Ford
NEWS
Contact: Media: Investment Community: Shareholder Inquiries: Media Information Center:
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Glenn Ray Equity: Raj Modi 800-555-5259 or 1-800-665-1515
313-594-4410 313-323-8221 313-845-8540 media@ford.com
gray2@ford.com fordir@ford.com stockinf@ford.com --------------
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Fixed Income:
Dan Gardetto
313-621-0881
fixedinc@ford.com
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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FORD ANNOUNCES 2005 FINANCIAL MILESTONES
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o Ford anticipates 2005 earnings per share of $1.75 to $1.95, based on total
company pre-tax profit in the range of $5 billion to $5.7 billion, excluding
special items.
o Total Automotive pre-tax profit milestone for 2005 is $1.5 billion to $2
billion, excluding special items.
o Total Financial Services pre-tax profit milestone for 2005 is $3.5 billion to
$3.7 billion, excluding special items.
o Company anticipates first-quarter earnings per share in 2005 of 25 to 35
cents, excluding special items.
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DEARBORN, Mich., Jan. 25 - Ford Motor Company today announced financial
milestones for 2005 that call for increased profit from the Company's worldwide
automotive operations and lower financial services profit.
Based on goals that call for improvements in quality, market share and
automotive profit, the Company said it anticipates full-year 2005 earnings per
share of $1.75 to $1.95, excluding special items, which is equivalent to total
company pre-tax profit of $5 billion to $5.7 billion. The Company also
anticipates first-quarter earnings per share in the range of 25 to 35 cents.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bill Ford and his senior management team
outlined their 2005 milestones and underlying assumptions during a presentation
today with investors and analysts in New York.
"Last year our reinvigorated cycle plan kicked in, and we introduced more new
vehicles around the world than at any other time in our 100-plus years," said
Bill Ford. "Looking ahead, just stabilizing our business isn't enough. Our
objective is to win. For 2005 and beyond, we're going to build great products, a
strong business, and a better world."
The Company is targeting total Automotive sector pre-tax profit in the range of
$1.5 billion to $2 billion compared with pre-tax profit of $850 million earned
in 2004, in each case excluding special items. (See Attachment One below for
explanation of special items.) The anticipated increase in automotive profit
reflects significantly improved profit from the Premier Automotive Group, and
flat-to-improved performance from The Americas (North and South), Ford Europe
and Asia Pacific and Africa/Mazda.
Also, the Company anticipates Financial Services sector profit of $3.5 billion
to $3.7 billion in 2005, excluding special items. This compares with a pre-tax
profit of nearly $5 billion in 2004, excluding special items. Strong profit
performance for both Ford Motor Credit and Hertz is projected to continue in
2004, but results for Ford Motor Credit will be down from 2004, reflecting lower
volume, increasing interest rates and non-recurrence of reserve reductions.
The Company said achievement of the 2005 milestones would position it to meet
its 2006 goal of achieving total company pre-tax profit of $7 billion, excluding
special items.
The 2005 assumptions and milestones are:
Planning Assumptions
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Industry Volume:
U.S. 17.2 million units
Europe 17.3 million units
Industry Net Pricing:
U.S. Down slightly
Europe Down slightly
Operational Metrics Milestone
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o Quality Improve
o Market Share Improve
o Automotive Cost Performance Hold costs flat
(at constant volume, mix and
exchange)
o Capital Spending $7 billion or lower
Operations: Milestones*
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Pre-Tax Profits (billions):
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The Americas
North America $ 1.4 - 1.7
South America 0.1 - 0.2
Ford Europe 0.1 - 0.2
P.A.G. 0.3 - 0.6
Asia Pacific and Africa/Mazda 0.1 - 0.2
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Total Automotive $ 1.5 - 2.0
Financial Services 3.5 - 3.7
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Total Company $ 5.0 - 5.7
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Operating-Related Cash Flow** $ 1.2 - 1.5 billion positive
*Excluding special items.
**See Attachment Two for calculation.
In addition to Bill Ford, presenters at today's 2005 Business Review and
Milestone Presentation in New York included Jim Padilla, chief operating
officer; Don Leclair, executive vice president and chief financial officer; and
Mike Bannister, chairman and chief executive officer, Ford Motor Credit Company.
