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Balchem

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FY2008 Annual Report · Balchem
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Balchem_08ar_v10_CVR:Balchem_ar07_V4_6oh  4/16/09  4:43 PM  Page 01

Balchem Corporation

2008 Annual Report

Balchem Corporation

P.O. Box 600, 52 Sunrise Park Road, New Hampton, NY 10958
tel 845.326.5600, toll free (in U.S.) 800.431.5641, fax 845.326.5742
e-mail: bcp@balchem.com
www.balchem.com

Building on a Solid Foundation

Balchem_08ar_v10_CVR:Balchem_ar07_V4_6oh  4/16/09  4:43 PM  Page 02

Company Profile

Founded in 1967, Balchem Corporation provides state-of-the-art solutions and the finest quality products for a range of industries
worldwide. The Company consists primarily of three business segments: Food, Pharma and Nutrition; ARC Specialty Products;
and Animal Nutrition and Health. Balchem employs numerous technologies and over 300 people worldwide who are engaged
in the many diverse activities of developing the Company into a global market leader.

Corporate Information

Financial Highlights 2008

Statement of Operations Data

(In thousands, except per share data)

Year Ended December 31,

Net sales
Earnings before income tax expense
Income tax expense
Net earnings
Basic net earnings per common share
Diluted earnings per common share

Balance Sheet Data

(In thousands, except per share data)

At December 31,

Total assets
Debt
Other long-term obligations
Total stockholders’ equity
Dividend per common share

Quarterly Stock Prices

2008

$232,050
28,431
9,381
19,050
$1.06
$1.00

2008

$154,474
11,575
1,609
114,506
$.11

2007

$176,201
24,829
8,711
16,118
$.91
$.87

2007

$154,424
27,986
1,529
93,080
$.11

2006

$100,905
19,101
6,823
12,278
$.70
$.67

2006

$ 92,333
—
784
75,362
$.09

2005

$83,095
17,191
6,237
10,954
$.63
$.61

2005

$75,141
—
1,043
60,933
$.06

1Q
2Q
3Q
4Q

2008

2007

2006

High

$23.34
26.44
29.50
26.86

Low

$19.05
22.16
24.17
21.16

High

$18.56
19.17
21.25
24.00

Low

$14.09
17.15
15.60
20.16

High

$15.99
15.85
15.93
19.25

2004

$67,406
12,715
4,689
8,026
$.48
$.46

2004

$60,405
—
1,003
50,234
$.04

Low

$13.57
13.41
13.07
12.80

Net Sales
dollars in millions

Net Earnings
dollars in millions

Stockholders’ Equity
dollars in millions

232.1

176.2

100.9

83.1

67.4

19.1

16.1

12.3

11.0

8.0

114.5

93.1

75.4

60.9

50.2

‘04

‘05

‘06

‘07

‘08

‘04

‘05

‘06

‘07

‘08

‘04

‘05

‘06

‘07

‘08

Board of Directors

Corporate Officers

Dino A. Rossi
Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer

Kenneth P. Mitchell
Lead Director
Retired, President and
Chief Executive Officer
Oakite Products, Inc.

Edward L. McMillan
Owns McMillan, LLC,
a transaction-consulting firm
Past President and Chief Executive
Officer of Purina Mills

Dino A. Rossi
Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer

Frank J. Fitzpatrick
Chief Financial Officer
Treasurer and Assistant Secretary

Matthew D. Houston
General Counsel
Secretary

David F. Ludwig
Vice President/General Manager
ARC Specialty Products

Perry W. Premdas
Retired, Chief Financial Officer
of Celanese AG

Paul H. Richardson
Vice President
Research & Development

Dr. John Y. Televantos
Executive Vice President
Arsenal Capital Partners

Dr. Elaine R. Wedral
Retired, President of Nestle’s
Research and Development,
Food Service Systems

Headquarters
Balchem Corporation
52 Sunrise Park Road
P.O. Box 600
New Hampton, NY 10958

Manufacturing Locations
Slate Hill, NY; Green Pond, SC;
Verona, MO; Channahon, IL;
Salt Lake City, UT; St. Gabriel, LA;
and Marano Ticino, Italy

Exchange
NASDAQ Global Market

Listed Security
BCPC Common Stock

Annual Report
For information relating to the
Annual Report please contact
Karin McCaffery at 845.326.5600.

Investor Relations
Jackie Powell
Virtual Business Solutions
864.486.8065

Transfer Agent
Registrar and Transfer Company
10 Commerce Drive
Cranford, NJ 07016

Corporate Counsel
Duane Morris LLP
470 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 500
Boston, MA 02210

Independent Accountants
McGladrey & Pullen, LLP
1185 Avenue of the Americas, 6th Fl.
New York, NY 10036

Website:
www.balchem.com

Balchem_08ar_v10_INTERIOR:Balchem_ar07_V4_6oh  4/16/09  4:46 PM  Page 1

Balchem Corporation At A Glance

Foo d , P ha rma a nd Nu trit ion

The F,P&N segment is one of the world’s leading providers of

microencapsulated, granulated and agglomerated ingredient

solutions. Broadly applied across a spectrum of food, nutritional

and pharmaceutical markets, our technology is bringing solutions

that differentiate products for a variety of applications.

An im al Nutriti on a nd Health
Our ANH segment provides the animal nutrition
market with specialty nutritional products derived
from our encapsulation and chelation technologies,
predominantly for dairy cows, to boost health and milk
production. It also manufactures and markets basic
choline chloride–an essential nutrient for the poultry
and swine industries. Derivatives of choline chloride
are also manufactured and sold into numerous
industrial applications.

ARC Spe cialty P rod ucts

Through ARC Specialty Products, Balchem provides select
specialty-packaged chemicals for use by contract sterilizers of
medical devices in the healthcare industry. In addition to drummed
100% ethylene oxide, ARC markets ethylene oxide blends and propylene

oxide in two-way environmentally safe containers.

1

Balchem_08ar_v10_INTERIOR:Balchem_ar07_V4_6oh  4/16/09  4:46 PM  Page 2

To Our Shareholders, Customers and Associates:

Reflecting on 2008, we are extremely
pleased to have completed another suc-
cessful, record-setting year despite a num-
ber of difficult business and global
economic challenges. We realized the full-
year effects of our 2007 acquisitions, in-
creasing our global presence while
contributing nicely to our bottom-line
growth. As we continue to leverage the
knowledge and intellectual capital from these acqui-
sitions, in combination with our core technologies, we
are discovering new applications for our current prod-
ucts and derivative products across our business
lines. Our focus as a wellness provider has opened
up new markets for us, including the development of
encapsulation technology supporting the food indus-
try label-friendly requirements. As awareness to the
health benefits of human grade choline grows, we
have launched new product applications both do-
mestically and abroad. Our animal nutrition and health
business is progressively a global
leader, fueled by
strong growth in our chelated minerals, encapsulated
specialty product applications, and choline chloride.
In 2008, through technology, integration and an ex-
panding knowledge base, we were able to develop
new markets and applications, including development
work for the specialized delivery of certain industrial
gases and pharmaceuticals. We also improved our
strong financial position by aggressively managing
working capital and reducing our long-term debt.

Financial Results

In spite of the well publicized economic issues and
truly unexpected bumps (hurricanes, significant raw
material cost escalation, etc.), we were able to
achieve record sales and profit results. For fiscal
2008, sales were $232.1 million, up 31.7% over 2007
sales of $176.2 million. Net earnings were a record
$19.1 million in 2008, an 18.2% increase over 2007
earnings of $16.1 million. Our diluted earnings per
share was $1.00/share, a 14.9% increase over
$0.87/share in 2007.

Our balance sheet ratios and cash flow remain
strong. We have aggressively paid down the debt
used to fund the Chinook and Akzo acquisitions of
early 2007; hence at December 31, 2008, our out-
standing borrowings were $11.6 million, reflecting ac-
celerated payments of $17.5 million. Given our quality
accounts receivable and reduced inventory levels, we
are well positioned to continue to aggressively reduce
our debt in 2009.

Although we did not complete a major acquisition in
2008, we did experience significant integration bene-
fits in the production and distribution of our choline
products from our most recent acquisitions. Along
with the increased manufacturing capacity of liquid
choline in our St. Gabriel, LA plant, the Marano, Italy
operation has helped solidify us as the global leader
of choline products. The improved cross business in-
tegration of our core business and technology, in
combination with these prior year strategic acquisi-
tions, has allowed us to grow within our existing cus-
tomer base, while also facilitating our expansion and
penetration into international markets.

Quality and Safety at the Forefront

Our quality and safety programs continued to flour-
ish in 2008. Last year marked the fourth year of our
Lean, Six Sigma and Profit Enhancement Program
(PEP), as we saw tangible benefits across all our do-
mestic and overseas plants. We continue to drive ed-
ucation and thought processes across functional
lines, positively impacting cost structures, quality and
efficiency. Our two largest and multi-product facilities,
in Verona, Missouri and Marano, Italy, underwent
modernization focused on achieving operational effi-
ciencies and increasing return on investment. We also
developed more environmentally friendly manufactur-
ing processes, which in the long run will provide us
with a more favorable cost structure. Safety contin-
ues to be paramount in all our operations, and 2008
extended our multi-year run of safety improvements.
Through awareness, training and formal audits, our
significant incident rate fell to a world-class level. We

We have, once again, been recognized throughout the business community for our achievements. We were ranked number 31
on Forbes’ list of the 200 Best Small Companies. Membership here is based on a comprehensive set of criteria, including cur-
rent and past performance. Fortune Magazine has also recognized us on its list of 100 Fastest Growing Companies, where
we were ranked number 60. This ranking is based on a three-year history of revenue, earnings and stock performance. We are
proud to be included in these prestigious rankings as one of the best, and we owe this recognition to the dedication, commitment
and hard work of everyone within our organization.

2

Balchem_08ar_v10_INTERIOR:Balchem_ar07_V4_6oh  4/16/09  4:46 PM  Page 3

are very proud of this accomplishment, and we will
remain focused on reducing operating costs while
maintaining the highest level of safety.

Expanding our Technology

In 2008, we continued to see the benefits of our
strong commitment to research and development. Our
innovative efforts and intellectual capital, further en-
hanced by recent acquisitions, have allowed us to cre-
atively build improved technologies for new and existing
market applications. Infusing knowledge into the dairy
production market, we launched AminoShure™-L,
which utilizes a proprietary rumen bypass technology
to deliver nutrients to cows. AminoShure was launched
late last year, and has already generated great interest
and new sales. We now expect to expand this im-
proved rumen bypass technology to other nutrients.
As we continue to promote wellness, we are being suc-
cessful
in creating an encapsulation technology for
clean label technology, allowing us to develop new
products in our Food, Pharma and Nutrition segment.
In our human nutrition sector, we now utilize encapsu-
lation technology to incorporate choline in pre-natal vi-
tamins, further enhancing the health benefits of choline.
We have also developed a sustained release powder
technology that can be applied to many nutritional and
pharma products. Finally, we are actively seeking new
industrial applications for our technology. Going forward,
we will leverage our technology and knowledge base
to develop new, innovative and “greener” products,
effecting unique and novel changes in the future.

Broadening our Scope

The strong performance across all of Balchem’s op-
erational units reflects the value in our diversified base
of business. We continue to build on our technology,
sales and marketing efforts to maintain an aggressive
organic growth strategy, pursuing new product and
market applications.

ARC Specialty Products had another solid year, grow-
ing 8% over 2007, as we strengthened our position as
the industry leader in the repackaging and distribution

of 100% Ethylene Oxide. We increased both revenue
and earnings over 2007, despite significant volatility of
raw materials throughout the year. We expect Ethelyne
Oxide, used primarily for the sterilization of medical de-
vices, to generate steadily growing results, with an
aging demographic as the key driver. We are also de-
veloping a new technology for packaging of another
gas to be used for fruit ripening.

Our Animal Nutrition and Health segment grew an
acquisition-aided 44% over the prior year, to approxi-
mately $160 million, complimentarily fueled by solid or-
ganic growth within the feed grade choline sector.
Strong domestic sales of our specialty encapsulated
and chelated mineral products, along with initial market
penetration in Europe, further solidified our position as
a global leader in animal health. Reashure, an encap-
sulated choline product, and Nitroshure, a nutritional
supplement, are both now mainstream products in the
dairy industry. AminoShure, a break-through encapsu-
lated lysine to strengthen amino acid ration balancing,
was launched late last year, further broadening this
segment portfolio. We continue research to further val-
idate our existing specialty ANH products, while simul-
technology platform to
taneously leveraging our
explore and develop new market opportunities.

We have established long-term
partnerships with key animal health
customers in the United States and Europe,
as we look for new opportunities and more
international markets for our choline products.

3

Balchem_08ar_v10_INTERIOR:Balchem_ar07_V4_6oh  4/16/09  4:46 PM  Page 4

drinks, and cereal products. We have also seen an
increase internationally in the use of human choline,
including use in “growing up” (adolescent) formulas in
Asia. Finally, we will build on our success in develop-
ing “clean” label coating technology, as we look to
transition more of our business into label-friendly ap-
plications. We will execute our current strategy of fo-
cusing on wellness, perpetuating improvements to
increase market share with existing clients, expanding
domestically and internationally.

Maintaining our Discipline

As we complete another successful year, we are
confident that Balchem will meet the challenges of
an uncertain global economy in 2009. Our focus on
innovation and technology, along with our increased
global presence, will allow us to broaden product ap-
plications and increase market penetration. We con-
tinue to implement lean programs, de-bottleneck
production capabilities, and leverage our existing
business and research infrastructure, expecting sales
and earnings to grow. We will monitor the develop-
ment of desired innovative activities of our customers
as we seek to expand our portfolio of products.
Our healthy financial situation has positioned us to
capitalize on acquisition opportunities that could
likely arise in the current economic environment.
I would like to thank our Board of Directors, our em-
ployees, our customers and our shareholders for
their continued loyalty and support.

Sincerely,

Dino A. Rossi
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

The strong performance across all of Balchem’s operational
units reflects the value in our diversified base of business.
We continue to build on our technology, sales and marketing
efforts to maintain an aggressive organic growth strategy,
pursuing new product and market applications.

Balchem remains the leading supplier of choline
chloride products around the world, in part due to
the successful
integration of the choline business
from recent acquisitions. We are now realizing
greater production efficiencies, new global market
opportunities, and increased manufacturing capac-
ity. We have established long-term partnerships
with key animal health customers in the United
States and Europe, as we look for new opportuni-
ties and more international markets for our choline
products. As we continue to capitalize on economies
of scale, cross-integration, and superior technology,
focus on new opportunities and growth
we will
areas, while maintaining profitability and cash flow
in our existing operations.

Our Food, Pharma and Nutrition business experi-
enced an 11% year-over-year increase in sales. We
remain focused as a wellness provider, using our de-
veloped and acquired technologies to provide innova-
tive solutions for our customers. We have collaborated
with various consumer product manufacturers to in-
crease the health benefits of their products, using our
granulation, agglomeration, and encapsulation tech-
nologies in the food and nutrition sectors. We have
developed and applied our sustained release tech-
nologies to nutritional products, as we realize in-
creasing awareness of the human benefits of choline.
Our human grade choline is now included in main-
line food products, such as energy and nutrition

4

UNITED STATES  
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION  
Washington, D.C. 20549  

FORM 10-K  

(Mark One)  

(cid:59)  ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES 

EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 
OR  

(cid:134)  TRANSITION  REPORT  PURSUANT  TO  SECTION  13  OR  15(d)  OF  THE  SECURITIES 

EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 

For the transition period from _______ to _____ . 

Commission file number: 1-13648  

Balchem Corporation 

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)  

Maryland  
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) 

13-2578432  
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) 

P.O. Box 600, New Hampton, NY 10958  
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)  
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (845) 326-5600  

Title of each class 
Common Stock, par value $.06-2/3 per share 

  Name of each exchange on which registered 
  Nasdaq Global Market  

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:  

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:  

None  

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. 
Yes (cid:134) No (cid:59) 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the 
Act. Yes (cid:134) No (cid:59) 

Indicate  by  check  mark  whether  the  Registrant  (1)  has  filed  all  reports  required  to  be  filed  by  Section  13  or  15(d)  of  the 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the Registrant was required to 
file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes (cid:59) No (cid:134)  

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and 
will not be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by 
reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. (cid:59)  

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a 
smaller  reporting  company.  See  the  definitions  of  “large  accelerated  filer,”  “accelerated  filer”  and  “smaller  reporting 
company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.  

(Check one): 

 Non-accelerated filer 

Large accelerated filer (cid:134)  
(cid:134)   

 Accelerated filer 

(cid:59) 

Smaller reporting company (cid:134) 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  
Yes (cid:134) No (cid:59) 

The aggregate market value of the common stock issued and outstanding and held by non-affiliates of the Registrant, based 
upon  the  closing  price  for  the  common  stock  on  the  NASDAQ  Global  Market  on  June  30,  2008  was  approximately 
$412,781,000. For purposes of this calculation, shares of the Registrant held by directors and officers of the Registrant and 
under the Registrant's 401(k)/profit sharing plan have been excluded.  

The number of shares outstanding of the Registrant's common stock was 18,293,631 as of March 3, 2009.  

Selected  portions  of  the  Registrant’s  proxy  statement  for  its  2009  Annual  Meeting  of  Stockholders  (the  “2009  Proxy 
Statement”)  to  be  filed  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  pursuant  to  Regulation  14A  within  120  days  after 
Registrant’s fiscal year-end of December 31, 2008 are incorporated by reference in Part III of this Report.   

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE  

 
 
 
 
 
 
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements 

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of 
Section  21E  of  the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934,  as  amended.    Forward-looking  statements  are  not 
statements of historical facts, but rather reflect our current expectations or beliefs concerning future events 
and  results.  We  generally  use  the  words  "believes,"  "expects,"  "intends,"  "plans,"  "anticipates,"  "likely," 
"will"  and  similar  expressions  to  identify  forward-looking  statements.  Such  forward-looking  statements, 
including those concerning our expectations, involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which 
are  beyond  our  control,  which  may  cause  our  actual  results,  performance  or  achievements,  or  industry 
results,  to  be  materially  different  from  any  future  results,  performance  or  achievements  expressed  or 
implied  by  such  forward-looking  statements.  The  risks,  uncertainties  and  factors  that  could  cause  our 
results to differ materially from our expectations and beliefs include, but are not limited to, those factors set 
forth in this Annual Report on Form 10-K under "Item 1A. - Risk Factors" below, including the following: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

changes in laws or regulations affecting our operations; 

changes in our business tactics or strategies; 

acquisitions of new or complementary operations; 

sales of any of our existing operations; 

changing market forces or contingencies that necessitate, in our judgment, changes in our 
plans, strategy or tactics; and 

fluctuations in the investment markets or interest rates, which might materially affect our 
operations or financial condition. 

We  cannot  assure  you  that  the  expectations  or  beliefs  reflected  in  these  forward-looking 
statements will prove correct. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking 
statements,  whether  as  a  result  of  new  information,  future  events  or otherwise. You are cautioned not to 
unduly rely on such forward-looking statements when evaluating the information presented in this Annual 
Report  on  Form  10-K  and  all  subsequent  written  and  oral  forward-looking  statements  made  by  us  or 
persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained 
herein. 

Item 1. Business 

General: 

Part I 

Balchem  Corporation  (“Balchem,”  the  “Company,”  “we”  or  “us”),  incorporated  in  the  State  of 
Maryland  in  1967,  is  engaged  in  the  development,  manufacture  and  marketing  of  specialty  performance 
ingredients and products for the food, nutritional, feed, pharmaceutical and medical sterilization industries.  
Effective  with  the  quarter  ending  March  31,  2008,  we  have  realigned  our  business  segment  reporting 
structure  to  appropriately  reflect  the  internal  management  of  the  businesses,  largely  due to the impact of 
acquisitions  in  2007.  We  will  continue  to  report  three  segments:  Specialty  Products;  Food,  Pharma  & 
Nutrition;  and  Animal  Nutrition  &  Health.  Changes  to  the  reporting  segments  are  as  follows:  chelated 
minerals and specialty nutritional products for the animal health industry, formerly reported as a part of the 
encapsulated/nutritional  products  segment,  are  now  combined  with  the  choline  business  (formerly  BCP 
Ingredients) into a consolidated Animal Nutrition & Health segment. The encapsulated/nutritional products 
segment has been renamed Food, Pharma & Nutrition, focusing on human health. There are no changes to 
the  Specialty  Products  segment.  Business  segment  net  sales  and  earnings  from  operations  have  been 
reclassified for all periods presented to reflect the segment changes. 

The  Company  sells  its  products  through  its  own  sales  force,  independent  distributors  and  sales 
agents.    Financial  information  concerning  the  Company's  business,  business  segments  and  geographic 

  1 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
information appears in the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements included under Item 8 below, 
which information is incorporated herein by reference. 

The  Company  operates  four  domestic  subsidiaries,  all  of  which  are  wholly-owned:  BCP 
Ingredients,  Inc.  (“BCP”),  Balchem  Minerals  Corporation  (“BMC”),  BCP  Saint  Gabriel,  Inc.  (“BCP  St. 
Gabriel”), each a Delaware corporation, and Chelated Minerals Corporation (“CMC”), a Utah corporation.  
We also operate three wholly-owned subsidiaries in Europe:  Balchem BV and Balchem Trading BV, both 
Dutch  limited  liability  companies,  and  Balchem  Italia  Srl,  an  Italian  limited  liability  company.    Unless 
otherwise stated to the contrary, or unless the context otherwise requires, references to the Company in this 
report includes Balchem Corporation and its subsidiaries. 

Food, Pharma & Nutrition  

The Food, Pharma & Nutrition (“FP&N”) segment provides microencapsulation, granulation and 
agglomeration solutions to a variety of applications in food, pharmaceutical and nutritional ingredients to 
enhance performance of nutritional fortification, processing, mixing packaging applications and shelf-life. 
Major  product  applications  are  baked  goods,  refrigerated  and  frozen  dough  systems,  processed  meats, 
seasoning blends, confections, and nutritional supplements. We also market human grade choline nutrient 
products  through  this  segment  for  wellness  applications.  Choline  is  recognized  to  play  a  key  role  in  the 
development  and  structural  integrity  of  brain  cell  membranes  in  infants,  processing  dietary  fat, 
reproductive development and neural functions, such as memory and muscle function. The FP&N portfolio 
also includes granulated calcium carbonate products, primarily used in, or in conjunction with, novel over-
the-counter  and  prescription  pharmaceuticals  for  the  treatment  of  osteoporosis,  gastric  disorders  and 
calcium deficiencies.  

Specialty Products 

Our  Specialty  Products  segment  operates  as  ARC  Specialty  Products.    The  Specialty  Products 
segment repackages and distributes the following specialty gases: ethylene oxide, blends of ethylene oxide, 
propylene oxide and methyl chloride. 

We sell ethylene oxide, at the 100% level, as a sterilant gas, primarily for use in the health care 
industry. It is used to sterilize a wide range of medical devices because of its versatility and effectiveness in 
treating hard or soft surfaces, composites, metals, tubing and different types of plastics without negatively 
impacting the performance or appearance of the device being sterilized. We distribute our 100% ethylene 
oxide  product  in  uniquely  designed,  recyclable  double-walled  stainless  steel  drums  to  assure  compliance 
with safety, quality and environmental standards as outlined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 
(the “EPA”) and the U.S. Department of Transportation.  The Company's inventory of these custom built 
drums, along with the Company's three filling facilities, represent a significant capital investment. Contract 
sterilizers, medical device manufacturers, and medical gas distributors are our principal customers for this 
product. In addition, ethylene oxide blends are highly effective as a fumigant, in killing bacteria, fungi, and 
insects  in  spices  and  other  seasoning  materials.  In  addition,  the  Company  also  sells  small,  uniquely 
designed single use canisters of 100% ethylene oxide for use in medical device sterilization. 

We sell two other products, propylene oxide and methyl chloride, principally to customers seeking 
smaller (as opposed to bulk) quantities and whose requirements include timely delivery and safe handling. 
Propylene oxide is used for fumigation in spice treatment and in various chemical synthesis applications. It 
is  also  utilized  in  industrial  applications  to  make  paints  more  durable,  and  for  manufacturing  specialty 
starches and textile coatings.  Methyl chloride is used as a raw material in specialty herbicides, fertilizers 
and pharmaceuticals, as well as in malt and wine preservers. 

Animal Nutrition & Health 

Our  Animal  Nutrition  &  Health  (“AN&H”)  segment  provides  the  animal  nutrition  market  with 
nutritional products derived from our encapsulation and chelation technologies in addition to basic choline 

  2 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Commercial  sales  of  REASHURE®  Choline,  an  encapsulated  choline  product, 
chloride. 
NITROSHURETM,  an  encapsulated  urea  supplement,  and  NIASHURETM,  our  microencapsulated  niacin 
product for dairy cows, boosts health and milk production in transition and lactating dairy cows, delivering 
nutrient supplements that survive the rumen and are biologically available, providing required nutritional 
levels. We also market chelated mineral supplements for use in animal feed throughout the world, as our 
proprietary chelation technology provides enhanced nutrient absorption for various species of production 
and companion animals.  In October 2008, we introduced a rumen-protected lysine for use in dairy rations, 
AMINOSHURETM-L,  which  gives  nutritionists  and  dairy  producers  a  precise  and  consistent  source  of 
rumen-protected lysine. AN&H also manufactures and supplies basic choline chloride, an essential nutrient 
for animal health, predominantly to the poultry and swine industries. Choline, which is manufactured and 
sold  on  both  dry  and  aqueous  forms,  plays  a  vital  role  in  the  metabolism  of  fat.  Choline  deficiency  can 
result  in  reduced  growth  and  perosis  in  poultry;  fatty  liver,  kidney  necrosis  and  general  poor  health 
condition in swine. Certain derivatives of choline chloride are also manufactured and sold into industrial 
applications. The AN&H segment also includes the manufacture and sale of methylamines.  Methylamines 
are a primary building block for the manufacture of choline products and are also used in a wide range of 
industrial applications. 

Raw Materials: 

The  raw  materials  utilized  by  the  Company  in  the  manufacture  of  its  products  are  generally 
available  from  a  number  of  commercial  sources.  Such  raw  materials  include  materials  derived  from 
petrochemicals,  minerals,  metals  and  other  readily  available  commodities  and  are  subject  to  price 
fluctuations  due  to  market  conditions.  The  Company  is  not  experiencing  any  current  difficulties  in 
procuring such materials and does not anticipate any such problems; however, the Company cannot assure 
that will always be the case. 

