Dana Holding Corporation Reports First-Quarter Results

MAUMEE, Ohio, April 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --

• Achieved another strong quarter with adjusted EBITDA of $108 million on revenues of $1.5 billion – significantly better than same period one year ago
• Delivered free cash flow of $34 million, a $238 million increase over 2009
• Improved strong cash position to more than $1 billion
• Completed sale of substantially all of Structures business
• Announced plans for joint venture with Bosch Rexroth to produce advanced drive transmissions for global off-highway market

Dana Holding Corporation (NYSE: DAN) today announced its first-quarter 2010 results.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990903/DANA )

First-quarter adjusted EBITDA was $108 million, a significant improvement over $16 million reported for the first three months of 2009. In the first quarter of 2010, Dana narrowed its net loss to $31 million, compared with a net loss of $157 million for the same period one year ago.  Sales for the period were $1,508 million, which compares with $1,216 million for the first quarter of 2009.

During the first quarter, total cash improved by $79 million to $1,026 million, and total debt was reduced by $62 million to $941 million. As a consequence, cash exceeded debt by $85 million at March 31, 2010. Total liquidity improved by $133 million from the fourth quarter of 2009 to $1,261 million.

Driven by restructuring efforts, first-quarter margins were significantly improved over 2009, with first-quarter 2010 adjusted EBITDA margin of 7.2 percent, compared with 1.3 percent one year ago.  Cost savings of more than $50 million, including reductions in conversion and material costs, contributed substantially to the improvement.  In addition, free cash flow of $34 million represented a $238 million increase over the same period one year ago.  

"One year ago, we were wrestling with the effects of a global recession and the resulting downturn in our global markets," said Dana President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Sweetnam.  "Today, we believe the worst is behind us.  And, building upon the hard work and achievements of our global team, we continue to improve our fundamentals and position Dana to create profitable and sustainable market share growth in 2010 and beyond."

Dana Closes on Sale of Majority of Structures Business

On March 8, Dana closed on the sale of the majority of its global Structures business to Metalsa, S.A. de C.V. for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $147 million. The closing completed the sale to Metalsa of Structures operations in the U.S., Brazil, Canada, Australia, and Argentina, and a U.K. joint venture, with the sale of Dana's Structures facility in Venezuela anticipated to conclude later this year.

Dana and Bosch Rexroth Announce Plans for Joint Venture

Earlier this month, Dana and Bosch Rexroth announced plans to form a 50-50 joint venture to co-develop and manufacture advanced drive transmissions for the off-highway market.  Benefiting from Dana's expertise in off-highway transmission engineering and manufacturing, and Bosch Rexroth's deep experience in hydraulics and systems, the planned joint venture company is expected to operate in Arco, Italy.  Dana and Bosch Rexroth will contribute staff, intellectual property, and capital to the new joint-venture company, which will engineer, manufacture, and market hydro-mechanical variable powersplit transmission systems (HVT) for the global off-highway markets.  These advanced transmission systems will be focused on meeting customer needs for improved fuel economy, productivity, emissions, and maneuverability.  

Dana to Host First-Quarter Conference Call at 10:30 a.m. Today

Dana will discuss its first-quarter results in a conference call at 10:30 a.m. EDT today.  Participants may listen to the audio portion of the conference call either through audio streaming online or by telephone.  Slide viewing is only available online via a link provided on the Dana Investor Web site.  To dial into the conference call, domestic locations should call 1-888-311-4590 (Conference I.D. # 69029601).  International locations should call 1-706-758-0054 (Conference I.D. # 69029601).  Please ask for the Dana Holding Corporation Financial Webcast and Conference Call.  Phone registration will be available beginning at 10 a.m. EDT.  An audio recording of the call will be available after 5 p.m.  To access this recording, please dial 1-800-642-1687 (U.S. or Canada) or 1-706-645-9291 (international) and enter Conference I.D. # 69029601.  A webcast replay will also be available after 5 p.m. today, and may be accessed via the Dana Investor Web site.

Non-GAAP Measures

This release refers to adjusted EBITDA, which we've defined to be earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, non-cash equity grant expense, restructuring expense, and other nonrecurring items (gain/loss on debt extinguishment or divestitures, impairment, etc).  Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure, and the measure currently being used by Dana as the primary measure of its operating segment performance.  The most significant impact to Dana's ongoing results of operations as a result of applying fresh start accounting following our emergence from bankruptcy was higher depreciation and amortization.

By using adjusted EBITDA, which is a performance measure that excludes depreciation and amortization, the comparability of results was enhanced.  Management also believes that adjusted EBITDA is an important measure since the financial covenants of our primary debt agreements are adjusted EBITDA-based, and our management incentive performance programs are based, in part, on adjusted EBITDA.  Because it is a non-GAAP measure, adjusted EBITDA should not be considered a substitute for net income (loss) or other reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP.  The financial information accompanying this release provides a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA for the periods presented to the reported income (loss) before income taxes, which is a GAAP measure.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements and projections contained in this news release are, by their nature, forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry and business, management's beliefs, and certain assumptions made by us, all of which are subject to change.  Forward-looking statements can often be identified by words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "predicts," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "may," "will," "should," "would," "could," "potential," "continue," "ongoing," similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words.  These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause our actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statement.  

Dana's Annual Report on Form 10-K, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, recent Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other Securities and Exchange Commission filings discuss important risk factors that could affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.  The forward-looking statements in this news release speak only as of this date. Dana does not undertake any obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statement for any reason.

About Dana Holding Corporation

Dana is a world leader in the supply of axles; driveshafts; and sealing and thermal-management products; as well as genuine service parts.  The company's customer base includes virtually every major vehicle manufacturer in the global automotive, commercial vehicle, and off-highway markets.  Based in Maumee, Ohio, the company employs approximately 21,000 people in 26 countries and reported 2009 sales of $5.2 billion.  For more information, please visit: www.dana.com.

SOURCE Dana Holding Corporation