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Dorman Products, Inc. - Annual Report: 2008 (Form 10-K)

form10-k.htm


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
___________________

FORM 10-K
___________________

(Mark One)
x
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 27, 2008

OR

o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _____________________ to ____________________________


Commission file number 0-18914

DORMAN PRODUCTS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Pennsylvania
 
23-2078856
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. - Employer Identification No.)

3400 East Walnut Street, Colmar, Pennsylvania 18915
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(215) 997-1800
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: NONE
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act
Yes o       No x

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Act
Yes o       No x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No o 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  o
 


 
1

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer", "accelerated filer" and “smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:

Large accelerated filer o
 
Accelerated filer x
     
Non-accelerated filer o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 
Smaller reporting company o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.)
Yes o       No x

As of March 2, 2009 the registrant had 17,637,506 shares of common stock, $.01 par value, outstanding. The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 28, 2008 was $91,207,879.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Certain portions of the registrant's definitive proxy statement, in connection with its Annual Meeting of Shareholders, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after December 27, 2008, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K
 
 
2

 

DORMAN PRODUCTS, INC.
INDEX TO ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
DECEMBER 27, 2008


Part I
       
Page
Item 1.
   
4
     
4
     
4
     
5
     
5
     
6
     
7
     
7
     
7
     
7
     
8
     
8
Item 1A.
   
8
Item 1B.
   
9
Item 2.
   
9
Item 3.
   
10
Item 4.
   
10
         
Part II
         
Item 5.
   
10
Item 6.
   
12
Item 7.
   
12
Item 7A.
   
18
Item 8.
   
19
Item 9.
   
35
Item 9A.
   
35
         
Part III
         
Item 10.
   
37
Item 11.
   
38
Item 12.
   
38
Item 13.
   
38
Item 14.
   
38
         
Part IV
         
Item 15.
   
38
     
41
     
42

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PART I
Item 1. Business.

General

Dorman Products, Inc. (formerly R&B, Inc.) was incorporated in Pennsylvania in October 1978. As used herein, unless the context otherwise requires, "Dorman", the "Company", “we”, “us”, or “our” refers to Dorman Products, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

We are a leading supplier of original equipment dealer "exclusive" automotive replacement parts, and fasteners and service line products primarily for the automotive aftermarket, a market segment which we helped to establish. We design, package and market over 92,000 different automotive replacement parts (including brake parts), fasteners and service line products manufactured to our specifications. Approximately 35% of our parts and 69% of our net sales consist of original equipment dealer "exclusive" parts and fasteners. Original equipment dealer "exclusive" parts are those which were traditionally available to consumers only from original equipment manufacturers or salvage yards and include, among other parts, intake manifolds, exhaust manifolds, oil cooler lines, window regulators, radiator fan assemblies, power steering pulleys and harmonic balancers. Fasteners include such items as oil drain plugs and wheel lug nuts. Approximately 90% of our products are sold under our brand names and the remainder is sold for resale under customers' private labels, other brands or in bulk. Our products are sold primarily in the United States through automotive aftermarket retailers (such as AutoZone, Advance and O'Reilly), national, regional and local warehouse distributors (such as Carquest and NAPA) and specialty markets and salvage yards. Through our Scan-Tech subsidiary and Dorman Canada business unit, we are increasing our international distribution of automotive replacement parts, with sales into Canada, Europe, the Middle East and the Far East.

The Automotive Aftermarket

The automotive replacement parts market is made up of two components: parts for passenger cars and light trucks, which accounted for sales of approximately $215.5 billion in 2008, and parts for medium and heavy duty trucks, which accounted for sales of approximately $75.2 billion in 2008. We currently market products primarily for passenger cars and light trucks.

Two distinct groups of end-users buy replacement automotive parts: (i) individual consumers, who purchase parts to perform "do-it-yourself" repairs on their own vehicles; and (ii) professional installers, which include automotive repair shops and the service departments of automobile dealers. The individual consumer market is typically supplied through retailers and through the retail arms of warehouse distributors. Automotive repair shops generally purchase parts through local independent parts wholesalers and through national warehouse distributors. Automobile dealer service departments generally obtain parts through the distribution systems of automobile manufacturers and specialized national and regional warehouse distributors.

The increasing complexity of automobiles and the number of different makes and models of automobiles have resulted in a significant increase in the number of products required to service the domestic and foreign automotive fleet. Accordingly, the number of parts required to be carried by retailers and wholesale distributors has increased substantially. These market pressures to include more products in inventory and the significant consolidation among distributors of automotive replacement parts have in turn resulted in larger distributors.

Retailers and others who purchase aftermarket automotive repair and replacement parts for resale are constrained to a finite amount of space in which to display and stock products. Thus, the reputation for quality, customer service, and line profitability which a supplier enjoys is a significant factor in a purchaser's decision as to which product lines to carry in the limited space available. Further, because of the efficiencies achieved through the ability to order all or part of a complete line of products from one supplier (with possible volume discounts), as opposed to satisfying the same requirements through a variety of different sources, retailers and other purchasers of automotive parts seek to purchase products from fewer but stronger suppliers.

4


Products

We sell over 92,000 different automotive replacement parts, fasteners and service line products to meet a variety of needs including original equipment dealer "exclusive" parts. Our DORMAN® NEW SINCE 1918™ marketing campaign launched in 2005 repositioned our brands under a single corporate umbrella - DORMAN®. All of our products are now sold under one of the seven DORMAN® sub-brands as follows:

DORMAN®
OE Solutions ™ 
 
- Original equipment dealer "exclusive" parts, such as intake manifolds, exhaust manifolds, oil cooler lines, window regulators, harmonic balancers and radiator fan assemblies.
     
DORMAN®
HELP! ®
 
- An extensive array of replacement parts, including window handles, and switches, door hardware, interior trim parts, headlamp aiming screws and retainer rings, radiator parts, battery hold-down bolts and repair kits, valve train parts and power steering filler caps
     
DORMAN®
AutoGrade™
 
- A comprehensive line of application specific and general automotive hardware that is a necessary element to a complete repair. Product categories include body hardware, general automotive fasteners, oil drain plugs, and wheel hardware.
     
DORMAN®
Conduct-Tite!®
 
- Extensive selection of electrical connectors, wire, tools, testers, and accessories.
     
DORMAN®
FirstStop™
 
- Value priced technician quality brake and clutch program containing more than 8,500 SKU's.
     
DORMAN®
Pik-A-Nut®
 
- A specialized and highly efficient line of home hardware and home organization products specifically designed for retail merchandisers.
     
DORMAN®
Scan-Tech®
 
- Based in Stockholm, Sweden, DORMAN Scan-Tech sells a complete line of Volvo and Saab replacement parts throughout the world, reducing the dependency on the OE Dealer.

The remainder of our revenues are generated by the sale of parts that we package for ourselves, or others, for sale in bulk or under the private labels of parts manufacturers and national warehouse distributors (such as Carquest and NAPA). During the years ended December 2008, 2007, and 2006, no single product or related group of products accounted for more than 10% of gross sales.

We warrant our products against certain defects in material and workmanship when used as designed on the vehicle on which it was originally installed. We offer a one year, two year, or limited lifetime warranty depending on the product type. All warranties limit the customer’s remedy to the repair or replacement of the part that is defective.
 
Product Development

Product development is central to our business. The development of a broad range of products, many of which are not conveniently or economically available elsewhere, has in part, enabled us to grow to our present size and is important to our future growth. In developing our products, our strategy has been to design and package parts so as to make them better and easier to install and/or use than the original parts they replace and to sell automotive parts for the broadest possible range of uses. Through careful evaluation, exacting design and precise tooling, we are frequently able to offer products which fit a broader range of makes and models than the original equipment parts they replace, such as an innovative neoprene replacement oil drain plug which fits not only a variety of Chevrolet models, but also Fords, Chryslers and a range of foreign makes. This assists retailers and other purchasers in maximizing the productivity of the limited space available for each class of part sold. Further, where possible, the Company improves its parts so they are better than the parts they replace. Thus, many of the our products are simpler to install or use, such as a replacement "split boot" for a constant velocity joint that can be installed without disassembling the joint itself and a replacement spare tire hold-down bolt that is longer and easier to thread than the original equipment bolt it replaced. In addition, we often package different items in complete kits to ease installation.

5


Ideas for expansion of our product lines arise through a variety of sources. We maintain an in-house product management staff that routinely generates ideas for new parts and expansion of existing lines. Further, we maintain an "800" telephone number and an Internet site for "New Product Suggestions" and receive, either directly or through our sales force, many ideas from our customers as to which types of presently unavailable parts the ultimate consumers are seeking.

Each new product idea is reviewed by our product management staff, as well as by members of the production, sales, finance, marketing, and administrative staffs. In determining whether to produce an individual part or a line of related parts, we consider the number of vehicles of a particular model to which the part may be applied, the potential for modifications which will allow the product to be used over a broad range of makes and models, the average age of the vehicles in which the part would be used and the failure rate of the part in question. This review process narrows the many new product suggestions down to those most likely to enhance our existing product lines or to support new product lines.

Sales and Marketing

We market our products to three groups of purchasers who in turn supply individual consumers and professional installers:

(i)   Approximately 43% of our revenues are generated from sales to automotive aftermarket retailers (such as AutoZone, Advance and O'Reilly), local independent parts wholesalers and national general merchandise chain retailers. We sell some of our products to virtually all major chains of automotive aftermarket retailers;

(ii)  Approximately 34% of our revenues are generated from sales to warehouse distributors (such as Carquest and NAPA), which may be local, regional or national in scope, and which may also engage in retail sales; and

(iii) The balance of our revenues (approximately 23%) are generated from international sales and sales to special markets, which include, among others, mass merchants (such as Wal-Mart), salvage yards and the parts distribution systems of parts manufacturers.

We use a number of different methods to sell our products. Our more than 40 person direct sales force solicits purchases of our products directly from customers, as well as managing the activities of 20 independent manufacturers’ representative agencies. We use independent manufacturers’ representative agencies to help service existing retail and warehouse distribution customers, providing frequent on-site contact. The sales focus is designed to increase sales by adding new product lines and expanding product selection within existing customers and secure new customers. For certain of our major customers, and our private label purchasers, we rely primarily upon the direct efforts of our sales force, who, together with the marketing department and our executive officers, coordinate the more complex pricing and ordering requirements of these accounts.

Our sales efforts are not directed merely at selling individual products, but rather more broadly towards selling groups of related products that can be displayed on attractive Dorman-designed display systems, thereby maximizing each customer's ability to present our product line within the confines of the available area.

We prepare a number of catalogs, application guides and training materials designed to describe our products and other applications as well as to train our customers' salesmen in the promotion and sale of our products. Every two to three years we prepare a new master catalog which lists all of our products. The catalog is updated periodically through supplements.

We currently service more than 2,500 active accounts. During 2008, 2007 and 2006, three customers (AutoZone, Advance and O’Reilly) each accounted for more than 10% of net sales and in the aggregate accounted for 40%, 38% and 40% of net sales, respectively.

6


Manufacturing

Substantially all of our products are manufactured to our specifications by third parties. Because numerous contract manufacturers are available to manufacture our products, we are not dependent upon the services of any one contract manufacturer or any small group of them. No one vendor supplies more than 10% of our products. In 2008, as a percentage of our total dollar volume of purchases, approximately 20% of our products were purchased from various suppliers throughout the United States and the balance of our products were purchased directly from vendors in a variety of foreign countries.
 
Once a new product has been developed, our engineering department produces detailed engineering drawings and prototypes which are used to solicit bids for manufacture from a variety of vendors in the United States and abroad. After a vendor is selected, tooling for a production run is produced by the vendor at our expense. A pilot run of the product is produced and subjected to rigorous testing by our engineering department and, on occasion, by outside testing laboratories and facilities in order to evaluate the precision of manufacture and the resiliency and structural integrity of the materials used. If acceptable, the product then moves into full production.

Packaging, Inventory and Shipping

Finished products are received at one or more of our facilities, depending on the type of part. It is our practice to inspect samples of shipments based upon vendor performance. If cleared, these shipments of finished parts are logged into our computerized production tracking systems and staged for packaging.

We employ a variety of custom-designed packaging machines which include blister sealing, skin film sealing, clamshell sealing, bagging and boxing lines. Packaged product contains our label (or a private label), a part number, a universal packaging bar code suitable for electronic scanning, a description of the part and, if appropriate, installation instructions. Products are also sold in bulk to automotive parts manufacturers and packagers. Computerized tracking systems, mechanical counting devices and experienced workers combine to assure that the proper variety and numbers of parts meet the correct packaging materials at the appropriate places and times to produce the required quantities of finished products.

