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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10—Q

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2003

1-2360
(Commission file number)

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

New York
(State of incorporation)
  13-0871985
(IRS employer identification number)
     
Armonk, New York
(Address of principal executive offices)
  10504
(Zip Code)
     
914-499-1900
(Registrant's telephone number)

        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 whether registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2). Yes ý    No o

        The registrant has 1,720,423,202 shares of common stock outstanding at September 30, 2003.





Index

 
  Page
Part I—Financial Information:    
 
Item 1. Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 
   
Consolidated Statement of Earnings for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002

 

1
   
Consolidated Statement of Financial Position at September 30, 2003 and December 31, 2002

 

3
   
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002

 

5
   
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

6
 
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition

 

18
 
Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

40

Part II—Other Information

 

41


Part I—Financial Information

ITEM 1. Consolidated Financial Statements


INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS
(UNAUDITED)

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,

  Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 
 
  2003
  2002
  2003
  2002
 
(Dollars in millions except
per share amounts)

   
 
Revenue:                          
Global Services   $ 10,383   $ 8,895   $ 31,187   $ 25,785  
Hardware     6,697     6,764     19,118     19,320  
Software     3,461     3,110     10,061     9,273  
Global Financing     715     795     2,092     2,403  
Enterprise Investments/Other     266     257     760     721  
   
 
 
 
 
Total revenue     21,522     19,821     63,218     57,502  

Cost:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Global Services     7,782     6,540     23,298     19,015  
Hardware     5,011     4,957     14,104     14,420  
Software     491     500     1,452     1,549  
Global Financing     302     348     897     1,044  
Enterprise Investments/Other     124     153     424     381  
   
 
 
 
 
Total cost     13,710     12,498     40,175     36,409  
   
 
 
 
 
Gross profit     7,812     7,323     23,043     21,093  

Expense:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Selling, general and administrative     4,303     3,987     12,978     13,298  
Research, development and engineering     1,307     1,213     3,728     3,546  
Intellectual property and custom development income     (406 )   (232 )   (887 )   (771 )
Other (income) and expense     26     (83 )   114     111  
Interest expense     33     34     114     97  
   
 
 
 
 
Total expense and other income     5,263     4,919     16,047     16,281  

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

 

 

2,549

 

 

2,404

 

 

6,996

 

 

4,812

 
Provision for income taxes     764     710     2,099     1,389  
   
 
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations     1,785     1,694     4,897     3,423  

(The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.)

1



INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS—(CONTINUED)
(UNAUDITED)

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,

  Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 
 
  2003
  2002
  2003
  2002
 
(Dollars in millions except
Per share amounts)

 
Discontinued Operations                          
Loss from discontinued operations         (381 )   (23 )   (862 )
   
 
 
 
 
Net income   $ 1,785   $ 1,313   $ 4,874   $ 2,561  
   
 
 
 
 
Earnings per share of common
stock
:
                         
  Assuming dilution                          
    Continuing operations   $ 1.02   $ 0.99   $ 2.78   $ 1.97  
    Discontinued operations         (0.22 )   (0.01 )   (0.50 )
   
 
 
 
 
    Total   $ 1.02   $ 0.76 * $ 2.77   $ 1.47  
   
 
 
 
 
  Basic                          
    Continuing operations   $ 1.04   $ 1.00   $ 2.84   $ 2.01  
    Discontinued operations         (0.23 )   (0.01 )   (0.51 )
   
 
 
 
 
    Total   $ 1.04   $ 0.78 * $ 2.82 * $ 1.50  
   
 
 
 
 
Average number of common shares outstanding (millions):                          
 
Assuming dilution

 

 

1,756.4

 

 

1,711.7

 

 

1,759.5

 

 

1,731.7

 
 
Basic

 

 

1,722.6

 

 

1,690.5

 

 

1,725.9

 

 

1,704.6

 

Cash dividends per common share

 

$

0.16

 

$

0.15

 

$

0.47

 

$

0.44

 
*
Does not total due to rounding.

(The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.)

2



INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

ASSETS

 
  At September 30,
2003
(Unaudited)

  At December 31,
2002

(Dollars in millions)

Assets            
Current assets:            
  Cash and cash equivalents   $ 5,451   $ 5,382
  Marketable securities—at fair value, which approximates market value     720     593
  Notes and accounts receivable—trade, net of allowances     9,480     9,915
  Short-term financing receivables     15,232     15,996
  Other accounts receivable     1,518     1,447
  Inventories, at lower of average cost or net realizable value            
    Finished goods     1,109     960
    Work in process and raw materials     2,173     2,188
   
 
  Total inventories     3,282     3,148
  Deferred taxes     2,443     2,617
  Intangible assets—net     209     175
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets     2,231     2,379
   
 
  Total current assets     40,566     41,652
 
Plant, rental machines and other property

 

 

36,721

 

 

36,083
    Less: Accumulated depreciation     22,232     21,643
   
 
  Plant, rental machines and other property—net     14,489     14,440
  Long-term financing receivables     9,698     11,440
  Prepaid pension assets     17,555     16,003
  Intangible assets—net     728     562
  Goodwill     6,597     4,115
  Investments and sundry assets     7,557     8,272
   
 
Total assets   $ 97,190   $ 96,484
   
 

(The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.)

3



INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION—(CONTINUED)

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

 
  At September 30,
2003
(Unaudited)

  At December 31,
2002

 
(Dollars in millions except per share amounts)

   
   
 
Liabilities and Stockholders' Eauity              
  Current liabilities:              
    Taxes   $ 4,483   $ 5,476  
    Short-term debt     5,935     6,031  
    Accounts payable and accruals     22,178     23,043  
   
 
 
  Total current liabilities     32,596     34,550  
 
Long-term debt

 

 

17,089

 

 

19,986

 
  Retirement and nonpension postretirement benefit obligations     13,685     13,215  
  Other liabilities     6,494     5,951  
   
 
 
Total liabilities     69,864     73,702  

Stockholders' equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Common stock—par value $.20 per share     15,674     14,858  
    Shares authorized: 4,687,500,000              
    Shares issued: 2003—1,930,393,750
                        2002—1,920,957,772
             
  Retained earnings     35,197     31,555  
  Treasury stock—at cost     (21,068 )   (20,213 )
    Shares: 2003—209,970,548
            2002—198,590,876
             
  Accumulated gains and losses not affecting retained earnings     (2,477 )   (3,418 )
   
 
 
Total stockholders' equity     27,326     22,782  
   
 
 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity   $ 97,190   $ 96,484  
   
 
 

(The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.)

4



INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, (UNAUDITED)

 
  2003
  2002
 
(Dollars in millions)

   
   
 
Cash flow from operating activities from continuing operations:              
  Income from continuing operations   $ 4,897   $ 3,423  
  Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to cash provided from operating activities:              
    Depreciation     2,909     3,276  
    Amortization of software     560     506  
    Gain on disposition of fixed and other assets     (124 )   (221 )
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities     1,575     2,431  
   
 
 
  Net cash provided from operating activities from continuing operations     9,817     9,415  
   
 
 
Cash flow from investing activities from continuing operations:              
  Payments for plant, rental machines and other property, net of proceeds     (2,443 )   (2,851 )
  Investment in software     (431 )   (420 )
  Acquisition of businesses     (1,773 )   (175 )
  Purchases of marketable securities and other investments     (5,618 )   (301 )
  Proceeds from marketable securities and other investments     5,749     443  
   
 
 
  Net cash used in investment activities from continuing operations     (4,516 )   (3,304 )
   
 
 
Cash flow from financing activities from continuing operations:              
  Proceeds from new debt     1,298     3,969  
  Payments to settle debt     (5,220 )   (3,983 )
  Short-term borrowings/(repayments) less than 90 days—net     83     (2,639 )
  Common stock transactions—net     (620 )   (3,327 )
  Cash dividends paid     (811 )   (751 )
   
 
 
  Net cash used in financing activities from continuing operations     (5,270 )   (6,731 )
   
 
 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents     202     94  
Net cash flow used by discontinued operations     (164 )   (588 )
   
 
 
Net change in cash and cash equivalents     69     (1,114 )
Cash and cash equivalents at January 1     5,382     6,330  
   
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents at September 30   $ 5,451   $ 5,216  
   
 
 

(The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.)

5


Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

1.    In the opinion of the management of International Business Machines Corporation (the company), all adjustments, which are of a normal recurring nature, necessary to a fair statement of the results for the unaudited three- and nine-month periods have been made.

2.    The company applies Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees," and related Interpretations in accounting for its stock-based compensation plans. Accordingly, the company records expense for employee stock compensation plans equal to the excess of the market price of the underlying IBM shares at the date of grant over the exercise price of the stock-related award, if any (known as the intrinsic value). Generally, all employee stock options are issued with the exercise price equal to the market price of the underlying shares at grant date and therefore, no compensation expense is recorded. In addition, no compensation expense is recorded for purchases under the Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP) in accordance with APB No. 25. The intrinsic value of restricted stock units and certain other stock-based compensation issued to employees as of the date of grant is amortized to compensation expense over the vesting period. To the extent there are performance criteria that could result in an employee receiving more or less (including zero) shares than the number of units granted, the unamortized liability is marked to market during the performance period based upon the intrinsic value at the end of each quarter.

        The following table summarizes the pro forma operating results of the company had compensation cost for stock options granted and for employee stock purchases under the ESPP been determined in accordance with the fair value based method prescribed by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation".

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,

  Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 
  2003
  2002
  2003
  2002
(Dollars in millions except per share amounts)

   
   
   
   
Net income   $ 1,785   $ 1,313   $ 4,874   $ 2,561
Add: Stock-based compensation expense included in reported net income, net of related tax effects     2     9     47     26
Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value method for all awards, net of related tax effects     292     292     803     838
   
 
 
 
Pro forma net income   $ 1,495   $ 1,030   $ 4,118   $ 1,749
   
 
 
 
Earnings per share of common stock:                        
  Basic—as reported   $ 1.04   $ 0.78   $ 2.82   $ 1.50
  Basic—pro forma   $ 0.87   $ 0.61   $ 2.39   $ 1.03
  Assuming dilution—as reported   $ 1.02   $ 0.76   $ 2.77   $ 1.47
  Assuming dilution—pro forma   $ 0.86   $ 0.61   $ 2.37   $ 1.02

6


3.    The following table summarizes Net income plus gains and losses not affecting retained earnings.

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,

  Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 
 
  2003
  2002
  2003
  2002
 
(Dollars in millions)

   
   
   
   
 
Net income   $ 1,785   $ 1,313   $ 4,874   $ 2,561  
   
 
 
 
 
Gains and losses not affecting retained earnings (net of tax):                          
  Foreign currency translation adjustments     159     (39 )   1,001     411  
  Minimum pension liability adjustments     (2 )   5     (45 )   23  
  Net unre alized gains/(losses) on marketable securities     1     (3 )   5     (16 )
  Net unrealized (losses)/gains on cash flow hedge derivatives     (36 )   19     (20 )   (567 )
   
 
 
 
 
Total gains /(losses) not affecting retained earnings     122     (18 )   941     (149 )
   
 
 
 
 
Net income plus gains and losses not affecting retained earnings   $ 1,907   $ 1,295   $ 5,815   $ 2,412  
   
 
 
 
 

4.    The Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) recently reached a consensus on two issues relating to the accounting for multiple element arrangements: Issue No. 00-21, "Accounting for Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables", and Issue No. 03-05, "Applicability of AICPA SOP 97-2 to Non Software Deliverables in an Arrangement Containing More Than Incidental Software". The consensus opinion in EITF No. 03-05 clarifies the guidance in EITF 00-21 and was reached on July 31, 2003. The transition provisions allow either prospective application or a cumulative effect adjustment upon adoption. IBM adopted prospectively as of July 1, 2003. EITF Nos. 00-21 and 03-05 did not have a material impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements.

