From last spring:
FACTBOX-SARS' impact on U.S. companies
Reuters, 06.09.03, 4:51 PM ET
Reuters) - The outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which has killed hundreds and infected thousands, mostly in China and Hong Kong, is having an impact on an increasing number of U.S. companies.
Below is a summary of major U.S. corporate announcements in alphabetical order concerning the virus and the dates on which they were made. New announcements: Motorola Inc.
American International Group Inc. -- April 24
The insurer, which gets nearly 30 percent of its revenue from Asia, said SARS would keep agents from visiting prospective customers and would likely dampen sales in Asia.
AMR Corp.'s American Airlines -- May 15
American Airlines said that it may still need for file for bankruptcy despite various cost-cutting deals because of uncertain prospects including SARS. American Airlines earlier blamed the $1.04 billion first-quarter loss on weak travel, the sluggish economy, war in Iraq and SARS.
Avon Products Inc. -- April 25
Avon said it started to notice an impact from SARS in China in the current quarter and scaled back sales targets for parts of the region. Andrea Jung, chairman and chief executive, said: "I think our heads would be in the sand if we said there's not going to be any impact in the second quarter (from SARS)."
BEA Systems Inc. -- May 14
The telecom equipment maker said SARS could depress current-quarter revenue by 2 to 5 percent, because of business disruptions in Asia, which accounted for 16 percent of BEA's sales.
B/E Aerospace Inc. April 21
The aircraft components maker said full-year earnings will be below previous estimates as the war and concern over SARS affect international travel.
Brunswick Corp.--April 24
The world's largest maker of pleasure boats narrowed its profit outlook to the lower end of the previous range. It said the outbreak of SARS helps to cloud the economic outlook, making it difficult to gauge the impact on retail activity.
CellStar Corp. -- May 1
The wireless communications products distributor said it delayed the initial public offering of its Greater China operations over SARS and may treat a portion of the $3.4 million of IPO-related costs as second-quarter expenses.
Cirrus Logic Inc. -- May 7
The semiconductor maker said it expects lower revenue in the first-quarter, partly due to some substantial cutbacks in spending in the Far East.
Dell Computer Corp. May 13
The personal computer maker closed its Taiwan office for a week after an employee was listed as a probable SARS case, but sees no major impact from the closure.
DuPont Co. May 6
The No.2 U.S. chemical maker said activity on its wholesale site has spiked ten-fold in recent weeks as buyers increasingly deal over the Internet to avoid SARS. But DuPont's retail sales in Asia have slowed, which will affect its business since half of the Lycra spandex produced in Asia is sold locally.
Eastman Kodak Co. -- May 7
The maker of photographic film said Chinese had cancelled or pulled back on May holiday week due to SARS. Kodak said the next couple months in China could be "really tough" on picture-taking, with possible contraction.
Elizabeth Arden Inc. -- May 28
The cosmetics maker posted wider first-quarter loss and said SARS, which hurt sales at airport duty-free shops and in Asia and Canada, accounted for about two-thirds of the shortfall.
Estee Lauder Cos. Inc.-- April 30
The cosmetics maker, with 13 percent of its sales from the Asia Pacific region, said SARS has cut into sales at travel-related duty-free shops, and stores in Hong Kong, Singapore, and mainland China.
Esterline Technologies Corp. May 5
The maker of aerospace components said the war and SARS are cutting into commercial aircraft spare parts orders, prompting it to warn earnings will lag Wall St estimates.
Exxon Mobil Corp. -- May 1
The oil company said SARS did not have an impact on the more-than-tripled first-quarter earnings, but in the second quarter the industry will see an impact of airlines cutting flights due to SARS.
General Electric Co.-- May 7
The company said SARS' effect on the travel and airline industry would continue to hurt its businesses that make and lease equipment for the sector, but the resolution of the Iraq war would help offset the weakness.
Goodrich Corp.-- April 28
The aircraft equipment maker cut earnings and sales outlook and said it would slash 1,700 jobs, as war in Iraq and SARS have slammed global economies and trimmed airline finances.
