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Standard Motor Products, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2003 Results

NEW YORK--March 8, 2004--Standard Motor Products, Inc. , an automotive replacement parts manufacturer and distributor, reported today its financial results for the three months and for the year ended December 31, 2003.

Consolidated net sales for the fourth quarter of 2003 were $162.5 million, compared to consolidated net sales of $107.9 million during the comparable quarter in 2002. Losses from continuing operations for the fourth quarter of 2003 were $5.5 million or 29 cents per diluted share, compared to $8.1 million or 68 cents per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2002.

Consolidated net sales for 2003 were $678.8 million, compared to consolidated net sales of $598.4 million in 2002. Earnings from continuing operations for 2003 were $224,000 or 1 cent per diluted share, compared to $6.1 million or 51 cents per diluted share in 2002.

Commenting on the results, Mr. Lawrence Sills, Standard Motor Products Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, "The net sales increase in the fourth quarter of 2003 was related to the previously announced acquisition of Dana Corporation's Engine Management Division (DEM), effective as of June 30, 2003. Net sales generated in the fourth quarter and the second half of 2003 from DEM were $57.2 million and $115.5 million, respectively. Since the fourth quarter has the fewest selling days of any quarter and based on current expectations, we continue to forecast the DEM volume at approximately $250 million annually."

"Our core Engine Management net sales, excluding DEM, were flat in the fourth quarter and down a modest 1.4% for the year. This decline would have been mitigated if we had implemented normal price level increases in 2003, and in early 2004 we have begun implementing price increases. In our Temperature Control business, net sales were down slightly for the fourth quarter and down $35.5 million or 13.9% for the year, the result of the loss of AutoZone's business and the very cool summer season. "

Mr. Sills added, "Our operating margins were negatively impacted in the fourth quarter and year-to-date by the lower margins on the DEM acquisition and certain transition costs while reducing redundancies. Due to our reduced Temperature Control volume for the year, we provided an incremental $2 million inventory reserve in the fourth quarter based on our inventory agings. In addition, selling, general and administrative expenses in 2003 included $4.8 million of integration and restructuring costs for DEM and other SMP facilities."

Looking forward, Mr. Sills added, "The DEM acquisition in 2003 was strategic and continues to be our primary focus entering 2004. The critical goals we established for a successful integration were to (a) maintain the DEM customer base, (b) reduce excess capacity by closing seven of the nine acquired facilities in a 12 to 18 month timeframe (c) complete the transition for $30-35 million during this period in restructuring and integration costs, and (d) achieve $50-55 million in estimated annual savings. I am pleased to report we are on target for meeting all of these goals. Based on our current expectations, we believe that the benefits from the above savings will materialize as we progress throughout 2004 and the full extent of the anticipated $40-45 million operating profit should be achieved in 2005."

Standard Motor Products will hold a conference call at 11:00 AM Eastern Time, on Monday, March 8, 2004. The dial in number is 800-362-0571 and the ID number is STANDARD. A replay of the call will be available on March 8 through March 15 at 12:00 midnight. The playback number is 888-276-5302 (toll free) and the international number is 402-220-2331.

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, and 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.

                     STANDARD MOTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
                 Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)


                         THREE MONTHS ENDED      TWELVE MONTHS ENDED
                            DECEMBER 31,            DECEMBER 31,
                          2003        2002        2003        2002
                       ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------

NET SALES                $162,454    $107,856    $678,783    $598,437

COST OF SALES             124,329      78,729     504,011     440,893
                       ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------

GROSS PROFIT               38,125      29,127     174,772     157,544

SELLING, GENERAL &
 ADMINISTRATIVE
 EXPENSES                  42,584      33,639     158,147     132,476
                       ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------

OPERATING INCOME
 (LOSS)                    (4,459)     (4,512)     16,625      25,068

OTHER INCOME
 (EXPENSE), NET              (199)      1,462      (1,287)      3,187

INTEREST EXPENSE            3,631       3,367      13,907      14,244
                       ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------

