Lear Reports First Quarter Financial Results and Improves 2010 Outlook

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., May 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lear Corporation (NYSE: LEA), a leading global supplier of automotive seating and electrical power management systems, today reported financial results for the first quarter of 2010 and updated its outlook for the full year of 2010.  Highlights include:

• First quarter net sales of $2.9 billion, up 36% from a year ago
• First quarter core operating earnings of $138 million; positive free cash flow
• Refinanced capital structure, resulting in improved financial flexibility, lower total debt and no significant debt maturities until 2018
• Quarter-end cash balance of $1.3 billion; total debt of $745 million
• Increased full year outlook for net sales, core operating earnings and free cash flow

Business Conditions

In the first quarter, the production environment improved from year-ago levels, with mature markets moving higher from distressed levels and growth in emerging markets continuing.  In North America, vehicle production was up 72% year-over-year, and in Europe, vehicle production was up 32%.  Production volumes continued to grow in the first quarter in major emerging markets, with increases ranging from 20% in Brazil to 65% in China.

"Business conditions in the first quarter reflected an improved economic climate and increased industry vehicle production from a year ago.  In this early stage of economic recovery, we achieved positive operating earnings and free cash flow.  In addition, we completed a major refinancing of our capital structure.  I am very proud of the Lear team for all of their hard work in positioning the Company for long-term success," said Bob Rossiter, Lear's chairman, chief executive officer and president.

First Quarter 2010 Financial Results

For the first quarter of 2010, Lear reported net sales of $2.9 billion and pretax income of $80.2 million, including restructuring costs and other special items of $18.0 million.  Income before interest, other expense, income taxes, restructuring costs and other special items (core operating earnings) was $138.2 million in the first quarter of 2010.  This compares with net sales of $2.2 billion, a pretax loss of $257.1 million and negative core operating earnings of $66.7 million in the first quarter of 2009.  A reconciliation of core operating earnings to pretax income (loss), as determined by generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), is provided in the attached supplemental data page.

In the seating segment, net sales were up 32% to $2.3 billion, primarily driven by the improvement in global vehicle production and favorable foreign exchange.  In the electrical power management segment, net sales were up 50% to $625 million, primarily driven by the improvement in global vehicle production, new backlog coming on line and favorable foreign exchange.  Operating margins in both segments improved significantly, reflecting the increase in sales, favorable operating performance and the benefit of operational restructuring actions.

In March 2010, we issued $700 million in senior unsecured bonds and used the net proceeds, together with cash on hand, to repay in full all amounts outstanding under the term loans provided under our first lien and second lien credit facilities.  The principal amounts repaid under the first and second lien term loans were $375 million and $550 million, respectively.  The new bonds were issued in two equal $350 million tranches that mature in 2018 and 2020.

In the first quarter of 2010, free cash flow was $4.1 million, as compared with negative free cash flow of $219.0 million in the first quarter of 2009.  Our cash balance decreased by about $250 million in the first quarter to $1.3 billion, primarily reflecting the paydown of debt and related fees in connection with the refinancing of our capital structure.  Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities was $38.9 million and ($336.8) million in the first quarters of 2010 and 2009, respectively.  A reconciliation of free cash flow to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, as determined by GAAP, is provided in the attached supplemental data page.

Full Year 2010 Financial Outlook

Summarized below is our revised full year 2010 financial outlook.  Key assumptions underlying Lear's 2010 financial outlook include expectations for industry vehicle production of approximately 11.0 million units in North America, 15.8 million units in Europe and 13.1 million units in China.  In addition, we are assuming an exchange rate of $1.35/Euro.

Lear expects 2010 global net sales of approximately $11.0 billion and 2010 core operating earnings of $375 million to $425 million.  Operational restructuring costs in 2010 are estimated to be about $110 million.

Interest expense for 2010 is estimated to be approximately $65 million.  Pretax income before restructuring costs and other special items is anticipated to be in the range of $285 million to $335 million.  Tax expense is expected to be in the range of $80 million to $100 million, depending on the mix of earnings by country.

Capital spending in 2010 is estimated to be approximately $175 million.  Depreciation and amortization expense is anticipated to be about $250 million.  Free cash flow is expected to be in the range of $150 million to $200 million for the year.

Lear will webcast a conference call to review the Company's first quarter 2010 financial results and related matters on Thursday, May 6, 2010, at 9:00 a.m. eastern time, 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 1-973-200-3975 (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 May 20, 2010, with a Conference I.D. of 63220873.

Non-GAAP Financial Information

In addition to the results reported in accordance with GAAP included throughout this press release, the Company has provided information regarding "income (loss) before interest, other expense, income taxes, restructuring costs and other special items (core operating earnings)," "pretax income before restructuring costs and other special items" and "free cash flow" (each, a non-GAAP financial measure).  Other expense includes, among other things, non-income related taxes, foreign exchange gains and losses, discounts and expenses associated with the Company's factoring facilities, gains and losses related to certain derivative instruments and hedging activities, equity in net income of affiliates and gains and losses on the sales of assets.  Free cash flow represents net cash provided by (used in) operating activities before the net change in sold accounts receivable, less capital expenditures.  The Company believes it is appropriate to exclude the net change in sold accounts receivable in the calculation of free cash flow since the sale of receivables may be viewed as a substitute for borrowing activity.

