Analysts meeting
GM Outlines 2005 Business Objectives
2005 earnings per share target is $4.00-$5.00
Solid GMAC earnings expected to be sustained
Rising health-care costs remain a challenge
DETROIT, Jan. 14 -- General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM) is maintaining its
intense drive to grow global revenue, increase earnings, and generate cash, GM
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Rick Wagoner said today at a meeting with
securities analysts.
'We're following a roadmap that we believe will deliver strong results,'
Wagoner said. 'Continuing to introduce great cars and trucks is key to our
success as we leverage our global presence to grow the business,' Wagoner
said. 'We've made strong and consistent progress during the past decade
streamlining our operations, improving manufacturing productivity and quality,
improving our product-development process, and expanding our global footprint.
We plan to leverage these advantages going forward.'
GM said it expects 2004 earnings to be in line with its original target
and previous guidance of $6.00 to $6.50 per share, excluding special items.
Fourth-quarter-2004 reported results will include several special items, one
of which is a write-off of GM's remaining $220 million investment in Fiat Auto
Holdings, B.V. The net result of all special items will result in a slightly
favorable effect on reported earnings.
Details of GM's 2004 financial performance will be disclosed when the
corporation reports its 2004 financial results on January 19.
'We will achieve our 2004-earnings objectives despite a tough competitive
environment,' GM Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer John Devine said.
Results in 2004 reflected strong performance from financial services, market-
share gains in three out of four automotive regions, record automotive
profitability in the Asia Pacific region, and a return to profitability in the
Latin American/Africa/Mid-East region.
Devine said the company has set a 2005-earnings target of approximately
$4.00 to $5.00 per share, excluding any special items and at current dilution
levels. GM expects to generate $2 billion in operating cash flow, and spend
approximately $8 billion on capital expenditures in 2005.
Attaining annual earnings of $10 per share remains GM's goal. Devine said
that target could be achieved as early as 2007 as a result of a strengthening
product portfolio in North America, improved performance in Europe, and an
expected strengthening of the market in China.
GM's financial-services subsidiary, General Motors Acceptance Corp.
(GMAC), will continue to be a significant contributor to GM's financial
performance in 2005, following another record year of earnings in 2004. GMAC
is expected to generate net income of at least $2.5 billion in 2005, likely
down from record profits in 2004 as a result of higher interest rates.
GMAC, which in recent years has transformed itself from what was
predominantly an auto-finance unit into a highly diversified financial-
services company, is focused on producing strong sustainable earnings. GMAC
is expected to remit a dividend in excess of $2 billion to General Motors this
year.
The 2005-net-income target for GM North America (GMNA) is $500 million,
including an expected $1.0 billion increase in U.S. health-care expenses.
GMNA plans to build upon the sales momentum generated during the second half
of 2004 with a strengthened product portfolio, including newly launched high-
volume vehicles.
The ongoing restructuring at GM Europe (GME) is expected to result in
reduced financial losses. In 2005, losses for GME are expected to be
approximately $500 million, excluding restructuring charges. GME continues to
focus on revitalizing its brands and pursuing growth, while lowering
structural costs and reducing employment levels, as it drives toward a return
to profitability.
GM Asia Pacific (GMAP) continues to build on the success of its operations
in China, the expansion of GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Company (GMDAT) in
Korea, and continued profitable performance from GM's operations in Australia,
Thailand and India. GM is well-positioned in key markets in this high-growth
region. Net income in 2005 is expected to be approximately $600 million.
GM Latin America/Africa/Mid-East (GMLAAM) is expected to report net income
of approximately $100 million, as all operating units in the region are
expected to be profitable. Strong growth momentum should continue in spite of
political and economic uncertainties.
The company expects its sustainable tax rate in 2005 to be approximately
15 percent, compared with approximately 21 percent in 2004.
More information on GM and its products, including the charts presented to
securities analysts at today's meeting, can be found on the company's
corporate web site at http://www.gm.com .
In this press release and related comments by General Motors management,
our use of the words 'expect,' 'anticipate,' 'estimate,' 'project,'
'forecast,' 'outlook,' 'target,' 'objective,' 'plan,' 'goal,' 'pursue,' 'on
track,' and similar expressions is intended to identify forward-looking
statements. While these statements represent our current judgment on what the
future may hold, and we believe these judgments are reasonable, actual results
may differ materially due to numerous important factors that are described in
GM's most recent report on SEC Form 10-K (at page II-20) which may be revised
or supplemented in subsequent reports on SEC Forms 10-Q and 8-K. Such factors
include, among others, the following: changes in economic conditions;
currency-exchange rates or political stability; shortages of fuel, labor
strikes or work stoppages; market acceptance of the corporation's new
products; significant changes in the competitive environment; changes in laws,
regulations and tax rates; and, the ability of the corporation to achieve
reductions in cost and employment levels to realize production efficiencies
and implement capital expenditures at levels and times planned by management.
SOURCE General Motors Corporation
-0- 01/14/2005 P
/NOTE TO EDITORS: General Motors will provide access to its presentations
to the Automotive Analysts of New York today, Jan. 13, 2005, via telephone and
web cast from approximately 4:00 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
(EST).
In addition to the web cast, audio access to the presentations will be
available through a live conference call (listen only mode). To access the
conference call, dial 800-430-4409 (212-676-5400 for international access)
approximately 10 minutes prior to the start time and ask to be connected to
the General Motors conference call. Presentation materials will be made
available at approximately 3:45 p.m. EST.
A taped replay of the call will be made available from 7:30 p.m. EST on
January 13 until 7:30 p.m. EST on January 14. To access the taped replay,
dial 800-633-8284 (402-977-9140 for international access) and enter
reservation number 21217154. The presentations will be available live via a
hot link in GM Media Online at http://media.gm.com, or directly at
http://investor.gm.com under the 'Calendar/Events' section. Presentation
materials will also be retained for a limited time under 'Recent Events' in
the 'Calendar/Events' section./
/CONTACT: Mark Tanner, +1-313-665-3146, mark.tanner@gm.com , or Jerry
Dubrowski, +1-212-418-6261, jerry.dubrowski@gm.com , both of General Motors
Corporation/
/Web site: http://media.gm.com
http://www.gm.com /
(GM)