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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2002

Commission File Number 1-9753

GEORGIA GULF CORPORATION
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (770) 395-4500

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

        Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ý    No o

        Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ý

        Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ý    No o

        Aggregate market value of the common stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant, computed using the closing price on the New York Stock Exchange for the Registrant's common stock on June 28, 2002, was $848,955,562.

        Indicate the number of shares outstanding of the Registrant's common stock as of the latest practicable date.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
(To the Extent Indicated Herein)

        Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 20, 2003, in Part III of this Form 10-K.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I

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PART I

Item 1. BUSINESS.

General

        We are a leading North American manufacturer and international marketer of two integrated product lines, chlorovinyls and aromatics. In our chlorovinyls business, we are:

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the third largest North American producer of vinyl chloride monomer, or VCM,



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the third largest North American producer of vinyl suspension resins and



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the second largest North American producer of vinyl compounds.

        In our aromatics business, we are:

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one of the largest North American producers of cumene, and



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a leading North American producer and marketer of phenol.

        Our manufacturing processes also include the production of caustic soda, chlorine and acetone. The primary products we sell externally include vinyl resins, vinyl compounds and caustic soda in our chlorovinyls business and cumene, phenol and acetone in our aromatics business. These products are used globally in a wide variety of end-use applications, including construction and renovation, engineering plastics, pulp and paper production, chemical intermediates, pharmaceuticals and consumer products. We believe our vertical integration, world scale facilities, operating efficiencies, facility locations and the productivity of our employees provide us with a competitive cost position in our primary markets.

        For selected financial information concerning our chlorovinyls and aromatics product segments and our domestic and international sales, see Note 17 and Note 20 to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8.

Acquisitions

        On November 12, 1999, we completed the purchase of substantially all of the assets and working capital of the vinyls business of CONDEA Vista Company (now Sasol North America, Inc). Assets acquired in the purchase include:

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one VCM facility with annual capacity of 950 million pounds;



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50% ownership of PHH Monomers, L.L.C., a manufacturing joint venture that operates a VCM facility with capacity to produce 1.15 billion pounds of VCM annually, which entitles us to one-half of the production capacity, or 575 million pounds;



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two vinyl resin facilities with combined annual capacity of 1.5 billion pounds; and



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vinyl compound facilities with an annual combined capacity of 265 million pounds.

        Additionally, we entered into a long-term supply contract with CONDEA Vista for the supply of ethylene and assumed a chlorine supply contract with PPG Industries, Inc., our joint venture partner in PHH Monomers, for the acquired VCM facilities.

        On May 11, 1998, we acquired North American Plastics, Inc., a manufacturer of flexible vinyl compounds with two manufacturing locations in Mississippi having a combined annual production capacity of 190 million pounds.

Plant Shutdowns

        At the end of 2001, we determined that the sodium chlorate plant was technologically obsolete by industry standards and could not comply with Louisiana environmental regulations. In the fourth quarter

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of 2001, we incurred impairment-related charges of $4.9 million and accrued $0.5 million for post-closure related items. We ceased production of sodium chlorate in the third quarter of 2002.

        On August 31, 2000, we ceased manufacturing vinyl compounds at the Mansfield, Massachusetts facility leased from the CONDEA Vista Company and on October 12, 2001, we ceased manufacturing vinyl compounds at the Jeffersontown, Kentucky facility. Manufacturing of compounds was transferred to our other vinyl compound plants. A lease termination and release agreement pertaining to the Mansfield site was executed between CONDEA Vista and Georgia Gulf Corporation on May 21, 2001. The Jeffersontown property, with a carrying value of $668,000 as of December 31, 2002, was under contract at year-end and the sale closed on January 24, 2003 with no material gain or loss. The cost associated with closing the facilities and removing equipment was immaterial.

Temporary Plant Idlings

        The phenol industry has continued to suffer from industry-wide supply and demand imbalance primarily as a result of capacity that was brought online in 1999 and 2000. Rather than continue running both of our phenol plants at lower capacity utilization rates management temporarily idled the Pasadena, TX phenol plant in the second quarter of 2002. Subsequently, we have been able to continue to meet all of our customers needs with phenol from our Plaquemine, LA plant. We intend to restart the Pasadena, TX phenol plant when market conditions warrant.

Discontinued Operations

        During 1998 the methanol market suffered from overcapacity and low-cost imports. There was a significant increase in global supply in areas of the world with low-cost natural gas. As a result, several domestic methanol producers including Georgia Gulf, idled their methanol plants. We ceased operating our methanol plant in December 1998. During 1999, we met our contractual obligations to supply methanol to our customers by purchasing imported methanol. Although the shutdown of several methanol plants resulted in a supply contraction and an increase in spot prices during the first half of 1999, several new overseas methanol plants began production late in the year. This additional supply added further pressure to the sales price of methanol. As a result of these trends, in September 1999, we announced that we would exit the methanol business entirely at the end of 1999. As a result, we incurred a charge against earnings of $7.6 million, net of tax benefits, during the third quarter of 1999 to write-off certain methanol assets and to accrue losses related to our methanol buy and resale program through the end of 1999.

Products and Markets

        The following table shows our total annual production capacities as of December 31, 2002 in each of our product lines:

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Chlorovinyls

        Vinyl Compounds.    These compounds are formulated to provide specific end-use properties that allow vinyl compounds to be processed directly into our customers' finished products. All of our vinyl compound production is sold to third parties. We produce flexible and rigid compounds used in the following products and process applications.

        Flexible vinyl compounds.    Our flexible vinyl compounds are used in wire and cable insulation and jacketing, automotive modular window encapsulation, weather stripping, custom strips and profiles and flexible tubing. In 2002, over 50% of sales in our flexible business was in the wire and cable market.

        Rigid vinyl compounds.    Our rigid vinyl compounds are used in a wide range of applications and production processes. Our injection molding compounds are used in the production of business equipment, electrical outlet boxes and pipe fittings. Our extrusion compounds are used in window and furniture profiles and are used in point-of-purchase displays, vending machine trim, tub and shower surrounds and garage door components. Our blow molding compounds are primarily used for both food-grade and general-purpose bottles used to package cosmetics, shampoos, charcoal lighter fluid, water and edible oils. We also supply chlorinated vinyl compounds to the extrusion and injection molding markets, mainly for hot water pipe and pipe fittings. In 2002, over 70% of sales in our rigid business was sold into building and construction related applications.

        Vinyl Resins.    Vinyl resins are among the most widely used plastics in the world today, and we supply numerous grades of vinyl resins to a broad number of end-use markets. During 2002, about 79% of our vinyl resin production was sold to customers who use our resins to formulate vinyl compounds which are then heated and shaped utilizing various extrusion and molding processes to create finished products. In 2002, the largest end-uses of our products were pipe and pipe fittings (34%) and home siding and windows (21%). We used about 18% of our production of vinyl resin internally during 2002 in the manufacture of our vinyl compounds.

        VCM.    During 2002, we used about 93% of our VCM production in the manufacture of our vinyl resins. VCM production not used internally is sold to other vinyl resin producers in domestic and international markets.

        Chlor-alkali Products.    Substantially all of the chlorine we produce is used internally in the production of VCM. As a co-product, caustic soda further diversifies our revenue base. We sell substantially all of our caustic soda domestically and overseas to customers in numerous industries, with the pulp and paper (32%) and chemical industries constituting our largest markets. Our other markets for caustic soda include the alumina, soap and detergent, textile and water treatment industries.

Aromatics

        Phenol.    Our phenol is primarily sold to producers of phenolic resins and to manufacturers of engineering plastics. Phenolic resins are used extensively as adhesives for wood products such as plywood and chipped wood panels. Engineering plastics are used in compact discs, automobiles, household appliances, electronics and protective coating applications. We also sell phenol for use in insulation, electrical parts, oil additives and pharmaceuticals. In 2002, the largest end-uses of our products were phenolic resins (54%) and engineering plastics (26%).

        Acetone.    As a co-product of phenol, acetone further diversifies our revenue base. Acetone is primarily used as a key ingredient in acrylic resins (67%) and as an ingredient for surface coating resins for automotive and architectural markets. Acetone is also an intermediate for the production of engineering plastics and several major industrial solvents. Other uses range from solvents for automotive and industrial applications to pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

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        Cumene.    About 72% of our cumene was consumed internally during 2002 to produce phenol and acetone. Cumene production not used internally is primarily sold to other phenol and acetone manufacturers in domestic and international markets.

Production, Raw Materials and Facilities

        Our operations are vertically integrated as a result of our production of some of the key raw materials and intermediates used in the manufacture of our products. Our operational integration enhances our control over production costs and capacity utilization rates, as compared to our non-integrated competitors.

