EX-99.1 3 exhibit99_1.htm EXHIBIT99.1 Exhibit99.1

               
Contact: Dick Marchese
VP Finance and CFO
770-395-4531
 
 
Georgia Gulf Reports Third Quarter Results of $.24 EPS


ATLANTA , October 30, 2003 – Georgia Gulf Corporation (NYSE: GGC) reported net income of $7.7 million or $.24 per diluted share on sales of $348.8 million for the third quarter of 2003 compared to net income of $17.1 million or $.53 per diluted share on sales of $342.6 million for the third quarter 2002. The increase in sales over the same period last year reflects increased sales prices for all products, which more than offset lower sales volumes. The lower net income resulted from higher costs of sales, primarily raw materials and natural gas costs, combined with an unexpected VCM plant outage in August, which had an unfavorable after tax impact of $2.4 million or $0.07 per diluted share. The financial results for the third quarter 2003 also include an after tax benefit of $2.0 million or $0.06 per diluted share from a favorable settlement of a lawsuit and reflect lower interest expense.
The third quarter 2003 net income was slightly lower than the previous quarter net income of $8.4 million or $.26 per diluted share on sales of $359.1 million. This was a result of lower sales prices, which more than offset lower raw materials and natural gas costs as well as higher sales volumes.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2003, net income was $14.5 million or $.45 per diluted share on sales of $1,072.0 million compared to $21.5 million or $.67 per diluted share on sales of $912.0 million for the same period last year. Despite higher sales prices for all products, net income was lower as a result of significantly higher raw materials and natural gas costs as well as lower sales volumes.

Chlorovinyls
Compared to the third quarter of 2002, the chlorovinyls segment operating income decreased $27.7 million to $19.1 million due to significantly higher raw materials and natural gas costs as well as lower sales volumes, which outpaced higher sales prices.
Compared to the sequential quarter, operating income decreased $8.5 million from $27.6 million in the second quarter. This was a result of lower sales prices, particularly in vinyl resins, which were not offset by lower raw materials and natural gas costs and higher sales volumes.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2003, operating income was $61.2 million, which was a decrease of $28.9 million compared to the same period last year. This decline was due to significantly higher raw materials and natural gas costs as well as lower sales volumes, which were not offset by higher sales prices.

Aromatics
The aromatics segment operating income of $4.4 million for the third quarter of 2003 compared favorably to an operating loss of $2.4 million for the third quarter of 2002. This improvement was a result of higher sales prices, particularly for phenol and acetone, more than offsetting lower sales volumes and higher natural gas costs.
The third quarter 2003 operating income of $4.4 million also compares favorably to the second quarter 2003 operating loss of $0.9 million. The improvement reflects lower raw materials costs and higher sales volumes, which more than offset lower sales prices.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2003, the operating income of $1.7 million was an improvement from the operating loss of $8.6 million for the same period last year as a result of higher sales prices outpacing higher raw materials costs and lower sales volumes.

Commentary
Commenting on the results, Edward A. Schmitt, Chairman, President and CEO, said, "While chlorovinyls operating income was lower, we are pleased with the improvement in aromatics. Compared to the third quarter last year, sales prices for all our products increased significantly, but our business was hindered by higher raw materials and natural gas costs."
"As we look to the fourth quarter of 2003, we may see some seasonal slowdown and face potentially higher natural gas costs, which may result in lower fourth quarter earnings. We continue to expect a gradual improvement in our business as supply and demand come back into balance."

