Calgon Carbon Announces First Quarter Results

Calgon Carbon Corporation (NYSE: CCC) announced results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2015.

Income from operations for the first quarter of 2015 was $17.3 million versus $15.6 million for the first quarter of 2014. Net income was $11.1 million for the first quarter of 2015 versus $9.8 million for the comparable period in 2014. On a fully diluted share basis, earnings per common share for the first quarter of 2015 were $0.21 versus $0.18 for the first quarter of 2014.

Net sales for the first quarter of 2015 were $135.7 million, as compared to $131.6 million for the comparable period in 2014, an increase of 3.1%. Currency translation had a $6.3 million negative impact on sales for the first quarter of 2015 due to the weaker euro, British pound sterling, and yen.

For the first quarter of 2015, sales for the Activated Carbon and Service segment increased 4.3% as compared to the first quarter of 2014. The improvement was primarily due to higher sales of activated carbon products and services for the potable water market in the U.S., as well as in the environmental air market, principally in North America for mercury removal. These increases were partially offset by decreases in demand for activated carbon products and services for the food, respirator, and environmental water markets.

Equipment sales increased 2.3% in the first quarter of 2015 versus the comparable period of 2014 principally due to higher sales of ballast water treatment systems. This increase was partially offset by lower sales of traditional carbon adsorption equipment.

A $1.2 million, or 34.7%, decline in the Consumer segment was attributed to lower demand for the Company’s activated carbon cloth. The segment’s results for the first quarter of 2014 included one significant sale that was not repeated in 2015.

Net sales less the cost of products sold (excluding depreciation and amortization), as a percentage of net sales for the first quarter of 2015 was 35.7%, versus 33.6% for the first quarter of 2014. The improvement was attributable to several factors, including increased sales of higher margin activated carbon products, lower coal costs, and lower diesel fuel costs.

Selling, administrative and research expenses for the first quarter of 2015 were $22.5 million versus $21.6 million for the comparable period of 2014. The increase was primarily due to the Company’s SAP re-engineering project to improve the functionality of its enterprise resource planning system, which should be completed in 2015. The timing of certain employee expenses also contributed to the increase.

The income tax rate for the first quarter of 2015 was 33.5% versus 34.4% for the first quarter of 2014.

The Company continued its open market stock repurchase program and purchased 80,500 shares of Calgon Carbon stock during the first quarter.

On May 5, 2015, Calgon Carbon’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.05 per share, payable on June 15, 2015, to shareholders of record on June 5, 2015.

Commenting on the quarter, Randy Dearth, Calgon Carbon’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “Calgon Carbon’s solid performance for the first quarter reflects our ongoing commitment to sustained growth. Higher sales, gross margin expansion, and increased operating income contributed to profitability improvement versus last year’s first quarter.”

“I am especially pleased with the growth in sales, considering the sizable negative impact of foreign currency on sales in the quarter.”

“A major driver of top-line growth in the first quarter of 2015 was the sale of FLUEPAC® powdered activated carbon for mercury removal from the flue gas of coal-fired power plants. Sales of $11.6 million represent a 72% increase over the first quarter of 2014.”

“The increase in FLUEPAC sales resulted from state regulations for mercury control and the April 16 compliance date for the EPA’s Mercury and Air Toxics Standards. Calgon Carbon’s strong position in this market reflects our successful strategy of offering electric utilities unique products with superior mercury capture and the lowest total treatment cost available.”

“The growing demand for FLUEPAC carbon confirms Calgon Carbon’s position as a leader in mercury control, and strengthens our belief that we should capture at least 30% of the value of this significant, emerging market.”

“I am pleased with Calgon Carbon’s performance in the first quarter. Going forward, we will sharpen our focus on profitable sales growth, while continuing to emphasize cost improvement.”

Pure Water. Clean Air. Better World.

Calgon Carbon Corporation (NYSE:CCC) is a global leader in innovative solutions, high quality products and reliable services designed to protect human health and the environment from harmful contaminants in water, and air. As a leading manufacturer of activated carbon, with broad capabilities in ultraviolet light disinfection, the Company provides purification solutions for drinking water, wastewater, pollution abatement, and a variety of industrial and commercial manufacturing processes.

Calgon Carbon is the world’s largest producer of granular activated carbon and supplies more than 100 types of activated carbon products - in granular, powdered, pelletized and cloth form – for more than 700 distinct applications. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Calgon Carbon Corporation employs approximately 1,100 people at more than 15 manufacturing, reactivation, and equipment fabrication facilities in the U.S., Asia, and in Europe, where Calgon Carbon is known as Chemviron Carbon. The company also has more than 27 sales and service centers throughout the world.

For more information about Calgon Carbon’s leading activated carbon and ultraviolet technology solutions for municipalities and industries, visit www.calgoncarbon.com.

This news release contains historical information and forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements typically contain words such as “expect,” “believe,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” or similar words indicating that future outcomes are uncertain. Statements looking forward in time, including statements regarding future growth and profitability, price increases, cost savings, broader product lines, enhanced competitive posture and acquisitions, are included in the company’s most recent Annual Report pursuant to the “safe harbor” provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. They involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the company’s actual results in future periods to be materially different from any future performance suggested herein. Further, the company operates in an industry sector where securities values may be volatile and may be influenced by economic and other factors beyond the company’s control. Some of the factors that could affect future performance of the company are higher energy and raw material costs, costs of imports and related tariffs, labor relations, availability of capital and environmental requirements as they relate both to our operations and to our customers, changes in foreign currency exchange rates, borrowing restrictions, validity of patents and other intellectual property, and pension costs. In the context of the forward-looking information provided in this news release, please refer to the discussions of risk factors and other information detailed in, as well as the other information contained in the company’s most recent Annual Report.