To All:
  Here is the press release of JPMX's earnings' report. Sorry for the big file:
   LEWISBURG, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 1997--The JPM Company                            (NASDAQ/NMS:JPMX.O) Thursday reported strong increases in both sales                            and earnings for its second fiscal quarter and the six months ended                            March 31, 1997 leading to record sales and earnings for the                            reporting period.                              For the three months ended March 31, 1997, JPM reported net                            sales of $23,123,000, an increase of $8,653,000 or 59.8% compared to                            $14,470,000 for the same period last year.  Sales for the quarter                            also increased 14.4% over the company's first fiscal quarter for                            1997.                              Net income for the three months was $1,833,000, an increase of                            $1,534,000 or 513.0% compared to $299,000 for the same period last                            year.                              Earnings per share increased to 27 cents from 5 cents during the                            same period last year.  Average weighted shares outstanding for the                            respective periods were 6,683,000 and 3,846,000 reflecting the                            company's Initial Public Offering completed on April 30, 1996.                              For the six months ended March 31, 1997, net sales were                            $43,340,000, an increase of $16,485,000 or 61.4% compared to                            $26,855,000 for the same period last year.                                Net income for the six months was $3,423,000, an increase of                            $2,913,000 or 571.2%, compared to $510,000 for the same period last                            year.                              Net income per share was 51 cents and 9 cents, respectively.                           The year-to-date increases were primarily the results of increased                            sales to new and existing customers and in the case of net income                            additionally because of lower raw material acquisition costs related                            to larger volume purchases, improved operating efficiencies and                            the greater absorption of fixed costs because of higher sales.                              John H. Mathias, chairman and chief executive officer, in                            commenting on the sales results said, "While we experienced some                            softness in sales to a major customer late in the quarter and to                            another during mid-quarter, this was more than offset by increases in                           net sales to new customers the company has added as well as increases                           coming from sales to our existing customer base."                                Mathias continued, "JPM continues to capitalize on the move by                            original equipment manufacturers to consolidate their outsourcing                            with those suppliers who are in a position to meet a wider variety                            of their needs.                                "This trend seems to be accelerating.  Our strategy of providing                            the services and products that meet customer needs remains on target                            as reflected by our operating results."                              Mathias concluded, "We are currently awaiting approval of our                            proxy by the Securities and Exchange Commission and now expect that                            our acquisition of Denron Inc. will be completed during May."                              JPM is a leading independent manufacturer of cable assemblies                            and wire harnesses for original equipment manufacturers in the                            computer, networking and telecommunications sectors of the                            electronics industry.                               For further information contact: William D. Baker at                            717/524-8200 or Win Neilson at 717/671-0929.  Headquartered in                            Lewisburg, JPM also has manufacturing facilities in Beaver Springs,                            Pa., Winnsboro, S.C. and Guadalajara, Mexico.  
                                     "Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities                                             Litigation Reform Act of 1995;
                               This release may contain forward-looking statements that involve                            risks and uncertainties.  Among the important factors which could                            cause actual results to differ materially from those in the                           forward-looking statements are the impact of competitive products                            and pricing, product demand, the presence of competitors with                            greater financial resources, and commercialization risks, costs                            associated with integration and administration of acquired                            operations, capacity and supply constraints or difficulties, the                            results of financing efforts and other factors detailed in the                            company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission                            including its recent filings on Forms 10-K and 10-Q.                           -0-                           *T                                                         The JPM Company                                          Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations                                             (In thousands, except per share amounts)
                                                 Three Months Ended         Six Months Ended                                               March 31,    March 31,     March 31,   March 31,                                                1997          1996          1997       1996                                               -------      --------      --------    --------
                            Net sales          $ 23,123      $ 14,470     $ 43,340     $ 26,855                           Cost of sales        18,182        12,330       34,509       22,685                                               -------      --------      --------    --------                           Gross profit          4,941         2,140        8,831        4,170                           Selling, general                                                                                  administrative     1,710         1,117        3,164        2,133                                               -------      --------      --------    --------                           Income from                                                  operations           3,231         1,023        5,667        2,037                           Other income                             (expense)             (175)         (248)          38         (569)                                               -------      --------      --------    --------                           Income before                             taxes, minority                             interest             3,056           775        5,705        1,468                           Income taxes          1,223           310        2,282          587                                               -------      --------      --------    --------                           Income before                             minority interest    1,833           465        3,423          881                           Minority interest        --           166           --          371                                               -------      --------      --------    --------                           Net income            1,833           299        3,423          510                           Cumulative dividend                             on Preferred Stock      --            60           --          120                                               -------      --------      --------    --------                           Net income                             applicable to                                   common stock      $  1,833      $    239     $  3,423     $    390                                              ========      ========     =========    ========                           Earnings per                             common share      $    .27      $    .05     $    .51     $    .09                                              ========      ========     =========    ========                           Average No. shares                            outstanding          6,683         3,846        6,626        3,885
                                              Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets                                                       (in thousands)
                                                                 March 31,       Sept. 30,                                                                 1997             1996                                                               ----------       ----------                           Cash                                 $   384          $ 1,411                           Accounts receivable, net              12,920            9,903                           Inventory                             10,411            9,330                           Other current assets                     789              740                                                                -------          -------                           Current assets                        24,504           21,384                           Fixed assets, net                      9,623            7,966                           Excess of cost over fair value                            acquired, net                         4,485            4,640                           Other assets                             811              726                                                                -------          -------                             Total assets                       $39,423          $34,716                                                                =======          =======
                            Current liabilities                                             Short-term borrowings  debt         $ 2,454          $   888                           Accounts payable                       4,206            5,132                           Accrued expenses                       4,330            3,976                           Other current liabilities              1,353            1,940                                                                -------          -------                             Current liabilities                 12,343           11,936                           Long term debt  obligations           4,968            4,211                           Shareholders' equity                  22,112           18,569                                                                -------          -------                           Total liabilities  shareholders'                            equity                              $39,423          $34,716                                                                =======          =======                           *T                           -0-                           The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
                               --30--cl/ph* 
                               CONTACT:  The JPM Company, Lewisburg                                        William D. Baker, 717/524-8200 or                                        Win Neilson, 717/671-0929
                               KEYWORD:  PENNSYLVANIA SOUTH CAROLINA                              INDUSTRY KEYWORD:  COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS COMED EARNINGS                           TELECOMMUNICATIONS
                            REPEATS: New York 212-752-9600 or 800-221-2462; Boston 617-236-4266 or                                    800-225-2030; SF 415-986-4422 or 800-227-0845; LA 310-820-9473
  I think it will hit new highs in the next couple of  weeks and then make a correction back to the low  twenties before the next earnings.  Just my humble opinion.
  Happy Investing!
  Karim
  PS They had a nice write-up in IBD today. |