Wilmington, Delaware
February 11, 2002
Taking the next step in its
transformation to a sustainable growth company, DuPont
(NYSE: DD) today announced the
alignment of its businesses in five market- and
technology-focused growth platforms and the creation of a
Textiles and Interiors subsidiary.
The growth platforms are: DuPont Electronic & Communication
Technologies; DuPont Performance Materials; DuPont Coatings &
Color Technologies; DuPont Safety & Protection; and
DuPont Agriculture & Nutrition.
"Consistent with our long-term strategy and direction, our
growth platforms will be more tightly focused on markets and
technologies. This will enable faster execution and improved
capability for innovation and shareholder value creation," said
DuPont Chairman and CEO Charles O. Holliday, Jr.
The new wholly owned subsidiary, called DuPont Textiles &
Interiors, will include the nylon fibers, polyester fibers and
Lycra(R) brand fiber businesses, plus their intermediates and
joint ventures. DuPont will consider a full range of options for
DuPont Textiles & Interiors, including an Initial Public
Offering (IPO), with the ultimate intent of separation by
year-end 2003, market conditions permitting. The company has
engaged Morgan Stanley to assist in the evaluation process.
"A company can operate successfully for 200 years only by
continually reinventing itself," Holliday said. "DuPont people
in all of our businesses know this is key to a strong future.
Each of the five growth platforms has the critical mass to
pursue our strategies of integrated science, knowledge intensity
and productivity improvement while capitalizing on strong market
positions, quality products and powerful brands. At the same
time, our new Textiles & Interiors subsidiary will have the
scale, global reach and flexibility to be highly successful in
an industry undergoing fundamental structural change."
DuPont Textiles & Interiors will be the world's largest
integrated fibers company with annual segment sales estimated at
$6.5 billion. This represents about 23 percent of 2001 total
DuPont Company segment sales, which includes transfers and the
company's pro rata share of sales by equity affiliates. The
subsidiary will be structured to grow shareholder value by
aligning resources with market opportunity and establishing an
industry-competitive cost structure.
As the global leader in product categories representing 75
percent of its revenue, DuPont Textiles & Interiors will have
significant cash and earnings growth potential based on growth
in key branded platforms such as Lycra(R) brand fiber,
Stainmaster(R) carpet and Antron(R) nylon carpet, significant
cost reduction opportunities, a robust innovation pipeline and
strong market channel access.
DuPont Textiles & Interiors will be led by DuPont Executive Vice
President and Chief Operating Officer Richard R. Goodmanson and
an experienced team including Group Vice Presidents Steven R.
McCracken and George F. MacCormack.
"Our nylon, polyester and Lycra(R) businesses have played a very
important role in DuPont for many decades," Holliday said. "They
have served our company, our shareholders and our customers
extremely well. Now, with rapidly changing industry dynamics and
tough market realities, we believe the course we have chosen is
necessary to allow them to succeed in the future."
Concurrent with these actions, DuPont will offset all residual
costs from the separation of the DuPont Textiles & Interiors
subsidiary by aggressively reducing its cost structure for
corporate and support services. This effort will be led by W.
Donald Johnson, Group Vice President - Operations & Services.
Each of the five growth platforms has strong capabilities, large
market opportunities and leadership focus and accountability. A
priority will be to leverage across the platforms as needed for
market access and technology extension.
The five growth platforms are
- DuPont Electronic &
Communication Technologies. With about $2.7 billion in segment
sales, this group is a world leader in electronic materials.
It has the ability to capitalize on development of innovative
technologies that improve the form and functionality of
electronic components in a wide range of applications for the
information and communications industries. The group comprises
DuPont Electronic Technologies; DuPont Displays Technologies;
DuPont Imaging Technologies; and DuPont Fluoroproducts, which
includes fluoropolymers, fluorochemicals and fuel cells. These
businesses will be led by Diane H. Gulyas, currently vice
president & general manager - DuPont Advanced Fiber Systems,
who will become Group Vice President.
- DuPont Performance Materials.
With segment sales of about $4.7 billion, this group will
focus on high-performance materials substitution in areas
where DuPont has a unique advantage. It comprises DuPont
Engineering Polymers, including Zytel(R) nylon resins; DuPont
Packaging
& Industrial Polymers; and DuPont's interests in the DuPont
Dow Elastomers and DuPont Teijin Films joint ventures. Group
Vice President Craig G. Naylor will lead these businesses.
- DuPont Coatings & Color
Technologies. With segment sales of about $4.9 billion, this
group of businesses will extend the company's global industry
leadership position in coatings and color through superior
product development and productivity advances. It includes
DuPont
Performance Coatings and DuPont White Pigment and Mineral
Products. Group Vice President Edward J. Donnelly will lead
these businesses.
- DuPont Safety & Protection.
With segment sales of about $3.6 billion, this group of
businesses is well-positioned to address high growth
opportunities, capitalizing on the company's unsurpassed
capability in safety, security and protection while
integrating knowledge and products in solutions-based
offerings. It includes DuPont Safety Resources; DuPont
Advanced Fiber Systems; DuPont Nonwovens; the DuPont Chemical
Solutions Enterprise; and DuPont Surfaces. These businesses
will be led by Group Vice President Ellen J. Kullman.
- DuPont
Agriculture & Nutrition. With segment sales of about $4.3
billion, this business group will leverage DuPont strengths in
crop protection chemicals, seeds, biotechnology, food
ingredients and safety to provide solutions for growers and
the global food industry. It comprises DuPont Crop Protection;
Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc.; and DuPont Nutrition &
Health, which includes DuPont Protein Technologies and DuPont
Qualicon, Inc. These businesses will be led by Group Vice
President Howard L. Minigh.
The five growth platform leaders
will report to John C. Hodgson, currently Group Vice President,
who is appointed Executive Vice President. DuPont external
financial reporting will be realigned to reflect the new
management structure. Estimated sales data shown above are based
on 2001 segment sales.
During 2002, DuPont is celebrating its 200th year of scientific
achievement and innovation - providing products and services
that improve the lives of people everywhere. Based in
Wilmington, Del., DuPont delivers science-based solutions for
markets that make a difference in people's lives in food and
nutrition; health care; apparel; home and construction;
electronics; and transportation.
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