Cantel Medical Reports 28% Increase in Net Income - EPS of $1.18 vs. $0.94 -for Year Ended July 31, 2010

LITTLE FALLS, N.J., Oct. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CANTEL MEDICAL CORP. (NYSE: CMN) reported an 8% increase in net income to $4,623,000, or $0.27 per diluted share, on a 5% increase in sales to $69,811,000 for the fourth quarter ended July 31, 2010. This compares with net income of $4,279,000, or $0.26 per diluted share, on sales of $66,793,000 for the fourth quarter ended July 31, 2009.

For the fiscal year ended July 31, 2010, the Company reported a 28% increase in net income to $19,941,000, or $1.18 per diluted share, on a 5% increase in sales to $273,952,000. This compares with net income of $15,569,000, or $0.94 per diluted share, on sales of $260,050,000 for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2009. Additionally, EBITDAS for the fiscal year increased 13% from $42,059,000 to $47,471,000.

Andrew Krakauer, Cantel’s President and CEO stated, “We are pleased to have delivered a solid quarter and strong double digit earnings growth for the year. In the fourth quarter, sales growth was particularly robust in Endoscope Reprocessing and Water Purification where revenue grew by 34% and 16%, respectively. This is a confirmation of the success of the sales and marketing investments we made in these businesses. Our Healthcare Disposables business also performed very well this quarter, and the base business continued to grow in excess of the dental market. It is important to note that even with the strong Crosstex performance, the reported segment sales are comparatively lower due to the abnormally high fourth quarter results in fiscal year 2009 from H1N1 flu sales of face masks.”

Krakauer continued, “The diversity of Cantel’s product portfolio within Infection Prevention and Control and our focus on growing consumables and service revenue, supported by a large base of installed equipment, have greatly benefited our consolidated results during the quarter and for the full 2010 fiscal year. Excluding the Dialysis segment, where sales of low margin dialysate concentrate declined as expected, revenue growth for the fiscal year was 13%. All of our reporting segments except Dialysis, showed commendable earnings growth resulting from a favorable sales mix, the implementation of price increases, success from new product introductions, benefits derived from sales and marketing investments, and ongoing cost improvement programs. Additionally, our earnings were positively impacted by reduced interest expenses.

During fiscal year 2011, we plan to significantly increase our R&D spending and new product development efforts, particularly in the area of chemistry development. We will continue to leverage our significant investments in sales and marketing (including our alternative channel programs) and aggressively pursue strategic acquisitions to further improve our revenue growth and operating margins. Last week, we were pleased to report the key strategic acquisition of Gambro’s United States water business. This adds further manufacturing scale, product diversity, and an expanded U.S. customer base to our Mar Cor Purification subsidiary. We remain active in our search for, and review of, acquisition targets, and we expect this activity to remain one of the key growth vehicles for Cantel Medical in the future.”

The Company also reported that its balance sheet at July 31, 2010 included current assets of $94,731,000, including cash of $22,612,000, a current ratio of 2.3:1, gross debt of $21,000,000, stockholders’ equity of $209,405,000 and a ratio of gross debt to EBITDAS of 0.4:1. Krakauer stated, “The Company has a strong balance sheet and continues to generate significant cash flow. Our cash provided by operating activities was $11,582,000 for the fourth quarter and $29,033,000 for the full year. We began fiscal 2010 with net debt of $19,932,000, and ended in a positive net cash position of $1,612,000. Following the recently announced Gambro acquisition, gross debt increased to $33,000,000, and our gross debt to EBITDAS ratio is still a favorable 0.7:1. Cantel remains in an excellent position to fund acquisitions and other investment activities.”

Cantel Medical Corp. is a leading provider of infection prevention and control products in the healthcare market. Our products include specialized medical device reprocessing systems for renal dialysis and endoscopy, dialysate concentrates and other dialysis supplies, disposable infection control products primarily for the dental industry, water purification equipment, sterilants, disinfectants and cleaners, hollow fiber membrane filtration and separation products for medical and non-medical applications, and specialty packaging for infectious and biological specimens. We also provide technical maintenance for our products and offer compliance training services for the transport of infectious and biological specimens.

The Company will hold a conference call to discuss the results for the fourth quarter ended July 31, 2010 on Wednesday, October 13, 2010 at 11:00 AM Eastern time. To participate in the conference call, dial 1-877-407-8035 approximately 5 to 10 minutes before the beginning of the call. If you are unable to participate, a digital replay of the call will be available from Wednesday, October 13, 2010 at 2:00 PM through midnight on October 20, 2010 by dialing 1-877-660-6853 and using passcode #286 and conference ID #358375.

The call will be simultaneously broadcast live over the Internet on vcall.com at http://www.investorcalendar.com/IC/CEPage.asp?ID=161963. A replay of the webcast will be available on Vcall for 30 days.

For further information, visit the Cantel website at www.cantelmedical.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, the risks detailed in Cantel’s filings and reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such forward-looking statements are only predictions, and actual events or results may differ materially from those projected or anticipated.

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