Entries Tagged as 'Auto'

Continental Plans to Sell the Fuel Supply Business Segment

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REGENSBURG, Germany, April 23 /PRNewswire/ — International automotive supplier Continental plans to sell its activities in the area of fuel supply (FS). The business segment, which is part of the Powertrain Division, involves fuel transport and tank bleeding systems. The Fuel Supply department is profitable and a market leader. “As this business is not among the core activities of the division, which focuses on components for motors and powertrains, we have decided to sell it after an in-depth analysis,” explained Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann, the Continental Board Member responsible for the Powertrain Division.
Dr. Neumann mentioned that active portfolio policy is a key element of Continental’s strategy: “This means that we always continually assess both the possible acquisition of companies as well as options for selling company units. We take into consideration the market position and size of a business, its sustainable profitability, its strategic positioning and how much the current unit counts towards the core business of the company,” he explained. “We are now looking for a purchaser who can give the business and the employees new perspectives via a focused strategy, while simultaneously expanding their competence. We assume that we will have found a suitable purchaser by the end of the year,” emphasized Dr. Neumann.
The Fuel Supply business segment currently employs a staff of 3,500 worldwide. It develops and manufactures at more than ten locations. The business unit posted a turnover of approximately 450 million euros last year.
With targeted annual sales of more than 26.4 billion euros for 2008, the Continental Corporation is one of the top automotive suppliers worldwide. As a supplier of brake systems, systems and components for the powertrain and chassis, instrumentation, infotainment solutions, vehicle electronics, tires and technical elastomers, the corporation contributes towards enhanced driving safety and protection of the global climate. Continental is also a competent partner in networked automobile communication. Today, the corporation employs approximately 150,000 people at nearly 200 locations in 36 countries.
Within automotive supplier Continental AG, the Powertrain division integrates innovative and efficient powertrain system solutions into vehicles. This boosts performance and enhances ride comfort while reducing consumption and emissions. As partner to the automotive industry, the division develops and produces a wide-ranging product portfolio at over sixty locations worldwide, beginning with gas and diesel injection systems and engine and transmission controls and extending through to components and systems for hybrid drives. The Division currently achieves annual sales exceeding EUR 5 billion (based on figures for 2006) with a workforce of more than 26,000 employees.
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Continental AG

Webasto Wins PACE Award

STOCKDORF and MUNICH, Germany, April 22 /PRNewswire/ — Webasto, a leading international automotive supplier, was awarded the renowned Automotive News PACE (Premier Automotive Suppliers’ Contribution to Excellence) Award 2008. The company accepted the prize in Detroit for its development of a low-pressure injection molding process for the production of polycarbonate panoramic roofs. Webasto was named in the category Manufacturing Process & Capital Equipment, which honors outstanding innovations in manufacturing and business processes.
“The development of innovative solutions for automotive construction has been both Webasto’s motivation and our obligation for more than one hundred years,” said Franz-Josef Kortuem, CEO of Webasto AG. “We’re very pleased to be receiving this award, which underlines our technological leadership in the use of synthetic polycarbonate technology for large-area roof systems. Webasto’s top priority is the development of futuristic roof systems that offer even more safety, reduce CO2 emissions through reduced weight and simultaneously offer more comfort.”
The technology developed by Webasto for the manufacturing of larger roof systems made from polycarbonate was applied to the smart fortwo. Thanks to the specially developed manufacturing technology, it became possible to create a high-quality polycarbonate panel over 10 square feet (one square meter) in area. The roof system, weighing only 16.6 lb. (7.6 kg.) — half the weight of a comparable glass roof — has since been installed over 100,000 times. Due to the incredible resilience of the material, it offers the vehicle’s passengers a maximum degree of safety. The tinted polycarbonate additionally blocks approximately 60 percent of the sun’s radiation and absorbs 100 percent of its UV rays. A supplemental surface coating makes the smart fortwo roof system by Webasto resistant to scratches and the forces of nature.
Webasto Center for Synthetics in Schierling, near Regensburg
Webasto is one of the world’s leading companies in the use of polycarbonate and polyurethane synthetic technologies and supports its own center for synthetics in Schierling near Regensburg, Germany. With its production line for so-called “polycarbonate glazing elements”, Webasto underlines its determination to become a leader in technology for this area of the mobile future. Polycarbonate roofing elements are created on the injection molding machine in a two-component injection molding process. The specially made embossing machine has the ability to implement different processes, such as in-mould pressing and parallel molding, where conventional technologies would require several machines. The panel elements are then immediately sent to a class-100 clean room where an automated process coats the polycarbonate components on the front and the back sides, without requiring any prior or post-processing. This allows the polycarbonate to maintain its strength and aesthetic quality. The finished elements have low internal tension and a high degree of precision in form. This gives them important additional characteristics such as resistance to scratching, and durability regardless of atmospheric conditions.
The use of polycarbonate technology offers opportunities for innovative designs that extend far beyond traditional panel and panoramic roofs. The specially designed low-pressure injection-molding process therefore provides the largest-area lightweight and transparent polycarbonate elements worldwide.
PACE Award
The PACE Award has been presented by Automotive News, together with Microsoft, SAP, and the Transportation Research Center Inc., since 1995. It honors superior innovation, technological advancement and business performance among automotive suppliers. For more information, see .
About Webasto:
Webasto AG headquartered in Stockdorf near Munich has been a family-run business ever since the company was founded in 1901. It has about 6,800 employees at 58 international locations and is specialized in the Convertible, Roof & Body (CRB) and Global Comfort Solutions (GCS) business segments. With sales of around 1.8 billion euros (2007 business year) Webasto is one of the top 100 automotive suppliers worldwide. The company’s core competencies include development and production of convertible, roof and body systems as well as heating, cooling and ventilation systems for passenger cars and commercial vehicles. You will find further information at: .
Webasto