Intellectual Property: 

The Company currently holds 17 patents in the United States and overseas and uses certain trade-
names and trademarks.  It also uses know-how, trade secrets, formulae, and manufacturing techniques that 
assist  in  maintaining  competitive  positions  of  certain  of  its  products.    Formulae  and  know-how  are  of 
particular importance in the manufacture of a number of the Company’s products. The Company believes 
that certain of its patents, in the aggregate, are advantageous to its business. However, it is believed that no 
single  patent  or  related  group  of  patents  is  currently  so  material  to  the  Company  that  the  expiration  or 
termination  of  any  single  patent  or  group  of  patents  would  materially  affect  its  business.  The  Company 
believes that its sales and competitive position are dependent primarily upon the quality of its products, its 
technical sales efforts and market conditions, rather than on any patent protection.  

Seasonality: 

In general, the businesses of our segments are not seasonal to any material extent. 

Backlog: 

At December 31, 2008, the Company had a total backlog of $6,384,000 (including $4,434,000 for 
the AN&H segment; $1,280,000 for the FP&N segment and $670,000 for Specialty Products segment), as 
compared  to  a  total  backlog  of  $7,303,000  at  December  31,  2007  (including  $5,226,000  for  the  AN&H 
segment;  $1,723,000  for  the  FP&N  segment  and  $354,000  for  Specialty  Products  segment).  It  has 
generally  been  the  Company’s  policy  and  practice  to  maintain  an  inventory  of  finished  products  and/or 
component  materials  for  its  segments  to  enable  it  to  ship  products  within  two  months  after  receipt  of  a 
product order. All orders in the current backlog are expected to be filled in the 2009 fiscal year. 

  3 

 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Competition: 

The Company’s competitors include many large and small companies, some of which have greater 
financial, research and development, production and other resources than the Company. Competition in the 
encapsulation  markets  served  by  the  Company  is  based  primarily  on  product  performance,  customer 
support,  quality,  service  and  price.    The  development  of  new  and  improved  products  is  important  to  the 
Company’s  success.  This  competitive  environment  requires  substantial  investments  in  product  and 
manufacturing  process  research  and  development.  In  addition,  the  winning  and  retention  of  customer 
acceptance of the Company’s food and nutrition products involve substantial expenditures for application 
testing and sales efforts. The Company also engages various universities to assist in research and provide 
independent third-party analysis. In the specialty products business, the Company faces competition from 
alternative  sterilizing  technologies  and  products.  Competition  in  the  animal  feed  markets  served  by  the 
Company is based primarily on service and price.   

Research & Development: 

During the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, the Company incurred research and 
development  expense  of  approximately  $2.9  million,  $2.5  million  and  $2.0  million,  respectively,  on 
Company-sponsored  research  and  development  for  new  products  and  improvements  to  existing  products 
and  manufacturing  processes,  principally  in  the  FP&N  and  AN&H    segments.    During  the  year  ended 
December  31,  2008,  an  average  of  21  employees  were  devoted  full  time  to  research  and  development 
activities.  The  Company  has  historically  funded  its  research  and  development  programs  with  funds 
available from current operations with the intent of recovering those costs from profits derived from future 
sales of products resulting from, or enhanced by, the research and development effort. 

The Company prioritizes its product development activities in an effort to allocate its resources to 
those  product  candidates  that  the  Company  believes  have  the  greatest  commercial  potential.    Factors 
considered  by  the  Company  in  determining  the  products  to  pursue  include  projected  markets  and  needs, 
status of its proprietary rights, technical feasibility, expected and known product attributes, and estimated 
costs to bring the product to market.  

Acquisitions, Dispositions, and Capital Projects: 

In 2007, we made two significant acquisitions. 

In  April  2007,  pursuant  to  an  asset  purchase  agreement  dated  March  30,  2007,  we  acquired  the 
methylamines and choline chloride business and manufacturing facilities of Akzo Nobel Chemicals S.p.A., 
located in Marano Ticino, Italy, through our affiliate, Balchem BV.  Balchem BV subsequently assigned 
this asset purchase agreement to its wholly-owned subsidiary, Balchem Italia Srl. In this Annual Report on 
Form 10-K, we refer to this acquisition as the “Akzo Nobel Acquisition”.  

In March 2007, BCP acquired certain choline chloride business assets of Chinook Global Limited 
("Chinook"), a privately held Ontario corporation. In this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we refer to this 
acquisition as the “Chinook Acquisition”.  

In  February  2006,  we  acquired  all  of  the  outstanding  capital  stock  of  CMC,  which  was  then 
privately held.  CMC is a manufacturer and global marketer of chelated mineral nutritional supplements for 
livestock,  pet  and  swine  feeds.  In  this  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K,  we  refer  to  this  acquisition  as  the 
“CMC Acquisition.” 

Excluding  acquisitions,  capital  expenditures  were  approximately  $5.1  million  for  2008,  as 
compared to $4.9 million in 2007.  Capital expenditures are projected to be approximately $5.0 million for 
2009. 

  4 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Environmental / Regulatory Matters: 

The  Federal  Insecticide,  Fungicide  and  Rodenticide  Act,  as  amended  (“FIFRA”),  a  health  and 
safety statute, requires that certain products within our specialty products segment must be registered with 
the  EPA  because  they  are  considered  pesticides.  In  order  to  obtain  a  registration,  an  applicant  typically 
must demonstrate, through extensive test data, that its product will not cause unreasonable adverse effects 
on the environment. We hold an EPA registration permitting us to sell ethylene oxide as a medical device 
sterilant and spice fumigant.  

We are in the process of reregistering this product’s use in compliance with FIFRA re-registration 
requirements for pesticide products.  With respect to the treatment of spices, the EPA prohibited the use of 
ethylene oxide to treat basil, effective August 1, 2007, but allows the continuing use of ethylene oxide to 
treat all other spices, provided a mandated treatment method is used beginning August 1, 2008. 

Another  area  of  the  EPA’s  re-registration  effort  resulted  in  the  April  16,  2008  issuance  of  the 
RED (Re-registration Eligibility Decision) for ethylene oxide which permits the continued use of ethylene 
oxide “to sterilize medical or laboratory equipment, pharmaceuticals, and aseptic packaging, or to reduce 
microbial load on musical instruments, cosmetics, whole and ground spices and other seasoning materials 
and  artifacts,  archival  material  or  library  objects.”   Given  that  “the  database  to  support  re-registration  is 
substantially complete,” our re-registration effort is similarly substantially completed, which will continue 
to authorize our ethylene oxide product sales for medical device sterilization.  While the EPA may request 
additional  testing,  we  believe  that  the  use  of  ethylene  oxide  will  continue  to  be  permitted.  The  product, 
when  used  as  a  sterilant  for  certain  medical  devices,  has  no  known  equally  effective  substitute. 
Management  believes  absence  of  availability  of  this  product  could  not  be  easily  tolerated  by  various 
medical device manufacturers and the health care industry due to the resultant infection potential. 

The  State  of  California  lists  100%  ethylene  oxide,  when  used  as  a  sterilant  or  fumigant,  as  a 
carcinogen  and  reproductive  toxin  under  California's  Proposition  65  (Safe  Drinking  Water  and  Toxic 
Enforcement  Act  of  1986).  As  a  result,  the  Company  is  required to provide a prescribed warning to any 
person in California who may be exposed to this product. Failure to provide such warning would result in 
liability of up to $2,500 per day per person exposed. 

The Company’s facility in Verona, Missouri, while held by a prior owner, was designated by the 
EPA  as  a  Superfund  site  and  placed  on  the  National  Priorities  List  in  1983,  because  of  dioxin 
contamination on portions of the site.  Remediation conducted by the prior owner under the oversight of 
the  EPA  and  the  Missouri  Department  of  Natural  Resources  (“MDNR”)  included  removal  of  dioxin 
contaminated soil and equipment, capping of areas of residual contamination in four relatively small areas 
of the site separate from the manufacturing facilities, and the installation of wells to monitor groundwater 
and  surface  water  for  contamination  for  certain  organic  chemicals.   No  ground  water  or  surface  water 
treatment  has  been  required.   In  1998,  the  EPA  certified  the  work  on  the  contaminated  soils  to  be 
complete.   In  February  2000,  after  the  conclusion  of  two  years  of  monitoring  groundwater  and  surface 
water,  the  former  owner  submitted  a  draft  third  party  risk  assessment  report  to  the  EPA  and  MDNR 
recommending no further action. The prior owner is awaiting the response of the EPA and MDNR to the 
draft risk assessment. 

While the Company must maintain the integrity of the capped areas in the remediation areas on 
the site, the prior owner is responsible for completion of any further Superfund remedy.  The Company is 
indemnified  by  the  sellers  under  its  May  2001  asset  purchase  agreement  covering  its  acquisition  of  the 
Verona facility for potential liabilities associated with the Superfund site and one of the sellers, in turn, has 
the  benefit  of  certain  contractual  indemnification  by  the  prior  owner  that  executed  the  above-described 
Superfund remedy. 

In connection with normal operations at its plant facilities, the Company is required to maintain 

environmental and other permits, including those relating to the ethylene oxide operations.  

  5 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The  Company  believes  it  is  in  compliance  in  all  material  respects  with  federal,  state,  local  and 
international  provisions  that  have  been  enacted  or  adopted  regulating  the  discharge  of  materials  into  the 
environment  or  otherwise  relating  to  the  protection  of  the  environment.  Such  compliance  includes  the 
maintenance of required permits under air pollution regulations and compliance with requirements of the 
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The cost of such compliance has not had a material effect 
upon  the  results  of  operations  or  financial  condition  of  the  Company.  In  1982,  the  Company  discovered 
and  thereafter  removed  a  number  of  buried  drums  containing  unidentified  waste  material  from  the 
Company’s  site  in  Slate  Hill,  New  York.  The  Company  thereafter  entered  into  a  Consent  Decree  to 
evaluate  the  drum  site  with  the  New  York  Department  of  Environmental  Conservation  (“NYDEC”)  and 
performed  a  Remedial  Investigation/Feasibility  Study  that  was  approved  by  NYDEC  in  February  1994. 
Based on NYDEC requirements, the Company remediated the area and removed soil from the drum burial 
site. This proceeding has been substantially completed (see Item 3). 

The  Channahon,  Illinois  manufacturing  facility  manufactures  a  calcium  carbonate  line  of 
pharmaceutical  grade  ingredients.    This  facility  is  registered  with  the  United  States  Food  and  Drug 
Administration  (“FDA”)  as  a  drug  manufacturing  facility.   These  products  must  be  manufactured  in 
conformity with current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regulations as interpreted and enforced by 
the  FDA.   Modifications,  enhancements  or  changes  in  manufacturing  facilities  or  procedures  of  our 
pharmaceutical products are, in many circumstances, subject to FDA approval, which may be subject to a 
lengthy application process or which we may be unable to obtain. The Channahon, Illinois facility, as well 
as those of any third-party cGMP manufacturers that we may use, are periodically subject to inspection by 
the FDA and other governmental agencies, and operations at these facilities could be interrupted or halted 
if the results of these inspections are unsatisfactory. 

Employees: 

As  of  March  1,  2009,  the  Company  employed  approximately  332  persons.    Approximately  73 
employees at our Marano, Ticino, Italy facility are covered by a national collective bargaining agreement, 
which  expires  in  2010.  Approximately  55  employees  at  the  Company’s  Verona,  Missouri  facility  are 
covered by a collective bargaining agreement, which expires in 2012.   

Available Information: 

The Company’s headquarters is located at 52 Sunrise Park Road, P.O. Box 600, New Hampton, 
NY  10958.    The  Company’s  telephone  number  is  (845)  326-5600  and  its  Internet  website  address  is 
www.balchem.com. The Company makes available through its website, free of charge, its Annual Reports 
on  Form  10-K,  Quarterly  Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to 
such reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after they have been electronically filed with the Securities 
and Exchange Commission.  Such reports are available via a link from the Investor Information page on 
the Company’s website to a list of the Company’s reports on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s 
EDGAR website.  

Item 1A. Risk Factors 

Our  business  involves  a  high  degree  of  risk  and  uncertainty,  including  the  following  risks  and 

uncertainties: 

Our operating results may be adversely impacted by macro-economic uncertainties and fears.  

Recently, general worldwide economic conditions have experienced a significant downturn due to 
the credit conditions impacted by factors such as the subprime-mortgage turmoil, slower economic activity, 
concerns  about  inflation  and  deflation,  increased  energy  costs,  decreased  consumer  confidence,  reduced 
corporate profits and capital spending, adverse business conditions and liquidity and the impact of natural 
disasters. These conditions make it extremely difficult for our customers, our vendors and us to accurately 
forecast  and  plan  future  business  activities,  and  they  could  cause  U.S.  and  foreign  businesses  to  slow 

  6 

 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
spending  on  our  products  which  would  reduce  our  revenues  and  profitability.  Furthermore,  during 
challenging economic times our customers may face issues gaining timely access to sufficient credit, which 
could result in an impairment of their ability to make timely payments to us. If that were to occur, we may 
be  required  to  increase  our  allowance  for  doubtful  accounts  and  our  days  sales  outstanding  would  be 
negatively  impacted.  We  cannot  predict  the  timing,  depth  or  duration  of  any  economic  slowdown  or 
subsequent economic recovery, worldwide, or in the markets in which we operate.  

 Increased competition could hurt our business and financial results. 

We face competition in our markets from a number of large and small companies, some of which 
have  greater  financial,  research  and  development,  production  and  other  resources  than  we  do.  Our 
competitive  position  is  based  principally  on  performance,  quality,  customer  support,  service,  breadth  of 
product  line,  manufacturing  or  packaging  technology  and  the  selling  prices  of  our  products.  Our 
competitors might be expected to improve the design and performance of their products and to introduce 
new  products  with  competitive  price  and  performance  characteristics.  We  expect  to  do  the  same  to 
maintain our current competitive position and market share.  

The loss of governmental permits and approvals would materially harm some of our businesses. 

Pursuant  to  applicable environmental and safety laws and regulations, we are required to obtain 
and maintain certain governmental permits and approvals, including an EPA registration for our ethylene 
oxide  sterilant  product.  We  maintain  an  EPA  registration  of  ethylene  oxide  as  a  medical  device  sterilant 
and fumicide. We are in the process of re-registering this product in accordance with FIFRA.  The EPA 
may not allow re-registration of ethylene oxide for the uses mentioned above.  The failure of the EPA to 
allow re-registration of ethylene oxide would have a material adverse effect on our business and financial 
results. 

The  Channahon,  Illinois  facility  manufactures  a  calcium  carbonate  line  of  pharmaceutical 
ingredients.  This facility is registered with the FDA as a drug manufacturing facility.  These products must 
be  manufactured  in  conformity  with  current  Good  Manufacturing  Practice  (cGMP)  regulations  as 
interpreted and enforced by the FDA.  Modifications, enhancements or changes in manufacturing facilities 
or procedures of our pharmaceutical products are, in many circumstances, subject to FDA approval, which 
may  be  subject  to  a  lengthy  application  process  or  which  we  may  be  unable  to  obtain.  Our  Channahon, 
Illinois facility, as well as those of any third-party cGMP manufacturers that we may use, are periodically 
subject to inspection by the FDA and other governmental agencies, and operations at these facilities could 
be interrupted or halted if the results of these inspections are unsatisfactory.   Failure to comply with the 
FDA or other governmental regulations can result in fines, unanticipated compliance expenditures, recall 
or  seizure  of  products,  total  or  partial  suspension  of  production,  enforcement  actions,  injunctions  and 
criminal prosecution, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial results. 

Permits  and  approvals  may  be  subject  to  revocation,  modification  or  denial  under  certain 
circumstances.  Our  operations  or  activities  (including the status of compliance by the prior owner of the 
Verona,  Missouri  facility  under  Superfund  remediation)  could  result  in  administrative  or  private  actions, 
revocation  of  required  permits  or  licenses,  or  fines,  penalties  or  damages,  which  could  have  an  adverse 
effect on us. In addition, we can not predict the extent to which any legislation or regulation may affect the 
market for our products or our cost of doing business. 

Raw  material  shortages  or  price  increases  could  adversely  affect  our  business  and  financial 

results. 

The principal raw materials that we use in the manufacture of our products can be subject to price 
fluctuations due to market conditions. Such raw materials include materials derived from petrochemicals, 
minerals,  metals  and  other  commodities.  While  the  selling  prices  of  our  products  tend  to  increase  or 
decrease over time with the cost of raw materials, these changes may not occur simultaneously or to the 
same degree. At times, we may be unable to pass increases in raw material costs through to our customers 

  7 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
due to certain contractual obligations. Such increases in the price of raw materials, if not offset by product 
price increases, or substitute raw materials, would have an adverse impact on our profitability. We believe 
we  have  reliable  sources  of  supply  for  our  raw  materials  under  normal  market  conditions.  We  cannot, 
however, predict the likelihood or impact of any future raw material shortages. Any shortages could have a 
material adverse impact on our results of operations. 

Our  financial  success  depends  in  part  on  the  reliability  and  sufficiency  of  our  manufacturing 

facilities. 

Our revenues depend on the effective operation of our manufacturing, packaging, and processing 
facilities.  The  operation  of  our  facilities  involves  risks,  including  the  breakdown,  failure,  or  substandard 
performance of equipment, power outages, the improper installation or operation of equipment, explosions, 
fires, natural disasters, failure to achieve or maintain safety or quality standards, work stoppages, supply or 
logistical  outages,  and  the  need  to  comply  with  environmental  and  other  directives  of  governmental 
agencies. The occurrence of material operational problems, including, but not limited to, the above events, 
could adversely affect our profitability during the period of such operational difficulties. 

Our failure or inability to protect our intellectual property could harm our business and financial 

results. 

We  hold  17  patents  in  the  United  States  and  overseas.  Third  parties  could  seek  to  challenge, 
invalidate  or  circumvent  our  patents.  Moreover, there could be successful claims against us alleging that 
we  infringe  the  intellectual  property  rights  of  others.  If  we  are  unable  to  protect  all  of  our  intellectual 
property rights, or if we are found to be infringing the intellectual property rights of others, there could be 
an adverse effect on our business and financial results. Our competitive position also depends on our use of 
unpatented  trade  secrets.  Competitors  could  independently  develop  substantially  equivalent  proprietary 
information, which could hurt our business and financial results. 

We  face  risks  associated  with  our  sales  to  customers  and  manufacturing  operations  outside  the 

United States.  

For  the  year  ended  December  31,  2008,  approximately  37%  of  our  net  sales  consisted  of  sales 
outside the United States, predominately to Europe, Japan and China.  In addition, we conduct a portion of 
our manufacturing outside the United States. International sales are subject to inherent risks. The majority 
of  our  foreign  sales  occur  through  our  foreign  sales  subsidiaries  and  the  remainder  of  our  foreign  sales 
result  from  exports  to  foreign  distributors,  resellers  and  customers.  Our  foreign  sales  and  operations  are 
subject  to  a  number  of  risks,  including:  longer  accounts  receivable  collection  periods;  the  impact  of 
recessions and other economic conditions in economies outside the United States; export duties and quotas; 
unexpected  changes  in  regulatory  requirements;  certification  requirements;  environmental  regulations; 
reduced protection for intellectual property rights in some countries; potentially adverse tax consequences; 
political and economic instability; and preference for locally produced products. These factors could have a 
material adverse impact on our ability to increase or maintain our international sales.  

 We may, from time to time, experience problems in our labor relations. 

In North America, approximately 55 employees, or 22% of our North American workforce, as of 
December  31,  2008,  are  represented  by  a  union  under  a  single  collective  bargaining  agreement.    This 
agreement expires in 2012.  In Europe, approximately 73 employees are covered by a collective bargaining 
agreement.    This  agreement  expires  in  2010.    We  believe  that  our  present  labor  relations  with  all  of  our 
unionized employees are satisfactory, however, our failure to renew these agreements on reasonable terms 
could  result  in  labor  disruptions  and  increased  labor  costs,  which  could  adversely  affect  our  financial 
performance.    Similarly,  if  our  relations  with  the  unionized  portion  of  our  workforce  do  not  remain 
positive, such employees could initiate a strike, work stoppage or slowdown in the future. In the event of 
such  an  action,  we  may  not  be  able  to  adequately  meet  the  needs  of  our  customers  using  our  remaining 
workforce and our operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.  

  8 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
Our international operations subject us to currency translation risk and currency transaction risk 

which could cause our results to fluctuate from period to period. 

The financial condition and results of operations of our foreign subsidiaries are reported in Euros 
and  then  translated  into  U.S.  dollars  at  the  applicable  currency  exchange  rate  for  inclusion  in  our 
consolidated financial statements. Exchange rates between these currencies in recent years have fluctuated 
significantly and may do so in the future. In the past year, as a result of the strength of the Euro compared 
to  the  U.S.  dollar,  our  operating  results  in  U.S.  dollars  were  positively  affected  upon  translation.  The 
positive impact of a strengthening Euro may not continue in the future and may even reverse if the Euro 
declines in value compared to the U.S. dollar.  Furthermore, we incur currency transaction risk whenever 
we  enter  into  either  a  purchase  or  a  sales  transaction  using  a  currency  different  than  the  functional 
currency.  Given  the volatility of exchange rates, we may not be able to effectively manage our currency 
transactions and/or translation risks. Volatility in currency exchange rates could impact our business and 
financial results. 

Our success depends in large part on our key personnel.  

Our operations significantly depend on the continued efforts of our senior executives. The loss of 
the services of certain executives for an extended period of time could have a material adverse effect on 
our business and financial results. 

Litigation could be costly and can adversely affect our business and financial results. 

We, like all companies involved in the food and pharmaceutical industries, are subject to potential 
claims for product liability relating to our products. Such claims, irrespective of their outcomes or merits, 
could be time-consuming and expensive to defend, and could result in the diversion of management time 
and  attention.  Any  of  these  situations  could  have  a material  adverse  effect on our business and financial 
results.  

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments 

None. 

Item 2.  Properties 

In February 2002, the Company entered into a ten (10) year lease for approximately 20,000 square 
feet  of  office  space  in  New  Hampton,  New  York.  The  office  space  is  serving  as  the  Company’s  general 
offices and as laboratory facilities for the Company’s encapsulated / nutritional products business. 

Manufacturing  facilities  owned  by  the  Company  for  its  encapsulated  products  business  and  a 
blending, drumming and terminal facility for the Company’s ethylene oxide business, are presently housed 
in three buildings located in Slate Hill, New York comprising a total of approximately 51,000 square feet. 
The Company owns a total of approximately 16 acres of land on two parcels in this community. 

The Company owns a facility located on an approximately 24 acre parcel of land in Green Pond, 
South Carolina. The site consists of a drumming facility, a canister filling facility, a maintenance building 
and an office building comprising a total of approximately 34,000 square feet. The Company uses this site 
for repackaging products in its specialty products segment. 

The Company’s Verona, Missouri site, which is located on approximately 100 acres, consists of 
manufacturing facilities relating to animal feed grade choline, human choline nutrients, a drumming facility 
for  the  Company’s  ethylene  oxide  business,  together  with  buildings  utilized  for  warehousing  such 
products.  The  Verona  operation  buildings  comprise  a  total  of  approximately  151,000  square  feet.  The 

  9 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
facility,  while  under  prior  ownership,  was  designated  by  the  EPA  as  a  Superfund  site  (see  Item  1  – 
“Business - Environmental / Regulatory Matters”). 

The Company leases production and warehouse space in Channahon, Illinois. The Company uses 
this facility for production related to the Company’s calcium carbonate line of business. The initial term of 
the  lease  is  effective  through  September  30,  2010,  subject  to  earlier  termination  by  Balchem  upon  sixty 
days notice, or by the landlord upon sixty days notice.  The Company’s leased space in Channahon, Illinois 
totals approximately 26,000 square feet. 

The  Company,  through  CMC,  owns  a  manufacturing  facility  and  warehouse,  comprising 
approximately 16,500 square feet, located on approximately 5 acres of land in Salt Lake City, Utah.  The 
Company  manufactures  and  distributes  its  chelated  mineral  nutrients  for  animal  feed  products  at  this 
location.  

The Company, through BCP, owns a manufacturing facility located upon approximately 11 acres 
of  leased  realty  in  St.  Gabriel,  Louisiana.  The  Company  manufactures  and  distributes  animal  feed  grade 
choline chloride at this location. 

The Company, through its European subsidiary, Balchem Italia Srl, owns a facility located on an 
approximately 30 acre parcel of land in Marano Ticino, Italy. The Company manufactures and distributes 
methylamines, animal feed grade choline and human choline nutrients at this location.  

Item 3.  Legal Proceedings 

In  1982  the  Company  discovered  and  thereafter  removed  a  number  of  buried  drums  containing 
unidentified  waste  material  from  the  Company’s  site  in  Slate  Hill,  New  York.  The  Company  thereafter 
entered into a Consent Decree to evaluate the drum site with the New York Department of Environmental 
Conservation (“NYDEC”) and performed a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study that was approved by 
NYDEC  in  February  1994.  Based  on  NYDEC  requirements,  the  Company  remediated  the  area  and 
removed  soil  from  the  drum  burial  site.  Clean-up  was  completed  in  1996,  and  NYDEC  required  the 
Company  to  monitor  the  site  through  1999.  The  Company  continues  to  be  involved  in  discussions  with 
NYDEC to evaluate monitoring results and determine what, if any, additional actions will be required on 
the part of the Company to close out the remediation of this site. Additional actions, if any, would likely 
require the Company to continue monitoring the site. The cost of such monitoring has recently been less 
than $5,000 per year. 

The Company is also involved in other legal proceedings through the normal course of business. 
Management believes that any unfavorable outcome related to these proceedings will not have a material 
effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or liquidity. 

Item 4.   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders 

None. 

 10 

 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PART II 

Item 5.  Market  for  the  Registrant's  Common  Equity,  Related  Stockholder  Matters  and  Issuer 

Purchases of Equity Securities 

(a) 

Market Information. 

On December 8, 2006, the Board of Directors of the Company approved a three-for-two split of 
the Company’s common stock to be effected in the form of a stock dividend to shareholders of record on 
December 29, 2006.  Such stock dividend was made on January 19, 2007.  The stock split was recognized 
by  reclassifying  the  par  value  of  the  additional  shares  resulting  from  the  split,  from  additional  paid-in 
capital to common stock.   

