EXHIBIT 99.1 - PRESS RELEASE
For: Standard Motor Products, Inc.
From: Golin/Harris International
Marlene Wechselblatt
212-373-6000
Standard Motor Products, Inc. Contact:
James J. Burke, Chief Financial Officer
718-392-0200
STANDARD MOTOR PRODUCTS, INC. ANNOUNCES
FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR 2003 RESULTS
New York, NY, March 8, 2004......Standard Motor Products, Inc. (NYSE:SMP), an
automotive replacement parts manufacturer and distributor, reported today its
financial results for the three months and for the year ended December 31, 2003.
Consolidated net sales for the fourth quarter of 2003 were $162.5 million,
compared to consolidated net sales of $107.9 million during the comparable
quarter in 2002. Losses from continuing operations for the fourth quarter of
2003 were $5.5 million or 29 cents per diluted share, compared to $8.1 million
or 68 cents per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2002.
Consolidated net sales for 2003 were $678.8 million, compared to consolidated
net sales of $598.4 million in 2002. Earnings from continuing operations for
2003 were $224,000 or 1 cent per diluted share, compared to $6.1 million or 51
cents per diluted share in 2002.
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Commenting on the results, Mr. Lawrence Sills, Standard Motor Products Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer, said, "The net sales increase in the fourth quarter
of 2003 was related to the previously announced acquisition of Dana
Corporation's Engine Management Division (DEM), effective as of June 30, 2003.
Net sales generated in the fourth quarter and the second half of 2003 from DEM
were $57.2 million and $115.5 million, respectively. Since the fourth quarter
has the fewest selling days of any quarter and based on current expectations, we
continue to forecast the DEM volume at approximately $250 million annually."
"Our core Engine Management net sales, excluding DEM, were flat in the fourth
quarter and down a modest 1.4% for the year. This decline would have been
mitigated if we had implemented normal price level increases in 2003, and in
early 2004 we have begun implementing price increases. In our Temperature
Control business, net sales were down slightly for the fourth quarter and down
$35.5 million or 13.9% for the year, the result of the loss of AutoZone's
business and the very cool summer season. "
Mr. Sills added, "Our operating margins were negatively impacted in the fourth
quarter and year-to-date by the lower margins on the DEM acquisition and certain
transition costs while reducing redundancies. Due to our reduced Temperature
Control volume for the year, we provided an incremental $2 million inventory
reserve in the fourth quarter based on our inventory agings. In addition,
selling, general and administrative expenses in 2003 included $4.8 million of
integration and restructuring costs for DEM and other SMP facilities."
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Looking forward, Mr. Sills added, "The DEM acquisition in 2003 was strategic and
continues to be our primary focus entering 2004. The critical goals we
established for a successful integration were to (a) maintain the DEM customer
base, (b) reduce excess capacity by closing seven of the nine acquired
facilities in a 12 to 18 month timeframe (c) complete the transition for $30-35
million during this period in restructuring and integration costs, and (d)
achieve $50-55 million in estimated annual savings. I am pleased to report we
are on target for meeting all of these goals. Based on our current expectations,
we believe that the benefits from the above savings will materialize as we
progress throughout 2004 and the full extent of the anticipated $40-45 million
operating profit should be achieved in 2005."
Standard Motor Products will hold a conference call at 11:00 AM Eastern Time, on
Monday, March 8, 2004. The dial in number is 800-362-0571 and the ID number is
STANDARD. A replay of the call will be available on March 8 through March 15 at
12:00 midnight. The playback number is 888-276-5302 (toll free) and the
international number is 402-220-2331.
UNDER THE SAFE HARBOR PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT
OF 1995, STANDARD MOTOR PRODUCTS CAUTIONS INVESTORS THAT ANY FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS MADE BY THE COMPANY, INCLUDING THOSE THAT MAY BE MADE IN THIS PRESS
RELEASE, ARE BASED ON MANAGEMENT'S EXPECTATIONS AT THE TIME THEY ARE MADE, BUT
THEY ARE SUBJECT TO RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES THAT MAY CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS,
EVENTS OR PERFORMANCE TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE CONTEMPLATED BY SUCH
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS. AMONG THE FACTORS THAT COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS,
EVENTS OR PERFORMANCE TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES
DISCUSSED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE, AND DETAILED FROM TIME-TO-TIME IN PRIOR PRESS
RELEASES AND IN THE COMPANY'S FILINGS WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION, INCLUDING THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K AND QUARTERLY
REPORTS ON FORM 10-Q. BY MAKING THESE FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS, STANDARD MOTOR
PRODUCTS UNDERTAKES NO OBLIGATION OR INTENTION TO UPDATE THESE STATEMENTS AFTER
THE DATE OF THIS RELEASE.
