Steven R. Downing
Management
Based on the IHS July 2013 forecast for the third quarter of 2013, the company estimates that net sales in the third quarter of 2013 will be flat to up 5%, compared with the third quarter of 2012. The company also estimates gross profit margin for the third quarter of 2013 to be in the same range as the 2013 year-to-date gross profit margin based on the July 2013 IHS production forecast. ER&D expense in the third quarter of 2013 is estimated to decrease by 5% to 10%, compared with ER&D in the third quarter of 2012, primarily due to reduced cost associated with the outside contract engineering. ER&D expense is expected to remain at approximately 7% of net sales, which is consistent with the company's recent historical trend. SG&A expense in the third quarter of 2013 is estimated to increase by 5% to 10%, compared with SG&A in the third quarter of 2012, primarily due to increased costs associated with professional fees and due diligence costs associated with the pending HomeLink acquisition. The company estimates that capital expenditures for 2013 will be approximately $50 million to $60 million, which is in line with our previous guidance. The company also estimates that depreciation and amortization expense for 2013 will be approximately $56 million to $60 million. The company continues in development and all product technology areas and in launch of new awarded business for that technology, including Rear Camera Display, information displays, signaling displays, SmartBeam and Driver Assist camera systems, interior lighting, Microphones, Compass, Telematics, HomeLink, as well as Inside and Outside auto-dimming mirrors with frameless and various curved glass applications. The HomeLink acquisition was done to secure the company's current customers and product offerings and HomeLink mirrors and to enable and expand our capabilities beyond the mirror. Our analysis indicates that the acquisition of the HomeLink business is a more efficient way to return shareholder value versus other alternative uses of cash, including share repurchases because it grows our business, provides new technology, leverages overhead costs and produces positive cash flow, as well as earnings per share. In our previous guidance from the HomeLink acquisition press release, we indicated that the acquisition of the HomeLink business will increase the company's consolidated gross profit margin by 1% to 1.5%. This guidance was given with the assumption that the improvement in gross margin was over and above the current quarter's gross margin performance, which we released prior to and have discussed during today's call. Gentex is planning to fund the acquisition with $400 million of cash and cash equivalents and $300 million in new debt financing. As described in our 8-K earlier this morning, Gentex has signed the commitment letter with PNC Bank in the amount of $300 million, with an accordion feature to increase the available funds in an amount not to exceed $75 million.