Empresas y finanzas

General Cable Reports Fourth Quarter Results



    General Cable Corporation (NYSE: BGC), one of the largest and most
    globally diversified wire and cable companies, reported today revenues
    and earnings for the fourth quarter. Reported diluted earnings per
    share for the fourth quarter of 2007 were $0.84. Included in this
    amount were charges related to the write-off of certain
    telecommunications equipment and a LIFO inventory related charge.
    Without these items, earnings per share would have been $1.00, an
    increase of 49.3% over the reported earnings per share for the fourth
    quarter of 2006 of $0.67.

    Fourth Quarter Highlights

    -- Earnings per share before charges were $1.00 compared to $0.67
    in the prior year

    -- Revenues of $1.30 billion, including $271.5 million from
    acquisitions completed in the last twelve months, grew 41.0%
    compared to the year ago period on a metal-adjusted basis

    -- Operating income before the impact of $6.6 million of
    telecommunications equipment write-downs and $6.7 million of
    LIFO inventory related charges increased 61.7% from prior year

    -- Completed acquisition of Phelps Dodge International
    Corporation (PDIC); Integration right on track; Performance
    strong

    -- Awarded first North Sea submarine cable project, which is
    expected to be in excess of $30 million in revenues

    -- Indianapolis manufacturing plant received IndustryWeek´s Best
    Plants Award

    -- Completed offering of $475 million of 1% senior convertible
    notes due 2012

    Full Year Highlights

    -- Revenues of $4.61 billion, including $436.2 million from
    acquisitions completed in the last twelve months, grew 23.4%
    compared to the year ago period on a metal-adjusted basis

    -- Operating income before charges increased 59.9% from prior
    year

    -- Completed four strategic acquisitions and internal investment
    targeting higher growth product lines (NSW submarine power and
    fiber optic communications systems) and faster growing
    economies (China, India, Latin America, Africa, and Asia)

    -- Refinanced high yield notes in Q1, reducing interest rate by
    approximately 200 basis points

    -- Significantly expanded product design, sales and marketing
    efforts in alternative energy markets throughout the world

    Gregory B. Kenny, President and Chief Executive Officer of General
    Cable, said, "I am extremely pleased with the strong financial results
    that the Company continues to deliver for our shareholders. The
    Company has succeeded in substantially expanding its global
    manufacturing platform, improved its financial flexibility and
    liquidity, and is reporting today record revenues and earnings. Over
    the last twelve months the Company has completed several strategically
    important acquisitions. These have given the Company a significant
    presence in the developing economies of the world, access to important
    undersea power and communication technologies, and exceptional
    management experience. While we are proud of our roots in the United
    States, today approximately 65% to 70% of our revenues are generated
    outside the country."

    Fourth Quarter Results

    Net sales for the fourth quarter of 2007 were $1,297.8 million, an
    increase of $377.1 million or 41.0% compared to the fourth quarter of
    2006 on a metal-adjusted basis. This growth was principally due to the
    Company´s exposure to global electrical infrastructure markets, the
    acquisition of PDIC, as well as favorable foreign exchange
    translation. Revenues from acquired businesses contributed $271.5
    million in the fourth quarter. Without the benefit of revenues from
    acquired businesses, revenues would have increased 11.5% on a
    metal-adjusted basis.

    Fourth quarter 2007 operating income before charges was $93.0
    million compared to operating income of $57.5 million in the fourth
    quarter of 2006, an increase of $35.5 million or 61.7%. Operating
    margin before charges was 7.2% in the fourth quarter of 2007, an
    increase of approximately 100 basis points from the operating margin
    percentage of 6.2% in the fourth quarter of 2006 on a metal-adjusted
    basis. This improvement was principally due to better price
    realization in many of the Company´s product lines, cost improvements
    from LEAN initiatives, and the continued profitable expansion of the
    Silec, ECN, and NSW businesses. "We have also seen strong recovery in
    our LAN cable products with new product designs and strong business
    leadership. I am also pleased to see significant progress at our Silec
    facility with respect to product throughput as well as their LEAN
    manufacturing skills. The integrations of ECN and NSW have been
    absolutely seamless and performance ahead of our investment case,"
    Kenny said.

