EX-99.1 2 c89569exv99w1.htm NEWS RELEASE exv99w1
 

Exhibit 99.1

      

(BELDEN CDT LOGO)   Belden CDT Inc.
7701 Forsyth Boulevard, Suite 800
St. Louis, Missouri 63105
314-854-8000
www.beldencdt.com

November 4, 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BELDEN CDT ANNOUNCES RESULTS OF THIRD QUARTER

St. Louis, Missouri – Belden CDT Inc. (NYSE:BDC) today announced results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2004. On July 15, which was during the quarter, the Company, formerly called Cable Design Technologies Corp. (CDT), merged with Belden Inc. and changed its name to Belden CDT. For accounting purposes, the Company treated the merger as an acquisition by Belden. Results of the legacy CDT operations are included in 2004 results from July 16 onwards, or about 11 of 13 weeks in the third quarter.

Revenue from continuing operations in the quarter ended September 30, 2004 was $281.5 million, compared with Belden revenue of $155.3 million in the third quarter of 2003. Changes in currency exchange rates provided $5.5 million of the revenue increase. The loss from continuing operations was $1.0 million, or $0.02 per share, in the third quarter of 2004, including merger-related items and charges for severance and other restructuring costs, compared with a profit of $3.6 million, or $0.14 per diluted share for Belden in the third quarter of 2003. The 2003 third-quarter results included severance charges and a bad debt charge totaling $3.0 million before tax, or $0.08 per share.

Highlights of the quarter ended September 30, 2004:

    Revenue increased 14.7 percent compared with the third quarter a year ago for all continuing operations pro forma as if they had been combined for the full three-month period in both years.
 
    Net income from continuing operations, pro forma for the inclusion of CDT results for the entire 13-week quarter and adjusted to exclude the charges and the merger-related items, was $16.5 million, or $0.35 per diluted share. This adjusted pro forma result reflects an operating margin for the quarter (excluding charges and merger-related items) of 9.0 percent of sales.
 
    Earlier in the quarter, the Company announced and began the implementation of plant closings and other restructuring actions that will contribute to realizing the previously estimated $25 million annual merger synergies (to be achieved over the first 18 to 24 months after the merger). These actions resulted in charges for severance, asset impairment and inventory write-downs totaling $19.6 million before taxes, or $0.30 per share. The cash amount of these charges is $10.0 million.
 
    Belden CDT used cash to repay $64 million of notes on September 1, and ended the third quarter with $152.4 million of cash.

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Merger-related items during the third quarter of 2004 were $7.1 million before taxes, or $0.11 per share, including retention awards and other compensation as well as the gross-margin impact of the adjustment of CDT inventory to fair market value. The cash portion of the merger-related items is $3.9 million.

“We are very pleased with the positive impact of the merger on our first quarter of combined operating results,” said C. Baker Cunningham, president and CEO of Belden CDT. “During the quarter we moved forward with the cost reduction initiatives—including the announcement of three major plant closings to take place over the next two quarters—through which we plan to achieve the merger synergies we have projected. We also benefited from increased sales volume in most markets and from improved pricing. Our newly formed Networking Division has launched the Belden IBDN product line, which combines the Belden high-performance Bonded-Pairs premise cable with the proven connectivity solutions of CDT’s NORDX operation for a product offering that will provide outstanding performance and value to enterprise customers.”

The Company benefited from the favorable outcome of a prior-year tax matter that contributed to an effective tax rate lower than the statutory rate for the quarter and the year to date.

The Company’s convertible debentures were antidilutive for the quarter and for the year to date and were therefore not counted as shares in the calculation of diluted earnings per share, neither for the results as reported nor for the adjusted pro forma results.

A supplementary schedule shows pro forma results of continuing operations for Belden CDT for the third quarter of 2004 and 2003 as if combined at the beginning of the calendar quarters ended September 30, 2003 and 2004. The supplementary schedule also shows the adjusted results for the same periods excluding the merger-related items and severance and other restructuring charges. The Company believes this information is helpful to investors in understanding how the Company evaluates the performance of the business and gives visibility to trends in the business.

