1Q-WOW        Abatix Environmental Corp. Announces First Quarter 1998 Results Net Earnings Increase 62%         Abatix Environmental Corp. Announces First Quarter 1998 Results Net Earnings Increase 62%    May 6, 1998 4:57 PM EDT
     DALLAS, May 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Abatix Environmental Corp. (Nasdaq:  ABIX) today announced net earnings of $187,000 or $.10 per share on a  diluted basis. The net earnings for the first quarter of 1998  increased 62% from 1997 first quarter net earnings of $116,000 or  $.06 per share on a diluted basis. This increase primarily resulted  from increased sales volume, improved pricing and lower interest  expense. The lower interest expense is a result of continued  improvement in accounts receivable and inventory management. Revenues  for the first quarter of 1998 of $8,675,000 increased 2% from  revenues in the first quarter of 1997 of $8,470,000. 
   Mr. Terry W. Shaver, President, stated "The earnings increase is a  result of efforts from all Abatix personnel. The continued focus of  our sales force on pricing, while increasing our customer base, and  the efforts to better manage assets and control costs have been the  major factors in our improved results. Continued efforts on these  items should provide quarterly and annual results that exceed 1997  results. As previously stated, our primary focus for 1998 was to  increase revenues. Several marketing programs were implemented late  in the first quarter of 1998 and are expected to increase Abatix's  visibility and name recognition in the industrial safety market.  These new marketing programs will provide additional tools to improve  our sales force's efficiency and success, while broadening the  geographic area covered by Abatix. We are currently designing a new  and improved internet site which will also increase Abatix's  visibility. In addition to product information for current and  potential customers, our internet site will also provide more  effective means of communicating financial information with  stockholders and the investment community." 
   Mr. Shaver concluded, "Banc One Capital Corporation is in the final  stage of their evaluation of strategic alternatives for Abatix. With  the help of Banc One, the next step is to validate the assumptions  used in the evaluation process and determine the probability of  success for each strategic alternative presented." 
   Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters  set forth in this release are forward looking and involve a number of  risks and uncertainties. Among the factors that could cause actual  results to differ materially are the following: federal funding of  environmental related projects, general economic and commercial real  estate conditions in our local markets, changes in interest rates,  inability to pass on price increases to customers, unavailability of  products, strong competition and loss of key personnel. In addition,  many of the Company's products are petroleum based. Increases in oil  prices or shortages in supply could significantly impact the  Company's business and its ability to supply customers with certain  products at a reasonable price. 
   Abatix Environmental Corp. is a full line supplier to the asbestos  abatement, hazardous materials, industrial safety and construction  tool industries. The Company has eight distribution centers in Dallas  and Houston, Texas, in Hayward and Santa Fe Springs, California, in  Phoenix, Arizona, in Denver, Colorado, in Kent, Washington and in Las  Vegas, Nevada. These distribution centers serve customers throughout  the Southwest, Midwest, Pacific Coast, Alaska and Hawaii. 
                            ABATIX ENVIRONMENTAL CORP.                         SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION                                  (Unaudited)
                                         Three Months Ended                                            March 31,                                       1998                1997
      Net sales                     $8,674,755          $8,469,872     Cost of sales                  6,264,687           6,155,014      Gross profit                  2,410,068           2,314,858     Selling, general and      administrative expenses       2,038,195           2,017,560      Operating profit                371,873             297,298     Other expense, net                49,741             103,879      Earnings from continuing       operations before       income taxes                   322,132             193,419     Income tax expense               134,667              77,585           Net earnings            $  187,465          $  115,834
      Basic earnings per share      $      .10          $      .06     Diluted earnings per share    $      .10          $      .06     Weighted average shares outstanding:       Basic                        1,937,564           1,986,508       Diluted                      1,937,564           1,991,255
                                                As of                                    March 31,          December 31,                                      1998                 1997     Current assets               $ 9,652,000          $9,003,000     Total assets                 $10,467,000          $9,854,000     Current liabilities          $ 5,102,000          $4,676,000
   Total stockholders' equity $ 5,365,000 $5,178,000 SOURCE Abatix  Environmental Corp. 
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