Tyco Electronics Reports Strong Fiscal Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2010 Results

SCHAFFHAUSEN, Switzerland, Oct. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Tyco Electronics Ltd. (NYSE: TEL) today reported results for the fiscal fourth quarter ended Sept. 24, 2010.  The company reported a net sales increase of 16 percent year-over-year, and 2 percent sequentially, to $3.1 billion.  GAAP EPS were $0.56 for the quarter, compared to $0.18 in the prior-year period.  Included in the GAAP EPS were $0.10 per share related to restructuring charges and a loss on the sale of a mechatronics business, $0.02 per share of acquisition-related costs and $0.05 per share of items primarily due to shared tax matters.  This compares to $0.12 per share of net charges in the prior-year quarter.  Adjusted EPS were $0.72 in the quarter, compared to $0.30 in the prior-year quarter.

Full-year net sales were $12.1 billion, an increase of 18 percent over the prior year.  Organic sales growth was 17 percent.  GAAP EPS were $2.32 for the year, compared to a loss of $6.77 in the prior year.  Included in GAAP EPS were $0.22 per share of net charges, compared to $7.58 per share of charges in the prior year.  Adjusted EPS were $2.54 for the year, compared to $0.81 in the prior year.

"Our fourth quarter was a strong finish to a very good year," said Tyco Electronics Chief Executive Officer Tom Lynch.  "Our 2010 sales of $12.1 billion were up 18 percent over the prior year.  This growth was broad-based across our markets and geographies, driven by a recovering global economy and our ability to respond quickly during the rebound.  We also strengthened our market position during the year.  

"Full-year adjusted EPS of $2.54 were up from $0.81 in the prior year.  This improvement was primarily due to the sales growth and strong execution of our productivity improvement programs.  We also generated $1.4 billion of free cash flow.”

FIRST QUARTER AND FULL YEAR FISCAL 2011 OUTLOOK (EXCLUDES ADC ACQUISITION)

“For fiscal 2011, we are expecting organic sales growth of 4 to 7 percent and 12  to 20 percent adjusted EPS growth.  This excludes the ADC acquisition that we expect to close this quarter,” Lynch said.  “The sales growth assumes 2 to 3 percent global GDP growth, driven primarily by continued strength in developing markets, where we have a leading position.  We expect another year of strong cash flow and plan to increase our dividend by 12.5 percent in our third quarter of fiscal 2011.  Earlier this month, we announced that our Board of Directors approved a $750 million expansion of our share repurchase program.”

For the first quarter, the company expects net sales of $3.05 to $3.15 billion, an increase of 5 to 9 percent over the prior-year period.  GAAP EPS are expected to be $0.63 to $0.67, including restructuring charges and acquisition-related costs of approximately $0.03 per share.  Adjusted EPS are expected to be $0.66 to $0.70, up 40 percent to 49 percent compared to adjusted EPS of $0.47 in the prior-year period.  

For the full fiscal year, which includes 53 weeks in 2011, the company expects sales of $12.8 to $13.2 billion, an increase of 6 to 9 percent over the prior year.  GAAP EPS are expected to be $2.80 to $3.00, including restructuring charges and acquisition-related costs of approximately $0.05 per share.  Adjusted EPS are expected to be $2.85 to $3.05, compared to adjusted EPS of $2.54 in the prior-year period.  Approximately $240 million of the expected growth and $0.05 per share of EPS is due to the impact of the additional week in 2011.  Excluding the 53rd week, sales are expected to be up 4 to 7 percent organically and adjusted EPS will be up 10 to 18 percent.  

This outlook assumes current foreign exchange and commodity rates, and does not include results related to the pending acquisition of ADC.

ADC ACQUISITION UPDATE

As announced in July 2010, the company reached an agreement to acquire ADC (Nasdaq: ADCT) for $12.75 per share in cash, or an enterprise value of approximately $1.25 billion.  This acquisition is expected to position the company as a leading global provider of broadband connectivity products to carrier and enterprise networks.    

Integration plans are progressing as expected.  We continue to anticipate that the transaction will close in the current quarter and be accretive by $0.14 per share in the first 12 months after closing -- excluding acquisition-related costs.  

FISCAL FOURTH QUARTER 2010 RESULTS

The following discussion includes non-GAAP financial measures which are described at the end of this press release.  For a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures, see the attached tables.  All dollar amounts are pre-tax and stated in millions.

