Takes Restructuring Charge and Establishes Reserve
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Worthington Industries,
Inc. (NYSE: WOR) today announced that it will begin immediately to implement a
consolidation plan to improve profitability and better utilize assets. The
consolidation plan will directly impact eight facilities and more than
500 employees. "Today's action delivers on a commitment that we made to our
shareholders to ensure that our business segments are maximizing
profitability," said John P. McConnell, Chairman and CEO of Worthington
Industries. "While only a few of the facilities have been unprofitable, these
actions will improve profitability by consolidating locations."
Worthington expects to take a pre-tax restructuring charge of up to
$65 million for the consolidation plan. In an unrelated event, the company
will also establish a $21 million pre-tax reserve for the potential impairment
of certain assets received in connection with the sale of previously
discontinued operations. Of the combined pre-tax charges, all but $10 million
are non-cash charges. Both the restructuring charge and the reserve will be
taken in the third quarter ending February 28, 2002 and are expected to have
an after-tax impact of up to $55 million.
The eight facilities impacted by the consolidation plan represent each of
the company's three business segments - Processed Steel (4), Metal Framing
(1), and Pressure Cylinders (3). Worthington Steel has initiated closure
procedures at its facilities located in Malvern, Pa., and Jackson, Mich., and
is cutting overhead costs at its Louisville, Ky., facility. Worthington
Steel's Rock Hill, S.C., facility will become a Dietrich Metal Framing
location serving both metal framing and processed steel customers. The
current metal framing facility in Fredricksburg, Va., will be closed and its
operations moved to Rock Hill. Worthington Cylinders is discontinuing the
operations of two partnerships in Itu, Brazil, and closing a production
facility in Claremore, Okla.
Annual net sales generated by these operations total approximately
$150 million, half of which will be accommodated by other Worthington
facilities. Sales of approximately $75 million generated by the Malvern and
Brazil facilities will be lost as Worthington exits both the nickel plating
and Brazilian pressure cylinder markets where the company has ongoing losses.
The restructuring charge includes the write-down of fixed assets including
land, buildings and machinery and equipment by up to $55 million. Severance
and employee related costs may total as much as $10 million. The cash outlay
should be more than offset by expected proceeds from sales of fixed assets and
the liquidation of working capital. Once fully implemented, the consolidation
of facilities and elimination of overhead costs is expected to improve
operating profitability by approximately $10 million annually.
The consolidation process will begin immediately and should be
substantially completed within 12 months.
In addition to the restructuring charge, Worthington has established a
$21 million reserve for the potential impairment of assets related to
previously discontinued operations. During fiscal 1999, the company sold all
of the assets of its Custom Products and Cast Products business segments for
aggregate proceeds of $194 million in cash and $30 million in preferred stock
and notes receivable issued by four acquirers. As economic conditions have
deteriorated, each of the issuers has encountered difficulty making scheduled
payments under the terms of the preferred stock and notes receivable.
The company will discuss these actions on a conference call to be held
later today at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Domestic participants can access the
call by dialing 800-857-1849, passcode 6918347; international participants
dial 312-470-7378, passcode 6918347. A call replay will be available for one
week for those parties unable to participate. Domestic participants dial 800-
925-2387, passcode 4859 and international participants dial 402-220-4110,
passcode 4859. A live audio webcast will be available via an Internet link at
www.WorthingtonIndustries.com and will be archived for ninety days.
Worthington Industries is a leading diversified metal processing company
with annual sales of approximately $2 billion. The Columbus, Ohio, based
company is North America's premier value-added steel processor and a leader in
manufactured metal products such as automotive aftermarket stampings, pressure
cylinders, metal framing, metal ceiling grid systems and laser welded blanks.
The company currently employs 7,500 people and operates 59 facilities in
11 countries.
Founded in 1955, the company operates under a long-standing corporate
philosophy rooted in the golden rule, with earning money for its shareholders
as the first corporate goal. This philosophy, an unwavering commitment to the
customer, and one of the strongest employee/employer partnerships in American
industry serve as the company's foundation.
Safe Harbor Statement
The company wishes to take advantage of the Safe Harbor provisions
included in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 ("the Act").
Statements by the company relating to future sales and operating results;
projected capacity levels; anticipated capital expenditures; projected timing,
results, costs, charges and expenditures related to plant closures and
consolidations; and other non-historical information constitute "forward-
looking statements" within the meaning of the Act. Because they are based on
beliefs, estimates and assumptions, forward-looking statements are inherently
subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those projected. Any number of factors could affect actual
results, including, without limitation, product demand, changes in product mix
and market acceptance of products; changes in pricing or availability of raw
materials, particularly steel; effects of plant closures and the consolidation
of operations; capacity restraints and efficiencies; conditions in major
product markets; delays in construction or equipment supply; financial
difficulties of customers, suppliers and others with whom we do business; the
effect of national, regional and worldwide economic conditions; risks
associated with doing business internationally, including economical,
political and social instability, and foreign currency exposure; acts of war
and terrorist activities; the ability to improve processes and business
practices to keep pace with the economic, competitive and technological
environment; the business environment and impact of governmental regulations,
both in the United States and abroad; and other risks described from time to
time in filings with the SEC.
SOURCE Worthington Industries, Inc.
CONTACT: Cathy Mayne Lyttle, VP, Corporate Communications,
+1-614-438-3077, or cmlyttle@WorthingtonIndustries.com, or Allison McFerren
Sanders, Director, Investor Relations, +1-614-840-3133, or
asanders@WorthingtonIndustries.com, both of Worthington Industries/