SENSIENT TECHNOLOGIES CORP - Quarter Report: 2011 March (Form 10-Q)

 

 

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

þ		QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

o		TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission file number: 1-7626

SENSIENT TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

 

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Wisconsin    (State or other jurisdiction of		39-0561070    (I.R.S. Employer Identification
incorporation or organization)		Number)

777 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202-5304

(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (414) 271-6755

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 for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for at least the past 90 days. Yes þ No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes þ No o

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):

Large accelerated filer þ		Accelerated filer o		Non-accelerated filer o		Smaller reporting company o
				(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes o No þ

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Class    Common Stock, par value $0.10 per share		Outstanding at April 30, 2011   50,061,307

 

 

SENSIENT TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
INDEX

		Page No.
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION:
Item 1. Financial Statements:
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Earnings - Three Months Ended March 31, 2011 and 2010.			1
Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets - March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010.			2
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows - Three Months Ended March 31, 2011 and 2010.			3
Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.			4
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.			9
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.			11
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.			11
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION:
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.			12
Item 1A. Risk Factors.			13
Item 6. Exhibits.			13
Signatures.			14
Exhibit Index.			15
EX-31
EX-32
EX-101 INSTANCE DOCUMENT
EX-101 SCHEMA DOCUMENT
EX-101 CALCULATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
EX-101 LABELS LINKBASE DOCUMENT
EX-101 PRESENTATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

SENSIENT TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

(In thousands except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)

		Three Months
		Ended March 31,
		2011				2010
Revenue		$	349,686			$	314,076
Cost of products sold			241,979				219,130
Selling and administrative expenses			64,110				56,291
Operating income			43,597				38,655
Interest expense			4,850				4,778
Earnings before income taxes			38,747				33,877
Income taxes			12,332				10,410
Net earnings		$	26,415			$	23,467
Average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic			49,637				48,825
Diluted			49,818				49,121
Earnings per common share:
Basic		$	.53			$	.48
Diluted		$	.53			$	.48
Dividends per common share		$	.21			$	.19

See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.

SENSIENT TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)

		March 31,
		2011				December 31,
		(Unaudited)				2010
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	14,020			$	14,255
Trade accounts receivable, net			235,780				218,614
Inventories			393,562				392,166
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			50,250				47,270
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS			693,612				672,305
OTHER ASSETS			35,854				36,093
INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET			12,992				13,219
GOODWILL			459,158				445,115
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT:
Land			51,603				49,760
Buildings			301,193				293,605
Machinery and equipment			675,191				648,985
Construction in progress			29,846				32,797
			1,057,833				1,025,147
Less accumulated depreciation			(615,638	)			(592,611	)
			442,195				432,536
TOTAL ASSETS		$	1,643,811			$	1,599,268
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Trade accounts payable		$	90,488			$	95,852
Accrued salaries, wages and withholdings from employees			19,262				26,822
Other accrued expenses			55,229				49,819
Income taxes			9,557				7,120
Short-term borrowings			20,667				25,450
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES			195,203				205,063
OTHER LIABILITIES			35,782				33,313
ACCRUED EMPLOYEE AND RETIREE BENEFITS			55,016				52,747
LONG-TERM DEBT			323,216				324,360
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Common stock			5,396				5,396
Additional paid-in capital			90,361				89,027
Earnings reinvested in the business			1,007,021				991,094
Treasury stock, at cost			(85,173	)			(87,102	)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)			16,989				(14,630	)
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY			1,034,594				983,785
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY		$	1,643,811			$	1,599,268

See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.

SENSIENT TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)
(Unaudited)

		Three Months
		Ended March 31,
		2011				2010
Net cash provided by operating activities		$	28,413			$	23,441
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment			(10,124	)			(8,305	)
Proceeds from sale of assets			—				36
Other investing activity			(60	)			(49	)
Net cash used in investing activities			(10,184	)			(8,318	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from additional borrowings			12,002				14,495
Debt payments			(23,131	)			(20,566	)
Dividends paid			(10,487	)			(9,345	)
Proceeds from options exercised and other equity transactions			1,319				3,348
Net cash used in financing activities			(20,297	)			(12,068	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			1,833				(4,312	)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents			(235	)			(1,257	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			14,255				12,219
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		$	14,020			$	10,962

See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.