On December 15, 2005, the Board of Directors of the Company approved a three-for-two split of 
the Company’s common stock to be effected in the form of a stock dividend to shareholders of record on 
December 30, 2005. Such stock dividend was made on January 20, 2006. The stock split was recognized 
by  reclassifying  the  par  value  of  the  additional  shares  resulting  from  the  split,  from  additional  paid-in 
capital to common stock.  

Since December 22, 2006, the Company’s common stock has traded on the Nasdaq Global Market 
under the trading symbol BCPC. Prior to that, our common stock traded on the American Stock Exchange 
under the trading symbol BCP.  The high and low closing prices for the common stock as recorded for each 
quarterly period during the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 were as follows:  

Quarterly Period 
Ended March 31, 2008 
Ended June 30, 2008 
Ended September 30, 2008 
Ended December 31, 2008 

Quarterly Period 
Ended March 31, 2007 
Ended June 30, 2007 
Ended September 30, 2007 
Ended December 31, 2007 

$ 

$ 

High 

Low 

23.34  $ 
26.44 
29.50 
26.86 

19.05 
22.16 
24.17 
21.16 

High 

Low 

18.56  $ 
19.17 
21.25 
24.00 

14.09 
17.15 
15.60 
20.16 

On  March  3,  2009  the  closing  price  for  the  common  stock  on  the  Nasdaq  Global  Market  was 

$19.25. 

 (b) 

Record Holders. 

As  of  March  3,  2009,  the  approximate  number  of  holders  of  record  of  the  Company’s  common 
stock was 192.  Such number does not include stockholders who hold their stock in street name. The total 
number of beneficial owners of the Company's common stock is estimated to be approximately 12,399. 

(c) 

Dividends. 

The  Company  declared  cash  dividends  of  $0.11  per share on its common stock during its fiscal 

years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007. 

For information concerning prior stockholder approval of and other matters relating to our equity 

incentive plans, see Item 12 in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. 

 11 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
(d) 

Performance Graph.  

The  graph  below  sets  forth  the  cumulative  total  stockholder  return  on  the  Company's  Common 
Stock (referred to in the table as "BCPC") for the five years ended December 31, 2008, the overall stock 
market  return  during  such  period  for  shares  comprising  the  Russell  2000®  Index  (which  the  Company 
believes  includes  companies  with  market  capitalization  similar  to  that  of  the  Company),  and  the  overall 
stock  market  return  during  such  period  for  shares  comprising  the  Standard  &  Poor's  500  Food  Group 
Index,  in  each  case  assuming  a  comparable  initial  investment  of  $100  on  December  31,  2003  and  the 
subsequent reinvestment of dividends.  The Russell 2000® Index measures the performance of the shares 
of the 2000 smallest companies included in the Russell 3000® Index.  In light of the Company's industry 
segments,  the  Company  does  not  believe  that  published  industry-specific  indices  are  necessarily 
representative of stocks comparable to the Company.  Nevertheless, the Company considers the Standard 
& Poor's 500 Food Group Index to be potentially useful as a peer group index with respect to the Company 
in light of the Company's Food, Pharma & Nutrition segment. The performance of the Company's Common 
Stock shown on the graph below is historical only and not indicative of future performance.   

BCPC

Russell 2000® Index

S&P Food Group Index

$500

$450

$400

$350

$300

$250

$200

$150

$100

$50

)
$
(
S
R
A
L
L
O
D

$0
12/31/03

12/31/04

12/31/05

12/31/06

12/31/07

12/31/08

Item 6.  Selected Financial Data 

The  selected  statements  of  operations  data  set  forth  below  for  the  three  years  in  the  period  ended 
December 31,  2008  and  the  selected  balance  sheet  data  as  of  December 31,  2008  and  2007  have  been 
derived from our Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere herein. The selected financial data 
as of December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004 and for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004 have been 
derived  from  audited  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  not  included  herein,  but  which  were  previously 
filed  with  the  SEC.    The  following  information  should  be  read  in  conjunction  with  Item  7  — 
“Management’s  Discussion  and  Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and  Results  of  Operations”  and  the 
Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included elsewhere herein. 

Earnings per share and dividend amounts have been adjusted for the December 2006 and 2005 three-for-
two stock splits (effected by means of stock dividends). 

 12 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
             
(In thousands, except per share data) 
Year ended December 31, 

Statement of Operations Data 
Net sales 
Earnings before income  
     tax expense 
Income tax expense 
Net earnings 
Basic net earnings per 
     common share 
Diluted net earnings per  
     common share 

At December 31, 
Balance Sheet Data 
Total assets 
Long-term debt 
Other long-term  
    obligations 
Total stockholders’ equity 
Dividends per common share 

2008 
(1)(2)(3)(4) 

2007 
(1)(2)(3)(4) 

2006 
(1)(2) 

2005 
(1) 

2004 

$ 

232,050 

$ 

176,201 

$ 

100,905 

$ 

83,095 

$ 

67,406 

28,431 
9,381 
19,050 

1.06 

1.00 

2008 

154,474 
6,671 

1,609 
114,506 
.11 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

24,829 
8,711 
16,118 

.91 

.87 

2007 

154,424 
17,398 

1,529 
93,080 
.11 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

19,101 
6,823 
12,278 

.70 

.67 

2006 

92,333 
- 

784 
75,362 
.09 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

17,191 
6,237 
10,954 

.63 

.61 

2005 

75,141 
- 

1,043 
60,933 
.06 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

12,715 
4,689 
8,026 

.48 

.46 

2004 

60,405 
- 

1,003 
50,234 
.04 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

Includes  the  operating  results,  cash  flows,  and  assets  relating  to  the  Loders  Croklaan 
Acquisition from the date of acquisition (July 1, 2005) forward. 
Includes  the  operating  results,  cash  flows,  and  assets  relating  to  the  CMC  Acquisition 
from the date of acquisition (February 8, 2006) forward. 
Includes the operating results, cash flows, and assets relating to the Chinook Acquisition 
from the date of acquisition (March 19, 2007) forward. 
Includes  the  operating  results,  cash  flows,  and  assets  relating  to  the  Akzo  Nobel 
Acquisition from the date of acquisition (May 1, 2007) forward. 

Item 7.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 

Overview 

We  develop,  manufacture,  distribute  and  market  specialty performance ingredients and products 
for  the  food,  nutritional,  pharmaceutical,  animal  health  and  medical  device  sterilization  industries.  Our 
reportable segments are strategic businesses that offer products and services to different markets. Effective 
with  the  quarter  ending  March  31,  2008,  the  Company  has  realigned  its  business  segment  reporting 
structure to more appropriately reflect the internal management of the businesses, largely due to the impact 
of  acquisitions  in  2007.  The  Company  will  continue  to  report  three  segments:  Specialty  Products;  Food, 
Pharma  &  Nutrition;  and  Animal  Nutrition  &  Health.  Changes  to  the  reporting  segments  are  as  follows: 
chelated minerals and specialty nutritional products for the animal health industry, formerly reported as a 
part  of  the  encapsulated/nutritional  products  segment,  are  now  combined  with  the  choline  business 
(formerly  BCP 
into  a  consolidated  Animal  Nutrition  &  Health  segment.  The 
encapsulated/nutritional  products  segment  has  been  renamed  Food,  Pharma  &  Nutrition,  focusing  on 
human  health.  There  are  no  changes  to  the  Specialty  Products  segment.  Business  segment  net  sales  and 
earnings from operations have been reclassified for all periods presented to reflect the segment changes. 

Ingredients) 

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should 
be read in conjunction with Item 6 — “Selected Financial Data” and our Consolidated Financial Statements 
and  the  related  notes  included  in  this  report.  Those  statements  in  the  following  discussion  that  are  not 

 13 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
historical  in  nature  should  be  considered  to  be  forward-looking  statements  that  are  inherently  uncertain. 
See “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements”. 

Specialty Products 

The specialty products segment repackages and distributes the following specialty gases: ethylene 

oxide, blends of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and methyl chloride. 

Ethylene  oxide,  at  the  100%  level,  is  sold  as  a  chemical  sterilant  gas,  primarily  for  use  in  the 
health  care  industry  to  sterilize  medical  devices.  Contract  sterilizers,  medical  device  manufacturers  and 
medical gas distributors are the Company’s principal customers for this product. Blends of ethylene oxide 
are  sold  as  fumigants  and  are  highly  effective  in  killing  bacteria,  fungi,  and  insects  in  spices  and  other 
seasoning  type  materials.  Propylene  oxide  and  methyl  chloride  are  also  sold,  principally  to  customers 
seeking smaller (as opposed to bulk) quantities.  

Management believes that future success in this segment is highly dependent on the Company’s 

ability to maintain its strong reputation for excellent quality, safety and customer service.  

Food, Pharma & Nutrition  

The Food, Pharma & Nutrition (“FP&N”) segment provides microencapsulation, granulation and 
agglomeration solutions to a variety of applications in food, pharmaceutical and nutritional ingredients to 
enhance performance of nutritional fortification, processing, mixing, and packaging applications and shelf-
life.  Major product applications are baked goods, refrigerated and frozen dough systems, processed meats, 
seasoning blends, confections, and nutritional supplements. We also market human grade choline nutrient 
products  through  this  segment  for  wellness  applications.  Choline  is  recognized  to  play  a  key  role  in  the 
development  and  structural  integrity  of  brain  cell  membranes  in  infants,  processing  dietary  fat, 
reproductive development and neural functions, such as memory and muscle function. The FP&N portfolio 
also includes granulated calcium carbonate products, primarily used in, or in conjunction with, novel over-
the-counter  and  prescription  pharmaceuticals  for  the  treatment  of  osteoporosis,  gastric  disorders  and 
calcium deficiencies in the United States.  

Management believes this segment’s key strengths are its proprietary technology and end-product 
application capabilities. The success of the Company’s efforts to increase revenue in this segment is highly 
dependent  on  the  timing  of  marketing  launches  of  new  products  in  the  U.S.  and  international  food  and 
nutrition  markets  by  the  Company’s  customers  and  prospects.  The  Company,  through  its  innovative 
proprietary  technology  and  applications  expertise,  continues  to  develop  new  products  designed  to  solve 
and respond to customer problems and innovative needs.  

Animal Nutrition & Health 

Our  Animal  Nutrition  &  Health  (“AN&H”)  segment  provides  the  animal  nutrition  market  with 
nutritional products derived from our encapsulation and chelation technologies in addition to basic choline 
  Commercial  sales  of  REASHURE®  Choline,  an  encapsulated  choline  product, 
chloride. 
NITROSHURETM,  an  encapsulated  urea  supplement,  and  NIASHURETM,  our  microencapsulated  niacin 
product for dairy cows, boosts health and milk production in transition and lactating dairy cows, delivering 
nutrient supplements that survive the rumen and are biologically available, providing required nutritional 
levels. We also market chelated mineral supplements for use in animal feed throughout the world, as our 
proprietary chelation technology provides enhanced nutrient absorption for various species of production 
and companion animals.  In October 2008, we introduced the first proven rumen-protected lysine for use in 
dairy rations, AMINOSHURETM-L, which gives nutritionists and dairy producers a precise and consistent 
source  of  rumen-protected  lysine.  AN&H  also  manufactures  and  supplies  basic  choline  chloride,  an 
essential nutrient for animal health, predominantly to the poultry and swine industries. Choline, which is 
manufactured and sold on both dry and aqueous forms, plays a vital role in the metabolism of fat. Choline 
deficiency can result in reduced growth and perosis in poultry; fatty liver, kidney necrosis and general poor 

 14 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
health  condition  in  swine.  Certain  derivatives  of  choline  chloride  are  also  manufactured  and  sold  into 
industrial  applications.  The  AN&H  segment  also  includes  the  manufacture  and  sale  of  methylamines.    
Methylamines are a primary building block for the manufacture of choline products and are also used in a 
wide range of industrial applications. 

Sales  of  specialty  products  for  the  animal  nutrition  and  health  industry  are  highly  dependent  on 
dairy industry economics as well as the ability of the Company to leverage the results of existing successful 
university  research  on  the  animal  health  benefits  of  the  Company’s  products.  Management  believes  that 
success  in  the  commodity-oriented  basic  choline  chloride  marketplace  is  highly  dependent  on  the 
Company’s ability to maintain its strong reputation for excellent product quality and customer service. In 
addition, the Company must continue to increase production efficiencies in order to maintain its low-cost 
position to effectively compete in a highly competitive global marketplace.  

The  Company  sells  products  for  all  three  segments  through  its  own  sales  force,  independent 

distributors, and sales agents. 

The following tables summarize consolidated net sales by segment and business segment earnings 

from operations for the three years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 (in thousands):  

Business Segment Net Sales: 

Specialty Products 
Food, Pharma & Nutrition 
Animal Nutrition & Health 
Total 

Business Segment Earnings From Operations: 

Specialty Products 
Food, Pharma & Nutrition 
Animal Nutrition & Health 
Total 

2008 
    35,835 
    35,702 
  160,513 
  232,050 

2007 
  33,057 
  32,052 
111,092 
176,201 

$ 

$ 

2008 
  12,545 
   5,469 
11,334 
 29,348 

2007 
11,824 
 4,144 
 9,938 
    25,906 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

2006 
  32,026 
  28,702 
  40,177 
100,905 

2006 
11,315 
 2,162 
 5,685 
    19,162 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

Fiscal Year 2008 compared to Fiscal Year 2007  
(All amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) 

Net Sales 

Net sales for 2008 were $232,050, as compared with $176,201 for 2007, an increase of $55,849 or 
31.7%. Net sales for the specialty products segment were $35,835 for 2008, as compared with $33,057 for 
2007, an increase of $2,778 or 8.4%. This increase was due principally to greater sales volumes of ethylene 
oxide for medical device sterilization and propylene oxide for starch modification as well as a modest price 
increase adopted to help offset rising raw material costs during 2008.  Net sales for the Food, Pharma & 
Nutrition segment were $35,702 for 2008, as compared with $32,052 for 2007, an increase of $3,650 or 
11.4%.  This result was driven principally by increased sales of calcium and nutritional products, as well as 
increased product sales in both the domestic and international food markets.  Net sales of $160,513 were 
realized  in  2008  for  the  Animal  Nutrition  &  Health  segment,  as  compared  with  $111,092  for  2007,  an 
increase  of  $49,421  or  44.5%.    This  result  reflects  incremental  sales  of  approximately  $40,000  from  the 
customer list acquisition of Chinook Group Limited (“Chinook”) and from the Akzo Nobel Acquisition, as 
described  in  Note  5.    For  the  twelve  months  ending  December  31,  2008,  sales  of  our  specialty  animal 
nutrition and health products, targeted for ruminant production animals and companion animals, increased 
32.9% or approximately 12% of the overall AN&H growth. 

 15 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating Expenses 

Operating  expenses  for  2008  were  $23,230,  as  compared  to  $21,024  for  2007,  an  increase  of 
$2,206 or 10.5%. This increase was due primarily to $736 of additional amortization expense, plus sales 
and  technical  personnel  expense  associated  with  the  Chinook  and  Akzo  Nobel  acquisitions,  as  well  as 
higher expenses relating to accounting, tax services, and non-cash stock-based compensation recognition. 
With  these  increases,  operating  expenses  were  10.0%  of  sales  or  1.9  percentage  points  less  than  the 
operating  expenses  as  a  percent  of  sales  incurred  in  2007.    During  2008  and  2007,  the  Company  spent 
$2,877 and $2,514, respectively, on research and development, substantially all of which pertained to the 
Food, Pharma, Nutrition, and Animal Nutrition & Health segments. 

Business Segment Earnings From Operations 

Earnings  from  operations  for  2008  increased  to  $29,348  compared  to  $25,906  for  2007,  an 
increase of $3,442 or 13.3%, due largely to the above-noted increase in sales. Earnings from operations as 
a  percentage  of  sales  (“operating  margin”)  for  2008  decreased  to  12.6%  compared  to  14.7%  for  2007, 
principally a result of the previously-noted acquisition-related sales which carry a lower profit margin than 
the  Company’s  other  business  segments.  In  addition,  despite  the  implementation  of  price  increases,  we 
were not able to fully recover cost increases in certain petro-chemical raw materials, which continued or 
trended up within the year. We did begin to see a reduction in certain raw material costs late in the third 
quarter  2008.  The  Company  is  continuing  to  focus  on  implementing  price  increases,  productivity 
improvements,  and,  most  importantly,  growth  through  new  product  development  which  should  result  in 
improved operating margins. Earnings from operations for the Specialty Products segment were $12,545, 
an increase of $721 or 6.1%, a result of increases in sales volume and modest sales price increases offset 
by  higher  raw  material  costs  and  the  previously-noted  increased  expenses  relating  to  accounting,  tax 
services, and non-cash stock-based compensation recognition.  Earnings from operations for Food, Pharma 
&  Nutrition  were  $5,469,  an  increase  of  $1,325  or  32.0%,  due  largely  to  increased  sales  of  calcium  and 
nutritional products.  Earnings from operations for Animal Nutrition & Health, while unfavorably impacted 
by  the  noted  petro-chemical  raw  material  cost  increases,  improved  to  $11,334,  an  increase  of  $1,396  or 
14.0%, and were favorably affected by organic growth and the previously-noted increased sales volumes 
derived from the acquisitions. 

Other Expenses (Income) 

Interest  income  for  2008  totaled  $107  as  compared  to  $166  for  2007.    Interest  expense,  net  of 
capitalized  interest,  was  $963  for  2008  compared  to  $1,562  for  2007.    This  decrease  is  primarily 
attributable  to  lower  interest  rates  and  the  decrease  in  average  current  and long-term debt resulting from 
both normal recurring principal payments as well as accelerated payments of the term loan used to fund the 
Chinook Acquisition.  Other expense of $61 for 2008 is primarily the result of unfavorable fluctuations in 
foreign  currency  exchange  rates  between  the  U.S.  dollar  (the  reporting  currency)  and  functional  foreign 
currencies. 

Income Tax Expense 

The  Company’s  effective  tax  rate  2008  and  2007  was  33.0%  and  35.1%,  respectively.    This 
decrease in the effective tax rate is primarily attributable to a change in apportionment factors relating to 
state income taxes, as well as a change in the income proportion towards jurisdictions with lower tax rates. 

Net Earnings 

Primarily as a result of the above-noted increase in sales and the noted raw material and operating 
expense increases, net earnings were $19,050 for 2008, as compared with $16,118 for 2007, an increase of 
18.2%. 

 16 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fiscal Year 2007 compared to Fiscal Year 2006  
(All amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) 

Net Sales 

Net sales for 2007 were $176,201, as compared with $100,905 for 2006, an increase of $75,296 or 
74.6%. Net sales for the specialty products segment were $33,057 for 2007, as compared with $32,026 for 
2006,  an  increase  of  $1,031  or  3.2%.  This  increase  was  principally  due  to  an  increase  in  sales  volume, 
along with modest price increases for products in this segment. Net sales for the Food, Pharma & Nutrition 
segment were $32,052 for 2007, as compared with $28,702 for 2006, an increase of $3,350 or 11.7%.  This 
result  was  driven  principally  by  increased  global  sales  of  human  nutritional  and  choline  products,  and 
includes growth of $1,952 relating to the Akzo Nobel Acquisition.  Net sales for the Animal Nutrition & 
Health  segment  were  $111,092  in  2007,  as  compared  with  $40,177  for  2006,  an  increase  of  $70,915  or 
176.5%.  This result reflects sales from the Chinook Acquisition and the Akzo Nobel Acquisition in 2007, 
which contributed in the aggregate approximately $62,495 of the revenue in this segment. The remaining 
increase was due to increased volumes sold in the core dry and aqueous choline, as well as the specialty 
industrial  product  lines.    Sales  of  REASHURE®,  Niashure  and  chelated  minerals,  our  specialty  animal 
nutrition and health products targeted for ruminant animals, and increases in the companion animal market 
also contributed to this growth. 

Operating Expenses 

Operating expenses for 2007 increased to $21,024 from $14,844 for 2006, an increase of $6,180 
or  41.6%.    This  increase  was  due  primarily  to  $2,300  of  additional  amortization  expense,  plus  sales  and 
technical personnel expense associated with the Chinook and Akzo Nobel acquisitions. We also incurred 
approximately $1,224 of commercial development expenses toward our pharmaceutical market initiatives 
in 2007.  With these increases, operating expenses were 11.9% of sales or 2.8 percentage points less than 
the operating expenses as a percent of sales incurred in 2006.  During 2007 and 2006, the Company spent 
$2,514 and $2,019 respectively, on research and development, substantially all of which pertained to the 
Company’s encapsulated / nutritional products for both human and animal health. 

Business Segment Earnings From Operations 

As  a  result  of  the  foregoing,  earnings  from  operations  for  2007  were  $25,906  as  compared  to 
$19,162 for 2006, reflecting a 35.2% increase from year to year. Earnings from operations for the specialty 
products segment increased to $11,824 in 2007 from $11,315 in 2006, an increase of $509 or 4.5%, due 
largely to increases in sales volume and modest sales price increases. These increases were partially offset 
by  higher  raw  material  costs.  Earnings  from  operations  for  the  Food,  Pharma  &  Nutrition  segment 
increased  to  $4,144  in  2007  from  $2,162  in  2006,  an  increase  of  $1,981  or  91.6%,  as  this  segment  was 
favorably  affected  by  the  Akzo  Nobel  Acquisition  and  increased  volumes  sold  principally  in  the  human 
choline markets. Earnings from operations for the Animal Nutrition & Health segment, increased to $9,938 
in 2007 from $5,684 in 2006, an increase of $4,254 or 74.8%, as a result of the previously noted increased 
sales  volumes  and  improved  productivity,  partially  offset  by  certain  petro-chemical  raw  material  cost 
increases.  

Other Expenses (Income) 

Interest income for 2007 totaled $166, as compared to $128 for 2006.  This increase is attributable 
to  an  increase  in  the  Company’s  average  cash  balance  during  2007.  Interest  expense,  net  of  capitalized 
interest, was $1,562 for 2007, as compared to $189 for 2006.  This increase is attributable to the increase in 
average current and long-term debt resulting from the Chinook Acquisition and Akzo Nobel Acquisition.  
Other income of $319 for 2007 is the result of favorable fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates 
between the U.S. dollar (the reporting currency) and functional foreign currencies. 

 17 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income Tax Expense 

The Company’s effective tax rate for 2007 and  2006 was 35.1% and 35.7%, respectively.  This 
decrease in the effective tax rate is primarily attributable to a domestic manufacturer's deduction and to a 
change in allocation relating to state income taxes. The adoption of Interpretation No. 48, “ Accounting for 
Uncertainty in Income Taxes ” (“FIN 48”) adversely affected the 2007 income tax expense by $220 and 
the effective tax rate by 0.9%.  

Net Earnings 

Primarily as a result of the above-noted increase in sales, net earnings were $16,118 for 2007, as 

compared with $12,278 for 2006, an increase of 31.3%. 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES 

Contractual Obligations  

The Company's contractual obligations and debt obligations, excluding revolver borrowings, as of 

December 31, 2008, are summarized in the table below:  

 doirep yb eud stnemyaP

Contractual Obligations 

Long-term debt obligations 
Operating lease obligations (1) 
Purchase obligations (2) 
  latoT

Less than 
1 year 
$   2,860 
1,128 
8,048 
 630,21   $ 961,02      $

Total 
$      9,531 
2,590 
8,048 

1-3 years 
$   6,671 
894 
- 

More than 
5 years 
$           - 
221 
- 
 122        $ 743        $ 565,7   $

3-5 years 
  $           - 
347 
- 

(1) 

Principally includes obligations associated with future minimum non-cancelable operating lease 
obligations (including the headquarters office space entered into in 2002). 

(2) 

Principally includes open purchase orders with vendors for inventory not yet received or recorded on 
our balance sheet. 

The table above excludes a $581 liability for uncertain tax positions, including the related interest 

and penalties, recorded in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Interpretation 
No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes — an interpretation of FAS Statement No. 109” 
(“FIN 48”) as we are unable to reasonably estimate the timing of settlement (see Note 8 for a further 
discussion on FIN 48).  

The Company knows of no current or pending demands on, or commitments for, its liquid assets 

that will materially affect its liquidity.  

The Company expects its operations to continue generating sufficient cash flow to fund working 
capital  requirements  and  necessary  capital  investments.  The  Company  is  actively  pursuing  additional 
acquisition  candidates.  The  Company  could  seek  additional  bank  loans  or  access  to  financial  markets  to 
fund  such  acquisitions,  its  operations,  working  capital,  necessary  capital  investments  or  other  cash 
requirements should it deem it necessary to do so. 

Acquisitions and Dispositions 

Effective  April  30,  2007,  pursuant  to  an  asset  purchase  agreement  dated  March  30,  2007  (the 
“Akzo Nobel Asset Purchase Agreement”), the Company, through its European subsidiary, Balchem B.V., 

 18 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
completed an acquisition of the methylamines and choline chloride business and manufacturing facilities of 
Akzo  Nobel  Chemicals  S.p.A.,  located  in  Marano  Ticino,  Italy  (the  “Akzo  Nobel  Acquisition”)  for  a 
purchase price, including acquisition costs, of approximately $8,000.    

On  March  16,  2007, the Company, through BCP, entered into an asset purchase agreement (the 
"Asset  Purchase  Agreement")  with  Chinook  Global  Limited  ("Chinook"),  a  privately  held  Ontario 
corporation,  pursuant  to  which  BCP  acquired  certain  of  Chinook's  choline  chloride  business  assets  (the 
“Chinook Acquisition”) for a purchase price, including acquisition costs, of approximately $33,000.  The 
Chinook Acquisition closed effective the same date.    

  On  February  8,  2006,  the  Company,  through  its  wholly  owned  subsidiary  Balchem  Minerals 
Corporation,  acquired  all  of  the  outstanding  capital  stock  of  CMC,  for  a  purchase  price,  including 
acquisition  costs,  of  approximately  $17,900.    CMC  is  a  manufacturer  and  global  marketer  of  chelated 
mineral nutritional supplements for livestock, pet and swine feeds. 

Cash 

Cash and cash equivalents increased to $3,422 at December 31, 2008 from $2,307 at December 
31, 2007 primarily resulting from the information detailed below.  Working capital amounted to $29,566 at 
December 31, 2008 as compared to $16,139 at December 31, 2007, an increase of $13,427. 

