Empresas y finanzas

UnitedAuto Reports Fourth Quarter Results



    United Auto Group, Inc. (NYSE: UAG), an international automotive
    retailer, today reported fourth quarter income from continuing
    operations of $31.1 million and related earnings per share of $0.33.
    Fourth quarter 2005 results included $5.2 million of after-tax
    earnings ($0.06 per share) attributable to the sale of all remaining
    variable profits relating to the pool of extended service contracts
    sold at the Company's dealerships from 2001 through 2005. Excluding
    the extended service contract gain from the prior year results,
    adjusted income from continuing operations and related earnings per
    share increased 16.1% and 17.9%, respectively, over the comparable
    period in 2005. Fourth quarter net income amounted to $29.9 million
    and related earnings per share was $0.32.

    Revenues in the fourth quarter increased 22.8% to $2.9 billion,
    including a 7.1% increase in same-store retail revenues. The increase
    in same-store revenue was highlighted by 14.5% growth in used vehicle
    revenues and a 6.2% increase in service and parts revenues.

    Commenting on the Company's results, Chairman Roger Penske said,
    "Our business achieved solid same-store retail revenue growth during
    the fourth quarter, despite a difficult comparison to last year. I am
    pleased with the same-store results, especially in our service and
    parts operations which included 13.6% same-store growth in our
    international markets. These results highlight the benefit of our
    ongoing capital investment program." Penske continued, "Our used
    vehicle business was exceptionally strong in the quarter, with total
    used vehicle revenues growing nearly 44%. The increased level of this
    business, coupled with a challenging marketplace, contributed to an
    overall decrease in gross margin percentage during the fourth
    quarter."

    For the year ended December 31, 2006, revenues increased 16.4% to
    $11.2 billion. Full-year income from continuing operations amounted to
    $130.6 million and related earnings per share was $1.39. Excluding the
    extended service contract gain noted above from the prior year
    results, income from continuing operations and related earnings per
    share increased 14.7% and 14.9%, respectively, over the comparable
    period in 2005.

    The Company currently estimates earnings from continuing
    operations to be in the range of $1.40 to $1.50 per share for the year
    ended December 31, 2007. This estimate includes an estimated $0.02 to
    $0.04 per share of costs associated with developing the distribution
    network for the smart product launch in the United States. First
    quarter 2007 earnings from continuing operations are estimated to be
    in the range of $0.26 to $0.30 per share. These estimates exclude a
    $12 million, or $0.13 per share, charge to be incurred in connection
    with the previously announced call of the Company's $300 million
    9.625% Senior Subordinated Notes in March 2007. Earnings per share
    estimates are based on an estimated average of 94.6 million shares
    outstanding.

    UnitedAuto will host a conference call discussing financial
    results relating to fourth quarter 2006 on Wednesday, February 14,
    2007 at 2:00 p.m. EDT. To listen to the conference call, participants
    must dial (800) 553-5275 (International, please dial (612) 332-1210).
    The call will be simultaneously broadcast over the Internet through
    the UnitedAuto website at www.unitedauto.com.

    About UnitedAuto

    United Auto Group, Inc., headquartered in Bloomfield Hills,
    Michigan, operates 314 retail automotive franchises, representing 41
    different brands, and 26 collision repair centers. UnitedAuto, 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 169 franchises in 19 states
    and Puerto Rico and 145 franchises located outside the United States,
    primarily in the United Kingdom. UnitedAuto is a member of the Fortune
    500 and Russell 1000 and has over 15,000 employees.

    Statements in this press release may involve forward-looking
    statements. Actual results may vary materially because of risks and
    uncertainties, including external factors such as 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
    UnitedAuto's business, markets, conditions and other uncertainties
    that could affect UnitedAuto's future performance which are contained
    in UnitedAuto's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 and its
    other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and which
    are incorporated into this press release by reference. This press
    release speaks only as of its date, and UnitedAuto 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 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.

