NEW YORK, April 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lazare Kaplan International Inc. (Amex: LKI) today announced financial results for the third fiscal quarter of fiscal 2009 ended February 28, 2009.

Net sales for the three and nine months ended February 28, 2009 were $42.2 million and $161.7 million, respectively, as compared to $82.2 million and $275.3 million for the prior year periods.

Polished diamond revenue for the three and nine months ended February 28, 2009 were $18.0 million and $79.1 million, respectively, as compared to $38.1 million and $115.0 million for the prior year periods. The current quarter and year-to-date decrease reflects lower sales of both branded diamonds and fine cut commercial diamonds. Polished diamond sales have been significantly impacted by the current global recession, the reluctance of customers to purchase inventory in response to liquidity concerns and decreased consumer demand.

Rough diamond sales were $24.2 million and $82.6 million for the three and nine months ended February 28, 2009, as compared to $44.1 million and $160.3 million for the comparable prior year periods. The decrease in rough diamond sales primarily reflects reduced sourcing activities as the Company sought to preserve liquidity and declined to purchase rough diamonds it considered overpriced in light of current market conditions.

Net income / (loss) for the three and nine month periods ended February 28, 2009 was $(3.5) million, or $(0.43) per fully diluted share, and $(6.4) million, or $(0.78) per fully diluted share, compared to $3.3 million, or $0.40 per fully diluted share, and $4.0 million, or $0.48 per fully diluted share, in the respective prior year periods. Fully diluted earnings per share for the three and nine month periods ended February 28, 2009 are based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding of 8,252,679, as compared to 8,354,742 and 8,338,347 in the comparable prior year periods.

"The global financial crisis and economic downturn continue to have a major impact on the diamond and jewelry industry," said Leon Tempelsman, President of Lazare Kaplan International Inc. "Diamond and diamond jewelry purchases are heavily dependent on the availability of consumer discretionary spending. It is difficult to predict when these conditions on the demand side will improve. While rough diamond producers are heavily cutting back on mining production, which reduces available supply, the company considers it wiser to continue to manage for cash flow by cutting expenses and reducing manufacturing intake until the market establishes a new rough to polished pricing equilibrium. At the same time, management is examining and pursuing several new opportunities stemming from this environment."

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, liquidity, 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

    February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008 (unaudited)
    (In thousands, except share and per share data)

                                 Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended
                                   2009      2008        2009       2008


    Net sales                   $42,174    $82,169    $161,735   $275,290
    Cost of sales                40,425     73,873     152,858    252,352
                                  1,749      8,296       8,877     22,938
    Other Income                      -      4,700           -      4,700
                                  1,749     12,996       8,877     27,638
    Selling, general and
     administrative expenses      6,108      9,735      19,615     22,970
                                 (4,359)     3,261     (10,738)     4,668
    Interest expense, net of
     interest income               (629)    (1,120)     (1,964)    (4,124)
    Equity in income / (loss)
     of joint ventures             (735)     2,295       2,690      4,856
    Income / (loss) before
     income tax provision
     and minority interest       (5,723)     4,436     (10,012)     5,400
    Income tax provision /
     (benefit)                   (2,138)     1,127      (3,744)     1,380
    Minority Interest                45          -        (153)         -
    NET INCOME / (LOSS)         $(3,540)    $3,309     $(6,421)    $4,020

    EARNINGS / (LOSS) PER SHARE

    Basic earnings / (loss)
     per share                   $(0.43)     $0.40      $(0.78)     $0.49
    Average number of shares
     outstanding during
     the period               8,252,679  8,251,616   8,252,679  8,256,227

    Diluted earnings / (loss)
     per share                   $(0.43)     $0.40      $(0.78)     $0.48
    Average number of shares
     outstanding during the
     period, assuming
     dilution                 8,252,679  8,354,742   8,252,679  8,338,347

SOURCE Lazare Kaplan International Inc.