CTI Industries Corporation Reports Results for Full Year and Fourth Quarter 2012


LAKE BARRINGTON, IL--(Marketwire - Mar 21, 2013) -  CTI Industries Corporation (NASDAQ: CTIB), a manufacturer and marketer of novelty balloons, flexible packaging and storage products and printed and laminated films, today announced its full-year results of operations for 2012, as well as for the three months ended December 31, 2012.

Year-End Results

For the year ended December 31, 2012, consolidated net sales totaled $49,543,000, compared to consolidated net sales of $47,171,000 for the year ended December 31, 2011, an increase of 5%. For the year, CTI achieved net income of $102,000 or $0.03 per share (basic and diluted), compared to $484,000 or $0.15 per share (basic and diluted) in 2011.

Fourth Quarter Results

Consolidated net sales for the fourth quarter of 2012 were $12,133,000 compared to consolidated net sales of $10,778,000 for the fourth quarter of 2011, an increase of 12.6%. For the fourth quarter of 2012, CTI had a net loss of $215,000, compared to net income of $155,000 for the fourth quarter of 2011. For the fourth quarter, CTI had a loss per share of $0.07 (basic and diluted) compared to earnings per share for the fourth quarter 2011 of $0.05 (basic and diluted).

Key Factors and Trends

In 2012, net sales rose to the highest level in CTI's 37 year history, as sales in the pouch and container line expanded 14% while sales in the novelty line of foil and latex balloons continued to expand as well. Sales of our branded line of vacuum sealing machines and associated rolls and pouches, which were just introduced in 2012, grew to $5.6 million in the year, and we anticipate significant revenue growth in that line during 2013.

Bottom line results were affected by substantial increases in selling, marketing and administrative expenses principally related to our investment in the planning, development, introduction, marketing and selling of the new branded line of vacuum sealing consumer products, and also related to the expansion of our operations in foreign markets.

Gross margin levels increased from 19.5% in 2011 to 22% in 2012. This increase resulted from the moderation in some commodities pricing during 2012 and also because of a change in the mix of the products we sold from lower margin to higher margin products.

Sales in our foreign operations (Mexico, the UK and Europe) increased from $12,514,000 in 2011 to $14,016,000 in 2012, an increase of 12%, reflecting our continued efforts to expand our international activities and revenues.

We invested significantly in our future during 2012, increasing our inventories by $2.5 million and investing over $1.2 million in capital items, principal production equipment and facilities. 

Nevertheless, our liquidity improved, in part due to our subordinated loan financing, with the result that our working capital increased from just over $5 million as of December 31, 2011 to more than $10 million on December 31, 2012.

CTI Industries Corporation, based in suburban Chicago, designs, develops, produces and markets a line of novelty balloon products, laminated and printed films for packaging applications and flexible packaging and storage products.

Statements made in this release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking" statements (within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time. These "forward-looking" statements may include, but are not limited to, statements containing words such as "may," "should," "could," "would," "expect," "plan," "goal," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "continue," or similar expressions. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future results. Although we believe that our opinions and expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements, and our actual results may differ substantially from statements made herein. More information on factors that could affect CTI's business and financial results are included in its public filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

   
CTI Industries Corporation and Subsidiaries  
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets  
             
    December 31, 2012     December 31, 2011  
ASSETS            
Current assets:                
  Cash and cash equivalents (VIE $22,000 and $11,000, respectively)   $ 351,064     $ 338,523  
  Accounts receivable, (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $99,000 and $70,000 respectively)    
7,773,332
     
7,091,194
 
  Inventories, net     15,813,276       13,338,317  
  Net deferred income tax asset     846,371       760,241  
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets (VIE $108,000 and $93,000, respectively)     2,345,711       1,772,694  
    Total current assets     27,129,754       23,300,969  
                     
    Total property, plant and equipment, net     8,699,070       8,843,909  
                     
    Total other assets     1,918,319       1,470,644  
                 
TOTAL ASSETS   $ 37,747,143     $ 33,615,522  
                 
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY                
                 
                 
    Total current liabilities (VIE $198,000 and $98,000, respectively)   $ 16,963,447     $ 17,688,994  
    Total long-term liabilities, less current maturities (VIE $533,000 and $687,000, respectively)     8,701,650       4,171,033  
      Total Liabilities     25,665,097       21,860,027  
                 
    Total CTI Industries Corporation stockholders' equity     12,242,738       11,860,768  
                 
    Noncontrolling Interest     (160,692 )     (105,273 )
                 
      Total Equity     12,082,046       11,755,495  
                 
TOTAL LIABILITIES & STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY   $ 37,747,143     $ 33,615,522  
 
 
 
CTI Industries Corporation and Subsidiaries            
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations            
                         
    Year ended December 31,     Three months ended December 31,  
    2012     2011     2012     2011  
                                 
Net sales   $ 49,542,762     $ 47,171,498     $ 12,132,945     $ 10,778,107  
Cost of sales     38,636,245       37,965,245       9,346,057       8,381,984  
    Gross profit     10,906,517       9,206,253       2,786,888       2,396,123  
                                 
Operating expenses:                                
  General and administrative     6,357,249       5,278,507       1,915,791       1,303,511  
  Selling     1,720,878       910,882       416,095       256,350  
  Advertising and marketing     1,769,477       1,579,162       520,399       470,230  
                                 
    Total operating expenses     9,847,604       7,768,551       2,852,285       2,030,091  
                                 
Income (loss) from operations     1,058,913       1,437,702       (65,397 )     366,032  
                                 
Other (expense) income:                                
  Interest expense     (991,152 )     (773,111 )     (377,906 )     (171,269 )
  Other     24,841       38,169       11,636       3,272  
                                 
    Total other expense     (966,311 )     (734,942 )     (366,270 )     (167,997 )
                                 
Income (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interest     92,602       702,760       (431,666 )     198,035  
                                 
Income tax expense (benefit)     46,272       319,444       (157,454 )     65,636  
                                 
Net income (loss)     46,330       383,316       (274,213 )     132,399  
                                 
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest     (55,419 )     (100,594 )     (58,844 )     (22,928 )
                                 
    Net income (loss) attributable to CTI Industries Corporation   $ 101,749     $ 483,910     $ (215,369 )   $ 155,327  
                                 
Income (loss) applicable to common shares   $ 101,749     $ 483,910     $ (215,369 )   $ 155,327  
                                 
Other Comprehensive Income                                
  Foreign currency adjustment     114,197       (692,881 )     26,015       (369,300 )
    Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to CTI Industries Corporation   $ 215,946     $ (208,971 )   $ (189,354 )   $ (213,973 )
                                 
Basic income (loss) per common share   $ 0.03     $ 0.15     $ (0.07 )   $ 0.05  
                                 
Diluted income (loss) per common share   $ 0.03     $ 0.15     $ (0.07 )   $ 0.05  
                                 
Weighted average number of shares and equivalent shares of common stock outstanding:                                
  Basic     3,216,756       3,138,958       3,240,266       3,141,261  
                                   
  Diluted     3,293,106       3,181,102       3,252,528       3,180,143