Worthington Industries, Inc. (NYSE: WOR), a leading industrial
manufacturing company, today announced the senior leadership teams
for New Worthington and Worthington Steel, effective upon
completion of Worthington’s planned separation of the Steel
Processing business.
Worthington President and CEO Andy Rose said, “This announcement
represents another important step forward in our Worthington 2024
plan. The leadership teams of New Worthington and Worthington Steel
reflect the unique focus and strategic priorities of each company,
and the leaders named will bring highly relevant industry and
functional expertise to their roles. Importantly, these leaders
will carry forward our people-first Philosophy, winning culture and
the Worthington Business System driven by innovation,
transformation and acquisitions for the benefit of each company’s
shareholders, customers and employees.”
New Worthington Leadership Team
New Worthington will be a market-leading company with premier
brands in attractive end markets in Consumer Products, Building
Products and Sustainable Energy Solutions. In addition to President
and CEO Andy Rose, the New Worthington leadership team will
comprise the following:
- Joe Hayek, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
and Operations Officer: Hayek has been with Worthington
since 2014 and was named vice president and chief financial officer
in November 2018. Prior to Worthington, Hayek held leadership roles
at PCM, Inc. and spent 10 years in investment banking with Raymond
James.
- Eric Smolenski, President, Building Products and
Sustainable Energy Solutions: Smolenski joined Worthington
Industries in 1994 and has served in several leadership roles
across the organization including vice president of Human
Resources, Chief Information Officer and president of Pressure
Cylinders. He was named president of Building Products and
Sustainable Energy Solutions in June 2021.
- Steve Caravati, President, Consumer Products:
Since joining Worthington over 17 years ago, Caravati has taken on
several roles within Worthington’s Consumer Products business,
including national account manager, director of sales, product
director, business director and general manager. He was named
president of Consumer Products in June 2021.
- Sonya Higginbotham, Senior Vice President and Chief of
Corporate Affairs, Communications and Sustainability:
Higginbotham joined Worthington in 1997 and in 1999 helped form
Worthington’s Corporate Communications department. She was named
vice president of Corporate Communications and Brand Management in
September 2018 and leads Worthington’s internal and external
communications, brand strategy, marketing, government relations,
philanthropic activities and most recently, sustainability
initiatives.
Worthington Steel Leadership Team
Following the separation, Worthington Steel will be a
best-in-class, value-added steel processor and producer of
electrical steel laminations and automotive lightweighting
solutions, positioned to capitalize on expanding opportunities in
electrification, sustainability and infrastructure spending. In
addition to President and CEO Geoff Gilmore, the Worthington Steel
leadership team will comprise the following:
- Tim Adams, Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer: Adams joined Worthington as a financial analyst
in 1998 and has served in multiple roles of increasing
responsibility in the Financial Planning and Analysis group. He was
named vice president of Strategy and Corporate Development for the
Steel Processing business in 2012 and is responsible for strategic
planning as well as mergers and acquisitions and business
development.
- Jeff Klingler, Executive Vice President and Chief
Operating Officer: Klingler first joined Worthington in
1992 starting on the production floor before rising up the sales
ranks. After 15 years with Worthington, he left to join Banner
Service Corporation as vice president of Sales, Marketing and
Procurement. He returned to Worthington in 2014 and led the
creation of Steel Processing’s supply chain solutions strategic
business unit. In May 2019, Klingler was named president of Steel
Processing.
As previously announced, the Worthington 2024 plan will result
in two independent, publicly traded companies that are more
specialized and fit-for-purpose, with enhanced prospects for growth
and value creation. Worthington plans to effect the separation via
a distribution of stock of the Steel Processing business, which is
expected to be tax-free to shareholders for U.S. federal income tax
purposes. Worthington remains on track to complete the separation
by early 2024, subject to, among other things, general market
conditions, finalization of the capital structure of the two
companies, completion of steps necessary to qualify the separation
as a tax-free transaction, receipt of regulatory approvals and
final approval by the Company’s Board of Directors. A dedicated
area of the Company’s website will have more information as it is
available at www.WorthingtonIndustries.com/W24.
Related Worthington 2024 Activities: Commitment to
Setting Science-Based Targets for GHG Emissions
Reduction
The Company also today announced that New Worthington and
Worthington Steel will each set its own greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions reduction targets aligned with a 1.5 degree Celsius
science-based target, with a goal to achieve net-zero emissions by
2050. In connection with this commitment, Worthington will delay
setting reduction targets and applying to the Science Based Targets
initiative (SBTi). New Worthington and Worthington Steel will
instead apply as independent companies following the completion of
the planned separation. Each company will conduct an environmental,
social and governance (ESG) materiality assessment and assessments
of Scopes 1, 2 and 3 calculations, which will be used to establish
emissions reduction targets and determine priorities for future
action.
