POMONA, Calif., Dec. 13, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Keystone Automotive Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq:KEYS), today said it has been named, along with a Taiwan-based manufacturer, in a suit brought by General Motors Corporation in the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division.
General Motors alleges that Keystone is distributing, replacement grilles for General Motors' vehicles with a placeholder matched exactly to the "Chevrolet Bow Tie" design emblem and the "GMC" mark emblem, which infringes on General Motors' federal, state and common law trademarks. The suit claims this violates the Lanham Act and constitutes unfair competition under Michigan law. General Motors is seeking damages in an unspecified amount as well as certain equitable relief, including an injunction.
Keystone has only recently been served with the complaint and has not yet been able to thoroughly evaluate the case and obtain advice of counsel.
Based on a preliminary evaluation, Keystone believes that it has meritorious defenses and intends to defend its business practices. The company estimates the products in question will constitute an immaterial percentage of total sales once it formally ascertains which products are the subject of the complaint. Consequently, Keystone believes that whatever the outcome of the case, it will not have a material adverse impact on the company's operations or financial condition.
Keystone Automotive Industries, Inc. distributes its products in the United States primarily to collision repair shops through its 114 distribution facilities, of which 21 serve as regional hubs, located in 37 states, Vancouver, Canada and Tijuana, Mexico. Its product lines consist of automotive body parts, bumpers, and remanufactured alloy wheels, as well as paint and other materials used in repairing a damaged vehicle. These products comprise more than 19,000 stock keeping units that are sold to more than 25,000 repair shops throughout the nation.
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for certain forward-looking statements. The statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements based on the company's current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on the company. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting the company will be those anticipated by the company. Actual results may differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond the control of the company) and are subject to change based upon various factors. Upon a more exhaustive analysis, more products sold by the Company than originally estimated may be subject to the lawsuit. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as the result of new information, future events or otherwise. For a more detailed discussion of some of the ongoing risks and uncertainties of the Company's business, see the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended March 29, 2002, on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.