BCE Announces Teleglobe and Excel Third Quarter Results All figures are in U.S. dollars and derived from U.S. GAAP financial
statements
MONTREAL (Québec),Nov. 13 2000 --On November 1, 2000, BCE Inc.
completed the acquisition of Teleglobe Inc. by acquiring all outstanding
common shares of Teleglobe Inc. not already held by BCE or its affiliates.
Beginning in the fourth quarter, BCE will be including results for Teleglobe
(Teleglobe Communications Corporation) and Excel (Excel Communications Inc.)
in its financial results.
In the interim, BCE is announcing Teleglobe and Excel's results for the
third quarter ended September 30, 2000.
Teleglobe (Teleglobe Communications Corporation)
Teleglobe revenues were $339 million in the quarter compared with $359
million in the same period last year, and a 6% increase compared with the
second quarter of 2000. Data and Internet services revenues reached $95
million in the quarter, a 56% increase over the same period last year due to
the strong growth in the Internet business. These revenues also represented a
28% increase over the second quarter of 2000. Voice services revenues were
$244 million in the third quarter, an 18% decrease over the same 1999 period
and flat compared with the second quarter of 2000.
Selling, general and administrative expenses were $51 million in the
quarter compared with $47 million for the same 1999 period and $54 million in
the second quarter of 2000.
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA)
was $12 million compared with $50 million in the third quarter of 1999 and
$(6) million in the previous quarter of 2000.
At the end of the third quarter, Teleglobe acquired short-term capacity
to respond to the strong customer demand and to reduce its backlog. Currently,
the backlog is $90 million.
Teleglobe continues to make progress on its GlobeSystem deployment. The
subsea 17 Gbps capacity is already in place and the satellite capacity is now
reaching 2.6 Gbps, up from 1.2 Gbps. Teleglobe is also ahead of schedule in
terms of points of presence (POP) deployment with 28 POPs already in place and
33 new sites currently underway.
Teleglobe today unveiled its plans to build-out eight global Internet
Data Centers (IDC) in 2001. The IDC's provide the support platform required to
meet global customer requirements for managed and enhanced network services.
Teleglobe will build-out 400,000 square feet of space in eight strategic
locations including Frankfurt, London, Miami, New York, Tokyo, Toronto and
Washington D.C. This is in addition to the 200,000 square feet of co-location
space being deployed as part of the enlarged POP configuration roll-out.
Excel (Excel Communications Inc.)
Excel's revenues were $267 million in the quarter compared with $362
million for the same 1999 period and $286 million in the second quarter of
2000. EBITDA was $22 million in the third quarter compared with $41 million in
the same quarter of 1999, and $(12) million in the second quarter of 2000.
Excel saw very good growth in representative recruiting compared to the
second quarter of 2000. Excel is also turning EBITDA positive for the
Teleglobe Business Solutions (TBS) commercial services division following the
transfer of the business from Teleglobe earlier this year.
BCE is Canada's largest communications company. Through its operations in
communications services, BCE provides residence and business customers in
Canada with wireline and wireless communications products and applications,
Internet access and high-speed data services, direct-to-home television
services and electronic commerce solutions. BCE has an extensive international
presence through Teleglobe, a leading provider of global broadband and
Internet services. BCE shares are listed in Canada, the United States and
Europe.
Teleglobe's third quarter 2000 conference call with analysts is made
available via an audio webcast from BCE Web site at www.bce.ca. The
webcast is
scheduled to begin at 10:00 AM eastern time today. The archive of the call
will also be available on BCE Web site.
A replay of Teleglobe's third quarter 2000 conference call with analysts
can be heard, on a continuous basis between 12:00 PM eastern time Monday,
November 13, 2000 and 12:00 PM eastern time Monday, November 27, 2000. To
access the replay facility, dial (416) 695-5800 and you will be instructed to
enter the access code: 584303.
Note:
Certain statements made in this press release, which describe BCE's or
Teleglobe's intentions, expectations or predictions, are forward-looking and
are subject to important risks and uncertainties. The results or events
predicted in these statements may differ materially from actual results or
events. Factors which could cause results or events to differ from current
expectations include, among other things: difficulties in integrating the
operations of BCE and Teleglobe, including achieving expected synergies from
the integration; uncertainty as to whether BCE's and Teleglobe's strategies
will yield the expected benefits, revenue projections, synergies and growth
prospects; the various risk factors associated with the GlobeSystem
initiative, including the following: the GlobeSystem initiative requiring more
capital than anticipated to complete, or not being completed in time, or not
providing the anticipated benefits, or insufficient financing being available
to BCE and/or Teleglobe to complete GlobeSystem, and the inability of
GlobeSystem to expand Teleglobe's business as expected; the ability of
Teleglobe to increase revenues from business segments other than voice
services in order to offset declining revenues in such business segment; the
potential technological obsolescence of Teleglobe's current network
technologies; materially adverse changes in economic and business conditions
in the markets Teleglobe serves; future regulatory actions and conditions in
Teleglobe's operating areas; changes in applicable laws and regulations; the
failure by Teleglobe to achieve its strategic objectives; the impact of rapid
technological and market change; increasing competition; general industry and
market conditions and growth rates; international growth and global economic
conditions, particularly in emerging markets, including interest rate and
currency exchange rate fluctuations; the inability to further identify,
develop and achieve commercial success for new services and technologies; the
level of expenditures necessary to maintain quality of service; the
availability and cost of capital; the extent of demand for traditional and
emerging services; the uncertainties of the Internet including the Internet
economy growing at a slower pace than is currently anticipated as well as
changes in laws or regulations governing Internet commerce; the availability
of, and ability to retain, key personnel; and the impact of consolidations in
the telecommunications industry. For additional information with respect to
certain of these and other factors, see the reports on Forms 6-K and 40-F
filed by BCE and Teleglobe with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission. BCE and Teleglobe disclaim any intention or obligation to update
or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.
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For further information: Jean-Charles Robillard, Communications,
(514) 786-3908; George Walker, Investor Relations, (514) 870-2488; Web site:
www.bce.ca |
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