TORONTO -- Uni-Select Inc. reported net profits for the second quarter increased by 44.6 percent to attain $10,267,000 or $0.52 per share on a diluted basis, compared to $7,099,000 or $0.38 per share (on a diluted basis) for the second quarter of 2004.

Automotive Group USA increased its income almost four-fold during the second quarter of 2005. Income increased from $39,861,000 during the second quarter of 2004 to $155,758,000 during the second quarter of 2005, an increase of 290.8 percent. This increase results from the acquisition of Middle Atlantic Warehouse Distributor, Inc. (MAWDI) completed on November 1, 2004. Without this acquisition, the group's quarterly income would have diminished as a result of the negative impact of the exchange rate decrease of 8.2 percent.

Excluding the impact of the exchange rate, the organic growth of Automotive Group USA during the second quarter was 2.3 percent. For the first six-month period of 2005, Automotive Group USA increased its income by 272.0 percent from $78,230,000 in 2004 to $290,999,000 in 2005. This progression is also attributable to the acquisition of MAWDI. During the second quarter, the operating margin of the Group reached 6.3 percent compared to 3.8 percent during the second quarter of 2004. This progression is attributable to the realization of synergies resulting from the acquisition in 2004 and the improvement of performance by the entities comprising Automotive Group USA prior to the acquisition. For the year, the operating margin of the group increased to 5.5 percent compared to 4.2 percent in 2004.

"We are satisfied of the evolution of our business in the U.S. The integration process is progressing and the results meet our most optimistic scenario," declared Mr. Jacques Landreville, president and chief executive officer of Uni-Select. "We are pleased to notice that our Canadian operations have experienced an increase in income of 3 percent after a difficult first quarter. The Canadian market remains, however, very competitive and we must aggressively pursue both our sales efforts and control of our costs."

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