News Release Details

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Nov. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lear Corporation (NYSE: LEA), one of the world's largest suppliers of automotive seating systems, electrical distribution systems and electronic products, today reported financial results for the third quarter of 2007, updated its outlook for the full year of 2007 and provided a preliminary outlook for 2008.

Recent Highlights:

• Reported net sales of $3.6 billion and improved pretax income
• Achieved positive free cash flow of $91 million
• Delivered core operating earnings of $170 million, up $70 million
• Continued progress on global restructuring initiative
• Awarded new Asian business worth $245 million annually

For the third quarter of 2007, Lear reported net sales of $3.6 billion and pretax income of $60.1 million, including restructuring costs of $37.3 million and other special items of $8.0 million. For the third quarter of 2006, Lear reported net sales of $4.1 billion and a pretax loss of $65.9 million, including restructuring costs and other special items of $46.1 million.

Income before interest, other expense, income taxes, restructuring costs and other special items (core operating earnings) was $170.4 million for the third quarter of 2007. This compares with net sales of $3.3 billion and core operating earnings of $100.1 million, excluding the divested Interior business, for the third quarter of 2006. A reconciliation of core operating earnings to pretax income (loss) as determined by generally accepted accounting principles is provided in the supplemental data pages.

"Our financial performance continued to improve in the third quarter as the benefits from on-going operational efficiencies, our global restructuring initiative and new business favorably impacted our bottom line," said Bob Rossiter, Lear Chairman, CEO and President. "Our focus going forward is to continue to provide superior quality products and services, while we work to further strengthen and profitably grow our core seating, electrical distribution and electronic businesses."

Net sales in core businesses were up from the prior year, primarily reflecting the addition of new business outside of North America and favorable foreign exchange, offset in part by unfavorable platform mix in North America. Operating performance improved from the year-earlier results, reflecting the Company's cost improvement actions and restructuring initiative, as well as benefits from new business outside of North America.

In the seating segment, operating margins improved, reflecting favorable cost performance from restructuring and ongoing efficiency actions, selective vertical integration and the benefit of new business globally. In the electrical and electronic segment, operating margins declined, reflecting unfavorable net pricing and the roll-off of several key programs in North America.

Lear reported net income of $41.0 million, or $0.52 per share, for the third quarter of 2007. This compares with a net loss of $74.0 million, or $1.10 per share, for the third quarter of 2006.

Free cash flow in the third quarter of 2007 was $90.8 million as compared to negative $48.2 million in the third quarter of 2006. The improvement reflects primarily the divestiture of the Interior business and an improvement in core operating earnings. (Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities was $62.0 million in the third quarter of 2007 as compared to $(8.1) million in the third quarter of 2006. A reconciliation of free cash flow to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities is provided in the supplemental data pages.)

During the third quarter, the Company continued to make solid progress on its global restructuring initiative, primarily further actions related to achieving a lower-cost global footprint. Lear is also aggressively expanding its business in Asia and with Asian automakers globally and, along with its affiliates, was awarded several new Asian programs during the third quarter, totaling about $245 million annually.

In addition, Lear was recently honored with the Environmental Innovation Award 2007 from the Institute of Transport Management for developing SoyFoam&#8482, an environmentally friendly soybean oil-based, flexible foam material currently in production for the seating program on the 2008 Ford Mustang.

Full-Year 2007 Outlook

Summarized below is the revised 2007 financial outlook for Lear's core businesses. The outlook excludes results for the divested Interior business for the full year. On this basis, Lear expects 2007 net sales of approximately $15 billion. This is unchanged from the prior outlook. Lear now anticipates 2007 core operating earnings in the range of $680 million. This is up from the last full-year outlook, reflecting lower production risk and more favorable operating performance.

Restructuring costs in 2007 are estimated to be about $125 million.

Interest expense is estimated to be approximately $200 million. Pretax income before restructuring costs and other special items is estimated in the range of $430 million. Tax expense is expected to be approximately $135 million, depending on the mix of earnings by country.

Capital spending in 2007 is estimated at approximately $200 million, down $35 million from the prior outlook, reflecting primarily program timing and spending efficiencies. Depreciation and amortization expense is estimated at about $300 million. Free cash flow is expected to be positive at about $350 million for the year. This is up from the prior outlook, reflecting higher earnings and lower capital spending.

Key assumptions underlying Lear's full-year 2007 financial outlook include expectations for industry vehicle production of approximately 15.0 million units in North America and 19.7 million units in Europe. In addition, we are assuming an exchange rate of $1.35/Euro.

Preliminary 2008 Outlook

Our preliminary financial outlook for 2008 is based on the following key assumptions. We expect industry vehicle production in North America to be generally in-line with our 2007 outlook and in Europe to be up slightly from our 2007 outlook. In North America, we are forecasting moderately unfavorable platform mix, reflecting lower production of high-content full-size pick-up trucks and large SUVs. We also are assuming an exchange rate of $1.40/Euro.

