Final Results

General Electric Company 17 January 2003 GE 2002 Earnings Grow 7% To $15.1 Billion; Cash Flow Ex-Progress Grows 10% to $15.2 Billion FAIRFIELD, Conn., January 17, 2003--GE achieved a record $15.1 billion in earnings in 2002, a 7% increase over 2001, and, excluding progress collections, generated $15.2 billion in cash from operating activities, up 10%, the Company announced today. 'GE delivered solid results in a very challenging economy, with excellent performances by several businesses and one major disappointment,' said GE Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt. 'Power Systems, NBC, Commercial Finance, Consumer Finance, and Medical Systems all had record years. We also had remarkable performances by Aircraft Engines and Aviation Services, our aircraft leasing business, in the worst year for aviation in recent memory. Our businesses posted impressive customer wins and continued to invest in technologies and services that will position them for long-term success. I'm proud of the performance of the GE team in such a tough environment.' 'Our major disappointment was Employers Reinsurance Corporation (ERC),' Immelt said. 'As we announced in November, poor underwriting in past years resulted in much higher losses for ERC, as well as the entire reinsurance industry. We have a strong team in place at ERC improving its operations and driving a return to profitability in 2003.' GE will provide more detail about results on a conference call and Webcast to be held at 8:30 a.m. EDT today. Call information and related charts are available at www.ge.com/investor. Highlights of preliminary fourth-quarter and full-year 2002 results: • Fourth quarter earnings of $3.102 billion, or $.31 per share, reflect a previously announced charge for adverse development at ERC and decreased 21% from $3.933 billion, or $.39 per share, in fourth quarter 2001. Fourth quarter earnings also include the effects of a $514 million gain from NBC's exchange of certain assets for the cable network Bravo; during the quarter NBC and other industrial businesses recorded $301 million after tax of restructuring and other charges. • Fourth quarter revenues were a record $35.4 billion, up 4% over last year's $34.0 billion. Industrial sales increased 8% over fourth quarter 2001, with product services growing 18% to $6.3 billion. Financial Services revenues were $15.5 billion, down 3% on lower interest rates, while net revenues (revenues less interest costs) at Commercial Finance, Consumer Finance and Equipment Management grew 17%. • Full-year 2002 earnings before required accounting changes grew 7% to a record $15.1 billion, or $1.51 per share, from last year's $14.1 billion, or $1.41 per share. Earnings after accounting changes, described below, were $14.1 billion, or $1.41 per share in 2002, compared with last year's $13.7 billion, or $1.37 per share. • Cash generated from GE's operating activities in 2002, excluding progress collections, was $15.2 billion, up 10% from $13.8 billion last year. Reflecting lower progress collections from the record levels of last year, reported cash from operating activities decreased 41% to $10.1 billion from $17.2 billion in 2001. • Consolidated 2002 revenues of $131.7 billion increased 5% from $125.9 billion in 2001. Industrial sales increased 8% in 2002, with double-digit growth at Power Systems, NBC, Specialty Materials and Industrial Systems. Revenues at GE's financial services businesses were flat at $58.2 billion on lower interest rates, while net revenues at Commercial Finance, Consumer Finance and Equipment Management grew 15%. • Operating margin for 2002 was 19.1%, down from last year's record 19.6%, reflecting the effects of the Winter Olympics, fourth-quarter 2002 restructuring and other charges, and continued pricing pressure at short-cycle businesses. Full-year pre-tax savings from digitization totaled $1.6 billion. • Accounting changes were required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) in the first quarters of 2002 and 2001. In first quarter 2002, GE recorded a non-cash transition charge to earnings of $1.015 billion, or $.10 per share, for impairment of goodwill as required for adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 142 (SFAS 142). In the first quarter of 2001, GE recorded a one-time, non-cash transition charge of $444 million, or $.04 per share, as required for adoption of new accounting rules for derivatives, warrants, options and other financial instruments. As required by SFAS 142, as of January 1, 2002, goodwill is no longer amortized. Without goodwill amortization in 2001, EPS in 2002 would have been the same as 2001. On the same basis, and without the fourth-quarter charge for ERC, EPS would have increased 9%. 