“The pro forma results adjusted to exclude charges and merger-related items begin to reflect the power of combining these two great companies,” Mr. Cunningham continued. “These adjusted results reflect revenue growth year-over-year of 14.7 percent. Our served end markets are showing recovery from the deep, unprecedented trough of last year. We are also seeing pricing opportunity in most of our global markets, offsetting increases our industry has seen in most raw materials. We are still early in our recognition of merger synergies in that we closed the merger only two and a half months before the quarter ended. Yet our adjusted pro forma results reflect gross margin of 24.1 percent, a 120 basis point improvement over the prior year, and operating earnings of 9.0 percent of sales, or $27.2 million, an increase of 75.3 percent compared with a year ago.”

YEAR-TO-DATE RESULTS

For the nine-month period ending September 30, 2004, Belden CDT revenue from continuing operations was $635.9 million, compared with $462.4 million for Belden in the first nine months of 2003. Net income from continuing operations of Belden CDT for the nine months ending

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September 30, 2004 was $7.3 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, compared with net income from continuing operations of Belden in the first nine months of 2003 of $5.3 million, or $0.21 per share. The results for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 included a gain of $1.7 million before tax for the sale of a Belden European business and the above-mentioned merger-related items and charges. The results for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2003, included severance charges of $4.9 million, asset impairment charges of $0.4 million, and bad-debt expense of $0.6 million (all before taxes).

SEGMENTS

The Company is reporting its business in two segments, Electronics and Networking. Each segment comprises operations from both Belden and CDT. Belden previously reported in two segments, Electronics and Communications, and its Electronics segment included networking products. Therefore results for the Electronics segment of Belden CDT are not comparable to the previously reported Belden Electronics segment. The former Belden Communications segment is now included in the Belden CDT Networking segment. In the year-over-year comparisons below, the segment results for the prior period reflect the current segmentation.

ELECTRONICS SEGMENT

Revenue of the Electronics segment for the third quarter ended September 30, 2004 (including results of legacy CDT operations from July 16 onward) was $172.0 million, and operating profit of the segment was $1.8 million. Included in this result were charges and merger-related items of $22.5 million. Revenue and operating income of this segment in the third quarter of 2003 were $106.7 million and $7.4 million, respectively.

Year-to-date 2004 revenue for the Electronics segment was $408.3 million (including results of legacy CDT operations from July 16 onward), compared with revenue for the first 9 months of 2003 of $317.4 million for the legacy Belden operations that are now part of the new Electronics segment. Year-to-date 2004 operating profit for the Electronics segment (including the second quarter gain on sale of a business and the segment’s share of current quarter charges and merger-related items) was $20.8 million compared with operating income of $20.2 million in the first nine months of 2003.

NETWORKING SEGMENT

Revenue of the Networking segment of Belden CDT for the quarter ended September 30, 2004 (including results of legacy CDT operations from July 16 onward) was $109.5 million, compared with revenue of $48.6 million in the third quarter of 2003. Operating profit for the segment was $7.4 million in the third quarter of 2004, including charges and merger-related items of $0.5 million, compared with operating profit in the third quarter of 2003 of $1.8 million.

Year-to-date 2004 revenue for the Networking segment was $227.5 million (including results of legacy CDT operations from July 16 onward), compared with revenue for the first nine months of 2003 of $145.1 million for the legacy Belden operations that are now part of the Networking segment. Year-to-date 2004 operating profit for the Networking segment (including the

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segment’s share of current quarter charges and merger-related items) was $13.2 million compared with operating income of $5.8 million in the first nine months of 2003.

OUTLOOK

Mr. Cunningham said, “We believe that the recovery our industry is experiencing is still in its early stages. We remain committed to recovering rising material costs through our pricing. We expect that overall revenues will continue to be relatively flat in the fourth quarter compared with the third quarter of 2004, and this represents continued significant year-over-year improvement. We expect that our margins, however, will be lower sequentially on an adjusted pro forma basis, compared to the third quarter, mainly because sales-per-day will be lower in our fourth quarter which has a few extra days. Further, we don’t expect a recurrence of the favorable tax item.”

The Company expects its effective tax rate for the fourth quarter and full year to be approximately 25 percent.