About Worthington IndustriesWorthington
Industries (NYSE:WOR) is a leading industrial manufacturing company
pursuing its vision to be the transformative partner to its
customers, a positive force for its communities and earn
exceptional returns for its shareholders. For over six decades, the
Company has been delivering innovative solutions to customers
spanning industries such as automotive, energy, retail and
construction. Worthington is North America’s premier value-added
steel processor and producer of laser welded solutions and
electrical steel laminations that provide lightweighting, safety
critical and emission reducing components to the mobility market.
Through on-board fueling systems and gas containment solutions,
Worthington serves the growing global hydrogen ecosystem. The
Company’s focus on innovation and manufacturing expertise extends
to market-leading consumer products in tools, outdoor living and
celebrations categories, sold under brand names, Coleman®,
Bernzomatic®, Balloon Time®, Level5 Tools®, Mag Torch®,
Well-X-Trol®, General®, Garden-Weasel®, Pactool International® and
Hawkeye™; as well as market leading building products, including
water systems, heating & cooling solutions, architectural and
acoustical grid ceilings and metal framing and accessories.
Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Worthington operates 52
facilities in 15 states and nine countries, sells into over 90
countries and employs approximately 9,500 people. Founded in 1955,
the Company follows a people-first Philosophy with earning money
for its shareholders as its first corporate goal. Relentlessly
finding new ways to drive progress and transform, Worthington is
committed to providing better solutions for customers and bettering
the communities where it operates by reducing waste, supporting
community-based non-profits and developing the next generations of
makers.
Safe Harbor Statement The Company wishes to
take advantage of the Safe Harbor provisions included in the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”).
Statements by the Company relating to the ever-changing effects of
the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic and the various
responses of governmental and nongovernmental authorities thereto
(such as fiscal stimulus packages, quarantines, shut downs and
other restrictions on travel and commercial, social or other
activities) on economies (local, national and international) and
markets, and on our customers, counterparties, employees and
third-party service providers; future or expected cash positions,
liquidity and ability to access financial markets and capital;
outlook, strategy or business plans; the intended separation of the
Company’s Steel Processing business (the “Separation”); the timing
and method of the Separation; the anticipated benefits of the
Separation; the expected financial and operational performance of,
and future opportunities for, each of the two independent,
publicly-traded companies following the Separation; the tax
treatment of the Separation transaction; the leadership of each of
the two independent, publicly-traded companies following the
Separation; future or expected growth, growth potential, forward
momentum, performance, competitive position, sales, volumes, cash
flows, earnings, margins, balance sheet strengths, debt, financial
condition or other financial measures; pricing trends for raw
materials and finished goods and the impact of pricing changes; the
ability to improve or maintain margins; expected demand or demand
trends for the Company or its markets; additions to product lines
and opportunities to participate in new markets; expected benefits
from transformation and innovation efforts; the ability to improve
performance and competitive position at the Company’s operations;
anticipated working capital needs, capital expenditures and asset
sales; anticipated improvements and efficiencies in costs,
operations, sales, inventory management, sourcing and the supply
chain and the results thereof; projected profitability potential;
the ability to make acquisitions and the projected timing, results,
benefits, costs, charges and expenditures related to acquisitions,
joint ventures, headcount reductions and facility dispositions,
shutdowns and consolidations; projected capacity and the alignment
of operations with demand; the ability to operate profitably and
generate cash in down markets; the ability to capture and maintain
market share and to develop or take advantage of future
opportunities, customer initiatives, new businesses, new products
and new markets; expectations for Company and customer inventories,
jobs and orders; expectations for the economy and markets or
improvements therein; expectations for generating improving and
sustainable earnings, earnings potential, margins or shareholder
value; effects of judicial rulings; and other non-historical
matters constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning
of the Act. Forward-looking statements may be characterized by
terms such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “may,” “could,”
“should,” “would,” “intend,” “plan,” “will,” “likely,” “estimate,”
“project,” “positioned,” “strategy,” “targets,” “aims,” “seek,”
“foresee” and similar expressions. Because they are based on
beliefs, estimates and assumptions, forward-looking statements are
inherently subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those projected. Any
number of factors could affect actual results, including, without
limitation, those that follow: obtaining final approval of the
Separation by the Worthington Industries, Inc. Board of Directors;
the uncertainty of obtaining regulatory approvals in connection
with the Separation, including rulings from the Internal Revenue
Service; the ability to satisfy the necessary closing conditions to
complete the Separation on a timely basis, or at all; the Company’s
ability to successfully separate the two independent companies and
realize the anticipated benefits of the Separation; the risks,
uncertainties and impacts related to the COVID-19 pandemic – the
duration, extent and severity of which are impossible to predict,
