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Superior Industries Reports Fourth Quarter and 2006 Results

VAN NUYS, Calif.--Superior Industries International, Inc. today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and 2006.

President and CEO Steven Borick said, "Although Superior's operating performance of 2006 did not measure up to our expectations, we made substantial progress in the multi-year restructuring program that is crucial to maintaining our leadership in the aluminum wheel business and achieving our long-term goals for growth and profitability. We have taken many decisive steps to reduce costs and realign capacity, including the closure of our chrome-plating operation in Fayetteville, Arkansas, capacity reductions at our Van Nuys, California, wheel plant, and closure of our Johnson City, Tennessee, wheel plant effective in the first quarter of 2007, and the sale of our unprofitable aluminum suspension component business.

"Construction of our newest plant in Chihuahua, Mexico, is now complete, financed entirely from operating cash flow. This new facility, the most advanced wheel casting plant in the world, was designed to accommodate the growing demand for large-diameter wheels (18 inches and over) and enhance our competitive position in this important market segment.

"We remain confident in our strategy and in Superior's future. While it will take time for Superior's financial performance to reflect the many improvements we have made and will continue to make, we have the resources and the discipline we need to work through this period of transition into a new era of global competition in the automobile industry."

Fourth Quarter Results

For the three months ended December 31, 2006, revenue increased 3.0% to $212,169,000 compared to $205,901,000 for the fourth quarter of 2005. Unit wheel shipments decreased 9.3%, which reduced capacity utilization and profitability.

The fourth quarter of 2006 was also affected by start-up costs for the company's new Chihuahua facility of $3,256,000 and restructuring expenses of $964,000. For the fourth quarter of 2005, start-up costs included in cost of goods sold amounted to $572,000.

SG&A expenses for the fourth quarter of 2006 increased to $6,818,000, which included non-cash, stock-based compensation expense of $720,000 and increases in professional fees. This compares to SG&A expenses of $5,079,000 for the fourth quarter of 2005.

For the fourth quarter of 2005, there was an impairment charge totaling $7,855,000, related to the discontinuance of our chrome-plating operation in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

The effective tax rates in the fourth quarter of both years are the result of adjusting the year-to-date September rates to those calculated for the full years 2006 and 2005. Accordingly, for the fourth quarter of 2006, the effective income tax rate on the loss from continuing operations was a tax provision of $448,000 compared to a tax provision of $1,429,000 in the same quarter a year ago. These amounts reflect changes in the annual effective tax rates for the respective fiscal year, as calculated at the end of the year, including any required changes in the fourth quarter to the company's tax reserves.

Superior's share of profits from its joint venture aluminum wheel manufacturing operation in Hungary was $2,198,000 for the fourth quarter of 2006 compared to $1,138,000 a year earlier.

Consolidated net loss from continuing operations for the fourth quarter of 2006 was $4,446,000, or $0.17 per diluted share. This compares to net income from continuing operations of $2,282,000, or $0.09 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2005. Net loss from the company's discontinued suspension components business was $381,000, or $0.01 per diluted share, for the 2006 fourth quarter. This compares to a net loss from discontinued operations for the fourth quarter of 2005 of $22,225,000, or $0.84 per diluted share, which included a pre-tax asset impairment charge of $34.0 million.

Net loss for the fourth quarter of 2006, including the impact of the items discussed above, was $4,827,000, or $0.18 per diluted share. This compares to net loss for the fourth quarter of 2005 of $19,943,000, or $0.75 per diluted share.

At December 31, 2006, working capital was approximately $233,500,000, including cash and short-term investments of approximately $78,100,000. Superior has no debt.

Twelve Months Results

For the twelve months ended December 31, 2006, revenue declined 1.8% to $789,862,000 compared to $804,161,000 for 2005. Unit wheel shipments declined 11.9%.

The year 2006 included start-up costs for the new Chihuahua facility of $10,054,000, restructuring expenses of $3,538,000, and non-cash, stock-based compensation expense of $622,000. Start-up costs for 2005 were $922,000.

SG&A expenses for 2006 increased to $25,679,000, which included non-cash, stock-based compensation expense of $2,410,000. This compares to SG&A expenses of $20,985,000 for 2005.

The company incurred a pre-tax charge of $4,470,000 in 2006 for the impairment of long-lived assets related to the planned closure of the Johnson City, Tennessee, facility. As indicated above, there was a similar impairment charge in 2005 totaling $7,855,000, related to the discontinuance of our chrome-plating operation.