“I believe the potential of this Company to provide the highest quality products in the most attractive cable and connectivity markets sets us apart and provides a platform for excellent financial performance long-term,” Mr. Cunningham concluded.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements in this release other than historical facts are “forward-looking statements” made in reliance upon the safe harbor of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on forecasts and projections about the industries served by the Company and about general economic conditions. They reflect management’s beliefs and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance and they involve risk and uncertainty. The Company’s actual results may differ significantly from these expectations. Some of the factors that may cause actual results to differ from the Company’s expectations include management’s ability to accomplish planned cost reductions, management’s ability to successfully integrate the operations and processes of the merged Company and to retain key personnel, general economic conditions, demand for the Company’s products, pricing that can be achieved for the Company’s products, the actions of customers and competitors, the cost of raw materials (including copper and plastics) and transportation, and other factors. For a more complete discussion of risk factors, please see Belden’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, filed with the SEC on March 4, 2004, Belden’s 8-K filed with the SEC on May 25, 2004, CDT’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 31, 2003, filed with the SEC on October 29, 2003, CDT’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the SEC on June 3, 2004, and Belden CDT Inc.’s 10-Q filed with the SEC on October 26, 2004. Belden CDT Inc. assumes no responsibility to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future developments.

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ABOUT BELDEN CDT

Belden CDT Inc. is one of the largest U.S.-based manufacturers of high-speed electronic cables and focuses on products for the specialty electronics and data networking markets, including connectivity. The Company, formed in July 2004 through a merger of equals, had combined pro forma sales in 2003 of $1.1 billion.

Contact:        Belden CDT Inc.
     Dee Johnson, Director of Investor Relations
     314-854-8054
     www.beldencdt.com

Attached are comparative consolidated income statements for the three- and nine-month periods ending September 30, 2004 and September 30, 2003, and segment information for the same periods. Also included is a supplementary schedule reflecting pro forma income statement information for the three-month periods ending September 30, 2004 and September 30, 2003 as if Belden and CDT had been combined for the entirety of those periods and including adjusted results excluding the effect of charges and merger-related items.

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BELDEN CDT INC.


CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)


                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    September 30,
  September 30,
    2004
  2003
  2004
  2003
(in thousands, except per share data)
                               
Revenues
  $ 281,454     $ 155,297     $ 635,864     $ 462,414  
Cost of sales
    225,454       124,174       514,387       374,266  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Gross profit
    56,000       31,123       121,477       88,148  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    47,527       24,447       96,985       71,141  
Other operating expense
    8,871             8,871       352  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Operating earnings/(loss)
    (398 )     6,676       15,621       16,655  
Nonoperating earnings
                (1,732 )      
Minority interest in earnings
    225             225        
Interest expense
    3,537       3,131       9,870       9,620  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Income/(loss) before taxes
    (4,160 )     3,545       7,258       7,035  
Income tax expense/(benefit)
    (3,133 )     (39 )     7       1,700  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Net income/(loss) from continuing operations
    (1,027 )     3,584       7,251       5,335  
Net loss from discontinued operations (1)
    (2,409 )     (2,751 )     (9,728 )     (7,553 )
Net gain/(loss) on disposal of discontinued operations (2)
    (1,529 )           1,491        
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Net income/(loss)
  $ (4,965 )   $ 833     $ (986 )   $ (2,218 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Weighted average number of common shares and equivalents:
                               
Basic
    42,517       25,136       31,266       25,131  
Diluted
    42,517       25,439       31,643       25,348  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Basic earnings/(loss) per share:
                               
Continuing operations
  $ (.02 )   $ .14     $ .23     $ .21  
Discontinued operations
    (.06 )     (.11 )     (.31 )     (.30 )
Disposal of discontinued operations
    (.04 )           .05        
Earnings/(loss) per share
    (.12 )     .03       (.03 )     (.09 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Diluted earnings/(loss) per share:
                               
Continuing operations
  $ (.02 )   $ .14     $ .23     $ .21  
Discontinued operations
    (.06 )     (.11 )     (.31 )     (.30 )
Disposal of discontinued operations
    (.04 )           .05        
Earnings/(loss) per share
    (.12 )     .03       (.03 )     (.09 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 


(1)   Net of income tax benefit of $1,317, $1,547, $5,434 and $4,249, respectively.
 
(2)   Net of income tax expense/(benefit) of $(860), $0, $839 and $0, respectively.

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BELDEN CDT INC.


