Dana Reports Strong First-Quarter 2012 Results; Affirms 2012 Earnings Outlook on Revised Sales Guidance

MAUMEE, Ohio, April 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Dana Holding Corporation (NYSE: DAN) today announced strong results for the first quarter of 2012. Net income for the quarter was $70 million, compared to a net loss of $30 million for the same period in 2011.  This is Dana's fourth consecutive quarter of positive net income.  The company's diluted adjusted earnings per share (EPS) were $0.44, up nearly 30 percent compared to $0.34 in the first quarter of 2011.  Sales increased nearly 10 percent year over year to about $2 billion. 

The increase in first-quarter sales was driven primarily by higher vehicle production volumes, more than offsetting the effects of foreign currency, which reduced sales by nearly $40 million. 

Dana reported strong adjusted EBITDA of $212 million in the quarter, a 17-percent increase over the prior-year period. Adjusted EBITDA as a percent of sales for the quarter was 10.7 percent, compared to 10.1 percent for the same period in 2011.  Higher sales, material cost recovery, and cost reductions boosted first-quarter earnings, more than offsetting currency effects and material cost increases.

During the first quarter, Dana made an incremental, voluntary contribution to its U.S. pension plans of $150 million. Excluding this contribution, free cash flow for the quarter was a usage of $37 million, in line with same period last year. The company also initiated a common stock dividend of $0.05 per share in the first quarter. With net debt of about $100 million and $1.3 billion of liquidity at March 31, 2012, Dana continues to have a strong financial position.

"The Dana team is off to a solid start in 2012," said company President and Chief Executive Officer Roger J. Wood.  "Our earnings growth far outpaced our sales growth. The fundamentals, including a very strong balance sheet, position us to continue to leverage our core areas of expertise across our markets to attract new business and drive shareholder value."

New Product Technologies

Dana focuses on technology solutions that target specific market-value drivers, such as fuel economy, emissions control, and cost of ownership. This past quarter, the company introduced a number of new products aimed at these value drivers, including:

• Spicer® SelecTTrac™ housing, an option on Dana's Pro-40™ tandem axle, which enables heavy truck customers to benefit from the weight and fuel savings of wide-based single tires (versus standard dual wheels). Dana's award-winning Pro-40™ tandem axle already offers nearly 100 pounds in weight savings compared to competitive products;
• Spicer TZL Series powershift transmissions for premium front-end loaders manufactured in China – produced at Dana's plant in Wuxi, Jiangsu; and
• Additional SVL™ aftermarket drivetrain components for both heavy- and light-duty axle applications; the SVL line offers quality replacement parts for older, post-warranty vehicles.

At the Mid-America Truck Show in March, Dana's Commercial Vehicle team introduced a new value calculator that enables customers to quantify the measurable savings and benefits associated with specifying Dana products. For commercial vehicle customers, these measurable benefits include:

• Reduced weight for increased freight-hauling capacity;
• Greater fuel economy;
• Serviceability improvements and reduced maintenance costs; and
• Improved vehicle efficiency.

2012 Financial Guidance

Dana revised its sales growth forecast for the year to 3 percent or more over 2011 while affirming its full-year adjusted EBITDA, diluted adjusted EPS, capital spending, and free cash flow guidance.  The reduced sales outlook largely reflects the effect of currency in the coming quarters.  Other financial targets are unchanged, as follows:

• Adjusted EBITDA is projected to be $845 million to $865 million; adjusted EBITDA as a percent of sales is forecast to be 10.5 percent to 11 percent;
• Diluted adjusted EPS is expected to total $1.95 to $2.05 per share;
• Capital spending is expected to total $225 million to $250 million; and
• Free cash flow for the year is projected at more than $200 million, excluding the special one-time $150 million pension contribution.

Dana to Host Conference Call at 9:30 a.m. EDT Today

Dana will discuss its first-quarter results in a conference call at 9:30 a.m. EDT today.  Participants may listen to the conference call via audio streaming online or telephone.  Slide viewing is available via Dana's investor website – www.dana.com/investors.  United States and Canadian locations should dial 888-311-4590 and international locations should call 706-758-0054, and enter 69124789.  Please ask for the "Dana Holding Corporate Financial Webcast and Conference Call."  Phone registration will be available starting at 9 a.m. 

An audio recording of the webcast will be available after 5 p.m. today; dial 855-859-2056 (U.S. or Canada) or 404-537-3406 (international) and enter 69124789.  A webcast replay will be available after 5 p.m. today, and may be accessed via Dana's investor website.

Non-GAAP Financial Information

This release refers to adjusted EBITDA, which we have defined to be earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, non-cash equity grant expense, restructuring expense and other nonrecurring items (gain/loss on debt extinguishment or divestitures, impairment, etc.).  The most significant impact on Dana's ongoing results of operations as a result of applying fresh start accounting following our emergence from bankruptcy was higher depreciation and amortization.  By using adjusted EBITDA, a performance measure that excludes depreciation and amortization, the comparability of results is enhanced.  Management also believes that adjusted EBITDA is an important measure since the financial covenants in our debt agreements are based, in part, on adjusted EBITDA.  Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered a substitute for income (loss) before income taxes, net income (loss) or other results reported in accordance with GAAP.   Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

Diluted adjusted EPS is a non-GAAP financial measure that we have defined as adjusted net income divided by adjusted diluted shares.  We define adjusted net income as net income (loss) attributable to the parent company, excluding restructuring expense, amortization expense and nonrecurring items (as used in adjusted EBITDA), net of any associated income tax effects.  We define adjusted diluted shares as diluted shares as determined in accordance with GAAP based on adjusted net income.  This measure is considered useful for purposes of providing investors, analysts, and other interested parties with an indicator of ongoing financial performance that provides enhanced comparability to EPS reported by other companies.  Diluted adjusted EPS is neither intended to represent nor be an alternative measure to diluted EPS reported under GAAP.

Free cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure that we have defined as cash provided by (used in) operating activities, excluding any bankruptcy claim-related payments, less purchases of property, plant, and equipment.  We believe this measure is useful to investors in evaluating the operational cash flow of the company inclusive of the spending required to maintain the operations.  Free cash flow is neither intended to represent nor be an alternative to the measure of net cash provided by (used in) operating activities reported under GAAP.  Free cash flow may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

Please reference the "Non-GAAP financial information" accompanying our quarterly earnings conference call presentations on our website at www.dana.com/investors for our GAAP results and the reconciliations of these measures, where used, to the comparable GAAP measures.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements and projections contained in this news release are, by their nature, forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry and business, management's beliefs, and certain assumptions made by us, all of which are subject to change.  Forward-looking statements can often be identified by words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "predicts," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "may," "will," "should," "would," "could," "potential," "continue," "ongoing," similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words.  These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause our actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. 

Dana's Annual Report on Form 10-K, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, recent Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other Securities and Exchange Commission filings discuss important risk factors that could affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.  The forward-looking statements in this news release speak only as of this date. Dana does not undertake any obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statement for any reason.

About Dana Holding Corporation

Dana is a world-leading supplier of driveline, sealing, and thermal technologies that improve the efficiency and performance of passenger, commercial, and off-highway vehicles with both conventional and alternative-energy powertrains. The company's global network of engineering, manufacturing, and distribution facilities provides original-equipment and aftermarket customers with local product and service support.  Based in Maumee, Ohio, Dana employs approximately 25,500 people in 26 countries and reported 2011 sales of $7.6 billion.  For more information, please visit: www.dana.com.

 

 

  

  

  

  

  

SOURCE Dana Holding Corporation