EXHIBIT (99)-B
ENERGY SUPPLY DISPUTE AT KIMBERLY-CLARK'S MOBILE, ALA., FACILITY SETTLED;
COMPANY TO RECORD A CHARGE OF THREE CENTS PER SHARE FOR A ONE-TIME PAYMENT
UNDER TERMS OF ARBITRATION RULING
RULING WILL NOT INCREASE ENERGY COSTS IN 2002 AND BEYOND
DALLAS, February 1, 2002-Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NYSE: KMB) today
announced that it has received an arbitration ruling that resolves the second
of two disputes involving the company's Mobile, Ala., operations. As
previously reported, the disputes relate to the closure of the company's
Mobile pulp mill in 1999 and the supply of energy to the company's tissue mill
there through December 2001. Based on the terms of the ruling, the company
will record a pretax charge of approximately $27 million for a one-time
payment to Mobile Energy Services Company, L.L.C. ("MESC"). The ruling will
not affect energy service or cause energy costs to increase at Mobile in 2002
and beyond.
Under applicable accounting rules, the charge will be included in the
company's results for 2001 as a subsequent event, reducing previously reported
diluted net income of $3.05 per share to $3.02 per share. The charge does not
affect previously reported earnings before unusual items of $3.27 per share.
Wayne R. Sanders, Kimberly-Clark's chairman and chief executive officer,
said, "We are pleased to get these disputes with MESC behind us. Closing the
Mobile pulp mill was an important strategic decision that improved both our
competitive position and our financial position. The decision enabled us to
improve products like Scott bathroom tissue by using fibers from other
sources. The product improvement at Mobile has contributed to an 18 percent
increase in
- more -
- 2 -
sales volumes of Scott bathroom tissue since 1999. In addition, we avoided
more than $250 million in capital spending that would have been required in
1999 to comply with new environmental regulations and would have increased our
pulp costs without improving productivity or product quality. We also
realized approximately $450 million in proceeds from the sale of timberlands
and other operations associated with the pulp mill."
Kimberly-Clark Corporation is a leading consumer products company. Its
global personal care, tissue and health care brands include Huggies, Pull-Ups,
Kotex, Depend, Kleenex, Scott, Kimwipes, Kimberly-Clark, WypAll, Safeskin and
Tecnol. Other brands well known outside the U.S. include Andrex, Scottex,
Page, Popee and Kimbies. Kimberly-Clark also is a major producer of premium
business, correspondence and technical papers. The company has manufacturing
operations in 41 countries and sells its products in more than 150 countries.
Certain matters contained in this news release concerning the business
outlook, including new product introductions, cost savings and acquisitions,
anticipated financial and operating results, strategies, contingencies and
transactions of the company constitute forward-looking statements and are
based upon management's expectations and beliefs concerning future events
impacting the company. There can be no assurance that these future events
will occur as anticipated or that the company's results will be as estimated.
For a description of certain factors that could cause the company's future
results to differ materially from those expressed in any such forward-looking
statements, see the section of Part I, Item 1 of the company's Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000 entitled "Factors That May
Affect Future Results."
Kimberly-Clark Web site: www.kimberly-clark.com
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