10-K405 1 l87374ae10-k405.htm GENERAL CABLE CORPORATION FORM 10-K405 GENERAL CABLE CORPORATION FORM 10-K405
TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I.
Item 1. Business
Item 2. Properties
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
PART II.
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Stock and Related Stockholder Matters
Item 6. Selected Financial Data
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
PART III.
Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant
PART IV.
Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K
Signatures
EXHIBIT 10.41
EXHIBIT 10.42
EXHIBIT 21.1
EXHIBIT 23.1




SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2000
Commission File No. 1-12983

GENERAL CABLE CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

     
Delaware 06-1398235
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)

4 Tesseneer Drive
Highland Heights, KY 41076-9753
(Address of principal executive offices)

(859) 572-8000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

     
Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class Name of Each Exchange on which registered


Common Stock, $.01 Par Value New York Stock Exchange

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

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

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

As of March 1, 2001, there were 32,679,683 shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock outstanding. The aggregate market value of Common Stock held by non-affiliates was $344 million (based upon non-affiliate holdings of 31,305,361 shares and a market price of $11.00 per share).

Documents Incorporated by Reference:

Proxy Statement for the 2001 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (portions of which are incorporated by reference in Part III hereof).



 


Table of Contents

GENERAL CABLE CORPORATION
INDEX TO ANNUAL REPORT
ON FORM 10-K

                     
Page

PART I
Item 1. Business 3
Item 2. Properties 15
Item 3. Legal Proceedings 16
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders 17
 
PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Stock and Related Stockholder Matters 18
Item 6. Selected Financial Data 19
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
   and Results of Operations
20
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 27
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 29
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and    Financial Disclosure 29
 
PART III
Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant 30
Item 11. Executive Compensation 30
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management 30
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions 30
 
PART IV
Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K 31
Signatures 35

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Table of Contents

PART I.

Item 1. Business

General Cable Corporation (the Company) is a leader in the development, design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of copper, aluminum and fiber optic wire and cable products for the communications, energy and electrical markets. Communications wire and cable transmit low-voltage signals for voice, data, video and control applications. Energy cables include low-, medium- and high-voltage power distribution and power transmission products. Electrical wire and cable products conduct electrical current for industrial, commercial and residential power and control applications. The Company believes that its principal competitive strengths include its breadth of product line; brand recognition; distribution strength; customer selection, sales and service; and improved operating efficiency.

The Company is a Delaware corporation and was incorporated in April 1994. Its principal executive offices are located at 4 Tesseneer Drive, Highland Heights, Kentucky 41076-9753 and its telephone number is (859) 572-8000.

The Company and its predecessors have served the communications and electrical markets for over 150 years. The Company’s immediate predecessor (Predecessor) was a unit of American Premier Underwriters, Inc. (American Premier), previously known as The Penn Central Corporation. American Premier acquired the Company’s existing wire and cable business in 1981 and significantly expanded the business between 1988 and 1991 by acquiring Carol Cable Company, Inc. and other wire and cable businesses and facilities. In June 1994, a subsidiary of Wassall PLC (Wassall) acquired the Predecessor by purchase of General Cable’s outstanding subordinated promissory note, the General Cable common stock held by American Premier and a tender offer for the publicly-held General Cable common stock. Between May and August 1997, Wassall consummated public offerings for the sale of all of its interest in General Cable’s common stock. The Company has operated as an independent public company since completion of the offerings.

During 1999, the Company acquired the worldwide energy cable and cable systems businesses of Balfour Beatty plc, previously known as BICC plc, with operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia Pacific (the Acquisition). The Acquisition was completed in three phases during 1999 for a total payment of $385.8 million. The Acquisition was accounted for as a purchase, and accordingly, the results of operations of the acquired businesses are included in the consolidated financial statements for periods after the respective closing dates.

In December 1999, the Company decided to sell certain businesses due to their deteriorating operating performance. On February 9, 2000, the Company signed a definitive agreement with Pirelli Cavi e Sistemi, S.p.A., of Milan, Italy for the sale of the stock of these businesses for a purchase price of $216 million, subject to closing adjustments. The closing adjustments will include changes in net assets of the businesses sold since November 30, 1999, resulting from operating losses and other adjustments as defined in the sale agreement. The businesses sold were acquired from BICC plc during 1999 and consisted primarily of the operations in the United Kingdom, Italy and Africa and a joint venture interest in Malaysia. Gross proceeds of $180 million were received during the third quarter of 2000 as a down payment against the final post-closing adjusted purchase price. Proceeds from the transaction have been used to reduce the Company’s outstanding debt.

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In September 2000, the Company acquired Telmag S.A. de C.V., a Mexico-based manufacturer of telecommunications cables for $23.0 million. The acquisition brought in-house capacity sufficient to meet current outside plant telecommunications cable requirements as well as provide available capacity to meet anticipated future growth in demand for a broad range of telecommunications cables.

In March 2001, the Company sold the shares of its Pyrotenax business unit to Raychem HTS Canada, Inc., a business unit of Tyco International, Ltd., for $60 million, subject to closing adjustments. The business unit, with operations in Canada and the United Kingdom, principally produced mineral insulated high-temperature cables. The proceeds from the transaction were used to reduce the Company’s debt.

The following table sets forth summarized financial information by reportable segment for the total company on an as reported basis and for the ongoing businesses on a proforma basis for the years ended December 31 (in millions). Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior years to conform to the current year segment presentation.

                                   
Total Company

2000 1999 1998



Net sales:
Communications $ 631.3 $ 520.1 $ 460.1
Electrical 1,331.1 1,063.0 690.4
Energy 735.4 505.3



$ 2,697.8 $ 2,088.4 $ 1,150.5



Operating income:
Communications $ 68.3 $ 61.0 $ 74.0
Electrical 22.3 20.4 55.6
Energy (51.1 ) 19.4



$ 39.5 $ 100.8 $ 129.6



                                   
Ongoing Businesses (Proforma)

2000 1999 1998



Net sales:
Communications $ 631.3 $ 520.1 $ 460.1
Electrical 1,136.6 907.0 690.4
Energy 546.5 292.3



$ 2,314.4 $ 1,719.4 $ 1,150.5



Operating income:
Communications $ 68.3 $ 61.1 $ 74.0
Electrical 23.1 21.0 55.6
Energy 44.4 22.0



$ 135.8 $ 104.1 $ 129.6



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During 2000, the Company has operated its businesses in three geographic regions: 1) North America, 2) Iberia and 3) Oceania.

North America

The principal products, markets, distribution channels and end-users of each of General Cable’s North American product categories are summarized below:

                         
Principal
Distribution
Product Category Principal Products Principal Markets Channels Principal End-Users





Communications Group:
Outside Voice and Data Outside Plant Telecommunications Cable; Outside Service Wire Telecom Local Loop Direct; Distributors Telecommunications
System Operators
Data Communications Multi-Conductor/ Multi-Pair; Fiber Optic Cable; Shipboard; Military Fiber Cable Computer Networking and Multimedia Applications Distributors; Direct Contractors; Original Equipment Manufacturers (“OEMs”); Systems Integrators; Military Customers
Electronics Multi-Conductor; Coaxial Cable; Sound, Security/ Fire Alarm Building Management; Entertainment; Equipment Control Distributors; Retailers; Direct Contractors; Consumers; Industrial
Communication
Assemblies
Cable Harness; Connector Cables Telecommunication; Industrial Equipment; Medical Equipment Direct Communications and Industrial Equipment Manufacturers
Electrical Group:
Building Wire THHN and Romex® Brand Building Wire; Aluminum and Armored Products Non-Residential and Residential Construction Distributors; Retailers; OEMs Contractors; Consumers
Instrumentation, Power, Control and Specialty Rubber and Plastic- Jacketed Wire and Cable; Power and Industrial Cables; Instrumentation Control Industrial Power and Control; Utility/Marine/ Transit; Military; Mining; Power Generation Distributors; Retailers; Direct; OEMs Industrial; Consumers; Contractors; OEMs; Military Customers
Cordsets and Power Assemblies Consumer Cordsets; OEM Cordsets; Assemblies DIY; Construction; Industrial Equipment Retailers; Direct; Distributors; OEMs Consumers; Contractors
Automotive Ignition Wire Sets; Booster Cables Automotive Aftermarket Retailers; Distributors Consumers
Energy Group:
Utility Low-Voltage, Medium-Voltage Distribution Cable; Bare Overhead Conductor; High-Voltage Transmission Power Utility Investor-Owned Utility Companies; Direct; Distributors; Public Power Investor-Owned Utility Companies; Public Power; Municipals and Rural Electric Associ- ations; Contractor (Utility) Development

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Communications Group

The Communications Group manufactures and sells wire and cable products for voice, data and video transmission applications (Outside Voice and Data Products), multi-conductor/multi-pair and fiber optic cables used for computer and telephone interconnections in telephone company central offices and customer premises (Data Communications Products), and specialty products for use in machinery and instrument interconnection, audio, computer, security and other applications (Electronics) and harnesses and assemblies for telecommunications equipment manufacturers, industrial equipment manufacturers and medical equipment manufacturers (OEM Products).

Outside Voice and Data Products

General Cable’s principal Outside Voice and Data Products are outside plant telecommunications cable and outside service wire. Outside plant telecommunications cable is short haul trunk, feeder or distribution cable from a telephone company central office to the subscriber premises. It consists of multiple paired conductors (ranging from 2 pairs to 4,200 pairs) and various types of sheathing, water-proofing, foil wraps and metal jacketing. Outside service wire is used to connect telephone subscriber premises to curbside distribution cable. During 2000, the Company expanded its manufacturing capacity of telecommunications cable through the acquisition of Telmag, S.A. de C.V.

General Cable sells its Outside Voice and Data Products primarily to telecommunications system operators through its direct sales force under supply contracts of varying lengths, and also to telecommunications distributors. The agreements do not guarantee a minimum level of sales. Product prices are subject to periodic adjustment based upon changes in the cost of copper and other factors.

Data Communications Products

The Company’s Data Communications Products are high-bandwidth twisted pair copper and fiber optic cable for the customer premises, local area networks, central office and OEM telecommunications equipment markets. Customer premises products are used for wiring at subscriber premises, and include computer, riser rated and plenum rated wire and cable. Riser cable runs between floors and plenum cable runs in air spaces, primarily above ceilings in non-residential structures. Local area network cables run between computers along horizontal race ways and in backbones between servers. Central office products interconnect components within central office switching systems and public branch exchanges. General Cable sells Data Communications Products primarily through distributors and agents under the General Cable® brand name.

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Electronics and Communications Assemblies

The Company’s Electronics Products include multi-conductor, multi-pair, coaxial, hook-up, audio and microphone cables, speaker and television lead wire, high temperature and shielded electronic wire. Primary uses for these products are various applications within the commercial, industrial instrumentation and control, and residential markets. These markets require a broad range of multi-conductor products for applications involving programmable controllers, robotics, process control and computer integrated manufacturing, sensors and test equipment, as well as cable for fire alarm, smoke detection, sprinkler control, entertainment and security systems. Many industrial and commercial environments require cables with exterior armor and/or jacketing materials that can endure exposure to chemicals, extreme temperatures and outside elements. The Company offers products that are specially designed for these applications.

Communications assemblies are used in communications switching systems and industrial control applications as well as medical equipment applications. These assemblies are used in such products as data processing equipment, telecommunications network switches, diagnostic imaging equipment, office machines and industrial machinery. General Cable’s Industrial Instrumentation and Control Products are sold primarily through distributors and agents under the Carol® brand name.

Electrical Group

The Electrical Group manufactures and sells wire and cable products (typically for applications at 600 volts or less) for use in non-residential and residential structures and in a wide variety of capital goods and consumer uses. General Cable has four principal Electrical product categories: building wire, portable cord, cordsets and OEM assemblies and automotive products.

Building Wire

General Cable manufactures and sells a broad line of thermosetting, thermoplastic and elastomeric insulated wire and cable products for the distribution of electrical power to and within non-residential and residential structures. The Company’s principal building wire products are THHN, a copper conductor used in non-residential construction and industrial applications, Romex® Brand residential circuit, intermediate and feeder sized cables, and value-added specialty cables for industrial applications.

An increasing portion of the Company’s building wire sales consists of sales of high value-added products that meet more demanding service requirements or reduce installation costs. These products include tray cable, armored cable and control cable used in the operation and interconnection of protective and signaling devices in electrical distribution systems. General Cable sells its building wire products to electrical distributors for resale to electrical contractors, industrial customers and OEMs. Sales are also made through hardware and home center retail chains and other retail stores.

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Instrumentation, Power, Control and Specialty Cables

The Company manufactures and sells a wide variety of rubber and plastic insulated portable cord products for power and control applications serving industrial, mining, entertainment, OEM, farming and other markets. Portable cord products have electrical characteristics similar to building wire, but are designed and constructed to be used in more dynamic and severe environmental conditions where a flexible but durable power supply is required. Portable cord products include both standard commercial cord and cord products designed to customer specifications. Portable rubber-jacketed power cord, the Company’s largest selling cord product line, is typically manufactured without a connection device at either end and is sold in standard and customer- specified lengths. Portable cord is also sold to OEMs for use as power cords on their products and in other applications, in which case the cord is made to the OEMs’specifications. The Company also manufactures portable cord for use with moveable heavy equipment and machinery. General Cable’s portable cord products are sold under the Carol® brand name, primarily through electrical distributors and electrical retailers to industrial customers, OEMs, contractors and consumers.

The Company’s portable cords are used in the installation of new industrial equipment and the maintenance of existing equipment, and to supply electrical power at temporary venues such as festivals, sporting events, concerts and construction sites. The Company expects demand for portable cord to be influenced by general economic activity.

The Company’s Specialty and Industrial products sold under the “Brand Rex Cables” name include low- voltage and data transmission cables, automotive cables, rail and mass transit cables, shipboard cables, off- shore cables, other industrial cables and cables for low-smoke, zero-halogen systems and fire detection systems. Primary uses for these products include various applications within the power generating stations, marine, oil and gas, transit/locomotive, OEMs, machine builders, medical imaging, shipboard, aerospace industries, space flight and aircraft markets. Shipboard cables sold by the Company hold a leading position with the U.S. Navy. The Company’s “Polyrad XT” marine wire and cable products also provide superior properties and performance levels that are necessary for heavy-duty industrial applications to on- and offshore platforms, ships and oil rigs.

Industrial cable products include medium- and low-voltage power, control and instrumentation cable, armored power cable, flexible control cables, festoon cables, robotic cables and industrial data communications cables. These products have various applications in generating stations and substations, process control, mining, material handling, machine tool and robotics markets.