Gymboree Corp. -- May 20
The children's clothing retailer said sales in the Toronto area were weak due to SARS. But, on the other hand, the disease and Iraq war had significantly reduced its travel expenses.
Heidrick & Struggles International-- April 30
The staffing company said SARS will hurt earnings and is likely to have a negative impact in its Asia business as candidates are not being flown in for final interviews.
McDonald's Corp. -- April 28
The fast food company blamed the Iraq war and SARS concerns for a drop in comparable sales in the first quarter in the Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa regions. It expects results in the regions "to be impacted by these issues in the near term."
Microchip Technology Inc. April 23
The semiconductor maker posted a wider fourth-quarter profit from a year ago, after lowering its forecast twice citing the war on Iraq and SARS as factors.
Motorola Inc. June 9
The mobile phone maker warned its second-quarter and 2003 sales and earnings would be lower than it had expected because phone sales in Asia were lower due to SARS.
Navigant International Inc. April 29
The corporate travel service firm blamed a slight dip in first-quarter earnings on the Iraq war and SARS. It said fear of SARS was becoming more evident and it expects second-quarter transactions to be about 10-15 percent below last year's.
Northwest Airlines Corp. May 9
The airline said it has notified its unions more layoffs may be in store under an emergency clause in its labor contracts, with air travel to Asia down sharply since the outbreak of SARS. Northwest said traffic on its Pacific flights slipped 25 percent in April.
Novellus Systems Inc. -- April 14
The maker of microchip production tools warned that orders would drop 23 percent in the second quarter, mainly because of the impact of SARS.
Oneida Ltd. -- May 13
The flatware and cutlery maker said it swung to a first-quarter loss partly due to SARS, which affected its international operations by curtailing foreign travel and related economic activity.
Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. -- May 9
The company, which owns hotels and restaurants globally, said it suspended temporarily some Eastern & Oriental Express tourist train services in Southeast Asia due to SARS, although the outbreak has had a minimal impact on the businesses.
Park Place Entertainment Corp.--May 1
The casino owner slashed its second-quarter outlook, partly because visits from Asia, home to some of the highest high rollers, was down on SARS fears.
SciClone Pharmaceuticals Inc. -- May 6
The drug maker expects second-quarter sales of Zadaxin to triple from the first quarter, as people in China snatch up the immune system drug to combat SARS.
Sotheby's Holdings Inc. -- May 14
The auction house posted a wider loss, saying property gathering for spring season was affected by the economy, the Iraq war and SARS. Asia represents 5 to 7 percent of Sotheby's revenues, and company noted Asian clients' concern about travel.
Starbucks Corp. -- May 22
The coffee shop giant said SARS had huge negative impacts in some individual markets, but it has only seen a small impact at the parent level.
Tiffany & Co. Inc. -- May 14
The jewelry firm said first-quarter profit rose despite uncertainty caused by factors such as SARS. Tiffany said same-store sales in Hong Kong fell 9 percent in April.
UAL Corp. -- May 28
The bankrupt parent of United Airlines posted a $375 million net loss for April, as travel demand was hit by the war and SARS. The company said its cash burn was significantly higher in April as compared with March.
Visa International -- May 8
The private payment card company said the SARS outbreak reduced the number of card transactions in Asia Pacific by 15 percent in the week ended April 27 from the same period a year earlier. Usage by overseas cardholders in the week tumbled by 64 percent in China, 58 percent in Hong Kong, and 50 percent in Singapore.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. -- April 28
The retailer said SARS would not have a significant effect on stores or supplies, but it was forced to make other arrangements to keep its orders flowing smoothly. Wal-Mart temporarily banned employee travel to Asia and Toronto because of SARS worries.
Yum Brands Inc. -- April 23
The parent of the KFC and Pizza Hut restaurant chains warned 2003 results could be hurt if SARS is not contained quickly. If SARS were to hit all China for two to three months with sales falling about 20 percent, full-year earnings could be shaved by 3 cents to 4 cents per share.
Copyright 2003, Reuters News Service
http://www.forbes.com/business/newswire/2003/06/09/rtr994750.html