including the possibility of future resurgence in the spread of
COVID-19 or variants thereof – and the availability, effectiveness
and acceptance of vaccines, and other actual or potential public
health emergencies and actions taken by governmental authorities or
others in connection therewith; the effect of national, regional
and global economic conditions generally and within major product
markets, including significant economic disruptions from COVID-19,
the actions taken in connection therewith and the implementation of
related fiscal stimulus packages; the effect of conditions in
national and worldwide financial markets, including inflation,
increases in interest rates and economic recession, and with
respect to the ability of financial institutions to provide
capital; the impact of tariffs, the adoption of trade restrictions
affecting the Company’s products or suppliers, a United States
withdrawal from or significant renegotiation of trade agreements,
the occurrence of trade wars, the closing of border crossings, and
other changes in trade regulations or relationships; changing oil
prices and/or supply; product demand and pricing; changes in
product mix, product substitution and market acceptance of the
Company’s products; volatility or fluctuations in the pricing,
quality or availability of raw materials (particularly steel),
supplies, transportation, utilities, labor and other items required
by operations (especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine); effects of sourcing and supply chain
constraints; the outcome of adverse claims experience with respect
to workers’ compensation, product recalls or product liability,
casualty events or other matters; effects of facility closures and
the consolidation of operations; the effect of financial
difficulties, consolidation and other changes within the steel,
automotive, construction and other industries in which the Company
participates; failure to maintain appropriate levels of
inventories; financial difficulties (including bankruptcy filings)
of original equipment manufacturers, end-users and customers,
suppliers, joint venture partners and others with whom the Company
does business; the ability to realize targeted expense reductions
from headcount reductions, facility closures and other cost
reduction efforts; the ability to realize cost savings and
operational, sales and sourcing improvements and efficiencies, and
other expected benefits from transformation initiatives, on a
timely basis; the overall success of, and the ability to integrate,
newly-acquired businesses and joint ventures, maintain and develop
their customers, and achieve synergies and other expected benefits
and cost savings therefrom; capacity levels and efficiencies,
within facilities, within major product markets and within the
industries in which the Company participates as a whole; the effect
of disruption in the business of suppliers, customers, facilities
and shipping operations due to adverse weather, casualty events,
equipment breakdowns, labor shortages (especially in light of the
COVID-19 pandemic), interruption in utility services, civil unrest,
international conflicts (especially in light of Russia’s invasion
of Ukraine), terrorist activities or other causes; changes in
customer demand, inventories, spending patterns, product choices,
and supplier choices; risks associated with doing business
internationally, including economic, political and social
instability (especially in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine),
foreign currency exchange rate exposure and the acceptance of the
Company’s products in global markets; the ability to improve and
maintain processes and business practices to keep pace with the
economic, competitive and technological environment; the effect of
inflation, interest rate increases and economic recession, which
may negatively impact the Company’s operations and financial
results; deviation of actual results from estimates and/or
assumptions used by the Company in the application of its
significant accounting policies; the level of imports and import
prices in the Company’s markets; the impact of environmental laws
and regulations or the actions of the United States Environmental
Protection Agency or similar regulators which increase costs or
limit the Company’s ability to use or sell certain products; the
impact of increasing environmental, greenhouse gas emission and
sustainability considerations or regulations; the impact of
judicial rulings and governmental regulations, both in the United
States and abroad, including those adopted by the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission and other governmental agencies
as contemplated by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic
Security (CARES) Act, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021,
the American Rescue Act of 2021, and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street
Reform and the Consumer Protection Act of 2010; the effect of
healthcare laws in the United States and potential changes for such
laws, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, which may
increase the Company’s healthcare and other costs and negatively
impact the Company’s operations and financial results; the effects
of tax laws in the United States and potential changes for such
laws, which may increase the Company’s costs and negatively impact
the Company’s operations and financial results; cyber security
risks; the effects of privacy and information security laws and
standards; and other risks described from time to time in the
filings of Worthington Industries, Inc. with the States Securities
and Exchange Commission, including those described in “Part I –
Item 1A. – Risk Factors” of the Annual Report on Form 10-K of
Worthington Industries, Inc. for the fiscal year ended May 31,
2022.
Contacts:SONYA L. HIGGINBOTHAMVP, CORPORATE
COMMUNICATIONS AND BRAND MANAGEMENT614.438.7391 |
sonya.higginbotham@worthingtonindustries.com
MARCUS A. ROGIERTREASURER AND INVESTOR
RELATIONS OFFICER614.840.4663 |
marcus.rogier@worthingtonindustries.com
200 Old Wilson Bridge Rd. | Columbus, Ohio
43085WorthingtonIndustries.com
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