TRW Automotive Holdings Corp., the global leader in active and passive safety systems, today reported second-quarter 2007 financial results with sales of $3.8 billion, an increase of 8.5 percent compared to the same period a year ago. The Company reported second quarter net earnings of $97 million or $0.94 per diluted share, which compares to net earnings of $91 million or $0.88 per diluted share in the prior year period.

During the second quarter, the Company completed the final step of its 2007 debt recapitalization plan with the successful refinancing of its $2.5 billion credit facilities in May. The debt recapitalization provides a new debt structure that lowers the Company's borrowing costs, improves financial flexibility and extends debt maturities. The second quarter results included $8 million of costs related primarily to the refinancing of the Company's credit facilities. Net earnings in the 2007 quarter excluding these charges were $105 million or $1.02 per diluted share. The current year benefited primarily from a lower tax rate between the two periods and a higher level of operating income.

"Significant progress has been made to transform TRW into a leading supplier to the global automotive industry since becoming an independent Company just four years ago," said John Plant, president and chief executive officer. "The strength provided by our enviable safety product portfolio, solid customer base and leading global diversification, together with intense cost reduction efforts and deleveraging activities, have been key to this progress and have helped to mitigate challenging industry conditions, particularly in North America."

Mr. Plant added, "The transformation of TRW is not complete and we look forward to the future due to strong customer acceptance of our leading safety technologies, which we expect will be further enhanced by growth in Asian emerging markets. We continue to explore strategies that will strengthen our competitiveness and help to achieve our goal of growing the Company profitably over the long term."

Second Quarter 2007

The Company reported second-quarter 2007 sales of $3.8 billion, an increase of $293 million or 8.5 percent over the prior year period. The 2007 quarter benefited from the positive effect of foreign currency translation, higher customer vehicle production in Europe and China and continued growth of safety products in all markets, including above-trend sales of lower margin modules. These positive factors were partially offset by lower vehicle production levels at our major customers in North America and price reductions provided to customers.

Operating income for second-quarter 2007 was $205 million, which compares to $201 million in the prior year period. The year-to-year increase was driven by a number of factors, including higher product volumes, savings generated from cost improvement and efficiency programs, including reductions in pension and OPEB related costs, and other positive items, most notably gains related to property sales and favorable supplier resolutions. These positive factors were in part offset by pricing provided to customers, higher commodity prices, a negative mix of products sold and certain unfavorable product-related settlements. Restructuring and asset impairment expenses in the 2007 period were $11 million, which is unchanged from the previous year.

Net interest and securitization expense for the second quarter of 2007 totaled $57 million, which compares to $61 million in the prior year. The year-to-year decline can be attributed to the benefits derived from the Company's 2007 debt recapitalization. As mentioned previously, the 2007 quarter included debt retirement costs of $8 million.

Second-quarter 2007 tax expense was $45 million, resulting in an effective tax rate of 32 percent, which compares to $53 million or 37 percent in the prior year. The effective tax rate in the 2007 quarter excluding debt retirement expenses was 30 percent. As mentioned previously, the lower effective tax rate in the 2007 quarter contributed to the increase in net earnings compared to the previous year. Additionally, the 2007 adjusted tax rate is below the expected full year rate primarily due to the Company's geographic earnings profile in the quarter.

The Company reported second-quarter 2007 net earnings of $97 million, or $0.94 per diluted share, which compares to $91 million or $0.88 per diluted share in the 2006 period. Net earnings in the 2007 quarter excluding previously mentioned debt retirement costs of $8 million were $105 million or $1.02 per diluted share.

Earnings before interest, securitization costs, loss on retirement of debt, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") were $344 million in the second quarter, which compares to the prior year level of $326 million.

First Half 2007

The Company reported first-half 2007 sales of $7.3 billion, an increase of $464 million or 6.8 percent compared to prior year sales of $6.9 billion. The 2007 period benefited primarily from the positive effect of foreign currency translation and higher product volumes related to new product growth and robust industry sales in overseas markets. These positives were partially offset by the continued decline in North American customer vehicle production and price reductions provided to customers.

Operating income for the first half of 2007 was $380 million, which is down from the prior year result of $428 million. The year-to-year decline was driven by a number of factors, including pricing provided to customers, negative product mix (particularly in the first quarter) and higher commodity prices. Additionally, the comparison was negatively impacted by Company specific issues predominantly in the first quarter related to a roof collapse in Brazil and underperformance in the Automotive Components segment. Savings generated from cost improvement and efficiency programs, including reductions in pension and OPEB related costs, and higher product volumes helped to offset these factors. Restructuring and asset impairment expenses in both the 2007 and 2006 periods were $19 million.

Net interest and securitization expense in the first-half 2007 period was $121 million, which represents a slight improvement from the prior year result of $122 million. Benefits derived from the Company's debt recapitalization more than offset the unfavorable impact of higher interest rates between the two periods. As a reminder, first quarter actions related to the debt recapitalization included a $1.5 billion Senior Note offering and the tender for substantially all of the Company's outstanding $1.3 billion Notes. The 2007 period included debt retirement costs of $155 million related to the debt recapitalization. In comparison, the 2006 period included debt retirement charges of $57 million.

First-half 2007 tax expense was $98 million, resulting in an effective tax rate 90 percent, which compares to $116 million or 46 percent in the prior year. The effective tax rate, excluding previously mentioned debt retirement expenses from both periods, was 37 percent in each of the years.

The Company reported first-half 2007 net earnings of $11 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, which compares to $138 million or $1.34 per diluted share in the 2006 period. Net earnings excluding the previously mentioned debt retirement costs from both periods were $166 million or $1.62 per diluted share in 2007 and $195 million or $1.89 per diluted share in 2006.

