EX-99.1 3 exhibit99_1.htm EXHIBIT 99.1 Exhibit 99.1


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                 Contact: Jim Matthews
                                                             VP Finance and CFO
                                                                       770-395-4577            


Georgia Gulf Reports Fourth Quarter Net Loss of $.06 Per Diluted Share After a Charge of $.26 Per Diluted Share Related to the Early Retirement of Debt



    ATLANTA, February 4, 2004 – Georgia Gulf Corporation (NYSE: GGC) reported a net loss of $2.0 million or $.06 per diluted share, including an after tax charge of $8.6 million or $.26 per diluted share related to the early retirement of debt, on sales of $372.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2003. This compares to net income of $9.7 million or $.30 per diluted share on sales of $318.8 million for the fourth quarter 2002. The increase in sales over the same period last year reflects an overall increase in sales prices and sales volumes. In addition to the charge mentioned above, the net loss reflects higher costs of sales, primarily from raw materials and natural gas costs, which outpaced higher sales prices. In addition, selling and administrative expenses were higher primarily due to bad debt expense after taxes of $2.7 million or $.08 per diluted share.
 
    Comparing sequential quarters, Georgia Gulf’s earnings declined $9.7 million from third quarter net income of $7.7 million or $.24 per diluted share on sales of $348.8 million. This earnings decline reflected an after tax charge of $8.6 million or $.26 per diluted share related to the early retirement of debt and an after tax charge of $2.7 million or $.08 per diluted share for bad debt expense. Within operations, sales increased compared to the third quarter as overall higher sales volumes more than offset slightly lower sales prices. Overall, raw materials costs increased in the fourth quarter, although natural gas prices were slightly lower.
 
    For the year ended December 31, 2003, Georgia Gulf reported net income of $12.5 million or $.38 per diluted share, including an after tax charge of $8.6 million or $.26 per diluted share related to the early retirement of debt, on sales of $1.4 billion, compared to net income of $31.2 million or $.97 per diluted share on sales of $1.2 billion for 2002. The increase in sales over the prior year reflects higher sales prices for all products. The lower net income resulted from the debt retirement charge as well as higher costs of sales, primarily from raw materials and natural gas costs, and higher selling and administrative costs, primarily bad debt expense. In addition, the financial results for the full year reflect an after tax benefit of $7.1 million or $.22 per diluted share in lower interest expense.


    Chlorovinyls
    Chlorovinyls operating income of $25.1 million for the fourth quarter 2003 increased by $0.6 million compared to operating income of $24.5 million for the same period last year. This was a result of higher sales prices for all products, most significantly vinyl resins, which slightly more than offset higher ethylene and natural gas costs.
 
Comparing sequential quarters, operating income increased from $19.1 million in the third quarter to $25.1 million in the fourth quarter as a result of higher VCM sales volumes and lower natural gas costs, which were partially offset by seasonally lower sales volumes and prices for most products and higher ethylene costs.
 
For the year ended December 31, 2003, chlorovinyls operating income was $86.3 million compared to $114.6 million in 2002. Although sales prices were higher for all products, most significantly vinyl resins, raw materials costs, particularly for ethylene, chlorine and natural gas, were significantly higher than in 2002.

    Aromatics
    Aromatics operating income declined by $5.3 million to approximately breakeven in the fourth quarter of 2003 from $5.3 million in the fourth quarter 2002. The decline was due to higher raw materials and natural gas costs, which more than offset higher cumene revenues.
 
Sequentially, the breakeven operating income in the fourth quarter compared to operating income of $4.4 million in the third quarter of 2003. This was primarily due to higher raw materials costs and lower acetone sales prices, which were not offset by higher cumene sales prices and volumes.
 
For the year ended December 31, 2003, aromatics operating income was $1.7 million, an increase of $5.0 million over the operating loss of $3.3 million in 2002. The improvement is due primarily to higher aromatics sales prices, which more than offset higher raw materials costs, primarily for benzene and natural gas.