        In our chlorovinyls product line, we produce chlorine and its co-product caustic soda by electrolysis of salt brine. We produce VCM by reacting purchased ethylene with chlorine produced internally or purchased from third parties; our internal production of VCM slightly exceeds our internal demand requirements. We produce vinyl resin by polymerization of our internally supplied VCM in a batch reactor process. We formulate our vinyl compounds by blending our vinyl resins with various additives such as plasticizers, impact modifiers, stabilizers and pigments, most of which are purchased. We also have the capacity to produce ethylene dichloride, an intermediate in the manufacture of VCM, for external sales. In our aromatics product line, we produce cumene utilizing benzene and propylene purchased from third parties. We produce phenol by reacting internally produced cumene under high temperatures and pressure. We produce acetone as a co-product in our production of phenol.

        The important raw materials we purchase from third parties include ethylene, natural gas, compound additives, benzene, propylene and chlorine. The majority of our purchases of ethylene, benzene, propylene and chlorine are made under long-term agreements, and we purchase natural gas both in the open market and under long-term contracts. We have not experienced a major disruption in our supplies of raw materials over the past five years, and we believe we have reliable sources of supply under normal market conditions. We cannot, however, predict the likelihood or impact of any future raw material shortages. Any shortages could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations.

        Plaquemine, Louisiana Facilities.    Our operations at these facilities include the production of chlorine, caustic soda, VCM, vinyl resins, phenol and acetone. We produce chlorine and its co-product caustic soda at our chlor-alkali facility by electrolysis of salt brine. We have a long-term lease on a nearby salt dome with reserves in excess of twenty years, from which we supply our salt brine requirements. We use substantially all of our chlorine production in the manufacture of VCM at this facility and we sell substantially all of our caustic soda production externally. All of the ethylene requirements for our VCM production are supplied by pipeline. Most of our Plaquemine VCM production is consumed on-site in our vinyl resin production or shipped to our other vinyl resin facilities with the remainder sold to third parties. Our cumene requirements for the production of phenol and its co-product acetone are shipped from our Pasadena, Texas facility by dedicated barges.

        Our 250-megawatt co-generation facility supplies all of the electricity and steam needs at our Plaquemine facilities. We also own an on-site air separation unit operated by a third party that provides all of the facility's nitrogen and oxygen gas requirements.

        Lake Charles, Louisiana Facilities.    We produce VCM at our Lake Charles, Louisiana facility and, through our manufacturing joint venture with PPG Industries have the right to 50% of the VCM production of PHH Monomers, which is located in close proximity to our Lake Charles VCM facility. Virtually all of the chlorine needs of our Lake Charles VCM facility and the PHH Monomers' facility are supplied by pipeline, under a long-term contract with PPG Industries, who is also our manufacturing partner in PHH Monomers. Ethylene is supplied to both facilities by pipeline from the adjacent CONDEA Vista ethylene facility and by pipeline from other third parties. The majority of our ethylene requirements for our Lake Charles VCM facility are supplied under a take-or-pay contract which expires November 12, 2006, and PHH Monomers is supplied under a requirements-based contract. These chlorine and ethylene

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contracts are primarily market price-based. VCM from these facilities supplies our Aberdeen, Mississippi and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma vinyl resin facilities. On occasion, a small portion of VCM produced at the Lake Charles facilities is sold in domestic and export markets.

        Aberdeen, Mississippi and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Facilities.    We produce vinyl resins at both our Aberdeen, Mississippi and Oklahoma facilities from VCM supplied by railcar from our various VCM facilities. In addition, the Aberdeen facility produces plasticizers which are consumed internally for flexible vinyl compound production.

        Vinyl Compound Facilities.    We operate five compound facilities: Aberdeen, Gallman, Madison and Prairie Mississippi and Tiptonville, Tennessee. All of our vinyl compound facilities are supplied from our vinyl resin facilities by railcar, truck or, in the case of Aberdeen, pipeline. These operations consumed about 18% of our annual vinyl resin production during 2002. We purchase our compound additive needs from various sources at market prices.

        Pasadena, Texas Facilities.    At our Pasadena, Texas facilities we have the capability to produce cumene, phenol, and acetone. We produce cumene utilizing purchased benzene and propylene. Our cumene facility is integrated by pipeline with our phenol and acetone facility at Pasadena. Currently, due to the temporary idling of phenol and acetone production at Pasadena (discussed above), all of the cumene production at this facility is either shipped to the Plaquemine phenol and acetone facility or sold to third parties. We purchase propylene and benzene at market prices from various suppliers connected by multiple transportation modes to our cumene facility. A portion of the benzene is supplied under contracts at market prices, and the propylene is provided from numerous refineries at market prices. Based on current industry capacity, we believe we have adequate access to benzene and propylene under normal conditions.

Sales and Marketing

        Our sales and marketing program is aimed at supporting our existing customers and expanding and diversifying our customer base. Our sales and marketing force consists of 33 employees. In addition, we use distributors to market products to smaller customers. This sales force is organized by product line and region. We have a product development and technical service staff that primarily supports our vinyl resin and vinyl compound businesses. This staff works closely with customers to qualify existing Georgia Gulf products for use by our customers. They also work to develop new products for the customers' existing and new requirements. Our products are sold primarily to domestic industrial companies, and no single customer accounted for more than 10% of our consolidated revenues for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000. In addition to our domestic sales, we export some of our products, including our VCM, vinyl resins, vinyl compounds, caustic soda and aromatics products. Export sales accounted for about 12% of total sales for 2002, 13% for 2001, and 11% for 2000. The principal international markets we sell to are Canada, Mexico, Latin America, Europe and Asia.

Competition

        We experience competition from numerous manufacturers in all of our product lines. Some of our competitors have substantially greater financial resources and are more highly diversified than we are. We compete on a variety of factors such as price, product quality, delivery and technical service. We believe that we are well-positioned to compete as a result of integrated product lines, the operational efficiency of our plants and the location of our facilities near major water and/or rail transportation terminals.

Environmental Regulation

        Our operations are subject to increasingly stringent federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to environmental quality. These regulations, which are enforced principally by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and comparable state agencies, govern the management of solid hazardous waste, emissions into the air and discharges into surface and underground waters, and the manufacture of chemical substances.

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        There are several serious environmental issues concerning the VCM facility we acquired from CONDEA Vista at Lake Charles, Louisiana. Substantial investigation of the groundwater at the site has been conducted, and groundwater contamination was first identified in 1981. Groundwater remediation through the installation of groundwater recovery wells began in 1984. The site currently contains about 90 monitoring wells and 18 recovery wells. Investigation to determine the full extent of the contamination is ongoing. It is possible that offsite groundwater recovery will be required, in addition to groundwater monitoring. Soil remediation could also be required.

        Investigations are currently underway by federal environmental authorities concerning contamination of an estuary near the Lake Charles VCM facility we acquired known as the Calcasieu Estuary. It is likely that this estuary will be listed as a Superfund site and be the subject of a natural resource damage recovery claim. It is estimated that there are about 200 potentially responsible parties associated with the estuary contamination. CONDEA Vista is included among these parties with respect to its Lake Charles facilities, including the VCM facility we acquired. The estimated cost for investigation and remediation of the estuary is unknown and could be quite costly. Also, Superfund statutes may impose joint and several liability for the cost of investigations and remedial actions on any company that generated the waste, arranged for disposal of the waste, transported the waste to the disposal site, selected the disposal site, or presently or formerly owned, leased or operated the disposal site or a site otherwise contaminated by hazardous substances. Any or all of the responsible parties may be required to bear all of the costs of cleanup regardless of fault, legality of the original disposal or ownership of the disposal site. Currently, we discharge our wastewater to CONDEA Vista who has a permit to discharge treated wastewater into the estuary.

        CONDEA Vista has agreed to retain responsibility for substantially all environmental liabilities and remediation activity relating to the vinyls business we acquired from them, including the Lake Charles, Louisiana VCM facility. For all matters of environmental contamination that are currently known, we may make a claim for indemnification at any time; for environmental matters that are unknown, we must generally make claims for indemnification before November 12, 2009. Further, Georgia Gulf's agreement with CONDEA Vista provides that CONDEA Vista will be subject to the presumption that all later discovered on-site environmental contamination arose before closing, and is therefore CONDEA Vista's responsibility; this presumption may only be rebutted if CONDEA Vista can show that we caused the environmental contamination by a major, unaddressed release.

        At the Lake Charles VCM facility, CONDEA Vista will continue to conduct the ongoing remediation at its expense until November 12, 2009. After November 12, 2009, we will be responsible for remediation costs up to $150,000 of expense per year, as well as costs in any year in excess of this annual amount up to an aggregate one-time amount of $2,250,000. We will be responsible for remediation costs at the other acquired facilities until the level of expense we incur meets the specified amount for each facility which in the aggregate equals $700,000. The indemnity given by CONDEA Vista also includes off-site contamination created before November 12, 2009, including CONDEA Vista's contribution to any claim based upon contamination of the Calcasieu Estuary.

        The property owned by CONDEA Vista in Mansfield, Massachusetts, for which we negotiated an early lease termination, has been the subject of ongoing environmental investigations under an order with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. Groundwater investigations continue at the Mansfield property to address identified on-site groundwater contamination and investigate the possible off-site migration of contaminated groundwater. It is also possible that the United States Environmental Protection Agency may list the property as a Superfund site. The environmental investigations and actions are associated with the past operations at the property and were not assumed in our lease of the property. In addition, CONDEA Vista has indemnified us for claims related to this environmental contamination beyond an aggregate threshold amount of $250,000, including coverage for potential joint and several liability under the environmental statutes. The lease termination calls for our payment of the unspent

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portion of the aggregate threshold amount. Upon removal of manufacturing equipment and termination of the lease, the site with buildings and infrastructure equipment reverted to CONDEA Vista.