        In April 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued SFAS No. 149, "Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities". SFAS No. 149 clarifies under what circumstances a contract with an initial net investment meets the characteristics of a derivative as discussed in Statement No. 133. It also specifies when a derivative contains a financing component that warrants special reporting in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. SFAS No. 149 amends certain other existing pronouncements in order to improve consistency in reporting these types of transactions. The new guidance is effective for contracts entered into or modified after June 30, 2003, and for hedging relationships designated after June 30, 2003. SFAS No. 149 did not have a material effect on the Consolidated Financial Statements.

        In May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 150, "Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity". It establishes classification and

7


measurement standards for three types of freestanding financial instruments that have characteristics of both liabilities and equity. Instruments within the scope of SFAS 150 must be classified as liabilities within the company's Consolidated Financial Statements and be reported at settlement date value. The provisions of SFAS 150 are effective for (1) instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003 and (2) pre-existing instruments as of July 1, 2003. On October 29, 2003, the FASB voted to indefinitely defer the effective date of SFAS 150 for mandatorily redeemable instruments as they relate to minority interests in consolidated finite-lived entities through the issuance of FASB Staff Position (FSP) 150-3. The adoption of SFAS 150, as modified by FSP 150-3, did not have a material effect on the Consolidated Financial Statements.

        In January 2003, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 46 (FIN 46), "Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities," which addresses consolidation by business enterprises of variable interest entities that either: (1) do not have sufficient equity investment at risk to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support, or (2) the equity investors lack an essential characteristic of a controlling financial interest. FIN 46 requires disclosure of Variable Interest Entities (VIEs) in financial statements issued after January 31, 2003, if it is reasonably possible that as of the transition date: (1) the company will be the primary beneficiary of an existing VIE that will require consolidation or, (2) the company will hold a significant variable interest in, or have significant involvement with, an existing VIE. Any VIEs created after January 31, 2003, are immediately subject to the consolidation guidance of FIN 46. Since the release of FIN 46, the FASB has issued numerous FSPs regarding FIN 46, three of which remain in proposed form. On October 9, 2003, the FASB released FSP 46-6, which deferred the effective date for the consolidation guidance of FIN 46 from July 1, 2003 to December 31, 2003, for VIEs existing prior to February 1, 2003.

        Pursuant to the transition requirements of FSP 46-6, the company will adopt the consolidation guidance applicable to existing VIEs as of December 31, 2003. As a result of the emerging interpretations of and amendments to FIN 46, the company is continuing to evaluate the impact of FIN 46 and its related guidance. Their adoption, however, is not expected to have a material impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements.

        In July 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 146, "Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities." SFAS No. 146 supersedes Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) 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 requires that a liability for a cost associated with an exit or disposal activity be recognized when the liability is incurred. Such liabilities should be recorded at fair value and updated for any changes in the fair value each period. The company adopted this statement effective January 1, 2003, and its adoption did not have a material effect on the Consolidated Financial Statements. Going forward, the impact of SFAS No. 146 on the company's Consolidated Financial Statements will depend upon the timing of and facts underlying any future exit or disposal activity.

        In June 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 143, "Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations." SFAS No. 143 provides accounting and reporting guidance for obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets that result from the acquisition, construction or normal operations of a long-lived asset. The standard was effective January 1, 2003 and its adoption did not have a material effect on the Consolidated Financial Statements.

8


5.    The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill, by external reporting segment, for the period ended September 30, 2003, are as follows:

Segment

  Balance
1/1/03

  Goodwill
Additions

  Purchase
Price
Adjustments

  Divestitures
  Foreign
Currency
Translation
Adjustments

  Balance
9/30/03

(Dollars in millions)

   
   
   
   
   
   
Global Services   $ 2,926   $ 197*   $ 717   $ (6 ) $ 175   $ 4,009
Systems Group     137                     137
Personal Systems Group     13                     13
Technology Group     24                     24
Software     1,015     1,424     (26 )       1     2,414
Global Financing                        
Enterprise Investments                        
   
 
 
 
 
 
Total   $ 4,115   $ 1,621   $ 691   $ (6 ) $ 176   $ 6,597
   
 
 
 
 
 

*
Relates to the purchase of the minority interest in a consolidated subsidiary.

        There were no goodwill impairment losses recorded during the first nine months of 2003.

        The following schedule details the company's intangible asset balances by major asset class:

Intangible asset class

  Gross Carrying
Amount

  Accumulated
Amortization

  Net Carrying
Amount at 9/30/03

(Dollars in millions)

   
   
   
Customer-related   $ 703   $ (220 ) $ 483
Completed technology     434     (181 )   253
Strategic alliances     118     (32 )   86
Patents/Trademarks     98     (61 )   37
Other(a)     113     (35 )   78
   
 
 
Total   $ 1,466   $ (529 ) $ 937
   
 
 

(a)
Other intangibles are primarily acquired proprietary and non-proprietary business processes, methodologies and systems.

        The net carrying amount of intangible assets increased $200 million during the first nine months of 2003, primarily due to the acquisition of Rational Software Corp. (Rational) partially offset by amortization of existing intangible asset balances.

        The aggregate intangible amortization expense was $104 million and $256 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2003, respectively, versus $38 million and $118 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2002.

9


        Future amortization expense relating to intangible assets currently recorded in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position is estimated to be the following at September 30, 2003:

2003 (fourth quarter)   $ 91 million
2004   $ 322 million
2005   $ 246 million
2006   $ 126 million
2007   $ 73 million

        6.     As described in the company's 2002 Annual Report and in connection with the acquisition of PricewaterhouseCoopers' (PwC) consulting business, the original recorded amount of net tangible assets transferred to IBM from PwC was approximately $454 million greater than the estimated amount originally paid by the company in 2002. The amount of net tangible assets transferred was subject to a review process between both parties under terms of the agreem ent. As a result of the review process and other adjustments, the company paid an additional amount to PwC of $397 million in July 2003. Substantially all of the payment was accounted for as incremental goodwill due to the fact that the net tangible assets recorded by IBM as of October 1, 2002 included the incremental amount.

        The table below presents the updated allocation of the purchase price related to the company's 2002 acquisition of PwC's consulting business.

 
  Amortization
Life (yrs.)

  Original Amount
Disclosed in
2002
Annual Report

  Purchase
Adjustments*

  Total
Allocation

 
(Dollars in millions)

   
   
   
   
 
Current assets       $ 1,197   $ (239 ) $ 958  
Fixed assets/non-current         199     (37 )   162  
Intangible assets:                        
  Goodwill   N/A     2,461     711     3,172  
  Strategic alliances   5     103         103  
  Non-contractual customer relationships   4 to 7     131         131  
  Customer contracts/backlog   3 to 5     82         82  
  Other identifiable intangible assets   3 to 5     95         95  
       
 
 
 
Total assets acquired         4,268     435     4,703  
       
 
 
 
Current liabilities         (560 )   (36 )   (596 )

Non-current liabilities

 

 

 

 

(234

)

 

15

 

 

(219

)
       
 
 
 
Total liabilities assumed         (794 )   (21 )   (815 )
       
 
 
 
Total purchase price       $ 3,474   $ 414   $ 3,888  
       
 
 
 

*
Adjustments relate to the amount paid by the company to PwC as a result of the review discussed above as well as other purchase accounting adjustments primarily related to accounts receivable, prepaid assets and other accruals.

10


        7.     On February 21, 2003, the company purchased the outstanding stock of Rational for $2,095 million in cash. Rational provides open, industry standard tools, best practices and services for developing business applications and building software products and systems. The Rational acquisition provides the company with the ability to offer a complete development environment for customers. The transaction was completed on February 21, 2003, from which time the results of this acquisition were included in the company's Consolidated Financial Statements. The company merged Rational's business operations and employees into the IBM Software Group as a new division and brand.

        The table below presents the updated allocation of the purchase price related to the company's 2003 acquisition of Rational.

 
  Amortization
Life (yrs.)

  Original Amount
Disclosed in
First Quarter
2003
Form 10-Q

  Purchase
Adjustments*

  Total
Allocation

 
(Dollars in millions)

   
   
   
   
 
Current assets       $ 1,179   $ 52   $ 1,231  
Fixed assets/non-current         83     28     111  
Intangible assets:                        
  Completed technology   3     229         229  
  Customer relationships   7     180         180  
  Other identifiable intangible assets   2-5     32         32  
  Goodwill   N/A     1,365     (30 )   1,335  
In-process research & development         9         9  
       
 
 
 
Total assets acquired         3,077     50     3,127  
       
 
 
 

Current liabilities

 

 

 

 

(347

)

 

(80

)

 

(427

)
Non-current liabilities         (638 )   33     (605 )
       
 
 
 
Total liabilities assumed         (985 )   (47 )   (1,032 )
       
 
 
 
Total purchase price       $ 2,092   $ 3   $ 2,095  
       
 
 
 

*
Adjustments primarily relate to acquisition costs, deferred taxes and other accruals.

        The acquisition was accounted for as a purchase transaction, and accordingly, the assets and liabilities of the acquired entity were recorded at their estimated fair values at the date of the acquisition. The primary items that generated the goodwill are the value of the synergies between Rational and IBM and the acquired assembled workforce, neither of which qualify as an amortizable intangible asset. None of the goodwill is deductible for tax purposes. The overall weighted-average life of the identified

11


intangible assets acquired in the purchase of Rational that are subject to amortization is 4.7 years. With the exception of goodwill, these identified intangible assets will be amortized on a straight-line basis over their useful lives. Goodwill of $1,335 million has been assigned to the Software segment. The company recorded a pretax charge of $9 million for in-process research and development. This amount, which reflects the relative value and contribution of the acquired research and development to the company's existing research or product lines, was charged to research, development, and engineering expense on the company's Consolidated Statement of Earnings.