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

    Fourth Quarter
    -----------------------
    2006 2005
    ----------- -----------
    Revenues:
    New Vehicle $1,587,023 $1,358,681
    Used Vehicle 680,384 472,776
    Finance and Insurance, Net 59,372 59,816
    Service and Parts 327,644 265,625
    Fleet and Wholesale Vehicle 226,594 189,432
    ----------- -----------
    Total Revenues 2,881,017 2,346,330
    Cost of Sales:
    New Vehicle 1,446,815 1,236,207
    Used Vehicle 625,889 432,099
    Service and Parts 147,654 119,047
    Fleet and Wholesale Vehicle 227,862 190,316
    ----------- -----------
    Total Cost of Sales 2,448,220 1,977,669
    ----------- -----------
    Gross Profit 432,797 368,661
    SG&A Expenses 350,939 284,097
    Depreciation and Amortization 12,476 9,697
    ----------- -----------
    Operating Income 69,382 74,867
    Floor Plan Interest Expense (15,739) (12,460)
    Other Interest Expense (14,702) (13,260)
    Equity in Earnings of Affiliates 2,695 1,093
    ----------- -----------
    Income from Continuing Operations Before
    Income Taxes and Minority Interests 41,636 50,240
    Income Taxes (9,930) (17,651)
    Minority Interests (636) (564)
    ----------- -----------
    Income from Continuing Operations 31,070 32,025
    Loss from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax (1,171) (1,904)
    ----------- -----------
    Net Income $29,899 $30,121
    =========== ===========
    Income from Continuing Operations Per Diluted
    Share $0.33 $0.34
    =========== ===========
    Diluted EPS $0.32 $0.32
    =========== ===========
    Diluted Weighted Average Shares Outstanding 94,389 94,374
    =========== ===========
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    UNITED AUTO GROUP, INC.
    Consolidated Statements of Income
    (Amounts In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)
    (Unaudited)

    Twelve Months
    -----------------------
    2006 2005
    ----------- -----------
    Revenues:
    New Vehicle $6,275,916 $5,601,187
    Used Vehicle 2,546,009 2,025,532
    Finance and Insurance, Net 249,581 229,575
    Service and Parts 1,246,288 1,043,859
    Fleet and Wholesale Vehicle 924,519 761,240
    ----------- -----------
    Total Revenues 11,242,313 9,661,393
    Cost of Sales:
    New Vehicle 5,727,135 5,106,889
    Used Vehicle 2,330,694 1,845,587
    Service and Parts 559,305 474,563
    Fleet and Wholesale Vehicle 920,710 760,903
    ----------- -----------
    Cost of Sales 9,537,844 8,187,942
    ----------- -----------
    Gross Profit 1,704,469 1,473,451
    SG&A Expenses 1,356,452 1,154,220
    Depreciation and Amortization 44,863 37,551
    ----------- -----------
    Operating Income 303,154 281,680
    Floor Plan Interest Expense (61,565) (47,124)
    Other Interest Expense (49,173) (49,004)
    Equity in Earnings of Affiliates 8,201 4,271
    ----------- -----------
    Income from Continuing Operations Before
    Income Taxes and Minority Interests 200,617 189,823
    Income Taxes (67,845) (68,870)
    Minority Interests (2,172) (1,814)
    ----------- -----------
    Income from Continuing Operations 130,600 119,139
    Loss from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax (5,899) (166)
    ----------- -----------
    Net Income $124,701 $118,973
    =========== ===========
    Income from Continuing Operations Per Diluted
    Share $1.39 $1.27
    =========== ===========
    Diluted EPS $1.32 $1.27
    =========== ===========
    Diluted Weighted Average Shares Outstanding 94,178 93,932
    =========== ===========
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    UNITED AUTO GROUP, INC.
    Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets
    (Amounts In Thousands)
    (Unaudited)

    12/31/06 12/31/05
    ----------- -----------
    Assets
    Cash and Cash Equivalents $13,147 $8,957
    Accounts Receivable, Net 469,516 398,127
    Inventories 1,519,506 1,144,584
    Other Current Assets 71,490 50,209
    Assets Held for Sale 213,030 310,467
    ----------- -----------
    Total Current Assets 2,286,689 1,912,344
    Property and Equipment, Net 582,646 416,099
    Intangibles 1,490,767 1,182,273
    Other Assets 142,783 83,457
    ----------- -----------
    Total Assets $4,502,885 $3,594,173
    =========== ===========

    Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
    Floor Plan Notes Payable $874,326 $785,237
    Floor Plan Notes Payable - Non-Trade 297,985 318,034
    Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses 515,111 368,874
    Current Portion Long-Term Debt 3,057 3,551
    Liabilities Held for Sale 52,150 189,239
    ----------- -----------
    Total Current Liabilities 1,742,629 1,664,935
    Long-Term Debt 1,178,994 576,690
    Other Long-Term Liabilities 285,609 206,816
    ----------- -----------
    Total Liabilities 3,207,232 2,448,441
    Stockholders' Equity 1,295,653 1,145,732
    ----------- -----------
    Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity $4,502,885 $3,594,173
    =========== ===========
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    UNITED AUTO GROUP, INC.
    Selected Data

    Fourth Quarter Twelve Months
    -----------------------------------------------
    2006 2005 2006 2005
    ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
    Total Retail Units
    New Retail 43,463 38,899 183,370 167,956
    Used Retail 22,529 17,109 88,723 75,348
    ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
    Total Retail 65,992 56,008 272,093 243,304
    =========== =========== =========== ===========

    Same-Store Retail Units
    New Same-Store Retail 39,120 38,592 163,253 163,233
    Used Same-Store
    Retail 18,189 16,869 75,601 72,687
    ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
    Total Same-Store
    Retail 57,309 55,461 238,854 235,920
    =========== =========== =========== ===========

    Same-Store Retail
    Revenue
    New Vehicles $1,423,041 $1,349,041 $5,594,172 $5,472,566
    Used Vehicles 534,728 467,101 2,154,969 1,973,780
    Finance and
    Insurance, Net 53,733 59,412 226,399 224,594
    Service and Parts 279,247 262,988 1,091,642 1,021,030
    ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
    Total Same-Store
    Retail $2,290,749 $2,138,542 $9,067,182 $8,691,970
    =========== =========== =========== ===========

    Same-Store Retail
    Revenue Growth
    New Vehicles 5.5% 4.5% 2.2% 5.8%
    Used Vehicles 14.5% 4.6% 9.2% 4.4%
    Finance and
    Insurance, Net (9.6%) (2.4%) 0.8% 9.7%
    Service and Parts 6.2% 6.6% 6.9% 7.6%

    Revenue Mix
    New Vehicles 55.1% 57.9% 55.8% 58.0%
    Used Vehicles 23.6% 20.2% 22.6% 21.0%
    Finance and
    Insurance, Net 2.1% 2.5% 2.2% 2.4%
    Service and Parts 11.4% 11.3% 11.1% 10.8%
    Fleet and Wholesale 7.8% 8.1% 8.3% 7.8%

    Average Retail Selling
    Price
    New Vehicles $36,514 $34,928 $34,225 $33,349
    Used Vehicles $30,200 $27,633 $28,696 $26,882

    Gross Margin 15.0% 15.7% 15.2% 15.3%

    Retail Gross Margin -
    by Product
    New Vehicle 8.8% 9.0% 8.7% 8.8%
    Used Vehicle 8.0% 8.6% 8.5% 8.9%
    Service and Parts 54.9% 55.2% 55.1% 54.5%

    Gross Profit per Retail
    Transaction
    New Vehicles $3,226 $3,149 $2,993 $2,943
    Used Vehicles 2,419 2,378 2,427 2,388
    Finance and Insurance 900 1,068 917 944
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    UNITED AUTO GROUP, INC.
    Selected Data (Continued)

    Fourth Quarter Twelve Months
    -------------------------------------
    2006 2005 2006 2005
    -------- -------- --------- ---------
    Brand Mix:
    BMW 21% 16% 18% 16%
    Toyota/Lexus 20% 22% 21% 23%
    Honda/Acura 14% 15% 16% 15%
    DCX 12% 12% 11% 12%
    Ford 9% 9% 10% 9%
    Audi 7% 7% 7% 7%
    General Motors 4% 5% 4% 5%
    Porsche 4% 4% 4% 4%
    Nissan/Infiniti 3% 3% 3% 3%
    Other 6% 7% 6% 6%
    -------- -------- --------- ---------
    100% 100% 100% 100%

    Foreign / Premium 94% 93% 93% 92%
    Domestic Big 3 6% 7% 7% 8%
    -------- -------- --------- ---------
    100% 100% 100% 100%

    Debt to Total Capital Ratio 48% 34% 48% 34%

    Rent Expense $36,254 $29,492 $135,253 $109,715
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