MDA CEO Discusses Q4 and 2013 Results – Earnings Call Audio Replay and Transcript
MDA released its fourth quarter and year-end 2013 financial results today and conducted a conference call with financial analysts and investors. This is a replay of the conference call.
From MDA on the conference call were:
– Dan Friedmann – President and Chief Executive Officer
– Anil Wirasekara – Chief Financial Officer
– Press release: MDA Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2013 Results
Audio Transcript
Operator
Good evening. My name is Leone and I will be your conference operator today. At this time, I would like to welcome everyone to the MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Limited 2013 Fourth Quarter Results Conference Call and Webcast. (Operator Instructions)
I would like to remind you that part of today’s discussions, including responses to various questions may contain forward-looking statements, which represent the company’s estimates, future plans, objectives and expected performance as of today’s date. These statements are based on current assumptions that the company believes are reasonable, but are subject to a wide range of uncertainties and risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information. You are referred to the advisory regarding forward-looking statements contained in the fourth quarter earnings news release and in the company’s most recent management discussion and analysis and annual information form, both of which are available on the company’s website or SEDAR.
I would now like to turn the conference over to Mr. Dan Friedmann. Please go ahead.
Dan Friedmann – President and Chief Executive Officer
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and thank you for joining us today for MDA’s fourth quarter and year-end 2013 conference call. With me is Anil Wirasekara, our Chief Financial Officer. I will be discussing some of the key business events that have taken place in the past few months. Anil will review our financial results for the fourth quarter and the year-end. And then we’ll open the line for your questions.
In the Communications sector, the company signed a contract for AsiaSat 9 communications satellite to be built for a leading satellite operator in Asia. AsiaSat 9 will be used for television broadcast, private network services and broadband services across the Asia-Pacific. This is the company’s fifth satellite award from AsiaSat, two of which are scheduled for launch later this year.
Bidding activity in the commercial satellite sector continues at a high level. The business pipeline is strong. And although a few awards were delayed from late last year, more satellite purchasers’ decisions are expected over the next few months.
In multi-mission satellite built by the company for Asia Broadcast Satellite, ABS 2 was launched and is successfully performing post-launch maneuvers according to plan. ABS 2 is a highly sophisticated multi-mission satellite designed to provide multiple services across Asia, Russia, Africa and the Middle East, including direct-to-home television, cable television distribution, private network services and telecommunications.
