Brady (BRC) 8-K Brady Corporation reports fiscal 2011 third quarter results

EXHIBIT 99.1

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Investor contact: Aaron Pearce 414-438-6895

Media contact: Carole Herbstreit 414-438-6882

Brady Corporation reports fiscal 2011 third quarter results

MILWAUKEE (May 18, 2011)—Brady Corporation (NYSE: BRC), a world leader in identification solutions, today reported financial results for its fiscal 2011 third quarter ended April 30, 2011.

Third-quarter results:

Net income in the fiscal 2011 third quarter was up 20.7 percent to $28.6 million compared to $23.7 million in the same quarter last year. Excluding $0.9 million of after-tax restructuring charges in the third quarter of fiscal 2011 and $1.7 million of after-tax restructuring charges in the same quarter last year, net income was up 16.1 percent to $29.5 million compared to $25.4 million in the same quarter last year.

Earnings per diluted Class A Common Share were up 20.0 percent to $0.54 in the third quarter of fiscal 2011 compared to $0.45 in the third quarter of fiscal 2010. Excluding after-tax restructuring charges, earnings per diluted Class A Common Share increased 14.6 percent to $0.55 in the third quarter of fiscal 2011 compared to $0.48 per share in the same quarter of fiscal 2010.

Sales for the fiscal 2011 third quarter were up 4.9 percent to $337.9 million compared to $321.9 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2010. Organic sales growth was 1.0 percent, acquisitions net of divestitures contributed 0.4 percent to sales, and the impact of foreign currency translation increased sales by 3.5 percent. By segment, organic sales increased 2.7 percent in the Americas and 3.6 percent in Europe, and decreased 5.1 percent in the Asia-Pacific region.

Nine-month results:

Net income for the nine months ended April 30, 2011 was up 31.0 percent to $79.1 million compared to $60.4 million in the same period in fiscal 2010. Excluding $5.0 million of after-tax restructuring charges in the nine-month period ended April 30, 2011 and $6.9 million of after-tax restructuring charges in the same period last year, net income was up 25.0 percent to $84.1 million compared to $67.3 million in the same period last year.

Earnings per diluted Class A Common Share were up 30.7 percent to $1.49 for the nine-month period ended April 30, 2011 compared to $1.14 in the same period of fiscal 2010. Excluding after-tax restructuring charges, earnings per diluted Class A Common Share increased 24.4 percent to $1.58 for the nine-month period ended April 30, 2011 compared to $1.27 per share in the same period of fiscal 2010.

Sales for the nine-month period ended April 30, 2011 were up 6.4 percent to $996.5 million compared to $936.2 million in the same period last year. Organic sales growth was 4.1 percent, acquisitions net of divestitures contributed 1.4 percent to sales, and the impact of foreign currency translation increased sales by 0.9 percent. By segment, organic sales increased 5.3 percent in the Americas, 5.6 percent in Europe and 0.4 percent in the Asia-Pacific region.

Commentary and Guidance:

“While organic sales were relatively flat, we saw a 20.7% increase in net income. Our focus on process improvement and process standardization through the Brady Business Performance System is having a positive impact on our ability to turn organic sales growth into net income growth,” said Frank M. Jaehnert, Brady’s President and Chief Executive Officer.

“Our strong cash generation remains a highlight for Brady with an ending cash balance of $374 million at April 30, 2011. We remain focused on putting our cash to work through investment in organic growth opportunities as well as strategic acquisitions,” said Brady Chief Financial Officer Thomas J. Felmer. “We are tightening our previously provided full-year guidance range for earnings per diluted Class A Common share to $2.20 to $2.30, from between $2.15 and $2.35 per diluted Class A Common share. This is exclusive of pre-tax restructuring charges of $8 to $10 million, or $0.11 to $0.14 per share.”

A webcast regarding fiscal 2011 third quarter results will be available atwww.investor.bradycorp.com beginning at 9:30 a.m. Central Time today.

Brady Corporation is an international manufacturer and marketer of complete solutions that identify and protect premises, products and people. Brady’s products help customers increase safety, security, productivity and performance and include high-performance labels and signs, safety devices, printing systems and software, and precision die-cut materials. Founded in 1914, the company has millions of customers in electronics, telecommunications, manufacturing, electrical, construction, education, medical and a variety of other industries. Brady is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and employs approximately 6,600 people at operations in the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Brady’s fiscal 2010 sales were approximately $1.26 billion. Brady stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BRC. More information is available on the Internet atwww.bradycorp.com.