Sales grew 16 percent compared to the prior-year quarter and 2 percent sequentially.  Organically, sales increased 19 percent compared to the prior year and 1 percent sequentially.  By segment, and on an organic basis, sales in the Electronic Components segment were flat sequentially, with continued growth in industrial markets mostly offset by typical seasonal production declines in automotive.  Sales increased 6 percent sequentially in the Network Solutions segment due to increased capital spending in infrastructure markets.  Sales in the Specialty Products segment grew 5 percent sequentially, with broad-based growth in all markets.  In the Subsea Communications segment, sales decreased 14 percent sequentially.        

The adjusted operating margin was up 600 basis points versus the prior year to 14.2 percent, and down sequentially as expected.  

CASH FLOW

Cash from continuing operations was $474 million during the quarter, and free cash flow was $443 million. For the full year, cash from operations was $1.7 billion and free cash flow was $1.4 billion, up 15 percent versus the prior year.

ORDERS

Total company orders increased 3 percent compared to the prior year and decreased 9 percent sequentially.  The book-to-bill ratio was 0.95 in the quarter.  Excluding the Subsea Communications segment, which is a project-oriented business with uneven order patterns, orders increased 16 percent year-over-year and decreased 6 percent sequentially and the book-to-bill ratio was 0.99.    

ADDITIONAL ITEMS

• Dividend - The company’s Board of Directors approved a recommendation to increase the quarterly dividend by 12.5 percent to $0.18 per share for the four fiscal quarters beginning with the third quarter of 2011.  This recommendation will be presented for shareholder approval at the company’s Annual General Meeting of Shareholders in March 2011.
• Share Repurchases - On Oct. 1, 2010 the company announced that its Board of Directors authorized a $750 million increase in the share repurchase program to a total of $2.75 billion.  Approximately $1.9 billion has been utilized under the program to-date.  

ABOUT TYCO ELECTRONICS

Tyco Electronics Ltd. is a leading global provider of engineered electronic components, network solutions, specialty products and subsea communication systems, with fiscal 2010 sales of $12.1 billion to customers in more than 150 countries. We design, manufacture and market products for customers in a broad array of industries including automotive; data communication systems and consumer electronics; telecommunications; aerospace, defense and marine; medical; energy; and lighting. With approximately 7,000 engineers and worldwide manufacturing, sales and customer service capabilities, Tyco Electronics' commitment is our customers' advantage. More information on Tyco Electronics can be found at http://www.tycoelectronics.com/.

CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST

• The company will hold a conference call for investors today beginning at 8:30 a.m. EDT.
• Internet users will be able to access the company’s earnings webcast, including slide materials, at the “Investors” section of Tyco Electronics' website: http://investors.tycoelectronics.com.
• For both “listen-only” participants and those participants who wish to take part in the question-and-answer portion of the call, the telephone dial-in number in the United States is (800) 288-8976. The telephone dial-in number for participants outside the United States is (612) 332-0636.
• An audio replay of the conference call will be available beginning at 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 28, 2010 and ending at 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 4, 2010. The dial-in number for participants in the United States is (800) 475-6701.  For participants outside the United States, the replay dial-in number is (320) 365-3844. The replay access code for all callers is 170757.

NON-GAAP MEASURES

“Organic Sales Growth,” “Adjusted Operating Income,” “Adjusted Operating Margin,” “Adjusted Other Income, Net,” “Adjusted Income Tax (Expense) Benefit,” “Adjusted Income from Continuing Operations,”  “Adjusted Earnings Per Share,” and “Free Cash Flow” (FCF) are non-GAAP measures and should not be considered replacements for GAAP results.  

“Organic Sales Growth” is a useful measure used by the company to measure the underlying results and trends in the business.  The difference between reported net sales growth (the most comparable GAAP measure) and Organic Sales Growth (the non-GAAP measure) consists of the impact from foreign currency, acquisitions and divestitures.  Organic Sales Growth is a useful measure of the company’s performance because it excludes items that:  i) are not completely under management’s control, such as the impact of foreign currency exchange; or ii) do not reflect the underlying growth of the company, such as acquisition and divestiture activity.  The limitation of this measure is that it excludes items that have an impact on the company’s sales.  This limitation is best addressed by using organic sales growth in combination with the GAAP results. See the accompanying tables to this press release for the reconciliation presenting the components of Organic Sales Growth.

The company has presented its operating income before special items including charges or income related to legal settlements and reserves, restructuring and other charges, impairment charges, acquisition and integration costs, and other income or charges (“Adjusted Operating Income”).  The company utilizes Adjusted Operating Income to assess segment level core operating performance and to provide insight to management in evaluating segment operating plan execution and underlying market conditions.  It is also a significant component in the company’s incentive compensation plans. Adjusted Operating Income is a useful measure for investors because it better reflects the company’s underlying operating results, trends and the comparability of these results between periods.  The difference between Adjusted Operating Income and operating income (the most comparable GAAP measure) consists of the impact of charges or income related to legal settlements and reserves, restructuring and other charges, impairment charges, acquisition and integration costs, and other income or charges that may mask the underlying operating results and/or business trends.  The limitation of this measure is that it excludes the financial impact of items that would otherwise either increase or decrease the company’s reported operating income. This limitation is best addressed by using Adjusted Operating Income in combination with operating income (the most comparable GAAP measure) in order to better understand the amounts, character and impact of any increase or decrease on reported results.