Completed inventory is stocked in the warehouse portions of our facilities and is stored and organized to facilitate the most efficient methods of retrieving product to fill customer orders. We strive to maintain a level of inventory to adequately meet current customer order demand with additional inventory to satisfy new customer orders and special programs. We maintain a "safety stock" of inventory to compensate for fluctuations in demand and delivery.

We ship our products from all of our locations by contract carrier, common carrier or parcel service. Products are generally shipped to the customer's main warehouse for redistribution within their network. In certain circumstances, at the request of the customer, we ship directly to the customer's stores either via smaller direct ship orders or consolidated store orders that are cross docked.

Competition

The replacement automotive parts industry is highly competitive. Various competitive factors affecting the automotive aftermarket are price, product quality, breadth of product line, range of applications and customer service. Substantially all of our products are subject to competition with similar products manufactured by other manufacturers of aftermarket automotive repair and replacement parts. Some of these competitors are divisions and subsidiaries of companies much larger than us, and possess a longer history of operations and greater financial and other resources than we do. Further, some of our private label customers also compete with us.

Proprietary Rights

While we take steps to register our trademarks when possible, we do not believe that trademark registration is generally important to our business. Similarly, while we actively seek patent protection for the products and improvements which we develop, we do not believe that patent protection is generally important to our business.

7


Employees

At December 27, 2008, we had 966 employees worldwide, of whom 956 were employed full-time and 10 were employed part-time. Of these employees, 584 were engaged in production, inventory, or quality control, 23 were involved in engineering, product development and brand management, 54 were employed in sales and order entry, and the remaining 305, including our 5 executive officers, were devoted to administration, finance, legal, and strategic planning.

No domestic employees are covered by any collective bargaining agreement. Approximately 31 employees at our Swedish subsidiary are governed by a national union. We consider our relations with our employees to be generally good.

Available Information

Our Internet address is www.dormanproducts.com. The information on this website is not and should not be considered part of this Form 10-K and is not incorporated by reference in this Form 10-K. This website is, and is only intended to be, for reference purposes only. We make available free of charge on our web site our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. In addition, we will provide, at no cost, paper or electronic copies of our reports and other filings made with the SEC. Requests should be directed to: Dorman Products, Inc. - Office of General Counsel, 3400 East Walnut Street, Colmar, Pennsylvania 18915.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the following factors, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. The risks described below are not the only risks we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially affect our business, financial conditions or results of operations.

Competition for Shelf Space. Since the amount of space available to a retailer and other purchasers of our products is limited, our products compete with other automotive aftermarket products, some of which are entirely dissimilar and otherwise non-competitive (such as car waxes and engine oil), for shelf and floor space. No assurance can be given that additional space will be available in our customers' stores to support expansion of the number of products that we offer.

Concentration of Sales to Certain Customers. A significant percentage of our sales has been, and will continue to be, concentrated among a relatively small number of customers. During 2008, 2007 and 2006, three customers (AutoZone, Advance, and O’Reilly) each accounted for more than 10% of net sales and in the aggregate accounted for 40%, 38%  and 40 % of net sales, respectively.  We anticipate that this concentration of sales among customers will continue in the future. The loss of a significant customer or a substantial decrease in sales to such a customer could have a material adverse effect on our sales and operating results. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition" and "Business-Sales and Marketing" sections of this Form 10-K.

Concentrations of Credit Risk. Financial instruments that potentially subject us to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable. All cash equivalents are managed within established guidelines which limit the amount which may be invested with one issuer. A significant percentage of our accounts receivable have been, and will continue to be concentrated among a relatively small number of automotive retailers and warehouse distributors in the United States. Our five largest customers accounted for 81% and 71% of total accounts receivable as of December 27, 2008 and December 29, 2007, respectively. Management continually monitors the credit terms and credit limits to these and other customers.

Customer Terms. The automotive aftermarket has been consolidating over the past several years. As a result, many of our customers have grown larger and therefore have more leverage in negotiations. Customers press for extended payment terms and returns of slow moving product when negotiating with us. While we attempt to avoid or minimize such concessions, in some cases payment terms to customers have been extended and returns of product have exceeded historical levels. The product returns primarily affect our profit levels while terms extensions generally reduce operating cash flow and require additional capital to finance the business. We expect both of these trends to continue for the foreseeable future.
 
Foreign Currency Fluctuations. In 2008, 80% of our products were purchased from suppliers located in a variety of foreign countries. The products generally are purchased through purchase orders with the purchase price specified in U.S. dollars. Accordingly, we do not have exposure to fluctuations in the relationship between the dollar and various foreign currencies between the time of execution of the purchase order and payment for the product. However, weakness in the dollar has resulted in some materials price increases and pressure from several foreign suppliers to increase prices. To the extent that the dollar decreases in value to foreign currencies in the future or the present weakness in the dollar continues for a sustained period of time, the price of the product in dollars for new purchase orders may increase further.

8


The largest portion of our overseas purchases come from China.  The value of the Chinese Yuan has increased relative to the U.S. Dollar since July 2005 when it was allowed to fluctuate against a basket of currencies.  Most experts believe that the value of the Yuan will increase further relative to the U.S. Dollar over the next few years.  Such a move would most likely result in an increase in the cost of products that are purchased from China.

 
Dependence on Senior Management. The success of our business will continue to be dependent upon Richard N. Berman, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer and Steven L. Berman, President, Chief Operating Officer, Secretary-Treasurer and Director. The loss of the services of one or both of these individuals could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Dividend Policy. We do not intend to pay cash dividends for the foreseeable future. Rather, we intend to retain our earnings, if any, for the operation and expansion of our business.

Control by Officers, Directors and Family Members. As of March 2, 2009, Richard N. Berman and Steven L. Berman, who are officers and directors of Dorman Products, Inc., their father, Jordan S. Berman, and their brothers, Marc H. Berman and Fred B. Berman beneficially own approximately 42% of the outstanding Common Stock and are able to elect the Board of Directors, determine the outcome of most corporate actions requiring shareholder approval (including certain fundamental transactions) and control over our policies.

Increase in OE Patent Filings. Recently, we have seen an increase in patent requests for new designs made by original equipment manufacturers. If original equipment manufacturers are able to obtain patents on new designs at a rate higher than historical levels, we could be restricted or prohibited from selling aftermarket products covered by such items, which could have an adverse impact on our business.

Product Quality.  We have experienced, and in the future may experience, reliability, quality, or compatibility problems in products after their production and sale to customers.  Product quality problems could result in damage to reputation, loss of customers, a decrease in revenue, unexpected expenses, and a loss of market share. We have invested and will continue to invest in our engineering, design, and quality infrastructure in an effort to reduce and eventually eliminate these problems.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.

There are no unresolved comments from the Commission staff regarding our periodic or current reports under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

Item 2. Properties.

Facilities

We currently have 13 warehouse and office facilities located throughout the United States, Canada, Sweden, China and Korea. Two of these facilities are owned and the remainder are leased. Our headquarters and principal warehouse facilities are as follows:
 
Location
 
Description
     
Colmar, PA
 
Corporate Headquarters and Warehouse and office - 334,000 sq. ft. (leased) (1)
Warsaw, KY
 
Warehouse and office - 362,000 sq. ft. (owned)
Portland, TN
 
Warehouse and office - 414,043 sq. ft. (leased)
Louisiana, MO
 
Warehouse and office - 90,000 sq. ft. (owned)
Baltimore, MD
 
Warehouse and office - 83,000 sq. ft. (leased)
 
In the opinion of management, the existing facilities are in good condition.
_________________

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(1)           We lease the Colmar facility from a partnership of which Richard N. Berman, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and Steven L. Berman, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company, their father, Jordan S. Berman, and their brothers, Marc H. Berman and Fred B. Berman, are partners. Under the lease we paid rent of $4.13 per square foot ($1.4 million per year) in 2008. The rents payable will be adjusted on January 1 of each year to reflect annual changes in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers - U.S. City Average, All Items.  In December, 2007, we executed a new five year lease for the Colmar facility under substantially the same terms and conditions. In the opinion of management, the terms of this lease are no less favorable than those which could have been obtained from an unaffiliated party.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings.

We are a party to or otherwise involved in legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business, such as various claims and legal actions involving contracts, competitive practices, trademark rights, product liability claims and other matters arising out of the conduct of our business. In the opinion of management, none of the actions, individually or in the aggregate, would likely have a material financial impact on the Company.

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

There were no matters submitted to a vote of our security holders during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2008.


PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Shareholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

Our shares of common stock are traded publicly on the NASDAQ Global Select Stock Market. At March 2, 2009 there were 144 holders of record of common stock, representing more than 1,400 beneficial owners. The last price for our common stock on March 2, 2009, as reported by NASDAQ, was $7.76 per share. Since our initial public offering, we have paid no cash dividends. We do not presently contemplate paying any such dividends in the foreseeable future. The range of high and low sales prices for our common stock for each quarterly period of 2008 and 2007 are as follows:
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
   
High
   
Low
   
High
   
Low
 
First Quarter
  $ 14.48     $ 10.01     $ 12.95     $ 9.90  
Second Quarter
    11.40       8.85       14.75       11.36  
Third Quarter
    14.06       7.29       14.97       13.17  
Fourth Quarter
    13.05       6.62       15.00       12.20  

For the information regarding our compensation plans, see Item 12, Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

Stock Performance Graph. Below is a line graph comparing the cumulative total shareholder return on our Common Stock with the cumulative total shareholder return on the Automotive Parts & Accessories Peer Group of the Hemscott Group Index and the NASDAQ Market Index for the period from December 27, 2003 to December 27, 2008. The Automotive Parts & Accessories Peer Group is comprised of 38 public companies and the information was furnished by Hemscott Inc. The graph assumes $100 invested on December 27, 2003 in our Common Stock and each of the indices, and that the dividends were reinvested when and as paid. In calculating the cumulative total shareholder returns, the companies included are weighted according to the stock market capitalization of such companies.

10

 
Graph
Stock Repurchases

Share Repurchase Plan.  On February 22, 2008, we announced that our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 500,000 shares of our outstanding common stock.  Under this program, share repurchases may be made from time to time depending upon market conditions, share price and availability, and other factors at our discretion.  Repurchases will take place in open market transactions or in privately negotiated transactions in accordance with applicable laws.  We made no stock purchases under the plan during fiscal year ended December 27, 2008.

During the last three months of fiscal year ended December 27, 2008, we purchased shares of our Common Stock as follows:
Period
 
Total Number of Shares Purchased (1)
   
Average Price Paid per Share
   
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs
   
Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
 
September 28, 2008 through October 25, 2008
    11,537     $ 10.37       -       -  
October 26, 2008 through November 22, 2008
    -       -       -       -  
November 23, 2008 through December 27, 2008
    5,374       11.79       -       -  
Total
    16,911     $ 10.82       -       -  

(1) All of the shares indicated in the above table were purchased from our 401(k) Plan. Shares are generally purchased from our 401(k) Plan when participants elect to sell units as permitted by the Plan or to leave the Plan upon retirement, termination or other reason. This table does not include shares tendered to satisfy the exercise price in connection with cashless exercises of employee stock options or shares tendered to satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with equity awards.

In February 2009, the Company filed a registration statement to register 1,000,000 shares of its common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options and options to be issued, if any, under the Company’s Amended and Restated Incentive Stock Plan.  Prior to this time, the Company’s reserve of registered shares became depleted and the Company issued unregistered shares upon exercise of options.  Upon discovery of this matter, the Company offered former option holders the ability to rescind these option exercise transactions where registered shares were not actually available upon exercise for all transactions which occurred within the relevant statute of limitations period.  The Company opted for rescission in lieu of investigating the availability of exemptions from registration, given the time and expense associated therewith.  This rescission offer was effected as a private placement which was exempted from registration pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
 
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Item 6. Selected Financial Data.
 
