Talon International Reports Fourth Quarter and Year-End 2008 Financial Results


LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - April 8, 2009) - Talon International, Inc. (OTCBB: TALN), a leading global supplier of zippers, apparel fasteners, trim and interlining products, reported financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2008.

Highlights

--  Sales for the full year 2008 totaled $48.2 million, vs. $40.5 million
    in 2007.
--  Zipper product sales up 13% in Q4 2008 vs. Q4 2007; up 34% in FY2008
    vs. FY2007.
--  Net loss totaled $8.4 million in 2008, vs. $4.9 million in 2007.
--  $5.4 million in certain significant charges in 2008 vs. $1.2 million
    in 2007.
    

Financial Results

Sales for the full year 2008 totaled $48.2 million, an increase of $7.6 million from 2007 or 19%. Sales for the fourth quarter of 2008 totaled $8.4 million, a decrease of $467,000, or 5% from the same period in 2007. The increase in sales for the full year reflected a 34% increase in Talon zipper sales to $28.4 million in 2008 compared to $21.2 million in 2007. For all of 2008 the Company reported Trim product sales of $19.5 million, an increase of $849,000 or 4.5% over 2007, and Tekfit product sales of $205,000, a decline of $476,000 from 2007. The increase in Zipper and Trim product sales for the year is primarily attributable to the Company's expanded presence within the global apparel industry and the approval of Talon products by new brands and retailers. The decline in Tekfit product sales for the year was primarily attributable to lower sales as the Company rebuilds this product's acceptance following the expiration of revenues from an exclusive sales contract.

Sales for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 reflect an increase in zipper product sales of $481,000 or 13% over the same period in 2007, and an increase in waistband product sales of $65,000. The sales increases were offset by a decline in Trim product sales of $1.0 million. The increase in zipper product sales for the quarter is a reflection of the expanded brand approvals gained during the year, while the decline of Trim product sales represents program reductions by major retailers in response to the global economic decline in the fourth quarter of 2008.

For the full year 2008 a net loss of $8.4 million or ($0.41) per share was reported by the Company, as compared to a net loss of $4.9 million or ($0.24) per share in 2007. For the fourth quarter of 2008, a net loss of $4.7 million was reported, as compared to a net loss of $935,000 in same period of 2007.

"Fiscal year 2008 was a year of significant improvements for the company," said Lonnie Schnell, Talon's CEO, "partially eclipsed by a severe economic downturn in the fourth quarter of 2008 and its effect on our operations. The overall financial results for the year were disappointing, as we saw the economic decline late in the year severely impact our on-going efforts to secure the maximum value from several of our legacy assets. Consequently, we absorbed several unexpected charges during the year.

"Despite the severe economic decline late in 2008, before consideration of several significant charges that were recorded in the year, the Company's overall performance for the fourth quarter and the full year of 2008 showed improvements over 2007."

For the full year 2008 the loss from operations of $5,962,000 includes $5,360,000 in significant charges, including $4,636,000 in impairment charges associated with property and equipment held for sale, slow-moving inventory, marketable securities and a note receivable. In addition, the 2008 loss from operations includes $724,000 associated with severance paid to former officers. For the full year 2007 the loss from operations of $3,170,000 included $1,088,000 in charges associated with the write-off of a note receivable from a former customer, and $127,000 in impairment charges associated with a building held for sale.

The fourth quarter 2008 loss from operations of $3,986,000 includes $3,096,000 in impairment charges associated with equipment held for sale, slow-moving inventory and a note receivable. The fourth quarter of 2007 loss from operations of $380,000 included a net benefit of $913,000 resulting from a $1,040,000 benefit associated with a partial recovery of a previous loss on a note receivable offset by a $127,000 impairment charge associated with the building held for sale.

The 2008 significant charges in the fourth quarter and the year primarily represent impairment charges occurring due to a decline in the fair-value of associated equipment and inventory held for sale, in marketable securities previously obtained in exchange for notes receivable, and in notes receivable from related parties. These charges also include severance costs associated with former officers.

Selling expenses for the full year 2008 were $3.1 million, essentially equal to the selling expenses in 2007 despite an overall sales increase of $7.6 million. General and administrative expenses for the full year 2008 were $12.0 million, as compared to $10.9 million in 2007. The increase of $1.1 million in general and administrative expenses includes $724,000 in severance charges paid to former officers, and a $474,000 charge for the impairment of a note receivable. Selling expenses and general and administrative expenses for the fourth quarter of 2008 were $738,000 and $3,057,000, respectively, as compared to $964,000 and $3,188,000, respectively for the same period in 2007.

Net interest expense for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2008 was $619,000 and $2,437,000, respectively, as compared to $542,000 and $1,680,000, respectively, for the fourth quarter and full year of 2007. The increased interest cost in 2008 over 2007 was a primarily the result of the new debt facility with CVC California, LLC (formerly Bluefin Capital, LLC) entered into in June 2007, as well as the non-cash interest charges associated with equity components issued in connection with this debt.

Conference Call

Talon International will hold a conference call on Thursday, April 9, 2009, to discuss its fourth quarter and year-end 2008 financial results. Talon's CEO Lonnie D. Schnell will host the call starting at 4:30 P.M. Eastern Time. A question and answer session will follow their presentation.

To participate in the call, dial the appropriate number 5-10 minutes prior to the start time, request the Talon International conference call and provide the conference ID.

