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Exide Technologies Reports Second Quarter 2007 Results

ALPHARETTA, Ga., Nov 09, 2006 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Exide Technologies (NASDAQ: XIDE)(www.exide.com), a global leader in stored electrical-energy solutions, today reported its financial results for its fiscal 2007 second quarter, which ended September 30, 2006.

Quarter

Consolidated net sales for the fiscal 2007 second quarter were $680.3 million versus $686.5 million for fiscal 2006 second quarter. Many of our markets experienced drops in unit volume, which were partially offset by the favorable impact of recent pricing actions in both Transportation and Industrial Energy. Much of the lower unit volumes in both of our Transportation segments can be directly attributed to our pricing strategy to drive customer profitability to more appropriate levels or sever relationships where reasonable profitability could not be achieved. In our Industrial Energy North America business, we continue to enjoy strong growth in our motive power product lines. These increases have been more than offset by a soft network power market, including lower sales to the U.S. Navy as they transition to our Valve Regulated Lead Acid (VRLA) technology.

The Company had a net loss of $35.1 million or ($1.16) per share for the second quarter of 2007, compared with a net loss of $33.0 million or ($1.29) per share for the 2006 second quarter. The slight increase in net loss is primarily attributable to increased interest expense as a result of higher debt levels and higher interest rates related to amendments to our credit agreement made in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006. Net loss per share for the second quarter of fiscal 2007 was impacted by higher weighted average shares outstanding as a result of the Company's $75 million rights offering and $50 million private sale of common stock.

Adjusted EBITDA in the second quarter of fiscal 2007 was $33.4 million, a 34% increase over fiscal 2006 Adjusted EBITDA of $24.9 million. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA is attributable to improved margins as a result of pricing actions, and a decrease in general and administrative expenses of approximately $6.7 million related to headcount reductions and other organizational and operational streamlining initiatives. These factors were partially offset, however, by higher lead costs.

The Company uses Adjusted EBITDA as a key measure of its operational financial performance, as it is an important element of its bank agreement covenants. This measure underlies the Company's operational performance and excludes the nonrecurring impact of the Company's current restructuring actions. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and restructuring charges. Our Adjusted EBITDA definition also adjusts reported earnings for the effect of non-cash currency remeasurement gains or losses, the non-cash gain or loss from revaluation of the Company's warrants liability, impairment charges and non-cash gains or losses on asset sales. See the reconciliations of net losses to Adjusted EBITDA in the attachments to this release.

Fiscal Year-To-Date

Consolidated net sales for the first six months of fiscal 2007 were $1,363.5 million versus $1,355.8 million for the first six months of fiscal 2006. Excluding the favorable impact of exchange rates, sales were slighty down year-over-year principally due to lower unit volume in our Transportation North America business driven by our pricing actions and soft network power demand in North America.

The Company had a net loss of $73.0 million or ($2.61) per share for the first six months of 2007, compared with a net loss of $68.7 million or ($2.69) per share for the first six months of 2006. The increase in net loss is primarily attributable to an increase in restructuring charges of approximately $6.4 million driven principally by the April 2006 closing of the Company's automotive battery plant in Shreveport, Louisiana, and to a $12.2 million increase in interest expense due to higher debt and higher rates resulting from the recent amendments to our credit agreement. These were offset, to a degree, by improved operating results as more fully described below in our discussion of Adjusted EBITDA. Net loss per share was also impacted by an increase in weighted average shares outstanding as a result of the rights offering and private sale of common stock, as discussed above.

Combined Adjusted EBITDA for the first six months of fiscal 2007 was $60.6 million, an increase of 38% over fiscal 2006 Adjusted EBITDA of $44.0 million.. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA is attributable to improved margins as a result of pricing actions, slight reductions in selling, marketing, and advertising costs, and savings of approximately $4.5 million in general and administrative expenses as a result of ongoing initiatives to streamline the organization. These savings were partially offset, however, by higher lead and fuel costs.

Conference Call

The Company previously announced that it will hold a conference call to discuss its results on Friday, November 10, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. (EDT).

