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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-Q

(Mark One)

Commission File Number: 0-20289

KEMET CORPORATION
Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter

2835 KEMET WAY, SIMPSONVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA 29681
(Address of principal executive offices, zip code)

864-963-6300
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report: N/A

        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

        Common Stock Outstanding at: January 31, 2003

Part I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1—Financial Statements

KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Dollars in thousands except per share data)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Dollars in thousands except per share data)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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KEMET CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Dollars in thousands)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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Note 1. Basis of Financial Statement Preparation

        The consolidated financial statements contained herein, other than the March 31, 2002, balance sheet, are unaudited and have been prepared from the books and records of KEMET Corporation and its Subsidiaries ("KEMET" or the "Company"). In the opinion of management, the consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and, therefore, do not include all information and footnotes necessary for a complete presentation of financial position, results of operations, and cash flows in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Although the Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading, it is suggested that these consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's fiscal year ending March 31, 2002, Form 10-K. Net sales and operating results for the three- and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2002, are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

        The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. In consolidation, all significant intercompany amounts and transactions have been eliminated.

        When KEMET Electronics Corporation was formed as a separate entity in 1987, it continued the Union Carbide practice of expensing depreciation and amortization costs in the current period, rather than including such costs as a component of inventory and expensing them through cost of goods sold over time, as required by current generally accepted accounting principles. Beginning with the June 2002 quarter, KEMET included depreciation and amortization as a component of its cost of inventory. The impact of this change on the three-month and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2002, amounted to additional after-tax income of approximately $85,000 and $469,000 or $0.001 and $0.005 per share, respectively. KEMET has also reviewed the financial statements contained in its previously filed 2002 Annual Report on Form 10-K and confirmed that this change would not have resulted in any material changes to those financial statements. In addition, the presentation of the Statement of Operations has been reclassified to include depreciation and amortization expenses of $15.0 million and $16.4 million in cost of goods sold; depreciation of $2.1 million and $2.0 million in selling, general, and administrative expenses; and depreciation of $0.4 million and $0.3 million in research and development expenses in the quarters ended December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively, and depreciation and amortization expenses of $45.9 million and $48.3 million in cost of goods sold; depreciation of $6.1 million and $5.8 million in selling, general, and administrative expenses; and depreciation of $1.2 million and $0.8 million in research and development expenses in the nine-month periods ended December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively.

        This change makes KEMET's financial statement presentation more comparable to those of other capacitor manufacturers.

        The Company also converted the cost of a portion of its inventory determined by the last-in, first-out ("LIFO") basis to the first-in, first-out ("FIFO") method during the quarter ended June 30, 2002. The after-tax impact was approximately $544,000 and was not considered material to the consolidated financial statements. Therefore, prior period amounts have not been restated for this change in accounting principle. LIFO was the basis for approximately 6% of inventory costs of certain raw materials at March 31, 2002. After the conversion, 100% of the Company's inventory costs will be determined by the FIFO method.

        See also Note 3.

        Certain prior-year amounts were reclassified to conform to current period presentation.

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Note 2. Reconciliation of basic earnings (loss) per common share

        In accordance with FASB Statement No. 128, the Company had net losses for each period presented, therefore there are no reconciling items between basic earnings (loss) per share and diluted earnings (loss) per share as presented below.

Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share
(Dollars in thousands except per share data)

        The quarter and nine months ended December 31, 2002, excluded potentially dilutive securities of approximately 243,000 and 344,000, respectively, in the computation of diluted earnings (loss) per share because the effect would have been anti-dilutive. The quarter and nine months ended December 31, 2001, excluded potentially dilutive securities of approximately 895,000 and 963,000, respectively, in the computation of diluted earnings (loss) per share because the effect would have been anti-dilutive.

Note 3. Goodwill and intangible assets

        In July 2001, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141, "Business Combinations" (Statement No. 141), and Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets"(Statement No. 142). Statement No. 141 requires that the purchase method of accounting be used for all business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001. Statement No. 141 also specifies criteria that intangible assets acquired in a purchase method business combination must meet in order to be recognized and reported apart from goodwill. Statement No. 142 requires that goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful lives no longer be amortized, but instead be tested for impairment. In addition, any unamortized negative goodwill must be written off at the date of adoption. Statement No. 142 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001, and was adopted by the Company effective April 1, 2002.

        In connection with the adoption of Statement No. 142, the Company completed impairment tests of its goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets including indefinite-lived trademarks, as well as

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patents and technology that have definite lives and will continue to be amortized. No impairment of assets was noted.

