MISGAV, Israel, June 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Tefron Ltd. (OTC:TFRFF; TASE:TFRN), a leading producer of seamless intimate apparel and engineered-for-performance (EFPTM) active wear, today announced financial results for the first quarter of 2009.

First Quarter 2009 Results

First quarter revenues were $47.0 million, representing a 7.8% decrease from the first quarter of 2008 revenues of $50.9 million. The decrease in revenues in the quarter was due to a decline in sales of active-wear and intimate apparel products. This decrease was primarily due to the worldwide economic slowdown. This decrease was partly offset by an increase in sales of swimwear.

First quarter gross margin was 13.0% compared with a gross margin of 12.8% in the first quarter of 2008. Operating income for the quarter was $0.3 million (0.7% of revenues), as compared with an identical operating income of $0.3 million (0.6% of revenues) in the first quarter of 2008. Net income for the quarter was $0.6 million, or $0.3 per diluted share, as compared with net loss of $0.6 million, or $0.3 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2008.

The improvement in profitability was primarily due to the implementation of part of the company's 2009 efficiency plan, which included among others reduction manufacturing costs through consolidation of the Tefron's production sites, as well as an across-the-board headcount reduction of approximately 15%. We expect to implement the remaining part of the efficiency plan in the second quarter of 2009. In addition, the appreciation of the US Dollar versus the New Israeli Shekel contributed to the improvement.

Management comments

Mr. Adi Livneh, Chief Executive Officer of Tefron, commented, "In this quarter Tefron recognized an operating profit, after three quarters of operating losses. While we are pleased with our increase in profitability, we are still facing the effect of the global crisis and expecting to show an operating loss for the second quarter of 2009."

About Tefron

Tefron manufactures boutique-quality everyday seamless intimate apparel, active wear and swimwear sold throughout the world by such name-brand marketers as Victoria's Secret, Nike, Target, The Gap, J.C. Penney, Maidenform, lululemon Athletica, Warnaco/Calvin Klein, Patagonia, Reebok, Swimwear Anywhere, Abercombie&Fitch, and El Corte Englese, as well as other well known retailers and designer labels. The company's product line includes knitted briefs, bras, tank tops, boxers, leggings, crop, T-shirts, nightwear, bodysuits, swimwear, beach wear and active-wear.

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Section 27A of the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the safe harbor provisions of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, with respect to the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events.

Words such as "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "intend," "will," "plan," "could," "may," "project," "goal," "target," and similar expressions often identify forward-looking statements but are not the only way we identify these statements. Except for statements of historical fact contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release regarding our future performance, plans to increase revenues or margins and any statements regarding other future events or future prospects are forward-looking statements.

These forward looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to:



    - the effect of the worldwide recession on our sales to our customers in
      the United States and in Europe and on our ability to finance our
      operations;

    - our customers' continued purchase of our products in the same volumes
      or on the same terms;

    - the failure of any of our principal customers to satisfy its payment
      obligations to us;

    - the cyclical nature of the clothing retail industry and the ongoing
      changes in fashion preferences;

    - the competitive nature of the markets in which we operate, including
      the ability of our competitors to enter into and compete in the
      seamless market in which we operate;

    - the potential adverse effect on our business resulting from our
      international operations, including increased custom duties and import
      quotas (e.g., in China, where we manufacture for our swimwear division)

    - fluctuations in inflation and currency rates;

    - the potential adverse effect on our future operating efficiency
      resulting from our expansion into new product lines with more
      complicated products, different raw materials and changes in market
      trends;

    - the purchase of new equipment that may be necessary as a result of our
      expansion into new product lines;

    - our dependence on our suppliers for our machinery and the maintenance
      of our machinery;

    - the fluctuations costs of raw materials;

    - our dependence on subcontractors in connection with our manufacturing
      process

    - our failure to generate sufficient cash from our operations to pay our
      debt;

    - political, economic, social, climatic risks, associated with
      international business and relating to operations in Israel;

As well as certain other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.


