TOR Minerals International Inc. (TORM)

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TOR Minerals Announces First Quarter Financial Results
Thursday May 1, 4:00 pm ET


CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas, May 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- TOR Minerals International (Nasdaq: TORM - News), producer of synthetic titanium dioxide and color pigments, specialty aluminas, and other high performance mineral fillers today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2008. The company reported a net loss available to common shareholders of ($604,000), or ($0.08) per diluted share, on net sales of $6,746,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2008. This compares with net income available to common shareholders of $24,000, or $0.00 per share, on net sales of $7,153,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2007.
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Net sales decreased 5.7 percent during the quarter due to decreases in both HITOX® and specialty alumina sales. Specialty alumina sales were 17.5 percent less than first quarter 2007, which reflected a change in the order pattern of a significant U.S. customer and difficult comparisons with the prior year. Sales of specialty alumina products in Europe, which accounted for 98 percent of the sales in this category, increased 56 percent in the first quarter of 2008 and kept pace with the growth experienced in the last several quarters of 2007. First quarter 2008 sales of HITOX declined by 3.7 percent versus the same period a year ago, as weakness in the North American market was only partially offset by increased sales in Asia and Central and South America.

As previously announced, the company made operational changes during the first quarter designed to reduce the stocking requirements of synthetic rutile by approximately 50% and improve inventory turns and cash flows. As previously indicated, the near-term impact of these changes was lower fixed cost absorption, which increased cost of sales by 8.6 percent, resulting in a loss during the first quarter. "While idling synthetic rutile production temporarily sacrificed profitability in the first quarter, we were able to decrease our inventory levels by $1.6 million and generate operating cash flow of approximately $450,000," said Steve Parker, Chief Financial Officer of TOR Minerals.

The company announced receipt of the first trial production orders for its newly introduced TIOPREM colored pigment products in the quarter. "We are optimistic these orders confirm the value proposition of our new premium products," said Dr. Olaf Karasch, Chief Executive Officer of TOR Minerals. "We believe the market for TIOPREM is larger than our traditional pigment product markets and the revenue contribution from TIOPREM has the potential to accelerate sales growth in the last half of the year."

Dr. Karasch continued, "Our near term profitability has been impacted by actions that will have a long-term benefit for the company. During the first quarter, these actions improved our cash flow and are expected to drive improved efficiencies going forward. In addition, we expect results to improve based on the continued strong performance of specialty alumina sales in Europe and the positive customer response and initial orders for our new colored pigment products."

TOR Minerals will host a conference call at 4:00 p.m. Central Time on May 1, 2008 to discuss first quarter results. The call will be simultaneously webcast, and can be accessed via the News section on the company's website at http://www.torminerals.com. Interested parties may also access the conference call via telephone by dialing 877-407-9210.

Headquartered in Corpus Christi, Texas, TOR Minerals is a global manufacturer and marketer of specialty mineral and pigment products for high performance applications with manufacturing and regional offices located in the United States, Netherlands and Malaysia.

This statement provides forward-looking information as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and, therefore, is subject to certain risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that the actual results, business conditions, business developments, losses and contingencies and local and foreign factors will not differ materially from those suggested in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including market conditions, general economic conditions, including the present slow down in U.S. construction and the risks of a general business slow down or recession, the increasing cost of energy, raw materials and labor, competition, the receptivity of the markets for our anticipated new products, advances in technology, changes in foreign currency rates, freight price increase, commodity price increases, delays in delivery of required equipment and other factors.


Contact for Further Information:
David Mossberg
Beacon Street Group, LLC
[phone]



TOR Minerals International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except per share amounts)

March 31, December 31,
2008 2007
(Unaudited)
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents $354 $376
Trade accounts receivable, net 4,581 3,791
Inventories, net 9,782 11,392
Other current assets 845 578
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 15,562 16,137
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, net 21,824 20,421
GOODWILL 2,303 2,131
OTHER ASSETS 46 47
TOTAL ASSETS $39,735 $38,736

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable $1,683 $1,992
Accrued expenses 1,228 1,266
Notes payable under lines of credit 1,485 1,276
Export credit refinancing facility 447 -
Current deferred tax liability 16 16
Current maturities - Capital leases 93 80
Current maturities of long-term debt
- Financial Institutions 3,804 4,207
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 8,756 8,837
LONG-TERM DEBT, EXCLUDING CURRENT
MATURITIES
Capital leases 229 213
Long-term debt - Financial Institutions 3,200 2,678
Deferred Tax Liability 597 603
TOTAL LIABILITIES 12,782 12,331
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES - -
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Series A 6% convertible preferred stock
$.01 par value: authorized, 5,000 shares;
200 shares issued and outstanding at
3/31/08 and 12/31/07 2 2
Common stock $.25 par value:
authorized, 10,000 shares; 7,878 and
7,869 shares issued and outstanding
at 3/31/08 and at 12/31/07, respectively 1,969 1,967
Additional paid-in capital 22,917 22,874
Accumulated deficit (3,193) (2,589)
Accumulated other comprehensive
income:
Unrealized gain on derivatives - (1)
Cumulative translation adjustment 5,258 4,152
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY 26,953 26,405
$39,735 $38,736



TOR Minerals International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per share amounts)


Three Months
Ended March 31,
2008 2007
NET SALES $6,746 $7,153
Cost of sales 6,086 5,751
GROSS MARGIN 660 1,402
Technical services and research and
development 66 62
General, administrative and selling
expenses 1,075 1,143
Gain on disposal of assets (2) -
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS) (479) 197
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest income 1 1
Interest expense (144) (159)
Gain on foreign currency exchange rate 1 5
Other, net 1 -
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAX (620) 44
Income tax expense (benefit) (31) 5
NET INCOME (LOSS) $(589) $39
Less: Preferred Stock Dividends 15 15
Income (Loss) Available to Common
Shareholders $(604) $24

Income (loss) per common share:
Basic $(0.08) $0.00
Diluted $(0.08) $0.00
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic 7,871 7,839
Diluted 7,871 7,915



TOR Minerals International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)

Three Months Ended March 31,
2008 2007
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income (loss) $(589) $39
Adjustments to reconcile net income
to net cash provided by (used in)
operating activities:
Depreciation 481 385
Non-cash compensation - Stock Options 34 30
Gain on sale/disposal of property,
plant and equipment (2) -
Deferred income taxes (6) 8
Provision for bad debt 1 -
Changes in working capital:
Receivables (655) (719)
Inventories 1,901 (96)
Other current assets (247) (458)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (469) (107)
Net cash used in operating activities 449 (918)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Additions to property, plant and equipment (978) (68)

Proceeds from sales of property,
plant and equipment 3 -
Net cash used in investing activities (975) (68)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net proceeds / (payments) from lines of credit (345) 1,033
Net proceeds from export credit
refinancing facility 447 -
Net proceeds / (payments) on capital lease 5 (16)
Proceeds from long-term bank debt 1,973 74
Payments on long-term bank debt (1,582) (168)
Payments on related party long-term debt - (400)
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock
through exercise of common stock options 12 -
Preferred stock dividends paid (15) (15)
Net cash provided by financing activities 495 508
Effect of exchange rate fluctuations
on cash and cash equivalents 9 (81)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (22) (559)
Cash and cash equivalents at
beginning of period 376 896
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $354 $337

Supplemental cash flow disclosures:
Interest paid $144 $159
Taxes paid $- $9




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Source: TOR Minerals International, Inc.