SENSIENT TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

1.

Accounting Policies

In the opinion of Sensient Technologies Corporation (the “Company”), the accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring adjustments) which are necessary to present fairly the financial position of the Company as of March 31, 2011, and December 31, 2010, the results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010. The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Expenses are charged to operations in the year incurred. However, for interim reporting purposes, certain expenses are charged to operations based on a proportionate share of estimated annual amounts rather than as they are actually incurred.

Refer to the notes in the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010, for additional details of the Company’s financial condition and a description of the Company’s accounting policies, which have been continued without change.

2.

Fair Value

Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, defines fair value for financial assets and liabilities, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in GAAP and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. As of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company’s only assets and liabilities subject to this standard are forward exchange contracts and mutual fund investments. The fair value of the forward exchange contracts based on current pricing obtained for comparable derivative products (Level 2 inputs) was a liability of $0.4 million and $0.1 million as of March 31, 2011, and December 31, 2010, respectively. The fair value of the investments based on March 31, 2011, and December 31, 2010, market quotes (Level 1 inputs) was an asset of $13.9 million and $14.2 million, respectively.

The carrying values of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued expenses and short term borrowings approximated fair values as of March 31, 2011. The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt, including current maturities, is estimated using discounted cash flows based on the Company’s current incremental borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements. The carrying value of the long-term debt at March 31, 2011, was $323.2 million. The fair value of the long-term debt at March 31, 2011, was $322.7 million.

3.

Debt

On March 22, 2011, the Company entered into an agreement with investors to issue $75 million in fixed-rate, senior notes at interest rates varying from 3.77% to 4.47%. These notes will have a six-year average life with a final maturity in November 2018. Proceeds from the sale of the notes will be received in November 2011 and used to repay maturing debt and for general corporate purposes.

On April 7, 2011, the Company modified its revolving loan facility. The capacity of the credit facility has been increased from $300 million to $350 million and will mature in April 2016. Interest rates on borrowings under the credit facility are at LIBOR plus a margin based on the Company’s leverage ratio. Currently when fully drawn the interest rate is at LIBOR plus 1.75%. The credit facility was used to repay the Company’s $42.7 million balance on a term loan that would have matured in June 2012 and will be used for future liquidity needs. The Company is in compliance with all of its most restrictive debt covenants as of March 31, 2011.

4.

Segment Information

Operating results by segment for the periods and at the dates presented are as follows:

		Flavors &								Corporate
(In thousands)		Fragrances				Color				& Other				Consolidated
Three months ended March 31, 2011:
Revenue from external customers		$	199,613			$	118,897			$	31,176			$	349,686
Intersegment revenue			7,076				6,774				339				14,189
Total revenue		$	206,689			$	125,671			$	31,515			$	363,875
Operating income (loss)		$	28,958			$	22,347			$	(7,708	)		$	43,597
Interest expense			—				—				4,850				4,850
Earnings (loss) before income taxes		$	28,958			$	22,347			$	(12,558	)		$	38,747
Three months ended March 31, 2010:
Revenue from external customers		$	185,935			$	104,214			$	23,927			$	314,076
Intersegment revenue			4,767				3,742				344				8,853
Total revenue		$	190,702			$	107,956			$	24,271			$	322,929
Operating income (loss)		$	27,184			$	18,108			$	(6,637	)		$	38,655
Interest expense			—				—				4,778				4,778
Earnings (loss) before income taxes		$	27,184			$	18,108			$	(11,415	)		$	33,877

5.

Inventories

At March 31, 2011, and December 31, 2010, inventories included finished and in-process products totaling $263.4 million and $261.6 million, respectively, and raw materials and supplies of $130.2 million and $130.6 million, respectively.

6.