        As outlined above, the gross purchase price was $2,095 million. However, as part of the transaction, IBM assumed cash and cash equivalents held in Rational of $1,053 million, resulting in a net cash payment of $1,042 million. In addition, the company assumed $500 million in outstanding convertible debt. The convertible debt was subsequently called on March 26, 2003.

        8.     During the second quarter of 2002, the company executed several actions in its Microelectronics Division. The Microelectronics Division is within the company's Technology segment. These actions are the result of the company's announced intentions to refocus and direct its microelectronics business to the high-end foundry, Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASICs) and standard products, while creating its new Engineering and Technology Services Division. A major part of the actions relate to a significant reduction in the company's manufacturing capacity for aluminum technology.

        In addition, the company rebalanced both its workforce and leased space resources primarily in response to the recent decline in corporate spending on technology-related services.

12


        The following table summarizes the significant components of these actions:

 
  Liability
recorded in
Second Quarter
2002

  Liability as of
12/31/02

  Payments
  Other
Adjustments+

  Liability as of
9/30/03

(Dollars in millions)

   
   
   
   
   
Microelectronics:                              
Machinery/ equipment:                              
  Current   $ 67 (A)* $ 42   $ 32   $ 10   $ 20
  Non-current     33 (A)**   17         (12 )   5
Non cancelable purchase commitments:                              
  Current     35 (B)*   24     20     14     18
  Non-current     25 (B)**   13         (13 )  
Employee terminations:                              
  Current     44 (C)*   1     1        
  Non-current     1 (C)**   1             1

Vacant Space:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Current     5 (D)*   5     4     2     3
  Non-current     6 (D)**   5         (1 )   4

Sale of Endicott facility

 

 

2

(E)*

 

10

 

 

6

 

 

(2

)

 

2
Sale of certain operations     10 (F)*   1     1        

Global services and other:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Employee terminations:                              
    Current     671 (G)*   143     108     (9 )   26
    Non-current     51 (G)**   78         (11 )   67
  Vacant space:                              
    Current     57 (H)*   44     61     57     40
    Non-current     94 (H)**   86         (46 )   40
   
 
 
 
 
    $ 1,101   $ 470   $ 233   $ (11 ) $ 226
   
 
 
 
 

+
Principally represents currency translation adjustments and reclassification of non-current to current. In addition, net adjustments of $28 million were made in the first nine months of 2003 to reduce previously recorded liabilities. These adjustments, along with $8 million for assets previously written off, were primarily for differences between the estimated and actual proceeds on the disposition of certain assets as well as changes in the estimated cost of employee terminations and in vacant space accrual estimates.

*
Recorded in Accounts payable and accruals on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position.

**
Recorded in Other liabilities on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position.

        (A) This amount is comprised of costs incurred to remove abandoned capital assets and the remaining lease payments for leased equipment that was abandoned in the second quarter of 2002. The liability at September 30, 2003 relates to the remaining lease payments, which will continue through 2005.

        (B)  The company is subject to certain noncancelable purchase commitments. As a result of the decision to significantly reduce aluminum capacity, the company no longer has a need for certain materials subject to these agreements. The required future payments for materials no longer needed under these contracts are expected to be paid through June 30, 2004.

13


        (C)  The workforce reductions represent 1,400 people, all of whom left the company as of June 30, 2003. The remaining liability relates to terminated employees who were granted annual payments to supplement their income in certain countries. Depending on individual country legal requirements, these required payments will continue until the former employee begins receiving pension benefits or dies.

        (D)  The space accruals are for ongoing obligations to pay rent for vacant space that could not be sublet or space that was sublet at rates lower than the committed lease arrangements. The length of these obligations varies by lease with the longest extending through 2006.

        (E)  As part of the company's strategic realignment of its Microelectronics business to exit the manufacture and sale of certain products and component technologies, the company signed an agreement in the second quarter of 2002 to sell its interconnect products operations in Endicott to Endicott Interconnect Technologies, Inc. (EIT). As a result of this transaction, the company incurred a $223 million loss on sale, primarily relating to the land, buildings, machinery and equipment. The transaction closed in the fourth quarter of 2002. The company entered into a limited supply agreement with EIT for future products, and it will also lease back, at fair market value rental rates, approximately one third of the Endicott campus' square footage for operations outside the interconnect OEM business.

        (F)  As part of the strategic realignment of the company's Microelectronics business, the company agreed to sell certain assets and liabilities comprising its Mylex business to LSI Logic Corporation and the company sold part of its wireless phone chipset operations to TriQuint Semiconductor, Inc. in June 2002. The Mylex transaction was completed in August 2002. There was a loss of $74 million for the Mylex transaction and a realized gain of $11 million for the chipset sale.

        (G)  The majority of the workforce reductions relate to the company's Global Services business. The workforce reductions represent 14,213 people, all of whom left the company as of June 30, 2003. See C above for information on the remaining liability.

        (H)  The space accruals are for ongoing obligations to pay rent for vacant space that could not be sublet or space that was sublet at rates lower than the committed lease arrangements. This space relates primarily to workforce dynamics in the Global Services business and the downturn in corporate technology spending on services. The length of these obligations varies by lease with the longest extending through 2016.

14


        During the fourth quarter of 2002, the company executed several actions related to the company's acquisition of the PwC consulting business. Specifically, the company rebalanced both its workforce and its leased space resources. The following table summarizes the significant components of these actions:

 
  Liability
recorded in the
Fourth Quarter
2002

  Liability as of
12/31/02

  Payments
  Other
Adjustments+

  Liability as of
9/30/03

(Dollars in millions)

   
   
   
   
   
Workforce:                              
  Current   $ 296(A )* $ 278   $ 225   $ (10 ) $ 43
  Non-current     57(A )**   57         9     66
Vacant space:                              
  Current     68(B )*   67     30     7     44
  Non-current     180(B )**   180         (16 )   164
   
 
 
 
 
    $ 601   $ 582   $ 255   $ (10 ) $ 317
   
 
 
 
 
+
Principally represents currency translation adjustments, adjustments to the purchase price allocation for the PwC consulting acquisition, and reclassifications between current and non-current. In addition, net adjustments of $6 million were made in the first nine months of 2003 to reduce previously recorded liabilities. These adjustments were for changes in the estimated cost of employee terminations and vacant space. There were also net adjustments of $26 million made in the first nine months of 2003 to reduce previously recorded liabilities, that were recorded in purchase accounting, for changes in the estimated cost of employee terminations and vacant space.

*
Recorded in Accounts payable and accruals on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position.

**
Recorded in Other liabilities on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position.

(A)
The majority of the workforce reductions relates to the company's Global Services business. The workforce reductions represent 4,744 people of which approximately 98 percent left the company as of September 30, 2003. The non-current workforce accrual relates to terminated employees in certain countries outside the United States, for whom the company is required to make annual payments to supplement their incomes. Depending on individual country legal requirements, these required payments will continue until the former employee begins receiving pension benefits or dies.

(B)
The majority of the space accruals is for ongoing obligations to pay rent for vacant space of PwC's consulting business that could not be sublet or space that was sublet at rates lower than the committed lease arrangements. The length of these obligations varies by lease with the longest extending through 2019.

15


        The following table provides the liability balances for the second -quarter and fourth-quarter 2002 actions discussed above, the 2002 actions associated with the hard disk drive (HDD) business for reductions in workforce, manufacturing capacity and space, actions in 1999, and actions that took place through 1993.

 
  Liability
as of
12/31/2002

  Payments
  Other Adj.(d)
  Liability
as of
9/30/2003

 
(Dollars in millions)

   
   
   
   
 
Current:                          
  Workforce (a)   $ 647   $ 496   $ 62   $ 213  
  Space (b)     181     177     122     126  
  Other (c)     115     76     8     47  
   
 
 
 
 
Total   $ 943   $ 749   $ 192   $ 386*  
   
 
 
 
 
Non-current:                          
  Workforce (a)   $ 574   $   $ 11   $ 585  
  Space (b)     419         (97 )   322  
  Other (c)     31         (26 )   5  
   
 
 
 
 
Total   $ 1,024       $ (112 ) $ 912 **
   
 
 
 
 

(a)
Workforce accruals relate to terminated employees who were granted annual payments to supplement their income in certain countries. Depending on individual country legal requirements, these required payments will continue until the former employee begins receiving pension benefits or dies.

(b)
Space accruals are for ongoing obligations to pay rent for vacant space that could not be sublet or space that was sublet at rates lower than the committed lease arrangement. The length of these obligations varies by lease with the longest extending through 2019.

(c)
Other accruals are primarily the remaining liabilities associated with the 2002 actions and remaining liabilities associated with the HDD-related restructuring in 2002.

(d)
Principally represents reclassification of non-current to current and currency translation adjustments. In addition, net adjustments of $85 million were made in the first nine months of 2003 to reduce previously recorded liabilities. These adjustments were for differences between the estimated and actual proceeds on the disposition of certain assets and changes in the estimated cost of employee terminations and vacant space for the 2002 actions ($34 million), net adjustments for fourth quarter 2002 actions recorded in purchase accounting ($26 million), HDD-related restructuring in 2002 ($23 million) and actions prior to 1999 ($2 million). The 2002 HDD restructuring charges and the first nine months of 2003 adjustment thereto were recorded in Discontinued Operations in the Consolidated Statement of Earnings.

*
Recorded in Accounts payable and accruals on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position.

**
Recorded in Other liabilities on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position.

        9.     The tables on pages 49 through 52 of this Form 10-Q reflect the results of the company's segments consistent with its management system used by the company's chief operating decision maker. These results are not necessarily a depiction that is in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). For example, employee retirement plan costs are developed using actuarial assumptions on a country-by-country basis and allocated to the segments on headcount. A different result could occur for any segment if actuarial assumptions unique to

16


each segment were used. Performance measurements are based on income before income taxes (pre-tax income). These results are used, in part, by management, both in evaluating the performance of and in allocating resources to each of the segments.

        10.   The company's extended lines of credit include unused amounts of $3,019 million and $3,482 million at September 30, 2003 and December 31, 2002, respectively. A portion of these amounts was available to the company's business partners to support their working capital needs. In addition, the company committed to provide future financing to its customers in connection with customer purchase agreements for approximately $313 million and $288 million at September 30, 2003 and December 31, 2002, respectively.

        See note O on page 88 of the company's 2002 Annual Report and the Retirement-Related Benefits section of this Form 10-Q on page 29 for discussion of claims and suits that arise from time to time in the ordinary course of the company's business.