    Market Update

    European electric utility and electrical infrastructure markets
    have remained robust with the exception of Spanish construction.
    Operating earnings in the Company´s European business grew by 79.6% to
    $44.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2007 compared to the prior
    year. Operating margin was 8.6% in the fourth quarter, an increase of
    250 basis points from the 6.1% reported in the fourth quarter of 2006
    on a metal adjusted basis. Approximately 100 basis points of the
    improvement relate to the favorable resolution of customer project
    performance obligations during the fourth quarter. Revenues were up
    28.4% in the quarter on a metal-adjusted basis. Before the impact of
    acquired businesses, revenue growth was 19.8%. The Company´s internal
    investment actions in Europe have focused on high growth areas of the
    market such as submarine power cables, long-haul submarine fiber optic
    communications systems, high voltage underground cable systems, and
    products for the oil and gas industry. "Demand for these products
    remains high and capacity tight in the market. The Company has
    accelerated its investment plans in these high growth areas of the
    market and expects solid returns over the next several years from
    these actions. Recently the Company was awarded its first submarine
    wind farm project, which is the first to be located in the North Sea.
    We are also working on a significant long-haul submarine fiber optic
    communication link which is currently in sea trials," said Kenny.

    In North America, revenues increased 4.8% in the fourth quarter
    compared to 2006 on a metal-adjusted basis. During the quarter, demand
    for electrical infrastructure products as well as electronics,
    networking, and assemblies remained strong. Operating earnings before
    the impact of the telecommunications equipment write-off and LIFO
    inventory charges increased $2.3 million as a result of continuing
    strength in the Company´s electrical infrastructure and electronic
    products which was partially offset by lower volumes and pricing for
    certain utility cables.

    During the quarter, the Company further rationalized its outside
    plant telecommunications products manufacturing capacity due to the
    continued declines in telecommunications cable demand. The Company has
    shut a portion of its telecommunications capacity in its Tetla, Mexico
    facility and has taken a pre-tax charge of $6.6 million to write-off
    certain production equipment. This action will free approximately
    100,000 square feet of manufacturing space, which the Company plans to
    utilize for other cable products in the Americas.

    Markets in Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East and Asia
    Pacific are particularly strong. This includes the markets for the
    Company´s historical operations in the South Pacific, Australia, India
    and China. Revenue in this segment was up $240.7 million, principally
    related to the acquisition of PDIC which was completed on October 31,
    2007. Operating earnings, including costs associated with the step-up
    of tangible and intangible assets and the related increase in
    depreciation and amortization costs but without the impact of LIFO
    inventory related charges, were $16.9 million, an increase of $14.3
    million from the fourth quarter of 2006. "With the addition of PDIC
    and its outstanding platform of assets and management, the Company is
    pushing deeper into developing economies as well as introducing
    General Cable to areas of the world where the Company has not
    historically participated in a meaningful way. For instance, in the
    Gulf Region, the Company was recently awarded certain energy cable
    contracts that will more than double our presence in the region over
    the next year," Kenny said.

    Preferred Stock Dividend

    In accordance with the terms of the Company´s 5.75% Series A
    Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock, the Board of Directors has
    declared a regular quarterly preferred stock dividend of approximately
    $0.72 per share. The dividend is payable on February 22, 2008 to
    preferred stockholders of record as of the close of business on
    January 31, 2008. The Company expects the quarterly dividend payment
    to approximate $0.1 million.

    First Quarter 2008 Outlook

    "The Company continues to benefit from its strategic investments
    in new products and geographies more than offsetting the ongoing
    weakness in certain product lines in the developed economies. For the
    first quarter, the Company expects to report earnings per share of
    $1.05 or more compared to an adjusted earnings per share of $1.01 in
    the first quarter of 2007, on revenues of approximately $1.5 billion,"
    Kenny concluded.