EARNINGS (LOSS) FROM
 CONTINUING OPERATIONS
 BEFORE TAXES              (8,289)     (6,417)      1,431      14,011

INCOME TAX EXPENSE         (2,778)      1,670       1,207       7,920
                       ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------

EARNINGS (LOSS) FROM
 CONTINUING OPERATIONS     (5,511)     (8,087)        224       6,091

LOSS FROM DISCONTINUED
 OPERATION, NET OF TAX       (370)       (254)     (1,742)    (18,297)
                       ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------

LOSS BEFORE CUMULATIVE
 EFFECT OF ACCOUNTING
 CHANGE                    (5,881)     (8,341)     (1,518)    (12,206)

CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF
 ACCOUNTING CHANGE, NET
 OF TAX                         -           -           -     (18,350)
                       ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------

NET LOSS                  $(5,881)    $(8,341)    $(1,518)   $(30,556)
                       =========== =========== =========== ===========




NET EARNING (LOSS) PER
 COMMON SHARE:

   BASIC EARNINGS
    (LOSS) FROM
    CONTINUING
    OPERATIONS             $(0.29)     $(0.68)      $0.01       $0.51
   DISCONTINUED
    OPERATION               (0.02)      (0.02)      (0.11)      (1.54)
   CUMULATIVE EFFECT
    OF ACCOUNTING
    CHANGE                      -           -           -       (1.54)
                       ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
   NET LOSS PER COMMON
    SHARE - BASIC          $(0.31)     $(0.70)     $(0.10)     $(2.57)
                       =========== =========== =========== ===========


   DILUTED EARNINGS
    (LOSS) FROM
    CONTINUING
    OPERATIONS             $(0.29)     $(0.68)      $0.01       $0.51
   DISCONTINUED
    OPERATION               (0.02)      (0.02)      (0.11)      (1.52)
   CUMULATIVE EFFECT
    OF ACCOUNTING
    CHANGE                      -           -           -       (1.53)
                       ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
   NET LOSS PER COMMON
    SHARE - DILUTED        $(0.31)     $(0.70)     $(0.10)     $(2.54)
                       =========== =========== =========== ===========


WEIGHTED AVERAGE
 NUMBER OF COMMON
 SHARES                19,201,608  11,957,009  15,744,930  11,914,968
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER
 OF COMMON SHARES AND
 DILUTIVE SHARES       19,201,608  11,957,009  15,793,008  12,008,496




                        STANDARD MOTOR PRODUCTS
                CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS
                        (Dollars in thousands)

                                ASSETS
                                                  Dec. 31,   Dec. 31,
                                                    2003       2002

                                                  ---------  ---------

Cash                                               $19,647     $9,690
Marketable securities                                    -      7,200

Accounts receivable, gross                         180,182    122,526
Allowance for doubtful accounts                      5,009      4,882
                                                  ---------  ---------
Accounts receivable, net                           175,173    117,644

Inventories                                        254,904    174,785
Other current assets                                19,400     19,041

                                                  ---------  ---------
Total current assets                               469,124    328,360
                                                  ---------  ---------

Property, plant and equipment, net                 112,549    103,822
Goodwill                                            68,921     16,683
Other assets                                        43,109     41,893

                                                  ---------  ---------
Total assets                                      $693,703   $490,758
                                                  =========  =========



                 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY


Notes payable                                      $99,699    $79,618
Current portion of long term debt                    3,354      4,108
Accounts payable trade                              58,029     35,744
Accrued customer returns                            24,115     16,341
Restructuring accrual                               16,000          -
Other current liabilities                           74,819     51,866

                                                  ---------  ---------
Total current liabilities                          276,016    187,677
                                                  ---------  ---------

Long-term debt                                     114,757     93,191
Accrued asbestos liabilities                        24,426     25,595
Restructuring accrual                               15,615          -
Postretirement & other liabilities                  36,848     30,414

                                                  ---------  ---------
Total liabilities                                  467,662    336,877
                                                  ---------  ---------

Total stockholders' equity                         226,041    153,881

                                                  ---------  ---------
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity        $693,703   $490,758
                                                  =========  =========