IPO Company Profile
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Compx International, Inc.
200 Old Mill Road, Mauldin, SC 29662 * (864) 297-6655

The company is a leading manufacturer of ergonomic computer support systems, precision ball bearing drawer slides and medium security mechanical locks for office furniture and a variety of other applications.

Primary Underwriting Group
ManagerTierPhone
Salomon Smith BarneyLead Manager (212) 723-7300
Nationsbanc Montgomery Securities, Inc.Co-manager (415) 627-2100
Wheat First Butcher & Singer Capital MarketsCo-manager (804) 782-3278

Offering Information
NYSE:CIX Manufacturing: SIC 3499
Type of Shares:Class A Common Shares Filing Date:12/18/97
U.S. Shares:5,200,000 Offer Date:3/6/98
Non-U.S. Shares:0 Filing Range:$17.00 - $20.00
Primary Shares:5,200,000 Offer Price:$20.00
Secondary Shares:0 Gross Spread:$1.40
Offering Amount: $96,200,000 Selling:$0.84
Expenses:$500,000 Reallowance:$0.10
Post-IPO Shares: -
Employees:950

Legal Counsel, Auditor and Registrar
Issuer's Law Firm: Rogers & Hardin
Bank's Law Firm: Cravath, Swaine & Moore
Auditor: Coopers & Lybrand

Selected Financial Data

Dollar amounts in U.S. millions except for per share data
9 Month Ending Financials
Full Year
Audited
Income
Latest
Unaudited
Income
Prior
Unaudited
Income
Balance
Sheet
12/31/96 9/30/97 9/30/96 9/30/97
Revenue:$88.74$80.30$64.69Assets:$58.46
Net Income:$13.03$11.99$8.72Curr Assets:$40.54
EPS:$1.28$1.17$0.86Liabilities:$11.88
Prior EPS:$1.19$15.26$9.01Curr Liab:$10.22
Cash Flow/Oper:$10.48-$4.26-$4.54Equity:$46.58
Cash Flow/Fin:-$6.32-$4.08-$1.95Cash:$15.33
Cash Flow/Inv:-$2.02Working Cap:$30.32

Competition
The office furniture market is highly competitive. Suppliers to office furniture OEMs compete on the basis of (i) product design, including ergonomic and aesthetic factors, (ii) product quality and durability, (iii) price (primarily in the middle and budget segments), (iv) on-time delivery and (v) service and technical support. The Company focuses its efforts on the middle- and high-end segments of the market, where product design, quality and durability are placed at a premium. The cabinet lock market is also highly competitive. This market is highly fragmented with a number of small- to medium-sized manufacturers that supply the market. Cabinet lock manufacturers compete on the basis of (i) product design, (ii) custom engineering capability, (iii) price and (iv) order fulfillment lead times. The Company believes it derives a significant competitive advantage as a result of its focus on (i) a collaborative approach to product design and engineering, (ii) increased manufacturing and assembly automation and (iii) implementation of distribution programs that reduce order fulfillment times. The Company competes in its ergonomic computer support systems with a small number of manufacturers that compete primarily on the basis of product quality and features. The Company competes in the precision ball bearing drawer slide market with one large manufacturer and a number of smaller manufacturers that compete primarily on the basis of product quality and price. The Company's medium-security cabinet locks compete with a variety of relatively small competitors, which makes significant price increases difficult. Certain of the Company's competitors may have greater financial, marketing, manufacturing and technical resources than those of the Company. Although the Company believes that it has been able to compete successfully in its markets to date, there can be no assurance that it will be able to continue to do so in the future.

Business Plan
The Company focuses on certain niche segments of the middle to high end of the office furniture market. To achieve its targeted growth rates, the company intends to pursue several growth initiatives: (I) Continue to create innovative products, (ii) Extend into non-furniture applications, (iii) Continue to make strategic acquisitions, (iv) Promote alternative distribution programs and (v) Expand into international markets.

Use of Proceeds
The proceeds from the proposed offering will be used for general corporate purposes.

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