Zindart Sells Hua Yang Printing Unit for $24
Million Latitude Capital Group Acted as the Financial
Advisor to Zindart on the Transaction 2004-05-25
Cash
to Be Used to Support Corgi Growth
Hong Kong - (Business Wire) - May 25, 2004 - Zindart Limited (Nasdaq:
ZNDT - News) today
announced that the company has sold its printing operation, Hua Yang Holdings
Company Limited, for gross consideration of US$24 million, indebtedness of US$10
million, resulting in net cash consideration of approximately US$14 million.
Peter Gardiner, Chairman, Zindart, said the cash generated by the sale will be
used to support the growth of Corgi Classics in the U.S.
"The sale of Hua Yang initiates the third phase of the strategic direction we
announced in mid-2002," Gardiner said. "The disposal allows us to concentrate on
the synergies between our branded and OEM die-cast divisions where, as reported
earlier, we have implemented major marketing and operating improvements. The
sale of our printing operation also generates significant cash, which reduces
our reliance on short-term debt, dramatically improves our balance sheet and
provides the working capital necessary to support Corgi's expansion in the U.S."
Corgi Classics is Zindart's brand name operating unit. Corgi vehicles and icons
sell worldwide to collectors of miniature die-cast cars, trucks, airplanes and
military vehicles through specialty stores. The company's newer lower-priced
lines sell through mass-market chains in both the U.K. and U.S.
Zindart recently hired George Volanakis, a toy industry veteran, as president of
the Corgi division. Before joining Corgi, Volanakis held senior level executive
positions with Hasbro, Inc., the Ertl Company, Mattel, Inc., MatchBox and the
Milton Bradley Co.
"The new executive team at Corgi is already making significant inroads into
chains in the U.S. market where there is huge potential and order volume can be
substantially higher," Gardiner said. "George has also reviewed and revitalized
Corgi's entire sales and marketing organization, both in the U.S. and the U.K.,
and has implemented company-wide improvements that are starting to produce
favorable results."
Latitude Capital Group, a Hong Kong based investment banking firm, acted as
advisor to Zindart on the Hua Yang transaction.
About Zindart
Founded in 1978, Zindart is a Hong Kong-based manufacturer, supplying a wide
range of plastic and die-cast products, both under its own brands and for large
consumer products companies.
Zindart's operating divisions now include Corgi and Zindart Manufacturing, a
Hong Kong division that provides both product design and quality turnkey
plastic, die-cast and metal manufacturing for well-known multi-national
companies with branded products requiring rapid, high-volume delivery.
Certain statements in this release are forward-looking. These statements are
subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those anticipated and include, in addition to those discussed
above and without limitation, changes in market demand for Zindart products,
changes in economic conditions, dependence on certain customers and other risks
described in the company's annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended
March 31, 2003. The company undertakes no obligation to revise these
forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.
# # #
Contact:
William Dunk & Partners
Debbie Passik (Investor Contact), 919-929-4100
advisors@beecom.net
or
The Bohle Company
Sue Bohle (Media Contact), 310-785-0515 x223
sue@bohle.com
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