EXHIBIT 99.1
FOR: Home Products International, Inc.
APPROVED BY: James R. Tennant, Chairman & CEO
Home Products International, Inc.
(773) 890-1010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Investor Relations:
--------------------- James Winslow, Executive VP & CFO
Home Products International, Inc.
(773) 890-1010
HOME PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL REPORTS
FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR RESULTS
* Fourth Quarter Earnings Per Share of $0.11 vs. loss of $9.41 a year ago
Chicago, IL, February 25, 2002 - Home Products International, Inc.
(Nasdaq: HOMZ) (the "Company"), a leader in the housewares industry, today
announced financial results for its fourth quarter and year ended December
29, 2001.
Revenues for the 2001 fourth quarter were $53.7 million versus $74.5
million in the prior year. A significant portion of the sales decline was
due to the divestiture of the Company's Plastics, Inc. product line ("PI")
on July 6, 2001. PI contributed sales of $12.7 million in the fourth
quarter of last year. The pro forma sales decline of 13% was related to the
bankruptcy of several customers and the overall state of the economy. The
Company reported fourth quarter net income of $0.9 million and earnings per
share of $0.11. The fourth quarter results include a write-down of the
Company's receivable from Kmart ($3.3 million), an extraordinary charge
($0.6 million) related to the early retirement of debt, and $3.5 million of
income from the favorable resolution of matters relating to the Company's
restructuring initiatives. The fourth quarter 2001 net income compares to
last year's $69.2 million loss, ($9.41) per share. The 2000 result included
restructuring, special, and other charges totaling $65.8 million ($8.95
per share). The Company reported EBITDA (before restructuring gains and
extraordinary item) of $5.1 million compared to $4.6 million a year ago (pro
forma for the sale of PI).
For the fiscal year ended December 29, 2001, revenues were $249.7
million versus $297.0 million in the prior year. The sales decline was due
to the divestiture of PI and the bankruptcy of several customers. The
Company reported full year net income of $17 million, or $2.19 per share,
versus 2000's net loss of $71.5 million, ($9.77) per share. The 2001 fiscal
year includes a gain from the sale of PI of $14.5 million, a writedown of
the Company's receivable from Kmart ($3.3 million), an extraordinary charge
($0.6 million) related to the early retirement of debt, and $0.9 million
of income from the favorable resolution of restructuring matters. The
2000 result included restructuring, special, and other charges totaling
$65.8 million ($8.95 per share). On a pro forma basis (excluding the
restructuring and other charges, the gain on sale of PI, as well as PI's
earnings for both years), EBITDA for the year was $29.8 million as compared
to $24.7 million a year ago.
The Company reported positive cash flow during the fourth quarter of
$10 million, an improvement of $4 million as compared to a year ago. The
Company also noted that total debt, net of cash, declined to $130 million
from $219 million a year ago. The significant reduction in debt was due to
net proceeds from the sale of PI of $69.5 million as well as positive cash
flow from operations. The Company continues to be in compliance with all of
its loan covenants.
Commenting on the results, James R. Tennant, chairman and chief
executive officer, stated, "We are very pleased with our operating results.
The fourth quarter continued to grow upon the enhanced operating performance
that we reported in the second and third quarters. We have also continued
to improve our margins while lowering our fixed costs."
Mr. Tennant concluded, "Looking to the future, we are confident that
HPI's financial and operational strength coupled with our strong customer
relationships have positioned the Company for continued positive
performance."
Our fourth quarter conference call will take place Tuesday, February 26,
2002, starting at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (9:00 a.m. CT, 8:00 a.m. MT, and
7:00 a.m. PT). Dial 1-800-289-0437 (international, dial 1-913-981-5508)
approximately 10 minutes prior to conference time.
A replay of our fourth quarter conference call will be available from 12:00
noon Eastern Time February 26, 2002 through midnight ET March 4, 2002. Dial
1-888-203-1112 (international, dial 1-719-457-0820), then enter confirmation
code 618975.
Home Products International, Inc. is an international consumer products
company specializing in the manufacture and marketing of diversified
housewares products. The Company sells its products to all the largest
national retailers.
Some of the statements made in this press release are forward-looking and
concern the Company's future growth, product development, markets and
competitive position. While management will make its best efforts to be
accurate in making these forward-looking statements, any such statements are
subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company's actual
results to vary materially. These include market risks such as increased
competition for both the Company and its end users and changes in retail
distribution channels; economic risks; financial risks such as fluctuations
in the price of raw materials, future liquidity and access to debt
and equity markets. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties
materialize, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated,
expected or projected. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any
such factors or to announce the results of any revision to any of the
forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future events or
developments.
Home Products International, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
($ in thousands)
December 29, December 30,
2001 2000
-------- --------
Cash $ 1,091 $ 3,152
Accounts receivable, net 36,577 46,095
Inventory, net 17,043 27,388
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 2,275 4,051
-------- --------
Current assets 56,986 80,686
-------- --------
Fixed assets, net 42,631 55,881
Patents and non-compete agreements, net 1,656 2,233
Other intangibles, net 74,759 114,713
Other non-current assets 11,311 12,139
-------- --------
Total assets $ 187,343 $ 265,652
======== ========
Accounts payable $ 16,834 $ 20,521
Accrued liabilities 33,916 34,981
Current maturities of long-term debt 158 6,558
-------- --------
Current liabilities 50,908 62,060
-------- --------
Long-term debt 130,447 215,051
Other non-current liabilities 3,168 3,038
-------- --------
Long-term debt and other non-current liabilities 133,615 218,089
-------- --------
Stockholders' equity (deficit) 2,820 (14,497)
-------- --------
Total liabilities and stockholders
equity (deficit) $ 187,343 $ 265,652
======== ========
Home Products International, Inc.
Consolidated Statement of Operations
($ in thousands, except share amounts)
Thirteen-weeks Fourteen-weeks Fifty-two weeks Fifty-three weeks
ended ended ended ended
December 29, 2001 December 30, 2000 December 29, 2001 December 30, 2000
--------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
Net sales $ 53,673 100.0% $ 74,483 100.0% $249,721 100.0% $297,048 100.0%
Cost of goods sold 40,425 75.3% 59,323 79.6% 188,299 75.4% 235,144 79.2%
Special charges (income), net (524) (1.0%) 1,920 2.6% (414) (0.2%) 1,920 0.6%
--------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
Gross profit 13,772 25.7% 13,240 17.8% 61,836 24.8% 59,984 20.2%
--------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
Operating expenses 10,305 19.2% 9,464 12.7% 36,910 14.8% 39,382 13.3%
Amortization of intangibles 666 1.2% 1,388 1.9% 3,190 1.3% 5,350 1.8%
Restructuring and other charges (income) (2,963) (5.5%) 63,830 85.7% (480) (0.2%) 63,830 21.5%
--------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
Operating profit (loss) 5,764 10.8% (61,442) (82.5%) 22,216 8.9% (48,578) (16.4%)
Interest (expense) (3,586) (6.7%) (5,928) (8.0%) (18,284) (7.3%) (22,363) (7.5%)
Other income (expense) 59 0.1% 13 0.0% 14,621 5.9% (467) (0.2%)
--------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
Earnings (loss) before income taxes 2,237 4.2% (67,357) (90.5%) 18,553 7.5% (71,408) (24.1%)
--------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
Income tax expense (784) (1.5%) (1,801) (2.4%) (975) (0.4%) (103) (0.0%)
--------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
Net earnings (loss) before extraordinary
charges 1,453 2.7% (69,158) (92.9%) 17,578 7.1% (71,511) (24.1%)
Extraordinary charge for early retirement
of debt 598 1.1% - - 598 0.2% - -
--------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
Net earnings (loss) $ 855 1.6% $(69,158) (92.9%) $ 16,980 6.9% $(71,511) (24.1%)
=============== =============== =============== ===============
Net earnings (loss) per share:
Basic $0.11 ($9.41) $2.24 ($9.77)
Diluted $0.11 ($9.41) $2.19 ($9.77)
Number of weighted average common
Shares outstanding :
Basic 7,591,900 7,352,288 7,563,740 7,322,586
Diluted 7,936,337 7,352,288 7,754,762 7,322,586
EBITDA (excluding special items and
restructuring charges) $ 5,058 9.4% $ 8,654 11.6% $ 34,795 13.9% $ 34,862 11.7%