2008-01-31 00:00:00.0: Stoneridge Reports Improved 4th-Quarter and Full-Year 2007 Results at InternetAutoGuide.com

Stoneridge Reports Improved 4th-Quarter and Full-Year 2007 Res...

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Stoneridge Reports Improved 4th-Quarter and Full-Year 2007 Results - Auto News from January 31, 2008

WARREN, Ohio, Jan. 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Stoneridge, Inc. today announced net sales of $185.5 million and net income of $6.5 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2007.

Net sales increased $14.3 million, or 8.3 percent, to $185.5 million, compared with $171.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2006.

Net income for the fourth quarter was $6.5 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, compared with $1.5 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2006.

The improvement in fourth-quarter results was primarily attributable to new program sales of electronics in Europe and North America and a more favorable sales mix in the Company's North America electronics business. These improvements were accomplished in spite of the approximate 42% fourth- quarter decline in the medium- and heavy-duty truck market in North America.

"The 2007 results reflect our organization's responsiveness to meeting the challenges of the market, especially the decline in the North America commercial vehicle market, and our continuing focus on improving the operating performance of the Company," said John C. Corey, president and chief executive officer. "We made significant progress in improving our profitability and generating cash in 2007. We look forward to continuing the execution of our operating and restructuring plan in 2008."

For the year ended December 31, 2007, net sales were $727.1 million, an increase of $18.4 million compared with $708.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2006. The improvement in net sales was predominantly attributable to new activity in the Company's European and North American commercial vehicle businesses and emissions sensing in our North American light vehicle business and favorable foreign exchange translation. These improvements were partially offset by lower medium- and heavy-duty truck production volume in the North American market. Net income for 2007 was $16.7 million, a 14.9% increase from net income of $14.5 million in 2006. Net income per diluted share increased 12.7% to $0.71 in 2007, compared with $0.63 per diluted share in 2006.

Full-year 2007 net income includes pre-tax restructuring expense of approximately $1.0 million for the Company's previously announced restructuring initiatives. Stoneridge began these initiatives in the fourth quarter of 2007 and expects to substantially complete them by the fourth quarter of 2008. The Company anticipates incurring total pre-tax charges of approximately $9.0 million to $13.0 million in 2008 for the restructuring after the expected benefit of a facility sale. Stoneridge expects to generate annual savings of $8.0 million to $12.0 million beginning in 2009 as a result of these initiatives.

Net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2007 was $33.5 million, compared with $46.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2006. The decrease in cash provided by operating activities was primarily due to higher working capital requirements related to an increase in sales in the electronics segment to customers with contractually longer payment terms.

Outlook

Because of the previously announced IPO transaction filing of the Company's PST Eletronica S.A. joint venture in Brazil, Stoneridge is not providing earnings guidance for the year 2008 at this time due to the volatility and uncertainty in the capital and equity markets. "For 2008, we expect to continue making the progress that we exhibited during 2007 with our previously announced restructuring plans," Corey said.

Conference Call on the Web

A live Internet broadcast of Stoneridge's conference call regarding 2007 fourth-quarter results can be accessed at 11 a.m. Eastern time on Thursday, January 31, 2008, at www.stoneridge.com, which will also offer a webcast replay.

About Stoneridge, Inc.

Stoneridge, Inc., headquartered in Warren, Ohio, is an independent designer and manufacturer of highly engineered electrical and electronic components, modules and systems principally for the automotive, medium- and heavy-duty truck, agricultural and off-highway vehicle markets. Additional information about Stoneridge can be found at www.stoneridge.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this release that are not historical fact are forward- looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in this release. Things that may cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among other factors, the loss of a major customer; a significant change in automotive, medium- and heavy-duty truck or agricultural and off-highway vehicle production; a significant change in general economic conditions in any of the various countries in which the Company operates; labor disruptions at the Company's facilities or at any of the Company's significant customers or suppliers; the ability of the Company's suppliers to supply the Company with parts and components at competitive prices on a timely basis; customer acceptance of new products; and the failure to achieve successful integration of any acquired company or business. In addition, this release contains time-sensitive information that reflects management's best analysis only as of the date of this release. The Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future events, information or circumstances that arise after the date of this release. Further information concerning issues that could materially affect financial performance related to forward-looking statements contained in this release can be found in the Company's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.



