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Zindart Retains Investment Banking Firm to Seek
Buyer for Pearl River Delta Manufacturing Unit
Latitude Capital Group Retained as the
Financial Advisor to Zindart
2005-04-12
HONG
KONG - (BUSINESS WIRE) - April 12, 2005 - Zindart Limited (Nasdaq:
ZNDT -
News) today
announced that it has retained Latitude Capital Group to seek a
buyer for the company's manufacturing operating division,
including a high volume, product design and turnkey production
facility located in South China's Pearl River Delta region.
Peter Gardiner, Chairman and CEO, said Zindart Limited plans to
focus on expanding revenues for the company's consumer branded
product division.
"For some time now, management has made clear its intent to
convert Zindart Limited from a regional manufacturer to a global
branded marketing company," Gardiner said. "The Board believes
that the most shareholder value will arise from adding marketing
and distribution strength to the company's consumer brands."
Zindart owns Corgi Classics, which develops and markets
high-quality lines of miniature die-cast collectible products,
including replicas of classic cars, trucks, airplanes, and
military vehicles. Corgi products are sold in both specialty
stores and mass market store chains in the United Kingdom,
Europe, Canada, Mexico, the United States and elsewhere.
The Corgi brand, which celebrated its 50th year in 2005, also
recently introduced a line of children's items targeting the toy
and collectibles market. Several new products are currently
under development.
"Heading into the future, we believe focusing on our Corgi brand
can produce the highest value for our shareholders," Gardiner
said. "Progress during the past year has included expanding the
geographic distribution of the Corgi brand and increasing the
number of retail stores carrying our product lines. On top of
that, we have launched several new product lines. We are
optimistic that our investment in these areas will soon begin to
pay off."
Latitude Capital Group, headquartered in Hong Kong, is an
Asia-based investment banking firm focused on serving
middle-market and emerging growth companies with M&A, corporate
finance, restructuring and private placement services.
About Zindart
Zindart's current operating divisions include Corgi Classics
Limited and Zindart Manufacturing. Corgi Classics Limited
develops and markets high-quality lines of die-cast collectible
products sold through retail channels in Europe, Canada, Mexico,
the United States and elsewhere. Zindart Manufacturing provides
both product design and high quality turnkey manufacturing for
multi-national companies requiring rapid, high-volume production
of intricate die-cast and plastic promotional items,
collectibles and gift items.
Founded in 1978, Zindart is based in Hong Kong with offices in
the United States and the United Kingdom. Zindart has a website
at www.zindart.com. Collectors can find more information at
www.corgiclassics.com or by calling 1-800-800 CORGI.
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. Such risks and uncertainties include, in addition
to those discussed above and without limitation, changes in
market demand for Zindart's 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, 2004. The company undertakes no
obligation to revise these forward-looking statements to reflect
subsequent events or circumstances.
# # #
Contact:
The Bohle Company
Sue Bohle, 310-785-0515 Ext. 223 (Media)
sue@bohle.com
or
William Dunk & Partners
Debbie Passik, 919-929-4100 (Investors)
advisors@beecom.net
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