Standard Motor Products, Inc. Announces First Quarter 2011 Results and a Quarterly Dividend

NEW YORK, May 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Standard Motor Products, Inc. (NYSE: SMP), an automotive replacement parts manufacturer and distributor, reported today its consolidated financial results for the three months ending March 31, 2011.

Consolidated net sales for the first quarter of 2011 were $220.2 million, compared to consolidated net sales of $179.4 million during the comparable quarter in 2010.  Earnings from continuing operations for the first quarter of 2011 were $7 million or 31 cents per diluted share, compared to $2.9 million or 13 cents per diluted share in the first quarter of 2010. Excluding non-operational gains and losses identified on the attached reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP measures, earnings from continuing operations for the first quarter of 2011 were $7.1 million or 31 cents per diluted share, compared to $3.1 million or 14 cents per diluted share in the first quarter of 2010.

Commenting on the results, Mr. Lawrence I. Sills, Standard Motor Products' Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We were pleased to see that our strong results from 2010 carried forward through the first quarter of 2011. Sales were 22% ahead of the prior year, and earnings per share, aided by our continued efforts in cost control, more than doubled, from 14 cents to 31 cents.

"Most of the sales increase results from strong demand for our products from all channels of distribution. We believe that some of the increase, however, can be attributed to increases in customer inventories and to pre-season ordering in our Temperature Control business. As a result, we anticipate that the rate of sales increase will moderate somewhat as the year progresses. However, the overall market conditions for our product lines appear quite healthy.

"Last week, we announced the acquisition of the Engine Controls business of BLD Products, LTD., a subsidiary of Qualitor, Inc. for approximately $27 million. BLD is a basic manufacturer of a range of Engine Management products, with sales in 2010 of approximately $18 million. Sales to Standard accounted for approximately 40% of the 2010 volume. With this acquisition, we will now be a basic low cost manufacturer in an important and growing part of the business. We plan to relocate the bulk of the manufacturing to our facilities in Reynosa, Mexico and Independence, Kansas.  Excluding these one-time move costs, we believe the business will be accretive to earnings in the first year.

"On April 15 we redeemed the remaining $12.3 million of our convertible debentures. As this carried a 15% coupon, we anticipate annualized interest savings of approximately $1.5 million based on current Libor rates.

"Our total debt at March 31, after reflecting the $27 million acquisition, was approximately $100 million. We are very comfortable with our debt to equity ratio at roughly 45% and still have in excess of $100 million borrowing capacity under our revolving credit facility."

The Board of Directors has approved payment of a quarterly dividend of seven cents per share on the common stock outstanding. The dividend will be paid on June 1, 2011 to stockholders of record on May 16, 2011.

Standard Motor Products, Inc. will hold a conference call at 11:00 AM, Eastern Time, on Wednesday, May 4, 2011.  The dial in number is 800-895-0198 (domestic) or 785-424-1053 (international). The playback number is 800-677-7320 (domestic) or 402-220-0666 (international). The conference ID # is STANDARD.

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 are those 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.

SOURCE Standard Motor Products, Inc.