Interface Selling Fabrics Unit

Atlanta, GA, June 20, 2007--Interface, Inc. said it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its fabrics division in an all-cash transaction valued at up to $70 million. The division, known as InterfaceFABRIC, is a leading producer of interior fabrics and upholstery products, which it markets under the Guilford of Maine(R), Chatham(R) and Terratex(R) brands, and provides specialized automotive textile solutions.

 

The fabrics division will be sold to an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners, a leading private investment firm.

 

According to the terms of the agreement, Interface will receive approximately $63.5 million in cash proceeds at the closing of the transaction, with potential for an additional $6.5 million in cash proceeds, subject to the division meeting certain performance metrics over the subsequent six to eighteen months period.

 

The transaction is expected to close during the third quarter, subject to regulatory review and other customary closing conditions. Upon closing, the transaction is expected to be accretive to Interface's results by approximately $0.05 to $0.08 per diluted share on an annualized basis. In the second quarter of 2007, the Company expects to reflect the fabrics division as discontinued operations in its financial statements, and record an after-tax, non-cash loss of approximately $9.0 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, as well as other after-tax exit costs and expenses estimated at $5.0 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, as a result of the transaction (of these exit costs and expenses, the Company estimates that between $3.8 million to $6.0 million represent pre-tax cash costs and expenses). The final loss and expenses related to the disposition will be determined after the closing of the transaction based upon the closing balance sheet of the division.

 

For the full year 2006, the fabrics division generated revenue of $161.2 million and an operating loss of $27.3 million, and had depreciation and amortization of $9.4 million. These full year 2006 results include the operations of Interface's former European fabrics business, which was sold in April 2006. The divested European fabrics business accounted for sales of $17.3 million and an operating loss (after a $20.7 million goodwill impairment charge) of $19.6 million in 2006.

 

"We are pleased to enter this transaction with an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners and believe that the sale of our fabrics division is a good strategic and financial decision for Interface," said Daniel T. Hendrix, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Strategically, the sale will allow Interface management to focus on leveraging the opportunities within our core modular carpet and Bentley Prince Street divisions, which have delivered consistently strong performance, while also providing the fabrics division with the resources to execute on its promising operating strategy. Financially, the transaction is in keeping with our goal of reducing our outstanding debt and further strengthening our balance sheet. I'd like to thank the employees of our fabrics division for their continuing dedication and hard work."

 

M. Steven Liff, a Managing Director of Sun Capital Partners, added: "We are excited about the opportunity for our affiliate to acquire Interface's fabrics division. We believe that the market is robust for commercial interiors and we see strong potential to increase the efficiencies within the fabrics division while leveraging its unique brands to enhance the division's future growth."


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