Global Operations
Our global activities span all geographic regions and primarily encompass manufacturing for local and export markets, import and sale of products produced in other regions, leasing of aircraft, sourcing for our plants domiciled in other global regions and provision of financial services within these regional economies. Thus, when countries or regions experience currency and/or economic stress, we often have increased exposure to certain risks, but also often have new profit opportunities. Potential increased risks include, among other things, higher receivable delinquencies and bad debts, delays or cancelations of sales and orders principally related to power and aircraft equipment, higher local currency financing costs and slowdown in established financial services activities. New profit opportunities include, among other things, more opportunities for lower cost outsourcing, expansion of industrial and financial services activities through purchases of companies or assets at reduced prices and lower U.S. debt financing costs.
Estimated results of global activities include the results of our operations located outside the United States plus all U.S. exports. We classify certain GECS operations that cannot meaningfully be associated with specific geographic areas as “Other global” for this purpose.
Global revenues rose 18% to $71.8 billion in 2004 compared with $60.8 billion and $53.4 billion in 2003 and 2002, respectively. Global revenues to external customers as a percentage of consolidated revenues were 43% in 2004, compared with 42% and 37% in 2003 and 2002, respectively. The effects of exchange rates on reported results were to increase revenues by $3.5 billion, $3.8 billion and $0.4 billion in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively; and increase earnings by $0.1 billion in both 2004 and 2003 and decrease earnings by $0.1 billion in 2002.
CONSOLIDATED GLOBAL REVENUES
| (In millions) | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Europe | $37,000 | $30,500 | $24,800 | |||
| Pacific Basin | 13,100 | 13,100 | 12,000 | |||
| Americas | 7,200 | 5,900 | 5,200 | |||
| Other global | 5,400 | 4,600 | 3,900 | |||
| 62,700 | 54,100 | 45,900 | ||||
| Exports from the U.S. to external customers | 9,100 | 6,700 | 7,500 | |||
| Total | $71,800 | $60,800 | $53,400 |
GE global revenues were $42.4 billion, $33.0 billion and $29.0 billion in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The increase in 2004 related to both increased operations outside the U.S. and U.S. exports. GE revenues in Europe rose 40% led by Healthcare and NBC Universal reflecting the Amersham acquisition and the combination of NBC and VUE. GE revenues in the Pacific Basin increased 13% led by Advanced Materials, Infrastructure and Energy. U.S. exports rose 35% on strong growth at Energy and Transportation. The increase in 2003 related to increased operations outside the U.S., partially offset by lower U.S. exports. In 2003, GE revenues in Europe rose 25%, led by Energy, Healthcare and Infrastructure, reflecting the effects of the weaker U.S. dollar and volume growth. GE revenues in the Pacific Basin increased 14% in 2003 as most businesses reported improved results. In 2003, Energy and Infrastructure were the primary contributors to a 16% increase in revenues in the Americas and Energy more than accounted for the 10% decrease in U.S. exports.
GECS global revenues were $29.4 billion, $27.8 billion and $24.4 billion in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. GECS revenues in the Americas increased 47% in 2004, primarily as a result of the acquisition of the commercial lending business of Transamerica Finance Corporation at Commercial Finance. Revenues increased 31% in "Other global" as a result of growth at Commercial Finance and the gain on the sale of a majority interest in Gecis. Revenues in the Pacific Basin decreased 13% primarily as a result of the 2003 divestiture of Edison Life at Insurance. This decrease was partially offset by the effects of the weaker U.S. dollar, acquisitions, primarily GC Card at Consumer Finance, and core growth at Consumer Finance and Commercial Finance.
Global operating profit was $12.2 billion in 2004, an increase of 39% over 2003, which was 35% higher than in 2002. Operating profit in 2004 rose 45% in Europe reflecting core growth and acquisitions at Consumer Finance and Commercial Finance, the Amersham acquisition at Healthcare and the combination of NBC and VUE. Operating profit also rose 42% to $2.2 billion in the Americas and 22% to $2.9 billion in the Pacific Basin and 46% to $1.3 billion in "Other global."
Total assets of global operations were $323.7 billion in 2004 (43% of consolidated assets), an increase of $64.8 billion, or 25%, over 2003. GECS global assets grew 24% from $232.0 billion at the end of 2003 to $287.7 billion at the end of 2004. GECS assets increased 18% in Europe as a result of the effects of the weaker U.S. dollar ($13.7 billion), acquisitions ($9.2 billion), primarily at Commercial Finance and Consumer Finance, and growth at Consumer Finance. GECS assets increased 46% in the Pacific Basin, primarily as a result of acquisitions at Consumer Finance.
Financial results of our global activities reported in U.S. dollars are affected by currency exchange. We use a number of techniques to manage the effects of currency exchange, including selective borrowings in local currencies and selective hedging of significant cross-currency transactions. Such principal currencies are the British pound sterling, the euro, the Japanese yen and the Canadian dollar.
Environmental Matters
Our operations, like operations of other companies engaged in similar businesses, involve the use, disposal and cleanup of substances regulated under environmental protection laws.
We are involved in a sizable number of remediation actions to clean up hazardous wastes as required by federal and state laws. Such statutes require that responsible parties fund remediation actions regardless of fault, legality of original disposal or ownership of a disposal site. Expenditures for site remediation actions amounted to $0.1 billion in each of the last two years. We presently expect that such remediation actions will require average annual expenditures in the range of $0.1 billion to $0.2 billion over the next two years.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ruled in February 2002 that approximately 150,000 pounds of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) must be dredged from a 40-mile stretch of the upper Hudson River in New York State. We have submitted what is known as a “Good Faith Offer” under the Superfund law and continue to cooperate and negotiate with the EPA in the implementation of this ruling. Pursuant to negotiated agreements, we have conducted extensive sampling of the project area to determine the location of PCBs that may be dredged and have agreed to undertake the design and engineering of the remedy. The agreements also provide for the reimbursement of certain EPA costs expended in the past and which would be expended in the future. The remedial design and engineering activities are scheduled to be completed during 2006. Negotiations continue concerning performance of the remedial work. Our Statement of Financial Position as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, included liabilities for the estimated costs of this remediation.
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