MKS Instruments Reports Q3 2009 Financial Results

MKS Instruments Reports Q3 2009 Financial Results

ANDOVER, Mass., Oct. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MKS Instruments, Inc. (Nasdaq: MKSI), a global provider of technologies that enable advanced processes and improve productivity, today reported third quarter 2009 financial results.

Sales were $106.3 million, up 34% percent from $79.2 million in the second quarter of 2009, and down 33% percent from $157.4 million in the third quarter of 2008.

Third quarter net loss was $4.0 million, or $(0.08) per basic share, compared to a net loss of $207.2 million, or $(4.20) per basic share, in the second quarter of 2009 and net income of $6.8 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2008. The third quarter 2009 net loss includes the effect of a lower effective income tax benefit for 2009.

Non-GAAP net earnings, which exclude amortization of acquired intangible assets and special items, totaled $1.6 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $9.2 million, or $(0.19) per basic share, in the second quarter of 2009 and net income of $8.9 million, or $0.18 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2008.

Leo Berlinghieri, Chief Executive Officer and President, said, "We have seen 34% sequential revenue growth this quarter and have adjusted production to meet the increased demand. The increase in our revenue primarily reflects the higher levels of sales at our semiconductor OEM and device customers and is consistent with recent announcements by industry research firms that chip unit sales and semiconductor front end equipment utilization rates are increasing. Based on current customer activity, we anticipate that business in the fourth quarter of 2009 will continue to show improvement. We estimate that fourth quarter sales could range from $120 to $135 million. At these volumes, GAAP net income could range from $0.06 to $0.19 per share on approximately 51 million shares outstanding. Non-GAAP net earnings could range from $0.04 to $0.11 per share. The non-GAAP net earnings are lower than our GAAP net income due to a higher tax rate on a non-GAAP basis."

Management will discuss third quarter financial results on a conference call today at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern Time). Dial-in numbers are 1-888-549-7880 for domestic callers and 480-629-9866 for international callers. The call will be broadcast live and available for replay at www.mksinstruments.com . To hear a telephone replay through October 29, 2009, dial 303-590-3030, pass code 4163117#.

The financial results that exclude certain charges and special items are not in accordance with Accounting Principles Generally Accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). MKS' management believes the presentation of non-GAAP financial measures, which exclude costs associated with acquisitions and special items and include a normalized income tax rate, is useful to investors for comparing prior periods and analyzing ongoing business trends and operating results.

MKS Instruments, Inc. is a global provider of instruments, subsystems and process control solutions that measure, control, power, monitor and analyze critical parameters of advanced manufacturing processes to improve process performance and productivity. Our products are derived from our core competencies in pressure measurement and control, materials delivery, gas composition analysis, electrostatic charge management, control and information technology, power and reactive gas generation, and vacuum technology. Our primary served markets are manufacturers of capital equipment for semiconductor devices, and for other thin film applications including flat panel displays, solar cells, data storage media, and other advanced coatings. We also leverage our technology in other markets with advanced manufacturing applications including medical equipment, pharmaceutical manufacturing, energy generation, and environmental monitoring.

This release contains projections or other forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27 of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act regarding MKS' future growth and the future financial performance of MKS. These projections or statements are only predictions. Actual events or results may differ materially from those in the projections or other forward-looking statements set forth herein. Among the important factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those in the projections or other forward-looking statements are the fluctuations in capital spending in the semiconductor industry, fluctuations in net sales to MKS' major customers, potential fluctuations in quarterly results, the challenges, risks and costs involved with integrating the operations of MKS and any acquired companies, dependence on new product development, rapid technological and market change, acquisition strategy, manufacturing and sourcing risks, volatility of stock price, international operations, financial risk management, and future growth subject to risks. Readers are referred to MKS' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, for a discussion of these and other important risk factors concerning MKS and its operations. MKS is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

                                MKS Instruments, Inc.
                       Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations
                         (In thousands, except per share data)

                                              Three Months Ended
                                              ------------------
                                  September 30,  September 30,   June 30,
                                          2009           2008       2009
                                          ----           ----       ----

