USEC Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware
(State of incorporation) |
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52-2107911
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
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2 Democracy Center,
6903 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda MD
(Address of principal executive offices) |
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20817
(Zip Code) |
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (301) 564-3200
Item 12. Results of Operations and Financial Condition
On October 29, 2003, USEC Inc. issued a press release announcing financial
results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003. A copy of the
press release is attached as Exhibit 99.
SIGNATURE
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.
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USEC
Inc. |
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October 30, 2003 |
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By /s/
Henry Z
Shelton, Jr. |
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Henry
Z Shelton, Jr. |
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Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer |
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(Principal Financial and Accounting
Officer) |
2
exv99
EXHIBIT 99
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: |
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CONTACT: |
October 29, 2003 |
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Steven Wingfield (301) 564-3354 |
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Charles Yulish (301) 564-3391 |
USEC Inc. Reports Third Quarter Earnings of $3.4 Million
Gross Margin Improves
Bethesda, MD USEC Inc. (NYSE: USU) today reported net income of $3.4
million or $.04 per share for the third quarter ended September 30, 2003,
compared to $1.2 million or $.01 per share in the same period last year. For
the nine months ended September 30, 2003, net income was $9.8 million or $.12
per share, compared to $12.6 million or $.15 per share during the same period
in 2002. Results for the nine-month period in 2002 included a special credit of
$4.2 million (after tax) from a favorable change in cost estimate for
consolidating plant operations.
Earnings for the quarter were favorably affected by $9.5 million in fees
paid to USEC by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for cold standby and
uranium deposit removal services performed since July 2001 at the Portsmouth,
Ohio plant and a pension cost adjustment. This favorable impact was partially
offset by USECs accelerated spending on its American Centrifuge technology,
which had a significant effect on income.
For the nine-month period, lower production and purchase costs improved
gross profit despite a 3 percent decline in the average Separative Work Unit
(SWU) price billed to customers and lower SWU volume. The gross profit of
$105.2 million was 39 percent higher than in the nine-month period a year
earlier, and the gross margin was 11.7 percent compared to 8.2 percent in the
previous year. Spending on advanced technology was $18.3 million higher than
the same period in 2002 as USEC accelerated its timetable for demonstrating the
American Centrifuge.
Our business is operating well as production efficiency has improved. We
have lowered our cost structure and we are working with our customers to
provide a reliable supply of low-enriched uranium for years to come. USEC is
also moving decisively ahead with the American Centrifuge technology, said
William H. Timbers, USEC president and chief executive officer.
Revenue and Cost of Sales
Revenue for the third quarter was $293.6 million, down from $360.8 million
for the same quarter a year ago. The decrease reflects a 20 percent lower sales
volume of the SWU component of low-enriched uranium compared to the same
quarter last year and lower average SWU prices billed to customers. For the
nine-month period, the volume of SWU sold declined 6 percent,
more
USEC Inc.
6903 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20817-1818
Telephone 301-564-3391 Fax 301-564-3211 http://www.usec.com
USEC Reports Earnings
Page 2 of 7
which is in line with USECs forecast, and the Company remains on track to
reach its annual revenue target. The average SWU price billed to customers has
been declining in recent years and is expected to decline by about 1.5 percent
in 2003, but USEC anticipates the average SWU price to begin improving by the
end of 2004. Revenue from the sale of natural uranium was higher than a year
earlier for both the quarter and the nine-month period reflecting higher
volumes and prices.
Because USECs customers place orders under their long-term contracts
generally on a 12- to 24-month cycle, quarterly comparisons of USECs
financials are not necessarily indicative of the Companys longer-term results.
Lower purchase costs helped to reduce unit cost of sales per SWU by 5
percent in the quarter. Purchase costs declined this year under new pricing
terms for the Megatons to Megawatts program with Russia that went into effect
in January 2003. The effect of lower purchase costs will continue to benefit
cost of sales in future periods due to the Companys average inventory cost
methodology and its significant SWU inventories.
DOE Contract Services
In September 2003, USEC and DOE finalized the cold standby and uranium
deposit removal contract terms, and USEC earned fees of $9.5 million for
services provided since July 2001 along with a pension cost adjustment. Under
the terms of this cost-plus-fixed-fee contract, USEC maintains the Portsmouth
plant in a state where it could be restarted in an 18- to 24-month period, if
DOE deemed that action necessary. DOE had been retaining a portion of USECs
reimbursable costs and, upon signing the contract, paid USEC $17.8 million for
these retained amounts, in addition to the fees. DOE exercised its option to
extend the contract through March 2004, and USEC and DOE currently are
negotiating contract terms for this extension and further extensions. The
pension adjustment results from the differences between pension costs
calculated and funded in accordance with government cost accounting standards
(CAS) and pension costs determined by generally accepted accounting principles
(GAAP).
