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Aftermarket Technology Corp. Reports Third Quarter 2003 Results

-- Consistent with Revised Guidance

WESTMONT, Ill., Oct. 28 -- Aftermarket Technology Corp. , today reported financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2003.

Third Quarter

Third quarter 2003 net sales decreased to $84.3 million from $110.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2002. Consistent with recent Company guidance, adjusted income from continuing operations decreased to $4.6 million from $12.1 million in the same period in 2002. Adjusted income from continuing operations per diluted share was $0.19 for the third quarter compared to $0.49 for the three months ended September 30, 2002.

On a Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) basis, income from continuing operations decreased $9.5 million to $3.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2003 from $13.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2002. On a GAAP basis, income from continuing operations per diluted share was $0.16 for the three months ended September 30, 2003 as compared to $0.54 for the three months ended September 30, 2002. Included in the results for the three months ended September 30, 2003 is a charge of $0.7 million (net of tax) primarily related to the closure of the Company's transmission remanufacturing facility located in Mahwah, New Jersey. Included in the results for the three months ended September 30, 2002 is $1.1 million (net of tax), of non-operating income items primarily related to income tax refunds and associated interest income and $0.2 million (net of tax) of income for an adjustment to special charges.

The decrease in adjusted earnings is due primarily to previously announced price concessions to key customers in support of longer term contract extensions and lower sales of remanufactured transmissions resulting from changes in the OEMs' warranty repair policies.

Management Comment

In commenting on the quarter's results, Mike DuBose, Chairman, President and CEO said, "We experienced a decline in third quarter earnings due to lower sales in our Drivetrain segment and strategic pricing concessions to key customers associated with longer term contracts. However, we are pleased with the win of Cingular Wireless Services as a customer in our logistics business and with the continued penetration of the independent aftermarket with remanufactured transmissions as well as continued opportunities in the base remanufacturing business."

"As we look ahead to the fourth quarter, we should recognize cost-savings attributable to our on-going lean and continuous improvement initiatives. By the end of the quarter, we should also begin to recognize the savings associated with the consolidation of our Mahwah and Oklahoma City facilities. During the quarter, we expect to benefit from seasonal volume increases in our Logistics segment, the launch of our new cell phone test and repair services, the launch of our new business with Cingular and the start of the previously delayed 2001 model year product launch by Chrysler. As we previously committed, we are finalizing our business plans for 2004 and will provide guidance in early December."

The Company announced fourth quarter adjusted diluted EPS is now projected to be in the $0.17-$0.22 range ($0.12-$0.18 on a GAAP basis) and full year adjusted EPS is projected in the range of $1.05-$1.10 ($0.94-$1.00 on a GAAP basis).

The Company will host a conference call on Wednesday, October 29, 2003 at 9:00 AM CENTRAL time to discuss details of the press release. The conference call number is 800-683-1585. Ask for the Aftermarket Technology Corp. call. Subsequent to the call, a replay will be available for one week. The dial-in number for the replay is 877-519-4471. The access code is 4263909.

For further information, please see the Company's most recent Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

ATC is headquartered in Westmont, Illinois. The Company's operations include drivetrain remanufacturing, third party logistics, electronics remanufacturing and reverse logistics services.

                         AFTERMARKET TECHNOLOGY CORP.
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                    (In thousands, except per share data)

                                         For the three       For the nine
                                         months ended        months ended
                                         September 30,       September 30,
                                        2003      2002      2003      2002
                                          (Unaudited)         (Unaudited)

  Net sales:
    Products                           $64,902  $81,369  $215,664  $227,018
    Services                            19,433   29,208    63,818    85,531
       Total net sales                  84,335  110,577   279,482   312,549

  Cost of sales
    Products                            52,579   59,526   168,389   162,373
    Products - special charges               -        -       200         -
    Services                             9,675   13,518    31,325    42,052
       Total cost of sales              62,254   73,044   199,914   204,425

  Gross profit                          22,081   37,533    79,568   108,124

  Selling, general and administrative
   expense                              13,580   16,602    41,421    47,453
  Amortization of intangible assets         83       84       250       250
  Special charges (credits)              1,126     (277)    1,857      (277)

