SPAR Spartan Motors Inc

CHARLOTTE, Mich., Oct. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Spartan Motors, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPAR) today announced improved operating results for the third quarter of 2011 reflecting significant gains in its Delivery and Service Vehicles segment and the ongoing benefits of actions taken earlier in the year to realign operations.  

Revenues were $120.3 million, up 21 percent from the second quarter, driven by increased sales in the Delivery and Service segment ahead of the peak holiday season, which offset softness in other markets Spartan serves.  Also contributing to the improvement in third quarter revenues were sizable orders for Aftermarket Parts and Assemblies (APA).  Improved product mix and initial cost savings due to Spartan's operational realignment in the previous quarter resulted in net income of $3.2 million, or $0.10 per diluted share.

Third quarter 2011 results:

• Net sales of $120.3 million (flat with Q3 2010 sales of $120.6 million)
• Gross margin of 17.0 percent of sales (up from 16.4 percent in Q3 2010)
• Operating expense of $15.2 million (up $0.8 million compared to Q3 2010)
• Net income of $3.2 million ($0.10 per diluted share)
• Cash from continuing operations of $26.4 million (for the first nine months of 2011)
• Ending consolidated backlog of $142.8 million (down 20.4 percent from Q2 2011)
• Total debt of $5.2 million
• Cash balance of $30.5 million (up $16.0 million from Q4 2010)

"Our top line performance highlighted the strength of our diversified business lines as solid growth in Utilimaster's business drove outstanding results in our Delivery and Service Vehicles segment," said John Sztykiel, President and CEO of Spartan Motors.  "The performance at Utilimaster helped to offset softness in the recreational vehicle (RV), emergency response and defense markets and helped reduce our exposure to government-dependent revenue streams. Utilimaster's performance helped drive our business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) revenues to 63 percent of the total – leaving our business-to-government (B2G) revenues at just 37 percent. This is a dramatic improvement over the 2008 timeframe when 88 percent of our revenue was B2G derived and just 12% was B2B/B2C. This further demonstrates the insight of the diversified growth strategy we implemented in 2009.

"Our net income for the third quarter validates the restructuring actions we have taken over the last several months and demonstrates our ability to drive significant leverage to the bottom line.  Our relationship with Isuzu grows stronger as we approach full capacity with production of the N-Series Gas cab and chassis. As we begin generating sales of the Reach™ commercial van that will also help us achieve a more diversified revenue mix."

Profitable Growth Opportunities and Compelling Products

• The Reach, a commercial van offering up to 35 percent better fuel economy with improved safety and operational performance, was launched into market during the third quarter.  The Reach is being offered by a nationwide network of Isuzu dealers.  The first orders were received near the end of the third quarter, with initial shipments expected in the fourth quarter.
• Classic Fire has been fully integrated into Spartan's emergency response vehicle lineup, creating a more diversified product line to meet the needs of the budget-sensitive market.  The Classic Series of emergency response vehicles has been added to the Legend and Star Series, and will be focused on the lower-priced niche of the fire truck market.  
• Spartan Chassis has been developing an ADA-compliant "low floor" chassis for use in the shuttle bus market.  Expansion into this market illustrates Spartan's efforts to penetrate adjacent chassis markets that have countercyclical growth cycles to current markets served.
• Spartan Chassis was awarded orders for 23 Metro Star® emergency response cab and chassis for multiple fire departments in China.  The latest orders represent another step forward in Spartan's efforts to expand sales globally and bring the total number of units sold to China to 94.  These orders are expected to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2011 and the first quarter of 2012.
• Production of the Isuzu N-Series Gas cab and chassis increased to 21 units per day, or 5,000 per year, during the quarter. The N-Series contributes significantly to Isuzu's position as America's top selling low cab forward truck, a position Isuzu has enjoyed since 1986.
• Utilimaster fulfilled significant orders of Aftermarket Parts and Assemblies for a large fleet customer in the third quarter.  This helped to boost revenues and gross margins in the segment, and Utilimaster is pursuing additional profitable field service growth opportunities. These solutions enable existing customer fleets to achieve performance improvement, increased safety and the ability to retrofit new vocational packages.  These achievements highlight Spartan's success in APA by capturing improved revenue opportunities and contribution margin.

Managing Costs and Strengthening the Balance Sheet

In the third quarter, Spartan completed a number of actions designed to reduce expenses in all areas of the Company's business.  These actions are part of a constant discipline to improve operating leverage and match operating expenses to current market demands.  In addition, Spartan made the decision to transition production for RV chassis to facilities in Wakarusa, Ind. to better meet the needs of RV manufacturer customers in Elkhart County, Ind.  By moving production closer to customers, Spartan expects to reduce transportation costs and be more responsive to customer demand through improved speed and agility.  As part of this transition, Spartan intends to move production of the Reach commercial van to Charlotte, Mich. to bring this operation closer to the engineering and production resources of the Isuzu team.

