Congoleum Corporation Reports Second Quarter Results

MERCERVILLE, NJ--(Marketwire - August 12, 2009) - Congoleum Corporation CGMC today reported its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2009. Sales for the three months ended June 30, 2009 were $39.4 million, compared with sales of $47.2 million reported in the second quarter of 2008, a decrease of 16.6%. The net loss for the quarter was $942 thousand, versus net income of $212 thousand in the second quarter of 2008. The net loss per share was $0.11 in the second quarter of 2009 compared with net income of $0.03 per share in the second quarter of 2008.

Sales for the six months ended June 30, 2009 were $69.5 million, compared with sales of $94.9 million in the first six months of 2008. The net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2009 was $5.0 million, or $.61 per share, versus net income of $1.9 million, or $.23 per share, in the first six months of 2008.

Roger S. Marcus, Chairman of the Board, commented, "Our markets remained extremely weak in the second quarter, particularly manufactured housing. While sales were up $9.2 million over the first quarter of 2009, this increase reflected seasonal factors and the stabilization of inventories in the distribution channel. Our distributors had reduced their inventories by over $4 million in the first quarter. While not yet improving, at least conditions seem to have bottomed out.

"We have made considerable progress realigning our cost structure with current demand. Thanks to steps taken earlier this year, our operating expenses and plant overhead spending in the second quarter declined $2.5 million from the first quarter. Unfortunately, our second quarter results were adversely affected by a $7.0 million reduction in our own inventory levels, which we were able to accomplish after our distributors stabilized their purchasing. That decrease gave us less production over which to spread fixed factory overhead, negatively affecting profitability in the quarter by nearly $2 million. If not for the inventory reduction, we would have had a profitable quarter even on the depressed sales level. We think we've turned the corner with the actions taken to date."

Mr. Marcus continued, "Our debtor-in-possession credit facility has been extended through the end of 2009, and we ended the quarter with $13.8 million in available cash and borrowing capacity, which we believe gives us adequate liquidity for the foreseeable future. I'm also pleased to report that we were just recently awarded a patent covering, among other things, our popular DuraCeramic product line. The DuraCeramic product has attracted numerous competitors as the market for this product type continues to grow rapidly despite the weak economy. We believe that the advantages of this product line, particularly its attractive look, cannot be achieved without infringing on our recently issued patent."

"We feel the market for the majority of our product lines has at least bottomed out, and our current reduced level of expenditures can be maintained for the balance of the year. Even modest improvements in any of our end markets could provide healthy incremental profits. I am optimistic not only about the opportunities presented by our recently issued patent but also about a major new product line we will be introducing in the fourth quarter of this year.

"This has been an exceedingly difficult period, but we've taken the steps necessary to maintain our viability and to position ourselves to benefit when the eventual recovery takes place. This could not have been achieved without the extraordinary effort of Congoleum's employees during this very difficult time. Despite significant downsizing, we have maintained our spirit, our ability to create new products, our quality, and our confidence in the future of Congoleum."

Congoleum Corporation is a leading manufacturer of resilient flooring, serving both residential and commercial markets. Its sheet, tile and plank products are available in a wide variety of designs and colors, and are used in remodeling, manufactured housing, new construction and commercial applications. The Congoleum brand name is recognized and trusted by consumers as representing a company that has been supplying attractive and durable flooring products for over a century.

The above news release contains certain forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These statements can be identified by the use of the words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "project" and other words of similar meaning. In particular, these include statements relating to intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things, future performance, results of operations, the outcome of contingencies such as bankruptcy and other legal proceedings, and financial conditions. These statements do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These forward-looking statements are based on Congoleum's expectations, as of the date of this release, of future events, and Congoleum undertakes no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements.