Based on these assumptions, we forecast 2008 net sales and core operating earnings, excluding restructuring-related costs, roughly in line with our 2007 outlook.

See "Forward-Looking Statements" on page 5 of this press release.

Lear Corporation will hold a conference call to review the Company's third-quarter 2007 financial results and related matters on Tuesday, November 6, 2007, at 9:00 a.m. ET. To participate in the conference call, dial 1-800-789-4751 (domestic) or 1-706-679-3323 (international). You may also listen to the live audio webcast of the call, in listen-only mode, on the corporate website at http://www.lear.com/. The audio replay will be available two hours following the call at 1-800-642-1687 for domestic calls and 1-706-645-9291 for international calls. The audio replay will be available until November 20, 2007 (Conference I.D. 15653814).

Non-GAAP Financial Information

In addition to the results reported in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP") included throughout this press release, the Company has provided information regarding "income before interest, other expense, income taxes, restructuring costs and other special items, excluding the divested Interior business" (core operating earnings), "pretax income before restructuring costs and other special items" and "free cash flow" (each, a non-GAAP financial measure). Other expense includes, among other things, state and local non-income taxes, foreign exchange gains and losses, fees associated with the Company's asset-backed securitization and factoring facilities, minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries, equity in net income of affiliates and gains and losses on the sale of assets. Free cash flow represents net cash provided by operating activities before the net change in sold accounts receivable, less capital expenditures. The Company believes it is appropriate to exclude the net change in sold accounts receivable in the calculation of free cash flow since the sale of receivables may be viewed as a substitute for borrowing activity.

Management believes the non-GAAP financial measures used in this press release are useful to both management and investors in their analysis of the Company's financial position and results of operations. In particular, management believes that core operating earnings and pretax income before restructuring costs and other special items are useful measures in assessing the Company's financial performance by excluding certain items (including those items that are included in other expense) that are not indicative of the Company's core operating earnings or that may obscure trends useful in evaluating the Company's continuing operating activities. Management also believes that these measures are useful to both management and investors in their analysis of the Company's results of operations and provide improved comparability between fiscal periods. Management believes that free cash flow is useful to both management and investors in their analysis of the Company's ability to service and repay its debt. Further, management uses these non-GAAP financial measures for planning and forecasting in future periods.

Core operating earnings, pretax income before restructuring costs and other special items and free cash flow should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for pretax income (loss), net income (loss), cash provided by (used in) operating activities or other income statement or cash flow statement data prepared in accordance with GAAP or as a measure of profitability or liquidity. In addition, the calculation of free cash flow does not reflect cash used to service debt and therefore, does not reflect funds available for investment or other discretionary uses. Also, these non- GAAP financial measures, as determined and presented by the Company, may not be comparable to related or similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

For reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP, see the supplemental data pages which, together with this press release, have been posted on the Company's website through the Investor Relations link at http://www.lear.com/. Given the inherent uncertainty regarding special items, other expense and the net change in sold accounts receivable in any future period, a reconciliation of forward-looking financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP is not feasible. The magnitude of these items, however, may be significant.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding anticipated financial results and liquidity. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, general economic conditions in the markets in which the Company operates, including changes in interest rates or currency exchange rates, the financial condition of the Company's customers or suppliers, fluctuations in the production of vehicles for which the Company is a supplier, the loss of business with respect to, or the lack of commercial success of, a vehicle model for which the Company is a significant supplier, disruptions in the relationships with the Company's suppliers, labor disputes involving the Company or its significant customers or suppliers or that otherwise affect the Company, the Company's ability to achieve cost reductions that offset or exceed customer-mandated selling price reductions, the outcome of customer productivity negotiations, the impact and timing of program launch costs, the costs, timing and success of restructuring actions, increases in the Company's warranty or product liability costs, risks associated with conducting business in foreign countries, competitive conditions impacting the Company's key customers and suppliers, raw material costs and availability, the Company's ability to mitigate the significant impact of increases in raw material, energy and commodity costs, the outcome of legal or regulatory proceedings to which the Company is or may become a party, unanticipated changes in cash flow, including the Company's ability to align its vendor payment terms with those of its customers and other risks described from time to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

The forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and the Company does not assume any obligation to update, amend or clarify them to reflect events, new information or circumstances occurring after the date hereof.

Lear Corporation is one of the world's largest suppliers of automotive seating systems, electrical distribution systems and electronic products. Lear's world-class products are designed, engineered and manufactured by a diverse team of more than 90,000 employees at 236 facilities in 33 countries. Lear's headquarters are in Southfield, Michigan. Lear is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol [LEA]. Further information about Lear is available on the internetat http://www.lear.com/.