PRODUCTS  BUY  CUSTOMER SERVICE & PARTS  INVESTORS REORGANIZATION OWNERS CENTRAL  CONTACT  INTERNATIONAL
  Investors Return to Earnings Index

Earnings Releases

Fedders Announces Results for the Second Quarter and First Six Months of 2006

CONTACT:
Robert Laurent, Jr.
Fedders Corporation
(908) 604-8686
investorrelations@fedders.com

LIBERTY CORNER, New Jersey -- August 8, 2006 -- Fedders Corporation (NYSE: FJC), a leading global manufacturer of air treatment products, including air conditioners, furnaces, air cleaners, dehumidifiers, and humidifiers for residential, commercial and industrial markets, today announced its results for the second quarter and first six months of 2006.

Net sales of $95.6 million in the 2006 second quarter declined 22.1% from $122.7 million in the second quarter of 2005. Sales of $195.3 million in the first six months of 2006 were essentially even with sales of $195.6 million in the first six months of 2005 despite lower sales of approximately $32 million of room air conditioners to The Home Depot, as a result of no longer selling to its U.S. retail stores. Sales in the Engineered Products segment declined 11.0% in the second quarter and 5.4% for the first six months of 2006, due to fewer cleanroom projects in China. Sales in the Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration (HVACR) segment declined by 23.0% during the second quarter due to lower sales of room air conditioners as a result of customers purchasing product directly from the company's China facilities during the first quarter of 2006 rather than from the company's domestic warehouses, nearer to the summer season, as occurred in the second quarter of 2005. For the six months, HVACR sales were essentially flat as a slight decline in appliance sales was offset by growth in commercial and residential unitary air conditioner sales.

Gross profit for the second quarter of 2006 declined to $13.7 million or 14.3% of net sales compared with $23.1 million or 18.8% of net sales in the prior-year quarter. Gross profit declined as a result of lower sales and increased commodity costs of $5.6 million during the second quarter that could not be passed along in the form of price increases to customers with fixed- price contracts for room air conditioners and dehumidifiers. For the 2006 six-month period, gross profit declined to $26.4 million or 13.5% of net sales compared with $36.7 million or 18.8% of net sales in the prior-year period. For the six-month period, $9.8 million of commodity cost increases could not be passed on. The lower margin on sales under fixed-price contracts was partly offset by increased gross margins of commercial and residential unitary air conditioners.

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses declined by 14.9% to $16.5 million in the second quarter of 2006, compared with $19.4 million in the prior-year quarter. For the first six months of 2006, SG&A expenses declined by 14.7% to $31.5 million compared with $37.0 million in the 2005 period. The reduction in SG&A expenses is the result of cost-savings programs initiated in late 2005 and 2006 as well as management's continued focus on reducing costs.

Operating loss for the second quarter of 2006 was $3.4 million compared with income of $3.5 million in the 2005 quarter. Net loss applicable to common stockholders for the quarter was $10.0 million, or 32 cents per diluted share, compared to a net loss applicable to common stockholders of $2.5 million, or eight cents per diluted share, in the 2005 quarter. For the first six months of 2006, the operating loss was $5.8 million compared with an operating loss of $0.6 million for the first six months of 2005. Net loss applicable to common stockholders for the 2006 period was $20.0 million, or 65 cents per diluted share, versus $11.6 million, or 38 cents per diluted share, in the prior period.

The company has made significant year-over-year improvements in working capital, resulting in inventories decreasing from $103.7 million to $61.7 million and short-term debt decreasing from $90.5 million to $45.8 million.

Subsequent to the second quarter, the company announced it was exploring the possible sale of its global indoor air quality (IAQ) businesses, which are not core to the company's principal residential and commercial HVAC businesses and amount to approximately $50 million in sales.


                             FEDDERS CORPORATION
          RESULTS FOR THE SECOND QUARTER AND FIRST SIX MONTHS ENDED
                            JUNE 30, 2006 AND 2005
                (amounts in thousands, except per share data)

     Period Ended June 30 (Unaudited)      Second Quarter       Six Months
                                           2006     2005      2006      2005
    Net sales                           $95,567 $122,732  $195,268  $195,630
      Cost of sales                      81,878   99,632   168,884   158,918
    Gross profit                         13,689   23,100    26,384    36,712

      Selling, general and administrative
       expense                           16,509   19,410    31,549    36,979
      Restructuring (income)/expense        611      197       611       372
    Total operating expenses             17,120   19,607    32,160    37,351

    Operating income/(loss)              (3,431)   3,493    (5,776)     (639)

    Interest expense, net                 5,340    5,688    10,813    11,046
    Partners' net interest in joint
     venture results                        215      314        68       693
    Other (income)/expense                   30       85       589      (522)

    Income/(loss) from continuing
     operations                          (8,586)  (1,966)  (17,110)  (10,470)
    before income taxes

    Income tax expense/(benefit)            315      119       592       347

    Income/(loss) from continuing
     operations                          (8,901)  (2,085)  (17,702)  (10,817)

    Income/(loss) from discontinued
     operations net of 2005 tax of
     $0 and $14                               -      698         -     1,333

    Net income/(loss)                    (8,901)  (1,387)  (17,702)   (9,484)

    Preferred stock dividends             1,144    1,144     2,287     2,149

    Net income/(loss) applicable to
     common stockholders               $(10,045) $(2,531) $(19,989) $(11,633)

    Basic and diluted net income/(loss)
     per common share                    $(0.32)  $(0.08)   $(0.65)   $(0.38)
    Basic and diluted weighted average
     shares outstanding                  30,927   30,603    30,879    30,568



    Selected balance sheet items as of
    June 30, 2006 and 2005 (unaudited)                  2006            2005

    Cash and cash equivalents                        $11,754         $17,773
    Accounts receivable                               57,175          88,413
    Inventories                                       61,731         103,740
    Accounts payable                                  65,676          55,527
    Short-term notes                                  45,774          90,492
    Long-term debt, including current portion        160,169         161,288

                    

This news release includes forward-looking statements that are covered under the "Safe-Harbor" clause of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based upon current expectations and assumptions. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated as a result of known and unknown risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, weather and economic, political, market and industry conditions and reliance on key customers. Such factors are described in Fedders' SEC filings, including its most recently filed annual report on Form 10-K. The company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to incorporate developments occurring after release of announcement. Visit the Fedders investor information website at www.fedders.com to access additional information on Fedders.

###

 

Copyright© 2008 Fedders Corporation - All Rights Reserved

Fedders Corporation of Liberty Corner, N.J., provides air conditioning and other air treatment products for commercial and residential applications to markets worldwide. Product lines include residential central air conditioning systems, including condensing units, air handlers, gas furnaces, air cleaners, and humidifiers, as well as rooftop, vertical and horizontal packaged air conditioners and heat pumps for commercial, residential and telecommunications applications and also, appliance air treatment products.