Press Release

TRW Fourth Quarter Operating EPS Increases 40 Percent, Company Generates $440 Million in Cash

By SpaceRef Editor
January 25, 2002
Filed under , ,

Operating Earnings Increase 45 Percent In Quarter, Exceeding Expectations – Net Debt Reduced By $770 Million In Quarter – Record $8 Billion Backlog In Systems, Space & Electronics, Up 20 Percent

TRW Inc. (NYSE: TRW) reported
increased earnings, earnings per share, and cash generation for the fourth
quarter 2001, David M. Cote, chairman, president and chief executive officer,
announced today.
“Despite economic and market turmoil, TRW had a great fourth
quarter, further demonstrating the benefits of our persistent focus on asset
management, meeting commitments, increased attention to customers, and
productivity improvement,” Cote said.
“These solid achievements, combined
with a record backlog and our company-wide commitment to Six Sigma, well
position TRW for earnings growth and continued debt reduction.”

Highlights of the company’s 2001 results include:

– Fourth quarter earnings per share, excluding unusual items, exceeded
analyst consensus estimates and increased 40 percent to $0.70, up from
last year’s $0.50. Operating earnings increased 45 percent to
$88 million, while fourth quarter sales were essentially unchanged at
approximately $4.1 billion. Including unusual items, GAAP net earnings
were $90 million, $0.72 per share, compared with a net loss of
$3 million, $.02 per share in the same quarter last year.

– TRW reduced its year-end net debt position to under $5.5 billion. In
the quarter, this reduction was driven primarily through cash flow from
operating activities of $250 million, asset sales of $190 million, and a
$330 million securitization of receivables. For the year, TRW reduced
net debt by approximately $1 billion.

– Despite a recessionary economy and lower automotive production, TRW
maintained its fourth quarter operating profit and margins as improved
Automotive performance offset a decrease in Aeronautical Systems’
profitability. The September 11 events significantly impacted
Aeronautical Systems’ business, while in the quarter both Systems and
Space & Electronics maintained their solid performances.

– Fourth quarter financing costs and corporate expenses were reduced
approximately $41 million, reflecting lower debt levels and interest
rates, and a 38 percent reduction in corporate staff and related
Business Support Center expenses.

– During the fourth quarter of 2001, net gains totaling $152 million after
tax were recognized primarily from the sale of shares of RF Micro
Devices stock. Also in the quarter, charges of $150 million after tax
were incurred primarily for Automotive and Aeronautical Systems
restructuring actions and asset impairments intended to improve TRW’s
competitiveness. These gains and charges were classified as unusual
items and were not included in profit from operations.

– For 2001, TRW earnings per share, excluding unusual items, were $2.36,
compared with $3.78 in 2000. Net earnings, excluding unusual items,
were $296 million, compared with $471 million in 2000. Sales declined
5 percent to approximately $16.4 billion. Including unusual items, GAAP
net earnings were $68 million, $0.54 per share, compared with
$438 million, $3.51 per share, last year.


“Throughout the year, TRW has been vigorously transforming itself into a
leaner, more customer centered and productive corporation focused on high-
potential, technology-driven growth,” Cote said.
“We worked hard to
streamline our entire organization structure, reduce total employment by
10,000, and train over 1,800 employees in Six Sigma concepts.
CEO staff
changes resulted in a change of eight of 14 key executives, while the company
added to the technical depth and expertise of its Board of Directors with
three new outside chief executives.
All this made the fourth quarter pivotal
for the company, as we began to see the benefits of a reshaped TRW.

“The nation’s growing homeland security and national defense needs are
generating significant opportunities for our technology businesses, intrinsic
areas of TRW’s strength.
In automotive, the company is stabilizing
profitability, even while the economy remains weak.
Commercial aviation faces
an uncertain recovery following the events of September 11, and as a result
our Aeronautical Systems business is taking aggressive actions to change its
cost structure while continuing to fund key program wins.”

Systems

Fourth quarter 2001 sales and operating profit were essentially unchanged
from the fourth quarter 2000.
For the year, after adjusting for the
successful completion of the U.S. Census Bureau and TESS programs, Systems’
sales increased 9 percent due to growth in new contracts.
Including these
programs, Systems’ sales were lower by 3 percent compared with the prior year.
Annual operating profit was in line with sales.