Dial-in number for US/Canada: (877) 563-6439

Dial-in number for international callers: (706) 758-9457

Conference ID: 9682120

About Exide Technologies:

Exide Technologies, with operations in 89 countries, is one of the world's largest producers and recyclers of lead-acid batteries. The Company's four global business groups - Transportation North America, Transportation Europe and Rest of World, Industrial Energy North America and Industrial Energy Europe and Rest of World - provide a comprehensive range of stored electrical energy products and services for industrial and transportation applications.

Transportation markets include original-equipment and aftermarket automotive, heavy-duty truck, agricultural and marine applications, and new technologies for hybrid vehicles and 42-volt automotive applications. Industrial markets include network power applications such as telecommunications systems, electric utilities, railroads, photovoltaic (solar-power related) and uninterruptible power supply (UPS), and motive-power applications including lift trucks, mining and other commercial vehicles.

Further information about Exide, including its financial results, are available at www.exide.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for historical information, this press release may be deemed to contain "forward-looking" statements. The Company desires to avail itself of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act") and is including this cautionary statement for the express purpose of availing itself of the protection afforded by the Act. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement in this or any prior forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to (a) projections of revenues, cost of raw materials, income or loss, earnings or loss per share, capital expenditures, growth prospects, dividends, the effect of currency translations, capital structure and other financial items, (b) statements of plans and objectives of the Company or its management or Board of Directors, including the introduction of new products, or estimates or predictions of actions by customers, suppliers, competitors or regulating authorities, (c) statements of future economic performance, (d) statements of assumptions, such as the prevailing weather conditions in the Company's market areas, underlying other statements and statements about the Company or its business and (e) statements regarding the ability to comply with or alternatively obtain amendments under the Company's debt agreements.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following general factors such as: (i) the Company's ability to implement and fund based on current liquidity business strategies and restructuring plans, (ii) unseasonable weather (warm winters and cool summers) which adversely affects demand for automotive and some industrial batteries, (iii) the Company's substantial debt and debt service requirements which may restrict the Company's operational and financial flexibility, as well as imposing significant interest and financing costs, (iv) the Company's ability to comply with the covenants in its debt agreements or obtain waivers of noncompliance, (v) the litigation proceedings to which the Company is subject, the results of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company and its business, (vi) the realization of the tax benefits of the Company's net operating loss carry forwards, which is dependent upon future taxable income, (vii) the fact that lead, a major constituent in most of the Company's products, experiences significant fluctuations in market price and is a hazardous material that may give rise to costly environmental and safety claims, (viii) competitiveness of the battery markets in North America and Europe, (ix) the substantial management time and financial and other resources needed for the Company's consolidation and rationalization of acquired entities, (x) risks involved in foreign operations such as disruption of markets, changes in import and export laws, currency restrictions, currency exchange rate fluctuations and possible terrorist attacks against U.S. interests, (xi) the Company's exposure to fluctuations in interest rates on its variable debt, (xii) the Company's ability to maintain and generate liquidity to meet its operating needs, (xiii) general economic conditions, (xiv) the ability to acquire goods and services and/or fulfill labor needs at budgeted costs, (xv) the Company's reliance on a single supplier for its polyethylene battery separators, (xvi) the Company's ability to successfully pass along increased material costs to its customers, (xvii) the Company's ability to comply with the provisions of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, (xviii) adverse reactions by creditors, vendors, customers, and others to the going-concern modification to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm in the Company's most recent Report on Form 10-K for the period ended March 31, 2006, and (xx) the Company's significant pension obligations over the next several years.

Therefore, the Company cautions each reader of this press release carefully to consider those factors set forth above and those factors described in the Company's Form 10-Q filed on November 9, 2006 because such factors have, in some instances, affected and in the future could affect, the ability of the Company to achieve its projected results and may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed herein. Financial tables attached

EXIDE TECHNOLOGIES AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE MONTHS
 AND SIX MONTHS ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30, 2006 AND 2005
(In thousands, except per-share data)

