GE Provides Updated Strategic Framework for GE Capital and Total Company 4Q ’08 Outlook
Highlights and Outlook (Continuing Operations)
Diversifying funding, shrinking portfolio, reducing leverage, and focusing on highest-return businesses at GE Capital
Establishing GE Capital framework to earn approximately $5 billion in 2009; Positioned to return to double-digit earnings growth in 2010
Total Company’s 4Q 2008 earnings per share (EPS) are trending toward low end of range; $.50-.52, excluding potential charges
Evaluating restructuring and other charges to accelerate cost out and reviewing losses in current credit environment…expecting $1.0-1.4 billion after tax charge
GE Capital expects to earn $8 billion in 2008 with a return on equity (ROE) of 15%; GE Capital Finance expects to earn approximately $9 billion
Total Company to earn more than $19 billion for 2008, excluding potential charges; or more than $18 billion for 2008, including potential charges
Plan to maintain $1.24 per share dividend in 2009
Fairfield, Conn., Dec. 2, 2008 – GE is today providing investors with a detailed update on GE Capital’s strategic framework and outlook in a webcast starting at 8:30 am EST. The Company will share plans on how it will continue to diversify funding, re-mix its financial services businesses, and position its portfolio for future growth. GE will also update that its fourth quarter earnings per share are trending toward $.50-.52, the low end of its previously guided range of $.50-.65. In addition, GE is evaluating restructuring and other charges to accelerate cost out and reviewing losses in current credit environment, expecting a $1.0-1.4 billion after tax charge. These restructuring and other actions would strengthen the Company to better perform in the current economic environment and position it for profitable long-term growth.
“GE Capital is an invaluable part of GE’s portfolio, and we are fully committed to financial services,” GE Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer Keith Sherin said. “We have averaged 15% earnings growth over the last 20 years in these businesses. We are operating in an extremely difficult environment, but we are outperforming our peers and we have strong franchises to build upon for long-term growth. We are a mid-market finance company differentiated by an originate-to-hold approach, product and geographic diversification, deep experience in risk assessment and collateral management, and senior secured positions for many of our receivables.
“We are taking a number of tough, but prudent actions to make GE Capital safer, stronger and more secure during this financial crisis. We are committed to being a Triple-A company,” Sherin said. “These actions include a funding plan that reflects the current market, and we are lowering our leverage ratio and commercial paper balance. Our forecast anticipates a challenging loss environment. We are also reorganizing the business to reduce costs and allocate capital more efficiently.
“Today, we are providing investors with a detailed review of GE Capital’s businesses and addressing questions about our funding plan, credit quality, product portfolio, leverage, and recently announced reorganization,” Sherin said. “Our plans reflect a very difficult environment. However, GE Capital expects to deliver exceptional relative performance in 2008. For 2009, we are targeting to reduce leverage to 6:1, lower outstanding commercial paper balance to $50 billion and reduce our overall funding needs.”
GE Vice Chairman and GE Capital CEO and President Michael Neal said, “We have established a framework for GE Capital to earn approximately $5 billion in 2009. From there, we believe the business is positioned to sustain solid, 10% earnings growth in the future.
“GE Capital is a focused, profitable mid-market finance company with leading market franchises and an increasingly more diversified funding model,” Neal said. “We will continue to support our customers and originate profitable new business. With the strategic adjustments we have made, we will reinforce our strong competitive position, enhance our funding model and create greater flexibility.”
Sherin said, “Even in a difficult economic environment, we expect the Company to earn more than $18 billion in 2008, including potential restructuring and other charges. We are reaffirming our plan to maintain a $1.24 per share dividend in 2009. We have leadership businesses that continue to generate strong margins and cash flow, supporting the dividend.”
GE will present the GE Capital update in a conference call/Webcast at 8:30 a.m. ET today. Call information is available at www.ge.com/investor, and related charts will be posted there prior to the call.