        For purposes of determining the fair value of its trademarks, the Company utilized a discounted cash flow model which considered the costs of royalties in the absence of trademarks owned by the Company.

        For purposes of determining potential impairment of goodwill, the Company aggregated its reporting units as its segments are aggregated to a single reporting segment under Statement No. 131. The Company's publicly traded stock price is utilized as a component of its model for determining fair value in order to evaluate goodwill impairment. Negative goodwill of approximately $661,000 was written off upon adoption of the new standard and was included in "Other income" in the statement of earnings for the quarter ended June 30, 2002, because it was not material.

        The carrying amounts, accumulated amortization, and amortization expense for each of the periods presented are noted below by intangible asset class (in thousands):

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        The reconciliation of net loss and loss per share, adjusted to exclude goodwill, trademark, and negative goodwill amortization expense, net of tax, for the three- and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2002 and 2001, is as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):

Note 4. Derivatives and Hedging

        The Company uses certain derivative financial instruments to reduce exposures to volatility of foreign currencies and commodities impacting the costs of its products.

Hedging Foreign Currencies

        Certain operating expenses at the Company's Mexican facilities are paid in Mexican pesos. In order to hedge these forecasted cash flows, management purchases forward contracts to buy Mexican pesos for periods and amounts consistent with the related underlying cash flow exposures. These contracts are designated as hedges at inception and monitored for effectiveness on a routine basis. At December 31, 2002, the Company had outstanding forward exchange contracts that mature within approximately fifteen months to purchase Mexican pesos with notional amounts of $78.1 million. The fair values of these contracts at December 31, 2002, totaled $2.8 million, which is recorded as a derivative liability on the Company's balance sheet as other current liabilities. During the next 12 months, approximately $2.8 million of the loss on these contracts is expected to be charged to cost of goods sold. The impact of the changes in fair values of these contracts resulted in other comprehensive gain of $45 thousand and $3.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively, and other comprehensive gain (loss) of ($6.6) million and $3.5 million for the nine-month periods ended December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively.

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Interest Rates Swaps

        In November 2002, the Company entered into two interest rate swap contracts (the "Swaps") which effectively converted its $100 million aggregate principal amount of 6.66% senior notes to floating-rate debt adjusted semi-annually based on six-month LIBOR plus 3.84%. At December 31, 2002, the fair value of the Swaps, based upon market estimates provided by the counterparties, was approximately $0.9 million and was recorded as a derivative asset on the Company's balance sheet as other assets. These derivative instruments reduced interest expense by approximately $0.2 million for the three- and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2002, respectively, and the mark to market resulted in other income of $0.7 million for the quarter and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2002, respectively.

        In October 2002, the Company terminated two interest rate swap contracts it initiated in April 2002. The contracts effectively converted its $100 million aggregate principal amount of 6.66% senior notes to floating-rate debt. These derivative instruments reduced interest expense by approximately $1.3 million for the nine-month period ended December 31, 2002, and resulted in other income of $5.6 million for the nine-month period ended December 31, 2002.

        All other contracts to purchase raw materials qualify for the normal purchases exclusion and are not accounted for as derivatives.

Note 5. Put Options

        The Company sold put options to institutional parties as part of a program to purchase up to 8.0 million of its common shares. The settlement of and premiums generated by put options have been accounted for as additional paid-in capital. The fair value of the put options at December 31, 2002, was not material. The Company had the maximum potential obligation to purchase 300,000 shares of its common stock at a weighted average purchase price of $9.37 ($8.62 net of put premiums received) for an aggregate of approximately $2.8 million at December 31, 2002. The put options are exercisable only at maturity and expire in February 2003. The Company has the right to settle the put options through physical settlement or net share settlement using shares of the Company's common stock.

Note 6. Long-term Supply Agreement

        On December 10, 2002, the Company announced that it agreed to an extension of the term of its tantalum supply agreement with Cabot Corporation ("Cabot"). The extended agreement relates to both tantalum powder and tantalum wire products and calls for reduced prices, higher volumes, and a term through 2006. The Company received approximately $32.5 million of material in the quarter ended December 31, 2002. The additional commitment totals $88.8 million or $22.2 million ratably within each calendar year through 2006. If the Company's demand for tantalum exceeds the amount supplied under the contract, Cabot has the option to sell additional product to the Company at prices approximating market throughout the term. In connection with this extension, the Company and Cabot settled all claims in the litigation regarding the original supply agreement.