Significant wins increased Systems’ backlog 16 percent from $3.4 billion
to a record level of $4 billion at year-end 2001.
TRW continued to win
important systems contracts from the U.S. military, civil federal, and state
customers.
Under a new contract, TRW will develop the Guardrail Information
System for the U.S. Army.
The company also continues its long-term
involvement with the nation’s ICBM program with an Air Force award for
propulsion replacement.
Leveraging its work on an important civil federal
project for the Securities and Exchange Commission, TRW completed an upgrade
and expansion of the EDGAR subscriber service.
On the state level, the
company was selected to continue operations of a traffic management service
serving Cincinnati and northern Kentucky.

Space & Electronics

Fourth quarter 2001 sales in Space & Electronics were $502 million,
compared with $464 million a year ago.
This was due in part to higher volumes
in the airborne laser and Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite
programs, offset in part by lower volumes on microelectronic products.
Operating profit increased to $27 million in the current quarter, compared
with $23 million, as improved overall program performance and a favorable
income effect from a terminated commercial contract offset the profit impact
from lower volume on microelectronic products and costs associated with
commercializing defense technologies.
For the year 2001, sales in Space &
Electronics increased to $2 billion from $1.9 billion in 2000, due to
improvements in several ongoing programs, including AEHF, airborne laser, and
products in the avionics business.
Operating profit for 2001 decreased to
$117 million from $164 million, primarily due to costs associated with the
commercial ventures.

Space & Electronics recorded two long-term, strategically important
contract wins that contributed significantly to increasing the business’
backlog 25 percent from $3.2 billion to $4 billion.
The company was awarded a
contract with the potential value of $1.3 billion to provide the
communications payload for its AEHF satellite, the military’s next generation
of highly secure communications satellites and ground systems.
The company
also was selected for an award with a potential value of $5 billion to provide
integrated communications, navigation, and identification equipment to
Lockheed Martin in support of the Joint Strike Fighter program.

Aeronautical Systems

Fourth quarter 2001 sales in TRW’s Aeronautical Systems business were
essentially unchanged at $298 million, compared with the fourth quarter of
2000.
Operating profit in the fourth quarter 2001 declined to $28 million
from $51 million in the previous year.
The decline in operating profit was
due to an increase in research and development costs on several new programs,
an increase in costs relating to operational improvement programs, and an
unfavorable mix of repair services and spare parts sold due to changes in the
commercial aviation market after September 11.
For the year 2001, sales in
Aeronautical Systems were unchanged at $1.1 billion.
Operating profit for the
year 2001 decreased to $110 million from $152 million in 2000, principally due
to an increase in research and development costs to support new program wins
and a change in product mix.
As a result of the decreased demand for civil
aviation equipment, TRW Aeronautical Systems initiated cost reduction measures
to reduce employment expense.
This will result in a
16 percent employment reduction of approximately 1,100 workers.

Aeronautical Systems is another TRW business that will play a key role in
the Joint Strike Fighter program.
The business was awarded a $600 million
contract to provide the plane’s weapons bay door drive system.
The business
also won a contract from Dassault Aviation valued at $350 million to supply
flap and airbrake systems and the electrical power generation and management
system for its new three-engine Falcon 7X long-range business jet.

Automotive

Fourth quarter 2001 sales in TRW’s Automotive business were $2.5 billion,
compared with $2.6 billion in the fourth quarter of 2000.
Despite lower
global production volumes, operating profit in the quarter increased to
$121 million from $102 million.
This increase resulted from cost reductions
that more than offset the impact of lower fourth quarter 2001 sales and a
recall charge in the fourth quarter of 2000.
For the year 2001, sales in
Automotive declined 8 percent to $10.1 billion from $11 billion in 2000, due
to reduced industry volumes, the effect of divested businesses, foreign
currency translation, and price reductions.
Operating profit for 2001 was
$469 million, compared with $720 million in 2000.
This was due to lower
production volumes, price reductions, divestitures, and an increase in sales
of lower margin products, that were partially offset by cost reductions.

