Textron Reports Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Financial Results

Providence, RI.- Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) reported fourth quarter 2008 income from continuing operations, excluding special charges, of $0.40 per share, consistent with its December 22, 2008 press release. Revenues in the quarter were $3.6 billion, up slightly compared to the fourth quarter of 2007.

On a GAAP basis, Textron reported a loss from continuing operations for the quarter of $348 million or $1.44 per share, as compared to fourth quarter 2007 income from continuing operations of $247 million or $0.97 per share. Including discontinued operations, Textron’s fourth quarter 2008 net loss was $209 million or $0.87 per share, compared with fourth quarter 2007 net income of $256 million or $1.00 per share.

On December 22, 2008, the company announced a plan to exit all non-captive financial business. As a consequence, in the quarter, Textron recorded a number of special charges including a $293 million pre-tax mark-to-market adjustment against finance receivables held for sale, a $169 million pre-tax impairment charge to eliminate Textron Financial Corporation’s (TFC) goodwill and a $31 million tax charge related to the change in investment status of TFC’s Canadian subsidiary. Textron also recorded a pre-tax restructuring charge of $64 million related to cost-saving initiatives across the enterprise.

For the full year, Textron’s Manufacturing group generated net cash from operating activities before capital contributions to and net dividends from TFC of $899 million and incurred capital expenditures of $542 million.

TFC paid Textron net dividends of $142 million during the year. During the fourth quarter Textron made a $625 million capital contribution into TFC to maintain the earnings to fixed charge coverage ratio under the support agreement between Textron and TFC. Cash flow from operations for the Manufacturing group under a GAAP basis totaled $416 million as compare to $1.2 billion for 2007.

“Economic conditions continued to weaken during the fourth quarter, significantly impacting our Industrial and TFC businesses,” said Textron Chairman and CEO Lewis B. Campbell. “However, for the year, we had strong performance at Bell, Cessna and Textron Systems,” Campbell added.

Combined backlog at Cessna, Bell and Textron Systems was $23.2 billion at the end of the fourth quarter, up $4.4 billion from the end of last year.

Non-GAAP Measures

Income from continuing operations, excluding special charges, and net cash provided by operating activities for the Manufacturing group before capital contribution and net dividends from TFC are Non-GAAP measures that are defined in the attachments to this release.

Outlook

Looking to 2009, the company expects the economy will continue to impact results at TFC and result in lower volumes at Cessna and Industrial. On this basis, the company estimates 2009 revenues will be approximately $12.5 billion, free cash flow from continuing operations of the manufacturing group will be about $450 million and earnings per share from continuing operations will be in the range of $1.00 to $1.50, excluding expected pre-tax restructuring charges of about $40 million.

Campbell continued, “Our priorities this year are clear – maximize cash flow and operating performance in our manufacturing businesses and aggressively convert finance receivables at TFC to cash. We’re aligning production to match expected lower commercial demand, reducing non-essential capital spending, freezing salaries, curtailing most discretionary spending, including reductions in non-critical product development, and reducing working capital.”

“We believe that we are taking the right actions and will emerge from this recession leaner and more focused. We fully expect that growth in our strong defense businesses will sustain us over the next several years. After world economies recover, this growth will be augmented by expansion at Cessna as well as the remainder of our commercial businesses,” Campbell concluded.

Segment Results

Cessna

Cessna’s fourth quarter revenues and segment profit decreased $64 million and $90 million, respectively, compared with the fourth quarter of 2007. Revenues decreased in spite of the sale of more jet units, primarily reflecting a higher proportion of Mustang sales. This decrease was partially offset by higher pricing and the benefit from the acquisition of the Columbia single engine product lines.

Segment profit decreased due to used aircraft valuation adjustments, the impact from lower revenue mix, higher product development expense and overhead costs.

Cessna backlog at the end of the fourth quarter was $14.5 billion, up $1.9 billion from the end of last year.

Bell

Bell’s revenues and segment profit increased $98 million and $40 million in the fourth quarter. The increase in revenues was due to higher volume and pricing. The increased volume relates to higher V-22 revenues, partially offset by lower commercial helicopter revenues and the absence of Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter revenues.

Segment profit increased due to favorable cost performance, higher volume and pricing in excess of inflation, partially offset by unfavorable mix. The cost performance reflects the non-recurrence of program charges recorded in the fourth quarter of 2007 in both military and commercial programs, and higher royalty income.

Bell backlog at the end of the fourth quarter was $6.2 billion, up $2.4 billion from the end of last year.

Textron Systems (formerly Defense & Intelligence)

Revenues and segment profit for Textron Systems increased $180 million and $37 million, respectively. The increase in revenues is due to the benefit of our acquired AAI business and higher volume for ASV spares and logistics, Intelligent Battlefield Systems and Sensor Fused Weapons.

Segment profit increased due to favorable cost performance, higher volume and the benefit from the acquisition.

Fourth quarter ending backlog at Textron Systems was $2.5 billion, compared to $2.4 billion at the end of 2007.

Industrial

Revenues and segment profit decreased $135 million and $59 million, respectively, in the fourth quarter of 2008. Revenues decreased due to lower volumes and an unfavorable foreign exchange impact, partially offset by higher pricing and the favorable impact of the Paladin Tools acquisition at Greenlee.

Segment profit decreased due to the impact of the lower volume and mix, inflation in excess of higher pricing, and the unfavorable foreign exchange rate impact.

Finance

Finance revenues decreased $64 million in the fourth quarter due to lower market interest rates, and lower securitization gains which were partially offset by the benefit of interest rate floors.

Segment profit decreased $171 million as a result of increased loan loss provisions, higher borrowing costs and lower securitization gains, partially offset by the benefit of interest rate floors.

Increased loan loss provisions reflected weakening general market conditions, declining collateral values and the lack of liquidity available to our borrowers and their customers. These provisions also incorporated estimates for an increase in expected credit losses resulting from TFC’s exit plan.

Sixty-day plus delinquencies increased to 2.59% from 1.06% at the end of the third quarter. Nonperforming assets increased to 4.72% compared to 2.67% in the third quarter.

Managed receivables ended the year at $10.8 billion, versus $11.4 billion at the end of the third quarter.