        The Company records inventory at the lower of cost or market and estimated losses associated with inventory received under the extended supply agreement to be approximately $15.7 million. In addition, the Company's estimated future losses for the commitment to purchase tantalum at above-market prices were approximately $25.1 million. Accordingly, a $40.8 million charge was recorded to cost of goods sold in the quarter ended December 31, 2002.

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Note 7. Special Charges

        Certain special charges were incurred during the quarters ended December 31, 2001; September 30, 2002; and December 31, 2002.

        Pre-tax special charges totaled $59.6 million in fiscal 2003 and were included in the statement of operations under two captions: $42.6 million in cost of goods sold and $17.0 million in restructuring and impairment charges. Charges in the quarter ended December 31, 2002, which were recorded to cost of sales, amounted to $42.6 million and include $40.8 million related to tantalum inventory and commitment charges (Note 6) and excess palladium sold at a loss of $1.8 million.

        Restructuring and impairment charges incurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2002, associated with a July 8, 2002, announcement to close one manufacturing facility in Greenwood, South Carolina, and to close one of four manufacturing facilities in Matamoros, Mexico, totaled $17.0 million and were recorded as restructuring and impairment charges. These actions were part of KEMET's cost saving initiatives over the past year in response to the prolonged downturn in the electronics industry. The Company reassessed its cost structure resulting in (1) charges of $9.1 million associated with personnel reductions of approximately 185 and 240 employees in the U.S. and Mexico, respectively, and (2) other asset and impairment charges of $7.9 million.

        Pre-tax charges totaled $38.5 million in fiscal 2002 and were included in the statement of operations under two captions: $23.2 million in cost of goods sold and $15.3 million in restructuring and impairment charges. Demand for the Company's products decreased substantially during the first nine months of fiscal 2002, requiring a reevaluation of the Company's cost structure resulting in (1) charges of $9.9 million associated with personnel reductions of approximately 600 and 1,000 employees in the U.S. and Mexico, respectively, (2) charges of $13.3 million in connection with excess and obsolete inventories, including precious metals, and (3) asset impairment charges of $15.3 million including $11.6 million of machinery and equipment and a $3.7 million loss associated with the termination of the Company's Australian joint venture, all of which were recorded in the quarter ended December 31, 2001.

        At December 31, 2002, approximately $0.8 million of restructuring charges were included in accrued expenses. This amount is expected to be paid within one year.

Note 8. Legal

        The company is involved at an environmental cleanup site in Greenville County, South Carolina, known as the Beaco Road site. The Company has negotiated the essential terms of, and expects to enter into, a settlement ending the Company's active involvement at the site. Under the settlement, the Company expects to contribute a substantial portion, which was recorded and accrued in an earlier period, to a payment totaling approximately $800,000. In addition to the company, two other companies have also agreed to contribute to the settlement. The agreement is expected to have standard exclusions.

Note 9. Subsequent Event

        On January 6, 2003, the Company announced a cost saving initiative in response to the prolonged downturn in the electronics industry. Workforce reductions, primarily from U.S. facilities, will total approximately 280, with approximately 170 being from voluntary early retirements and the remainder being from a reduction-in-force. In addition to normal retirement benefits, the early retirement program includes a special retirement bonus based on length of service to encourage participation. Severance benefits based on years of service will be provided to other employees affected by the reduction-in-force. Charges related to the initiative are estimated to be approximately $11.0 million and will be recognized in the quarter ending March 31, 2003.

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

        From time to time, information provided by the Company, including but not limited to statements in this report or other statements made by or on behalf of the Company, may contain "forward-looking" information within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. The cautionary statements set forth in the Company's 2002 Annual Report under the heading Safe Harbor Statement identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company.

ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

        The following discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations are based on the Company's unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements included herein. The Company's significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in KEMET's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2002. The Company's critical accounting policies are described under the caption "Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates" in Item 7 of KEMET's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2002.

        The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates, assumptions, and judgments. Estimates and assumptions are based on historical data and other assumptions that Management believes are reasonable in the circumstances. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. In addition, they affect the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.

        The Company's judgments are based on management's assessment as to the effect certain estimates, assumptions, or future trends or events may have on the financial condition and results of operations reported in KEMET's unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements. It is important that readers of these unaudited financial statements understand that actual results could differ from these estimates, assumptions, and judgments.

