Tarrant Apparel Group Announces Second Quarter Results

LOS ANGELES — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Tarrant Apparel Group (NASDAQ:TAGS), a design and sourcing company for private label and private brand casual apparel, today announced financial results for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2009.

The Company reported total net sales of $41.0 million in the second quarter of 2009, a 20.0% decrease compared to $51.3 million in the same period in 2008. Private Label sales in the second quarter of 2009 were $26.7 million, as compared to $35.2 million reported in the same period last year. The decrease in Private Label sales was a result of reduced demand by our customers due to the severe economic downturn and bankruptcies of retailers, such as Mervyn’s that were significant customers in 2008. The decrease was partially offset by an increase in sales to Wal-Mart of $7.4 million in the second quarter of 2009. Private Brand sales were $14.3 million in the second quarter of 2009, compared to $16.1 million in the second quarter of 2008 with the decrease resulting primarily from reduced sales to Macy’s Merchandising Group.

Gross profit decreased by $1.4 million, or 12.9%, to $9.6 million in the second quarter of 2009 from $11.0 million in the second quarter of 2008. The decrease in gross profit was primarily due to the decrease in total net sales. As a percentage of total net sales, gross profit increased from 21.4% in the second quarter of 2008 to 23.3% in the second quarter of 2009. The increase in gross margin in the second quarter of 2009 was due primarily to higher gross margins on back- to- school sales.

Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by $1.8 million or 17.3% to $8.8 million for the second quarter of 2009 from $10.6 million in the 2008 second quarter. As a percentage of total net sales, Selling, general and administrative expenses increased to 21.3% versus 20.6% for the same period of the prior year. Staff costs were reduced by $566,000 in the second quarter of 2009 compared to the same period of 2008. Included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the second quarter of 2009 was an allowance for bad debts of $856,000 primarily related to factory receivables from two overseas vendors who ceased production. In the second quarter of 2008, allowance for bad debts amounted to $2.0 million, of which $1.5 million was related to Mervyn’s receivables. Also included in the second quarter of 2009 were expenses related to the going private transaction of $341,000 and litigation expenses of $201,000 compared to going private expenses of $360,000 and litigation expenses of $166,000 in the second quarter of 2008.

Royalty expense decreased by $179,000 or 37.4%, to $300,000 in the second quarter of 2009 from $479,000 in the 2008 second quarter. The decrease was caused by lowered royalty rates resulting from an amendment to our license agreement with American Rag Cie, LLC entered into in December 2008.

The Company also recorded a non-cash charge of $5.3 million in the second quarter of 2008 due to an impairment of the goodwill pertaining to the Chazzz division. The charge was taken as a result of the Mervyn’s LLC bankruptcy filing subsequent to the end of the second quarter of 2008 and the rapidly declining business of another retailer served by this division.

Income from operations in the second quarter of 2009 was $505,000 or 1.2% of total net sales, compared to loss from operations of $5.4 million or (10.5)% of total net sales, in the second quarter of 2008.

Net income was $219,000, or $0.01 per basic and diluted share for the 2009 second quarter, compared to net loss of $5.3 million, or $(0.16) per basic and diluted share for the 2008 second quarter.

For the six months ended June 30, 2009, the Company reported net sales of $78.4 million, a decline of 23.0% compared to $101.8 million in the comparable prior period of 2008. Gross profit decreased by $3.5 million or 16.5%, to $17.5 million in the first six months of 2009 from $21.0 million in the first six months of 2008. Income from operations for the first six months of 2009 was $658,000, or 0.9% of total net sales, compared to loss from operations of $5.4 million, or (5.4)% of total net sales, in the comparable prior period of 2008. Net income was $48,000, or $0.00 per share, compared to net loss of $5.5 million, or $(0.17) per share in the 2008 comparable period.

TARRANT APPAREL GROUP
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share data)

	June 30, 2009			December 31, 2008
	(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	89		$	5,207
Restricted cash		105			105
Accounts receivable, net of $1.7 million and $0.6 million allowance for returns,
discounts and bad debts at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively		26,446			19,199
Due from related parties		18,951			21,581
Inventory		6,555			7,066
Temporary quota rights		—			36
Prepaid expenses		1,481			1,203
Deferred tax assets		156			146

Total current assets		53,783			54,543

Property and equipment, net of $6.3 million and $7.4 million accumulated depreciation
and amortization at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively		2,254			1,985
Due from related parties, net of $2.6 million reserve and $0.8 million adjustment to fair
value both at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008		125			139
Deferred financing cost, net of $0.4 million accumulated amortization at December 31,
2008		—			67
Other assets		2			2
Goodwill, net		3,283			3,283

Total assets	$	59,447		$	60,019

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Short-term bank borrowings	$	8,233		$	10,630
Accounts payable		12,445			11,680
Accrued expenses		5,830			5,850
Income taxes, current portion		4,283			4,223
Debt facility and factoring arrangement		14,715			12,607

Total current liabilities		45,506			44,990

Income taxes, net of current portion		3,888			5,164
Total liabilities		49,394			50,154

Minority interest in PBG7		60			60

Commitments and contingencies

Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock, 2,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding
at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008		—			—
Common stock, no par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized: 30,543,763 shares
issued and outstanding at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008		115,757			115,757
Warrants to purchase common stock		5,472			5,516
Contributed capital		13,095			12,919
Accumulated deficit		(122,696	)		(122,744	)
Notes receivable from officer and shareholder		(1,635	)		(1,643	)
Total shareholders' equity		9,993			9,805

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$	59,447		$	60,019

TARRANT APPAREL GROUP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATION
(in thousands, except share data)

	Three Months Ended June 30, 2009 (Unaudited)			Three Months Ended June 30, 2008(Unaudited)			Six Months Ended June 30, 2009 (Unaudited)			Six Months Ended June 30, 2008 (Unaudited)

Net sales	$	37,493		$	47,424		$	72,067		$	93,745
Net sales to related party		3,544			3,874			6,303			8,051
Total net sales		41,037			51,298			78,370			101,796

Cost of sales		28,240			36,775			55,071			73,428
Cost of sales to related party		3,239			3,548			5,759			7,354
Total cost of sales		31,479			40,323			60,830			80,782

Gross profit		9,558			10,975			17,540			21,014
Selling and distribution expenses		2,419			2,771			4,613			6,200
General and administrative expenses		6,334			7,816			11,707			14,135
Royalty expense		300			479			562			813
Goodwill impairment charge		—			5,300			—			5,300

Income (loss) from operations		505			(5,391	)		658			(5,434	)
Interest expense		(221	)		(245	)		(387	)		(475	)
Interest income		32			153			65			193
Interest in income of equity method investee		—			130			—			107
Other income		91			326			123			507
Other expense		—			(2	)		(50	)		(66	)
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes and minority interest		407			(5,029	)		409			(5,168	)
Provision for income taxes		188			245			361			359
Minority interest		—			0			—			0

Net income (loss)	$	219		$	(5,274	)	$	48		$	(5,527	)
Net income (loss) per share:
Basic	$	0.01		$	(0.16	)	$	0.00		$	(0.17	)

Diluted	$	0.01		$	(0.16	)	$	0.00		$	(0.17	)

Weighted average common and common equivalent shares:
Basic		30,543,763			32,043,763			30,543,763			32,043,763

Diluted		30,543,763			32,043,763			30,543,763			32,043,763

Tarrant Apparel Group Announces Second Quarter Results

TARRANT APPAREL GROUP CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATION (in thousands, except share data)

TARRANT APPAREL GROUP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATION
(in thousands, except share data)

TARRANT APPAREL GROUP 8-K