LKQ Corporation Announces 2008 First Quarter Net Income Results Up Over 95% With Record Revenue, Record Earnings and Increased Annual Earnings Guidance

CHICAGO, May 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — LKQ Corporation today announced results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2008, with revenue of $491.9 million, net income of $30.9 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.22.
(Logo: )
“We reported record revenue and earnings for the quarter with revenue growth at 109% and net income growth at just over 95%. Our operating margin improved this quarter over the first quarter of 2007 by 90 basis points and, excluding restructuring expenses, by 110 basis points. Our diluted earnings per share for the quarter puts us on track to exceed the earnings guidance that we previously issued by approximately $0.02 per share,” said Joe Holsten, President and Chief Executive Officer.
Commenting on business acquisitions, Holsten said, “We continue to be pleased with our progress to date related to combining our aftermarket businesses with Keystone Automotive Industries, Inc. In addition we acquired a heavy truck recycling business in Houston, TX that gives us a solid platform from which to expand into a new type of product line.”
2008 Reported Results
All earnings per share amounts, stock price amounts and share counts discussed herein reflect our December 2007 two-for-one stock split.
For the first quarter of 2008, revenue increased 109.0% to $491.9 million compared with $235.3 million for the first quarter of 2007. Our organic revenue growth for the quarter was 9.0% and was calculated assuming we owned Keystone for the first quarter of 2007. Net income for the quarter increased 95.5% to $30.9 million compared with $15.8 million for the first quarter of 2007. Diluted earnings per share was $0.22 for the quarter compared with $0.14 for the first quarter of 2007.
Revenue from aftermarket collision replacement parts, paint, shop supplies, refurbished bumpers, refurbished wheels and refurbished lighting for the first quarter was $272.3 million.
During the quarter, we recorded $1.2 million of restructuring expenses which were included in operating expenses and are all related to our Keystone acquisition in October 2007.
The weighted average diluted shares outstanding for the first quarter of 2008 was 139.7 million compared to 112.0 million for the first quarter of 2007. The number of weighted average diluted shares of common stock in 2008 increased from 2007 due to the issuance of 23.6 million new shares in our September 2007 follow-on public offering, the issuance of 838,073 new shares related to the acquisition of a business on March 4, 2008, exercises of stock options, and the increase in our stock price.
Business Acquisitions in 2008
On February 15, we acquired a retail oriented recycled parts business located in Orlando, FL, that operates on 3.5 acres of property adjoining our existing retail oriented recycled parts business.
On March 4, we acquired Texas Best Diesel, a heavy duty truck recycled parts business in Houston, TX that operates on an approximately 18 acre facility.
These two businesses reported approximately $10.6 million in trailing annual revenue just prior to our acquisition of them.
Company Outlook
We expect that 2008 organic revenue growth will be approximately 10%, with the balance of revenue growth being the full year impact of 2007 and 2008 business acquisitions. Excluding the effect of any 2008 restructuring expenses we may record related to the Keystone acquisition, we expect full year 2008 net income to be within a range of $106.0 million to $111.0 million and diluted earnings per share to be between $0.75 and $0.79.
We anticipate that net cash provided by operating activities for 2008 will be over $85.0 million. We estimate our full year 2008 capital expenditures related to property and equipment, excluding expenditures for acquiring businesses, will be between $65.0 million to $75.0 million. This includes approximately $10.0 million related to capital expenditures planned for late 2007 on projects that were delayed and approximately $4.8 million related to restructuring our aftermarket business as a result of the Keystone acquisition.
We estimate the weighted average diluted shares outstanding for the full year 2008 will be approximately 141.0 million. These share numbers are estimates and will be affected by factors such as any future stock issuances, the number of our options exercised in subsequent periods, and changes in our stock price.
Quarterly Conference Call
We will host an audio webcast to discuss our first quarter 2008 earnings on Thursday, May 1, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The live audio webcast can be accessed on the internet at in the Investor Relations section. An online replay of the webcast will be available on our website approximately two hours after the live presentation and will remain on the site until May 15, 2008.
About LKQ Corporation
LKQ Corporation is the largest nationwide provider of aftermarket collision replacement products, recycled OEM products and refurbished OEM collision replacement products such as wheels, bumper covers and lights used to repair light vehicles. LKQ operates approximately 300 facilities offering its customers a broad range of replacement systems, components, and parts to repair light vehicles and trucks.
Forward Looking Statements
The statements in this press release that are not historical are forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding our expectations, beliefs, hopes, intentions or strategies. Forward looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, some of which are not currently known to us. Actual events or results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward looking statements as a result of various factors. These factors include:
— the risk that Keystone’s business will not be integrated successfully
or that LKQ will incur unanticipated costs of integration;
— the ability to maintain Keystone’s vendor relationships and retain key
employees;
— the availability and cost of inventory;
— pricing of new OEM replacement parts;
— variations in vehicle accident rates;
— changes in state or federal laws or regulations affecting our business;
— fluctuations in fuel prices;
— changes in the demand for our products and the supply of our inventory
due to severity of weather and seasonality of weather patterns;
— changes in the types of replacement parts that insurance carriers will
accept in the repair process;
— the amount and timing of operating costs and capital expenditures
relating to the maintenance and expansion of our business, operations
and infrastructure;
— declines in asset values;
— uncertainty as to changes in U.S. general economic activity and the
impact of these changes on the demand for our products;
— uncertainty as to our future profitability;
— increasing competition in the automotive parts industry;
— our ability to increase or maintain revenue and profitability at our
facilities;
— uncertainty as to the impact on our industry of any terrorist attacks
or responses to terrorist attacks;
— our ability to operate within the limitations imposed by financing
arrangements;
— our ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms to finance our
growth;
— our ability to integrate and successfully operate recently acquired
companies and any companies acquired in the future and the risks
associated with these companies;
— our ability to develop and implement the operational and financial
systems needed to manage our growing operations; and
— other risks that are described in our Form 10-K filed February 29, 2008
and in other reports filed by us from time to time with the Securities
and Exchange Commission.