Operating Activities 

Cash  flows from operating activities provided $22,897 for 2008 compared to $15,637 for 2007.  
The  increase  in  cash  flows  from  operating  activities  was  primarily  due  to  an  increase  in  net  earnings, 
depreciation  and  amortization,  and  stock  compensation.  The  aforementioned  increase  in  cash  flows  was 
partially offset by an increase in inventories, accounts receivable and a reduction in accounts payable and 
accrued expenses. 

Investing Activities 

Capital expenditures were $5,080 for 2008 compared to $4,858 for 2007.  Assets acquired in 2007 
totaled $40,744, which was principally related to the Chinook Acquisition and the Akzo Nobel Acquisition 
(see Note 5). 

Financing Activities 

The  Company  has  an  approved  stock  repurchase  program.  The  total  authorization  under  this 
program  is  2,508,692  shares.  Since  the  inception  of  the  program,  a  total  of  1,307,867  shares  have  been 
purchased, none of which remained in treasury at December 31, 2008 or 2007.  During 2008, no additional 
shares  were  purchased.  The  Company  intends  to  acquire  shares  from  time  to  time  at  prevailing  market 
prices  if  and  to  the extent it deems it advisable to do so based on its assessment of corporate cash flow, 
market conditions and other factors.  

On  April  30,  2007,  the  Company,  and  its  principal  bank  entered  into  a  Loan  Agreement  (the 
“European Loan Agreement”) providing for an unsecured term loan of €7,500, translated to approximately 
$10,573 of December 31, 2008 (the “European Term Loan”), the proceeds of which were used to fund the 
Akzo Nobel Acquisition (see Note 5) and initial working capital requirements. The European Term Loan is 
payable in equal monthly installments of principal, each equal to 1/84th of the principal of the European 
Term Loan, together with accrued interest, with remaining principal and interest payable at maturity. The 
European Term Loan has a maturity date of May 1, 2010 and is subject to a monthly interest rate equal to 
EURIBOR  plus  1%.  At  December  31,  2008,  this  interest  rate  was  4.61%.    At  December  31,  2008,  the 
European  Term  Loan  had  an  outstanding  balance  of  €5,804  translated  to  $8,181.  The  European  Loan 
Agreement  also  initially  provided  for  a  short-term  revolving  credit  facility  of  €2,000  (the  "European 
Revolving  Facility").  The  European  Revolving  Facility  has  been  renewed  for  a  period  of  one  year  as  of 

 19 

 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
May  1,  2008.    As  part  of  this  renewal,  the  European  Loan  Agreement  was  amended  to  increase  the 
European  Revolving  Facility  to  €3,000,  translated  to  $4,229  as  of  December  31,  2008.  The  European 
Revolving Facility is subject to a monthly interest rate equal to EURIBOR plus 1.25%, and accrued interest 
is payable monthly.  The Company has drawn down €1,450, or $2,044 as translated at December 31, 2008, 
of the European Revolving Facility as of December 31, 2008. 

On  March  16,  2007,  the  Company  and  its  principal  bank  entered  into  a  Loan  Agreement  (the 
“Loan Agreement”) providing for an unsecured term loan of $29,000 (the “Term Loan”), the proceeds of 
which  were  used  to  fund  the  Chinook  Acquisition  (see  Note  5).  The  Term  Loan  is  payable  in  equal 
monthly  installments  of  principal,  each  equal  to  1/60th  of  the  principal  of  the  Term  Loan,  together  with 
accrued interest, with remaining principal and interest payable at maturity. The Term Loan has a maturity 
date of March 16, 2010 and is subject to a monthly interest rate equal to LIBOR plus 1%. At December 31, 
2008,  this  interest  rate  was  2.20%.  As  of  December  31,  2008,  the  Company  has  prepaid  $17,500  of  the 
Term  Loan.  At  December  31,  2008,  the  Term  Loan  had  an  outstanding  balance  of  $1,350.  The  Loan 
Agreement also provides for a short-term revolving credit facility of $6,000 (the "Revolving Facility"). The 
Revolving  Facility  is  subject  to  a  monthly  interest  rate  equal  to  LIBOR  plus  1%,  and  accrued  interest  is 
payable  monthly.  No  amounts  are  outstanding  on  the  Revolving  Facility  as  of  the  date  hereof.    The 
Revolving Facility has a maturity date of May 31, 2009.  Management believes that such facility will be 
renewed in the normal course of business. 

Indebtedness under the Company’s loan agreements are secured by assets of the Company. 

Proceeds from stock options exercised totaled $1,050 and $1,217 for 2008 and 2007, respectively. 

Dividend payments were $1,975 and $1,596 for 2008 and 2007, respectively.   

Other Matters Impacting Liquidity 

The Company currently provides postretirement benefits in the form of a retirement medical plan 
under  a  collective  bargaining  agreement  covering  eligible  retired  employees  of  its  Verona,  Missouri 
facility. The amount recorded on the Company’s balance sheet as of December 31, 2008 for this obligation 
is  $801.  The  postretirement  plan  is  not  funded.  Historical  cash  payments  made  under  such  plan  have 
approximated $50 per year. 

Critical Accounting Policies 

Management  of  the  Company  is  required  to  make  certain  estimates  and  assumptions  during  the 
preparation  of  consolidated  financial  statements  in  accordance  with  accounting  principles  generally 
accepted in the United States of America. These estimates and assumptions impact the reported amount of 
assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated 
financial statements. Estimates and assumptions are reviewed periodically and the effects of revisions are 
reflected in the consolidated financial statements in the period they are determined to be necessary. Actual 
results could differ from those estimates.  

The Company’s "critical accounting policies" are those that require application of management's 
most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the 
effect  of  matters  that  are  inherently  uncertain  and  that  may  change  in  subsequent  periods.  Management 
considers the following accounting policies to be critical. 

Revenue Recognition 

Revenue  is  recognized  upon  product  shipment,  passage  of  title  and  risk  of  loss,  and  when 
collection is reasonably assured.  The Company reports amounts billed to customers related to shipping and 
handling  as  revenue  and  includes  costs  incurred  for  shipping  and  handling  in  cost  of  sales.  Amounts 
received for unshipped merchandise are principally not recognized as revenue but rather they are recorded 
as  customer  deposits  and  are  included  in  current  liabilities.  In  addition,  the  Company  follows  the 

 20 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
provisions of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) No. 104, 
“Revenue  Recognition,”  which  sets  forth  guidelines  on  the  timing  of  revenue  recognition  based  upon 
factors such as passage of title, installation, payments and customer acceptance. 

Inventories 

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost (first in, first out or average) or market value and have 
been  reduced  by  an  allowance  for  excess  or  obsolete  inventories.    Inventory  reserves  are  generally 
recorded when the inventory for a product exceeds twelve months of demand for that product and/or when 
individual products have been in inventory for greater than six months.  In November 2004, the Financial 
Accounting  Standards  Board  issued  Statement  of  Financial  Accounting  Standard  No.  151,  “Inventory 
Costs.” The new statement amends Accounting Research Bulletin No. 43, Chapter 4, “Inventory Pricing”, 
to clarify the accounting for abnormal amounts of idle facility expense, freight, handling costs, and wasted 
material. This statement requires that those items be recognized as current period charges and requires that 
allocation of fixed production overheads to the cost of conversion be based on the normal capacity of the 
production  facilities.    The  provisions  of  this  statement  were  applied  prospectively  for  inventory  costs 
incurred beginning in our fiscal year 2006.  The adoption of this statement did not have a material impact 
on our results of operations, financial position or cash flow. 

Long-lived assets 

Long-lived assets, such as property, plant, and equipment and intangible assets with finite lives, 
are  reviewed  for  impairment  whenever  events  or  changes  in  circumstances  indicate  that  the  carrying 
amount of an asset may not be recoverable.  Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a 
comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be 
generated  by  the  asset.    If  the  carrying  amount  of  an  asset  exceeds  its  estimated  future  cash  flows,  an 
impairment charge is recognized by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair 
value of the asset, which is generally based on discounted cash flows. 

Goodwill,  which  is  not  subject  to  amortization,  is  tested  annually  for  impairment,  and  more 
frequently  if  events  and  circumstances  indicate  that  the  asset  might  be  impaired.    If  an  indicator  of 
impairment  exists,  the  Company  determines  the  amount  of  impairment  based  on  a  comparison  of  the 
implied fair value of its goodwill to its carrying value.  

Accounts Receivable 

We  market  our  products  to  a  diverse  customer  base,  principally  throughout  the  United  States, 
Europe,  China  and  Japan.  We  grant  credit  terms  in  the  normal  course  of  business  to  our  customers.  We 
perform on-going credit evaluations of our customers and adjust credit limits based upon payment history 
and  the  customer's  current  credit  worthiness,  as  determined  through  review  of  their  current  credit 
information. We continuously monitor collections and payments from customers and maintain allowances 
for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of our customers to make required 
payments. Estimated losses are based on historical experience and any specific customer collection issues 
identified. If the financial condition of our customers were to deteriorate resulting in an impairment of their 
ability to make payments, additional allowances and related bad debt expense may be required.  

 21 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Post-employment Benefits 

The Company provides life insurance and health care benefits for eligible retirees and health care 
benefits  for  retirees’  eligible  survivors.    The  costs  and  obligations  related  to  these  benefits  reflect  the 
Company’s  assumptions  as  to  general  economic  conditions  and  health  care  cost  trends.    The  cost  of 
providing  plan  benefits  also  depends  on  demographic  assumptions  including  retirements,  mortality, 
turnover, and plan participation.  If actual experience differs from these assumptions, the cost of providing 
these benefits could increase or decrease. 

In  September  2006,  the  FASB  issued  FASB  Statement  No.  158,  “Employers’  Accounting  for 
Defined  Benefit  Pension  and  Other  Postretirement  Plans.”  This  Statement  requires  an  employer  to 
recognize  the  over  funded  or  under  funded  status  of  a  defined  benefit  post  retirement  plan  (other  than  a 
multiemployer plan) as an asset or liability in its statement of financial position, and to recognize changes 
in that funded status in the year in which the changes occur through comprehensive income. As a result of 
adopting SFAS No. 158 on December 31, 2006, we recorded $300 as a reduction to the benefit obligation 
and  $200,  net  of  tax,  as  a  one-time  adjustment  to  accumulated  other  comprehensive  income  in 
stockholders’ equity.  

Intangible Assets with Finite Lives 

The useful life of an intangible asset is based on the Company’s assumptions regarding expected 
use  of  the  asset;  the  relationship  of  the  intangible  asset  to  another  asset  or  group  of  assets;  any  legal, 
regulatory  or  contractual  provisions  that  may  limit  the  useful  life  of  the  asset  or  that  enable  renewal  or 
extension  of  the  asset’s  legal  or  contractual  life  without  substantial  cost;  the  effects  of  obsolescence, 
demand,  competition  and  other  economic  factors;  and  the  level  of  maintenance  expenditures  required  to 
obtain the expected future cash flows from the asset and their related impact on the asset’s useful life.  If 
events or circumstances indicate that the life of an intangible asset has changed, it could result in higher 
future amortization charges or recognition of an impairment loss. 

Income Taxes 

Income  taxes  are  accounted  for  under  the  asset  and  liability  method.  Deferred  tax  assets  and 
liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial 
statement  carrying  amounts  of  existing  assets  and  liabilities  and  their  respective  tax  bases  and  operating 
loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates 
expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be 
recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized 
in earnings in the period that includes the enactment date. The Company regularly reviews its deferred tax 
assets for recoverability and would establish a valuation allowance if it believed that such assets may not 
be recovered, taking into consideration historical operating results, expectations of future earnings, changes 
in its operations and the expected timing of the reversals of existing temporary differences. 

Beginning  in  fiscal  2007,  we  account  for  uncertainty  in  income  taxes  utilizing  the  Financial 
Accounting Standards Board’s Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes — an 
interpretation  of  FAS Statement  No. 109”  (“FIN 48”).  This  interpretation  clarifies  the  accounting  for 
uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an entity’s financial statements in accordance with SFAS 109. It 
prescribes  a  recognition  threshold  and  measurement  attribute  for  financial  statement  disclosure  of  tax 
positions  taken  or  expected  to  be  taken.  This  interpretation  also  provides  guidance  on  derecognition, 
classification,  interest  and  penalties,  accounting  in  interim  periods,  and  disclosures.  The  application  of 
FIN 48 requires judgment related to the uncertainty in income taxes and could impact our effective tax rate.  

 22 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stock-based Compensation 

Beginning  in  fiscal  2006,  we  account  for  stock-based  compensation  in  accordance  with 
SFAS No. 123R  (revised  2004),  “Share-Based  Payment”  (“SFAS 123R”)  as  interpreted  by  SEC  Staff 
Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 107. Under the fair value recognition provisions of this statement, share-
based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the value of the award and is recognized as 
expense  over  the  vesting  period.    Determining  the  fair  value  of  share-based  awards  at  the  grant  date 
requires  judgment,  including  estimating  our  stock  price  volatility,  employee  stock  option  exercise 
behaviors and employee option forfeiture rates.  Expected volatilities are based on historical volatility of 
the Company’s stock.  The expected term of the options is based on the Company’s historical experience of 
employees’  exercise  behavior.    As  stock-based  compensation  expense  recognized  in  the  Consolidated 
Statement  of  Earnings  is  based  on  awards  ultimately  expected  to  vest,  the  amount  of  expense  has  been 
reduced for estimated forfeitures.  SFAS 123R requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant and 
revised,  if  necessary,  in  subsequent  periods  if  actual  forfeitures  differ  from  those  estimates.    Forfeitures 
were estimated based on historical experience.  As a result of adopting SFAS 123R, we recorded $900 of 
compensation expense, net of tax, in 2006.  If factors change and we employ different assumptions in the 
application  of  SFAS 123R,  the  compensation  expense  that  we  record  in  future  periods  may  differ 
significantly from what we have recorded in the current period.  See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial 
Statements for additional information. 

New Accounting Pronouncements: 

In  May  2008,  FASB  issued  SFAS  No.  162,  “The  Hierarchy  of  Generally  Accepted  Accounting 
Principles” (“SFAS 162”). SFAS 162 is intended to improve financial reporting by identifying a consistent 
framework,  or  hierarchy,  for  selecting  accounting  principles  to  be  used  in  preparing  financial  statements 
that  are  presented  in  conformity  with  U.S.  generally  accepted  accounting  principles  (“GAAP”)  for 
nongovernmental entities. Prior to the issuance of SFAS No. 162, the GAAP hierarchy was defined in the 
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants' (AICPA) Statement on Auditing Standards (SAS) No. 
69,  “The  Meaning  of  Present  Fairly  in  Conformity  With  Generally  Accepted  Accounting  Principles.” 
SFAS No. 162 is effective November 15, 2008.  The adoption of this statement was not significant to the 
Company’s consolidated financial statements. 

In April 2008, FASB issued FSP 142-3, “Determining the Useful Life of Intangible Assets” ("FSP 
142-3"). FSP 142-3 amends the factors to be considered in determining the useful life of intangible assets. 
Its  intent  is  to  improve  the  consistency  between  the  useful  life  of  an  intangible  asset  and  the  period  of 
expected cash flows used to measure its fair value. FSP 142-3 is effective for fiscal years beginning after 
December 15, 2008. The Company does not expect the adoption of this statement to be significant to its 
consolidated financial statements.  

In March 2008, FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 161, “Disclosures 
about  Derivative  Instruments  and  Hedging  Activities  —  an  amendment  of  FASB  Statement  No. 133” 
(“SFAS  161”).  SFAS  161  requires  enhanced  disclosures  regarding  derivatives  and  hedging  activities, 
including:  (a) the  manner  in  which  an  entity  uses  derivative  instruments;  (b) the  manner  in  which 
derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for under Statement of Financial Accounting 
Standards No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”; and (c) the effect of 
derivative  instruments  and  related  hedged  items  on  an  entity’s  financial  position,  financial  performance, 
and cash flows. SFAS 161 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods 
beginning  after  November 15,  2008.  As  SFAS  161  relates  specifically  to  disclosures,  the  statement  will 
have no impact on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.  

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No.141 (revised 2007), “Business Combinations”, or 
SFAS 141R. The purpose of issuing the statement is to replace current guidance in SFAS No.141 to better 
represent the economic value of a business combination transaction. The changes to be effected with SFAS 
141R  from  the  current  guidance  include,  but  are  not  limited  to:  (1) acquisition  costs  will  be  recognized 

 23 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
separately from the acquisition; (2) known contractual contingencies at the time of the acquisition will be 
considered part of the liabilities acquired measured at their fair value; all other contingencies will be part of 
the  liabilities  acquired  measured  at  their  fair  value  only  if  it  is  more  likely  than  not  that  they  meet  the 
definition  of  a  liability;  (3) contingent  consideration  based  on  the  outcome  of  future  events  will  be 
recognized and measured at the time of the acquisition; (4) business combinations achieved in stages (step 
acquisitions)  will  need  to  recognize  the  identifiable  assets  and  liabilities,  as  well  as  noncontrolling 
interests, in the acquiree, at the full amounts of their fair values; and (5) a bargain purchase (defined as a 
business  combination  in  which  the  total  acquisition-date  fair  value  of  the  identifiable  net  assets  acquired 
exceeds the fair value of the consideration transferred plus any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree) will 
require that excess to be recognized as a gain attributable to the acquirer. SFAS 141R will be effective for 
any  business  combinations  that  occur  after  January 1,  2009.  The  Company  is  currently  evaluating  the 
impact that SFAS 141R will have on its financial statements and disclosures. 

In  December  2007,  the  FASB  issued  SFAS No. 160,  “Noncontrolling  Interests  in  Consolidated 
Financial Statements — an amendment of ARB No. 51”, or SFAS 160. SFAS 160 was issued to improve 
the relevance, comparability, and transparency of financial information provided to investors by requiring 
all entities to report noncontrolling (minority) interests in subsidiaries in the same way, that is, as equity in 
the consolidated financial statements. Moreover, SFAS 160 eliminates the diversity that currently exists in 
accounting for transactions between an entity and noncontrolling interests by requiring they be treated as 
equity  transactions.  SFAS 160  will  be  effective  January  1,  2009.  The  Company  does  not  expect  the 
adoption of this statement to be significant to its consolidated financial statements. 

In  June  2007,  FASB  ratified  the  consensus  reached  by  the  EITF  on  EITF  Issue  No.  07-3, 
"Accounting for Nonrefundable Advance Payments for Goods or Services to Be Used in Future Research 
and Development Activities" ("EITF 07-3"). EITF 07-3 addresses the diversity that exists with respect to 
the accounting for the non-refundable portion of a payment made by a research and development entity for 
future  research  and  development  activities.  Under  EITF  07-3,  an  entity  would  defer  and  capitalize  non-
refundable  advance  payments  made  for  research  and  development  activities  until  the  related  goods  are 
delivered or the related services are performed. The Company has adopted the provisions of EITF 07-3 as 
of January 1, 2008 and it has not had a material impact on its financial condition or results of operations.  

In February 2007, FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and 
Financial  Liabilities  -  Including  an  amendment  of  FASB  Statement  No.  115”  (“SFAS 159”).  SFAS 159 
permits an entity to measure certain financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value. Entities electing 
the  fair  value  option  will  report  unrealized  gains  and  losses  in  earnings  as  of  each  subsequent  reporting 
date.  The  fair  value  option may be elected on an instrument-by-instrument basis with few exceptions, as 
long  as  it  is  applied  to  the  instrument  in  its  entirety.  SFAS 159  establishes  presentation  and  disclosure 
requirements to help financial statement users understand the effect of an entity’s election on its earnings. 
SFAS 159 requires prospective application. If an entity elects the fair value option for items existing as of 
the date of adoption, the difference between their carrying amount and fair value should be included in a 
cumulative-effect  adjustment  to  the  opening  balance  of  retained  earnings.      The  provisions  of  SFAS 159 
are  effective  for  fiscal  years  beginning  after  November  15,  2007.    The  Company  has  adopted  the 
provisions  of  this  statement  as  of  January  1,  2008  and  it  did  not  have  a  material  impact  on  its  financial 
condition or results of operations.  

In  September  2006,  FASB  issued  SFAS  No. 157,  "Fair  Value  Measurements"  ("SFAS 157"). 
SFAS 157  defines  fair  value,  establishes  a  framework  for  measuring  fair  value  in  accordance  with 
generally  accepted  accounting  principles  and  expands  disclosures  about  fair  value  measurements.  The 
Company has adopted the provisions of this statement for its financial assets and liabilities as of January 1, 
2008 and it did not have a material impact on its financial condition or results of operations. As permitted 
by  FASB  Staff  Position  (“FSP”)  No.  FAS  157-2,  “Effective  Date  of  FASB  Statement  No. 157”,  the 
Company  elected  to  defer  the  adoption  of  SFAS  No. 157  for  all  nonfinancial  assets  and  nonfinancial 
liabilities,  except  those  that  are  recognized  or  disclosed  at  fair  value  in  the  financial  statements  on  a 
recurring  basis,  until  January 1,  2009.  Effective  January 1,  2009,  we  will  adopt  the  provision  for 
nonfinancial  assets  and  liabilities  that  are  not  required  or  permitted  to  be  measured  at  fair  value  on  a 

 24 

 
 
 
 
 
 
recurring  basis,  which  include  those  measured  at  fair  value  in  impairment  testing  and  those  initially 
measured  at  fair  value  in  a  business  combination.  We  do  not  expect  the  provisions  of  SFAS No. 157 
related to these items to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. In October 2008, 
FASB issued FSP No. 157-3, “Determining the Fair Value of a Financial Asset When the Market for That 
Asset  is  Not  Active.”    FSP  No.  157-3  clarifies  the  application  of  SFAS  No.  157  in  a  market  that  is  not 
active  and  provides  an  example  of  key  considerations  in  determining  the  fair  value  of  a  financial  asset 
when the market for that asset is not active. FSP No. 157-3 was effective on October 10, 2008, including 
prior periods for which financial statements have not been issued. Revisions resulting from a change in the 
valuation technique or its application should be accounted for as a change in accounting estimate following 
the guidance in SFAS No. 154, "Accounting Changes and Error Corrections." The Company adopted FSP 
No.  157-3  on  October  10,  2008  and  it  did  not  have  a  material  effect  on  its  consolidated  financial 
statements. 

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 

Cash and cash equivalents are invested primarily in money market accounts. The money market 
funds  in  which  the  Company  invests  are  participants  in  the  United  States  Treasury  Department’s 
Temporary  Guarantee  Program  for  Money  Market  Funds.  This  program  provides  coverage  for  amounts 
held  in  money  market  funds  as  of  the  close  of  business  on  September  19,  2008.  The  Company  has  no 
derivative  financial  instruments  or  derivative  commodity  instruments,  nor  does  the  Company  have  any 
financial  instruments  entered  into  for  trading  or  hedging  purposes.    As  of  December  31,  2008,  the 
Company’s borrowings were under a bank term loan bearing interest at LIBOR plus 1.00%, a second bank 
term loan bearing interest at EURIBOR plus 1.00%, a revolving line of credit bearing interest at LIBOR 
plus 1.00% and a second revolving line of credit bearing interest at EURIBOR plus 1.25%.  A 100 basis 
point increase or decrease in interest rates, applied to the Company’s borrowings at December 31, 2008, 
would  result  in  an  increase  or  decrease  in  annual  interest  expense  and  a  corresponding  reduction  or 
increase  in  cash  flow  of  approximately  $115.  The  Company  is  exposed  to  market  risks  for  changes  in 
foreign  currency  rates  and  has  exposure  to  commodity  price  risks,  including  prices  of  our  primary  raw 
materials.  Our  objective  is  to  seek  a  reduction  in  the  potential  negative  earnings  impact  of  changes  in 
foreign exchange rates and raw material pricing arising in our business activities. The Company manages 
these  financial  exposures,  where  possible,  through  pricing  and  operational  means.  Our  practices  may 
change as economic conditions change.  

 25 

 
 
 
 
Item 8.  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 

Index to Financial Statements and Supplementary Data: 

Page 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of  
December 31, 2008 and 2007 

Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the  
years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity 
for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows 
for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   

Schedule II – Valuation and Qualifying 
Accounts for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 

27 

29 

30 

31 

32 

33 

55 

 26 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM 

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders 
Balchem Corporation 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Balchem Corporation and Subsidiaries 
as  of  December  31,  2008  and  2007,  and  the  related  consolidated  statements  of  earnings,  stockholders' 
equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008.  Our audits also 
included the financial statement schedule of Balchem Corporation listed in the Index at Item 8.  We also 
have  audited  Balchem  Corporation’s  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  as  of  December  31,  2008, 
based  on  criteria  established  in  Internal  Control—Integrated  Framework  issued  by  the  Committee  of 
Sponsoring  Organizations  of  the  Treadway  Commission.  Balchem  Corporation's  management  is 
responsible  for  these  financial  statements  and  financial  statement  schedule,  for  maintaining  effective 
internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over 
financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over 
Financial  Reporting.  Our  responsibility  is  to  express  an  opinion  on  these  financial  statements  and  an 
opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight 
Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable 
assurance  about  whether  the  financial  statements  are free of material misstatement and whether effective 
internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.  Our audits of the financial 
statements  included  examining,  on  a  test  basis,  evidence  supporting  the  amounts  and  disclosures  in  the 
financial  statements,  assessing  the  accounting  principles  used  and  significant  estimates  made  by 
management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  Our audit of internal control over 
financial  reporting  included  obtaining  an  understanding  of  internal  control  over  financial  reporting, 
assessing  the  risk  that  a  material  weakness  exists,  and  testing  and  evaluating  the  design  and  operating 
effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk.  Our audits also included performing such other 
procedures  as  we  considered  necessary  in  the  circumstances.   We  believe  that  our  audits  provide  a 
reasonable basis for our opinions. 

A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance 
regarding  the  reliability  of  financial  reporting  and  the  preparation  of  financial  statements  for  external 
purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  A company's internal control over 
financial  reporting  includes  those  policies  and  procedures  that  (a)  pertain  to  the  maintenance  of  records 
that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the 
company;  (b)  provide  reasonable  assurance  that  transactions  are  recorded  as  necessary  to  permit 
preparation  of  financial  statements  in  accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that 
receipts  and  expenditures  of  the  company  are  being  made  only  in  accordance  with  authorizations  of 
management and directors of the company; and (c) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or 
timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a 
material effect on the financial statements. 

Because  of  its  inherent  limitations,  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  may  not  prevent  or  detect 
misstatements.  Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk 
that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance 
with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. 

