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Chief Executive, The, May, 2005 by Dale Buss

Last year's numbers: Magna's 2004 sales were $20.7 billion, and net income was $686 million.

Performance trend: The company has posted a 22 percent compounded annual growth rate in total sales over the past 10 years.

Products and services: It assembles complete vehicles and subassembles modules. It makes metal-body components, plastic-body panels, lighting components, drivetrain components and other parts.

Operations: About 81,000 employees in 223 manufacturing operations and 56 product-development and engineering centers in 22 countries.

Advantages: Magna is nearly debt-free, has a commanding position among automotive supplier-integrators and is free of union pension and health care obligations.

Issues: The company remains heavily dependent on the U.S. Big Three while other companies, especially Toyota, are growing much faster. Succession to founder Frank Stronach is not yet clear.

Source: Chief Executive