Dow Reports Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Results
Wednesday, Feb 03, 2010
Fourth Quarter 2009 Highlights- The Company reported earnings of $0.08 per share, equivalent to $0.18 per share excluding certain items.(1) This compares with a reported loss of $1.68 per share in the fourth quarter of 2008, equivalent to a loss of $0.63 per share excluding certain items and discontinued operations.
Reported sales in the quarter increased 15 percent, to $12.5 billion compared to reported sales in the same period last year. On a pro forma(2) basis excluding completed divestitures, sales increased 4 percent, driven by a 10 percent increase in volume and a 6 percent decrease in price. Sequentially, and on the same pro forma basis, sales increased 8 percent, driven by a 3 percent increase in volume and a 5 percent increase in price, which largely offset a greater than $525 million increase in purchased feedstock and energy costs.
Quarterly volume on a pro forma basis increased 33 percent in emerging geographies versus the same period last year. On a pro forma basis and excluding divestitures, volume increased sequentially in all geographic areas except North America, which declined 1 percent.
EBITDA(3) on a pro forma basis excluding certain items increased $809 million versus the same quarter last year, with the combined performance segments up more than 85 percent. EBITDA from all operating segments was higher except Health and Agricultural Sciences, which was down $36 million year-over-year largely due to increased research and development (R&D) investments in Dow AgroSciences.
Structural cost reductions were more than $215 million in the quarter and more than $1.2 billion for the year, ahead of Company goals. Dow has now achieved 140 percent of the 12-month cost synergy and restructuring run-rate goal for the integration of Rohm and Haas Company.
Equity earnings were $219 million in the quarter, or $284 million excluding certain items, led by performance at Dow Corning, EQUATE and MEGlobal. This represents a return to the level of equity earnings reported prior to the economic downturn in the fourth quarter of 2008.
As of the end of the year, the Company reduced its net debt(4) to total capitalization to 48 percent, reflecting the full repayment of the bridge loan related to the acquisition of Rohm and Haas as well as the full repayment of the outstanding balance of the Company’s revolving credit facility.
(1) See Supplemental Information at the end of the release for a description of these items.
(2) The pro forma historical information reflects the combination of Dow and Rohm and Haas assuming the acquisition had been consummated on January 1, 2008, and the treatment of Dow’s Calcium Chloride business as discontinued operations.
(3) Earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA"). A reconciliation of EBITDA to "Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes" is provided following the Operating Segments table.
(4) Net debt equals total debt minus cash and cash equivalents.
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Andrew N. Liveris, Dow’s chairman and chief executive officer, stated:
“Dow delivered significantly better year-over-year revenue and earnings in the fourth quarter driven largely by volume gains across virtually all operating segments and improved equity earnings. Emerging geographies were a major factor in our results for the quarter, with volume up an impressive 33 percent, truly reflecting the strength of our broad geographic footprint. Quarterly equity earnings returned to a level not seen since before the economic downturn, further demonstrating the strategic importance of our joint ventures. We achieved all of this while furthering our growth strategy and by maintaining our focus on financial discipline. This allowed us to grow revenues, volume, and earnings while increasing our R&D investments yet still achieving reductions in structural costs.”
Source: Dow
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