In  our  opinion,  the  consolidated  financial  statements  referred  to  above  present  fairly,  in  all  material 
respects,  the  financial  position  of  Balchem  Corporation  and  Subsidiaries  as  of  December  31,  2008  and 
2007, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended 
December  31,  2008,  in  conformity  with  accounting  principles  generally  accepted  in  the  United  States  of 
America.  Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the 
basic  consolidated  financial  statements  taken  as  a  whole,  presents  fairly  the  information  set  forth 
therein.  Also in our opinion, Balchem Corporation maintained, in all material respects, effective internal 

 27 

 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
control  over  financial  reporting  as  of  December  31,  2008,  based  on  criteria  established  in  Internal 
Control—Integrated  Framework  issued  by  the  Committee  of  Sponsoring  Organizations  of  the  Treadway 
Commission. 

/s/ McGladrey & Pullen LLP 
New York, New York 
March 12, 2009 

 28 

 
 
 
 
 
BALCHEM CORPORATION
Consolidated Balance Sheets
December 31, 2008 and 2007
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)

Assets

2008

2007

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $50 and $50 at

December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively

Inventories
Prepaid expenses
Deferred income taxes
Other current assets

Total current assets

Property, plant and equipment, net

Goodwill
Intangible assets with finite lives, net
Other assets

Total assets

Current liabilities:

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

Trade accounts payable
Accrued expenses
Accrued compensation and other benefits
Customer deposits and other deferred revenue
Dividends payable
Income taxes payable
Current portion of long-term debt
Revolver borrowings

Total current liabilities

Long-term debt
Deferred income taxes
Other long-term obligations

Total liabilities

Commitments and contingencies (note 11)

Stockholders' equity:

Preferred stock, $25 par value. Authorized 2,000,000 

shares; none issued and outstanding

Common stock, $.0667 par value. Authorized 60,000,000 shares; 18,249,347
shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2008 and 17,979,353 shares
issued and outstanding at December 31, 2007

Additional paid-in capital
Retained earnings
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

Total stockholders' equity

$               

3,422

$              

2,307

30,250
16,618
2,581
649
1,731
55,251

42,513

29,640
15,680
2,456
515
1,871
52,469

42,080

26,658
29,993
59
154,474

$           

26,363
33,451
61
154,424

$           

$             

10,336
3,948
2,501
-
2,008
1,988
2,860
2,044
25,685

$            

11,190
7,311
3,205
42
1,975
2,019
7,379
3,209
36,330

6,671
6,003
1,609
39,968

-

823
18,809
94,882
(8)
114,506

17,398
6,087
1,529
61,344

-

804
14,286
77,840
150
93,080

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$           

154,474

$          

154,424

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

29

              
             
              
             
                
               
                   
                  
                
               
              
             
              
             
              
             
              
             
                     
                    
                
               
                
               
                   
                    
                
               
                
               
                
               
                
               
              
             
                
             
                
               
                
               
              
             
                   
                  
                   
                  
              
             
              
             
                     
                  
            
             
BALCHEM CORPORATION

Consolidated Statements of Earnings

Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006
(In thousands, except per share data)

Net sales

Cost of sales

Gross margin

Operating expenses:
Selling expenses
Research and development expenses
General and administrative expenses

Earnings from operations

Other expenses (income):

Interest income
Interest expense
Other, net

Earnings before income tax expense

Income tax expense

Net earnings

2008

2007

2006

$    

232,050

$    

176,201

$     

100,905

179,472

129,271

52,578

46,930

12,560
2,877
7,793
23,230

29,348

(107)
963
61

28,431

9,381

11,930
2,514
6,580
21,024

25,906

(166)
1,562
(319)

24,829

8,711

66,899

34,006

6,907
2,019
5,918
14,844

19,162

(128)
189
-

19,101

6,823

$      

19,050

$      

16,118

$       

12,278

Basic net earnings per common share 

$          

1.06

$           

0.91

$          

0.70

Diluted net earnings per common share

$          

1.00

$           

0.87

$          

0.67

See accompanying notes to consolidated  financial statements.

30

 
     
     
         
       
       
         
       
       
          
         
         
          
         
         
          
       
       
         
       
       
         
           
            
            
            
         
             
              
            
              
       
       
         
         
         
          
BALCHEM CORPORATION
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity
Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)

Common Stock

Shares

Amount

Additional
Paid-in
Capital

Accumulated
Other

Retained Comprehensive
Earnings

Income

Treasury Stock

Shares

Amount

Total
Stockholders'
Equity

Balance - December 31, 2005

17,461,447

$            

776

$         

8,008

$       

53,306

$               
-

(96,024)

$       

(1,157)

$             

60,933

-
-
21,933

74,091

-
-
264

893

-

-

-
-
-

-
-
-

-

-
-
-

-
-
-

-

-

-
-
-

-
-
-

-

-
-
-

-
-
-

-

12,278
(1,596)
334

3,220

193

75,362

16,118
(1,975)
379

3,530
(291)
(43)

93,080

19,050
(2,008)
406

4,136
48
(206)

$           

-

$          

114,506

Net earnings
Dividends ($.09 per share)
Shares issued under employee benefit plans and other
Shares and options issued under stock option plans and

an income tax benefit of $878

Adjustment to initially apply FASB Statement No. 158,

net of tax

-
-
1,079

271,323

-

Balance - December 31, 2006

17,733,849

Net earnings
Dividends ($.11 per share)
Shares issued under employee benefit plans and other
Shares and options issued under stock option plans and

an income tax benefit of $677

Cumulative effect of adjustment from adoption of FIN 48
Net change in pension asset/liability, net of taxes of $26

-
-
20,869

224,635

-
-

-
-
-

12

-

788

-
-

1

15
-
-

-
-
70

2,315

-

12,278
(1,596)
-

-

-

10,393

63,988

-
-
378

3,515
-
-

16,118
(1,975)
-

-
(291)
-

-
-
-

-

193

193

-
-
-

-
-
(43)

Balance - December 31, 2007

17,979,353

804

14,286

77,840

150

Net earnings
Dividends ($.11 per share)
Shares issued under employee benefit plans and other
Shares and options issued under stock option plans and

an income tax benefit of $672

Net change in pension asset/liability, net of taxes of $8
Equity adjustment from translation

-
-
17,218

252,776

-
-

-
-

1

18
-
-

-
-
405

4,118
-
-

19,050
(2,008)
-

-
-
-

-
-
-

-
48
(206)

Balance - December 31, 2008

18,249,347

$           

823

$      

18,809

$      

94,882

$                

(8)

See accompanying notes to consolidated  financial statements.

31

   
          
               
              
              
         
                 
                 
              
               
               
              
              
         
                 
                 
              
                
            
              
                
              
                 
           
              
                    
        
                
           
              
                 
           
              
                 
               
              
              
              
                
                 
              
                    
   
              
         
         
                
                 
              
               
               
              
              
         
                 
                 
              
               
               
              
              
         
                 
                 
              
                
          
                  
              
              
                 
                 
              
                    
        
                
           
              
                 
                 
              
                 
               
              
              
            
                 
                 
              
                   
               
              
              
              
                 
                 
              
                     
   
              
         
         
                
                 
              
               
               
              
              
         
                 
                 
              
               
               
              
              
         
                 
                 
              
                
          
                  
              
              
                 
                 
              
                    
        
                
           
              
                 
                 
              
                 
               
              
              
              
                  
                 
              
                      
               
              
              
              
               
                 
              
                   
   
                 
BALCHEM CORPORATION
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006
(In thousands)

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net earnings

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to
net cash provided by operating  activities:

Depreciation and amortization
Stock compensation expense
Shares issued under employee benefit plans
Deferred income tax expense
Foreign currency transaction (gain) loss
Other

Changes in assets and liabilities

Accounts receivable
Inventories
Prepaid expenses
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
Income taxes
Customer deposits and other deferred revenue
Other long-term obligations

Net cash provided by operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities:

Capital expenditures
Intangible assets acquired
Acquisition of assets

Net cash used in investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities:

Proceeds from long-term debt
Principal payments on long-term debt
Proceeds from short-term obligations
Repayments of short-term obligations
Proceeds from stock options exercised
Excess tax benefits from stock compensation
Dividends paid
Other financing activities

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents beginning of year
Cash and cash equivalents end of year

See accompanying notes to consolidated  financial statements.

32

2008

2007

2006

$      

19,050

$       

16,118

$      

12,278

7,786
2,414
406
(238)
31
-

(1,058)
(974)
(17)
(4,593)
6
(42)
126
22,897

(5,080)
(182)
(296)
(5,558)

-
(14,876)
3,516
(4,507)
1,050
672
(1,975)
-
(16,120)

(104)

1,115

6,376
1,636
379
(617)
(195)
15

(15,409)
481
(2,218)
7,634
1,803
(1,030)
664
15,637

(4,858)
(172)
(40,744)
(45,774)

38,946
(15,106)
3,684
(733)
1,217
677
(1,596)
-
27,089

3,445
1,097
343
104
-
-

(57)
(827)
36
(212)
218
(101)
46
16,370

(2,279)
(81)
(22,872)
(25,232)

10,000
(10,000)
-
-
1,239
878
(1,045)
(17)
1,055

166

-

(2,882)

(7,807)

2,307
3,422

$        

5,189
2,307

$         

12,996
5,189

$        

  
  
   
  
         
           
         
         
           
         
            
              
            
           
             
            
              
             
             
             
               
             
        
       
             
           
              
           
             
          
              
        
           
           
                 
           
            
             
          
           
            
              
              
       
         
       
        
          
        
           
             
             
           
       
     
        
       
     
             
         
       
     
       
     
         
           
             
        
             
             
         
           
         
            
              
            
        
          
        
             
               
             
     
         
         
           
              
             
         
          
        
         
           
       
BALCHEM CORPORATION 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 
(All amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) 

NOTE 1 - BUSINESS DESCRIPTION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING 
POLICIES 

Business Description  

Balchem  Corporation  (including,  unless  the  context  otherwise  requires,  its  wholly-owned  subsidiaries, 
BCP  Ingredients,  Inc.,  Balchem  Minerals  Corporation,  BCP  St.  Gabriel,  Inc.,  Chelated  Minerals 
Corporation, Balchem BV, Balchem Trading BV, and Balchem Italia Srl (“Balchem” or the “Company”)), 
incorporated in the State of Maryland in 1967, is engaged in the development, manufacture and marketing 
of  specialty  performance  ingredients  and  products  for  the  food,  nutritional,  feed,  pharmaceutical  and 
medical sterilization industries.  

Principles of Consolidation 

The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries. 
All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.  

Revenue Recognition 

Revenue  is  recognized  upon  product  shipment,  passage  of  title  and  risk  of  loss,  and  when  collection  is 
reasonably assured.  The Company reports amounts billed to customers related to shipping and handling as 
revenue  and  includes  costs  incurred  for  shipping  and  handling  in  cost  of  sales.  Amounts  received  for 
unshipped merchandise are principally not recognized as revenue but rather they are recorded as customer 
deposits  and  are  included  in  current  liabilities.  In  addition,  the  Company  follows  the  provisions  of  the 
Securities  and  Exchange  Commission’s  (SEC)  Staff  Accounting  Bulletin  (SAB)  No.  104,  “Revenue 
Recognition,” which sets forth guidelines on the timing of revenue recognition based upon factors such as 
passage of title, installation, payments and customer acceptance. 

Cash and Cash Equivalents 

The  Company  considers  all  highly  liquid  investments  with  a  maturity  of  three  months  or  less  to  be  cash 
equivalents. 

Inventories 

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market, with cost generally determined on a first-in, first-out 
basis, and have been reduced by an allowance for excess or obsolete inventories.  Cost elements include 
material,  labor  and  manufacturing  overhead.    In  November  2004,  the  Financial  Accounting  Standards 
Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 151, “Inventory Costs.” The new 
statement  amends  Accounting  Research  Bulletin  No.  43,  Chapter  4,  "Inventory  Pricing,"  to  clarify  the 
accounting for abnormal amounts of idle facility expense, freight, handling costs, and wasted material. This 
statement requires that those items be recognized as current period charges and requires that allocation of 
fixed  production  overheads  to  the  cost  of  conversion  be  based  on  the  normal  capacity  of  the  production 
facilities.    The  provisions  of  this  statement  were  applied  prospectively  for  inventory  costs  incurred 
beginning  in  fiscal  year  2006.    The  adoption  of  this  statement  did  not  have  a  material  impact  on  the 
Company’s results of operations, financial position or cash flow. 

Property, Plant and Equipment and Depreciation 

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation of plant and equipment is calculated using 
the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows: 

Buildings 
Equipment 

15-25 years 
  3-12 years 

 33 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Expenditures  for  repairs  and  maintenance  are  charged  to  expense.  Alterations  and  major  overhauls  that 
extend the lives or increase the capacity of plant assets are capitalized. When assets are retired or otherwise 
disposed of, the cost of the assets and the related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts 
and any resultant gain or loss is included in earnings. The Company capitalized interest costs of $158, $150 
and $-0- in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. 

Business Concentrations 

Financial instruments that subject the Company to credit risk consist primarily of investments and accounts 
receivable.  Investments  are  managed  within  established  guidelines  to  mitigate risks.  Accounts  receivable 
subject the Company to credit risk partially due to the concentration of amounts due from customers. The 
Company  extends  credit  to  its  customers  based  upon  an  evaluation  of  the  customers’  financial  condition 
and  credit  histories.  The  majority  of  the  Company’s  customers  are  major  national  or  international 
corporations. In 2008, 2007 and 2006, no customer accounted for more than 10% of total net sales.  

Goodwill and Acquired Intangible Assets 

Goodwill  represents  the  excess  of  costs  over  fair  value  of  assets  of  businesses  acquired.  The  Company 
adopted  the  provisions  of  SFAS  No.  141,  “Business  Combinations”  (“SFAS  141”)  and  SFAS  No. 142, 
“Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” (“SFAS 142”), as of January 1, 2002.  These standards require the 
use  of  the  purchase  method  of  accounting  for  a  business  combination  and  define  an  intangible  asset.  
Goodwill  and  intangible  assets  acquired  in  a  purchase  business  combination  and  determined  to  have  an 
indefinite useful life are not amortized, but are instead tested for impairment at least annually in accordance 
with  the  provisions  of  SFAS  No. 142.  SFAS No. 142  also  requires  that  intangible  assets  with  estimable 
useful lives be amortized over their respective estimated useful lives to their estimated residual values, and 
reviewed  for  impairment  in  accordance  with  SFAS  No. 144,  “Accounting  for  Impairment  or  Disposal  of 
Long-Lived Assets.” 

As required by SFAS No. 142, the Company performed an assessment of whether there was an indication 
that goodwill was impaired at the date of adoption. In connection therewith, the Company determined that 
its  operations  consisted  of  three  reporting  units  and  determined  each  reporting  units’  fair  value  and 
compared it to the reporting unit’s net book value.  Since the fair value of each reporting unit exceeded its 
carrying amount, there was no indication of impairment and no further transitional impairment testing was 
required.    As  of  December  31,  2008  and  2007,  the  Company  also  performed  an  impairment  test  of  its 
goodwill  balance.  As  of  such  dates  the  Company’s  reporting  units’  fair  value  exceeded  their  carrying 
amounts, and therefore there was no indication that goodwill was impaired. Accordingly, the Company was 
not  required  to  perform  any  further  impairment  tests.  The  Company  performs  its  impairment  test  each 
December 31. 

The Company had unamortized goodwill in the amount of $26,658 at December 31, 2008 and $26,363 at 
December  31,  2007,  subject  to  the  provisions  of  SFAS  Nos.  141  and  142.    Unamortized  goodwill  is 
allocated to the Company’s reportable segments as follows: 

Specialty Products 
Food, Pharma and Nutrition 
Animal Nutrition and Health 
Total 

2008 
  5,089 
  8,607 
12,962 
  26,658 

$ 

$ 

2007 
  5,089 
  8,533 
12,741 
  26,363 

$ 

$ 

 34 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
The following intangible assets with finite lives are stated at cost and are amortized on a straight-line basis 
over the following estimated useful lives: 

Amortization 
period  
(in years) 
 10 
 10 
15 - 17 
 17 
5 - 10 

Customer lists 
Regulatory re-registration costs 
Patents & trade secrets  
Trademarks & trade names 
Other 

Income Taxes 

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are 
recognized  for  the  future  tax  consequences  attributable  to  differences  between  the  financial  statement 
carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax 
credit carry-forwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to 
apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or 
settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in 
the period that includes the enactment date. 

Use of Estimates 

Management of the Company is required to make certain estimates and assumptions during the preparation 
of  consolidated  financial  statements  in  accordance  with  accounting  principles  generally  accepted  in  the 
United  States  of  America.  These  estimates  and  assumptions  impact  the  reported  amount  of  assets  and 
liabilities  and  disclosures  of  contingent  assets  and  liabilities  as  of  the  date  of  the  consolidated  financial 
statements and revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates and assumptions are reviewed 
periodically and the effects of revisions are reflected in the consolidated financial statements in the period 
they are determined to be necessary. Actual results could differ from those estimates. 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments 

The Company has a number of financial instruments, none of which are held for trading purposes. 
The Company estimates that the fair value of all financial instruments at December 31, 2008 and 2007 does 
not  differ  materially  from  the  aggregate  carrying  values  of  its  financial  instruments  recorded  in  the 
accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The estimated fair value amounts have been determined by the 
Company  using  available  market  information  and  appropriate  valuation  methodologies.  Considerable 
judgment  is  necessarily  required  in  interpreting  market  data  to  develop  the  estimates  of  fair  value,  and, 
accordingly, the estimates are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that the Company could realize in a 
current  market  exchange.  The  Company’s  financial  instruments,  principally  cash  equivalents,  accounts 
receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, are carried at cost which approximates fair value due 
to the short-term maturity of these instruments. The fair value of the Company’s obligations under its long-
term  debt  and  credit  agreements  approximates  their  carrying  value  as  the  stated  interest  rates  of  these 
instruments are variable and reflect rates which are otherwise currently available to the Company. 

Cost of Sales 

Cost  of  sales  are  primarily  comprised  of  raw  materials  and  supplies  consumed  in  the  manufacture  of 
product,  as  well  as  manufacturing  labor,  maintenance  labor,  depreciation  expense,  and  direct  overhead 
expense  necessary  to  convert  purchased  materials  and  supplies  into  finished  product.  Cost  of  sales  also 
includes  inbound  freight  costs,  outbound  freight  costs  for  shipping  products  to  customers,  warehousing 
costs, quality control and obsolescence expense. 

 35 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Selling, General and Administrative  Expenses 

Selling  expenses  consist  primarily  of  compensation  and  benefit  costs,  trade  promotions,  advertising, 
commissions and other marketing costs. General and administrative expenses consist primarily of payroll 
and  benefit  costs,  occupancy  and  operating  costs  of  corporate  offices,  depreciation  and  amortization 
expense  on  non-manufacturing  assets,  information  systems  costs  and  other  miscellaneous  administrative 
costs. 

Research and Development 

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. 

Net Earnings Per Common Share 

Basic net earnings per common share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number 
of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net earnings per common share is calculated in a 
manner consistent with basic net earnings per common share except that the weighted average number of 
common  shares  outstanding  also  includes  the  dilutive  effect  of  stock  options  outstanding  and  unvested 
restricted stock (using the treasury stock method).  

Stock-based Compensation 

The  Company  has  stock-based  employee  compensation  plans, which are described more fully in Note 2.  
On  January  1,  2006,  the  Company  was  required  to  adopt  SFAS No. 123R  (revised  2004),  “Share-Based 
Payment” (“SFAS 123R”), which requires all share-based payments, including grants of stock options, to 
be recognized in the income statement as an operating expense, based on their fair values. The Company 
estimates  the  fair  value  of  each  option  award  on  the  date  of  grant  using  a  Black-Scholes  based  option-
pricing model. 

Prior  to  adopting  SFAS  123R,  the  Company  accounted  for  stock-based  compensation  under  Accounting 
Principles  Board  Opinion  No. 25,  “Accounting  for  Stock  Issued  to  Employees”,  as  permitted  by  SFAS 
No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation”. The modified prospective method was applied in 
adopting SFAS 123R and, accordingly, periods prior to adoption have not been restated. 

The implementation of SFAS 123R has had no adverse effect on the Company’s balance sheet or total cash 
flows,  but  it  does  impact  cash  flows  from  operations,  cash  flows  from  financing  activities,  cost  of  sales, 
gross profit, operating expenses, net income and earnings per share. Because periods prior to adoption have 
not  been  restated,  comparability  between  periods  has  been  affected.  Additionally,  estimates  of  and 
assumptions about forfeiture rates, terms, volatility, interest rates and dividend yields are used to calculate 
stock-based compensation. A significant change to these estimates could materially affect the Company’s 
operating results. 

Impairment of Long-lived Assets 

Long-lived  assets,  such  as  property,  plant,  and  equipment,  and  purchased  intangibles  subject  to 
amortization, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the 
carrying  amount  of  an  asset  may  not  be  recoverable.  Recoverability  of  assets  to  be  held  and  used  is 
measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to estimated undiscounted future cash flows 
expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future cash 
flows,  an  impairment  charge  is  recognized  by  the  amount  by  which  the  carrying  amount  of  the  asset 
exceeds the fair value of the asset, which is generally based on discounted cash flows. 

New Accounting Pronouncements 

In May 2008, FASB issued SFAS No. 162, “The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles” 
(“SFAS 162”). SFAS 162 is intended to improve financial reporting by identifying a consistent framework, 
or hierarchy, for selecting accounting principles to be used in preparing financial statements that are  

 36 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
in  conformity  with  U.S.  generally  accepted  accounting  principles 

presented 
for 
nongovernmental entities. Prior to the issuance of SFAS No. 162, the GAAP hierarchy was defined in the 
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants' (AICPA) Statement on Auditing Standards (SAS) No. 
69, “The Meaning of Present Fairly in Conformity with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.” SFAS 
No.  162  is  effective  November  15,  2008.    The  adoption  of  this  statement  was  not  significant  to  the 
Company’s consolidated financial statements. 

(“GAAP”) 

In April 2008, FASB issued FSP 142-3, “Determining the Useful Life of Intangible Assets” ("FSP 142-3"). 
FSP 142-3 amends the factors to be considered in determining the useful life of intangible assets. Its intent 
is to improve the consistency between the useful life of an intangible asset and the period of expected cash 
flows used to measure its fair value. FSP 142-3 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 
2008.  The  Company  does  not  expect  the  adoption  of  this  statement  to  be  significant  to  its  consolidated 
financial statements.  

In  March 2008,  FASB  issued  Statement  of  Financial  Accounting  Standards  No. 161,  “Disclosures  about 
Derivative  Instruments  and  Hedging  Activities  —  an  amendment  of  FASB  Statement  No. 133”  (“SFAS 
161”).  SFAS  161  requires  enhanced  disclosures  regarding  derivatives  and  hedging  activities,  including: 
(a) the  manner  in  which  an  entity  uses  derivative  instruments;  (b) the  manner  in  which  derivative 
instruments and related hedged items are accounted for under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 
No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”; and (c) the effect of derivative 
instruments  and  related  hedged  items  on  an  entity’s  financial  position,  financial  performance,  and  cash 
flows. SFAS 161 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods beginning 
after  November 15,  2008.  As  SFAS  161  relates  specifically  to  disclosures,  the  statement  will  have  no 
impact on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.  

In  December  2007,  the  FASB  issued  SFAS No.141  (revised  2007),  “Business  Combinations”,  or  SFAS 
141R.  The  purpose  of  issuing  the  statement  is  to  replace  current  guidance  in  SFAS No.141  to  better 
represent the economic value of a business combination transaction. The changes to be effected with SFAS 
141R  from  the  current  guidance  include,  but  are  not  limited  to:  (1) acquisition  costs  will  be  recognized 
separately from the acquisition; (2) known contractual contingencies at the time of the acquisition will be 
considered part of the liabilities acquired measured at their fair value; all other contingencies will be part of 
the  liabilities  acquired  measured  at  their  fair  value  only  if  it  is  more  likely  than  not  that  they  meet  the 
definition  of  a  liability;  (3) contingent  consideration  based  on  the  outcome  of  future  events  will  be 
recognized and measured at the time of the acquisition; (4) business combinations achieved in stages (step 
acquisitions)  will  need  to  recognize  the  identifiable  assets  and  liabilities,  as  well  as  noncontrolling 
interests, in the acquiree, at the full amounts of their fair values; and (5) a bargain purchase (defined as a 
business  combination  in  which  the  total  acquisition-date  fair  value  of  the  identifiable  net  assets  acquired 
exceeds the fair value of the consideration transferred plus any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree) will 
require that excess to be recognized as a gain attributable to the acquirer. SFAS 141R will be effective for 
any  business  combinations  that  occur  after  January 1,  2009.  The  Company  is  currently  evaluating  the 
impact that SFAS 141R will have on its financial statements and disclosures. 

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial 
Statements —  an  amendment  of  ARB  No. 51”,  or  SFAS 160.  SFAS 160  was  issued  to  improve  the 
relevance, comparability, and transparency of financial information provided to investors by requiring all 
entities to report noncontrolling (minority) interests in subsidiaries in the same way, that is, as equity in the 
consolidated  financial  statements.  Moreover,  SFAS 160  eliminates  the  diversity  that  currently  exists  in 
accounting for transactions between an entity and noncontrolling interests by requiring they be treated as 
equity  transactions.  SFAS 160  will  be  effective  January  1,  2009.  The  Company  does  not  expect  the 
adoption of this statement to be significant to its consolidated financial statements. 

In June 2007, FASB ratified the consensus reached by the EITF on EITF Issue No. 07-3, "Accounting for 
Nonrefundable Advance Payments for Goods or Services to Be Used in Future Research and Development 
Activities" ("EITF 07-3"). EITF 07-3 addresses the diversity that exists with respect to the accounting for 
the  non-refundable  portion  of  a  payment  made  by  a  research  and  development  entity  for  future  research 
and development activities. Under EITF 07-3, an entity would defer and capitalize non-refundable advance 
payments made for research and development activities until the related goods are delivered or the related 
services are performed. The Company has adopted the provisions of EITF 07-3 as of January 1, 2008 and it 
has not had a material impact on its financial condition or results of operations.  

