MasTec Announces Third Quarter Results

November 07, 2001

MIAMI, Nov. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- MasTec, Inc. (NYSE: MTZ) reported third quarter pro forma net income of $5.6 million or $0.12 per share on revenue of $302.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2001, excluding charges described below, but including $10.0 million losses incurred by our network services group on revenue of $21.9 million. This compares to pro forma net income of $26.1 million or $0.53 per share on revenue of $382.3 million, which exclude severance charges of $1.7 million (before taxes), for the same period in 2000.

Net loss and loss per share including charges and costs for the quarter ended September 30, 2001 were ($75.2) million and ($1.57), respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2001, net loss and loss per share including charges and costs were ($74.1) million and ($1.55) per share, respectively on revenue of $969.7 million compared to net income and earnings per share of $57.9 million and $1.21, respectively on revenue of $ 952.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2000.

The pro forma financial results for the third quarter, including the segment information below, exclude charges of $126.5 million representing an increase in reserves of $106.7 million relating to receivables from telecommunications clients currently experiencing financial difficulties, a $10.0 million write-down of international assets and $9.8 million in severance charges.

Cash flow from operating activities was $12.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2001 compared to $17.4 million in the same quarter last year. We currently have available approximately $42.0 million in cash and credit under our credit facility. We also anticipate receiving approximately $41.4 million in income tax refunds in the first half of 2002 as a result of net losses reflected through September 30, 2001.

Revenue for the quarter from our top 10 clients accounted for 41% of North American revenue, compared to 26% for the same clients in 2000.

For the quarter ended September 30, 2001, days' sales outstanding were 102 days. Capital expenditures totaled $9.0 million for the quarter bringing the year to date amount to $32.5 million compared to $12.5 million for the same quarter last year and $40.7 for the nine months ended September 30, 2000. Included in the amounts for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2001 is $3.7 million and $6.5 million, respectively, in technology investments. The income tax rate was approximately 36% for the quarter, which is expected to be the tax rate in the fourth quarter.

We amended our credit facility to modify certain terms and conditions including interest rates and certain financial ratio coverage, which we currently meet. We are currently negotiating with existing and prospective lenders for a new credit facility. At the end of the third quarter, our debt-to-total capital was 39%.

"With the increased reserves and charges we have recorded this year, we believe we have taken prudent steps to substantially reduce our exposure to competitive telecommunications clients and to adjust to current conditions in the telecommunications infrastructure market," said Austin Shanfelter, MasTec President and CEO. "Our core business remains strong," Mr. Shanfelter added. "We continue to take a cautious near-term outlook and will continue "rightsizing" to become more efficient and productive and to adjust further to market conditions. However, we believe there are long-term opportunities in telecom, energy, broadband and government contracts, and we are redeploying our resources to take advantage of these opportunities."

Quarterly segment information (excluding the charges described above) is as follows:

Datacom Network Services revenue was $247.5 million in the third quarter, compared to $331.6 million in the same quarter last year. Operating margin was 7.5% in 2001 compared to 14.8% in the same quarter last year. The decline in operating margin was primarily due to approximately $10.0 million in losses on revenue of $21.9 million in our network services group. Excluding the network services units, margins were 12.6% in 2001. Losses for the network services group were primarily related to two short-term projects performed primarily in the quarter and overhead in excess of that needed to support a reduced revenue base. Further impacting datacom 2001 margins were demobilization and redeployment costs as we adjusted to reduced capital spending by telecommunications carriers.

Energy Network Services revenue was $39.1 million in 2001, compared to $33.9 million in the same quarter last year. Operating margin was 5.0% in 2001, compared to 7.8% percent in the same quarter last year. The decline in operating margin was primarily due to under-utilization of personnel and equipment related to certain contracts and start-up costs for new projects.

Our Brazilian operations reported revenue of $15.7 million ($R39.5 million) in 2001, compared to $16.8 ($R30.4 million) million in the same quarter last year, a growth in local currency terms of 30.0%, and generated a loss of ($1.0) million compared to break even in 2000 due to start up cost on new projects.

For the quarter ending December 31, 2001, the company anticipates revenue of $260.0 million to $270.0 million and earnings per share of approximately $0.12 to $0.14.

Members of the executive team will hold a conference call on Thursday, November 8, at 11:00 a.m. (EST) to discuss the Company's performance. The conference call number is (913) 981-4910. Please dial in to the teleconference 10-15 minutes in advance. A conference call replay will be available from November 8 through November 23 by dialing 719-457-0820, confirmation code 510458. Additionally, the call will be webcast. Please log on to http://www.videonewswire.com/event.asp?id=1848 to listen to MasTec's Earnings Conference Call.

Please visit MasTec's Investor Relations web page at http://www.mastec.com/frame_investor.asp for financial sections of the press release. These sections may be downloaded into Excel for your convenience in analyzing Company data.

MasTec is a leading end-to-end communications and energy infrastructure service provider in North America. MasTec <www.mastec.com> designs, builds, installs and maintains internal and external networks for leading telecommunications, cable television, energy and Fortune 1000 companies.

Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this press release and accompanying materials may contain forward-looking statements, such as statements regarding MasTec's future results and plans and anticipated trends in the industries and economies in which MasTec operates. These forward-looking statements are based on MasTec's current expectations and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, including that our revenue may differ from that projected, that we may be further impacted by slowdowns in our clients' businesses or deterioration in our clients' financial condition, that our reserves may be inadequate or our equity investments may be impaired, that we may experience increased costs associated with realigning our business or may be unsuccessful in those efforts, and that we may not continue to be in compliance with our credit facility covenants. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may differ significantly from results expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by MasTec. These and other risks are detailed in this press release and in other documents filed by MasTec with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our registration statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-90027). MasTec does not undertake any obligation to revise these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.

