Nov. 4, 2009 (PR Newswire) -- SCHAFFHAUSEN, Switzerland, Nov. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Tyco Electronics Ltd. (NYSE: TEL) today reported results for the fiscal fourth quarter ended Sept. 25, 2009. The company reported net sales of $2.7 billion for the fiscal fourth quarter, an 8 percent increase sequentially and a 25 percent decrease compared to the prior-year period. GAAP diluted earnings per share from continuing operations were $0.18 for the quarter, compared to $0.19 in the prior-year period. Included in the earnings per share from continuing operations were $0.08 per share of restructuring and other charges, $0.09 per share of income tax related charges, and $0.04 per share of income related to a gain from the early retirement of debt. This compares to $0.46 per share of net charges in the prior-year quarter. Adjusted EPS from continuing operations were $0.30 in the quarter, compared to last year's adjusted EPS of $0.65.

"Our fourth quarter was a strong finish to a challenging year," said Tyco Electronics Chief Executive Officer Tom Lynch. "Sales increased 8 percent sequentially due to continued improvement in our automotive and consumer-related businesses which grew 17 percent. This more than offset the expected slowdown in our Undersea Telecommunications segment. The aggressive cost actions we initiated in response to the downturn, coupled with the sales increase, improved our adjusted operating margins from 5 to 8 percent sequentially. Further improvements in working capital enabled us to generate more than $600 million in free cash flow in the quarter, bringing our full-year free cash flow to more than $1.2 billion.

"In the first quarter, we expect our sales to be flat to up slightly due to continued strengthening in our Electronic Components segment, partially offset by the continued slowdown in our Undersea Telecommunications business. We expect another quarter of solid operating margin improvement."

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. All comparisons are to the fiscal quarter ended Sept. 26, 2008 unless otherwise indicated.

($ in millions)           Sept. 25, 2009 Sept. 26, 2008 $ Change  % Change
-------------- -------------- --------  --------
Net Sales                        $2,698         $3,576    $(878)     (25)%
Operating Income                   $176           $205     $(29)     (14)%
Restructuring and Other Charges    $(45)         $(165)
Impairment of Goodwill               $0          $(103)
--         ------
Adjusted Operating Income          $221           $473    $(252)     (53)%
Operating Margin                    6.5%           5.7%
Adjusted Operating Margin           8.2%          13.2%

GAAP operating income was $176 million, compared to $205 million of operating income in the prior-year period. Included in the current quarter were restructuring and other charges of $45 million. Included in prior-year operating income were $165 million of restructuring and other charges and $103 million related to an impairment of goodwill. Excluding these items in both periods, adjusted operating income was $221 million compared to $473 million a year ago, a decrease of 53 percent. The adjusted operating margin was 8.2 percent, compared to 13.2 percent a year ago -- reflecting a 25 percent decline in sales.

CASH FLOW

Cash from continuing operations was $549 million during the quarter, compared to $597 million in the year-ago period. Free cash flow was $608 million, compared to $437 million in the prior-year period. The increase in free cash flow was primarily driven by inventory reductions, as well as reduced capital expenditures versus the prior year.

ADDITIONAL ITEMS

--  In early July, the company repurchased approximately $152 million of
principal amount of its senior notes.  As a result, the company reported
a net gain of $19 million in the fiscal fourth quarter.

--  On Oct. 8, the company's shareholders approved a dividend in the form of
a capital reduction of $0.16 per share for each of the first and second
quarters of fiscal 2010.

ORDERS

Total company orders increased 25 percent sequentially in the fourth quarter. On a year-over-year basis, orders declined 8 percent. The book-to-bill ratio was 1.07 in the quarter. Excluding the company's Undersea Telecommunications segment, which is a project-oriented business with uneven order patterns, orders increased 12 percent sequentially and declined 17 percent year-over-year and the book-to-bill ratio was 1.05.

FIRST QUARTER FISCAL 2010 OUTLOOK

For the first quarter of fiscal 2010, the company expects sales of $2.7 to $2.8 billion, which is flat to a 4 percent increase sequentially. The company expects income from operations of $190 to $220 million, which includes restructuring and other charges of approximately $60 million. Adjusted operating income is expected to be $250 to $280 million. GAAP EPS from continuing operations is expected to be $0.25 to $0.29, including restructuring and other charges of approximately $0.10 per share. Adjusted EPS from continuing operations are expected to be $0.35 to $0.39, compared to adjusted EPS of $0.21 in the prior-year period. This outlook assumes current foreign exchange rates.

