AURORA, ON, May 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Magna International Inc. (TSX: MG.A, NYSE: MGA) today issued certain points of clarification in response to recent media reports regarding Magna's potential future investment in battery plants.
Siegfried Wolf, Magna's Co-Chief Executive Officer stated: "We believe that the market for hybrid and electric vehicles will continue to grow and we hope to capitalize on the opportunities that such growth could provide to capable suppliers. We are reviewing with potential joint venture partners some of the opportunities available, including opportunities to supply batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles. At this point, other than our current contract to supply battery packs to a European OEM, Magna has not been awarded any such battery business, either directly or through a potential joint venture partner. Any investment in battery manufacturing by Magna, or a potential joint venture involving Magna, would first require a number of conditions to be met, including but not limited to: sufficient market demand to justify the business case for investment, conclusion of joint venture terms with technology partners, availability of financing, commercialization of related technologies, and the settlement of customer supply terms, including pricing and warranty matters."
ABOUT MAGNA -----------
We are the most diversified global automotive supplier. We design, develop and manufacture technologically advanced systems, assemblies, modules and components, and engineer and assemble complete vehicles, primarily for sale to original equipment manufacturers ("OEMs") of cars and light trucks. Our capabilities include the design, engineering, testing and manufacture of automotive interior systems; seating systems; closure systems; body and chassis systems; vision systems; electronic systems; exterior systems; powertrain systems; roof systems; hybrid and electric vehicles/systems as well as complete vehicle engineering and assembly.
We have approximately 74,000 employees in 240 manufacturing operations and 76 product development, engineering and sales centres in 25 countries.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS --------------------------
From time to time, we make written or verbal statements that constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, including, but not limited to, statements in this document related to Magna's potential investment in future battery plants and future growth prospects for the hybrid and electric vehicles market. The forward-looking information contained in this document and related discussions is presented for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans and such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking statements may include financial and other projections, as well as statements regarding our future plans, objectives or economic performance, or the assumptions underlying any of the foregoing, and other statements that are not recitations of historical fact. We use words such as "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "likely", "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "plan", "forecast", "outlook", "project", "estimate" and similar expressions suggesting future outcomes or events to identify forward-looking statements. Any such forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to us, and are based on assumptions and analyses made by us in light of our experience and our perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors we believe are appropriate in the circumstances. However, whether actual results and developments will conform with our expectations and predictions is subject to a number of risks, assumptions and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, and the effects of which can be difficult to predict, including, without limitation: the potential for a slower than anticipated economic recovery or a deterioration of economic conditions; production volumes and sales levels which are below forecast levels; our dependence on outsourcing by our customers; the termination or non renewal by our customers of any material contracts; our ability to identify and successfully exploit shifts in technology; restructuring, downsizing and/or other significant non-recurring costs; impairment charges; our ability to successfully grow our sales to non-traditional customers; unfavourable product or customer mix; risks of conducting business in foreign countries, including China, India, Brazil, Russia and other developing markets; our ability to quickly shift our manufacturing footprint to take advantage of lower cost manufacturing opportunities; disruptions in the capital and credit markets; fluctuations in relative currency values; our ability to successfully identify, complete and integrate acquisitions; pricing pressures, including our ability to offset price concessions demanded by our customers; warranty and recall costs; the financial condition and credit worthiness of some of our OEM customers, including the potential that such customers may not make, or may seek to delay or reduce, payments owed to us; the financial condition of some of our suppliers and the risk of their insolvency, bankruptcy or financial restructuring; the highly competitive nature of the automotive parts supply business; product liability claims in excess of our insurance coverage; changes in our mix of earnings between jurisdictions with lower tax rates and those with higher tax rates, as well as our ability to fully benefit tax losses; other potential tax exposures; legal claims against us; work stoppages and labour relations disputes; changes in laws and governmental regulations; costs associated with compliance with environmental laws and regulations; potential conflicts of interest involving our indirect controlling shareholder, the Stronach Trust; and other factors set out in our Annual Information Form filed with securities commissions in Canada and our annual report on Form 40-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and subsequent filings. In evaluating forward-looking statements, we caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements and readers should specifically consider the various factors which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. Unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, we do not intend, nor do we undertake any obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent information, events, results or circumstances or otherwise.
Magna International Inc.
CONTACT: Vincent J. Galifi, Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial
Officer at (905) 726-7100
