TeleTech Reports Record Third Quarter Financial Results

DENVER, Oct. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- TeleTech Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: TTEC), the fastest-growing global provider of customer relationship management and B2B infrastructure services, today announced record third quarter financial results. Net income for the third quarter 2000 was $11.7 million, or 17 cents per share on a diluted basis, excluding a net one-time gain of $19 million, principally due to the sale of a portion of an equity investment. This represents a 68 percent increase over third quarter 1999 net income of $7.0 million, or 10 cents per share on a diluted basis, excluding a one-time gain. Including the net, one-time gain, TeleTech's third quarter 2000 net income was $30.7 million, or 44 cents per share on a diluted basis. Revenues for the third quarter 2000 increased to a record $212.7 million, up 58 percent from $134.7 million in the third quarter 1999. Approximately 95 percent of the $78.0 million revenue growth was organic, with the balance derived from an acquisition completed in the fourth quarter of 1999. Operating margin for the third quarter 2000, exclusive of the impacts of the disposition of the company's Pamet River subsidiary, increased to 9.6 percent, up 110 basis points from third quarter 1999 operating margin of 8.5 percent and was up from reported second quarter 2000 operating margin of 9.5 percent. This improvement was primarily attributable to strong growth in revenues both from existing and new clients and increased operating efficiencies. This increase was partially offset by significant incremental investments in the company's international expansion efforts and insource solutions business. "TeleTech's third quarter results reflect our intense focus on execution," commented Scott Thompson, TeleTech CEO and president. "Our revenue growth is the strongest quarterly growth in more than three years, and an acceleration over the growth we achieved in both the first and second quarters of 2000. It is important to note that during this period of fast-paced growth, we continued to drive improved operating performance. We attribute this to our continued success in winning large, long-term contracts, the expansion of our existing client relationships, solid performance across our international operations as well as continued focus on operating efficiencies."

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Revenues for the first nine months of 2000 increased $199.0 million, or 52 percent, to $582.6 million from $383.6 million for the first nine months of 1999. TeleTech's net income for the first nine months of 2000 was $32.1 million, or 46 cents per share on a diluted basis excluding net, one-time gains. This represents a 68 percent increase over net income of $19.1 million, or 29 cents per share on a diluted basis, for the same period in 1999, excluding a one-time gain. Revenues from TeleTech's e-commerce and e-commerce infrastructure clients for the third quarter 2000 grew 90 percent from the third quarter 1999, reaching $44.4 million and representing 21 percent of third quarter consolidated revenues. Revenues from TeleTech's international operations totaled $90.3 million, representing 43 percent of TeleTech's third quarter revenues, and a 143 percent increase over international revenues of $37.1 in the third quarter 1999. Approximately 44 percent of the $53.2 million increase was driven by TeleTech's support of U.S. customers from overseas facilities.

STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

"TeleTech made significant inroads in three key strategic growth areas during the third quarter," said Thompson. "Through accretive acquisitions, joint ventures and other strategic alliances, TeleTech will further its globalization, verticalization and insource strategies. By focusing on these three areas, we continue to execute our breakout strategy and are creating a new industry paradigm. Our longstanding relationships with leaders in fast-growth vertical markets coupled with our ability to scale a robust end-to-end solution across our expansive global footprint whether in an insource or outsource environment, presents an unparalleled value proposition to our clients and further distances TeleTech from the traditional competition."

Globalization

To meet the demands of its growing global client base, in the third quarter TeleTech announced its plans to open two new Internet-enabled customer interaction centers outside of the U.S., in North Bay, Ontario, Canada and Belfast, Northern Ireland. Additionally, TeleTech successfully completed the acquisition of the largest privately held CRM company in Spain, expanding its global reach to ten countries and significantly enhancing the company's presence in Europe.

Verticalization

Consistent with its vertical market expansion plans, TeleTech announced two strategic transactions that will significantly strengthen its positioning in two high-growth vertical markets, financial services and wireless. TeleTech formed a strategic alliance with PricewaterhouseCoopers, the world's largest professional services organization. The two companies are working together to deliver a fully integrated, end-to-end eCRM solution to the financial services sector, an area in which both TeleTech and PricewaterhouseCoopers have proven experience with some of the world's leading financial institutions.

TeleTech's second strategic transaction was in the wireless area, with the recently announced agreement to acquire the customer care division of Boston Communications Group (Nasdaq: BCGI). Boston Communications Group is the leading provider of services to wireless carriers in North America. TeleTech also announced the formation of a strategic alliance with BCGI to jointly market and sell products on a worldwide basis.

During the third quarter, TeleTech also announced an agreement to acquire Newgen Results Corporation (Nasdaq: NWGN), to further strengthen its position in the transportation sector. The transaction is a stock-for-stock deal valued at approximately $200 million. The acquisition will also allow TeleTech to broaden its product offering by increasing its existing database management capabilities and enhancing its end-to-end eCRM solution with the addition of an enterprise channel management offering. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2000.

Insource Market

TeleTech today announced the launch of enhansiv inc., a subsidiary dedicated to the development, deployment and management of remote-hosted eCRM technology solutions. enhansiv's multi-channel customer relationship management solutions are delivered across a virtual, centralized infrastructure, enabling companies seeking to implement effective CRM strategies to reap the benefits of faster time to market, economies of scale and a uniform platform across the entire enterprise. "We are very optimistic about the future of enhansiv and its implications on TeleTech's business and have continued to invest heavily in this initiative," said Thompson. "enhansiv presents TeleTech with a new operating paradigm that can be leveraged both internally and externally. enhansiv's remote-hosted technology can potentially drive significant cost efficiencies for TeleTech, as well as open the doors to new markets and opportunities, including the expansive insource market and smaller customers we traditionally had to turn away."

BUSINESS OUTLOOK

Following are a number of statements based on current expectations regarding TeleTech's outlook on its future financial results. Note: the following expectations do not include the anticipated acquisition of Newgen Results Corporation.

-- For the fourth quarter of 2000, the company anticipates revenue to be within the current analyst estimate range of $201 million to $228 million, and net income to be within the current analyst estimate range of 20 to 22 cents per diluted share. -- For the fiscal year 2000, the company anticipates capital expenditures to be within a range of $105 to $115 million. -- For the fiscal year 2001, the company anticipates revenue to be within the current analyst estimate range of $1.0 billion to $1.1 billion, and net income to be within the current analyst estimate range of 97 cents to $1.06 per diluted share. -- For the fiscal year 2001, the company anticipates capital expenditures to be consistent with capital expenditures in 2000.

In connection with the recent adoption of new SEC rules on corporate disclosure, TeleTech is adopting the following procedures for communicating its outlook for financial results. All guidance will be published within TeleTech's quarterly earnings releases or by other publicly available means. TeleTech will keep its earnings releases publicly available on its web site at http://www.teletech.com.

TELETECH PROFILE

Founded in 1982, TeleTech is the leading provider of integrated, eCommerce-enabling customer relationship management solutions (eCRM) for global organizations predominantly in the telecommunications, financial services, technology, government and transportation industries. TeleTech has operations in ten countries which include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, the U.K. and the U.S. TeleTech's eCRM capabilities, including B2B electronic channel management and database management, help companies inform, acquire, service, grow and retain their customers throughout the entire relationship lifecycle. Its innovative customer interaction platform, CyberCare, integrates the full spectrum of voice and Internet communications, including custom e-mail response, "chat" and extensive Web co-browsing capabilities. Through 43 customer interaction centers in the Americas, Europe and Asia, TeleTech couples high-velocity e-infrastructure service deployment with premier quality e-customer relationship management to assure our clients unparalleled success in acquiring, retaining and growing customer relationships. Information regarding TeleTech Holdings can be found on the Worldwide Web at http://www.teletech.com.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

All statements not based on historical fact are forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. In accordance with the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, following are important factors that could cause TeleTech's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements: lower than anticipated customer interaction center capacity utilization; the loss or delay in implementation of a customer management program; TeleTech's ability to build-out facilities in a timely and economic manner; greater than anticipated competition from new entrants into the customer care market, causing increased price competition or loss of clients; the loss of one or more significant clients; higher than anticipated start-up costs associated with new business opportunities and ventures such as enhansiv; TeleTech's ability to predict future revenues and associated costs, as well as the potential volume or profitability of any future technology or consulting sales; TeleTech's agreements with clients may be canceled on relatively short notice; and TeleTech's ability to generate a specific level of revenue is dependent upon customer interest in and use of the Company's clients' products and services. Readers are encouraged to review TeleTech's 1999 Annual Report on Form 10-K , Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, for first and second quarters 2000, and other publicly filed documents which describe other important factors that may impact TeleTech's business, results of operations and financial condition. TeleTech undertakes no obligation to update its forward looking statements after the date of this release.

                   TELETECH HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                    (In thousands, except per share data)

                               Three months ended       Nine months ended
                                 September 30,             September 30,
                                2000        1999          2000       1999

    Revenues                 $212,716     $134,691     $582,570    $383,567

    Operating expenses:
      Costs of services       135,532       90,336      381,523     256,576
      Other operating
       expenses                56,750       32,958      145,786      95,576
      Loss on disposal
       of subsidiary            3,419           --        3,419          --
        Total operating
         expenses             195,701      123,294      530,728     352,152

    Operating Income           17,015       11,397       51,842      31,415

    Other income (expense)     32,945        6,887       44,255       7,074

    Income Before
     Income Taxes              49,960       18,284       96,097      38,489

    Income tax expense         18,739        7,248       36,306      15,257

    Net Income before
     Minority Interest         31,221       11,036       59,791      23,232

    Minority interest            (526)          --         (925)         --

    Net Income                $30,695      $11,036      $58,866     $23,232

    Basic Earnings Per Share    $0.46        $0.17        $0.90       $0.36

    Diluted Earnings Per Share  $0.44        $0.17        $0.84       $0.35

    Operating Margin              8.0%        8.5%          8.9%        8.2%
    Net Income Margin            14.4%        8.2%         10.1%        6.1%
    Effective Tax Rate           37.5%       39.6%         37.8%       39.6%

    Shares Outstanding
    Basic                      66,105       64,511       65,743      64,301
    Diluted                    70,472       66,544       70,144      65,871

    Excluding One Time Effects
      Operating Income         20,434       11,397       55,261      31,415
      Operating Margin            9.6%        8.5%          9.5%        8.2%
      Net Income              $11,651       $6,951      $32,064     $19,147
      Basic Earnings Per Share  $0.18        $0.11        $0.49       $0.30
      Diluted Earnings
       Per Share                $0.17        $0.10        $0.46       $0.29
    Effective Tax Rate           39.3%       39.6%         39.3%       39.6%


                   TELETECH HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                (In thousands)

                                            September 30,      December 31,
                                                2000               1999
    ASSETS
    Current assets:
      Cash and cash equivalents                 $19,275          $16,227
      Short-term investments                     76,554           41,621
      Accounts receivable, net                  166,333           91,979
      Other current assets                        5,283           10,250
        Total current assets                    267,445          160,077

    Property and Equipment, net                 155,458          111,644
    Other assets                                 44,861           39,763

    Total assets                               $467,764         $311,484

    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
    Total current liabilities                   $99,444          $74,507
    Total noncurrent liabilities                 63,223           26,179
    Total stockholders' equity                  305,097          210,798

    Total liabilities and
     stockholders' equity                      $467,764         $311,484


                   TELETECH HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW INFORMATION
                                (In thousands)

                                                   Nine months ended
                                                      September 30,
                                                 2000              1999
    Cash flow from operating activities:
      Net income                                $58,866          $23,232
      Adjustments to reconcile net income
       to net cash provided from
       operating activities:
        Depreciation and amortization            30,378           21,465
        Other                                   (98,865)          (5,830)
      Net cash (used in) provided
       by operating activities                  $(9,621)         $38,867

    Total Capital Expenditures                  $76,216          $40,169
    (inclusive of capital leases)

SOURCE  TeleTech Holdings, Inc.

Web site: http://www.teletech.com
Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/107907.html
or fax, 800-758-5804, ext. 107907
CONTACT: Kirsten Hamling, Investor Relations of TeleTech
Holdings, Inc., 303-894-7379, kirstenhamling@teletech.com