        The company has applied the disclosure provisions of FIN 45 to its agreements that contain guarantee or indemnification clauses. These disclosure provisions expand those required by FASB Statement No. 5, "Accounting for Contingencies", by requiring a guarantor to disclose certain types of guarantees, even if the likelihood of requiring the guarantor's performance is remote. The following is a description of arrangements in which the company is the guarantor.

        The company is a party to a variety of agreements pursuant to which it may be obligated to indemnify the other party with respect to certain matters. Typically, these obligations arise in the context of contracts entered into by the company, under which the company customarily agrees to hold the other party harmless against losses arising from a breach of representations and covenants related to such matters as title to the assets sold, certain intellectual property rights, specified environmental matters, and certain income taxes. In each of these circumstances, payment by the company is conditioned on the other party making an adverse claim pursuant to the procedures specified in the particular contract, which procedures typically allow the company to challenge the other party's claims. Further, the company's obligations under these agreements may be limited in terms of time and/or amount, and in some instances, the company may have recourse against third parties for certain payments made by the company.

        It is not possible to predict the maximum potential amount of future payments under these or similar agreements, due to the conditional nature of the company's obligations and the unique facts and circumstances involved in each particular agreement. Historically, payments made by the company under these agreements did not have a material effect on the company's business, financial condition or results of operations. The company believes that if it were to incur a loss in any of these matters, such loss should not have a material effect on the company's business, financial condition or results of operations.

        In addition, the company guarantees certain loans and financial commitments. The maximum potential future payment under these financial guarantees was $84 million and $126 million at September 30, 2003 and December 31, 2002, respectively. These amounts include a limited guarantee of $45 million and $69 million associated with the company's loans receivable securitization program at September 30, 2003 and December 31, 2002, respectively.

17


        Changes in the company's warranty liability balance are illustrated in the following table:

 
  2003
  2002
 
(Dollars in millions)

   
   
 
Balance at January 1   $ 614   $ 520  
Current period accruals     640     556  
Accrual adjustments to reflect actual experience     58     112  
Charges incurred     (637 )   (660 )
   
 
 
Balance at September 30   $ 675   $ 528  
   
 
 

ITEM 2.


MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION
FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2003

        Third quarter revenue increased 8.6 percent (4 percent at constant currency) from the prior year third quarter. The company earned $1.8 billion of income from continuing operations or $1.02 per diluted common share. Current IT demand is good, but not robust, and these results reflect the breadth of the company's offerings and its annuity-like core businesses, which represent about 50 percent of the company's profit. Large enterprise customers remain cautious with capital spending, yet the company continues to gain a competitive advantage from its ebusiness on demand strategy.

        For total operations, net income for the third quarter and first nine months of 2003, including discontinued operations, was $1,785 million and $4,874 million, respectively, (including a loss of $23 million in the first nine months of 2003 for discontinued operations) or $1.02 and $2.77, respectively, in earnings per diluted common share. This compares to total operations net income for the third quarter and first nine months of 2002, including discontinued operations, of $1,313 million and $2,561 million, respectively, (including a loss of $381 million and $862 million, respectively, for discontinued operations) or $0.76 and $1.47, respectively, in earnings per diluted common shares.

18


Results of Continuing Operations

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,

  Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 
 
  2003
  2002
  2003
  2002
 
(Dollars in millions)

   
   
   
   
 
Revenue   $ 21,522   $ 19,821   $ 63,218   $ 57,502  
Cost     13,710     12,498     40,175     36,409  
   
 
 
 
 
Gross profit   $ 7,812   $ 7,323   $ 23,043   $ 21,093  
Gross profit margin     36.3 %   36.9 %   36. 4 %   36.7 %
Income from continuing Operations   $ 1,785   $ 1,694   $ 4,897   $ 3,423  
Earnings per share of common stock from continuing operations:                          
  Assuming dilution   $ 1.02   $ 0.99   $ 2.78   $ 1.97  
  Basic   $ 1.04   $ 1.00   $ 2.84   $ 2.01  

        The amount of shares actually outstanding at September 30, 2003 was 1,720.4 million shares.

        The weighted average number of common shares outstanding assuming dilution was higher by 44.7 million than the third quarter of 2002 and by 27.8 million than the first nine months of 2002, primarily as a result of the company's use of common shares to fund a portion of its fourth quarter 2002 contribution to the (U.S.) IBM Personal Pension Plan (PPP), slightly offset by the company's common share repurchase program. The weighted average number of shares assuming dilution was 1,756.4 million and 1,711.7 million in the third quarter of 2003 and 2002, respectively, and 1,759.5 million and 1,731.7 million for the first nine months of 2003 and 2002, respectively.

        Throughout this report, t he reference to constant currency is made so that a segment can be viewed without the impacts of changing foreign currency exchange rates and therefore facilitates a comparative view of business growth. In the third quarter of 2003 and the first nine months of 2003, the U.S. dollar generally weakened against other currencies, so growth at constant currency exchange rates was lower than growth at actual currency exchange rates.

        Revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2003 increased 8.6 percent (4 percent at constant currency) from the same period last year. The growth in revenue was primarily due to improved performance in Systems Group server and storage products as well as increased revenue as a result of recent acquisitions. These increases were partially offset by lower revenue from Technology Group products.

        In the Americas, third-quarter revenue was $9.4 billion, an increase of 4.3 percent (3 percent at constant currency) from the same period last year. Revenue from Europe/Middle East/Africa was $6.8 billion, up 18.8 percent (7 percent at constant currency). Asia-Pacific revenue increased 10.9 percent (7 percent at constant currency) to $4.8 billion. OEM revenue across all geographies was $643 million, a 25.9 percent decrease (26 percent at constant currency) compared with the third quarter of 2002.

        The company's total gross profit margin was 36.3 percent in the third quarter of 2003, a decline of 0.6 points from the same period of 2002.

19


        In the third quarter of 2003, total expense and other income was $5.3 billion, an increase of 7.0 percent from the third quarter of 2002. Selling, general and administrative expense (SG&A) was $4.3 billion, an increase of 7.9 percent year over year, due primarily to higher expenses associated with recent acquisitions. Research, development and engineering expense (RD&E) increased 7.7 percent to $1.3 billion compared to the same period of 2002, primarily driven by the software segment acquisitions this year. Intellectual property and custom development income increased, and Other (income) and expense had a negative impact versus the same period last year primarily due to foreign currency transaction losses.

        The company's effective tax rate on continuing operations in the third quarter of 2003 was 30.0 percent versus 29.5 percent in the third quarter of 2002.

Global Services

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,

  Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 
 
  2003
  2002
  2003
  2002
 
(Dollars in millions)

   
 
Total revenue   $ 10,383   $ 8,895   $ 31,187   $ 25,785  
Total cost     7,782     6,540     23,298     19,015  
   
 
 
 
 
Gross profit   $ 2,601   $ 2,355   $ 7,889   $ 6, 770  
Gross profit margin     25.1 %   26.5 %   25.3 %   26.3 %

        Global Services revenue, including maintenance, increased 16.7 percent (11 percent at constant currency) and 21.0 percent (13 percent at constant currency), respectively, in the third quarter and first nine months of 2003, when compared to the same periods of 2002. Global Services revenue, excluding maintenance, increased 18.5 percent (13 percent at constant currency) and 23.3 percent (16 percent at constant currency), respectively, for the third quarter and first nine months of 2003 versus comparable periods of last year. Maintenance revenue increased 6.6 percent to $1,371 million (1 percent at constant currency) and 7.3 percent to $4,031 million (1 percent at constant currency), respectively, when compared to the same periods in 2002.

        Strategic Outsourcing Services (SO) revenue increased 13.0 percent to $4,288 million (8 percent at constant currency) in the third quarter of 2003 versus last year. SO revenue increased 12.7 percent to $12,480 million (6 percent at constant currency) for the first nine months of 2003 versus the same period last year. Increases in SO revenue reflect the impact of new signings. E-business hosting, an SO offering that provides Web hosting infrastructure and application management as an Internet service, continued its strong pattern of revenue growth. Business Consulting Services (BCS) revenue increased 52.7 percent to $3,102 million (45 percent at constant currency) in the third quarter of 2003 versus the same period in 2002. BCS revenue increased 60.6 percent to $9,521 million (50 percent at constant currency) for the first nine months of 2003 versus the same period in 2002. These increases were primarily the result of the acquisition of PwC's consulting business in the fourth quarter of 2002. Integrated Technology Services (ITS) revenue, excluding maintenance, decreased 9.0 percent to $1,622 million (declined 14 percent at constant currency) in the third quarter of 2003 versus the third quarter of 2002. During the third quarter of 2003, the company changed its reporting for certain OEM hardware sales to IBM customers

20


from gross to net revenue treatment, based upon a review of the terms of these sales. The company determined that the agent-like characteristics of these transactions were more appropriately recorded on a net revenue basis. As a result, revenue and cost were reduced by $206 million in the quarter, of which $135 million related to January through June 2003 activity. This change had no impact on the company's gross profit, net income or cash flows. The corresponding amounts in the prior year periods were roughly the same. Due to the size of the amounts involved, the prior year amounts were not adjusted. ITS revenue, excluding maintenance, increased 2.7 percent to $5,155 million (declined 4 percent at constant currency) for the first nine months of 2003 versus the first nine months of 2002. ITS revenue for the first nine months of 2003 includes the $206 million adjustment discussed above.

        The company signed $15.4 billion in services contracts in the third quarter of 2003. The signings included 14 contracts each in excess of $100 million, of which, 3 contracts are over $1 billion. The estimated services backlog including Strategic Outsourcing, BCS, ITS and Maintenance was $115 billion at September 30, 2003. Backlog estimates are subject to change and are affected by several factors, including changes in scope of contracts (mainly long-term contracts), periodic revalidations, and currency assumptions used to approximate constant currency.

        Global Services gross profit dollars increased 10.5 percent and 16.5 percent, respectively, for the third quarter and first nine months of 2003 versus the same periods last year. These increases were primarily a result of the increased revenue as described above. The gross profit margins declined 1.4 percentage points and 1.0 percentage points for the third quarter and first nine months, respectively, of 2003 when compared to the prior year periods. These declines in gross profit margin were attributable to the changing revenue mix toward the lower margin BCS business and lower SO margins due to early stages of new contracts and other contractual changes.

        Looking forward, the pipeline of opportunity at the end of the third quarter is greater than at the end of the second quarter, particularly in the company's Business Transformation Outsourcing business.

Hardware

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,

  Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 
 
  2003
  2002
  2003
  2002
 
(Dollars in millions)

   
 
Total revenue   $ 6,697   $ 6,764   $ 19,118   $ 19,320  
Total cost     5,011     4,957     14,104     14,420  
   
 
 
 
 
Gross profit   $ 1,686   $ 1,807   $ 5,014   $ 4,900  
Gross profit margin     25.2 %   26.7 %   26.2 %   25.4 %

        Revenue from hardware decreased 1.0 percent (5 percent at constant currency) and decreased 1.0 percent (6 percent at constant currency), respectively, for the third quarter and first nine months of 2003, versus the same periods in 2002.