Retirement Plans

The Company’s components of annual benefit cost for the defined benefit plans for the periods presented are as follows:

		Three Months Ended March 31,
(In thousands)		2011				2010
Service cost		$	607			$	475
Interest cost			726				718
Expected return on plan assets			(370	)			(331	)
Amortization of prior service cost			812				753
Amortization of actuarial loss			336				118
Defined benefit expense		$	2,111			$	1,733

During the three months ended March 31, 2011, the Company made contributions to its defined benefit pension plans of $1.0 million. Total contributions to Company defined benefit pension plans are expected to be $4.5 million in 2011.

7.

Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income is comprised of the following:

		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
(In thousands)		2011				2010
Net earnings		$	26,415			$	23,467
Currency translation adjustments			31,321				(26,123	)
Net unrealized gain on cash flow hedges			298				329
Net comprehensive income (loss)		$	58,034			$	(2,327	)

8.

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

Cash flows from operating activities are detailed below:

		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
(In thousands)		2011				2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings		$	26,415			$	23,467
Adjustments to arrive at net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			11,588				10,808
Share-based compensation			1,585				755
Loss on assets			80				250
Deferred income taxes			2,231				755
Changes in operating assets and liabilities			(13,486	)			(12,594	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		$	28,413			$	23,441

The Company may use forward exchange contracts and foreign currency denominated debt to manage its exposure to foreign exchange risk by reducing the effect of fluctuating foreign currencies on short-term foreign currency denominated intercompany transactions, non-functional currency raw material purchases, non-functional currency sales and other known foreign currency exposures. These forward exchange contracts have maturities of less than twelve months. The Company’s primary hedging activities and their accounting treatment are summarized below:

Forward exchange contracts — The forward exchange contracts that have been designated as hedges are accounted for as cash flow hedges. The Company had $15.6 million and $10.1 million of forward exchange contracts, designated as hedges, outstanding as of March 31, 2011, and December 31, 2010, respectively. Due to the short term nature of these contracts, the results of these transactions are not material to the financial statements. In addition, the Company utilizes forward exchange contracts that are not designated as cash flow hedges and the results of these transactions are not material to the financial statements.

Net investment hedges — The Company has certain debt denominated in Euros and Swiss Francs. These debt instruments have been designated as partial hedges of the Company’s Euro and Swiss Franc net asset positions. Changes in the fair value of this debt attributable to changes in the spot foreign exchange rate are recorded in foreign currency translation in other comprehensive income (“OCI”). As of March 31, 2011, and December 31, 2010, the total value of the Company’s Euro and Swiss Franc debt was $111.5 million and $106.5 million, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2011, the impact of foreign exchange rates on these debt instruments increased debt by $5.0 million and has been recorded as foreign currency translation in OCI.

10.

Income Taxes

The effective income tax rates for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, were 31.8% and 30.7%, respectively. The effective tax rates in both 2011 and 2010 were reduced by changes in estimates associated with the finalization of prior year tax items.

11.

Commitments and Contingencies

Cherry Blossom Litigation

Cherry Blossom LLC, a Traverse City, Michigan contractor who had produced cherry products for the Company, ceased operations in May 2009. At the time, Cherry Blossom had physical possession of brined cherries belonging to the Company with a book value of approximately $500,000. Despite the Company’s demands, Cherry Blossom refused to permit the Company to take possession of the cherries for processing elsewhere.

In June 2009, the Company sued Cherry Blossom in the Circuit Court of Grand Traverse County, Michigan seeking an order for return of the cherries. Cherry Blossom’s asset based lender, Crossroads Financial (which claimed to be owed $1.4 million), intervened and claimed a senior lien on the cherries. The Circuit Court denied the Company’s request for immediate possession and permitted Cherry Blossom to retain and process the cherries. The Circuit Court later held that Crossroads Financial held a senior lien on the cherries and was entitled to receive the proceeds from the sale of the cherries. The Circuit Court also denied the Company’s cross claims against Crossroads to recoup certain overpayments that the Company made to Cherry Blossom/Crossroads and to recoup payments made by the Company to the United States Department of Labor on Cherry Blossom’s/Crossroads’ behalf. The Company has appealed these adverse decisions of the Circuit Court.

