UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
 
WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549
 
______________

FORM 8-K
 
______________

CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
DATE OF REPORT
(DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED)
 
March 15, 2011
 
______________

ASTRO-MED, INC
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
 
______________

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER         0-13200

RHODE ISLAND	05-0318215	
(STATE  OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF   INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)	(IRS EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION   NUMBER)	
 
600 EAST GREENWICH AVENUE, WEST WARWICK, RI 02893
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES, INCLUDING ZIP CODE)
 
(401-828-4000)
(REGISTRANT’S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE)

 

 

 
ITEM 2.02. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

On March 15, 2011, Astro-Med, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release in which it disclosed unaudited financial information related to fourth quarter and twelve month consolidated earnings.   A copy of the press release relating to such announcement, dated March 15, 2011, is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

This information shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

 

ITEM 9.01.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(c)           Exhibit

Exhibit no.                      Exhibit

99.1  	Press Release dated March 15, 2011	

 
 
 	SIGNATURES	

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrants have duly caused this report to be signed on their behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
 	Astro-Med, Inc.	 	
 	 	 	 	
Date  March 15, 2011	By:	/s/ Joseph P. O'Connell	 	
 	 	Joseph P. O'Connell	 	
 	 	Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer	 	

 

 
 
INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit No.                                             Exhibit

99.1                                                 Press Release Dated March 15, 2011

Exhibit 99.1
 
  PRESS RELEASE	

 
 	 	
 	600 East Greenwich Avenue	
 	West Warwick, Rhode Island 02893 USA	

For Immediate Release                                                                                             March 15, 2011

Contact:       Albert W. Ondis, CEO                                                              
       Joseph P. O’Connell, CFO                                                         
      Astro-Med, Inc.
       (401) 828-4000
      www.Astro-Medinc.com    

Astro-Med, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2011 Results;
Directors Declare Quarterly Cash Dividend

West Warwick, RI, March 15, 2011 -- Astro-Med, Inc. (NASDAQ:ALOT) reports Net Income on a GAAP basis of $517,000, equal to $0.07 per diluted share on sales of $17,857,000, for the Fourth Quarter ended January 31, 2011.  During the comparable period of the previous year, the Company reported Net Income of $1,728,000 on a GAAP basis, equal to $0.23 per diluted share, on sales of $16,281,000.

Annual Net Sales and Income

Net Sales for the twelve month period of Fiscal Year 2011 were $71,016,000, a 10.9% increase over the prior year’s Net Sales of $64,031,000. Net Income for Fiscal Year 2011 was $2,062,000, or $0.28 per diluted share, on a GAAP basis.

Growth in Sales and Gross Profit produced an improvement in the Company’s Operating Income of $2,656,000, a 35% increase over the prior year’s pre-litigation Operating Income.

Impact of Taxes, Foreign Currency, and Litigation

Annual Net Income of $2,062,000 includes a tax benefit of approximately $371,000, or $0.05 per diluted share, due to the favorable resolution of a previously uncertain tax position and a favorable adjustment in the filing of the prior year’s tax returns. For the prior year, Fiscal 2010, the Company earned $2,766,000 in Net Income on a GAAP basis, representing $0.38 per diluted share.

 

 

Net Income in the Fourth Quarter of the prior year includes $335,000, equal to $0.04 per diluted share, from a tax benefit pertaining to a previously uncertain tax position.  In addition, Net Income in the Fourth Quarter of the prior year included a gain of $112,000, equal to $0.02 per diluted share, related to the acquisition made on December 15, 2009, and $904,000, net of tax, related to the successful outcome of litigation, equal to $0.12 per diluted share.  If non-recurring items were excluded from the Fourth Quarter of Fiscal 2010, Net Income for the prior year would have totaled $1,415,000, equal to $0.19 per diluted share.

Unfavorable foreign currency exchange rates of approximately $209,000 lowered Fourth Quarter sales by approximately 1.2%.

Commenting on the FY 2011 results, Albert W. Ondis, Chief Executive Officer, stated: “We are pleased to see that customer demand has returned to pre-recession levels and our backlog is back up. Customer demand was a healthy $72,600,000, representing a 13.2% increase over the prior year, and our year-end backlog increased by 25% to $7,114,000.

"I’m proud to say that the Company’s Net Sales grew at a double digit rate of 11% during Fiscal 2011 with increases shared among each of our business segments; QuickLabel Systems, Test & Measurement, and Grass Technologies.

"It has been an exciting year for Astro-Med, Inc. with the introduction of new products in each of our business segments. QuickLabel Systems’ new state of the art digital color label printer, the Vivo! Touch, was launched globally during the Fourth Quarter and is receiving an enthusiastic response from customers around the world. The Vivo! Touch, an intelligent color label printer, is expected to help Astro-Med set record sales in Fiscal 2012.

"Fiscal 2011 was the year that the Astro-Med Test & Measurement Product Group introduced its TMX high speed Data Acquisition System with its state of the art technology platform allowing high speed data capture, review, archiving, and analysis. Astro-Med Ruggedized Products continued to make gains with new orders for its cockpit printers and increased shipments to airplane companies.