21


        Systems Group revenue increased 5.6 percent to $3,199 million (flat at constant currency) in the third quarter of 2003 versus the same period last year. Systems Group revenue increased 7.3 percent to $9,066 million (1 percent at constant currency) for the first nine months of 2003 versus the same period last year. Revenue and share growth continued in the pSeries UNIX servers in both periods resulting from strength in both high-end and entry servers, although the company did experience supply constraints in some entry models in the third quarter. The xSeries server revenue increased in the third quarter and first nine months of 2003, versus the same periods of 2002, due to growth in sales of high-volume servers supported by strong growth in blades. Revenue from iSeries servers increased in the third quarter and first nine months of 2003 versus prior year periods as customers are utilizing the iSeries ability to provide on demand computing and integration. Revenue from zSeries mainframes increased in the third quarter of 2003 and declined for the first nine months of 2003 versus the same periods of last year. The total deliveries of zSeries computing power as measured in MIPS (millions of instructions per second) increased over 30 percent in the third quarter of 2003 compared to the third quarter of 2002.

        Storage Systems revenue increased in the third quarter and the first nine months of 2003 versus the same periods of last year. Enterprise disk storage (Shark) revenue declined in the third quarter of 2003 as compared to the third quarter of 2002, which benefited from the successful launch of the Model 800. Midrange disk storage revenue increased in the third quarter of 2003 versus the same period of 2002 as a result of strong growth of FAStT product revenue. In addition, tape products revenue improved and grew in the third quarter of 2003 versus the same period in 2002 as midrange tape products continued to show growth. The revenue increase for the first nine months of 2003 versus the first nine months of 2002 was driven by increased revenue for enterprise disk storage (Shark), FAStT and midrange tape products partially offset by lower high-end tape products revenue.

        Personal Systems Group revenue increased 2.2 percent to $2,796 million (declined 2 percent at constant currency) in the third quarter of 2003 versus the same period in 2002. Personal Systems Group revenue declined 1.7 percent to $7,909 million (7 percent at constant currency) for the first nine months of 2003 versus the same period in 2002. The revenue increase in the third quarter of 2003 was driven by higher ThinkPad revenue partially offset by lower average selling prices of Desktop personal computers. Retail store solutions and printing systems products revenue declined in the third quarter of 2003 versus the third quarter of 2002. The decline in Personal Systems Group revenue for the first nine months of 2003 was driven by lower personal computer, retail store solutions and printing systems products revenue. The decrease in personal computer revenue primarily reflects a reduction in prices due to decreasing commodity costs, which more than offset the positive impact from increased volumes.

        Technology Group revenue declined 33.1 percent to $695 million (33 percent at constant currency) in the third quarter of 2003 versus the comparable period in 2002. Technology Group revenue declined 29.5 percent to $2,096 million (30 percent at constant currency) for the first nine months of 2003 versus the comparable period of 2002. These declines were driven by actions taken in 2002 to refocus and direct its microelectronics business to the high-end foundry, ASICs and standard products, while creating a new technology services business. These actions included the divestiture of multiple non-core businesses. The impact of the 2002 exit of the card assembly and test business contributed to approximately half of the Technology Group decline in

22


revenue. Third quarter 2003 sales were also sluggish due to demand weakness from certain OEM customers. The company continues to monitor projected customer demand and will bring new tools on-line for the new 300 millimeter facility as needed. Engineering & Technology Services revenue increased over 30 percent in the third quarter of 2003 versus the second quarter of 2003 and achieved its largest quarter of signings.

        Hardware gross profit dollars for the third quarter of 2003 decreased 6.7 percent and gross profit dollars for the first nine months of 2003 increased 2.3 percent from comparable periods in 2002. The hardware gross profit margin decreased 1.5 percentage points for the third quarter of 2003 and increased 0.8 percentage points for the first nine months of 2003 versus the prior year periods.

        The decrease in gross profit dollars and gross profit margin in the third quarter of 2003 versus the third quarter of 2002 was primarily a result of the low gross margins in the Technology Group and lower margins for all the Systems Group products except xSeries servers. In addition, personal computer margins were lower primarily due to increased warranty costs associated with Desktop products. Pricing pressures continued to impact the Hardware gross profit margin across most hardware products, especially in the Asia Pacific region during the third quarter of 2003.

        The increase in Hardware gross profit dollars and gross profit margin in the first nine months of 2003 versus the first nine months of 2002 was primarily driven by Systems Group and personal computers. Systems Group gross profit margins increased due to improvements across most Systems Group products, as a result of lower impacts for warranty and inventory losses. Personal computer gross profit margin increased as a result of reduced costs relating to recent supply chain initiatives and a shift in revenue from desktop to mobile products, which have a higher gross profit. Although hardware gross profit dollars and margin improved for the nine months of 2003, the growth rate increased at a slower pace due to the lower year-to-year third quarter results.

        Looking forward, the zSeries demand should benefit from a full quarter of new technology availability on the z990 products including secure-key cryptography, as well as additional processors, channels, and memory (up to 32 processors, 512 channels, and 256 gigabytes of memory: all doubling the amounts currently available).

Software

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,

  Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 
 
  2003
  2002
  2003
  2002
 
(Dollars in millions)

   
 
Total revenue   $ 3,461   $ 3,110   $ 10,061   $ 9,273  
Total cost     491     500     1,452     1,549  
   
 
 
 
 
Gross profit   $ 2,970   $ 2,610   $ 8,609   $ 7,724  
Gross profit margin     85.8 %   83.9 %   85.6 %   83.3 %

23


        Revenue from software increased 11.3 percent (5 percent at constant currency) and 8.5 percent (2 percent at constant currency), respectively, versus the third quarter and first nine months of 2002. The company's middleware brands, which include DB2 database software, WebSphere (facilitates customers' ability to manage a wide variety of business processes through the Web), Tivoli (enables customers to centrally manage and efficiently utilize their network and storage), Lotus (increases customers' ability to communicate, collaborate and learn in an effective manner), and Rational (comprehensive software development tools), increased revenue 14 percent to $2,709 million (8 percent at constant currency) in the third quarter of 2003 compared to the same period in 2002. Middleware revenue increased 10 percent to $7,837 million (3 percent at constant currency) for the first nine months of 2003 compared to the same period in 2002. Data management software revenue increased in both periods primarily as a result of growth in DB2 sales. Revenue from the WebSphere family of products increased in both periods driven by growth in application development tools and Portals sales. Tivoli revenue increased in both periods as a result of growth in Systems Management, Security and Storage software. Lotus revenue increased in the third quarter and was flat for the first nine months of 2003. The quarterly increase was driven by growth in Messaging software. Rational Software (acquired during the first quarter of 2003) revenue accounted for approximately 37 percent of the third quarter 2003 middleware revenue increase.

        Operating-systems software revenue increased 6 percent to $610 million (flat at constant currency) in the third quarter of 2003 and increased 6 percent to $1,767 million (flat at constant currency) for the first nine months of 2003, when compared with prior year periods. The revenue increase in the third quarter and first nine months of 2003 was a result of the positive impact of currency translation.

        Software gross profit dollars increased 13.8 percent and 11.5 percent, respectively, for the third quarter and first nine months of 2003 versus the same periods in 2002. The gross profit margin improved 1.9 percentage points and 2.3 percentage points, respectively, for the third quarter and first nine months of 2003 compared to the same periods in 2002. The improvements in gross profit dollars and gross profit margins were primarily driven by the growth in software revenue.

        Looking forward, the company will strive to continue the momentum with independent software application vendors and in the small and medium business market.

Enterprise Investments/Other

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,

  Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 
 
  2003
  2002
  2003
  2002
 
(Dollars in millions)

   
 
Total revenue   $ 266   $ 257   $ 760   $ 721  
Total cost     124     153     424     381  
   
 
 
 
 
Gross profit   $ 142   $ 104   $ 336   $ 340  
Gross profit margin     53.4 %   40.2 %   44.1 %   47.2 %

        Revenue from Enterprise Investments/Other increased 3.0 percent (declined 3 percent at constant currency) and 5.3 percent (declined 2 percent at constant currency), respectively, for the

24


third quarter and first nine months of 2003, versus comparable periods in 2002. These increases were primarily driven by higher revenue from product life-cycle management software.

        Enterprise Investments/Other gross profit dollars increased 36.7 percent and decreased 1.5 percent, respectively, in the third quarter and first nine months of 2003 versus the prior year periods. The gross profit margins increased 13.2 percentage points and declined 3.1 percentage points, respectively, for the third quarter and first nine months of 2003 versus the same periods in 2002. The increase in the gross profit dollars and gross profit margin in the third quarter of 2003 versus 2002 was primarily a result of lower overhead costs charged to Other. The decline in the gross profit dollars and gross profit margin for the first nine months of 2003 versus the first nine months of 2002 was primarily the result of foreign currency hedging losses partially offset by lower overhead costs charged to Other.

Expense and other income

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,

  Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 
 
  2003
  2002
  2003
  2002
 
(Dollars in millions)

   
 
Selling, general and administrative   $ 4,303   $ 3,987   $ 12,978   $ 13,298  
Percentage of revenue     20.0 %   20.1 %   20.5 %   23.1 %

Research, development and engineering

 

$

1,307

 

$

1,213

 

$

3,728

 

$

3,546

 
Percentage of revenue     6.1 %   6.1 %   5.9 %   6.2 %

Intellectual property and custom
development (income)

 

$

(406

)

$

(232

)

$

(887

)

$

(771

)

Other (income) and expense

 

$

26

 

$

(83

)

$

114

 

$

111

 

Interest expense

 

$

33

 

$

34

 

$

114

 

$

97

 
   
 
 
 
 
Total expense and other income   $ 5,263   $ 4,919   $ 16,047   $ 16,281  
   
 
 
 
 
Percentage of revenue     24.5 %   24.8 %   25.4 %   28.3 %

        SG&A expense increased 7.9 percent (4 percent at constant currency) and declined 2.4 percent (6 percent at constant currency), respectively, in the third quarter and first nine months of 2003 versus the same periods in 2002.

        The increase in the third quarter of 2003 was primarily a result of the recent acquisitions of PwC's consulting business and Rational, including higher amortization expense from acquired intangible assets. In addition, workforce reductions, which are ongoing reductions and rebalancing that occur each quarter were $86 million for the third quarter of 2003 versus $23 million for the third quarter of 2002. Advertising and promotional expense was $344 million in the third quarter of 2003 versus $334 million in the third quarter of 2002. These increases were partially offset by a lower provision for doubtful accounts of $23 million for the third quarter of 2003 versus $181 million for the third quarter of 2002. This decrease is reflective of the increased provisions the company was recording in prior periods to reflect the general economic

25



environment as well as specific sector items, particularly in the Communications sector. These issues have stabilized and contributed to the lower year-to-year charges.