Other
Georgia Gulf currently has outstanding $200 million principal amount of 10 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes that were issued in 1999 and mature in 2007. These notes are callable on November 1 of this year at a premium of 5.188%. Georgia Gulf announced today that it is exploring options for refinancing these notes and hopes to make an announcement in that regard shortly. However, there can be no assurance that the company will be able to refinance the notes on acceptable terms, if at all.
Georgia Gulf is also today announcing the retirement of its Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer, Dick Marchese, effective December 31, 2003. Dick has served Georgia Gulf and its former parent company, Georgia-Pacific, for more than 30 years, including serving as Chief Financial Officer for Georgia Gulf for the last fourteen. Jim Matthews, Vice President, Treasurer, Georgia Gulf, will assume Dick’s responsibilities.
"Dick has been instrumental in leading, growing and defining Georgia Gulf for many years, and we have been very fortunate to have this dynamic individual serve as our CFO," said Ed Schmitt, Chairman, President and CEO. "We congratulate Dick on his many accomplishments and his retirement, and we thank him for the exceptional leadership he has provided to the company for so long. Additionally, we are extremely confident in Jim Matthews’ abilities to fill the position, having been with the company and preparing for this role for more than two years. Jim has demonstrated that he has all of the qualities necessary to assume his new responsibilities. We look forward to working with him in this additional role."
Georgia Gulf will host a conference call to discuss third quarter results in more detail at 9:00 AM EST on Friday, October 31, 2003. To access the teleconference, please dial 888-552-7928 (domestic) or 706-679-3718 (international). To access the teleconference via Webcast, log on to http://www.firstcallevents.com/service/ajwz389838422gf12.html. Playbacks will be available from 12 PM EST Friday, October 31, to 5 PM EST Friday, November 7. Playback numbers are 800-642-1687 (domestic) or 706-645-9291 (international). The conference call ID number is 3143675.
In addition to the results prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) provided throughout this release, Georgia Gulf may discuss non-GAAP financial measures on the conference call. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to Georgia Gulf’s GAAP results are available at the Investor Relations link at www.ggc.com.
Georgia Gulf, headquartered in Atlanta, is a major manufacturer and marketer of two integrated product lines, chlorovinyls and aromatics. Georgia Gulf’s chlorovinyl products include chlorine, caustic soda, vinyl chloride monomer and vinyl resins and compounds. Georgia Gulf’s primary aromatic products include cumene, phenol and acetone.
This news release contains forward-looking statements subject to the "safe
harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
forward-looking statements are based on management’s assumptions regarding
business conditions, and actual results may be materially different. Risks and uncertainties inherent in these assumptions include, but are not limited to, future global economic conditions, economic conditions in the industries to which the company sells, industry production capacity, raw material and energy costs and other factors discussed in the Securities and Exchange Commission filings of Georgia Gulf Corporation, including our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 and our subsequent reports on Form 10-Q.
# # #
 
 
     

 
 

GEORGIA GULF CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
September 30, 2003
December 31,
2002
     

 ASSETS
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
       
$
5,660
 
$
8,019
 
Receivables
         
102,484
   
59,603
 
Inventories
         
110,526
   
114,575
 
Prepaid expenses
         
7,692
   
10,393
 
Deferred income taxes
         
6,500
   
5,657
 
         
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Total current assets
         
232,862
   
198,247
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Property, plant and equipment, net
         
491,774
   
521,326
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Goodwill
         
77,720
   
77,720
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Other assets
         
77,743
   
78,266
 
         
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Total assets
       
$
880,099
 
$
875,559
 
     
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
         
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Current portion of long-term debt
       
$
600
 
$
600
 
Accounts payable
         
104,951
   
107,943
 
Interest payable
         
12,152
   
4,650
 
Accrued compensation
         
10,453
   
14,325
 
Accrued liabilities
         
15,069
   
12,733
 
         
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Total current liabilities
         
143,225
   
140,251
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Long-term debt, less current portion
         
468,936
   
476,386
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Deferred income taxes
         
125,507
   
126,250
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Other non-current liabilities
         
7,519
   
6,872
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Stockholders' equity
         
134,912
   
125,800
 
         
 
 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
       
$
880,099
 
$
875,559
 
     
 
 
Common shares outstanding
         
32,478
   
32,319
 

 
     

 

GEORGIA GULF CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
 
 
September 30,
September 30,
   



 
 
2003
2002
2003
2002
   



Net Sales
 
$
348,832
 
$
342,594
 
$
1,071,960
 
$
911,984
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Operating costs and expenses
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Costs of sales
   
317,808
   
289,809
   
984,860
   
805,988
 
Selling and administrative
   
9,279
   
13,040
   
35,232
   
33,574
 
   
 
 
 
 
Total operating costs and expenses
   
327,087
   
302,849
   
1,020,092
   
839,562
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Operating income
   
21,745
   
39,745
   
51,868
   
72,422
 
Interest expense, net
   
(9,676
)
 