Earnings and Cash Flow Guidance
USEC affirms its previous guidance for 2003 net income in a range of $9 to
$11 million. Earnings and cash flow are driven by business performance and are
dependent on several key factors, including:
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Achieving targets for sales and average prices
billed to customers.
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Concluding negotiations as planned with DOE and the Ohio Valley
Electric Corporation (OVEC) to resolve issues surrounding the
termination of a power purchase agreement.
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Negotiations progressing as planned with federal and South Carolina
environmental regulators over USECs share of the cost of cleaning up a
depleted uranium processing site operated by a bankrupt contractor,
Starmet.
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Cash flow from operating activities is expected to be in a range from $80
to $95 million in 2003. The upward change in cash flow from operations guidance
is due to the timing of
more
USEC Reports Earnings
Page 3 of 7
customer collections moving into the fourth quarter and payments to Russia
moving into the first quarter of 2004. These changes in timing will have the
effect of reducing cash flow from operating activities in 2004. USEC ended the
quarter with a cash balance of $66.5 million and now projects its year-end cash
balance will be in a range of $180 to $200 million. For the nine-month period,
cash flow used in operating activities was $52.4 million, compared with cash
flow of $135.2 million provided in 2002 when high customer collections followed
record revenue in late 2001. The Company has no short-term debt, and debt to
total capitalization is a modest 36 percent.
American Centrifuge
During the quarter, USEC requested proposals from the states of Kentucky
and Ohio as part of the decision process for locating a commercial plant.
Proposals from both states were presented to USEC earlier this month, and a
decision on where to site the plant is expected in the fourth quarter. Under
the DOE-USEC Agreement, the plant will be located in either Paducah, Kentucky
or Piketon, Ohio.
Spending on advanced technology during the quarter totaled $10.6 million,
which is in line with prior guidance and $4.6 million more than the same
quarter last year. For the nine-month period, advanced technology spending
totaled $31.2 million, compared to $12.9 million in the previous year. Because
these demonstration costs are expensed, this investment in the American
Centrifuge has a substantial impact on net income.
Initial Natural Uranium Remediation Successfully Completed
In September, USEC completed the initial project to remediate a
significant portion of the 9,550 metric tons of contaminated uranium that DOE
transferred to the Company prior to privatization. USEC exceeded its goal of
cleaning up 2,800 metric tons of uranium pursuant to the DOE-USEC Agreement by
processing 2,909 metric tons during the 15-month project, which was completed
within its $21 million budget. The Company continues the cleanup process, and
discussions are underway with DOE to extend the project to remediate the
remaining contaminated uranium.
The Company continues to anticipate that DOE will provide the additional
2,116 metric tons of uranium that DOE was obligated to transfer to USEC as of
March 31, 2003. DOE is obligated to remedy all of the contaminated uranium
under the DOE-USEC Agreement.
Other Business Matters
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Discussions continue with federal and state environmental
regulators regarding USECs share of the cost of removing and disposing
of certain drums and other materials at Starmets site in Barnwell,
South Carolina. USEC has agreed in principle with the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency on a removal action and has sought bids
from contractors to perform removal and disposal activities.
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more
USEC Reports Earnings
Page 4 of 7
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USEC has been successful this year in obtaining new, long-term
contracts from major U.S. nuclear utilities for the supply of
low-enriched uranium. These contracts, with deliveries extending
through 2011, will yield more than $1 billion in revenue. These
contracts reflect the higher SWU market prices seen in the past few
years.
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The U.S. Court of International Trade affirmed the U.S. Department
of Commerces (DOC) determinations on two of three general issues in
trade cases involving imports of low-enriched uranium produced in four
European countries. The court affirmed that USEC constitutes the
domestic enrichment industry and that countervailing duty law covers
enrichment contracts, and reversed DOCs decision that enrichment
transactions are subject to the antidumping law. The courts action is
another step in an ongoing process of decision and appeal, and all
duties on these imports remain in effect until the appeal process is
complete. The court is in the process of scheduling further proceedings
in the case.
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Seven of 17 reactors temporarily shut down by the Japanese
government over the past year have returned to service and the operator
is seeking permission to return the remainder to operation. USEC
supplies about half of the low-enriched uranium required by these
reactors. USECs revenue in 2003 has not been affected by the
shutdowns, but revenue in 2004 and 2005 will be reduced as future
refuelings of the affected reactors will occur later than planned.