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Cordsets and Power Assemblies

General Cable focuses primarily on high-performance, value-added cordsets, including extension cords and multiple outlet power centers, appliance cords for ranges and dryers, portable lights, and cordsets with surge protection and ground fault interruption devices for use by consumers, contractors and OEMs. Cordsets are manufactured with connection devices at one or both ends, with standard indoor and outdoor, single or multiple outlet extension cords being the most common example. Jackets for cordset products are typically thermoplastic. The Company has developed many high-performance plastic and premium rubber cordsets for use in a wide variety of demanding applications, such as outdoor locations or rugged job sites.

Power assemblies are used in a variety of demanding applications such as power delivery to office modules and for such products as power hand tools, floor care products and other appliances. The Company targets customers who require premium cordsets or assemblies that require innovative engineering and for whom the Company’s vertical integration in high-performance wire and cable provides a competitive cost advantage.

General Cable sells its cordsets primarily to OEMs and to hardware and home center retail chains, hardware distributors and mass merchants for resale to consumers and contractors. In addition, an increasing portion of the Company’s cordset sales are to electrical distributors for resale to retail outlets, electrical contractors, industrial companies and OEMs.

Automotive Products

General Cable’s principal automotive products are ignition wire sets and booster cables for sale to the automotive aftermarket. Booster cable sales are affected by the severity of weather conditions and related promotional activity by retailers. As a result, a majority of booster cable sales occur between September and January.

General Cable sells its automotive ignition wire sets and booster cables primarily to automotive parts retailers and distributors, hardware and home center retail chains and hardware distributors. The Company’s automotive products are also sold on a private label basis to retailers and other automotive parts manufacturers.

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Energy Group

The Energy Group manufactures and sells wire and cable products which include low-, medium- and high- voltage power distribution and power transmission products for overhead and buried applications.

Utility

The Company’s Utility Cables business is the leader in the supply of medium-voltage power distribution cables to the North American electric utility industry. The business manufactures low- and medium-voltage aluminum and copper cable, bare overhead aluminum conductor, high-voltage transmission cable and aluminum strip. Low- and medium-voltage cables are used for power distribution in the investor-owned utility and public power segments. High-voltage cables and bare conductor cables are transmission circuits in industrial facilities and independent power producer generating stations. Bare overhead conductor cable and aluminum strip have various uses in utility and industrial applications.

The Utility business has strategic alliances in the United States and Canada with a number of major customers and is strengthening its position through these partnerships. The business utilizes a network of direct sales and authorized distributors to supply low-, medium-voltage and bare overhead cable products. This market is represented by approximately 3,500 utility companies.

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Iberia and Oceania

The principal products, markets, distribution channels and end-users of each of General Cable’s Iberia and Oceania product categories are summarized below:

                         
Principal
Distribution
Product Category Principal Products Principal Markets Channels Principal End-Users





Power Transmission and Distribution Low-Voltage, Medium-Voltage and High-Voltage Power Cable Utility Distributors; Direct Contractors; Industrial Power
Industrial Instrumentation Control; Automotive Cables Industrial, Power and Control OEMs; Distributors; Direct Industrial; Mining; Oil and Gas
Construction Low-Voltage, Medium- Voltage and High-Voltage Cable; Building Wire Non-Residential and Residential Construction Distributors; Wholesalers Industrial; Contractors
Data Communications Communications Cables Telecommunications Distributors; Direct, OEMs Telecommunications
Systems Operators

Iberia

The Iberian business consists of General Cable-Spain and General Cable Cel-Cat-Portugal, which produce cables for energy, communications and electrical applications. These businesses provide a wide range of wire and cable products to a diverse customer base, both directly and through distributors and retailers.

The Iberian business is headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, and has three manufacturing units in Barcelona and a manufacturing unit in Lisbon, Portugal, all of which are supported by centralized marketing, sales and product planning. The main markets served are Spain, Portugal, France, Argentina, Israel, Brazil, Belgium and the UK, with approximately 70% of sales generated in the Iberian market and the remaining 30% representing export sales.

Oceania

The Oceania business consists of a headquarters and manufacturing facility in New Zealand, a manufacturing facility in Fiji and sales offices in New Zealand and Australia. The business offers a broad product range in the energy, communications and electrical markets principally serving New Zealand, Fiji, and the Pacific Islands with certain products also sold into Australia, Asia and the Middle East.

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Competition

The markets for all of General Cable’s products are highly competitive, and the Company experiences competition from at least one major competitor within each market. Due to the diversity of its product lines, however, the Company believes that no single competitor competes with the Company across the entire spectrum of the Company’s product lines. General Cable believes that it has developed strong customer relations as a result of its ability to supply customer needs across a broad range of products, its commitment to quality control and continuous improvement, its continuing investment in information technology, its emphasis on customer service, and its substantial product and distribution resources.

Although the primary competitive factors for General Cable’s products vary somewhat across the different product categories, the principal factors influencing competition are generally breadth of product line, inventory availability and delivery time, price, quality and customer service. Price is a highly significant factor for certain lines within the Company’s Electrical product categories. Many of the Company’s products are made to industry specifications, and are therefore essentially functionally interchangeable with those of competitors. However, the Company believes that significant opportunities exist to differentiate all of its products on the basis of quality, consistent availability, conformance to manufacturer’s specifications and customer service. Within the communications market, conformance to manufacturer’s specifications and technological superiority are also important competitive factors. Brand recognition is also a primary differentiating factor in the portable cord market and, to a lesser extent, in the Company’s other product groups.

Raw Materials

The principal raw material used by General Cable in the manufacture of its wire and cable products is copper. General Cable purchases copper in either cathode, rod or wire form from a number of major domestic and foreign producers, generally through annual supply contracts. In 2000, the Company produced approximately 26% of the copper rod used in its North American manufacturing operations at its cast copper rod mill in Plano, Texas. Copper is available from many sources, and General Cable believes that it is not dependent on any single supplier of copper. In 2000, the Company’s largest supplier of copper accounted for approximately 32% of the Company’s North American copper purchases.

General Cable has centralized its copper purchasing in North America to capitalize on economies of scale and to facilitate the negotiation of favorable purchase terms from suppliers. The cost of copper has been subject to considerable volatility over the past several years. However, as a result of a number of practices intended to match copper purchases with sales, the Company’s profitability has generally not been significantly affected by changes in copper prices. General Cable generally passes changes in copper prices along to its customers, although there are timing delays of varying lengths depending upon the type of product, competitive conditions and particular customer arrangements. The Company does not engage in speculative metals trading or other speculative activities, nor does it engage in activities to hedge the underlying value of its copper inventory.

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Other raw materials utilized by the Company include nylon, PVC resin and compounds, polyethylene and plasticizers, fluoropolymer compounds, a variety of filling, binding and sheathing materials, and aluminum. The Company believes that all of these materials are available in sufficient quantities through purchases in the open market.

Patents and Trademarks

General Cable believes that the success of its business depends more on the technical competence, creativity and marketing abilities of its employees than on any individual patent, trademark or copyright. Nevertheless, General Cable has a policy of seeking patents when appropriate on inventions concerning new products and product improvements as part of its ongoing research, development and manufacturing activities.

General Cable owns a number of U.S. and foreign patents and has patent applications pending in the U.S. and abroad. The Company also owns a number of U.S. and foreign registered trademarks and has many applications for new registrations pending.

Although in the aggregate these patents and trademarks are of considerable importance to the manufacturing and marketing of many of the Company’s products, the Company does not consider any single patent or trademark or group of patents or trademarks to be material to its business as a whole. While General Cable occasionally obtains patent licenses from third parties, none are deemed to be material. Trademarks which are considered to be generally important are General Cable®, Anaconda®, BICC®, Carol® and Romex®, and the General Cable triad symbol. General Cable believes that the Company’s products bearing these trademarks have achieved significant brand recognition within the industry.

General Cable also relies on trade secret protection for its confidential and proprietary information. General Cable routinely enters into confidentiality agreements with its employees. There can be no assurance, however, that others will not independently obtain similar information and techniques or otherwise gain access to the Company’s trade secrets or that the Company will be able to effectively protect its trade secrets.

Environmental Matters

The Company is subject to a variety of federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations covering the storage, handling, emission and discharge of materials into the environment, including CERCLA, the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act (including the 1990 amendments) and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

Company subsidiaries in the United States have been identified as potentially responsible parties (PRPs) with respect to several sites designated for cleanup under CERCLA or similar state laws, which impose liability for cleanup of certain waste sites and for related natural resource damages without regard to fault or the legality of waste generation or disposal. Persons liable for such costs and damages generally include the site owner or operator and persons that disposed or arranged for the disposal of hazardous substances found at those sites. Although CERCLA imposes joint and several liability on all PRPs, in application, the PRPs typically allocate the investigation and cleanup costs based, among other things, upon the volume of waste contributed by each PRP.

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Settlements can often be achieved through negotiations with the appropriate environmental agency or the other PRPs. PRPs that contributed small amounts of waste (typically less than 1% of the waste) are often given the opportunity to settle as “de minimis” parties, resolving their liability for a particular site. The Company does not own or operate any of the waste sites with respect to which it has been named as a PRP by the government. Based on its review and other factors, the Company believes that costs to the Company relating to environmental clean-up at these sites will not have a material adverse effect on its results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

In the Wassall transaction in 1994, American Premier agreed to indemnify General Cable against liabilities (including all environmental liabilities) arising out of General Cable’s or its predecessors’ ownership or operation of the Indiana Steel & Wire Company and Marathon Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. businesses (which were divested), without limitation as to time or amount. American Premier also agreed to indemnify General Cable against 66 2/3% of all other environmental liabilities arising out of General Cable’s or its predecessors’ownership or operation of other properties and assets in excess of $10 million but not in excess of $33 million, which are identified during the seven year period ending June 2001. General Cable also has claims against third parties with respect to some of these liabilities.

As part of the 1999 Acquisition, BICC plc agreed to indemnify General Cable against environmental liabilities existing at the date of the closing of the purchase of the business. The indemnity is for an eight year period ending in 2007, while General Cable operates the businesses subject to certain sharing of losses (with BICC plc covering 95% of losses in the first three years, 80% in years four and five and 60% in the remaining three years). The indemnity is also subject to the overall indemnity limit of $150 million which applies to all warranty and indemnity claims in the Acquisition. In addition, BICC plc assumed responsibility for cleanup of certain specific conditions at various sites operated by General Cable. In the sale of the European businesses to Pirelli in August 2000, the Company generally indemnified Pirelli against any environmental liabilities on the same basis as BICC plc indemnified the Company in the earlier Acquisition. However, the indemnity the Company received from BICC plc related to the European businesses sold to Pirelli terminated upon the sale of those businesses to Pirelli.

While it is difficult to estimate future environmental liabilities accurately, the Company does not currently anticipate any material adverse effect on its results of operations, financial condition or cash flows as a result of compliance with federal, state, local or foreign environmental laws or regulations or cleanup costs of the sites discussed above.

Employees

At December 31, 2000, approximately 8,600 persons were employed by General Cable, and collective bargaining agreements covered approximately 5,000 employees at various locations around the world. During the last five years, the Company has experienced one strike in North America which was settled on satisfactory terms. There have been no major strikes at Iberia and Oceania facilities during the last five years. In North America, union contracts will expire at ten facilities in 2001 and one facility in 2002. In Iberia and Oceania, labor agreements are generally negotiated on an annual or bi-annual basis. The Company believes that its relationships with its employees are good.

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Item 2. Properties

General Cable’s principal properties are listed below. The Company believes that its properties are generally well maintained and are adequate for the Company’s current level of operations.

                         
Square Use/Product Owned
Location Feet Line(s) or Leased




NORTH AMERICA
 
Manufacturing Facilities:
Marshall, TX 780,000 Aluminum Low-Voltage Energy Cables Owned
Marion, IN 650,000 Specialty and Industrial Cables Owned
Willimantic, CT 650,000 Specialty and Industrial Cables Owned
Manchester, NH 533,000 Electronic and Datacom Products Owned
Plano, TX 404,000 Electrical Products and Rod Mill Owned
Lincoln, RI 398,000 Electrical and Automotive Products Owned
Bonham, TX 360,000 Outside Voice and Data Products Owned
Lawrenceburg, KY 339,000 Outside Voice and Data Products and Data    Communications Products Owned
Montoursville, PA 318,000 Cordsets and Electrical Products Owned
Malvern, AR 295,000 Aluminum Medium-Voltage Energy Cables Owned
Monticello, IL 250,000 Outside Voice and Data Products Owned
Kingman, AZ 243,000 Electrical Products Owned
DuQuoin, IL 240,000 Medium-Voltage Energy Cables Owned
Watkinsville, GA 224,000 Electrical Products Owned
Altoona, PA 195,000 Automotive and Power Assemblies Products Owned
Jackson, TN 180,000 Data Communications Cables, Fiber Optic Cables Owned
Tetla, Mexico 159,000 Outside Voice and Data Products Owned
South Hadley, MA 150,000 Bare Wire Fabricating Owned
Taunton, MA 138,000 Bare Wire Fabricating Leased
LaMalbaie, Canada 117,000 Low- and Medium-Voltage Energy Cables Owned
Sanger, CA 105,000 Data Communications Products Owned
Cass City, MI 100,000 Data Communications Products Owned
 
Distribution and Other Facilities:
Atlanta, GA 328,000 Distribution Center Leased
Dallas, TX 200,000 Distribution Center Leased
Vineland, NJ 200,000 Distribution Center Leased
Lebanon, IN 198,000 Distribution Center Leased
Anaheim, CA 189,000 Distribution Center Leased
Seattle, WA 91,000 Distribution Center Leased
Highland Heights, KY 166,000 World Headquarters, Technology Center and    Learning Center Owned

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Square Use/Product Owned
Location Feet Line(s) or Leased




Iberia and Oceania
Barcelona, Spain (1) 1,080,000 Power Transmission and Distribution, Industrial    and Construction Owned
New Zealand (1) 314,000 Power Distribution, Industrial, Construction    Wiring and Communications Cables Owned
Lisbon, Portugal 255,000 Power Distribution, Industrial and Construction    Wiring and Communications Cables Owned


(1)   Certain locations represent a collection of facilities in the local area.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

General Cable is subject to numerous federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations relating to the storage, handling, emission and discharge of materials into the environment, including CERCLA, the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act (including the 1990 amendments) and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

General Cable subsidiaries have been identified as PRPs with respect to several sites designated for cleanup under CERCLA or similar state laws, which impose liability for cleanup of certain waste sites and for related natural resource damages without regard to fault or the legality of waste generation or disposal. General Cable does not own or operate any of the waste sites with respect to which it has been named as a PRP by the government. Based on its review and other factors, management believes that costs to the Company relating to environmental clean-up at these sites will not have a material adverse effect on its results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

American Premier, in connection with the 1994 Wassall transaction, agreed to indemnify General Cable against liabilities (including all environmental liabilities) arising out of General Cable’s or its predecessors’ ownership or operation of the Indiana Steel & Wire Company and Marathon Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. businesses (which were divested by the Predecessor prior to the Wassall Acquisition), without limitation as to time or amount. American Premier also agreed to indemnify General Cable against 66 2/3% of all other environmental liabilities arising out of General Cable’s or its predecessors’ownership or operation of other properties and assets in excess of $10 million but not in excess of $33 million which are identified during the seven year period ending June 2001. General Cable also has claims against third parties with respect to some of these liabilities. While it is difficult to estimate future environmental liabilities accurately, the Company does not currently anticipate any material adverse effect on its results of operations, financial condition or cash flows as a result of compliance with federal, state, local or foreign environmental laws or regulations or cleanup costs of the sites discussed above.