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
2008 (a)
   
2007 (b)
   
2006(c)
   
2005
   
2004
 
Statement of Operations Data:
                             
Net sales
  $ 342,325     $ 327,725     $ 295,825     $ 278,117     $ 249,526  
Income from operations
    28,404       33,972       26,770       29,776       29,638  
Net income
    17,813       19,193       13,799       17,077       17,081  
Earnings per share
                                       
Basic (d)
  $ 1.01     $ 1.08     $ 0.78     $ 0.95     $ 0.97  
Diluted (d)
  $ 0.99     $ 1.06     $ 0.76     $ 0.93     $ 0.93  
Balance Sheet Data:
                                       
Total assets
    243,422       230,655       217,758       212,156       195,404  
Working capital
    160,237       138,288       126,804       115,812       101,585  
Long-term debt
    15,356       8,942       20,596       27,243       25,714  
Shareholders' equity
    187,844       173,858       153,843       138,542       125,227  

(a) Results for 2008 include a $0.7 million reduction ($0.04 per share) in income tax expense as a result of the disposition of our Canadian subsidiary.
(b) Results for 2007 include a $1.8 million reduction ($1.1 million after tax or $0.06 per share) in our vacation liability as a result of a change in our policy, a $0.4 million write down for goodwill impairment ($0.02 per share), and establishment of a valuation reserve of deferred tax assets totaling $0.6 million ($0.03 per share).
(c) Results for 2006 include a $3.2 million non-cash write-down for goodwill impairment ($2.9 million or $0.16 per share) and the write-off of deferred tax benefits ($0.3 million or $0.02 per share).
(d) Per share amounts have been retroactively adjusted to reflect a two-for-one stock split of our common stock effective March 28, 2005.

Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements in this document constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Federal Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. While forward-looking statements sometimes are presented with numerical specificity, they are based on various assumptions made by management regarding future circumstances over many of which the Company has little or no control. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words including “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” and similar expressions. The Company cautions readers that forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, those relating to future business prospects, revenues, working capital, liquidity, and income, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that would cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from forward-looking statements include but are not limited to competition in the automotive aftermarket industry, concentration of the Company’s sales and accounts receivable among a small number of customers, the impact of consolidation in the automotive aftermarket industry, foreign currency fluctuations, dependence on senior management and other risks and factors identified from time to time in the reports the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, estimated or projected. For additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the information contained in this report, reference is made to the information in Part I, “Item 1A, Risk Factors.”
 
Overview

We are a leading supplier of original equipment dealer "exclusive" automotive replacement parts, and fasteners and service line products primarily for the automotive aftermarket, a market segment which we helped to establish. We design, package and market over 92,000 different automotive replacement parts (including brake parts), fasteners and service line products manufactured to our specifications. Approximately 35% of our parts and 69% of our net sales consist of original equipment dealer "exclusive" parts and fasteners. Original equipment dealer "exclusive" parts are those which were traditionally available to consumers only from original equipment manufacturers or salvage yards and include, among other parts, intake manifolds, exhaust manifolds, oil cooler lines, window regulators, radiator fan assemblies, power steering pulleys and harmonic balancers. Fasteners include such items as oil drain plugs and wheel lug nuts. Approximately 90% of our products are sold under our brand names and the remainder is sold for resale under customers' private labels, other brands or in bulk. Our products are sold primarily in the United States through automotive aftermarket retailers (such as AutoZone, Advance and O'Reilly), national, regional and local warehouse distributors (such as Carquest and NAPA) and specialty markets and salvage yards. Through our Scan-Tech subsidiary and Dorman Canada business unit, we are increasing our international distribution of automotive replacement parts, with sales into Canada, Europe, the Middle East and the Far East.
 
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During 2008, there was a slowdown in overall global economic activity as well as instability in the financial markets.  These challenges have impacted the global economy, the capital markets, our operating costs and demand for our products.  The results of these challenges include continued higher material and oil-related costs, a liquidity strain on some of our customers and suppliers, decreased consumer confidence and reduced consumer discretionary spending.  We expect these conditions to continue in the foreseeable future.

The credit markets have been volatile in recent quarters as well.  To succeed in this environment we are taking aggressive steps to further reduce all areas of cost, conserve working capital and control capital expenditures.  Fortunately our balance sheet is strong and our revolving credit facility does not mature until June 2010.  The strength of our balance sheet provides us with flexibility to expand or pursue attractive opportunities that may present themselves in these difficult times.
  
The automotive aftermarket in which we compete has been growing in size; however, the market continues to consolidate. As a result, our customers regularly seek more favorable pricing, product returns and extended payment terms when negotiating with us. While we attempt to avoid or minimize such concessions, in some cases pricing concessions have been made, customer payment terms have been extended and returns of product have exceeded historical levels. The product returns and more favorable pricing primarily affect our profit levels while terms extensions generally reduce operating cash flow and require additional capital to finance the business. We expect both of these trends to continue for the foreseeable future. Gross profit margins have declined over the past three years as a result of this pricing pressure. Another contributing factor in our gross profit margin decline is a shift in mix to higher priced, but lower gross margin products. Both of these trends are expected to continue for the foreseeable future. We have increased our focus on efficiency improvements and product cost reduction initiatives to offset the impact of price pressures.
 
In addition, we are relying on new product development as a way to offset some of these customer demands and as our primary vehicle for growth. As such, new product development is a critical success factor for us. We have invested heavily in resources necessary for us to increase our new product development efforts and to strengthen our relationships with our customers. These investments are primarily in the form of increased product development resources and awareness programs and customer service improvements. This has enabled us to provide an expanding array of new product offerings and grow our revenues.
 
We may experience significant fluctuations from quarter to quarter in our results of operations due to the timing of orders placed by our customers. Generally, the second and third quarters have the highest level of customer orders, but the introduction of new products and product lines to customers may cause significant fluctuations from quarter to quarter.
 
We operate on a fifty-two, fifty-three week period ending on the last Saturday of the calendar year. The fiscal years ended December 27, 2008, December 29, 2007 and December 30, 2006 are all fifty-two week periods.
 
Acquisition and Sale of Assets

In September 2007, we acquired certain assets of the Consumer Products Division of Rockford Products Corporation (Consumer Division) for $3.4 million.  The consolidated results for the period ended December 29, 2007 include the results of the Consumer Division effective September 10, 2007.  We have not presented pro forma results of operations as these results would not have been materially different than actual results for the periods.  In connection with the purchase, we recorded $1.1 million in contract rights which are included in other assets, and are being amortized over a 10 year period.

On May 15, 2008, we sold certain assets of our Canadian subsidiary for $0.9 million.  We realized a $0.7 million tax benefit upon the disposition of the business.

Asset Write Downs and Valuation Allowances
 
During the fourth quarter of 2007, we wrote down the value of the goodwill with respect to our Canadian subsidiary (Hermoff) as a result of a strategic review of the business.  As a result we recorded an impairment charge of approximately $0.4 million, which represented the remaining goodwill balance at the subsidiary, in the consolidated statements of operations. In addition, we recorded a $0.6 million charge to our provision for income taxes to provide a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets of the subsidiary.

During the second quarter of 2006, we assessed the value of the goodwill recorded at our Swedish subsidiary (Scan-Tech) as a result of a review of the Scan-Tech business in response to bad debt charge offs of two large customers and the resulting loss of those customers in the first half of the year. After completing the required analyses, we concluded that the goodwill at the subsidiary was impaired. Accordingly, an impairment charge of approximately $2.9 million, which represented the entire goodwill balance at the subsidiary, was recorded in the consolidated statements of operations. In addition, we recorded a $0.3 million charge to our provision for income taxes to write off deferred tax assets of the subsidiary which were deemed unrealizable.
 
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Change in Vacation Policy

Effective December 31, 2006, we changed our vacation policy so that the current year's vacation time is earned ratably throughout the current year.  Prior to December 31, 2006, all rights to the subsequent year's vacation vested to our employees on the last day of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding liability was recorded in that previous year.  Since employees had vested all 2007 vacation time prior to the beginning of 2007 under the old policy, no additional vacation time was earned in 2007 and no expense was recorded.  This change resulted in a reduction in our vacation accrual of approximately $1.8 million in 2007.  As a result, vacation expense in cost of goods sold and selling, general and administrative expenses was reduced during each of the fiscal quarters in 2007.  Results for the year ended December 29, 2007 include vacation expense reductions of $0.4 million in cost of goods sold and $1.4 million in selling, general and administrative expenses, respectively.

Stock-Based Compensation
 
Effective January 1, 2006, we adopted SFAS No. 123(R) and related interpretations and began expensing the grant-date fair value of employee stock options.  In accordance with SFAS No. 123(R), cash flows resulting from tax deductions in excess of the tax effect of compensation cost recognized in the financial statements is classified as financing cash flows.
 
Compensation cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period during which employees perform related services. The compensation cost charged against income for each of the years ended December 27, 2008, December 29, 2007 and December 30, 2006 was $0.2 million, $0.5 million and $0.5 million before taxes, respectively. The compensation cost recognized is classified as selling, general and administrative expense in the consolidated statement of operations.
 
Results of Operations
 
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the percentage of net sales represented by certain items in our Consolidated Statements of Operations:
 

   
Percentage of Net Sales
 
   
Year Ended
 
   
December 27, 2008
   
December 29, 2007
   
December 30, 2006
 
Net Sales
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %
Cost of goods sold
    67.8       65.7       65.0  
Gross profit
    32.2       34.3       35.0  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    23.9       23.8       25.0  
Goodwill impairment
    -       0.1       1.0  
Income from operations
    8.3       10.4       9.0  
Interest expense, net
    0.3       0.6       0.7  
Income before taxes
    8.0       9.8       8.3  
Provision for taxes
    2.8       3.9       3.6  
Net Income
    5.2 %     5.9 %     4.7 %

Fiscal Year Ended December 27, 2008 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended December 29, 2007

Net sales increased 4.5% to $342.3 million in 2008 from $327.7 million in 2007.  Revenues increased primarily as a result of higher new product sales and further penetration of existing automotive lines.

Cost of goods sold, as a percentage of net sales, increased to 67.8% in 2008 from 65.7% in the same period last year.  The increase is primarily the result of strategic investments to grow market share and higher material and shipping costs caused by higher commodity price increases.

Selling, general and administrative expenses in 2008 increased 4.7% to $81.8 million from $78.1 million in 2007.  The increase is the result of higher variable costs related to our sales growth and increased staffing levels in product development, engineering and quality control.  These increases were partially offset by incentive compensation expense which was $1.8 million lower in 2008 than in the prior year due to lower earnings levels.  Results for 2007 also include a $1.4 million reduction in vacation expense due to the vacation policy change mentioned above.

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Interest expense, net, decreased to $0.9 million in 2008 from $1.9 million in 2007 due to lower borrowing levels and interest rates.

Our effective tax rate decreased to 35.2% from 40.2% in the prior year.  The decrease is primarily the result of a $0.7 million tax benefit realized upon the disposition of our Canadian subsidiary.

Fiscal Year Ended December 29, 2007 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended December 30, 2006

Net sales increased 10.8% to $327.7 million in 2007 from $295.8 million in 2006.  Revenues increased primarily as a result of higher new product sales and further penetration of existing automotive lines.  The favorable effect of foreign currency exchange and the acquisition of the Consumer Division accounted for approximately 1% of the 2007 net sales increase.

Cost of goods sold, as a percentage of net sales, increased to 65.7% in 2007 from 65.0% in the same period last year.  The increase is primarily the result of a less favorable product mix, an increase in costs related to replacement and rework of defective products and higher product expediting costs.  A $1.6 million decrease in our provision for excess and slow moving inventory  partially offset the cost increases and the impact of the mix shift.

Selling, general and administrative expenses in 2007 increased 5.8% to $78.1 million from $73.8 million in 2006.  The increase is the result of higher variable costs related to our 10.8% sales growth as well as our decision to invest more resources in engineering and new product development in 2007.  Results for 2007 also include a $1.4 million reduction in vacation expense due to the vacation policy change mentioned above.

As noted above, we recorded charges of $0.4 million and $2.9 million in 2007 and 2006, respectively, to write off goodwill of our Canadian and Swedish subsidiaries.

Interest expense, net, decreased to $1.9 million in 2007 from $2.3 million in 2006 due to lower overall borrowing levels.

Our effective tax rate decreased to 40.2% from 43.7% in the prior year.  The decrease is primarily the result of lower goodwill impairment charges which were not tax deductible and, therefore, had no associated tax benefit.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Historically, we have financed our growth through a combination of cash flow from operations, accounts receivable sales programs provided by certain customers and through the issuance of senior indebtedness through our bank credit facility and senior note agreements.  At December 27, 2008, working capital was $160.2 million, total long-term debt (including the current portion and revolving credit borrowings) was $15.4 million and shareholders’ equity was $187.8 million.  Cash and cash equivalents as of December 27, 2008 was $5.8 million.

