logo


Penske Automotive Reports Fourth Quarter Results
Tuesday, February 17, 2009 8:24 AM


$502.4 Million of After-Tax Charges, Including $493.1 Million of Non-Cash Goodwill and Franchise Impairment Charges

Adjusted Loss From Continuing Operations, Excluding Charges, of $2.0 Million, or $0.02 Per Share

Cost Saving Initiatives To Date Expected to Yield Approximately $100 Million in Annualized Savings

Company in Compliance with Debt Covenants

Penske Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE: PAG), an international automotive retailer, today reported an adjusted fourth quarter loss from continuing operations of $2.0 million, or $0.02 per share. This compares to adjusted income from continuing operations of $32.0 million, or $0.34 per share, in the fourth quarter last year.

As more fully described in the attached tables, the Company recorded after-tax charges of $502.4 million, or $5.52 per share, during the fourth quarter of 2008. These charges include: a $493.1 million, or $5.42 per share, non-cash intangible asset impairment charge recorded pursuant to SFAS No. 142; $5.8 million, or $0.06 per share, of dealership consolidation and relocation costs incurred in response to market conditions; $2.5 million, or $0.03 per share, of severance costs incurred in connection with workforce reductions; and $1.0 million, or $0.01 per share, of other asset impairment charges. As part of the Company’s ongoing cost saving and expense reduction initiatives, the Company’s worldwide workforce was reduced by approximately 10% during 2008.

Retail unit sales decreased 22.5% in the quarter. Total revenue was $2.2 billion compared to $3.0 billion in the same period last year. The decline in revenue was driven principally by lower vehicle sales and changes in foreign exchange rates. Same-store retail revenues decreased by 33.5%, with same-store new units declining 34% and used units declining 11%. Despite the broad weakness in the new and used vehicle market, the Company’s service and parts business performed well, declining 1.5% on a same-store basis in the fourth quarter excluding the impact of exchange rates.

Commenting on the fourth quarter, Penske Automotive Group Chairman Roger Penske said, “The fourth quarter was one of the most challenging periods on record in the automotive industry. The lack of liquidity in worldwide credit markets and resulting economic effects caused a decrease in consumer confidence, and impacted the willingness and ability of consumers to purchase automobiles. As a result, new vehicle industry sales declined 35% and 27%, respectively, during the quarter in the United States and United Kingdom.”

Mr. Penske continued, “As business conditions deteriorated during the fourth quarter, the Company accelerated its cost reduction program. To date, the Company has initiated actions which it expects will result in annualized cost savings of approximately $100 million. As of the end of the year, our liquidity remained strong, including cash and availability under our long-term credit agreements of approximately $330 million. In addition, we elected to pay down $10 million of debt incurred in connection with our June 2008 acquisition of 9% of Penske Truck Leasing. It is important to note that the Company is in compliance will all financial covenants under its debt agreements.”

For the year ended December 31, 2008, revenues were $11.6 billion, which compare to $12.8 billion in the prior year. The loss from continuing operations and net loss for the year ended December 31, 2008, were $403.6 million, or $4.32 per share, and $411.9 million, or $4.41 per share, respectively. Adjusted income from continuing operations for the year was $101.6 million, or $1.09 per share, compared to adjusted income from continuing operations of $143.7 million, or $1.52 per share, in the prior year. A reconciliation of adjusted income from continuing operations and adjusted net income can be found in the tables contained in this press release.

Stock Repurchase Authority

The Company has repurchased 450,000 shares of its stock for an aggregate $3.6 million during the fourth quarter, bringing aggregate expenditures under the Company’s $150 million authorization to $53.7 million. The Company currently has approximately 91.4 million shares outstanding, and has an additional $96.3 million of repurchase capacity outstanding under the program.

smart USA

The Company’s smart USA distribution business completed a successful first year, delivering 27,054 vehicles and generating more than $400 million in revenue. In 2008, smart fortwo sales in the United States ranked third globally, and represented 18% of smart’s worldwide sales.

Guidance

Based on the significant volatility in the automotive industry and worldwide credit markets and their impact on consumer confidence and the overall economy, management has determined that it is not feasible to provide reliable earnings guidance at this time.

Conference Call

Penske Automotive will host a conference call discussing financial results relating to the fourth quarter of 2008 on February 17, 2009, at 2:00 p.m. EST. To listen to the conference call, participants must dial (800) 230-1096 [International, please dial (612) 332-0932]. The call will be simultaneously broadcast over the Internet through the Penske Automotive Group website at www.penskeautomotive.com.

