Baldwin Technology Company, Inc.(NYSE Amex: BLD), a global leader in process automation technology for the printing industry, today reported its financial results for the Company’s second quarter ended December 31, 2011. 

Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2012 Financial Results
The Company reported second quarter net sales of $39.3 million from continuing operations, a decrease of $2.0 million, or 4.8%, from net sales from continuing operations of $41.3 million for the second quarter of the prior year. Currency translation had a $0.6 million favorable impact on sales in the current quarter. 

Orders in the 2012 second fiscal quarter were approximately $37.6 million, a decrease of 11.9% compared to orders in the second quarter of fiscal year 2011. Currency translation had a $0.1 million favorable impact on orders in the quarter. Backlog as of December 31, 2011 was $34.6 million compared to $33.3 million a year earlier, an increase of 3.7%, and $36.2 million at September 30, 2011, a decrease of 4.6%. 

Gross margin in the second quarter of fiscal year 2012 decreased to 25.9% compared to 30.6% in the prior year primarily due to a realignment of certain global engineering costs of approximately $1.4 million. Excluding the impact of the realignment of these costs, gross margin in the second quarter of fiscal year 2012 was 29.5%. Additionally, margins for the 2012 second fiscal quarter were negatively impacted by lower volume on fixed overhead. The negative impact on gross margin from the cost realignment and lower volume was partially offset by cost savings from the restructuring actions completed in fiscal year 2011. 

Operating expenses, including restructuring charges, as a percentage of sales, were 29.8% in the second quarter of fiscal 2012 compared to 30.7% in the prior year quarter. Currency translation had a $0.2 million unfavorable impact in the current quarter. Operating expenses after adjusting for non-routine expenses as shown in the attached schedule, and the impact of the realignment of certain engineering costs, were 29.1% of net sales in the second quarter of fiscal year 2012 compared to 29.6% in the same period of the prior year. 

The Company recorded a valuation allowance of approximately $4.2 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2012 against deferred tax assets primarily in the U.S. The valuation allowance was recorded based on the Company’s ongoing assessment of the potential realization of its deferred tax assets. 

Net loss from continuing operations for the second quarter of fiscal year 2012 was $7.9 million or $0.50 per diluted share, compared to net income of $0.4 million or $0.02 per diluted share for the comparable quarter in the prior year. 

Adjusted EBITDA, which excludes non-routine expenses, as shown in the attached schedule, was $0.6 million for the fiscal second quarter of 2012 compared to adjusted EBITDA of $1.2 million for the same quarter of 2011. 

Cash used in operations in the second quarter of fiscal year 2012 was $0.4 million compared to a source of cash of $0.9 million in the second quarter of the prior year. The Company had $0.5 million in cash restructuring payments in the second quarter of fiscal year 2012 compared to $0.3 million in the same quarter of 2011. 

The Company is undergoing an interim analysis of its goodwill carrying value. As of the date of this release, the Company has not yet completed its analysis; however, the Company has determined that there is likelihood that some or all of the goodwill in its reporting units may be impaired. The potential non-cash impairment loss, if any, will be between $0 and $19.3 million and will be recorded in the third quarter of 2012. 

The business environment in which the Company operates continues to be challenging, not only for Baldwin, but for virtually every company active in the traditional printing industry marketplace. This is especially true in the euro zone countries where unsettled conditions have resulted in delayed investment decisions from certain customers, and in Japan where post-earthquake economic conditions in our industry are still behind forecasts. Additionally, in November 2011 the bankruptcy filing by a major customer reduced the Company’s Fiscal 2012 second quarter shipments by approximately $0.8 million and also caused the Company to write-off approximately $1.2 million of accounts receivable even though it now appears that new ownership could mean a continuation of that business relationship with Baldwin. Overall, the Company continues to maintain its market share while aggressively pursuing business opportunities in the industry it serves. Please refer to the attached schedule following the reported GAAP results which shows a reconciliation of GAAP results to non-GAAP adjusted results, and the notes below explaining management’s reasons for providing certain non-GAAP financial measures. 

Credit Facility
As of December 31, 2011, the Company is in compliance with its credit agreement covenants, as amended. 

SEC Filings
The Company plans to file its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q on February 14, 2012 with additional disclosure about the results of the quarter. A preliminary proxy statement was filed on January 26, 2012, and a definitive proxy statement is expected to be filed on or about February 15, 2012, with respect to the merger of Baldwin with Forsyth Capital. 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This release provides GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures. For purposes of Regulation G, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company’s historical or future financial performance, financial position or cash flows that excludes amounts, or is subject to adjustments that have the effect of excluding amounts, that are included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP in the statements of income, balance sheets, or statements of cash flows of the Company; or includes amounts, or is subject to adjustments that have the effect of including amounts, that are excluded from the most directly comparable measure so calculated and presented. Pursuant to the requirements of Regulation G, the Company has provided reconciliations of each of the non-GAAP financial measures contained herein to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP measures are provided because management of the Company uses these financials measures as an indicator of business performance in maintaining and evaluating the Company’s on-going financial results and trends. The Company believes that both management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP measures in assessing the performance of the Company’s ongoing operations and liquidity and when planning and forecasting future periods. These non-GAAP measures also facilitate management’s internal comparisons to the Company’s historical operating results and liquidity. 

To see the financial tables please click here.