Prestolite Electric Reports First Quarter Results
29 May 1998
Prestolite Electric Reports First Quarter ResultsANN ARBOR, Mich., May 28 -- Prestolite Electric Incorporated and its parent, PEI Holding, Inc. announced recently consolidated first quarter sales of $74.5 million and operating income of $1.6 million. Operating income before option repurchase and redundancy costs was $4.7 million. Sales rose 68% from the first quarter of 1997 because of the January 1998 acquisition from LucasVarity plc. of three business units (located in the United Kingdom, Argentina, and South Africa). The acquisition, repayment of existing debt, and repurchase of shares, options and warrants were funded by the proceeds of a $125 million senior note offering placed in January. In conjunction with the acquisition, refinancing, and securities repurchase, the Company recorded a $2.1 million charge for option repurchase costs, a $1.0 million restructuring as charge for actions to be taken at an existing company facility, and a $1.3 million net-of-tax extraordinary item related to the prepayment of existing debt and the redemption of warrants. Those charges caused a net loss for the quarter of $2.3 million compared to net income of $1.2 million for the first quarter of 1997. Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) and before restructuring and option repurchase charges for the quarter totaled $7.8 million, an increase of 67% from the first quarter of 1997. With the operations acquired from Lucas included on a pro forma basis, first quarter 1997 sales and EBITDA (before redundancy charges) would have been $74.5 million and $6.0 million, respectively. While sales equaled those of the pro forma first quarter of 1997, EBITDA increased 30%. Commenting on the results, president and chief executive officer Kim Packard stated, "We are pleased with our performance in the first quarter and with the businesses we acquired from LucasVarity in January. While we have not yet seen significant benefit from the cost reductions being implemented in those operations or from the synergy that the acquired units have with existing Prestolite operations, we are confident that the acquisition will benefit the Company in many ways." Prestolite Electric Incorporated manufactures alternators, starter motors, direct current motors, battery chargers and switching devices. These are supplied under the Prestolite, Leece-Neville, and Butec brand names for original equipment and aftermarket application on a variety of vehicles and industrial equipment. The equity of the company is owned by Genstar Capital Corporation and management. EBITDA is a widely accepted financial indicator of a company's ability to service debt, but is not calculated the same by all companies. EBITDA should not be considered by an investor as an alternative to net income as an indicator of a company's operating performance or as an alternative to cash flow as a measure of liquidity. This release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties regarding the anticipated financial and operating results of the Company. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this release. The Company's actual results may differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, the Company. PEI Holding, Inc. doing business as Prestolite Electric Incorporated Consolidated Unaudited Financial Highlights (In thousands of dollars) For the three months ended April 4 April 5 April 5 1998 1997 1997* Net Sales $74,525 $44,302 $74,521 Cost of Goods Sold 60,031 35,346 60,420 Gross Profit 14,494 8,956 14,101 Selling, General, and Administrative 9,806 5,629 10,799 Costs Associated with Option Repurchase 2,101 - - Restructuring and Redundancy 980 - 261 Operating Income 1,607 3,327 3,041 Other (Income) Expense (86) 20 (74) Interest Expense 3,281 1,433 3,160 Income from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes and Extraordinary Item (1,588) 1,874 (45) Provision for Income Taxes (606) 747 413 Income from Continuing Operations (982) 1,127 (458) Income from Discontinued Operation, net - 26 26 Extraordinary Item 1,275 - - Net Income (Loss) $(2,257) $1,153 $(432) Operating Income $1,607 $3,327 $3,041 Costs Associated with Option Repurchase 2,101 - - Restructuring and Redundancy 980 - 261 Other (Income) Expense 86 (20) 74 Depreciation 2,784 1,201 2,483 Amortization 208 153 116 EBITDA Before Redundancy $7,766 $4,661 $5,975 * Pro forma as though the acquisition of three businesses from Lucas Industries had occurred at the beginning of 1997.