As part of the BICC Acquisition, BICC plc agreed to indemnify General Cable against environmental liabilities existing at the date of the closing of the purchase of the business. The indemnity is for an eight year period ending in 2007 while General Cable operates the businesses subject to certain sharing of losses (with BICC plc covering 95% of losses in the first three years, 80% in years four and five and 60% in the remaining three years). The indemnity is also subject to the overall indemnity limit of $150 million which applies to all warranty and indemnity claims in the transaction. In addition, BICC plc assumed responsibility for cleanup of certain specific conditions at several sites operated by General Cable and cleanup is mostly complete at those sites. In the sale of the European businesses to Pirelli in August 2000, the Company generally indemnified Pirelli against any environmental liabilities on the same basis as BICC plc indemnified the Company in the earlier Acquisition. However, the indemnity the Company received from BICC plc

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related to the European businesses sold to Pirelli terminated upon the sale of those businesses to Pirelli. At this time, there are no claims outstanding under the general indemnity provided by BICC plc.

There are approximately 8,800 pending non-maritime asbestos cases involving subsidiaries of General Cable. The majority of these cases involve plaintiffs alleging exposure to asbestos-containing shipboard cable, manufactured by General Cable’s predecessors. In addition to the Company’s subsidiaries, numerous other wire and cable manufacturers have been named as defendants in these cases. Most cases previously filed have been dismissed with prejudice and without an imposition of liability against General Cable. In some instances, individual cases have settled on a relatively nominal basis. In addition, subsidiaries of General Cable have been named, along with numerous other product manufacturers as defendants in approximately 31,000 suits in which plaintiffs’ alleged that they suffered an asbestos-related injury while working in the maritime industry (MARDOC cases). These cases are currently managed under the supervision of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (hereinafter the “District Court”). On May 1, 1996, the District Court ordered that all pending MARDOC cases be dismissed without prejudice for failure to plead sufficient facts. Under that order of dismissal, all future MARDOC cases filed by the plaintiff’s attorney are required to be accompanied by a filing fee for each new complaint. These cases can only be removed from the inactive docket if the plaintiff is able to prove an asbestos-related injury, and show specific product identification as to each defendant against whom the plaintiff chooses to proceed. Based upon its experience to date, the Company does not believe that the outcome of the pending non-maritime and/or MARDOC asbestos cases will have a material adverse effect on its results of operation, cash flows or financial position.

In January 1994, General Cable entered into a settlement agreement with certain principal primary insurers concerning liability for the costs of defense, judgments and settlements, if any, in all of the asbestos litigation described above. Subject to the terms and conditions of the settlement agreement, the insurers are responsible for a substantial portion of the costs and expenses incurred in the defense or resolution of such litigation. Accordingly, based on (1) the terms of the insurance settlement agreement; (2) the relative costs and expenses incurred in the disposition of past asbestos cases; (3) reserves established on the books of the Company which are believed to be reasonable; and (4) defenses available to the Company in the litigation, the Company believes that the resolution of the present asbestos litigation will not have a material adverse effect on its results of operations, cash flows or financial position. Liabilities incurred in connection with asbestos litigation are not covered by the American Premier indemnification.

General Cable is also involved in various routine legal proceedings and administrative actions. In the opinion of the Company’s management, such proceedings and actions should not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on its results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

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

None during the fourth quarter of 2000.

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PART II.

Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in the 2000 Annual Report, including without limitation the statements under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” are considered forward-looking statements under relevant sections of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements (Cautionary Statements) include: domestic and local country price competition, particularly in certain segments of the power cable, building wire and cordset markets, and other competitive pressures; general economic conditions, particularly in construction; the Company’s ability to retain key customers and distributors; the Company’s ability to increase manufacturing capacity; the Company’s ability to successfully integrate acquisitions and complete divestitures; the cost of raw materials, including copper; foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; the level of growth in demand for products serving various segments of the communications markets; the Company’s ability to successfully introduce new or enhanced products; the impact of technological changes; the Company’s ability to achieve productivity improvements; and the impact of changes in industry standards and the regulatory environment. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on behalf of the Company are expressly qualified in their entirety by the Cautionary Statements.

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Stock and Related Stockholder Matters

General Cable’s common stock, $0.01 par value (Common Stock), is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol “BGC”. The following table sets forth the high and low daily sales prices for the Common Stock as reported on the NYSE for the period from January 1, 1999 to December 31, 2000:

                                                 
1999 2000


High Low High Low




First Quarter
  $ 22   7/8     $ 8   1/4     $ 13         $ 6   11/16  
Second Quarter
  $ 17   7/8     $ 9   1/16     $ 9   7/16     $ 5   3/4  
Third Quarter
  $ 17   1/2     $ 11   1/2     $ 9   3/4     $ 7   1/4  
Fourth Quarter
  $ 13   1/8     $ 6   7/16     $ 7   7/8     $ 4   3/16  

General Cable has paid a $0.05 per share dividend on its Common Stock each quarter since the fourth quarter of 1997 and intends to pay a $0.05 quarterly dividend in the future. The payment of dividends is subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors and the requirements of Delaware law and will depend upon general business conditions, the financial performance of the Company and other factors the Board of Directors may consider relevant. The Credit Facility contains certain provisions that restrict the ability of the Company to pay dividends or to repurchase its Common Stock.

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Item 6. Selected Financial Data

The selected financial data set forth in the following table for the years ended December 31, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997 and 1996 were derived from audited consolidated financial statements.

The following selected financial data should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”, the consolidated financial statements of the Company and related notes thereto (in millions, except per share data). The financial data presented below contains those operations sold to Pirelli during 2000 up through the date of sale. Certain reclassifications have been made to conform to current years presentation.

                                                   
Year Ended December 31,

2000 1999 1998 1997 1996





Statement of Operations Data:
Net sales $ 2,697.8 $ 2,088.4 $ 1,150.5 $ 1,134.5 $ 1,043.6
Asset impairment charges 24.5
Gross profit 322.9 300.8 217.6 195.4 152.7
Loss on sale of businesses 31.0
Operating income 39.5 100.8 129.6 104.5 78.5
Interest expense, net (77.1 ) (47.7 ) (15.7 ) (17.3 ) (19.6 )
Write-off unamortized bank fees (3.3 )
Earnings (loss) before income taxes (40.9 ) 53.1 113.9 87.2 58.9
Income tax benefit (provision) 14.5 (18.9 ) (42.7 ) (34.0 ) (19.7 )
Net income (loss) (26.4 ) 34.2 71.2 53.2 39.2
Earnings (loss) per common share (1) $ (0.79 ) $ 0.95 $ 1.93 $ 1.45 $ 1.08
Earnings (loss) per common share - assuming     dilution (1) $ (0.79 ) $ 0.95 $ 1.90 $ 1.44 $ 1.08
Weighted average shares outstanding (1) 33.6 35.9 36.8 36.6 36.4
Weighted average shares outstanding - assuming     dilution (1) 33.6 35.9 37.5 36.9 36.4
Other Data:
Average daily COMEX price per pound of     copper cathode $ 0.84 $ 0.72 $ 0.75 $ 1.04 $ 1.06
Capital expenditures $ 56.0 $ 97.6 $ 75.5 $ 42.6 $ 30.0
                                                   
December 31,

2000 1999 1998 1997 1996





Balance Sheet Data:
Working capital $ 375.3 $ 468.2 $ 233.8 $ 225.9 $ 205.6
Total assets 1,319.2 1,568.3 651.0 563.7 513.6
Long-term debt 611.9 726.2 246.8 238.5 205.1
Dividends to shareholders 6.7 7.4 6.1 43.8 55.1
Shareholders’equity 128.5 177.3 177.2 122.4 107.4

Footnotes


(1)   Earnings (loss) per share were computed based on the weighted average common shares outstanding for each period, adjusted on a retroactive basis for a three-for-two stock split. Earnings (loss) per common share-assuming dilution were computed after giving effect to the dilutive effect of stock options and restricted stock units outstanding.

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

General

General Cable is a leader in the development, design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of copper, aluminum and fiber optic wire and cable products for the communications, energy and electrical markets. Communications wire and cable products transmit low-voltage signals for voice, data, video and control applications. Energy cables include low-, medium- and high-voltage power distribution and power transmission products. Electrical wire and cable products conduct electrical current for industrial, commercial and residential power and control applications.

During 1999, the Company acquired the worldwide energy cable and cable systems businesses of Balfour Beatty plc, formerly known as BICC plc with operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia Pacific (“the BICC Acquisition”). The BICC Acquisition was completed in three phases during 1999 for a total payment of $385.8 million. The BICC Acquisition was accounted for as a purchase, and accordingly, the results of operations of the acquired businesses are included in the consolidated financial statements for periods after the respective closing dates.

On June 30, 1999, the Company purchased SpecTran Corporation’s joint venture interest in General Photonics for $2.3 million in cash. General Photonics, a manufacturer of fiber optic cables, was formed by General Cable Corporation and SpecTran in 1996.

In December 1999, the Company decided to sell certain business units due to their deteriorating operating performance. On February 9, 2000, the Company signed a definitive agreement with Pirelli Cavi e Sistemi S.p.A., of Milan, Italy, for the sale of the stock of these businesses for proceeds of $216 million, subject to closing adjustments. The closing adjustments will include changes in net assets of the businesses sold since November 30, 1999, resulting from operating losses and other adjustments as defined in the sale agreement. The businesses sold were acquired from BICC plc during 1999 and consisted primarily of the operations in the United Kingdom, Italy and Africa and a joint venture interest in Malaysia. Gross proceeds of $180 million were received during the third quarter of 2000 as a down payment against the final post-closing adjusted purchase price. Proceeds from the transaction have been used to reduce the Company’s outstanding debt.

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General Cable’s reported net sales are directly influenced by the price of copper and to a lesser extent aluminum. The price of copper has been subject to considerable volatility, with the daily selling price of copper cathode on the COMEX averaging $0.84 per pound in 2000, $0.72 per pound in 1999 and $0.75 per pound in 1998. However, as a result of a number of practices intended to match copper and aluminum purchases with sales, General Cable’s profitability has generally not been significantly affected by changes in copper and aluminum prices. General Cable generally passes changes in copper and aluminum prices along to its customers, although there are timing delays of varying lengths depending upon the type of product, competitive conditions and particular customer arrangements. General Cable does not engage in speculative metals trading or other speculative activities. Also, the Company does not engage in activities to hedge the underlying value of its copper and aluminum inventory.

General Cable generally experiences certain seasonal trends in sales and cash flow. Larger amounts of cash are generally required during the first and second quarters of the year to build inventories in anticipation of higher demand during the spring and summer months, when construction activity increases. In general, receivables related to higher sales activity during the spring and summer months are collected during the third and fourth quarters of the year.

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, statement of operations data in millions of dollars and as a percentage of net sales. The results of operations are split between the ongoing businesses after the closing of the transaction with Pirelli and those that have been divested. Percentages may not add due to rounding.

                                                         
Ongoing Businesses
Year Ended December 31,

2000 1999 1998



Amount % Amount % Amount %






Net sales $ 2,314.4 100.0 % $ 1,719.4 100.0 % $ 1,150.5 100.0 %
Cost of sales 1,991.3 86.0 1,473.4 85.7 932.9 81.1






Gross profit 323.1 14.0 246.0 14.3 217.6 18.9
Selling, general and administrative expenses 187.3 8.1 141.9 8.3 88.0 7.6






Operating income 135.8 5.9 104.1 6.1 129.6 11.3
Interest expense, net (63.1 ) (2.7 ) (36.6 ) (2.1 ) (15.7 ) (1.4 )






Earnings before income taxes 72.7 3.1 67.5 3.9 113.9 9.9
Income tax provision (25.9 ) (1.1 ) (24.2 ) (1.4 ) (42.7 ) (3.7 )






Net income $ 46.8 2.0 % $ 43.3 2.5 % $ 71.2 6.2 %






Earnings per common share - assuming dilution $ 1.39 $ 1.21 $ 1.90



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Divested Businesses
Year Ended December 31,

2000 1999


Amount % Amount %




Net sales $ 383.4 100.0 % $ 369.0 100.0 %
Cost of sales 383.6 100.0 289.7 78.5
Asset impairment charges 24.5 6.6




Gross profit (loss) (0.2 ) 54.8 14.9
Selling, general and administrative expenses 65.1 17.0 58.1 15.7
Loss on sale of businesses 31.0 8.1




Operating loss (96.3 ) (25.1 ) (3.3 ) (0.8 )
Interest expense, net (14.0 ) (3.7 ) (11.1 ) (3.0 )
Write-off of unamortized bank fees (3.3 ) (0.9 )




Loss before income taxes (113.6 ) (29.6 ) (14.4 ) (3.9 )
Income tax benefit 40.4 10.5 5.3 1.4




Net loss $ (73.2 ) (19.1 )% $ (9.1) (2.5 )%




Loss per common share - assuming dilution $ (2.18 ) $ (0.26 )


                                                         
Total Company
Year Ended December 31,

2000 1999 1998



Amount % Amount % Amount %






Net sales $ 2,697.8 100.0 % $ 2,088.4 100.0 % $ 1,150.5 100.0 %
Cost of sales 2,374.9 88.0 1,763.1 84.4 932.9 81.1
Asset impairment charges 24.5 1.2






Gross profit 322.9 12.0 300.8 14.4 217.6 18.9
Selling, general and administrative expenses 252.4 9.4 200.0 9.6 88.0 7.6
Loss sale of businesses 31.0 1.1






Operating income 39.5 1.5 100.8 4.8 129.6 11.3
Interest expense, net (77.1 ) (2.9 ) (47.7 ) (2.3 ) (15.7 ) (1.4 )
Write-off of unamortized bank fees (3.3 ) (0.1 )






Earnings (loss) before income taxes (40.9 ) (1.5 ) 53.1 2.5 113.9 9.9
Income tax (provision) benefit 14.5 0.5 (18.9 ) (0.9 ) (42.7 ) (3.7 )






Net income (loss) $ (26.4 ) (1.0 )% $ 34.2 1.6 % $ 71.2 6.2 %






Earnings (loss) per common share - assuming dilution $ (0.79 ) $ 0.95 $ 1.90



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Results of Ongoing Businesses

Year Ended December 31, 2000 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 1999

Pro forma net income from ongoing businesses was $46.8 million in 2000 compared to $43.3 million in 1999. Fully diluted earnings per share were $1.39 per share for 2000 compared to $1.21 per share for the same period in 1999. Contributing to the improvement in earnings per share was a 30% increase in operating earnings and a 6% reduction in the number of fully diluted weighted average common shares outstanding in 2000 as a result of the Company’s share repurchase program, partially offset by a $26.5 million increase in interest expense.

Net sales from the ongoing businesses on an as reported basis increased 35% to $2,314.4 in 2000 from $1,719.4 million for the same period in 1999. After adjusting 1999 net sales to reflect the $0.12 increase in the average monthly COMEX price per pound of copper in 2000, net sales increased 29% to $2,314.4 million, up from $1,788.5 million for the same period in 1999. The increase in copper-adjusted net sales reflects a 20% increase in Electrical Products, a 18% increase in Communications Products and a $244.4 million increase in Energy Products sales as a result of the Acquisition.

The 20% increase in Electrical Products net sales relates to the Acquisition and 9% volume growth in the pre- acquisition business, partially offset by lower selling prices for building wire products.

The 18% increase in Communication Products net sales reflects a higher sales volume for both outside plant telecommunications cable and high bandwidth networking cables as well as higher selling prices for outside plant telecommunications cable.

General Cable continued to show excellent sales growth with key customers through The Power of One strategy. Copper-adjusted net sales to the Company’s top 20 customers increased 14% in 2000 compared to 1999, reflecting General Cable’s continuing ability to partner with customers for mutually beneficial growth in revenues and earnings.

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased to $187.3 million in 2000 from $141.9 million in 1999 primarily reflecting the Acquisition. Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales decreased to 8.1% in 2000 from 8.3% in 1999.

Operating income increased to $135.8 million in 2000 from $104.1 million in 1999. The increase in operating income reflects operating income related to the acquired business, manufacturing cost reductions, sales volume growth and higher selling prices for outside plant telecommunications cable. These increases were partially offset by lower selling prices for electrical and energy products.

Net interest expense was $63.1 million in 2000 compared to $36.6 million in 1999. The increase reflects increased borrowings related to the Acquisition and higher interest rates in 2000 under the credit facility.

The effective tax rate for 2000 and 1999 was 35.5%.

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Results of Divested Businesses

The results for the divested businesses reflect the actual operating results of the businesses through the closing date of August 25, 2000, a $34.3 charge related to the sale of the businesses and allocated interest costs incurred as if the sale to Pirelli occurred on January 1, 2000 for $216.0 million. The pro forma net loss from the divested businesses was $73.2 million or $2.18 per share.

A significant portion of the net loss from the divested businesses resulted from the Supertension and Subsea Cables operation. The Supertension operation was severely impacted by low pricing levels as a result of excess capacity in the market and reduced project activity.

Operations in Italy and at Distribution Cables in the United Kingdom also experienced significant losses in 2000. Operations in Italy experienced demand which was significantly below the prior year and selling prices which declined in response to changes in the competitive nature of the market resulting from the partial privatization of the principal Italian utility company. The Distribution Cables business experienced demand levels below historical levels primarily due to lower orders from European utilities.

Year Ended December 31, 1999 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 1998

Net income was $34.2 million in 1999 compared to $71.2 million in 1998. Fully diluted earnings per share were $0.95 per share in 1999 compared to $1.90 in 1998. Net income in 1999 included pre-tax $24.5 million (after tax $15.8 million) non-cash asset impairment charges related to the impending sale of certain operations to Pirelli and the write-down of other joint venture loans receivable. Excluding the asset impairment charges, the Company would have reported net income of $50.1 million or $1.40 per share. Compared to 1998, fully diluted earnings per share, excluding the asset impairment charges, declined $0.50 cents or 26%, principally reflecting the negative impact of lower prices for building wire products and some communication cables partially offset by incremental earnings resulting from the Acquisition, volume related growth and manufacturing productivity improvement.

Net sales increased 82% to $2,088.4 million in 1999 from $1,150.5 million in 1998. The increase in net sales reflects a 39% increase in Electrical Products, a 10% increase in Communication Products, and $623.8 million of Energy Product sales from the Acquisition.

The 39% increase in Electrical Products net sales reflects the Acquisition and 11% volume growth in the pre- acquisition business, partially offset by lower selling prices for building wire products. Consumer cordset net sales were up 38% in 1999 with significant increases in sales to the leading home center chain in the United States and a major hardware store retailer.

The 10% increase in Communication Products net sales reflects a 21% increase in sales volume of outside plant telecommunication cable and 11% sales volume growth of data transmission cables. These volume increases were partially offset by lower selling prices for Communication Products.

General Cable continued to show excellent sales growth with key customers through The Power of One strategy. Copper-adjusted net sales to the Company’s top 20 customers increased 12.8% (22% on a volume basis) in 1999 compared to 1998, reflecting General Cable’s continuing ability to partner with customers for mutually beneficial growth in revenues and earnings.

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Selling, general and administrative expenses increased to $200 million in 1999 from $88 million in 1998 primarily reflecting the Acquisition. Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales was 9.6% in 1999, compared to 7.6% in 1998. Selling, general and administrative expenses for the acquired businesses were approximately 13% of net sales in the 1999 post acquisition period.

Operating income before the asset impairment charges decreased to $125.3 million in 1999 from $129.6 million in 1998. The decrease in operating income reflects substantially lower building wire pricing and to a lesser extent lower pricing for communication cables. These decreases were partially offset by operating income related to the acquired business, manufacturing cost reductions and operating income related to sales volume growth. Operating income related to the acquired business included approximately $5.0 million received from BICC plc primarily related to management and other services provided by the Company prior to closings.

In 1999, lower building wire pricing was responsible for a $50 million reduction in operating income. The average building wire price premium over the cost of copper was down 20% in 1999 compared to 1998. Selling prices for outside plant telecommunications cable products were 6% lower in 1999 compared to 1998 reflecting contractual price reductions from lower raw material price indices and lower pricing conditions in the commercial marketplace. Selling prices for certain data communication cables were approximately 9% lower in 1999 compared to 1998.

Net interest expense was $47.7 million in 1999 compared to $15.7 million in 1998. The increase reflects increased borrowings related to the Acquisition and higher interest rates under the new credit facility.

The effective tax rate for 1999 was reduced to 35.5% from 37.5% in 1998 reflecting the impact of the addition of operations in jurisdictions with tax rates below 37.5% and the resolution of certain state tax exposures.

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

In general, General Cable requires cash for working capital, capital expenditures, debt repayment, interest and taxes. General Cable’s working capital requirements increase when it experiences strong incremental demand for products and/or significant copper and aluminum price increases. Based upon historical experience and the expected availability of funds under the credit facility, the Company expects that its sources of liquidity will be sufficient to enable it to meet its cash requirements for working capital, capital expenditures, debt repayment, interest and taxes in 2001.

Cash flow provided by operating activities in 2000 was $2.0 million. This principally reflects net income before depreciation and amortization and deferred taxes of $28.8 million, a $59.6 million increase in accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other long-term liabilities, partially offset by a $34.0 million increase in accounts receivable and a $52.1 million increase in inventories.

Cash flow provided by investing activities was $82.9 million in 2000, principally reflecting $158.1 in net proceeds from divested businesses partially offset by $56.0 million of capital expenditures and $19.0 million to acquire Telmag, S.A. de C.V., a Mexico-based manufacturer of state of the art telecommunications, central office and data networking cables.

Cash flow used by financing activities in 2000 was $101.7 million, primarily reflecting the application of the $180.0 million gross proceeds from the sale of businesses partially offset by additional borrowings of $87.7 million under General Cable’s credit facility. During the year $10.1 million was spent on purchasing 1,370,225 General Cable common shares pursuant to a previously approved plan to repurchase up to $50 million of General Cable stock. The Company has repurchased $47.8 million of General Cable stock under the plan as of December 31, 2000. The Company repurchased the remaining authorized amount in the first quarter of 2001. Also in the year, $6.7 million of dividends were paid to shareholders of common stock.

The Company’s current credit facility was entered into in 1999 with one lead bank as administrative agent, and a syndicate of lenders. The facility, as amended and reduced by prepayments, consists of: 1) term loans in Sterling, Euros and Dollars in an aggregate amount up to $73.2 million, 2) term loans in Dollars in an aggregate amount up to $488.8 million and 3) revolving loans and letters of credit in Dollars and foreign currencies in an aggregate amount up to $250.0 million. Borrowings are secured by assets of the Company’s North American operations and a portion of the stock of its non-North American subsidiaries and are also guaranteed by the Company’s principal operating subsidiaries.

Borrowings under the credit facility were $609.2 million at December 31, 2000. Loans under the credit facility bear interest, at the Company’s option, at (i) a spread over LIBOR or (ii) a spread over the Alternate Base Rate, which is defined as the higher of (a) the agent’s Prime Rate, (b) the secondary market rate for certificates of deposit (adjusted for reserve requirements) plus 1% or (c) the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus 1/2 of 1%.

Scheduled repayments under the term loans began in December 2000 with the final maturity in June 2007. The Company anticipates being able to meet its obligations as they come due.

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A commitment fee accrues on the unused portion of the credit facility. The commitment fee ranges between 35 and 50 basis points per annum and the spread over LIBOR on all loans under the facility ranges between 175 and 325 basis points per annum. Both the commitment fee and the spread over LIBOR are subject to periodic adjustment depending upon the Company’s Leverage Ratio. The facility restricts certain corporate acts and contains required minimum financial ratios and other covenants. The credit agreement was amended in March 2000 to permit the sale of certain business units to Pirelli as well as to increase flexibility within its financial covenants during the year. The Company further amended the credit facility in January 2001 to permit increased financial flexibility including substantial alteration of financial covenants for the remaining life of the credit facility and the sale of the Pyrotenax business unit. As a result of this amendment, the spread over LIBOR increased by 0.25% across all levels of its leverage-based pricing grid. One-time fees and expenses associated with the amendment were approximately $2.6 million and are being amortized over the remaining life of the credit agreement. As a result of this Amendment, the Company is restricted in its ability to repurchase shares until it reaches certain financial ratios.

Environmental Matters

General Cable’s expenditures for environmental compliance and remediation amounted to approximately $0.5 million, $0.7 million and $0.7 million in 2000, 1999 and 1998, respectively. In addition, Company subsidiaries have been named as potentially responsible parties (PRPs) in certain proceedings that involve environmental remediation. General Cable had accrued $5.7 million at December 31, 2000 for all environmental liabilities. In the Wassall acquisition of General Cable from American Premier Underwriters, American Premier indemnified General Cable against certain environmental liabilities arising out of General Cable’s or its predecessors’ownership or operation of properties and assets. As part of the 1999 acquisition, BICC plc agreed to indemnify the Company against environmental liabilities existing at the date of the closing of the purchase of the business. General Cable has agreed to indemnify Pirelli against certain environmental liabilities arising out of the operation of the divested business prior to the sale. While it is difficult to estimate future environmental liabilities, General Cable does not currently anticipate any material adverse effect on its results of operations, cash flows or financial position as a result of compliance with federal, state, local or foreign environmental laws or regulations or remediation costs.

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

General Cable is exposed to various market risks, including changes in interest rates, foreign currency and commodity prices. To manage risk associated with the volatility of these natural business exposures, General Cable enters into interest rate, commodity and foreign currency derivative agreements as well as copper and aluminum forward purchase agreements. General Cable does not purchase or sell derivative instruments for trading purposes.

General Cable enters into interest rate swap agreements to manage its exposure to interest rate changes. The swaps involve the exchange of variable (three-month LIBOR) for fixed rate payments without exchanging the notional principal amount. In November 1997, General Cable entered into interest rate swap agreements

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with three banks, which effectively fixed interest rates at an average rate of 6.2% for specific amounts borrowed under the credit facility. The remaining interest rate swaps related to the credit facility are as follows (dollars in millions):

                         
Notional Interest
Period Amounts Rate



November 2000 to November 2001 $ 12.5 6.2 %

During 1999, the Company entered into certain interest rate derivative contracts for hedging of the new facility floating interest rate risk covering $375.0 million of the Company’s debt. The net effect of the hedging program was to provide a collar between approximately 5.4% and 8.5% within which the Company’s LIBOR rates on a portion of the new facility could move and which was at no cost to the Company. The Company entered into these three year agreements with members of the lending group. The Company does not hold any collateral for these contracts, however; all counterparty members are significant international financial institutions.

The fair value of interest rate derivatives are based on quoted market prices and third-party provided calculations, which reflect the present values of the difference between estimated future variable-rate receipts and future fixed-rate payments. At December 31, 2000 and 1999, the net unrealized gain (loss) on the net interest rate derivatives was $(1.1) million and $0.6 million, respectively, while the carrying value was zero. A 10% change in the variable rate would change the unrealized gain (loss) by $1.8 million in 2000 and $1.4 million in 1999.

The Company enters into forward exchange contracts principally to hedge the currency fluctuations in certain transactions denominated in foreign currencies, thereby limiting the Company’s risk that would otherwise result from changes in exchange rates. Principal transactions hedged during the year were firm sales and purchase commitments.

The fair value of foreign currency contracts represents the amount required to enter into offsetting contracts with similar remaining maturities based on quoted market prices. At December 31, 2000 and 1999, the net unrealized gain (loss) on the net foreign exchange derivative contracts was $1.2 million and $(0.9) million, respectively. A 10% change in the exchange rate for these currencies would change the unrealized gain (loss) by $1.4 million in 2000 and $6.1 million in 1999. However, since these contracts hedge foreign currency denominated transactions, any change in the fair value of the contracts would be offset by changes in the underlying value of the transaction being hedged.

Outside of North America, General Cable enters into commodity futures for purchase of copper and aluminum for delivery in a future month to match certain sales transactions. At December 31, 2000 and 1999, General Cable had an unrealized gain (loss) of $(0.1) million on the commodity futures. A 10% change in the price of copper and aluminum would result in a change in the unrealized gain (loss) of $0.6 million in 2000 and in 1999.

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The notional amounts and fair values of these financial instruments at December 31, 2000 and 1999, are shown below (in millions). The carrying amounts of the financial instruments was zero at December 31, 2000 and 1999.

