Ford Motor Credit (FCZ) 8-K Results of Operations and Financial Condition

Exhibit 99.1

 

Ford Motor Credit Company

Contact:	Media:	Fixed Income Investment Community:
	Brenda Hines	Rob Moeller
	1-313-594-1099	1-313-621-0881
	bhines1@ford.com	rmoeller@ford.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FORD MOTOR CREDIT EARNS $334 MILLION IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2007*

DEARBORN, Mich., November 8, 2007 – Ford Motor Credit Company reported net income of $334 million in the third quarter of 2007, down $118 million from earnings of $452 million a year earlier.  On a pre-tax basis from continuing operations, Ford Motor Credit earned $546 million in the third quarter compared with $730 million in the previous year.  The decrease in earnings primarily reflected the non-recurrence of credit loss reserve reductions, higher depreciation expense for leased vehicles and higher borrowing costs.

In the third quarters of 2007 and 2006, pre-tax earnings were $341 million and $521 million, excluding the net gains related to market valuation adjustments from derivatives, which were $205 million and $209 million, respectively.

Ford Motor Credit expects to earn on a pre-tax basis $1.3 billion to $1.4 billion this year, excluding the impact of gains and losses related to market valuation adjustments from derivatives, consistent with the previous estimate.

"Our sound risk management practices, high-quality portfolio, strong liquidity and ongoing restructuring continue to produce solid operating results," said Mike Bannister, chairman and CEO.  "As we effectively execute the fundamentals of the business, we remain on track to meet our earnings outlook."

On September 30, 2007, Ford Motor Credit's on-balance sheet net receivables totaled $141 billion, compared with $135 billion at year-end 2006.  Managed receivables were $148 billion, largely unchanged compared with December 31, 2006.

On September 30, 2007, managed leverage was 10.1 to 1.

Ford Motor Credit Company LLC is one of the world's largest automotive finance companies and has supported the sale of Ford products since 1959.  Ford Motor Credit is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Ford Motor Company.  It provides automotive financing for Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mazda and Volvo dealers and customers.  More information can be found at http://www.fordcredit.com and at Ford Motor Credit's investor center, http://www.fordcredit.com/investorcenter/.

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* The financial results discussed herein are presented on a preliminary basis; final data will be included in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2007.

# # #

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements

Statements included or incorporated by reference herein may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking statements are based on expectations, forecasts and assumptions by our management and involve a number of risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated, including, without limitation:

Automotive Related:

• Continued decline in Ford's market share;

• Continued or increased price competition for Ford vehicles resulting from industry overcapacity, currency fluctuations or other factors;

• An increase in or acceleration of market shift away from sales of trucks, sport utility vehicles, or other more profitable vehicles, particularly in the United States;

• A significant decline in industry sales and our financing of those sales, particularly in the United States or Europe, resulting from slowing economic growth, geo-political events or other factors;

• Lower-than-anticipated market acceptance of new or existing Ford products;

• Continued or increased high prices for or reduced availability of fuel;

• Adverse effects from the bankruptcy or insolvency of, change in ownership or control of, or alliances entered into by a major competitor;

• Economic distress of suppliers that has in the past or may in the future require Ford to provide financial support or take other measures to ensure supplies of components or materials;

• Work stoppages at Ford or supplier facilities or other interruptions of supplies;

• Single-source supply of components or materials;

• The discovery of defects in Ford vehicles resulting in delays in new model launches, recall campaigns or increased warranty costs;

• Increased safety, emissions (e.g., CO2), fuel economy or other (e.g., pension funding) regulation resulting in higher costs, cash expenditures and/or sales restrictions;

• Unusual or significant litigation or governmental investigations arising out of alleged defects in Ford products or otherwise;

• A change in Ford’s requirements for parts or materials where it has entered into long-term supply arrangements that commit it to purchase minimum or fixed quantities of certain parts or materials, or to pay a minimum amount to the seller ("take-or-pay contracts");

• Adverse effects on our results from a decrease in or cessation of government incentives;

• Adverse effects on Ford’s operations resulting from geo-political or other events;

• Substantial negative operating-related cash flows for the near- to medium-term affecting Ford’s ability to meet its obligations, invest in its business or refinance its debt;

• Substantial levels of indebtedness adversely affecting Ford’s financial condition or preventing Ford from fulfilling its debt obligations (which may grow because Ford is able to incur substantially more debt, including additional secured debt);

Ford Credit Related:

• Inability to access debt or securitization markets around the world at competitive rates or in sufficient amounts due to additional credit rating downgrades, market volatility, market disruptions or otherwise;

