The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

Gentex Reports Record Third Quarter Results

ZEELAND, Mich., Oct. 15, 2003 -- Gentex Corporation, the Zeeland, Michigan-based manufacturer of automatic-dimming rearview mirrors and commercial fire protection products, today reported financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2003.

The Company reported an 11 percent increase in revenues to a third-quarter record of $112.9 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2003, and a 20 percent increase in net income to a third-quarter record of $25.7 million, or 33 cents per diluted share. In the comparable 2002 quarter, the Company reported revenues of $101.5 million and net income of $21.4 million, or 28 cents per diluted share.

For the first nine months of 2003, the Company reported a 20 percent increase in revenues to a record $345.1 million, and a 26 percent increase in net income to a record $77.7 million, or $1.01 per diluted share. For the comparable 2002 period, Gentex reported revenues of $287.9 million and net income of $61.7 million, or 81 cents per diluted share.

"We had another very good quarter and are on track to deliver excellent performance for the rest of the year," said Gentex Executive Vice President Garth Deur. "During the third quarter, we demonstrated our ability to grow our auto-dimming mirror business, despite declines in light vehicle production in North America and Western Europe of about five percent each."

Deur said that he believes the Company will show mirror unit shipment growth in the fourth quarter of approximately 15 to 20 percent compared with the fourth quarter of 2002.

"Achieving that rate of growth in the fourth quarter puts us on the path to achieve a 15 percent growth rate in unit shipments for all of calendar 2003," said Deur.

The Company utilizes the light vehicle production forecasting services of J.D. Power and Associates, and its current forecasts for light vehicle production for calendar 2003 are approximately 16.0 million units for North America, 16.0 million for Western Europe and 20.3 million units for the Asia/Pacific region. For the fourth quarter of 2003, J.D. Power is forecasting light vehicle production of 4.0 million units in North America; 3.9 million units in Western Europe; and 5.1 million units in the Asia/Pacific region.

Automotive revenues increased by 11 percent to $107.0 million in the third quarter and by 21 percent to $328.1 million for the first nine months of 2003 compared with the same periods last year. Fire Protection revenues increased by six percent to $5.9 million in the third quarter and by three percent to $17.0 million for the first nine months of 2003 compared with the same prior year periods.

Night Vision Safety(TM) (NVS(R)) Mirror unit shipments to customers in North America increased by seven percent in the third quarter and by 10 percent for the first nine months of 2003 compared with the same 2002 periods. North American light vehicle production decreased by about five percent in the third quarter and four percent for the first nine months of calendar 2003 compared with the same periods last year.

Unit shipments to offshore customers increased by 19 percent in the third quarter and 23 percent for the first nine months of 2003, compared with the same periods last year. The higher growth in offshore unit shipments is primarily attributable to increased vehicle penetration in the European and Asia-Pacific regions.

Total Night Vision Safety(TM) (NVS(R)) Mirror shipments in the third quarter were approximately 2.5 million, a 12 percent increase over the approximately 2.2 million units reported in the same period last year. For the first nine months of 2003, total unit shipments reached a record 7.5 million, a 15 percent increase over the 6.5 million units shipped during the first nine months of 2002.

Certain matters discussed in this news release, including growth rate projections and estimates, are forward-looking statements which involve certain risks and uncertainties, and are subject to change based on various market, industry and other important factors. The Company cautions investors that numerous factors (some of which are outlined in the Company's Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and other interim reports) and future events may affect the Company's actual results, and may cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in this news release. Furthermore, Gentex undertakes no obligation to update, amend, or clarify forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

A conference call related to this news release will be simulcast live on the Internet beginning at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Savings Time today. To access that call, go to www.gentex.com and select "Investor Information" and "Audio Archives." Other conference calls hosted by the Company will also be available at that site in the future.

Gentex Corporation is an international company that provides high-quality products to the worldwide automotive industry and North American fire protection market.

The Company develops, manufactures and markets interior and exterior automatic-dimming automotive rearview mirrors that utilize proprietary electrochromic technology to dim in proportion to the amount of headlight glare from trailing vehicle headlamps. More than 95 percent of the Company's revenue is derived from the sale of those products to the world automotive industry.