"Beyond the major restructuring actions we've taken over the past few years, we have remained vigilant in evaluating and refining our business model to reflect current market conditions and support our long-term strategic plan," said Joe Nowicki, Chief Financial Officer.  "These efforts are not simply about cutting costs to improve profitability.  They are also about improving customer focus through strategic production locations and investing in new business development. Our acquisition and integration of Utilimaster demonstrates how we are successfully investing to grow our business. Lastly, because of our relentless focus on the balance sheet, we ended the quarter with more than $30 million in cash, which marks a dramatic improvement and allows us the capital flexibility to grow."

• Consolidated net sales for the quarter were $120.3 million, down slightly from the same quarter last year, reflecting seasonal strength in the Delivery and Service market offsetting market declines in the RV, emergency response and military markets.  
• Gross margin rose to 17.0 percent in the third quarter, from 16.4 percent for the same period in 2010, driven by a product mix shift toward fewer emergency response and military vehicles and higher delivery and service revenues.  
• Operating expenses increased by $0.8 million from the third quarter of 2010, driven by the addition of the Classic Fire acquisition in the current year and a $0.6 million accrual for contingent earn-out payments associated with the greater-than-expected performance at Utilimaster.  Partially offsetting these items were lower fixed operating expenses as a result of the annualized $4 million savings from restructuring actions taken earlier in the year.
• Excluding the Company's discontinued operations, the cash conversion cycle improved by 17 days, quarter over quarter, through better management of both accounts receivable and inventory.  

Mr. Sztykiel concluded: "As we look ahead, we expect the challenges in some of our markets to continue, even as we face some seasonal decreases in demand, which were reflected in the lower backlog levels at the end of the third quarter.  However, we remain focused on our blended growth strategy of penetrating diversified end markets through acquisitions, alliances or organic growth, while continually evolving our cost structure to ensure a sound balance sheet and profitability. The good news is that our third quarter results clearly reflected the benefits of our strategy."  

Conference Call, Webcast and Roadcast®

Spartan Motors will host a conference call for analysts and portfolio managers at 10 a.m. ET today to discuss these results and current business trends. To listen to a live webcast of the call, please visit www.spartanmotors.com, click on "Shareholders," and then on "Webcasts."

For more information about Spartan, please view the Company's Roadcast "digital road show" designed for investors. To launch the Spartan Motors Roadcast, please visit www.spartanmotors.com and look for the "Virtual Road Show" link on the right side of the page.  

About Spartan Motors

Spartan Motors, Inc. designs, engineers and manufactures specialty chassis, specialty vehicles, truck bodies and aftermarket parts for the recreational vehicle (RV), emergency response, government services, defense, and delivery and service markets. The Company's brand names – Spartan™, Crimson Fire™, Crimson Fire Aerials™, and Utilimaster® - are known for quality, value, service and first-to-market innovation. The Company employs approximately 1,900 associates at facilities in Michigan, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Indiana, Florida and Texas. Spartan reported sales of $481 million in 2010 and is focused on becoming a global leader in the design, engineering and manufacture of specialty vehicles and chassis. Visit Spartan Motors at www.spartanmotors.com.

This release contains several forward-looking statements that are not historical facts, including statements concerning our business, strategic position, financial strength, future plans, objectives, and the performance of our products. These statements can be identified by words such as "believe," "expect," "intend," "potential," "future," "may," "will," "should," and similar expressions regarding future expectations.  These forward-looking statements involve various known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict with regard to timing, extent, and likelihood.  Therefore, actual performance and results may materially differ from what may be expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements.  Factors that could contribute to these differences include operational and other complications that may arise affecting the implementation of our plans and business objectives; continued pressures caused by economic conditions and the pace and extent of the economic recovery; challenges that may arise in connection with the integration of new businesses or assets we acquire or the disposition of assets; issues unique to government contracting, such as competitive bidding processes, qualification requirements, and delays or changes in funding; disruptions within our dealer network; changes in our relationships with major customers, suppliers, or other business partners, including Isuzu; changes in the demand or supply of products within our markets or raw materials needed to manufacture those products; and changes in laws and regulations affecting our business.   Other factors that could affect outcomes are set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which are available at www.sec.gov or our website.  All forward-looking statements in this release are qualified by this paragraph.  Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results.  We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements in this release, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

SOURCE Spartan Motors, Inc.