10-KPeriod: FY2002

CHEVRON CORP Annual Report, Year Ended Dec 31, 2002

Filed March 17, 2003For Securities:CVX

Summary

ChevronTexaco Corporation's 2002 annual report highlights a challenging year marked by significant "special item" charges that heavily impacted net income. The company reported a net income of $1.132 billion for 2002, a substantial decrease from $3.288 billion in 2001, primarily due to $3.334 billion in net special item charges. These charges were largely driven by asset write-offs and revaluations, particularly related to its investment in Dynegy Inc. and merger-related expenses. Despite these headwinds, the company's core upstream (exploration and production) segment remained profitable, albeit with lower natural gas realizations in the U.S. The downstream (refining, marketing, and transportation) segment experienced a loss due to weak industry margins. Looking ahead, ChevronTexaco emphasized a focus on strategic asset evaluation to drive long-term value and indicated potential asset dispositions in 2003. The company also noted a healthy liquidity position, with cash and cash equivalents increasing to $3.8 billion. Investors should closely monitor the company's ability to manage its downstream segment's profitability and the impact of ongoing strategic reviews on its portfolio.

Key Highlights

  • 1Net income for 2002 was $1.132 billion, a significant decrease from $3.288 billion in 2001, heavily influenced by $3.334 billion in net special item charges.
  • 2Special item charges included substantial write-downs related to the Dynegy Inc. investment ($1.626 billion) and merger-related expenses ($576 million).
  • 3The Exploration and Production segment remained profitable, generating $4.556 billion in segment income, although U.S. natural gas realizations declined.
  • 4The Refining, Marketing, and Transportation segment reported a loss of $367 million, primarily due to weak industry refining and marketing margins.
  • 5The company sold $2.2 billion in FTC-mandated assets (Equilon and Motiva) in February 2002, impacting financial results.
  • 6ChevronTexaco's capital expenditures were $9.3 billion for 2002, with a focus on international exploration and production, and an estimated $8.5 billion planned for 2003.
  • 7The company maintained strong liquidity, with cash and cash equivalents totaling $3.8 billion at year-end 2002.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary factor impacting ChevronTexaco's profitability in 2002 was the significant "special item" charges totaling $3.334 billion. These charges primarily consisted of asset write-offs and revaluations, most notably related to the company's investment in Dynegy Inc. ($1.626 billion) and merger-related expenses ($576 million). While the core upstream business remained profitable, the downstream segment suffered from weak industry margins.

The merger between Chevron and Texaco, completed in October 2001, continued to have financial implications in 2002. The company incurred $576 million in merger-related expenses, including severance payments and relocation costs. Additionally, as a condition of regulatory approval, ChevronTexaco sold its interests in Equilon and Motiva joint ventures in February 2002 for $2.2 billion. While these sales impacted the balance sheet, the overall financial performance was more significantly affected by the special item charges.

ChevronTexaco indicated that in 2003 it would strategically evaluate its post-merger portfolio, which could lead to asset dispositions. The company anticipated continued challenges in the downstream refining, marketing, and transportation segment, with no expected rebound to 2001/2000 levels. Upstream earnings were expected to remain influenced by commodity prices and production levels, with strong crude oil prices in early 2003 due to geopolitical factors. Investment plans for 2003 were projected to be $8.5 billion, a decrease from 2002, with a continued emphasis on international exploration and production.

ChevronTexaco maintained a strong financial position. Cash and cash equivalents increased to $3.8 billion at the end of 2002. The company's debt levels decreased, and its senior debt ratings remained high-quality investment grade (AA/Aa2). The company stated it has substantial borrowing capacity to meet unanticipated cash requirements and flexibility to modify capital spending plans if necessary to maintain its dividend and debt ratings.