Cantel Medical Reports 25% Increase in Net Income - EPS of $0.35 vs. $0.29 - for Quarter Ended October 31, 2011 on 30% Sales Increase

LITTLE FALLS, N.J., Dec. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- CANTEL MEDICAL CORP. (NYSE: CMN) reported a 25% increase in net income to $6,220,000, or $0.35 per diluted share, on a 30% increase in sales to a record $93,262,000 for the first quarter ended October 31, 2011. This compares with net income of $4,975,000, or $0.29 per diluted share, on sales of $71,993,000 for the first quarter ended October 31, 2010.

Andrew Krakauer, Cantel's President and CEO stated, "We are pleased to have delivered record sales and strong quarterly earnings. These positive results confirm the continued success of our three prong approach to growth which includes investing in new product development, sales and marketing programs and acquisitions. All of these strategies positively affected the results this quarter."

Krakauer added, "Our Endoscopy segment had an especially stellar performance this quarter as organic sales grew by 25%, excluding sales from our newly acquired Byrne Medical business. This growth was driven by increased shipments of our newest reprocessor, the DSD Edge™, as well as disinfectants and sterilants, parts and service.  Byrne Medical, which is in the process of being integrated into the Endoscopy segment, had core sales growth in excess of 30% and was accretive to earnings in the quarter. We also had excellent performance in our Water Purification and Filtration segment, where sales growth of 21% and effective integration of the Gambro water acquisition resulted in a 57% increase in operating income."

The Company also reported that its balance sheet at October 31, 2011 included current assets of $118,617,000, including cash of $19,646,000, a current ratio of 2.27:1, gross debt of $116,500,000 and stockholders' equity of $247,257,000. Krakauer stated, "We continue to maintain a strong balance sheet and generate substantial cash flow and EBITDAS. When compared with the same quarter last year, our EBITDAS grew by 36% to $15,680,000. We were able to reduce our net debt position by approximately $7 million to $96,854,000, since the close of the Byrne Medical acquisition on the first day of this quarter."

Cantel Medical Corp. (NYSE: CMN) is a leading provider of infection prevention and control products in the healthcare market. Our products include water purification equipment, sterilants, disinfectants and cleaners, specialized medical device reprocessing systems for endoscopy and renal dialysis, disposable infection control products primarily for dental and GI endoscopy markets, dialysate concentrates and other dialysis supplies, hollow fiber membrane filtration and separation products for medical and non-medical applications, and specialty packaging for the transport and temperature regulation of infectious and biological specimens.

The Company will hold a conference call to discuss the results for the first quarter ended October 31, 2011 on Thursday, December 8, 2011 at 11:00 AM Eastern time. To participate in the conference call, dial (877) 407-8033 approximately 5 to 10 minutes before the beginning of the call. If you are unable to participate, a digital replay of the call will be available from Thursday, December 8, 2011 at 2:00 PM through midnight on February 8, 2012 by dialing (877) 660-6853 and using pass code # 286 and conference ID # 384108.

The call will be simultaneously broadcast live over the Internet on vcall.com at http://www.investorcalendar.com/IC/CEPage.asp?ID=166708.  A replay of the webcast will be available on Vcall for 90 days.

For further information, visit the Cantel website at www.cantelmedical.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, the risks detailed in Cantel's filings and reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such forward-looking statements are only predictions, and actual events or results may differ materially from those projected or anticipated.

SOURCE Cantel Medical Corp.