Delta Apparel Operating Earnings up 58% From Prior Year Driven by Increase in Sales of 22%

DULUTH, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 18, 2001--For the second fiscal quarter ended December 30, 2000, Delta Apparel, Inc. (AMEX: DLA) recorded sales of $26.4 million, up $4.8 million or 22.3% from the second fiscal quarter of last year.

The increase in sales was almost entirely a result of increased unit volume. Operating earnings were $2.0 million, up $0.7 million, or 58% from the second fiscal quarter of last year. EBITDA for the quarter was $3.6 million, up $0.7 million or 25% from the second fiscal quarter of last year.

Interest expense was $0.3 million for the quarter, compared to $2.1 million in the prior year quarter. This reduction was a result of improved operating results and the contribution to equity of the intercompany debt in connection with the spin-off from Delta Woodside Industries, Inc. on June 30, 2000.

The effective income tax rate on pretax income for the three months ended December 30, 2000 was 18.0%, compared to 1.3% for the fiscal year ended July 1, 2000. Based on results to date and projections for the remainder of fiscal year 2001, the Company expects to use its remaining net operating loss carryforwards and be subject to income taxes on a portion of its income. Based on these projections, management estimates that the valuation allowances on the tax benefit resulting from net operating loss carryforwards will be reduced or eliminated, resulting in an annualized forecasted effective income tax rate of approximately 18.0%.

Net earnings for the quarter were $1.4 million, up $2.1 million from the second fiscal quarter of last year. Net earnings were 5.3% of sales, compared with a loss of 3.5% of sales in the prior year quarter.

Basic and diluted earnings per share in the quarter ended December 30, 2000 were $0.58 and $0.57 per share, respectively.

Sales for the first six months of fiscal year 2001 were $57.0 million, up $6.8 million, or 13.5% from the first six months of last year. For the six months ended December 30, 2000, operating earnings were $6.5 million, up $3.5 million, or 116.9%, from the six months ended January 1, 2000. EBITDA for the first six months of fiscal year 2001 was $9.9 million, up $3.5 million or 56% from the first six months of last year.

Net earnings for the six months ended December 30, 2000 were $4.9 million, versus a $1.2 million loss in the first six months of fiscal year 2000. Basic and diluted earnings per share for the six months ended December 30, 2000 were $2.04 and $2.00 per share, respectively.

The Company purchased 3,300 shares of its stock through its Stock Repurchase Program in the second quarter of fiscal year 2001.

"We are very pleased with our continued growth in sales and operating earnings for the second quarter of the fiscal year," commented President and CEO Robert W. Humphreys. "The first half results put us on target for our previously announced sales and earnings range for fiscal 2001."

"We continue to increase our customer base, allowing us to remain on track to achieve our sales growth target of approximately 10% and our operating profit range of $15.0 to $18.6 million for fiscal year 2001. This performance is driven by continued improvement in our sales mix, as well as our manufacturing operations, with increased output at all of our facilities compared to the first six months of last year. This has allowed our inventory to increase as expected to levels necessary to meet our projected sales growth for the remainder of the fiscal year. Our expansion into Mexico is progressing, as we continue training sewing operators in our training center. We expect our Mexican sewing facility to be completed by April."

Delta Apparel, Inc. is a vertically integrated supplier of knit apparel, particularly T-shirts. The Company sells its products as blanks, which are then screen printed or embroidered with designs and logos for sales to consumers. Delta Apparel was spun-off on June 30, 2000 as an independent business when Delta Woodside Industries, Inc. separated into three businesses. Delta Apparel has operations in four states, two company-operated sewing facilities in Honduras and one company-operated sewing facility in Mexico. The Company employs about 2,400 worldwide.

Statements in this press release that are not reported financial results or other historical information are forward-looking statements. These are based on Delta Apparel's expectations and are necessarily dependent upon assumptions, estimates and data that the Company believes are reasonable and accurate but may be incorrect, incomplete or imprecise. Forward-looking statements are also subject to a number of business risks and uncertainties, any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, changes in the retail demand for apparel products, the cost of raw materials, competitive conditions in the apparel and textile industries, the relative strength of the United States dollar as against other currencies, changes in United States trade regulations and the discovery of unknown conditions (such as with respect to environmental matters and similar items). Accordingly, any forward-looking statements do not purport to be predictions of future events or circumstances and may not be realized. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise the forward-looking statements even if it becomes clear that any projected results will not be realized.