        Effective April 1, 2002, amortization expense related to goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives is no longer required per Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142 "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets." The impact of Statement No. 142 for the three- and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2002, decreased net loss after taxes by approximately $200,000 and $1,035,000, or $0.002 and $0.012 per share, respectively, with approximately $435,000 attributed to the write-off of negative goodwill and approximately $600,000 attributed to the cessation of goodwill and trademark amortization. The effect in future quarters is expected to average approximately $200,000 attributed to the cessation of goodwill and trademark amortization in the nine-month period. Under Statement No. 142, the three- and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2001, have not been restated; however, the after-tax impact would have been an decrease to net loss by approximately $200,000 and $600,000, or $0.002 and $0.007 per share, respectively.

        When KEMET Electronics Corporation was formed as a separate entity in 1987, it continued the Union Carbide practice of expensing depreciation and amortization costs in the current period, rather than including such costs as a component of inventory and expensing them through cost of goods sold over time, as required by current generally accepted accounting principles. Beginning with the June 2002 quarter, KEMET is including depreciation and amortization as a component of its cost of inventory. The impact of this change on the three-month and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2002, amounted to additional after-tax income of approximately $85,000 and $469,000, or $0.001 and $0.005 per share, respectively. KEMET has also reviewed the financial statements contained in its

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previously filed 2002 Annual Report on Form 10-K and confirmed that this change would not have resulted in any material changes to those financial statements. In addition, the presentation of the Statement of Operations has been reclassified to include depreciation and amortization expenses of $15.0 million and $16.4 million in cost of goods sold; depreciation of $2.1 million and $2.0 million in selling, general, and administrative expenses; and depreciation of $0.4 million and $0.3 million in research and development expenses in the quarters ended December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively, and depreciation and amortization expenses of $45.9 million and $48.3 million in cost of goods sold; depreciation of $6.1 million and $5.8 million in selling, general, and administrative expenses; and depreciation of $1.2 million and $0.8 million in research and development expenses in the nine-month periods ended December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively.

        Another accounting practice KEMET continued when it was formed as a separate entity was to determine the cost of certain raw materials using the last-in, first-out ("LIFO") basis and to determine the cost of other raw materials, work in process, and finished goods using the first-in, first-out("FIFO") method. The Company chose to convert to 100% FIFO cost in the quarter ended June 30, 2002. The after-tax impact was approximately $544,000 and was not considered material to the consolidated financial statements. Therefore, prior period amounts have not been restated for this change in accounting principles. LIFO was the basis for approximately 6% of inventory costs of certain raw materials at March 31, 2002. After the conversion, 100% of the Company's inventory costs will be determined by the FIFO method.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Comparison of the Three- and Nine-Month Periods Ended December 31, 2002, with the Three- and Nine-Month Periods Ended December 31, 2001:

        Net Sales for the quarter and nine-months ended December 31, 2002, decreased 12% and 13%, respectively, to $103.7 million and $340.8 million as compared to the same periods last year. The decrease in net sales was attributable to lower prices for both tantalum and ceramic capacitors as unit volumes in the three-and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2002, exceeded the volumes of the prior periods by approximately 20% and 50%, respectively. Erosion in average selling prices, which commenced approximately twenty-one months ago, more than offset the higher unit volumes in the current periods. Sales of surface-mount capacitors were $85.6 million and $278.7 million for the quarter and nine-month period ended December 31, 2002, compared to $94.5 million and $304.9 million for the same periods last year, while sales of leaded capacitors were $18.1 million and $62.1 million, versus $22.8 million and $85.8 million during the same periods last year. Globally, domestic sales decreased during the three- and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2002, by 21% and 17% to $40.8 million and $147.3 million, respectively. Export sales decreased during the three- and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2002, by 4% and 9% to $62.9 million and $193.5 million, respectively.

        Cost of sales for the quarter and nine-months ended December 31, 2002, was $134.8 million and $332.5 million, respectively, as compared to $119.5 million and $328.3 million for the same periods last year. As a percentage of net sales, cost of sales was 130% and 98% for the quarter and nine months ended December 31, 2002, respectively, as compared to 102% and 84% for the prior-year periods. All periods had special charges. The Company incurred $42.6 million of special charges during the quarter ended December 31, 2002, for tantalum inventory and related supply agreement charges ($40.8 million—Note 6) and the sale of excess palladium inventory ($1.8 million). The quarter ended December 31, 2001, had $23.2 million of special charges (Note 7) for personnel reductions ($9.9 million) and scrapped or obsolete inventory ($13.3 million). Excluding special charges in the periods, cost of sales as a percentage of net sales was 89% and 85% for the quarter and nine months ended December 31, 2002, respectively, as compared to 82% and 78% for the prior-year periods. Excluding special charges, decreasing average selling prices resulted in an increase in the cost of sales as a percentage of sales in the current year as compared to the same periods last year.

