Exhibit 99.1

LOGO

LKQ CORPORATION POSTS RECORD FIRST QUARTER 2010 RESULTS

 

   

Diluted EPS from continuing operations increased 63.6% to $0.36

 

   

Increases 2010 outlook for EPS from continuing operations; new range of $1.06 — $1.12

 

   

Aftermarket and refurbished parts revenue grew 10.9%

Chicago, IL (April 29, 2010) – LKQ Corporation (NASDAQ: LKQX) today reported diluted earnings per share from continuing operations of $0.36 for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010, an increase of 63.6% from $0.22 for the first quarter of 2009. Revenue for the first quarter was $603.5 million, an increase of 18.1% as compared to $510.9 million for the same period of 2009. Income from continuing operations for the first quarter of 2010 was $52.0 million, an increase of 62.4% as compared to $32.0 million for the same period of 2009.

“The year started off strong and we had a very good first quarter,” stated Joseph Holsten, President and Chief Executive Officer of LKQ Corporation. “The results reflect the strength of our parts sales businesses and improved economies of scale,” commented Mr. Holsten. “Higher parts and services revenue combined with improved commodity prices led to overall organic revenue growth of 10.7%. Our parts and services revenue grew organically by 5.6% as a result of continued increases in the sale of alternative parts, especially our aftermarket products.”

Other Events

In April 2010, LKQ received ratings upgrades from both Moody’s Investors Service and Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services. Moody’s upgraded the rating of LKQ’s senior secured debt facilities and the corporate family rating to Ba2. Standard & Poor’s raised the rating of LKQ’s senior secured debt to investment grade BBB- and LKQ’s corporate credit rating to BB.

During the first quarter of 2010, LKQ entered the tire recycling industry with its acquisition of a tire recycling business in Sterling, Connecticut. The acquired business had historical revenue of approximately $3 million in 2009. Also in the first quarter, LKQ opened start-up self service retail locations in Savannah, Georgia and Durham, North Carolina, and a heavy-duty truck facility in Monterrey, Mexico.

In January 2010, LKQ completed previously announced divestiture transactions with the sale of two self service retail facilities in Dallas, Texas to Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. The results of the facilities sold have been classified as discontinued operations for all periods presented.


Balance Sheet and Liquidity

As of March 31, 2010, LKQ’s balance sheet reflected cash and equivalents of $193.5 million and long-term debt, including the current portion, of $596.6 million. LKQ had no borrowings on its revolving credit facility of $100.0 million, although availability was reduced by $23.9 million of outstanding letters of credit.

Company Outlook

The Company also announced that it is raising earnings guidance for 2010. Income from continuing operations and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations are anticipated to be within the range of $154 million to $163 million and $1.06 to $1.12, respectively. The revised guidance reflects the higher commodity price environment and improved margins in the wholesale business. LKQ’s previous guidance was $145 million to $155 million for income from continuing operations, and $1.00 to $1.06 for diluted earnings per share.

Net cash provided by operating activities for 2010 is now projected to be in excess of $160 million. LKQ reiterated its 2010 range for capital expenditures related to property and equipment of $85 million to $95 million.

Changes in current operating conditions, such as fluctuations in commodity prices or freight and shipping expense, could impact the Company’s results. Additionally, the guidance provided excludes restructuring expenses and any gains or losses related to acquisitions or divestitures.

Quarterly Conference Call

LKQ will host a conference call and audio webcast to discuss its first quarter 2010 financial results and financial guidance on Thursday April 29, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. To participate in the conference call, please dial (877) 705-6008 or (201) 689-8481 if calling outside of the U.S. The live audio webcast can be accessed on the internet at www.lkqcorp.com in the Investor Relations section.

A replay of the conference call will be available by telephone at (877) 660-6853 or (201) 612-7415 for international calls. The telephone replay will require you to enter account number: 286 and conference ID: 349290. An online replay of the webcast will be available on the Company’s website. Both forms of the replay of the conference call will be available until May 29, 2010. Please allow approximately two hours after the live presentation before attempting to access the replay.