Management believes the non-GAAP financial measures used in this press release are useful to both management and investors in their analysis of the Company's financial position and results of operations.  In particular, management believes that core operating earnings and pretax income before restructuring costs and other special items are useful measures in assessing the Company's financial performance by excluding certain items (including those items that are included in other expense) that are not indicative of the Company's core operating earnings or that may obscure trends useful in evaluating the Company's continuing operating activities.  Management also believes that these measures are useful to both management and investors in their analysis of the Company's results of operations and provides improved comparability between fiscal periods.  Management believes that free cash flow is useful to both management and investors in their analysis of the Company's ability to service and repay its debt.  Further, management uses these non-GAAP financial measures for planning and forecasting future periods.

Core operating earnings, pretax income before restructuring costs and other special items and free cash flow should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for pretax income (loss), net income (loss), cash provided by (used in) operating activities or other statement of operations or cash flow statement data prepared in accordance with GAAP or as a measure of profitability or liquidity.  In addition, the calculation of free cash flow does not reflect cash used to service debt and, therefore, does not reflect funds available for investment or other discretionary uses.  Also, these non-GAAP financial measures, as determined and presented by the Company, may not be comparable to related or similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

For reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP, see the attached supplemental data page which, together with this press release, have been posted on the Company's website through the investor relations link at http://www.lear.com.

Given the inherent uncertainty regarding special items and other expense in any future period, a reconciliation of forward-looking financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP is not feasible.  The magnitude of these items, however, may be significant.

In connection with the Company's emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings on November 9, 2009, the Company adopted fresh-start accounting on November 7, 2009, in accordance with ASC Topic 852, "Reorganizations," which resulted in the Company being considered a new entity for financial reporting purposes.  Accordingly, the Company's financial statements after November 7, 2009, after giving effect to the adoption of fresh-start accounting (references to the Company for such periods, "Successor"), are not comparable to its financial statements for any period prior to November 7, 2009 (references to the Company for such periods, "Predecessor").  The financial information accompanying this earnings release provides Successor and Predecessor GAAP results for the applicable periods.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding anticipated financial results and liquidity.  The words "will," "may," "designed to," "outlook," "believes," "should," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "intends," "estimates" and similar expressions identify these forward-looking statements. All statements contained or incorporated in this press release which address operating performance, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates may occur in the future, including statements related to business opportunities, awarded sales contracts, sales backlog and ongoing commercial arrangements, or statements expressing views about future operating results, are forward-looking statements. Important factors, risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions in the markets in which the Company operates, including changes in interest rates or currency exchange rates, the financial condition and restructuring actions of the Company's customers and suppliers, changes in actual industry vehicle production levels from the Company's current estimates, fluctuations in the production of vehicles or the loss of business with respect to a vehicle model for which the Company is a significant supplier, disruptions in the relationships with the Company's suppliers, labor disputes involving the Company or its significant customers or suppliers or that otherwise affect the Company, the outcome of customer negotiations, the impact and timing of program launch costs, the costs, timing and success of restructuring actions, increases in the Company's warranty or product liability costs, risks associated with conducting business in foreign countries, competitive conditions impacting the Company's key customers and suppliers, the cost and availability of raw materials and energy, the Company's ability to mitigate increases in raw material, energy and commodity costs, the outcome of legal or regulatory proceedings to which the Company is or may become a party, unanticipated changes in cash flow, including the Company's ability to align its vendor payment terms with those of its customers, impairment charges initiated by adverse industry or market developments, the anticipated future performance of the Company, including, without limitation, the Company's ability to maintain or increase revenue and gross margins, control future operating expenses and make necessary capital expenditures, and other risks described from time to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.  Future operating results will be based on various factors, including actual industry production volumes, commodity prices and the Company's success in implementing its operating strategy.

This press release also makes reference to the Company's sales backlog.  The Company's sales backlog reflects anticipated net sales from formally awarded new programs and open replacement programs, less phased-out and cancelled programs.  The calculation of the sales backlog does not reflect customer price reductions on existing or newly awarded programs.  The sales backlog may be impacted by various assumptions embedded in the calculation, including vehicle production levels on new and replacement programs, foreign exchange rates and the timing of major program launches.

The forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and the Company does not assume any obligation to update, amend or clarify them to reflect events, new information or circumstances occurring after the date hereof.

Lear Corporation is one of the world's leading suppliers of automotive seating and electrical power management systems.  The Company's world-class products are designed, engineered and manufactured by a diverse team of 75,000 employees at 197 facilities in 35 countries.  Lear's headquarters are in Southfield, Michigan, and Lear is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol [LEA].  Further information about Lear is available on the internet at http://www.lear.com.

SOURCE Lear Corporation