GPIC Results Up

Gaming Partners International Corporation (Nasdaq: GPIC), a leading supplier of casino table game equipment, today announced substantial increases in sales and profits to record levels for both the second quarter and six month periods, compared with results for the corresponding periods one year ago.

Net income for the second quarter increased by 36% to $2.0 million from $1.5 million a year ago. Basic and diluted earnings per share for the quarter totaled $0.25, up from $0.18 per diluted share ($0.19 basic) in the same quarter of 2005. Second quarter revenues grew 28% to $19.4 million from $15.2 million one year earlier.

For the first half of 2006, net income totaled $4.1 million, an increase of 106% from $2.0 million last year. Earnings per diluted share for the first six months of 2006 were $0.51 ($0.52 basic), 113% higher than the $0.24 ($0.25 basic) recorded in the same period of 2005. Six months ended June 30, 2006 revenues rose 37% to $37.7 million from $27.5 million in the previous year.

Gerard Charlier, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented: "We are extremely pleased with the company's ongoing rapid progress as demand from the casino gaming industry for our RFID-based products continues to escalate. In particular, the continuing strong growth of casinos in Macau is a key factor supporting our progress.

"As the company ramps up its production efforts for the increasing demand for our higher frequency 13.56 MHz RFID gaming chips, demand remains strong for our other brands and product lines, including our lower frequency 125 KHz RFID imbedded gaming chips and readers. Based on backlog and order pace, we estimate that GPIC sales of RFID gaming chips, jetons and plaques this year will be in excess of approximately $16 million, a more than three-fold increase from RFID chip sales in 2005 with more than $9.0 million in low frequency and $7.0 million in high frequency." Revenue increases for both the second quarter and first half were driven by sales growth in GPI-SAS, the company's French-based subsidiary, fueled by new casino openings in Macau.

Cost of revenues increased in both the second quarter and six months in 2006, due primarily to the initial start-up costs at GPI-SAS relating to manufacturing higher frequency RFID gaming chips. Gross profit increased by $810,000 in absolute dollars in the second quarter of 2006 and by $3.7 million in the first half of 2006 compared to the same periods in 2005, but declined as a percentage of revenues from 45.5% to 39.8% in the second quarter and from 42.8% to 41.0% in the second half of 2006 compared to 2005.

Operating expenses, which include product development; marketing and sales; depreciation and amortization, and general and administrative costs, showed an increase of $669,000 in the second quarter of 2006, while declining as a percentage of revenues from 27.0% a year ago to 24.5% in the second quarter of 2006. As a percentage of revenues, total operating expenses for the first six months of 2006 decreased to 24.1% from 28.6% in 2005.

At June 30, 2006, cash and marketable securities amounted to $15.1 million, compared with $13.6 million in the prior year. The company continues to build inventory to support production. Working capital was $14.6 million in the current year, compared with $9.6 million in 2005.

Also at June 30, 2006, the backlog of production orders approximated $4.3 million for GPI-USA and $16.9 million for GPI-SAS. One year earlier, the comparable backlog was $4.7 million for GPI-USA and $12.5 million for GPI-SAS.

Charlier concluded: "Important growth drivers for our company are casino gaming in Asia, and the gaming industry's continued transition to RFID-based systems to enhance the security, management and profitability of casino operations.

"We are dedicated to meeting the challenges of profitable growth and providing high quality, responsive service to

2006-08-14