BRISTOL, Conn., Feb 18, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

Barnes Group Inc. (NYSE: B), a diversified global manufacturer and logistical services company, today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2010. Fourth quarter 2010 sales totaled $283.3 million, up 10.4 percent from $256.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2009. Net income of $11.5 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, compared to net income of $6.2 million, or $0.11 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2009. Fourth quarter 2009 results included $1.3 million of after-tax charges for restructuring actions.

For 2010, Barnes Group achieved sales of $1,133 million, up 9.6 percent. Net income was $53.3 million, or $0.95 per diluted share, compared to net income of $39.0 million, or $0.72 per diluted share, in 2009. The 2009 full year results included $5.7 million of after-tax charges for restructuring actions.

"Barnes Group had a solid year in 2010. The investments we've made through the global recession are coming to fruition with meaningful growth in sales and profitability in 2010. Although the fourth quarter has traditionally been challenging given the seasonality of some of our businesses, we are pleased with our results and plan to build on this momentum," said Gregory F. Milzcik, President and Chief Executive Officer, Barnes Group Inc.

Logistics and Manufacturing Services

• Fourth quarter 2010 sales were $135.8 million, up 6 percent from $128.6 million in the same period last year. The increase in sales was driven by growth in the North American distribution businesses and modest improvement in the aerospace aftermarket business. Sales in the Company's European-based distribution business were flat net of foreign exchange. Foreign currency translation negatively impacted fourth quarter 2010 sales by $1.8 million.
• Operating profit of $7.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2010 was up 47 percent compared to the prior year period operating profit of $5.2 million. Operating profit improved primarily due to an increase in sales volumes from the North American distribution businesses, and to a lesser extent the aerospace aftermarket, and was partially offset by higher product and employee-related costs.
• Full year 2010 sales were $548.5 million, up 2 percent from $539.1 million in 2009. The increase was primarily a result of organic sales growth from end-market improvements in the North American distribution businesses. Aerospace aftermarket sales decreased from 2009 reflecting the continued trend of deferred maintenance. Foreign currency translation negatively impacted sales of $1.1 million in 2010.
• Full year 2010 operating profit decreased 16 percent to $36.9 million from 2009 primarily due to lower sales from the Company's higher margin aerospace aftermarket business, continued investments to benefit sales force productivity in the distribution businesses, and the impact of higher product and employee-related costs. The segment benefited from volume increase from the North American distribution businesses as industrial and automotive end-markets showed improvements from 2009.

Precision Components

• Fourth quarter 2010 sales were $149.5 million, up 15 percent from $129.9 million in the same period last year. The increase in sales was primarily a result of continued improving market conditions in industrial manufacturing and transportation businesses based in North America and Europe. Sales in the aerospace original equipment manufacturing business were relatively flat compared to the fourth quarter of 2009. Foreign exchange negatively affected sales by $1.3 million in the fourth quarter.
• Operating profit for the fourth quarter of 2010 was $10.7 million, up 74 percent from the fourth quarter of 2009. Operating profits improved primarily as a result of an increase in sales volumes from the industrial manufacturing and transportation businesses based in North America and Europe and lower cost structures partially offset by costs to meet increased customer demand and employee-related costs. Additionally, fourth quarter 2009 results included $3.6 million (pre-tax) of severance and plant consolidation charges.
• Full year 2010 sales were $595.9 million, up 19 percent from $501.5 million in 2009. The increase was primarily a result of increased sales in the industrial manufacturing businesses based in North America and Europe as well as general market improvements in the transportation industry, including automotive. Sales in the aerospace OEM business were relatively flat in 2010 compared to 2009. The impact of foreign currency translation increased sales by approximately $0.7 million in 2010.
• Full year 2010 operating profit was $49.6 million compared to $16.6 million in 2009. Operating profit improvements in 2010 were due primarily to the profit impact of higher sales levels, lower cost structures resulting from previous actions and lean initiatives. These improvements in operating profit were partly offset by additional costs resulting from higher demand including employee-related costs, such as incentive compensation and temporary labor. In addition, the 2009 results included approximately $10.7 million (pre-tax) in restructuring charges primarily for employee termination costs and asset write-downs associated with moving the operations of two facilities.

Additional Information

• For the full year 2010, other expenses (income), net was expenses of $2.5 million, compared to income of $2.0 million the prior year. The income in 2009 resulted primarily from a $3.8 million gain on the repurchase of certain convertible subordinated notes.
• The Company's effective tax rate from continuing operations for 2010 was 16.8 percent compared with 2.4 percent in 2009. The increase in the 2010 effective tax rate from 2009 was due primarily to a shift in the mix of income derived from higher taxing jurisdictions and the repatriation in 2010 of a portion of current year foreign earnings to the U.S in the amount of $7.5 million.

2011 Outlook

"As we look ahead to 2011, we remain committed to expanding our geographic reach and enhancing our product offerings to customers worldwide. We believe that our focus on driving profitable sales growth, together with continued stabilization and growth in our end-markets, will benefit us in the future. We expect our top-line to grow 5 to 8 percent and earnings per diluted share to be in the range of $1.15 to $1.30", said Christopher J. Stephens Jr., Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer.

Conference Call

The Company will conduct a conference call with investors to discuss fourth quarter and full year 2010 results at 8:30 a.m. EST today, February 18, 2011. A webcast of the live call and an archived replay will be available on the Barnes Group investor relations link at www.BGInc.com.

Barnes Group Inc. (NYSE:B) is a diversified global manufacturer and logistical services company focused on providing precision component manufacturing and operating service support. Founded in 1857, approximately 4,900 dedicated employees at more than 67 locations worldwide are committed to achieving consistent and sustainable profitable growth. For more information, visit www.BGInc.com. Barnes Group, the Critical Components People.

This release may contain certain forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation and Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are made based upon management's good faith expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effect upon the Company and can be identified by the use of words such as "anticipated," "believe," "expect," "plans," "strategy," "estimate," "project," and other words of similar meaning in connection with a discussion of future operating or financial performance. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties, which are described in our periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, include, among others, uncertainties arising from the behavior of financial markets; future financial performance of the industries or customers that we serve; changes in market demand for our products and services; integration of acquired businesses; restructuring costs or savings; introduction or development of new products or transfer of work; changes in raw material or product prices and availability; foreign currency exposure; our dependence upon revenues and earnings from a small number of significant customers; a major loss of customers; the outcome of pending and future claims or litigation or governmental, regulatory proceedings, investigations, inquiries, and audits; uninsured claims and litigation; outcome of contingencies; future repurchases of common stock; future levels of indebtedness; and numerous other matters of global, regional or national scale, including those of a political, economic, business, competitive, environmental, regulatory and public health nature. The Company assumes no obligation to update our forward-looking statements.

SOURCE: Barnes Group Inc.

Barnes Group Inc.
Chris Stephens, 860-583-7070