US glass producers PPG Industries reported first-quarter 2001 net earnings of US$ 56 million or 33 cents a share versus US$139 million or 79 cents a share the year before. This included a pretax restr…
US glass producers PPG Industries reported first-quarter 2001 net earnings of US$ 56 million or 33 cents a share versus US$139 million or 79 cents a share the year before. This included a pretax restructuring charge of US$ 101 million, while after tax the charge was US$ 71 million. Excluding the charge, net income was US$174 million, and sales were US$ 2.2 billion. About two-thirds of the restructuring charge reflects a workforce reduction of nearly 1,500 people, about 4% of PPG“s 2000 average global employment. The other third reflects write-downs for facility closings, as well as production realignments to gain economies of scale. Sales decreased about 2.5% from the 2000 period, primarily on sharp volume declines in all segments in North America, and negative effects of currency translation. The board of directors of PPG declared a regular quarterly dividend of 42 cents a share, payable 12 June to shareholders of record 10 May.