    TABLE 1: SALES BY SEGMENTS

               Three months ended    Three months ended  Year ended December
                 March 31, 2009        March 31, 2008          31, 2008

                   USD     % of         USD      % of       USD          % of
    Segment    Thousands   total     Thousands  total    Thousands      total

    Cut & sew     25,334   53.9%        31,710  62.2%       87,564      50.4%
    Seamless      21,651   46.1%        19,232  37.8%       86,265      49.6%
    Total         46,985  100.0%        50,942 100.0%      173,829     100.0%


    TABLE 2: SALES BY PRODUCT LINE

                    Three months ended  Three months ended       Year ended
                        March 31, 2008   March 31, 2008     December 31, 2008
    Product line        USD        % of    USD       % of    USD         % of
                     Thousands    total Thousands   total Thousands     total

    Intimate Apparel    20,017    42.6%    22,926   48.8%    93,683     53.9%
    Active wear          8,743    18.6%    12,944   27.5%    47,189     27.1%
    Swimwear            18,225    38.8%    15,072   32.1%    32,957     19.0%
    Total               46,985   100.0%    50,942  108.4%   173,829    100.0%



                                   CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                    U.S. dollars in thousands


                                      March 31,                  December 31,
                                        2009            2008         2008
                                      Unaudited                    Audited
    ASSETS

    CURRENT ASSETS:
    Cash and cash equivalents             $ 211       $ 1,371       $ 1,566
    Short-term investments                1,149         7,267           847
    Trade receivables, net               30,595        38,810        23,446
    Other accounts receivable and
    prepaid expenses                      4,312         3,263         4,558
    Inventories                          26,026        33,937        32,125

    Total current assets                 62,293        84,648        62,542

    NON- CURRENT ASSETS:
    Marketable securities                     -         1,277             -
    Subordinated note                     2,400         3,000         2,700
    Property, plant and equipment, net   62,613        72,190        64,469
    Intangible assets, net                1,921           635         2,021

                                         66,934        77,102        69,190

    Total assets                      $ 129,227     $ 161,750     $ 131,732


                              CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
               U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)


                                            March 31,            December 31,
                                              2009        2008       2008
                                           Unaudited               Audited
    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

    CURRENT LIABILITIES:
    Short-term bank credit                 $ 13,965    $ 4,161    $ 24,809
    Trade payables                           24,116     32,305      25,167
    Other accounts payable and accrued
    expenses                                  7,135     10,179       7,636

    Total current liabilities                45,216     46,645      57,612

    LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
    Long term loans from banks (net of
    current maturities)                      10,297     14,480           -
    Other accounts payable                    1,432          -       1,309
    Accrued severance pay, net                1,413      1,635       2,169
    Deferred taxes, net                       6,688     11,122       6,897

    Total long-term liabilities              19,830     27,237      10,375

    SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
    Share capital -
    Ordinary shares                           7,518      7,518       7,518
    Additional paid-in capital              107,161    106,927     107,104
    Accumulated deficit                     (43,106)   (18,532)    (43,739)
    Less - 99,740 Ordinary shares in
    treasury, at cost                        (7,408)    (7,408)     (7,408)
    Other capital reserve                      (231)      (637)         23

                                             63,934     87,868      63,498
    Employee stock options in subsidiary        247          -         247

    Total shareholders' equity               64,181     87,868      63,745

    Total liabilities and shareholders'
    equity                                $ 129,227  $ 161,750   $ 131,732


                   CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
        U.S. dollars in thousands (except share and per share data)


                                                                     Year
                                                                     ended
                                            Three months ended       December
                                            March 31,                31,
                                            2009            2008     2008
                                            Unaudited                Audited

    Sales                                   $ 46,985    $ 50,942  $ 173,829
    Cost of sales                             40,867      44,437    167,557

    Gross profit (loss)                        6,118       6,505      6,272
    Selling, general and administrative
    expenses                                   5,798       6,202     23,365
    Other expenses                                 -           -      2,135

    Operating income (loss)                      320         303    (19,228)
    Financial expenses (income), net            (494)      1,181      3,028