    Segment Information

    The Company has provided additional historical financial
    information by segment on the investor relations section of its
    website at www.generalcable.com. The Company will provide additional
    segment information in its annual report on Form 10-K for 2007 when
    filed.

    General Cable will discuss fourth quarter results on a conference
    call and webcast at 8:30 a.m. ET tomorrow, February 13, 2008. For more
    information please see our website at www.generalcable.com.

    General Cable (NYSE:BGC) is a global leader in the development,
    design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of copper, aluminum
    and fiber optic wire and cable products for the energy, industrial,
    and communications markets. Visit our website at www.generalcable.com.

    Certain statements in this press release, including without
    limitation, statements regarding future financial results and
    performance, plans and objectives, capital expenditures and the
    Company´s or management´s beliefs, expectations or opinions, are
    forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from
    those statements as a result of factors, risks and uncertainties over
    which the Company has no control. Such factors include the economic
    strength and competitive nature of the geographic markets that the
    Company serves; economic, political and other risks of maintaining
    facilities and selling products in foreign countries; changes in
    industry standards and regulatory requirements; advancing
    technologies, such as fiber optic and wireless technologies;
    volatility in the price of copper and other raw materials, as well as
    fuel and energy and the Company´s ability to reflect such volatility
    in its selling prices; interruption of supplies from the Company´s key
    suppliers; the failure to negotiate extensions of the Company´s labor
    agreements on acceptable terms; the Company´s ability to increase
    manufacturing capacity and achieve productivity improvements; the
    Company´s dependence upon distributors and retailers for non-exclusive
    sales of certain of the Company´s products; pricing pressures in the
    Company´s end markets; the Company´s ability to maintain the
    uncommitted accounts payable or accounts receivable financing
    arrangements in its European operations; the impact of any additional
    charges in connection with plant closures and the Company´s inventory
    accounting practices; the impact of certain asbestos litigation,
    unexpected judgments or settlements and environmental liabilities; the
    ability to successfully identify, finance and integrate acquisitions;
    the impact of terrorist attacks or acts of war which may affect the
    markets in which the Company operates; the Company´s ability to retain
    key employees; the Company´s ability to service debt requirements and
    maintain adequate domestic and international credit facilities and
    credit lines; the impact on the Company´s operating results of its
    pension accounting practices; volatility in the market price of the
    Company´s common stock all of which are more fully discussed in the
    Company´s Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange
    Commission on March 1, 2007, as well as periodic reports filed with
    the Commission.

    TABLES TO FOLLOW

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    *T
    General Cable Corporation and Subsidiaries
    Consolidated Statements of Operations
    (in millions, except per share data)
    (unaudited)

    ------------------------- -------------------------
    Three Fiscal Months Twelve Fiscal Months
    Ended Ended
    ------------------------- -------------------------
    December 31, December 31, December 31, December 31,
    2007 2006 2007 2006
    ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
    Net sales $1,297.8 $925.3 $4,614.8 $3,665.1
    Cost of sales 1,131.5 803.4 3,952.1 3,194.1
    ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
    Gross profit 166.3 121.9 662.7 471.0

    Selling, general
    and
    administrative
    expenses 86.6 64.4 296.6 235.1
    ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
    Operating income 79.7 57.5 366.1 235.9
    Other expense (0.5) (0.8) (3.4) (0.1)
    Interest income
    (expense):
    Interest
    expense (18.7) (9.3) (48.4) (40.0)
    Interest income 6.8 2.5 18.8 4.4
    Loss on
    extinguishment
    of debt (0.2) - (25.3) -
    ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
    (12.1) (6.8) (54.9) (35.6)
    ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------

    Income before
    income taxes 67.1 49.9 307.8 200.2
    Income tax
    provision (20.6) (14.5) (99.4) (64.9)
    Minority interests
    in consolidated
    subsidiaries (0.2) - (0.2) -
    Equity in net
    earnings of
    affiliated
    companies 0.4 - 0.4 -
    ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
    Net income 46.7 35.4 208.6 135.3
    Less: preferred
    stock dividends (0.1) (0.1) (0.3) (0.3)
    ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
    Net income
    applicable to
    common
    shareholders $46.6 $35.3 $208.3 $135.0
    ============ ============ ============ ============

    Earnings per share
    ------------------
    Earnings per
    common share -
    basic $0.91 $0.70 $4.07 $2.70
    ============ ============ ============ ============
    Weighted average
    common shares -
    basic 51.3 50.7 51.2 50.0
    ============ ============ ============ ============
    Earnings per
    common share-
    assuming
    dilution $0.84 $0.67 $3.82 $2.60
    ============ ============ ============ ============
    Weighted average
    common shares-
    assuming
    dilution 55.6 52.7 54.6 52.0
    ============ ============ ============ ============
    *T

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    General Cable Corporation and Subsidiaries
    Consolidated Statements of Operations
    Segment Information
    (in millions)
    (unaudited)

    ------------------------- -------------------------
    Three Fiscal Months Twelve Fiscal Months
    Ended Ended
    -------------------------- -------------------------
    December 31, December 31, December 31, December 31,
    2007 2006 2007 2006
    ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
    Revenues (as
    reported)
    -----------------
    North America $500.0 $479.2 $2,243.7 $2,058.6
    Europe and North
    Africa 513.1 402.1 1,939.7 1,446.8
    Latin America,
    Sub-Saharan
    Africa, Middle
    East and Asia
    Pacific 284.7 44.0 431.4 159.7
    ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
    Total $1,297.8 $925.3 $4,614.8 $3,665.1
    ============ ============ ============ ============

    Revenues (metal
    adjusted)
    -----------------
    North America $500.0 $477.1 $2,243.7 $2,100.4
    Europe and North
    Africa 513.1 399.6 1,939.7 1,475.5
    Latin America,
    Sub-Saharan
    Africa, Middle
    East and Asia
    Pacific 284.7 44.0 431.4 164.5
    ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
    Total $1,297.8 $920.7 $4,614.8 $3,740.4
    ============ ============ ============ ============

    Metal Pounds Sold
    -----------------
    North America 83.1 90.1 404.8 428.2
    Europe and North
    Africa 81.2 77.3 336.8 307.9
    Latin America,
    Sub-Saharan
    Africa, Middle
    East and Asia
    Pacific 75.5 5.9 96.3 28.2
    ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
    Total 239.8 173.3 837.9 764.3
    ============ ============ ============ ============

    Operating Profit
    -----------------
    North America $31.5 $30.4 $186.0 $128.9
    Europe and North
    Africa 44.0 24.5 162.4 101.9
    Latin America,
    Sub-Saharan
    Africa, Middle
    East and Asia
    Pacific 10.8 2.6 24.3 5.1
    ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
    Subtotal 86.3 57.5 372.7 235.9
    Corporate (6.6) - (6.6) -
    ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
    Total $79.7 $57.5 $366.1 $235.9
    ============ ============ ============ ============

    Return on Metal
    Adjusted Sales
    -----------------
    North America 6.3% 6.4% 8.3% 6.1%
    Europe and North
    Africa 8.6% 6.1% 8.4% 6.9%
    Latin America,
    Sub-Saharan
    Africa, Middle
    East and Asia
    Pacific 3.8% 5.9% 5.6% 3.1%
    Total Company 6.1% 6.2% 7.9% 6.3%

    Capital
    Expenditures
    -----------------
    North America $19.2 $9.7 $41.9 $23.5
    Europe and North
    Africa 51.1 13.7 97.7 44.6
    Latin America,
    Sub-Saharan
    Africa, Middle
    East and Asia
    Pacific 9.4 1.2 14.0 3.0
    ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
    Total $79.7 $24.6 $153.6 $71.1
    ============ ============ ============ ============

    Depreciation &
    Amortization
    -----------------
    North America $8.6 $8.1 $34.3 $34.0
    Europe and North
    Africa 6.9 3.9 22.0 14.5
    Latin America,
    Sub-Saharan
    Africa, Middle
    East and Asia
    Pacific 5.1 0.6 7.2 2.4
    ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
    Total $20.6 $12.6 $63.5 $50.9
    ============ ============ ============ ============
    *T