You should not place undue reliance on the forward looking statements. We assume no obligation to update any forward looking statement to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date on which it was made.
CONTACT: LKQ Corporation
Mark T. Spears, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer
312-621-1950

Financial Tables To Follow

LKQ CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income
( In thousands, except per share data )

Three Months Ended
March 31,
2008 2007

Revenue $491,908 $235,318

Cost of goods sold 268,594 128,222

Gross margin 223,314 107,096

Facility and warehouse expenses 44,502 25,610

Distribution expenses 44,769 22,175

Selling, general and administrative expenses 64,103 28,732

Restructuring expenses 1,174 -

Depreciation and amortization 7,258 3,317

Operating income 61,508 27,262

Other (income) expense:
Interest expense, net 10,301 1,733
Other income, net (269) (648)

Total other expense 10,032 1,085

Income before provision for income taxes 51,476 26,177

Provision for income taxes 20,598 10,383

Net income $30,878 $15,794

Net income per share:
Basic $0.23 $0.15

Diluted $0.22 $0.14

Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic 134,558 106,633

Diluted 139,682 112,004

LKQ CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
( In thousands )

Three Months Ended March 31,
2008 2007
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income $30,878 $15,794
Adjustments to reconcile net income to
net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 7,875 3,453
Share-based compensation expense 1,303 1,167
Deferred income taxes 399 686
Excess tax benefit from share-based payment
arrangements (1,103) (157)
Other adjustments (67) 3
Changes in operating assets and liabilities,
net of effects from purchase transactions:
Receivables (8,338) (8,167)
Inventory (8,772) (10,807)
Income taxes payable 18,625 7,453
Other operating assets and liabilities (8,448) 1,005

Net cash provided by operating
activities 32,352 10,430

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property, equipment and other
long term assets (13,196) (9,080)
Cash used in acquisitions (4,186) (14,574)