                              For the Three          For the Six
                               Months Ended          Months Ended
                           ------------------- -----------------------
                           Sept. 30, Sept. 30, Sept. 30,   Sept. 30,
                              2006      2005       2006        2005
                           --------- --------- ----------- -----------
NET SALES                  $680,299  $686,485  $1,363,489  $1,355,817
COST OF SALES               574,897   582,587   1,148,409   1,149,705
                           --------- --------- ----------- -----------
Gross profit                105,402   103,898     215,080     206,112
                           --------- --------- ----------- -----------

EXPENSES:
Selling, marketing and
 advertising                 65,944    67,615     134,450     138,687
General and administrative   36,393    43,138      82,387      86,877
Restructuring and
 impairment                   7,039     6,640      15,923       9,540
Other (income) expense, net   6,204     1,412       2,712       4,811
Interest expense, net        22,641    16,658      44,928      32,758
                           --------- --------- ----------- -----------
                            138,221   135,463     280,400     272,673
                           --------- --------- ----------- -----------

Loss before reorganization
 items, income taxes, and
 minority interest          (32,819)  (31,565)    (65,320)    (66,561)
REORGANIZATION ITEMS, NET       964     1,715       2,570       3,087
INCOME TAX PROVISION
 (BENEFIT)                    1,294      (202)      4,872        (956)
MINORITY INTEREST                32       (55)        243          40
                           --------- --------- ----------- -----------
   Net loss                $(35,109) $(33,023)   $(73,005)   $(68,732)
                           ========= ========= =========== ===========

NET LOSS PER SHARE
                           --------- --------- ----------- -----------
Basic and Diluted            $(1.16)   $(1.29)     $(2.61)     $(2.69)
                           ========= ========= =========== ===========

WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES
                           --------- --------- ----------- -----------
Basic and Diluted            30,169    25,576      27,936      25,576
                           ========= ========= =========== ===========

EXIDE TECHNOLOGIES AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2006 AND
 MARCH 31, 2006
(In thousands, except per-share data)

                                               Sept. 30,   March 31,
                                                   2006        2006
                                               ----------- -----------
                    ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents                         $93,888     $32,161
Restricted cash                                       613         561
Receivables, net of allowance for doubtful
 accounts of $26,404 and $21,637                  569,946     617,677
Inventories                                       418,567     414,943
Prepaid expenses and other                         30,188      30,243
Deferred financing costs, net                       3,248       3,169
Deferred income taxes                               5,587      11,066
                                               ----------- -----------
Total current assets                            1,122,037   1,109,820
                                               ----------- -----------
Property, plant and equipment, net                657,316     685,842
                                               ----------- -----------
Other assets:
Other intangibles, net                            188,945     186,820
Investments in affiliates                           5,141       4,783
Deferred financing costs, net                      13,891      15,196
Deferred income taxes                              57,941      56,358
Other                                              20,861      24,090
                                               ----------- -----------
                                                  286,779     287,247
                                               ----------- -----------
Total assets                                   $2,066,132  $2,082,909
                                               =========== ===========
     LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Short-term borrowings                             $11,650     $11,375
Current maturities of long-term debt                2,692       5,643
Accounts payable                                  342,086     360,538
Accrued expenses                                  285,693     298,631
Warrants liability                                  1,324       2,063
                                               ----------- -----------
Total current liabilities                         643,445     678,250
Long-term debt                                    660,998     683,986
Noncurrent retirement obligations                 315,985     333,248
Deferred income tax liability                      28,055      33,590
Other noncurrent liabilities                      111,794     116,430
                                               ----------- -----------
Total liabilities                               1,760,277   1,845,504
                                               ----------- -----------
Commitments and contingencies                          --          --
Minority interest                                  13,356      12,666
                                               ----------- -----------
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 1,000 shares
 authorized, 0 shares issued and outstanding           --          --
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000 and
 61,500 shares authorized, 60,701 and 24,546
 shares issued and outstanding                        607         245
Additional paid-in capital                      1,007,320     888,647
Accumulated deficit                              (712,660)   (639,655)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss               (2,768)    (24,498)
                                               ----------- -----------
Total stockholders' equity                        292,499     224,739
                                               ----------- -----------
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity     $2,066,132  $2,082,909
                                               =========== ===========