In 2001, Automotive positioned its business for improved competitiveness
through a consolidation of its businesses, streamlining its management
structure, reducing salaried employment by approximately 3,000 positions, and
aggressively reducing cost.
These actions reduced fixed costs by $150 million
for the year.
Significant activity in Europe led to new contracts for
electrically powered hydraulic steering, restraint systems, and the first
development contract for steer-by-wire technology.
To better serve European
customers, the company opened a new brake actuation manufacturing facility in
Poland. New contracts in North America were secured for braking systems
components and for an occupant weight sensing system.

TRW provides advanced-technology products and services for the aerospace,
information systems, and automotive markets. The company’s news releases are
available through TRW’s corporate Web site, www.trw.com .
Investors and the
general public are invited to listen to an Internet Webcast of the company’s
quarterly conference call, beginning at 11:00 a.m. EST today, January 24,
2002.
This Webcast can be accessed through www.trw.com/investorpresentation .

Statements that are not statements of historical fact may be forward-
looking statements. Important factors that could cause TRW’s actual results to
differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this
release can be found in Part 1, Item 2, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis-
-Forward-Looking Statements,” in the company’s most recent Form 10-Q.
Important factors that could cause TRW’s actual results to differ materially
from those contained in any forward-looking statement contained in this
release are described below.

The Company’s consolidated results could be affected by: the economic,
regulatory and political domestic and international conditions; the
termination of existing government contracts; the level of defense funding by
the government; moderation or decline in the automobile build rate; pricing
pressures from customers; and the ability to reduce the level of outstanding
debt from cash flow from operations and the proceeds from asset dispositions.
The above list of important factors is not exclusive.
We caution that any
forward-looking statement reflects only the beliefs of the Company or its
management at the time the statement is made.
The Company undertakes no
obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or
circumstances after the date on which the statement was made.

                                   TRW Inc.
            All amounts except earnings per share are in millions

                           Q4 2001            Q4 2000            % Change
                       ================    ================  =================
    Sales                  $4,078             $4,137                -1%

                       before   including  before   including before including
                      unusuals  unusuals  unusuals  unusuals unusuals unusuals
                      --------  --------  --------  -------- -------- --------

    Net Earnings
      (Loss)           $  88     $  90     $  61    $   (3)      45%      nm


    Earnings(Loss)
      Per Share
    Diluted            $0.70     $0.72     $0.50    $(0.02)      40%      nm
    Basic              $0.70     $0.72     $0.50    $(0.02)      40%      nm
    Number of Shares:
      Diluted          126.3               123.5
      Basic            125.6               123.5

    Segment Sales
    Systems                 $  801            $  805                 -1%
    Space & Electronics        502               464                  8%
    Aeronautical Systems       298               299                  --
    Automotive               2,477             2,569                 -4%

                       before   including  before   including before including
                      unusuals  unusuals  unusuals  unusuals unusuals unusuals
                      --------  --------  --------  -------- -------- --------
    Profit(Loss)
      Before Taxes
    Systems            $  53    $  35     $  55      $  28     -3%      27%
    Space & Electronics   27      265        23         48     14%     445%
    Aeronautical Systems  28        4        51         51    -43%     -91%
    Automotive           121      (70)      102         31     19%    -329%

    Corporate Expense/
      Other              (24)     (19)      (42)       (64)    38%      69%
    Financing Cost      (111)    (111)     (134)      (134)    17%      17%
    Net Employee
      Benefits Income     44       44        40         40     13%      13%
                        ---------------    -----------------
    Earnings Before
      Taxes              138      148        95         --     45%      nm
    Income Taxes         (50)     (58)      (34)        (3)
                        ---------------    -----------------
    Net Earnings
      (Loss)           $  88    $  90     $  61      $  (3)    45%      nm
                        ===============    =================

    nm = not meaningful


                                   TRW Inc.
            All amounts except earnings per share are in millions

    Twelve months ended:      2001             2000             % Change
                        ===============    ==============     ===============
    Sales                   $16,383           $17,231               -5%

                       before   including  before   including before including
                      unusuals  unusuals  unusuals  unusuals unusuals unusuals
                      --------  --------  --------  -------- -------- --------
    Net Earnings       $ 296    $  68     $ 471      $ 438      -37%     -85%