Over the past several years we have continued to extend payment terms to certain customers as a result of customer requests and market demands.  These extended terms have resulted in increased accounts receivable levels and significant uses of cash flow.  We participate in accounts receivable sales programs with several customers which allow us to sell our accounts receivable on a non-recourse basis to financial institutions to offset the negative cash flow impact of these payment terms extensions.  As of December 27, 2008 and December 29, 2007, we sold $55.0 million and $39.4 million in accounts receivable under these programs and removed them from our balance sheets based upon standard payment terms.  We expect continued pressure to extend our payment terms for the foreseeable future.  Further extensions of customer payment terms will result in additional uses of cash flow or increased costs associated with the sale of accounts receivable.

We have a $30.0 million revolving credit facility which expires in June 2010.  Borrowings under the facility are on an unsecured basis with interest at rates ranging from LIBOR plus 65 basis points to LIBOR plus 150 basis points based upon the achievement of certain benchmarks related to the ratio of funded debt to EBITDA.  The interest rate at December 27, 2008 was LIBOR plus 65 basis points (1.12%).  Borrowings under the facility were $15.0 million as of December 27, 2008.  We have approximately $13.0 million available under the facility at December 27, 2008.  The loan agreement also contains covenants, the most restrictive of which pertain to net worth and the ratio of debt to EBITDA.

We also have outstanding $0.4 million under a commercial loan granted in connection with the opening of a distribution facility which bears interest at 4% payable monthly.  The principal balance is paid monthly in equal installments through September 2013.  The loan is secured by a letter of credit issued under our revolving credit facility.
 
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Our business activities do not include the use of unconsolidated special purpose entities, and there are no significant business transactions that have not been reflected in the accompanying financial statements.

We have future obligations for debt repayments, future minimum rental and similar commitments under noncancellable operating leases as well as contingent obligations related to outstanding letters of credit. These obligations as of December 27, 2008 are summarized in the tables below (in thousands):
 
   
Payments Due by Period
 
Contractual Obligations
 
Total
   
Less than 1 year
   
1-3 years
   
4-5 years
   
After 5 years
 
Long-term borrowings
  $ 15,442     $ 86     $ 15,183     $ 173     $ -  
Estimated interest payments (1)
    296       184       106       6       -  
Operating leases
    17,405       3,672       5,782       3,801       4,150  
    $ 33,143     $ 3,942     $ 21,071     $ 3,980     $ 4,150  

(1)
These amounts represent future interest payments related to our existing debt obligations based on fixed and variable interest rates specified in the underlying loan agreements. Payments related to variable debt are based on interest rates and outstanding balances as of December 27, 2008. The amounts do not assume the refinancing or replacement of such debt.

   
Amount of Commitment Expiration Per Period
 
 
Other Commercial Commitments
 
Total Amount Committed
   
Less than 1 year
   
1-3 years
   
4-5 years
   
After 5 years
 
Letters of Credit
  $ 1,975     $ -     $ 1,975     $ -     $ -  
    $ 1,975     $ -     $ 1,975     $ -     $ -  

 
             The Company has excluded from the table above uncertain tax liabilities as defined in FASB Interpretation No. (FIN) 48, "Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes," due to the uncertainty of the amount and period of payment.  As of December 27, 2008, the Company has gross uncertain tax liabilities of $1.8 million (see Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements).
 
We reported a net source of cash from our operating activities of $9.7 million in the year ended December 27, 2008.  Net income, depreciation and a $3.3 million increase in accounts payable were the primary sources of operating cash flow.  Accounts payable increased primarily as a result of negotiated terms extensions with several of our suppliers.  Inventory was the primary use of cash.  Inventory increased $15.2 million to support sales growth and increases in safety stock levels deemed necessary to enable us to better fill customer orders.

Investing activities used $6.4 million of cash in 2008 primarily as a result of additions to property, plant and equipment.  Capital spending in 2008 consisted of tooling associated with new products, upgrades to information systems and scheduled equipment replacements.

Financing activities used $3.2 million of cash in the year ended December 27, 2008.  The primary elements of our financing activities were $6.5 million in borrowings under our revolving credit facility and the repayment of the final installment of $8.6 million on our senior notes originally issued in 1998.  We also repurchased $1.2 million in common stock from our 401(k) plan during 2008.

Based on our current operating plan, we believe that our sources of available capital are adequate to meet our ongoing cash needs for at least the next twelve months.
 
Foreign Currency Fluctuations
 
In 2008, approximately 80% of our products were purchased from vendors in a variety of foreign countries. The products generally are purchased through purchase orders with the purchase price specified in U.S. dollars. Accordingly, we do not have exposure to fluctuations in the relationship between the dollar and various foreign currencies between the time of execution of the purchase order and payment for the product. However, recent declines in the U.S. dollar have resulted in  a number of material price increases. To the extent that the dollar decreases in value to foreign currencies in the future or the present weakness in the dollar continues for a sustained period of time, the price of the product in dollars for new purchase orders may increase further.
 
The largest portion of our overseas purchases come from China. The value of the Chinese Yuan has increased relative to the U.S. Dollar since July 2005 when it was allowed to fluctuate against a basket of currencies. Most experts believe that the value of the Yuan will increase further relative to the U.S. Dollar over the next few years. Such a move would most likely result in an increase in the cost of products that we purchase from China.
 
16


Impact of Inflation
 
The overall impact of inflation has not resulted in a significant change in labor costs or the cost of general services utilized by us.  During the second and third quarter of 2008 we experienced significant increases in the cost of materials and transportation costs as a result of commodity price increases and weakness in the U.S. Dollar.  The upward pressure on materials and transportation costs eased somewhat in the fourth quarter as the U.S. economy weakened, but costs are up over beginning of the year and prior year levels.  We have been able to offset a portion of these cost increases with higher selling prices; however, we do not expect to be able to do so completely.  As a result, cost of goods sold as a percentage of net sales increased in the second half of 2008 and may increase further next year.  We will attempt to offset further cost increases by passing along selling price increases to customers, through the use of alternative suppliers and by resourcing purchases to other countries.  However there can be no assurance that we will be successful in these efforts.
 
Related-Party Transactions
 
We have a noncancelable operating lease for our primary operating facility from a partnership in which Richard N. Berman, our Chief Executive Officer, and Steven L. Berman, our President, are partners.  Total rental payments each year to the partnership under the lease arrangement were $1.4 million in 2008 and $1.3 million in 2007 and 2006.  During 2007, we amended the lease with the partnership, which will now expire on December 28, 2012.
 
Critical Accounting Policies
 
Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon the consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent liabilities and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses. We regularly evaluate our estimates and judgments, including those related to revenue recognition, bad debts, customer credits, inventories, goodwill and income taxes. Estimates and judgments are based upon historical experience and on various other assumptions believed to be accurate and reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. We believe the following critical accounting policies affect our more significant estimates and judgments used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts. The preparation of our financial statements requires us to make estimates of the collectability of our accounts receivable. We specifically analyze accounts receivable and historical bad debts, customer creditworthiness, current economic trends and changes in customer payment patterns when evaluating the adequacy of the allowance for doubtful accounts. A significant percentage of our accounts receivable have been, and will continue to be, concentrated among a relatively small number of automotive retailers and warehouse distributors in the United States. Our five largest customers accounted for 81% and 71% of net accounts receivable as of December 27, 2008 and December 29, 2007, respectively. A bankruptcy or financial loss associated with a major customer could have a material adverse effect on our sales and operating results.

Revenue Recognition and Allowance for Customer Credits. Revenue is recognized from product sales when goods are shipped, title and risk of loss have been transferred to the customer and collection is reasonably assured. We record estimates for cash discounts, product returns and warranties, discounts and promotional rebates in the period of the sale ("Customer Credits"). The provision for Customer Credits is recorded as a reduction from gross sales and reserves for Customer Credits are shown as a reduction of accounts receivable. Amounts billed to customers for shipping and handling are included in net sales. Costs associated with shipping and handling are included in cost of goods sold. Actual Customer Credits have not differed materially from estimated amounts for each period presented.

Excess and Obsolete Inventory Reserves. We must make estimates of potential future excess and obsolete inventory costs. We provide reserves for discontinued and excess inventory based upon historical demand, forecasted usage, estimated customer requirements and product line updates. We maintain contact with our customer base in order to understand buying patterns, customer preferences and the life cycle of our products. Changes in customer requirements are factored into the reserves as needed.

Goodwill. We follow the provisions of SFAS No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets". We employ a discounted cash flow analysis and a market comparable approach in conducting our impairment tests. Earnings multiples of 5.25 to 5.5 times EBITDA were used when conducting these tests in 2008. As a result of the impairment tests performed in 2007 and 2006, we wrote-off the goodwill of our Canadian subsidiary (Hermoff) and our Swedish subsidiary (Scan-Tech), respectively. See Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.
 
17


Income Taxes. We follow the liability method of accounting for deferred income taxes. Under this method, income tax expense is recognized for the amount of taxes payable or refundable for the current year and for the change in the deferred tax liabilities and assets for the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in an entity's financial statements or tax returns. We must make assumptions, judgments and estimates to determine our current provision for income taxes and also our deferred tax assets and liabilities and any valuation allowance to be recorded against a deferred tax asset. Our judgments, assumptions and estimates relative to the current provision for income taxes takes into account current tax laws, our interpretation of current tax laws and possible outcomes of current and future audits conducted by tax authorities. Changes in tax laws or our interpretation of tax laws and the resolution of current and future tax audits could significantly impact the amounts provided for income taxes in our consolidated financial statements. Our assumptions, judgments and estimates relative to the value of a deferred tax asset takes into account predictions of the amount and category of future taxable income. Actual operating results and the underlying amount and category of income in future years could render our current assumptions, judgments and estimates of recoverable net deferred taxes inaccurate. Any of the assumptions, judgments and estimates mentioned above could cause our actual income tax obligations to differ from our estimates.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In April 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position 142-3, “Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible Assets: (“FSP 142-3”).  FSP 142-3 amends the factors that should be considered in developing renewal or extension assumptions used to determine the useful life of a recognized intangible asset under SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.”  FSP 142-3 is not expected to impact the Company’s consolidated results of operations and financial position.

In December 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 141 (revised 2007), “Business Combinations” (“SFAS No. 141(R)”). SFAS No. 141(R) changes the requirements for an acquirer’s recognition and measurement of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed in a business combination. SFAS No. 141(R) is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2008 and should be applied prospectively for all business combinations entered into after the date of adoption.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements — an amendment of ARB No. 51” (“SFAS No. 160”). SFAS No. 160 requires (i) that noncontrolling (minority) interests be reported as a component of shareholders’ equity, (ii) that net income attributable to the parent and to the noncontrolling interest be separately identified in the consolidated statement of operations, (iii) that changes in a parent’s ownership interest while the parent retains its controlling interest be accounted for as equity transactions, (iv) that any retained noncontrolling equity investment upon the deconsolidation of a subsidiary be initially measured at fair value, and (v) that sufficient disclosures are provided that clearly identify and distinguish between the interests of the parent and the interests of the noncontrolling owners. SFAS No. 160 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2008 and should be applied prospectively. However, the presentation and disclosure requirements of the statement shall be applied retrospectively for all periods presented. The adoption of the provisions of SFAS No. 160 is not expected to impact the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations.

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities.”  SFAS No. 159 permits companies to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value.  The objective is to improve financial reporting by providing companies with the opportunity to mitigate volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions.  SFAS No. 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007.  Companies are not allowed to adopt SFAS No. 159 on a retrospective basis unless they choose early adoption.  The adoption of SFAS No. 159 did not have a material impact on our results of operations and financial position.

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements.” SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This statement applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements. Accordingly, SFAS No. 157 does not require any new fair value measurements. The provisions of SFAS No. 157 are to be applied prospectively and are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007.  The FASB has agreed to a one-year deferral of SFAS No. 157’s fair value measurement requirements for non-financial assets and liabilities that are not required or permitted to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis.  We adopted SFAS No. 157 for financial assets and liabilities on December 30, 2007, and there was no impact on the Company’s results of operations and financial position.  We do not believe the adoption of SFAS No. 157 for non-financial assets and liabilities will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations and financial position.