EBITDA was $653 million in the first half of 2007, which is down from the prior year level of $686 million primarily due to the lower level of operating income in the current year.

Cash Flow and Capital Structure

Second quarter net cash provided by operations was $290 million, which compares to $233 million in the prior year. Cash flow in the 2007 period included proceeds of $127 million related to outstanding borrowings under the Company's U.S. based Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility ("Receivable Facility"). Absent these proceeds, the Company's cash flow from operations in the 2007 quarter was $163 million, which is below the prior year result primarily due to higher working capital needs in the current year. Second quarter capital expenditures were $109 million compared to $119 million in 2006.

For the six month period ended June 29, 2007, the Company generated net cash from operating activities of $69 million, which compares to $251 million in the prior year. Excluding proceeds related to outstanding borrowings under the Receivable Facility, cash flow from operations was a use of $58 million in the 2007 period. The year-to-year change resulted primarily from higher working capital requirements, including the impact of seasonal factors, and a lower level of earnings in the 2007 period. First half capital expenditures were $228 million compared to $202 million in 2006.

As part of the Company's debt recapitalization plan, on May 9, 2007, it refinanced $2.5 billion of its existing credit facilities with new credit facilities in approximately the same amount. The Company also completed its $1.5 billion Senior Note offering on March 26, 2007. Proceeds from the note offering were used to repurchase substantially all of the existing $1.3 billion Notes through a tender offer. The Company incurred debt retirement charges of approximately $155 million during the year-to-date period related to these transactions.

On February 2, 2006, the Company's wholly owned subsidiary, Lucas Industries Limited, completed the tender for its outstanding GBP 94.6 million 10 7/8% bonds. As a result of the transaction, the Company incurred a $57 million charge for loss on retirement of debt.

As of June 29, 2007, the Company had $3,042 million of debt and $284 million of cash and marketable securities, resulting in net debt (defined as debt less cash and marketable securities) of $2,758 million. Net debt adjusted to include proceeds of $127 million from outstanding borrowings under the Receivables Facility was $2,885 million, which represents a decrease of $70 million compared to the balance at the end of the first quarter. This lower level primarily reflects the favorable operating cash flow outcome in the second quarter.

On June 4, 2007, the Company completed a secondary public offering of 11 million shares of its common stock held by an affiliate of The Blackstone Group L.P. and certain members of TRW management. The Company did not receive any proceeds related to this offering. As a result of this transaction, Blackstone's ownership stake in TRW fell to 46.4%. Consequently, TRW has ceased to be a "controlled company" within the meaning of the New York Stock Exchange corporate governance rules.

2007 Outlook

The Company updated its full year outlook to reflect the impact of the previously mentioned credit facilities refinancing transaction and to account for other changes to its forecast assumptions. The Company expects full year sales in the range of $14.1 to $14.5 billion (including third quarter sales of approximately $3.4 billion) and net earnings per diluted share in the range of $0.55 to $0.85. Net earnings excluding debt retirement expenses of $155 million are expected to be in the range of $2.05 to $2.35, which is unchanged from previous estimates.

This guidance range reflects pre-tax restructuring expenses of approximately $45 million (including approximately $12 million in the third quarter). The effective tax rate after excluding debt retirement costs is expected to be in the range of approximately 40 to 44 percent. Lastly, the Company expects capital expenditures in 2007 to be approximately 4 percent of sales.

Reconciliation to GAAP

In addition to GAAP results included within this press release, the Company has provided certain information which is not calculated according to GAAP ("non-GAAP"). Management believes these non-GAAP measures are useful to evaluate operating performance and/or regularly used by security analysts, institutional investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of the Company.

Non-GAAP measures are not purported to be a substitute for any GAAP measure and, as calculated, may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. For a reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to the closest GAAP measure and for share amounts used to derive earnings per share, please see the financial schedules that accompany this release.

About TRW

With 2006 sales of $13.1 billion, TRW Automotive ranks among the world's leading automotive suppliers. Headquartered in Livonia, Michigan, USA, the Company, through its subsidiaries, operates in 28 countries and employs approximately 63,800 people worldwide. TRW Automotive products include integrated vehicle control and driver assist systems, braking systems, steering systems, suspension systems, occupant safety systems (seat belts and airbags), electronics, engine components, fastening systems and aftermarket replacement parts and services. All references to "TRW Automotive", "TRW" or the "Company" in this press release refer to TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. and its subsidiaries, unless otherwise indicated. TRW Automotive news is available on the internet at www.trw.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains statements that are not statements of historical fact, but instead are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements made in this release. Such risks, uncertainties and other important factors which could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in our forward-looking statements are set forth in our Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 (the "10-K"), and include: production cuts or restructuring by our major customers; work stoppages or other labor issues at the facilities of our customers or suppliers; non-performance by, or insolvency of, our suppliers and customers, which may be exacerbated by bankruptcies and other pressures within the automotive industry; the inability of our suppliers to deliver products at the scheduled rate and disruptions arising in connection therewith; interest rate risk arising from our variable rate indebtedness; loss of market share by domestic vehicle manufacturers; efforts by our customers to consolidate their supply base; severe inflationary pressures impacting the market for commodities; escalating pricing pressures from our customers; our dependence on our largest customers; fluctuations in foreign exchange rates; our substantial leverage; product liability and warranty and recall claims and efforts by customers to alter terms and conditions concerning warranty and recall participation; limitations on flexibility in operating our business contained in our debt agreements; the possibility that our owners' interests will conflict with ours and other risks and uncertainties set forth under "Risk Factors" in the 10-K and in our other SEC filings. We do not intend or assume any obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements.

Source: TRW Automotive Press Release