L-3 Announces First Quarter 2010 Results

L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: LLL) today reported diluted earnings per share (diluted EPS) of $1.87 for the quarter ended March 26, 2010 (2010 first quarter), up 13% compared to $1.66 for the quarter ended March 27, 2009 (2009 first quarter). Net sales of $3.6 billion declined slightly compared to the 2009 first quarter.

"It was a solid start to the year,” said Michael T. Strianese, chairman, president and chief executive officer. "We generated strong operating results, cash flow and EPS driven by continued outstanding performance in our ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) businesses and expanding margins in our Electronic Systems segment. During the first quarter, we continued to focus on shareholder value by repurchasing $123 million of our common stock and paying cash dividends of $47 million. Our Board of Directors also increased L-3’s quarterly cash dividend by 14% to $0.40 per share. Additionally, on April 14, 2010, we completed our acquisition of Insight Technology, a manufacturer of mission critical night vision and electro-optical equipment for the warfighter.”

Consolidated Results

First Quarter Results of Operations: For the 2010 first quarter, consolidated net sales of $3.6 billion declined slightly compared to the 2009 first quarter. Sales growth from the Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C³ISR) reportable segment was offset by lower sales from the Government Services, Aircraft Modernization and Maintenance (AM&M) and Electronic Systems reportable segments. Net sales from acquired businesses⁽¹⁾ were $16 million.

The 2010 first quarter operating income increased by 9% compared to the 2009 first quarter. Operating income as a percentage of sales (operating margin) increased to 11.3% for the 2010 first quarter from 10.3% for the 2009 first quarter. The operating margin increase was primarily driven by improved contract performance and favorable sales mix for businesses in the C³ISR and Electronic Systems reportable segments. In addition, lower pension expense of $5 million ($3 million after income taxes, or $0.03 per diluted share) increased operating margin by 10 basis points. See segment results below for additional discussion of segment operating margin.

Net interest expense and other income decreased by $3 million for the 2010 first quarter compared to the same period last year. This decrease was due to lower outstanding debt and increased income from investments accounted for using the equity method.

The effective tax rate for the 2010 first quarter increased by 80 basis points compared to the same quarter last year primarily due to the expiration of the U.S. Federal research and experimentation tax credit as of December 31, 2009. In addition, the 2010 first quarter includes a tax provision of $5 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, related to the U.S. Federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which changed the tax treatment for certain retiree prescription drug benefits.

In the 2010 first quarter as compared to the 2009 first quarter, net income attributable to L-3 increased by $22 million and diluted EPS increased by $0.21, or 13%, to $1.87 from $1.66. Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding for the 2010 first quarter compared to the 2009 first quarter declined by 2% due to share repurchases of L-3 common stock made during the past year.

Orders: Funded orders for the 2010 first quarter decreased 3% to $3.6 billion compared to $3.8 billion for the 2009 first quarter. Funded backlog was $10.8 billion at March 26, 2010, compared to $10.9 billion at Dec. 31, 2009. Funded backlog declined slightly because of negative foreign currency translation adjustments primarily for businesses whose functional currency is the Euro.

Cash flow: Net cash from operating activities was $271 million for the 2010 first quarter, an increase of $119 million, compared to $152 million for the 2009 first quarter. The increase is attributable to higher net income and less cash used for working capital and income tax payments during the 2010 first quarter compared to the 2009 first quarter. Capital expenditures, net of dispositions of property, plant and equipment, were $26 million for the 2010 first quarter, compared to $40 million for the 2009 first quarter.

Reportable Segment Results

C³ISR

C³ISR net sales for the 2010 first quarter increased by 11% compared to the 2009 first quarter, primarily due to increased demand and new business from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) for airborne ISR and networked communication systems for manned and unmanned platforms and from foreign ministries of defense for force protection products.

C³ISR operating income for the 2010 first quarter increased by 35% compared to the 2009 first quarter. Operating margin increased by 240 basis points. Higher sales volume, favorable sales mix and improved contract performance increased operating margin by 220 basis points. Lower pension expense of $2 million increased operating margin by 20 basis points.

Government Services

Government Services net sales for the 2010 first quarter decreased by 6% compared to the 2009 first quarter. The decrease was primarily due to: (1) reduced subcontractor pass-through sales volume of $45 million related to task order renewals for U.S. Army systems and software engineering and sustainment services that migrated to a contract where L-3 is not a prime contractor, and (2) lower sales related to Iraq support, including linguist and intelligence support services. These decreases were partially offset by increased training and law enforcement support services for the U.S. Army due to higher volume on new and existing contracts and information technology support services for the U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF). Net sales from acquired businesses were $12 million, or 1%.

