8-KOther Events

ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC 8-K Report (Jan 29, 2004)

Filed January 29, 2004For Securities:ITW

Summary

Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW) filed an 8-K on January 29, 2004, reporting on its fourth-quarter and full-year 2003 results. The report primarily serves to furnish a press release and a presentation from the company's fourth-quarter conference call. Investors can find detailed financial performance information, including discussions on operational results and financial condition, within these furnished documents. The filing highlights the company's practice of presenting "free operating cash flow" as a key performance indicator. While the detailed methodology for this metric is referenced in ITW's 2002 Form 10-K/A, a reconciliation to net cash provided by operating activities is included in the press release. This indicates ITW's focus on providing investors with alternative views of its cash generation capabilities beyond standard GAAP reporting.

Key Highlights

  • 1ITW filed an 8-K on January 29, 2004, reporting on its 2003 fourth-quarter and full-year financial results.
  • 2The filing furnishes Exhibit 99.1: a press release detailing the company's fourth-quarter results.
  • 3Exhibit 99.2: a presentation from ITW's fourth-quarter conference call held on January 29, 2004, is also provided.
  • 4The company's management believes "free operating cash flow" provides useful information to investors.
  • 5A reconciliation of "free operating cash flow" to net cash provided by operating activities is included in the furnished press release (Exhibit 99.1).
  • 6The detailed disclosure on the calculation of "free operating cash flow" can be found in ITW's 2002 Annual Report on Form 10-K/A.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary purpose of this 8-K filing is to officially report on Illinois Tool Works Inc.'s (ITW) fourth-quarter and full-year 2003 results of operations and financial condition. It achieves this by furnishing key documents: a press release detailing the results and a presentation from the company's related conference call.

The detailed financial results and performance insights are contained within the furnished exhibits: Exhibit 99.1 (the press release) and Exhibit 99.2 (the conference call presentation). These documents provide the substance of the company's reported performance for the fourth quarter and the full year 2003.

Free operating cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure that ITW's management believes offers a useful perspective to investors on the company's cash generation. While the specific calculation details are referenced in previous filings (2002 10-K/A), the press release in Exhibit 99.1 provides a reconciliation to the standard GAAP measure, net cash provided by operating activities, allowing for a clearer understanding of ITW's cash conversion.