New York, NY, March 6, 2000......Standard Motor Products, Inc. (NYSE:SMP) automotive replacement parts manufacturer and distributor, reported its financial results for the fourth quarter of 1999, the three months ended December 31, 1999, and full year 1999.

Net sales for the fourth quarter of 1999 were $86 million, 24.1% lower than net sales of $113.3 million during the comparable quarter of a year ago. Net losses for the fourth quarter of 1999 were $17.6 million or $1.36 per diluted share, compared to net earnings of $1.4 million, or 11 cents per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 1998. The fourth quarter 1999 net losses included $8 million from non-recurring items to cover the cost of consolidating the remaining Cooper inventories in the field, closing the Heat Battery joint venture in Canada, and the one-time cost of lay-offs to achieve cost reduction targets.

Net sales for the full year 1999 were $658.2 million, 1.4% higher than net sales of $649.4 million in 1998. Excluding $66.2 million in acquisition-related net sales, revenues in 1999 decreased by 8.8% compared to 1998. Net earnings in 1999 were $7.6 million or 58 cents per diluted share, compared to $22.3 million or $1.69 per diluted share in 1998. Excluding $9.1 million of non-recurring losses for the full year 1999, as discussed above, and $1.1 million from the loss on early extinguishment of debt, normalized net earnings were $17.8 million or $1.35 per diluted share.

Lawrence Sills, President, said, "The disappointing fourth quarter results were in line with the outlook released January 5, 2000. Net sales for the fourth quarter were $27 million below the comparable quarter in the prior year due to approximately $13 million shortfall in gross sales and $14 million increase in customer returns. The gross sales reduction impacted both engine management and temperature control sales as mild weather conditions prevailed in most of the country. The Four Seasons customer returns were a function of a weak air conditioning season, warranty returns, and the cost to consolidate the Four Seasons and Cooper inventories in the field."

Mr. Sills stated, "New customer return policies and procedures have been developed to limit overstock customer returns and significantly tighten the requirements for an authorized warranty return. We expect to revert to more normal levels of customer returns in the future."

Mr. Sills continued, "We remain fully confident of achieving our cost reduction initiatives for 2000, including the consolidation of three distribution centers into one for Four Seasons; merging the Eaglemotive fan clutch acquisition into Hayden; moving two US wire manufacturing plants to a single facility in Reynosa, Mexico; Four Seasons gross margin improvements; and exiting the Heat Battery business. These initiatives are slated for $12 million of cost improvements in 2000. These savings, plus the planned improvements in returns, make us optimistic about the coming year."

Further, the Company announced a plan to pre-pay a $14 million senior note, bearing interest at 10.22%, during the first quarter 2000. In connection with this prepayment, the Company will incur an extraordinary loss of approximately $500,000, net of taxes, for prepayment penalties and the write-off of deferred loan costs.

Mr. Sills concluded, "We will continue our program of purchasing our stock. We still have approximately 111,000 remaining from prior authorizations and our Board has approved the purchase of an additional 500,000 shares."