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        Selling, general, and administrative expenses for the quarter and nine-months ended December 31, 2002, were $13.8 million, or 13.3% of sales, and $41.0 million, or 12.0% of sales, respectively, as compared to $13.9 million, or 11.8% of sales, and $41.5 million, or 10.6% of sales, for the prior-year periods. SG&A spending reflects the Company's continuing commitment to invest in the long-term relationships with its customers. Selling, general, and administrative expenses increased as a percent of sales largely as the result of lower sales in the current year.

        Research and development expenses for the quarter and nine-months ended December 31, 2002, were $5.6 million and $19.3 million, respectively, as compared to $5.5 million and $19.8 million for the prior comparable periods. The spending reflects the Company's continuing commitment to invest in the development of new products and technologies.

        Operating loss for the quarter and nine-months ended December 31, 2002, was $50.5 million and $68.9 million, respectively, compared to $36.8 million and $14.2 million for the comparable periods in the prior year. The increase in operating loss in the current year resulted primarily from the aforementioned lower sales levels and the corresponding reduction in manufacturing margins combined with higher special charges in the quarter ended December 31, 2002. The same factors plus restructuring and impairment charges recorded in the quarter ended September 30, 2002, resulted in a greater loss for the nine-months ended December 31, 2002, versus the same period in the prior fiscal year.

        Total other (income) expense for the quarter and nine-months ended December 31, 2002, was ($2.4) million and ($9.1) million, respectively, compared to $0.3 million and $1.0 million for the comparable periods in the prior year. The increase in total other income in the current year was principally the result of interest rate swap contracts marked to market, which accounted for $0.9 million and $7.8 million of total other income in the three- and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2002, respectively.

        Income tax benefit totaled $16.3 million and $20.3 million for the quarter and nine-months ended December 31, 2002, respectively compared to $10.2 million and $2.3 million for the comparable periods ended December 31, 2001. The increase in the benefit in the current year versus the prior year was the result of the larger pre-tax loss in the current periods compared to the prior year periods.

Special Charges

        The Company incurred special charges in the current and prior fiscal periods.

Current Fiscal Periods

        The Company incurred special charges in the quarters ended September 30, 2002, and December 31, 2002. A summary of the special charges incurred in the current fiscal year are as follows (in millions):

*

Cost of Goods Sold

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Special Charges in the Quarter Ended December 31, 2002

        On December 10, 2002, the Company announced that it agreed to an extension of the term of its tantalum supply agreement with Cabot Corporation ("Cabot").

Inventory and Related Supply Agreement—The Company records inventory at the lower of cost or market and estimated losses associated with inventory received under the extended supply agreement to be approximately $15.7 million. In addition, the Company's estimated future losses for the commitment to purchase tantalum at above-market prices were approximately $25.1 million. Accordingly, a $40.8 million charge was recorded to cost of goods sold in the quarter ended December 31, 2002. In addition, the Company sold excess palladium at a loss of $1.8 million.

Special Charges in the Quarter Ended September 30, 2002

        Restructuring and impairment charges represent the closing of one manufacturing facility in Greenwood, South Carolina, and one of four manufacturing facilities in Matamoros, Mexico, which was announced in July 2002. These actions were part of KEMET's cost saving initiatives over the past year to respond to the prolonged downturn in the electronics industry. A summary of the charges expensed in the quarter ended September 30, 2002, follows (in millions):

Personnel reductions—The Company made manufacturing and support personnel reductions of approximately 185 and 240 employees in the U.S. and Mexico, respectively.

Other asset and impairment charges—Certain long-lived assets, inventory obsoleted or scrapped, and other charges associated with the closing of facilities in Greenwood, South Carolina, and Matamoros, Mexico.

Prior Fiscal Periods

        Following two years of tremendous growth in product shipments during calendar years 1999 and 2000, the electronics industry experienced a severe inventory correction. The Company anticipated that lower production levels would continue well into calendar 2002. The Company acted by streamlining manufacturing facilities, accelerating productivity improvement programs, and reducing manufacturing and support personnel in the Company's U.S. and Mexican facilities. The special charges related to the aforementioned activities in the quarter ended December 31, 2001, were (in millions):

*

Cost of Goods Sold

Inventory—Inventory charges consisted of obsolete or scrapped inventory and the loss on sale of excess precious metal inventory, primarily palladium, sold during the quarter and charged to cost of goods sold.