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Brady believes that certain statements in this news release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements related to future, not past, events included in this news release, including, without limitation, statements regarding Brady’s future financial position, business strategy, targets, projected sales, costs, earnings, capital expenditures, debt levels and cash flows, and plans and objectives of management for future operations are forward-looking statements. When used in this news release, words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “should,” “project” or “plan” or similar terminology are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain and are subject to risks, assumptions and other factors, some of which are beyond Brady’s control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. For Brady, uncertainties arise from the length or severity of the current worldwide economic downturn or timing or strength of a subsequent recovery; future financial performance of major markets Brady serves, which include, without limitation, telecommunications, manufacturing, electrical, construction, laboratory, education, governmental, public utility, computer, transportation; difficulties in making and integrating acquisitions; risks associated with newly acquired businesses; Brady’s ability to develop and successfully market new products; changes in the supply of, or price for, parts and components; increased price pressure from suppliers and customers; fluctuations in currency rates versus the US dollar; unforeseen tax consequences; potential write-offs of Brady’s substantial intangible assets; Brady’s ability to retain significant contracts and customers; risks associated with international operations; Brady’s ability to maintain compliance with its debt covenants; technology changes; business interruptions due to implementing business systems; environmental, health and safety compliance costs and liabilities; future competition; interruptions to sources of supply; Brady’s ability to realize cost savings from operating initiatives; difficulties associated with exports; risks associated with restructuring plans; risks associated with obtaining governmental approvals and maintaining regulatory compliance; and numerous other matters of national, regional and global scale, including those of a political, economic, business, competitive and regulatory nature contained from time to time in Brady’s U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including, but not limited to, those factors listed in the “Risk Factors” section located in Item 1A of Part I of Brady’s Form 10-K for the year ended July 31, 2010. These uncertainties may cause Brady’s actual future results to be materially different than those expressed in its forward-looking statements. Brady does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements.

BRADY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Dollars in Thousands)

	(Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended April 30,									Nine Months Ended April 30,
							Percentage									Percentage
	2011			2010			Change			2011			2010			Change
Net sales	$	337,896		$	321,887			4.9	%	$	996,493		$	936,202			6.4	%
Cost of products sold		170,258			161,690			5.3	%		505,333			471,644			7.1	%
Gross margin		167,638			160,197			4.6	%		491,160			464,558			5.7	%
Operating expenses:
Research and development		10,550			10,709			-1.5	%		32,226			30,950			4.1	%
Selling, general and administrative		115,006			111,227			3.4	%		332,394			328,638			1.1	%
Restructuring charge		1,211			2,347			-48.4	%		6,986			9,597			-27.2	%
Total operating expenses		126,767			124,283			2.0	%		371,606			369,185			0.7	%
Operating income		40,871			35,914			13.8	%		119,554			95,373			25.4	%
Other income and (expense):
Investment and other income		1,428			121			1080.2	%		2,892			1,273			127.2	%
Interest expense		(5,103	)		(5,147	)		-0.9	%		(16,640	)		(15,472	)		7.5	%
Income before income taxes		37,196			30,888			20.4	%		105,806			81,174			30.3	%
Income taxes		8,607			7,193			19.7	%		26,737			20,810			28.5	%
Net income	$	28,589		$	23,695			20.7	%	$	79,069		$	60,364			31.0	%
Per Class A Nonvoting Common Share:
Basic net income	$	0.54		$	0.45			20.0	%	$	1.50		$	1.15			30.4	%
Diluted net income	$	0.54		$	0.45			20.0	%	$	1.49		$	1.14			30.7	%
Dividends	$	0.18		$	0.175			2.9	%	$	0.54		$	0.525			2.9	%
Per Class B Voting Common Share:
Basic net income	$	0.54		$	0.45			20.0	%	$	1.48		$	1.13			31.0	%
Diluted net income	$	0.54		$	0.45			20.0	%	$	1.47		$	1.12			31.3	%
Dividends	$	0.18		$	0.175			2.9	%	$	0.523		$	0.508			3.0	%
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in thousands):
Basic		52,701			52,427						52,581			52,378
Diluted		53,337			52,873						53,067			52,971

BRADY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(IN THOUSANDS)