'GE businesses strengthened their leadership positions in 2002, and they are positioned for solid operating performance in 2003,' Immelt said. 'We expect to deliver earnings per share growth between 3% and 13%, with broad-based earnings growth at our businesses. Power Systems will experience the long-anticipated decline in U.S. gas turbine sales. However, Power's energy services, oil and gas, and renewable energy businesses will grow earnings in excess of 20%. 'This year we also achieved a number of strategic objectives that position GE for long-term growth,' Immelt said. 'We maintained our triple-A credit ratings and strengthened our financial flexibility. We implemented a set of principles that position GE as a leader in governance and transparency. We have a full pipeline of new products and an $85 billion multi-year services backlog. We are growing revenues 40% a year in China. We are building new platforms in security, water technology, healthcare information technology, wind energy and Hispanic media. The GE we are building -- a technology, services and financial company -- will continue our record of superior long-term growth through the cycles.' Fourth Quarter 2002 Business Highlights GE Power Systems -- 53 heavy-duty gas turbines shipped, including 32 from Greenville, South Carolina; 323 for the year, including 244 from Greenville. -- Test operation of the first H System(TM), the most powerful and efficient gas-fired turbine yet developed. -- 40 new Energy Services contractual agreements worth $2.5 billion; agreements now in place for 1,452 gas turbines at 582 sites worldwide. -- Oil & Gas orders worth $706 million, up 16%. -- Wind Energy holding master agreements and commitments for 1,000-plus turbines. -- Agreed to acquire leading reciprocating gas engine supplier Jenbacher A.G. GE Medical Systems -- Total orders up 7% to nearly $3.0 billion. -- 193 orders for LightSpeed(16) multi-slice CT (computed tomography) scanners, bringing total to 341 since June 2002 introduction. -- Ultrasound orders up 18% to $341 million, with introduction of Voluson 730 4D Ultrasound System and launch of GE LogiqBook portable ultrasound system. -- Surgical and vascular imaging up 21% to $250 million, led by Innova 2000 digital cardiovascular system. -- China orders up 80% to $187 million, with strength across all modalities. -- Information Technology (IT) orders up 30%, with strength in Clinical IT through acquisitions and launch of Centricity systems for hospital networking and information archiving. -- Medical services orders up 12% to $760 million. -- Agreed to acquire leading operating room IT provider Instrumentarium. GE Aircraft Engines -- Selected by AVIC I Commercial Aircraft Co. Ltd. of China to provide CF34-10 engines for new fleet of regional jets. -- CFM56-5B engine of CFMI (jointly owned by GE and Snecma) chosen by easyJet to power 120 Airbus A319s; order valued at $1.2 billion. -- Orders from EVA, Pakistan International Airlines, Thai Airways International, China Air; CFMI orders from International Lease Finance Corporation and Aeroflot. -- Total service orders up more than 25%, driven mostly by higher spare parts volume. -- New multi-year service agreements totaling $2.9 billion, including $2.3 billion agreement with FedEx. -- Military orders strong, with spare parts orders up 18%. -- First F110-GE-132 engine, the highest-thrust fighter engine ever developed for the F-16 aircraft, delivered to Lockheed Martin for flight tests. Commercial Finance -- Assets up 14% to $196 billion. -- Core growth and lower losses drive 30% net income growth. -- Asset quality high -- stable delinquency rates, percentage of non-earning assets down over third quarter. -- Completed acquisitions of Deutsche Financial Services' commercial inventory financing business and most of ABB's structured finance operations. Consumer Finance -- Assets up 22% to $77 billion. -- Core growth, double-digit productivity gains drive 15% net income growth. -- Asset quality high -- delinquencies stable, losses as percentage of outstanding receivables well below average of top 100 banks. -- Completed