Crossroads asserted a claim against the Company for money damages in an undetermined amount. Crossroads claimed that it has a lien on all of Cherry Blossom’s accounts receivable from the Company and that the Company had performed a number of offsets against its accounts payable to Cherry Blossom in derogation of Crossroad’s rights as lienholder. The Circuit Court denied Crossroads claims for money damages against the Company. Crossroads has appealed this decision of the Circuit Court.

Cherry Blossom counterclaimed against the Company, alleging that Cherry Blossom had purchased exclusive rights to certain proprietary cherry processing formulas used in the Company’s cherry product. Cherry Blossom sought a preliminary injunction against the Company’s delivery of copies of the formulas to any third party. The Court denied Cherry Blossom’s motion regarding the formulas and eventually dismissed Cherry Blossom’s claims. The Company also initiated a suit against Cherry Blossom in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan seeking a declaratory judgment that the Company has the right to use the cherry processing formulas. Because Cherry Blossom subsequently filed a petition in bankruptcy, the Federal District Court closed the matter. This closing was for administrative purposes only and did not constitute a decision on the merits.

Christopher Hubbell, a principal of Cherry Blossom, has personally filed a petition for bankruptcy. The Company has opposed the bankruptcy petition to the extent Mr. Hubbell seeks a discharge of the Company’s alleged damages arising from his own fraudulent acts connected to Cherry Blossom’s granting of an allegedly superior interest in the Company’s cherries to Crossroads Financial.

S.A.M. (Amaral) v. Sensient Technologies Corp., et al.

On August 5, 2010, the owners and operators of a 135-acre vineyard near the dehydration facility formerly operated by Sensient Dehydrated Flavors, LLC (“SDF”) in Greenfield, California filed a lawsuit in California state court in Monterey, California. The lawsuit names as defendants both Sensient Technologies Corporation (“Sensient”) and SDF. A response to the complaint was filed on October 1. The suit sets out claims for nuisance per se, trespass and negligence per se and alleges almost a million dollars in losses plus punitive damages, all based on the fact that, between the summer of 2007 and early October, 2009, SDF was processing onions that allegedly caused an “onion taint” in the grapes and wine produced from the plaintiffs’ vineyard. While SDF had an air permit covering its operations, its Monterey County use permit specifically named only chili peppers, celery and parsley, but not onions, as commodities that could be dehydrated at the Greenfield facility. SDF’s effort to modify the Greenfield facility’s use permit to specifically include the processing of onions was blocked by local vineyard owners. SDF has since closed its Greenfield facility and consolidated its onion dehydration operations at its fully-permitted and more efficient facility at Livingston, California.

This lawsuit follows an earlier lawsuit (J. Lohr Vineyards and Wines v. Sensient Technologies) (the “Lohr lawsuit”) brought by a larger, adjacent landowner. The Lohr lawsuit was settled in December, 2009, with an agreement that included SDF’s abandonment of onion processing at its Greenfield facility but did not require the payment of any settlement amount to Lohr despite Lohr’s substantial damage claims. The S.A.M. plaintiffs have essentially copied, and seek to rely upon, the factual allegations and expert analyses developed in the Lohr lawsuit before a settlement was reached. The S.A.M. plaintiffs will not, however, be receiving any assistance from Lohr. Sensient and SDF believe the S.A.M. plaintiffs’ claims are without merit and intend to pursue a vigorous defense. Trial has been set to commence on October 31, 2011, and the parties have been directed to attend a mandatory settlement conference on September 30, 2011.

Daito Kasei Kogyo Co. Ltd. vs. Sensient Cosmetic Technologies SAS

In 1992 Sensient Cosmetic Technologies SAS (“SCT”) and Daito Kasei Kogyo Co., Ltd. (“Daito”) entered into a distribution agreement pursuant to which SCT became the exclusive distributor in Europe of coloring agents and ingredients manufactured in Japan by Daito and, in turn, Daito became the exclusive distributor in Japan of certain products produced in France by SCT. By 2008, the sale of Daito products represented €4 million of SCT’s sales. In contrast, Daito’s sales of SCT’s products in Japan amounted to only €0.4 million in 2008. The agreement was entered into for an initial period to end on December 31, 1993 and was tacitly renewed for two-year periods through December 31, 2009, subject to a requirement of six months’ notice for termination.