        As for employee and independent contractor exposure claims, CONDEA Vista is responsible for exposures before November 12, 2009, and we are responsible for exposures after November 12, 2009 on a pro rata basis determined by years of employment or service before and after November 12, 1999 by any claimant. There is, however, a presumption for claims brought before November 12, 2004 by current or former CONDEA Vista employees and contractors that, absent a showing of new acute exposure after November 12, 1999, all responsibility will be deemed to have arisen before November 12, 1999 and will be solely CONDEA Vista's.

        Except as described above, we believe that we are in material compliance with all current environmental laws and regulations. We estimate that any expenses incurred in maintaining compliance with these requirements will not materially affect earnings or cause us to exceed our level of anticipated capital expenditures. However, there can be no assurance that regulatory requirements will not change, and it is not possible to accurately predict the aggregate cost of compliance resulting from any such changes.

Employees

        As of December 31, 2002, we had 1,216 full-time employees. Approximately 164 of our employees are unionized under two collective bargaining agreements that expire in 2003 and 2005. We believe our relationships with our employees are good.

Available Information

        Effective March 1, 2003 we make available free of charge on or through our Internet website at http://www.ggc.com our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such materials with, or furnish to, the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Risk Factors

The chemical industry is cyclical and volatile, which affects our profitability.

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Our industry experiences alternating periods of tight supply and overcapacity.

        Our historical operating results tend to reflect the cyclical and volatile nature of the chemical industry. Historically, periods of tight supply have resulted in increased prices and profit margins and have been followed by periods of substantial capacity addition, resulting in oversupply and declining prices and profit margins. As a result of changes in demand for our products, our earnings fluctuate significantly, not only from year to year but also from quarter to quarter. Capacity expansions or the announcement of these expansions have generally led to a decline in the pricing of our products in the affected product line. We cannot assure you that future growth in product demand will be sufficient to utilize any additional capacity.

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Raw materials costs and other external factors beyond our control can cause wide fluctuations in our margins.

        The cost of our raw materials and other costs may not correlate with changes in the prices we receive for our products, either in the direction of the price change or in absolute magnitude. Raw materials costs represent a substantial part of our manufacturing costs. Most of the raw materials we use are commodities and the price of each can fluctuate widely for a variety of reasons, including changes in availability because of major capacity additions or significant facility operating problems. Other external factors beyond our control can cause volatility in raw material prices, demand for our products, product prices, sales volumes and margins. These factors include general economic conditions, the level of business activity in the

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industries that use our products, competitors' actions, international events and circumstances, and governmental regulation in the United States and abroad. These factors can also magnify the impact of economic cycles on our business. A number of our products are highly dependent on markets that are particularly cyclical, such as the construction, paper and pulp, and automotive markets.

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The cyclicality and volatility of the chemical industry affects our capacity utilization and causes fluctuations in our results of operations.

        The operating rates at our facilities will impact the comparison of period-to-period results. Different facilities may have differing operating rates from period to period depending on many factors, such as feedstock costs, transportation costs, and supply and demand for the product produced at the facility during that period. As a result, individual facilities may be operated below or above rated capacities in any period. We may idle a facility for an extended period of time because an oversupply of a certain product or a lack of demand for that product makes production uneconomical. The expenses of the shutdown and restart of facilities may adversely affect quarterly results when these events occur. In addition, a temporary shutdown may become permanent, resulting in a write-down or write-off of the related assets.

The chemical industry is highly competitive, with some of our competitors having greater financial resources than we have; competition may adversely affect our results of operations.

        The chemical industry is highly competitive; we compete with many chemical companies, a substantial number of whom are larger and have greater financial resources than Georgia Gulf. Moreover, barriers to entry, other than capital availability, are low in most product segments of our business. Capacity additions or technological advances by existing or future competitors also create greater competition, particularly in pricing. We cannot assure you we will have access to the financing necessary to upgrade our facilities in response to technological advances or other competitive developments.

Extensive environmental, health and safety laws and regulations impact our operations and assets; compliance with these regulations could adversely affect our results of operations.

        Our operations on and ownership of real property are subject to extensive environmental, health and safety regulation at both the national and local level. The nature of the chemical industry exposes Georgia Gulf to risks of liability under these laws and regulations due to the production, storage, transportation and sale of materials that can cause contamination or personal injury if released into the environment. Environmental laws may have a significant effect on the costs of transportation and storage of raw materials and finished products, as well as the costs of the storage and disposal of wastes. We may incur substantial costs, including fines, damages, criminal or civil sanctions, remediation costs, or experience interruptions in our operations for violations arising under these laws.

        Also, Superfund statutes may impose joint and several liability for the cost of investigations and remedial actions on any company that generated the waste, arranged for disposal of the waste, transported the waste to the disposal site, selected the disposal site, or presently or formerly owned, leased or operated the disposal site or a site otherwise contaminated by hazardous substances. Any or all of the responsible parties may be required to bear all of the costs of cleanup, regardless of fault, legality of the original disposal or ownership of the disposal site. A number of environmental liabilities have been associated with the facilities at Lake Charles, Louisiana and Mansfield, Massachusetts that we acquired or leased as part of the acquisition of the vinyls business of CONDEA Vista Company and which may be designated as Superfund sites as described in "Environmental Regulation" above. Any or all responsible parties, including us, may be required to bear all of the costs of cleanup regardless of fault, legality of the original disposal, or ownership of the disposal site. Although CONDEA Vista retained substantially all financial responsibility for environmental liabilities that relate to the facilities we acquired from them and which arose before the closing of that acquisition, we cannot assure you that CONDEA Vista will be able to satisfy its obligations in this regard, particularly in light of the long period of time in which environmental

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liabilities may arise under the environmental laws. If CONDEA Vista fails to do so, then we could be held responsible.

        Our policy is to accrue costs relating to environmental matters when it is probable that these costs will be required and can be reasonably estimated. However, estimated costs for future environmental compliance and remediation may be too low or we may not be able to quantify the potential costs. We expect to continue to be subject to increasingly stringent environmental and health and safety laws and regulations. It is difficult to predict the future interpretation and development of these laws and regulations or their impact on our future earnings and operations. We anticipate that compliance will continue to require increased capital expenditures and operating costs. Any increase in these costs could adversely affect our financial performance.

Hazards associated with chemical manufacturing may occur, which would adversely affect our results of operations.

        The usual hazards associated with chemical manufacturing and the related storage and transportation of raw materials, products and wastes may occur in Georgia Gulf's operations. These hazards could lead to an interruption or suspension of operations and have an adverse effect on the productivity and profitability of a particular manufacturing facility or on Georgia Gulf as a whole. These hazards include:

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pipeline and storage tank leaks and ruptures;



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explosions and fires;



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terrorist acts;



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inclement weather and natural disasters;



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mechanical failure;



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unscheduled downtime;



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labor difficulties;



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transportation interruptions;



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remediation complications; and



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chemical spills and other discharges or releases of toxic or hazardous substances or gases.

        These hazards may cause personal injury and loss of life, severe damage to or destruction of property and equipment, and environmental damage; any of these could lead to claims under the environmental laws. In addition, individuals could seek damages for alleged personal injury or property damage due to exposure to chemicals at our facilities or to chemicals otherwise owned or controlled by Georgia Gulf. Furthermore, Georgia Gulf is also subject to present and future claims with respect to workplace exposure, workers' compensation and other matters. Although we maintain property, business interruption and casualty insurance of the types and in the amounts that we believe are customary for the industry, we are not fully insured against all potential hazards incident to our business.

We rely heavily on third party transportation, which subjects us to risks that we cannot control; these risks may adversely affect our operations.

        We rely heavily on railroads and shipping companies to transport raw materials to our manufacturing facilities and to ship finished product to our customers. Rail and shipping operations are subject to various hazards, including extreme weather conditions, work stoppages and operating hazards. If we are delayed or unable to ship finished product or unable to obtain raw materials as a result of the railroads' or shipping companies' failure to operate properly, or if there were significant changes in the cost of these services, we may not be able to arrange efficient alternatives and timely means to obtain raw materials or ship our goods, which could result in an adverse effect on our revenues and costs of operations.

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We have a substantial amount of indebtedness, which could limit our business and operations.

        At December 31, 2002, we had approximately $477.0 million of indebtedness outstanding. As a result, Georgia Gulf is highly leveraged. This high level of indebtedness could have important consequences to our operations, including:

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we may have difficulty borrowing money in the future for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions or other purposes;



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we will need to use a large portion of our available cash for debt service, which will reduce the amount of money available to finance our operations and other business activities;



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some of our debt, including the debt under our senior credit facility, has variable rates of interest, which exposes us to the risk of increased interest rates; and



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we may have a much higher level of debt than some of our competitors, which may put us at a competitive disadvantage; make us more vulnerable to economic downturns and adverse developments in our business; and reduce our flexibility in responding to changing business and economic conditions.