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This news release contains forward-looking information (within the meaning
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) that involves risks
and uncertainty, including certain assumptions regarding the future performance
of USEC. Actual results and trends may differ materially depending upon a
variety of factors, including, without limitation, market demand for USECs
products, pricing trends in the uranium and enrichment markets, deliveries
under the Russian Contract, the availability and cost of electric power,
implementing agreements with DOE regarding uranium inventory remediation and
the use of advanced technology and facilities, satisfactory performance of the
centrifuge technology at various stages of demonstration, USECs ability to
successfully execute its internal performance plans, the refueling cycles of
USECs customers, final determinations of environmental and other costs, the
outcome of litigation and trade actions, and the impact of any government
regulation. Revenue and operating results can fluctuate significantly from
quarter to quarter, and in some cases, year to year.
Please refer to our SEC filings, which can be accessed through the
Companys website www.usec.com, for a more complete discussion of these
factors.
USEC Inc., a global energy company, is the worlds leading supplier of
enriched uranium fuel for commercial nuclear power plants.
# # #
USEC Reports Earnings
Page 5 of 7
USEC Inc.
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)
(millions, except per share data)
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Three Months Ended |
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Nine Months Ended |
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September 30, |
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September 30, |
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2003 |
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2002 |
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2003 |
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2002 |
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Revenue: |
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|
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Separative work units |
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$ |
265.6 |
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$ |
343.8 |
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$ |
798.0 |
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$ |
877.3 |
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Uranium |
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|
28.0 |
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|
17.0 |
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|
104.2 |
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|
|
49.1 |
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|
|
|
|
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|
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|
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Total revenue |
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293.6 |
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|
360.8 |
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|
902.2 |
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|
926.4 |
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Cost of sales |
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263.7 |
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336.2 |
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797.0 |
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850.7 |
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Gross profit |
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29.9 |
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24.6 |
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105.2 |
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75.7 |
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Special charge (credit) for
consolidating plant operations
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(6.7 |
)(a) |
Advanced technology development costs |
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10.6 |
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6.0 |
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31.2 |
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12.9 |
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Selling, general and administrative |
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12.3 |
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|
11.7 |
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41.5 |
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38.2 |
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|
|
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|
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|
|
|
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|
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Operating income |
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|
7.0 |
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|
|
6.9 |
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|
|
32.5 |
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|
|
31.3 |
|
Interest expense |
|
|
9.8 |
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|
|
9.3 |
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|
|
28.7 |
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|
27.2 |
|
Interest (income) |
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|
(1.5 |
) |
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|
(2.2 |
) |
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|
(4.5 |
) |
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|
(6.0 |
) |
Other (income) expense, net |
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|
(6.8 |
)(b) |
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|
(2.2 |
) |
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|
(8.3 |
)(b) |
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(6.8 |
) |
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Income before income taxes |
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|
5.5 |
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|
2.0 |
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16.6 |
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16.9 |
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Provision for income taxes |
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|
2.1 |
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|
|
.8 |
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|
6.8 |
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|
4.3 |
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|
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Net income |
|
$ |
3.4 |
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|
$ |
1.2 |
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|
$ |
9.8 |
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|
$ |
12.6 |
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|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
Net income per share basic and diluted |
|
$ |
.04 |
|
|
$ |
.01 |
|
|
$ |
.12 |
|
|
$ |
.15 |
|
Dividends per share |
|
$ |
.1375 |
|
|
$ |
.1375 |
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|
$ |
.4125 |
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|
$ |
.4125 |
|
Average number of shares outstanding |
|
|
82.3 |
|
|
|
81.5 |
|
|
|
82.1 |
|
|
|
81.2 |
|
(a)
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The special credit of $6.7 million ($4.2 million or $.05 per share after
tax) in the nine months ended September 30, 2002, represents a change in
estimate of costs for consolidating plant operations.
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(b)
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Other income in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003,
includes $9.5 million
($6.0 million or $.07 per share after tax) as a result of DOE and USEC
finalizing the cold standby and uranium deposit removal contract for
contract services performed by USEC for DOE at the Portsmouth plant
from July 2001 to September 2003.
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USEC Reports Earnings
Page 6 of 7
USEC Inc.