acquisition of WKV Bank, provider of personal and vehicle loan financing in Germany. NBC -- Continued ratings leadership in key advertising demographic, adults 18-49, in virtually every major daypart, including morning news, daytime, primetime, evening news, late-night and Sunday-morning public affairs. -- Primetime ratings 18 percent higher than those of closest competitor -- largest fourth-quarter lead of any network in five years. -- No. 1 comedy (Friends) and No. 1 drama (ER) for quarter and the year. -- Friends to return in the fall for a 10th season. -- CNBC business-day ratings up 7% among adults 25-54. -- Twelve out of NBC's 14 local stations rated No. 1 during November sweeps. -- Telemundo earnings more than doubled. -- Acquired cable entertainment network Bravo. GE Specialty Materials -- $260 million in revenues at GE Betz, water technology platform. -- Agreement to acquire high-tech water purification and fluid filtration manufacturer Osmonics. -- Osmonics to be combined with GE Betz and unit of Power Systems into GE Water, a new Specialty Materials unit. GE Transportation Systems -- Nearly $600 million in new orders, for total of $2.8 billion in new orders in 2002. -- GE Evolution Series locomotive launched at ceremony with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Meets EPS's 2005 regulations now, cuts greenhouse gas emissions and soot by 40%, and provides greater fuel economy. GE (NYSE: GE) is a diversified technology and services company dedicated to creating products that make life better. From aircraft engines and power generation to financial services, medical imaging, television programming and plastics, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.ge.com. Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements This document includes certain 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from these expectations due to changes in global political, economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory factors. More detailed information about those factors is contained in GE's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. CONTACT: General Electric, Fairfield David Frail, 203/373-3387 david.frail@corporate.ge.com GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY Condensed Statement of Earnings Financial Services Consolidated GE (GECS) ------------------ ------------------- ------------------ Fourth quarter ended December 31 2002 2001 V% 2002 2001 V% 2002 2001 V% ------------ ------ ------ --- ------- ------- --- ------- ----- --- Revenues Sales of goods and services $20,437 $18,987 $19,724 $18,221 $802 $821 Earnings of GECS before accounting changes - - 91 1,407 - - GECS revenues from services 14,526 14,983 - - 14,653 15,112 Other income 415 5 431 48 - - ------ ------ ------- ------- ------- ------ Total revenues 35,378 33,975 4% 20,246 19,676 3% 15,455 15,933 (3)% ------ ------ ------- ------- ------- ------ Costs and expenses Cost of sales, operating and admini- strative expenses 22,520 20,759 16,262 14,430 6,418 6,466 Interest and other financial charges 2,626 2,639 125 203 2,573 2,526 Insurance losses and policy- holder and annuity benefits 6,143 4,209 - - 6,143 4,209 Provision for losses on financing receiv- ables 1,000 935 - - 1,000 935 Minority interest in net earnings of consolidated affiliates 76 86 46 49 30 37 ------ ------ ------- ------- ------- ------ Total costs and expenses 32,365 28,628 13% 16,433 14,682 12% 16,164 14,173 14% ------ ------ ------- ------- ------- ------ Earnings before income taxes and accounting changes 3,013 5,347 3,813 4,994 (709) 1,760 Provision for income taxes 89 (1,414) (711) (1,061) 800 (353) ------ ------ ------- ------- ------- ------ Earnings before accounting changes $3,102 $3,933 (21)% $3,102 $3,933 (21)% $91 $1,407(94)% Cumulative effect of accounting changes - - - - - - ------ ------- ------- ------ ----- ------ Net earnings $3,102 $3,933 (21)% $3,102 $3,933 (21)% $91 $1,407(94)% ====== ======= ======= ====== ===== ====== Per-share amounts before accounting changes (in dollars) Diluted earnings per share $0.31 $0.39 (21)% Basic earnings per share $0.31 $0.40 (23)% Per-share amounts after accounting changes (in dollars) Diluted earnings per share $0.31 $0.39 (21)% Basic earnings per share $0.31 $0.40 (23)% Dividends declared per share (in dollars) $0.19 $0.18 Dollar amounts in millions; per-share amounts in dollars; unaudited. Supplemental consolidating data are