                                         
2000 1999


Notional Fair Notional Fair
Amount Value Amount Value




Interest rate swaps $ 15.1 $ $ 37.5 $ 0.1
Interest rate collars 375.0 (1.1 ) 375.0 0.5
Foreign currency forward exchange 58.2 1.2 60.9 (0.9 )
Commodity futures 6.4 (0.1 ) 3.2 (0.1 )




$ 454.7 $ $ 476.6 $ (0.4 )




In the normal course of business, General Cable enters into forward pricing agreements for purchase of copper and aluminum for delivery in a future month to match certain sales transactions. At December 31, 2000 and 1999, General Cable had an unrealized gain (loss) of $(1.6) million and $1.8 million, respectively. General Cable expects to recover the unrealized loss under these agreements as a result of firm sales price commitments with customers.

Effective January 1, 2001 General Cable adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 133, “Accounting For Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” as amended, which requires that all derivatives be recorded on the balance sheet at fair value. The accounting for changes in the fair value of the derivative depends on the intended use of the derivative and whether it qualifies for hedge accounting. There is no transition amount associated with recording the fair values of the derivatives on the balance sheet.

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

             
Page

Independent Auditors’ Report F-1
Consolidated Statements of Operations For the Years Ended    December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998 F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2000 and 1999 F-3
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows For the Years Ended    December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998 F-4
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity
   For the Years Ended December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998
F-5
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements F-6

“Selected Quarterly Financial Data” has been included in Note 20 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

      Not applicable.

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PART III.

Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

The following table sets forth certain information concerning the persons who served as executive officers of General Cable on February 1, 2001.

             
Principal Business Affiliations
Name, Age and Title During Past Five Years


Gregory B. Kenny, 48
President and Chief Operating Officer
Mr. Kenny has been President and Chief Operating Officer since May 1999. He served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of General Cable from March 1997 to May 1999. From June 1994 to March 1997, he was Executive Vice President of the subsidiary of General Cable which was General Cable’s immediate predecessor.
 
Stephen Rabinowitz, 58
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Rabinowitz has been Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since May 1999. He served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of General Cable from March 1997 to May 1999. From September 1994 until March 1997, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of the predecessor company. From March 1992 until August 1994, Mr. Rabinowitz served as President and Group Executive for AlliedSignal Friction Materials and President of AlliedSignal Braking Systems Business. Mr. Rabinowitz is also a director of JLG Industries, Inc.
 
Christopher F. Virgulak, 45
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Virgulak has been Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since September 1999. He served as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of General Cable from March 1997 to September 1999. From October 1994 until March 1997, he was Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the predecessor company.
 
Robert J. Siverd, 52
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Mr. Siverd has served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of General Cable since March 1997. From July 1994 until March 1997, he was Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the predecessor company.

Except as set forth above, the information required in this Part (Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant), as well as the information called for by Item 11. Executive Compensation, Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, is incorporated by reference to the definitive Proxy Statement which General Cable intends to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after December 31, 2000.

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PART IV.

Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K

               
(a) Documents filed as part of the Form 10-K:
 
1. Financial Statements are included in Part II, Item 8.
 
2. Financial Statement Schedules filed herewith for 2000, 1999 and 1998:
 
II. Valuation and Qualifying Accounts            S-1
 
All other schedules for which provisions are made in the applicable regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission have been omitted as they are not applicable, not required, or the required information is included in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.
 
3. Exhibits as required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K are listed below.
     
Exhibit
Number Description


3.1 Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-22961) of the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 7, 1997, as amended (the “Initial S-1”).
3.2 Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Initial S-1).
4.1 Specimen Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Initial S-1).
10.1 Credit Agreement between the Company, Chase Manhattan Bank, as Administrative Agent, and the lenders signatory thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Initial S-1).
10.2 General Cable Corporation 1998 Annual Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of General Cable Corporation for the year ended December 31, 1997).
10.3 General Cable Corporation 1997 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Initial S-1).
10.4 General Cable Corporation 1997 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of General Cable Corporation for the year ended December 31, 1997).
10.5 Employment Agreement dated May 13, 1997, between Stephen Rabinowitz and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Initial S-1).
10.6 Amendment dated March 16, 1998 to Employment Agreement dated May 13, 1997, between Stephen Rabinowitz and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of General Cable Corporation for the year ended December 31, 1997).

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10.7 Employment Agreement dated May 13, 1997, between Gregory B. Kenny and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Initial S-1).
10.8 Amendment dated March 16, 1998 to Employment Agreement dated May 13, 1997, between Gregory B. Kenny and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of General Cable Corporation for the year ended December 31, 1997).
10.9 Employment Agreement dated May 13, 1997, between Christopher F. Virgulak and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Initial S-1).
10.10 Employment Agreement dated May 13, 1997, between Robert J. Siverd and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Initial S-1).
10.11 Change-in-Control Agreement dated May 13, 1997, between Stephen Rabinowitz and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Initial S-1).
10.12 Change-in-Control Agreement dated May 13, 1997, between Gregory B. Kenny and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Initial S-1).
10.13 Change-in-Control Agreement dated May 13, 1997, between Christopher F. Virgulak and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the Initial S-1).
10.14 Change-in-Control Agreement dated May 13, 1997, between Robert J. Siverd and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Initial S-1).
10.15 Form of Intercompany Agreement among Wassall PLC, Netherlands Cable B.V. and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the Initial S-1).
10.16 Stock Purchase Agreement dated May 13, 1997, among Wassall PLC, General Cable Industries Inc. and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the Initial S-1).
10.17 General Cable Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan dated April 1, 1996 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of General Cable Corporation for the year ended December 31, 1998).
10.18 Amended and Restated General Cable Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan dated December 14, 1998 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of General Cable Corporation for the year ended December 31, 1998).
10.19 Credit Agreement between the Company, Chase Manhattan Bank, as Administrative Agent, and the lenders signatory thereto dated May 28, 1999 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of General Cable Corporation for the quarterly period ended September 30, 1999).
10.20 Amendment dated October 8, 1999 to the Credit Agreement between the Company, Chase Manhattan Bank, as Administrative Agent, and the lenders signatory thereto dated May 28, 1999 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of General Cable Corporation for the quarterly period ended September 30, 1999).
10.21 Employment Agreement dated October 18, 1999, between Stephen Rabinowitz and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of General Cable Corporation for the quarterly period ended September 30, 1999).
10.22 Employment Agreement dated October 18, 1999, between Gregory B. Kenny and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of General Cable Corporation for the quarterly period ended September 30, 1999).
10.23 Employment Agreement dated October 18, 1999, between Christopher F. Virgulak and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of General Cable Corporation for the quarterly period ended September 30, 1999).

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10.24 Employment Agreement dated October 18, 1999, between Robert Siverd and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of General Cable Corporation for the quarterly period ended September 30, 1999).
10.25 Change-in-Control Agreement dated October 18, 1999 between Stephen Rabinowitz and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.25 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of General Cable Corporation for the quarterly period ended September 30, 1999).
10.26 Change-in-Control Agreement dated October 18, 1999 between Gregory B. Kenny and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.26 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of General Cable Corporation for the quarterly period ended September 30, 1999).
10.27 Change-in-Control Agreement dated October 18, 1999 between Christopher F. Virgulak and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.27 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of General Cable Corporation for the quarterly period ended September 30, 1999).
10.28 Change-in-Control Agreement dated October 18, 1999 between Robert Siverd and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.28 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of General Cable Corporation for the quarterly period ended September 30, 1999).
10.29 BICCGeneral Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan dated December 15, 1999 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.29 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of General Cable Corporation for the year ended December 31, 1999).
10.30 BICCGeneral Mid-Term Incentive Plan dated February 1, 2000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.30 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of General Cable Corporation for the year ended December 31, 1999).
10.31 Share Purchase Agreement between General Cable Corporation and Pirelli Cavi e Sistemi S.p.A. dated February 9, 2000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.31 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of General Cable Corporation for the year ended December 31, 1999).
10.32 Second amendment dated March 9, 2000 to the Credit Agreement between the Company, Chase Manhattan Bank, as Administrative Agent, and the lenders signatory thereto dated May 28, 1999 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.32 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of General Cable Corporation for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2000).
10.33 Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated April 28, 2000, between Stephen Rabinowitz and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.33 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of General Cable Corporation for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2000).
10.34 Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated April 28, 2000, between Gregory B. Kenny and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.34 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of General Cable Corporation for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2000).
10.35 Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated April 28, 2000, between Christopher F. Virgulak and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.35 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of General Cable Corporation for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2000).
10.36 Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated April 28, 2000, between Robert Siverd and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.36 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of General Cable Corporation for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2000).
10.37 Amended and Restated Change-in-Control Agreement dated April 28, 2000, between Stephen Rabinowitz and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.37 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of General Cable Corporation for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2000).

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10.38 Amended and Restated Change-in-Control Agreement dated April 28, 2000, between Gregory B. Kenny and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.38 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of General Cable Corporation for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2000).
10.39 Amended and Restated Change-in-Control Agreement dated April 28, 2000, between Christopher F. Virgulak and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.39 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of General Cable Corporation for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2000).
10.40 Amended and Restated Change-in-Control Agreement dated April 28, 2000 between Robert Siverd and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.40 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of General Cable Corporation for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2000)
10.41 Third amendment dated January 24, 2001 to the Credit Agreement between the Company, Chase Manhattan Bank, as Administrative Agent, and the lenders signatory thereto dated May 28, 1999.
10.42 General Cable Corporation 2000 Stock Option Plan
21.1 List of Subsidiaries of General Cable
23.1 Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP
(b) Reports on Form 8-K
None

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Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, General Cable Corporation has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

     
General Cable Corporation
 
Signed: March 30, 2001
 
By:  /s/STEPHEN RABINOWITZ      
Stephen Rabinowitz
Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer and Director

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

                 
/s/ GREGORY B. KENNY                     
Gregory B. Kenny
President and Chief Operating Officer and    Director March 30, 2001
/s/ ROBERT J. SIVERD                         
Robert J. Siverd
Executive Vice President, General    Counsel and Secretary March 30, 2001
/s/ CHRISTOPHER F. VIRGULAK     
Christopher F. Virgulak
Executive Vice President and Chief
   Financial Officer
   (Chief Accounting Officer)
March 30, 2001
/s/ GREGORY E. LAWTON                 
Gregory E. Lawton
Director March 30, 2001
/s/ JEFFREY NODDLE                          
Jeffrey Noddle
Director March 30, 2001
/s/ ROBERT L. SMIALEK                    
Robert L. Smialek
Director March 30, 2001
/s/ JOHN E. WELSH                              
John E. Welsh
Director March 30, 2001

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INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’REPORT

General Cable Corporation:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of General Cable Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2000 and 1999, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in shareholders’equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2000. Our audit also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 14. These consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits.

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

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of General Cable Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2000 and 1999, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2000 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, such financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.

As discussed in Note 2 to the financial statements, the Company changed its method of accounting for its North American non-metals inventory from the first-in first-out (FIFO) method to the last-in first-out method (LIFO) effective January 1, 2000.

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Cincinnati, Ohio
January 29, 2001 (except for Note 21 as to which the date is March 8, 2001)

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GENERAL CABLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in millions, except per share data)

                                   
Year Ended December 31,

2000 1999 1998



Net sales $ 2,697.8 $ 2,088.4 $ 1,150.5
Cost of sales 2,374.9 1,763.1 932.9
Asset impairment charges 24.5



Gross profit 322.9 300.8 217.6
Selling, general and administrative 252.4 200.0 88.0
Loss on sale of businesses 31.0



Operating income 39.5 100.8 129.6



Interest income (expense):
Interest expense (79.5 ) (49.8 ) (16.6 )
Interest income 2.4 2.1 0.9
Write-off of unamortized bank fees (3.3 )



(80.4 ) (47.7 ) (15.7 )



Earnings (loss) before income taxes (40.9 ) 53.1 113.9
Income tax (provision) benefit 14.5 (18.9 ) (42.7 )



Net income (loss) $ (26.4 ) $ 34.2 $ 71.2



Earnings (loss) per common share $ (0.79 ) $ 0.95 $ 1.93



Weighted average common shares 33.6 35.9 36.8



Earnings (loss) per common share-assuming dilution $ (0.79 ) $ 0.95 $ 1.90



Weighted average common shares-assuming dilution 33.6 35.9 37.5



See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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GENERAL CABLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in millions, except share data)

                                 
December 31,

2000 1999


ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash $ 21.2 $ 38.0
Receivables, net 366.3 479.4
Inventories 408.0 441.2
Deferred income taxes 22.8 26.3
Prepaid expenses and other 46.0 33.0


Total current assets 864.3 1,017.9
Property, plant and equipment, net 379.4 438.7
Deferred income taxes 26.8 38.4
Other non-current assets 48.7 73.3


Total assets $ 1,319.2 $ 1,568.3


LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable $ 335.0 $ 360.3
Accrued liabilities 135.0 176.2
Current portion of long-term debt 19.0 13.2


Total current liabilities 489.0 549.7
Long-term debt 611.9 726.2
Deferred income taxes 5.7 14.2
Other liabilities 84.1 100.9


Total liabilities 1,190.7 1,391.0


Shareholders’ Equity:
Common stock, $0.01 par value:
Issued and outstanding shares:
2000 - 32,649,299 (net of 4,399,625 treasury shares)
1999 - 33,999,633 (net of 3,029,400 treasury shares) 0.4 0.4
Additional paid-in capital 91.4 90.5
Other shareholders’ equity (5.6 ) (8.1 )
Retained earnings 97.5 130.6
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (7.4 ) 1.6
Treasury stock (47.8 ) (37.7 )


Total shareholders’ equity 128.5 177.3


Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 1,319.2 $ 1,568.3


See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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GENERAL CABLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in millions)

                                       
Year Ended December 31,

2000 1999 1998



Cash flows of operating activities:
Net income (loss) $ (26.4 ) $ 34.2 $ 71.2
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 56.0 32.4 18.5
Asset impairment charges 24.5
Deferred income taxes (0.8 ) 7.7 12.6
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effect of acquisitions and divestitures:
(Increase) decrease in receivables (34.0 ) 27.0 (1.0 )
(Increase) decrease in inventories (52.1 ) 5.9 (34.9 )
Increase in other assets (0.3 ) (24.5 ) (6.1 )
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable, accrued and other liabilities 59.6 (5.6 ) 13.9



    Net cash flows of operating activities 2.0 101.6 74.2



Cash flows of investing activities:
Capital expenditures (56.0 ) (97.6 ) (75.5 )
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired (19.0 ) (375.7 )
Proceeds from sale of businesses, net of cash sold 158.1
Proceeds from properties sold 0.8 0.6 3.8
Loans to shareholders (6.0 )
Other, net (1.0 ) (1.4 ) 0.6



    Net cash flows of investing activities 82.9 (474.1 ) (77.1 )



