NEW YORK, Jan. 11, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Lazare Kaplan International Inc. (AMEX:LKI) today announced financial results for the second fiscal quarter of fiscal 2008 ended November 30, 2007.
Net sales for the three and six months ended November 30, 2007 were $90.5 million and $193.1 million, respectively, as compared to $94.4 million and $233.3 million for the prior year periods.
Polished diamond revenue for the three and six months ended November 30, 2007 were $43.0 million and $76.9 million, respectively, as compared to $41.5 million and $74.5 million for the prior year periods. Increased polished diamond revenue primarily reflects increased sales of branded diamonds.
Rough diamond sales were $47.5 million and $116.2 million for the three and six months ended November 30, 2007, as compared to $52.9 million and $158.8 million for the comparable prior year periods. The decrease in rough diamond sales for the six months ended November 30, 2007 primarily reflects the transfer during the second fiscal quarter of 2007 of certain rough diamond buying and trading operations to a formal joint venture which the Company accounts for on the equity method.
Gross Margin for the three and six months ended November 30, 2007 was 7.0% and 7.6%, respectively, as compared to 5.2% and 4.4% for the prior year periods. The increase in overall gross margin percentage reflects improved margins in both polished diamond sales and rough diamond trading margin.
Net income / (loss) for the three and six month periods ended November 30, 2007 was $0.3 million, or $0.03 per fully diluted share, and $0.7 million, or $0.09 per fully diluted share, compared to $(1.4) million, or $(0.17) per fully diluted share, and $(3.2) million, or $(0.39) per fully diluted share, in the respective prior year periods. Fully diluted earnings per share for the three and six month period ended November 30, 2007 are based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding of 8,337,818 and 8,329,649, as compared to 8,197,634 and 8,197,420 in the comparable prior year periods.
Lazare Kaplan International Inc. sells its diamonds and jewelry products through a worldwide distribution network. The Company is noted for its ideal cut diamonds, which it markets internationally under the brand name, Lazare Diamonds(r).
Except for historical information contained herein, the statements in this release are forward-looking and made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause the Company's actual results in future periods to differ materially from forecasted results. Those risks include a softening of retailer or consumer acceptance of or demand for the Company's products, pricing pressures, adequate supply of rough diamonds and other competitive factors. These and other risks are more fully described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The information contained in this press release is accurate only as of the date issued. Investors should not assume that the statements made in these documents remain operative at a later time. Lazare Kaplan International Inc. undertakes no obligation to update any information contained in this news release.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
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(In thousands, except per share and per share data)
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
November 30, (unaudited) 2007 2006 2007 2006
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Net sales $ 90,528 $ 94,411 $ 193,121 $ 233,295
Cost of Sales 84,179 89,482 178,479 223,121
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6,349 4,929 14,642 10,174
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Selling, general and
administrative expenses 6,948 6,831 13,235 13,070
Equity in income of
joint ventures (2,486) (907) (2,561) (1,200)
Interest expense, net
of interest income 1,501 1,548 3,004 3,270
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5,963 7,472 13,678 15,140
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Income/(loss) before
income taxes 386 (2,543) 964 (4,966)
Income tax
provision/(benefit) 95 (1,180) 253 (1,778)
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NET INCOME/(LOSS) $ 291 $ (1,363) $ 711 $ (3,188)
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EARNINGS/(LOSS) PER SHARE
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Basic earnings/(loss)
per share $ 0.04 $ (0.17) $ 0.09 $ (0.39)
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Average number of shares
outstanding during
the period 8,257,082 8,197,634 8,258,033 8,197,420
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Diluted earnings/(loss)
per share $ 0.03 $ (0.17) $ 0.09 $ (0.39)
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Average number of shares
outstanding during the
period assuming
dilution 8,337,818 8,197,634 8,329,649 8,197,420
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