Exhibit 99.1
Impreso Reports Earnings per Share Up 58% in FY2004
COPPELL, TX -- 12/15/2004 -- Impreso, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZCOM), which through its
subsidiaries is involved in (1) the manufacture and distribution of paper
and film hard copy imaging products for commercial and home office
applications; (2) the development of eCommerce initiatives; (3) the natural
spring bottled water business, today announced sales and earnings for
FY2004.
Net income increased 64% to approximately $1 million, or $0.19 per share,
in the most recent fiscal year, compared with $618,000, or $0.12 per share,
in FY 2003, and $1.7 million, or $0.32 per share, in FY 2002. Gross
profits decreased approximately 1% to $13.7 million in FY2004, versus
approximately $13.8 million in the year ended August 31, 2003. Net sales
for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2004, decreased approximately 11.3%,
to $104 million, compared with net sales of $117 million in the previous
fiscal year.
For the three months ended August 31, 2004, the Company lost $78,900 or
$0.02 per share, on net sales of $26 million. These results compared with
net loss of $228,000, or $0.04 per share, and net sales of $28 million, in
the corresponding period of the prior year.
Earnings per share for Fiscal 2004 increased 58% partially due to a
non-reoccurring event, a deferred tax benefit resulting from the sale of
the Company's California buildings. Other contributing factors were a
reduction in interest expense due to materially reduced inventory, and a
lower SGA as a percentage of net sales, due to a cost savings plan
implemented in September 2003 which included expense and commission
reductions; layoffs; a hiring and wage freeze; reduced vacation and 401(k)
benefits; and a prohibition on overtime.
"In the stock tab paper converting segment of our business, we have
experienced some significant customer losses with the increasingly
competitive atmosphere of this mature and declining portion of our sales.
Subsequent to Fiscal year end 2004, September, October, and November 2004,
purchases by our largest customer decreased significantly. The reduction
is expected to be equivalent to approximately $20 million in annual sales,"
commented Marshall Sorokwasz, President and Chief Executive Officer of
Impreso, Inc.
"Looking forward to Fiscal 2005, I am very excited about the start of
production at our water bottling facility in the Ouachita Mountains near
Mt. Ida, Arkansas," continued Mr. Sorokwasz. "This is especially
significant as we begin the diversification of our product offerings out of
hard copy imaging supplies. The introduction of water into our paper
business is an ideal companion sale as the distribution model for our water
products is very similar to our hard copy imaging products. Many customers
who are currently purchasing from us also buy bottled water. The weight
and dimensions of a pallet of water and paper, and therefore the costs, are
comparable. Since we are already delivering our customers the paper
products they require, we can piggyback a second sale of water on the same
truck. Bottled water sales should expand our revenue from our existing
customers."
"The bottled water business has experienced phenomenal growth in the past
few years. We plan to effectively compete in the wholesale market by
offering a quality product at a competitive price point," concluded Mr.
Sorokwasz.
About Impreso, Inc.
Impreso, Inc. is a holding company for TST/Impreso, Inc. HotSheet.com,
Inc., and Alexa Springs, Inc. TST/Impreso, Inc. is a manufacturer and
distributor of hard copy imaging products for commercial and home use in
domestic and international markets. HotSheet.com, Inc. primarily owns
HotSheet.com, a single-page, online Internet directory with categorized
links to premier web destinations. Alexa Springs, Inc. is a natural spring
water bottler. The Company's website domains are www.hotsheet.com,
www.impreso.com, and www.tstimpreso.com.
Impreso, Inc. is headquartered in Coppell, Texas, and its common stock
trades on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market under the symbol "ZCOM."
This press release may include statements that constitute "forward-looking"
statements, usually containing the words "believe," "estimate," "project,"
"expect" or similar expressions. These statements are made pursuant to the
safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the
forward-looking statements. Factors that would cause or contribute to such
differences include, but are not limited to, continued acceptance of the
Company's products in the marketplace, competitive factors, new products
and technological changes, paper prices and raw material costs, dependence
upon third-party vendors, and other risks detailed in the Company's
periodic report filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. By
making these forward-looking statements, the Company undertakes no
obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the
date of this release.
IMPRESO, INC. & SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
(UNAUDITED)
Three months ended August 31,
2004 2003
------------ ------------
Net sales $ 26,094,075 $ 27,690,160
Cost of sales 22,911,433 24,514,161
------------ ------------
Gross profit 3,182,642 3,175,999
------------ ------------
Other costs and expenses:
Selling, general and
administrative expenses 3,087,766 3,228,025
Interest expense 207,204 405,014
Other expense (income), net (30,457) (69,462)
------------ ------------
Total other costs and expenses 3,264,513 3,563,577
------------ ------------
Income (loss) before income taxes (81,871) (387,578)
------------ ------------
Income tax expense (benefit):
Current 312,642 (56,874)
Deferred (315,601) (103,005)
------------ ------------
Total income tax (benefit) expense (2,959) (159,879)
------------ ------------
Net income (loss) $ (78,912) $ (227,699)
============ ============
Net income (loss) per common share
(basic and diluted) $ (0.02) $ (0.04)
============ ============
Weighted average number of common
shares outstanding (basic and diluted): 5,278,780 5,278,780
IMPRESO, INC. & SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
(UNAUDITED)
Year ended August 31,
2004 2003
------------ ------------
Net sales $103,989,229 $117,222,957
Cost of sales 90,283,782 103,432,569
------------ ------------
Gross profit 13,705,447 13,790,388
Other costs and expenses:
Selling, general and
administrative expenses 10,879,310 11,297,995
Interest expense 1,083,289 1,787,950
Other expense (income), net 54,682 (313,489)
------------ ------------
Total other costs and expenses 12,017,281 12,772,456
------------ ------------
Income before income taxes 1,688,166 1,017,932
------------ ------------
Income tax expense (benefit):
Current 1,177,802 388,319
Deferred (503,231) 11,782
------------ ------------
Total income tax expense 674,571 400,101
------------ ------------
Net income $ 1,013,595 $ 617,831
============ ============
Net income per common share
(basic and diluted) $ 0.19 $ 0.12
============ ============
Weighted average number of common
shares outstanding (basic and diluted): 5,278,780 5,278,780