               Commentary
    Commenting on the results, Edward A. Schmitt, president and CEO, said, "2003 was a challenging year as the chemical industry faced exceptionally high prices for natural gas and key feedstocks. Those costs had a significant impact on our financial results for the year. However, it is important to look beyond those factors and see the significant improvement in the basic fundamentals of our businesses. Demand continues to improve relative to supply, leading to forecasts of improved industry operating rates in 2004 that suggest we can improve our margins during the next few quarters. With the improvements in our market conditions as well as the recent improvements in our debt structure, Georgia Gulf is poised to take advantage of forecasted stronger demand and show real bottom-line improvements."

   Other
    Georgia Gulf will host a conference call to discuss fourth quarter results in more detail at 9:00 AM EST on Thursday, February 5, 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/ajwz396092061gf12.html. Playbacks will be available from 12 PM EST Thursday, February 5, to 5 PM EST Thursday, February 12. Playback numbers are 800-642-1687 (domestic) or 706-645-9291 (international). The conference call ID number is 4814760.
 
    Georgia Gulf, headquartered in Atlanta, is a major manufacturer and marketer of two integrated chemical and plastics product lines; chlorovinyls and aromatics. Georgia Gulf’s chlorovinyls 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)  
               
 
   
December 31, 2003

 

 
December 31, 2002
 
   
 
 
ASSETS
   
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
1,965
 
$
8,019
 
Receivables
   
86,914
   
59,603
 
Inventories
   
124,616
   
114,575
 
Prepaid expenses
   
7,043
   
10,393
 
Deferred income taxes
   
8,368
   
5,657
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
Total current assets
   
228,906
   
198,247
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
Property, plant and equipment, net
   
460,808
   
493,494
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
Goodwill
   
77,720
   
77,720
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
Other assets
   
89,351
   
106,098
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
Total assets
 
$
856,785
 
$
875,559
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
   
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
Current portion of long-term debt
 
$
1,000
 
$
600
 
Accounts payable
   
135,680
   
107,943
 
Interest payable
   
1,812
   
4,650
 
Accrued compensation
   
15,058
   
14,325
 
Accrued liabilities
   
9,614
   
12,733
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
Total current liabilities
   
163,164
   
140,251
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
Long-term debt, less current portion
   
426,872
   
476,386
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
Deferred income taxes
   
122,617
   
126,250
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
Other non-current liabilities
   
7,693
   
6,872
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
Stockholders' equity
   
136,439
   
125,800
 
   
 
 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
 
$
856,785
 
$
875,559
 
   
 
 
Common shares outstanding
   
32,736
   
32,319
 

 
     

 
 
 
 
 

GEORGIA GULF CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES  
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS  
(In thousands, except per share data)  
(Unaudited)  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
Three Months Ended      
   
Twelve Months Ended   
 
 
   

December 31,   

   
December 31,    
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
2003
   
2002
   
2003
   
2002
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Net Sales
 
$
372,523
 
$
318,767
 
$
1,444,483
 
$
1,230,751
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Operating costs and expenses
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Costs of sales
   
334,235
   
280,759
   
1,319,094
   
1,086,746
 
Selling and administrative
   
20,458
   
12,110
   
55,691
   
45,685
 
   
 
 
 
 
Total operating costs and expenses
   
354,693
   
292,869
   
1,374,785
   
1,132,431
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Operating income
   
17,830
   
25,898
   
69,698
   
98,320
 
Cost related to early retirement of debt
   
(13,816
)
 
-
   
(13,816
)
 
-
 
Interest expense, net
   
(8,910
)
 
(10,750
)
 
(38,142
)
 
(49,579
)
   
 
 
 
 
Income (loss) before income taxes
   
(4,896
)
 
15,148
   
17,740
   
48,741
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Provision (benefit) for (from) income taxes
   
(2,900
)
 
5,455
   
5,245
   
17,546
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Net income (loss)
 
$
(1,996
)
$
9,693
 
$
12,495
 
$
31,195
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Earnings (loss) per share
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Basic
 
$
(0.06
)
$
0.30
 
$
0.39
 
$
0.98
 
Diluted
 
$
(0.06
)
$
0.30
 
$
0.38
 
$
0.97
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Weighted average common shares
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Basic
   