    Net sales                          $106,262       $157,364    $79,155
    Cost of sales                        66,783         94,425     53,627
                                         ------         ------     ------
    Gross profit                         39,479         62,939     25,528

    Research and development             12,114         19,228     12,285
    Selling, general and
     administrative                      24,385         33,760     25,909
    Amortization of acquired
     intangible assets                      871          1,963      1,011
    Goodwill and asset impairment
     charges                                  -              -    208,497
    Restructuring                           168              -         68
                                          -----          -----     ------
    Income (loss) from operations         1,941          7,988   (222,242)

    Gain on investments                       -            506          -
    Interest income, net                    263          1,326        213
                                            ---          -----        ---

    Income (loss) before income taxes     2,204          9,820   (222,029)
    Provision (benefit) for
     income taxes                         6,177          3,029    (14,895)
                                          -----          -----    -------
    Net income(loss)                    $(3,973)        $6,791  $(207,134)
                                         =======         ======  =========

    Net income (loss) per share:
      Basic                              $(0.08)         $0.14     $(4.20)
      Diluted                            $(0.08)         $0.14     $(4.20)

    Weighted average shares outstanding:
      Basic                              49,461         48,730     49,307
      Diluted                            50,298         49,898     49,307



    The following supplemental Non-GAAP earnings information is presented
    to aid in understanding MKS' operating results:

    GAAP net income (loss)              $(3,973)        $6,791  $(207,134)

    Adjustments (net of tax, if applicable):
      Amortization of acquired
       intangible assets                    871          1,963      1,011
      Restructuring and related
       items (Note 1)                       168              -         68
      Goodwill and asset impairment
       charges (Note 2)                       -              -    208,497
      Expense for income taxes
       (Note 3)                               -            819          -
      Proforma tax adjustments            4,497           (709)   (11,629)
                                          -----           ----    -------

    Non-GAAP net earnings (loss)
     (Note 4)                            $1,563         $8,864    $(9,187)
                                         ======         ======    =======

    Non-GAAP net earnings (loss)
     per share (Note 4)                   $0.03          $0.18     $(0.19)
                                          =====          =====     ======
    Weighted average shares
     outstanding - diluted               50,298         49,898     49,307


    Note 1 : The three month periods ended September 30, 2009 and June 30,
    2009 include $168 and $68, respectively, of restructuring charges
    primarily for severance related costs.

    Note 2 : The three month period ended June 30, 2009 includes a $208,497

    write-down for the impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and other
    long-lived assets.

    Note 3: The three month period ended September 30, 2008 includes a net
    tax expense for discrete items of $819 attributable to the booking of a
    valuation allowance on state tax credits of $2,651 partially offset by a
    benefit of $1,832 for discrete items related to the reversal of FIN 48
    reserve items as a result of a statute of limitations expiration.

    Note 4 : The Non-GAAP net earnings (loss) and Non-GAAP net earnings (loss)
    per share amounts exclude amortization of acquired intangible assets,
    acquisition and disposition related charges and special items, net of
    applicable income taxes.



                                MKS Instruments, Inc.
                     Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations
                         (In thousands, except per share data)


                                                         Nine Months Ended
                                                           September 30,
                                                           -------------

                                                           2009      2008
                                                           ----      ----

    Net sales                                            $262,136  $521,814
    Cost of sales                                         186,780   306,480
                                                          -------   -------
    Gross profit                                           75,356   215,334

    Research and development                               39,862    59,263
    Selling, general and administrative                    78,516   100,282
    Amortization of acquired intangible assets              3,535     7,052
    Goodwill and asset impairment charges                 208,497         -
    Restructuring                                           5,856         -
                                                            -----     -----
    Income (loss)from operations                         (260,910)   48,737

    Impairment of investments                                   -      (906)
    Interest income, net                                    1,485     5,138
                                                            -----     -----

    Income (loss) before income taxes                    (259,425)   52,969
    Provision (benefit) for income taxes                  (31,819)   16,562
                                                          -------    ------
    Net income(loss)                                    $(227,606)  $36,407
                                                        =========   =======

