EX-99.1 2 exh99-1.htm PRESS RELEASE DATED FEB. 1, 2005 Emerson Electric Co. Exhibit 99.1 to Form 8-K

EXHIBIT 99.1

  news release


    For immediate release

  Contact:   Mark Polzin
or Ken Cook
(314) 982-1700


EMERSON REPORTS RECORD FIRST-QUARTER 2005 SALES UP
10 PERCENT TO $4 BILLION; 21 PERCENT INCREASE IN EPS TO $0.70


      ST. LOUIS, February 1, 2005 – Emerson (NYSE: EMR) announced that net sales increased 10 percent to $4 billion in the first quarter of fiscal 2005, ended December 31, 2004, with increases in all business segments and double-digit sales growth in Process Management, Industrial Automation, and Network Power. Underlying sales were up 5 percent for the quarter, excluding the impact of exchange rates (3 percent) and acquisitions (2 percent). Net earnings for the first quarter increased 22 percent to $297 million, or $0.70 per share. Net earnings in the first quarter of fiscal 2004 were $244 million, or $0.58 per share.

        “Emerson had a great first quarter and a solid start to fiscal year 2005,” said Emerson Chairman and CEO David N. Farr. “The record first-quarter sales reflect the strength in North American commercial and industrial markets and solid international growth led by a 15 percent increase in Asia and a 14 percent increase in Latin America. Industrial Automation sales increased in every business and in every major region, with strength in the United States and Asia. Process Management benefited from an upturn in many of its core markets as it continues to outperform the competition with its leading technology, solutions, and services.

— more —


Add One

        “As we discussed in our annual investor meeting last week, our technology investment and leadership are increasing the speed with which we bring new products to market and supporting continued penetration gains across our business platforms. We continue to invest and redeploy assets globally to serve our expanding customer base and penetrate faster-growing international markets. Coupled with the success of our major organic growth initiatives, these actions are driving record sales and higher long-term growth rates across the company.

        “During the first quarter, we maintained high levels of profitability, as benefits from sales volume leverage and our previous restructuring actions offset higher material costs and the dilution from the Marconi acquisition. We expect that our shift to best-cost manufacturing over the past three years, together with our aggressive sourcing initiatives, productivity improvements, and price increases where necessary, will allow us to deliver an overall improvement in operating margins for fiscal year 2005.

        “Free cash flow was $169 million for the quarter, compared to $217 million in the prior-year period (operating cash flow was $261 million, compared to $284 million), with the decrease primarily due to the additional working capital necessary to support increased sales, as well as increased capital expenditures, including an expansion in scroll compressor manufacturing capacity. We continue to excel on our operational efficiency and lean manufacturing initiatives, with the average ‘days-in-the-cash-cycle’ improving to 74 days in the quarter from 81 days in the prior-year period.

        “The ratio of net debt to net capital declined to 25.8 percent, versus 33.3 percent in the prior-year period, and the interest coverage ratio was 7.9 times for the first quarter of 2005. Operating cash flow to total debt improved to 52.7 percent, compared to 39.0 percent in the prior-year period. Our strong balance sheet, earnings growth and cash flow performance give us the flexibility to create shareholder value through acquisitions and investments in our core businesses at the same time that we return 50 percent to 60 percent of operating cash flow to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases.

— more —


Add Two

        “The acceleration of underlying orders in December compared to the prior-year period is another indication that the pace of business activity remains favorable and the momentum of the global economy continues. The orders reflect strong demand in emerging markets, particularly Asia and Latin America, and solid demand in the United States, while Europe remains slightly positive.

        “We believe this momentum will help drive reported sales growth between 8 percent and 11 percent for fiscal 2005 and allow Emerson to deliver 10 percent to 15 percent earnings per share growth. We also believe that double-digit earnings growth, strong operating cash flow, and continued capital efficiency improvements will continue to drive higher return on total capital in 2005.”

        The fiscal 2005 forecast for earnings growth of 10 percent to 15 percent excludes the tax impact of potentially repatriating foreign earnings under the American Jobs Creation Act. At this time the company has not decided whether, and to what extent, it might repatriate foreign earnings under this Act.

Upcoming Investor Events

        On Tuesday, February 1, 2005, at 2:00 p.m. EST (1:00 p.m. CST), Emerson senior management will discuss the first-quarter fiscal 2005 results during an investor conference call. All interested parties may listen to the live conference call via the Internet by going to the Investor Relations area of Emerson’s Web site at www.gotoemerson.com/financial and completing a brief registration form. A replay of the conference call will be available for the next three months at the same location on the Web site. Details of upcoming events will be posted as they occur in the Investor Relations Calendar of Events on the corporate Web site.

