Northern Technologies International (NTIC) 8-KNorthern Technologies International Corporation Reports Financial Results for Fourth Quarter and Full Year Fiscal 2022

Exhibit 99.1

Northern Technologies International Corporation Reports Financial Results for Fourth Quarter and Full Year Fiscal 2022

MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 14, 2022 (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 fourth quarter and fiscal year ended August 31, 2022.

Full year fiscal 2022 financial and operating highlights include (with growth rates on a fiscal year-over-year basis):

• Consolidated net sales increased 31.3% to a record $74,159,000
• Consolidated net sales increased 13.6%, excluding sales as a result of the September 2021 acquisition of the remaining 50% ownership in NTIC’s Indian Joint Venture
• ZERUST^® net sales increased 26.1% to $57,459,000
• ZERUST^® oil and gas net sales increased 21.5% to $4,608,000
• NTIC China net sales decreased 9.2% to $15,754,000
• Natur-Tec^® product net sales increased 52.7% to $16,700,000
• Joint venture operating income decreased 21.9% to $10,494,000
• Net income attributable to NTIC increased to $6,325,000, compared to $6,281,000 last year
• Net income per diluted share attributable to NTIC was $0.66, compared to $0.64 per share last year
• NTIC’s cash and cash equivalents were $5,334,000 as of August 31, 2022

“NTIC achieved record sales in fiscal 2022, thanks to strong demand for Zerust Industrial products and services in North America, as well as for Natur-Tec and Zerust Oil & Gas products both in the U.S. and abroad. It’s important to also note the benefit NTIC received from acquiring our remaining 50% ownership interest of Zerust India at the start of fiscal 2022. These positives helped NTIC successfully navigate an otherwise very complex business environment throughout fiscal 2022, which brought supply chain issues, significant raw material cost increases, and challenges across our European and Asian markets. In turn, we believe positive market momentum will continue to be favorable in fiscal 2023, and that our long-term growth strategies, focused on providing our customers innovative solutions and global services, while diversifying our end markets, are being properly executed,” said G. Patrick Lynch, President and Chief Executive Officer of NTIC.

“As we enter fiscal 2023, momentum remains strong across our North American Zerust Industrial market, as well as global Zerust Oil & Gas and Natur-Tec markets, which we expect will help NTIC continue to offset near-term uncertainty within our European and Asian markets. In addition, we expect our annual profitability to improve in fiscal 2023 as we continue to focus on rebuilding our margins,” concluded Mr. Lynch.

NTIC’s consolidated net sales increased 30.5% to $20,252,000 during the three months ended August 31, 2022, compared to $15,513,000 for the three months ended August 31, 2021. The year-over-year increase in consolidated net sales was primarily due to sales growth within the Company’s Zerust Industrial and Natur-Tec product categories, as a result of higher global demand and the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. For the full year ended August 31, 2022, consolidated net sales increased 31.3% to $74,159,000, compared to $56,494,000 for the prior fiscal year. 

The following tables set forth NTIC’s net sales by product category for the three months and fiscal year ended August 31, 2022, and August 31, 2021 by segment:

NTIC’s joint venture operating income decreased 8.1% to $2,996,000 during the three months ended August 31, 2022, compared to joint venture operating income of $3,261,000 during the three months ended August 31, 2021. This decrease was attributable to a corresponding reduction 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 decreased 22.0% to $25,859,000 during the three months ended August 31, 2022, compared to $33,159,000 for the three months ended August 31, 2021. The decrease was partially offset by $682,000 in the recovery of previously written-off fees for services related to the termination of its joint venture in China in fiscal 2015.

For fiscal 2022, NTIC’s joint venture operating income decreased 21.9% to $10,494,000, compared to joint venture operating income of $13,429,000 during the full year ended August 31, 2021. Net sales at NTIC’s joint ventures decreased 14.0% to $104,078,000 during the full year ended August 31, 2022, compared to $120,955,000 for the full year ended August 31, 2021.

Operating expenses, as a percent of net sales, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022 were 37.1%, compared to 42.5% for the same period last fiscal year. This improvement in operating leverage was due to higher fourth quarter fiscal 2022 sales and NTIC’s continued focus on controlling operating expenses. For the full fiscal year 2022, operating expenses, as a percent of net sales, were 38.3% compared to 43.7% for last fiscal year.

The Company reported net income attributable to NTIC for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022 of $648,000, or $0.07 per diluted share, compared to net income of $1,652,000, or $0.17 per diluted share for the same period last fiscal year. For the full year ended August 31, 2022, net income attributable to NTIC increased to $6,325,000, or $0.66 per diluted share, compared to net income of $6,281,000, or $0.64 per diluted share for last fiscal year.

