Gentex Named to Forbes' '200 Best Small Companies in America' List
from moneynet.com
ZEELAND, Mich., Oct. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- For the third time in the past four years, Gentex
Corporation (Nasdaq: GNTX), the world leader in the manufacture of automatic-dimming
mirrors for the auto industry, has been named to Forbes magazine's prestigious list of the "200
Best Small Companies in America." The announcement comes in the magazine's November 3,
1997, issue, which is scheduled to hit the newsstands Thursday. Gentex previously was named to
this list in 1994 and 1996.
Forbes' annual list of the "200 Best Small Companies in America" ranks publicly traded,
U.S.-based companies according to their five-year average return on equity, and also requires
five-year average sales and earnings per share growth of at least 15% and 8%, respectively.
Forbes also screens out highly leveraged firms, for instance if their debt exceeds their
stockholders' equity or their equity is negative.
Forbes ranked Gentex 25th in profits, 37th in market value, 80th in sales, and 111th in five-year
average return on equity. The magazine also states that Gentex's five-year average return on
equity is 20.5%, and that the Company has posted five-year average sales and earnings per share
growth of 35% and 47%, respectively. The Company is debt free.
"We are obviously very pleased to have again been named one of the best small companies in
America," said Gentex Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer Fred Bauer. "But lists
like this track past performance, and we can't rest on our laurels. Our commitments to customers,
innovation, new products, our employees -- these are what will ensure our continued profitability
and growth."
Gentex Corporation is an international company that provides high-quality products to the
worldwide automotive industry and North American fire protection market. The Company
develops, manufactures and markets proprietary electro-optic products, including interior and
exterior electrochromic, automatic-dimming Night Vision Safety(TM) (NVS(R)) automotive
rearview mirrors that dim in proportion to the amount of headlight glare from trailing vehicle
headlamps, and an extensive line of fire protection products for commercial applications. The
Company's Automotive Products Group is ISO 9001 registered and is in compliance with
QS-9000, quality designations that soon will be required to supply production or service parts to
automakers.
Gentex was the first company in the world to successfully develop and produce a commercial
electrochromic mirror for the motor vehicle industry. The Company is the leading supplier of
these mirrors to the worldwide automotive industry. Gentex customers include Audi, Bentley,
BMW, Chrysler, Daewoo, Fiat, Ford, General Motors, Gulf States Toyota, Honda, Hyundai,
Infiniti, Kia Motors, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opel, Porsche, Rolls Royce and
Southeast Toyota Distributors.
Founded in 1974, Gentex operates out of three facilities in Zeeland, Michigan; an automotive
sales and marketing office in Livonia, Michigan; an automotive sales and engineering subsidiary in
Germany; and five regional U.S. sales offices for the Fire Protection Products Group. The
Company is recognized for its quality products, its application of world class manufacturing
principles, for its commitment to developing and maintaining a highly skilled workforce, and for
encouraging employee ownership of the Company's stock.
SOURCE Gentex Corporation
-0- 10/20/97
/CONTACT: Craig Piersma of Gentex, 616-772-1800/
/Company News On-Call: prnewswire.com or fax, 800-758-5804, ext. 354175/
/Web site: www.gentex.com/
(GNTX)
CO: Gentex Corporation; Forbes ST: Michigan IN: AUT PUB SU: |