Cash flows of financing activities:
Dividends paid (6.7 ) (7.4 ) (6.1 )
Net changes in revolving credit borrowings 47.2 (239.0 ) 9.0
Issuance of long-term debt 7.4 780.6
Repayment of long-term debt (139.5 ) (89.4 ) (0.8 )
Acquisition of treasury stock (10.1 ) (37.7 )



    Net cash flows of financing activities (101.7 ) 407.1 2.1



Increase (decrease) in cash (16.8 ) 34.6 (0.8 )
Cash - beginning of period 38.0 3.4 4.2



Cash - end of period $ 21.2 $ 38.0 $ 3.4



SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Income taxes paid, net of refunds $ 7.8 $ 15.4 $ 22.7



Interest paid $ 70.7 $ 44.3 $ 16.4



See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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GENERAL CABLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity
(in millions, except share amounts)

                                                                               
Accumulated
Common Stock Additional Other Other

Paid-In Retained Comprehensive Treasury Shareholders'
Shares Amount Capital Earnings Income(Loss) Stock Equity Total








Balance, December 31, 1997 36,773,139 $ 0.4 $ 83.3 $ 38.2 $ 0.5 $ 122.4
Comprehensive income:
Net income 71.2 71.2
Foreign currency     translation adjustment (0.2 ) (0.2 )
Minimum pension liability     adjustment, net of tax (5.5 ) (5.5 )

Comprehensive income 65.5
Dividends (6.1 ) (6.1 )
Issuance of restricted stock 38,097 1.0 1.0
Forfeiture of restricted
    stock
(18,191 ) (0.3 ) (0.3 )
Tax benefit related to     restricted stock 0.4 0.4
Exercise of stock options 18,600 0.3 0.3
Loans to shareholders $ (6.0 ) (6.0 )
Other 3,695 0.1 (0.1 )








Balance, December 31, 1998 36,815,340 0.4 84.8 103.2 (5.2 ) (6.0 ) 177.2
Comprehensive income:
Net income 34.2 34.2
Foreign currency     translation adjustment 0.9 0.9
Minimum pension liability     adjustment, net of tax 5.5 5.5
   Unrealized investment
       gains
0.4 0.4

Comprehensive income 41.0
Dividends (7.4 ) (7.4 )
Purchase of treasury shares (3,029,400 ) $ (37.7 ) (37.7 )
Issuance of restricted stock 210,317 4.4 (4.4 )
Amortization of restricted
    stock and other
1.2 1.7 2.9
Other 3,376 0.1 0.6 0.6 1.3








Balance, December 31, 1999 33,999,633 0.4 90.5 130.6 1.6 (37.7 ) (8.1 ) 177.3
Comprehensive loss:
Net loss (26.4 ) (26.4 )
Foreign currency
    translation adjustment
(9.0 ) (9.0 )

Comprehensive loss (35.4 )
Dividends (6.7 ) (6.7 )
Purchase of treasury shares (1,370,225 ) (10.1 ) (10.1 )
Issuance of restricted stock 9,257 0.1 (0.1 )
Amortization of restricted
    stock and other
1.1 2.0 3.1
Other 10,634 (0.3 ) 0.6 0.3








Balance, December 31, 2000 32,649,299 $ 0.4 $ 91.4 $ 97.5 $ (7.4 ) $ (47.8 ) $ (5.6 ) $ 128.5








See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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GENERAL CABLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. General

General Cable Corporation and subsidiaries (General Cable), are engaged in the development, design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of copper, aluminum and fiber optic wire and cable products for the communications, energy and electrical markets. As of December 31, 2000, General Cable operated 38 manufacturing facilities in nine countries and six regional distribution centers in North America in addition to the corporate headquarters in Highland Heights, Kentucky.

2. Summary of Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of General Cable Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Investments in 50% or less owned joint ventures are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Other non-current assets included investments in joint ventures of $11.3 million at December 31, 1999. All transactions and balances among the consolidated companies have been eliminated. Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior year to conform to the current year’s presentation.

Revenue Recognition Revenue is recognized when goods are shipped and title passes to the customer.

Earnings (Loss) Per Share Earnings (loss) per common share and loss per common share-assuming dilution are computed based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Earnings per common share-assuming dilution are computed based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and the dilutive effect of stock options and restricted stock units outstanding.

Inventories Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market value. General Cable values its North American inventories using the last-in first-out (LIFO) method and values all remaining inventories using the first-in first-out (FIFO) method. As of January 1, 2000, General Cable changed its accounting method for its North American non-metal inventories from the FIFO method to the LIFO method. The impact of the change was an increase in operating income of $6.4 million, or $0.12 of earnings per share on both a basic and diluted basis during the year. The cumulative effect of the change on prior years was not determinable. Previously General Cable had valued only the copper and aluminum components of its North American inventories using LIFO. The Company believes that the change to the LIFO accounting method for its North American non- metal inventories more accurately reflects the impact of both volatile raw material prices and ongoing cost productivity initiatives, conforms the accounting for all North American inventories and provides a more comparable basis of accounting with direct competitors in North America who are on LIFO for the majority of their inventories.

Property, Plant and Equipment Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Costs assigned to property, plant and equipment relating to acquisitions are based on estimated fair values at that date. Depreciation is provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets: new buildings, from 15 to 50 years; and machinery, equipment and office furnishings, from 3 to 15 years. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the life of the lease.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments Financial instruments are defined as cash or contracts relating to the receipt, delivery or exchange of financial instruments. Except as otherwise noted, fair value approximates the carrying value of such instruments.

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GENERAL CABLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Forward Pricing Agreements for Purchases of Copper and Aluminum In the normal course of business, General Cable enters into forward pricing agreements for purchases of copper and aluminum to match certain sales transactions. At December 31, 2000 and 1999, General Cable had $85.9 million and $39.8 million, respectively, of future copper and aluminum purchases that were under forward pricing agreements. The fair market value of the forward pricing agreements was $84.3 million and $41.6 million at December 31, 2000 and 1999, respectively. General Cable expects to recover the cost of copper and aluminum under these agreements as a result of firm sales price commitments with customers.

Use of Estimates The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Concentration of Credit Risk General Cable sells a broad range of products throughout primarily the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia Pacific. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to trade receivables are limited due to the large number of customers, including members of buying groups, composing General Cable’s customer base. Ongoing credit evaluations of customers’ financial condition are performed, and generally, no collateral is required. General Cable maintains reserves for potential credit losses and such losses, in the aggregate, have not exceeded management’s estimates. Certain subsidiaries also maintain credit insurance for certain customer balances.

Derivative Financial Instruments Derivative financial instruments are utilized to reduce interest rate, commodity and foreign currency risk. General Cable does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading purposes.

General Cable has entered into interest rate swap and interest rate collar agreements designed to hedge underlying debt obligations. Amounts to be paid or received under interest rate swap and interest rate collar agreements are accrued as interest and are recognized over the life of the swap and collar agreements as an adjustment to interest expense on the underlying debt obligation.

Foreign currency and commodity contracts are used to hedge firm sales and purchase commitments. Gains and losses on contracts are not recognized until included in the measurement of the related transaction.

Effective January 1, 2001 General Cable adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 133, “Accounting For Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” as amended, which requires that all derivatives be recorded on the balance sheet at fair value. The accounting for changes in the fair value of the derivative depends on the intended use of the derivative and whether it qualifies for hedge accounting. There is no transition amount associated with recording the fair values of the derivatives on the balance sheet.

SFAS No. 133, as applied to General Cable’s risk management strategies, may increase or decrease reported net income and shareholders’ equity prospectively depending on future levels of interest rates and other variables affecting the fair values of derivative instruments and hedged items, but will have no effect on cash flows or economic risk.

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GENERAL CABLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Stock-Based Compensation Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, “Accounting for Stock- Based Compensation,“encourages, but does not require, companies to record compensation cost for stock- based employee compensation plans at fair value. General Cable has chosen to continue to account for stock- based compensation using the intrinsic value method prescribed in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, “and related interpretations. Accordingly, compensation cost for stock options is measured as the excess, if any, of the quoted market price of the Company’s stock at the date of the grant over the amount an employee must pay to acquire the stock.

3. Acquisitions and Divestitures

On May 28, 1999, General Cable completed the first phase of the transaction to acquire Balfour Beatty plc’s (formerly known as BICC plc) worldwide energy cable and cable systems businesses for a purchase price of $337.9 million in cash, subject to closing adjustments. Phase one was comprised of all of the North American operations and all of the operations in Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand. The acquisition was financed by a portion of the Company’s credit facility which was obtained to fund the acquisition, refinance existing debt, provide working capital flexibility and allow for additional business development activities.

At the end of the third quarter of 1999, General Cable completed the second phase of the transaction to acquire BICC plc’s worldwide energy cable and cable systems businesses including ownership interests in businesses in Fiji, Portugal, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Angola, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore for a cash payment of $26 million, subject to adjustment. On September 2, 1999, General Cable completed the acquisition of BICC plc’s ownership interest in a wire and cable manufacturing joint venture based in Berlin, Germany with a payment of $21.9 million (collectively, the Acquisition). The Acquisition has been accounted for under the purchase method of accounting.

The purchase price was allocated based on fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition. There was no goodwill recorded in connection with the Acquisition. The results of the businesses acquired have been included in the consolidated financial statements since the respective closing dates.

The Acquisition combined BICC’s European, North American, Middle Eastern, Asia/Pacific and African operations with General Cable’s worldwide operations. The operations acquired include low-voltage, medium-voltage and high-voltage power distribution and transmission cable products, and control, signaling, electronic and data communications products and accessories, serving industrial, utility, OEM, military/government and electrical and communications distributor customers worldwide.

The following unaudited pro forma information presents a summary of General Cable’s consolidated statement of income and the acquired businesses of BICC plc as if the acquisition had occurred on January 1, 1998 (in millions except per share data):

                           
1999 1998


Net Sales $ 2,914.2 $ 2,808.9
Net Income 4.7 63.3
Earnings per share of common stock
Basic 0.13 1.72
Diluted 0.13 1.72

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GENERAL CABLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

These unaudited pro forma results have been prepared for informational purposes only. They do not purport to be indicative of the results of operations that actually would have resulted had the combination occurred on January 1, 1998, or of future results of operations of the consolidated entities.

In December 1999, the Company decided to sell certain businesses due to their deteriorating operating performance. On February 9, 2000, the Company signed a definitive agreement with Pirelli Cavi e Sistemi, S.p.A. (Pirelli), of Milan, Italy, for the sale of the stock of these businesses for a purchase price of $216 million, subject to closing adjustments. The closing adjustments will include changes in net assets of the businesses sold since November 30, 1999, resulting from operating losses and other adjustments as defined in the sale agreement (see Note 19). The businesses sold were acquired from BICC plc during 1999 and consisted primarily of the operations in the United Kingdom, Italy and Africa and a joint venture interest in Malaysia. The transaction also included a joint venture interest in China. Gross proceeds of $180.0 million were received during the third quarter of 2000 as a down payment against the final post-closing adjusted purchase price. Proceeds from the transaction have been used to reduce the Company’s outstanding debt.

As a result of the sale to Pirelli, the Company recognized a $34.3 million charge in the third quarter of 2000. This charge is related to severance, transaction costs, contingencies, the realization of the foreign exchange translation loss on the divested businesses that was previously charged directly to equity and $3.3 million related to the write-off of unamortized bank fees due to the prepayment of indebtedness.

The businesses sold produced net sales of $383.4 million and $369.0 million and an operating loss of $(96.2) million and $(3.3) million for 2000 and 1999, respectively. The Company retained certain businesses acquired from BICC plc consisting of operations primarily in North America, Spain, Portugal and New Zealand.

In September 2000, the Company acquired a Mexican manufacturer of telecommunications cables for $23.0 million. The acquisition brought in-house capacity sufficient to meet current outside plant telecommunications cable requirements as well as provide available capacity to meet anticipated future growth in demand for a broad range of telecommunications cables. The proforma effect of the acquisition is not material.

On June 30, 1999, General Cable purchased SpecTran Corporation’s joint venture interest in General Photonics for $2.3 million in cash. General Photonics, a manufacturer of fiber optic cables, was formed by General Cable Corporation and SpecTran in 1996.

4. Asset Impairment Charges

In December 1999, the Company recorded a $13.5 million impairment charge related to the fixed assets of the businesses the Company decided to sell to Pirelli.

In December 1999, the Company also recorded an impairment charge of $11.0 million related to notes receivable from its joint venture in Germany as a result of ongoing operating losses and the Company’s decision to liquidate such joint venture interest.

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GENERAL CABLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

5. Receivables

Receivables are net of allowances of $12.6 million and $16.4 million at December 31, 2000 and 1999, respectively.

6. Inventories

Inventories consisted of the following (in millions):

                         
December 31,

2000 1999


Raw materials $ 52.7 $ 68.0
Work in process 63.4 93.9
Finished goods 291.9 279.3


$ 408.0 $ 441.2


At December 31, 2000 and December 31, 1999, $338.6 million and $107.6 million, respectively, of inventories were valued using the LIFO method. Approximate replacement costs of inventories valued using the LIFO method totaled $332.4 million at December 31, 2000 and $109.7 million at December 31, 1999.

7. Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following (in millions):

                         
December 31,

2000 1999


Land $ 31.3 $ 48.6
Buildings and leasehold improvements 97.6 105.0
Machinery, equipment and office furnishings 322.0 309.3
Construction in progress 51.6 64.2


502.5 527.1
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization (123.1 ) (88.4 )


$ 379.4 $ 438.7


Depreciation expense totaled $52.0 million, $29.4 million and $18.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998, respectively.

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GENERAL CABLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

8. Accrued Liabilities

Accrued liabilities consisted of the following (in millions):

                         
December 31,

2000 1999


Customer rebates $ 17.9 $ 14.3
Insurance claims and related expenses 10.6 13.2
Payroll related accruals 25.2 17.8
Accrued restructuring costs 13.8
Customers’ deposits and prepayments 11.1 20.1
Other accrued liabilities 70.2 97.0


$ 135.0 $ 176.2


9. Restructuring Plan

In connection with the Acquisition, accruals of $23.3 million were established for restructuring activities related to the reduction of excess manufacturing capacity and excess administrative overhead costs. These costs principally represented employee separation costs and costs related to one manufacturing plant closing.