    Income (loss) before taxes on income         814        (878)   (22,256)
    Taxes (tax benefit) on income                181        (308)    (4,677)

    Net income (loss)
                                               $ 633      $ (570) $ (17,579)

    Basic and diluted net earnings (losses)
    per share:
    Basic net earnings (losses) per share      $ 0.3      $ (0.3)    $ (8.3)
    Diluted net earnings (losses) per share    $ 0.3      $ (0.3)    $ (8.3)

    Weighted average number of shares used
    for computing basic earnings (losses)
    per share                              2,120,299   2,120,299  2,120,299

    Weighted average number of shares used
    for computing diluted earnings (losses)
    per share                              2,120,299   2,120,299  2,120,299



                             CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                  U.S. dollars in thousands

                                                                    Year
                                                                    ended
                                              Three months ended    December
                                              March 31,             31,
                                              2009          2008    2008
                                              Unaudited             Audited

    Cash flows from operating activities

    Net income (loss)                             $ 633   $ (570) $ (17,579)

    Adjustments to reconcile net income
    (loss) to net cash provided by (used in)
    operating activities:

    Depreciation of property, plant and
    equipment and intangible assets               2,213    2,167      8,925
    Compensation related to options granted
    to employees                                     57       63        487
    Fixed assets impairment                           -        -      2,135
    Inventory write-off                             480      275      4,523
    Increase (decrease) in severance pay, net      (756)     150        420
    Accrual of interest on short and
    long-term deposits                                -      (68)       (75)
    Gain related to sale of marketable
    securities                                        -      (22)       (22)
    Interest and amortization of premium and
    accretion of discount of marketable
    securities                                        -     (202)      (263)
    Impairment of marketable securities               -        -        553
    Increase (decrease) in deferred taxes,
    net                                            (209)  (1,076)    (5,558)
    Loss (gain) on disposal of property,
    plant and equipment                             (17)      (6)       188
    Decrease (increase) in trade receivables,
    net                                          (7,149)  (9,777)     5,587
    Decrease in other accounts receivable and
    prepaid expenses                                546    1,677        661
    Decrease (increase) in inventories            5,619     (419)    (3,051)
    Increase (decrease) in trade payables        (1,051)   2,585     (4,553)
    Decrease in other accounts payable and
    accrued expenses                               (934)     618        (96)

    Net cash provided by (used in) operating
    activities                                     (568)  (4,605)    (7,718)

    Cash flows from investing activities
    Purchase of property, plant and equipment      (232)  (1,344)    (3,151)
    Purchase of intangible assets                   (26)     (96)      (223)
    Purchase of business activity                     -        -       (300)
    Proceeds from sale of property, plant and
    equipment                                        18        -         35
    Investment in short-term and long-term
    deposits                                          -  (12,560)   (13,060)
    Proceeds from sale of marketable
    securities                                        -    1,582      5,914
    Proceeds from repayment of deposits               -   16,685     20,198

    Net cash provided by (used in) investing
    activities                                     (240)   4,273      9,413



                        CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                             U.S. dollars in thousands
                                                                 Year
                                           Three months ended    ended
                                                                 December
                                           March 31,             31,
                                           2009          2008    2008
                                           Unaudited             Audited
    Cash flows from financing activities
    Short-term bank credit, net                $ 491      $ -    $ 9,323
    Repayment of long-term bank loans         (1,038)  (6,681)    (9,836)
    Proceeds from long-term bank loans             -    6,000      6,000
    Dividend paid to shareholders                  -        -     (8,000)

    Net cash provided by (used
    in)financing activities                     (547)    (681)    (2,513)

    Increase (decrease) in cash and cash
    equivalents                               (1,355)  (1,013)      (818)
    Cash and cash equivalents at the
    beginning of the period                    1,566    2,384      2,384

    Cash and cash equivalents at the end
    of the period                              $ 211  $ 1,371    $ 1,566


    Contacts
    Company Contact:
    Eran Rotem
    Chief Financial Officer
    +972-4-990-0803
    reran@tefron.com

SOURCE Tefron Ltd