        We expect to obtain the money to pay our expenses and to pay principal and interest on our debt from our cash flow and from additional loans under our revolving credit facility. Our ability to meet these requirements will depend on our future financial performance. We cannot be sure that our cash flow will be sufficient to allow us to pay principal and interest on our debt as well as meet our other obligations. If we do not have enough money to do so, we may be required to refinance all or part of our debt, sell assets or borrow more money. We cannot assure you that we will be able to do so on commercially reasonable terms, if at all. In addition, the terms of our existing or future debt agreements, including our senior credit facility and the indenture related to our 10³/8% senior subordinated notes, may restrict us from pursuing any of these alternatives.

We may encounter difficulties in integrating the assets of businesses we acquire, which may adversely affect our results of operations.

        We cannot be sure that we will be able to successfully integrate any acquisitions into our operations without substantial costs, delays or other problems. The integration of any business we acquire may be disruptive to our business and may result in a significant diversion of management attention and operational resources. In addition, we may suffer a loss of key employees, customers or suppliers, loss of revenues, increases in costs or other difficulties.

Our participation in joint ventures exposes us to risks of shared control.

        As part of the vinyls business we acquired from CONDEA Vista Company, we purchased a 50% interest in a manufacturing joint venture, the remainder of which is controlled by PPG Industries, Inc., which also supplies chlorine to the facility operated by the joint venture. We may enter into additional joint ventures in the future. The nature of a joint venture requires us to share control with unaffiliated third parties. If our joint venture partners do not fulfill their obligations, the affected joint venture may not be able to operate according to its business plan. In that case, our operations may be adversely affected or we may be required to increase our level of commitment to the joint venture. Also, differences in views among joint venture participants may result in delayed decisions or failures to agree on major issues. Any differences in our views or problems with respect to the operations of our joint ventures could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

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We rely on outside suppliers for specified feedstocks and services.

        In connection with our acquisition of the vinyls business of CONDEA Vista Company, we entered into agreements with CONDEA Vista to provide specified feedstocks for the Lake Charles facility. Moreover, this facility is dependent upon CONDEA Vista's infrastructure for services such as waste water and ground water treatment, site remediation, and fire water supply. Any failure of CONDEA Vista to perform those agreements could adversely affect the operation of the affected facilities and our results of operations. The agreements relating to these feedstocks and services had initial terms of one to ten years. Although most of these agreements provide for automatic renewal, they may be terminated after specified notice periods. If we were required to obtain an alternate source for these feedstocks or services, we may not be able to obtain pricing on as favorable terms. Additionally, we may be forced to pay additional transportation costs or to invest in capital projects for pipelines or alternate facilities to accommodate railcar or other delivery or to replace other services.

        We also obtain a significant portion of our other raw materials from a few key suppliers. If any of these suppliers is unable to meet its obligations under present supply agreements, we may be forced to pay higher prices to obtain the necessary raw materials. Any interruption of supply or any price increase of raw materials could have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

Sales made in international markets expose us to risks that may adversely affect our operations or financial condition.

        During 2002, 12% of our revenues were generated in international markets. Substantially all of our international sales are made in U.S. dollars and, as a result, any increase in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to foreign currencies will increase the effective price of our products in international markets. Our international sales are also subject to other risks, including differing and changing legal and regulatory requirements in local jurisdictions; export duties and import quotas; domestic and foreign customs and tariffs or other trade barriers; potentially adverse tax consequences, including withholding taxes or taxes on other remittances; and foreign exchange restrictions. We cannot assure you that these factors will not have an adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

Our senior credit facility and the indenture for our 10³/8% senior subordinated notes impose significant operating and financial restrictions, which may prevent us from capitalizing on business opportunities and taking some actions.

        Our senior credit facility and the indenture for our 10³/8% senior subordinated notes impose significant operating and financial restrictions on us. These restrictions will limit our ability to:

•

incur additional indebtedness and liens;



•

make capital expenditures;



•

make investments and sell assets, including the stock of subsidiaries;



•

make payments of dividends and other distributions;



•

purchase Georgia Gulf stock;



•

use the proceeds of the sale of specified assets;



•

engage in business activities unrelated to our current business;



•

enter into transactions with affiliates; or



•

consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of our assets.

        In addition, our senior credit facility also requires us to maintain specified financial ratios. We cannot assure you that these covenants will not adversely affect our ability to finance our future operations or

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capital needs or to pursue available business opportunities. A breach of any of these covenants could result in a default in respect of the related indebtedness. If a default occurs, the relevant lenders could elect to declare the indebtedness, together with accrued interest and other fees, to be immediately due and payable and proceed against any collateral securing that indebtedness. In addition, any acceleration of indebtedness under our senior credit facility will constitute a default under some of our other indebtedness.

The conviction of our former independent auditors, Arthur Andersen LLP, on federal obstruction of justice charges may adversely affect Arthur Andersen LLP's ability to satisfy any claims arising from the provision of auditing services to us and may impede our access to the capital markets.

        Arthur Andersen LLP, which audited our financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000, was indicted in March 2002 on federal obstruction of justice charges arising from the government's investigation of Enron Corporation. Arthur Andersen LLP was tried on such charges by a jury and found guilty on June 15, 2002. In light of the jury verdict and the underlying events, Arthur Andersen LLP stopped practicing before the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Securities and Exchange Commission has stated that, for the time being subject to certain conditions, it will continue accepting financial statements audited by Arthur Andersen LLP. Events arising out of the conviction may adversely affect the ability of Arthur Andersen LLP to satisfy any claims arising from its provision of auditing services to us, including claims that could arise out of Arthur Andersen LLP's audit of our financial statements included in our periodic reports, prospectuses or registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

        Should we seek to access the public capital markets, Securities and Exchange Commission rules will require us to include or incorporate by reference in any prospectus three years of audited financial statements. The Securities and Exchange Commission's current rules would require us to present audited financial statements for 2001 and 2000 audited by Arthur Andersen LLP. Since we could not obtain a consent by Arthur Andersen LLP to inclusion of our financial statements for 2001 and 2000, neither we nor any underwriters would have the same level of protection under the securities laws as would otherwise be the case. Any delay or inability to access the public capital markets caused by these circumstances could have a material adverse effect on our business and growth prospects.

Forward-Looking Statements

        This Form 10-K and other communications to stockholders may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to, among other things, our outlook for future periods, supply and demand, pricing trends and market forces within the chemical industry, cost reduction strategies and their results, planned capital expenditures, long-term objectives of management and other statements of expectations concerning matters that are not historical facts.

        Predictions of future results contain a measure of uncertainty. Actual results could differ materially due to various factors. Factors that could change forward-looking statements are, among others, those contained in the "Risk Factors" section above as well as changes in the general economy, changes in demand for our products or increases in overall industry capacity that could affect production volumes and/or pricing, changes and/or cyclicality in the industries to which our products are sold, availability and pricing of raw materials, technological changes affecting production, difficulty in plant operations and product transportation, governmental and environmental regulations and other unforeseen circumstances. A number of these factors are discussed in this Form 10-K and in our other periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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Item 2. PROPERTIES.

        Our asset base was established from 1971 to the present with the construction of the Plaquemine, Louisiana, complex, the construction of the Pasadena, Texas cumene plant, and the purchase of the rigid vinyl compound plants. There was also the purchase of the Bound Brook, New Jersey, phenol/acetone facility which was subsequently relocated to Pasadena, Texas, and modernized in 1990. In 1997, we completed construction of cogeneration and air separation plants in Plaquemine, Louisiana, in order to supply all of our requirements for electricity, oxygen and nitrogen at that location. The cogeneration plant was leased under an operating lease agreement until we purchased it in 1999. In 1998, we purchased North American Plastics, Inc., a manufacturer of flexible vinyl compounds with production facilities in Prairie and Madison, Mississippi. In 1999, we purchased substantially all of the assets of the vinyls business of CONDEA Vista Company, an integrated producer of VCM, vinyl resins and vinyl compounds with production facilities in Aberdeen, Mississippi, Lake Charles, Louisiana, Jeffersontown, Kentucky, Mansfield, Massachusetts, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. We have since ceased production in Mansfield, Massachusetts and Jeffersontown, Kentucky. A lease termination and release agreement pertaining to the Mansfield site was executed between CONDEA Vista and Georgia Gulf Corporation on May 21, 2001. The Jeffersontown property, with a carrying value of $668,000 as of December 31, 2002, was under contract at year-end and the sale closed on January 24, 2003 with no material gain or loss. The cost associated with closing the facilities and removing equipment was immaterial. On January 30, 2003, we announced the expansion of the Gallman, Mississippi facility. When completed in 2004, our vinyl compound facility at our Gallman, Mississippi plant will be the largest merchant vinyl compound facility in North America.

        We believe current and additional planned capacity will adequately meet anticipated demand requirements. Average capacity utilization of our production facilities was 86% in 2002.