• Higher-than-expected credit losses;

• Increased competition from banks or other financial institutions seeking to increase their share of financing Ford vehicles;

• Collection and servicing problems related to our finance receivables and net investment in operating leases;

• Lower-than-anticipated residual values or higher-than-expected return volumes for leased vehicles;

• New or increased credit, consumer or data protection or other regulations resulting in higher costs and/or additional financing restrictions;

• Changes in Ford’s operations or changes in Ford’s marketing programs could result in a decline in our financing volumes;

General:

• Labor or other constraints on Ford's or our ability to restructure its or our business;

• Substantial pension and postretirement healthcare and life insurance liabilities impairing Ford’s or our liquidity or financial condition;

• Worse-than-assumed economic and demographic experience for postretirement benefit plans (e.g., discount rates, investment returns, and health care cost trends);

• Currency or commodity price fluctuations; and

• Changes in interest rates.

We cannot be certain that any expectations, forecasts or assumptions made by management in preparing these forward-looking statements will prove accurate, or that any projections will be realized.  It is to be expected that there may be differences between projected and actual results.  Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of their initial issuance, and we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  For additional discussion of these risk factors, see Item 1A of Part I of our 2006 10-K Report and Item 1A of Part I of Ford's 2006 10-K Report.

FORD MOTOR CREDIT COMPANY LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

PRELIMINARY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME

For the Periods Ended September 30, 2007 and 2006

(in millions)

	Third Quarter						Nine Months
	2007			2006			2007			2006
	(Unaudited)						(Unaudited)
Financing revenue
Operating leases	$	1,614		$	1,443		$	4,663		$	4,143
Retail		884			938			2,580			2,770
Interest supplements and other support costs earned from affiliated companies		1,186			901			3,378			2,483
Wholesale		515			607			1,607			1,848
Other		43			53			133			163
Total financing revenue		4,242			3,942			12,361			11,407
Depreciation on vehicles subject to operating leases		(1,596	)		(1,374	)		(4,521	)		(3,819	)
Interest expense		(2,149	)		(2,022	)		(6,464	)		(5,722	)
Net financing margin		497			546			1,376			1,866
Other revenue
Investment and other income related to sales of receivables		97			169			308			542
Insurance premiums earned, net		43			40			130			142
Other income, net		546			554			964			689
Total financing margin and other revenue		1,183			1,309			2,778			3,239
Expenses
Operating expenses		445			482			1,451			1,491
Provision for credit losses		173			66			301			64
Insurance expenses		19			31			74			137
Total expenses		637			579			1,826			1,692
Income from continuing operations before income taxes		546			730			952			1,547
Provision for income taxes		212			278			363			543
Income from continuing operations before minority interests		334			452			589			1,004
Minority interests in net income of subsidiaries		0			0			0			0
Net income	$	334		$	452		$	589		$	1,004

FORD MOTOR CREDIT COMPANY LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

PRELIMINARY

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

(in millions)

	September 30,		December 31,
	2007		2006
	(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$	8,033	$	12,331
Marketable securities		4,626		10,161
Finance receivables, net		111,644		109,405
Net investment in operating leases		29,188		25,939
Retained interest in securitized assets		760		990
Notes and accounts receivable from affiliated companies		859		950
Derivative financial instruments		1,876		1,804
Other assets		5,259		5,752
Total assets	$	162,245	$	167,332
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDER'S INTEREST/EQUITY
Liabilities
Accounts payable
Customer deposits, dealer reserves and other	$	1,862	$	1,509
Affiliated companies		2,760		3,648
Total accounts payable		4,622		5,157
Debt		133,108		139,740
Deferred income taxes		5,610		6,783
Derivative financial instruments		838		296
Other liabilities and deferred income		5,041		3,588
Total liabilities		149,219		155,564
Minority interests in net assets of subsidiaries		3		3
Shareholder's interest/equity
Capital stock and paid-in surplus		—		5,149
Shareholder's interest		5,149		—
Accumulated other comprehensive income		1,545		825
Retained earnings		6,329		5,791
Total shareholder's interest/equity		13,023		11,765
Total liabilities and shareholder's interest/equity	$	162,245	$	167,332

FORD MOTOR CREDIT COMPANY LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS*

