MOCON Announces Results for the First Quarter 2013

MOCON Announces Results for the First Quarter 2013

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- MOCON, Inc. (NAS: MOCO) today reported sales of $14.4 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2013, an increase of 57 percent compared to $9.2 million for the same quarter in 2012. The main reason for the increase was due to the inclusion of Dansensor's sales in the amount of $5.1 million which were not included in last year's numbers due to the acquisition occurring on April 2, 2012. Sales from our organic business were up slightly over the prior year. The net income for the first quarter was $867,000, or $0.15 per diluted share, compared to net income of $821,000 or $0.14 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2012. The current quarter income was negatively impacted by a reduced gross profit margin as explained below.

Sales in our Industrial Analyzer segment increased 35 percent in the current quarter compared to the same quarter in 2012 due primarily to strong instrument sales to the environmental monitoring and oil and gas exploration markets. Sales in our Package Testing segment increased dramatically this quarter compared to last year due to the addition of Dansensor's European business and the addition of their product line to our domestic product offerings. Sales in our Permeation segment, which are predominantly foreign, were 15 percent lower in this quarter compared to last year as capital equipment orders in Europe continue to be softer than in past years.

The company-wide gross margin of 55 percent in the first quarter 2013 was lower than the company's historical levels. This was primarily due to a shift in product mix to a higher percentage of our package testing instruments which traditionally carry lower margins and reduced margins in our permeation business as a result of lower volume. Selling, general and administrative expenses and research and development expenses are higher in the first quarter 2013 compared to the same period last year primarily due to the addition of Dansensor's results.

"We are pleased with the progress that's been made with integrating the Dansensor product line as this has positively impacted the domestic sales of our Package Testing product group," said Robert L. Demorest, MOCON President and CEO. "We are committed to continue to evaluate our combined product offerings with the goal of improving our sales and marketing strategies as well as improving profit margins through more efficient manufacturing practices."

About MOCON

MOCON is a leading provider of detectors, instruments, systems and consulting services to research laboratories, production facilities, and quality control and safety departments in the medical, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, packaging, environmental, oil and gas and other industries worldwide. See www.mocon.com for more information.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include statements that can be identified by words such as "will," "may," "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "continue," or other similar expressions. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. MOCON undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In addition to the risks and uncertainties of ordinary business operations and conditions in the general economy and the markets in which the company competes, there are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. These factors include, but are not limited to, the integration and performance of Dansensor, the terms of our credit agreement including financial covenants included therein, competition and technological change, setbacks in product development programs, order cancellations, dependence on certain key industries, and other factors set forth in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 and other documents MOCON files with or furnishes to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

MOCON's shares are traded on the NASDAQ Global Market System under the symbol MOCO.
MOCON is a registered trademark of MOCON, Inc.; other trademarks are those of their respective holders.

MOCON, Inc.
Darrell Lee, CFO/VP, 763-493-6370
www.mocon.com

KEYWORDS: United States North America Minnesota

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