        The decrease in SG&A expense for the first nine months of 2003 versus 2002 was primarily due to the Microelectronics and productivity actions taken in the second quarter of 2002 amounting to $1,250 million. In addition, the provision for doubtful accounts was $159 million for the first nine months of 2003 and $483 million for the same period in 2002. The reasons for this decrease are the same as described above for the third quarter of 2003. These decreases were partially offset by higher expenses associated with recent acquisitions of PwC's consulting business and Rational, including higher amortization expense from acquired intangible assets. Advertising and promotional expense was $1,023 million for the first nine months of 2003 versus $1,014 million for the comparable period of 2002.

        Research, development and engineering (RD&E) expense increased 7.7 percent and 5.1 percent, respectively, for the third quarter and first nine months of 2003, when compared with the same periods of 2002. These increases in RD&E expense were driven primarily by the Software Group acquisitions.

        Intellectual property and custom development income increased 74.9 percent and 15.0 percent, respectively, for the third quarter and first nine months of 2003 versus the same periods of 2002.

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,

  Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 
  2003
  2002
  2003
  2002
(Dollars in millions)

   
   
   
   
Sales and other transfers of intellectual property   $ 243   $ 77   $ 457   $ 334
Licensing/royalty-based fees     89     99     227     262
Custom development income     74     56     203     175
   
 
 
 
Total   $ 406   $ 232   $ 887   $ 771
   
 
 
 

        Sales and other transfers of intellectual property transactions in the third quarter of 2003 included a number of transactions, none of which exceeded $100 million. The timing and amount of Sales and other transfers of intellectual property may vary significantly from period to period depending upon the timing of new patents and know-how development, timing of divestitures, economic conditions and industry consolidations. The amount of Intellectual property and custom development income has been declining in recent periods and overall, this trend may continue.

        Third quarter 2003 Other (income) and expense was $26 million of expense versus $(83) million of income for the third quarter of 2002 and was $114 million of expense for the first nine months of 2003 versus $111 million of expense in the first nine months of 2002.

        The increase in Other (income) and expense in the third quarter of 2003 versus the third quarter of 2002 was primarily due to foreign currency transaction losses and lower net gains from certain real estate activities. Currency transaction losses were $85 million in the third

26


quarter of 2003 versus a gain of $15 million in the third quarter of 2002. There were losses of $1 million from certain real estate activities in the third quarter of 2003 versus gains of $53 million in the third quarter of 2002.

        The increase in Other (income) and expense for the first nine months of 2003 was primarily due to foreign currency transaction losses of $242 million in 2003 versus gains of $141 million in 2002. In addition, during the first quarter of 2002, the company recorded a gain of $91 million associated with the first quarter 2002 sale of the U.S. and European desktop personal computer manufacturing operations to Sanmina-SCI. This compares with a gain of $15 million in the first quarter of 2003 associated with the first quarter of 2003 sale of certain xSeries server manufacturing and certain mobile personal computer processes to Sanmina-SCI. There were losses of $14 million from certain real estate activities in the first nine months of 2003 versus gains of $55 million in 2002. These items are partially offset by lower capacity and space actions in 2003 of $5 million versus $477 million for the Microelectronics and productivity actions taken in the second quarter of 2002.

        Interest expense decreased 3.1 percent for the third quarter and increased 17.5 percent for the first nine months of 2003 when compared to the same periods in 2002. The decline in the third quarter of 2003 was primarily a result of lower levels of average non-Global Financing debt in the third quarter of 2003 versus 2002. Although debt balances have declined from December 31, 2002 to September 30, 2003, year to year interest expense increased for the first nine months of 2003 primarily driven by higher levels of average non-Global Financing debt in the first nine months of 2003 versus the same period in 2002. Cost of financing also includes interest expense as it relates to the Global Financing business. Such interest expense is not included above. See pages 34 through 40 for additional information on Global Financing.

        Interest on total borrowings of the company and its subsidiaries, which includes interest expense and Global Financing interest classified as Cost of Global Financing in the Consolidated Statement of Earnings, was $160 million and $512 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2003, respectively. Of these amounts, the company capitalized $2 million for the third quarter and $11 million for the first nine months of 2003, respectively.

        The following table provides the total pre-tax cost/(income) for retirement-related plans for the third quarter of 2003 and 2002 and the first nine months of 2003 and 2002. Cost/(income) amounts are included as an addition to/reduction from, respectively, the company's cost and expense amounts on the Consolidated Statement of Earnings.

27


Retirement-Related Benefits

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,

  Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 
 
  2003
  2002
  2003
  2002
 
(Dollars in millions)

   
   
   
   
 
Total retirement-related plans—cost/(income)   $ 69   $ (73 ) $ 255   $ (186 )
   
 
 
 
 
Comprise:                          
  Defined benefit and contribution pension plans   $ (10 ) $ (166 ) $ 14   $ (463 )
  Nonpension postretirement retirement benefits     79     93     241     277  

        Included in the amounts above, the company realized income of approximately $150 million and $281 million relating to its defined benefit pension plans for the quarter ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The comparable amounts for the first nine months of 2003 and 2002 were approximately $430 million and $849 million, respectively.

        On January 1, 2003, the company reduced its expected long-term return assumption on the U.S. IBM Personal Pension Plan's ("PPP") assets from 9.5 percent to 8 percent. Actual return on PPP plan assets for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 was $4.3 billion or 12.3 percent. As discussed on page 95 of the 2002 IBM Annual Report, any differences between the actual returns and the expected returns on the pension plan are recognized in the calculation of the pension (income)/cost over five years as provided by the accounting rules. On December 31, 2002, the company lowered its discount rate assumption from 7 percent to 6.75 percent, and lowered its rate of compensation increase from 6 percent to 4 percent. Reductions in these rates also occurred in certain non-US countries. The company voluntarily fully funded the tax-qualified portion of the PPP, as measured by its accumulated benefit obligation, through a contribution of cash and IBM stock totaling $3,963 million in the fourth quarter of 2002. These assumption changes and funding action had the collective net effect of causing the reduction in income from defined benefit pension plans referred to above. These actions are expected to impact pension-related cost trends in a similar pattern for the remaining 2003 period.

        Through September 30, 2003, interest rates, as evidenced by long-term high-grade investment instruments, continued to decline. Any corresponding impact to the year-end discount rate will affect the accumulated benefit obligation (ABO) calculation. For each quarter point change in rate, there is a corresponding $1 billion movement in the ABO. Any increased obligation combined with several other factors such as investment performance and normal payments to retirees may result in an unfunded position at year-end on an ABO basis.

        If the PPP is in an unfunded position at year-end whereby the ABO exceeds the fair value of the plan assets, the company may make a voluntary contribution to the plan up to the unfunded position as it did in December 2002 or may be required to record a non-cash charge to the stockholders' equity section of the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position.

28


        On October 15, 2003, the plaintiffs in Cooper et al. vs. The IBM Personal Pension Plan and IBM Corporation, filed a claim for remedial relief. IBM will respond during the fourth quarter. For further information on this matter, see page 27 of the company's 2003 second quarter Form 10-Q.

Provision for Income Taxes

        The company's effective tax rate on continuing operations for the third quarter of 2003 was 30.0 percent versus 29.5 percent for the same period in 2002. The effective tax rate on continuing operations for the first nine months of 2003 was 30.0 percent versus 28.9 percent for the comparable period in 2002. The increase in the rate for the first nine months of 2003 was primarily due to the absence of the tax benefit associated with the second quarter Microelectronics actions taken in 2002. The company's effective tax rate will change period to period based on nonrecurring events as well as recurring factors including the geographical mix of income before taxes, the timing and amount of foreign dividends, state and local taxes, and the interaction of various global tax strategies. In the normal course of business, the company expects that its effective tax rate will approximate 30 percent.

Results of Discontinued Operations

        There was no income or loss from discontinued operations in the third quarter of 2003 and a $23 million loss for the first nine months of 2003, versus losses of $381 million and $862 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2002, respectively. The company's discontinued operations, which comprises the HDD business, was sold to Hitachi, Ltd. on December 31, 2002.

Financial Condition

Dynamics

        The assets and debt associated with the company's Global Financing business are a significant part of IBM's financial position. Accordingly, although the financial position amounts appearing below and on pages 30 through 33 are the company's consolidated amounts including Global Financing, to the extent the Global Financing business is a major driver of the Consolidated Financial Position, reference in the narrative section will be made to a separate Global Financing section in this Management Discussion on pages 34 through 40. The amounts appearing in the separate Global Financing section are supplementary data presented to facilitate an understanding of the company's Global Financing business.

Overall

        During the first nine months of 2003, the company acquired Rational and continued to invest in RD&E and in fixed assets. The company ended the third quarter with $6,171 million in Cash and cash equivalents and current Marketable securities. Non-Global Financing debt was $299 million at September 30, 2003, a decrease of $1,890 million from December 31, 2002. The non-Global Financing debt-to-capital ratio was 1.2 percent.

29


        The company's cash flow from operating, investing and financing activities, as reflected in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows on page 5, is summarized in the table below. These amounts include the cash flows associated with the company's Global Financing business.

Cash Flow

 
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 
 
  2003
  2002
 
(Dollars in millions)

   
   
 
Net cash provided by (used in) continuing operations:              
  Operating activities   $ 9,817   $ 9,415  
  Investing activities     (4,516 )   (3,304 )
  Financing activities     (5,270 )   (6,731 )
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents     202     94  
Net cash used in discontinued operations     (164 )   (588 )
   
 
 
Net change in cash and cash equivalents   $ 69   $ (1,114 )
   
 
 

        Net cash provided by operating activities for the first nine months of 2003 was $402 million higher than the first nine months of 2002. This increase was primarily driven by greater income from continuing operations. In addition, Global financing receivables—which the company manages more as an investment than as part of working capital—contributed approximately $4,178 million of cash flow during the first nine months of 2003, a decrease of $239 million from the same period in 2002. These contributions to cash flows from operating activities, however, were partially offset by the following items: the decline in Other accounts receivable, such as trade, during the first nine months of 2003 was lower than such decline in the first nine months of 2002 due to better revenue performance in the first nine months of 2003. Inventory grew during the first nine months of 2003 versus a decline in the first nine months of 2002. Increased payments of approximately $411 million for restructuring payments and non-US pension contributions also caused the decrease in cash flows from operating activities.