	Third Quarter						First Nine Months
	2007			2006			2007			2006
Financing Shares
United States
Financing share – Ford, Lincoln and Mercury
Retail installment and lease		45	%		56	%		39	%		48	%
Wholesale		79			80			79			80
Europe
Financing share – Ford
Retail installment and lease		26	%		28	%		26	%		26	%
Wholesale		95			95			96			95
Contract Volume – New and used retail/lease (in thousands)
North America segment
United States		349			471			1,008			1,312
Canada		54			55			148			146
Total North America segment		403			526			1,156			1,458
International segment
Europe		170			173			541			540
Other international		53			60			159			181
Total International segment		223			233			700			721
Total contract volume		626			759			1,856			2,179
Borrowing Cost Rate**		6.2	%		5.7	%		6.1	%		5.4	%
Charge-offs  (in millions)
On-Balance Sheet Receivables
Retail installment & lease	$	170		$	132		$	388		$	307
Wholesale		13			6			25			25
Other		1			2			3			2
Total charge-offs – on-balance sheet receivables	$	184		$	140		$	416		$	334
Total loss-to-receivables ratio		0.53	%		0.41	%		0.40	%		0.33	%
Managed Receivables***
Retail installment & lease	$	186		$	153		$	436		$	372
Wholesale		13			6			25			25
Other		1			2			3			2
Total charge-offs – managed receivables	$	200		$	161		$	464		$	399
Total loss-to-receivables ratio		0.54	%		0.43	%		0.42	%		0.36	%

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* Continuing operations

** On-balance sheet debt, includes the effects of derivatives and facility fees

*** See appendix for additional information

FORD MOTOR CREDIT COMPANY LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

APPENDIX

In evaluating Ford Motor Credit's financial performance, Ford Motor Credit management uses financial statements and other financial measures in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP").  Included below are brief definitions of key terms, information about the impact of on-balance sheet securitization and a reconciliation of other measures to GAAP.

KEY TERMS:

· Managed receivables:  receivables reported on Ford Motor Credit's balance sheet and receivables Ford Motor Credit sold in off-balance sheet securitizations and continues to service

· Charge-offs on managed receivables:  charge-offs associated with receivables reported on Ford Motor Credit's balance sheet and charge-offs associated with receivables that Ford Motor Credit sold in off-balance sheet securitizations and continues to service

· Equity:  shareholder's interest and historical stockholder's equity reported on Ford Motor Credit's balance sheet

IMPACT OF ON-BALANCE SHEET SECURITIZATION:  Finance receivables (retail and wholesale) and net investment in operating leases reported on Ford Motor Credit's balance sheet include assets included in securitizations that do not qualify for accounting sale treatment.  These assets are available only for repayment of the debt or other obligations issued or arising in the securitization transactions; they are not available to pay the other obligations of Ford Motor Credit or the claims of Ford Motor Credit's other creditors.  Debt reported on Ford Motor Credit's balance sheet includes obligations issued or arising in securitizations that are payable only out of collections on the underlying securitized assets and related enhancements.

 

RECONCILIATION OF MEASURES TO GAAP:

Managed Leverage Calculation	September 30,			December 31,
	2007			2006
	(in billions)
Total debt	$	133.1		$	139.7
Securitized off-balance sheet receivables outstanding		7.6			12.2
Retained interest in securitized off-balance sheet receivables		(0.8	)		(1.0	)
Adjustments for cash and cash equivalents, and marketable securities*		(12.0	)		(21.8	)
Adjustments for hedge accounting on total debt		0.0			(0.1	)
Total adjusted debt	$	127.9		$	129.0
Total shareholder's equity (including minority interest)	$	13.0		$	11.8
Adjustments for hedge accounting on equity		(0.3	)		(0.5	)
Total adjusted equity	$	12.7		$	11.3
Managed leverage (to 1) = adjusted debt / adjusted equity		10.1			11.4
Memo:  Financial statement leverage (to 1) = total debt / shareholder's equity		10.2			11.9

Net Finance Receivables and Operating Leases	Managed Receivables
	On-Balance		Off-Balance
	Sheet		Sheet		Total
September 30, 2007	(in billions)
Retail installment	$	74.3	$	7.6	$	81.9
Wholesale		34.0		—		34.0
Other finance receivables		3.3		—		3.3
Net investment in operating leases		29.2		—		29.2
Total net finance receivables and operating leases	$	140.8	$	7.6	$	148.4
December 31, 2006
Retail installment	$	70.4	$	12.2	$	82.6
Wholesale		35.2		—		35.2
Other finance receivables		3.8		—		3.8
Net investment in operating leases		25.9		—		25.9
Total net finance receivables and operating leases	$	135.3	$	12.2	$	147.5

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* Excludes marketable securities related to insurance activities.