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:

	Three Months Ended
	February 28, 2021			% of Net Sales			February 29, 2020			% of Net Sales			% Change
ZERUST® industrial net sales	$	9,396,105		73.5	%		$	7,703,575		58.2	%		22.0	%
ZERUST® joint venture net sales		526,941		4.1	%			245,629		1.9	%		114.5	%
ZERUST® oil & gas net sales		361,070		2.8	%			1,067,018		8.1	%		(66.2)	%
Total ZERUST® net sales	$	10,284,116		80.5	%		$	9,016,222		68.1	%		14.1	%
Total Natur-Tec® sales		2,498,766		19.5	%			4,217,561		31.9	%		(40.8)	%
Total net sales	$	12,782,882		100.0	%		$	13,233,783		100.0	%		(3.4)	%

	Six Months Ended
	February 28, 2021			% of Net Sales			February 29, 2020			% of Net Sales			% Change
ZERUST® industrial net sales	$	18,473,659		72.3	%		$	16,546,627		59.4	%		11.6	%
ZERUST® joint venture net sales		1,107,245		4.3	%			831,246		3.0	%		33.2	%
ZERUST® oil & gas net sales		923,763		3.6	%			1,587,862		5.7	%		(41.8)	%
Total ZERUST® net sales	$	20,504,667		80.2	%		$	18,965,734		68.1	%		8.1	%
Total Natur-Tec® sales		5,057,327		19.8	%			8,899,449		31.9	%		(43.2)	%
Total net sales	$	25,561,994		100.0	%		$	27,865,183		100.0	%		(8.3)	%

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)

		February 28, 2021				August 31, 2020
ASSETS
	CURRENT ASSETS:
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	6,788,535			$	6,403,032
	Available for sale securities		5,913,480				5,544,722
	Receivables:
	Trade excluding joint ventures, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $100,000 as of February 28, 2021 and $90,000 as of August 31, 2020		10,286,535				8,072,212
	Trade joint ventures		448,021				475,900
	Fees for services provided to joint ventures		1,315,876				927,286
	Income taxes		289,104				19,907
	Inventories		11,210,584				10,961,796
	Prepaid expenses		1,270,453				797,495
	Total current assets		37,522,588				33,202,350
	PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET		7,144,909				7,110,789
OTHER ASSETS:
	Investments in joint ventures		24,860,148				24,090,826
	Deferred income taxes		215,184				209,729
	Patents and trademarks, net		776,405				802,006
	Operating lease right of use asset		596,935				658,788
	Total other assets		26,448,672				25,761,349
	Total assets	$	71,116,169			$	66,074,488
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
	CURRENT LIABILITIES:
	Accounts payable	$	4,394,539			$	3,205,241
	Income taxes payable		623,960				310,922
	Accrued liabilities:
	Payroll and related benefits		1,829,991				1,314,978
	Other		975,780				880,118
	Current portion of operating lease		226,979				386,345
	Total current liabilities		8,051,249				6,097,604
	LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
	Operating lease, less current portion		369,956				272,443
	Total long-term liabilities		369,956				272,443
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
EQUITY:
	Preferred stock, no par value; authorized 10,000 shares; none issued and outstanding		—				—
	Common stock, $0.02 par value per share; authorized 15,000,000 shares as of November 30, 2020 and August 31, 2020; issued and outstanding 9,104,636 and 9,099,990, respectively		182,093				182,000
	Additional paid-in capital		17,793,646				17,415,043
	Retained earnings		44,455,982				42,472,810
	Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(2,969,563	)			(3,410,438	)
	Stockholders’ equity		59,462,158				56,659,415
	Non-controlling interests		3,232,806				3,045,026
	Total equity		62,694,964				59,704,441
	Total liabilities and equity	$	71,116,169			$	66,074,488

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

	Three Months Ended								Six Months Ended
	February 28, 2021				February 29, 2020				February 28, 2021				February 29, 2020
NET SALES:
Net sales, excluding joint ventures	$	12,255,941			$	12,988,153			$	24,454,749			$	27,033,937
Net sales, to joint ventures		526,941				245,630				1,107,245				831,246
Total net sales		12,782,882				13,233,783				25,561,994				27,865,183
Cost of goods sold		8,531,679				8,687,301				16,845,000				18,492,385
Gross profit		4,251,203				4,546,482				8,716,994				9,372,798
JOINT VENTURE OPERATIONS:
Equity in income from joint ventures		1,920,012				1,360,804				3,745,724				2,654,794
Fees for services provided to joint ventures		1,462,684				1,256,213				2,799,245				2,614,538
Total joint venture operations		3,382,696				2,617,017				6,544,969				5,269,332
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Selling expenses		2,832,008				3,110,240				5,573,776				5,997,532
General and administrative expenses		1,958,974				2,345,113				4,052,956				4,394,800
Research and development expenses		1,075,180				1,006,395				2,150,917				1,968,036
Total operating expenses		5,866,162				6,461,748				11,777,649				12,360,368
OPERATING INCOME		1,767,737				701,751				3,484,314				2,281,762
INTEREST INCOME		15,638				55,042				85,176				104,080
INTEREST EXPENSE		(5,249	)			(9,377	)			(7,617	)			(14,821	)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE		1,778,126				747,416				3,561,873				2,371,021
INCOME TAX EXPENSE		274,660				463,594				653,250				727,660
NET INCOME		1,503,466				283,822				2,908,623				1,643,361
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NON-
CONTROLLING INTERESTS		190,891				103,988				333,649				250,977
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NTIC	$	1,312,575			$	179,834			$	2,574,974			$	1,392,384
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NTIC PER COMMON SHARE:
Basic	$	0.14			$	0.02			$	0.28			$	0.15
Diluted	$	0.13			$	0.02			$	0.26			$	0.15
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES
ASSUMED OUTSTANDING:
Basic		9,104,636				9,097,236				9,104,623				9,095,604
Diluted		9,867,918				9,461,727				9,756,268				9,383,867
CASH DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE	$	0.065			$	0.065			$	0.065			$	0.13

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