Changes in accrued restructuring costs were as follows (in millions):

                                   
Facility
Separation Closing
Costs Costs Total



Balance, Acquisition Date $ 21.5 $ 1.8 $ 23.3
Utilization (9.3 ) (0.2 ) (9.5 )



Balance, December 31, 1999 12.2 1.6 13.8
Utilization (12.2 ) (1.6 ) (13.8 )



Balance, December 31, 2000 $ $ $



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GENERAL CABLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

10. Long-Term Debt

Long-term debt consisted of the following (in millions):

                         
December 31,

2000 1999


Term loans $ 562.0 $ 710.2
Revolving loans 47.2
Other 21.7 29.2


630.9 739.4
Less current maturities 19.0 13.2


$ 611.9 $ 726.2


Weighted average interest rates were as follows:

                         
Term loans 9.8 % 8.6 %
Revolving loans 9.9 %
Other 6.4 % 6.3 %

The estimated fair value of the Company’s long-term debt at December 31, 2000 and 1999 was approximately equal to the carrying value at those dates because the majority of the Company’s debt has variable interest rates.

The Company’s current credit facility was entered into in 1999 with one lead bank as administrative agent, and a syndicate of lenders. The facility, as amended and reduced by prepayments, consists of: 1) term loans in Sterling, Euros and Dollars in an aggregate amount up to $73.2 million, 2) term loans in Dollars in an aggregate amount up to $488.8 million and 3) revolving loans and letters of credit in Dollars and foreign currencies in an aggregate amount up to $250.0 million. Borrowings are secured by assets of the Company’s North American operations and a portion of the stock of its non-North American subsidiaries and are also guaranteed by the Company’s principal operating subsidiaries. Through December 31, 2000, the Company had repaid $259.2 million of term loans in advance of their scheduled repayment date. This amount includes the proceeds from the Pirelli transaction which were used to reduce term loans by $133.5 million and outstanding revolving loans by $41.5 million. In conjunction with the reduction in the borrowing capacity of the facility, the Company recorded a $3.3 million charge to write-off a portion of its unamortized bank fees.

Loans under the credit facility bear interest, at the Company’s option, at (i) a spread over LIBOR or (ii) a spread over the Alternate Base Rate, which is defined as the higher of (a) the agent’s Prime Rate, (b) the secondary market rate for certificates of deposit (adjusted for reserve requirements) plus 1% or (c) the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus 1/2 of 1%.

A commitment fee accrues on the unused portion of the credit facility. The commitment fee ranges between 35 and 50 basis points per annum and the spread over LIBOR on all loans under the facility ranges between 175 and 325 basis points per annum. Both the commitment fee and the spread over LIBOR are subject to periodic adjustment depending upon the Company’s Leverage Ratio as defined.

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GENERAL CABLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Company amended its credit facility in January 2001 to permit increased financial flexibility including substantial alteration of financial covenants and the sale of the Pyrotenax business unit. As a result of the amendment, the Company’s spread over LIBOR increased by 25 basis points across all levels of its leverage- based pricing grid. One-time fees and expenses associated with the amendment were approximately $2.6 million and are being amortized over the remaining life of the credit agreement.

The credit facility, as amended, restricts certain corporate acts and contains required minimum financial ratios and other covenants. At December 31, 2000, the cumulative maximum dividend allowable under the most restrictive debt covenant was approximately $2.4 million.

At December 31, 2000, maturities of long-term debt during each of the years 2001 through 2005 are $19.0 million, $28.7 million, $44.1 million, $61.9 million, and $159.1 million, respectively, and $318.1 million thereafter.

11. Financial Instruments

General Cable is exposed to various market risks, including changes in interest rates, foreign currency and commodity prices. To manage risk associated with the volatility of these natural business exposures, General Cable enters into interest rate, commodity and foreign currency derivative agreements as well as copper and aluminum forward purchase agreements. General Cable does not purchase or sell derivative instruments for trading purposes.

General Cable utilizes interest rate swaps and interest rate collars to manage its interest rate exposure by fixing its interest rate on a portion of the Company’s debt. Under the swap agreements, General Cable will pay or receive amounts equal to the difference between the average fixed rate and the three-month LIBOR rate.

At December 31, 2000 and 1999, General Cable had interest rate swaps which effectively fixed interest rates for $12.5 million and $37.5 million, respectively, of borrowings under the credit facility as follows (dollars in millions):

                         
Fixed
Notional Interest
Period Amounts Rate



November 1999 to November 2000 $ 37.5 6.2 %
November 2000 to November 2001 12.5 6.2 %

During 1999, the Company entered into certain interest rate derivative contracts for hedging of the new facility floating interest rate risk covering $375.0 million of the Company’s debt. The net effect of the hedging program was to provide a collar between approximately 5.4% and 8.5% within which the Company’s LIBOR rates on a portion of the new facility could move and which was at no cost to the Company. The Company entered into these three year agreements with members of the lending group. The Company does not hold any collateral for these contracts, however; all counterparty members are significant international financial institutions.

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GENERAL CABLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The fair value of interest rate derivatives are based on quoted market prices and third-party provided calculations, which reflect the present values of the difference between estimated future variable-rate receipts and future fixed-rate payments. At December 31, 2000 and 1999, the net unrealized gain (loss) on the net interest rate derivatives was $(1.1) million and $0.6 million, respectively, while the carrying value was zero.

The Company enters into forward exchange contracts principally to hedge the currency fluctuations in certain transactions denominated in foreign currencies, thereby limiting the Company’s risk that would otherwise result from changes in exchange rates. Principal transactions hedged during the year were firm sales and purchase commitments.

The fair value of foreign currency contracts represents the amount required to enter into offsetting contracts with similar remaining maturities based on quoted market prices. At December 31, 2000 and 1999, the net unrealized gain (loss) on the net foreign exchange derivative contracts was $1.2 million and $(0.9) million, respectively. However, because these contracts hedge foreign currency denominated transactions, any change in the fair value of the contracts would be offset by changes in the underlying value of the transaction being hedged.

Outside of North America, General Cable enters into commodity futures for purchase of copper and aluminum for delivery in a future month to match certain sales transactions. At December 31, 2000 and 1999, General Cable had an unrealized gain (loss) of $(0.1) million on the commodity futures.

The notional amounts and fair values of these financial instruments at December 31, 2000 and 1999, are shown below (in millions). The carrying amounts of the financial instruments was zero at December 31, 2000 and 1999.

                                         
2000 1999


Notional Fair Notional Fair
Amount Value Amount Value




Interest rate swaps $ 15.1 $ $ 37.5 $ 0.1
Interest rate collars 375.0 (1.1 ) 375.0 0.5
Foreign currency forward exchange 58.2 1.2 60.9 (0.9 )
Commodity futures 6.4 (0.1 ) 3.2 (0.1 )




$ 454.7 $ $ 476.6 $ (0.4 )




In the normal course of business, General Cable enters into forward pricing agreements for purchase of copper and aluminum for delivery in a future month to match certain sales transactions. At December 31, 2000 and 1999, General Cable had an unrealized gain (loss) of $(1.6) million and $1.8 million, respectively. General Cable expects to recover the unrealized loss under these agreements as a result of firm sales price commitments with customers.

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GENERAL CABLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

12. Income Taxes

The provision (benefit) for income taxes consisted of the following (in millions):

                                   
Year Ended December 31,

2000 1999 1998



Current tax expense (benefit):
Federal $ (21.8 ) $ 4.3 $ 28.7
State (1.3 ) (0.7 ) 0.9
Foreign 9.4 7.6 0.5
Deferred tax expense (benefit):
Federal (6.9 ) 8.2 11.3
State (0.8 ) 1.0 1.3
Foreign 6.9 (1.5 )



$ (14.5 ) $ 18.9 $ 42.7



The reconciliation of reported income tax expense (benefit) to the amount of income tax expense that would result from applying domestic federal statutory tax rates to pretax income is as follows (in millions):

                                 
Year Ended December 31,

2000 1999 1998



Statutory federal income tax $ (14.3 ) $ 18.6 $ 39.9
State and foreign income tax differential (0.6 ) 0.9 1.3
Other, net 0.4 (0.6 ) 1.5



$ (14.5 ) $ 18.9 $ 42.7



The components of deferred tax assets and liabilities were as follows (in millions):

                             
December 31,

2000 1999


Deferred tax assets:
Net operating loss carryforwards $ 26.5 $ 53.3
Pension and retiree benefits accruals 1.8 3.9
Asset and rationalization reserves 8.9
Inventory reserves 7.6 5.6
Capital loss carryforwards 15.1
Tax credit carryforwards 5.6 4.2
Other liabilities 20.8 22.5
Valuation allowance (10.3 ) (28.0 )


Total deferred tax assets 67.1 70.4
Deferred tax liabilities:
Depreciation and fixed assets 23.2 19.9


Net deferred tax assets $ 43.9 $ 50.5


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GENERAL CABLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of December 31, 2000, the Company has recorded a valuation allowance for a portion of its capital loss and foreign tax credit carryforwards due to uncertainties regarding the future ability to generate sufficient capital gains and low taxed foreign source income, respectively. The valuation allowance recorded in 1999 for deferred tax assets of certain foreign operations has been removed due to the divestiture of such foreign operations.

In accordance with the provisions of Internal Revenue Code Section 382, utilization of the Company’s U.S. net operating loss carryforward is limited to approximately $5.4 million per year. The net operating loss carryforward expires in varying amounts from 2006 through 2013. Because of the Section 382 limitation, the portion of the Company’s total U.S. net operating loss carryforward that may be utilized through expiration is estimated to be approximately $66.5 million. The Company has $2.2 million of U.S. foreign tax credit carryforwards that expire in 2004 and 2005 and $3.1 million of alternative minimum tax (AMT) credit carryforwards that have no expiration date. The utilization of the AMT credit carryforwards is also subject to Section 382 limitations.

Undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries that are considered to be reinvested indefinitely are approximately $36.7 million.

13. Pension Plans

General Cable provides retirement benefits through contributory and noncontributory pension plans for the majority of its regular full-time employees.

Pension expense under the defined contribution plans sponsored by General Cable in the United States equaled four percent of each eligible employee’s covered compensation. In addition, General Cable sponsors employee savings plans under which General Cable may match a specified portion of contributions made by eligible employees.

Benefits provided under defined benefit pension plans sponsored by General Cable are generally based on years of service multiplied by a specific fixed dollar amount. Contributions to these pension plans are based on generally accepted actuarial methods, which may differ from the methods used to determine pension expense. The amounts funded for any plan year are neither less than the minimum required under federal law nor more than the maximum amount deductible for federal income tax purposes. Pension plan assets consist of various fixed-income investments and equity securities.

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GENERAL CABLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Net pension expense included the following components (in millions):

                                     
Year Ended December 31,

2000 1999 1998



Service cost $ 2.8 $ 2.4 $ 1.8
Interest cost 8.7 7.8 7.2
Return on plan assets (11.1 ) (9.7 ) (5.5 )
Net amortization and deferral 0.8 0.6 (3.5 )



Net defined benefit pension expense 1.2 1.1
Net defined contribution pension expense 6.9 8.0 2.3



Total pension expense $ 8.1 $ 9.1 $ 2.3



The following table shows reconciliations of pension plan obligations and assets (in millions):

                           
2000 1999


Beginning benefit obligation $ 116.0 $ 112.2
Acquisitions 8.8
Service cost 2.8 2.4
Interest cost 8.7 7.8
Benefits paid (8.3 ) (9.4 )
Amendments 8.3 1.1
Assumption change 0.4 (7.9 )
Actuarial (gain) loss (5.8 ) 1.0


Ending benefit obligation $ 122.1 $ 116.0


 
Beginning fair value of plan assets $ 119.4 $ 98.6
Acquisitions 8.1
Actual return on plan assets 0.4 14.5
Company contributions 5.1 7.6
Benefits paid (8.3 ) (9.4 )


Ending fair value of plan assets $ 116.6 $ 119.4


 
Funded status of the plan $ (5.5 ) $ 3.4
Unrecognized net transition obligation 0.6 0.6
Unrecognized actuarial gain (0.7 ) (5.6 )
Unrecognized prior service cost 11.9 4.9


Prepaid pension amount $ 6.3 $ 3.3


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GENERAL CABLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The weighted average rate assumptions used in determining pension costs and the benefit obligations were:

                                 
2000 1999 1998



Discount rate 7.75 % 7.75 % 6.75 %
Expected rate of increase in future compensation levels 4.5 % 4.5 % 4.5 %
Long-term rate of return on plan assets 9.5 % 9.5 % 9.5 %

For plans with an accumulated benefit obligation exceeding assets, the total accumulated benefit obligation, which equaled the total projected benefit obligation, was $20.7 million and $11.1 million and the fair value of plan assets was $7.4 million and $6.5 million at December 31, 2000 and 1999, respectively.

14. Post-Retirement Benefits Other Than Pensions

General Cable has post-retirement benefit plans that provide medical and life insurance for certain retirees and eligible dependents. General Cable funds the plans as claims or insurance premiums are incurred. Net post-retirement benefit expense (income) included the following components (in millions):

                                   
Year Ended December 31,

2000 1999 1998



Service cost $ 0.3 $ 0.3 $ 0.1
Interest cost 0.7 0.6 0.5
Amortization of prior service cost (0.8 ) (0.8 ) (0.8 )
Curtailment gain (1.2 ) (2.1 )



Net post-retirement benefit expense (income) $ (1.0 ) $ 0.1 $ (2.3 )



The curtailment gain in 2000 was the result of the elimination of certain retiree benefits. The curtailment gain in 1998 was a result of closing certain manufacturing facilities.

The change in the accrued post-retirement benefit liability was as follows (in millions):

                           
2000 1999


Beginning benefit obligation balance $ 14.7 $ 11.7
Acquisitions 3.9
Net periodic benefit expense (income) (1.0 ) 0.1
Benefits paid (0.9 ) (1.0 )


Ending benefit obligation balance $ 12.8 $ 14.7


The discount rate used in determining the accumulated post-retirement benefit obligation was 7.75% for the year ended December 31, 2000 and 1999 and 6.5% for the year ended December 31, 1998. The assumed health-care cost trend rate used in measuring the accumulated post-retirement benefit obligation was 8.0%, decreasing gradually to 5.0% in year 2005 and thereafter. Changing the assumed health-care cost trend rate by 1% would result in a change in the accumulated post-retirement benefit obligation of $1.0 million for 2000. The effect of this change would affect net post-retirement benefit expense by $0.1 million.