        The following table sets forth the location of each manufacturing facility we own, the products manufactured at each facility and the approximate processing capability of each, assuming normal plant operations, as of December 31, 2002:

(1)

Reflects 100 percent of the production at our owned facility in Lake Charles and our 50 percent share of PHH Monomers' 1,150 million pounds of total VCM capacity.

(2)

See Item 1—Business.

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        Our manufacturing facilities are located near major water and/or rail transportation terminals, facilitating efficient delivery of raw materials and prompt shipment of finished products. In addition, we have a fleet of about 3,657 railcars of which about 615 are owned and the remainder leased pursuant to operating leases with varying terms through the year 2014. The total lease expense for these railcars and other transportation equipment was approximately $16,559,000 for 2002.

        We lease office space for our principal executive offices in Atlanta, Georgia, and for information services in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Additionally, space is leased for sales and marketing offices in Houston, Texas. Space for numerous storage terminals is leased throughout the United States, and in the Netherlands, Canada and Mexico.

Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

        Georgia Gulf is a party to numerous individual and several class-action lawsuits filed against the company, among other parties, arising out of an incident that occurred in September 1996 in which workers were exposed to a chemical substance on our premises in Plaquemine, Louisiana. The substance was later identified to be a form of mustard agent, which occurred as a result of an unforeseen chemical reaction. All of the actions claim one or more forms of compensable damages, including past and future wages, past and future physical and emotional pain and suffering. The lawsuits were originally filed in Louisiana state court in Iberville Parish.

        In September 1998, the state court trial judge granted the plaintiffs' motion permitting the filing of amended petitions that added the additional allegations that we had engaged in intentional conduct against the plaintiffs. Amended petitions making such allegations were filed. Our two insurers notified us that they were reserving their rights to deny coverage to the extent liability could be established due to such intentional conduct in accordance with their insurance policies. We disputed the insurers' reservation of rights. In December 1998, as required by the terms of the insurance policies, each insurer demanded arbitration of the issue of the insurers' duties relating to the intentional conduct allegations. As a result of the arbitrations relating to the insurance issue, as permitted by federal statute, the insurers removed the cases to United States District Court in December 1998.

        Following the above removal of these actions and unsuccessful attempts by plaintiffs to remand the cases, we were able to settle the claims of all but two worker plaintiffs (and their collaterals) who had filed suit prior to removal. These settlements included the vast majority of those claimants believed to be the most seriously injured. The settled cases are in the final processes of being dismissed with prejudice. Negotiations regarding the remaining claims of the two worker plaintiffs are ongoing.

        Following these settlements, we were sued by approximately 400 additional plaintiff workers (and their collaterals) who claim that they were injured as a result of the incident. After negotiation, including a mediation, we reached an agreement for the settlement of these additional claims. This settlement, which is on a class basis, will resolve the claims of all workers who claim to have been exposed and injured as a result of the incident other than those workers who opt out of the class settlement. We are aware of two worker plaintiffs and one collateral who have filed suit in state court who have opted not to participate in the class settlement, as well as the two worker plaintiffs whose claims are pending in federal court (see discussion above). Based on the present status of the proceedings, we believe the liability ultimately imposed on us will not have a material effect on our financial position or on our results of operations.

        On July 31, 2000, Georgia Gulf Lake Charles, LLC, received a Complaint, Compliance Order and Notice of Opportunity for a Hearing from the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6 ("EPA"), which arose from an inspection conducted by the EPA at the Lake Charles facility on December 6-8, 1999. The EPA sought to assess a fine of $701,605 and to require certain corrective actions to be taken as a result of various alleged violations of the United States Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, including failure to make adequate hazardous waste determinations, failure to adequately characterize wastes before disposal, and failure to obtain permits for operations of alleged hazardous waste

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facilities. On December 23, 2002, a Consent Agreement and Final Order was filed settling the case. Under this order we will pay a total penalty in the amount of $30,000 and modify certain immaterial operational procedures.

        In addition, we are subject to other claims and legal actions that may arise in the ordinary course of business. We believe that the ultimate liability, if any, with respect to these other claims and legal actions will not have a material effect on our financial position or on our results of operations.

Item 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.

        No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of 2002.

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PART II

Item 5. MARKET PRICE OF AND DIVIDENDS ON THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.

        Georgia Gulf Corporation's common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "GGC." At December 31, 2002, there were 1,015 stockholders of record. The following table sets forth the New York Stock Exchange high, low and closing stock prices and dividend payments for Georgia Gulf's common stock for the periods indicated.

        We intend, from time to time, to pay cash dividends on our common stock as our board of directors deems appropriate. Our ability to pay dividends may be limited by covenants in our senior credit facility (see "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources").

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

        The following table provides information with respect to compensation plans under which equity securities of Georgia Gulf Corporation are authorized for issuance to employees as of December 31, 2002:

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Item 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

Five-Year Selected Financial Data

In Thousands, Except Per Share Data, Ratios & Employees

*

Our results include the impact of acquisitions and discontinued operations.

(1)

See asset write-off discussed in note 6 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements.

(2)

Provision (benefit) for income taxes for 2001 includes the effect of the favorable settlement of tax audits. (See note 15 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements.)

(3)

Increases in the asset securitization decrease "working capital" and "long-term debt" and increase "cash provided by operations." Decreases have the opposite effect.

(4)

Does not include 2001 sodium chlorate asset write-off of $4.9 million. (See note 6 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements).

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(5)

EBITDA is commonly used by investors to measure a company's ability to service its indebtedness. EBITDA is not a measurement of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles and should not be considered as an alternative to net income as a measure of performance or to cash flow as a measure of liquidity. In addition, our calculation of EBITDA may be different from the calculation used by other companies and, therefore, comparability may be limited. For 2001, the asset write-off has been included as depreciation expense for the computation of EBITDA. For 1998, the loss on the interest rate hedge agreement has been included as interest expense for the computation of EBITDA.

        Reconciliation of EBITDA and operating income

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Item 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION & RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

Overview

        Georgia Gulf is a leading manufacturer and marketer of two integrated chemical product lines, chlorovinyls and aromatics. The primary chlorovinyl products include chlorine, caustic soda, vinyl chloride monomer ("VCM"), vinyl resins and vinyl compounds. For the year ended December 31, 2002, we consumed virtually all of our chlorine production in making VCM, consumed 4 percent of our caustic soda production, consumed 94 percent of our VCM production in manufacturing vinyl resin and used about 18 percent of our vinyl resin in the manufacture of vinyl compounds. The remainder of our caustic soda, VCM, vinyl resin and all of our vinyl compounds were sold to third parties. The primary aromatic products include cumene, phenol and acetone. For the year ended December 31, 2002, approximately 28 percent of our cumene was sold to third parties with the balance used internally in the manufacture of phenol and acetone. All of our phenol and acetone was sold to third parties.

        Our business, and the chemical industry in general, is cyclical in nature and is affected by domestic and, to a lesser extent, worldwide economic conditions. The level of domestic chemical sales tends to reflect fluctuations in downstream markets that are affected by consumer spending for durable goods and construction. Global capacity also materially affects the prices of chemical products. Generally, in periods of high operating rates, prices rise, and as a result new capacity is announced. Since world-scale size plants are generally the most cost-competitive, new increases in capacity tend to be on a large scale and are often undertaken by existing industry participants. Usually, as new capacity is added, prices decline until increases in demand improve operating rates and the new capacity is absorbed, or in some instances, until less efficient producers withdraw from the market. As the additional supply is absorbed, operating rates rise, prices increase and the cycle repeats. For instance, in the phenol industry we are still waiting for the capacity added in 1999 and 2000 to be absorbed, so that operating rates can improve to a sufficiently high level to allow margin improvement. In addition, profitability and margins are materially affected by the cost of raw materials. Our primary raw materials include ethylene, natural gas, compound additives, benzene, propylene, chlorine and salt.

        In 2002, the chlorovinyl business experienced improved demand versus 2001. Higher sales volumes for vinyl resins and compounds and lower ethylene costs more than offset lower average sales prices. Better demand for chlorine caused its co-product, caustic soda, to return to an oversupplied position, which resulted in drastically lower selling prices. Overall, natural gas prices significantly improved over 2001.

        The aromatics business experienced a better year in 2002 when compared to 2001. The overall improvement was primarily a result of higher phenol sales volumes and lower natural gas costs. The increased sales reflected the temporary shutdown of one of the major phenol producers subsequent to an explosion at their plant. In addition, our overall aromatic manufacturing costs were lower as a result of our idled Pasadena, TX phenol plant.

Discontinuation of Sodium Chlorate Production

        At the end of 2001 we determined that the sodium chlorate plant was technologically obsolete by industry standards and could not comply with Louisiana environmental regulations. In the fourth quarter of 2001 we incurred impairment-related charges of $4.9 million and accrued $0.5 million for post-closure related items. We ceased production of sodium chlorate in the third quarter of 2002.

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Results of Operations—Georgia Gulf

        The following table sets forth our statement of operations data for the three years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 and the percentage of net sales of each line item for the periods presented.