Impaired long-lived assets—Certain long-lived assets used in production, as well as costs related to the disposal of those assets, were charged to restructuring and impairment charges. These assets

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were retired as part of the effort to streamline manufacturing facilities and in response to lack of anticipated product demand associated with the productive assets.

Personnel reductions—The Company made manufacturing and support personnel reductions of approximately 600 and 1,000 employees in the U.S. and Mexico, respectively. A charge of $9.9 million was reflected in cost of goods sold.

Termination of joint venture—Through its wholly-owned subsidiary, the Company agreed with Australasian Gold Mines NL (AGM) to sell KEMET's interest in Tantalum Australia, a joint venture in Australia. The investment was written down to its net realizable value and $3.7 million was charged to Depreciation, Amortization, and Impairment Charges. In conjunction with this transaction, the agreement for the Company to purchase product from Tantalum Australia was also canceled. The Company continues to hold an equity interest of approximately 10% in AGM.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

        The Company's liquidity needs arise from working capital requirements, capital expenditures, and principal and interest payments on its indebtedness. The Company intends to satisfy its liquidity requirements primarily with funds provided by operations, cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, and borrowings under its uncommitted Loan Agreement.

        The Company generated cash from operating activities of $64.7 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2002, compared to using $42.3 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2001. The current period generated cash primarily from inventory reductions ($49.5 million). Despite a smaller net loss ($12.9 million) in the prior period, operating activities used cash primarily as the result of an increase in inventories ($87.6 million) combined with a reduction in payables ($100.4 million).

        Capital expenditures were $17.3 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2002, compared to $73.4 million in the prior year. Capital expenditures in the prior year principally reflect the completion of projects initiated during fiscal year 2001, when demand was substantially higher, to increase manufacturing capacity. Capital expenditures in the current period primarily reflect spending for the introduction of new products and cost reduction projects, as well as adjusting capacity for current and anticipated product mix demand. The Company estimates its capital expenditures for fiscal year 2003 to be approximately $25 million.

        During the nine months ended December 31, 2002, the Company's indebtedness did not change. As of December 31, 2002, the Company had unused availability under its uncommitted Loan Agreement with a bank for $50.0 million.

        The Board of Directors authorized programs to purchase up to 8.0 million shares of its common stock on the open market. Through December 31, 2002, the Company made purchases of 2.1 million shares for $38.7 million. Approximately 458,000 shares were subsequently reissued for the exercise of employee stock options. At December 31, 2002, the Company held approximately 1,642,000 treasury shares at a cost of $30.3 million and had outstanding put option obligations for approximately 0.3 million shares at a weighted average purchase price of approximately $9.37 per share ($8.62 net of put premiums received) for an aggregate of $2.8 million under the purchase program. The amount and timing of future purchases will depend on market conditions and other factors and will be funded from existing cash.

        KEMET believes its strong financial position will permit the financing of its business needs and opportunities in an orderly manner. It is anticipated that ongoing operations will be financed primarily by internally generated funds. In addition, the Company has the flexibility to meet short-term working capital and other temporary requirements through utilization of its borrowings under its uncommitted Loan Agreement.

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President and Chief Operating Officer Appointed

        Jeffrey A. Graves was appointed President and Chief Operating Officer on October 24, 2002. Dr. Graves joined KEMET in July 2001 as Vice President of Technology. Prior to joining KEMET, Dr. Graves held a number of key leadership positions with General Electric's Corporate Research and Development Center and with their Power Systems Division. While at GE, Dr. Graves led global teams spanning the U.S., Eastern Europe, India, and Japan to deliver advanced power generation products and services to customers world-wide. Dr. Graves holds a Ph.D. in Metallurgical Engineering and was also among the first Master Black Belts certified in GE's Six Sigma program.

Long-term Supply Agreement

        On December 10, 2002, the Company announced that it agreed to an extension of the term of its tantalum supply agreement with Cabot Corporation ("Cabot"). The extended agreement relates to both tantalum powder and tantalum wire products and calls for reduced prices, higher volumes, and a term through 2006. The Company received approximately $32.5 million of material in the quarter ended December 31, 2002. The additional commitment totals $88.8 million or $22.2 million ratably within each calendar year through 2006. If the Company's demand for tantalum exceeds the amount supplied under the contract, Cabot has the option to sell additional product to the Company at prices approximating market throughout the term. In connection with this extension, the Company and Cabot settled all claims in the litigation regarding the original supply agreement.

        The Company records inventory at the lower of cost or market and estimated losses associated with inventory received under the extended supply agreement to be approximately $15.7 million. In addition, the Company's estimated future losses for the commitment to purchase tantalum at above-market prices were approximately $25.1 million. Accordingly, a $40.8 million charge was recorded to cost of goods sold in the quarter ended December 31, 2002.