###


About LKQ Corporation

LKQ Corporation is the largest nationwide provider of aftermarket collision replacement products, recycled products and refurbished collision replacement products such as wheels, bumper covers and lights. LKQ operates approximately 290 facilities offering its customers a broad range of replacement systems, components, and parts to repair automobiles and light, medium and heavy-duty trucks.

Forward Looking Statements

The statements in this press release that are not historical in nature are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These include statements regarding our expectations, beliefs, hopes, intentions or strategies. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, some of which are not currently known to us. Actual events or results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward looking statements as a result of various factors.

These factors include:

 

   

uncertainty as to changes in U.S. general economic activity and the impact of these changes on the demand for our products and our ability to obtain financing for operations;

 

   

fluctuations in the pricing of new original equipment manufacturer (“OEM”) replacement parts;

 

   

the availability and cost of our inventory;

 

   

variations in vehicle accident rates or miles driven;

 

   

changes in state or federal laws or regulations affecting our business;

 

   

changes in the types of replacement parts that insurance carriers will accept in the repair process;

 

   

changes in the demand for our products and the supply of our inventory due to severity of weather and seasonality of weather patterns;

 

   

the amount and timing of operating costs and capital expenditures relating to the maintenance and expansion of our business, operations and infrastructure;

 

   

competition in the automotive parts industry;

 

   

our ability to increase or maintain revenue and profitability at our facilities;

 

   

uncertainty as to our future profitability on a consolidated basis;

 

   

uncertainty as to the impact on our industry of any terrorist attacks or responses to terrorist attacks;


   

our ability to operate within the limitations imposed by financing arrangements;

 

   

our ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms to finance our growth;

 

   

declines in the values of our assets;

 

   

fluctuations in fuel and other commodity prices;

 

   

fluctuations in the prices of scrap metal and other metals;

 

   

our ability to develop and implement the operational and financial systems needed to manage our operations;

 

   

our ability to integrate and successfully operate acquired companies and any companies acquired in the future and the risks associated with these companies;

 

   

claims by OEMs or others that attempt to restrict or eliminate the sale of aftermarket products:

 

   

termination of business relationships with insurance companies that promote the use of our products;

 

   

decreases in the supply of end of life and crush only vehicles that we process and sell for scrap; and

 

   

other risks that are described in our Form 10-K filed February 26, 2010 and in other reports filed by us from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. All of these forward-looking statements are based on our expectations as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Contact:

Sarah Lewensohn

Director, Investor Relations

(312) 621-2793


LKQ CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income

( In thousands, except per share data )

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2010     2009  

Revenue

   $ 603,516      $ 510,870   

Cost of goods sold

     320,226        281,299   
                

Gross margin

     283,290        229,571   

Facility and warehouse expenses

     57,776        48,929   

Distribution expenses

     51,189        44,272   

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     75,087        66,372   

Restructuring expenses

     80        803   

Depreciation and amortization

     9,229        8,274   
                

Operating income

     89,929        60,921   

Other expense (income):

    

Interest expense, net

     7,276        7,578   

Other income, net

     (161     (41
                

Total other expense

     7,115        7,537   
                

Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes

     82,814        53,384   

Provision for income taxes

     30,831        21,366   
                

Income from continuing operations

     51,983        32,018   

Discontinued operations:

    

Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes

     224        286   

Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of taxes

     1,729        —     
                

Income from discontinued operations

     1,953        286   
                

Net income

   $ 53,936      $ 32,304   
                

Basic earnings per share (1):

    

Income from continuing operations

   $ 0.37      $ 0.23   

Income from discontinued operations

     0.01        0.00   
                

Total

   $ 0.38      $ 0.23   
                

Diluted earnings per share (1):

    

Income from continuing operations

   $ 0.36      $ 0.22   

Income from discontinued operations

     0.01        0.00   
                

Total

   $ 0.37      $ 0.23   
                

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

    

Basic

     142,194        139,793   
                

Diluted

     145,124        142,789   
                

 

(1)

The sum of the individual earnings per share amounts may not equal the total due to rounding.


