Contacts: Duane Kimble Ken Di Paola
Baldwin Piano The Dilenschneider Group
(513) 754-4647 (212) 922-0900
BALDWIN PIANO REPORTS 14% INCREASE
IN THIRD QUARTER SALES
CONTRACT ELECTRONICS ACHIEVES THIRD CONSECUTIVE PROFITABLE QUARTER;
MUSIC DIVISION REPORTS FIRST PROFITABLE QUARTER SINCE 1998
MASON, OHIO, Nov.1, 2000 -- Baldwin Piano & Organ Company (NASDAQ:
BPAO) today reported results for the third quarter and nine months ended
September 30, 2000.
Net sales for the third quarter grew 14 percent to $33.3 million, up
from $29.1 million a year ago, primarily reflecting strong demand for Baldwin's
Music products. The net loss for the quarter was $562,000, or 16 cents per
share, a significant improvement over the loss of $1,622,000, or 47 cents per
share, a year ago.
The current quarter's loss from continuing operations includes a gain
of 20 cents per share from the sale of an unused facility and land in
Fayetteville, Arkansas. Third quarter 1999 loss from continuing operations
included a one-time gain of $1.04 per share from the sale of the company's
facility in Juarez, Mexico. In the third quarter of 1999, Baldwin recorded
income from its discontinued retail financing operations of $154,000, or four
cents per share.
For the first nine months, Baldwin's net sales rose 12 percent to $99.1
million, up from $88.2 million for the 1999 period. The net loss decreased to
$3,077,000, or 89 cents per share, including the 20 cents per share gain on the
sale of the excess facility in Fayetteville, Arkansas. This is an improvement
from last year's loss of $4,825,000, or $1.40 per share, which included the gain
of $1.04 per share from the sale of the Juarez, Mexico facility, offset in part
by a restructuring and other non-recurring charges of 27 cents per share related
to the consolidation of grand piano assembly operations.
Earnings from discontinued operations for the first nine months of
2000 were 25 cents per share, which included a gain of 21 cents per share from
the sale of Baldwin's retail financing subsidiaries. Last year's earnings from
discontinued operations were 43 cents per share.
<PAGE>
Karen L. Hendricks, chairman, president and chief executive officer of
Baldwin, said, "We are encouraged by the strong sales growth in Music and with
our continued profit progress in Contract Electronics experienced in the third
quarter. Currently, all indicators point toward further improvements for both
divisions in future quarters.
"In addition to top line growth, we experienced a substantial overall
decline in selling, general and administrative expenses. Year to date SG&A
expense improved significantly from 21 percent of sales a year ago to 17 percent
of sales this year. The drop reflects both higher sales and the impact of
efficiencies and cost controls put in place over the last year."
The Music Division reported net sales of $23.4 million in the third
quarter, up 30 percent from a year ago, reflecting an increased demand for
Baldwin's products. Music reported a pre-tax and interest operating profit of
$150,000, fueled by strong total unit sales including increased sales of our
higher margin products, Artist and Concert Grand Pianos and Digital Pianos.
Third quarter 2000 total unit sales rose by 16 percent. In the third quarter
last year, Music reported a loss of $4,519,000 excluding the gain on the sale of
the Juarez, Mexico facility.
Ms. Hendricks added, "Music's return to profitability represents a
major milestone in our turnaround. This is Music's first profitable quarter
since the fourth quarter of 1998. We expect this progress to be sustainable.
Last year's fourth quarter sales were impacted by reduced grand piano production
due to the ramp-up at our Trumann, Arkansas, facility. This year, we have the
production capability and inventory to have a robust fourth quarter.
"Our largest uncertainty in the fourth quarter is the overall U.S.
economy. If the economy slows more than expected, or the stock market
experiences a major correction, Music sales, like other high-end durable goods
sales, could be affected."
The Contract Electronics Division reported third quarter sales of
$9.9 million, down 11 percent from a year ago. However, Contract Electronics
reported pre-tax and interest profits of $402,000, excluding the gain on the
sale of real estate, compared with a loss of $908,000 in the third quarter of
1999. "Contract Electronics increased its gross profit margin by 0.5 percent
from the second quarter of this year and continues to focus on profitable
business," Ms. Hendricks added.
Baldwin Piano & Organ Company has marketed keyboard musical products
for over 138 years. Baldwin, maker of America's best selling pianos, also
manufactures electronic and electro-mechanical components for Original Equipment
Manufacturers.
"SAFE HARBOR" STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM
ACT OF 1995: THIS RELEASE CONTAINS FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS THAT ARE
SUBJECT TO RISK AND UNCERTAINTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
IMPACT OF COMPETITIVE PRODUCTS AND PRICING, PRODUCT DEMAND AND MARKET
ACCEPTANCE, RELIANCE ON KEY STRATEGIC ALLIANCES, FLUCTUATIONS IN
OPERATING RESULTS AND OTHER RISKS DETAILED FROM TIME TO TIME IN THE
COMPANY'S FILING WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
(Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Operations and Balance Sheet Attached)
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<PAGE>
BALDWIN PIANO & ORGAN COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS
(In Thousands, except earnings per share)
(Unaudited)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
September 30, September 30,
------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
2000 1999 2000 1999
---------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net sales $ 33,340 $ 29,106 $ 99,147 $ 88,164
Cost of goods sold 29,168 31,033 87,450 83,726
---------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------
Gross profit 4,172 (1,927) 11,697 4,438
Other operating income, net 1,380 6,063 1,571 6,336
Selling, general and administrative (5,506) (6,157) (16,773) (18,507)
Interest expense (954) (837) (2,772) (2,276)
---------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------
Earnings (loss) before income taxes (908) (2,858) (6,277) (10,009)
Income taxes (346) (1,082) (2,325) (3,694)
---------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations (562) (1,776) (3,952) (6,315)
Discontinued operations:
Income from operations of Retail Financing to be
disposed of (net of income taxes of $537 in 2000
and $890 in 1999) - 154 875 1,490
---------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------
Net earnings (loss) $ (562) $ (1,622) $ (3,077) $ (4,825)
================ ================= ================= ================
Earning (loss) per share
Basic
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations $ (0.16) $ (0.51) $ (1.14) $ (1.83)
Earnings from discontinued operations - 0.04 0.25 0.43
---------------- ----------------- ------------------ -----------------
Net earnings (loss) $ (0.16) $ (0.47) $ (0.89) $ (1.40)
================ ================= ================== =================
Diluted
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations $ (0.16) $ (0.51) $ (1.14) $ (1.83)
Earnings from discontinued operations - 0.04 0.25 0.43
---------------- ----------------- ------------------ -----------------
Net earnings (loss) $ (0.16) $ (0.47) $ (0.89) $ (1.40)
================ ================= ================== =================
Average number of shares outstanding 3,463 3,453 3,463 3,453
================ ================= ================== =================
Diluted number of shares outstanding 3,463 3,453 3,463 3,453
================ ================= ================== =================
</TABLE>
CONSOLIDATED SUMMARY BALANCE SHEETS
(In Thousands)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
September 30, September 30, December 31,
2000 1999 1999
(unaudited) (unaudited)
----------------- ------------------ -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Assets
Receivables, net $ 17,796 $ 12,271 $ 11,703
Installment receivables retained 4,120 5,741 5,344
Inventories 51,579 44,250 38,786
Other current assets 11,532 4,060 14,517
Net assets of discontinued operations - 20,222 21,748
----------------- ------------------ -----------------
Total current assets 85,027 86,544 92,098
Property, plant and equipment, net 19,787 21,430 20,985
Other assets 11,031 17,140 14,909
----------------- ------------------ -----------------
Total assets $ 115,845 $ 125,114 $ 127,992
================= ================== =================
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current portion of long-term debt $ 5,436 $ 13,833 $ 12,765
Other liabilities 26,529 18,622 26,789
----------------- ------------------ -----------------
Total current liabilities 31,965 32,455 39,554
Long-term debt, less current portion 31,232 33,715 32,582
Other liabilities 2,077 2,376 2,168
Shareholders' equity 50,571 56,568 53,688
----------------- ------------------ -----------------
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 115,845 $ 125,114 $ 127,992
================= ================== =================
</TABLE>
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