On July 7, 2009, Daito notified SCT of its decision to terminate SCT’s distributorship in Europe, with effect as of February 10, 2010. SCT informed Daito that the notice of termination was insufficient in light of the lengthy commercial relationship between the parties. Daito eventually ostensibly agreed to extend the notice period but the commercial relationship did not function as it had in the past. On August 10, 2010, SCT filed a complaint before the Paris Commercial Court alleging that Daito wrongfully terminated its long-standing established commercial relationship with SCT, that SCT should have been given a notice period of thirty-six months in light of the twenty-year relationship between the parties and that Daito should pay damages to SCT of over €3.8 million.

On January 26, 2011, Daito filed a response in a hearing of the Court in which it denied any liability for SCT’s claims and asserted counter-claims of €1.5 million for unlawful termination of Daito’s distributorship in Japan, unlawful termination of an alleged “agency contract” in Japan and SCT’s cancellation of certain Daito orders in October, 2010.

The parties are continuing to exchange and translate exhibits. No trial date has been set.

The Company is involved in various other claims and litigation arising in the normal course of business. In the judgment of management, which relies in part on information from Company counsel, the ultimate resolution of these actions will not materially affect the consolidated financial statements of the Company except as described above.

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

OVERVIEW

Revenue for the first quarter of 2011 was $349.7 million, an increase of 11.3% from $314.1 million recorded in the prior year’s first quarter. Revenue for the Flavors & Fragrances segment increased 8.4% for the first quarter of 2011, from the comparable quarter last year. Color segment revenue increased 16.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2011, from the comparable period last year. Corporate and Other revenue increased 29.8% for the quarter ended March 31, 2011, from the comparable period last year. The impact of foreign exchange rates increased consolidated revenue by approximately one percent in the quarter ended March 31, 2011. Additional information on group results can be found in the Segment Information section.

The gross profit margin increased 60 basis points to 30.8% for the quarter ended March 31, 2011, from 30.2% for the same period in 2010. The impact of an increase in selling prices more than offset the increase in raw material costs.

Selling and administrative expenses as a percent of revenue were 18.3% and 17.9% in the quarters ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Higher employee costs, including the addition of sales and technical personnel, and higher performance-based compensation were the primary drivers of the increase.

Operating income for the first quarter of 2011 increased 12.8% to $43.6 million from $38.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2010. The impact of foreign exchange rates increased operating income by approximately two percent in the quarter ended March 31, 2011. Additional information can be found in the Segment Information section.

Interest expense for the first quarter of 2011 and 2010 was $4.9 million and $4.8 million, respectively. The increase is due to higher interest rates, resulting from an increased mix of fixed rate debt, and is partially offset by lower average debt balances.

The effective income tax rates were 31.8% and 30.7% for the quarters ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The effective tax rates in both 2011 and 2010 were reduced by changes in estimates associated with the finalization of prior year tax items. The Company expects the effective tax rate for the remainder of 2011 to be 33.0%, excluding the income tax expense or benefit related to discrete items, which will be reported separately in the quarter in which they occur.

SEGMENT INFORMATION

Flavors & Fragrances —

Revenue for the Flavors & Fragrances segment increased 8.4% to $206.7 million in the first quarter of 2011 from $190.7 million last year. The increase was primarily due to higher revenue in North America ($7.3 million) and Europe ($6.1 million) combined with the favorable impact of foreign exchange rates ($1.7 million). The higher revenue in North America was primarily due to higher selling prices and higher volumes. The increased revenue in Europe was primarily related to higher selling prices.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2011, operating income was $29.0 million, an increase of 6.5% from $27.2 million reported in the first quarter or 2010. The increase was primarily attributable to higher profit in North America ($1.0 million) and the favorable impact of foreign exchange rates ($0.5 million). The increase in North America was driven by the impact of higher selling prices and increased volumes. Operating income as a percent of revenue was 14.0% and 14.3% for the quarters ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Color —

Revenue for the Color segment for the first quarter of 2011 was $125.7 million, an increase of 16.4% from the $108.0 million reported in the prior year’s first quarter. The increase in revenue was due to higher sales of food and beverage colors ($11.2 million) and higher sales of non-food colors ($5.0 million) combined with the favorable impact of foreign exchange rates ($1.5 million). The higher sales of food and beverage colors were due to an increase in volumes and selling prices. In particular, sales of natural food

and beverage colors in the quarter were strong. The increase in sales of non-food colors was primarily due to higher volumes.