 37 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
In February 2007, FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial 
Liabilities - Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115” (“SFAS 159”). SFAS 159 permits an 
entity to measure certain financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value. Entities electing the fair value 
option  will  report  unrealized  gains  and  losses  in  earnings  as  of  each  subsequent  reporting  date.  The  fair 
value  option  may  be  elected  on  an  instrument-by-instrument  basis  with  few  exceptions,  as  long  as  it  is 
applied to the instrument in its entirety. SFAS 159 establishes presentation and disclosure requirements to 
help  financial  statement  users  understand  the  effect  of  an  entity’s  election  on  its  earnings.  SFAS 159 
requires prospective application. If an entity elects the fair value option for items existing as of the date of 
adoption, the difference between their carrying amount and fair value should be included in a cumulative-
effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings.   The provisions of SFAS 159 are effective 
for  fiscal  years  beginning  after  November  15,  2007.    The  Company  has  adopted  the  provisions  of  this 
statement as of January 1, 2008 and it did not have a material impact on its financial condition or results of 
operations.  

In  September  2006,  FASB  issued  SFAS  No. 157,  "Fair  Value  Measurements"  ("SFAS 157").  SFAS 157 
defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in accordance with generally accepted 
accounting principles and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. The Company has adopted 
the provisions of this statement for its financial assets and liabilities as of January 1, 2008 and it did not 
have  a  material  impact  on  its  financial  condition  or  results  of  operations.  As  permitted  by  FASB  Staff 
Position (“FSP”) No. FAS 157-2, “Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157”, the Company elected to 
defer  the  adoption  of  SFAS  No. 157  for  all  nonfinancial  assets  and  nonfinancial  liabilities,  except  those 
that  are  recognized  or  disclosed  at  fair  value  in  the  financial  statements  on  a  recurring  basis,  until 
January 1,  2009.  Effective  January 1,  2009,  we  will  adopt  the  provision  for  nonfinancial  assets  and 
liabilities that are not required or permitted to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis, which include 
those measured at fair value in impairment testing and those initially measured at fair value in a business 
combination. We do not expect the provisions of SFAS No. 157 related to these items to have a material 
impact  on  our  consolidated  financial  statements.  In  October  2008,  FASB  issued  FSP  No.  157-3, 
“Determining the Fair Value of a Financial Asset When the Market for That Asset is Not Active.”  FSP 
No. 157-3 clarifies the application of SFAS No. 157 in a market that is not active and provides an example 
of key considerations in determining the fair value of a financial asset when the market for that asset is not 
active.  FSP  No.  157-3  was  effective  on  October  10,  2008,  including  prior  periods  for  which  financial 
statements  have  not  been  issued.  Revisions  resulting  from  a  change  in  the  valuation  technique  or  its 
application  should  be  accounted  for  as  a  change  in  accounting estimate  following  the  guidance  in  SFAS 
No. 154, "Accounting Changes and Error Corrections." The Company adopted FSP No. 157-3 on October 
10, 2008 and it did not have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements. 

Reclassifications 

Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior years’ financial statements to conform to the current 
year’s presentation with no impact on net earnings or stockholders’ equity. 

NOTE 2 - STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY  

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION 

On  January  1,  2006,  the  Company  adopted  SFAS  123R,  which  requires  all  share-based  payments, 
including grants of stock options, to be recognized in the income statement as an operating expense, based 
on their fair values. 

Prior  to  adopting  SFAS  123R,  the  Company  accounted  for  stock-based  compensation  under  Accounting 
Principles  Board  Opinion  No. 25,  “Accounting  for  Stock  Issued  to  Employees”  (“Opinion  25”),  as 
permitted by SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” (“SFAS 123”). The Company 
has  applied  the  modified  prospective  method  in  adopting  SFAS  123R.  Accordingly,  periods  prior  to 
adoption have not been restated. Under the modified prospective method, compensation cost recognized in 
the  years  ended  December  31,  2008,  2007  and  2006  include  (a)  compensation  cost  for  all  share-based 
payments  granted  prior  to,  but  not  yet  vested  as  of  January  1,  2006,  based  on  the  grant  date  fair  value 
estimated in accordance with the original provisions of SFAS 123, and (b) compensation cost for all share-

 38 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
based  payments  granted  subsequent  to  January  1,  2006,  based  on  the  grant-date  fair  value  estimated  in 
accordance with the provisions of SFAS 123R. 

As  required  by  SFAS  123R,  the  Company  has  made  an  estimate  of  expected  forfeitures,  based  on  its 
historical  experience,  and  is  recognizing  compensation  cost  only  for  those  stock-based  compensation 
awards expected to vest.  

Additionally,  since  adoption  of  SFAS  123R,  excess  tax  benefits  related  to  stock  compensation  are 
presented as a cash inflow from financing activities. This change had the effect of decreasing cash flows 
from operating activities and increasing cash flows from financing activities by $672, $677 and $878 for 
the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. 

The  Company’s  results  for  the  years  ended  December  31,  2008,  2007  and  2006  reflected  the  following 
compensation  cost  as  a  result  of  adopting  SFAS  123R  and  such  compensation  cost  had  the  following 
effects on net earnings and basic and diluted earnings per share:   

Cost of sales 
Operating expenses 
Net earnings 
Basic EPS 
Diluted EPS 

$ 

$ 

Year Ended 
December 31, 
2007 

2006 

187  $

1,449 
1,118 
.06 
.06  $

115 
982 
888 
.05 
.05 

2008 

273  $

2,141 
1,614 
.09 
.08  $

On December 31, 2008, the Company had one share-based compensation plan, which is described below 
(the “1999 Stock Plan”). 

In  June  1999,  the  Company  adopted  the  Balchem  Corporation  1999  Stock  Plan  for  officers,  directors, 
directors emeritus and employees of and consultants to the Company and its subsidiaries. The 1999 Stock 
Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company. Under the 
plan,  options  and  rights  to  purchase  shares  of  the  Company’s  common  stock  are  granted  at  prices 
established at the time of grant. Option grants generally become exercisable 20% after 1 year, 60% after 2 
years and 100% after 3 years from the date of grant for employees and are fully exercisable on the date of 
grant  for  directors.  Other  option  grants  are  either  fully  exercisable  on  the  date  of  grant  or  become 
exercisable thereafter in such installments as the Committee may specify. Options granted under the 1999 
Stock Plan expire ten years from the date of the grant. The 1999 Stock Plan initially reserved an aggregate 
of 600,000 shares (unadjusted for the stock splits) of common stock for issuance under the Plan. In April 
2003,  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Company  adopted  and  stockholders  subsequently  approved,  the 
Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Plan (the “Amended Plan”) which amended the 1999 Stock Plan by:  
(i) increasing the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the 1999 Stock Plan by 
600,000  shares  (unadjusted  for  the  stock  splits),  to  a  total  of  1,200,000  shares  (unadjusted  for  the  stock 
splits) of common stock; and (ii) confirming the right of the Company to grant awards of common stock 
(“Awards”)  in  addition  to  the  other  Stock  Rights  available  under  the  1999  Stock  Plan,  and  providing 
certain language changes relating thereto.   The Amended Plan was scheduled to expire in April, 2009. In 
April, 2008, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted and stockholders subsequently approved, the 
adoption  of  an  amendment  and  restatement of  the  Amended  Plan  (collectively  to  be  referred  to  as  the 
“Second  Amended  Plan”),  which  provides  as  follows:  (i)  for  a  termination  date  of  April  9,  2018;  (ii)  to 
authorize 4,000,000 shares reserved for future grants under the Second Amended Plan; (iii) for the making 
of  grants  of  stock  appreciation  rights,  restricted  stock  and  performance  awards;  (iv)  for  immediate 
acceleration of vesting of awards issued under the plan in the event of a change in control of the Company; 
and (v) for compliance with the requirements of Sections 409A and 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code 
of  1986,  as  amended  (the  “Internal  Revenue  Code”  or  the  “Code”).  The  1999  Stock  Plan  replaced  the 
Company's incentive stock option plan (the “ISO Plan”) and its non-qualified stock option plan (the “Non-
Qualified Plan”), both of which expired on June 24, 1999. Unexercised options granted under the ISO Plan 
and  the  Non-Qualified  Plan  prior  to  such  termination  remain  exercisable  in  accordance  with  their  terms. 

 39 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
Options granted under the ISO Plan generally become exercisable 20% after 1 year, 60% after 2 years and 
100%  after  3  years  from  the  date  of  grant,  and  expire  ten  years  from  the  date  of  grant.  Options  granted 
under the Non-Qualified Plan generally vested on the date of grant, and expire ten years from the date of 
grant.  

The  shares  to  be  issued  upon  exercise  of  the  outstanding  options  have  been  approved,  reserved  and  are 
adequate  to  cover  all  exercises.    As  of  December  31,  2008,  the  plans had 3,664,350 shares available for 
future awards. 

The Company has Restricted Stock Purchase Agreements (the “RSP Agreements”) with its non-employee 
directors and certain employees of the Company to purchase the Company’s common stock pursuant to the 
Company’s  1999  Stock  Plan.  Under  the  RSP  Agreements,  certain  shares  have  been  purchased,  ranging 
from  1,000  shares  to  13,500  shares,  of  the  Company’s  common  stock  at  purchase  prices  ranging  from 
approximately $.03 per share to $.07 per share. The purchased stock is subject to a repurchase option in 
favor of the Company and to restrictions on transfer until it vests in accordance with the provisions of the 
Agreements. 

The  fair  value  of  each  option  award  issued  under  the  1999  Stock  Plan  is  estimated  on  the  date  of  grant 
using a Black-Scholes based option-pricing model that uses the assumptions noted in the following table. 
Expected  volatilities  are  based  on  historical  volatility  of  the  Company’s  stock.  The  expected  term  of  the 
options is based on the Company’s historical experience of employees’ exercise behavior.  Dividend yields 
are  based  on  the  Company’s  historical  dividend yields.  Risk-free interest rates are based on the implied 
yields currently available on U.S. Treasury zero coupon issues with a remaining term equal to the expected 
life. 

Weighted Average Assumptions: 

Expected Volatility 

Expected Term (in years) 
Risk-Free Interest Rate 
Dividend Yield 

December 31, 
2008 

Year Ended 
December 31, 
2007 

December 31, 
2006 

32.8% 
3.4 

3.7% 
0.4% 

27.0% 
3.7 

4.1% 
0.3% 

26.4% 
4.5 

3.8% 
0.4% 

The value of the restricted shares is based on the intrinsic value of the award at the date of grant.  

Compensation expense for stock options and restricted stock awards is recognized on a straight-line basis 
over  the  vesting  period,  generally  three  years  for  stock  options,  four  years  for  employee  restricted  stock 
awards, and four to seven years for non-employee director restricted stock awards.   

A summary of stock option plan activity for 2008, 2007, and 2006 for all plans is as follows: 

2008 

Outstanding at beginning of year 
Granted 
Exercised  
Cancelled 
Outstanding at end of year 
Exercisable at end of year 

# of 
Shares 
(000s) 
1,944 
   584 
   (131) 
       (1) 
2,396 
1,687 

Weighted Average 
Exercise Price 
  $    10.66 
         23.02 
           7.97 
         20.41 
  $    13.82 
  $    10.34 

 40 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
2007 

Outstanding at beginning of year 
Granted 
Exercised  
Cancelled 
Outstanding at end of year 
Exercisable at end of year 

2006 

Outstanding at beginning of year 
Granted 
Exercised  
Cancelled 
Outstanding at end of year 
Exercisable at end of year 

# of 
Shares 
(000s) 
2,170 
     10 
  (220) 
    (16) 
1,944 
1,488 

# of 
Shares 
(000s) 
2,153 
  305 
 (267) 
   (21) 
   2,170 
1,277 

Weighted Average 
Exercise Price 
 $    10.13 
       18.00 
         5.54 
       14.34 
  $    10.66 
  $      9.09 

Weighted Average 
Exercise Price 
 $     8.38 
      17.67 
        4.64 
        9.64 
 $   10.13 
 $     7.40 

The  aggregate  intrinsic  value  for  outstanding  stock  options  was  $26,873,  $22,786  and  $15,357  at 
December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively, with a weighted average remaining contractual term of 
6.7  years  at  December  31,  2008.    Exercisable  stock  options  at  December  31,  2008  had  an  aggregate 
intrinsic value of $24,581 with a weighted average remaining contractual term of 5.6 years. 

Other information pertaining to option activity during the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 
was as follows: 

Weighted-average fair value of options granted 
Total intrinsic value of stock options exercised ($000s) 

Year Ended 
December 31, 
2007 

2006 

2008 

$
$

7.48 $
2,023 $

6.44 $ 
2,721 $ 

  4.91 
2,929 

Additional information related to stock options outstanding under all plans at December 31, 2008 is as 
follows: 

Range of Exercise 
Prices 
$     1.88    -   $  8.89 
   9.87    -     17.81 
    18.17    -     25.92 

Shares 
Outstanding 
(000s) 

929 
880 
587 
2,396 

Options Outstanding 

Options Exercisable 

Weighted 
Average 
Remaining 
Contractual 
Term 

4.5 years 
7.0 years 
9.4 years 
6.7 years 

Weighted 
Average 
Exercise 
Price 
$    7.16 
    14.71 
    23.00 
$  13.82 

Number 
Exercisable 
(000s) 

929 
757 
1 
1,687 

Weighted 
Average 
Exercise 
Price 

$    7.16 
    14.22 
    18.75 
$    10.34 

 41 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-vested restricted stock activity for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 is summarized 
below:  

Non-vested balance as of December 31, 2007 
Granted 
Vested 
Forfeited 
Non-vested balance as of December 31, 2008 

Non-vested balance as of December 31, 2006 
Granted 
Vested 
Forfeited 
Non-vested balance as of December 31, 2007 

Non-vested balance as of December 31, 2005 
Granted 
Vested 
Forfeited 
Non-vested balance as of December 31, 2006 

Weighted 
Average Grant 
Date Fair 
Value 
16.49 
22.94 
17.04 
- 
20.08 

Weighted 
Average Grant 
Date Fair 
Value 
16.40 
18.61 
- 
- 
16.49 

Weighted 
Average Grant 
Date Fair 
Value 
13.22 
17.76 
- 
- 
16.40 

$

$

$

$

$

$

Shares (000s) 
118 
132 
  (18) 
- 
232 

Shares (000s) 
113 
   5 
- 
- 
118 

Shares (000s) 
  34 
  79 
- 
- 
113 

As  of  December  31,  2008,  2007  and  2006,  there  was  $7,248,  $2,586  and  $4,036,  respectively,  of  total 
unrecognized  compensation  cost  related  to  non-vested  share-based  compensation  arrangements  granted 
under  the  plans.  As  of  December  31,  2008,  the  unrecognized  compensation  cost  is  expected  to  be 
recognized over a weighted-average period of 2 years. We estimate that share-based compensation expense 
for the year ended December 31, 2009 will be approximately $3,200. 

STOCK SPLITS AND REPURCHASE OF COMMON STOCK 

On  December  8,  2006,  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Company  approved  a  three-for-two  split  of  the 
Company’s  common  stock  to  be  effected  in  the  form  of  a  stock  dividend  to  shareholders  of  record  on 
December 29, 2006.  Such stock dividend was made on January 19, 2007.  The stock split was recognized 
by  reclassifying  the  par  value  of  the  additional  shares  resulting  from  the  split,  from  additional  paid-in 
capital to common stock.   

On  December  15,  2005,  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Company  approved  a  three-for-two  split  of  the 
Company’s  common  stock  to  be  effected  in  the  form  of  a  stock  dividend  to  shareholders  of  record  on 
December 30, 2005. Such stock dividend was made on January 20, 2006. The stock split was recognized 
by  reclassifying  the  par  value  of  the  additional  shares  resulting  from  the  split,  from  additional  paid-in 
capital to common stock.  

In  June  1999,  the  board  of  directors  authorized  the  repurchase  of  shares  of  the  Company’s  outstanding 
common  stock  over  a  two-year  period  commencing  July  2,  1999.    Under  this  program,  which  was 
subsequently extended, the Company had, as of December 31, 2004, repurchased a total 1,158,692 shares 

 42 

 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
at an average cost of $2.74 per share, none of which remained in treasury at December 31, 2004.  In June 
2005,  the  board  of  directors  authorized  another  extension  of  the  stock  repurchase  program  for  up  to  an 
additional  1,350,000  shares,  over  and  above  those  1,158,692  shares  previously  repurchased  under  the 
program.  Under  this  extension,  a  total  of  149,175  shares  were  purchased  in  2005  at  an  average  cost  of 
$8.03  per  share,  none  of  which  remained  in  treasury  at  December  31,  2008  or  2007.    During  2008  and 
2007,  no additional shares were purchased. The Company intends to acquire shares from time to time at 
prevailing  market  prices  if  and  to  the  extent  it  deems  it  advisable  to  do  so  based  on  its  assessment  of 
corporate cash flow, market conditions and other factors. 

NOTE 3 - INVENTORIES 

Inventories at December 31, 2008 and 2007 consisted of the following: 

Raw materials 
Work in progress 
Finished goods 
  Total inventories 

2008 
5,931 
540 
10,147 
16,618 

$ 

$ 

2007 
6,522 
818 
8,340 
15,680 

$ 

$ 

On a regular basis, the Company evaluates its inventory balances for excess quantities and obsolescence by 
analyzing  demand,  inventory  on  hand,  sales  levels  and  other  information.  Based  on  these  evaluations, 
inventory balances are reduced, if necessary. The reserve for inventory was $94 and $174 at December 31, 
2008 and 2007, respectively. 

NOTE 4 - PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT 

Property, plant and equipment at December 31, 2008 and 2007 are summarized as follows: 

Land 
Building 
Equipment 
Construction in progress 

Less: Accumulated depreciation 
   Property, plant and equipment, net 

2008 
2,088 
15,426 
50,719 
2,654 
70,887 
28,374 
42,513 

$ 

$ 

2007 
2,152 
15,520 
45,599 
3,067 
66,338 
24,258 
42,080 

$ 

$ 

Depreciation expense was $4,144, $3,466 and $2,842 for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 
2006, respectively. 

NOTE 5 - ACQUISITIONS 

Akzo Nobel Acquisition 

Effective  April  30,  2007,  pursuant  to  an  asset  purchase  agreement  dated  March  30,  2007,  the  Company, 
through its European subsidiary, Balchem B.V., completed an acquisition of the methylamines and choline 
chloride business and manufacturing facilities of Akzo Nobel Chemicals S.p.A., located in Marano Ticino, 
Italy  (the  “Akzo  Nobel  Acquisition”)  for  a  purchase  price,  including  acquisition  costs,  of  approximately 
$8,000.  The  intent  of  the  Akzo  Nobel  Acquisition  was  to  provide  a  direct  platform  for  the  Company  to 
meet  the  growing  market  needs  of methylamines, choline chloride and derivative products for customers 
via improved global sourcing, regulatory support, marketing and distribution capabilities. 

The  Akzo  Nobel  Acquisition  has  been  accounted  for  using  the  purchase  method  of  accounting  and  the 
purchase  price  of  the  acquisition  has  been  assigned  to  the  net  assets  acquired  based  on  the  fair  value  of 
such assets at the date of acquisition. The allocation of the total purchase price, including acquisition costs, 
was based on the estimated fair values as of April 30, 2007. The purchase price including certain working 
capital acquired has been allocated as follows:  

 43 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Property plant & equipment 
Short-term receivable 
Inventories 
Goodwill 
Other 
Accounts payable and accrued expenses 
Total 

Fair Value Recorded 
in Purchase Accounting 
$ 

7,994 
2,462 
4,323 
1,383 
     83 
(8,213) 
8,032 

$ 

The consolidated financial statements include the results of operations of the Akzo Nobel Acquisition from 
the date of purchase. Pro forma results for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 are not materially 
different from the results reported herein. 

Chinook Acquisition 

On  March  16,  2007,  the  Company,  through  its  wholly-owned  subsidiary  BCP  Ingredients,  Inc.  ("BCP"), 
entered  into  an  asset  purchase  agreement  with  Chinook  Global  Limited  ("Chinook"),  a  privately  held 
Ontario corporation, pursuant to which BCP acquired certain of Chinook's choline chloride business assets 
(the  “Chinook  Acquisition”)  for  a  purchase  price,  including  acquisition  costs,  of approximately $33,000. 
The acquisition closed effective the same date. The intent of the Chinook Acquisition was to gain scale in 
order  for  the  Company  to  more  effectively  and  economically  produce  and  distribute  choline  chloride 
worldwide. 

The  Chinook  Acquisition  has  been  accounted  for  using  the  purchase  method  of  accounting  and  the 
purchase  price  of  the  acquisition  has  been  assigned  to  the  net  assets  acquired  based  on  the  fair  value  of 
such assets at the date of acquisition. The allocation of the total purchase price, including acquisition costs, 
was  based  on  the  estimated  fair  values  as  of  March  16,  2007.  The  purchase  price  has  been  allocated  as 
follows:  

Customer list 
Inventory 
Short-term receivable 
Other 
Total 

Fair Value Recorded 
in Purchase Accounting 
             29,262 
$ 
               1,840 
               1,850 
                    73 
             33,025 

$ 

The short-term receivable was included in other current assets. 

Pro Forma Summary of Operations 

The  following  unaudited  pro  forma  information  has  been  prepared  as  if  the  Chinook  Acquisition  had 
occurred on January 1, 2007 and does not include cost savings expected from the transaction. In addition to 
including  the  results  of  operations,  the  pro  forma  information  gives  effect  primarily  to  changes  in 
depreciation and amortization of tangible and intangible assets resulting from the acquisition. 

The  pro  forma  information  presented  does  not  purport  to  be  indicative  of  the  results  that  actually  would 
have been attained if the Chinook Acquisition had occurred at the beginning of the periods presented and is 
not intended to be a projection of future results. 

 44 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pro Forma 
Year Ended 
December 31, 
2007 

$ 

$ 

185,188 
16,595 
.93 
.89 

Net sales 
Net earnings 
Basic EPS 
Diluted EPS 

CMC Acquisition 

On February 8, 2006, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary Balchem Minerals Corporation 
(“BMC”),  completed  an  acquisition  (the  “CMC  Acquisition”)  of  all  of  the  outstanding  capital  stock  of 
Chelated Minerals Corporation (“CMC”), a privately held Utah corporation, for a purchase price, including 
acquisition costs, of approximately $17,900. The intent of the CMC Acquisition was to provide synergies 
in  animal  markets  via  the  addition  of  a  key  nutrient  delivery  technology,  chelation,  to  our  existing 
encapsulation technology, as well as a complementary portfolio of products.  

The CMC Acquisition has been accounted for using the purchase method of accounting and the purchase 
price of the acquisition has been assigned to the net assets acquired based on the fair value of such assets 
and  liabilities  at  the  date  of  acquisition.  The  allocation  of  the  total  purchase  price,  including  acquisition 
costs, of CMC’s net tangible and intangible assets was based on the estimated fair values as of February 8, 
2006. The excess of the purchase price over the identifiable intangible and net tangible assets was allocated 
to goodwill. The purchase price has been allocated as follows:  

Accounts receivable 
Inventory 
Property, plant and equipment 
Current liabilities 
Other long-term liabilities 
Goodwill 
Other intangible assets 
Total 

Fair Value Recorded 
in Purchase Accounting 

$ 

     884 
     552 
  1,980 
    (388)   
 (2,368) 
 11,925 
   5,334 
$  17,919 

The consolidated financial statements include the results of operations of CMC from the date of purchase. 

Pro Forma Summary of Operations 

The following unaudited pro forma information has been prepared as if the CMC Acquisition had occurred 
on  January  1,  2006  and  does  not  include  cost  savings  expected  from  the  transaction.  In  addition  to 
including  the  results  of  operations,  the  pro  forma  information  gives  effect  primarily  to  changes  in 
depreciation and amortization of tangible and intangible assets resulting from the acquisition. 

The  pro  forma  information  presented  does  not  purport  to  be  indicative  of  the  results  that  actually  would 
have been attained if the CMC acquisition had occurred at the beginning of the periods presented and is not 
intended to be a projection of future results. 

 45 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
Net sales 
Net earnings 
Basic EPS 
Diluted EPS 

Pro Forma 
Year Ended 
December 31, 
2006 

$ 

$ 

101,639 
12,284 
.70 
.67 

NOTE 6 - INTANGIBLE ASSETS WITH FINITE LIVES 

As of December 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company had identifiable intangible assets as follows: 

Customer lists 
Regulatory re-registration 
costs 
Patents & trade secrets 
Trademarks & trade names 
Other 

Amortization 
Period  
(In years) 

10 
10 

15-17 
17 
5-10 

2008 
Gross 
Carrying 
Amount 
$  34,150 
85 

1,673 
904 
619 
$   37,431 

2008 
Accumulated 
Amortization 
$   6,595 
3 

406 
198 
236 
$   7,438 

2007 
Gross 
Carrying 
Amount 
$  34,150 
28 

1,621 
884 
565 
$   37,248 

2007 
Accumulated 
Amortization 

$   3,178 
- 

311 
146 
162 
$   3,797 

Amortization of identifiable intangible assets was approximately $3,642, $2,910 and $603 for 2008, 2007 
and 2006, respectively. Assuming no change in the gross carrying value of identifiable intangible assets, 
the  estimated  amortization  expense  is  approximately  $3,600  per  annum  for  2009  through  2013.  At 
December  31,  2008  and  2007,  there  were  no  identifiable  intangible  assets  with  indefinite  useful  lives  as 
defined  by  SFAS  No.  142.  Identifiable  intangible  assets  are  reflected  in  the  Company’s  consolidated 
balance sheets under Intangible assets, net.  There were no changes to the useful lives of intangible assets 
subject to amortization in 2008 and 2007. 

At December 31, 2007, the gross carrying amount included a customer list acquired as part of the Chinook 
Acquisition, a customer list, trade name and trade secrets acquired as part of the CMC Acquisition, as well 
as a customer list and patent acquired as part of the Loders Croklaan Acquisition.    

The  Federal  Insecticide,  Fungicide  and  Rodenticide  Act,  as  amended  (“FIFRA”),  a  health  and  safety 
statute,  requires  that  certain  products  within  our  specialty  products  segment  must  be  registered  with  the 
U.S.  Environmental  Protection  Agency  (“EPA”)    because  they  are  considered  pesticides.  Costs  of  such 
registration are included as regulatory re-registration costs in the table above.  