The company has presented its operating margin before special items including charges or income related to legal settlements and reserves, restructuring and other charges, impairment charges, acquisition and integration costs, and other income or charges (“Adjusted Operating Margin”).  The company presents Adjusted Operating Margin before special items to give investors a perspective on the underlying business results.  Because the company cannot predict the amount and timing of such items and the associated charges or gains that will be recorded in the company’s financial statements, it is difficult to include the impact of those items in the forecast.

The company has presented other income, net before special items including tax sharing income related to certain proposed adjustments to prior period tax returns and other tax items and the gain on retirement of debt (“Adjusted Other Income, Net”). The company presents Adjusted Other Income, Net as it believes that it is appropriate for investors to consider results excluding these items in addition to its results in accordance with GAAP. The difference between Adjusted Other Income, Net and other income, net (the most comparable GAAP measure) consists of tax sharing income related to certain proposed adjustments to prior period tax returns and other tax items and the gain on retirement of debt. The limitation of this measure is that it excludes the financial impact of items that would otherwise either increase or decrease other income, net. This limitation is best addressed by using Adjusted Other Income, Net in combination with other income, net (the most comparable GAAP measure) in order to better understand the amounts, character and impact of any increase or decrease in reported amounts.

The company has presented income tax (expense) benefit after adjusting for the tax effect of special items including charges related to restructuring and other charges, impairment charges, acquisition and integration costs, other income or charges, and certain significant special tax items (“Adjusted Income Tax (Expense) Benefit”).  The company presents Adjusted Income Tax (Expense) Benefit to provide investors further information regarding the tax effects of adjustments used in determining the non-GAAP financial measure Adjusted Income from Continuing Operations (as defined below).  The difference between Adjusted Income Tax (Expense) Benefit and income tax (expense) benefit (the most comparable GAAP measure) is the tax effect of adjusting items and certain significant special tax items.  The limitation of this measure is that it excludes the financial impact of items that would otherwise either increase or decrease income tax (expense) benefit. This limitation is best addressed by using Adjusted Income Tax (Expense) Benefit in combination with income tax (expense) benefit (the most comparable GAAP measure) in order to better understand the amounts, character and impact of any increase or decrease in reported amounts.

The company has presented income from continuing operations attributable to Tyco Electronics Ltd. before special items including charges or income related to legal settlements and reserves, restructuring and other charges, impairment charges, acquisition and integration costs, tax sharing income related to certain proposed adjustments to prior period tax returns and other tax items, certain significant special tax items, other income or charges, and, if applicable, related tax effects (“Adjusted Income from Continuing Operations”).  The company presents Adjusted Income from Continuing Operations as it believes that it is appropriate for investors to consider results excluding these items in addition to its results in accordance with GAAP.  Adjusted Income from Continuing Operations provides additional information regarding the company’s underlying operating results, trends and the comparability of these results between periods.  The difference between Adjusted Income from Continuing Operations and income from continuing operations attributable to Tyco Electronics Ltd. (the most comparable GAAP measure) consists of the impact of charges or income related to legal settlements and reserves, restructuring and other charges, impairment charges, acquisition and integration costs, tax sharing income related to certain proposed adjustments to prior period tax returns and other tax items, certain significant special tax items, other income or charges, and, if applicable, related tax effects.  The limitation of this measure is that it excludes the financial impact of items that would otherwise either increase or decrease the company’s reported results. This limitation is best addressed by using Adjusted Income from Continuing Operations in combination with income from continuing operations attributable to Tyco Electronics Ltd. (the most comparable GAAP measure) in order to better understand the amounts, character and impact of any increase or decrease in reported amounts.

The company has presented diluted earnings per share from continuing operations attributable to Tyco Electronics Ltd. before special items, including charges or income related to legal settlements and reserves, restructuring and other charges, impairment charges, acquisition and integration costs, tax sharing income related to certain proposed adjustments to prior period tax returns and other tax items, certain significant special tax items, other income or charges, and, if applicable, related tax effects (“Adjusted Earnings Per Share”). The company presents Adjusted Earnings Per Share because it believes that it is appropriate for investors to consider results excluding these items in addition to its results in accordance with GAAP.  The company believes such a measure provides a picture of its results that is more comparable among periods since it excludes the impact of special items, which may recur, but tend to be irregular as to timing, thereby making comparisons between periods more difficult. This limitation is best addressed by using Adjusted Earnings Per Share in combination with diluted earnings per share from continuing operations attributable to Tyco Electronics Ltd. (the most comparable GAAP measure) in order to better understand the amounts, character and impact of any increase or decrease on reported results.

