Gentex Corporation (GNTX)

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Gentex Announces Eight Percent Increase in Quarterly Cash DividendRate for 2.7 Percent Yield

Feb 19, 2013 16:22:32 (ET)


ZEELAND, MI, Feb 19, 2013 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Gentex Corporation , the Zeeland, Michigan-based manufacturer of automatic-dimming rearview mirrors and camera-based lighting-assist and driver-assist systems for the automotive industry, commercial fire protection products and dimmable aircraft windows, today announced that its Board Of Directors approved an eight percent increase in its quarterly cash dividend rate from $0.13 (13 cents) to $0.14 (14 cents) per share. The Board subsequently declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.14 per share that will be payable April 19, 2013, to shareholders of record of the common stock at the close of business on April 5, 2013. The dividend yield will be approximately 2.7 percent.

"Despite the continued volatile global macroeconomic environment, and particularly in Europe, our largest shipping destination, and in light of the continuing benefit of reduced double taxation of dividends, our Board believes that the dividend is important to investors," said Gentex Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer Fred Bauer. "We have a history of paying out a significant portion of our earnings in dividends -- approximately 50 percent -- and have cumulatively paid out approximately $525 million in cash dividends since more favorable tax treatment was implemented in 2003.

"We continue to believe that an investor-friendly dividend rate should be meaningful, sustainable and increase over time, at a rate generally in line with the Company's net income and operating cash flow," said Bauer.

The quarterly cash dividend program was implemented based on establishment of The Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003, which significantly reduced the federal income tax rate for shareholders who receive corporate cash dividends, making the declaration of a dividend a more tax-efficient means of returning value to shareholders.

Safe Harbor Statement

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act, as amended, that are based on management's beliefs and information currently available to us, and are also based on assumptions and analyses made by us in light of our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors we believe are appropriate under the circumstances. However, whether actual results and developments will conform to our current expectations, estimates and projections about the global automotive industry, the economy and the Company itself is subject to a number of risks, assumptions and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, and the affects can be difficult to predict. Words like "anticipates," "believes," "confident," "estimates," "expects," "forecasts," "hopes," "likely," "plans," "projects," "optimistic," and "should," and variations of such words and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. These statements do not guarantee future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict with regard to timing, expense, likelihood and degree of occurrence. These risks include, without limitation, the pace of economic activity in Europe, Asia and in the United States, employment and other general economic conditions; worldwide automotive production; the maintenance of the Company's market share; the ability to control costs, including the ability to achieve purchasing and manufacturing cost reductions, control and leverage fixed overhead costs, maintain margins; the ability to control E,R&D and S,G&A expenses. Additionally, these risks include competitive pricing pressures; the mix of products purchased by customers; the market for and the success of certain of the Company's mirror products (e.g. Rear Camera Display, SmartBeam(R) and other camera-based driver-assist and lighting-assist products), including vehicle model penetration and option take rates; changes in customers' marketing strategies; consumer confidence and the impact on production volume levels; intellectual property litigation risk; the ability to continue to make and sell product innovations; customer inventory management; scheduled production shutdowns at our customers' production facilities; currency fluctuations; interest rates; equity prices; the financial strength/stability of the Company's customers (including their Tier 1 suppliers); potential impact of supply chain disruptions including but not limited to those caused by natural disasters and any other part shortages; potential restructuring/sale of OEM business segments or suppliers; potential customer (including their Tier 1 suppliers) bankruptcies; and other risks identified in the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Therefore, actual results and outcomes may materially differ from what is expressed or forecasted. Furthermore, the Company undertakes no obligation to update, amend, or clarify forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

About the Company

Founded in 1974, Gentex Corporation (the nasdaq global select market:GNTX) is the leading supplier of automatic-dimming rearview mirrors and camera-based lighting-assist and driver-assist systems to the global automotive industry. The Company also provides commercial smoke alarms and signaling devices to the North American fire protection market, as well as dimmable aircraft windows for the commercial, business and general aviation markets. Based in Zeeland, Michigan, the international Company develops, manufactures and markets interior and exterior automatic-dimming automotive rearview mirrors that utilize proprietary electrochromic technology to dim in proportion to the amount of headlight glare from trailing vehicle headlamps. More than half of the Company's interior mirrors are sold with advanced electronic features, and more than 98 percent of the Company's net sales are derived from the sale of auto-dimming mirrors to every major automaker in the world. Visit the Company's web site at www.gentex.com .


CONTACT:
Connie Hamblin
616/772-1800
WEBSITE:
www.gentex.com





SOURCE: Gentex Corporation


http://www.gentex.com/