3. New Currency risk policyAutoliv's net transaction exposure amounted to about $ 513 million in 2002 and the Company's policy has been to hedge forecasted foreign currency cash flows up to 75%-100% in the coming six months and 50%-75% in the period seven to twelve months out. As from June 2003 the Autoliv board adopted a new currency risk policy with the effect of stopping any new hedging of future forecasted non-functional currency cash flows. Existing hedges will remain until their expiration dates. The new policy is not expected to have a material impact on either the Company's results or financial position.
4. RestructuringDuring October 2001, a restructuring package was introduced to improve profitability and offset the effects of the downturn in light vehicle production. The costs and provisions for this package, totaling $65 million, were charged to the third quarter 2001 results. The package also included provisions for contractual, warranty and liability issues related to ongoing litigation.The restructuring package mainly included restructuring costs and asset write-offs of the Seat Sub-System division, severance costs related to the U.S. and the Swedish textile operations and additional costs incurred for the partial integration of a former OEA plant into the main U.S. inflator operations.In 2002, restructuring provisions of $9 million were made for severance costs associated with plant consolidation in the U.S. These severance provisions were charged against Other income and expense in the income statement in the fourth quarter of 2002.The employee related restructuring activities are expected to be completed before the end of 2003.The number of employees that were expected to be terminated as part of the restructuring activities when the provisions were made in the third quarter 2001 were 521. At December 31, 2001, 104 employees were terminated or had left voluntarily and 417 employees remained to be terminated. During 2002, an additional 265 employees were terminated or left voluntarily. As part of the restructuring activities in North America in 2002, for which provisions were made in the fourth quarter of 2002, an additional 888 employees were expected to be terminated. Therefore, at December 31, 2002, 1,040 employees remained to be terminated as part of the restructuring activities covered by the reserves. During the first quarter of 2003, 187 employees were terminated or left voluntarily, and 853 employees remain to be terminated as of March 31, 2003. During the second quarter of 2003, 374 employees were terminated or left voluntarily, and 479 remain to be terminated as of June 30, 2003.The table below summarizes the changes in the restructuring reserve during the first and the second quarters of 2003.
5. Comprehensive incomeComprehensive income includes net income for the year and items charged directly to equity.
6. Stock repurchase programAutoliv, Inc. has from October 21, 2002 reactivated its stock-repurchase program under an existing authorization from May 2000, which authorized Management to buy back up to 10 million Autoliv shares. The Board of Directors has approved an expansion of the Company's stock repurchase program and authorized the repurchase of an additional 10 million shares in Autoliv Inc. The decision was taken on April 29, 2003.As of July 24, 2003, approximately 2.1 million shares have been repurchased since December 31, 2002 for cash of $43.0 million. During 2002, approximately 1.6 million shares were repurchased for cash of $30.4 million. In total, Autoliv has repurchased approximately 8.1 million shares since May 2000 for cash of $176.5 million.7. Stock incentive planHad compensation cost for all of the Company's stock-based compensation awards been determined based on the fair value of such awards at the grant date, consistent with the methods of FAS-123 Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, the Company's total and per share net income would have been as follows:
8. New Accounting PronouncementsIn August 2001, the FASB issued FAS-143 "Asset Retirement Obligations" regarding the non-temporary removal of long-lived assets from service whether by sale, abandonment, recycling or other method of disposal. FAS-143 became effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2002, which for the Company was January 1, 2003. The adoption of FAS-143 had no material impact on Autoliv's results of operations or financial position.In July 2002, FAS-146 "Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal activities" was issued. It addresses financial accounting and reporting for costs associated with exit or disposal activities and nullifies EITF 94-3 "Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and other Costs to Exit an Activity (including Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring)". The principal difference between FAS-146 and EITF 94-3 relates to FAS-146's requirements that a liability for a cost associated with an exit or disposal activity should be recognized when the liability is incurred. The statement is effective for exit or disposal activities initiated after December 31, 2002. The application of FAS-146 has had no material effect on earnings or financial position.In December 2002, the FASB issued FAS-148 "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation-Transition and Disclosure an amendment of FASB Statement No. 123" ("FAS-148"). This Statement amends FAS-123 "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation", to provide alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair-value-based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. In addition, this Statement amends the disclosure requirements of FAS-123 to require prominent disclosures in both annual and interim financial statements about the method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation and the effect of the method used on reported results. The Company does not plan to change its accounting for stock- based compensation from APB-25 (intrinsic value method) to FAS-123 (fair-value method) and accordingly the application of FAS-148 will have no effect on earnings or financial position.In November 2002, the FASB issued FIN 45 "Guarantor's Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others". The Interpretation's initial recognition and initial measurement provisions are applicable to guarantees issued or modified after December 31, 2002, irrespective of the guarantor's fiscal year-end. The guarantor's previous accounting for guarantees issued prior to the date of the Interpretation's initial application should not be revised or restated to reflect the Interpretation's provisions. The application of FIN-45 has had no material effect on earnings or financial position.In January 2003, the FASB issued an Interpretation, FIN 46 "Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities (VIE)", discussing the consolidation of variable interest entities (formerly the consolidation of SPEs). The Interpretation's provisions are effective immediately for enterprises with variable interests in VIEs created after January 31, 2003. The date the Interpretation's provisions are to be applied to public entities with variable interests in a VIE created before February 1, 2003 is the beginning of the first interim or annual reporting period after June 15, 2003 which for the Company is July 1, 2003. Based on information currently available the application of FIN-46 is expected by Management to have no material effect on earnings or financial position.In April 2003, FASB Statement No. 149 "Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities" (FAS 149) was issued. FAS 149 requires that contracts with comparable characteristics be accounted for similarly. In particular, FAS 149 clarifies under what circumstances a contract with an initial net investment meets the characteristic of a derivative, clarifies when a derivative contains a financing component, amends the definition of an underlying to conform it to language used in FIN 45, and amends certain other existing pronouncements. FAS 149 is effective for contracts entered into or modified after June 30, 2003, and for hedging relationships designated after June 30, 2003. In addition, provisions of FAS 149 should be applied prospectively. Autoliv does not expect the application of FAS 149 to have a material effect on it's earnings and financial position.In May 2003, FASB Statement No. 150 "Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity" (FAS 150) was issued. FAS 150 establishes standards for how an issuer classifies and measures certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity. It requires that an issuer classify a financial instrument that is within its scope as a liability (or an asset in some circumstances). Many of those instruments were previously classified as equity. FAS 150 is effective for financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003, and otherwise is effective at the beginning of the first interim period beginning after June 15, 2003. It is to be implemented by reporting the cumulative effect of a change in an accounting principle for financial instruments created before the issuance date of FAS 150 and still existing at the beginning of the interim period of adoption. Restatement is not permitted. Autoliv does not expect the application of FAS 150 to have a material effect on it's earnings and financial position.
Exhibits
Description
Information concerning the calculation of Autoliv's earnings per share is included in Note 1 of the Consolidated Notes to Financial Statements contained in the Annual Report and is incorporated herein by reference.
Rules 13a-15(e)/15(d)-15(e) Certifications
Section 1350 Certifications