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ADC Telecommunications

Company: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
Company Description: ADC (NASDAQ:ADCT, www.adc.com) provides the connections for wireline, wireless, cable, broadcast, and enterprise networks around the world. ADC’s innovative network infrastructure equipment and professional services enable high-speed Internet, data, video, and voice services to residential, business and mobile subscribers. ADC has sales into more than 140 countries.
Nomination Category: Company, Office & Product Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Best Business Turnaround

Nomination Title: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.

   1. Tell the story about what this nominated company achieved in the past year (up to 500 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:

Following a significant downturn in the telecommunications industry, where ADC’s sales declined from $3,005 million in 2000 to $580 million in 2003, ADC transformed into a leading global network infrastructure company.

In 2005, ADC grew sales 51% to $1.2 billion and earnings per share increased 148% to $0.72.  In 2004, sales grew 33% to $773 million and earnings per share increased to $0.29 compared to a loss of $0.35 in 2003.  This was a tremendous accomplishment given the industry’s growth rate of 9% in 2005 and 16% in 2004.   This growth was driven by acquisitions and new products introduced across ADC’s comprehensive telephone, wireless, cable, broadcast and enterprise solutions.  Additionally, ADC’s 2005 and 2004 sales outside the United States increased by 73% and 114%, respectively.  ADC now serves nearly all of the top 100 communications carriers globally.

ADC’s growth strategy is based on the belief that network evolutions will drive ADC’s growth.  ADC targets its 3,000-plus customers in more than 140 countries that are expected to evolve their networks for next-generation voice, data and video services.  In 2005, this strategy created strong growth opportunities for ADC’s comprehensive infrastructure products and services as follows:
* Fiber Connectivity Sales. Globally, communications service providers are deploying fiber deeper into their networks to enable the delivery of enhanced broadband services to homes and businesses.  Sales of ADC’s fiber connectivity products grew 79% as it continued to penetrate the large and growing fiber market with comprehensive solutions.  To drive future growth, ADC introduced approximately 80 new fiber and other connectivity products in 2005 to meet customers’ needs. 
* Wireless Sales. ADC’s Digivance® distributed antenna system sales grew 99% as major U.S. wireless carriers increased deployment of this coverage and capacity solution.  In 2006, ADC is addressing international markets and a broader range of customer performance requirements with the Digivance system. 
* Enterprise Sales.  Global sales of ADC’s enterprise solutions increased to $181 million for full-year 2005 compared to $79 million for the second half of 2004 following ADC’s acquisition of KRONE. 
* Professional Services Sales.  Sales in ADC’s Professional Services business grew 34% as it gained market share and expanded into data and wireless networks in the United States.  
* Operating Income Growth.  ADC increased operating income by 194% to $72 million from strong sales growth combined with worldwide operating synergies that lowered operating expenses to 30% of sales in 2005 compared to 36% in 2004 and 45% in 2003.

ADC’s goal to continue growing at rates faster than the overall industry.  ADC is well-positioned for global sales growth, which is critical to its long-term future as it builds operational scale, enables cost advantages and expands geographical presence allowing ADC to respond quickly and efficiently to customers’ needs worldwide.  As a result of ADC’s global operations in the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific, ADC expects to benefit from moving certain production processes and shared services to countries with cost advantages, leveraging global synergies for acquisitions, and building strategic alliances with distributors and channel representatives worldwide.

   2. List hyperlinks to any online news stories, press releases, or other documents that support the claims made in the section above. IMPORTANT: Begin each link with http://, and enclose each link in square brackets; for example, [http://www.youraddress.com]:

ADC Sizzles Again
http://www.adc.com/investorrelations/downloads/ADC_Sizzles.pdf

Globalizing and Growing ADC: An Interview with Robert E. Switz, President and
Chief Executive Officer
http://www.adc.com/investorrelations/downloads/Leaders_7_05.pdf

Speeding into the Future
http://www.adc.com/investorrelations/downloads/ADC_Speeding_into_the_Future.pdf

Reconnecting ADC
http://www.adc.com/investorrelations/downloads/reconnecting_adc_06_05.pdf

The Wall Street Transcript Company Interview with Robert E. Switz, President
and Chief Executive Officer
http://www.adc.com/investorrelations/downloads/TWST_4_05.pdf

ADC's 2006 Annual Shareowners' Meeting Presentation
http://www.adc.com/investorrelations/downloads/AnnualMeeting030606b.ppt

ADC's 2005 Annual Report
http://www.adc.com/investorrelations/downloads/ADC_2005_Annual_Report_and_
2006_Proxy_Statement.pdf?cacheBuster=1138291734532

ADC Reports Results for First Fiscal Quarter 2006; U.S. and European Fiber-to-
the-X (FTTX) Deployments Drive Global Fiber and Copper Connectivity Sales
Higher; Raising 2006 Annual Sales Estimate
http://www.adc.com/investorrelations/newsandcommunications/earningsreleases/show
.jsp?RELEASEID=189141

ADC Reports Results for the Fourth Fiscal Quarter 2005; Year-Over-Year Growth
in Sales of 14% (10% Excluding 2005 Acquisitions)
http://www.adc.com/investorrelations/newsandcommunications/earningsreleases/show
.jsp?RELEASEID=181880

ADC Reports Results for the Third Quarter of Fiscal 2005; Broad-Based Year-over-
Year Growth in Sales and EPS
http://www.adc.com/investorrelations/newsandcommunications/earningsreleases/show
.jsp?RELEASEID=171740

ADC Reports Second Quarter 2005 Results; Broad-Based Sales Strength and
Significant EPS Growth
http://www.adc.com/investorrelations/newsandcommunications/earningsreleases/show
.jsp?RELEASEID=164949

ADC Announces Agreement To Acquire Fiber Optic Network Solutions (FONS)
http://www.adc.com/investorrelations/newsandcommunications/newsreleases/show.jsp
?RELEASEID=169420

ADC Acquires OpenCell to Broaden Wireless Offerings; Investment in Intellectual
Property Enhances ADC's Leadership Position in Distributed Antenna Systems for
Wireless Carriers Worldwide
http://www.adc.com/investorrelations/newsandcommunications/newsreleases/show.jsp
?RELEASEID=162890

Robert E. Switz Full Biography
http://www.adc.com/newsandevents/mediaresources/managementteam/rswitz/

   3. Provide a brief (up to 100 words) biography about the leader of this nominated company:

Robert E. Switz was named President and Chief Executive Officer of ADC in August 2003. Prior to this leadership position, Mr. Switz served ADC as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the company. He has played an instrumental role in transforming ADC in recent years, developing and implementing restructuring strategies to ensure the company's return to profitability in the broadband marketplace.

Mr. Switz serves as a director on the boards of Micron Technology, Inc. (NYSE: MU) and Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ: BRCM). In 1999, he was a recipient of the CFO Excellence award from CFO Magazine.