        The increase in cash flows used in investing activities from the first nine months of 2002 to the first nine months of 2003 was primarily attributable to the purchase of Rational. The decrease in the cash used in financing activities from the first nine months of 2002 to the same period of 2003 was primarily the result of lower stock repurchases partially offset by a reduction of debt due to the company's strategy to reduce stock repurchases and instead pay down debt during the first nine months of 2003.

Working Capital

 
  At September 30,
2003

  At December 31,
2002

(Dollars in millions)

   
   
Current assets   $ 40,566   $ 41,652
Current liabilities     32,596     34,550
   
 
Working capital   $ 7,970   $ 7,102
   
 

Current ratio

 

 

1.24:1

 

 

1.21:1

30


        The $1,086 decrease in Current assets was primarily due to declines of $764 million in Short-term financing receivables (see pages 35 through 38) and $435 million in Notes and accounts receivable-trade mainly due to lower revenue volumes in the 2003 third quarter as compared to fourth quarter 2002 volumes.

        Current liabilities decreased $1,954 million primarily due to declines of $993 million in Taxes payable and $865 million in Accounts payable and accruals resulting from declines in these balances from typically higher year-end levels.

Investments

        The company acquired Rational for $2,095 million. In addition, the company invested $3,728 million in RD&E and capitalized external software costs of $208 million and internal-use software costs of $223 million. The company also invested $3,230 million for Plant, rental machines and other property, a decrease of $220 million from the comparable 2002 period. This decrease was primarily due to lower Microelectronics capital spending as the company drives towards completion of the 300 millimeter facility.

        In the first nine months of 2003, the company paid $1,333 million for the repurchase of the company's common shares. At September 30, 2003, the company has remaining authorization to purchase $2,531 million of IBM common shares in the open market from time to time, based on market conditions.

        The company funded these investments primarily with cash from operations.

Debt and Equity

        The company's funding requirements are continually monitored and strategies are executed to manage the company's overall asset and liability profile. Additionally, the company maintains sufficient flexibility to access global funding sources as needed.

        The major rating agencies' ratings of the company's debt securities at September 30, 2003, appear in the table below and remain unchanged from December 31, 2002:

 
  Standard
And
Poor's

  Moody's
Investors
Service

  Fitch
Ratings

Senior long-term debt   A+   A1   AA-
Commercial paper   A-1   Prime-1   F-1+

31


 
  At September 30,
2003

  At December 31,
2002

 
(Dollars in millions)

   
   
 
Total company debt   $ 23,024   $ 26,017  
   
 
 
Non-global financing debt*   $ 299   $ 2,189  
Non-global financing debt/capitalization     1.2 %   10.2 %

*
Non-global financing debt is the company's total external debt less the Global Financing debt described in the Global Financing balance sheet on page 35.

        The company's non-global financing businesses generate significant cash from ongoing operations and therefore generally do not require a significant amount of debt. Cash flows from operations are these businesses' primary source of funds for future investments.

        In September 2003, the company repurchased $380.8 million in outstanding principal amount of its 6.5 percent bonds including accrued and unpaid interest. These bonds were scheduled to mature in January 2028. The net gain recognized in this transaction was not material to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

        A review of the company's debt and equity should also consider other contractual obligations and commitments, which are disclosed on page 17. These amounts are summarized in the table below to facilitate a reader's review.

        Stockholders' equity increased $4,544 million from December 31, 2002, primarily due to an increase in the company's retained earnings.

Contractual Obligations

 
   
  Payments Due In
 
  Balance as
of 9/30/03

 
  2003
  2004-05
  2006-07
  After 2007
(Dollars in millions)

   
   
   
   
   
Long-term debt   $ 18,936   $ 543   $ 4,797   $ 3,518   $ 10,078
Lease commitments     5,304     375     2,112     1,388     1,429

Commitments

 
   
  Amounts Expiring In
 
  Balance as
of 9/30/03

  2003
  2004-05
  2006-07
  After 2007
(Dollars in millions)

   
   
   
   
   
Unused lines of credit   $ 3,019   $ 2,580   $ 323   $ 108   $ 8
Other commitments     313     117     181     15    
Financial guarantees     84     5     65     8     6

        Unused lines of credit represent amounts available to the company's distributors to support their working capital needs and available lines of credit relating to the company's syndicated loan activities. Other commitments primarily include the company's commitments to provide financing for future purchases of the company's products. Financial guarantees represent guarantees for certain loans and financial commitments that the company had made as of September 30, 2003.

32


Liquidity

        The company maintains two global credit facilities totaling $10.0 billion in committed credit lines at September 30, 2003, including an $8.0 billion five-year facility (which expires on May 31, 2006) and a $2.0 billion 364-day facility (which expires on May 27, 2004), as part of its ongoing efforts to ensure appropriate levels of liquidity. As of September 30, 2003, amounts unused and available under these facilities were approximately $9.8 billion. At September 30, 2003, the company also had other mostly uncommitted lines of credit of approximately $7.8 billion, of which approximately $5.5 billion was unused as of September 30, 2003.

        As discussed on page 28, the company may make contributions to its pension plans. Any such contributions could be funded from various sources including cash from operations and cash from financing activities.

        Any increases in the common share repurchase program in the fourth quarter of 2003 will be funded from operations. The amount of repurchases will be based upon market conditions and the company's liquidity requirements.

        The company may from time to time seek to retire certain outstanding indebtedness either through open market repurchases, privately negotiated transactions, tender offers, or otherwise. Such repurchases, if any, will depend on prevailing market conditions, the company's liquidity requirements, and other factors.

Currency Rate Fluctuations

        Changes in the relative values of non-U.S. currencies to the U.S. dollar affect the company's results. At September 30, 2003, currency changes resulted in assets and liabilities denominated in local currencies being translated into more dollars than at year-end 2002. The currency rate changes had a favorable effect on revenue growth of approximately 5 percentage points in the third quarter of 2003 and a favorable effect of approximately 2 percentage points in the third quarter of 2002. The currency rate changes had a favorable effect on revenue growth of approximately 6 percentage points for the first nine months of 2003 and had no effect for the first nine months of 2002.

        For non-U.S. subsidiaries and branches that operate in U.S. dollars or whose economic environment is highly inflationary, translation adjustments are reflected in results of operations, as required by SFAS No. 52, "Foreign Currency Translation." Generally, the company manages currency risk in these entities by linking prices and contracts to U.S. dollars and entering into foreign currency hedge contracts.

        The company uses a variety of financial hedging instruments to limit specific currency risks related to financing transactions and other foreign currency-based transactions. The impact of the company's hedging activities are recorded in Cost, SG&A, and Other (income) and expense in the Consolidated Statement of Earnings. Further discussion of currency and hedging appears in note L, "Derivatives and Hedging Transactions," on pages 84 to 86 of the 2002 IBM Annual Report.

33


Global Financing

        Global Financing is a business segment within IBM, but is managed (on an arm's-length basis) and measured as if it were a standalone entity. Accordingly, the information presented in this section is consistent with this separate company view.

Results of Operations

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,

  Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 
 
  2003
  2002
  2003
  2002
 
(Dollars in millions)

   
   
   
   
 
External revenue   $ 713   $ 789   $ 2,095   $ 2,375  
Internal revenue     266     238     868     617  
   
 
 
 
 
Total revenue     979     1,027   $ 2,963   $ 2,992  
Total cost     420     449     1,293     1,289  
   
 
 
 
 
Gross profit   $ 559   $ 578   $ 1,670   $ 1,703  
   
 
 
 
 
Gross profit margin     57.1 %   56.3 %   56.4 %   56.9 %
Pre-tax income   $ 292   $ 218   $ 861   $ 677  
After-tax income   $ 191   $ 143   $ 565   $ 445  
Return on equity*     22.2 %   15.8 %   21.8 %   16.1 %

*
Quarterly and year-to-date return on equity is calculated using a two-point and four point, respectively, average of equity and an estimated tax rate principally based on Global Financing's geographic mix of earnings as IBM's provision for income taxes is determined on a consolidated basis.

        Global Financing revenue decreased 4.7 percent for the third quarter of 2003, when compared to the same period last year. The decrease in external revenue for the third quarter was driven by lower financing income due to a lower average asset base, partially offset by an increase in external used equipment sales. The lower average asset base resulted from decreases in opportunities to finance IT equipment caused by the economic environment. The decline in external revenue was offset by an increase in internal revenue due to an increase in internal used equipment sales, primarily zSeries. Global Financing remarkets used equipment, primarily resulting from returns off lease, both externally and internally. Externally remarketed equipment represents sales to customers and resellers, while internally remarketed equipment represents used equipment, which is sold internally and then remarketed externally through the Hardware segment.

        Global Financing revenue decreased 1.0 percent for the first nine months of 2003, when compared to the same period last year. The decrease in external revenue for the first nine months of 2003 was driven by lower financing income due to a lower asset base discussed above and a decrease in external used equipment sales. The decline in external revenue was offset by an increase in internal revenue due to an increase in used equipment sales discussed above.

        Global Financing gross profit dollars decreased 3.3 percent while gross profit margin increased 0.8 percentage points, for the third quarter of 2003, when compared to the same period last year. The decrease in gross profit dollars was primarily driven by a lower asset base discussed above partially offset by improved financing margins. The increase in gross profit margin was driven by lower borrowing costs and improved margins in used equipment sales due to a change in mix towards higher margin products.

34


        Global Financing gross profit dollars decreased 2.0 percent while gross profit margin decreased 0.5 percentage points, for the first nine months of 2003, when compared to the same period last year. The decrease in gross profit dollars was primarily driven by a lower asset base as discussed above partially offset by improved financing margins. The decrease in gross profit margin was driven by a change in mix towards lower margin remarketing sales and away from financing income.

        Global Financing Pre-tax income increased 33.9 percent and 27.2 percent, respectively, for the third quarter and first nine months of 2003, when compared to the same periods last year. The increases were primarily driven by a decrease in bad debts expense from prior years, due to reduced exposure to certain specific customer issues including the Communications sector and lower general requirements due to a declining asset base. These issues have stabilized and contributed to the lower year-to-year charge. (Also see pages 37 and 38 for an additional discussion of Global Financing Allowance for Doubtful Accounts.)

        The increase in return on equity from the third quarter and first nine months of 2003 when compared to the same periods last year was due to higher net income primarily associated with a decreased provision for bad debts expense.

