On mySimon: Yes we can (still get Obama t-shirts)

FMC Technologies Q3 2007 Earnings Call Transcript

  • download
  • Print
  • Recommend
  • 0

2007-10-30 14:58:40.0

Tags: FMC Technologies Inc.

Question-and-Answer Session

Operator

(Operator Instructions)

Our first question comes from the line of Brad Handler, from Wachovia Capital Market.

Brad Handler - Wachovia Capital Market

Thanks. Good morning.

Peter Kinnear

Good morning, Brad.

Brad Handler - Wachovia Capital Market

I guess I'll just ask, I mean, I think you've given a lot of information about the spin and the logic, and I appreciate that, but I guess I'll just come back to it just to try to get a clear sense for--why now, after, obviously, a number of years of discussion by many interested parties on that?

Peter Kinnear

Good question, Brad. I mean, this has been something that we've had under evaluation for long periods of time as to what we should do, and we've had some discussions with our Board, off and on, about it. And I think we just reached a position this year where we felt it was an appropriate decision to make and our Board was very supportive of that. And so that's kind of where we ended up.

Brad Handler - Wachovia Capital Market

With the main part of what you mentioned, of course, was the issue of managing, I guess, three very different types of businesses. I guess what you're saying is you feel that you personally will have a lot more time to focus on the Energy business. Is that an important part of the logic?

Peter Kinnear

I think it goes two ways. I think the new management of our FoodTech and Airport businesses will be much more focused on the spinout of those businesses, and I think can add value in that regard. And I think from the Energy side, we will be much more focused on our day-to-day Energy businesses. And so, it's kind of a double-pronged benefit from our standpoint.

Brad Handler - Wachovia Capital Market

And then, I guess, maybe just help me. I know, Bill, you were trying to give us a flavor for it, I guess, but from a capital structure or capability standpoint, how do the two companies potentially differ?

Bill Schumann

Well, the combination of FoodTech and Airport is not growing as quickly as the Energy business, maybe that's probably obvious. And we, at least, initially are planning on starting them with about $200 million of debt, which is roughly two times their EBITDA. So we think that's a more highly levered company, and it will also probably pay a fairly significant dividend, and won't have significant capital requirements. That's kind of what we were alluding to when we talked about the capital structure of the new company.

TalkbackShare your ideas and expertise on this topic
What do you think?
The following tags are supported in BNET comments: <b></b> <i></i> <u></u> <pre></pre>
You are currently a guest | Login?
advertisement
Click Here
Recommended Business Articles
advertisement