Manufacturing in China

        The Company announced on January 2, 2003, that it plans to begin manufacturing operations in the People's Republic of China during calendar 2003. Approximately a quarter of KEMET's revenue is generated in Asia, and a long-term trend of many of the Company's European and North American customers is the migration of manufacturing operations to Asia, particularly China. In addition, KEMET is building strong relationships with emerging global leaders in electronics manufacturing based in Asia. The announcement is a continuation of the Company's easy-to-buy-from philosophy, which will help maintain and enhance KEMET'S leadership position in the capacitor industry.

Cost Saving Initiative

        On January 6, 2003, the Company announced a cost saving initiative in response to the prolonged downturn in the electronics industry. Workforce reductions, primarily from U.S. facilities, will total approximately 280, with approximately 170 being from voluntary early retirements and the remainder being from a reduction-in-force. In addition to normal retirement benefits, the early retirement program includes a special retirement bonus based on length of service to encourage participation. Severance benefits based on years of service will be provided to employees affected by the reduction-in-force. Charges related to the initiative are estimated to be approximately $11.0 million and will be recognized in the quarter ending March 31, 2003.

Business Outlook

        From a peak of approximately 16,000 employees in the summer of 2000, the number of employees had been reduced to approximately 6,400 at December 31, 2002. This was in response to what the Company believes was another correction phase of a long-term growth trend in the electronics industry

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and was achieved through a variety of programs, such as attrition, special leaves of absence, early retirement programs, and reductions-in-force. KEMET will continue cost saving initiatives to ensure it maintains a strong financial position and to further enhance its earnings capability.

        KEMET's preferred capacitor supplier relationships with the world's most successful electronics companies remain strong, and during the growth phase of the current cycle the Company anticipates three drivers of growth that leverage its customer relationships.

•

First, the Company's capacitor shipments will increase as its customers' business recovers. KEMET's brand is built on being easy-to-buy-from by providing unexcelled quality, delivery, and service globally. During this challenging time, KEMET continues to focus on the fundamentals of its business to maintain this distinctive position in the market.



•

Second, the Company's easy-to-buy-from strategy has KEMET particularly well positioned with Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) providers. At the request of customers, particularly EMS providers who have relocated manufacturing to the People's Republic of China, KEMET recently announced plans to begin manufacturing operations in China during calendar 2003 which will help the Company enhance its relationships with Asian-based customers.



•

Finally, KEMET has the world's most complete line of surface-mount capacitor technologies, including innovative high-frequency tantalum, high-capacitance ceramic, and solid aluminum capacitors. These technologies will allow the Company to continue to earn a greater share of its customers' capacitor dollars. The mix of products that KEMET sells will improve as corporate information technology and telecommunications equipment markets improve in 2003 and 2004.

        KEMET's current estimate, given the high level of economic uncertainty, is that net sales for the March 2003 quarter will be up approximately 5% compared to December 2002 quarter net sales. The gross margin percentage for the March 2003 quarter is expected to be in the range of 12% to 14%.

        Average selling prices for the December 2002 quarter decreased approximately 6% from average selling prices for the September 2002 quarter, and a similar average selling price decline is anticipated for the March 2003 quarter. As industry unit volumes increase as end demand improves, the decline in average selling prices should moderate to more normal annual declines of 6% to 8% per year.

        Year to date, inventories decreased $49.5 million to $209.9 million from $259.4 million at March 31, 2002. Before tantalum materials received, inventories declined approximately $24 million in the December 2002 quarter, and a similar decline is anticipated in the March 2003 quarter.

        Capital expenditures for fiscal 2003 are anticipated to be approximately $25 million, compared to $78 million in fiscal 2002.

Impact of Recently Issued Accounting Standards

        In June 2002, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 146, "Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities" (Statement No. 146). Statement No. 146 addresses financial accounting for costs associated with exit or disposal activities and nullifies Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 94-3 (Issue No. 94-3), "Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity (including Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring)." Statement No. 146 requires that a liability for a cost associated with an exit or disposal activity be recognized when the liability, as defined in FASB Concepts Statement No. 6, Elements of Financial Statements, is met. Under Issue No. 94-3, a liability for an exit cost was recognized at the date of a commitment to an exit plan. Statement No. 146 is effective for exit or disposal activities that are initiated after December 31, 2002, and was adopted by the Company effective January 1, 2003.