                      STONERIDGE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                    (in thousands, except per share data)

                                    For the Three Months  For the Fiscal Years
                                     Ended December 31,    Ended December 31,
                                       2007      2006       2007      2006
                                  (Unaudited)(Unaudited) (Unaudited)(Audited)


    Net Sales                        $185,476  $171,215   $727,120  $708,699

    Costs and Expenses:
      Cost of goods sold              137,352   135,174    559,397   549,793
      Selling, general and
       administrative                  34,561    32,956    133,614   124,302
      Provision for doubtful
       accounts, net                       12      (308)        94       236
      (Gain) loss on sale of
       property, plant and
       equipment, net                    (245)      151     (1,710)   (1,303)
      Restructuring charges               852       454        926       608

    Operating Income                   12,944     2,788     34,799    35,063

      Interest expense, net             5,189     4,282     21,759    21,744
      Equity in earnings of
       investees                       (2,969)   (2,321)   (10,893)   (7,125)
      Other (income) loss, net            (76)     (892)       709       805

    Income Before Income Taxes         10,800     1,719     23,224    19,639

      Provision for income taxes        4,319       269      6,553     5,126

    Net Income                         $6,481    $1,450    $16,671   $14,513

    Basic net income per share          $0.28     $0.06      $0.72     $0.63
    Basic weighted average shares
     outstanding                       23,215    22,930     23,133    22,866

    Diluted net income per share        $0.28     $0.06      $0.71     $0.63
    Diluted weighted average shares
     outstanding                       23,524    23,248     23,548    23,161



                      STONERIDGE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                (in thousands)


                                                         December 31,
                                                    2007             2006
                                                 (Unaudited)       (Audited)ASSETS

    Current Assets:
      Cash and cash equivalents                    $95,924          $65,882
      Accounts receivable, less allowances
       for doubtful accounts and other
       reserves of $4,736 and $5,243,
       respectively                                122,288          106,985
      Inventories, net                              57,392           58,521
      Prepaid expenses and other                    15,926           13,448
      Deferred income taxes                          9,829            9,196
        Total current assets                       301,359          254,032

    Long-Term Assets:
      Property, plant and equipment, net            92,752          114,586
      Other Assets:
        Goodwill                                    65,176           65,176
        Investments and other, net                  39,454           30,875
        Deferred income taxes                       29,028           37,138
          Total long-term assets                   226,410          247,775
    Total Assets                                  $527,769         $501,807

    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

    Current Liabilities:
      Accounts payable                             $69,373          $72,493
      Accrued expenses and other                    47,198           45,624
        Total current liabilities                  116,571          118,117

    Long-Term Liabilities:
      Long-term debt                               200,000          200,000
      Deferred income taxes                          2,665            1,923
      Other liabilities                              2,344            3,145
        Total long-term liabilities                205,009          205,068

    Shareholders' Equity:
      Preferred Shares, without par value,
       authorized 5,000 shares, none issued              -                -
      Common Shares, without par value,
       authorized 60,000 shares, issued
       24,601 and 23,990 shares and
       outstanding 24,209 and 23,804 shares,
       respectively, with no stated value                -                -
      Additional paid-in capital                   154,173          150,078
      Common Shares held in treasury, 392
       and 186 shares, respectively, at cost          (383)            (151)
      Retained earnings                             38,372           21,701
      Accumulated other comprehensive
       income14,027            6,994
        Total shareholders' equity                 206,189          178,622
    Total Liabilities and Shareholders'
     Equity                                       $527,769         $501,807



                      STONERIDGE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                (in thousands)


                                                    For the Fiscal Years
                                                      Ended December 31,
                                                   2007              2006
                                                (Unaudited)        (Audited)

    OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
        Net cash provided by operating
         activities                               $33,525           $46,540

    INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
      Capital expenditures                        (18,141)          (25,895)
      Proceeds from sale of fixed assets           12,315             2,266
      Proceeds from sale of partnership
       interest                                         -             1,153
      Business acquisitions and other                   -            (2,133)
      Net cash used for investing
       activities                                  (5,826)          (24,609)

    FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
      Repayments of long-term debt                      -               (44)
      Share-based compensation activity             2,119               301
      Other financing costs                        (1,219)             (150)
        Net cash provided by financing
         activities                                   900               107

    Effect of exchange rate changes on
     cash and cash equivalents                      1,443             3,060

    Net change in cash and cash
     equivalents                                   30,042            25,098

    Cash and cash equivalents at
     beginning of period                           65,882            40,784

    Cash and cash equivalents at end of
     period                                       $95,924           $65,882

Stoneridge, Inc.