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GENERAL CABLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

15. Stock Options

General Cable has a Stock Incentive Plan under which a maximum of 4,725,000 shares, options or units of Common Stock may be issued. Stock options are granted to employees at prices which are not less than the closing market price on the date of grant. The majority of options granted during 2000, 1999 and 1998 expire in 10 years and vest and become fully exercisable ratably over three years of continued employment. Options granted during 1997 expire in 10 years and vest and become fully exercisable at the end of three years of continued employment. General Cable applies APB Opinion 25 and related Interpretations in accounting for the plan. Accordingly, no compensation cost has been recognized for grants under the stock option plan. If compensation costs for General Cable’s stock option plan had been determined based on the fair value at the grant dates for awards under this plan consistent with the method of SFAS No. 123, the proforma net income would have been as follows for the years ended December 31, (in millions except per share amounts):

                                   
2000 1999 1998



Net (loss) income:
As reported $ (26.4 ) $ 34.2 $ 71.2
Proforma (31.3 ) 28.6 67.6
Earnings (loss) per common share:
As reported (0.79 ) 0.95 1.93
Proforma (0.93 ) 0.80 1.84
Earnings (loss) per common share — assuming dilution:
As reported (0.79 ) 0.95 1.90
Proforma (0.93 ) 0.80 1.80

These proforma amounts may not be representative of future disclosures because the estimated fair value of stock options is amortized to expense over the vesting period, and additional options may be granted in future years. In determining the proforma amounts above, the fair value of each option was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions:

                                 
2000 1999 1998



Risk-free interest rate 6.3 % 5.9 % 4.9 %
Expected dividend yield 3.0 % 1.4 % 0.9 %
Expected option life 6.5 years 6.5 years 6.5 years
Expected stock price volatility 69.5 % 76.0 % 54.0 %
Weighted average fair value of options granted $4.92 $11.09 $13.78

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GENERAL CABLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

A summary of option information for the years ended December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998 follows (options in thousands):

                           
Weighted
Average
Options Exercise
Outstanding Price


Balance at December 31, 1997 1,649 $ 14.02
Granted 417 25.55
Exercised (19 ) 14.00
Forfeited (173 ) 15.57


    Balance at December 31, 1998 1,874 16.49
Granted 914 17.59
Forfeited (221 ) 18.01


    Balance at December 31, 1999 2,567 16.75
Granted 885 9.00
Forfeited (248 ) 15.03


    Balance at December 31, 2000 3,204 $ 14.74


As of December 31, 2000 and 1999, there were 1,706,000 and 126,000 exercisable stock options at an average exercise price of $15.86 and $23.56 per share, respectively.

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at December 31, 2000 (options in thousands):

                             
Weighted
Average
Weighted Remaining
Range of Options Average Contractual
Option Prices Outstanding Exercise Price Life




$  7 to $14 1,992 $ 11.93 7.4 years
$14 to $21 502 $ 14.24 8.0 years
$21 to $28 710 $ 23.01 7.6 years

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GENERAL CABLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

16. Shareholders’ Equity

General Cable is authorized to issue 75 million shares of common stock and 25 million shares of preferred stock.

Following consummation of its initial public offering in 1997, General Cable awarded 402,890 shares of restricted stock to executive officers and other key employees. The awards of restricted stock were made in settlement of obligations under existing long-term incentive arrangements. Restrictions on 224,320 shares expired on December 31, 1998, while restrictions on the remaining 178,570 shares expired in May 2000.

The table below summarizes information about restricted stock awarded during the following years:

                                 
2000 1999 1998



Number of shares awarded 9,257 210,317 38,097
Fair value of shares at date issued (in millions) $ 1.0 $ 4.4 $ 0.1

Restrictions on the majority of the shares issued during these years will expire ratably over a three-year period. Amortization of restricted stock awards was $2.0 million, $1.7 million and $1.0 million during 2000, 1999 and 1998, respectively.

In November 1998, General Cable entered into a Stock Loan Incentive Plan (SLIP) with executive officers and key employees. Under the SLIP, the Company loaned $6.0 million to facilitate open market purchases of General Cable Common Stock. The notes bear interest at 5.12% and mature in November 2003. A matching restricted stock unit (MRSU) was issued for each share of stock purchased under the SLIP. The MRSUs generally vest after five years of continuous employment. If the vesting requirements are met, one share of General Cable Common Stock will be issued in exchange for each MRSU. The fair value of the MRSUs at the grant date of $6.0 million, adjusted for subsequent forfeitures, is being amortized to expense over the five-year vesting period. There are 276,714 MRSUs outstanding as of December 31, 2000. Amortization expense related to the MRSUs was $1.1 million and $1.2 million during 2000 and 1999, respectively.

The components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) included $(7.8) million foreign currency translation adjustment and $0.4 million unrealized investment gains at December 31, 2000. At December 31, 1999, the components included $1.2 million foreign currency translation adjustment and $0.4 million unrealized investment gains.

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GENERAL CABLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

17. Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share

A reconciliation of the numerator and denominator of earnings (loss) per common share to earnings (loss) per common share assuming dilution for the years ended December 31, is as follows (in millions):

                                   
2000 1999 1998



Earnings (loss) per common share:
Net income (loss) (1) $ (26.4 ) $ 34.2 $ 71.2
Weighted average shares outstanding (2) 33.6 35.9 36.8
Earnings (loss) per common share $ (0.79 ) $ 0.95 $ 1.93
Earnings (loss) per common share - assuming dilution:
Net income (loss) (1) $ (26.4 ) $ 34.2 $ 71.2
Weighted average shares outstanding 33.6 35.9 36.8
Dilutive effect of stock options and restricted stock units 0.7



Total shares (2) 33.6 35.9 37.5
Earnings (loss) per common share - assuming dilution $ (0.79 ) $ 0.95 $ 1.90


(1)   Numerator
(2)   Denominator

The earnings (loss) per common share-assuming dilution computation excludes the impact of 2.3 million, 2.9 million and 2.2 million stock options and restricted stock units in 2000, 1999 and 1998, respectively, because their impact was anti-dilutive.

18. Segment Information

General Cable has three reportable operating segments: the Electrical Group, the Communications Group and the Energy Group. These segments are strategic business units organized around three product categories that follow management’s internal organization structure. Segment net sales represent sales to external customers.

The Electrical Group manufactures and sells wire and cable products which conduct electrical current for industrial, commercial and residential power and control applications. The Communications Group manufactures and sells wire and cable products which transmit low-voltage signals for voice, data, video and control applications. The Energy Group manufactures and sells wire and cable products which include low-, medium- and high-voltage power distribution and power transmission products.

Segment operating income represents profit from operations before interest income, interest expense or income taxes. Depreciation on corporate property was allocated to the operating segments. Corporate assets included cash, deferred income taxes, property, certain prepaid expenses and other current and non- current assets.

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GENERAL CABLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Summarized financial information for the Company’s operating segments for the years ended December 31, is as follows (in millions). Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior year to conform to the current year segment presentation.

                                                   
Electrical Communications Energy
Group Group Group Corporate Total





Net Sales:
2000 $ 1,331.1 $ 631.3 $ 735.4 $ 2,697.8
1999 1,063.0 520.1 505.3 2,088.4
1998 690.4 460.1 1,150.5
Operating Income:
2000 22.3 68.3 (51.1 ) 39.5
1999 20.4 61.0 19.4 100.8
1998 55.6 74.0 129.6
Identifiable Assets:
2000 601.5 340.1 189.7 $ 187.9 1,319.2
1999 589.3 254.3 565.2 159.5 1,568.3
1998 318.1 235.9 97.0 651.0
Capital Expenditures:
2000 15.7 13.0 27.3 56.0
1999 28.5 23.9 42.5 2.7 97.6
1998 30.8 39.1 5.6 75.5
Depreciation Expense:
2000 17.2 17.1 17.7 52.0
1999 11.5 14.0 3.9 29.4
1998 8.6 9.9 18.5

The following table presents revenues by geographic region based on the location of the use of the product or services for the years ended December 31 (in millions):

                                 
2000 1999 1998



United States $ 1,822.9 $ 1,421.5 $ 1,124.0
United Kingdom 324.4 295.0 9.4
Iberia 291.0 158.1
Rest of World 259.5 213.8 17.1



$ 2,697.8 $ 2,088.4 $ 1,150.5



The following table presents long-lived assets by geographic region based on the location of the asset as of December 31(in millions):

                                 
2000 1999 1998



United States $ 279.9 $ 263.7 $ 210.1
United Kingdom 6.8 74.8 0.7
Iberia 38.2 34.0
Rest of World 54.5 66.2



$ 379.4 $ 438.7 $ 210.8



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GENERAL CABLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

19. Commitments and Contingencies

Certain present and former operating sites, or portions thereof, currently or previously owned or leased by current or former operating units of General Cable are the subject of investigations, monitoring or remediation under the United States Federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund), the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act or comparable state statutes or agreements with third parties. These proceedings are in various stages ranging from initial investigations to active settlement negotiations to implementation of the cleanup or remediation of sites.

Certain present and former operating units of General Cable in the United States have been named as potentially responsible parties (PRPs) at several off-site disposal sites under CERCLA or comparable state statutes in federal court proceedings. In each of these matters, the operating unit of General Cable is working with the governmental agencies involved and other PRPs to address environmental claims in a responsible and appropriate manner.

At December 31, 2000 and 1999, General Cable had an accrued liability of approximately $5.7 million and $6.4 million, respectively, for various environmental-related liabilities of which General Cable is aware. American Premier Underwriters Inc., a former parent of General Cable, agreed to indemnify General Cable against all environmental-related liabilities arising out of General Cable’s or its predecessors’ownership or operation of the Indiana Steel & Wire Company and Marathon Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. businesses (which were divested by General Cable), without limitation as to time or amount. American Premier also agreed to indemnify General Cable against 66 2/3% of all other environmental-related liabilities arising out of General Cable’s or its predecessors’ownership or operation of other properties and assets in excess of $10 million but not in excess of $33 million which are identified during the seven-year period ending June 2001. While it is difficult to estimate future environmental-related liabilities accurately, General Cable does not currently anticipate any material adverse impact on its results of operations, financial position or cash flows as a result of compliance with federal, state, local or foreign environmental laws or regulations or cleanup costs of the sites discussed above.

As part of the Acquisition, BICC plc agreed to indemnify General Cable against environmental-related liabilities existing at the date of the closing of the purchase of the business. The indemnity is for an eight year period ending in 2007 while General Cable operates the businesses subject to certain sharing of losses (with BICC plc covering 95% of losses in the first three years, 80% in years four and five and 60% in the remaining three years). The indemnity is also subject to the overall indemnity limit of $150 million which applies to all warranty and indemnity claims in the transaction. In addition, BICC plc assumed responsibility for cleanup of certain specific conditions at several sites operated by General Cable and cleanup is mostly complete at those sites. In the sale of the European businesses to Pirelli in August 2000, the Company generally indemnified Pirelli against any environmental-related liabilities on the same basis as BICC plc indemnified the Company in the earlier Acquisition. However, the indemnity the Company received from BICC plc related to the European businesses sold to Pirelli terminated upon the sale of those businesses to Pirelli. At this time, there are no claims outstanding under the general indemnity provided by BICC plc.

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GENERAL CABLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Effective August 25, 2000, General Cable sold several of its businesses consisting of operations in the United Kingdom, Italy, Africa and joint ventures in Malaysia and China to Pirelli and received gross proceeds of $180 million as a down payment against the final post-closing adjusted purchase price. The closing adjustments will include changes in net assets of the businesses sold since November 30, 1999 in accordance with the sale contract terms.

General Cable and Pirelli have not yet agreed on the closing net asset balances. If the two parties are unable to resolve the disputed net asset adjustments, the dispute may proceed to arbitration under the terms of the sale contract. While the ultimate outcome of the above-mentioned matter cannot be ascertained at this time, based on information currently available, including a review of the proposed net asset adjustments, management of General Cable believes the outcome of the dispute will not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows of General Cable. Should a final settlement be reached that is materially different than that currently provided for in the balance sheet of the Company, the Company will have to recognize such difference in its income statement in the period the purchase price is fully settled.

In addition, Company subsidiaries have been named as defendants in lawsuits alleging exposure to asbestos in products manufactured by the Company. At December 31, 2000 and 1999, General Cable had accrued approximately $1.0 million and $1.1 million, respectively, for these lawsuits. The Company does not believe that the outcome of the litigation will have a material adverse effect on its results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

General Cable is also involved in various routine legal proceedings and administrative actions. Such proceedings and actions should not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on its result of operations, cash flows or financial position.

General Cable has entered into various operating lease agreements related principally to certain administrative, manufacturing and distribution facilities and transportation equipment. Future minimum rental payments required under non-cancelable lease agreements at December 31, 2000 were as follows: 2001— $14.5 million, 2002—$10.6 million, 2003—$6.7 million, 2004—$4.3 million and 2005—$2.1 million. Rental expense recorded under operating leases was $9.2 million, $13.8 million and $8.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998, respectively.

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GENERAL CABLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

20. Quarterly Operating Results (Unaudited)

The interim financial information is unaudited. In the opinion of management, the interim financial information reflects all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of quarterly financial information. Quarterly results have been influenced by seasonal factors inherent in General Cable’s businesses. The sum of the quarter’s earnings (loss) per share amounts may not add to full year earnings per share because each quarter is calculated independently. Summarized historical quarterly financial data for 2000 and 1999 are set forth below (in millions, except per share data):

                                         
First Second Third Fourth
Quarter Quarter Quarter Quarter




2000
Net sales $ 716.8 $ 757.0 $ 666.7 $ 557.3
Gross profit 76.7 82.7 84.4 79.1
Loss on sale of businesses 31.0
Net income (loss) (9.0 ) (4.3 ) (24.3 ) 11.2
Earnings (loss) per common share (0.26 ) (0.13 ) (0.73 ) 0.34
Earnings (loss) per common share - assuming dilution (0.26 ) (0.13 ) (0.73 ) 0.34
 
1999
Net sales $ 262.8 $ 438.6 $ 677.7 $ 709.3
Asset impairment charges (24.5 )
Gross profit 38.4 72.2 110.9 79.3
Net income (loss) 8.1 13.0 17.9 (4.8 )
Earnings (loss) per common share 0.22 0.36 0.50 (0.14 )
Earnings (loss) per common share - assuming dilution 0.22 0.36 0.50 (0.14 )

The results for the fourth quarter of 1999 include the impact of adjusting the Company’s full year effective tax rate to 35.5%.

21. Subsequent Event

In March 2001, the Company sold the shares of its Pyrotenax business to Raychem HTS Canada, Inc., a business unit of Tyco International, Ltd., for $60 million, subject to closing adjustments. The business, with operations in Canada and the United Kingdom, principally produced mineral insulated high-temperature cables. The proceeds from the transaction were used to reduce the Company’s debt. Results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2000 include net sales of $55.0 million and operating profit of $7.3 million from the Pyrotenax business.

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Schedule II

GENERAL CABLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Accounts Receivable Allowances
(in millions)

                                     
For the Years
Ended December 31,

2000 1999 1998



Accounts Receivable Allowances:
Beginning balance $ 16.4 $ 7.0 $ 7.3
Acquisitions/Divestitures (3.1 ) 11.6
Provision 2.2 1.1 0.8
Write-offs (2.9 ) (3.3 ) (1.1 )



Ending balance $ 12.6 $ 16.4 $ 7.0



S-1