"In the same year, the Grass Technologies Product Group introduced the TREA Ambulatory EEG Recorder, a 25 channel amplifier system which allows for 72 hours of acquisition and multiple sampling/storage rate options to its neurophysiology clinical customers.

"The Company’s Balance Sheet remains solid at year end with $20,630,000 in Cash and Marketable securities, a Book Value of $7.50 per common share, and a 19% increase in cash dividend payments of $2,036,000 distributed to Astro-Med shareholders at $0.28 per share.

"Astro-Med, Inc. is well-positioned to continue its growth and profitability path into Fiscal 2012. We believe with the Company’s new product offerings, we will reach record sales revenues and strong profits and achieve our mission of enhancing shareholder value.”

 

Directors Declare Increase in Quarterly Dividend

On March 1, 2011, the Directors of Astro-Med, Inc. declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.07 per share payable on April 1, 2011 to shareholders of record March 18, 2011.

Conference Call on Wednesday, March 16, 2011 at 11:00 am Eastern Daylight Savings Time

The Fourth Quarter conference call will be held on Wednesday, March 16, 2011 at 11:00 AM EDT.  It will be broadcast in real time on the Internet through the Investing section of our website. We invite you to log on and listen in real time on March 16 th , or to participate in the conference call by dialing 866-225-8754 with passcode 4403400.  Following the live broadcast, an audio webcast of the call will be available for ten days at  www.Astro-MedInc.com .  A conference call replay will also be available for ten days by dialing 800-406-7325 with passcode 4403400.

About Astro-Med, Inc.

Astro-Med, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of specialty high tech printing systems, electronic medical instrumentation, and test and measurement instruments. Astro-Med, Inc. products are sold under the brand names Astro-Med ® Test & Measurement , Grass ® Technologies, and QuickLabel ® Systems and are employed around the world in a wide range of aerospace, medical, military, industrial, and packaging applications.  Astro-Med, Inc. is a member of the Russell Microcap ® Index.  Additional information is available by visiting www.Astro-MedInc.com .

 

ASTRO-MED, INC.
 
Consolidated Statements of Operations
In Thousands Except for Per Share Data
(Unaudited)
 
 	 	Three-Months Ended	 	 	Twelve-Months Ended	 	
 	 	January 31, 2011	 	 	January 31, 2010	 	 	January 31, 2011	 	 	January 31, 2010	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net Sales	 	$	17,857	 	 	$	16,281	 	 	$	71,016	 	 	$	64,031	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Gross Profit	 	 	7,376	 	 	 	6,805	 	 	 	28,666	 	 	$	26,628	 	
 	 	 	41.3	%	 	 	41.8	%	 	 	40.4	%	 	 	41.6	%	
Operating Expenses:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
   Selling	 	 	4,341	 	 	 	3,895	 	 	 	16,690	 	 	 	15,342	 	
   General & Administration	 	 	974	 	 	 	1,080	 	 	 	4,300	 	 	 	4,503	 	
   Research & Development	 	 	1,282	 	 	 	1,254	 	 	 	5,020	 	 	 	4,820	 	
 	 	 	6,597	 	 	 	6,229	 	 	 	26,010	 	 	 	24,665	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Gain on Litigation 	 	 	--	 	 	 	1,391	 	 	 	--	 	 	 	1,391	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Operating Income	 	 	779	 	 	 	1,967	 	 	 	2,656	 	 	 	3,354	 	
 	 	 	4.4	%	 	 	12.1	%	 	 	3.7	%	 	 	5.2	%	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Other Income (Expense), Net	 	 	(2	)	 	 	134	 	 	 	128	 	 	 	328	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income Before Taxes	 	 	777	 	 	 	2,101	 	 	 	2,784	 	 	 	3,682	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Income Tax Provision	 	 	260	 	 	 	373	 	 	 	722	 	 	 	916	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net Income	 	$	517	 	 	$	1,728	 	 	$	2,062	 	 	$	2,766	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net Income Per Share – Basic	 	$	0.07	 	 	$	0.24	 	 	$	0.28	 	 	$	0.39	 	
Net Income Per Share – Diluted	 	$	0.07	 	 	$	0.23	 	 	$	0.28	 	 	$	0.38	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Weighted Average Number of Common Shares  - Basic	 	 	7,256	 	 	 	7,153	 	 	 	7,271	 	 	 	7,135	 	
Weighted Average Number of Common Shares  - Diluted	 	 	7,417	 	 	 	7,446	 	 	 	7,470	 	 	 	7,375	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Dividends Declared Per Common Share	 	$	0.07	 	 	$	0.06	 	 	$	0.28	 	 	$	0.24	 	

Safe Harbor Statement

This news release contains forward-looking statements, and actual results may vary from those expressed or implied herein.  Factors that could affect these results include those mentioned in Astro-Med’s FY2010 annual report and its quarterly filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. 

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