Investor Relations

Zapata Corporation 2004 Net Income Increases 318% - Revenues Increase 103%

03/14/05

ROCHESTER, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 14, 2005--Zapata Corporation (NYSE:ZAP) today announced its consolidated financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2004.

Zapata reported consolidated net income of $3.7 million or $1.54 per diluted share on revenues of $367.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 as compared to consolidated net income of $892,000 or $.37 per diluted share on revenues of $181.4 million in 2003. The increase in consolidated revenues and net income was primarily the result of the consolidation of Safety Components International, Inc. (OTCBB: SAFY) for the full year ended December 31, 2004. Due to the timing of Zapata's acquisition of Safety Components, the Company began consolidating amounts related to Safety's operations during the fourth quarter of 2003. On a consolidated basis, the year over year increase in net income was partially offset by a decrease in net income at Omega Protein Corporation (NYSE: OME) and an increase in Zapata's provision for income taxes at the parent level.

For the quarter ended December 31, 2004, Zapata reported consolidated net income of $314,000 or $.13 per diluted share as compared to consolidated net income of $95,000 or $.04 per diluted share for the comparable quarter last year. The increase in net income for the fourth quarter of 2004 as compared to 2003 resulted primarily from an increase in consolidated net income recognized by Safety Components, partially offset by a net loss recognized by Omega Protein.

Omega Protein contributed approximately $119.6 million and $1.9 million to Zapata's consolidated revenues and net income, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2004. For the quarter ended December 31, 2004, Omega contributed approximately $26.6 million and a loss of $633,000 to Zapata's consolidated revenues and net income, respectively. Omega Protein's 2004 results, as well as the results for the fourth quarter of 2004, reflected a lower than expected fish catch (approximately 18% below 2004 expectations and approximately 8% below 2003 fish catch level), combined with low oil yields. The reduced fish catch was primarily attributable to adverse weather conditions in the Gulf of Mexico and the low oil yields were due to reduced fat content of the fish. The reduced fish catch and low oil yields resulted in higher per unit cost inventories, as well as less product available for sale.

Safety Components contributed approximately $247.9 million and $7.9 million to Zapata's consolidated revenues and net income, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2004. For the quarter ended December 31, 2004, Safety contributed approximately $56.6 million and $1.2 million to Zapata's consolidated revenues and net income, respectively.

About Zapata:

Zapata is a holding company which currently has two operating companies, Safety Components International, Inc. and Omega Protein Corporation. As of December 31, 2004, the Company had a 79% ownership interest in Safety Components and a 58% ownership interest in Omega Protein. In addition, Zapata owns 98% of Zap.Com Corporation (OTCBB: ZPCM), which is a public shell company.

The Company makes certain reports available free of charge on its website at www.zapatacorp.com as soon as reasonably practicable after this information is electronically filed, or furnished to, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

"Safe Harbor" statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: The statements contained in this release which are not historical facts are "forward-looking" statements that involve risks and/or uncertainties as described in the "Significant Factors That Could Affect Future Performance and Forward-Looking Statements" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. The Company's actual actions or results may differ materially from those expected or anticipated in the forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release.

                          ZAPATA CORPORATION
                      CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
          (In Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

                                                  December  December
                                                     31,       31,
                                                    2004      2003
                                                  --------- ---------
                     ASSETS
Current assets:
   Cash and cash equivalents                       $67,433   $43,934
 Short-term investments                                 --    29,351
 Accounts receivable, net                           53,376    58,011
 Assets held in subsidiary deferred compensation
  plan                                               4,361     3,345
 Inventories, net                                   67,324    63,957
 Prepaid expenses and other current assets           6,515     6,045
                                                  --------- ---------
   Total current assets                            199,009   204,643
                                                  --------- ---------
  Other assets:
       Intangible assets, net                        6,158     8,121
       Other assets                                 20,021    20,580
                                                  --------- ---------
          Total other assets                        26,179    28,701
    Property, plant and equipment, net             137,301   125,695
                                                  --------- ---------
    Total assets                                  $362,489  $359,039
                                                  ========= =========

      LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
 Current maturities of long-term debt               $4,924    $5,780
 Accounts payable                                   19,395    27,935
 Accrued and other current liabilities              32,880    30,110
                                                  --------- ---------
   Total current liabilities                        57,199    63,825
                                                  --------- ---------
 Long-term debt                                     19,672    29,422
 Pension liabilities                                 9,677     7,687
 Other liabilities and deferred taxes               10,117     6,866
                                                  --------- ---------
   Total liabilities                                96,665   107,800
                                                  --------- ---------
Minority interest                                   79,510    68,702
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
 Preferred stock, $.01 par; 200,000 shares
  authorized; none issued or outstanding                --        --
 Preference stock, $.01 par; 1,800,000 shares
  authorized; none issued or outstanding                --        --
 Common stock, $.01 par, 16,500,000 shares
  authorized; 3,070,575 and 3,070,325 shares
  issued; 2,391,565 and 2,391,315 shares
  outstanding, respectively                             31        31
 Capital in excess of par value                    160,671   163,490
 Retained earnings                                  54,841    51,108
 Treasury stock, at cost, 679,010 shares           (31,668)  (31,668 )
 Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)       2,439      (424 )
                                                  --------- ---------
   Total stockholders' equity                      186,314   182,537
                                                  --------- ---------
   Total liabilities and stockholders' equity     $362,489  $359,039
                                                  ========= =========



                          ZAPATA CORPORATION
                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
               (In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)


                                   Three months      Twelve months
                                       ended             ended
                                   December 31,       December 31,
                                 ----------------- -------------------
                                    2004     2003      2004      2003
                                 -------- -------- --------- ---------
Revenues                         $83,255  $96,885  $367,528  $181,429
Cost of revenues                  75,215   86,207   314,277   154,553
                                 -------- -------- --------- ---------
     Gross profit                  8,040   10,678    53,251    26,876

Operating expenses:
 Selling, general and
  administrative                   8,605   10,182    37,682    19,971
                                 -------- -------- --------- ---------
         Total operating
          expenses                 8,605   10,182    37,682    19,971
                                 -------- -------- --------- ---------
Operating income                    (565)     496    15,569     6,905
                                 -------- -------- --------- ---------

Other income (expense):
 Interest (expense) income          (276)    (522)     (919)     (329)
 Other, net                        1,183    1,075     1,285       896
                                 -------- -------- --------- ---------
                                     907      553       366       567

Income before income taxes and
 minority interest                   342    1,049    15,935     7,472

Provision for income taxes          (185)    (400)   (8,841)   (3,733)
Minority interest in net income
 of consolidated subsidiaries        157     (554)   (3,361)   (2,847)
                                 -------- -------- --------- ---------
Net income to common
 stockholders                       $314      $95    $3,733      $892
                                 ======== ======== ========= =========
Earnings per share:
 Basic                             $0.13    $0.04     $1.56     $0.37
                                 ======== ======== ========= =========
 Diluted                           $0.13    $0.04     $1.54     $0.37
                                 ======== ======== ========= =========

Weighted average common shares
 outstanding:
 Basic                             2,391    2,391     2,391     2,391
                                 ======== ======== ========= =========
 Diluted                           2,417    2,423     2,417     2,405
                                 ======== ======== ========= =========

CONTACT: Zapata Corporation 
Leonard DiSalvo, CFO
585-242-8703
http://www.zapatacorp.com

SOURCE: Zapata Corporation

Safe Harbor Disclaimer

Certain matters discussed herein, with the exception of historical matters, are forward-looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from these statements as a result of changes in external competitive market factors, unanticipated changes in the company's industry, or the economy in general, as well as various other factors, including those discussed herein and those set forth in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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