Net cash used in investing activities (17,382) (23,654)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from exercise of stock options and
warrants 939 201
Excess tax benefit from share-based payment
arrangements 1,103 157
Repurchase and retirement of redeemable
common stock - (1,125)
Debt issuance costs (173) -
Net (repayments) borrowings of long-term debt (5,549) 15,841

Net cash (used in) provided by financing
activities (3,680) 15,074

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and
equivalents (121) -

Net increase in cash and equivalents 11,169 1,850

Cash and equivalents, beginning of period 74,241 4,031

Cash and equivalents, end of period $85,410 $5,881

LKQ CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share and per share data)

March 31, December 31,
2008 2007
Assets

Current Assets:
Cash and equivalents $85,410 $74,241
Receivables, net 133,894 125,572
Inventory 331,427 320,238
Deferred income taxes 19,731 18,809
Prepaid income taxes - 6,344
Prepaid expenses 9,504 8,088

Total Current Assets 579,966 553,292

Property and Equipment, net 224,292 217,059
Intangibles 917,483 900,832
Other Assets 21,274 21,472

Total Assets $1,743,015 $1,692,655

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable $62,963 $68,871
Accrued expenses 73,154 73,172
Income taxes payable 11,181 -
Deferred revenue 5,343 4,844
Current portion of long-term obligations 17,452 16,936

Total Current Liabilities 170,093 163,823

Long-Term Obligations, Excluding Current
Portion 634,151 641,526
Deferred Income Tax Liability 26,862 25,607
Other Noncurrent Liabilities 10,011 11,922

Commitments and Contingencies

Stockholders’ Equity:
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 500,000,000
shares authorized, 135,381,538 and
134,149,066 shares issued at March 31, 2008
and December 31, 2007, respectively. 1,354 1,341
Additional paid-in capital 727,117 705,778
Retained earnings 172,917 142,039
Accumulated other comprehensive income 510 619

Total Stockholders’ Equity 901,898 849,777

Total Liabilities and Stockholders’
Equity $1,743,015 $1,692,655

LKQ CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Unaudited Supplementary Data
( $ in thousands, except per share data )

Three Months Ended March 31,
Operating Highlights 2008 2007
% of % of
Revenue Revenue Growth % Growth

Revenue $491,908 100.0% $235,318 100.0% $256,590 109.0%

Cost of goods sold 268,594 54.6% 128,222 54.5% 140,372 109.5%

Gross margin 223,314 45.4% 107,096 45.5% 116,218 108.5%

Facility and
warehouse expenses 44,502 9.0% 25,610 10.9% 18,892 73.8%

Distribution
expenses 44,769 9.1% 22,175 9.4% 22,594 101.9%

Selling, general
and administrative
expenses 64,103 13.0% 28,732 12.2% 35,371 123.1%

Restructuring
expenses 1,174 0.2% - 0.0% 1,174 -

Depreciation and
amortization 7,258 1.5% 3,317 1.4% 3,941 118.8%

Operating income 61,508 12.5% 27,262 11.6% 34,246 125.6%

Other (income) expense:
Interest expense,
net 10,301 2.1% 1,733 0.7% 8,568 494.4%
Other income, net (269) -0.1% (648) -0.3% 379 -58.5%

Total other expense 10,032 2.0% 1,085 0.5% 8,947 824.6%

Income before
provision for
income taxes 51,476 10.5% 26,177 11.1% 25,299 96.6%

Provision for
income taxes 20,598 4.2% 10,383 4.4% 10,215 98.4%

Net income $30,878 6.3% $15,794 6.7% $15,084 95.5%

Net income per share:
Basic $0.23 $0.15 $0.08 53.3%

Diluted $0.22 $0.14 $0.08 57.1%

Weighted average
common shares
outstanding:
Basic 134,558 106,633 27,925 26.2%

Diluted 139,682 112,004 27,678 24.7%

The following unaudited table reconciles EBITDA to net income:

Three Months
Ended March 31,
2008 2007
(In thousands)

Net income $30,878 $15,794
Depreciation and amortization 7,875 3,453
Interest expense, net 10,301 1,733
Provision for income taxes 20,598 10,383

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation
and amortization (EBITDA) $69,652 $31,363

EBITDA as a percentage of revenue 14.2% 13.3%

We have typically provided a reconciliation of Net income to EBITDA as
we believe it provides investors, security analysts and other
interested parties useful information regarding our results
of operations because it assists in analyzing our performance and the
value of our business. EBITDA provides insight into our profitability
trends, and allows management and investors to analyze our operating
results with and without the impact of depreciation, amortization,
interest and income tax expense. We believe EBITDA is used by security
analysts, investors, and other interested parties in evaluating
companies, many of which present EBITDA when reporting their results.

LKQ Corporation