Financial Condition

Balance Sheet

 
  At September 30,
2003

  At December 31,
2002

(Dollars in millions)

   
   
Cash   $ 658   $ 1,157
Net investment in sales-type leases     11,349     12,314
Equipment under operating leases:            
  External customers     1,720     1,922
  Internal customers*     1,706     1,701
Customer loans     9,130     9,621
   
 
Total customer financing assets     23,905     25,558
Commercial financing receivables     4,399     5,525
Intercompany financing receivables*     1,650     1,616
Other receivables     265     445
Other assets     1,093     941
   
 
Total financing assets   $ 31,970   $ 35,242
   
 
Intercompany payables*   $ 3,609   $ 5,383
Debt**     22,725     23,828
Other liabilities     2,243     2,556
   
 
Total financing liabilities     28,577     31,767
Total financing equity     3,393     3,475
   
 
Total financing liabilities and equity   $ 31,970   $ 35,242
   
 

*
Amounts eliminated for purposes of IBM's consolidated results. These assets, along with the other assets in this table are, however, leveraged using Global Financing debt.

**
Global Financing debt includes debt of the company and of the Global Financing units that support the Global Financing business.

35


Sources and Uses of Funds

        The primary use of funds in Global Financing is to originate customer and commercial financing assets. Customer financing assets for end users consist primarily of IBM hardware, software and services, but also include non-IBM equipment, software and services to meet IBM customers' total solutions requirements. Customer financing assets are primarily sales-type, direct financing and operating leases for equipment as well as loans for software and services with terms generally two to five years. Customer financing also includes internal activity as described on pages 39 and 40.

        Commercial financing originations arise primarily from inventory and accounts receivable financing for dealers and remarketers of IBM and non-IBM products. Payment terms for inventory financing generally range from 30 to 75 days. Payment terms for accounts receivable financing generally range from 30 to 90 days. Also included in commercial financing assets are syndicated loans.

Originations

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,

  Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 
  2003
  2002
  2003
  2002
(Dollars in millions)

   
   
   
   
Customer finance:                        
  External   $ 3,110   $ 2,747   $ 8,452   $ 8,534
  Internal     228     228     828     787
Commercial finance     5,766     5,214     16,786     15,581
   
 
 
 
Total   $ 9,104   $ 8,189   $ 26,066   $ 24,902
   
 
 
 

        Cash collections of customer and commercial financing assets exceeded new financing originations in both the third quarter and first nine months of 2003, which resulted in a net decline in financing assets from December 31, 2002. Funds were also generated through the sale and lease of used equipment sourced primarily from prior year's lease originations.

        Cash generated by Global Financing was deployed to pay dividends and debt to IBM.

36


Financing Assets by Sector

        The following are the percentage of external financing assets by industry sector.

 
  At September 30,
2003

  At December 31,
2002

 
Financial Services   30 % 31 %
Industrial   20   18  
Business Partners*   14   14  
Communications   11   12  
Distribution   10   11  
Public   9   10  
Other   6   4  
   
 
 
Total   100 % 100 %
   
 
 

*
Business Partner assets represent a portion of commercial financing inventory and accounts receivable financing for terms generally less than 90 days.

Financing Receivables and Allowances

        The following table presents financing receivables, excluding residual values, and the allowance for doubtful accounts.

 
  At September 30,
2003

  At December 31,
2002

 
(Dollars in millions)

   
   
 
Financing receivables   $ 25,149   $ 28,007  
   
 
 
Specific allowance for doubtful accounts     708     787  
Unallocated allowance for doubtful accounts     167     184  
   
 
 
Total allowance for doubtful accounts     875     971  
   
 
 
Net financing receivables   $ 24,274   $ 27,036  
   
 
 
Allowance for doubtful account coverage     3.5 %   3.5 %

Roll-Forward of Financing Receivables Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Dec. 31,
2002

  Reserve
Used*

  Additions
Bad Debts
Expense

  Other**
  September 30,
2003

(Dollars in millions)

   
   
   
   
$ 971   $ (320 ) $ 164   $ 60   $ 875

*
Represents reserved receivables, net of recoveries, that were written off during the period.

**
Primarily represents translation adjustments.

37


        The percentage of financing receivables reserved is 3.5 percent at September 30, 2003, unchanged from December 31, 2002. Unallocated reserves decreased 9.2 percent from $184 million at December 31, 2002 to $167 million at September 30, 2003. The unallocated reserve coverage, however, increased slightly during the same period. The overall credit quality of the portfolio continues to remain stable and the unallocated reserve primarily reflects loss history and the current economic environment. Specific reserves decreased 10.0 percent from $787 million at December 31, 2002 to $708 million at September 30, 2003. The decrease in specific reserves was due to the write-off of reserved receivables during the period combined with lower requirements for additional specific reserves.

        Global Financing's bad debts expense declined to $164 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2003, compared with $428 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2002. The decline was primarily attributed to higher reserve additions required in the first nine months of 2002 associated with the Communications sector, as compared to the first nine months of 2003. This issue has stabilized and contributed to the lower year-to-year charges.

Residual Value

        Residual value is a risk unique to the financing business and management of this risk is dependent upon the ability to accurately project future equipment values. Global Financing has insight into product plans and cycles for the IBM products under lease. Based upon this product information, Global Financing continually monitors projections of future equipment values and compares them to the residual values reflected in the portfolio.

        Sales of equipment, which are primarily sourced from equipment returned at end of lease, represents 40.8 percent and 36.9 percent of Global Financing's revenue in the third quarter and first nine months, respectively, of 2003 and 32.3 percent and 29.0 percent in the third quarter and first nine months, respectively, of 2002. The gross margins on these sales were 35.0 percent and 28.3 percent in the third quarter of 2003 and 2002, respectively. The gross margins were 29.4 percent and 20.7 percent for the first nine months of 2003 and 2002, respectively. In addition to selling assets sourced off of lease, Global Financing also leases used equipment to new customers or extends leasing arrangements with current customers. These are other ways that Global Financing profitably recovers the residual values. The table on page 39 presents the recorded amount of unguaranteed residual value for sales-type and operating leases at December 31, 2002 and September 30, 2003. In addition, the table presents the residual value as a percentage of the original amount financed, and a run out of the unguaranteed residual value over the remaining lives of these leases as of September 30, 2003.

38


Residual Value

 
   
   
  Run out of Sept. 30, 2003 balance
 
  Dec. 31,
2002

  Sept. 30,
2003

  2003
  2004
  2005
  2006 and
beyond

(Dollars in millions)

   
   
   
   
   
   
Sales-type leases   $ 821   $ 816   $ 96   $ 253   $ 280   $ 187
Operating leases     242     180     44     68     45     23
   
 
 
 
 
 
Total unguaranteed residual value   $ 1,063   $ 996   $ 140   $ 321   $ 325   $ 210
   
 
 
 
 
 
Related original amount financed   $ 27,534*   $ 27,295                        
Percentage     3.9 %   3.7 %                      

*
Reclassified to conform with 2003 presentation.

        The decrease in the percentage of residual value to original amount financed was primarily due to a mix change towards more bargain purchase option leases.

Debt

 
  At September 30,
2003

  At December 31,
2002

 
Debt to equity ratio   6.7 x 6.9 x

        Global Financing funds its operations primarily through borrowings using a debt-to-equity ratio of approximately 7 to 1. The following table illustrates the correlation between Global Financing assets and Global Financing debt. Both assets and debt are presented in the Global Financing balance sheet on page 35.

 
   
  Assets
  Debt
GRAPHIC   1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
  29
29
32
35
40
40
41
37
35
32
  19
20
21
24
28
27
28
26
24
23

As of September 30, 2003.

        The company's Global Financing business provides funding predominantly for the company's external customers but also provides intercompany financing for the company (internal). See page 36 for further information. IBM manages and measures Global Financing as if

39


it were a standalone entity and accordingly, interest expense relating to debt supporting Global Financing's external customer and internal business is included in the "Global Financing Results of Operations" on page 34 and in Segment Information on pages 49 through 52.

        In the company's Consolidated Statement of Earnings on page one, however, the interest expense supporting Global Financing's internal financing to the company is reclassified from Cost of financing to Interest expense.

Liquidity

        Global Financing is a segment of IBM and as such is supported by IBM's liquidity position and access to capital markets.

Forward Looking and Cautionary Statements

        Except for the historical information and discussions contained herein, statements contained in this Form 10-Q may constitute "forward looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, including the company's failure to continue to develop and market new and innovative products and services and to keep pace with technological change; competitive pressures; failure to obtain or protect intellectual property rights; quarterly fluctuations in revenues and volatility of stock prices; the company's ability to attract and retain key personnel; currency and customer financing risks; dependence on certain suppliers; changes in the financial or business condition of the company's distributors or resellers; the company's ability to successfully manage acquisitions and alliances; legal, political and economic changes and other risks, uncertainties and factors discussed elsewhere in this Form 10-Q, in the company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission or in materials incorporated therein by reference.

ITEM 4. Controls and Procedures

        The company's management evaluated, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the effectiveness of the company's disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report. There has been no change in the company's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the company's internal control over financial reporting.

40



Part II—Other Information

ITEM 6 (a). Exhibits

Exhibit Number

11   Statement re: computation of per share earnings.

12

 

Statement re: computation of ratios.

31.1

 

Certification by CEO pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2

 

Certification by CFO pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.1

 

Certification by CEO pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.2

 

Certification by CFO pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

ITEM 6 (b). Reports on Form 8-K

        The company filed a Form 8-K on July 16, 2003, with respect to the company's financial results for the period ended June 30, 2003, and included the unaudited Consolidated Statement of Earnings, Consolidated Statement of Financial Position and Segment Data for the period ended June 30, 2003. In addition, IBM's Chief Financial Officer, John R. Joyce's second-quarter earnings presentation to security analysts on Wednesday, July 16, 2003, was filed as Attachment II and Attachment III of the Form 8-K.

        The company filed a Form 8-K on August 1, 2003, containing its press release announcing that it will appeal the decision issued on July 31, 2003 in Cooper et al v. IBM Personal Pension Plan and IBM Corporation.

        The company filed a Form 8-K on August 21, 2003, to incorporate by reference into Registra tion Statement No. 333-102603 on Form S-3, effective February 4, 2003, the documents included as Exhibits 1 and 2, relating to the issuance by IBM of up to $20,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Medium-Term Notes. Exhibit 1 is the Agency Agreement dated August 21, 2003, between IBM and ABN AMRO Incorporated, Banc of America Securities LLC, Banc One Capital Markets, Inc., BNP Paribas Securities Corp., BNY Capital Markets, Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Credit Suisse First Boston LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co., HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Lehman Brothers Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and UBS Securities LLC. Exhibit 2 is the Form of Master Note.

41



SIGNATURE

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

    International Business Machines Corporation
(Registrant)

Date: November 10, 2003

 

By:

/s/  
ROBERT F. WOODS      
Robert F. Woods
Vice President and Controller

42




QuickLinks

Index
Part I—Financial Information
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS (UNAUDITED)
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS—(CONTINUED) (UNAUDITED)
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION ASSETS
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION—(CONTINUED) LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, (UNAUDITED)
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2003
Part II—Other Information
SIGNATURE