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
 
18


Our market risk is the potential loss arising from adverse changes in interest rates.  Substantially all of our borrowings as well as our accounts receivable sale programs bear interest rates tied to LIBOR.  Under the terms of our revolving credit facility and customer-sponsored programs to sell accounts receivable, a change in either the lender’s base rate, LIBOR or discount rates under our accounts receivable sale programs would affect the rate at which we could borrow funds thereunder. We experienced increased borrowing costs in the second half of 2008 as a result of increases in the discount rates under our accounts receivable sale programs.  These cost increases were caused primarily by the tight credit markets in the U.S. during 2008.  A one percentage point increase in LIBOR or the discount rates on our accounts receivable sale program would increase our interest expense on our variable rate debt and our accounts receivable financing costs by approximately $0.7 million annually.  This estimate assumes that our variable rate debt balance and the level of sales of accounts receivable remains constant for an annual period and the interest rate change occurs at the beginning of the period.

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

Our financial statement schedules that are filed with this Report on Form 10-K are listed in Item 15(a)(2), Part IV, of this Report.

19


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Dorman Products, Inc.:
 
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Dorman Products, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 27, 2008 and December 29, 2007, and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 27, 2008.  In connection with our audits of the consolidated financial statements, we also have audited the financial statement schedule.  These consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Dorman Products, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 27, 2008 and December 29, 2007, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 27, 2008, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.  Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.
 
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Dorman Products, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 27, 2008, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), and our report dated March 6, 2009 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
As discussed in Note 8, effective December 31, 2006, the Company adopted the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation (FIN) No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes.
 

KPMG LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
March 6, 2009

20


DORMAN PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS


   
For the Year Ended
 
   
December 27,
   
December 29,
   
December 30,
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
   
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
                   
Net Sales
  $ 342,325     $ 327,725     $ 295,825  
Cost of goods sold
    232,140       215,256       192,348  
Gross profit
    110,185       112,469       103,477  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    81,781       78,083       73,810  
Goodwill impairment
    -       414       2,897   
Income from operations
    28,404       33,972       26,770  
Interest expense, net
    920       1,856       2,267  
Income before income taxes
    27,484       32,116       24,503  
Income taxes
    9,671       12,923       10,704  
Net Income
  $ 17,813     $ 19,193     $ 13,799  
Earnings Per Share:
                       
Basic
  $ 1.01     $ 1.08     $ 0.78  
Diluted
  $ 0.99     $ 1.06     $ 0.76  
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding:
                       
Basic
    17,675       17,693       17,722  
Diluted
    18,049       18,132       18,139  

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

21


DORMAN PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share data)
 
December 27,
2008
   
December 29,
2007
 
Assets
           
Current Assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 5,824     $ 6,918  
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts and customer credits of $32,563 and $28,705
    77,101       76,897  
Inventories
    93,577       80,565  
Deferred income taxes
    11,626       10,111  
Prepaids and other current assets
    2,135       1,921  
Total current assets
    190,263       176,412  
Property, Plant and Equipment, net
    25,053       25,680  
Goodwill
    26,553       26,662  
Other Assets
    1,553       1,901  
Total
  $ 243,422     $ 230,655  
                 
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
               
Current Liabilities:
               
Current portion of long-term debt
  $ 86     $ 8,654  
Accounts payable
    21,900       18,752  
Accrued compensation
    4,775       6,520  
Other accrued liabilities
    3,265       4,198  
Total current liabilities
    30,026       38,124  
Other Long-Term Liabilities
    2,108       1,869  
Long-Term Debt
    15,356       8,942  
Deferred Income Taxes
    8,088       7,862  
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 10)
               
Shareholders' Equity:
               
Common stock, par value $.01; authorized 25,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 17,644,371 and 17,702,948 shares
    176       177  
Additional paid-in capital
    31,985       32,591  
Cumulative translation adjustments
    1,073       4,141  
Retained earnings
    154,610       136,949  
Total shareholders' equity
    187,844       173,858  
Total
  $ 243,422     $ 230,655  

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

22


DORMAN PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

(in thousands, except share data)
 
Common Stock
   
Additional
   
Cumulative
             
   
Shares
Issued
   
Par
Value
   
Paid-In
Capital
   
Translation
Adjustments
   
Retained
Earnings
   
Total
 
Balance at December 31, 2005
    17,749,583     $ 177     $ 33,138     $ 1,270     $ 103,957     $ 138,542  
Common stock issued to Employee Stock Purchase Plan
    952       -       8       -       -       8  
Shares issued under Incentive Stock Plan
    34,017       -       134       -       -       134  
Other stock related activity
    -       -       17       -       -       17  
Purchase and cancellation of common stock
    (79,053 )     -       (829 )     -       -       (829 )
Compensation expense under Incentive Stock Plan
    -       -       488       -       -       488  
Comprehensive Income:
                                               
Net income
    -       -       -       -       13,799       13,799  
Currency translation adjustments
    -       -       -       1,684       -       1,684  
Total comprehensive income
                                            15,483  
Balance at December 30, 2006
    17,705,499       177       32,956       2,954       117,756       153,843  
Common stock issued to Employee Stock  Purchase Plan
    186       -       2       -       -       2  
Shares issued under Incentive Stock Plan
    87,468       1       120       -       -       121  
Other stock related activity
    -       -       135       -       -       135  
Purchase and cancellation of common stock
    (90,205 )     (1 )     (1,078 )     -       -       (1,079 )
Compensation expense under Incentive Stock Plan
    -       -       456       -       -       456  
Comprehensive Income:
                                               
Net income
    -       -       -       -       19,193       19,193  
Currency translation adjustments
    -       -       -       1,187       -       1,187  
Total comprehensive income
                                            20,380  
Balance at December 29, 2007
    17,702,948       177       32,591       4,141       136,949       173,858  
Common stock issued to Employee Stock  Purchase Plan
    1,459       -       11       -       -       11  
Shares issued under Incentive Stock Plan
    47,997       -       118       -       -       118  
Other stock related activity
    -       -       42       -       -       42  
Purchase and cancellation of common stock
    (108,033 )     (1 )     (1,025 )     -       (152 )     (1,178 )
Compensation expense under Incentive Stock Plan
    -       -       248       -       -       248  
Comprehensive Income:
                                               
Net income
    -       -       -       -       17,813       17,813  
Currency translation adjustments
    -       -       -       (3,068 )     -       (3,068 )
Total comprehensive income
                                            14,745  
Balance at December 27, 2008
    17,644,371     $ 176     $ 31,985     $ 1,073     $ 154,610     $ 187,844  
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

23


DORMAN PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
   
For the Year Ended
 
(in thousands)
 
December 27,
2008
   
December 29,
2007
   
December 30,
2006
 
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
                 
Net income
  $ 17,813     $ 19,193     $ 13,799  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
                       
Depreciation and amortization
    7,672       7,744       6,824  
Goodwill impairment
    -       414       2,897  
Provision for doubtful accounts
    487       302       1,164  
Provision for deferred income tax
    (1,289 )     436       365  
Provision for non-cash stock compensation
    248       456       488  
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of business acquisitions:
                       
Accounts receivable
    (979 )     259       (13,125 )
Inventories
    (15,180 )     (9,886 )     8,517  
Prepaids and other current assets
    (429 )     (423 )     152  
Other assets
    339       91       (380 )
Accounts payable
    3,349       5,740       (2,091 )
Accrued compensation and other liabilities
    (2,293 )     (1,655 )     (2,435 )
Cash provided by operating activities
    9,738       22,671       16,175  
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
                       
Property, plant and equipment additions
    (7,323 )     (5,371 )     (7,278 )
Proceeds for sale of assets of a business
    919       -       -  
Business acquisition, net of cash acquired
    -       (3,392 )     -  
Cash used in investing activities
    (6,404 )     (8,763 )     (7,278 )
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
                       
Repayment of long-term debt obligations
    (8,654 )     (8,651 )     (8,592 )
Proceeds from promissory note
    -       -       625  
Net  proceeds (repayment) from revolving credit facility
    6,500       (3,000 )     1,400  
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
    129       123       159  
Other stock related activity
    43       135       -  
Purchase and cancellation of common stock
    (1,178 )     (1,079 )     (829 )
Cash used in financing activities
    (3,160 )     (12,472 )     (7,237 )
Effect of exchange rate changes on Foreign Currency
    (1,268 )     402       476  
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents
    (1,094 )     1,838       2,136  
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Year
    6,918       5,080       2,944  
Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Year
  $ 5,824     $ 6,918     $ 5,080  
Supplemental Cash Flow Information
                       
Cash paid for interest expense
  $ 1,132     $ 2,001     $ 2,287  
Cash paid for income taxes
  $ 11,308     $ 13,093     $ 10,558  
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

24


DORMAN PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 27, 2008
 
1.   Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Dorman Products, Inc. ("Dorman", the "Company", “we”, “us”, or “our”) is a leading supplier of OE Dealer "Exclusive" automotive replacement parts, automotive hardware, brake products and household hardware to the Automotive Aftermarket and Mass Merchandise markets. Dorman products are marketed under the OE Solutions™, HELP!®, AutoGrade™, First Stop™, Conduct-Tite®,  Pik-A- Nut® and Scan-Tech® brand names.
 
We operate on a fifty-two, fifty-three week period ending on the last Saturday of the calendar year. The fiscal years ended December 27, 2008, December 29, 2007 and December 30, 2006 are all fifty-two week periods.

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform with current year presentation.

Principles of Consolidation. The consolidated financial statements include our accounts and the accounts of our wholly-owned subsidiaries. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements. The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents. We consider all highly liquid debt instruments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

Sales of Accounts Receivable. We have entered into several customer sponsored programs administered by unrelated financial institutions that permit us to sell, without recourse, certain accounts receivable at discounted rates to the financial institutions. We do not retain any servicing requirements for these accounts receivable. Transactions under these agreements are accounted for as sales of accounts receivable following the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 140, “Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities - a Replacement of FASB Statement 125.”  At December 27, 2008 and December 29, 2007, approximately $55.0 million and $39.4 million of accounts receivable were sold and removed from the consolidated balance sheets, respectively, based upon standard payment terms. Selling, general and administrative expenses include $2.6 million, $1.9 million, and $1.7 million in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively, in financing costs associated with these accounts receivable sales programs.  During 2008, 2007, and 2006, we sold $109.1 million, $104.0 million and $80.8 million, respectively, under these programs.

Inventories. Inventories are stated at the lower of average cost or market. We provide reserves for discontinued and excess inventory based upon historical demand, forecasted usage, estimated customer requirements and product line updates.

Property and Depreciation. Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated over their estimated useful lives, which range from three to thirty-nine years, using the straight-line method for financial statement reporting purposes and accelerated methods for income tax purposes.

Estimated useful lives by major asset category areas follows:

Buildings
3 to 39 years
Machinery, equipment and tooling
3 to 10 years
Furniture, fixtures and leasehold improvements
3 to 15 years

25


The costs of maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Renewals and betterments are capitalized. Gains and losses on disposals are included in operating results.

Long-lived assets, such as property, plant and equipment are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. Assets to be disposed of would be separately presented in the balance sheet and reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell, and are no longer depreciated. The assets and liabilities of a disposal group classified as held for sale would be presented separately in the appropriate asset and liability sections of the balance sheet.  We did not record any asset impairment charges in fiscal 2008, 2007 or 2006.

Goodwill. We follow the provisions of SFAS No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets". We employ a discounted cash flow analysis and a market comparable approach in conducting our impairment tests. Earnings multiples of 5.25 to 5.50 times EBITDA were used when conducting these tests in 2008.

 During the fourth quarter of 2007, we assessed the value of the goodwill with respect to our Canadian subsidiary as a result of a strategic review of the business given our continued losses since the acquisition. After completing the required analyses, we concluded that the goodwill balance of the subsidiary was impaired.  Accordingly an impairment charge of approximately $0.4 million was recorded in the consolidated statements of operations.
 
During the second quarter of fiscal year 2006, we assessed the value of the goodwill recorded at our Swedish subsidiary, Scan-Tech Sweden AB (Scan-Tech) as a result of a review of the Scan-Tech business in response to bad debt charge offs at two large customers and the resulting loss of those customers in the first half of the year. After completing the required analyses, we concluded that the goodwill balance of the subsidiary was impaired. Accordingly, an impairment charge of approximately $2.9 million, which represents the entire goodwill balance at the subsidiary, was recorded in the consolidated statements of operations. In addition, we recorded a $0.3 million charge to our provision for income taxes to write off deferred tax assets of the subsidiary which were deemed unrealizable.
 