“Free Cash Flow” (FCF) is a useful measure of the company’s cash generation which is free from any significant existing obligation.  The difference between cash flows from operating activities (the most comparable GAAP measure) and FCF (the non-GAAP measure) consists mainly of significant cash outflows that the company believes are useful to identify.  FCF permits management and investors to gain insight into the amount that management employs to measure cash that is free from any significant existing obligation.  The difference reflects the impact from:

• net capital expenditures,
• voluntary pension contributions, and
• cash impact of special items.

Net capital expenditures are subtracted because they represent long-term commitments.  Voluntary pension contributions are subtracted from the GAAP measure because this activity is driven by economic financing decisions rather than operating activity.  The company forecasts its cash flow results excluding any voluntary pension contributions because it has not yet made a determination about the amount and timing of any such future contributions.  In addition, the company’s forecast excludes the cash impact of special items because the company cannot predict the amount and timing of such items.

The limitation associated with using FCF is that it subtracts cash items that are ultimately within management’s and the Board of Directors’ discretion to direct and that therefore may imply that there is less or more cash that is available for the company's programs than the most comparable GAAP measure.  This limitation is best addressed by using FCF in combination with the GAAP cash flow results.

FCF as presented herein may not be comparable to similarly-titled measures reported by other companies.  The measure should be used in conjunction with other GAAP financial measures.  Investors are urged to read the company’s financial statements as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as the accompanying tables to this press release that show all the elements of the GAAP measures of Cash Flows from Operating Activities, Cash Flows from Investing Activities, Cash Flows from Financing Activities and a reconciliation of the company's total cash and cash equivalents for the period.  See the accompanying tables to this press release for a cash flow statement presented in accordance with GAAP and a reconciliation presenting the components of FCF.

Because the company does not predict the amount and timing of special items that might occur in the future, and its forecasts are developed at a level of detail different than that used to prepare GAAP-based financial measures, the company does not provide reconciliations to GAAP of its forward-looking financial measures.

CORRECTION OF IMMATERIAL ERRORS

During the third quarter of fiscal 2010, the company identified certain errors in its accounting for income taxes. These errors related to the adoption of the uncertain tax position provisions of ASC 740, Income Taxes, in fiscal 2008 and data utilized in the determination of the company’s income tax provision in fiscal 2005 through fiscal 2009.  

The company evaluated the effects of these errors individually and in the aggregate and determined that its prior period financial statements are not materially misstated.  However, the company determined that the cumulative effect of correcting these errors in fiscal 2010 would be material to the fiscal 2010 financial statements.  Therefore, the company corrected these errors in the affected prior periods.  More information related to these corrections is provided in the schedules attached accompanying this press release.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release may contain certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to risks, uncertainty and changes in circumstances, which may cause actual results, performance, financial condition or achievements to differ materially from anticipated results, performance, financial condition or achievements. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature are forward-looking and the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “estimate,” “plan,” and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Tyco Electronics has no intention and is under no obligation to update or alter (and expressly disclaims any such intention or obligation to do so) its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by law.  The forward-looking statements in this release include statements addressing our future financial condition and operating results and the acquisition of ADC Telecommunications, Inc. (ADC). Examples of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements include, among others, business, economic, competitive and regulatory risks, such as developments in the credit markets; conditions affecting demand for products, particularly the automotive industry and the telecommunications, computer and consumer electronics industries; future goodwill impairment; competition and pricing pressure; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and commodity prices; political, economic and military instability in countries in which we operate; compliance with current and future environmental and other laws and regulations; the possible effects on us of changes in tax laws, tax treaties and other legislation; the risk that the ADC transaction may not be consummated; the risk that a regulatory approval that may be required for the transaction is not obtained or is obtained subject to conditions that are not anticipated; the risk that ADC will not be integrated successfully into Tyco Electronics; and the risk that revenue opportunities, cost savings and other anticipated synergies from the transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected. More detailed information about these and other factors is set forth in Tyco Electronics’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended Sept. 25, 2009 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended Dec. 25, 2009, March 26, 2010 and June 25, 2010, as well as in Tyco Electronics’ Current Reports on Form 8-K and other reports filed by Tyco Electronics with the Securities and Exchange Commission.