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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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