EX-99.1 2 pr.htm

EXHIBIT 99.1



Contact: Joseph F. Abely,

Chief Executive Officer

(781) 251-4119

\FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\

John Swanson
Swanson Communications, Inc.

(516) 671-8582

 

 

 

LOJACK CORP. REPORTS RECORD THIRD QUARTER 2005 RESULTS

 

Net income increased 74% compared to the third quarter 2004 on revenue growth of 37%

 

Earnings per share increased to $0.30 compared to $0.21 in the same quarter of 2004

 

Westwood, MA. November 3, 2005 --LoJack Corporation (NASDAQ NMS: “LOJN”) reported today that revenue for the third quarter ended September 30, 2005 increased 37% to $52,253,000, from $38,019,000 in the same period a year ago. For the nine months ended September 30, 2005, revenue increased 36% to $144,368,000, from $106,104,000 in the prior year.

 

Net income for the third quarter increased by 74% to $5,801,000, or $0.30 per diluted share, from $3,334,000, or $0.21 per diluted share, for the same quarter a year ago. For the nine months ended September 30, 2005, net income increased 84% to $13,422,000, or $0.71 per diluted share, from $7,292,000, or $0.46 per diluted share, in the prior year.

 

Gross margin for the third quarter increased 42% to $28,686,000, compared to $20,208,000 in the same period last year, while gross margin as a percentage of revenue was 55% for the third quarter compared to 53% in the same period a year ago. For the nine months ended September 30, 2005, gross margin increased 40% to $77,656,000, from $55,554,000 in the same quarter last year, and gross margin as a percentage of revenue was 54% compared to 52% in the prior year.

 

Operating income for the third quarter increased 86% to $8,761,000, compared to $4,701,000 for the same period a year ago, and operating income as a percentage of revenue was 17% compared to 12% in the prior year. For the nine months ended September 30, 2005, operating income increased 84% to $20,464,000, from $11,123,000 in the prior year, and operating income as a percentage of revenue was 14% compared to 10% in the same period a year ago.

 

Third quarter domestic unit volumes grew 24% compared to the same period a year ago, while new vehicle sales increased by only 4% during this same period. Domestic revenues in the third quarter increased 19% to $36,000,000, from $30,174,000 in the prior year, reflecting increased penetration in targeted high volume automotive dealers and strong sales in all regions of the country.

 

International revenue in the third quarter grew 45% to $11,397,000, from $7,845,000 in the prior year, attributable to a 59% increase in volume. This growth was led by strong product sales in Latin America as well as increased royalties from several licensees.

 

Boomerang Tracking had revenues of $4,856,000 for the third quarter, down 16%, excluding the impact of foreign exchange, compared to the standalone revenues in the same period a year ago, which was in line with our expectations.

 

The growth in revenue and net income from existing domestic and international business, excluding Boomerang, in the third quarter was 25% and 62%, respectively, compared to the same period



 

a year ago, and was 22% and 78%, respectively, for the three quarters ended September 30, 2005. LoJack acquired Boomerang Tracking in the fourth quarter of 2004. Accordingly, no Boomerang revenues were reflected in the results for the first nine months of 2004.

 

In announcing the results, Joseph F. Abely, Chief Executive Officer, said, “We are very pleased with the continued strong growth in both revenue and net income, especially during a period of slowing growth in new car sales. The growth in the third quarter and in the first nine months of 2005 exceeded our expectations and reflects continued strong performance in our core domestic and international businesses, extending a trend that began in early 2003.

 

“With respect to our planned strategic initiatives, which we discussed at the end of the second quarter, we continue to make progress in setting up the local network and operations for the Italian market and expect to begin selling product in Italy in early 2006. In addition, we initiated operations in the

Oregon market in September and in the Ohio market this past October, and anticipate opening South Carolina before year end.

 

“It is our expectation that as a result of the continued strong growth of our core domestic and international businesses, our full year net income will grow by approximately 50% to 60% compared to 2004.”

 

About LoJack

 

LoJack Corporation, the premier worldwide marketer of wireless tracking and recovery systems for valuable mobile assets, is the undisputed leader in global stolen vehicle recovery. Its Stolen Vehicle Recovery System delivers a better than 90% success rate and has helped recover more than $3 billion in global stolen assets. The system is uniquely integrated into law enforcement agencies in the United States that use LoJack's in-vehicle tracking equipment to recover stolen assets, including cars, trucks, commercial vehicles, construction equipment and motorcycles. LoJack operates in 24 states and the District of Columbia, representing areas of the country with the greatest population density, and highest number of new vehicle sales and incidence of vehicle theft. In addition, LoJack technology is utilized by law enforcement and security organizations in more than 25 countries throughout Europe, Africa and Latin America. Boomerang Tracking, Inc., the dominant marketer of stolen vehicle recovery technology in Canada operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of LoJack Corporation.