(1)

See 2001 sodium chlorate asset write-off discussed in note 6 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements.

(2)

Provision (benefit) for income taxes for 2001 includes the effect of the favorable settlement of tax audits. See note 15 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements.

Year Ended December 31, 2002 Compared With Year Ended December 31, 2001

        Net Sales—For the year ended December 31, 2002, net sales were $1,230.8 million, an increase of 2 percent compared to $1,205.9 million for 2001. This increase was due to an 8 percent increase in sales volumes, primarily vinyl resin, partially offset by 5 percent lower overall average selling prices.

        Net sales of chlorovinyls totaled $1,011.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2002, an increase of 3 percent compared with net sales of $983.4 million for the prior year. Sales volume increased by 10 percent primarily as a result of an increase in demand for vinyl resins and compounds. Lower average sales prices of 7 percent resulted primarily from caustic soda, as well as vinyl resins and compounds.

        Net sales of aromatics were $219.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2002, a decrease of 1 percent compared to $222.5 million for 2001. This decrease was primarily the result of 7 percent lower average selling prices for phenol which were more than offset by 6 percent greater sales volumes for phenol.

        Cost of Sales—Cost of sales were $1,086.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2002, a decrease of 3 percent compared to $1,125.4 million for 2001. As a percentage of sales, cost of sales decreased to 88 percent in 2002 compared to 93 percent for 2001. This decrease was caused by increased sales volume of higher margin products, primarily vinyl resins and compounds. Chlorovinyls purchased raw materials decreased as lower ethylene and natural gas costs more than offset higher chlorine prices. Aromatics cost of sales also decreased as lower propylene and natural gas costs, along with lower overall manufacturing costs resulting from our idled Pasadena plant, more than offset higher costs for benzene.

        Asset Write-off and Other Related Charges—At the end of 2001, in the chlorovinyls segment, we wrote-off the sodium chlorate plant and accrued post-closure costs for a total nonrecurring charge of $5.4 million. (See note 6 of the notes to consolidated financial statements).

        Selling, General and Administrative Expenses—Selling, general and administrative expenses totaled $45.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2002, an increase of 2 percent from $44.7 million in 2001. Increased profit sharing expenses more than offset decreased legal and professional fees during 2002.

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        Operating Income—Operating income totaled $98.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2002, an increase of 224 percent from $30.4 million in 2001. Greater operating income in chlorovinyls was the primary factor for this increase. As a percentage of net sales, operating profit increased to 8 percent of net sales for 2002 compared to 3 percent in 2001. This increase was caused by increased sales volume of higher margin products, primarily vinyl resins and compounds.

        Chlorovinyls operating income for 2002 totaled $114.6 million, an increase of 70 percent from 2001. The most significant factors in this increase were improvements in vinyl resins and compounds sales volumes and lower raw materials and natural gas costs, which more than offset lower overall sales prices, primarily in caustic soda prices which decreased 66 percent.

        Aromatics reported an operating loss of $3.3 million for 2002, a $12.4 million improvement from the operating loss of $15.7 million in 2001. This decreased loss is primarily due to higher phenol sales volumes and lower natural gas costs. The increase in sales reflected the temporary shutdown of one of the major phenol producers subsequent to an explosion at their plant. In addition, our overall aromatic manufacturing costs were lower as a result of our idled Pasadena, TX phenol plant.

        Net Interest Expense—Net interest expense decreased to $49.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2002 from $57.3 million in 2001. This decrease was primarily attributable to lower overall debt balances and lower interest rates in 2002.

        Provision for Income Taxes—The provision for income taxes was $17.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2002 compared with a benefit of $14.9 million in 2001. The increase in income taxes resulted from a $75.7 million increase in pre-tax income when comparing 2002 versus 2001.

        Net Income (loss)—Net income totaled $31.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2002 versus a net loss of $12.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2001. The discussion above enumerates the reasons for the change.

Year Ended December 31, 2001 Compared With Year Ended December 31, 2000

        Net Sales—For the year ended December 31, 2001, net sales were $1,205.9 million, a decrease of 24 percent compared to $1,581.6 million for 2000. This decrease was due to a 14 percent decrease in sales volumes and an 11 percent lower overall average selling price, largely attributable to the vinyl resins and compounds businesses.

        Net sales of chlorovinyls totaled $983.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2001, a decrease of 21 percent compared with net sales of $1,244.7 million for the prior year. Sales volume decreased by 9 percent primarily as a result of a decrease in demand for vinyl resins and vinyl compounds. Lower average sales prices of 14 percent resulted from softening demand for vinyl products which more than offset a 123 percent increase in caustic soda prices.

        Net sales of aromatics were $222.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2001, a decrease of 34 percent compared to $336.9 million for 2000. This decrease was primarily the result of a 29 percent deterioration in sales volumes and 7 percent lower average selling prices for cumene and acetone.

        Cost of Sales—Cost of sales were $1,125.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2001, a decrease of 18 percent when compared with $1,368.0 million for 2000. Decreased sales volumes, particularly in the aromatics business, were the primary cause of this decrease. Also contributing to the decrease were lower prices for all raw materials. Chlorovinyls purchased raw materials decreased as lower ethylene and chlorine costs more than offset higher natural gas costs. Aromatics purchased raw materials also decreased as lower propylene and benzene costs more than offset higher costs for natural gas. As a percentage of sales, cost of sales increased to 93 percent in 2001 compared to 87 percent for 2000. This increase was caused by increased energy costs and overall sales price decreases more than offsetting the decreases of raw materials costs.

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        Asset Write-off and Other Related Charges—In the chlorovinyls segment, we wrote-off the sodium chlorate plant and accrued post-closure costs for a total nonrecurring charge of $5.4 million during 2001. (See note 6 of the notes to consolidated financial statements).

        Selling, General and Administrative Expenses—Selling, general and administrative expenses totaled $44.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2001, a decrease of 2 percent from $45.6 million in 2000. Insurance settlements, lower profit sharing expenses, and a decreased loss on the sale of accounts receivable more than offset increased legal and professional fees during 2001.

        Operating Income—Operating income totaled $30.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2001, a decrease of 82 percent from $168.0 million in 2000. Lower operating income in chlorovinyls was the primary factor in the decrease. As a percentage of net sales, operating profit decreased to 3 percent of net sales for 2001 compared to 11 percent in 2000. This reduction was the result of overall sales price decreases more than offsetting decreases in raw materials costs.

        Chlorovinyls operating income for 2001 totaled $62.0 million (including the asset write-off and other related charges of $5.4 million), a decrease of 68 percent from 2000. The most significant factors in this decrease were declines in vinyl resin sales prices and volumes, which were not offset by lower raw materials costs and higher selling prices for caustic soda.

        Aromatics reported an operating loss of $15.7 million for 2001, an increase of 62 percent from the operating loss of $9.7 million in 2000. This increased loss is primarily due to lower sales volumes.

        Net Interest Expense—Net interest expense decreased to $57.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2001 from $67.7 million in 2000. This decrease was primarily attributable to lower overall debt balances and lower interest rates in 2001.

        Benefit from Income Taxes—The benefit from income taxes was $14.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2001 compared with a provision for $36.1 million in 2000. The benefit from income taxes resulted from incurring a loss before income taxes of $27.0 million and the favorable settlement of tax audits during 2001.

        Net Income (loss)—Net loss totaled $12.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2001 versus net income of $64.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2000. The discussion above enumerates the reasons for the change.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

        The primary focus for 2002 was to continue to apply cash flow towards reducing the debt incurred in acquiring the vinyls business from CONDEA Vista Company and the purchase of the cogeneration plant. During 2002 total debt was reduced by $147.1 million, $72.1 million from operations and $75.0 million from the sale of interests in our trade receivables.

        For the year ended December 31, 2002, we generated $168.2 million of cash flow from operating activities as compared with $41.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2001. The major sources of cash flow for 2002 were net income of $31.2 million, the sale of a $75.0 million interest in our trade receivables and the non-cash provision of $68.1 million for depreciation and amortization. Total working capital at December 31, 2002 was $51.1 million versus $87.6 million at December 31, 2001. Significant changes in working capital for 2002 included a decrease in trade receivables, an increase in inventories and an increase in accounts payable. The decrease in trade receivables was primarily attributable to the sale of a $75.0 million interest in our trade receivables due to the reinstatement of an asset securitization program (discussed further below and in note 3 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements). Inventories increased as a result of greater quantities of vinyl resins, in anticipation of our January 2003 scheduled outage and higher prices. The increase in accounts payable was attributable to the timing of certain payments and higher trade payable balances related to increased raw materials prices and volumes.

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        We used $17.5 million in cash for investing activities, primarily capital expenditures, for the year ended December 31, 2002 and $17.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2001, also primarily for capital expenditures. We estimate total capital expenditures for 2003, including the amounts needed for the Gallman expansion, will be in the range of $25.0 million to $30.0 million.

