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Modine Reports Third-Quarter Results in Line With Expectations

17 January 2001

Modine Reports Third-Quarter Results in Line With Expectations

    RACINE, Wis.--Jan. 17, 2001--Modine Manufacturing Company today reported third-quarter results that were consistent with projections made on Nov. 30, 2000.
    For the period ended Dec. 26, sales of $252 million were down 11 percent from the prior year and earnings of $6 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, declined 62 percent. The company's most recent forecast projected quarterly sales and earnings to decrease 10-13 percent and 55-65 percent, respectively. Net earnings in the current quarter were also impacted negatively by $3 million in nonrecurring, pre-tax charges related to exiting an unprofitable product line in Europe and severance charges related to staff reductions in North America.
    On Nov. 30, Modine revised its outlook for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2001. The new forecast estimated annual sales to be 7- to 10-percent lower and earnings 25- to 30-percent below the previous year. The primary factors behind the revised projection included: a sharply lower heavy-truck market; slowing light-vehicle sales plus a delay in the startup of a new business program; continued softness in the North American aftermarket; and protracted weakness in the Euro versus the U.S. dollar. With the exception of the Euro, which recently has strengthened somewhat, there have been no appreciable changes in these external market forces, and Modine anticipates similar market conditions to prevail for the balance of this fiscal year.
    Although worldwide sales to off-highway and building-HVAC (heating, ventilating, air-conditioning) customers rose in the quarter, these increases were not sufficient to offset lower sales to truck and auto OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and to the automotive aftermarket. In addition, volume increases in Europe were more than offset by the continuing strength of the U.S. dollar. The currency translation effect in the quarter reduced revenues by $20 million and earnings by four cents per share.
    Both cost of sales and SG&A (selling, general & administrative) expenses were down in absolute terms compared with the prior year's third quarter even though both increased slightly on a relative basis due to a greater reduction in sales in the current quarter. Modine also experienced significantly higher effective tax rates in the current period compared with the year before, related to changes in tax-loss carryforwards at a foreign subsidiary. The difference was due primarily to a one-time adjustment, increasing taxes by $1 million in the current period, compared with a tax reduction amounting to $4 million last year.
    Nine-month sales of $809 million were down five percent and earnings of $43 million, or $1.46 per diluted share, decreased 15 percent. Sales would have been $45 million higher without the impact of a stronger U.S. dollar, which also reduced consolidated earnings by ten cents per diluted share.
    Despite the lower earnings, year-to-date operating cash flows of $115 million were at record levels, having increased $56 million over the same period the year before, due primarily to working-capital reductions. Year-to-date capital expenditures were 26 percent below spending levels in the prior period. Inventories were down more than 16 percent from the same time last year. Total debt to equity decreased to 33 percent from 49 percent the year before.
    On Dec. 14, Modine announced its entry into the fastest-growing segment of the electronics-cooling market through the proposed acquisition of Thermacore International, Inc. Thermacore provides customized thermal-management solutions for high-end servers, telecommunications equipment, and other electronics applications. The total transaction of $110 million will be accounted for as a pooling of interests of the two companies and is expected to be accretive to earnings in Modine's next fiscal year. The closing date is anticipated to occur in early 2001. This immediate growth platform in a new, high-growth market complements Modine's recently announced development work on CO2 (carbon dioxide) air-conditioning systems and on thermal management of fuel cells. This new electronics-cooling line of business also represents a significant opportunity for the company to broaden its revenue base and drive earnings growth going forward.
    These and other forward-looking statements about sales, earnings, and operations involve risks and uncertainties, as detailed on page 17 of Modine's Annual Report to shareholders.
    With sales of more than $1 billion, Modine has operations in 18 countries and employs about 8,100 persons worldwide. Modine specializes in thermal management, bringing technology to diversified markets. Core markets include: powertrain cooling of internal combustion engines, vehicular and building HVAC (heating, ventilating, air-conditioning), and various industrial and refrigeration markets. Modine is on the Internet at www.modine.com.




Modine Manufacturing Company

Consolidated statements of earnings for the third quarter, nine-month
period, and trailing 12 months ended December 26, 2000 and 1999
(unaudited)

                              (In thousands, except per-share amounts)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
               Three months      Nine months       Twelve months   
            ended December 26  ended December 26  ended December 26
               2000    1999     2000     1999      2000       1999    
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Net sales   $252,346 $283,520 $808,605 $854,058 $1,093,816 $1,135,085
Cost of
 sales       186,884  205,184  589,545  614,169    797,155    816,798
            ----------------------------------------------------------
Gross profit  65,462   78,336  219,060  239,889    296,661    318,287
Selling,
 general, & 
 administrative
 expenses     53,507   57,016  164,449  163,467    219,434    215,081
            ----------------------------------------------------------
Income from
 operations   11,955   21,320   54,611   76,422     77,227    103,206
Interest
 (expense)    (1,758)  (2,490)  (5,929)  (6,004)    (8,392)    (7,983)
Patent
 settlements       0        0   16,959    1,000     16,959      1,000
Other income -
 net           1,012      772    5,566    3,367      5,959      6,342
            ----------------------------------------------------------
Earnings before
 income taxes 11,209   19,602   71,207   74,785     91,753    102,565
Provision for
 income taxes  5,100    3,407   28,118   23,985     34,061     34,324
            ----------------------------------------------------------
Net earnings  $6,109  $16,195  $43,089  $50,800   $ 57,692  $  68,241
            ----------------------------------------------------------

Net earnings as a
 percent of net
 sales           2.4%     5.7%     5.3%     5.9%       5.3%       6.0%

Net earnings per share of common stock:

 Basic         $0.21    $0.55    $1.47    $1.72      $1.97      $2.31
 Assuming
  dilution      0.20     0.55     1.46     1.71       1.95       2.29

Weighted average shares outstanding:

 Basic        29,486   29,494   29,275   29,519     29,337     29,516
 Assuming 
  dilution    29,809   29,657   29,426   29,781     29,546     29,794
Net cash provided
 by operating
 activities  $32,837  $29,548 $114,905  $59,237   $146,870    $74,483
Earnings before
 interest expense,
 income taxes,
 depreciation, and
 amoritization
 expense     $24,416  $34,678 $113,061 $117,669   $148,012   $157,668
Dividends paid
 per share     $0.25    $0.23    $0.75    $0.69      $0.98      $0.90

Comprehensive(loss)/earnings, which represents net earnings adjusted
by the change in foreign-currency translation and minimum pension
liability recorded in shareholders' equity, for the periods ended
December 26, 2000 and 1999, respectively, were $(1,877) and $12,707
for 3 months, $29,806 and $47,423 for 9 months, and $44,498 and
$53,137 for 12 months.




Consolidated condensed balance sheets (unaudited)
                                                       (In thousands)
                                  December  26, 2000   March 31, 2000
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Assets
------
  Cash and cash equivalents                $  19,855        $  31,070
  Trade receivables - net                    158,986          182,724
  Inventories                                148,391          168,597
  Other current assets                        36,913           47,164
                                        ------------------------------
    Total current assets                     364,145          429,555
                                        ------------------------------

  Property, plant, and equipment - net       350,989          337,987
  Other noncurrent assets                    160,176          163,565
                                        ------------------------------
    Total assets                           $ 875,310        $ 931,107
                                        ------------------------------

Liabilities
-----------
  Debt due within one year                 $  25,999        $   9,447
  Accounts payable                            70,297           84,893
  Other current liabilities                   87,625           81,137
                                        ------------------------------
    Total current liabilities                183,921          175,477
                                        ------------------------------

  Long-term debt                             137,547          211,112
  Deferred income taxes                       25,293           24,536
  Other noncurrent liabilities                39,281           39,740
                                        ------------------------------
    Total liabilities                        386,042          450,865
                                        ------------------------------

Shareholders' investment                     489,268          480,242
------------------------                ------------------------------
   Total liabilities and
        shareholders' investment           $ 875,310         $931,107
                                        ------------------------------