Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition

 

The Corning Incorporated press release dated October 26, 2009 regarding its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009 is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.

 

The information in this report, being furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 of Form 8-K, shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section, and is not incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99

 

 

FOR RELEASE –– OCTOBER 26, 2009

 

 

 

Corning Announces Third-Quarter Results

 

LCD glass volume to remain strong

2010 LCD glass market expected to grow 15%

 

CORNING, N.Y. — Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW) today announced its results for the third quarter of 2009, as well as its expectations for the remainder of the year.

 

Third-Quarter Highlights

 

Quarter Three Financial Comparisons

 

*These are non-GAAP financial measures. The reconciliation between GAAP and non-GAAP measures is provided in the tables following this news release, as well as on the company’s investor relations Web site.

 

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Corning Announces Third-Quarter Results

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“The improvement we have seen over the past two quarters has increased our optimism for the fourth quarter,” Wendell P. Weeks, chairman and chief executive officer, said. “Retail sales for LCD televisions remained strong throughout the third quarter, and we believe this will continue into the fourth quarter, which is typically the heaviest retail buying period. This demand has allowed the global LCD supply chain to maintain appropriate inventory levels,” he said.

 

Third-Quarter Segment Results

Sales in the Display Technologies segment were $679 million and slightly higher than the second quarter. Third-quarter sales were impacted by an earthquake in Japan that affected production at the company’s LCD facility in Shizuoka in August. Display sales were positively impacted by foreign exchange rate movements in the quarter.

 

In the third quarter, Corning began volume shipments of Gen 10 glass substrates from its newest LCD glass manufacturing plant in Sakai City, Japan. Corning is the first manufacturer of TFT-grade Gen 10 substrates in the world.

 

Telecommunications segment sales were $450 million, an increase of 3% over the previous quarter. The segment saw continued strength in optical fiber sales in China, as well as strong demand for private network products in North America. The growth rate was impacted by a slowing of fiber-to-the-home demand in North America.

 

Environmental Technologies segment sales were $167 million, an increase of 27% sequentially, driven primarily by automotive product sales increases in the United States, China, and Germany. Corning said the improved automotive product demand was likely the result of governmental incentives within these regions, including the now-ended U.S. “cash for clunkers” program, and diminished global inventory levels. The company also experienced strong demand for its heavy-duty diesel products due to manufacturers purchasing product ahead of new 2010 U.S. emissions regulations.

 

Specialty Materials segment sales were $90 million, a 27% increase over quarter two. The sales increase was due in part to the continued ramp up in demand for Gorilla™ glass used in notebooks and portable electronic devices. Corning’s Gorilla glass is now used by 12 major brands and designed into more than 45 devices.

 

Life Science segment sales were $92 million, compared to $81 million in the second quarter. Third-quarter sales included $7 million from Axygen Bioscience, Inc., which was recently acquired by Corning. Axygen’s product portfolio and established distribution network will significantly strengthen Corning’s life sciences platform.

 

Corning’s equity earnings were $418 million and significantly higher than second-quarter equity earnings of $361 million. Equity earnings from Dow Corning Corporation were $92 million, an increase of 59% over the second quarter. Equity earnings from Samsung Corning Precision were $316 million, an increase of 7% sequentially.

 

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Corning Announces Third-Quarter Results

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Looking Forward – Quarter Four

“Although a portion of our glass production at the Taichung facility has been impacted by a power disruption, we remain confident that the strong performance in our display business over the last two quarters will continue in the fourth quarter of this year,” James B. Flaws, vice chairman and chief financial officer, said. “At the same time, we expect to see normal seasonal declines in our Telecommunications and Environmental Technologies businesses.” He added that Corning expects equity earnings at Dow Corning to be higher compared to last quarter.

 

Corning expects glass volume in its wholly owned display business to be flat to down slightly sequentially this quarter. At SCP, glass volume is expected to be consistent quarter to quarter. The company also anticipates glass pricing at both its wholly owned business and SCP to be consistent with the third quarter. Flaws noted that without the temporary loss of glass production from Taichung, Corning had expected a quarter-over-quarter volume increase of approximately 5%.

 

“In our Display segment, global retailers are expected to offer attractive pricing for LCD televisions, which is likely to result in continuing robust demand through the fourth quarter. This retail demand, along with our expectation that panel manufacturers may lower utilization rates later this quarter, should allow the industry to maintain healthy inventory levels and alleviate any over-supply concerns,” Flaws said.

 

The company anticipates its Telecommunications segment sales to be down 15%, due primarily to seasonally lower demand in North America. The company believes demand in China will remain strong.

 

Environmental Technologies segment sales are expected to be down between 10% and 15% sequentially, reflecting normal seasonal declines plus the expected drop in demand following the end of the U.S. incentive program.

 

Specialty Materials segment sales are expected to be similar to the third quarter or down 5% and Life Sciences segment sales are expected to be up 25%, driven by the Axygen acquisition.