Other Assets. Other assets consist of  contract rights, which are being amortized on a straight-lined basis; deposits; costs incurred for the preparation and printing of product catalogs, which are capitalized and amortized upon distribution; and deferred financing costs, which are capitalized and amortized over the term of the related financing agreement.

Change in Vacation Policy.  Effective December 31, 2006, we changed our vacation policy so that the current year's vacation time is earned ratably throughout the current year.  Prior to December 31, 2006, all rights to the subsequent year's vacation vested to our employees on the last day of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding liability was recorded in that previous year.  Since employees had vested all 2007 vacation time prior to the beginning of 2007 under the old policy, no additional vacation time was earned in 2007 and no expense was recorded.  This change resulted in a reduction in our vacation accrual of approximately $1.8 million in 2007.  As a result, vacation expense in cost of goods sold and selling, general and administrative expenses was reduced during each of the fiscal quarters in 2007.  Results for the year ended December 29, 2007 include vacation expense reductions of $0.4 million in cost of goods sold and $1.4 million in selling, general and administrative expenses, respectively.

Research and Development. Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development costs totaling $3.4 million in 2008, $2.6 million in 2007 and $2.2 million in 2006 have been recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses.

Foreign Currency Translation. Assets and liabilities of our foreign subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars at the rate of exchange prevailing at the end of the year. Income statement accounts are translated at the average exchange rate prevailing during the year. Translation adjustments resulting from this process are recorded directly in shareholders' equity.

Comprehensive Income. Pursuant to the provisions of SFAS No. 130, “Reporting Comprehensive Income,” comprehensive income includes all changes to shareholders’ equity during a period, except those resulting from investment by and distributions to shareholders.  Components of comprehensive income include net income and changes in foreign currency translation adjustments.

Concentrations of Risk. Financial instruments that potentially subject us to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash equivalents and accounts receivable. All cash equivalents are managed within established guidelines which limit the amount which may be invested with one issuer. A significant percentage of our accounts receivable have been, and will continue to be, concentrated among a relatively small number of automotive retailers and warehouse distributors in the United States. Our five largest customers accounted for 81% and 71% of net accounts receivable as of December 27, 2008 and December 29, 2007, respectively. We continually monitor the credit terms and credit limits to these and other customers.  In 2008, approximately 80% of our products were purchased from suppliers located in a variety of foreign countries, with the largest portion coming from China.

26


Fair Value Disclosures. The carrying value of financial instruments such as cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and other current assets and liabilities approximate their fair value based on the short-term nature of these instruments. Based on borrowing rates currently available to us for loans with similar terms and average maturities, the fair value of total long-term debt, including the current portion, was $15.4 million at December 27, 2008 and $18.1 million at December 29, 2007.

Income Taxes. We follow the liability method of accounting for deferred income taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets or liabilities at the end of each period are determined using the tax rate expected to be in effect when taxes are actually paid or recovered.
 
Revenue Recognition. Revenue is recognized from product sales when goods are shipped, title and risk of loss have been transferred to the customer and collection is reasonably assured. We record estimates for cash discounts, product returns and warranties, discounts and promotional rebates in the period of the sale ("Customer Credits"). The provision for Customer Credits is recorded as a reduction from gross sales and reserves for Customer Credits are shown as a reduction of accounts receivable. Amounts billed to customers for shipping and handling are included in net sales. Costs associated with shipping and handling are included in cost of goods sold. Actual Customer Credits have not differed materially from estimated amounts for each period presented.

Earnings Per Share. The following table sets forth the computation of basic earnings per share and diluted earnings per share for the three years ended December 27, 2008:
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
Numerator:
 
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
Net income
  $ 17,813     $ 19,193     $ 13,799  
Denominator:
                       
Weighted average shares outstanding used in basic earnings per share calculation
    17,675       17,693       17,722  
Effect of dilutive stock options
    374       439       417  
Adjusted weighted average shares outstanding diluted earnings per share
    18,049       18,132       18,139  
Basic earnings per share
  $ 1.01     $ 1.08     $ 0.78  
Diluted earnings per share
  $ 0.99     $ 1.06     $ 0.76  

Options to purchase 203,500, 213,500 and 163,500 shares were outstanding at December 27, 2008, December 29, 2007, and December 30, 2006 respectively, but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share, as their effect would have been antidilutive.

Stock-Based Compensation. At December 27, 2008, we had one stock-based employee compensation plan, which is described more fully in Note 11. Effective January 1, 2006, we adopted SFAS No. 123 (R) “Share-Based Payment” and related interpretations using the modified prospective transition method, and therefore, have not restated prior periods. Under the modified prospective method, we are required to record equity-based compensation expense for all awards granted after the date of adoption and for the unvested portion of previously granted awards outstanding as of the date of adoption. The fair values of all stock options granted by the Company are determined using the Black-Scholes model.

Product Warranties. We warrant our products against certain defects in material and workmanship when used as designed on the vehicle on which it was originally installed. We offer a one year, two year, or limited lifetime warranty depending on the product type. All warranties limit the customer’s remedy to the repair or replacement of the part that is defective. We record estimates for product warranty costs in the period of sale. Estimated warranty costs are based upon actual experience and forecasts using the best historical and current claim information available. Warranty expense for fiscal 2008, 2007 and 2006 was $0.9 million, $0.5 million and $0.4 million, respectively.

27


2.   Inventories

Inventories include the cost of material, freight, direct labor and overhead utilized in the processing of our products. Inventories were as follows:
(in thousands)
 
December 27,
2008
   
December 29,
2007
 
Bulk product
  $ 35,385     $ 34,493  
Finished product
    55,558       43,212  
Packaging materials
    2,634       2,860  
Total
  $ 93,577     $ 80,565  

3.   Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment consists of the following:
(in thousands)
 
December 27, 2008
   
December 29, 2007
 
Property under capitalized leases
  $ 2,302     $ 2,302  
Buildings
    12,479       11,515  
Machinery, equipment and tooling
    33,084       34,171  
Furniture, fixtures and leasehold improvements
    4,064       4,014  
Computer and other equipment
    30,143       29,204  
Total
    82,072       81,206  
Less-accumulated depreciation
    (57,019 )     (55,526 )
Property, plant and equipment, net
  $ 25,053     $ 25,680  

4.   Acquisition and Sale of Assets

In September 2007, we acquired certain assets of the Consumer Products Division of Rockford Products Corporation (Consumer Division) for $3.4 million.  The consolidated results for the period ended December 29, 2007 include the results of the Consumer Division effective September 10, 2007.  We have not presented pro forma results of operations as these results would not have been materially different than actual results for the periods.  In connection with the purchase, we recorded $1.1 million in contract rights which are included in other assets, and are being amortized over a 10 year period.

On May 15, 2008, we sold certain assets of our Canadian subsidiary for $0.9 million.
 
Goodwill activity during the two years ended December 27, 2008 is as follows: (in thousands)

Balance, December 30, 2006
 
$
26,958
 
Goodwill impairment
   
(414)
 
Translation
   
118
 
Balance, December 29, 2007
   
26,662
 
Translation
   
(109)
 
Balance, December 27, 2008
 
$
26,553
 
 
28


5.   Long-Term Debt

Long-term debt consists of the following:

(in thousands)
 
December 27,
2008
   
December 29,
2007
 
Bank credit facility
  $ 15,000     $ 8,500  
Senior notes
    -       8,571  
Promissory note
    442       525  
Total
    15,442       17,596  
Less: Current portion
    (86 )     (8,654 )
Total long-term debt
  $ 15,356     $ 8,942  

Bank Credit Facility. In December 2007, we amended our existing Revolving Credit Facility. The amendment extended the expiration date from June 2008 to June 2010. Borrowings under the facility are on an unsecured basis with interest at rates ranging from LIBOR plus 65 basis points to LIBOR plus 150 basis points based upon the achievement of certain benchmarks related to the ratio of funded debt to EBITDA. The interest rate at December 27, 2008 was LIBOR plus 65 basis points (1.12%). The loan agreement also contains covenants, the most restrictive of which pertain to net worth and the ratio of debt to EBITDA.

The average amount outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility was $14.2 million and 12.6 million during 2008 and 2007, respectively. The maximum amount outstanding in 2008 and 2007 was $24.5 million and $23.3 million,  respectively.

Senior Notes. The Senior Notes bear a 6.81% fixed interest rate, payable quarterly. Annual principal repayments at the rate of $8.6 million were due each August through 2008. Terms of the Note Purchase Agreement required, among other things, that we maintained certain financial covenants relating to debt to capital ratios and minimum net worth.  The Senior Notes were repaid in full in August 2008.

Promissory Note. In September 2006, we borrowed $625,000 under a commercial loan agreement in connection with the opening of a new distribution facility. The principal balance is paid in monthly installments through September 2013. The outstanding balance bears interest at an annual rate of 4% payable monthly. The loan is secured by a letter of credit issued under our Revolving Credit Facility.

We are in compliance with all financial covenants contained in the Revolving Credit Facility.
 
Aggregate annual principal payments applicable to long-term debt obligations as of December 27, 2008 are as follows:
 
(in thousands)
     
2009
 
$
86
 
2010
   
15,090
 
2011
   
93
 
2012
   
97
 
2013
   
76
 
Total
 
$
15,442
 

 
6.   Operating Lease Commitments and Rent Expense
 
We lease certain equipment, automobiles and operating facilities, including our primary operating facility which is leased from a partnership described in Note 7, under noncancelable operating leases. Approximate future minimum rental payments as of December 27, 2008 under these leases are summarized as follows:

29


(in thousands)
     
2009
  $
3,672
 
2010
   
3,226
 
2011
   
2,556
 
2012
   
2,579
 
2013
   
1,222
 
Thereafter
   
4,150
 
Total
  $
17,405
 

Rent expense was $4.8 million in 2008, $4.0 million in 2007, and $4.3 million in 2006.

7.   Related Party Transactions

We have a noncancelable operating lease for our primary operating facility from a partnership in which Richard N. Berman, our Chief Executive Officer and Steven L. Berman, our President are partners. Total rental payments each year to the partnership under the lease arrangement were $1.4 million, $1.3 million and $1.3 million in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.  The lease with the partnership expires December 28, 2012.

8.  Income Taxes

The components of the income tax provision (benefit) are as follows:
 
(in thousands)
 
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
Current:
                 
Federal
  $ 9,804     $ 10,561     $ 9,118  
State
    1,264       1,290       1,015  
Foreign
    (108 )     636       206  
      10,960       12,487       10,339  
Deferred:
                       
Federal
    (1,143 )     160       285  
State
    (146 )     13       (84 )
Foreign
    -       263       164  
      (1,289 )     436       365  
Total
  $ 9,671     $ 12,923     $ 10,704  
 
The following is a reconciliation of income taxes at the statutory tax rate to the Company's effective tax rate:
 
   
2008
 
2007
 
2006
Federal taxes at statutory rate
 
35.0%
 
35.0%
 
35.0%
State taxes, net of Federal tax benefit
 
2.6
 
2.6
 
2.5
Write-off of investment in foreign subsidiary
 
(2.4)
 
-
 
-
Goodwill impairment
 
-
 
0.4
 
4.1
Deferred tax write-off
 
-
 
1.8
 
1.3
Stock-based compensation
 
0.2
 
0.4
 
0.5
Other
 
(0.2)
 
-
 
0.3
Effective tax rate
 
35.2%
 
40.2%
 
43.7%

Deferred income taxes result from timing differences in the recognition of revenue and expense for tax and financial statement purposes. The sources of temporary differences are as follows:

30


 
(in thousands)
 
December 27,
2008
   
December 29,
2007
 
Assets:
           
Inventories
  $ 4,540     $ 4,837  
Accounts receivable
    6,432       4,369  
Accrued expenses
    1,364       1,520  
Other
    807       690  
Gross deferred tax assets
    13,143       11,416  
Liabilities:
               
Depreciation
    395       552  
Goodwill
    8,643       8,004  
Gross deferred tax liabilities
    9,038       8,556  
Net deferred tax assets before valuation allowance
    4,105       2,860  
Valuation allowance
    (567 )     (611 )
Net deferred tax assets
  $ 3,538     $ 2,249  

In 2007, we recorded a valuation allowance totaling $0.6 million against certain foreign tax loss carry forwards.

Based on our history of taxable income and our projection of future earnings, we believe that it is more likely than not that sufficient taxable income will be generated in the foreseeable future to realize the remaining net deferred tax assets.
 