EXIDE TECHNOLOGIES AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE SIX MONTHS
 ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2006 AND 2005
(In thousands, except per-share data)

                                                   For the Six Months
                                                          Ended
                                                   -------------------
                                                   Sept. 30, Sept. 30,
                                                      2006      2005
                                                   --------- ---------
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net loss                                           $(73,005) $(68,732)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used
 in operating activities--
Depreciation and amortization                        60,464    60,343
Unrealized gain on Warrants                            (739)   (7,748)
Net loss on asset sales                               6,972     2,669
Deferred income taxes                                   239        --
Provision for doubtful accounts                       4,701     3,357
Non-cash provision for restructuring                  1,343       448
Reorganization items, net                             2,570     3,087
Minority interest                                       243        40
Amortization of deferred financing costs              1,659       897
  Changes in assets and liabilities --
Receivables                                          62,225    12,176
Inventories                                           8,875   (23,497)
Prepaid expenses and other                            2,459   (11,722)
Payables                                            (30,089)  (28,945)
Accrued expenses                                    (24,008)  (37,421)
Noncurrent liabilities                              (33,301)   (4,587)
Other, net                                           (4,122)   14,896
                                                   --------- ---------
Net cash used in operating activities               (13,514)  (84,739)
                                                   --------- ---------

Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures                                (15,602)  (24,092)
Proceeds from sales of assets, net                    2,498    11,333
                                                   --------- ---------
Net cash used in investing activities               (13,104)  (12,759)
                                                   --------- ---------

Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in short-term borrowings           (154)   12,420
Repayments of Borrowings under Senior Secured
 Credit Facility                                    (26,545)       --
Currency Swap                                            --   (12,084)
Increase (decrease) in other debt                    (3,764)   52,277
Financing costs and other                                (3)       --
Net Proceeds from rights offering and private
 equity sale                                        117,871        --
                                                   --------- ---------
Net cash provided by financing activities            87,405    52,613
                                                   --------- ---------

Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash
 Equivalents                                            940    (1,726)
                                                   --------- ---------

Net Increase (Decrease) In Cash and Cash
 Equivalents                                         61,727   (46,611)
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period       32,161    76,696
                                                   --------- ---------
Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period            $93,888   $30,085
                                                   ========= =========

                 EXIDE TECHNOLOGIES AND SUBSIDIARIES
              ADJUSTED EBITDA RECONCILIATION BY SEGMENT
            FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2006
                            (in millions)

                                         Industrial
                        Transportation      Energy
                        -------------- ---------------
                                Europe          Europe
                         North   and    North    and
                        America   ROW   America   ROW   Other   TOTAL
                        ------- ------ -------- ------ ------- -------

Net income (loss)         $5.8  ($7.2)    $5.3  ($1.1) ($37.9) ($35.1)

Interest expense, net        -      -        -      -    22.6    22.6

Income tax provision
 (benefit)                   -      -        -      -     1.3     1.3
                        ------- ------ -------- ------ ------- -------

EBIT                      $5.8  ($7.2)    $5.3  ($1.1) ($14.0) ($11.2)

Depreciation and
 amortization              6.8    8.3      2.2    9.2     3.5    30.0

Take Charge                0.4      -        -      -     0.1     0.5

Reorganization items,
 net                         -      -        -      -     1.0     1.0

Restructuring and
 impairment, net           0.7    4.8     (0.3)   1.5     0.3     7.0

Other restructuring
 costs included in cost
 of sales
and general and
 administrative expenses   0.1      -        -      -    (0.4)   (0.3)

Currency remeasurement
 loss (gain)              (0.7)   0.3      0.1   (0.1)    1.8     1.4

Unrealized gain on
 revaluation of warrants     -      -        -      -     0.1     0.1

Loss (gain) on sale of
 capital assets            4.0    0.3     (0.1)  (0.3)    0.2     4.1

Other non-cash losses
 (gains)                   0.2   (0.1)       -    0.2     0.5     0.8

Adjusted EBITDA          $17.3   $6.4     $7.2   $9.4   ($6.9)  $33.4
                        ======= ====== ======== ====== ======= =======

