Cantel Medical Reports EPS of $0.29 for Quarter Ended October 31, 2010

LITTLE FALLS, N.J., Dec. 9, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CANTEL MEDICAL CORP. (NYSE: CMN) reported net income of $4,975,000, or $0.29 per diluted share, on a 1% increase in sales to a record $71,993,000 for the first quarter ended October 31, 2010. This compares with net income of $6,168,000, or $0.37 per diluted share, on sales of $70,995,000 for the first quarter ended October 31, 2009.

According to Andrew Krakauer, Cantel's President and CEO, "I am pleased with the performance of Cantel this quarter. It is important to note that in the corresponding quarter last year, sales were favorably impacted by over $4 million and EPS was higher by $0.10 due to atypically high face mask shipments driven by the H1N1 flu outbreak. Therefore, this quarter we actually increased normalized net income despite substantial incremental investments in research and development, as well as in sales and marketing programs. Further, we achieved respectable core sales growth in our three largest segments."

Krakauer added, "Our Endoscope Reprocessing business had especially stellar performance as sales grew by over 33%, driven by strong shipments of our two newest reprocessors, the Advantage® Plus and the DSD Edge, as well as disinfectants and sterilants, parts and service. Our Healthcare Disposables segment had one of its strongest quarterly performances without any sales derived from H1N1 flu preparedness. We were also pleased to have acquired Gambro's United States water business on October 6, which added to the sales growth in our Water Purification and Filtration segment. Cantel's overall growth continues to attest to our successful strategy to invest in new product development, sales and marketing, and acquisitions."

The Company also reported that its balance sheet at October 31, 2010 included current assets of $92,730,000, including cash of $15,954,000, a current ratio of 1.45:1, gross debt of $33,000,000 and stockholders' equity of $214,209,000. Krakauer stated, "We continue to maintain a strong balance sheet and generate substantial cash flow and EBITDAS. Our net debt position of $17,046,000 at the end of this quarter gives us a favorable net debt to EBITDAS ratio of .38:1. As a result of the Company's strong cash flow generation, our net debt increased by only $2,151,000 over the past year, despite funding approximately $23 million for two acquisitions."

Cantel Medical Corp. 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 the dental industry, dialysate concentrates and other dialysis supplies, hollow fiber membrane filtration and separation products for medical and non-medical applications, and specialty packaging for infectious and biological specimens. We also provide technical maintenance for our products and offer compliance training services for the transport of infectious and biological specimens.

The Company will hold a conference call to discuss the results for the first quarter ended October 31, 2010 on Thursday, December 9, 2010 at 11:00 AM Eastern time. To participate in the conference call, dial 1-877-407-8035 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 December 9, 2010 at 2:00 PM through midnight on December 16, 2010 by dialing 1-877-660-6853 and using passcode #286 and conference ID #362463.

The call will be simultaneously broadcast live over the Internet on vcall.com at http://www.investorcalendar.com/IC/CEPage.asp?ID=162707. A replay of the webcast will be available on Vcall for 30 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.