CTI Industries Corporation Reports First Quarter 2013 Financial Results and Major Roll-Out of Vacuum Sealing Product Line


LAKE BARRINGTON, IL--(Marketwired - May 13, 2013) - CTI Industries Corporation (NASDAQ: CTIB), a manufacturer and marketer of flexible packaging and storage products, laminated films and novelty balloons, today announced its results of operations for the first quarter of 2013 and also announced that, in April 2013, the Company commenced a major roll-out of its vacuum sealer product line.

Product Roll-Out

The Company announced that in late March 2013, the Company received orders for a significant placement of its branded vacuum sealing product line. The roll-out of this placement commenced in early April. As of March 31, 2013, the Company's branded line of vacuum sealing machines, pouches and rolls was being offered for sale in approximately 2,700 retail outlets. John Schwan, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, stated that: "We expect that our branded vacuum sealing line of sealing machines, pouches and rolls will be offered in approximately 6,000 retail outlets, including several major chains, by mid-year."

First Quarter Results

Consolidated net sales for the first quarter of 2013 were $13,345,000 compared to consolidated net sales of $13,807,000 for the first quarter of 2012. The Company earned net income of $130,000 or $0.04 per share (basic and diluted) for the first quarter of 2013 compared to net income of $389,000 or $0.12 per share (basic and diluted) for the first quarter of 2012.

"Sales for the first quarter 2013 were essentially even with sales for the first quarter last year, which was one of our strongest quarters ever," said Stephen Merrick, President and Chief Financial Officer. "We achieved these strong sales results even though our major roll-out of the vacuum sealing product line did not commence until the second quarter. While sales and margins were good in the first quarter, our bottom line was affected by (i) continued expenses related to the development and introduction of the vacuum sealing product line and (ii) a significant increase in interest expense."

Key Factors and Trends

Revenues from the sale of our vacuum sealing line increased by 19% from $1,033,000 in the first quarter last year to $1,231,000 in the first quarter this year, and did not include revenues from the major roll-out which commenced in April.

Gross margins remained positive at 22.3% compared to a rate of 22.4% in the first quarter 2012.

Revenues from the sale of latex balloons increased by 8.6% from $2,754,000 in the first quarter 2012 to $2,992,000 in the first quarter 2013.

Foil balloon revenues for the first quarter this year were $6,782,000 compared to $6,951,000 for the first quarter 2012.

Sales of laminated film products declined from $1,661,000 in the first quarter 2012 to $1,188,000 in the first quarter this year.

Statements made in this release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking" statements (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) 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. Factors that could cause results to differ are identified in the public filings of the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. 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            
    March 31, 2013     *December 31, 2012  
             
Assets   (Unaudited)        
Current Assets:                
  Cash and cash equivalents (VIE $23,000 and $22,000, respectively)   $ 447,932     $ 351,064  
  Accounts receivable, net     8,398,764       7,773,332  
  Inventories, net     15,823,912       15,813,276  
  Other current assets (VIE $114,000 and $108,000, respectively)     2,967,197       3,192,082  
Total current assets     27,637,805       27,129,754  
                 
Property, plant and equipment, net     8,593,797       8,699,070  
Other assets     1,909,996       1,918,319  
                 
Total Assets   $ 38,141,598     $ 37,747,143  
                 
Liabilities & Equity                
Total current liabilities (VIE $140,000 and $198,000, respectively)   $ 16,090,896     $ 16,963,447  
Long term debt, less current maturities     9,841,504       8,701,650  
CTI Industries Corporation stockholders' equity     12,379,290       12,242,738  
Noncontrolling interest     (170,092 )     (160,692 )
                 
Total Liabilities & Equity   $ 38,141,598     $ 37,747,143  
                 
                 
                 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations                
      Three Months Ended March 31  
      2013       2012  
      (Unaudited)       (Unaudited)  
                 
Net sales   $ 13,344,766     $ 13,807,144  
Cost of sales     10,370,749       10,712,073  
                 
Gross profit     2,974,017       3,095,071  
                 
Operating expenses     2,443,866       2,252,308  
                 
Income from operations.     530,151       842,763  
                 
Other (expense) income:                
  Net Interest expense     (467,975 )     (180,987 )
  Other     144,524       2,225  
                 
Income before income taxes     206,700       664,001  
                 
Income tax expense     85,768       254,931  
                 
Net Income     120,932       409,070  
                 
Less: Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest     (9,400 )     20,442  
                 
    Net income attributable to CTI Industries Corporation   $ 130,332     $ 388,628  
                 
Income applicable to common shares   $ 130,332     $ 388,628  
                 
Other Comprehensive Income                
  Foreign currency adjustment     (30,400 )     158,176  
    Comprehensive income   $ 99,932     $ 546,804  
                 
Basic income per common share   $ 0.04     $ 0.12  
                 
Diluted income per common share   $ 0.04     $ 0.12  
                 
Weighted average number of shares and equivalent shares of common stock outstanding:                
  Basic     3,248,646       3,204,506  
                 
  Diluted     3,415,911       3,244,976  
                 
                 
                 
*The condensed consolidated financial statements do not include all required disclosures, refer to the Form 10K for omitted disclosures.