($ in millions, except per share amounts)
Q1 Outlook
----------
Sales                                                  $2,700 to $2,800
GAAP Operating Income                                      $190 to $220
Restructuring and Other Charges                                $(60)
Adjusted Operating Income                                  $250 to $280
GAAP Earnings Per Share                                  $0.25 to $0.29
Adjusted EPS from Continuing Operations                  $0.35 to $0.39

SEGMENT RESULTS

Tyco Electronics is comprised of four reporting segments: Electronic Components, Network Solutions, Specialty Products and Undersea Telecommunications.

Electronic Components

The Electronic Components segment is one of the world's largest suppliers of passive electronic components, including connectors and interconnect systems, relays, switches, sensors, and wire and cable.

($ in millions)        Sept. 25, Sept. 26,
2009    2008   $ Change % Change Organic Growth
------  ------   -------- -------- --------------

Net Sales                $1,632  $2,255   $(623)   (28)%     (24)%
Operating Income            $38     $29      $9     31%
Restructuring and Other
Charges                   $(24)  $(157)
Impairment of Goodwill       $0   $(103)
--   -----
Adjusted Operating Income   $62    $289   $(227)   (79)%
Operating Margin            2.3%    1.3%
Adjusted Operating Margin   3.8%   12.8%

Sales in the segment declined 28 percent compared to the prior-year quarter and increased 15 percent on a sequential basis. The segment experienced year-over-year declines across all end-markets, including automotive which was down 19 percent, computer down 37 percent, communications down 39 percent and industrial down 43 percent.

Operating margin and adjusted operating margin decreased primarily due to the sales declines and the negative impact of lower production to reduce inventory, partially offset by the company's cost reduction activities. The current quarter included $24 million of restructuring and other charges, compared to $157 million of restructuring and other charges and $103 million of charges related to an impairment of goodwill in the prior-year quarter.

Network Solutions

The Network Solutions segment is one of the world's largest suppliers of infrastructure components and systems for the communication service provider, enterprise networks and energy markets.

($ in millions)         Sept. 25, Sept. 26,
2009    2008   $ Change % Change Organic Growth
------  ------   -------- -------- --------------

Net Sales                  $436   $560     $(124)    (22)%     (18)%
Operating Income            $37    $65      $(28)    (43)%
Restructuring and Other
Charges                   $(14)   $(4)
----    ---
Adjusted Operating Income   $51    $69      $(18)    (26)%
Operating Margin            8.5%  11.6%
Adjusted Operating Margin  11.7%  12.3%

Segment sales declined 22 percent compared to the prior-year quarter and increased 3 percent sequentially. Compared to the prior year, sales to the communication service provider market declined 27 percent, sales to the energy market declined 20 percent and sales to the enterprise networks market declined 24 percent. The revenue decline was due to reduced capital spending by customers in these markets.

Operating margin and adjusted operating margin decreased primarily due to the sales declines, partially offset by the company's cost reduction activities. Restructuring and other charges in the quarter were $14 million, compared to $4 million in the prior-year quarter.

Specialty Products

The Specialty Products segment is a leader in providing highly-engineered custom solutions, components and connectors for electronic systems, subsystems and devices in the aerospace, defense and marine; medical; touch systems; and circuit protection markets.

($ in millions)        Sept. 25, Sept. 26,
2009    2008   $ Change % Change Organic Growth
------  ------   -------- -------- --------------

Net Sales                 $362    $459     $(97)     (21)%     (22)%
Operating Income           $47     $65     $(18)     (28)%
Restructuring and Other
Charges                   $(4)    $(3)
Other Items                 $0     $(8)
--     ---
Adjusted Operating Income  $51     $76     $(25)     (33)%
Operating Margin          13.0%   14.2%
Adjusted Operating Margin 14.1%   16.6%

Segment sales declined 21 percent compared to the prior-year quarter and increased 6 percent sequentially. Year-over-year, sales to the aerospace, defense and marine market declined 23 percent, touch systems declined 25 percent, circuit protection declined 14 percent, and medical decreased 16 percent.