	(Unaudited)
	April 30, 2011			July 31, 2010
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	373,978		$	314,840
Accounts receivable — net		235,634			221,621
Inventories:
Finished products		59,727			52,906
Work-in-process		14,741			13,146
Raw materials and supplies		28,034			28,620
Total inventories		102,502			94,672
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		39,614			37,839
Total current assets		751,728			668,972
Other assets:
Goodwill		799,395			768,600
Other intangible assets, net		96,386			103,546
Deferred income taxes		52,744			39,103
Other		19,633			20,808
Property, plant and equipment:
Cost:
Land		6,416			6,265
Buildings and improvements		103,060			101,138
Machinery and equipment		302,017			289,727
Construction in progress		13,601			9,873
		425,094			407,003
Less accumulated depreciation		284,334			261,501
Property, plant and equipment — net		140,760			145,502
Total	$	1,860,646		$	1,746,531
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ INVESTMENT
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	90,621		$	96,702
Wages and amounts withheld from employees		67,316			67,285
Taxes, other than income taxes		9,061			7,537
Accrued income taxes		17,399			10,138
Other current liabilities		65,300			50,862
Current maturities on long-term debt		61,264			61,264
Total current liabilities		310,961			293,788
Long-term obligations, less current maturities		351,789			382,940
Other liabilities		65,741			64,776
Total liabilities		728,491			741,504
Stockholders’ investment:
Common stock:
Class A nonvoting common stock — Issued 51,261,487 and 51,261,487 shares, respectively and outstanding 49,226,952 and 48,875,716 shares, respectively		513			513
Class B voting common stock — Issued and outstanding, 3,538,628 shares		35			35
Additional paid-in capital		308,908			304,205
Income retained in the business		769,081			718,512
Treasury stock - 1,724,535 and 2,175,771 shares, respectively of Class A nonvoting common stock, at cost		(51,959	)		(66,314	)
Accumulated other comprehensive income		109,840			50,905
Other		(4,263	)		(2,829	)
Total stockholders’ investment		1,132,155			1,005,027
Total	$	1,860,646		$	1,746,531

BRADY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Dollars in Thousands)

	(Unaudited)
	Nine Months Ended
	April 30,
	2011			2010
Operating activities:
Net income	$	79,069		$	60,364
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		37,522			40,276
Non-cash portion of restructuring charges		2,155			1,455
Non-cash portion of stock-based compensation expense		9,396			7,574
Gain on the sale of business		(4,394	)		—
Deferred income taxes		(9,018	)		(4,582	)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities (net of effects of business acquisitions/divestitures):
Accounts receivable		211			(17,192	)
Inventories		(1,491	)		3,887
Prepaid expenses and other assets		772			(5,273	)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(8,355	)		31,493
Income taxes		4,579			152
Net cash provided by operating activities		110,446			118,154
Investing activities:
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired		(7,970	)		(30,431	)
Payments of contingent consideration		(979	)		—
Divestiture of business, net of cash retained in business		12,979			—
Purchases of property, plant and equipment		(13,671	)		(20,927	)
Other		(379	)		1,197
Net cash used in investing activities		(10,020	)		(50,161	)
Financing activities:
Payment of dividends		(28,500	)		(27,560	)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock		7,154			3,494
Principal payments on debt		(42,514	)		(26,143	)
Income tax benefit from the exercise of stock options and deferred compensation distribution		1,075			182
Net cash used in financing activities		(62,785	)		(50,027	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash		21,497			984
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents		59,138			18,950
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		314,840			188,156
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	373,978		$	207,106
Supplemental disclosures:
Cash paid during the period for:
Interest, net of capitalized interest	$	16,349		$	18,217
Income taxes, net of refunds		26,695			18,296
Acquisitions:
Fair value of assets acquired, net of cash	$	4,624		$	15,366
Liabilities assumed		(1,446	)		(5,201	)
Goodwill		4,792			20,266
Net cash paid for acquisitions	$	7,970		$	30,431

Information by regional segment for the three and nine months ended April 30, 2011 and 2010 is as follows:

