BOUCHERVILLE, Quebec -- Uni-Select has reported a 9.1 percent increase in net earnings for the third quarter of 2007, reaching $10,258,000 or 52 cents per share compared to $9,402,000 or 48 cents per share last year. Sales reached $298,756,000 in the third quarter of 2007, an increase of 1.8 percent over sales of $293,421,000 in 2006.

The company said this increase in sales is largely due to the various acquisitions completed during the course of the last quarters, partially offset by the unfavorable U.S. exchange rate compared to the Canadian dollar. Excluding the impact of the exchange rate, sales for the company would have increased by 5.2 percent and earnings would have been 54 cents per share for the quarter.

Year-to-date, sales were recorded at $885,178,000, a $41,102,000 increase or 4.9 percent improvement compared to the same period in 2006. Net earnings reached $27,761,000 or $1.41 per share, an increase of 8.5 percent compared to net earnings of $25,587,000 or $1.30 per share realized during the same period of 2006.

Sales for Automotive Group USA increased by 1.5 percent in the third quarter to reach $150,077,000 compared to $147,913,000 in the third quarter of 2006. Acquisitions completed in recent quarters contributed to an increase in sales of $12,722,000 in the third quarter. The operating margin of Automotive Group USA remained stable at 6.2 percent. Excluding the impact of the exchange rate, sales for Automotive Group USA would have increased by 8.1 percent and the operating margin by 6.3 percent. Year-to-date, sales are $457,428,000, an increase of 7.3 percent compared to the same period in 2006. The operating margin is 6.1 percent compared to 6.0 percent in 2006.

Automotive Group Canada enjoyed an increase in sales of 4.6 percent in the third quarter of 2007 to reach $133,571,000 compared to $127,738,000 during the corresponding period last year. This increase stems from the impact of acquisitions completed during the course of preceding quarters combined with organic growth of 1.4 percent. The operating margin of the group improved from 7.8 percent in the third quarter of 2006 to 7.9 percent this quarter as a result of continued improvement programs on margins and costs. Year-to-date, sales are $383,788,000, an increase of 4 percent compared to same period in 2006. The operating margin improved from 7.4 percent in 2006 to 7.9 percent in 2007.

Sales for the Heavy Duty Group decreased by 15 percent during the quarter to reach $15,108,000, compared to $17,770,000 in 2006. This decrease is attributable to unseasonably mild weather, changes in the sales conditions of certain products and to the transfer in 2006 of some distribution activities to Automotive Group Canada. This transfer represents a 4.2 percent decrease in sales for this division. The operating margin of the Heavy Duty Group was 0.6 percent in the third quarter of 2007, representing an increase compared to the negative margin of (1.9 percent) last year. Year-to-date, sales are $43,962,000, a decrease of 9.5 percent compared to the same period in 2006.

Excluding the aforementioned transfer, the Heavy Duty Group reports a decrease in sales of 3.6 percent. The operating margin is negative at (3.9 percent) while it was negative at (3.7 percent) in 2006.

"These results are the fruit of our sales efforts and continuous cost control efforts in an ever-competitive market" said Jacques Landreville, president and chief executive officer of Uni-Select. "As mentioned at the end of the last quarter, a number of expansion projects were examined and three acquisitions were announced since then, two of which were completed in the third quarter. The fourth quarter results for our U.S. operations will benefit from the contribution of Consumer Auto Parts acquired in August and of Parts Distributors acquired in September. We continue our search for expansion projects in the United States in order to benefit from the strength of the Canadian dollar versus the U.S. dollar. At the actual rate of $1,03, the exchange rate fluctuation will affect the results of Uni-Select for the fourth quarter. The conclusion of our latest analysis is that the impact would be 5 cents per share. This impact, strictly accounting in nature, does not in the least affect our business development plan in the United States."

The board of directors of Uni-Select Inc. has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.1075 per common share payable on Jan. 21, 2008 to shareholders of record as at Dec. 31.

For more information about Uni-Select, go to: http://www.uni-select.com.