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA:
(In thousands, except per share amounts)


                              Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended
                              12/30/00  01/01/00    12/30/00  01/01/00
                              --------  --------    --------  --------

Net Sales                     $ 26,370 $ 21,562     $ 57,019  $ 50,221
Cost of Goods Sold              21,653   18,545       45,062    43,511
                              --------  --------    --------  --------

Gross Margin                     4,717    3,017       11,957     6,710


SG&A                             2,762    1,773        5,422     3,679
Other Income/(Expense)              8       (1)           14      (12)
                              --------  --------    --------  --------
Operating Income                 1,963    1,243        6,549     3,019

Interest Expense                   261    2,074          556     4,286
Taxes                              305     (82)        1,079      (59)
                              --------  --------    --------  --------

Net Income                    $  1,397 $  (749)     $  4,914  $(1,208)
                              ========  ========    ========  ========

Weighted Average Shares Outstanding (2000 Proforma)

    Basic                    2,411,679 2,386,400   2,409,775 2,383,200
    Diluted                  2,453,363 2,386,400   2,451,438 2,383,200

Net Income (Loss) per Common Share (2000 Proforma)


    Basic                     $ (0.31) $ (0.31)     $   2.04  $ (0.51)
    Diluted                   $  0.57  $ (0.31)     $   2.00  $ (0.51)


                                                    12/30/00  01/01/00
                                                    --------  --------
Current Assets             

    Cash                                            $    218  $    69
    Receivables                                       18,190   13,973
    Income Tax Receivable                                930        -
    Inventories                                       39,508   29,449
    Other Assets                                       1,704      914
                                                    --------  --------
Total Current Assets                                  60,550   44,405

Noncurrent Assets
    Property, Plant & Equipment                       24,655   29,142
    Other Noncurrent Assets                              206      175
                                                    --------  --------    
Total Noncurrent Assets                               24,861   29,317
                                                    --------  --------   

Total Assets                                        $ 85,411 $ 73,722      
                                                     ======= ========

Current Liabilities

    Current Portion of Long Term Debt               $  2,000 $    219              2,000
    Other Current Liabilities                         14,250  110,330
                                                    --------  --------

Total Current Liabilities                             16,250  110,549


Noncurrent Liabilities

    Long Term Debt                                     9,642   30,417

    Other Noncurrent Liabilities                         746      520
                                                    --------  --------

Total Noncurrent Liabilities                          10,388   30,937

Stockholders' Equity/(Divisional Deficit)             58,773 (67,764)
                                                    --------  --------
Total Liabilities and 
 Stockholders' Equity/(Divisional Deficit)          $ 85,411 $ 73,722
                                                    ======== =========

                   FY01 PROJECTED SALES AND EARNINGS
               (In thousands, except per share amounts)

                              YTD Actual

                   FY 00 Act     FY 01 Act     Inc/(Dec)     Inc/(Dec)
                   ---------     ---------     ---------     ---------
Net Sales $          50,221        57,019         6,798         13.5%

EBIT                  3,019         6,549         3,530        116.9%

E.P.S. (Basic)        (0.51)         2.04             3           --

EBITDA                6,312         9,862         3,550         56.2%


                          Annual Projections

                    Low Range                    High Range

          FY 00 Act FY 01 Fcst Inc/(Dec) %Chg  FY 01 Fcst Inc/(Dec) %Chg
          --------- ---------- --------- ----- ---------- --------- ----
Net Sales  $114,466   118,500     4,034   3.5%   132,900   18,434  16.1%
EBIT         12,206    15,000     2,794  22.9%    18,600    6,394  52.4%
E.P.S. 
 (Basic)       2.00      4.88      2.88 144.0%      5.79     3.79 189.4%
EBITDA       18,805    21,524     2,719  14.5%    25,124    6,319  33.6%

--30--YS/at*

CONTACT: Delta Apparel, Inc., Duluth
Herb Mueller, 678/775-6948