Operating income for the quarter ended March 31, 2011, was $22.3 million, an increase of 23.4% from the $18.1 million reported in the comparable period last year. The increase was due to higher profit in food and beverage colors ($3.0 million) and higher profit in non-food colors ($1.0 million). The favorable impact of foreign exchange rates increased operating profit by approximately $0.2 million. The higher profit in both food and beverage colors and non-food colors was primarily driven by higher volumes and selling prices as discussed above. Operating income as a percent of revenue was 17.8%, an increase of 100 basis points from the prior year’s quarter.

LIQUIDITY AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

The Company’s ratio of debt to total capital improved to 24.9% as of March 31, 2011, from 26.2% as of December 31, 2010. The improvement was due to an increase in total equity combined with lower outstanding debt balances.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $28.4 million and $23.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The increase in cash provided by operating activities was primarily due to higher earnings.

Net cash used in investing activities was $10.2 million and $8.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Capital expenditures were $10.1 million and $8.3 million for the quarters ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Net cash used in financing activities was $20.3 million in the first three months of 2011 and $12.1 million in the comparable period of 2010. The primary driver for the change was the higher net repayments on debt in the first quarter of 2011 due to the higher cash provided by operating activities. In the first quarter of 2011, net repayments on debt were $11.1 million compared to $6.1 million for the first quarter of 2010. For purposes of the cash flow statement, net changes in debt exclude the impact of foreign exchange rates. Dividends of $10.5 million and $9.3 million were paid during the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The increase in dividends paid reflects the Company’s higher dividend rate of 21 cents per share in the first quarter of 2011 compared to 19 cents per share in 2010. In the first quarters of 2011 and 2010, the Company’s cash provided from operations was able to fund capital expenditures, pay dividends and reduce outstanding debt.

The Company’s financial position remains strong. In March 2011, the Company entered into an agreement to issue $75 million of notes in November 2011. The proceeds from the new debt will be used to refinance existing debt and for general corporate purposes. In April 2011, the Company completed negotiations with a group of banks on a $350 million revolving loan agreement to replace the one that would have expired in June 2012. The Company expects that its cash flows from operations, these new financing arrangements and existing lines of credit can be used to meet future cash requirements for operations, capital expenditures and dividend payments to shareholders.

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

There have been no material changes in the Company’s contractual obligations during the quarter ended March 31, 2011. For additional information about contractual obligations, refer to pages 25 and 26 of the Company’s 2010 Annual Report, portions of which were filed as Exhibit 13.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

The Company had no off-balance sheet arrangements as of March 31, 2011.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

There have been no material changes in the Company’s critical accounting policies during the quarter ended March 31, 2011. For additional information about critical accounting policies, refer to pages 23 and 24 of the Company’s 2010 Annual Report, portions of which were filed as Exhibit 13.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

There have been no material changes in the Company’s exposure to market risk during the quarter ended March 31, 2011. For additional information about market risk, refer to pages 24 and 25 of the Company’s 2010 Annual Report, portions of which were filed as Exhibit 13.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures: The Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and its Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness, as of the end of the period covered by this report, of the design and operation of the disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act of 1934. Based upon that evaluation, the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and its Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.

Change in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting: There has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) during the Company’s most recent quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This document contains forward-looking statements that reflect management’s current assumptions and estimates of future economic circumstances, industry conditions, Company performance and financial results. Forward-looking statements include statements in the future tense, statements referring to any period after March 31, 2011, and statements including the terms “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate” and other similar terms that express expectations as to future events or conditions. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those expressed in those statements. A variety of factors could cause the Company’s actual results and experience to differ materially from the anticipated results. These factors and assumptions include the pace and nature of new product introductions by the Company’s customers; the Company’s ability to successfully implement its growth strategies; the outcome of the Company’s various productivity-improvement and cost-reduction efforts; changes in costs of raw materials and energy; industry and economic factors related to the Company’s domestic and international business; competition from other suppliers of colors, flavors and fragrances; growth or contraction in markets for products in which the Company competes; terminations and other changes in customer relationships; industry and customer acceptance of price increases; currency exchange rate fluctuations; cost and availability of credit; results of litigation, environmental investigations or other proceedings; complications as a result of existing or future information technology system applications and hardware; the matters discussed under Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010; and the matters discussed above under Item 2 including the critical accounting policies referenced therein. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results expressed or implied therein will not be realized.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Commercial Litigation