Government Services operating income for the 2010 first quarter decreased by 15% compared to the 2009 first quarter. Operating margin decreased by 80 basis points. Lower margins on select contract renewals and higher costs for a security systems contract for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security reduced operating margin by 120 basis points and timing of the receipt of an award fee for linguist services reduced operating margin by 20 basis points. Acquired businesses reduced operating margin by 10 basis points. These decreases were partially offset by a decline in lower margin subcontractor pass-through sales, which increased operating margin by 70 basis points.

AM&M

AM&M net sales for the 2010 first quarter decreased by 2% compared to the 2009 first quarter. The decrease was primarily due to a decline for the Joint Cargo Aircraft contract as a result of a delay in an order which is currently anticipated to be received in the second quarter, sales volume declines for contract field services and SOF support activities because of reduced tasking, and a competitive loss of an aircraft maintenance contract with the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. These decreases were partially offset by higher aircraft modernization sales primarily for U.S. Navy maritime patrol aircraft and SOF special mission aircraft.

AM&M operating income for the 2010 first quarter decreased by 10% compared to the 2009 first quarter. Operating margin decreased by 80 basis points. Lower sales volume and prices for system field support reduced operating margin by 70 basis points. A favorable cost adjustment on an international aircraft modernization contract in the 2009 first quarter that did not recur in the 2010 first quarter reduced operating margin by 100 basis points. These decreases were partially offset by an increase in operating margin of 90 basis points primarily due to higher aircraft modernization sales to the DoD and improved contract performance.

Electronic Systems

Electronic Systems net sales for the 2010 first quarter decreased by 1% compared to the 2009 first quarter. Sales volume declined primarily for: (1) combat propulsion systems due to a reduction in DoD funding for the Bradley fighting vehicle, (2) precision engagement due to contracts nearing completion, (3) shipboard electronics and power distribution, conditioning and conversion products primarily for the U.S. Navy, and (4) commercial shipbuilding products. These decreases were partially offset by volume increases for: (1) EO/IR products, primarily to the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army, (2) microwave products, primarily due to increased deliveries of power devices for satellite communication systems, and (3) training & simulation, primarily related to a new U.S. Air Force contract awarded in 2009. Additionally, net sales from the Chesapeake Sciences Corporation acquired business were $4 million.

Electronic Systems operating income for the 2010 first quarter increased by 18% compared to the 2009 first quarter. Operating margin increased by 220 basis points. The increase was due to improved contract performance and favorable sales mix primarily for EO/IR products, which increased operating margin by 140 basis points, and an increase of 60 basis points primarily for a volume price adjustment on a supply arrangement. In addition, lower pension expense of $3 million increased operating margin by 20 basis points.

Financial Guidance

Based on information known as of today, the company has revised its consolidated and segment financial guidance for the year ending Dec. 31, 2010, as presented in the tables below. All financial guidance amounts are estimates subject to revisions in the future for matters discussed under the "Forward-Looking Statements” cautionary language on the next page, and the company undertakes no duty to update its guidance.

Additional financial information regarding the 2010 first quarter results and the 2010 updated financial guidance is available on the company’s Web site at www.L-3com.com.

Conference Call

In conjunction with this release, L-3 will host a conference call today, Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. EDT that will be simultaneously broadcast over the Internet. Michael T. Strianese, chairman, president and chief executive officer and Ralph G. D’Ambrosio, vice president and chief financial officer, will host the call.

11:00 a.m. EDT
10:00 a.m. CDT
9:00 a.m. MDT
8:00 a.m. PDT

Listeners may access the conference call live over the Internet at the company’s Web site at:

http://www.L-3com.com

Please allow fifteen minutes prior to the call to visit our Web site to download and install any necessary audio software. The archived version of the call may be accessed at our Web site or by dialing (888) 286-8010 (passcode: 59059232), beginning approximately two hours after the call ends and will be available until the company’s next quarterly earnings release.

Headquartered in New York City, L-3 employs approximately 67,000 people worldwide and is a prime contractor in C³ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) systems, aircraft modernization and maintenance and government services. L-3 is also a leading provider of a broad range of electronic systems used on military and commercial platforms. The company reported 2009 sales of $15.6 billion.