    Earnings Per Share
    Diluted            $2.36    $0.54     $3.78      $3.51      -38%     -85%
    Basic              $2.36    $0.54     $3.82      $3.55      -38%     -85%
    Number of Shares:
      Diluted          125.7              124.9
      Basic            124.8              123.1

    Segment Sales
    Systems                 $ 3,150           $ 3,252              -3%
    Space & Electronics       2,020             1,880               7%
    Aeronautical Systems      1,102             1,105               --
    Automotive               10,111            10,994              -8%


                       before   including  before   including before including
                      unusuals  unusuals  unusuals  unusuals unusuals unusuals
                      --------  --------  --------  -------- -------- --------
    Profit Before Taxes
    Systems            $ 207    $ 176     $ 213    $ 209         -3%     -16%
    Space & Electronics  117      212       164      459        -29%     -54%
    Aeronautical Systems 110       90       152      152        -28%     -40%
    Automotive           469      228       720      508        -35%     -55%

    Corporate Expense/
      Other             (116)    (241)     (148)    (252)        21%       4%
    Financing Cost      (482)    (482)     (530)    (531)         9%       9%
    Net Employee
      Benefits Income    157      157       161      161         -2%      -2%
                       ---------------    -----------------
    Earnings Before
      Taxes              462      140       732      706        -37%     -80%
    Income Taxes        (166)     (72)     (261)    (268)
                       ---------------    -----------------
    Net Earnings       $ 296    $  68     $ 471    $ 438        -37%     -85%
                       ===============    =================

    Note: 2000 "Corporate Expense/Other including unusuals" includes $12
          million of In-process R&D


                                   TRW Inc.

    Earnings Reconciliation  -  4th Quarter 2001        ($M)           ($)
                                                      Earnings         EPS

    Net Earnings Before Unusual Items                   $ 88         $ 0.70

    Systems
    * Asset impairment charges/other (a)                 (12)         (0.09)

    Space & Electronics
    * Gains on the sale of assets (b)                    162           1.28
    * Asset impairment charges/other (c)                  (7)         (0.05)

    Aeronautical Systems
    * Aeronautical restructuring (d)                     (18)         (0.14)

    Automotive
    * Automotive restructuring (e)                       (99)         (0.78)
    * Asset impairment charges, sales and other          (27)         (0.23)

    Corporate & Other
    * Other                                                3           0.03
                                                      ------------------------
    Reported Earnings                                   $ 90         $ 0.72
                                                      ========================

    Earnings Reconciliation Footnotes
    (a) Includes impairment of certain assets and closure costs.
    (b) Net gains relating to the sale of approximately 12 million shares of
        RFMD.  At year-end, TRW owned approximately 4.5 million shares of RFMD
        stock including 4 million shares that were sold forward in February
        2000.
    (c) Primarily asset impairment charges associated with certain
        investments.
    (d) The net after-tax charge is related to the employee reductions
        announced in October.
    (e) Charges relating to restructuring actions, which include employee
        reduction programs, plant closures and consolidations and costs
        relating to exiting certain product lines.


                                   TRW Inc.

    Earnings Reconciliation  -  2001                     ($M)          ($)
                                                       Earnings        EPS

    Net Earnings Before Unusual Items                  $ 296         $ 2.36

    Systems
    * Asset impairment charges (a)                       (13)         (0.10)
    * Other                                               (7)         (0.06)

    Space & Electronics
    * Gains on the sale of assets (b)                    268           2.12
    * Asset impairment charges (c)                      (217)         (1.72)
    * Other                                               (2)         (0.01)

    Aeronautical Systems
    * Aeronautical restructuring and asset sales (d)     (15)         (0.12)

    Automotive
    * Automotive restructuring (e)                      (151)         (1.21)
    * Asset impairment charges, sales and other           (9)         (0.07)

    Corporate & Other
    * Pending and threatened litigation                  (68)         (0.54)
    * BSC restructuring, asset impairment and other      (14)         (0.11)
                                                      ------------------------
    Reported Earnings                                   $ 68         $ 0.54
                                                      ========================

    Earnings Reconciliation Footnotes

    (a) Includes asset impairment charges associated with certain investments
        and intangible assets.
    (b) Net gains relating to the sale of approximately 18.7 million shares of
        RFMD.
    (c) Asset impairment charges primarily associated with investments in
        Astrolink and Endwave.  These charges were non-cash.
    (d) Primarily includes previously announced employee reduction charges.
    (e) Charges relating to restructuring actions, which include employee
        reduction programs, plant closures and consolidations, and costs
        relating to exiting certain product lines.


                                   TRW Inc.
                         All amounts are in millions

    STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                                       December 31 December 31
                                                           2001        2000
                                                          -------     -------
    Operating activities
      Net earnings                                      $   68       $  438
      Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to
       net cash provided by operating activities
        Depreciation and amortization                      755          794
        Pension income                                    (248)        (249)
        Net gain on sale of assets                        (444)        (286)
        Asset impairment charges                           398           93
        Pending and threatened litigation                   97           65
        Deferred income taxes                              (36)          49
        Gain on Endwave merger                               -          (57)
        Purchased in-process research and development        -           12
        Other-net                                          109           32
    Changes in assets and liabilities, net of
     effects of businesses acquired or divested
        Accounts receivable, net                           249            -
        Securitization of accounts receivable              327            -
        Inventories                                         75           85
        Trade accounts payable                              (6)         257
        Prepaid expenses and other liabilities             (12)        (103)
        Other-net                                          165           29
                                                        -------      -------
    Net cash provided by operating activities            1,497        1,159

    Investing activities
      Capital expenditures including other intangibles    (764)        (742)
      Net proceeds from divestitures                       476        1,557
      Acquisitions, net of cash acquired                     -           (3)
      Other-net                                            (89)         (19)
                                                        -------      -------
    Net cash (used in)provided by investing activities    (377)         793

    Financing activities
      Decrease in short-term debt                       (1,223)      (1,083)
      Proceeds from debt in excess of 90 days            1,147        1,429
      Principal payments on debt in excess of 90 days     (898)      (2,152)
      Dividends paid                                      (154)        (167)
      Other-net                                              7           47
                                                        -------      -------
    Net cash used in financing activities               (1,121)      (1,926)
    Effect of exchange rate changes on cash                (26)          13
                                                        -------      -------
    (Decrease)increase in cash and cash equivalents        (27)          39
    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year         267          228
                                                        -------      -------
    Cash and cash equivalents at end of year            $  240       $  267
                                                        -------      -------


                                     TRW Inc.
                           All amounts are in millions

    SUMMARY BALANCE SHEETS
                                                     December 31   December 31
                                                         2001          2000
                                                       --------     --------
    ASSETS
    Cash and cash equivalents                         $    240     $    267
    Accounts receivable                                  1,596        2,328
    Interest in securitized receivables                    162           --
    Inventories                                            763          870
    Other current assets                                   401          502
                                                        --------     --------
      Total current assets                               3,162        3,967

    Property, plant & equipment-net                      3,542        3,587
    Intangible assets-net                                3,811        4,012
    Investments in affiliated companies                    245        1,040
    Other notes and accounts receivable                    223          283
    Prepaid pension cost                                 2,871        2,902
    Other assets                                           590          676
                                                       --------     --------
      Total assets                                    $ 14,444     $ 16,467
                                                       ========     ========
    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' INVESTMENT
    Short-term debt                                   $    115     $  1,450
    Trade accounts payable                               1,742        1,795
    Current portion of long-term debt                      724          489
    Other current liabilities                            2,177        2,126
                                                       --------     --------
      Total current liabilities                          4,758        5,860

    Long-term liabilities                                1,944        2,038
    Long-term debt                                       4,870        4,765
    Deferred income taxes                                  612        1,030
    Minority interests in subsidiaries                      74          123
    Total shareholders' investment                       2,186        2,651
                                                       --------     --------
      Total liabilities and shareholders'
        investment                                    $ 14,444     $ 16,467
                                                      ========     ========

SpaceRef staff editor.