BOUCHERVILLE, QUEBEC -- Uni-Select reported a 3.2 percent increase in net earnings for the first quarter of 2007, reaching $5.8 million or 30 cents per share compared to $5.65 million or 29 cents per share last year. Sales reached $273 million in the first quarter of 2007, a 5.2 percent increase over sales of $260 million recorded in 2006. The increase in sales for the company is largely due to the various acquisitions completed during the course of the last quarters together with favorable exchange rates between Canadian and American currencies.

Sales for Automotive Group USA increased by 10.6 percent in the first quarter to reach $148.5 million compared to $134 million in the first quarter of 2006. Acquisitions completed in recent quarters contributed to an increase in sales by $16.7 million in the first quarter. The operating margin of Automotive Group USA remained stable at 5.3 percent .

Automotive Group Canada had an increase in sales of 0.9 percent in the first quarter of 2007 to reach $111 million compared to $110 million in the first quarter of 2006. This increase derives from the impact of acquisitions completed in previous quarters offset by the effects of warmer than normal winter temperatures. The operating margin of the Group improved from 5.5 percent in the first quarter of 2006 to 6 percent this quarter as a result of continued margin improvement and cost control programs together with the impact of recent acquisitions.

Sales for the Heavy Duty Group decreased by 10.8 percent in the first quarter of 2007 to reach $13.9 million compared to $15.5 million in 2006. More than half of this decrease is attributable to the transfer in 2006 of certain distribution activities to Automotive Group Canada. The operating margin of the Heavy Duty Group was negative at (8.3 percent ) in the first quarter of 2007 compared to (4.3 percent ) last year due to a decrease in sales and to higher fuel costs.

Jacques Landreville, president and chief executive officer of Uni-Select Inc. said "We are pleased to note the contribution to the results of the company stemming from recent acquisitions. We are currently considering various expansion projects and are confident we will conclude value-creating acquisitions in 2007. We are dealing in an acutely fragmented market where the biggest player controls less than 7 percent of the North American market share. Although opportunities are plentiful, we will continue to insist on our usual requirements for acquisitions in terms of compatibility, purchase price, possible synergies and the potential for value creation. The purchase of the assets of Thompson & Company, Inc. and MGT, Inc. announced last month met these criteria. In conclusion, while we are aware of the somewhat weaker demand for automotive parts in North America as a result of fuel costs, past experience leads us to believe that this is a temporary phenomenon and that consumers will adapt to this situation."

In addition, the board of directors of Uni-Select has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.1075 per common share payable on July 23 to shareholders of record as at June 29.

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