Net loss               $   (14.6)  $   (24.1)   $  (13.5)   $  (26.8)
 Add:
   Costs related to
    purchase
    of 10.50% senior
    discount notes           30.0          --        30.0          --
   Write-off of loan
    acquisition costs
    associated with
    refinancing of
    senior secured
    credit facilities         7.2          --         7.2          --
   Business
    restructuring             0.2        36.3         0.4        37.6
   Foreign currency
    losses incurred in
    connection with
    debt refinancing          0.7          --         0.7          --
   Change in accounting
    principle related
    to postemployment
    benefits                   --          --          --       (2.6)
   Impact of above
    items on provision
    for income taxes        (12.2)      (14.1)      (12.2)      (12.1)
   Income tax benefit
    resulting from
    German tax reform        (6.1)         --        (6.1)         --
   Cumulative effect
    of a change in
    accounting
    principle related
    to stock
    compensation, net
    of income taxes            --          --          --        (0.2)
                       -----------------------  ----------------------
 Adjusted net
  income (loss)         $     5.2   $    (1.9)   $    6.5   $    (4.1)
                       =======================  ======================

 Net loss per
  diluted share         $   (0.36)  $   (0.95)   $  (0.44)  $   (1.06)
 Impact of adjustments
  on net income
  (loss) per share           0.49        0.88        0.65        0.90
                       -----------------------  ----------------------
 Adjusted net income
  (loss) per
  diluted share         $    0.13   $   (0.07)   $   0.21   $   (0.16)
                       =======================  ======================
 Weighted average
  diluted shares
  outstanding          40,306,928  25,347,470  30,483,644  25,301,683


            

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