shown for 'GE' and 'Financial Services (GECS).' Transactions between GE and Financial Services (GECS) have been eliminated from the 'consolidated' columns. See note 1 to the consolidated financial statements in the 2001 Annual Report to Share Owners for further information about consolidation matters. GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY Condensed Statement of Earnings Financial Services Consolidated GE (GECS) ------------------ -------------------- ---------------- Years ended December 31 2002 2001 V% 2002 2001 V% 2002 2001 V% ------------ ------ ------- -- -------- ------- --- ------ ------ -- Revenues Sales of goods and services $76,234 $71,399 $73,317 $68,018 $3,296 $3,627 Earnings of GECS before accounting changes - - 4,626 5,586 - - GECS revenues from services 54,451 54,280 - - 54,891 54,726 Other income 1,013 234 1,106 433 - - ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ Total revenues 131,698 125,913 5% 79,049 74,037 7% 58,187 58,353 0% ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ Costs and expenses Cost of sales, operating and admini- strative expenses 81,570 77,259 59,327 54,714 22,867 23,083 Interest and other financial charges 10,216 11,062 569 817 9,935 10,598 Insurance losses and policy- holder and annuity benefits 17,608 15,062 - - 17,608 15,062 Provision for losses on financing receiv- ables 3,087 2,481 - - 3,087 2,481 Minority interest in net earnings of consolidated affiliates 326 348 183 185 143 163 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ Total costs and expenses 112,807 106,212 6% 60,079 55,716 8% 53,640 51,387 4% ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ Earnings before income taxes and accounting changes 18,891 19,701 18,970 18,321 4,547 6,966 Provision for income taxes (3,758) (5,573) (3,837) (4,193) 79 (1,380) ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ Earnings before accounting changes $15,133 $14,128 7% $15,133 $14,128 7% $4,626 $5,586(17)% Cumulative effect of accounting changes (1,015) (444) (1,015) $(444) $(1,015) $(169) ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ Net earnings $14,118 $13,684 3% $14,118 $13,684 3% $3,611 $5,417(33)% ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ====== Per-share amounts before accounting changes (in dollars) Diluted earnings per share $1.51 $1.41 7% Basic earnings per share $1.52 $1.42 7% Per-share amounts after accounting changes (in dollars) Diluted earnings per share $1.41 $1.37 3% Basic earnings per share $1.42 $1.38 3% Dividends declared per share (in dollars) $0.73 $0.66 Dollar amounts in millions; per-share amounts in dollars; unaudited. Supplemental consolidating data are shown for 'GE' and 'Financial Services (GECS).' Transactions between GE and Financial Services (GECS) have been eliminated from the 'consolidated' columns. See note 1 to the consolidated financial statements in the 2001 Annual Report to Share Owners for further information about consolidation matters. Summary of Operating Segments 4Q 2002 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- General Electric Company and Consolidated Affiliates FOURTH QUARTER TOTAL YEAR -------------------- ---------------------- (Dollars in millions) 2002 2001 V% 2002 2001 V% Revenues Aircraft Engines 3,079 2,745 12 11,141 11,389 (2) Commercial Finance Commercial Equipment Financing 1,476 1,342 10 5,005 4,535 10 Real Estate 590 389 52 2,160 1,919 13 Aviation Services (GECAS) 702 571 23 2,694 2,173 24 Structured Finance Group 328 231 42 1,243 1,093 14 Commercial Finance 571 353 62 2,350 1,786 32 Vendor Financial Services 684 604 13 2,342 2,095 12 Other Commercial Finance 66 279 (76) 246 279 (12) --------------- ----------------- Total Commercial Finance 4,417 3,769 17 16,040 13,880 16 Consumer Finance Global Consumer Finance 1,731 1,497 16 6,489 5,561 17 GE Card Services 1,000 902 11 3,777 3,947 (4) Other Consumer Finance (1) (1) - - - - --------------- ----------------- Total Consumer Finance 2,730 2,398 14 10,266 9,508 8 Consumer Products Appliances 1,518 1,558 (3) 6,072 5,810 5 Lighting 702 753 (7) 2,384 2,625 (9) --------------- ----------------- Total Consumer Products 2,220 2,311 (4) 8,456 8,435 - Equipment Management 1,100 1,089 1 4,254 4,401 (3) Industrial Products and Systems Industrial Systems 1,348 1,071 26 4,968 4,440 12 Transportation 717 640 12 2,314 2,355 (2) GE Supply 685 592 16 2,473 2,302 7 --------------- ----------------- Total Industrial Products