Provided by MZ Data Products
 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 

 
FORM 6-K
 
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
For the month of April, 2004

Commission file number for securities registered
pursuant to Section 12 (b) of the Act: 0-32245

Commission file number for securities registered
pursuant to Section 12 (g) of the Act: 1-16269
 

 

AMERICA MOVIL S.A. DE C.V.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
America Mobile
(Translation of Registrant´s name into English)
 
Lago Alberto 366, Colonia Anahuac
11320 Mexico, D.F., Mexico
(Address of principal executive office)
 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F. 

Form 20-F ___X___ Form 40-F _______

 Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is submitting this Form 6-K in paper as
permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):
Yes _______ No ___X____

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is submitting this Form 6-K in paper as
permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):
Yes _______ No ___X____

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form 6-K is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Yes _______ No ___X____


AMÉRICA MÓVIL'S FIRST QUARTER OF 2004 FINANCIAL AND OPERATING REPORT

Mexico City, April 27, 2004 - América Móvil, S.A. de C.V. ("América Móvil") [BMV: AMX] [NYSE: AMX] [NASDAQ: AMOV] [LATIBEX: XAMXL], announced today its financial and operating results for the first quarter of 2004.

América Móvil Fundamentals
Constant Mex$
  1Q04 1Q03

EPS (Mex$)* 0.33 0.24
Earnings per ADR (US$)** 0.60 0.44
Net Income (millions of Mex$) 4,214 3,111
EBITDA (millions of Mex$) 9,810 6,741
EBIT (millions of Mex$) 5,277 3,870

Shares Outstanding (billion) 12.69 12.92
ADRs Outstanding (billion) 0.63 0.65

* Net Income / Total Shares outstanding
** 20 Shares per ADR

Relevant Events

In the first quarter the company directed approximately 260 million dollars to the repurchase of its shares. The Board has recommended that dividends be doubled, to 12 peso cents per share, which means that dividends per share will have trebled over three years.

In March América Móvil issued a 5 year fixed-rate note in the amount of 500 million dollars and a 10 year fixed-rate bond for 800 million dollars and in April it issued a floating rate note totaling 300 million dollars. These obligations were for the most part placed with U.S. institutional investors. Also in April the company completed a 350 million dollar five year loan involving three international banks. The proceeds from these transactions were directed to the refinancing of obligations that matured mostly in 2004 and 2005, which resulted in both a lengthening of the average life of the debt and in a reduction in its overall cost.

In the context of a transaction involving the sale by Techint of a 20% interest in Argentine broadband company Techtel, a joint venture América Móvil had established with the Argentine consortium, we decided to sell our own 60% interest in that company so as to focus our efforts in the Argentine wireless market. The purchase price for our interest was 75 million dollars.

América Móvil's Subsidiaries & Affiliates as of March 2004    
         

Country Company Business Equity Participation Consolidation Method

Subsidiaries        
    - Mexico Telcel wireless 100.0% Global Consolidation Method
    - Argentina CTI wireless 92.0% Global Consolidation Method
  Techtel broadband, wireline 60.0% Global Consolidation Method
    - Brazil Telecom Americas wireless 97.5% Global Consolidation Method
    - Colombia Comcel wireless 95.7% Global Consolidation Method
    - Ecuador Conecel wireless 100.0% Global Consolidation Method
    - El Salvador CTE wireless, wireline 52.6% Global Consolidation Method
    - Guatemala ACT wireless, wireline 100.0% Global Consolidation Method
    - U.S.A. Tracfone wireless 98.2% Global Consolidation Method
Affiliates        
    - Mexico US Commercial Corp. other 29.7% Equity Method
    - U.S.A Telvista other 44.2% Equity Method

Subscribers

América Móvil reached 46.7 million wireless subscribers and 1.7 million fixed lines at the end of March for a combined total of 48.3 million lines. The company gained 2.9 million wireless subscribers in the first quarter of the year. Most of the subscribers (approximately 98%) are equity subscribers, and as such reflect América Móvil's ownership interest in the various subsidiaries.

The biggest contributor in absolute terms to América Móvil's subscriber additions was Telcel, in Mexico , which added 1.13 million subscribers. It was followed by Telecom Americas, in Brazil , with 436 thousand subscribers; Comcel in Colombia , with 432 thousand subscribers; and Tracfone in the U.S. , with 395 thousand subscribers. CTI in Argentina obtained 204 thousand new clients, while Conecel in Ecuador maintained its dynamism, adding 153 thousand subscribers for a 10.0% sequential rise.

The Central American operations in Guatemala , El Salvador and Nicaragua obtained 180 thousand new wireless subscribers-bringing the total to 1.4 million - and increased the number of fixed lines by 47 thousand. In relative terms, it was Sercom in Nicaragua that experienced the most rapid growth rate amongst América Móvil's subsidiaries: 35.3% in the quarter, followed by CTE in El Salvador , with 29.2%.

In the United States , Tracfone added almost 400 thousand subscribers to its client base, which has grown by over 50% year-on-year.

Subscribers as of March 2004                
Thousands                    

  Total (1) Equity (2)

Country 1Q04 4Q03 Var.% 1Q03 Var.% 1Q04 4Q03 Var.% 1Q03 Var.%

Mexico 24,574 23,444 4.8% 20,752 18.4% 24,574 23,444 4.8% 20,752 18.4%
Argentina 1,615 1,411 14.5% 1,135 42.4% 1,486 1,298 14.5% 0 n.m.
Brazil 9,957 9,521 4.6% 7,948 25.3% 9,553 9,135 4.6% 4,740 101.6%
Colombia 4,106 3,674 11.8% 3,273 25.5% 3,930 3,516 11.8% 3,132 25.5%
Ecuador 1,691 1,537 10.0% 1,011 67.2% 1,691 1,537 10.0% 815 107.5%
El Salvador 279 216 29.2% 151 85.3% 147 110 33.3% 0 n.m.
Guatemala 951 870 9.4% 675 40.9% 940 859 9.4% 648 45.0%
Nicaragua 135 100 35.3% 12 n.m. 134 99 35.3% 12 n.m.
U.S.A. 3,347 2,952 13.4% 2,212 51.3% 3,286 2,899 13.4% 2,164 51.9%

Total Wireless 46,656 43,725 6.7% 37,170 25.5% 45,741 42,898 6.6% 32,263 41.8%


El Salvador 727 704 3.3% 664 9.6% 383 359 6.6% 0 n.m.
Guatemala 954 930 2.6% 823 15.8% 942 919 2.6% 790 19.2%

Total Fixed 1,681 1,634 2.9% 1,487 13.0% 1,325 1,278 3.7% 790 67.6%

Total Lines 48,337 45,359 6.6% 38,657 25.0% 47,066 44,175 6.5% 33,053 42.4%

(1)
Includes total subscribers of all companies in which América Móvil holds an economic interest; does not consider the date in which the companies started being consolidated.
(2)
Includes total subscribers weighted by the economic interest held in each company.    

América Móvil's Consolidated Results

América Móvil's revenues increased by 4.0% in the first quarter and 55.8% year-on-year, to 27.9 billion pesos. Service revenues were up 7.6% in the quarter and 48.3% annually, to 23.7 billion pesos, aided by subscriber growth and better usage patterns.

EBITDA totaled 9.8 billion pesos, 45.5% more than a year earlier, resulting in an EBITDA margin of 35.1%. The margin was lower than the one seen in the first quarter of 2003 on account of very rapid subscriber growth across the various subsidiaries - with its corresponding impact on subscriber acquisition costs - and of certain extraordinary costs and expenses in Brazil. These costs and expenses are for the most part associated with the start-up of operations in two regions of Brazil , the roll-out of GSM services in the country and the incorporation of BCP. First incurred in the fourth quarter of 2003, these costs and expenses are expected to decline gradually throughout the year.

America Movil's Income Statement (in accordance with Mexican GAAP)  
Millions of constant Mex$      

  1Q04 1Q03 Var.%

Service Revenues 23,700 15,984 48.3%
Equipment Revenues 4,217 1,938 117.6%

Total Revenues 27,917 17,923 55.8%
       
Cost of Service 5,852 4,093 43.0%
Cost of Equipment 6,882 3,646 88.7%
Selling, General & Administrative Expenses 5,373 3,442 56.1%

Total Costs and Expenses 18,108 11,182 61.9%
       
Ebitda 9,810 6,741 45.5%
% of Total Revenues 35.1% 37.6%  
       
Depreciation & Amortization 4,533 2,871 57.9%
       
Ebit 5,277 3,870 36.4%
% of Total Revenues 18.9% 21.6%  

Net Interest Expense 485 168 189.0%
Other Financial Expenses 239 175 37.0%
Foreign Exchange Loss -106 429 -124.6%
Monetary Result -982 -1,091 10.0%
   
Comprehensive Financing Cost (Income) -364 -319 -13.9%
       
Other Income and Expenses 74 100 -26.2%
Income & Deferred Taxes 1,253 952 31.6%
   
Net Income before Minority Interest and Equity 4,313 3,136 37.5%
Participation in Results of Affiliates      
       
minus      
       
Equity Participation in Results of Affiliates -22 -19 -15.5%
Minority Interest -77 -6 n.m.

Net Income 4,214 3,111 35.5%

* n.m. = not meaningful

Operating profits were up 36.4% year-on-year, to 5.3 billion pesos, reflecting the effect of greater depreciation and amortization charges resulting from the consolidation of CTI, CTE and BCP late in 2003 and the strong capex program the company has followed.

A comprehensive financing income of 364 million pesos, nearly 14% larger than the one seen in the first quarter of 2003, was obtained through March, as the gains from the monetary and foreign currency positions more than offset net interest payments and other financial costs.

The company turned a net profit of 4.2 billion pesos in the quarter, 35.5% greater than the one seen a year before. This was equivalent to 33 peso cents per share, or 60-dollar cents per ADR.

Reflecting its strong free cash flow generation (after covering capex), the net debt of the company declined by 97 million dollars in the quarter, even after 260 million pesos had been channeled to share buybacks and 49 million dollars had been directed to the acquisition of a 49% interest in Nicaraguan company Enitel.

Balance Sheet (in accordance with Mexican GAAP)*              
América Móvil Consolidated                    
Millions of Constant Mex$                    

  Mar-04 Dec-03 Var.% Mar-03 Var.%   Mar-04 Dec-03 Var.% Mar-03 Var.%

                       
Current Assets           Current Liabilities          
Cash & Securities 15,401 10,239 50.4% 9,221 67.0% Short Term Debt** 10,020 12,297 -18.5% 7,616 31.6%
Accounts Receivable 11,463 11,593 -1.1% 6,456 77.6% Accounts Payable 20,691 20,256 2.1% 9,955 107.8%
Other Current Assets 3,211 2,872 11.8% 1,908 68.3% Other Current Liabilities 8,178 7,851 4.2% 4,707 73.7%
             
Inventories 4,913 5,311 -7.5% 2,698 82.1%   38,890 40,404 -3.7% 22,279 74.6%
 
           
  34,989 30,014 16.6% 20,283 72.5%            
                       
Long-Term Assets                      
Plant & Equipment 73,497 72,272 1.7% 65,528 12.2%            
Investments in Affiliates 1,296 2,588 -49.9% 3,430 -62.2% Long-Term Liabilities          
            Long Term Debt 41,365 37,785 9.5% 38,665 7.0%
Deferred Assets           Other Long-Term Liabilities 3,780 3,837 -1.5% 2,217 70.5%
             
Goodwill (Net) 8,606 8,154 5.6% 6,089 41.3%   45,145 41,622 8.5% 40,882 10.4%
                     
                     
Brands & Licenses (Net) 33,782 34,218 -1.3% 25,978 30.0%            
Deferred Assets 4,931 5,072 -2.8% 0 n.m.            
            Shareholder's Equity 73,064 70,292 3.9% 58,148 25.7%

Total Assets 157,100 152,318 3.1% 121,309 29.5% Total Liabilities and Equity 157,100 152,318 3.1% 121,309 29.5%

* This presentation conforms with that of América Móvil's audited financial statements  
** Includes current portion of Long Term Debt  

Mexico

As the Mexican economy picks up speed following a period of declining per-capita GDP, Telcel's subscriber and revenue growth have become more rapid, with its subscriber base rising by 1.13 million in the first quarter, to 24.6 million, and its revenues increasing by 5.6% on the quarter and 30.8% annually, to 15.5 billion pesos.

Service revenues expanded even faster in the quarter, by 8.7%, reflecting not only the improved economic performance of the country but also the impact that Telcel's promotions have had on stimulating the usage of wireless handsets. All in all, minutes of use per subscriber went up 8.3% in the quarter.

The increase in usage helped to drive a 2.6% rise in the average revenue per subscriber (ARPU), which stood at 185 pesos in the period. In the case of prepaid ARPUs, they have increased every quarter for the last eight quarters.

At 6.7 billion pesos, Telcel's EBITDA surpassed the previous quarter's figure by nearly 6% and the one observed the year before by 39%. The EBITDA margin remained practically unchanged, just below 43%. It reflects, among other things, the impact on subscriber acquisition costs of the brisk subscriber growth that took place over the last two quarters.

INCOME STATEMENT  
Mexico      
Millions of Constant Mex$  

  1Q04 1Q03 Var.%

Revenues 15,518 11,864 30.8%
Ebitda 6,651 4,784 39.0%
% 42.9% 40.3%  
Ebit 5,471 3,570 53.2%
% 35.3% 30.1%  


Mexico 's Operating Data      

  1Q04 1Q03 Var. %

Subscribers (thousands) 24,574 20,752 18.4%
    Postpaid 1,509 1,364 10.6%
    Prepaid 23,065 19,389 19.0%
MOU 97 74 30.1%
ARPU (Mex$) 185 172 7.5%
Churn (%) 3.0% 3.0%  

Operating profits came in at 5.5 billion pesos, having increased by 8.1% in the quarter and 53.2% year-on-year.

Telcel proceeded with the rollout of its GSM network according to schedule. At the end of March the GSM network covered 434 towns and cities and approximately 110 highway routes.

Telcel's market share of wireless traffic has grown steadily over the last two years, since the consolidation of the Mexican wireless market began. The introduction by Telcel of “push-to-talk” services, expected to take place in the fourth quarter of this year, shall allow Telcel to compete more efficiently against its strongest competitor, who has established its presence in a specialized segment of the wireless market.

Argentina

CTI, América Móvil's Argentinean subsidiary, had a strong quarter in terms of net additions (204 thousand), which helped the company attain a subscriber base of 1.6 million at the end of the quarter, 14.5% more than in December.

The company generated 232 million Argentinean pesos (81 million dollars) in revenues, up 10.8% quarter over quarter, with equipment revenues rising 73.6%, reflecting the acceleration - which began towards the end of 2003 - of the company's subscriber growth. Year-on-year, revenues increased by 56.2%.

INCOME STATEMENT  
Argentina      
Millions of ARG$    

  1Q04 1Q03 Var.%

Revenues 232 149 56.2%
Ebitda 39 52 -24.9%
% 16.9% 35.2%  
Ebit 22 39 -43.0%
% 9.5% 26.1%  


Argentina 's Operating Data    

  1Q04 1Q03 Var. %

Subscribers (thousands)* 1,615 1,135 42.4%
    Postpaid 327 262 24.9%
    Prepaid 1,289 873 47.6%
MOU 147 104 41.3%
ARPU (ARG$) 47 39 21.5%
Churn (%) 1.7% 1.1%  

* Historical subscriber data of CTI has been made to conform to the commercial plans currently in place

The increased commercial activity of the company during the first quarter of the year was reflected in the expansion of its subscriber base and revenues, but also in the level of subscriber acquisition costs, which determined a reduction in CTI's EBITDA to 39 million Argentinean pesos.

Operating profits totaled 22 million Argentinean pesos (8 million dollars), or 9.5% of revenues.

Brazil

América Móvil's Brazilian operations gained 436 thousand subscribers in the first quarter, bringing their combined subscriber base to just under 10 million clients. This implies an organic rate of growth for the companies that now make up Telecom Americas of 4.6% relative to December and 25.3% compared to a year before.

INCOME STATEMENT  
Brazil      
Millions of R$    

  1Q04 1Q03 Var.%

Revenues 1,076 549 96.0%
       
Ebitda 164 185 -11.4%
% 15.2% 33.7%  
Ebit -131 25 n.m.
% -12.1% 4.6%  

First quarter revenues were up 8.7% sequentially, to 1.1 billion reais (370 million dollars), with service revenues leading the way, as they rose by 27.5% sequentially and more than offset the seasonally lower equipment sales registered during the quarter. Compared to 2003, Telecom Americas' first quarter revenues almost doubled, reflecting the firms' own organic growth, the acquisition of BCP and BSE and the launching of green-field operations in two regions of Brazil ..

Telecom Americas' strong top-line growth, the incorporation of BCP's results for the full quarter and the gradual decline (which will continue throughout the year) of the costs and expenses associated to the re-branding of its operations, the launching of GSM services and the start-up of operations in the new regions, helped bring about an EBITDA of 164 million reais (56 million dollars) compared to 93 million reais in the fourth quarter. The companies' EBITDA margin expanded by 5.8 percentage points during the period, to 15.2%, from 9.4% in December.

As regards operating results, Telecom Americas reduced by 11.5% its operating loss, to 131 million reais (45 million dollars).

Brazil 's Operating Data      
       

  1Q04 1Q03 Var. %

Subscribers (thousands) 9,957 5,282 88.5%
    Postpaid 1,860 793 134.5%
    Prepaid 8,097 4,489 80.4%
MOU 91 86 5.5%
ARPU (R$) 29 32 -7.8%
Churn (%) 2.2% 2.0%  

Central America

América Móvil's Central American operations posted the highest rate of subscriber growth amongst the subsidiaries (15.2%), reflecting a strong performance by the newly acquired operations in El Salvador (29.2% quarterly growth rate) and by those in Nicaragua, which were set up only a year ago (35.3% rate). Altogether, the Central American operations had 1.4 million wireless subscribers at the end of the quarter, having added 180 thousand subscribers in the period. As regards fixed lines, they reached 1.7 million after adding 47 thousand in the quarter.

INCOME STATEMENT  
Central America    
Millions of US$    

  1Q04 1Q03 Var.%

Revenues 231 210 10.3%
       
Ebitda 125 113 10.5%
% 53.9% 53.8%  
Ebit 74 64 16.0%
% 32.0% 30.4%  


Central America 's Operating Data    
       

  1Q04 1Q03** Var. %

Wireless Subscribers (thousands) 1,366 675 102.3%
    Postpaid 142 67 112.4%
    Prepaid 1,223 608 101.2%
Fixed Lines (thousands) 1,681 1,487 13.0%
Total Lines (Wireless + Fixed, 000's) 3,046 2,162 40.9%
MOU* 204 213 -4.3%
ARPU (US$)* 16 15 6.1%
Churn (%)* 1.2% 1.4%  

* Weighted by the number of wireless subscribers; refers to wireless operating data only.
** Guatemala data only

Combined revenues amounted to 231 million dollars, practically unchanged compared to the previous quarter but up 10.3% annually. In spite of having registered a slight decline in the companies' revenues quarter over quarter, EBITDA came in 3% higher as the overall costs and expenses were kept under control. EBITDA margin went up almost two percentage points, to 53.9%, practically unchanged relative to the previous year in spite of the acceleration of subscriber growth.

Operating profits were up 11.6% in the quarter, to 74 million dollars, with its corresponding operating margin at 32.0%.

Colombia

Comcel obtained 432 thousand new subscribers during the first quarter of the year, bringing its subscriber base to over four million customers. This represents a 25.5% year-on-year increase.

INCOME STATEMENT    
Colombia      
Billion of COP$      

  1Q04 1Q03 Var. %

Total Revenues 434 316 37.5%
       
EBITDA 110 104 6.5%
% 25.4% 32.8%  
EBIT 13 28 -52.2%
% 3.1% 8.9%  


Colombia 's Operating Data    
       

  1Q04 1Q03 Var. %

Subscribers (thousands) 4,106 3,273 25.5%
    Postpaid 1,111 1,052 5.6%
    Prepaid 2,995 2,221 34.9%
MOU 95 81 17.7%
ARPU (COP$) 30,253 32,767 -7.7%
Churn (%) 2.7% 2.4%  

First quarter revenues totaled 434 billion Colombian pesos (162 million dollars) and were up 11.5% sequentially and 37.5% compared to the same period of 2003, with service revenues increasing by nearly 18% on an annual basis. Minutes of use per subscriber went up 9.3% in the quarter.

The acceleration of the company's subscriber growth resulted in greater subscriber acquisition costs and had an impact on the first quarter's EBITDA margin: it fell to 25.4% from 32.8% the previous year. Nonetheless, EBITDA for the quarter (110 billion Colombian pesos, 41 million dollars) was still up 6.5% relative to the one observed the year before.

Ecuador

After adding 153 thousand subscribers in the first quarter, Conecel reached 1.7 million subscribers by the end of March. This made for a sequential increase of 10.0% and an annual increase of 67.2%.

At 79 million dollars, total revenues posted a similar rate of growth over the previous quarter as service revenues (approximately 11%); on an annual basis total revenues more than doubled. The company's EBITDA came in at 29 million dollars and was up 13.1% sequentially and 66.8% year-on-year, with the EBITDA margin practically unchanged at 36.8%.

Operating profits rose 14.2% in the quarter, to 19 million dollars, slightly improving its margin relative to revenues (24.0%).

INCOME STATEMENT  
Ecuador      
Millions of US$    

  1Q04 1Q03 Var.%
  
Revenues 79 38 109.6%
       
Ebitda 29 17 66.8%
% 36.8% 46.3%  
Ebit 19 10 81.9%
% 24.0% 27.7%  


Ecuador 's Operating Data      
       

  1Q04 1Q03 Var. %

Subscribers (thousands) 1,691 1,011 67.2%
    Postpaid 124 81 52.0%
    Prepaid 1,567 930 68.5%
MOU 41 54 -22.6%
ARPU (US$) 13 11 14.6%
Churn (%) 3.6% 3.6%  

United States

Tracfone's subscriber base surpassed 3.3 million by the end of March, as the company gained 395 thousand new subscribers in the first quarter of the year.

Revenues in the amount of 174 million dollars were generated in the quarter, posting an increase of 4.7% over the fourth quarter and of 55.7% over the previous year's, with service revenues growing at a rate of 9.6% and 63.4%, respectively. MOUs were up 6.8% in the quarter, but ARPUs still declined by 8.0%.

In spite of its strong subscriber growth, Tracfone's first quarter EBITDA, 9 million dollars, compares favorably to the result obtained in the same period of 2003, when a loss of 6 million dollars ensued. In considering sequential comparisons it must be born in mind that some extraordinary discounts associated with the company having met certain traffic targets were applied in the fourth quarter.

Tracfone turned an operating profit of 5 million dollars, or 2.9% of revenues; the previous year it had registered a 10 million dollar loss.

INCOME STATEMENT  
United States    
US$ millions    

  1Q04 1Q03 Var.%
  
Revenues 174 112 55.7%
     
Ebitda 9 -6 248.7%
% 5.2% -5.5%  
Ebit 5 -10 150.4%
% 2.9% -8.9%  


United States ' Operating Data    
       

  1Q04 1Q03 Var. %

Subscribers (thousands) 3,347 2,212 51.3%
MOU 58 55 6.3%
ARPU (US$)* 15 14 7.3%
Churn (%) 3.8% 3.0%  


 

 
SIGNATURE
 
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Date: April 28, 2004

 
AMERICA MOVIL, S.A. DE C.V.
By: 
/S/  Carlos Garcia Moreno

  Name:
Title:
Carlos Garcia Moreno
Chief Financial Officer
 

 
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements are statements that are not historical facts, and are based on management's current view and estimates of future economic circumstances, industry conditions, company performance and financial results. The words "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "expects", "plans" and similar expressions, as they relate to the company, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Statements regarding the declaration or payment of dividends, the implementation of principal operating and financing strategies and capital expenditure plans, the direction of future operations and the factors or trends affecting financial condition, liquidity or results of operations are examples of forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current views of management and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. There is no guarantee that the expected events, trends or results will actually occur. The statements are based on many assumptions and factors, including general economic and market conditions, industry conditions, and operating factors. Any changes in such assumptions or factors could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.