NOTE 7 - LONG-TERM DEBT & CREDIT AGREEMENTS 

On  April  30,  2007,  the  Company,  and  its  principal  bank  entered  into  a  Loan  Agreement  (the  “European 
Loan Agreement”) providing for an unsecured term loan of €7,500, translated to approximately $10,573 as 
of  December  31,  2008  (the  “European  Term Loan”), the proceeds of which were used to fund the Akzo 
Nobel  Acquisition  (see  Note  5)  and  initial  working  capital  requirements.  The  European  Term  Loan  is 
payable in equal monthly installments of principal, each equal to 1/84th of the principal of the European 
Term Loan, together with accrued interest, with remaining principal and interest payable at maturity. The 
European Term Loan has a maturity date of May 1, 2010 and is subject to a monthly interest rate equal to 
EURIBOR  plus  1%.  At  December  31,  2008,  this  interest  rate  was  4.61%.    At  December  31,  2008,  the 
European  Term  Loan  had  an  outstanding  balance  of  €5,804  translated  to  $8,181.  The  European  Loan 
Agreement  also  initially  provided  for  a  short-term  revolving  credit  facility  of  €2,000  (the  "European 
Revolving  Facility").  The  European  Revolving  Facility  has  been  renewed  for  a  period  of  one  year  as  of 
May  1,  2008.    As  part  of  this  renewal,  the  European  Loan  Agreement  was  amended  to  increase  the 
European  Revolving  Facility  to  €3,000,  translated  to  $4,229  as  of  December  31,  2008.  The  European 

 46 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revolving Facility is subject to a monthly interest rate equal to EURIBOR plus 1.25%, and accrued interest 
is payable monthly.  The Company has drawn down €1,450, or $2,044 as translated at December 31, 2008, 
of the European Revolving Facility as of December 31, 2008.  

On  March  16,  2007,  the  Company  and  its  principal  bank  entered  into  a  Loan  Agreement  (the  “Loan 
Agreement”) providing for an unsecured term loan of $29,000 (the “Term Loan”), the proceeds of which 
were  used  to  fund  the  Chinook  Acquisition  (see  Note  5).  The  Term  Loan  is  payable  in  equal  monthly 
installments  of  principal,  each  equal  to  1/60th  of  the  principal  of  the  Term  Loan,  together  with  accrued 
interest, with remaining principal and interest payable at maturity. The Term Loan has a maturity date of 
March 16, 2010 and is subject to a monthly interest rate equal to LIBOR plus 1%. At December 31, 2008, 
this  interest  rate  was  2.20%.  As  of  December  31,  2008,  the  Company  has  prepaid  $17,500  of  the  Term 
Loan. At December 31, 2008, the Term Loan had an outstanding balance of $1,350. The Loan Agreement 
also provides for a short-term revolving credit facility of $6,000 (the "Revolving Facility"). The Revolving 
Facility  is  subject  to  a  monthly  interest  rate  equal  to  LIBOR  plus  1%,  and  accrued  interest  is  payable 
monthly.  No  amounts  are  outstanding  on  the  Revolving  Facility  as  of  the  date  hereof.    The  Revolving 
Facility has a maturity date of May 31, 2009.  Management believes that such facility will be renewed in 
the normal course of business. 

At December 31, 2008, we had a total of $11,575 of debt outstanding, as compared to a total of $27,986 
debt outstanding at December 31, 2007. Indebtedness under the Company’s loan agreements are secured 
by assets of the Company. 

The  Company's  debt  obligations,  excluding  revolver  borrowings,  as  of  December 31,  2008,  are 
summarized in the table below:  

Payments due by period 

Total 
$      9,531 

   Year 1 
$   2,860 

Year 2 
$   6,671 

Long-term debt obligations 

NOTE 8 - INCOME TAXES 

Income tax expense consists of the following: 

Current: 
     Federal 
     State 
Deferred: 
     Federal 
     State 
Total income tax provision 

2008 

9,757 
   107 

  (442) 
  (  41) 
9,381 

$ 

$ 

2007 

7,983 
1,299 

  (420) 
  (151) 
8,711 

$ 

$ 

2006 

6,295 
   534 

      (1) 
      (5) 
 6,823 

$ 

$ 

The provision for income taxes differs from the amount computed by applying the Federal statutory rate of 
35% to earnings before income tax expense due to the following:  

Income tax at Federal  
     statutory rate 
State income taxes, net of  
     Federal income tax benefit 
Other 
Total income tax provision 

2008 

2007 

2006 

$ 

9,951 

$ 

8,690 

$ 

6,685 

       - 
   (570) 
9,381 

$ 

   603 
   (582) 
8,711 

$ 

   344 
   (206) 
6,823 

$ 

 47 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and 
deferred tax liabilities at December 31, 2008 and 2007 were as follows: 

Deferred tax assets: 
     Inventories 
     Restricted stock and stock options 
     Other 
          Total deferred tax assets 
Deferred tax liabilities: 
     Customer list and goodwill amortization 
     Depreciation 
     Prepaid expense 
     Trade names and trademarks 
     Technology and trade secrets 
     Other 
          Total deferred tax liabilities 
          Net deferred tax liability 

2008 

2007 

$ 

$ 

$ 

474 
1,429 
505 
2,408 

1,851 
4,430 
765 
199 
224 
293 
7,762 
5,354 

$ 

$ 

$ 

388 
702 
389 
1,479 

1,782 
3,886 
525 
239 
269 
350 
7,051 
5,572 

There is no valuation allowance for deferred tax assets at December 31, 2008 and 2007. In assessing the 
realizability  of  deferred  tax  assets,  management  considers  whether  it  is  more  likely  than  not  that  some 
portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is 
dependent  upon  the  generation  of  future  taxable  income  during  the  periods  in  which  those  temporary 
differences  become  deductible.  Management  considers  the  scheduled  reversal  of  deferred  tax  liabilities, 
projected  future  taxable  income  and  tax  planning  strategies  in  making  this  assessment.  Based  upon  the 
level of historical taxable income and projections for future taxable income over the periods in which the 
deferred tax assets are deductible, management believes it is more likely than not the Company will realize 
the benefits of these deductible differences.  The amount of deferred tax asset realizable, however, could 
change if management’s estimate of future taxable income should change. 

The  Company  adopted  the  provisions  of  FASB  Interpretation  No.  48,  “Accounting  for  Uncertainty  in 
Income  Taxes”,  or  FIN  48,  on  January  1,  2007.  FIN  48  clarifies  whether  or  not  to  recognize  assets  or 
liabilities for tax positions taken that may be challenged by a tax authority.  Upon adoption of FIN 48, the 
Company recognized approximately a $291 decrease in its retained earnings balance.  A reconciliation of 
the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:  

Liability for Unrecognized 
Tax Benefits 

2008 

2007 

Balance at beginning of period 
Increases for tax positions of prior years 
Decreases for tax positions of prior years 
Increases  for  tax  positions  related  to  the 
current year 
Balance at end of period 

$ 

$ 

  733 
      - 
  (151) 

  231 
  813 

$ 

$ 

  411 
  320 
  (225) 

  227 
  733 

All of the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits, if recognized in future periods, would impact the 
Company’s effective tax rate in such future periods. 

The Company recognizes both interest and penalties as part of the income tax provision. During the years 
ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company recognized approximately $22 and $52 in interest and 
penalties, respectively. As of December 31, 2008 and 2007, accrued interest and penalties were $152 and 
$130, respectively. 

The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. and in various states and foreign countries. In the major 
jurisdictions where the Company operates, it is generally no longer subject to income tax examinations by 

 48 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
tax  authorities  for  years  before  2005.  The  Company  does  not  anticipate  any  material  change  in  the  total 
amount of unrecognized tax benefits to occur within the next twelve months.  

NOTE 9 - NET EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE 

The  following  presents  a  reconciliation  of  the  numerator  and  denominator  used  in  calculating  basic  and 
diluted net earnings per common share: 

2008 
Basic  EPS  –  Net  earnings  and  weighted  average 
common shares outstanding 

Earnings 
(Numerator) 

Number of Shares 
(Denominator) 

Per Share 
Amount 

$  19,050 

           17,966,833  

$1.06 

Effect  of  dilutive  securities  –  stock  options  and 
restricted stock 

       1,047,324 

Diluted  EPS  –  Net  earnings  and  weighted  average 
common  shares  outstanding  and  effect  of  stock 
options and restricted stock 

$  19,050 

 19,014,157 

$1.00 

2007 
Basic  EPS  –  Net  earnings  and  weighted  average 
common shares outstanding 

Earnings 
(Numerator) 

Number of Shares 
(Denominator) 

Per Share 
Amount 

$  16,118 

17,771,521 

$.91 

Effect  of  dilutive  securities  –  stock  options  and 
restricted stock 

       839,011 

Diluted  EPS  –  Net  earnings  and  weighted  average 
common  shares  outstanding  and  effect  of  stock 
options and restricted stock 

$  16,118 

18,610,532 

$.87 

2006 
Basic  EPS  –  Net  earnings  and  weighted  average 
common shares outstanding 

Earnings 
(Numerator) 

Number of Shares 
(Denominator) 

Per Share 
Amount 

$  12,278 

17,427,857 

$.70 

Effect  of  dilutive  securities  –  stock  options  and 
restricted stock 

       819,384 

Diluted  EPS  –  Net  earnings  and  weighted  average 
common  shares  outstanding  and  effect  of  stock 
options and restricted stock 

$  12,278 

18,247,241 

$.67 

The Company had 276,900, 9,100 and 307,875 stock options outstanding at December 31, 2008, 2007 and 
2006,  respectively  that  could  potentially  dilute  basic  earnings  per  share  in  future  periods  that  were  not 
included in diluted earnings per share because their effect on the period presented was anti-dilutive.  

NOTE 10- EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS 

The Company sponsors a 401(k) savings plan for eligible employees. The plan allows participants to make 
pretax  contributions  and  the  Company  matches  certain  percentages  of  those  pretax  contributions  with 
shares of the Company’s common stock. The profit sharing portion of the plan is discretionary and non-
contributory.  All  amounts  contributed  to  the  plan  are  deposited  into  a  trust  fund  administered  by 
independent trustees. The Company provided for profit sharing contributions and matching 401(k) savings 
plan  contributions  of  $624  and  $406  in  2008,  $503  and  $379  in  2007  and  $395  and  $343  in  2006, 
respectively. 

 49 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The  Company  also  currently  provides  postretirement  benefits  in  the  form  of  an  unfunded  retirement 
medical  plan  under  a  collective  bargaining  agreement  covering  eligible  retired  employees  of  the  Verona 
facility.  The  Company  uses  a  December  31  measurement  date  for  its  postretirement  medical  plan.    In 
accordance  with  SFAS  No.  158,  the  Company  is  required  to  recognize  the  over  funded  or  under  funded 
status of a defined benefit post retirement plan (other than a multiemployer plan) as an asset or liability in 
its statement of financial position, and to recognize changes in that funded status in the year in which the 
changes occur through comprehensive income. On December 31, 2006, as a result of adopting SFAS No. 
158, the Company recorded $0.3 million as a reduction to the benefit obligation and $0.2 million, net of 
tax, as a one-time adjustment to its stockholders’ equity, recorded under accumulated other comprehensive 
income.   

The actuarial recorded liabilities for such unfunded postretirement benefit is as follows: 

Change in benefit obligation: 

Benefit obligation at beginning of year 

Service cost with interest to end of year 
Interest cost 
Participant contributions 
Benefits paid 
Actuarial (gain) or loss 
Benefit obligation at end of year 

Change in plan assets: 

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year 

Employer contributions 
Participant contributions 
Benefits paid 

Fair value of plan assets at end of year 

Amounts recognized in consolidated balance sheet: 

Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation 
Fair value of plan assets 
Funded status 
Unrecognized prior service cost 
Unrecognized net (gain)/loss 
Net  amount  recognized  in  consolidated  balance 
sheet (after SFAS 158) 
(included in other long-term obligations) 
Accrued postretirement benefit cost  
(included in other long-term obligations) 

Components of net periodic benefit cost: 

Service cost with interest to end of year 
Interest cost 
Amortization of prior service cost 
Amortization of gain 
Total net periodic benefit cost 

2007 
    729 
      29 
      41 
      12 
      (57) 
      51 
    805 

2007 
- 
  45 
  12 
  (57) 
- 

2007 
(805) 
- 
(805) 
N/A 
N/A 

 805 

 N/A 

2007 
 29 
 41 
(18) 
  (3) 
 49 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

2008 
    805 
      28 
      40 
      13 
      (30) 
      (55) 
    801 

2008 
- 
  17 
  13 
  (30) 
- 

2008 
(801) 
- 
(801) 
N/A 
N/A 

 801 

 N/A 

2008 
 28 
 40 
(18) 
  (6) 
 44 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

 50 

2006 
 28 
 39 
(18) 
  (3) 
 46 

$ 

$ 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Estimated future employer contributions and benefit payments are as follows: 

Year 

2009 
2010 
2011 
2012 
2013 
Years 2014-2018 

$ 

42 
38 
49 
40 
24 
  266 

Assumed  health  care  cost  trend  rates  have  been  used  in  the  valuation  of  postretirement  health  insurance 
benefits.  The  trend  rate  is  10  percent  in  2009  declining  to  5  percent  in  2014  and  thereafter.  A  one 
percentage  point  increase  in  health  care  cost  trend  rates  in  each  year  would  increase  the  accumulated 
postretirement  benefit  obligation  as  of  December  31,  2008  by  $97  and  the  net  periodic  postretirement 
benefit cost for 2008 by $9. A one percentage point decrease in health care cost trend rates in each year 
would decrease the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation as of December 31, 2008 by $84 and the 
net  periodic  postretirement  benefit  cost  for  2008  by  $8.  The  weighted  average  discount  rate  used  in 
determining the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation was 5.50% in 2008 and 5.75% in 2007. 

NOTE 11 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES 

In February 2006, the Company entered into a lease agreement under which the Company leases a portion 
of a Channahon, Illinois facility where it conducts manufacturing and utilizes certain warehouse space. The 
term of the lease runs through September 30, 2010, subject to earlier termination.  

In  February  2002,  the  Company  entered  into  a  ten  (10)  year  lease  which  is  cancelable  in  2009  for 
approximately  20,000  square  feet  of  office  space.  The  office  space  is  now  serving  as  the  Company’s 
general offices and as a laboratory facility. The Company leases most of its vehicles and office equipment 
under non-cancelable operating leases, which primarily expire at various times through 2013. Rent expense 
charged  to  operations  under  such  lease  agreements  for  2008,  2007  and  2006  aggregated  approximately 
$1,284,  $1,047  and  $595,  respectively.  Aggregate  future  minimum  rental  payments  required  under  non-
cancelable operating leases at December 31, 2008 are as follows: 

Year 

2009 
2010 
2011 
2012 
2013 
Thereafter 
Total minimum lease payments 

$   1,128 
543 
351 
241 
106 
221 
$ 2,590 

In  1982,  the  Company  discovered  and  thereafter  removed  a  number  of  buried  drums  containing 
unidentified  waste  material  from  the  Company’s  site  in  Slate  Hill,  New  York.  The  Company  thereafter 
entered into a Consent Decree to evaluate the drum site with the New York Department of Environmental 
Conservation (“NYDEC”) and performed a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study that was approved by 
NYDEC in February 1994. Based on NYDEC requirements, the Company cleaned the area and removed 
additional  soil  from  the  drum  burial  site,  which  was  completed  in  1996.  The  Company  continues  to  be 
involved in discussions with NYDEC to evaluate test results and determine what, if any, additional actions 
will be required on the part of the Company to close out the remediation of this site. Additional actions, if 
any, would likely require the Company to continue monitoring the site. The cost of such monitoring has 
been less than $5 per year for the period 2004 – 2008.  

The Company’s Verona, Missouri facility, while held by a prior owner, was designated by the EPA as a 
Superfund  site  and  placed  on  the  National  Priorities  List  in  1983,  because  of  dioxin  contamination  on 
portions  of  the  site.  Remediation  conducted  by  the  prior  owner  under  the  oversight  of  the  EPA  and  the 
Missouri Department of Natural Resources (“MDNR”) included removal of dioxin contaminated soil and 

 51 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
equipment,  capping  of  areas  of  residual  contamination  in  four  relatively  small  areas  of  the  site  separate 
from the manufacturing facilities, and the installation of wells to monitor groundwater and surface water 
contamination  by  organic  chemicals.  No  ground  water  or  surface  water  treatment  was  required.    The 
Company  believes  that  remediation  of  the  site  is  complete.    In  1998,  the  EPA  certified  the  work  on  the 
contaminated  soils  to  be  complete.  In  February  2000,  after  the  conclusion  of  two  years  of  monitoring 
groundwater and surface water, the former owner submitted a draft third party risk assessment report to the 
EPA and MDNR recommending no further action. The prior owner is awaiting the response of the EPA 
and MDNR to the draft risk assessment. 

While the Company must maintain the integrity of the capped areas in the remediation areas on the site, the 
prior owner is responsible for completion of any further Superfund remedy.  The Company is indemnified 
by  the  sellers  under  its  May  2001  asset  purchase  agreement  covering  its  acquisition  of  the  Verona, 
Missouri facility for potential liabilities associated with the Superfund site and one of the sellers, in turn, 
has the benefit of certain contractual indemnification by the prior owner that is implementing the above-
described Superfund remedy. 

From  time  to  time,  the  Company  is  a  party  to  various  litigation,  claims  and  assessments.    Management 
believes  that  the  ultimate  outcome  of  such  matters  will  not  have  a  material  effect  on  the  Company’s 
consolidated financial position, results of operations, or liquidity.  

NOTE 12 - SEGMENT INFORMATION 

The  Company’s  reportable  segments  are  strategic businesses that offer products and services to different 
markets.  Effective  with  the  quarter  ending  March  31,  2008,  the  Company  has  realigned  its  business 
segment  reporting  structure  to  more  appropriately  reflect  the  internal  management  of  the  businesses, 
largely  due  to  the  impact  of  acquisitions  in  2007.  The  Company  will  continue  to  report  three  segments: 
Specialty Products; Food, Pharma & Nutrition; and Animal Nutrition & Health. Changes to the reporting 
segments are as follows: chelated minerals and specialty nutritional products for the animal health industry, 
formerly reported as a part of the encapsulated/nutritional products segment, are now combined with the 
choline business (formerly BCP Ingredients) into a consolidated Animal Nutrition & Health segment. The 
encapsulated/nutritional  products  segment  has  been  renamed  Food,  Pharma  &  Nutrition,  focusing  on 
human  health.  There  are  no  changes  to  the  Specialty  Products  segment.  Business  segment  net  sales  and 
earnings from operations have been reclassified for all periods presented to reflect the segment changes.  

The Specialty Products segment consists of three specialty chemicals: ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and 
methyl chloride. Human choline nutrient products, pharmaceutical products and encapsulated products are 
reported in the Food, Pharma & Nutrition segment. This segment provides microencapsulation, granulation 
and agglomeration solutions to a variety of applications in food, pharmaceutical and nutritional ingredients 
to enhance performance of nutritional fortification, processing, mixing, packaging applications and shelf-
life.  The Animal Nutrition & Health segment is in the business of manufacturing and supplying choline 
chloride,  an  essential  nutrient  for  animal  health,  to  the  poultry  and  swine  industries.  In  addition,  certain 
derivatives of choline chloride are also manufactured and sold into industrial applications and are included 
in this segment. Chelated minerals and specialty nutritional products for the animal health industry are also 
reported  in  this  segment.    The  Company  sells  products  for  all  segments  through  its  own  sales  force, 
independent distributors, and sales agents. The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those 
described in the summary of significant accounting policies.  

Business Segment Net Sales: 

Specialty Products 
Food, Pharma and Nutrition 
Animal Nutrition and Health 
Total 

2008 
35,835 
35,702 
160,513 
232,050 

$ 

$ 

2007 
33,057 
32,052 
111,092 
176,201 

$ 

$ 

2006 
32,026 
28,702 
40,177 
100,905 

$ 

$ 

 52 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Business Segment Earnings Before Income Taxes: 

Specialty Products 
Food, Pharma and Nutrition 
Animal Nutrition and Health 
Interest and other income (expense) 
Total 

Depreciation/Amortization: 

Specialty Products 
Food, Pharma and Nutrition 
Animal Nutrition and Health 
Total 

Business Segment Assets: 

Specialty Products 
Food, Pharma and Nutrition 
Animal Nutrition and Health 
Other Unallocated 
Total 

2008 
 12,545 
  5,469 
11,334 
     (917) 
28,431 

2008 
    913 
1,316 
5,557 
7,786 

2008 
  21,394 
  22,081 
105,296 
    5,703 
154,474 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

2007 
 11,824 
  4,144 
  9,938 
 (1,077) 
      24,829 

 2006 
11,315 
   2,162 
   5,685 
        (61) 
   19,101 

$ 

$ 

2007 
   876 
1,206 
4,294 
6,376 

2007 
  18,583 
  22,426 
108,125 
    5,290 
154,424 

2006 
     941 
 1,171 
 1,333 
 3,445 

2006 
18,446 
20,780 
45,524 
  7,583 
92,333 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

Other  unallocated  assets  consist  of  certain  cash,  receivables,  prepaid  expenses,  equipment  and  leasehold 
improvements, net of accumulated depreciation, and deferred income taxes, which the Company does not 
allocate to its individual business segments. 

Capital Expenditures: 

Specialty Products 
Food, Pharma and Nutrition 
Animal Nutrition and Health 
Total 

Geographic Revenue Information: 

United States 
Foreign Countries 
Total 

2008 
     612 
     955 
  3,513 
  5,080 

$ 

$ 

2007 
     307 
     776 
  3,786 
  4,869 

$ 

$ 

2006 
    195 
     485 
  1,599 
  2,279 

$ 

$ 

2008 
146,753 
 85,297 
232,050 

$ 

$ 

2007 
132,632 
43,569 
176,201 

$ 

$ 

2006 
 91,042 
  9,863 
 100,905 

$ 

$ 

NOTE 13 - SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION 

Cash paid during the year for: 

Income taxes 
Interest 

2008 

2007 

$
$

9,379  $
958  $

6,718  $
1,466  $

2006 

5,621 
189 

Cash paid during the year for acquisition of assets: 

Assets acquired 
Less: liabilities assumed 
Cash paid for acquisitions 

2008 
296 
- 
296 

2007 
48,957 
  (8,213) 
40,744 

$

$

2006 
 25,628 
  (2,756) 
22,872 

$

$

$

$

 53 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-cash financing activities: 

Dividends payable 

2008 
2,008 

$ 

2007 
1,975  $

$ 

2006 
1,596 

NOTE 14 - QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED): 
(In thousands, except per share data) 

2008 

2007 

Net sales 
Gross profit 
Earnings before  
     income taxes 
Net earnings 
Basic net earnings 
     per common share 
Diluted net earnings 
     per common share 

Second 
Quarter 

First 
Quarter 
$56,861  $  62,901 
   12,951 
13,483 

Third 
Quarter 
$58,235
12,712

Fourth 
Quarter 
$54,053
13,432

Second 
Quarter 

First 
Quarter 
$27,599  $  44,371 
   12,182 

9,741 

Third 
Quarter 
$50,498
12,609

Fourth 
Quarter 
$53,733
12,398

7,191 
4,641 

7,001
4,724

6,936
4,793

7,303
4,892

5,314 
3,441 

6,367
4,065

6,772
4,457

6,376
4,155

$    .26 

$    .26

$    .27

$    .27

$    .19 

$    .23

$    .25

$    .23

$    .25 

$    .25

$    .25

$    .26

$    .19 

$    .22

$    .24

$    .22

 54 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Description 

Year ended December 31, 2008

Allowance for doubtful accounts
Inventory reserve

Year ended December 31, 2007

Allowance for doubtful accounts
Inventory reserve

Year ended December 31, 2006

Allowance for doubtful accounts
Inventory reserve

(a)  represents write-offs.

BALCHEM CORPORATION

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

Years Ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006
(In thousands)

Schedule II

 Balance at 
Beginning of 
Year 

Additions

Charges to 
Costs and 
Expenses 

Charges to 
Other 
Accounts 

 Deductions 

 Balance at 
End of Year 

$                  

50
174

$             
-

58

-
$             
-

-
$               
(138)

(a)

$                

50
94

$                  

50
147

$             
-

$             
-

-
$               
-

7

$                

50
174

-
$             
-

-
$               
-

$                

50
147

20

91

$                  

50
56

$             
-

55

                  
                
              
               
                   
                  
                
                   
                  
                
                    
                
              
                  
                
Item 9.  Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure 

None. 

Item 9A.  Controls and Procedures 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures 

The Company's management, with the participation of the Company's Chief Executive Officer and 
Chief  Financial  Officer,  has  evaluated  the  effectiveness  of  the  Company's  disclosure  controls  and 
procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934, as amended) as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Based on such 
evaluation, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of 
the end of such period, the Company's disclosure controls and procedures are effective. 

Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting 

Management  of  the  Company  is  responsible  for  establishing  and  maintaining  adequate  internal 
control  over  financial  reporting.  The  Company's  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  is  a  process 
designed  under  the  supervision  of  the  Company's  principal  executive  and  principal  financial  officers  to 
provide  reasonable  assurance  regarding  the  reliability  of  financial  reporting  and  the  preparation  of  the 
Company's financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted 
accounting principles. 

As  of  December  31,  2008,  management  conducted  an  assessment  of  the  effectiveness  of  the 
Company's internal control over financial reporting based on the framework established in Internal Control 
-  Integrated  Framework  issued  by  the  Committee  of  Sponsoring  Organizations  of  the  Treadway 
Commission (COSO). Based on this assessment, management has determined that the Company's internal 
control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2008. 

Our  internal  control  over  financial reporting includes policies and procedures that pertain to the 
maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect transactions and dispositions 
of assets; provide reasonable assurances that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of 
financial  statements  in  accordance  with  U.S.  generally  accepted  accounting  principles,  and  that  receipts 
and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and the directors 
of  the  Company;  and  provide  reasonable  assurance  regarding  prevention  or  timely  detection  of 
unauthorized  acquisition,  use  or  disposition  of the Company's assets that could have a material effect on 
our financial statements. 

Attestation Report of Registered Public Accounting Firm 

The  independent  registered  public  accounting  firm  of  McGladrey  &  Pullen,  LLP,  has  issued  an 

attestation report on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, which is included herein. 

 56 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting  

There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting in our most recent fiscal 
quarter  that  has  materially  affected,  or  is  reasonably  likely  to  materially  affect,  our  internal  control  over 
financial reporting. 

Item 9B . Other Information 

None. 

PART III 

Item 10.  Directors, Executive Officers of the Registrant, and Corporate Governance. 

(a) 

Directors of the Company. 