and Systems 2,750 2,303 19 9,755 9,097 7 Insurance GE Financial Assurance 3,308 3,444 (4) 12,317 12,826 (4) Mortgage Insurance 289 249 16 1,090 1,075 1 GE Global Insurance Holdings 2,364 2,707 (13) 9,432 9,453 - Other GE Insurance 107 137 (22) 457 536 (15) --------------- ----------------- Total Insurance 6,068 6,537 (7) 23,296 23,890 (2) Materials Plastics 1,317 1,186 11 5,245 5,252 - Specialty Materials 708 412 72 2,406 1,817 32 --------------- ----------------- Total Materials 2,025 1,598 27 7,651 7,069 8 NBC 1,794 1,537 17 7,149 5,769 24 Power Systems 6,006 5,771 4 22,926 20,211 13 Technical Products and Services Medical Systems 2,750 2,629 5 8,955 8,409 6 GXS - 130 U 311 602 (48) --------------- ----------------- Total Technical Products and Services 2,750 2,759 - 9,266 9,011 3 All Other GECS 1,140 2,140 (47) 4,331 6,674 (35) Eliminations and corporate items (701) (982) 29 (2,833) (3,421) 17 ---------------- ------------------ Consolidated revenues $35,378 $33,975 4 $131,698 $125,913 5 ================ ================== Summary of Operating Segments 4Q 2002 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- General Electric Company and Consolidated Affiliates FOURTH QUARTER TOTAL YEAR ------------------ -------------------- (Dollars in millions) 2002 2001 V% 2002 2001 V% Segment profit (a) Aircraft Engines 561 555 1 2,060 2,147 (4) Commercial Finance Commercial Equipment Financing 269 217 24 786 642 22 Real Estate 141 64 F 618 489 26 Aviation Services (GECAS) 98 102 (4) 439 475 (8) Structured Finance Group 103 61 69 479 386 24 Commercial Finance 137 48 F 587 368 60 Vendor Financial Services 137 121 13 369 320 15 Other Commercial Finance (30) 47 U (93) 44 U --------------- ----------------- Total Commercial Finance 855 660 30 3,185 2,724 17 Consumer Finance Global Consumer Finance 263 229 15 1,260 1,039 21 GE Card Services 139 121 15 675 669 1 Other Consumer Finance (1) (2) 50 (5) (6) 17 --------------- ----------------- Total Consumer Finance 401 348 15 1,930 1,702 13 Consumer Products Appliances 122 128 (5) 451 406 11 Lighting 17 75 (77) 44 242 (82) --------------- ----------------- Total Consumer Products 139 203 (32) 495 648 (24) Equipment Management 89 (5) F 311 359 (13) Industrial Products and Systems Industrial Systems 132 110 20 488 527 (7) Transportation 134 120 12 402 400 1 GE Supply 32 30 7 109 99 10 --------------- ----------------- Total Industrial Products and Systems 298 260 15 999 1,026 (3) Insurance GE Financial Assurance 236 249 (5) 644 726 (11) Mortgage Insurance 103 76 36 460 407 13 GE Global Insurance Holdings (1,515) (25) U (1,827) 32 U Other GE Insurance 46 65 (29) 214 169 27 --------------- ----------------- Total Insurance (1,130) 365 U (509) 1,334 U Materials Plastics 137 215 (36) 843 1,166 (28) Specialty Materials 85 30 F 282 267 6 --------------- ----------------- Total Materials 222 245 (9) 1,125 1,433 (21) NBC 470 412 14 1,658 1,408 18 Power Systems 1,375 1,628 (16) 6,255 4,860 29 Technical Products and Services Medical Systems 532 505 5 1,546 1,498 3 GXS - 29 U 16 125 (87) --------------- ----------------- Total Technical Products and Services 532 534 - 1,562 1,623 (4) All Other GECS (124) 172 U (291) 19 U --------------- ----------------- Total segment profit 3,688 5,377 (31) 18,780 19,283 (3) GECS goodwill amortization (133) F (552) F Corporate items and eliminations 250 (47) F 759 407 86 GE interest and other financial charges (125) (203) 38 (569) (817) 30 GE provision for income taxes (711) (1,061) 33 (3,837) (4,193) 8 --------------- ----------------- Net earnings before accounting changes 3,102 3,933 (21) 15,133 14,128 7 Effect of accounting changes (1,015) (444) -------------- ---------------- Consolidated net earnings $3,102 $3,933 (21) $14,118 $13,684 3 ============== ================ (a) Segment profit excludes any goodwill amortization and accounting changes. Segment profit includes or excludes interest and other financial charges and segment income taxes according to how segment management is measured - excluded in determining operating profit for Aircraft Engines, Consumer Products, Industrial Products and Systems, Materials, NBC, Power Systems and Technical Products and Services, but included in determining net earnings for Commercial Finance, Consumer Finance, Equipment Management, Insurance and All Other GECS. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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