    Net income (loss) per share:
      Basic                                                $(4.62)    $0.73
      Diluted                                              $(4.56)    $0.71

    Weighted average shares outstanding:
      Basic                                                49,254    50,051
      Diluted                                              49,942    51,112



    The following supplemental Non-GAAP earnings information is presented to
    aid in understanding MKS' operating results:

    GAAP net income (loss)                              $(227,606)  $36,407

    Adjustments (net of tax, if applicable):
      Amortization of acquired intangible assets            3,535     7,052
      Excess & obsolete inventory adjustment (Note 1)      12,900         -
      Restructuring and related  items (Note 2)             4,558         -
      Goodwill and asset impairment charges (Note 3)      208,497         -
      Foreign exchange gain from legal entity
       restructuring
       (Note 4)                                                 -    (2,669)
      Expense (benefit) for income taxes (Note 5)          (6,370)      819
      Proforma tax adjustments                            (14,179)   (1,630)
                                                          -------    ------

    Non-GAAP net earnings (loss)(Note 6)                 $(18,665)  $39,979
                                                         ========   =======

    Non-GAAP net earnings (loss) per share (Note 6)        $(0.37)    $0.78
    Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted          49,942    51,112


    Note 1 : Cost of Sales for the nine month period ended September 30, 2009

    includes $12,900 of special charges for excess, obsolete and committed
    inventory purchases.

    Note 2 : The nine month period ended September 30, 2009 includes $5,856
    of restructuring charges primarily for severance related costs offset by
    a credit of $1,298 for the reversal of previously expensed equity
    compensation charges of terminated employees.

    Note 3 : The nine month period ended  September 30, 2009 includes a
    $208,497 write-down for the impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and
    other long-lived assets.

    Note 4 : Selling, general and administrative expenses for the nine month
    period ended September 30, 2008 includes a foreign exchange gain of $2,669

    related to the Company's legal entity restructuring of certain foreign
    operations.

    Note 5 : The nine month period ended September 30, 2009 includes a benefit
    of $6,370 attributable to the reversal of FIN 48 reserve items as a result
    of a Federal audit close. The nine month period ended September 30, 2008
    includes a net tax expense for  discrete items of $819 attributable to the
    booking of a valuation allowance on state tax credits of $2,651 partially
    offset by a benefit of $1,832 for discrete items related to the reversal
    of FIN 48 reserve items as a result of a statute of limitations
    expiration.

    Note 6 : The Non-GAAP net earnings (loss) and Non-GAAP net earnings (loss)
    per share amounts exclude amortization of acquired intangible assets,
    acquisition and disposition related charges and special items, net of
    applicable income taxes.



                              MKS Instruments, Inc.
                        Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheet
                                 (In thousands)




                                        September 30,  December 31,
                                             2009          2008
                                             ----          ----

    ASSETS

    Cash and short-term investments         $265,218     $278,869
    Trade accounts receivable                 72,166       85,350
    Inventories                              116,156      131,519
    Other current assets                      63,013       32,990
                                             -------      -------
      Total current assets                   516,553      528,728

    Property, plant and equipment, net        70,193       82,017
    Goodwill                                 144,511      337,765
    Other acquired intangible assets           5,835       21,069
    Other assets                              13,333       15,360
                                             -------      -------

    Total assets                            $750,425     $984,939
                                            ========     ========


    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

    Short-term debt                          $10,563      $18,678
    Accounts payable                          22,148       19,320
    Accrued expenses and other liabilities    31,805       37,937
                                              ------       ------
      Total current  liabilities              64,516       75,935

    Long-term debt                               118          396
    Other long-term liabilities               18,704       21,910

    Stockholders' equity:
    Common stock                                 113          113
    Additional paid-in capital               642,987      637,938
    Retained earnings                         13,822      241,428
    Other stockholders' equity                10,165        7,219
                                              ------        -----
      Total stockholders' equity             667,087      886,698
                                             -------      -------

    Total liabilities and stockholders'
     equity                                 $750,425     $984,939
                                            ========     ========

SOURCE MKS Instruments, Inc.

Ronald C. Weigner, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer of MKS Instruments, Inc., +1-978-645-5576