GenCorp Revises Earnings Guidance for Third Quarter, Guidance for Fiscal 2003 is $0.41 to $0.46 EPS
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Sept. 4 -- GenCorp Inc. announced today it expects third quarter earnings to be below previously issued guidance of $.04 to $.06 per share. GenCorp now expects earnings in the third quarter to be a loss in the range of ($.04) to ($.08) per share. This decline in forecasted results is due to poor performance at its GDX Automotive segment. The poor operating results at GDX were driven by lower volumes of Volkswagen products in North America and Germany, additional launch costs for the Volkswagen Golf A5 program and a reduction in volume at its French plants along with several unscheduled shutdowns due to OEM labor issues in Europe. GenCorp is taking actions to reduce its cost structure at GDX and improve operating efficiencies, and has recently taken several personnel actions at the GDX executive level. GenCorp expects the segment to return to profitability in the fourth quarter of 2003.
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On the positive side, GenCorp expects increased earnings in its Aerospace and Defense segment resulting from contract amendments and additional real estate sales. For the year, GenCorp anticipates earnings will be in the range of $.41 to $.46 per share.
Forward Looking Statements
This earnings release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements in this release and in subsequent discussions with the Company's management, other than historical information, may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. These statements may present (without limitation) management's expectations, beliefs, plans and objectives, future financial performance and assumptions or judgments concerning such matters. A variety of factors could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expected by the Company and expressed in the Company's forward-looking statements.
Some important risk factors that could cause the Company's actual results or outcomes to differ from those expressed in its forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following:
-- Legal and regulatory developments that may have an adverse impact on
the Company or its segments. For example:
-- The judgment order in the amount of approximately $29 million
entered November 21, 2002 against GenCorp in GenCorp Inc. v Olin
Corporation (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio,
Eastern Division) is upheld on appeal or the reductions to which the
Company believes it is entitled are not realized;
-- Restrictions on real estate development that could delay the
Company's proposed real estate development activities;
-- A change in toxic tort or asbestos litigation trends that is adverse
to the Company;
-- Changes in international tax laws or currency controls.
-- Changes in Company-wide or business segment strategies, which may
result in changes in the types or mix of business in which the Company
is involved or chooses to invest.
-- Changes in U.S., global or regional economic conditions, which may
affect, among other things, 1) consumer spending on new vehicles which
could reduce demand for products from the GDX Automotive segment,
2) customer funding for the purchase of Aerospace and Defense products
which may impact the segment's business base and, as a result, impact
its ability to recover environmental costs, 3) health care spending and
demand for the pharmaceutical ingredients produced by the Fine
Chemicals segment, 4) the Company's ability to successfully complete
its real estate activities, and 5) the funded status and costs related
to employee retirement benefit plans.
-- Changes in U.S. and global financial markets, including market
disruptions, and significant currency or interest rate fluctuations,
may impede the Company's access to, or increase the cost of, external
financing for its operations and investments and/or materially affect
results of operations and cash flows.
-- As a defense contractor, the Company's Aerospace and Defense segment is
subject to certain risks, including:
-- The right of the U.S. government to terminate any contract for
convenience;
-- Modification or termination of U.S. government contracts due to lack
of congressional funding;
-- Successful bids for new programs, the exercise of contract options
or follow-on contracts cannot be assured in light of the competitive
bidding atmosphere under which most contracts are awarded.
-- Increased competitive pressures both domestically and internationally
which may, among other things, affect the performance of the Company's
businesses. For example, the automotive industry is increasingly
outsourcing the production of key vehicle sub-assemblies. Accordingly,
industry suppliers, such as the Company's GDX Automotive segment, will
need to demonstrate the ability to be a reliable supplier of integrated
components to maintain and expand market share.
-- Labor disputes, which may lead to increased costs or disruption of
operations in the Company's GDX Automotive, Aerospace and Defense and
Fine Chemicals segments.
-- Changes in product mix, which may affect automotive vehicle preferences
and demand for the Company's GDX Automotive segment's products.
-- Technological developments or patent infringement claims, which may
impact the use of critical technologies in the Company's GDX
Automotive, Aerospace and Defense and Fine Chemicals segments leading
to reduced sales and/or increased costs.
-- An unexpected adverse result or required cash outlay in the toxic tort
cases, environmental proceedings or other litigation, or change in
proceedings or investigations pending against the Company.
These and other factors are described in more detail in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2002 and its subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Additional risks may be described from time-to-time in future filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All such risk factors are difficult to predict, contain material uncertainties that may affect actual results, and may be beyond the Company's control.
GenCorp is a multi-national, technology-based manufacturer with operations in the automotive, aerospace, defense and pharmaceutical fine chemicals industries. Additional information about GenCorp can be obtained by visiting the Company's website at http://www.gencorp.com/
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