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        In December 2002, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 148, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation—Transition and Disclosure—an amendment of FASB Statement No. 123" (Statement No. 148). Statement No. 148 amends FASB Statement No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation." Statement No. 148 provides alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair-value-based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. In addition, this Statement amends the disclosure requirements of Statement 123 to require prominent disclosures in both annual and interim financial statements about the method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation and the effect of the method used on reported results. Statement No. 148 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2002, and will be adopted by the Company effective April 1, 2003. The Company is currently assessing the impact of the adoption of Statement No. 148.

Item 3. Market Risk

        Market risk disclosure included in the Company's fiscal year ending March 31, 2002, Form 10-K, Part II, Item 7 A, is still applicable and updated through December 31, 2002 (see Note 3 of the Financial Statements).

Item 4. Certifications

(a)

Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures. The Company's principal executive officer and its principal financial officer, after evaluating the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(c) and 15d-14(c)), have concluded that, as of such date, the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were adequate and effective to ensure that material information relating to the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries would be made known to them by others within those entities.

(b)

Changes in internal controls. There were no significant changes in the Company's internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect the Company's disclosure controls and procedures subsequent to the date of their evaluation, nor were there any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the Company's internal controls. As a result, no corrective actions were required or undertaken.

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Part II—OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

        On December 10, 2002, the Company announced that it agreed to an extension of the term of its tantalum supply agreement with Cabot Corporation ("Cabot"). The extended agreement relates to both tantalum powder and tantalum wire products and calls for reduced prices, higher volumes, and a term through 2006. The Company received approximately $32.5 million of material in the quarter ended December 31, 2002. The additional commitment totals $88.8 million or $22.2 million ratably within each calendar year through 2006. If the Company's demand for tantalum exceeds the amount supplied under the contract, Cabot has the option to sell additional product to the Company at prices approximating market throughout the term. In connection with this extension, the Company and Cabot settled all claims in the litigation regarding the original supply agreement.

        The Company records inventory at the lower of cost or market and estimated losses associated with inventory received under the extended supply agreement to be approximately $15.7 million. In addition, the Company's estimated future losses for the commitment to purchase tantalum at above-market prices were approximately $25.1 million. Accordingly, a $40.8 million charge was recorded to cost of goods sold in the quarter ended December 31, 2002.

        The Company is involved at an environmental cleanup site in Greenville County, South Carolina, known as the Beaco Road site. The Company has negotiated the essential terms of, and expects to enter into, a settlement ending the Company's active involvement at the site. Under the settlement, the Company expects to contribute a substantial portion, which was recorded and accrued in an earlier period, to a payment totaling approximately $800,000. Two other companies also will contribute to the amount. The agreement is expected to have standard exclusions.

        Other than as reported above and in the Company's fiscal year ending March 31, 2002, Form 10-K under the caption "Item 3. Legal Proceedings," the Company is not currently a party to any material pending legal proceedings other than routine litigation incidental to the business of the Company.

Item 2. Change in Securities.

        None.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

        None.

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

        None.

Item 5. Other Information.

        None.

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K.

(a)

Exhibits.

        None.

(b)

On August 12, 2002, the Company filed a report on form 8-K that stated that each of the Principal Executive Officer, David E. Maguire, and Principal Financial Officer, D. Ray Cash, of KEMET Corporation submitted to the SEC sworn statements pursuant to Securities and Exchange Commission Order No. 4-460 issued on June 27, 2002.

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(c)

On November 1, 2002, the Company filed a report on form 8-K that stated that Jeffrey A. Graves was appointed President and Chief Operating Officer on October 24, 2002.

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Signature

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

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Certifications

I, David E. Maguire, certify that:

        1.    I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of KEMET Corporation;

        2.    Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

        3.    Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

        4.    The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:

        a)    designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

        b)    evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the "Evaluation Date"); and

        c)    presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

        5.    The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

        a)    all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant's auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

        b)    any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal controls;

        6.    The registrant's other certifying officers and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

Date: February 3, 2003

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I, D. R. Cash, certify that:

        1.    I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of KEMET Corporation;

        2.    Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

        3.    Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

        4.    The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:

        a)    designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

        b)    evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the "Evaluation Date"); and

        c)    presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

        5.    The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

        a)    all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant's auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

        b)    any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal controls;

        6.    The registrant's other certifying officers and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

Date: February 3, 2003

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QuickLinks

ITEM 1—Financial Statements

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

Item 3. Market Risk
Item 4. Certifications

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
Item 2. Change in Securities.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
Item 5. Other Information.
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K.