Lear Reports Second-Quarter 2008 Financial Results and Updates Full-Year 2008 Outlook

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., July 29 -- Lear Corporation , a leading global supplier of automotive seating systems, electrical distribution systems and electronic products, today reported financial results for the second quarter of 2008 and updated its outlook for the full year of 2008.

 

  Highlights:

  -- Net sales of $4.0 billion
  -- Core operating earnings of $164 million
  -- Positive free cash flow of $16 million
  -- Acceleration of global restructuring actions
  -- Continued progress on diversification of global sales
  -- Amendment of credit facility extends commitments to 2012
  -- Ranked highest among all major seat manufacturers in 2008 J.D. Power
     and Associates Seat Quality and Satisfaction Study

For the second quarter of 2008, Lear reported net sales of $4.0 billion and pretax income of $55.8 million, including restructuring costs of $58.3 million. This compares with net sales of $4.2 billion and pretax income of $143.9 million, including restructuring costs of $34.8 million and other special items of $3.4 million, for the second quarter of 2007. Net income was $18.3 million, or $0.23 per share, for the second quarter of 2008 as compared with net income of $123.6 million, or $1.58 per share, for the second quarter of 2007.

Income before interest, other expense, income taxes, restructuring costs and other special items (core operating earnings) was $163.8 million for the second quarter of 2008. This compares with core operating earnings of $229.3 million for the second quarter of 2007. A reconciliation of core operating earnings to pretax income as determined by generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") is provided in the attached supplemental data pages.

"Business conditions in North America were very difficult in the second quarter, primarily due to sharply lower industry production, a significant mix shift away from full-size pickups and large SUVs and higher raw material and energy prices. In this challenging environment, the Lear team remained focused on further diversifying our sales, implementing structural cost reduction actions, investing in growth opportunities and proactively managing our liquidity requirements," said Bob Rossiter, Lear Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President.

"We have a clear operating plan and committed liquidity to manage through the challenging business conditions we see ahead," Rossiter added.

The decline in net sales for the quarter primarily reflects a 15% decline in industry production in North America, including the impact of the American Axle strike, partially offset by favorable foreign exchange.

In the seating segment, net sales were down, driven by lower industry production and unfavorable platform mix in North America, partially offset by favorable foreign exchange. Operating margins declined, reflecting the impact of lower production in North America, offset in part by improved operating performance. In the electrical and electronic segment, net sales increased slightly, driven by favorable foreign exchange and the addition of new business, partially offset by lower industry production in North America. Operating margins improved, primarily as a result of favorable operating performance, including savings from restructuring actions, as well as the recovery of previously-incurred program-related engineering expenditures.

In the second quarter of 2008, free cash flow was $15.7 million, compared with free cash flow of $204.0 million in the second quarter of 2007. The decline in free cash flow compared with a year ago primarily reflects lower earnings and unfavorable net working capital, including the adverse impact of the American Axle strike. (Net cash provided by operating activities was $68.4 million in the second quarter of 2008 as compared with $289.3 million in the second quarter of 2007. A reconciliation of free cash flow to net cash provided by operating activities as determined by GAAP is provided in the attached supplemental data pages.)

Given the challenging business environment, including volatility in the capital markets, Lear continued to aggressively restructure its global operations and proactively took steps to improve its long-term liquidity position. The Company received support from banks under its senior credit facility to extend a portion of the Company's revolving credit commitments from 2010 to 2012. As a result, Lear now has $1.3 billion of aggregate revolving credit commitments available, $822 million of which mature on January 31, 2012, and $468 million of which mature on March 23, 2010. In addition, Lear entered into committed factoring agreements that provide for the non-recourse sale of up to euro 315 million of European accounts receivable through April 30, 2011.

Lear's focus on quality improvement continued during the second quarter, with Lear ranking highest in quality among all major seat manufacturers based on the 2008 J.D. Power and Associates Seat Quality and Satisfaction Study. Lear has been the top-ranking major seat manufacturer in overall automotive seat quality in the J.D. Power Seat Study for seven of the last eight years.

Lear is also continuing to make progress on its strategic priorities. The new global organization structure for the Company's business units is now fully in place and operational. In addition, the longer-term growth and margin improvement plan for the electrical and electronic business is on track.

Further, Lear has won about $600 million of net new business globally in the first half of the year. This new business represents further diversification of Lear's sales.

Full-Year 2008 Outlook

Lear expects 2008 net sales to be approximately $15.0 billion, compared with its prior outlook of $15.3 billion. The decrease is primarily the result of lower forecasted industry production in North America.

Lear anticipates 2008 income before interest, other expense, income taxes, restructuring costs and other special items (core operating earnings) of $550 to $600 million, down from the previous outlook of $600 to $640 million, also reflecting lower industry production in North America. Restructuring costs in 2008 are estimated to increase to approximately $140 million, reflecting further capacity actions and census reductions.

Interest expense for 2008 is estimated to be between $190 and $200 million. Pretax income before restructuring costs and other special items is estimated to be in the range of $325 to $375 million. Tax expense is expected to be approximately $125 million, depending on the mix of earnings by country.

Capital spending in 2008 is estimated to be in the range of $230 to $250 million. Depreciation and amortization expense is estimated to be about $300 million. Free cash flow is expected to be about $150 million for the year.

Key assumptions underlying Lear's financial outlook include expectations for 2008 industry vehicle production in North America of approximately 13.5 million units as compared with about 13.8 million units in our previous guidance. Lear expects 2008 production in North America for the Domestic Three to be down about 15% from 2007. In Europe, we expect industry production of approximately 20.3 million units. In addition, we are assuming an exchange rate of $1.54/Euro.

Lear will webcast a conference call to review the Company's second-quarter 2008 financial results and related matters on Tuesday, July 29, 2008, at 9:00 a.m. EDT through the Investor Relations link at http://www.lear.com/ . In addition, the conference call can be accessed by dialing 1-800-789-4751 (domestic) or 1-706-679-3323 (international). The audio replay will be available two hours following the call at 1-800-642-1687 (domestic) or 1-706-645-9291 (international) and will be available until August 14, 2008, with a Conference I.D. of 48592314.