LKQ CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

 

     March 31,
2010
    December 31,
2009
 
Assets     

Current Assets:

    

Cash and equivalents

   $ 193,536      $ 108,906   

Receivables, net

     156,337        152,443   

Inventory

     390,950        385,686   

Deferred income taxes

     29,873        31,847   

Prepaid income taxes

     —          4,663   

Prepaid expenses

     12,074        9,603   

Assets of discontinued operations

     —          9,720   
                

Total Current Assets

     782,770        702,868   

Property and Equipment, net

     292,425        289,902   

Intangibles

     1,012,043        1,006,022   

Other Assets

     22,059        21,329   
                

Total Assets

   $ 2,109,297      $ 2,020,121   
                
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity     

Current Liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 58,050      $ 51,300   

Accrued expenses

     94,776        94,027   

Income taxes payable

     23,240        —     

Deferred revenue

     9,567        9,259   

Current portion of long-term obligations

     15,401        10,063   

Liabilities of discontinued operations

     3,329        3,832   
                

Total Current Liabilities

     204,363        168,481   

Long-Term Obligations, Excluding Current Portion

     581,211        592,982   

Deferred Income Tax Liabilities

     53,368        52,209   

Other Noncurrent Liabilities

     25,046        27,015   

Commitments and Contingencies

    

Stockholders’ Equity:

    

Common stock, $0.01 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized, 142,687,893 and 142,004,797 shares issued at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively

     1,427        1,420   

Additional paid-in capital

     825,154        815,952   

Retained earnings

     423,395        369,459   

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (4,667     (7,397
                

Total Stockholders’ Equity

     1,245,309        1,179,434   
                

Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

   $ 2,109,297      $ 2,020,121   
                


LKQ CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows

( In thousands )

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2010     2009  

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

    

Net income

   $ 53,936      $ 32,304   

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     9,980        9,291   

Stock-based compensation expense

     2,524        1,711   

Deferred income taxes

     418        2,254   

Excess tax benefit from share-based payments

     (3,500     (261

Gain on sale of discontinued operations

     (2,744     —     

Other

     785        592   

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and divestitures:

    

Receivables

     (3,306     10,084   

Inventory

     (4,173     (24,789

Prepaid income taxes/income taxes payable

     30,276        18,018   

Accounts payable

     5,663        (2,546

Other operating assets and liabilities

     (1,794     (7,133
                

Net cash provided by operating activities

     88,065        39,525   
                

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

    

Purchases of property and equipment

     (10,902     (6,918

Proceeds from sales of businesses, property and equipment

     12,084        109   

Cash used in acquisitions, net of cash acquired

     (3,746     (15,756
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (2,564     (22,565
                

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

    

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

     3,185        331   

Excess tax benefit from share-based payments

     3,500        261   

Borrowings under line of credit

     —          2,310   

Repayments of long-term debt

     (7,827     (6,100
                

Net cash used in financing activities

     (1,142     (3,198
                

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and equivalents

     271        (19

Net increase in cash and equivalents

     84,630        13,743   

Cash and equivalents, beginning of period

     108,906        79,067   
                

Cash and equivalents, end of period

   $ 193,536      $ 92,810   
                


LKQ CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Unaudited Supplementary Data

( In thousands, except per share data )

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  

Operating Highlights

   2010     2009              
           % of
Revenue
          % of
Revenue
    Change     % Change  

Revenue

   $ 603,516      100.0   $ 510,870      100.0   $ 92,646      18.1

Cost of goods sold

     320,226      53.1     281,299      55.1     38,927      13.8
                                      

Gross margin

     283,290      46.9     229,571      44.9     53,719      23.4

Facility and warehouse expenses

     57,776      9.6     48,929      9.6     8,847      18.1

Distribution expenses

     51,189      8.5     44,272      8.7     6,917      15.6

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     75,087      12.4     66,372      13.0     8,715      13.1

Restructuring expenses

     80      0.0     803      0.2     (723   -90.0

Depreciation and amortization

     9,229      1.5     8,274      1.6     955      11.5
                                      

Operating income

     89,929      14.9     60,921      11.9     29,008      47.6

Other expense (income):

            