(13,082
)
 
(29,232
)
 
(38,829
)
   
 
 
 
 
Income before income taxes
   
12,069
   
26,663
   
22,636
   
33,593
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Provision for income taxes
   
4,343
   
9,597
   
8,145
   
12,091
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Net income
 
$
7,726
 
$
17,066
 
$
14,491
 
$
21,502
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Earnings per share
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Basic
 
$
0.24
 
$
0.53
 
$
0.45
 
$
0.67
 
Diluted
 
$
0.24
 
$
0.53
 
$
0.45
 
$
0.67
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Weighted average common shares
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Basic
   
32,263
   
32,009
   
32,235
   
31,974
 
Diluted
   
32,469
   
32,278
   
32,427
   
32,220
 

 
     

 
 
 
GEORGIA GULF CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES  
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS  
(In thousands)  
(Unaudited)  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
 

 

September 30,
September 30,
   



 
 
2003
2002
2003
2002
   



Cash Flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
7,726
 
$
17,066
 
$
14,491
 
$
21,502
 
Adjustments to reconcile net income
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
to net cash provided by
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
operating activities:
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
16,060
   
17,220
   
48,039
   
51,700
 
Provision (benefit) for (from) deferred
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
income taxes
   
(236
)
 
2,104
   
(1,586
)
 
7,360
 
Tax benefit related to stock plans
   
186
   
158
   
631
   
513
 
Stock based compensation
   
410
   
8
   
1,163
   
437
 
Change in operating assets,
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
liabilities and other
   
22,096
   
(23,683
)
 
(35,163
)
 
(16,754
)
   
 
 
 
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
   
46,242
   
12,873
   
27,575
   
64,758
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Cash flows used in investing activities:
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Capital expenditures
   
(4,257
)
 
(4,488
)
 
(15,312
)
 
(13,064
)
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities:
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Net change in revolving line of credit
   
(23,000
)
 
(5,500
)
 
8,000
   
-
 
Proceeds from long-term debt
   
-
   
249,750
   
-
   
249,750
 
Payments of long-term debt
   
(15,150
)
 
(248,860
)
 
(15,450
)
 
(295,510
)
Proceeds from issuance of
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
common stock
   
712
   
423
   
909
   
1,681
 
Purchase and retirement of
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
common stock
   
-
   
-
   
(294
)
 
-
 
Common stock dividends paid
   
(2,598
)
 
(2,571
)
 
(7,787
)
 
(7,698
)
   
 
 
 
 
Net cash used in financing activities
   
(40,036
)
 
(6,758
)
 
(14,622
)
 
(51,777
)
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Net change in cash and cash
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
equivalents
   
1,949
   
1,627
   
(2,359
)
 
(83
)
Cash and cash equivalents at
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
beginning of period
   
3,711
   
8,320
   
8,019
   
10,030
 
   
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents at
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
end of period
 
$
5,660
 
$
9,947
 
$
5,660
 
$
9,947
 
   
 
 
 
 

 
 
     

 
 
 
     

 
 
 
     

 
 

GEORGIA GULF CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
SEGMENT INFORMATION
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

 
 
September 30,
September 30,
   



 
 
2003
2002
2003
2002
   



Segment net sales:
 
 
 
 
 
Chlorovinyls
 
$
281,889
 
$
279,046
 
$
875,335
 
$ 750,466
Aromatics
   
66,943
   
63,548
   
196,625
 
161,518
   
 
 
 
Net sales
 
$
348,832
 
$
342,594
 
$
1,071,960
 
$ 911,984
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
 
Segment operating income:
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Chlorovinyls
 
$
19,084
 
$
46,764
 
$
61,160
 
$
90,049
 
Aromatics
   
4,406
   
(2,392
)
 
1,735
   
(8,622
)
Corporate and general plant
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
services
   
(1,745
)
 
(4,627
)
 
(11,027
)
 
(9,005
)
   
 
 
 
 
Total operating income
 
$
21,745
 
$
39,745
 
$
51,868
 
$
72,422
 
   
 
 
 
 



























































K:\InvestorRelations\PressReleases\Quarterly Earnings\Q3 03\Q3 Final\Q303Release_Final.DOC