Date: Thursday, April 9, 2009
Time: 4:30 pm Eastern (1:30 pm Pacific)
Domestic callers: 1-800-862-9098
International callers: 1-785-424-1051
Conference ID#: 7TALON

A replay of the call will be available later that evening and will be accessible until May 15, 2009. The replay call-in number is 1-800-839-9303 for domestic callers and 1-402-220-6083 for international. Passcode not required.

About Talon International, Inc.

Talon International, Inc. is a global supplier of apparel fasteners, trim and interlining products to manufacturers of fashion apparel, specialty retailers, mass merchandisers, brand licensees and major retailers. Talon manufactures and distributes zippers and other fasteners under its Talon® brand, known as the original American zipper invented in 1893. Talon also designs, manufactures, engineers, and distributes apparel trim products and specialty waistbands under its trademark names, Talon, Tag-It and TekFit, to more than 60 apparel brands and manufacturers including Wal-Mart, J.C. Penney, Abercrombie and Fitch, Juicy Couture, Ralph Lauren, Victoria's Secret, Target Stores, and Express. The company has offices and facilities in the United States, Hong Kong, China, India and the Dominican Republic.

                        TALON INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                      CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT



                              Quarter Ended         Twelve Months Ended
                        December 31  December 31  December 31  December 31
                            2008         2007         2008         2007
                        -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
Total Net sales         $ 8,392,841  $ 8,859,322  $48,170,980  $40,529,555
Cost of goods sold        6,653,939    6,000,409   35,553,857   28,422,820
                        -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
Gross profit              1,738,902    2,858,913   12,617,123   12,106,735

Selling expenses            738,108      963,968    3,103,529    3,125,634
General and
 administrative
 expenses                 3,057,523    3,187,778   12,005,971   10,937,223
Impairment of
 marketable security
 and related  note
 receivable                       -   (1,040,000)   1,040,000    1,087,653
Impairment loss on
 fixed assets             1,929,506      126,904    2,429,506      126,904
                        -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
Total operating
 expenses                 5,725,137    3,238,650   18,579,006   15,277,414

Loss from operations     (3,986,235)    (379,737)  (5,961,883)  (3,170,679)
Interest expense, net       619,315      541,991    2,436,675    1,680,079
                        -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------

Loss before income
 taxes                   (4,605,550)    (921,728)  (8,398,558)  (4,850,758)
Provision (benefit) for
 income taxes                72,494       13,297      (39,772)      70,949
                        -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------

Net income (loss)       $(4,678,044) $  (935,025) $(8,358,786) $(4,921,707)
                        ===========  ===========  ===========  ===========

Basic loss per share    $     (0.23) $     (0.05) $     (0.41) $     (0.24)
                        ===========  ===========  ===========  ===========
Diluted loss per share  $     (0.23) $     (0.05) $     (0.41) $     (0.24)
                        ===========  ===========  ===========  ===========

Basic weighted average
 shares outstanding      20,291,433   19,336,638   20,291,433   20,155,563
                        ===========  ===========  ===========  ===========
Diluted weighted
 average shares
 outstanding             20,291,433   19,336,638   20,291,433   20,155,563
                        ===========  ===========  ===========  ===========



                        TALON INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                        CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET



Assets                                          December 31   December 31
Current Assets:                                     2008          2007
                                                ------------  ------------
    Cash and cash equivalents                   $  2,399,717  $  2,918,858
    Marketable Securities, net of valuation
     reserves                                              -     1,040,000
    Accounts receivable, net                       3,856,613     3,504,351
    Inventories, net                               1,669,149     2,487,427
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets        473,955       945,566
                                                ------------  ------------
Total current assets                               8,399,434    10,896,202

Property and equipment, net                        2,084,244     5,210,446
Fixed assets held for sale                           407,655       700,000
Due from related parties                             200,000       625,454
Other intangible assets, net                       4,110,751     4,110,751
Other assets                                         400,494       140,782
                                                ------------  ------------
Total assets                                    $ 15,602,578  $ 21,683,635
                                                ============  ============

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liablities:
    Accounts payable                            $  7,674,768  $  6,249,618
    Other accrued expenses                         2,675,756     2,759,868
    Demand notes payable to related parties          222,264       213,091
    Current portion of capital lease
     obligations                                     182,444       323,317
    Current portion of notes payable                 144,064       299,108
                                                ------------  ------------
Total current liabilities                         10,899,296     9,845,002

Capital lease obligations, less current portion        1,910       189,705
Notes payable, less current portion                        -       848,484
Revolver note payable                              4,638,988     3,807,806
Term note payable, net of discount                 8,067,428     7,014,301
Other long term liabilities                          756,888       695,687
                                                ------------  ------------
Total liabilities                                 24,364,510    22,400,985

Stockholders' Equity:
    Preferred stock Series A, $0.001 par
     value; 250,000 shares authorized; no
     shares issued or outstanding                          -             -
    Common stock, $0.001 par value;
     100,000,000 shares authorized; 20,291,433
     shares issued and outstanding at
     December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007          20,291        20,291
    Additional paid-in-capital                    54,769,072    54,510,161
    Accumulated deficit                          (63,651,032)  (55,292,246)
    Accumulated other comprehensive income            99,737        44,444
                                                ------------  ------------
Total stockholders' equity                        (8,761,932)     (717,350)
                                                ------------  ------------
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity      $ 15,602,578  $ 21,683,635
                                                ============  ============


Contact Information: Company Contact: Talon International, Inc. Rayna Long Tel (818) 444-4128