As of December 27, 2008, we have not provided taxes on unremitted foreign earnings from our foreign affiliate of approximately $9.7 million that are intended to be indefinitely reinvested in operations and expansion outside the United States. An estimated $1.4 million in U.S. income and foreign withholding taxes would be due if the earnings were remitted as dividends.

We adopted the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (“FIN 48”) effective December 31, 2006.  As a result of the implementation of FIN 48, we recognized no material adjustment in the liability for unrecognized income tax benefits.   At December 27, 2008, we have $1.8 million of unrecognized tax benefits, $1.1 million of which would affect our effective tax rate if recognized.

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows (in thousands):

Balance at December 29, 2007
  $ 1,504  
Reductions due to lapses in statutes of limitations
    (79 )
Additions based on tax positions taken during the current period
    327  
Balance at December 27, 2008
  $ 1,752  

We recognize interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. As of December 27, 2008, we have approximately $0.4 million of accrued interest related to uncertain tax positions.

The last year examined by the IRS was 2005, and all years up through and including that year are closed by examination.    We are currently under examination for tax years 2003 - 2006 by one state tax authority to which we are subject to tax. The tax years 2004-2008 remain open to examination by the remaining major taxing jurisdictions in the United States to which we are subject. The tax years 2004-2008 remain open to examination in Sweden for our Swedish subsidiary.

9.   Business Segments
 
In accordance with SFAS No. 131, "Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information," we have determined that our business comprises a single reportable operating segment, namely, the sale of replacement parts for the automotive aftermarket.
 
During 2008, 2007 and 2006, three customers each accounted for more than 10% of net sales and in the aggregate accounted for 40%, 38% and 40% of net sales, respectively. Net sales to countries outside the US, primarily to Europe and Canada in 2008, 2007 and 2006 were $27.2 million, 29.7 million and $25.6 million, respectively.

31


10.   Commitments and Contingencies
 
Shareholder Agreement. A shareholder agreement was entered into in September 1990 and amended and restated on July 1, 2006. Under the agreement, each of Richard Berman, Steven Berman, Jordan Berman, Marc Berman and Fred Berman has granted the others of them rights of first refusal, exercisable on a pro rata basis or in such other proportions as the exercising shareholders may agree, to purchase shares of our common stock which any of them, or upon their deaths their respective estates, proposes to sell to third parties. We have agreed with these shareholders that, upon their deaths, to the extent that any of their shares are not purchased by any of these surviving shareholders and may not be sold without registration under the Securities Exchange Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), we will use our best efforts to cause those shares to be registered under the 1933 Act. The expenses of any such registration will be borne by the estate of the deceased shareholder.
 
Legal Proceedings. We are party to certain legal proceedings and claims arising in the normal course of business. We believe that the disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

11.   Capital Stock
 
Purchase and cancellation of common stock. We periodically repurchase and cancel common stock issued to our defined contribution profit sharing and 401(k) plan. During 2008 and 2007, our board of directors approved the cancellation of  108,033 and 90,205 shares of common stock, respectively.

Undesignated Stock. We have 75,000,000 shares authorized of undesignated capital stock for future issuance. The designation, rights and preferences of such shares will be determined by our Board of Directors.

Control by Officers, Directors and Family Members. As of March 2, 2009, Richard N. Berman and Steven L. Berman, who are officers and directors of the Company, their father and their brothers beneficially own 41% of the outstanding our Common Stock and are able to elect our Board of Directors, determine the outcome of most corporate actions requiring shareholder approval and control our policies.

Incentive Stock Option Plan. Effective on May 18, 2000, we amended and restated our Incentive Stock Option Plan (the "Plan"). Under the terms of the Plan, our Board of Directors may grant incentive stock options and non-qualified stock options or combinations thereof to purchase up to 2,345,000 shares of common stock to officers, directors and employees. Grants under the Plan must be made within 10 years of the plan amendment date and are exercisable at the discretion of the Board of Directors but in no event more than 10 years from the date of grant. At December 27, 2008, options to acquire 330,689 shares were available for grant under the Plan.

Effective January 1, 2006, we adopted SFAS No. 123(R) and related interpretations and began expensing the grant-date fair value of employee stock options.  In accordance with SFAS No. 123(R), cash flows resulting from tax deductions in excess of the tax effect of compensation cost recognized in the financial statements be classified as financing cash flows.

Compensation cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period during which employees perform related services. The compensation cost charged against income for the year ended December 27, 2008, December 29, 2007 and December 30, 2006 was $248,000, $456,000 and $488,000 before taxes, respectively. The compensation cost recognized is classified as selling, general and administrative expense in the consolidated statement of operations. No cost was capitalized during fiscal 2008, 2007 or 2006.  We included a forfeiture assumption of 4.6%, 3.5% and 2.6% in the calculation of expense in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

The fair value of options granted was estimated using the Black-Scholes option valuation model that used the weighted average assumptions noted in the table below.  Expected volatility and expected dividend yield are based on the actual historical experience of the Company’s common stock. The expected life represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding and was calculated using the simplified method prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107. The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury security with terms equal to the expected time of exercise as of the grant date.

32


 
2008
 
2007
 
2006
Expected dividend yield
0%
 
0%
 
0%
Expected stock price volatility
37%
 
36%
 
45%
Risk-free interest rate
1.8%
 
3.8%
 
4.5%
Expected life of options
6.5 years
 
6.5 years
 
6.5 years

The weighted-average grant-date fair value of options granted during 2008, 2007 and 2006 was $4.49, $5.96 and $4.95 per option, respectively.

Transactions under the Plan for the three years ended December 27, 2008 were as follows:

   
Shares
   
Option Price per share
   
Weighted Average Price
 
Weighted Average Remaining Term (years)
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Balance at December 31, 2005
    995,216     $ 0.50 - 12.48     $ 4.80        
Granted
    45,000       9.15 - 10.10       9.68        
Exercised
    (35,066 )     0.50 - 9.73       3.83        
Cancelled
    (23,200 )     0.94 - 9.73       8.94        
Balance at December 30, 2006
    981,950       0.50 - 12.48       4.96        
Granted
    55,000       13.79       13.79        
Exercised
    (109,800 )     0.50 - 7.14       1.21        
Cancelled
    (24,000 )     7.14 -12.48       10.60        
Balance at December 29, 2007
    903,150       0.50 - 13.79       5.80        
Granted
    40,000       11.34       11.34        
Exercised
    (58,650 )     0.50 - 7.14       2.53        
Cancelled
    (64,400 )     4.00 – 12.48       10.93        
Balance at December 27, 2008
    820,100     $ 0.50 - 13.79     $ 5.91  
4.6
5,625,000
Options exercisable at December 27, 2008
    650,366     $ 0.50 - 13.79     $ 4.46  
3.7
$
5,363,000
 
The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised during 2008 was $511,000.

As of December 27, 2008, there was approximately $0.5 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested stock options, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 3.5 years.

Cash received from option exercises during 2008 was $118,000. The total tax benefit generated from options which were exercised during 2008 and 2007 was approximately $126,000 and $409,000, respectively, and was credited to additional paid in capital.

The following table summarizes information concerning currently outstanding and exercisable options at December 27, 2008:
 
 
   
Options Outstanding
 
Options Exercisable
 
Range of Exercise Price
   
Number Outstanding
 
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life (years)
 
Weighted-Average Exercise Price
 
Number Exercisable
 
Weighted-Average Exercise Price
 
$ 0.50 - $1.50
     
325,700
 
2.4
 
$
1.45
 
325,700
 
$
1.45
 
$ 4.00 - $5.08
 
   
120,150
 
4.1
 
$
4.72
 
120,150
 
$
4.72
 
$ 7.14 - $8.01
 
   
170,750
 
5.1
 
$
7.65
 
137,416
 
$
7.56
 
$ 9.15 - $11.34
 
   
65,000
 
9.1
 
$
10.72
 
10,000
 
$
9.72
 
$ 12.48 - $13.79
     
138,500
 
7.2
 
$
13.00
 
57,100
 
$
12.64
 
 
 
     
820,100
     
$
5.91
 
650,366
 
$
4.46
 

33


Employee Stock Purchase Plan. In March 1992, our Board of Directors adopted the Employee Stock Purchase Plan which was subsequently approved by the shareholders. The Plan permits the granting of options to purchase up to 600,000 shares of common stock by our employees. In any given year, employees may purchase up to 4% of their annual compensation, with the option price set at 85% of the fair market value of the stock on the date of exercise. All options granted during any year expire on the last day of the fiscal year. During 2008, optionees had exercised rights to purchase 1,459 shares at prices from $7.69 to $9.26 per share for total net proceeds of $11,000.

401(k) Retirement Plan. We maintain a defined contribution profit sharing and 401(k) plan covering substantially all of our employees as of December 27, 2008. Annual contributions under the plan are determined by our Board of Directors. Consolidated expense related to the plan was $1,284,000, $1,223,000 and $1,095,000, in fiscal 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.  At December 27, 2008, the plan held 448,694 shares of our stock.

Share Repurchase Program.  On February 22, 2008, we announced that our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 500,000 shares of our outstanding common stock.  Under this program, share repurchases may be made from time to time depending upon market conditions, share price and availability, and other factors at our discretion.  Repurchases will take place in open market transactions or in privately negotiated transactions in accordance with applicable laws.  During 2008, we have not made any purchases under the plan.

13.   Accounting Pronouncements
 
In April 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position 142-3, “Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible Assets: (“FSP 142-3”).  FSP 142-3 amends the factors that should be considered in developing renewal or extension assumptions used to determine the useful life of a recognized intangible asset under SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.”  FSP 142-3 is not expected to impact the Company’s consolidated results of operations and financial position.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS 141 (revised 2007), “Business Combinations” (“SFAS No. 141(R)”). SFAS No. 141(R) changes the requirements for an acquirer’s recognition and measurement of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed in a business combination. SFAS No. 141(R) is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2008 and should be applied prospectively for all business combinations entered into after the date of adoption.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements — an amendment of ARB No. 51” (“SFAS No. 160”). SFAS No. 160 requires (i) that noncontrolling (minority) interests be reported as a component of shareholders’ equity, (ii) that net income attributable to the parent and to the noncontrolling interest be separately identified in the consolidated statement of operations, (iii) that changes in a parent’s ownership interest while the parent retains its controlling interest be accounted for as equity transactions, (iv) that any retained noncontrolling equity investment upon the deconsolidation of a subsidiary be initially measured at fair value, and (v) that sufficient disclosures are provided that clearly identify and distinguish between the interests of the parent and the interests of the noncontrolling owners. SFAS No. 160 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2008 and should be applied prospectively. However, the presentation and disclosure requirements of the statement shall be applied retrospectively for all periods presented. The adoption of the provisions of SFAS No. 160 is not expected to impact the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations.

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities.”  SFAS No. 159 permits companies to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value.  The objective is to improve financial reporting by providing companies with the opportunity to mitigate volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions.  SFAS No. 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007.  Companies are not allowed to adopt SFAS No. 159 on a retrospective basis unless they choose early adoption.  The adoption of SFAS No. 159 did not have a material impact on our results of operations and financial position.
 
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements.” SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This statement applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements. Accordingly, SFAS No. 157 does not require any new fair value measurements. The provisions of SFAS No. 157 are to be applied prospectively and are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007.  The FASB has agreed to a one-year deferral of SFAS No. 157’s fair value measurement requirements for non-financial assets and liabilities that are not required or permitted to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis.  We adopted SFAS No. 157 for financial assets and liabilities on December 30, 2007, and there was no impact on the Company’s results of operations and financial position.  We do not believe the adoption of SFAS No. 157 for non-financial assets and liabilities will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations and financial position.

34


Supplementary Financial Information

Quarterly Results of Operations (Unaudited):
 
The following is a summary of the unaudited quarterly results of operations for the fiscal years ended December 27, 2008 and December 29, 2007:

(in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
First Quarter
   
Second Quarter
   
Third Quarter
   
Fourth Quarter
 
   
2008
 
Net sales
  $ 80,125     $ 90,311     $ 91,202     $ 80,687  
Income from operations
    4,719       8,696       8,495       6,494  
Net income
    2,682       5,233       5,048       4,850  
Diluted earnings per share
    0.15       0.29       0.28       0.27  

   
2007
 
Net sales
  $ 74,293     $ 85,796     $ 83,174     $ 84,462  
Income from operations
    6,991       9,845       9,651       7,485  
Net income
    4,062       5,768       5,679       3,684  
Diluted earnings per share
    0.22       0.32       0.31       0.20  


Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

None

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.

Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management, with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, conducted an evaluation, as of December 27, 2008, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e). Based on this evaluation, our chief executive officer and our chief financial officer concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this annual report, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective in reaching a reasonable level of assurance that management is timely alerted to material information related to us during the period when our periodic reports are being prepared.
 
Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). Our management, with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, conducted an evaluation, as of December 27, 2008, of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this evaluation under the framework in Internal Control - Integrated Framework, our management concluded that, as of December 27, 2008, our internal control over financial reporting was effective to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

35


Our internal control over financial reporting as of December 27, 2008 has been audited by KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is included herein.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Our management, with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, also conducted an evaluation of our internal control over financial reporting, to determine whether any changes occurred during the quarter ended December 27, 2008 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. Based on that evaluation, there was no such change during the quarter ended December 27, 2008.

 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Dorman Products, Inc.:
 
We have audited Dorman Products, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 27, 2008, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Dorman Products, Inc.'s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that material misstatement exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, Dorman Products, Inc. maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 27, 2008, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Dorman Products, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 27, 2008 and December 29, 2007, and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 27, 2008, and the related financial statement schedule, and our report dated March 6, 2009 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements and the related financial statement schedule.
 

KPMG LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
March 6, 2009

36


PART III

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.

The required information is incorporated by reference from our definitive proxy statement for our 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be filed with the SEC within 120 days of the Company's fiscal year ended December 27, 2008.

Executive Officers of the Registrant.

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to our executive officers:

Name
 
Age
 
Position with the Company
         
Mathias J. Barton
 
49
 
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
         
Joseph M. Beretta
 
54
 
Senior Vice President, Product
         
Richard N. Berman
 
52
 
Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Director
         
Steven L. Berman
 
49
 
President, Chief Operating Officer, Secretary-Treasurer, and Director
         
Fred V. Frigo
 
52
 
Senior Vice President, Operations
         
Thomas J. Knoblauch
 
53
 
Vice President, General Counsel and Assistant Secretary
 
Mathias J. Barton joined the Company in November 1999 as Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Barton was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Central Sprinkler Corporation, a manufacturer and distributor of automatic fire sprinklers, valves and component parts. From May 1989 to September 1998, Mr. Barton was employed by Rapidforms, Inc., most recently as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. He is a graduate of Temple University.

Joseph M. Beretta joined the Company in January 2004 as Senior Vice President, Product. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Beretta was employed by Cardone Industries, Inc., most recently as its Chief Operating Officer. Cardone is a re-manufacturer and supplier of automotive replacement parts. He is a graduate of Oral Roberts University.

Richard N. Berman has been President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director of the Company since its inception in October 1978.  He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania.  Effective October 25, 2007, Steven Berman assumed the role of President of Dorman.

Steven L. Berman is President, Chief Operating Officer, Secretary-Treasurer and a Director of the Company.  Since the inception of the Company in October 1978 until October 25, 2007, Steven served as Executive Vice President. He attended Temple University.

Fred V. Frigo joined the Company in March 1997 as Director, Operations and was named Senior Vice President, Operations in September 2003. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Frigo was the Plant Manager for Cooper Industries (Federal Mogul), where he was responsible for their Wagner Brake Plant in Boston and following that the Wagner Lighting Operations in Boyertown, Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of Elmhurst College.

Thomas J. Knoblauch joined the Company in April 2005 as Vice President and General Counsel. In May 2005, Mr. Knoblauch was appointed Assistant Secretary. Prior to joining the Company he was Corporate Counsel at SunGard Data Systems, Inc. and General Counsel at Rosenbluth International, Inc. He is a graduate of Widener University, St. Joseph's University, and the Widener University School of Law. Mr. Knoblauch is a member of both the Pennsylvania and New York Bar.

We have adopted a written code of ethics, "Our Values and Standards of Business Conduct," which is applicable to all of our directors, officers and employees, including our chief executive officer, chief financial officer, and principal accounting officer and controller and other executive officers identified pursuant to this Item 10 (collectively, the "Selected Officers"). In accordance with the SEC's rules and regulations a copy of the code is posted on our website www.dormanproducts.com. We intend to disclose any changes in or waivers from our code of ethics applicable to any Selected Officer or director on our website at www.dormanproducts.com.

37


Item 11. Executive Compensation.

The required information is incorporated by reference from our definitive proxy statement for our 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be filed with the SEC within 120 days of our fiscal year ended December 27, 2008.

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Shareholder Matters.

The required information is incorporated by reference from our definitive proxy statement for its 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be filed with the SEC within 120 days of our fiscal year ended December 27, 2008.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

The following table details information regarding our existing equity compensation plans as of December 27, 2008:
 
               
(c)
 
Plan Category
 
(a)
Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights
   
(b)
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights
   
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)
 
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
    820,100     $ 5.91       330,689  
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
    -       -       -  
Total
    820,100     $ 5.91       330,689  


Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.

The required information is incorporated by reference from our definitive proxy statement for our 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be filed with the SEC within 120 days of our fiscal year ended December 27, 2008.

Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.
 
The required information is incorporated by reference from our definitive proxy statement for its 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be filed with the SEC within 120 days of our fiscal year ended December 27, 2008.

PART IV

Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.
 
(a)(1) Consolidated Financial Statements. Our consolidated financial statements and related documents are provided in Item 8, Part II, of this Report on Form 10-K.

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 27, 2008, December 29, 2007, and December 30, 2006.

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 27, 2008 and December 29, 2007.

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the years ended December 27, 2008, December 29, 2007, and December 30, 2006.

38


Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 27, 2008, December 29, 2007, December 30, 2006.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(a)(2) Consolidated Financial Statement Schedules. The following consolidated financial statement schedule of the Company and related documents are filed with this Report on Form 10-K:
 
Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts at Page 43

(a)(3) Exhibits that are filed as a part of this Form 10-K and required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K and Item 15(c) of this Form 10-K are listed below:
 
Item 601
 
Exhibit-Number
 
Title
     
3.1 (1)
 
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company.
     
4.1 (1)
 
Specimen Common Stock Certificate of the Company.
     
10.1 (1)
 
Lease, dated December 1, 1990, between the Company and the Berman Real Estate Partnership, for premises located at 3400 East Walnut Street, Colmar, Pennsylvania.
     
3.1.1 (2 )
 
Amendment, dated May 23, 2007, to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company, permitting the issuance of uncertificated shares.
     
3.2 (3)
 
Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company.
     
10.1.1 (4)
 
Amendment to Lease, dated September 10, 1993, between the Company and the Berman Real Estate Partnership, for premises located at 3400 East Walnut Street, Colmar, Pennsylvania, amending 10.1.
     
4.2  (5 )
 
Amended and Restated Shareholders' Agreement dated July 1, 2006.
     
10.1.2 (6)
 
Assignment of Lease dated February 24, 1997, between the Company, the Berman Real Estate Partnership and BREP I, for the premises located at 3400 East Walnut Street, Colmar, Pennsylvania, assigning 10.1.
     
10.1.3 (7)
 
Amendment to Lease, dated April 1, 2002, between the Company and BREP I, for premises located at 3400 East Walnut Street, Colmar, Pennsylvania, amending 10.1.
     
10.1.4 (8)
 
Amendment to Lease, dated December 12, 2007, between the Company and BREP I, for premises located at 3400 East Walnut Street, Colmar, Pennsylvania, amending 10.1.
     
10.1.5 (9)
 
Lease, dated January 31, 2006, between the Company and First Industrial, LP, for premises located at 3150 Barry Drive, Portland, Tennessee.
     
10.1.6 (10)
 
Amendment to Lease, dated January 28, 2008, between the Company and First Industrial, LP, for premises located at 3150 Barry Drive, Portland, Tennessee.
     
10.1.7 (11)
 
Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of July 24, 2006, between the Company and Wachovia Bank, N.A.
     
10.1.8 (12 )
 
Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated December 24, 2007, between the Company and Wachovia Bank N.A., amending 10.1.5.
     
10.1.9 (13)
 
Commercial Loan Agreement, dated September 27, 2006, between the Company and the Tennessee Valley Authority.

39


10.3 (14)
 
Dorman Products, Inc. Amended and Restated Incentive Stock Plan.
     
10.4 (15)
 
Dorman Products, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan and Trust.
     
10.4.1 (16)
 
Amendment No. 1 to the Dorman Products, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan and Trust.
     
10.5 (15)
 
Dorman Products, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
     
14.1 (17)
 
Code of Ethics
     
 
Subsidiaries of the Company (filed with this report)
     
 
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (filed with this report)
     
 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer as required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed with this report).
     
 
Certification of Chief Financial Officer as required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed with this report).
     
 
Certification of Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer as required by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed with this report).


Management Contracts and Compensatory Plans, Contracts or Arrangements.
(1) Incorporated by reference to the Exhibits filed with the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 and Amendments No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 thereto (Registration No. 33-37264).
(2) Incorporated by reference to the Exhibits filed with the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 24, 2007.
(3) Incorporated by reference to the Exhibits filed with the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 23, 2007.
(4) Incorporated by reference to the Exhibits filed with the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 and Amendment No. 1 thereto (Registration No. 33-68740).
(5) Incorporated by reference to the Exhibits filed with the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 27, 2008.
(6) Incorporated by reference to the Exhibits filed with the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 28, 1996.
(7) Incorporated by reference to the Exhibits filed with the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 29, 2002.
(8) Incorporated by reference to the Exhibits filed with the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 12, 2007.
(9) Incorporated by reference to the Exhibits filed with the Company's Current Report of Form 8-K dated February 2, 2006.
(10) Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit filed with the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 29, 2008.
(11) Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit filed with the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 24. 2005.
(12) Incorporated by reference to the Exhibits filed with the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 2, 2008.
(13) Incorporated by reference to the Exhibits filed with the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 28, 2006.
(14) Incorporated by reference to the Exhibits filed with the Company’s Proxy Statement for the fiscal year ended December 27, 1997.
(15) Incorporated by reference to the Exhibits filed with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 26, 1992.
(16) Incorporated by reference to the Exhibits filed with the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 25, 1994.
 (17) Incorporated by reference to the Exhibits filed with the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 3, 2006.

40


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

Dorman Products, Inc.
     
   
By: \s\ Richard N. Berman
 
Date: March 6, 2009
 
Richard N. Berman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
 
Signature
 
Capacity
 
Date
         
\s\ Richard N. Berman
       
Richard N. Berman
 
 Chief Executive Officer and
 
March 6, 2009
   
 Chairman of the Board of Directors
   
   
(principal executive officer)
   
\s\ Mathias J. Barton
       
Mathias J. Barton
 
Chief Financial Officer
 
March 6, 2009
   
(principal financial and accounting officer)
   
         
\s\ Steven L. Berman
       
Steven L. Berman
 
President, Chief Operating Officer,
 
March 6, 2009
   
Secretary-Treasurer, Director
   
         
\s\ George L. Bernstein
       
George L. Bernstein
 
Director
 
March 6, 2009
         
         
\s\ John F. Creamer, Jr.
       
John F. Creamer, Jr.
 
Director
 
March 6, 2009
         
         
\s\ Paul R. Lederer
       
Paul R. Lederer
 
Director
 
March 6, 2009
         
         
\s\ Edgar W. Levin
       
Edgar W. Levin
 
Director
 
March 6, 2009

41


SCHEDULE II: Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
 
       
(in thousands)
 
For the Year Ended
 
   
December 27, 2008
   
December 29, 2007
   
December 30, 2006
 
Allowance for doubtful accounts:
                 
Balance, beginning of period
  $ 1,288     $ 2,056     $ 1,114  
Provision
    487       302       1,164  
Charge-offs
    (357 )     (1,070 )     (222 )
Balance, end of period
  $ 1,418     $ 1,288     $ 2,056  
Allowance for customer credits:
                       
Balance, beginning of period
  $ 27,417     $ 25,545     $ 21,614  
Provision
    71,774       64,230       53,201  
Charge-offs
    (68,046 )     (62,358 )     (49,270 )
Balance, end of period
  $ 31,145     $ 27,417     $ 25,545  
Allowance for excess and obsolete inventory:
                       
Balance, beginning of period
  $ 11,779     $ 12,224     $ 9,628  
Provision
    2,661       2,507       3,908  
Charge-offs
    (3,963 )     (2,952 )     (1,312 )
Balance, end of period
  $ 10,477     $ 11,779     $ 12,224  
 
 
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