 

Early Look at 2010

The company anticipates that worldwide unit sales of LCD televisions next year could reach 156 million, a 20% increase over 2009. Additionally, computer notebook sales are forecasted to grow by about 20%, while desktop monitor sales are expected to increase about 4% for the year. “If these retail forecasts are correct and glass supply chain inventories remain manageable, as we expect, then next year could see very robust gains in worldwide glass volume,” Flaws said.

 

This demand is expected to result in a worldwide glass market of at least 2.7 billion square feet in 2010, an annual increase of approximately 15%. “We believe the amount of glass capacity that is currently being restarted by the industry is in line to meet these end market demand expectations,” Flaws remarked.

 

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Corning Announces Third-Quarter Results

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The company stated glass demand will likely vary quarter to quarter next year. “We believe panel makers may respond to the seasonal decline in demand by reducing utilization rates in the first quarter. As a result, we would also expect first-quarter glass demand to be sequentially lower. Looking ahead to the second quarter, we would expect utilization rates at the panel makers to snap back as the supply chain expands to meet the seasonally stronger second half. In this environment, we would expect second-quarter glass demand to also increase significantly,” Flaws said.

 

Upcoming Investor Sessions

Corning will be hosting an investor luncheon in Toronto on Thursday, Nov. 5 and presenting at an investor luncheon in New York on Thursday, Dec. 3. The company also will present at the Barclay’s Technology Conference in San Francisco on Wednesday, Dec. 9.

 

Third-Quarter Conference Call Information

The company will host a third-quarter conference call on Monday, Oct. 26 at 8:30 a.m. ET. To participate, please call toll free (800) 230-1766 or international access call (612) 332-0226 approximately 10-15 minutes prior to the start of the call. The password is ‘QUARTER THREE’. The host is ‘SOFIO’. To listen to a live audio webcast of the call, go to Corning’s Web site at www.corning.com/investor_relations and click Investor Events on the left. A replay will be available beginning at 10:30 a.m. ET and will run through 5:00 p.m. ET, Monday, Nov. 9, 2009. To listen, dial (800) 475-6701 or international access call (320) 365-3844. The access code is 117492. The webcast will be archived for one year following the call.

 

Presentation of Information in this News Release

Non-GAAP financial measures are not in accordance with, or an alternative to, GAAP. Corning’s non-GAAP net income and EPS measures exclude restructuring, impairment and other charges and adjustments to prior estimates for such charges. Additionally, the company’s non-GAAP measures exclude adjustments to asbestos settlement reserves, gains and losses arising from debt retirements, charges or credits arising from adjustments to the valuation allowance against deferred tax assets, equity method charges resulting from impairments of equity method investments or restructuring, impairment or other charges taken by equity method companies and gains from discontinued operations. The company believes presenting non-GAAP net income and EPS measures is helpful to analyze financial performance without the impact of unusual items that may obscure trends in the company’s underlying performance. Reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures can be found on the company’s Web site by going to www.corning.com/investor_relations and clicking Financial Reports on the left. Reconciliation also accompanies this news release.

 

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Corning Announces Third-Quarter Results

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Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995), which are based on current expectations and assumptions about Corning’s financial results and business operations, that involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include: the effect of global political, economic and business conditions; conditions in the financial and credit markets; currency fluctuations; tax rates; product demand and industry capacity; competition; reliance on a concentrated customer base; manufacturing efficiencies; cost reductions; availability of critical components and materials; new product commercialization; pricing fluctuations and changes in the mix of sales between premium and non-premium products; new plant start-up or restructuring costs; possible disruption in commercial activities due to terrorist activity, armed conflict, political instability or major health concerns; adequacy of insurance; equity company activities; acquisition and divestiture activities; the level of excess or obsolete inventory; the rate of technology change; the ability to enforce patents; product and components performance issues; stock price fluctuations; and adverse litigation or regulatory developments. These and other risk factors are detailed in Corning’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the day that they are made, and Corning undertakes no obligation to update them in light of new information or future events.

 

About Corning Incorporated

Corning Incorporated (www.corning.com) is the world leader in specialty glass and ceramics. Drawing on more than 150 years of materials science and process engineering knowledge, Corning creates and makes keystone components that enable high-technology systems for consumer electronics, mobile emissions control, telecommunications and life sciences. Our products include glass substrates for LCD televisions, computer monitors and laptops; ceramic substrates and filters for mobile emission control systems; optical fiber, cable, hardware & equipment for telecommunications networks; optical biosensors for drug discovery; and other advanced optics and specialty glass solutions for a number of industries including semiconductor, aerospace, defense, astronomy and metrology.

 

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CORNING INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Unaudited; in millions, except per share amounts)

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to these financial statements.

 

Certain amounts for 2008 were reclassified to conform to the 2009 presentation.

 

CORNING INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited; in millions, except per share amounts)

 

 

See accompanying notes to these financial statements.

 

Certain amounts for 2008 were reclassified to conform to the 2009 presentation.

 

CORNING INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited; in millions)

 

 

 

Certain amounts for 2008 were reclassified to conform with the 2009 presentation.

 

CORNING INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

SEGMENT RESULTS

(Unaudited; in millions)

 

Our reportable operating segments include Display Technologies, Telecommunications, Environmental Technologies, Specialty Materials and Life Sciences.