Cherry Blossom Litigation

Cherry Blossom LLC, a Traverse City, Michigan contractor who had produced cherry products for the Company, ceased operations in May 2009. At the time, Cherry Blossom had physical possession of brined cherries belonging to the Company with a book value of approximately $500,000. Despite the Company’s demands, Cherry Blossom refused to permit the Company to take possession of the cherries for processing elsewhere.

In June 2009, the Company sued Cherry Blossom in the Circuit Court of Grand Traverse County, Michigan seeking an order for return of the cherries. Cherry Blossom’s asset based lender, Crossroads Financial (which claimed to be owed $1.4 million), intervened and claimed a senior lien on the cherries. The Circuit Court denied the Company’s request for immediate possession and permitted Cherry Blossom to retain and process the cherries. The Circuit Court later held that Crossroads Financial held a senior lien on the cherries and was entitled to receive the proceeds from the sale of the cherries. The Circuit Court also denied the Company’s cross claims against Crossroads to recoup certain overpayments that the Company made to Cherry Blossom/Crossroads and to recoup payments made by the Company to the United States Department of Labor on Cherry Blossom’s/Crossroads’ behalf. The Company has appealed these adverse decisions of the Circuit Court.

Crossroads asserted a claim against the Company for money damages in an undetermined amount. Crossroads claimed that it has a lien on all of Cherry Blossom’s accounts receivable from the Company and that the Company had performed a number of offsets against its accounts payable to Cherry Blossom in derogation of Crossroad’s rights as lienholder. The Circuit Court denied Crossroads claims for money damages against the Company. Crossroads has appealed this decision of the Circuit Court.

Cherry Blossom counterclaimed against the Company, alleging that Cherry Blossom had purchased exclusive rights to certain proprietary cherry processing formulas used in the Company’s cherry product. Cherry Blossom sought a preliminary injunction against the Company’s delivery of copies of the formulas to any third party. The Court denied Cherry Blossom’s motion regarding the formulas and eventually dismissed Cherry Blossom’s claims. The Company also initiated a suit against Cherry Blossom in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan seeking a declaratory judgment that the Company has the right to use the cherry processing formulas. Because Cherry Blossom subsequently filed a petition in bankruptcy, the Federal District Court closed the matter. This closing was for administrative purposes only and did not constitute a decision on the merits.

Christopher Hubbell, a principal of Cherry Blossom, has personally filed a petition for bankruptcy. The Company has opposed the bankruptcy petition to the extent Mr. Hubbell seeks a discharge of the Company’s alleged damages arising from his own fraudulent acts connected to Cherry Blossom’s granting of an allegedly superior interest in the Company’s cherries to Crossroads Financial.

S.A.M. (Amaral) v. Sensient Technologies Corp., et al.

On August 5, 2010, the owners and operators of a 135-acre vineyard near the dehydration facility formerly operated by Sensient Dehydrated Flavors, LLC (“SDF”) in Greenfield, California filed a lawsuit in California state court in Monterey, California. The lawsuit names as defendants both Sensient Technologies Corporation (“Sensient”) and SDF. A response to the complaint was filed on October 1. The suit sets out claims for nuisance per se, trespass and negligence per se and alleges almost a million dollars in losses plus punitive damages, all based on the fact that, between the summer of 2007 and early October, 2009, SDF was processing onions that allegedly caused an “onion taint” in the grapes and wine produced from the plaintiffs’ vineyard. While SDF had an air permit covering its operations, its Monterey County use permit specifically named only chili peppers, celery and parsley, but not onions, as commodities that could be dehydrated at the Greenfield facility. SDF’s effort to modify the Greenfield facility’s use permit to specifically include the processing of onions was blocked by local vineyard owners. SDF has since closed its Greenfield facility and consolidated its onion dehydration operations at its fully-permitted and more efficient facility at Livingston, California.

This lawsuit follows an earlier lawsuit (J. Lohr Vineyards and Wines v. Sensient Technologies) (the “Lohr lawsuit”) brought by a larger, adjacent landowner. The Lohr lawsuit was settled in December, 2009, with an agreement that included SDF’s abandonment of onion processing at its Greenfield facility but did not require the payment of any settlement amount to Lohr despite Lohr’s substantial damage claims. The S.A.M. plaintiffs have essentially copied, and seek to rely upon, the factual allegations and expert analyses developed in the Lohr lawsuit before a settlement was reached. The S.A.M. plaintiffs will not, however, be receiving any assistance from Lohr. Sensient and SDF believe the S.A.M. plaintiffs’ claims are without merit and intend to pursue a vigorous defense. Trial has been set to commence on October 31, 2011, and the parties have been directed to attend a mandatory settlement conference on September 30, 2011.

Daito Kasei Kogyo Co. Ltd. vs. Sensient Cosmetic Technologies SAS

In 1992 Sensient Cosmetic Technologies SAS (“SCT”) and Daito Kasei Kogyo Co., Ltd. (“Daito”) entered into a distribution agreement pursuant to which SCT became the exclusive distributor in Europe of coloring agents and ingredients manufactured in Japan by Daito and, in turn, Daito became the exclusive distributor in Japan of certain products produced in France by SCT. By 2008, the sale of Daito products represented €4 million of SCT’s sales. In contrast, Daito’s sales of SCT’s products in Japan amounted to only €0.4 million in 2008. The agreement was entered into for an initial period to end on December 31, 1993 and was tacitly renewed for two-year periods through December 31, 2009, subject to a requirement of six months’ notice for termination.

On July 7, 2009, Daito notified SCT of its decision to terminate SCT’s distributorship in Europe, with effect as of February 10, 2010. SCT informed Daito that the notice of termination was insufficient in light of the lengthy commercial relationship between the parties. Daito eventually ostensibly agreed to extend the notice period but the commercial relationship did not function as it had in the past. On August 10, 2010, SCT filed a complaint before the Paris Commercial Court alleging that Daito wrongfully terminated its long-standing established commercial relationship with SCT, that SCT should have been given a notice period of thirty-six months in light of the twenty-year relationship between the parties and that Daito should pay damages to SCT of over €3.8 million.

On January 26, 2011, Daito filed a response in a hearing of the Court in which it denied any liability for SCT’s claims and asserted counter-claims of €1.5 million for unlawful termination of Daito’s distributorship in Japan, unlawful termination of an alleged “agency contract” in Japan and SCT’s cancellation of certain Daito orders in October, 2010.

The parties are continuing to exchange and translate exhibits. No trial date has been set.

The Company is involved in various other claims and litigation arising in the normal course of business. In the judgment of management, which relies in part on information from Company counsel, the ultimate resolution of these actions will not materially affect the consolidated financial statements of the Company except as described above.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

See “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

See Exhibit Index following this report.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

		SENSIENT TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Date: May 9, 2011		By:		/s/ John L. Hammond   John L. Hammond, Senior Vice President,
				General Counsel & Secretary
Date: May 9, 2011		By:		/s/ Richard F. Hobbs   Richard F. Hobbs, Senior Vice
				President & Chief Financial
				Officer

SENSIENT TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

EXHIBIT INDEX

QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q
FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2011

				Incorporated by Reference
Exhibit		Description		From		Filed Herewith
3.2		Amended and Restated by laws		Form 8-K dated April 21, 2011
10.1		Note Purchase Agreement		Form 8-K dated March 22, 2011
10.2		Revolving Credit Facility		Form 8-K dated April 7, 2011
31		Certifications of the Company’s Chairman & Chief Executive Officer and Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange Act				X
32		Certifications of the Company’s Chairman & Chief Executive Officer and Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 United States Code § 1350				X
101		Interactive data files pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T				X