  Income from operations                 7,292   21,124    36,040    60,698

  Interest income                          718      987     2,119     2,048
  Other income, net                         20       14        50        89
  Equity in income (losses) of investee     52      (76)      165      (195)
  Redemption of senior notes (1)             -        -         -    (3,022)
  Termination of credit facility (1)         -        -         -    (1,480)
  Interest expense                      (1,941)  (2,367)   (6,277)   (9,845)

  Income from continuing operations
   before income taxes                   6,141   19,682    32,097    48,293

  Income tax expense                     2,272    6,251    11,876    16,874

  Income from continuing operations      3,869   13,431    20,221    31,419

  Gain from discontinued operations,
   net of income taxes                       -      275         -       275

  Net income                            $3,869  $13,706   $20,221   $31,694

  Per common share - basic:
    Income from continuing operations    $0.16    $0.55     $0.84     $1.35
    Gain from discontinued operations        -     0.01         -      0.01

    Net income                           $0.16    $0.56     $0.84     $1.36

  Weighted average number of common
   shares outstanding                   24,213   24,361    24,212    23,221

  Per common share - diluted:
    Income from continuing operations    $0.16    $0.54     $0.83     $1.31
    Gain from discontinued operations        -     0.01         -      0.01

    Net income                           $0.16    $0.55     $0.83     $1.32

  Weighted average number of common
   and common equivalent shares
   outstanding                          24,483   24,851    24,466    23,967

   (1) On January 1, 2003, we adopted Statement of Financial Accounting
       Standards No. 145 and reclassified from extraordinary items to income
       from continuing operations before income taxes (i) a call premium and
       write-off of previously capitalized debt issuance costs totaling
       $3,022, or $1,900 net of income tax benefits of $1,122, in connection
       with the redemption of our 12% Series B and D Senior Subordinated
       Notes made during the three months ended June 30, 2002 and (ii) the
       write-off of previously capitalized debt issuance costs of $1,480, or
       $928 net of income tax benefits of $552, in connection with the
       termination of our old credit facility during the three months ended
       March 31, 2002.

                        AFTERMARKET TECHNOLOGY CORP.

 Reconciliation of certain financial measures reported in accordance with

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") to those presented on the

  basis of methodologies other than in accordance with GAAP ("non-GAAP")
                   (In millions, except per share data)

                                           For the three     For the nine
                                           months ended      months ended
                                           September 30,     September 30,
                                           2003     2002     2003     2002

  Income from operations (GAAP basis)      $7.3    $21.1    $36.0    $60.7

  Special Charges (Credits):
  Facilities consolidation costs  (a)       0.9       -       1.8       -
  Logistics segment cost reduction
   programs  (b)                            0.1       -       0.2       -
  Management de-layering & upgrades (c)     0.1     (0.1)     0.1     (0.1)
  Non-income related state taxes (d)         -        -        -      (0.8)
  Electronic control module product
   line termination (e)                      -      (0.2)      -      (0.2)
  Retroactive 1998 & 1999 insurance
   premium adjustment (f)                    -        -        -       0.8

  Total Special Charges (Credits)           1.1     (0.3)     2.1     (0.3)

  Adjusted Income from operations
   (non-GAAP basis)                         8.4     20.8     38.1     60.4

  Depreciation and amortization             2.9      2.7      8.7      7.7
  Other income, net                         0.1       -       0.2     (0.1)

  Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP basis)         11.4     23.5     47.0     68.0

  Special charges (credits)                (1.1)     0.3     (2.1)     0.3
  Redemption of senior notes  (g)            -        -        -      (3.0)
  Termination of credit facility  (h)        -        -        -      (1.5)
  Depreciation and amortization            (2.9)    (2.7)    (8.7)    (7.7)
  Interest expense                         (1.9)    (2.4)    (6.3)    (9.8)
  Interest income                           0.7      1.0      2.1      2.0
  Income tax expense                       (2.3)    (6.3)   (11.8)   (16.9)

  Income from continuing operations
   (GAAP basis)                             3.9     13.4     20.2     31.4