SUPPLEMENT to CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)


Three Months Ended September 30, 2004

                                         
            Legacy CDT           Charges and    
            Results for           Merger-   Adjusted
    As Reported
  July 1 – July 15
  Pro Forma
  Related Items
  Pro Forma
(in thousands, except percentages)
                                       
Revenues
  $ 281,454     $ 22,325     $ 303,779     $     $ 303,779  
Cost of sales
    225,454       17,327       242,781       12,319       230,462  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Gross profit
    56,000       4,998       60,998       (12,319 )     73,317  
As a percentage of adjusted pro forma revenues
                                    24.1 %
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    47,527       4,069       51,596       5,487       46,109  
Other operating expenses
    8,871             8,871       8,871        
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Operating earnings/(loss)
    (398 )     929       531       (26,677 )     27,208  
As a percentage of adjusted pro forma revenues
                                    9.0 %
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Interest expense
    3,537       204       3,741               3,741  
Minority Interest in earnings
    225       45       270               270  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Income/(loss) before tax
    (4,160 )     680       (3,480 )     (26,677 )     23,197  
Income tax expense/(benefit)
    (3,133 )     261       (2,872 )     (9,557 )     6,685  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Net income/(loss) from continuing operations
  $ (1,027 )   $ 419     $ (608 )   $ (17,120 )   $ 16,512  
Diluted earnings/(loss) per share from continuing operations
  $ (.02 )                           $ 0.35  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2003

                         
            Charges and    
            Merger-Related   Adjusted
    Pro Forma
  Items
  Pro Forma
(in thousands, except percentages)
                       
Revenues
  $ 264,792     $     $ 264,792  
Cost of sales
    205,229       1,046       204,183  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Gross profit
    59,563       (1,046 )     60,609  
As a percentage of adjusted pro forma revenues
                    22.9 %
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    47,113       2,026       45,087  
Other operating expenses
    3,945       3,945        
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Operating earnings
  $ 8,505     $ (7,017 )   $ 15,522  
As a percentage of adjusted pro forma revenues
                    5.9 %
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 

Charges and Merger-Related Items
For the three-month period ending September 30, 2004, the charges and merger-related items affecting cost of sales included severance charges, the impact of adjusting legacy CDT inventory to fair market value, and inventory write-downs for discontinued products. The charges and merger-related items affecting selling, general and administrative expense included severance charges and merger-related retention awards and other compensation costs. Other operating loss pertains to asset impairments. For the three-month period ending September 30, 2003, the charges affecting cost of goods sold and selling, general and administrative expense included Belden severance charges and related benefits costs and a Belden bad-debt charge. The other operating expenses pertained to a CDT restructuring charge.

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BELDEN CDT INC.
SEGMENT INFORMATION
(Unaudited)


(in thousands)

THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2004

                                 
    Electronics
  Networking
  Other
  Total
External customer revenues
  $ 171,972     $ 109,482     $     $ 281,454  
Affiliate revenues
    4,226             (4,226 )     -  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total revenues
  $ 176,198     $ 109,482     $ (4,226 )   $ 281,454  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Operating earnings/(loss)
  $ 1,777     $ 7,403     $ (9,578 )   $ (398 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2003                        
 
  Electronics   Networking   Other   Total
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
External customer revenues
  $ 106,663     $ 48,634     $     $ 155,297  
Affiliate revenues
    6,797       497       (7,294 )      
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total revenues
  $ 113,460     $ 49,131     $ (7,294 )   $ 155,297  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Operating earnings/(loss)
  $ 7,431     $ 1,781     $ (2,536 )   $ 6,676  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2004                        
 
  Electronics   Networking   Other   Total
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
External customer revenues
  $ 408,338     $ 227,526     $     $ 635,864  
Affiliate revenues
    24,906       646       (25,552 )     -  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total revenues
  $ 433,244     $ 228,172     $ (25,552 )   $ 635,864  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Operating earnings/(loss)
  $ 20,837     $ 13,227     $ (18,443 )   $ 15,621  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2003                        
 
  Electronics   Networking   Other   Total
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
External customer revenues
  $ 317,353     $ 145,061     $     $ 462,414  
Affiliate revenues
    22,940       1,289       (24,229 )      
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total revenues
  $ 340,293     $ 146,350     $ (24,229 )   $ 462,414  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Operating earnings/(loss)
  $ 20,162     $ 5,790     $ (9,297 )   $ 16,655  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

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