Non-GAAP adjusted net income, as set forth in the GAAP reconciliation at the end of this release, was $753,000, or $0.08 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022, compared to $1,652,000, or $0.17 per diluted share, for the same quarter last fiscal year. For the full year ended August 31, 2022, NTIC’s non-GAAP adjusted net income, as set forth in the GAAP reconciliation at the end of this release, was $3,031,000, or $0.32 per diluted share, compared to $6,281,000, or $0.64 per diluted share, for last fiscal year.  

NTIC’s consolidated balance sheet remains strong, with working capital of $23,169,000 as of August 31, 2022, including $5,334,000 in cash and cash equivalents, $6,000 in available for sale securities, and an outstanding revolving line of credit balance of $5,900,000, compared to $25,231,000 of working capital as of August 31, 2021, including $7,681,000 in cash and cash equivalents and $5,000 in available for sale securities, and no outstanding line of credit balance.

At August 31, 2022, the Company had $21,815,000 of investments in joint ventures, of which $10,975,000 or 50.3%, is 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 fourth quarter and full fiscal year of 2022 and its outlook, followed by a question-and-answer session. The conference call will be available to interested parties through a webcast. To join the live call and ask a question, a participant must register using the URL below.

https://register.vevent.com/register/BIcc418f5936ab45b19aa57734cfde6878  

Once registered, the participant will receive a dial-in number and unique PIN number to access the call.

The audio-only webcast can be accessed at the following link: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/cdygiufv. A link to the webcast is also available on the Investor Relations section of NTIC’s webpage. Participants are advised to go to the website at least 15 minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software. For those unable to participate in the live webcast, a replay of the webcast will be archived and accessible for approximately one year on the Investor Relations section of NTIC’s webpage.

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 mainly 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 almost 50 years and more recently has also 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 resin compounds 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 belief that positive market momentum will continue to be favorable in fiscal 2023 annual profitability will improve in fiscal 2023 as NTIC continues to focus on rebuilding its margins 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, and the use of future dates. 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 effects of supply chain and shipping issues on NTIC’s business and operating results; the health of the U.S. and worldwide economies, including in particular the U.S. automotive industry; the effect of economic uncertainty and trade disputes; NTIC’s dependence on its joint ventures, including in particular in Germany, its relationships with its joint venture partners and the success of its joint ventures, including fees and dividend distributions that NTIC receives from them; risks associated with NTIC’s international operations, including its NTIC China operations, its acquisition of the remaining 50% ownership interest in Zerust India, the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union and exposure to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and tariffs, including in particular the Euro compared to the U.S. dollar; the effect of inflation, an economic slowdown and possible recession and political unrest, including the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine; 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, 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 (SEC), including its annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021 and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, as well as its annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2022 to be filed with the SEC. 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.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to the financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), this press release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures, including net sales, excluding net sales attributable to Zerust India, adjusted net income attributable to NTIC and adjusted net income attributable to NTIC per diluted share. The reasons for the use of these measures, reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures and other information relating to these measures are included below following the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. Non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for NTIC’s financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP.


NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - AUGUST 31, 2022 AND 2021                

NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE THREE AND TWELVE MONTHS ENDED AUGUST 31, 2022 AND 2021

NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP MEASURES
(UNAUDITED, IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

The accompanying press release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures, including net sales growth, excluding incremental sales attributable to Zerust India, adjusted net income attributable to NTIC and adjusted net income attributable to NTIC per diluted share, which are not calculated or presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP). These non-GAAP financial measures are information supplemental and in addition to the financial measures presented in the accompanying release that are calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. NTIC uses non-GAAP financial measures as supplemental measures of performance and believes these measures facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period and company to company by factoring out potential differences caused by non-recurring, unusual or infrequent charges not related to NTIC’s regular, ongoing business. NTIC also believes that the presentation of certain non-GAAP financial measures provides useful information to investors in evaluating the company’s operations, period over period. Such non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered superior to, as a substitute for, or as an alternative to, and should be considered in conjunction with, the GAAP financial measures presented in the release. The non-GAAP financial measures in the accompanying release may differ from similar measures used by other companies.

The following table provides reconciliations of financial measures calculated and reported in accordance with GAAP as well as adjusted non-GAAP financial measures presented in the accompanying release. The following is a reconciliation of NTIC’s reported net sales and adjusted net sales, excluding net sales attributable to Zerust India, on both a dollar and percentage increase basis.

The following is a reconciliation of NTIC’s reported net income attributable to NTIC and reported net income attributable to NTIC per common share to adjusted net income attributable to NTIC and adjusted net income attributable to NTIC per common share, in each case, as adjusted to exclude the net one-time gain related to the acquisition of the remaining 50% ownership interest of Zerust India and certain other adjustments as described below.

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