                                  MASTEC, INC.
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                 (In thousands)

                                              September 30,      December 31,
                                                      2001              2000
    Assets                                      (unaudited)
    Current assets:
      Cash and cash equivalents                    $22,035           $18,457
      Accounts receivable, unbilled
       revenue and retainage, net                  335,608           392,585
      Inventories                                   23,955            19,643
      Income tax refund receivable                  41,436                --
      Other current assets                          18,878            23,079
       Total current assets                        441,912           453,764

    Property and equipment, net                    151,649           159,673
    Intangibles, net                               257,217           262,398
    Other assets                                    45,528            80,510

      Total assets                                $896,306          $956,345

      Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

    Current liabilities:
       Current maturities of debt                  $77,258            $3,323
       Accounts payable                             91,955            85,797
       Other current liabilities                    75,342           122,207
        Total current liabilities                  244,555           211,327

    Other liabilities                               29,019            38,530

    Long-term debt                                 199,118           206,160

    Commitments and contingencies

    Shareholders' equity:
       Common stock                                  4,786             4,770
       Capital surplus                             347,777           346,099
       Retained earnings                            92,243           166,350
       Foreign currency translation
        adjustments                                (21,192)          (16,891)
              Total shareholders' equity           423,614           500,328

              Total liabilities and
               shareholders' equity               $896,306          $956,345

                                     MASTEC, INC.
                        CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                       (In thousands, except per share amounts)
                                     (unaudited)

                                       Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended
                                          September 30,       September 30,
                                         2001      2000      2001      2000

    Revenue :
        Datacom                      $247,486  $331,578  $811,805  $806,114
        Energy                         39,097    33,882   114,841   108,136
        Brazil                         15,660    16,819    43,029    38,420
                                      302,243   382,279   969,675   952,670
    Costs of revenue                  247,394   293,351   785,502   727,213
    Depreciation                       12,262    13,506    39,144    40,167
    Amortization                        2,377     2,467     8,025     8,643
    General and administrative
     expenses                          25,948    25,834    70,326    70,876
    Reserve / severance charge        116,474     1,708   156,174     1,708
    Interest expense                    5,346     4,516    15,211    14,375
    Interest income                       315     1,630     5,518     3,897
    Other (loss) income, net          (10,223)       (9)  (15,829)    5,244
    (Loss) income before benefit
     (provision) for income taxes
       and minority interest         (117,466)   42,518  (115,018)   98,829
    Benefit (provision) for income
     taxes                             41,970   (17,382)   40,786   (40,880)
    Minority interest                     255       (48)      125       (41)

    Net (loss) income                $(75,241)  $25,088  $(74,107)  $57,908

    Pro forma net income and
     earnings per share:
      Net income (1) (2)               $5,560   $26,103   $34,079   $56,123
      Weighted average common shares
       outstanding                     47,787    47,300    47,761    45,976
      Basic earnings per
       share (1) (2)                    $0.12     $0.55     $0.71     $1.22
      Weighted average common shares
       outstanding                     47,937    48,999    48,129    47,963
      Diluted earnings per
       share (1) (2)                    $0.12     $0.53     $0.71     $1.17

    Actual earnings per share:
    Basic earnings  per share          $(1.57)    $0.53    $(1.55)    $1.26
    Diluted earnings per share         $(1.57)    $0.51    $(1.55)    $1.21

    (1)  Excludes a $126.5 million and $172.7 million charge for the three
         month and nine months ended September 30, 2001, respectively.
    (2)  Excludes a severance charge of $1.7 million for the three months
         ended September 30, 2000 and a net gain related to non-core assets
         and severance for the nine months ended September 30, 2000 of $2.8
         million.

                                   MASTEC, INC.
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                  (In thousands)
                                   (unaudited)

                                               Nine Months Ended September 30,
                                                       2001              2000

    Cash flows from operating activities:
      Net (loss) income                            $(74,107)          $57,908
      Adjustments to reconcile net (loss)
       income to net cash provided by
        operating activities:
         Depreciation and amortization               47,169            48,810
         Minority interest                             (125)               41
         Gain on sale of assets                        (611)           (4,764)
         Write-downs of assets                      161,200                --
         Changes in assets and liabilities
          net of effect of acquisitions            (131,209)          (95,203)
    Net cash provided by operating activities         2,317             6,792

    Cash flows from investing activities
     Capital expenditures                           (32,526)          (40,734)
     Cash paid for acquisitions (net of
      cash acquired) and contingent consideration   (26,737)          (50,352)
     Other investing activities                      (3,156)           49,813
    Net cash used in investing activities           (62,419)          (41,273)

    Net cash provided by financing activities        66,168            61,341

    Net increase in cash and cash equivalents         6,066            26,860
    Effect of translation on cash                    (2,488)           (1,173)
    Cash and cash equivalents-beginning
     of period                                       18,457            27,635
    Cash and cash equivalents-end of period         $22,035           $53,322

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SOURCE MasTec, Inc.
Web site: http: //www.mastec.com http://www.videonewswire.com/event.asp?id=1848 http://www.mastec.com/frame_investor.asp
CONTACT: Carmen M. Sabater, Executive Vice President & CFO of MasTec, +1-305-406-1866, or csabater@mastec.com