Although Congoleum believes that these expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, within the bounds of its knowledge of its business and operations, there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from its expectations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Any or all of these statements may turn out to be incorrect. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. Any forward-looking statements made in this press release speak only as of the date of such statement. It is not possible to predict or identify all factors that could potentially cause actual results to differ materially from expected and historical results. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from expectations include: (i) the future cost and timing of estimated asbestos liabilities and payments, (ii) the availability of insurance coverage and reimbursement from insurance companies that underwrote the applicable insurance policies for the Company for asbestos-related claims, (iii) the costs relating to the execution and implementation of any plan of reorganization pursued by Congoleum, (iv) timely reaching agreement with other creditors, or classes of creditors, that exist or may emerge, (v) satisfaction of the conditions and obligations under Congoleum's outstanding debt instruments, (vi) the response from time to time of Congoleum's and its controlling shareholder's, American Biltrite Inc.'s, lenders, customers, suppliers and other constituencies to the ongoing process arising from Congoleum's strategy to settle its asbestos liability, (vii) Congoleum's ability to maintain debtor-in-possession financing sufficient to provide it with funding that may be needed during the pendency of its Chapter 11 case and to obtain exit financing sufficient to provide it with funding that may be needed for its operations after emerging from the bankruptcy process, in each case, on reasonable terms, (viii) timely obtaining sufficient creditor and court approval (including the results of any relevant appeals) of any reorganization plan pursued by Congoleum, and the court overruling any objections to the plan that may be filed, (ix) successfully overturning the Bankruptcy Court's order dismissing Congoleum's reorganization proceedings, (x) compliance with the United States Bankruptcy Code, including Section 524(g), (xi) costs of, developments in, and the outcome of insurance coverage litigation pending in New Jersey state court involving Congoleum and certain insurers, (xii) the possible adoption of another party's plan of reorganization which may prove to be unfeasible, (xiii) increases in raw material and energy prices or disruption in supply, (xiv) increased competitive activity from companies in the flooring industry, some of which have greater resources and broader distribution channels than Congoleum, (xv) increases in the costs of environmental compliance and remediation or the exhaustion of insurance coverage for such expenses, (xvi) unfavorable developments in the national economy or in the housing industry in general, including developments arising from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan and from the tightening of credit availability, (xvii) shipment delays, depletion of inventory and increased production costs resulting from unforeseen disruptions of operations at any of Congoleum's facilities or distributors, (xviii) product warranty costs, (xix) changes in distributors of Congoleum's products, and (xx) Congoleum's interests may not be the same as its controlling shareholder, American Biltrite Inc. In any event, if Congoleum is not successful in obtaining sufficient creditor and court approval of a plan of reorganization, such failure would have a material adverse effect upon its business, results of operations and financial condition. Actual results could differ significantly as a result of these and other factors discussed in Congoleum's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 and subsequent filings made by Congoleum with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

CONGOLEUM CORPORATION RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (In thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited) For the Three Months For the Six Months Ended June 30, Ended June 30, ------------------ ------------------ 2009 2008 2009 2008 -------- -------- -------- -------- Net Sales $ 39,350 $ 47,166 $ 69,456 $ 94,863 Cost of Sales 32,858 37,277 58,818 74,101 Selling, General & Administrative Expenses 7,447 9,238 15,697 18,370 -------- -------- -------- -------- (Loss)/Income from Operations (955) 651 (5,059) 2,392 Interest (Expense) Income, (net) (99) 64 (205) 995 Other Income (expense) 112 (350) 230 (414) -------- -------- -------- -------- Net (Loss)/Income before Income Taxes (942) 365 (5,034) 2,973 Provision for Taxes - 153 15 1,082 -------- -------- -------- -------- Net (Loss) /Income $ (942) $ 212 $ (5,049) $ 1,891 ======== ======== ======== ======== Net (Loss)/Income Per Share, Basic & Diluted $ (0.11) $ 0.03 $ (0.61) $ 0.23 ======== ======== ======== ======== Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding - Basic & Diluted 8,272 8,272 8,272 8,272 ======== ======== ======== ======== ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION: Capital Expenditures $ 661 $ 1,036 $ 1,520 $ 1,504 Depreciation and Amortization $ 2,403 $ 2,626 $ 4,835 $ 5,299 CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET (In thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited) June 30, December 31, ------------ ------------ 2009 2008 ------------ ------------ ASSETS: Cash and cash equivalents $ 13,803 $ 15,077 Restricted cash 30,767 29,680 Accounts & notes receivable, net 15,036 13,789 Inventory 31,101 35,814 Other current assets 2,883 3,922 ------------ ------------ Total current assets 93,590 98,282 Property, plant & equipment (net) 53,205 56,520 Other assets (net) 17,065 17,065 ------------ ------------ Total assets $ 163,860 $ 171,867 ============ ============ LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY: Accounts payable, accrued expenses & deferred income taxes $ 72,989 $ 80,924 Revolving credit loan - secured debt 17,246 13,994 Liabilities subject to compromise - current 4,997 4,997 ------------ ------------ Total current liabilities 95,232 99,915 Liabilities subject to compromise 163,223 161,503 Long term debt -- -- Other liabilities -- -- ------------ ------------ Total liabilities 258,455 261,418 Stockholders' equity (deficit) (94,595) (89,551) ------------ ------------ Total liabilities & stockholders' equity $ 163,860 $ 171,867 ------------ ------------ ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION: Working Capital $ (1,642) $ (1,633) Current Ratio 1.0 1.0