  Special charges (credits), net of tax     0.7     (0.2)     1.3     (0.2)
  Redemption of senior notes, net of tax     -        -        -       1.9
  Termination of credit facility, net
   of tax                                    -        -        -       0.9
  Interest income related to tax
   refunds, net of tax  (i)                  -      (0.2)      -      (0.2)
  Interest expense adjustment, net of
   tax  (j)                                  -      (0.1)      -      (0.1)
  Adjustments to income tax expense (k)      -      (0.8)      -      (0.8)

  Adjusted Income from continuing
   operations (non-GAAP basis)             $4.6    $12.1    $21.5    $32.9

  Earnings Per Diluted Share:

  Income from continuing operations
   (GAAP basis)                           $0.16    $0.54    $0.83    $1.31

  Special charges (credits), net of tax    0.03    (0.01)    0.05    (0.01)
  Redemption of senior notes, net of
   tax                                      -        -        -       0.08
  Termination of credit facility, net
   of tax                                   -        -        -       0.04
  Interest income related to tax
   refunds, net of tax                      -      (0.01)     -      (0.01)
  Interest expense adjustment, net of
   tax                                      -        -        -      (0.01)
  Adjustments to income tax expense         -      (0.03)     -      (0.03)

  Adjusted Income from continuing
   operations (non-GAAP basis)            $0.19    $0.49    $0.88    $1.37

  Diluted Shares Outstanding             24,483   24,851   24,466   23,967

  Free Cash Flow:
  Net cash provided by operating
   activities - continuing operations
   (GAAP basis)                           $11.1    $23.4    $36.2    $55.1

  Purchases of property, plant and
   equipment                               (2.6)    (3.2)   (11.1)   (10.5)

  Free cash flow  (non - GAAP basis)       $8.5    $20.2    $25.1    $44.6

                       AFTERMARKET TECHNOLOGY CORP.
 Reconciliation of certain financial measures reported in accordance with

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") to those presented on the

  basis of methodologies other than in accordance with GAAP ("non-GAAP")

                                                  Projected (2)

                                         For The Three      For The Twelve
                                          Months Ended       Months Ended
                                       December 31, 2003  December 31, 2003

                                            Range               Range
  Earnings Per Diluted Share:
                                         Low     High        Low     High

  Net income (GAAP basis)               $0.12    $0.18      $0.94    $1.00

  Special Charges, net of tax (1)        0.05     0.04       0.11     0.10

  Adjusted Net income (non-GAAP basis)  $0.17    $0.22      $1.05    $1.10

  (1) Primarily reflects estimated severance, asset write-downs and
  facility exit costs associated with the closure of our Mahwah, New Jersey
  transmission remanufacturing facility.

  (2) Reflects management's guidance as of 10/28/03.

                       AFTERMARKET TECHNOLOGY CORP.

  Footnotes for reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures:

  (a) On June 23, 2003, we announced the consolidation of our transmission
  remanufacturing facility in Mahwah, New Jersey into our facility in
  Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  As part of this activity we recorded special
  charges totaling $0.9 million during the three months ended September 30,
  2003, which included $0.6 million of exit and other costs primarily
  associated with the transfer of production to the Oklahoma facility and
  $0.3 million of severance and related costs.  For the nine months ended
  September 30, 2003, we recorded special charges totaling $1.8 million
  which included expense items of (i) $1.1 million of exit and other costs
  primarily associated with the transfer of production to the Oklahoma
  facility, (ii) $1.0 million for severance and related costs and (iii) $0.2
  million for the write-down of inventory, partially offset by an income
  item of $0.5 million for the reversal of a special charge accrual
  established in 2001 for expected idle capacity costs at our Mahwah
  facility that was no longer needed due to the exit from this facility.

  (b) Includes severance and related costs, exit costs and the write-off of
  certain fixed assets as part of our cost reduction programs within our
  Logistics segment.

  (c) Primarily related to severance and related costs associated with the
  reorganization, upgrade and de-layering of certain management functions.

  (d) Represents a gain for the partial reversal of a  previously
  established provision related to the Drivetrain Remanufacturing segment
  for a potential non-income state tax liability whose maximum exposure has
  been reduced.

  (e) Primarily related to the partial reversal of a provision previously
  established for the asset write-downs related to the shut-down of our
  remanufactured automotive electronic modules operation where actual
  recoveries from the sales of assets were favorable to original estimates.