Interest expense, net

     7,276      1.2     7,578      1.5     (302   -4.0

Other income, net

     (161   0.0     (41   0.0     (120   292.7
                                      

Total other expense

     7,115      1.2     7,537      1.5     (422   -5.6
                                      

Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes

     82,814      13.7     53,384      10.4     29,430      55.1

Provision for income taxes

     30,831      5.1     21,366      4.2     9,465      44.3
                                      

Income from continuing operations

     51,983      8.6     32,018      6.3     19,965      62.4

Discontinued operations:

            

Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes

     224      0.0     286      0.1     (62   -21.7

Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of taxes

     1,729      0.3     —        0.0     1,729      n/m   
                                      

Income from discontinued operations

     1,953      0.3     286      0.1     1,667      582.9
                                      

Net income

   $ 53,936      8.9   $ 32,304      6.3   $ 21,632      67.0
                                      

Basic earnings per share (1):

            

Income from continuing operations

   $ 0.37        $ 0.23        $ 0.14      60.9

Income from discontinued operations

     0.01          0.00          0.01      n/m   
                              

Total

   $ 0.38        $ 0.23        $ 0.15      65.2
                              

Diluted earnings per share (1):

            

Income from continuing operations

   $ 0.36        $ 0.22        $ 0.14      63.6

Income from discontinued operations

     0.01          0.00          0.01      n/m   
                              

Total

   $ 0.37        $ 0.23        $ 0.14      60.9
                              

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

            

Basic

     142,194          139,793          2,401      1.7
                              

Diluted

     145,124          142,789          2,335      1.6
                              

 

(1)

The sum of the individual earnings per share amounts may not equal the total due to rounding.


The following unaudited tables compare certain revenue categories:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
           
     2010    2009    Change    % Change  
     (In thousands)            

Included in Consolidated Statements of Income of LKQ Corporation

           

Recycled and related products and services

   $ 215,223    $ 184,525    $ 30,698    16.6

Aftermarket, other new and refurbished products

     312,373      281,651      30,722    10.9
                       

Parts and services

     527,596      466,176      61,420    13.2

Other

     75,920      44,694      31,226    69.9
                       

Total

   $ 603,516    $ 510,870    $ 92,646    18.1
                       

Revenue changes by category for the three months ended March 31, 2010 vs. 2009:

 

     Revenue Change Attributable to:        
     Acquisition     Organic     Foreign
Exchange
    % Change  

Recycled and related products and services

   15.3   0.4   0.9   16.6

Aftermarket, other new and refurbished products

   1.2   9.0   0.7   10.9

Parts and services

   6.8   5.6   0.8   13.2

Other

   5.6   64.0   0.3   69.9

Total

   6.7   10.7   0.7   18.1

Results of discontinued operations are as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
     2010    2009
     (In thousands)

Revenue

   $ 686    $ 7,119

Income before income tax provision

     355      454

Income tax provision

     131      168
             

Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes, before gain on sale of discontinued operations

     224      286

Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of taxes

     1,729      —  
             

Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes

   $ 1,953    $ 286
             


The following unaudited table reconciles income from continuing operations to EBITDA:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2010     2009  
     (In thousands)  

Income from continuing operations

   $ 51,983      $ 32,018   

Depreciation and amortization

     9,980        9,112   

Interest expense, net

     7,276        7,578   

Provision for income taxes

     30,831        21,366   
                

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) from continuing operations

   $ 100,070      $ 70,074   
                

EBITDA as a percentage of revenue

     16.6     13.7

We provide a reconciliation of Income from Continuing Operations to EBITDA as we believe it offers investors, securities analysts and other interested parties useful information regarding our results of operations because it assists in analyzing our performance and the value of our business. EBITDA provides insight into our profitability trends, and allows management and investors to analyze our operating results with and without the impact of depreciation, amortization, interest and income tax expense. We believe EBITDA is used by securities analysts, investors, and other interested parties in evaluating companies, many of which present EBITDA when reporting their results. EBITDA should not be construed as an alternative to operating income, net income or net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, as determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. In addition, not all companies that report EBITDA information calculate EBITDA in the same manner as we do and, accordingly, our calculation is not necessarily comparable to similarly named measures of other companies and may not be an appropriate measure for performance relative to other companies.