                 EXIDE TECHNOLOGIES AND SUBSIDIARIES
              ADJUSTED EBITDA RECONCILIATION BY SEGMENT
             FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2006
                            (in millions)

                       Transportation    Industrial
                                            Energy
                      ---------------- ---------------
                               Europe           Europe
                       North     and    North    and
                       America   ROW    America   ROW   Other   TOTAL
                      -------- ------- -------- ------ ------- -------

Net income (loss)        $1.0  ($13.3)   $12.8   $2.5  ($76.0) ($73.0)

Interest expense, net       -       -        -      -    44.9    44.9

Income tax provision
 (benefit)                  -       -        -      -     4.9     4.9
                      -------- ------- -------- ------ ------- -------

EBIT                     $1.0  ($13.3)   $12.8   $2.5  ($26.2) ($23.2)

Depreciation and
 amortization            14.2    16.5      4.7   18.1     7.0    60.5

Take Charge               1.0     0.3        -      -     0.1     1.4

Reorganization items,
 net                        -       -        -      -     2.6     2.6

Restructuring and
 impairment, net          6.7     6.1      0.4    2.3     0.4    15.9

Other restructuring
 costs included in
 cost of sales and
 general and
 administrative
 expenses                 0.3       -        -      -    (0.3)      -

Currency remeasurement
 loss (gain)              0.1       -      0.4      -    (4.7)   (4.2)

Minority interest           -       -        -      -     0.2     0.2

Unrealized gain on
 revaluation of
 warrants                   -       -        -      -    (0.7)   (0.7)

Loss (gain) on sale of
 capital assets           6.9     0.3     (0.1)  (0.2)      -     6.9

Other non-cash losses
 (gains)                  0.1       -      0.1      -     1.0     1.2

Adjusted EBITDA         $30.3    $9.9    $18.3  $22.7  ($20.6)  $60.6
                      ======== ======= ======== ====== ======= =======

                 EXIDE TECHNOLOGIES AND SUBSIDIARIES
         COMPARATIVE FY07 Q2 NET SALES AND EBITDA BY SEGMENT

            ---------------- ----------------
             Transportation    Industrial
                                  Energy
            ---------------- ----------------


                     Europe           Europe
             North     and    North     and   Unallocated
             America   ROW    America   ROW    Corporate  Consolidated
            -------- ------- -------- ------- ----------- ------------
Q2 FY07                           (in millions)
------------
Net sales    $227.7  $186.9    $64.9  $200.7           -       $680.3
Adjusted
 EBITDA       $17.3    $6.4     $7.2    $9.4       ($6.9)       $33.4

Q2 FY06
------------
Net sales    $226.0  $187.9    $73.0  $199.6           -       $686.5
Adjusted
 EBITDA (1)    $7.6    $7.4     $6.8   $13.2      ($10.1)       $24.9





                 EXIDE TECHNOLOGIES AND SUBSIDIARIES
         COMPARATIVE FY07 YTD NET SALES AND EBITDA BY SEGMENT

            ---------------- ----------------
             Transportation    Industrial
                                  Energy
            ---------------- ----------------


                     Europe           Europe
             North     and    North     and   Unallocated
             America   ROW    America   ROW    Corporate  Consolidated
            -------- ------- -------- ------- ----------- ------------
YTD FY07                          (in millions)
------------
Net sales    $442.2  $369.7   $137.9  $413.7           -     $1,363.5
Adjusted
 EBITDA       $30.3    $9.9    $18.3   $22.7      ($20.6)       $60.6

YTD FY06
------------
Net sales    $444.2  $367.3   $140.5  $403.8           -     $1,355.8
Adjusted
 EBITDA (1)   $16.5    $8.7    $13.0   $26.1      ($20.3)       $44.0

(1) Includes pro forma effect of the allocation of certain Corporate
 costs.

SOURCE: Exide Technologies

Exide Technologies
Media Contacts:
J.Addams & Partners, Inc.
Jeannine Addams
Kristin Wohlleben, 404-231-1132
jfaddams@jaddams.com
kwohlleben@jaddams.com
or
Investor Contact:
Todd Atenhan, 770-425-7877
investorrelations@exide.com

Copyright Business Wire 2006

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