  (f) Represents a special charge recorded in 2002 related to the Drivetrain
  Remanufacturing segment for a retroactive insurance premium adjustment
  related to 1998 and 1999 self-insured workers compensation claims.

  (g) Represents a charge for a call premium and write-off of previously
  capitalized debt issuance costs incurred in connection with the redemption
  of our 12% Series B and D Senior Subordinated Notes made during the three
  months ended June 30, 2002, which has been reclassified from an
  extraordinary item to income from continuing operations before income
  taxes due to the January 1, 2003 adoption of Statement of Financial
  Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 145.

  (h) Represents a charge for the write-off of previously capitalized debt
  issuance costs incurred in connection with the termination of our old
  credit facility during the three months ended March 31, 2002, which has
  been reclassified from an extraordinary item to income from continuing
  operations before income taxes due to the January 1, 2003 adoption of SFAS
  No. 145.

  (i) Represents a gain recorded in 2002 for interest income from income tax
  refunds received during 2002.

  (j) Represents a gain recorded in 2002 for an adjustment to interest
  expense related to deferred compensation payments made during 2002
  associated with the 1997 ATS acquisition.

  (k) Represents a gain of $0.8 million ($0.03 per diluted share) recorded
  during the three months ended September 30, 2002 for an adjustment to
  income tax expense for income tax refunds recorded in 2002.

  Explanation of non-GAAP financial measures:
  The Company reports its financial results of operations in accordance with
  generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP").  The Company also
  provides non-GAAP financial information to complement its consolidated
  financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP.  This press
  release includes such non-GAAP financial measures.  A "non-GAAP financial
  measure" is defined as a numerical measure of the Company's financial
  performance, financial position or cash flows that excludes (or includes)
  amounts that are included in (or excluded from) the most directly
  comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP in the
  Company's financial statements.

  Following is a description of the various non-GAAP financial measures used
  by the Company:

  Adjusted Income from Operations:  Represents income from operations (GAAP
  basis) adjusted to exclude special charges (credits).  Each specific item
  is described in the footnotes to the schedule that reconciles the GAAP to
  non-GAAP financial measures.

  Adjusted EBITDA:  EBITDA is defined by the Company as income from
  continuing operations (GAAP basis) adjusted to exclude interest income and
  expense, depreciation and amortization expense, and income tax expense.
  Adjusted EBITDA also excludes special charges (credits) and other unusual
  items of income or expense as determined by management.  Each specific
  item is described in the footnotes to the schedule that reconciles the
  GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures.

  Adjusted Income From Continuing Operations:  Represents income from
  continuing operations (GAAP basis) adjusted to exclude, on an after-tax
  basis, special charges (credits) and other unusual items of income or
  expense as determined by management.  Each specific item is described in
  the footnotes to the schedule that reconciles the GAAP to non-GAAP
  financial measures.

  Adjusted Income From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share:  Represents
  income from continuing operations per diluted share (GAAP basis) adjusted
  to exclude, on an after-tax basis per diluted share, special charges
  (credits) and other unusual items of income or expense as determined by
  management.  Each specific item is described in the footnotes to the
  schedule that reconciles the GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures.

  Free Cash Flow:  Represents net cash provided by operating activities _
  continuing operations reduced by purchases of property, plant and
  equipment.

  The Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide management
  and investors with useful information by removing the effect of variances
  in GAAP reported results that are not indicative of fundamental changes in
  the earnings capacity of the Company's operations, and enables management
  and investors to meaningfully trend, analyze and benchmark the performance
  of the Company's operations.  The Company also believes that the
  presentation of the non-GAAP financial measure is consistent with its past
  practice and enables management and investors to compare current non-GAAP
  measures with non-GAAP measures presented in prior periods.

  In addition, many of the Company's internal performance measures exclude
  the effects of these income and expense items and are based upon the
  related non-GAAP financial measure.

  The Company's non-GAAP financial measures may vary from similar titled
  measures of other companies because of differences in the way the measures
  are calculated and therefore should not be used to compare the Company's
  performance to that of other companies.

  Whenever the Company presents non-GAAP financial measures, a
  reconciliation to the most directly comparable financial measure
  calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP is made available.  The
  non-GAAP financial measures used by the Company are not intended to
  supercede or replace the Company's GAAP results or expectations.