Members of the investment community and news media may hear the presentation
live by joining a "listen-only" conference call, beginning at 8:45 a.m. at
800-299-0433. International callers may dial 617-801-9712. The pass code for the
listen-only conference call is a verbal response of "Ford Business Review." A
listen-only webcast may also be heard by visiting www.shareholder.ford.com.
Supporting presentation materials will be posted at the same web address just
prior to the presentation's start.
Replays of the presentation will be available through February 1, 2005 by
dialing 888-286-8010 with the pass code 36979286. The international access
number for the replay is 617-801-6888 with the same pass code as above. Replays
also are available at www.shareholder.ford.com.
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn,
Michigan, manufactures and distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six
continents. With more than 327,000 employees worldwide, the company's core and
affiliated automotive brands include Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover,
Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury and Volvo. Its automotive-related services include Ford
Motor Credit Company and The Hertz Corporation.
SAFE HARBOR
Statements included herein may constitute "forward looking statements" within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties, and other factors that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated, including,
without limitation:
o greater price competition resulting from currency fluctuations, industry
overcapacity or other factors;
o a significant decline in industry sales, particularly in the U.S. or Europe,
resulting from slowing economic growth, geo-political events or other
factors;
o lower-than-anticipated market acceptance of new or existing products;
o economic distress of suppliers that may require us to provide financial
support or take other measures to ensure supplies of materials;
o work stoppages at Ford or supplier facilities or other interruptions of
supplies;
o the discovery of defects in vehicles resulting in delays in new model
launches, recall campaigns or increased warranty costs;
o increased safety, emissions, fuel economy or other regulation resulting in
higher costs and/or sales restrictions;
o unusual or significant litigation or governmental investigations arising out
of alleged defects in our products or otherwise;
o worse-than-assumed economic and demographic experience for our
post-retirement benefit plans (e.g., investment returns, interest rates,
health care cost trends, benefit improvements);
o currency or commodity price fluctuations, including rising steel prices;
o changes in interest rates;
o a market shift from truck sales in the U.S.;
o economic difficulties in any significant market;
o higher prices for, or reduced availability of fuel;
o labor or other constraints on our ability to restructure our business;
o a change in our requirements under long-term supply arrangements under which
we are obligated to purchase minimum quantities or pay minimum amounts;
o credit rating downgrades;
o inability to access debt or securitization markets around the world at
competitive rates or in sufficient amounts;
o higher-than-expected credit losses;
o lower-than-anticipated residual values for leased vehicles;
o increased price competition in the rental car industry and/or a general
decline in business or leisure travel due to terrorist attacks, acts of war,
epidemic diseases or measures taken by governments in response thereto that
negatively affect the travel industry; and
o our inability to implement the Revitalization Plan.
Attachment One:RECONCILIATION TO GAAP OF PRE-TAX PROFITS EXCLUDING SPECIAL
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ITEMS
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Projected
2004 Full Year 2005 Full Year
(Mils.) (Bils.)
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Pre-Tax Profit from
Continuing Operations $4,853 $4.9 - 5.6
Less: Special Items
- European Improvement $ (49) $ --
- P.A.G. Improvement (110) (0.1)
- Visteon (600) --
- Other Non-Core
Businesses (64) --
- Fuel Cell Technology
Charges (182) --
- Property Clean-Up
Settlement* 45 --
-- --
Subtotal Special Items $ (960) $(0.1)
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Pre-Tax Profit Excl.
Special Items $5,813 $5.0 - 5.7
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* Sole special item for Financial Services sector; all others relate to
Automotive sector
Attachment Two: 2005 Automotive Cash and Cash Flow (billions)
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Cash, Marketable and Loaned Securities, and Short-Term VEBA Assets
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Year-End 2004 $ 23.6
Year-End 2005 (Projected) 23.0
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Change in Gross Cash $ (0.6)
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Operating-Related Cash Flow
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Automotive Pre-Tax Profits $ 1.8 Milestone $1.5-2.0
Net Capital Spending (0.1)
Changes in Receivables, Inventory, Trade Payables, and Other (0.3)
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Total Auto. Op.-Related Cash Flow (Excl. Contributions & Tax $ 1.4 Milestone $1.2-1.5
Refunds)
Pension and VEBA Contributions (1.8)
Other (0.2)
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Total Change in Gross Cash $ (0.6)
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