iParty Corp. Reports Agreement to Purchase Two Party City Franchised Stores in Rhode Island
August 16 2007 - 9:05AM
Business Wire
iParty Corp. (AMEX: IPT), a party goods retailer that operates 50
iParty retail stores, today reported that it has entered into an
Asset Purchase Agreement to purchase two retail stores in Lincoln,
Rhode Island and Warwick, Rhode Island, currently operated as Party
City franchise stores. The purchase price will be $1,350,000 plus
up to $400,000 for associated inventory. The Lincoln store is
located in the Lincoln Mall, a regional shopping center located on
George Washington Highway in Lincoln, RI. The Warwick store is
located in the Cowessett Corner Shopping Center on Quaker Lane in
Warwick, RI. The agreement provides for a closing date on or about
January 3, 2008. Both locations will be converted into iParty
stores immediately following the closing. The Agreement also
provides that the sellers and their affiliates will not compete
with iParty in Rhode Island for a period of five years, nor at
locations proximate to iParty stores in New England for a period of
3 years, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the
agreement. In connection with the acquisition of the two retail
store locations, the company also announced that it will be closing
its existing retail party goods store in North Providence, Rhode
Island at the end of that store�s current lease term, which expires
in January, 2008. Sal Perisano, Chairman and CEO of iParty Corp.,
commented, �Acquiring these two stores is consistent with our
stated goal of continuing to seek strategic opportunities in our
core New England market. We will be able to strengthen our presence
in Rhode Island and leverage our advertising and administrative
costs as we seek to improve our overall company profitability.�
About iParty Corp. Headquartered in Dedham, Massachusetts, iParty
Corp. (AMEX: IPT - news) is a party goods retailer that operates 50
iParty retail stores and licenses the operation of an Internet site
for party goods and party planning at www.iparty.com. iParty�s aim
is to make throwing a successful event both stress-free and fun.
With over 20,000 party supplies and costumes and an online party
magazine and party-related content, iParty offers consumers a
sophisticated, yet fun and easy-to-use, resource with an extensive
assortment of products to customize any party, including birthday
bashes, Easter get-togethers, graduation parties, summer barbecues,
and, of course, Halloween. iParty aims to offer reliable,
time-tested knowledge of party-perfect trends, and superior
customer service to ensure convenient and comprehensive merchandise
selections for every occasion. Please visit our site at
www.iparty.com. Safe harbor statement under the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This release contains
forward-looking statements that are based on our current
expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates, forecasts and
projections, including those about better business terms, future
expectations of sales growth, improved gross margins,
profitability, the ability to take advantage of business
opportunities, and the industry and markets in which iParty
operates. The statements contained in this release are not
guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks,
uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict.
Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from
what is expressed in such forward-looking statements, and such
statements should not be relied upon as representing iParty�s
expectations or beliefs as of any date subsequent to the date of
this press release. Important factors that may affect future
operating results include, but are not limited to, economic and
other developments such as unseasonable weather, that affect
consumer confidence or consumer spending patterns, particularly
those impacting the New England region, where 45 of our 50 stores
our located, and particularly during the Halloween season, which is
our single most important season; intense competition from other
party supply stores and stores that merchandise and market party
supplies, including big discount retailers, dollar store chains,
and temporary Halloween merchandisers; the failure of any of our
systems, including, without limitation, our point-of-sale system
and our merchandise management system, the latter of which was
developed by a vendor who is no longer in business; the success or
failure of our efforts to implement our business growth and
marketing strategies; our inability to obtain additional financing,
if required, on terms and conditions acceptable to us; rising oil
and gas prices which impact prices of petroleum-based/plastic
products, which are a key raw material in much of our merchandise,
affect our freight costs and those of our suppliers, and affect
consumer confidence and spending patterns; third-party suppliers�
failure to fulfill their obligations to us; the availability of
retail store space on reasonable lease terms; compliance with
evolving federal securities, accounting, and stock exchange rules
and regulations applicable to publicly-traded companies listed on
the American Stock Exchange. For a discussion of these and other
risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ
from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see Item
1A, �Risk Factors� of iParty�s most recently filed Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2006 and iParty�s
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or the period ending June 30, 2007.
Iparty (AMEX:IPT)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jun 2024 to Jul 2024
Iparty (AMEX:IPT)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jul 2023 to Jul 2024