Operating margin and adjusted operating margin decreased primarily due to the sales declines, partially offset by the company's cost reduction activities. Restructuring and other charges in the quarter were $4 million, compared to $3 million of restructuring and other charges and $8 million of other items in the prior-year quarter.

Undersea Telecommunications

The company's Undersea Telecommunications segment is a world leader in developing, manufacturing, installing and maintaining the world's most advanced fiber optic undersea networks.

($ in millions)         Sept. 25, Sept. 26,
2009    2008   $ Change % Change Organic Growth
------  ------  -------- -------- --------------

Net Sales                 $268    $302      $(34)     (11)%     (11)%
Operating Income           $54     $38       $16       42%
Restructuring and Other
Charges                   $(3)    $(1)
---     ---
Adjusted Operating Income  $57     $39       $18       46%
Operating Margin          20.1%   12.6%
Adjusted Operating Margin 21.3%   12.9%

Segment sales decreased 11 percent compared to the prior-year quarter and decreased 16 percent sequentially. Operating margin and adjusted operating margin increases were due to favorable project mix and execution. Restructuring and other charges in the quarter were $3 million compared to $1 million in the prior-year quarter.

ABOUT TYCO ELECTRONICS

Tyco Electronics Ltd. is a leading global provider of engineered electronic components, network solutions, specialty products and undersea telecommunication systems, with fiscal 2009 sales of $10.3 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. EST.
--  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" telephone participants and those participants who
wish to take part in the question-and-answer portion of the call, the
dial-in number in the United States is (800) 230-1059.  The telephone
dial-in number for participants outside the United States is (612)
234-9959.

--  An audio replay of the conference call will be available beginning at
10:30 a.m. on Nov. 4, 2009 and ending at 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 11, 2009.
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 117013.

NON-GAAP MEASURES

"Organic Sales Growth," "Adjusted Operating Income," "Adjusted Operating Margin," "Adjusted Interest Expense," "Adjusted Other Income (Expense), Net," "Adjusted Income Tax Expense," "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. It is also a component of the company's compensation programs. 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 numbers. 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 unusual items including charges related to legal settlements and reserves, restructuring charges, impairment charges 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 related to legal settlements and reserves, restructuring charges, impairment charges 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 unusual items including charges related to legal settlements and reserves, restructuring charges, impairment charges and other income or charges ("Adjusted Operating Margin"). The company presents and forecasts its Adjusted Operating Margin before unusual 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 interest expense before unusual items including costs related to the retirement of debt ("Adjusted Interest Expense"). The company presents Adjusted Interest Expense 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 Interest Expense and interest expense (the most comparable GAAP measure) is the gain related to retirement of debt. The limitation of this measure is that it excludes the financial impact of items that would otherwise either increase or decrease interest expense. This limitation is best addressed by using Adjusted Interest Expense in combination with interest expense (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 other income (expense), net before unusual items including tax sharing income related to the adoption of the uncertain tax position provisions of Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 740 (Income Taxes) and the gain on retirement of debt ("Adjusted Other Income (Expense), Net"). The company presents Adjusted Other Income (Expense), 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 (Expense), Net and other income (expense), net (the most comparable GAAP measure) consists of tax sharing income related to the adoption of the uncertain tax position provisions of ASC 740 and the gain related to retirement of debt 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 other income (expense), net. This limitation is best addressed by using Adjusted Other Income (Expense), Net in combination with other income (expense), 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 after adjusting for the tax effect of unusual items including charges related to restructuring, impairment charges and other income or charges ("Adjusted Income Tax Expense"). The company presents Adjusted Income Tax Expense 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 and income tax expense (the most comparable GAAP measure) is the tax effect of adjusting 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. This limitation is best addressed by using Adjusted Income Tax Expense in combination with income tax expense 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 before unusual items including charges related to legal settlements and reserves, restructuring charges, impairment charges, tax sharing income related to the adoption of the uncertain tax position provisions of ASC 740, 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 (the most comparable GAAP measure) consists of the impact of charges related to legal settlements and reserves, restructuring charges, impairment charges, tax sharing income related to the adoption of the uncertain tax position provisions of ASC 740, other income or charges and, if applicable, related tax effects.