About Penske Automotive

Penske Automotive Group, Inc., headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, operates 304 retail automotive franchises, representing 40 different brands and 27 collision repair centers. Penske Automotive, which sells new and previously owned vehicles, finance and insurance products and replacement parts, and offers maintenance and repair services on all brands it represents, has 156 franchises in 19 states and Puerto Rico and 148 franchises located outside the United States, primarily in the United Kingdom. Penske Automotive is also the exclusive distributor of the smart fortwo through its wholly-owned subsidiary smart USA Distributor LLC. smart USA supports 75 smart retail centers in the United States. Penske Automotive is a member of the Fortune 200 and Russell 1000 and has more than 14,000 employees. smart and fortwo are registered trademarks of Daimler AG.

Caution Concerning Forward Looking Statements

Statements in this press release may involve forward-looking statements, including forward-looking statements regarding Penske Automotive Group, Inc.’s future sales and earnings potential and its ability to reduce its variable expenses. Actual results may vary materially because of risks and uncertainties, including external factors such as consumer credit conditions, macro-economic factors, interest rate fluctuations, changes in consumer spending and other factors over which management has no control. These forward-looking statements should be evaluated together with additional information about Penske Automotive’s business, markets, conditions and other uncertainties which could affect Penske Automotive’s future performance. These risks and uncertainties are addressed in Penske Automotive’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, and its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). This press release speaks only as of its date, and Penske Automotive disclaims any duty to update the information herein.

This release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures as defined under SEC rules, such as adjusted income (loss) from continuing operations and related earnings per share, which exclude certain items disclosed in the release. The Company has reconciled these measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures in the release. The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures improve the transparency of the Company's disclosure and the period-to-period comparability of the Company's results from operations.

 
PENSKE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Income
(Amounts In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)
(Unaudited)
 
 

Fourth Quarter

2008

 

2007

Revenues:
New Vehicle $1,043,877 $1,658,626
Used Vehicle 528,499 729,327
Finance and Insurance, Net 42,459 67,165
Service and Parts 324,590 346,674
Distribution 101,051 - -
Fleet and Wholesale Vehicle 117,466   247,668  
Total Revenues 2,157,942   3,049,460  
Cost of Sales:
New Vehicle 964,688 1,518,649
Used Vehicle 492,836 672,088
Service and Parts 147,513 152,104
Distribution 85,951 - -
Fleet and Wholesale Vehicle 118,905   248,518  
Total Cost of Sales 1,809,893   2,591,359  
Gross Profit 348,049 458,101
SG&A Expenses 311,263 368,848
Depreciation and Amortization 13,113 12,789
Unusual Items 657,589   6,267  
Operating Income (Loss) (633,916 ) 70,197
Floor Plan Interest Expense (15,714 ) (19,806 )
Other Interest Expense (14,004 ) (11,936 )
Equity in Earnings of Affiliates 3,191   901  

Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before

Income Taxes and Minority Interests

(660,443 ) 39,356
Income Taxes 156,131 (11,334 )
Minority Interests (81 ) (445 )
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations (504,393 ) 27,577
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax (5,517 ) 1,831  
Net Income (Loss) ($509,910 ) $29,408  
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share ($5.55 ) $0.29  
Income (Loss) Per Diluted Share ($5.61 ) $0.31  
Diluted Weighted Average Shares Outstanding 90,961   94,677  
 
PENSKE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Income
(Amounts In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)
(Unaudited)
 
 

Twelve Months

2008

 

2007

Revenues:
New Vehicle $5,947,809 $6,941,663
Used Vehicle 2,846,929 3,096,557
Finance and Insurance, Net 259,478 286,797
Service and Parts 1,403,785 1,393,153
Distribution 348,809 - -
Fleet and Wholesale Vehicle 839,535   1,073,939  
Total Revenues 11,646,345   12,792,109  
Cost of Sales:
New Vehicle 5,460,656 6,357,716
Used Vehicle 2,632,959 2,854,294
Service and Parts 623,258 614,396
Distribution 294,535 - -
Fleet and Wholesale Vehicle 843,159   1,066,823  
Total Cost of Sales 9,854,567   10,893,229  
Gross Profit 1,791,778 1,898,880
SG&A Expenses 1,475,648 1,502,824
Depreciation and Amortization 53,822 50,027
Unusual Items 661,968   6,267  
Operating Income (Loss) (399,660 ) 339,762
Floor Plan Interest Expense (64,495 ) (73,432 )
Other Interest Expense (54,870 ) (55,900 )
Equity in Earnings of Affiliates 16,513 4,084
Debt Redemption Charge - -   (18,634 )
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before
Income Taxes and Minority Interests (502,512 ) 195,880
Income Taxes 100,020 (66,943 )
Minority Interests (1,133 ) (1,972 )
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations (403,625 ) 126,965
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax (8,276 ) 774  
Net Income (Loss) ($411,901 ) $127,739  
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share ($4.32 ) $1.34  
Diluted EPS ($4.41 ) $1.35  
Diluted Weighted Average Shares Outstanding 93,398   94,558  
   
PENSKE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC.
Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets
(Amounts In Thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
 

12/31/08

12/31/07

Assets
Cash and Cash Equivalents $20,109 $14,798
Accounts Receivable, Net 294,567 445,772
Inventories 1,593,267 1,667,522
Other Current Assets 88,828 65,655
Assets Held for Sale 9,739 106,983
Total Current Assets 2,006,510 2,300,730
Property and Equipment, Net 662,493 616,201
Intangibles 974,649 1,666,741
Other Assets 319,509 84,881
Total Assets $3,963.161 $4,668,553
 
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Floor Plan Notes Payable $968,873 $1,060,503
Floor Plan Notes Payable – Non-Trade 511,357 475,188
Accounts Payable 178,811 264,473
Accrued Expenses 196,274 210,049
Current Portion Long-Term Debt 11,305 14,522
Liabilities Held for Sale 13,492 71,304
Total Current Liabilities 1,880,112 2,096,039
Long-Term Debt 1,087,932 830,106
Other Long-Term Liabilities 211,391 320,949
Total Liabilities 3,179,435 3,247,094
Stockholders’ Equity 783,726 1,421,459
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity $3,963,161 $4,668,553
   
PENSKE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC.
Selected Data
 
 

Fourth Quarter

Twelve Months

2008

 

2007

2008

 

2007

Total Retail Units:
New Retail 31,387 45,074 171,872 193,232
Used Retail 21,622   23,306   101,769   100,120  
Total Retail 53,009   68,380   273,641   293,352  
 
smart Wholesale Units 7,725   - -   27,054   - -  
 
Same-Store Retail Units:
New Same-Store Retail 29,172 44,454 151,964 181,940
Used Same-Store Retail 20,618   23,054   95,187   95,240  
Total Same-Store Retail 49,790   67,508   247,151   277,180  
 
Same-Store Retail Revenue:
New Vehicles $983,462 $1,631,736 $5,366,317 $6,567,806
Used Vehicles 502,163 722,198 2,645,535 2,958,901
Finance and Insurance, Net 40,680 66,389 240,325 276,069
Service and Parts 308,486   340,155   1,295,768   1,330,112  
Total Same-Store Retail $1,834,791   $2,760,478   $9,547,945   $11,132,888  
 
Same-Store Retail Revenue Growth:
New Vehicles (39.7 %) 1.1 % (18.3 %) 5.4 %
Used Vehicles (30.5 %) 9.9 % (10.6 %) 14.6 %
Finance and Insurance, Net (38.7 %) 10.8 % (12.9 %) 9.2 %
Service and Parts (9.3 %) 5.5 % (2.6 %) 7.3 %
 
Revenue Mix:
New Vehicles 48.4 % 54.4 % 51.1 % 54.3 %
Used Vehicles 24.5 % 23.9 % 24.4 % 24.2 %
Finance and Insurance, Net 2.0 % 2.2 % 2.2 % 2.2 %
Service and Parts 15.0 % 11.4 % 12.1 % 10.9 %
Distribution 4.7 % -- % 3.0 % -- %
Fleet and Wholesale 5.4 % 8.1 % 7.2 % 8.4 %
 
Average Retail Selling Price:
New Vehicles $33,258 $36,798 $34,606 $35,924
Used Vehicles 24,443 31,294 27,974 30,929
 
Gross Margin 16.1 % 15.0 % 15.4 % 14.8 %
 
Retail Gross Margin – by Product:
New Vehicles 7.6 % 8.4 % 8.2 % 8.4 %
Used Vehicles 6.7 % 7.8 % 7.5 % 7.8 %
Service and Parts 54.6 % 56.0 % 55.6 % 55.9 %
 
PENSKE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC.
Selected Data (Continued)
 
 