        Financing activities used $152.8 million of cash during 2002 primarily from reducing total debt $147.1 million and making dividend payments of $10.3 million. Of the debt reduction, $72.1 million was from cash provided from operations and $75.0 million came from selling an interest in our trade receivables. This was partially offset by cash proceeds from stock issued under stock option and employee stock purchase plans totaling $4.6 million.

        On August 9, 2002, we entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, amending the Senior Credit Agreement dated as of November 12, 1999, as amended by Amendment No. 2 dated as of June 30, 2001. The amendment creates a new $250 million Tranche C Term Loan. The Tranche C Term Loan was used to repay our existing $54.5 million Tranche A Term Loan and $194.4 million Tranche B Term Loan which were due November 12, 2005, and November 12, 2006. The new Tranche C Term Loan results in overall lower interest expense, delays the required principal payments, and contains less stringent debt covenants regarding the leverage ratio and the interest coverage ratio. The revolving credit facility matures November 12, 2005, while the new Tranche C Term Loan matures on May 12, 2007 unless we refinance our subordinated 10³/8 percent notes, in which case it matures on May 12, 2009. We were required to pay an arrangement fee equal to .375 percent of the sum of the Tranche C Term Loan and an amendment fee equal to .10 percent of the revolving facility.

        On November 15, 2002, we entered into a new agreement pursuant to which we sell an undivided percentage ownership interest in a defined pool of our trade receivables on a revolving basis through a wholly-owned subsidiary to a third party (the "Securitization"). As collections reduce accounts receivable included in the pool, we sell ownership interests in new receivables to bring the ownership interests sold up to $75,000,000, as permitted by the Securitization. Our previous agreement was terminated on July 20, 2001 due to a provision contained in our indenture governing our 10³/8 percent senior subordinated notes.

        At December 31, 2002, the unpaid balance of accounts receivable in the defined pool was approximately $146 million. We continue to service these receivables and maintain an interest in the receivables. We have not recorded a servicing asset or liability since the cost to service the receivables approximates the servicing income. We have a subordinated interest of approximately $71 million in the defined pool of receivables, which represents the excess of receivables sold over the amount funded to us. The fair value of the retained interest approximates the carrying amount because of the short period of time it takes for the portfolio to be liquidated. During 2002, we received approximately $150.0 million from the sales of receivables under the Securitization.

        On December 31, 2002, our balance sheet debt consisted of a $149.8 million senior credit facility, $100.0 million principal amount of 7⁵/8 percent notes, $200.0 million principal amount of 10³/8 percent senior subordinated notes, and $27.2 million in other debt. In addition, we have a $100.0 million revolving credit agreement (with the availability to borrow $86.8 million), which had no borrowings against it at the end of 2002. Debt under the senior credit facility and the 7⁵/8 percent notes is secured by substantially all of our assets, including real and personal property, inventory, accounts receivable and other intangibles.

        We declared dividends of $0.32 per share, or $10.3 million during 2002.

        We lease railcars, storage terminals, computer equipment, automobiles and warehouse and office space under non-cancelable operating leases with varying maturities through the year 2014. Future minimum payments under these non-cancelable operating leases as of December 31, 2002 are $16.5 million in 2003, $11.8 million in 2004, $9.1 million in 2005, $8.1 million in 2006, $6.1 million in 2007 and $16.8 million thereafter.

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        We have certain take-or-pay raw material purchase agreements with various terms extending through 2014. In September 2002, we acquired a take-or-pay contract for supply of ethylene from a major producer under a purchase arrangement that is cost based. Contract acquisition costs of $6.6 million together with fixed and determinable costs ($0.4 million per month through February 2008) were capitalized as incurred and the sum of these known costs is amortized over the life of the contract (expiring December 2011) based on the consumption of the ethylene. In addition to the contract purchased in the third quarter of 2002, we have two similar existing agreements to purchase ethylene from the same producer with similar terms. Under the terms of these three agreements, the cost of the ethylene is comprised of two components—the amortization of the fixed and determinable costs and a factor that represents, and varies based upon, the cost of manufacturing ethylene. The aggregate amounts of the fixed and determinable portion of the required payments under the three agreements are $11.9 million for each of the years 2003 through 2007 and $5.4 million for the year 2008. The aggregate amount of payments made under the three agreements for purchases in 2002, 2001 and 2000 were $51.9 million, $54.7 million and $48.9 million, respectively.

        Additionally, we have an agreement to purchase 500 million pounds of ethylene on a take or pay basis at market prices from CONDEA Vista through 2006. This agreement contains an optional reduction in the required purchases of 100 million pounds per year for each of the final three years of the agreement.

        Under our senior credit facility and the indentures related to the 7⁵/8 percent notes and the 10³/8 percent notes, we are subject to certain restrictive covenants, the most significant of which require us to maintain certain financial ratios. Our ability to meet these covenants, satisfy our debt obligations and to pay principal and interest on our debt, fund working capital, and make anticipated capital expenditures will depend on our future performance, which is subject to general macroeconomic conditions and other factors, some of which are beyond our control. Management believes that based on current and projected levels of operations and conditions in our markets, cash flow from operations, together with our cash and cash equivalents of $8.0 million, and the availability to borrow an additional $86.8 million under the revolving credit facility, at December 31, 2002, will be adequate for the foreseeable future to make required payments of principal (see note 9 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements) and interest on our debt, meet certain restrictive covenants which require us to maintain certain financial ratios, and fund our working capital and capital expenditure requirements. However, if our expectations regarding our business prove incorrect, we may not be able to meet certain restrictive covenants and maintain compliance with certain financial ratios. In that event we would attempt to obtain waivers or covenant relief from our lenders. Although we have successfully negotiated covenant relief in the past, there can be no assurance we can do so in the future.

        Georgia Gulf Corporation conducts its business operations through its wholly owned subsidiaries as reflected in the consolidated financial statements. As Georgia Gulf Corporation is essentially a holding company it must rely on distributions, loans and other intercompany cash flows from its wholly owned subsidiaries to generate the funds necessary to satisfy the repayment of its existing debt. Provisions in the senior credit facility limit payments of dividends, distributions, loans or advances to Georgia Gulf Corporation by its subsidiaries.

Inflation

        The most significant component of our cost of sales is raw materials, which include basic commodity items and natural gas. The costs of raw materials and natural gas are based primarily on market forces and have not been significantly affected by inflation. Inflation has not had a material impact on our sales or income from operations.

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New Accounting Pronouncements

        During June 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 146, "Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit and Disposal Activities." SFAS No. 146 requires all companies to recognize costs associated with exit or disposal activities when they are incurred rather than at the date of a commitment to an exit or disposal plan. SFAS No. 146 nullifies Emerging Issues Task Force ("EITF") Issue No. 94-3, "Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity (including Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring)," and will be applied prospectively to exit or disposal activities initiated after December 31, 2002. We adopted SFAS No. 146 on January 1, 2003. The impact of such adoption is not anticipated to have a material effect on our financial statements.

        During December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 148, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation—Transition and Disclosure—an amendment of SFAS No. 123." SFAS No. 148 provides alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. This statement also amends the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 123 and Accounting Principles Board ("APB") Opinion No. 28, "Interim Financial Reporting," to require prominent disclosures in both annual and interim financial statements about the method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation and the effect of the method used on reported results. We will implement SFAS No. 148 effective January 1, 2003 regarding disclosure requirements for condensed financial statements for interim periods. We have determined that we will continue to use the intrinsic value based method of APB Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees" in our accounting for stock-based employee compensation. See note 13 in the Notes to the Financial Statements for a complete discussion of stock-based employee compensation.

        In November 2002, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation ("FIN") No. 45 "Guarantor's Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others—an Interpretation of FASB Statements No. 5, 57 and 107 and Rescission of FASB Interpretation No. 34." FIN No. 45 requires companies to recognize, at the inception of a guarantee, a liability for the fair value of the obligation undertaken in issuing the guarantee. FIN No. 45 provides specific guidance identifying the characteristics of contracts that are subject to its guidance in its entirely from those only subject to the initial recognition and measurement provisions. The recognition and measurement provisions of FIN No. 45 are effective on a prospective basis for guarantees issued or modified after December 31, 2002. The disclosure provisions of FIN No. 45 are effective for the year ended December 30, 2002. We believe the provisions of FIN No. 45 will not have a material effect on our financial position or results of operations.

        In January 2003, the FASB issued FIN No. 46 "Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities—an Interpretation of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51." FIN No. 46 addresses consolidation by business enterprises where equity investors do not bear the residual economic risks and rewards. The underlying principle behind FIN No. 46 is that if a business enterprise has the majority financial interest in an entity, which is defined in FIN No. 46 as a variable interest entity, the assets, liabilities and results of the activities of the variable interest entity should be included in consolidated financial statements with those of the business enterprise. Companies are required to apply the provisions of FIN No. 46 prospectively for all variable interest entities created after January 31, 2003. We believe the provisions of FIN No. 46 will have not a material effect on our financial position or results of operations.