To learn more about L-3, please visit the company’s Web site at www.L-3com.com. L-3 uses its Web site as a channel of distribution of material company information. Financial and other material information regarding L-3 is routinely posted on the company’s Web site and is readily accessible.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain of the matters discussed in this release, including information regarding the company’s 2010 financial outlook that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to events or conditions or that include words such as ‘‘expects,’’ ‘‘anticipates,’’ ‘‘intends,’’ ‘‘plans,’’ ‘‘believes,’’ ‘‘estimates,’’ and similar expressions constitute forward-looking statements. Although we believe that these statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, including projections of total sales growth, sales growth from business acquisitions, organic sales growth, consolidated operating margins, total segment operating margins, interest expense, earnings, cash flow, research and development costs, working capital, capital expenditures and other projections, they are subject to several risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict, and therefore, we can give no assurance that these statements will be achieved. Such statements will also be influenced by factors which include, among other things: our dependence on the defense industry and the business risks peculiar to that industry; our reliance on contracts with a limited number of agencies of, or contractors to, the U.S. Government and the possibility of termination of government contracts by unilateral government action or for failure to perform; the extensive legal and regulatory requirements surrounding our contracts with the U.S. or foreign governments and the results of any investigation of our contracts undertaken by the U.S. or foreign governments; our ability to retain our existing business and related contracts (revenue arrangements); our ability to successfully compete for and win new business and related contracts (revenue arrangements) and to win re-competitions of our existing contracts; our ability to identify and acquire additional businesses in the future with terms that are attractive to L-3 and to integrate acquired business operations; our ability to maintain and improve our consolidated operating margin and total segment operating margin in future periods; our ability to obtain future government contracts (revenue arrangements) on a timely basis; the availability of government funding or cost-cutting initiatives and changes in customer requirements for our products and services; our significant amount of debt and the restrictions contained in our debt agreements; our ability to continue to retain and train our existing employees and to recruit and hire new qualified and skilled employees as well as our ability to retain and hire employees with U.S. Government Security clearances; actual future interest rates, volatility and other assumptions used in the determination of pension benefits and equity based compensation, as well as the market performance of benefit plan assets; our collective bargaining agreements, our ability to successfully negotiate contracts with labor unions and our ability to favorably resolve labor disputes should they arise; the business, economic and political conditions in the markets in which we operate, including those for the commercial aviation, shipbuilding and communications market; global economic uncertainty; the DoD’s contractor support services in-sourcing initiative; our ability to perform contracts on schedule; events beyond our control such as acts of terrorism; our international operations; our extensive use of fixed-price type contracts as compared to cost-reimbursable type and time-and-material type contracts; the rapid change of technology and high level of competition in the defense industry and the commercial industries in which our businesses participate; our introduction of new products into commercial markets or our investments in civil and commercial products or companies; the outcome of litigation matters; results of audits by U.S. Government agencies; anticipated cost savings from business acquisitions not fully realized or realized within the expected time frame; outcome of matters relating to the Foreign Corrupt Practice Act; ultimate resolution of contingent matters, claims and investigations relating to acquired businesses, and the impact on the final purchase price allocations; competitive pressure among companies in our industry; and the fair values of our assets, which can be impaired or reduced by other factors, some of which are discussed above.

For a discussion of other risks and uncertainties that could impair our results of operations or financial condition, see ‘‘Part I — Item 1A — Risk Factors’’ and Note 19 to our audited consolidated financial statements, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2009 as well as any material updates to these factors in our future filings.

Our forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and the actual results or developments may differ materially from the expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements. As for the forward-looking statements that relate to future financial results and other projections, actual results will be different due to the inherent uncertainties of estimates, forecasts and projections and may be better or worse than projected and such differences could be material. Given these uncertainties, you should not place any reliance on these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements also represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date that they were made. We expressly disclaim a duty to provide updates to these forward-looking statements, and the estimates and assumptions associated with them, after the date of this release to reflect events or changes in circumstances or changes in expectations or the occurrence of anticipated events.

⁽¹⁾ Net sales from acquired businesses are comprised of (i) net sales from business and product line acquisitions that are included in L-3’s actual results for less than 12 months, less (ii) net sales from business and product line divestitures that are included in L-3’s actual results for the 12 months prior to the divestitures.

⁽²⁾ Free cash flow is defined as net cash from operating activities less net capital expenditures (capital expenditures less cash proceeds from dispositions of property, plant and equipment). Free cash flow represents cash generated after paying for interest on borrowings, income taxes, capital expenditures and changes in working capital, but before repaying principal amount of outstanding debt, paying cash dividends on common stock, repurchasing shares of our common stock, investing cash to acquire businesses, and making other strategic investments. Thus, key assumptions underlying free cash flow are that the company will be able to supplementally finance its existing debt and that the company will be able to supplementally finance any new business acquisitions it makes by raising new debt or equity capital. Because of these assumptions, free cash flow is not a measure that should be relied upon to represent the residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures.