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Global Crossing Reports GCUK's Second Quarter 2006 Results
- GCUK revenue reached inflection point.
- Global Crossing announced intention to make a formal offer for UK-based Fibernet.
- GCUK credit rating upgraded to B3 by Moody's Investor Service.
Florham Park, NJ - September 6, 2006 -- Global Crossing (NASDAQ: GLBC) today announced unaudited financial results for its subsidiary, Global Crossing (UK) Telecommunications Limited (GCUK), for the second quarter of 2006.
Highlights
Having achieved its first sequential growth of recurring revenue in six quarters, GCUK has returned to a trend of revenue growth. The company's long-standing customer relationships in the government and rail sectors, as well as new corporate customers, have helped to propel this growth. In another move expected to enhance Global Crossing's penetration of the UK market, Global Crossing Limited recently announced its intention to make a recommended offer for Fibernet Group Plc for cash in a transaction valued at up to 50.6 million British pounds sterling (US$96.1 million). A formal offer document will be posted this month and will be subject to certain closing conditions. Completion of the offer would accelerate Global Crossing's development by increasing and diversifying its UK client base through the addition of Fibernet's UK corporate and carrier customers.
GCUK's continued financial performance was also positively reflected in its recently upgraded credit rating. On August 28, 2006, Moody's Investor Service upgraded GCUK's rating from Caa1 to B3 with a stable outlook. The rating agency stated that it recognized GCUK's positive track record since its initial rating assignment in December of 2004, as well as the improved financial condition of GCUK's parent, Global Crossing Limited, following the successful closing of two public offerings in May 2006. The offerings comprised $240 million in common equity and $144 million in convertible notes.
"For the first time in six quarters, our UK business has begun to show an increase in revenue, signaling an important turning point for future growth," said John Legere, Global Crossing's chief executive officer. "This positive development, combined with stable financials, new logo wins and the recent upgrade of our credit rating, shows that our UK business is healthy and will continue to be a strong contributor to Global Crossing as a whole. In addition, we recently announced our intention to make a recommended offer for Fibernet; completion of the offer would help to boost Global Crossing's opportunity and market share in the UK."
Revenue and Margin
GCUK's revenue increased 2 percent to 60 million pounds in the second quarter of 2006. New customers such as the Crown Prosecution Service and Learning and Skills Council contributed significantly to the sequential improvement, and more recent wins for IP VPN services from National Express Group and health-and-beauty retailer Superdrug Stores will continue to bolster revenue growth in coming quarters. The "invest and grow" segment - that part of the business serving multinational enterprises and service providers with innovative IP services - accounted for 98 percent of GCUK's revenue during the second quarter.
Adjusted gross margin (as defined in table 7 below) was 40 million pounds sterling for the second quarter of 2006, compared with 41 million pounds in the first quarter. The sequential decline was attributable to additional cost of access expense resulting from provisioning of new "invest and grow" customers in the second quarter.
Earnings
GCUK's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) for the second quarter, as defined in Table 5 that follows, was 13 million pounds sterling, compared with 14 million pounds in the first quarter of 2006.
GCUK's net income for the second quarter of 2006 was 6 million pounds sterling, compared with net income of 5 million pounds sterling in the first quarter.
Cash Position
As of June 30, 2006, GCUK had 23 million pounds sterling of cash and cash equivalents. During the second quarter of 2006, GCUK paid 12 million pounds in interest on its senior notes, and 5 million pounds for capital expenditures and principal payments on capital leases. In May, GCUK provided intercompany loans denominated in dollars at a cash cost of 28 million pounds to other subsidiaries of Global Crossing Limited (GCL). The loans are guaranteed by GCL, have an effective interest rate of 13.5 percent and mature at the same time that the outstanding principal on GCUK's senior secured notes is due.
Consistent with the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC's) Regulation G, the attached schedules include definitions of EBITDA and adjusted gross margin, which are non-GAAP financial metrics, as well as reconciliations of such measures to the most directly comparable financial metrics calculated and presented in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
International Financial Reporting Standards
GCUK's results reported here include unaudited financial results for the three- and six-months ended June 30, 2006 and June 30, 2005, and an audited consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2005, in accordance with IFRS, as adopted by the European Union. GCUK's second quarter 2006 and 2005 results were included in Global Crossing's consolidated results previously reported on August 9, 2006, in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (U.S. GAAP).
Conference Call
Management has scheduled a conference call for Wednesday, September 6, 2006 at 9:00 a.m. EDT/2:00 p.m. BST to discuss GCUK's financial results. The call may be accessed by dialing +1 212 896 6027 or +44 (0) 870 001 3140. Callers are advised to dial in 15 minutes prior to the 9:00 a.m. EDT start time. The call will also be Webcast at investors.globalcrossing.com/results.cfm.
A replay of the call will be available on Wednesday, September 6, 2006 beginning at 11:00 a.m. EDT/4:00 p.m. BST and will be accessible until Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. EDT/4:00 p.m. BST. To access the replay, dial +1 402 977 9140 or +1 800 633 8284 and enter reservation number 21302140. UK callers may access the replay by dialing +44 (0) 870 000 3081 or 0800 692 0831 and entering reservation number 21302140.
ABOUT GLOBAL CROSSING (UK) TELECOMMUNICATIONS LIMITED
Global Crossing (UK) Telecommunications Limited provides a full range of managed telecommunications services in a secure environment ideally suited for IP-based business applications. The company provides managed voice, data, Internet and e-commerce solutions to the strong and established commercial customer base, including more than 100 UK government departments, as well as systems integrators, rail sector customers and major corporate clients. In addition, GCUK provides carrier services to national and international communications service providers.
Global Crossing (UK) Telecommunications operates a high-capacity UK network connecting 150 towns and cities and reaching within just over one mile of 64 percent of UK businesses. The UK network is linked into the wider Global Crossing network that connects more than 300 major cities in 28 countries worldwide, and delivers services to more than 600 cities in 60 countries and 6 continents around the globe.
ABOUT GLOBAL CROSSING
Global Crossing provides telecommunications solutions over the world's first integrated global IP-based network. Its core network connects more than 300 cities in 28 countries worldwide, and delivers services to more than 600 cities in 60 countries and 6 continents around the globe. Global Crossing's global sales and support model matches the network footprint and, like the network, delivers a consistent customer experience worldwide.
Global Crossing IP services are global in scale, linking the world's enterprises, governments and carriers with customers, employees and partners worldwide in a secure environment that is ideally suited for IP-based business applications, allowing e-commerce to thrive. Global Crossing offers a full range of managed data and voice products including Global Crossing IP VPN Service, Global Crossing Managed Services and Global Crossing VoIP services, to 36 percent of the Fortune 500, as well as 700 carriers, mobile operators and ISPs.
Please visit www.globalcrossing.com for more information about Global Crossing.
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This press release contains statements about expected future events and financial results that are forward-looking and subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause GCUK's actual results to differ materially, including: the possibility that the proposed acquisition of Fibernet is not completed due to the failure of a closing condition or the making of a superior offer by another bidder; the material weakness in the company's internal controls and the possible difficulties and delays it faces in improving such controls; increased competition and pricing pressures resulting from technology advances and regulatory changes; competitive disadvantages relative to competitors with superior resources; the concentration of revenue in a limited number of customers, and the rights of such customers to terminate their contracts or to simply cease purchasing services thereunder; covenants in the senior notes indenture which restrict financial and operational flexibility; slower than anticipated adoption by the industry of next generation products; the influence of the company's parent, and possible conflicts of interest of the parent or of certain of the company's directors; exposure to unreserved contingent liabilities; and other risks referenced from time to time in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company undertakes no duty to update information contained in this press release or in other public disclosures at any time.
CONTACT GLOBAL CROSSING:
Press Contact
Becky Yeamans
+ 1 973 937 0155
PR@globalcrossing.com
Kendra Langlie
Latin America
+ 1 305 808 5912
LatAmPR@globalcrossing.com
Mish Desmidt
Europe
+ 44 (0) 1256 732 866
EuropePR@globalcrossing.com
Analysts/Investors Contact
Laurinda Pang
+ 1 800 836 0342
glbc@globalcrossing.com
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