Buckeye Technologies Inc. (NYSE:BKI) today announced first quarter net income of $39.2 million or $1.00 per share. First quarter earnings included net income of $35.1 million, or $0.89 per share, from alternative fuel mixture credits earned during the quarter. Net sales were $177 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2010 compared to a record $221 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2009.

Excluding income from alternative fuel mixture credits (AFMC), adjusted net income was $4.1 million, or $0.11 per share versus first quarter fiscal 2008 net income of $8.9 million, or $0.23 per share. This $0.12 per share decrease in earnings, compared to last year, was driven by reduced operating income (-$0.17 per share after tax) due primarily to the economic downturn which has resulted in reduced shipment volumes and in a less favorable grade mix. While overall selling prices were lower, this was offset by lower input prices for raw materials, chemicals, energy and transportation costs. The impact of reduced operating income was partially offset by lower interest expense (+$0.03) and reduced foreign exchange loss (+0.01).

Adjusted earnings of $0.11 per share, excluding the impact of the AFMC, were $0.07 lower than the $0.18 earned in the fourth quarter. A higher effective tax rate accounted for $0.06 of this reduction in earnings. The drop in adjusted operating income, including a $0.01 cost relating to staffing reductions implemented during the quarter at our Memphis cotton specialty fibers plant, was mostly offset by lower interest expenses. Compared to the fourth quarter, sales were up slightly as shipment volumes were up about 4% but this was offset by lower pricing and a less favorable grade mix. Alternative fuel mixture credits earned during the quarter, at $35.8 million net of expenses, was down by $18.4 million compared to the fourth quarter because we recognized income for the first four and a half months of earned credits during that quarter.

Total debt declined by a further $32.5 million to $295.0 million during the quarter, of which $8 million was due to cash generated by the alternative fuel mixture credit, and $26 million was due to strong cash flow from operations, including a $6 million reduction in inventory. We expect to use a portion of the AFMC in fiscal year 2010 to offset U.S. federal estimated income tax payments and to receive the balance in fiscal year 2011 as a cash refund after filing our 2010 tax return. The receipt of $7.4 million in grant money from the State of Florida in support of our Foley Energy Project reduced the net cash used in investing activities to only $1.4 million for the quarter. As of September 30, we had $23 million of cash and $100 million in borrowing capacity on our credit facility.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John B. Crowe said, “While our sales and earnings, excluding alternative fuel mixture credits, continue to be down significantly compared to the year ago quarter, we are encouraged that our shipment volume has increased sequentially in each of the past two quarters. In the just completed quarter, shipment volumes were up for both wood and cotton specialty fibers and for nonwovens. Capacity utilization at our cotton cellulose plants in Memphis and Americana improved over the preceding quarter, but was still below 50% at both facilities. We further reduced staffing at our Memphis plant during the quarter to better align staffing levels with current market conditions. Increased demand for our high-end wood specialty fibers is expected to yield an improved mix in the current quarter.”

“The Buckeye organization remains focused on reducing cost and maintaining tight control on working capital. We made significant progress during the quarter toward our recently updated fiscal year-end debt goal of $275 million, reducing our debt to $295 million during the past quarter. A key milestone for us was the redemption of all $110MM of our 2010 notes at the end of July, which moves our nearest term debt maturity out to July 2012 and will result in significant interest expense savings starting in the quarter just completed.”

Mr. Crowe went on to say, “Buckeye made progress on several other fronts during the past quarter. We have restarted the energy independence project at our Foley mill, with the help of a $7.4 MM grant from the State of Florida, which will help us complete the project. Through September, we have spent $20MM on this $45MM project. We are also finalizing an agreement with the University of Florida for a pilot biorefinery facility at our Foley facility. We continue to look for opportunities in energy and other areas to grow our revenues. While debt reduction continues to be our highest priority, we are now in a better position to allocate capital to high return opportunities like the energy independence project.”

Buckeye has scheduled a conference call for November 4, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. ET to discuss first quarter fiscal year 2010 results. Those interested in listening by telephone may dial in at (888) 634-7543 within the United States. International callers should dial (719) 457-2656. Supplemental material for the call will be available on the Company’s website at www.bkitech.com or at www.streetevents.com.

Buckeye, a leading manufacturer and marketer of specialty fibers and nonwoven materials, is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The Company currently operates facilities in the United States, Germany, Canada, and Brazil. Its products are sold worldwide to makers of consumer and industrial goods.

Certain matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws that involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to economic, competitive, governmental, and technological factors affecting the Company’s operations, financing, markets, products, services and prices, and other factors. For further information on factors which could impact the Company and the statements contained herein, please refer to public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

*This release includes certain financial information not derived in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The non-GAAP measures used are “adjusted operating income,” “adjusted net income,” and “adjusted earnings per share” and are equal to net income, operating income and earnings per share excluding income from alternative fuel mixture credits and goodwill impairment. The Company believes that the presentation of these non-GAAP measures provides information that is useful to investors as it allows for a more meaningful comparison of these financial measures to prior periods, but this information should not be considered a substitute for any measures derived in accordance with GAAP. The Company manages its business units by financial measures which exclude these two items. Operating income and earnings per share targets for our all-employee bonus and at-risk compensation also exclude the benefit of alternative fuel mixture credits and the goodwill impairment charge.