 

To access the webcast of the company’s conference call to be held at 9:00 AM EDT, Thursday, November 3, 2005, log onto www.lojack.com (click “Investors”, click “Earnings Conference Call Webcast”). An archive of the webcast will be available through www.lojack.com until superseded by the next quarter’s earnings release and related webcast.

 

From time to time, information provided by the company or statements made by its employees may contain “forward-looking” information, which involve risks and uncertainties. Any statements in this news release that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements (including, but not limited to, statements concerning the characteristics and growth of the company’s market and customers, the company’s objectives and plans for future operations and products and the company’s expected liquidity and capital resources). Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and accordingly, actual results could differ materially. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: the continued and future acceptance of the company’s products and services; the effectiveness of the company’s marketing initiatives; the rate of growth in the industries of the company’s customers; the presence of competitors with greater technical, marketing, and financial resources; the company’s ability to promptly and effectively respond to technological change to meet evolving customer needs; the extent of the company’s use of third party installers and distributors; capacity and supply constraints or difficulties; the company’s



 

ability to successfully expand its operations and changes in general economic or geopolitical conditions. For a further discussion of these and other significant factors to consider in connection with forward-looking statements concerning the company, reference is made to the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.

 

The company undertakes no obligation to release publicly the result of any revision to the forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

 

# # #

 

 



 

 

LoJack Corporation

Condensed Income Statement Data (Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands except share and per share amounts)

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,   

 

2005

2004

 

 

 

Revenues

$52,253

$38,019

Gross margin

28,686

20,208

Product development

1,247

1,314

Sales & marketing

10,776

9,084

General and administrative

6,390

4,302

Depreciation and amortization

1,512

807

Operating income

8,761

4,701

Other income (expense)

136

774

Pre-tax income

8,897

5,475

Net income

5,801

3,334

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share

$0.30

$0.21

Weighted average diluted common

 

 

shares outstanding

19,495,412

16,192,226

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,   

 

2005

2004

 

 

 

Revenues

$144,368

$106,104

Gross margin

77,656

55,554

Product development

3,732

4,132

Sales & marketing

29,828

25,217

General and administrative

19,320

13,029

Depreciation and amortization

4,312

2,053

Operating income

20,464

11,123

Other income (expense)

661

831

Pre-tax income

21,125

11,954

Net income

13,422

7,292

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share

$0.71

$0.46

Weighted average diluted common

 

 

shares outstanding

18,985,178

15,810,666

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

LoJack Corporation

Condensed Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

 

September 30, 2005

December 31, 2004

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

Cash and short term investments

$45,629

$21,437

Accounts receivable, net

36,669

29,687

Inventories

12,210

12,613

Deferred taxes and other assets

8,338

6,996

 



 

 

 

Total current assets

102,846

70,733

 

 

 

Property and equipment, net

17,154

15,600

Intangible assets – net

7,905

8,446

Goodwill

45,934

44,584

Deferred taxes and other assets

8,296

10,159

 



 

 

 

Total assets

$182,135

$149,522

 



 

 

 

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

Current portion of long-term debt,

 

 

capital leases obligations, and

 

 

short-term borrowings

$4,988

$4,241

Accounts payable

11,088

8,040

Accrued and other liabilities

6,593

6,431

Deferred revenue

18,275

15,856

Deferred taxes

36

110

Accrued compensation

4,683

5,495

 



 

 

 

Total current liabilities

45,663

40,173

 

 

 

Deferred revenue

25,320

21,343

 

 

 

Deferred income taxes

2,596

3,115

 

 

 

Long-term debt, capital

 

 

lease obligations, and

 

 

accrued expenses

16,127

20,941

 



 

 

 

Total liabilities

89,706

85,572

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity

92,429

63,950

 



 

 

 

Total liabilities and

 

 

Stockholders’ equity

$182,135

$149,522

 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTE: The full text of this news release can be accessed for 30 days at www.prnewswire.com. This news release as well as current financial statements may also be accessed on the Internet at www.lojack.com. Each quarter’s release is archived on the LoJack website under “Investor Relations” during the fiscal year (click “About LoJack Corporation”, click “Investor Relations”, click “Quarterly Financial Releases”). The company’s Annual Report, Form 10-Q and Form 10-K filings are also available on its website. Copies of the company’s financial information, including news releases, may also be obtained by contacting Swanson Communications, Inc. at (516) 671-8582.