32,359
   
32,028
   
32,267
   
31,988
 
Diluted
   
32,359
   
32,228
   
32,502
   
32,194
 

 

 
     

 
 
 
 

GEORGIA GULF CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS  
(In thousands)  
(Unaudited)  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
Three Months Ended    
   
Twelve Months Ended    
 
   
December 31,    
   
December 31,   
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
2003
   
2002
   
2003
   
2002
 
   
 
 
 
 
Cash Flows from operating activities:
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Net income (loss)
 
$
(1,996
)
$
9,693
 
$
12,495
 
$
31,195
 
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss)
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
to net cash provided by operating activities:
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
15,893
   
16,368
   
63,932
   
68,068
 
Cost related to early retirement of debt
   
13,816
   
-
   
13,816
   
-
 
Provision (benefit) for (from) deferred
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
income taxes
   
(4,758
)
 
(538
)
 
(6,344
)
 
6,822
 
Tax benefit related to stock plans
   
476
   
65
   
1,107
   
578
 
Stock based compensation
   
666
   
226
   
1,779
   
663
 
Change in operating assets,
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
liabilities and other
   
33,612
   
77,674
   
(1,708
)
 
60,859
 
   
 
 
 
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
   
57,709
   
103,488
   
85,077
   
168,185
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Cash flows used in investing activities:
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Capital expenditures
   
(8,892
)
 
(4,407
)
 
(24,046
)
 
(17,410
)
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities:
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Net change in revolving line of credit
   
(8,000
)
 
-
   
-
   
-
 
Proceeds from long-term debt
   
300,666
   
626
   
300,666
   
150,406
 
Payments of long-term debt
   
(309,330
)
 
(26,970
)
 
(324,780
)
 
(222,511
)
Net change in asset securitization
   
(25,000
)
 
(75,000
)
 
(25,000
)
 
(75,000
)
Redemption premium and fees paid to
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
retire notes
   
(10,760
)
 
-
   
(10,760
)
 
-
 
Fees paid to issue debt
   
(2,239
)
 
-
   
(2,239
)
 
-
 
Proceeds from issuance of common stock
   
4,948
   
2,906
   
5,857
   
4,588
 
Purchase and retirement of common stock
   
(190
)
 
-
   
(435
)
 
-
 
Common stock dividends paid
   
(2,607
)
 
(2,571
)
 
(10,394
)
 
(10,269
)
   
 
 
 
 
Net cash used in financing activities
   
(52,512
)
 
(101,009
)
 
(67,085
)
 
(152,786
)
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Net change in cash and cash
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
equivalents
   
(3,695
)
 
(1,928
)
 
(6,054
)
 
(2,011
)
Cash and cash equivalents at
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
beginning of period
   
5,660
   
9,947
   
8,019
   
10,030
 
   
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents at
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
end of period
 
$
1,965
 
$
8,019
 
$
1,965
 
$
8,019
 
   
 
 
 
 

 

 
     

 
 
 
 

GEORGIA GULF CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES  
SEGMENT INFORMATION  
(In thousands)  
(Unaudited)  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
Three Months  Ended    
   
Twelve Months Ended   
 
 
   
December 31,   
   
December 31,   
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
2003
   
2002
   
2003
   
2002
 
   
 
 
 
 
Segment net sales:
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Chlorovinyls
 
$
283,700
 
$
260,545
 
$
1,159,035
 
$
1,011,011
 
Aromatics
   
88,823
   
58,222
   
285,448
   
219,740
 
   
 
 
 
 
Net sales
 
$
372,523
 
$
318,767
 
$
1,444,483
 
$
1,230,751
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Segment operating income (loss):
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Chlorovinyls
 
$
25,128
 
$
24,533
 
$
86,289
 
$
114,582
 
Aromatics
   
(62
)
 
5,279
   
1,673
   
(3,342
)
Corporate and general plant
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
services
   
(7,236
)
 
(3,914
)
 
(18,264
)
 
(12,920
)
   
 
 
 
 
Total operating income
 
$
17,830
 
$
25,898
 
$
69,698
 
$
98,320