													Corporate
							Asia-			Total			and
(in thousands)	Americas			Europe			Pacific			Region			Eliminations			Total
SALES TO EXTERNAL CUSTOMERS
Three months ended:
April 30, 2011	$	149,217		$	105,894		$	82,785		$	337,896			—		$	337,896
April 30, 2010	$	144,413		$	98,152		$	79,322		$	321,887			—		$	321,887
Nine months ended:
April 30, 2011	$	431,216		$	301,985		$	263,292		$	996,493			—		$	996,493
April 30, 2010	$	402,255		$	289,101		$	244,846		$	936,202			—		$	936,202
SALES GROWTH INFORMATION
Three months ended April 30, 2011:
Base		2.7	%		3.6	%		-5.1	%		1.0	%		—			1.0	%
Currency		1.3	%		4.0	%		7.0	%		3.5	%		—			3.5	%
Acquisitions/Divestitures		-0.7	%		0.3	%		2.5	%		0.4	%		—			0.4	%
Total		3.3	%		7.9	%		4.4	%		4.9	%		—			4.9	%
Nine months ended April 30, 2011:
Base		5.3	%		5.6	%		0.4	%		4.1	%		—			4.1	%
Currency		0.9	%		-3.2	%		5.6	%		0.9	%		—			0.9	%
Acquisitions/Divestitures		1.0	%		2.1	%		1.5	%		1.4	%		—			1.4	%
Total		7.2	%		4.5	%		7.5	%		6.4	%		—			6.4	%
SEGMENT PROFIT
Three months ended:
April 30, 2011	$	38,292		$	28,938		$	9,976		$	77,206		$	(3,561	)	$	73,645
April 30, 2010	$	33,858		$	27,472		$	12,775		$	74,105		$	(3,558	)	$	70,547
Percentage increase (decrease)		13.1	%		5.3	%		-21.9	%		4.2	%					4.4	%
Nine months ended:
April 30, 2011	$	108,666		$	82,165		$	38,330		$	229,161		$	(12,087	)	$	217,074
April 30, 2010	$	90,205		$	78,281		$	38,589		$	207,075		$	(10,161	)	$	196,914
Percentage increase (decrease)		20.5	%		5.0	%		-0.7	%		10.7	%					10.2	%

NET INCOME RECONCILIATION(in thousands)

	Three months ended:						Nine months ended:
	April 30,			April 30,			April 30,			April 30,
	2011			2010			2011			2010
Total profit for reportable segments	$	77,206		$	74,105		$	229,161		$	207,075
Corporate and eliminations		(3,561	)	$	(3,558	)	$	(12,087	)		(10,161	)
Unallocated amounts:
Administrative costs		(31,563	)		(32,286	)		(90,534	)		(91,944	)
Restructuring charge		(1,211	)		(2,347	)		(6,986	)		(9,597	)
Investment and other income		1,428			121			2,892			1,273
Interest expense		(5,103	)		(5,147	)		(16,640	)		(15,472	)
Income before income taxes		37,196			30,888			105,806			81,174
Income taxes		(8,607	)		(7,193	)		(26,737	)		(20,810	)
Net income	$	28,589		$	23,695		$	79,069		$	60,364

RECONCILIATION OF GAAP MEASURES TO NON-GAAP MEASURES
(in thousands)

	Fiscal 2011
	Q1		Q2		Q3		Q4		Total
EBITDA (1)
Net income	$	26,281	$	24,199	$	28,589			$	79,069
Interest expense		5,687		5,850		5,103				16,640
Income taxes		9,925		8,205		8,607				26,737
Depreciation and amortization		12,594		12,908		12,020				37,522
EBITDA (non-GAAP measure)	$	54,487	$	51,162	$	54,319	$	—	$	159,968

	Fiscal 2010
	Q1		Q2		Q3		Q4		Total
EBITDA (1)
Net income	$	21,668	$	15,001	$	23,695	$	21,592	$	81,956
Interest expense		5,162		5,163		5,147		5,750		21,222
Income taxes		8,775		4,842		7,193		6,636		27,446
Depreciation and amortization		13,817		13,549		12,910		12,746		53,022
EBITDA (non-GAAP measure)	$	49,422	$	38,555	$	48,945	$	46,724	$	183,646

(1) Brady is presenting EBITDA because it is used by many of our investors and lenders, and is presented as a convenience to them. EBITDA represents net income before interest expense, income taxes and depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is not a calculation based on generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The amounts included in the EBITDA calculation, however, are derived from amounts included in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income data. EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to net income or operating income as an indicator of the company’s operating performance, or as an alternative to operating cash flows as a measure of liquidity. The EBITDA measure presented may not always be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies due to differences in the components of the calculation.