ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Affinia Group has reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended Dec. 31, 2009.

As previously announced, the company sold its Commercial Distribution Europe segment on Feb. 2. The Commercial Distribution Europe segment qualified as a discontinued operation for purposes of financial reporting for fiscal year 2009. Consolidated sales from continuing operations for the full year 2009 were $1.797 billion, as compared to $1.915 billion for 2008. The $118 million decrease in net sales was primarily a result of unfavorable foreign currency translation effects of $96 million.

Brake North America and Asia net sales were $593 million in 2009, a $65 million decrease compared to 2008. Affinia said the decline in net sales was partially due to $14 million of unfavorable foreign currency translation. Additionally, softer demand for the company's brake products led to a decline in volume in 2009.

Net sales in filtration products for 2009 were $713 million compared to $727 million in 2008. The $14 million reduction in net sales was attributable to $47 million in unfavorable foreign currency translation which was offset by $33 million in primarily increased volume.

The company's Brake South America segment and Commercial Distribution South America products experienced a $39 million decrease in net sales. The net decline in sales was due to $35 million of unfavorable currency translation and $7 million of lower sales in Argentina as a result of a closure of a brake manufacturing facility in 2008. These lower sales were offset by higher sales at the company's Brazilian distribution operations which continued to grow market share even in unfavorable market conditions.

Gross profit for 2009 was essentially flat at $368 million as compared to $369 million for the same period in 2008. Gross profit margin improved from 19 percent to 20 percent over the same time periods. The improvement in gross margin was a result of ongoing savings realized from the company's comprehensive restructuring program which was initiated in 2005.

Total debt outstanding as of Dec. 31, 2009, was $601 million, compared with $622 million at year end Dec. 31, 2008. On Aug. 13, 2009, the company refinanced its former term loan facility, revolving credit facility and accounts receivable facility. The refinancing consists of an Asset Backed Loan (ABL) Revolver and Senior Secured Notes. The year-over-year change in indebtedness is outlined in the table below. At Dec. 31, 2009, the company had $65 million of cash and cash equivalents. No financial maintenance covenants exist under the company's refinanced capital structure and the company remained in compliance with all debt covenants at Dec. 31, 2009.

Terry McCormack, Affinia Group's president and chief executive officer stated, "Although the global economic climate was difficult in 2009, we are proud of the fact that the company maintained compliance with all of its debt covenants. We continued to be positioned competitively with respect to our cost structure as evidenced by our steady improvements in gross and operating margins. Our cost competitiveness is a direct result of our multi-year comprehensive restructuring program. As this restructuring program nears completion, we are now turning our focus to profitably increasing our revenues through new markets, channels and customers."

Fourth Quarter
For the fourth quarter 2009, net sales were $455 million, a 10 percent increase as compared to $413 million for the fourth quarter of 2008. The $42 million increase was due to an increase in sales in the Filtration and Commercial Distribution South America groups.

Gross profit for the fourth quarter 2009 increased by 23 percent to $101 million, compared with $82 million for the same period in 2008. Gross margin improved to 22 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009 compared to 20 percent in 2008. The improvement in gross profit was attributable to the ongoing cost benefits realized from the company's comprehensive restructuring program and to an improvement in sales.