Northern Technologies International Corporation Reports Financial Results for Second Quarter Fiscal 2021

MINNEAPOLIS, April 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northern Technologies International Corporation (NASDAQ: NTIC), a leading developer of corrosion inhibiting products and services, as well as bio-based and biodegradable polymer resin compounds, today reported its financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2021.

Second quarter fiscal 2021 highlights include (with growth rates compared to second quarter of fiscal 2020, except as otherwise noted):

• Consolidated net sales decreased 3.4% to $12,783,000
• ZERUST ® net sales increased 14.1% to $10,284,000
• NTIC China net sales increased 46.9% to $4,444,000
• Natur-Tec ® product net sales decreased 40.8% to $2,499,000
• Joint venture operating income increased 29.3% to $3,383,000
• Net income attributable to NTIC increased 629.9% to $1,313,000
• Net income per diluted share attributable to NTIC increased 550.0% to $0.13
• Consolidated balance sheet at February 28, 2021, was strong with no debt and total cash and cash equivalents and available for sale securities of $12,702,000

“ZERUST ® set a new quarterly industrial sales record during the fiscal 2021 second quarter, due to a resurgence in global demand. I’m also happy to note that second quarter fiscal 2021 NTIC China net sales increased 46.9% over the prior year period, which had been dampened by the initial COVID-19 shutdowns last year, and NTIC continued to enjoy robust growth from new and existing customers for both our ZERUST ® and Natur-Tec ® products. Furthermore, sales at NTIC’s joint ventures also accelerated during the second quarter and increased 8.5% from the fiscal 2021 first quarter and 19.6% year-over-year,” said G. Patrick Lynch, President and Chief Executive Officer of NTIC.

“Core ZERUST ® industrial sales are benefitting from significant global growth in industrial production. This, in turn, has helped offset continued challenges in our ZERUST ® oil and gas and Natur-Tec ® markets. Natur-Tec ® sales should return to pre-pandemic levels in the coming quarters as the large users of compostable bioplastics re-open. ZERUST ® oil and gas results, however, are likely to remain volatile over the near-term. Overall, we are encouraged by our performance, and we expect to continue to see higher year-over-year sales and earnings growth throughout the remainder of fiscal 2021,” concluded Mr. Lynch.

NTIC’s consolidated net sales decreased 3.4% to $12,783,000 during the three months ended February 28, 2021, compared to $13,234,000 for the three months ended February 29, 2020. This slight decrease was primarily due to lower ZERUST ® oil and gas sales and Natur-Tec ® sales, partially offset by higher ZERUST ® industrial sales and ZERUST ® sales to NTIC’s joint ventures. For the first half of fiscal 2021, consolidated net sales decreased 8.3% to $25,562,000, compared to $27,865,000 for the same period last fiscal year.

The following table sets forth NTIC’s net sales by product category for the three and six months ended February 28, 2021 and February 29, 2020, by segment:

NTIC’s joint venture operating income was $3,383,000 during the three months ended February 28, 2021, compared to joint venture operating income of $2,617,000 during the three months ended February 29, 2020. This $766,000 increase was attributable to an increase in total net sales of the joint ventures as fees for services provided to joint ventures are primarily a function of the net sales of NTIC’s joint ventures, which were $29,058,000 during the three months ended February 28, 2021, compared to $24,289,000 for the three months ended February 29, 2020. Year-to-date, NTIC’s joint venture operating income was $6,545,000, compared to joint venture operating income of $5,269,000 during the six months ended February 29, 2020. Net sales of NTIC’s joint ventures were $55,836,000 during the six months ended February 28, 2021, compared to $49,750,000 for the six months ended February 29, 2020.

Operating expenses, as a percent of net sales, for the second quarter of fiscal 2021 were 45.9%, compared to 48.8% for the same period last fiscal year. This decrease was primarily a result of lower selling and general and administrative expenses. Year-to-date, operating expenses, as a percent of net sales, were 46.1%, compared to 44.4% for the same period last fiscal year.

Net income attributable to NTIC for the second quarter of fiscal 2021 increased to $1,313,000, or $0.13 per diluted share, from $180,000, or $0.02 per diluted share, for the same period last fiscal year. Net income attributable to NTIC for the first half of fiscal 2021 increased to $2,575,000, or $0.26 per diluted share, from $1,392,000, or $0.15 per diluted share, for the same period last fiscal year.