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements

        Statements in this release that are not strictly historical may be “forward-looking” statements, which involve risks and uncertainties. These include economic and currency conditions, market demand, pricing, and competitive and technological factors, among others, as set forth in the company’s most recent Form 10-K filed with the SEC.

(tables attached)


Add Three

TABLE 1

EMERSON AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED OPERATING RESULTS
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

    Quarter Ended December 31,   Percent
    2003   2004   Change
Net sales   $3,600   $3,970   10%
Less: Costs and expenses  
     Cost of sales   2,318   2,558  
     SG&A expenses   790   872      
     Other deductions, net   78   52  
     Interest expense, net   57   54      


Earnings before income taxes   357   434   22%
Income taxes   113   137      


Net earnings   $   244   $   297   22%


           
Diluted earnings per common share   $  0.58   $  0.70   21%




Quarter Ended December 31,  
2003   2004  
Other deductions, net      
     Rationalization of operations   $     33   $     29  
     Amortization of intangibles   6   6  
     Other   39   17  


       Total   $     78   $     52  







Add Four

TABLE 2

EMERSON AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)

  December 31,  
  2003   2004  
Assets      
     Cash and equivalents   $  1,009   $  1,485  
     Receivables, net   2,705   3,027  
     Inventories   1,647   1,861  
     Other current assets   619   468  


                  Total current assets   5,980   6,841  
     Property, plant & equipment, net   2,944   2,955  
     Goodwill   5,013   5,379  
     Other   1,770   1,781  


    $15,707   $16,956  


           
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity  
     Short-term borrowings and current  
         maturities of long-term debt   $     647   $  1,280  
     Accounts payable   1,324   1,520  
     Accrued expenses   1,482   1,748  
     Income taxes   190   201  


                  Total current liabilities   3,643   4,749  
     Long-term debt   3,733   2,886  
     Other liabilities   1,605   1,666  
     Stockholders' equity   6,726   7,655  


    $15,707   $16,956  







Add Five

TABLE 3

EMERSON AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)

  Quarter Ended December 31,  
  2003   2004  
Operating Activities      
     Net earnings  $    244   $    297  
     Depreciation and amortization  131   137  
     Changes in operating working capital  (127 ) (203 )
     Other  36   30  


         Net cash provided by operating activities  284   261  


Investing Activities 
     Capital expenditures  (67 ) (92 )
     Purchases of businesses, net of cash and
           equivalents acquired
    (28 )
     Other  1   (10 )


         Net cash used in investing activities  (66 ) (130 )


Financing Activities 
     Net increase in short-term borrowings  226   139  
     Proceeds from long-term debt  3   2  
     Principal payments on long-term debt  (5 ) (15 )
     Dividends paid  (169 ) (175 )
     Treasury stock, net  11   (10 )


         Net cash provided by (used in) financing
         activities
  66   (59 )


 Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and 
        equivalents  29   67  


Increase in cash and equivalents  313   139  
           
Beginning cash and equivalents  696   1,346  


Ending cash and equivalents  $ 1,009   $ 1,485  




Add Six TABLE 4

EMERSON AND SUBSIDIARIES
SEGMENT SALES AND EARNINGS
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)

  Quarter Ended December 31,  
  2003   2004  
Sales      
     Process Management  $    849   $    962  
     Industrial Automation  695   796  
     Network Power  657   773  
     Climate Technologies  596   604  
     Appliance and Tools  901   938  


   3,698   4,073  
     Eliminations  (98 ) (103 )


       Net Sales  $ 3,600   $ 3,970  


           
  Quarter Ended December 31,  
  2003   2004  
Earnings 
     Process Management  $      90   $    130  
     Industrial Automation  86   120  
     Network Power  70   67  
     Climate Technologies  80   86  
     Appliance and Tools  127   119  


   453   522  
     Differences in accounting methods  29   33  
     Corporate and other  (68 ) (67 )
     Interest expense, net  (57 ) (54 )


       Earnings before income taxes  $    357   $    434  


           
  Quarter Ended December 31,  
  2003   2004  
Rationalization of operations 
     Process Management  $        8   $        5  
     Industrial Automation  4   4  
     Network Power  12   12  
     Climate Technologies  7   2  
     Appliance and Tools  6   6  
     Corporate  (4 )  


       Total Emerson  $      33   $      29  




Add Seven

TABLE 5

Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The following reconciles each non-GAAP measure with the most directly comparable GAAP measure (dollars in millions):

  2004   2005   Percent
Change
 
First-Quarter Cash Flow        
   Operating Cash Flow  $284   $261   (8%)
   Capital Expenditures  67   92  


   Free Cash Flow (Non-GAAP)  $217   $169   (22%)




All amounts above are GAAP financial measures except as noted.


# # #