Fourth Quarter

Twelve Months

2008

 

2007

2008

 

2007

Gross Profit per Retail Transaction:
New Vehicles $2,523 $3,106 $2,834 $3,022
Used Vehicles 1,649 2,456 2,102 2,420
Finance and Insurance 801 982 948 978
 
Brand Mix:
BMW 23 % 22 % 22 % 22 %
Toyota / Lexus 19 % 20 % 19 % 20 %
Honda / Acura 15 % 14 % 15 % 15 %
Mercedes Benz 10 % 10 % 10 % 11 %
Audi 9 % 8 % 9 % 8 %
Land Rover 3 % 5 % 4 % 5 %
Ferrari / Maserati 3 % 4 % 3 % 3 %
Porsche 3 % 3 % 3 % 4 %
Other 15 % 14 % 15 % 12 %
100 % 100 % 100 % 100 %
 
Premium 65 % 66 % 65 % 66 %
Foreign 31 % 29 % 30 % 29 %
Domestic Big 3 4 % 5 % 5 % 5 %
100 % 100 % 100 % 100 %
 
Revenue Mix:
U.S. 69 % 64 % 64 % 63 %
International 31 % 36 % 36 % 37 %
100 % 100 % 100 % 100 %
 
Rent Expense $39,673 $39,321 $160,100 $150,573
 

12/31/08

12/31/07

Debt to Total Capital Ratio 58 % 37 %
Adjusted Debt to Total Capital Ratio (excl. intangible impairment charge) 46 % 37 %
 
Debt Covenant Compliance (U.S.):
Current Ratio (min 1.00:1) 1.07:1 1.10:1
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (min 1.00:1) 1.24:1 1.57:1

Ratio of Non-Floorplan Debt to Stockholders’ Equity (max 1.30:1)

0.86:1 0.61:1
Funded Debt to EBITDA Ratio (max 2.50:1) 1.26:1 0.34:1
 
Debt Covenant Compliance (U.K.):
Capital Expenditures (max £50 million) £29.5 £6.2
EBITAR to Fixed Charges (min 1.40:1) 1.76x 2.02x
Debt to EBITAR (max 3.25:1) 1.45x 0.80x
 
PENSKE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC.
Non-GAAP Reconciliation
($’s in Millions)
 
 
Adjusted Income from Continuing Operations:
 

2008

Fourth Quarter

Twelve Months

Net

 

EPS

Net

 

EPS

Loss from Continuing Operations ($504.4 ) ($5.55 ) ($403.6 ) ($4.32 )
SFAS No. 142 Intangible Impairment 493.1 5.42 493.1 5.28
Dealership Consolidation Costs 5.8 0.06 5.8 0.06
Severance 2.5 0.03 3.8 0.04
Other 1.0   0.01   2.5   0.03  
Adjusted Income (Loss) from

Continuing Operations

($2.0

)

($0.02

)

$101.6

$1.09

 
 

2007

Fourth Quarter

Twelve Months

Net

EPS

Net

EPS

Income from Continuing Operations $27.6 $0.29 $127.0 $1.34
Impairments 4.4 0.05 4.4 0.05
Senior Subordinated Note Redemption --   --   12.3   0.13  
Adjusted Income from Continuing

Operations

$32.0

$0.34

$143.7

$1.52

 
 
Components of Adjusted Debt to Total Capital Ratio:

12/31/08

12/31/07

 
Reported Debt $1,099.2 $844.6
 
Reported Stockholders’ Equity $783.7 $1,421.5
Equity Impact of Intangible Impairment 493.1   --  
Adjusted Stockholders’ Equity $1,276.8 $1,421.5
 
Reported Total Capital $1,882.9 $2,266.1
Equity Impact of Intangible Impairment 493.1   --  
Adjusted Total Capital $2,376.0 $2,266.1

Penske Automotive Group, Inc.
Bob O’Shaughnessy
Chief Financial Officer
248-648-2800
boshaughnessy@penskeautomotive.com
or
Anthony R. Pordon
Senior Vice President
248-648-2540
tpordon@penskeautomotive.com

(Source: Business Wire )


(0)
No Comments
Post Comment
Name:  
Alert for new comments:
Your email:
Your Website:
Title:
Comments:
   
 
 
 
 
   
 

  
Related Press Releases
Advertisement
Popular Articles
Advertisement
Partner Center
Fundamental data is provided by Zacks Investment Research, market data is provided by AlphaTrade. , and Commentary and Press Releases provided by Quotemedia