NTIC’s consolidated balance sheet remains strong, with no debt, and working capital of $29,471,000 at February 28, 2021, including $6,789,000 in cash and cash equivalents and $5,913,000 in available for sale securities, compared to $27,105,000 at August 31, 2020, including $6,403,000 in cash and cash equivalents and $5,545,000 in available for sale securities.

At February 28, 2021, the Company had $24,860,000 of investments in joint ventures, of which over $12,134,000, or 48.8%, was cash, with the remaining balance mostly made up of other working capital.

Conference Call and Webcast

NTIC will host a conference call today at 8:00 a.m. Central Time to review its results of operations for the second quarter of fiscal 2021 and its outlook, followed by a question and answer session. The conference call will be available to interested parties through a live audio webcast available through NTIC’s website at www.ntic.com or https://ntic.gcs-web.com/events-presentations where the webcast will be archived and accessible for at least 12 months. The dial-in number for the conference call is (877) 670-9776 and the confirmation code is 6287462.

About Northern Technologies International Corporation

Northern Technologies International Corporation develops and markets proprietary environmentally beneficial products and services in over 60 countries either directly or via a network of subsidiaries, joint ventures, independent distributors and agents. NTIC’s primary business is corrosion prevention marketed primarily under the ZERUST ® brand. NTIC has been selling its proprietary ZERUST ® rust and corrosion inhibiting products and services to the automotive, electronics, electrical, mechanical, military and retail consumer markets for over 40 years and in recent years has targeted and expanded into the oil and gas industry. NTIC offers worldwide on-site technical consulting for rust and corrosion prevention issues. NTIC’s technical service consultants work directly with the end users of NTIC’s products to analyze their specific needs and develop systems to meet their technical requirements. NTIC also markets and sells a portfolio of bio-based and biodegradable polymer resins and finished products marketed under the Natur-Tec ® brand.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this release that are not historical information are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include NTIC’s expectations that its Natur-Tec® sales should return to pre-pandemic levels in the coming quarters as the large users of compostable bioplastics re-open, that its ZERUST® oil and gas results, are likely to remain volatile over the near-term and that it will continue to see higher year-over-year sales and earnings growth throughout the remainder of fiscal 2021 and other statements that can be identified by words such as “believes,” “continues,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “potential,” “outlook,” “will,” “may,” “would,” “should,” “guidance” or words of similar meaning, the use of future dates and any other statements that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of NTIC’s management and are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or implied. Such potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, in no particular order: the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on NTIC’s business and operating results; the ability of NTIC to continue to pay dividends; the effect of economic uncertainty and trade disputes; NTIC’s dependence on the success of its joint ventures and fees and dividend distributions that NTIC receives from them; NTIC’s relationships with its joint ventures and its ability to maintain those relationships; NTIC’s dependence on its joint venture in Germany in particular due to its significance and the effect of a termination of this or its other joint ventures on NTIC’s business and operating results; the ability of NTIC China to achieve significant sales; costs and expenses incurred by NTIC in connection with its ongoing litigation against its former Chinese joint venture partner; the effect of the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union, economic slowdown and political unrest; risks associated with NTIC’s international operations; exposure to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and tariffs, including in particular the Euro compared to the U.S. dollar; the health of the U.S. and worldwide economies, including in particular the U.S. automotive industry; the level of growth in NTIC’s markets; NTIC’s investments in research and development efforts; acceptance of existing and new products; timing of NTIC’s receipt of purchase orders under supply contracts; variability in sales to customers in the oil and gas industry and the effect on NTIC’s quarterly financial results; increased competition; the costs and effects of complying with changes in tax, fiscal, government and other regulatory policies, including the new tax reform law, which could result in a write-down of our deferred tax assets, and rules relating to environmental, health and safety matters; pending and potential litigation; and NTIC’s reliance on its intellectual property rights and the absence of infringement of the intellectual property rights of others. More detailed information on these and additional factors which could affect NTIC’s operating and financial results is described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2020 and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. NTIC urges all interested parties to read these reports to gain a better understanding of the many business and other risks that the Company faces. Additionally, NTIC undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements, which may be made to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AS OF FEBRUARY 28, 2021 (UNAUDITED) AND
AUGUST 31, 2020 (AUDITED)

NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED FEBRUARY 28, 2021 AND FEBRUARY 29, 2020

Investor and Media Contact:
Matthew Wolsfeld, CFO
NTIC
(763) 225-6600