BOUCHERVILLE, Quebec -- Uni-Select recorded an increase in net earnings of 4.7 percent for the first quarter of 2006 to reach $5,646,000 or 29 cents per share compared to $5,394,000 or 28 cents per share last year. Sales were reported at $262,514,000 in the first quarter of 2006, a 1.1 percent decrease compared to sales in 2005. The company said the decrease in sales is primarily due to the fluctuation in exchange rates between Canadian and American currencies.

Automotive Group USA's sales increased by 6 percent in the first quarter to reach $136,025,000 compared to $135,241,000 in the first quarter of 2005. The increase would have been 6.4 percent had the exchange rate between Canadian and American currencies remained stable. The operating margin of Automotive Group USA from 4.6 percent to 5.2 percent during the quarter largely due to the implementation of synergies resulting from action plans put into practice during the course of 2005 and at the beginning of 2006.

Automotive Group Canada's income decreased by 3.6 percent in the first quarter of 2006 to reach $111,004,000 compared to $115,134,000 in the first quarter of 2005. Weather conditions resulting from mild winter temperatures, a weakness in the sale of paint products stemming from anticipated purchases in the month of December 2005 and the changeover of products at Midas franchisees' locations are the dominating factors contributing to the decrease in sales. The operating margin of the Group improved from 5.1 percent in the first quarter of last year to 5.4 percent in this quarter, mainly due to the price increase of numerous products.

Heavy Duty Group's sales increased by 2.1 percent in the first quarter of 2006 to reach $15,485,000 compared to $15,169,000 in 2005. The operating margin of the Heavy Duty Group was negative at (4.3 percent) in the first quarter of 2006 compared to (2.4 percent) last year due to a higher sales volume of products at a lower margin and increased energy costs.

Jacques Landreville, president and chief executive officer of Uni-Select said "We are happy to note that the results from our U.S. operations continue to meet our expectations. The impact of the Canadian/U.S. exchange rate masks the actual increase in activity. Our Canadian operations have, in themselves, suffered temporary conditions and we are confident we will see them resume growth in the near future. Lastly, we have noted some uncertainty affecting the North American demand for automotive replacement parts due to the increase in fuel prices. Our past experience leads us to consider that this is a temporary phenomenon and that consumers will adapt to this situation."

Finally, the board of directors of Uni-Select Inc. declared a quarterly dividend of 10 cents per common share payable on July 21, to the shareholders of record on June 30.

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

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