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STANDARD MOTOR PRODUCTS
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollars in thousands)
ASSETS
December 31, December 31,
2003 2002
-------- --------
Cash $ 19,647 $ 9,690
Marketable securities -- 7,200
Accounts receivable, gross 180,182 122,526
Allowance for doubtful accounts 5,009 4,882
-------- --------
Accounts receivable, net 175,173 117,644
Inventories 254,904 174,785
Other current assets 19,400 19,041
-------- --------
Total current assets 469,124 328,360
-------- --------
Property, plant and equipment, net 112,549 103,822
Goodwill 68,921 16,683
Other assets 43,109 41,893
-------- --------
Total assets $693,703 $490,758
======== ========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Notes payable $ 99,699 $ 79,618
Current portion of long term debt 3,354 4,108
Accounts payable trade 58,029 35,744
Accrued customer returns 24,115 16,341
Restructuring accrual 16,000 --
Other current liabilities 74,819 51,866
-------- --------
Total current liabilities 276,016 187,677
-------- --------
Long-term debt 114,757 93,191
Accrued asbestos liabilities 24,426 25,595
Restructuring accrual 15,615 --
Postretirement & other liabilities 36,848 30,414
-------- --------
Total liabilities 467,662 336,877
-------- --------
Total stockholders' equity 226,041 153,881
-------- --------
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $693,703 $490,758
======== ========
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STANDARD MOTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
THREE MONTHS ENDED TWELVE MONTHS ENDED
DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31,
2003 2002 2003 2002
------------ ------------ ------------ -----------
NET SALES $ 162,454 $ 107,856 $ 678,783 $ 598,437
COST OF SALES 124,329 78,729 504,011 440,893
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
GROSS PROFIT 38,125 29,127 174,772 157,544
SELLING, GENERAL & ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES 42,584 33,639 158,147 132,476
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS) (4,459) (4,512) 16,625 25,068
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE), NET (199) 1,462 (1,287) 3,187
INTEREST EXPENSE 3,631 3,367 13,907 14,244
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
EARNINGS (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES (8,289) (6,417) 1,431 14,011
INCOME TAX EXPENSE (2,778) 1,670 1,207 7,920
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
EARNINGS (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS (5,511) (8,087) 224 6,091
LOSS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATION, NET OF TAX (370) (254) (1,742) (18,297)
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
LOSS BEFORE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF ACCOUNTING CHANGE (5,881) (8,341) (1,518) (12,206)
CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF ACCOUNTING CHANGE, NET OF TAX -- -- -- (18,350)
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
NET LOSS $ (5,881) $ (8,341) $ (1,518) $ (30,556)
============ ============ ============ ============
NET EARNING (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE:
BASIC EARNINGS (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS $ (0.29) $ (0.68) $ 0.01 $ 0.51
DISCONTINUED OPERATION (0.02) (0.02) (0.11) (1.54)
CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF ACCOUNTING CHANGE -- -- -- (1.54)
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
NET LOSS PER COMMON SHARE - BASIC $ (0.31) $ (0.70) $ (0.10) $ (2.57)
============ ============ ============ ============
DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS $ (0.29) $ (0.68) $ 0.01 $ 0.51
DISCONTINUED OPERATION (0.02) (0.02) (0.11) (1.52)
CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF ACCOUNTING CHANGE -- -- -- (1.53)
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
NET LOSS PER COMMON SHARE - DILUTED $ (0.31) $ (0.70) $ (0.10) $ (2.54)
============ ============ ============ ============
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES 19,201,608 11,957,009 15,744,930 11,914,968
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES AND DILUTIVE SHARES 19,201,608 11,957,009 15,793,008 12,008,496
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