The required information is to be set forth in the Company's Proxy Statement for the 2008 Annual 
Meeting of Stockholders (the “2009 Proxy Statement”) under the caption "Directors and Executive Officers,” 
which information is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 

(b) 

Executive Officers of the Company. 

The  required  information  is  to  be  set  forth  in  the  2009  Proxy  Statement  under  the  caption 

"Directors and Executive Officers," which information is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 

(c) 

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance. 

The required information is to be set forth in the 2009 Proxy Statement under the caption "Section 
16(a)  Beneficial  Ownership  Reporting  Compliance,"  which  information  is  hereby  incorporated  herein by 
reference. 

(d) 

Code of Ethics. 

The Company has adopted a Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers that applies to its Chief 
Executive  Officer  (principal  executive  officer),  Chief  Financial  Officer  (principal  financial  officer  and 
principal  accounting  officer)  and  its  Treasurer.    The  Company’s  Code  of  Ethics  for  Senior  Financial 
Officers is filed as Exhibit 14 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K. 

(e) 

Corporate Governance. 

The  required  information  is  to  be  set  forth  in  the  2009  Proxy  Statement  under  the  caption 

“Corporate Governance,” which information is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 

Item 11.  Executive Compensation. 

The  information  required  by  this  Item  is  to  be  set  forth  in  the  2009  Proxy  Statement  under  the 

caption "Directors and Executive Officers," which information is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 

Item 12.  Security  Ownership  of  Certain  Beneficial  Owners  and  Management  and  Related 
Stockholder Matters. 

The  information  required  by  this  Item  is  to  be  set  forth  in  the  2009  Proxy  Statement  under  the 
caption "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and of Management” and the caption “Equity 
Compensation Plan Information,” all of which information is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence. 

The information required by this Item is set forth in the 2009 Proxy Statement under the caption 

"Directors and Executive Officers," which information is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 

 57 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services. 

The information required by this Item is set forth in the 2009 Proxy Statement under the caption 

“Independent Auditor Fees,” which information is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 

Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules. 

The following documents are filed as part of this Form 10-K: 

1.  Financial Statements 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 

Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the  
years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity 
for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows 
for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   

          2. Financial Statement Schedules 

Schedule II – Valuation and Qualifying 
Accounts for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 

          3. Exhibits 

Form 10-K 
Page Number 

27 

29 

30 

31 

32 

33 

55 

2.1 

2.2 

Sale and Purchase Agreement dated March 30, 2007, by and between Balchem B.V. and 
Akzo  Nobel  Chemicals  S.p.A. (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  2.1  of  the 
Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 30, 2007). 

Asset Purchase Agreement dated March 16, 2007, by and between BCP Ingredients, Inc. 
and Chinook Global Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of the Company’s 
Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 16, 2007). 

2.3      Stock  Purchase  Agreement  dated  November  2,  2005,  between  Balchem  Minerals 
Corporation  and  Chelated  Minerals  Corporation  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit 
10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 7, 2005).   

2.4 

3.1 

3.2 

3.3 

First Amendment to Stock Purchase Agreement dated January 5, 2006, between Balchem 
Minerals  Corporation  and  Chelated  Minerals  Corporation  (incorporated  by  reference  to 
Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 10, 2006).      

Composite  Articles  of  Incorporation  of  the  Company  (incorporated  by  reference  to 
Exhibit  3.1  to  the  Company’s  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K  dated  March  16,  2006  for 
the year ended December 31, 2005). 

Balchem Corporation Articles of Amendment (incorporated by reference to Exhibit A to 
the  Company’s  definitive  proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed with the Commission 
on April 25, 2008) 

Composite  By-laws  of  the  Company  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  3.2  to  the 
Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 2, 2008). 

 58 

 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.1  

10.2 

10.3 

10.4 

10.5 

10.6 

10.7 

10.8 

Tolling  Agreement, dated March 16, 2007 between BCP Ingredients, Inc. and Chinook 
Global  Limited  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.1  to  the  Company’s  Current 
Report on Form 8-K dated March 16, 2007). 

Non-Competition Agreement, dated March 16, 2007 between BCP Ingredients, Inc. and 
Chinook Global Limited; Chinook Services, LLC; Chinook, LLC; Dean R. Lacy; Ronald 
Breen,  and  John  N.  Kennedy  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.2  to  the 
Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 16, 2007). 

Loan  Agreement  dated  March  16,  2007  by  and  between  Bank  of  America,  N.A.  and 
Balchem  Corporation  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.3  to  the  Company’s 
Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 16, 2007).  

Promissory Note (Term Loan) dated March 16, 2007 from Balchem Corporation to Bank 
of  America,  N.A  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.4  to  the  Company’s  Current 
Report on Form 8-K dated March 16, 2007).  

Promissory  Note  (Revolving  Line  of  Credit)  dated  March  16,  2007  from  Balchem 
Corporation to Bank of America, N.A. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the 
Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 16, 2007). 

Guaranty  dated  March  16,  2007  from  BCP  Ingredients,  Inc.  to  Bank  of  America,  N.A. 
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-
K dated March 16, 2007).  

Guaranty  dated  March  16,  2007  from  Balchem  Minerals  Corporation  to  Bank  of 
America,  N.A.  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.7  to  the  Company’s  Current 
Report on Form 8-K dated March 16, 2007). 

Loan  Agreement  dated  February  6,  2006  by  and  between  Bank  of  America,  N.A.  and 
Balchem  Corporation,  Promissory  Note  dated  February  6,  2006  from  Balchem 
Corporation  to  Bank  of  America,  N.A.,  and  Amended  and  Restated  Promissory  Note 
(Revolving Line of Credit) dated February 6, 2006 from Balchem Corporation to Bank of 
America,  N.A.  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibits  10.2,  10.3  and  10.4  to  the 
Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 9, 2006).  

10.9 

Amended and Restated Guaranty dated February 6, 2006 from BCP Ingredients, Inc. to 
Bank  of  America,  N.A.  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.5  to  the  Company’s 
Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 9, 2006). 

10.10  Guaranty  dated  February  6,  2006  from  Balchem  Minerals  Corporation  to  Bank  of 
America,  N.A.  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.6  to  the  Company’s  Current 
Report on Form 8-K dated February 9, 2006). 

10.11 

Incentive Stock Option Plan of the Company, as amended, (incorporated by reference to 
the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8, File No. 333-35910, dated October 
25, 1996, and to Proxy Statement, dated April 22, 1998, for the Company's 1998 Annual 
Meeting of Stockholders (the “1998 Proxy Statement”)).* 

10.12  Stock Option Plan for Directors of the Company, as amended (incorporated by reference 
to  the  Company’s  Registration  Statement  on  Form  S-8,  File  No.  333-35912,  dated 
October 25, 1996, and to the 1998 Proxy Statement). 

10.13  Balchem Corporation Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Plan (incorporated by reference 
to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended 
June 30, 2003).*  

 59 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.14  Balchem Corporation Second Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Plan, (incorporated by 
reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8, File No. 333-155655, 
dated  November  25,  2008,  and  to  Proxy  Statement,  dated  April  25,  2008,  for  the 
Company's 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.* 

10.15  Balchem Corporation 401(k)/Profit Sharing Plan, dated January 1, 1998 (incorporated by 
reference  to  Exhibit  4  to  the  Company's  Registration  Statement  on  Form  S-8,  File  No. 
333-118291, dated August 17, 2004).*   

10.16  Employment  Agreement,  dated  as  of  January  1,  2001,  between  the  Company  and Dino 
A. Rossi (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Annual Report on 
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001 (the “2001 10-K”)). *   

10.17  Lease  dated  as  of  February  8,  2002  between  Sunrise  Park  Realty,  Inc.  and  Balchem 

Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the 2001 10-K). 

10.18     Form of Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement for Directors (incorporated by reference to        

Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 30, 2005).   

14. 

Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 14 to 
the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K dated March 15, 2004 for the year ended 
December 31, 2003). 

21. 

Subsidiaries of Registrant. 

23.1 

Consent of McGladrey & Pullen, LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. 

31.1 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a).  

31.2 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a).  

32.1 

32.2 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) and Section 1350 of 
Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code.  

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) and Section 1350 of 
Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code.  

* 
arrangement. 

Each  of  the  Exhibits  noted  by  an  asterisk  is  a  management  compensatory  plan  or 

 60 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the 

registrant has caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. 

SIGNATURES 

Date: March 12, 2009 

BALCHEM CORPORATION 
By:/s/ Dino A. Rossi 
Dino A. Rossi, Chairman, President, and 
Chief Executive Officer 

 Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed by the 
following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated. 

SIGNATURES 

/s/ Dino A. Rossi 
Dino A. Rossi, Chairman, President, 
Chief Executive Officer, and Director (Principal Executive Officer) 
Date: March 12, 2009 

/s/ Francis J. Fitzpatrick 
Francis J. Fitzpatrick, Chief Financial 
Officer and Treasurer (Principal Financial and Principal Accounting Officer) 
Date: March 12, 2009 

/s/ Edward L. McMillan 
Edward L. McMillan, Director 
Date: March 12, 2009 

/s/ Kenneth P. Mitchell 
Kenneth P. Mitchell, Director 
Date: March 12, 2009 

/s/ Perry W. Premdas 
Perry W. Premdas, Director 
Date: March 12, 2009 

/s/ Dr. John Televantos 
Dr. John Televantos, Director 
Date: March 12, 2009 

/s/ Dr. Elaine Wedral 
Dr. Elaine Wedral, Director 
Date: March 12, 2009 

 61 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exhibit 
Number Description 

EXHIBIT INDEX 

2.1 

2.2 

Sale and Purchase Agreement dated March 30, 2007, by and between Balchem B.V. and 
Akzo  Nobel  Chemicals  S.p.A. (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  2.1  of  the 
Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 30, 2007). 

Asset Purchase Agreement dated March 16, 2007, by and between BCP Ingredients, Inc. 
and Chinook Global Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of the Company’s 
Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 16, 2007). 

2.3      Stock  Purchase  Agreement  dated  November  2,  2005,  between  Balchem  Minerals 
Corporation  and  Chelated  Minerals  Corporation  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit 
10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 7, 2005).   

2.4 

3.1 

3.2 

3.3 

10.1  

10.2 

10.3 

10.4 

10.5 

10.6 

First Amendment to Stock Purchase Agreement dated January 5, 2006, between Balchem 
Minerals  Corporation  and  Chelated  Minerals  Corporation  (incorporated  by  reference  to 
Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 10, 2006).      

Composite  Articles  of  Incorporation  of  the  Company  (incorporated  by  reference  to 
Exhibit  3.1  to  the  Company’s  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K  dated  March  16,  2006  for 
the year ended December 31, 2005). 

Balchem Corporation Articles of Amendment (incorporated by reference to Exhibit A to 
the  Company’s  definitive  proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed with the Commission 
on April 25, 2008) 

Composite  By-laws  of  the  Company  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  3.2  to  the 
Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 2, 2008). 

Tolling  Agreement, dated March 16, 2007 between BCP Ingredients, Inc. and Chinook 
Global  Limited  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.1  to  the  Company’s  Current 
Report on Form 8-K dated March 16, 2007). 

Non-Competition Agreement, dated March 16, 2007 between BCP Ingredients, Inc. and 
Chinook Global Limited; Chinook Services, LLC; Chinook, LLC; Dean R. Lacy; Ronald 
Breen,  and  John  N.  Kennedy  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.2  to  the 
Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 16, 2007). 

Loan  Agreement  dated  March  16,  2007  by  and  between  Bank  of  America,  N.A.  and 
Balchem  Corporation  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.3  to  the  Company’s 
Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 16, 2007).  

Promissory Note (Term Loan) dated March 16, 2007 from Balchem Corporation to Bank 
of  America,  N.A  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.4  to  the  Company’s  Current 
Report on Form 8-K dated March 16, 2007).  

Promissory  Note  (Revolving  Line  of  Credit)  dated  March  16,  2007  from  Balchem 
Corporation to Bank of America, N.A. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the 
Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 16, 2007). 

Guaranty  dated  March  16,  2007  from  BCP  Ingredients,  Inc.  to  Bank  of  America,  N.A. 
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-
K dated March 16, 2007).  

 62 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.7 

10.8 

Guaranty  dated  March  16,  2007  from  Balchem  Minerals  Corporation  to  Bank  of 
America,  N.A.  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.7  to  the  Company’s  Current 
Report on Form 8-K dated March 16, 2007). 

Loan  Agreement  dated  February  6,  2006  by  and  between  Bank  of  America,  N.A.  and 
Balchem  Corporation,  Promissory  Note  dated  February  6,  2006  from  Balchem 
Corporation  to  Bank  of  America,  N.A.,  and  Amended  and  Restated  Promissory  Note 
(Revolving Line of Credit) dated February 6, 2006 from Balchem Corporation to Bank of 
America,  N.A.  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibits  10.2,  10.3  and  10.4  to  the 
Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 9, 2006).  

10.9 

Amended and Restated Guaranty dated February 6, 2006 from BCP Ingredients, Inc. to 
Bank  of  America,  N.A.  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.5  to  the  Company’s 
Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 9, 2006). 

10.10  Guaranty  dated  February  6,  2006  from  Balchem  Minerals  Corporation  to  Bank  of 
America,  N.A.  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.6  to  the  Company’s  Current 
Report on Form 8-K dated February 9, 2006). 

10.11 

Incentive Stock Option Plan of the Company, as amended, (incorporated by reference to 
the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8, File No. 333-35910, dated October 
25, 1996, and to Proxy Statement, dated April 22, 1998, for the Company's 1998 Annual 
Meeting of Stockholders (the “1998 Proxy Statement”)).* 

10.12  Stock Option Plan for Directors of the Company, as amended (incorporated by reference 
to  the  Company’s  Registration  Statement  on  Form  S-8,  File  No.  333-35912,  dated 
October 25, 1996, and to the 1998 Proxy Statement). 

10.13  Balchem Corporation Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Plan (incorporated by reference 
to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended 
June 30, 2003).*  

10.14  Balchem Corporation Second Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Plan, (incorporated by 
reference  to  the  Company’s  Registration  Statement  on  Form  S-8,  File  No.  No.  333-
155655, dated November 25, 2008, and to Proxy Statement, dated April 25, 2008, for the 
Company's 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.* 

10.15  Balchem Corporation 401(k)/Profit Sharing Plan, dated January 1, 1998 (incorporated by 
reference  to  Exhibit  4  to  the  Company's  Registration  Statement  on  Form  S-8,  File  No. 
333-118291, dated August 17, 2004).*   

10.16  Employment  Agreement,  dated  as  of  January  1,  2001,  between  the  Company  and Dino 
A. Rossi (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Annual Report on 
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001 (the “2001 10-K”)). *   

10.17  Lease  dated  as  of  February  8,  2002  between  Sunrise  Park  Realty,  Inc.  and  Balchem 

Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the 2001 10-K). 

10.18     Form of Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement for Directors (incorporated by reference to        

Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 30, 2005).   

14. 

Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 14 to 
the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K dated March 15, 2004 for the year ended 
December 31, 2003). 

21. 

Subsidiaries of Registrant. 

23.1 

Consent of McGladrey & Pullen, LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. 

 63 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
31.1 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a).  

31.2 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a).  

32.1 

32.2 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) and Section 1350 of 
Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code.  

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) and Section 1350 of 
Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code.  

* 
arrangement. 

Each  of  the  Exhibits  noted  by  an  asterisk  is  a  management  compensatory  plan  or 

 64 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LIST OF SUBSIDIARIES 

Exhibit 21 

Subsidiaries of the Registrant                

Jurisdiction of Organization 

BCP Ingredients, Inc.                        

Balchem Minerals Corporation         

Chelated Minerals Corporation 

BCP Saint Gabriel, Inc. 

Balchem BV 

Balchem Trading BV 

Balchem Italia Srl 

Balchem Ltd. 

Delaware 

Delaware 

Utah 

Delaware 

Netherlands 

Netherlands 

Italy 

Canada 

 65 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exhibit 23.1 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statements (Nos. 333-155655, 333-
118292,  333-118291,  333-78355,  333-44489,  333-5912  and  333-5910)  on  Form  S-8  of  Balchem 
Corporation and subsidiaries of our reports dated March 12, 2009 relating to our audit of the consolidated 
financial statements, the financial statement schedule and internal control over financial reporting, which 
appear  in  this  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K  of  Balchem  Corporation  for  the  year  ended  December  31, 
2008.   

/s/McGladrey & Pullen, LLP 
New York, New York 
March 12, 2009  

 66 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
CERTIFICATIONS 

Exhibit 31.1 

I, Dino A. Rossi, certify that: 

1. 

I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Balchem Corporation; 

2.  Based  on  my  knowledge,  this  report  does  not  contain  any  untrue  statement  of  a  material  fact  or  omit  to 
state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such 
statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; 

3.  Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, 
fairly  present  in  all  material  respects  the  financial  condition,  results  of  operations  and  cash  flows  of  the 
registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; 

4.  The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure 
controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control 
over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and 
have: 

a)  Designed  such  disclosure  controls  and  procedures,  or  caused  such  disclosure  controls  and 
procedures  to  be  designed  under  our  supervision,  to  ensure  that  material  information  relating  to 
the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those 
entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; 

(b)  Designed  such  internal  control  over  financial  reporting,  or  caused  such  internal  control  over 
financial  reporting  to  be  designed  under  our  supervision,  to  provide  reasonable  assurance 
regarding  the  reliability  of  financial  reporting  and  the  preparation  of  financial  statements  for 
external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;   

(c)  Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in 
this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of 
the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and 

(d)  Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that 
occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in 
the  case  of  an  annual  report)  that  has  materially  affected,  or  is  reasonably  likely  to  materially 
affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and 

5.  The  registrant’s  other  certifying  officer(s)  and  I  have  disclosed,  based  on  our  most  recent  evaluation  of 
internal  control  over  financial  reporting,  to  the  registrant’s  auditors  and  the  audit  committee  of  the 
registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): 

(a)  All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control 
over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to 
record, process, summarize and report financial information; and 

(b)  Any  fraud,  whether  or  not  material,  that  involves  management  or  other  employees  who  have  a 

significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.  

Date: March 12, 2009 

/s/ Dino A. Rossi    
Dino A. Rossi, Chairman, President, and 
Chief Executive Officer  
(Principal Executive Officer) 

 67 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I, Francis J. Fitzpatrick, certify that: 

CERTIFICATIONS 

1. 

I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Balchem Corporation; 

Exhibit 31.2 

2.  Based  on  my  knowledge,  this  report  does  not  contain  any  untrue  statement  of  a  material  fact  or  omit  to 
state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such 
statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; 

3.  Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, 
fairly  present  in  all  material  respects  the  financial  condition,  results  of  operations  and  cash  flows  of  the 
registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; 

4.  The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure 
controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control 
over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and 
have: 

(a)  Designed  such  disclosure  controls  and  procedures,  or  caused  such  disclosure  controls  and 
procedures  to  be  designed  under  our  supervision,  to  ensure  that  material  information  relating  to 
the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those 
entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; 

(b)  Designed  such  internal  control  over  financial  reporting,  or  caused  such  internal  control  over 
financial  reporting  to  be  designed  under  our  supervision,  to  provide  reasonable  assurance 
regarding  the  reliability  of  financial  reporting  and  the  preparation  of  financial  statements  for 
external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;   

(c)  Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in 
this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of 
the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and 

(d)  Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that 
occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in 
the  case  of  an  annual  report)  that  has  materially  affected,  or  is  reasonably  likely  to  materially 
affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and 

5.  The  registrant’s  other  certifying  officer(s)  and  I  have  disclosed,  based  on  our  most  recent  evaluation  of 
internal  control  over  financial  reporting,  to  the  registrant’s  auditors  and  the  audit  committee  of  the 
registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): 

(a)  All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control 
over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to 
record, process, summarize and report financial information; and 

(b)  Any  fraud,  whether  or  not  material,  that  involves  management  or  other  employees  who  have  a 

significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.  

Date: March 12, 2009 

/s/ Francis J. Fitzpatrick    
Francis J. Fitzpatrick,  
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer 
(Principal Financial and Principal 
Accounting Officer) 

 68 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exhibit 32.1 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO 

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002 

In connection with the Annual Report of Balchem Corporation (the “Company”) on Form 10-K 
for the period ended December 31, 2008 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date 
hereof (the “Report”), I, Dino A. Rossi, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, 
certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. section 1350, as adopted pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act 
of 2002, that to my knowledge:  

(1)  The  Report  fully  complies  with  the  requirements  of  section  13(a)  or  15(d)  of  the  Securities 

Exchange Act of 1934; and  

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial 

condition and result of operations of the Company.  

/s/ Dino A. Rossi   
Dino A. Rossi 
Chairman, President, and  
Chief Executive Officer  
(Principal Executive Officer) 
March 12, 2009 

This certification accompanies the above-described Report on Form 10-K pursuant to Section 906 
of  the  Sarbanes-Oxley  Act  of  2002  and  shall  not,  except  to  the  extent  required  by  such  Act,  be  deemed 
filed by the Company for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  

 69 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exhibit 32.2 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO 

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002 

In  connection  with  the  Annual  Report  of  Balchem  Corporation  (the "Company") on Form 10-K 
for the period ended December 31, 2008 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date 
hereof  (the  "Report"),  I,  Francis  J.  Fitzpatrick,  Chief  Financial  Officer  and  Treasurer  of  the  Company, 
certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. section 1350, as adopted pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act 
of 2002, that to my knowledge:  

(1)  The  Report  fully  complies  with  the  requirements  of  section  13(a)  or  15(d)  of  the  Securities 

Exchange Act of 1934; and  

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial 

condition and result of operations of the Company.  

/s/ Francis J. Fitzpatrick  
Francis J. Fitzpatrick 
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer 
(Principal Financial and Principal 
Accounting Officer) 
March 12, 2009 

This certification accompanies the above-described Report on Form 10-K pursuant to Section 906 of the 
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and shall not, except to the extent required by such Act, be deemed filed by 
the Company for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. 

  70

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
Balchem_08ar_v10_CVR:Balchem_ar07_V4_6oh  4/16/09  4:43 PM  Page 02

Company Profile

Founded in 1967, Balchem Corporation provides state-of-the-art solutions and the finest quality products for a range of industries
worldwide. The Company consists primarily of three business segments: Food, Pharma and Nutrition; ARC Specialty Products;
and Animal Nutrition and Health. Balchem employs numerous technologies and over 300 people worldwide who are engaged
in the many diverse activities of developing the Company into a global market leader.

Corporate Information

Financial Highlights 2008

Statement of Operations Data

(In thousands, except per share data)

Year Ended December 31,

Net sales
Earnings before income tax expense
Income tax expense
Net earnings
Basic net earnings per common share
Diluted earnings per common share

Balance Sheet Data

(In thousands, except per share data)

At December 31,

Total assets
Debt
Other long-term obligations
Total stockholders’ equity
Dividend per common share

Quarterly Stock Prices

2008

$232,050
28,431
9,381
19,050
$1.06
$1.00

2008

$154,474
11,575
1,609
114,506
$.11

2007

$176,201
24,829
8,711
16,118
$.91
$.87

2007

$154,424
27,986
1,529
93,080
$.11

2006

$100,905
19,101
6,823
12,278
$.70
$.67

2006

$ 92,333
—
784
75,362
$.09

2005

$83,095
17,191
6,237
10,954
$.63
$.61

2005

$75,141
—
1,043
60,933
$.06

1Q
2Q
3Q
4Q

2008

2007

2006

High

$23.34
26.44
29.50
26.86

Low

$19.05
22.16
24.17
21.16

High

$18.56
19.17
21.25
24.00

Low

$14.09
17.15
15.60
20.16

High

$15.99
15.85
15.93
19.25

2004

$67,406
12,715
4,689
8,026
$.48
$.46

2004

$60,405
—
1,003
50,234
$.04

Low

$13.57
13.41
13.07
12.80

Net Sales
dollars in millions

Net Earnings
dollars in millions

Stockholders’ Equity
dollars in millions

232.1

176.2

100.9

83.1

67.4

19.1

16.1

12.3

11.0

8.0

114.5

93.1

75.4

60.9

50.2

‘04

‘05

‘06

‘07

‘08

‘04

‘05

‘06

‘07

‘08

‘04

‘05

‘06

‘07

‘08

Board of Directors

Corporate Officers

Dino A. Rossi
Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer

Kenneth P. Mitchell
Lead Director
Retired, President and
Chief Executive Officer
Oakite Products, Inc.

Edward L. McMillan
Owns McMillan, LLC,
a transaction-consulting firm
Past President and Chief Executive
Officer of Purina Mills

Dino A. Rossi
Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer

Frank J. Fitzpatrick
Chief Financial Officer
Treasurer and Assistant Secretary

Matthew D. Houston
General Counsel
Secretary

David F. Ludwig
Vice President/General Manager
ARC Specialty Products

Perry W. Premdas
Retired, Chief Financial Officer
of Celanese AG

Paul H. Richardson
Vice President
Research & Development

Dr. John Y. Televantos
Executive Vice President
Arsenal Capital Partners

Dr. Elaine R. Wedral
Retired, President of Nestle’s
Research and Development,
Food Service Systems

Headquarters
Balchem Corporation
52 Sunrise Park Road
P.O. Box 600
New Hampton, NY 10958

Manufacturing Locations
Slate Hill, NY; Green Pond, SC;
Verona, MO; Channahon, IL;
Salt Lake City, UT; St. Gabriel, LA;
and Marano Ticino, Italy

Exchange
NASDAQ Global Market

Listed Security
BCPC Common Stock

Annual Report
For information relating to the
Annual Report please contact
Karin McCaffery at 845.326.5600.

Investor Relations
Jackie Powell
Virtual Business Solutions
864.486.8065

Transfer Agent
Registrar and Transfer Company
10 Commerce Drive
Cranford, NJ 07016

Corporate Counsel
Duane Morris LLP
470 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 500
Boston, MA 02210

Independent Accountants
McGladrey & Pullen, LLP
1185 Avenue of the Americas, 6th Fl.
New York, NY 10036

Website:
www.balchem.com

Balchem_08ar_v10_CVR:Balchem_ar07_V4_6oh  4/16/09  4:43 PM  Page 01

Balchem Corporation

2008 Annual Report

Balchem Corporation

P.O. Box 600, 52 Sunrise Park Road, New Hampton, NY 10958
tel 845.326.5600, toll free (in U.S.) 800.431.5641, fax 845.326.5742
e-mail: bcp@balchem.com
www.balchem.com

Building on a Solid Foundation