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(millions)
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|
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(Unaudited) |
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|
|
|
|
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September 30, |
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December 31, |
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2003 |
|
2002 |
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ASSETS |
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Current Assets |
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Cash and cash equivalents |
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$ |
66.5 |
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$ |
171.1 |
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Accounts receivable trade |
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|
268.9 |
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|
225.4 |
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Inventories |
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|
935.2 |
|
|
|
862.1 |
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Other |
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35.3 |
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|
|
29.1 |
|
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|
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|
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|
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Total Current Assets |
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1,305.9 |
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|
1,287.7 |
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Property, Plant and Equipment, net |
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|
188.4 |
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|
190.9 |
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Other Assets |
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|
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|
|
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|
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Deferred income taxes |
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|
42.8 |
|
|
|
50.8 |
|
|
Prepayment and deposit for depleted uranium |
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|
47.1 |
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|
46.1 |
|
|
Prepaid pension benefit costs |
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|
70.6 |
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|
|
83.8 |
|
|
Inventories |
|
|
285.7 |
|
|
|
390.2 |
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|
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|
|
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|
|
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Total Other Assets |
|
|
446.2 |
|
|
|
570.9 |
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|
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|
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Total Assets |
|
$ |
1,940.5 |
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|
$ |
2,049.5 |
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LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY |
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Current Liabilities |
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|
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Accounts payable and accrued liabilities |
|
$ |
175.6 |
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|
$ |
195.7 |
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Payables under Russian Contract |
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|
91.4 |
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|
106.6 |
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Deferred revenue and advances from customers |
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|
9.3 |
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|
|
45.0 |
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Liabilities accrued for consolidating plant operations |
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|
13.7 |
|
|
|
22.8 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Total Current Liabilities |
|
|
290.0 |
|
|
|
370.1 |
|
Long-Term Debt |
|
|
500.0 |
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|
|
500.0 |
|
Other Liabilities |
|
|
|
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|
|
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|
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Deferred revenue and advances from customers |
|
|
13.5 |
|
|
|
21.2 |
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|
Depleted uranium disposition |
|
|
57.2 |
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|
|
57.9 |
|
|
Postretirement health and life benefit obligations |
|
|
134.9 |
|
|
|
137.8 |
|
|
Other liabilities |
|
|
50.2 |
|
|
|
48.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Other Liabilities |
|
|
255.8 |
|
|
|
265.0 |
|
Stockholders Equity |
|
|
894.7 |
|
|
|
914.4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Liabilities and Stockholders Equity |
|
$ |
1,940.5 |
|
|
$ |
2,049.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
USEC Reports Earnings
Page 7 of 7
USEC Inc.
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
(millions)
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|
|
|
|
Nine Months Ended |
|
|
|
|
|
September 30, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2003 |
|
2002 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash Flows from Operating Activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income |
|
$ |
9.8 |
|
|
$ |
12.6 |
|
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
(used in) operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
21.7 |
|
|
|
21.9 |
|
|
|
Depleted uranium disposition |
|
|
(1.7 |
) |
|
|
(11.2 |
) |
|
|
Deferred revenue and advances from customers |
|
|
(43.4 |
) |
|
|
(23.9 |
) |
|
|
Deferred income taxes |
|
|
8.0 |
|
|
|
8.7 |
|
|
|
Liabilities accrued for consolidating plant operations |
|
|
(9.1 |
) |
|
|
(12.4 |
) |
|
|
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts receivable (increase) decrease |
|
|
(43.5 |
) |
|
|
93.4 |
|
|
|
|
Inventories decrease |
|
|
31.5 |
|
|
|
28.3 |
|
|
|
|
Payables under Russian Contract increase (decrease) |
|
|
(15.2 |
) |
|
|
27.9 |
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable and other net (decrease) |
|
|
(10.5 |
) |
|
|
(10.1 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities |
|
|
(52.4 |
) |
|
|
135.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash Flows Used in Investing Activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital expenditures |
|
|
(20.5 |
) |
|
|
(33.7 |
) |
Restricted cash |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(11.9 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Cash (Used in) Investing Activities |
|
|
(20.5 |
) |
|
|
(45.6 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
Flows Used in Financing Activities |
Dividends paid to stockholders |
|
|
(33.9 |
) |
|
|
(33.5 |
) |
Deferred financing costs |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(4.7 |
) |
Common stock issued |
|
|
2.2 |
|
|
|
2.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Cash (Used in) Financing Activities |
|
|
(31.7 |
) |
|
|
(35.9 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Increase (Decrease) |
|
|
(104.6 |
) |
|
|
53.7 |
|
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period |
|
|
171.1 |
|
|
|
57.4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period |
|
$ |
66.5 |
|
|
$ |
111.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental Cash Flow Information: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest paid |
|
$ |
34.1 |
|
|
$ |
33.2 |
|
|
Income taxes paid (refund) |
|
|
(2.8 |
) |
|
|
(5.4 |
) |