The effective tax rate on the income (loss) from continuing operations for the year 2006 was a benefit of $1,534,000, or 9.5%, compared to a provision of 37.1% for the year 2005. The tax benefit in the current period included required changes in the company's tax reserves, which increased the tax benefit rate by 4.8%. Accounting judgment is required when reserving for probable disallowance of identified tax exposures, and accounting rules dictate that reserves can only be changed when substantive facts or specific events occur.

The company's share of profits from its joint venture aluminum wheel manufacturing operation in Hungary was $4,897,000 for 2006 compared to $5,176,000 for 2005.

Net loss from continuing operations for 2006 was $9,578,000, or $0.36 per diluted share. This compares to net income from continuing operations for 2005 of $20,750,000, or $0.78 per diluted share. Income from the company's discontinued suspension components operations in 2006 was $257,000, or $0.01 per diluted share, compared to a loss from discontinued operations in 2005 of $27,811,000, or $1.05 per diluted share, including the pre-tax asset impairment charge of $34.0 million.

Net loss for 2006 was $9,321,000, or $0.35 per diluted share. This compares to net loss for 2005 of $5,836,000, or $0.22 per diluted share, which included income for the cumulative effect of the change in accounting principle of $1,225,000, or $0.05 per diluted share.

Conference Call

Superior will host a conference call beginning at 10:00 a.m. PDT (1:00 p.m. EDT) today that will be broadcast on the company's website, www.supind.com. Investors, analysts, stockholders, news media and the general public are invited to listen to the web cast. The web cast replay will be available at this same Internet address approximately one hour after the conclusion of the conference call.

In addition to reviewing the company's fourth quarter and 2006 results, during the conference call the company plans to discuss other financial and operating matters. Additionally, the answers to questions posed to management during the call might disclose additional material information.

About Superior Industries

Superior supplies aluminum wheels to Ford, General Motors, DaimlerChrysler, Audi, BMW, Isuzu, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mazda, MG Rover, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota and Volkswagen. For additional information, visit www.supind.com.

SUPERIOR INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
 
Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
   

December 31,

 

December 31,

    2006    2005    2006    2005 
 
Net Sales $ 212,169  $ 205,901  $ 789,862  $ 804,161 
Costs and Expenses
Cost of Sales 213,117  191,254  781,122  755,337 
Selling and Administrative Expenses 6,818  5,079  25,679  20,985 
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets     117      7,855      4,470      7,855 
Income (Loss) From Operations (7,883) 1,713  (21,409) 19,984 
 
Interest Income, net 1,413  1,485  5,589  5,329 
Other Income (Expense), Net     246      (656)     (268)     (588)
 
Income (Loss) From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes and Equity Earnings
(6,224) 2,542  (16,088) 24,725 
Income Tax Benefit (Provision) (448) (1,429) 1,534  (9,181)
Equity in Earnings of Joint Ventures     2,226      1,169      4,976      5,206 
 
Net Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations $ (4,446) $ 2,282  $ (9,578) $ 20,750 
Discontinued Operations, Net of Taxes (381) (22,225) 257  (27,811)
Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle     -          -      1,225 
 
Net Loss   $ (4,827)   $ (19,943)   $ (9,321)   $ (5,836)
 
Earnings (Loss) Per Share - Basic:
Net Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations $ (0.17) $ 0.09  $ (0.36) $ 0.78 
Discontinued Operations (0.01) (0.84) 0.01  (1.05)
Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle     -          -      0.05 
Net Loss   $ (0.18)   $ (0.75)   $ (0.35)   $ (0.22)
 
Earnings (Loss) Per Share - Diluted:
Net Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations $ (0.17) $ 0.09  $ (0.36) $ 0.78 
Discontinued Operations (0.01) (0.84) 0.01  (1.05)
Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle     -          -      0.05 
Net Loss   $ (0.18)   $ (0.75)   $ (0.35)   $ (0.22)
 
Weighted Average and Equivalent Shares Outstanding for Earnings Per Share:
 
Basic 26,610,000  26,610,000  26,610,000  26,614,000 
Diluted     26,610,000      26,612,000      26,610,000      26,620,000 
SUPERIOR INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
(Dollars in Thousands)
 

December 31,

    2006    2005 
 
Current Assets $ 346,595  $ 359,740 
Property, Plant and Equipment, net 310,414  292,289 
Investments and Other Assets     55,007      67,450 
    $ 712,016    $ 719,479 
 
Current Liabilities $ 113,113  $ 110,634 
Long-Term Liabilities 40,456  30,697 
Shareholders' Equity     558,447      578,148 
    $ 712,016    $ 719,479