Gentex was the first company in the world to successfully develop and produce a commercial automatic-dimming rearview mirror. After more than 15 years of supplying these products in the highly competitive global automotive industry, the Company remains the leading supplier of these mirrors. Gentex OEM customers include Acura, Audi, Bentley, BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Fiat, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Isuzu, Kia Motors, Lexus, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opel, Renault Samsung, Rover, Rolls Royce, SsangYong Motors, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo Car Corporation.

Founded in 1974, Gentex has its manufacturing facilities in Zeeland, Michigan, and automotive sales and engineering offices in Detroit, Michigan; Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, France and Korea. The Company is recognized for its quality products; for its proprietary manufacturing skills and equipment and application of world class manufacturing principles; for its commitment to developing and maintaining a highly skilled workforce, and for encouraging employee ownership of the Company's stock.

                       GENTEX CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
                   CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

                                                    (unaudited)
                                                Three Months Ended
                                                    September 30,
                                              2003                2002

  Net Sales                               $112,878,954        $101,516,275

  Costs and Expenses
    Cost of Goods Sold                      65,793,563          60,820,878
    Engineering, Research &
     Development                             6,944,138           5,974,215
    Selling, General & Administrative        5,693,743           5,142,636
    Other Expense (Income)                  (3,597,615)         (2,164,715)

  Total Costs and Expenses                  74,833,829          69,773,014

  Income Before Provision
    for Income Taxes                        38,045,125          31,743,261

  Provision for Income Taxes                12,364,000          10,316,000

  Net Income                               $25,681,125         $21,427,261

  Earnings Per Share
    Basic                                        $0.34               $0.28
    Diluted                                      $0.33               $0.28
  Weighted Average Shares:
    Basic                                   76,348,527          75,688,349
    Diluted                                 77,568,861          76,585,241

                                                   (unaudited)
                                                 Nine Months Ended
                                                   September 30,
                                              2003                2002

  Net Sales                               $345,104,850        $287,911,087

  Costs and Expenses
    Cost of Goods Sold                     201,621,876         172,959,610
    Engineering, Research &
     Development                            19,462,760          17,183,818
    Selling, General & Administrative       17,310,739          15,426,934
    Other Expense (Income)                  (8,370,527)         (9,056,029)

  Total Costs and Expenses                 230,024,848         196,514,333

  Income Before Provision
    for Income Taxes                       115,080,002          91,396,754

  Provision for Income Taxes                37,400,000          29,705,500

  Net Income                               $77,680,002         $61,691,254

  Earnings Per Share
    Basic                                        $1.02               $0.82
    Diluted                                      $1.01               $0.81
  Weighted Average Shares:
    Basic                                   76,106,950          75,379,342
    Diluted                                 77,067,148          76,521,515

                 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                                                (unaudited)
                                                  Sept 30,        Dec 31,
                                                    2003           2002
  ASSETS
  Cash and Short-Term Investments                $385,726,313  $215,650,801
  Other Current Assets                             93,416,465    61,147,608

  Total Current Assets                            479,142,778   276,798,409

  Plant and Equipment - Net                       124,947,036   124,982,665
  Long-Term Investments and Other
   Assets                                         119,094,265   207,391,593

  Total Assets                                   $723,184,079  $609,172,667

  LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS'
   INVESTMENT
  Current Liabilities                             $47,407,935   $29,060,035
  Long-Term Debt                                            0             0
  Deferred Income Taxes                            13,972,998     6,472,270
  Shareholders' Investment                        661,803,146   573,640,362

  Total Liabilities & Shareholders'
   Investment                                    $723,184,079  $609,172,667

                        NVS MIRROR UNIT SHIPMENTS
                            (Thousands)

                              Third Quarter         Nine Months Ended
                           Ended September 30,         September 30,
                         2003   2002   % Change   2003   2002   % Change
  Domestic Interior        913    843      8%     2,836  2,627      8%
  Domestic Exterior        434    412      5%     1,293  1,143     13%
  Total Domestic Units   1,348  1,256      7%     4,130  3,769     10%

  Foreign Interior         774    710      9%     2,378  2,047     16%
  Foreign Exterior         353    241     47%     1,036    723     43%
  Total Foreign Units    1,127    951     19%     3,414  2,770     23%

  Total Interior Mirrors 1,688  1,553      9%     5,215  4,674     12%
  Total Exterior Mirrors   787    653     21%     2,329  1,866     25%
  Total Mirror Units     2,475  2,206     12%     7,544  6,540     15%

Note: Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current year presentation. Amounts may not total due to rounding.

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/354175.html