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PITTSBURGH, Feb. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- MSA (NYSE: MSA) today announced that net sales for the year ended December 31, 2011 were a record $1.173 billion compared with $977 million in 2010, an increase of $196 million, or 20 percent.  Net income for the year ended December 31, 2011 was $70 million, or $1.91 per basic share, an increase of $32 million, or 83 percent, compared with $38 million, or $1.06 per basic share, for 2010.  Excluding after-tax restructuring charges of $6 million and currency exchange losses of $2 million, net income for the year ended December 31, 2011 was $78 million, or $2.13 per basic share.

Net sales for the fourth quarter of 2011 were a record $304 million compared with $285 million for the same quarter in 2010, an increase of $19 million, or 7 percent.  Net income for the fourth quarter of 2011 was $17 million, or 46 cents per basic share, an increase of $5 million, or 44 percent, compared with $12 million, or 33 cents per basic share, for the same quarter last year.  Excluding after-tax restructuring charges of $2 million and currency exchange losses of $1 million, net income was $20 million, or 54 cents per basic share, for the fourth quarter of 2011.  

"MSA's consolidated fourth quarter results reflect our continued focus on leveraging the strengths of our core product lines in both developed and emerging markets, combined with our effectiveness in executing our strategy," said William M. Lambert, MSA President and CEO.   "For the quarter, we achieved strong results across several of our core product groups throughout the world.  In particular, gas detection products performed well in both developed and emerging markets, growing 12 percent in the quarter.  The 14 percent growth we saw in self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) sales was also very encouraging.  Additionally, we were pleased with the 200 basis point improvement we achieved in gross profit margin in the quarter.  Our focus on growing sales of core MSA products, combined with our ongoing efforts to drive operational excellence and manage manufacturing costs, helped us achieve solid growth in revenues and profitability throughout 2011 while facing challenging economic conditions in many parts of the world," he said.

For the quarter, sales in the company's North American segment increased $13 million, or 9 percent, when compared to the same period of 2010.  Sales of gas detection products increased $7 million while sales of head, eye and face protection products increased $3 million on higher shipments to core industrial markets.  Shipments of ballistic helmets to the military market increased $9 million compared to the fourth quarter of 2010.   These increases were partially offset by declines of $3 million in both gas mask and ballistic vest sales to military markets.  

Sales in the company's European segment decreased $1 million, or 2 percent, in the fourth quarter of 2011.  Currency translation effects decreased fourth quarter European segment sales, when stated in U.S. dollars, by $0.5 million, primarily due to a weaker euro.  Local currency sales of gas masks and fire helmets decreased $2 million and $3 million, respectively, on weakness in Western Europe.  These declines were offset by local currency sales of SCBA, which were up $5 million on higher shipments to the fire service markets in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

For the quarter, sales in MSA's International segment, which consists of Asia, Australia, Latin America, and Sub-Saharan Africa, increased $7 million, or 10 percent, when compared to the fourth quarter of 2010.  Local currency sales increased $9 million, driven primarily by stronger industrial market sales in Latin America and Asia across a broad group of product lines.  Currency translation effects decreased fourth quarter International segment sales, when stated in U.S. dollars, by $2 million, primarily related to a weakening of the South African rand and Brazilian real.  

Net income in MSA's North American segment in the fourth quarter of 2011 decreased 2 percent when compared with the fourth quarter of 2010.   Strong improvements in operating income were more than offset by a higher effective tax rate.  

European segment net income increased $2 million in the fourth quarter of 2011.  This increase was primarily related to improved gross profits and lower operating costs, partially offset by higher restructuring costs.  

Net income in MSA's International segment was $3 million higher in the fourth quarter of 2011.  This increase in net income was primarily related to higher sales throughout Latin America and Asia, and the recognition of $2 million in deferred tax assets on higher profitability in Asia.  These improvements were partially offset by higher operating costs on the higher level of sales.  

"The revenue and earnings growth we have reported over the past several quarters demonstrate how our global team is effectively executing our Corporate Strategy," Mr. Lambert said.   "While I am pleased by the underlying performance seen in many areas of our business throughout 2011, we continue to keep a close eye on evolving global economic conditions.  We remain optimistic regarding a strengthening U.S. economy and growing economies in the emerging markets of the world.  However, we expect uncertain economic conditions to persist in Europe throughout 2012.  In spite of this unevenness, we remain focused on executing our strategy, which clearly helped us recognize record revenues and strong improvements in profitability throughout 2011," Mr. Lambert concluded.

About MSA:

Established in 1914, MSA is a global leader in the development, manufacture and supply of safety products that protect people's health and safety.  Many MSA products typically integrate a combination of electronics, mechanical systems and advanced materials to protect users against hazardous or life-threatening situations. The company's comprehensive line of products is used by workers around the world in a broad range of industries, including the fire service, the oil, gas and petrochemical industry, construction, mining and utilities, as well as the military.  Principal products include self-contained breathing apparatus, handheld gas detection instruments, fixed gas and flame detection systems, head protection products, fall protection devices and thermal imaging cameras. The company also provides a broad range of consumer and contractor safety products through a joint venture with MCR Safety.  These products are marketed and sold under the Safety Works® brand.  MSA has annual sales of approximately $1 billion, manufacturing operations in the United States, Europe, Asia and Latin America, and 42 international locations.  Additional information is available on the company's Web site at www.MSAsafety.com.  Information on Safety Works products can be found at www.SafetyWorks.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

Except for historical information, certain matters discussed in this press release may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements, including without limitation all projections and anticipated levels of future performance, involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those discussed herein. Actual results can be affected by any number of factors, many of which are outside of management's control.  Among the factors that could cause such differences are global economic conditions, spending patterns of government agencies, competitive pressures, product liability claims, the success of new product introductions, currency exchange rate fluctuations, the identification and successful integration of acquisitions and the risks of doing business in foreign countries. These risks, uncertainties and other factors are detailed from time-to-time in our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). You are strongly urged to review all such filings for a more detailed discussion of such risks and uncertainties.  MSA's SEC filings are readily obtainable at no charge at www.sec.gov, as well as on a number of other commercial Websites.

SOURCE MSA