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Magna Announces Third Quarter and Year to Date Results


mgna (select to view enlarged photo)

AURORA, Ontario--November 3, 2011:

Magna International Inc. (TSX: MG) today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2011.

On January 1, 2011, we adopted United States generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") as our primary basis of accounting. All financial information in this press release has been revised to reflect our results as if they had been historically reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

    
                                    THREE MONTHS ENDED   NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                        SEPTEMBER 30,      SEPTEMBER 30,
                                        2011    2010      2011      2010
    Sales                             $6,970   $5,778   $21,497   $17,026
    Operating income                  $  164   $  328   $   926   $   973
    Net income attributable to
    Magna International Inc.          $  102   $  266   $   706   $   784
    Diluted earnings per share        $ 0.42   $ 1.14   $  2.89   $  3.43
    All results are reported in millions of U.S. dollars, except per share
    figures, which are in U.S. dollars.

THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

We posted sales of $7.0 billion for the third quarter ended September 30, 2011, an increase of 21% from the third quarter of 2010. We achieved this sales increase in a period when vehicle production increased 4% in Western Europe and 8% in North America, both relative to the third quarter of 2010. Our North American, European and Rest of World production sales, complete vehicle assembly sales and tooling, engineering and other sales all increased in the third quarter of 2011 relative to the comparable quarter in 2010.

Complete vehicle assembly sales increased 28% to $663 million for the third quarter of 2011 compared to $519 million for the third quarter of 2010, while complete vehicle assembly volumes increased 55% to approximately 32,000 units.

During the third quarter of 2011, operating income was $164 million, net income attributable to Magna International Inc. was $102 million and diluted earnings per share were $0.42, decreases of $164 million, $164 million and $0.72, respectively, each compared to the third quarter of 2010. During the third quarter of 2011, we recorded other expense relating to the disposal of a non-strategic interior systems operation and the cost of entering into an agreement pertaining to the settlement of certain claims. These items negatively impacted operating income and net income by $124 million and diluted earnings per share by $0.52.

During the third quarter ended September 30, 2011, we generated cash from operations of $393 million before changes in non-cash operating assets and liabilities, and invested $148 million in non-cash operating assets and liabilities. Total investment activities for the third quarter of 2011 were $383 million, including $338 million in fixed asset additions, $40 million in investments and other assets, and $5 million to purchase subsidiaries.

NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

We posted sales of $21.5 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, an increase of 26% from the nine months ended September 30, 2010. This higher sales level was a result of increases in our North American, European and Rest of World production sales, complete vehicle assembly sales and tooling, engineering and other sales.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, vehicle production increased 8% to 9.7 million units in North America and 5% to 10.3 million units in Western Europe, each compared to the first nine months of 2010.

Complete vehicle assembly sales increased 33% to $2.1 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to $1.6 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, while complete vehicle assembly volumes increased 65% to approximately 100,000 units.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, operating income was $926 million, net income attributable to Magna International Inc. was $706 million and diluted earnings per share were $2.89, decreases of $47 million, $78 million and $0.54, respectively, each compared to the first nine months of 2010. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, we recorded other expense relating to the disposal of a non-strategic interior systems operation, the cost of entering into an agreement pertaining to the settlement of certain claims, the write down of real estate, and a gain on disposal of an equity accounted investment. These items negatively impacted operating income and net income by $123 million and diluted earnings per share by $0.50.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, we generated cash from operations before changes in non-cash operating assets and liabilities of $1.4 billion, and invested $926 million in non-cash operating assets and liabilities. Total investment activities for the first nine months of 2011 were $867 million, including $708 million in fixed asset additions, $140 million in investments and other assets and $19 million to purchase subsidiaries.

A more detailed discussion of our consolidated financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2011 is contained in the Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Position and the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, which are attached to this Press Release.

DIVIDENDS

Today, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.25 with respect to our outstanding Common Shares for the quarter ended September 30, 2011. This dividend is payable on December 15, 2011 to shareholders of record on November 30, 2011.

Subject to approval by the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange, our Board of Directors approved a normal course issuer bid to purchase up to 12.0 million of our Common Shares. This new normal course issuer bid is expected to commence on or about November 11, 2011 and will terminate one year later.

UPDATED 2011 OUTLOOK

    
    Light Vehicle Production Units
    North America                                        12.9 million
    Western Europe                                       13.6 million
                                                     $13.6 billion - $13.9
                                                            billion
    Production Sales                                  $8.5 billion - $8.7
    North America                                           billion
    Europe                                            $1.3 billion - $1.4
    Rest of World                                           billion
                                                     $23.4 billion - $24.0
    Total Production Sales                                  billion
                                                      $2.6 billion - $2.8
    Complete Vehicle Assembly Sales                         billion
                                                     $28.1 billion - $28.9
    Total Sales                                             billion
    Operating Margin*                                 Approximately 4.75%
    Income Tax Rate*                                   Approximately 22%
                                                      $1.0 billion - $1.1
    Capital Spending                                        billion
       * Excluding other expenses/income
                (unusual items)

In this 2011 outlook, in addition to 2011 light vehicle production, we have assumed no material acquisitions or divestitures. In addition, we have assumed that foreign exchange rates for the most common currencies in which we conduct business relative to our U.S. dollar reporting currency will approximate current rates.

ABOUT MAGNA

We are the most diversified global automotive supplier. We design, develop and manufacture technologically advanced automotive systems, assemblies, modules and components, and engineer and assemble complete vehicles, primarily for sale to original equipment manufacturers ("OEMs") of cars and light trucks. Our capabilities include the design, engineering, testing and manufacture of automotive interior systems; seating systems; closure systems; body and chassis systems; vision systems; electronic systems; exterior systems; powertrain systems; roof systems; hybrid and electric vehicles/systems; as well as complete vehicle engineering and assembly.

We have approximately 107,000 employees in 275 manufacturing operations and 85 product development, engineering and sales centres in 26 countries.

We will hold a conference call for interested analysts and shareholders to discuss our third quarter results on Thursday, November 3, 2011 at 8:00 a.m. EDT. The conference call will be chaired by Don Walker, Chief Executive Officer. The number to use for this call is 1-800-909-4195. The number for overseas callers is 1-212-231-2931. Please call in at least 10 minutes prior to the call. We will also webcast the conference call at Magna . The slide presentation accompanying the conference call will be available on our website Thursday morning prior to the call.