Critical Accounting Policies

        Critical accounting policies are those that are important to our financial condition and require management's most difficult, subjective, or complex judgments. Different amounts would be reported under different operating conditions or under alternative assumptions. We have evaluated the accounting policies used in the preparation of the accompanying financial statements and related notes and believe

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those policies to be reasonable and appropriate. We believe the following to be our most critical accounting policies applied in the preparation of our financial statements.

        In our determination of the allowance for doubtful accounts, and consistent with our accounting policy, we estimate the amount of accounts receivable that we believe may not be collected and we record an expense of that amount. Estimating this amount requires management to analyze the financial strength of our customers, and, in its analysis, management combines the use of the company's historical experience in general as well as a specific review of those customers that are deemed to be particularly risky. By its nature, such an estimate is highly subjective and it is possible that the amount of accounts receivable that the company is unable to collect may be greater than or less than the amount initially estimated.

        In our determination of the estimates relating to ongoing environmental costs and legal proceedings (see note 16 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements), as applied and disclosed in our consolidated financial statements, we consult with our advisors (consultants, engineers and attorneys). The results provide us with the information on which we base our judgments on these matters and under which we accrue an expense when it has been determined that it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount is reasonably estimable. While we believe that the amounts recorded in the accompanying financial statements related to these contingencies are based on the best estimates and judgments available to us, our actual outcomes could differ from our estimates.

        We periodically evaluate long-lived assets (including goodwill) for potential impairment indicators. Our judgments regarding the existence of impairment indicators are based on legal factors, market conditions and the operational performance of our businesses. Actual impairment losses incurred could vary significantly from amounts that we estimate. Additionally, future events could cause us to conclude that impairment indicators exist and that associated long-lived assets of our businesses are impaired. Any resulting impairment loss could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.

        Accounting for employee retirement plans involves estimating the cost of benefits that are to be provided in the future and attempting to match, for each employee, that estimated cost to the period worked. To accomplish this, extensive use is made of advice from actuaries and assumptions are made about inflation, investment returns, mortality, employee turnover, and discount rates (see note 14 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements) that ultimately impact amounts recorded. While we believe that the amounts recorded in the accompanying financial statements related to these retirement plans are based on the best estimates and judgments available to us, our actual outcomes could differ from our estimates.

Environmental

        Our operations are subject to increasingly stringent federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to environmental quality. These regulations, which are enforced principally by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and comparable state agencies, govern the management of solid hazardous waste, emissions into the air and discharges into surface and underground waters, and the manufacture of chemical substances.

        We believe that we are in material compliance with all the current environmental laws and regulations. We estimate that any expenses incurred in maintaining compliance with these requirements will not materially affect earnings or cause us to exceed our level of anticipated capital expenditures. However, there can be no assurance that regulatory requirements will not change, and therefore, it is not possible to accurately predict the aggregate cost of compliance resulting from any such changes.

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Item 7a. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

        We are subject to certain market risks related to long-term financing and related derivative financial instruments, foreign currency exchange rates and commodity prices. We have policies and procedures to mitigate the potential loss arising from adverse changes in these risk factors.

        Interest Rate Sensitivity—The following table is a "forward-looking" statement that provides information about our financial instruments that are sensitive to changes in interest rates, mainly financing obligations. Our policy is to manage interest rates through use of a combination of fixed and floating rate debt. We do not use interest rate swap agreements or any other derivatives for trading purposes. At times, we may utilize interest rate swap agreements to help manage our interest rate risk. As of December 31, 2002 we had no interest rate swap agreements in place. For financing obligations, the table presents principal cash flows and related weighted average interest rates by expected maturity dates. The information and cash flows are presented in U.S. dollars, which is our reporting currency.

        Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Sensitivity—Substantially all of our sales are denominated in U.S. dollars.

        Commodity Price Sensitivity—The availability and price of our raw materials are subject to fluctuations due to unpredictable factors in global supply and demand. To reduce price risk caused by market fluctuations, from time to time, we may enter into forward raw material purchase contracts, which are generally less than one year in duration. As of December 31, 2002, we had no material forward raw material purchase contracts open.

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Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS & SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.

Report of Management

To the Stockholders of Georgia Gulf Corporation:

        The accompanying consolidated financial statements of Georgia Gulf Corporation and subsidiaries are the responsibility of and have been prepared by the Company in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The financial information displayed in other sections of this 2002 Annual Report on Form 10-K is consistent with the consolidated financial statements.

        The integrity and the objectivity of the data in these consolidated financial statements, including estimates and judgments relating to matters not concluded by year-end, are the responsibility of management. We maintain accounting systems and related internal controls to provide reasonable assurance that financial records are reliable for preparing the consolidated financial statements and for maintaining accountability for assets. The system of internal controls also provides reasonable assurance that assets are safeguarded against loss from unauthorized use or disposition and that transactions are executed in accordance with management's authorization. Periodic reviews of the systems and of internal controls are performed by our internal audit department.

        The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, composed solely of directors who are not officers or employees of Georgia Gulf, has the responsibility of meeting periodically with management, our internal auditors and Deloitte & Touche LLP, our independent public accountants that are approved by the stockholders, to review the scope and results of the annual audit and the general overall effectiveness of the internal accounting control system. The independent public accountants and our internal auditors have direct access to the Audit Committee, with or without the presence of management, to discuss the scope and results of their audits, as well as any comments they may have related to the adequacy of the internal accounting control system and the quality of financial reporting.

Edward A. Schmitt
President, Chief Executive Officer

Richard B. Marchese
Vice President Finance, Chief Financial Officer

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Independent Auditor's Report

        To the Board of Directors and Stockholders
Georgia Gulf Corporation

        We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Georgia Gulf Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2002 and the related consolidated statements of income, cash flows and stockholders' equity for the year then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit. The consolidated financial statements of Georgia Gulf Corporation as of December 31, 2001, and for each of the two years in the period then ended, before the revision to the consolidated statements of cash flows and the revisions to Note 8, 16 and 20, were audited by other auditors who have ceased operations. Those auditors expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements in their report dated February 15, 2002.

        We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

        In our opinion, such 2002 consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Georgia Gulf Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2002 and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the year then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

        As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company changed its method of accounting for goodwill and other intangible assets in 2002 to conform to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142.

        As discussed above, the consolidated financial statements of Georgia Gulf Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2001 and for each of the years in the two-year period then ended were audited by other auditors who have ceased operations. These consolidated financial statements have been revised as follows:

1.

As described in Note 8, these consolidated financial statements have been revised to include the transition disclosures required by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, which was adopted by the Company as of January 1, 2002. Our audit procedures with respect to 2001 and 2000 included (a) agreeing previously reported net income to the previously issued consolidated financial statements and the adjustments to reported net income representing amortization expense (including any related tax effects) recognized in those periods relating to goodwill to the Company's underlying records obtained from management, and (b) testing the mathematical accuracy of the reconciliation of adjusted net income to reported net income, and the related earnings-per-share amounts.

2.

The consolidated cash flow statements for each of the two years in the two-year period ending December 31, 2001 have been revised to provide disaggregations of amounts related to the accounts receivable securitization transactions. Our audit procedures with respect to 2001 and 2000 included (a) agreeing the reported amounts to the Company's underlying records obtained from management, and (b) testing the mathematical accuracy of such disaggregation.

3.

Note 16 under the heading "Purchase Commitments" has been revised to include aggregate payments made under certain purchase commitments for each of the two years in the two-year period ending December 31, 2001. Our audit procedures with respect to 2001 and 2000 included (a) agreeing the reported amounts to the Company's underlying records obtained from management.

4.

As described in Note 20, the Company changed the classification of its depreciation and amortization expense in the reportable segments for 2002, and the amounts in the 2001 and 2000 financial statements relating to depreciation and amortization expense in reportable segments have been revised to conform to the 2002 classification. Our procedures included (a) agreeing the adjusted amounts of depreciation and amortization expense to the Company's underlying records obtained from management, and (b) testing the mathematical accuracy of the reclassification of segment amounts to the consolidated financial statements.

        In our opinion, such disclosures and reclassifications are appropriate and have been properly applied. However, we were not engaged to audit, review, or apply any procedures to the 2001 and 2000 consolidated financial statements of the Company other than with respect to such disclosures and reclassifications, and accordingly, we do not express an opinion or any other form of assurance on the 2001 and 2000 consolidated financial statements taken as a whole.

Deloitte & Touche LLP
Atlanta, Georgia
February 12, 2003

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        This is a copy of a report previously issued by Arthur Andersen LLP. The report has not been reissued by Arthur Andersen LLP nor has Arthur Andersen LLP provided a consent to the inclusion of its report in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Report of Independent Public Accountants

To Georgia Gulf Corporation:

        We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Georgia Gulf Corporation (a Delaware corporation) and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2001 and 2000 and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2001. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statements based on our audits.

        We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

        In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Georgia Gulf Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2001 and 2000 and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2001 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

Arthur Andersen LLP
Atlanta, Georgia
February 15, 2002

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Consolidated Balance Sheets

Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries

See notes to the consolidated financial statements.

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Consolidated Statements of Income

Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries

See notes to the consolidated financial statements.

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Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries

See notes to the consolidated financial statements.

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Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity

Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries