UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-Q [X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the quarterly period ended SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 OR [ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from____________ to _____________ Commission File Number 0-22303 GULF ISLAND FABRICATION, INC. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) LOUISIANA 72-1147390 (State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer incorporation or organization) Identification No.) 583 THOMPSON ROAD, HOUMA, LOUISIANA 70363 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) (504) 872-2100 Registrant's telephone number, including area code Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES ___X___ No_______ The number of shares of the Registrant's common stock, no par value per share, outstanding at November 9, 1998 was 11,638,400. GULF ISLAND FABRICATION, INC. I N D E X Page PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION Item 1. Financial Statements Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 1998 (unaudited) and December 31, 1997 1 Consolidated Statements of Income for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 1998 and 1997 (unaudited) 2 Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders' Equity for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 1998 (unaudited) 3 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 1998 and 1997 (unaudited) 4 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 5-7 Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 8-10 PART II OTHER INFORMATION Item 5. Other Information 11 Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K 11 SIGNATURES 12 EXHIBIT INDEX E-1 GULF ISLAND FABRICATION, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) September 30, December 31, 1998 1997 ___________ _____________ (in thousands) ASSETS Current assets: Cash $ 3,905 $ 6,879 Contracts receivable, net 33,047 21,204 Retainage 6,910 1,556 Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts 5,604 903 Prepaid expenses 597 914 Inventory 1,184 968 Recoverable income taxes - 321 ___________ __________ Total current assets 51,247 32,745 Property, plant and equipment, net 41,816 34,505 Excess of cost over fair value of net assets acquired less accumulated amortization of $ 210,275 at September 30, 1998 3,907 - Other assets 497 428 ___________ __________ Total assets $ 97,467 $ 67,678 =========== ========== LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 12,459 $ 3,368 Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts 10,376 5,925 Accrued employee costs 4,105 3,068 Accrued expenses 2,104 2,829 Income taxes payable 1,081 - ___________ __________ Total current liabilities 30,125 15,190 Deferred income taxes 1,748 1,878 ___________ __________ Total liabilities 31,873 17,068 Shareholders' equity: Preferred stock, no par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding - - Common stock, no par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized, 11,638,400 and 11,600,000 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 1998 and December 31, 1997, respectively 4,162 4,133 Additional paid-in capital 35,124 34,865 Retained earnings 26,308 11,612 ___________ __________ Total shareholders' equity 65,594 50,610 ___________ __________ $ 97,467 $ 67,678 =========== ========== The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements. GULF ISLAND FABRICATION, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, ___________________ _____________________ 1998 1997 1998 1997 (in thousands, except per share data) Revenue $ 51,866 $ 36,311 $ 149,421 $ 101,556 Cost of revenue 42,036 29,325 121,513 83,282 ________ ________ _________ _________ Gross profit 9,830 6,986 27,908 18,274 General and administrative expenses 1,458 1,115 4,532 3,262 ________ ________ _________ _________ Operating income 8,372 5,871 23,376 15,012 Other expense (income): Interest expense 19 16 76 324 Interest income (94) (77) (183) (112) ________ ________ _________ _________ (75) (61) (107) 212 ________ ________ _________ _________ Income before income taxes 8,447 5,932 23,483 14,800 Income taxes 3,135 2,234 8,787 4,210 Cumulative deferred tax provision - - - 1,144 ________ ________ _________ _________ Net income $ 5,312 $ 3,698 $ 14,696 $ 9,446 ======== ======== ========= ========= Pro forma data (Note 3): Income before income taxes $ 8,447 $ 5,932 $ 23,483 $ 14,800 Income taxes 3,135 2,234 8,787 4,210 Pro forma income taxes related to operations as S Corporation - - - 1,379 ________ ________ _________ _________ Pro forma net income $ 5,312 $ 3,698 $ 14,696 $ 9,211 Pro forma per share data: ======== ======== ========= ========= Pro forma basic earnings per share $ 0.46 $ 0.32 $ 1.26 $ 0.89 ======== ======== ========= ========= Pro forma diluted earnings per share $ 0.45 $ 0.32 $ 1.25 $ 0.89 ======== ======== ========= ========= Pro forma weighted-average shares 11,638 11,600 11,627 10,310 Effect of dilutive securities: employee stock options 59 89 84 43 ________ ________ _________ _________ Pro forma adjusted weighted-average shares 11,697 11,689 11,711 10,353 ======== ======== ========= ========= The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements. GULF ISLAND FABRICATION, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (UNAUDITED) Additional Total Common Stock Paid-In Retained Shareholders' Shares Amount Capital Earnings Equity __________ _______ ________ ________ ________ (in thousands, except share data) Balance at January 1, 1998 11,600,000 $ 4,133 $ 34,865 $ 11,612 $ 50,610 Exercise of stock options 38,400 29 259 - 288 Net income - - - 14,696 14,696 __________ _______ ________ _______ _______ Balance at September 30, 1998 11,638,400 $ 4,162 $ 35,124 $ 26,308 $ 65,594 ========== ======= ======== ======== ======== The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements. GULF ISLAND FABRICATION, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED) Nine months ended September 30, 1998 1997 ___________ _________ (in thousands) Cash flows from operating activities: Net income $ 14,696 $ 9,446 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation 2,880 2,104 Amortization 210 - Deferred income taxes (331) 1,218 Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Contracts receivable (3,939) (7,307) Retainage (4,109) 790 Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts (3,541) (1,972) Prepaid expenses and other assets 597 967 Inventory (371) - Accounts payable and accrued expenses 4,456 4,649 Income taxes payable 1,335 988 Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts 2,006 2,943 ___________ _________ Net cash provided by operating activities 13,889 13,826 Cash flows from investing activities: Capital expenditures, net (8,577) (12,787) Payment for purchase of Dolphin Services, net of cash acquired - (5,803) Payment for purchase of Southport, net of cash acquired (5,922) - Other (52) 253 ___________ _________ Net cash used in investing activities (14,551) (18,337) Cash flows from financing activities: Borrowings against notes payable 8,000 41,900 Principal payments on notes payable (10,600) (48,659) Proceeds from initial public offering - 31,328 Proceeds from exercise of stock options 288 - Dividends - (16,641) ___________ _________ Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (2,312) 7,928 ___________ _________ Net increase (decrease) in cash (2,974) 3,417 Cash at beginning of period 6,879 1,357 ___________ _________ Cash at end of period $ 3,905 $ 4,774 =========== ========= Supplemental cash flow information: Interest paid $ 72 $ 381 =========== ========= Income taxes paid $ 7,773 $ 2,660 =========== ========= The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements. GULF ISLAND FABRICATION, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) FOR THE THREE MONTH AND NINE MONTH PERIODS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 AND 1997 NOTE 1 - ORGANIZATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES Gulf Island Fabrication, Inc. ("Gulf Island"), located in Houma, Louisiana, is a leading fabricator of offshore drilling and production platforms and other specialized structures used in the development and production of offshore oil and gas reserves. The Company also offers offshore interconnect pipe hook-up, inshore marine construction, and steel warehousing and sales. With the acquisition of Southport, Inc., effective January 1, 1998, the Company also provides the fabrication of living quarters for offshore platforms for the oil and gas industry. Gulf Island's principal markets are concentrated in the offshore regions of the Gulf of Mexico. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Gulf Island and its wholly owned subsidiaries (collectively "the Company"). All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Effective January 1, 1998, the Company acquired all of the outstanding shares of Southport, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary Southport International, Inc. (collectively "Southport"). Southport specializes in the fabrication of living quarters for offshore platforms. The purchase price was $6.0 million cash, plus contingent payments of up to an additional $5.0 million based on Southport's net income over a four-year period ending December 31, 2001. The purchase price plus $130,000 of direct expenses exceeded the fair value of the assets acquired of $12.3 million and liabilities assumed of $10.3 million with the acquisition being accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. Goodwill of $4.1 million is being amortized over 15 years on a straight-line basis. Accordingly, the operations of Southport are included in the Company's consolidated operations from January 1, 1998. The information presented at September 30, 1998 and for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 1998 and 1997, is unaudited. In the opinion of the Company's management, the accompanying unaudited financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) which the Company considers necessary for the fair presentation of the Company's financial position at September 30, 1998 and the results of its operations for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 1998 and 1997, and its cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 1998 and 1997. The results of operations for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 1998 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 1998. In the opinion of management, the financial statements included herein have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Registrant Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997. Certain items included in the financial statements for the periods ended December 31, 1997 and September 30, 1997 have been reclassified to conform to the September 30, 1998 financial statement presentation. NOTE 2- ACQUISITION OF SOUTHPORT, INC. The following unaudited pro forma information presents a summary of consolidated results of operations of the Company and Southport as if the acquisition had occurred on January 1, 1997. Pro forma adjustments include (1) adjustments for the increase in interest expense as a result of the acquisition, (2) additional depreciation on property, plant and equipment, (3) adjustments to record the amortization of cost in excess of fair value of net assets acquired, (4) the elimination of certain general and administrative expenses, and (5) the related tax effects. The pro forma income tax presentation (Note 3) is included. Three months Nine months Ended Ended September 30, September 30, 1997 1997 (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA) _____________________________________ Revenue............................................ $ 40,979 $115,951 Pro forma net income............................... 4,099 9,798 Pro forma basic and diluted net income per share... 0.36 .95 NOTE 3- PRO FORMA PER SHARE DATA On April 4, 1997, the Company's shareholders elected to terminate the Company's status as an S Corporation, and the Company became subject to federal and state income taxes. The pro forma income statement presentation reflects income taxes related to operations as an S Corporation as if the Company had been subject to federal and state income taxes since January 1, 1997 using an assumed effective tax rate of approximately 38%. Further, the pro forma weighted-average share calculations for 1997 include the assumed issuance of additional shares sufficient to pay the distributions made to shareholders in connection with the Company's Initial Public Offering, to the extent such distributions exceeded net income for the year ended December 31, 1996. NOTE 4 - STOCK SPLIT On October 6, 1997, the Company's Board of Directors authorized a two-for- one stock split effected in the form of a stock dividend that became effective on October 28, 1997 to shareholders of record on October 21, 1997. All share and per share data included in the financial statements prior to the stock split have been restated to reflect the stock split. NOTE 5 - CONTINGENCIES The Company is one of four defendants in a lawsuit in which the plaintiff claims that the Company improperly installed certain attachments to a jacket that it had fabricated for the plaintiff. The plaintiff, which has recovered most of its out-of-pocket losses from its insurer, seeks to recover the remainder of its claimed out-of-pocket losses (approximately $1 million) and approximately $63 million for punitive damages and for economic losses which it alleges resulted from the delay in oil and gas production that was caused by these events. The Company is vigorously contesting the plaintiff's claims and, based on the Company's analysis of those claims, the Company's defenses thereto, and the Court's rulings received to date, the Company believes that its liability for such claims, if any, will not have a material adverse effect on the financial position or results of operations of the Company. In view of the uncertainties inherent in litigation, however, no assurance can be given as to the ultimate outcome of such claims. The Company is subject to claims arising through the normal conduct of its business. While the ultimate outcome of such claims cannot be determined, management does not expect that these matters will have a material adverse effect on the financial position or results of operations of the Company. NOTE 6 - NOTES PAYABLE Effective August 21, 1998, the Company's existing bank credit facility was amended and restated in order, among other reasons, to extend the maturity date to December 31, 2000. The credit facility provides for a revolving line of credit (the "Revolver") of up to $20.0 million which bears interest equal to, at the Company's option, the prime lending rate established by Citibank, N.A. or LIBOR plus 1.5%. The Company is required to maintain certain balance sheet and cash flow ratios. The Company pays a fee quarterly of three-eighths of one percent per annum on the weighted-average unused portion of the line of credit. At September 30, 1998, there were no borrowings outstanding under the credit facility. ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS RESULTS OF OPERATIONS Effective January 1, 1998, the Company acquired all of the outstanding stock of Southport, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary Southport International, Inc. (collectively, "Southport"). The acquisition is being accounted for under the purchase method of accounting, and accordingly, the operations of Southport are included in the Company's consolidated operations starting January 1, 1998. The Statement of Income included in the unaudited financial statements presents the consolidated results of operations of the Company for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 1998, compared to the results of operations of the Company for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 1997, without giving effect to the Southport acquisition. The Company's revenue for the three month and nine month periods ended September 30, 1998 was $51.9 million and $149.4 million, an increase of 42.8% and 47.1%, respectively, compared to $36.3 million and $101.6 million in revenue for the three month and nine month periods ended September 30, 1997. Revenue increased as a result of the Southport Acquisition, the on-going labor recruiting and retention efforts by the Company which generated an increase in the volume of direct labor hours applied to contracts, and the implementation of productivity enhancing equipment for the three month and nine month periods ended September 30, 1998, compared to the same periods in 1997. The increased employment levels and the utilization of labor saving equipment enabled the Company to increase volume and produce relatively stable or slightly improved profit margins and generate a gross profit of $9.8 million (19.0% of revenue) and $27.9 million (18.7% of revenue) for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 1998, respectively, compared to the $7.0 million (19.2% of revenue) and $18.3 million (18.0% of revenue) of gross profit for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 1997. The Company's general and administrative expenses were $1.5 million for the three month period ended September 30, 1998 and $4.5 million for the nine month period ended September 30, 1998. This compares to $1.1 million for the three month period ended September 30, 1997 and $3.3 million for the nine month period ended September 30, 1997. These increases of $400,000 and $1.2 million, respectively, were caused by additional general and administrative costs associated with the operating activities of Southport, additional costs associated with increased production levels and public company reporting requirements. The Company had net interest income of $75,000 for the three months ended September 30, 1998 and $107,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 1998, compared to net interest income of $61,000 and net interest expense of $212,000 for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 1997. The Company completed its Initial Public Offering in April 1997 and used the proceeds to eliminate all of its outstanding bank debt and provide working capital to the Company. Since that time, the Company's cash provided by operations has increased to a level which has allowed the Company to make capital expenditures and acquisitions with little or no debt. The Company converted from S Corporation to C Corporation status on April 4, 1997. Pro forma income taxes and pro forma net income give effect to federal and state income taxes as if the Company had been taxed as a C Corporation during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 1997. Despite the Company's performance for the three month and nine month periods, the Company expects that the downturn in the industry brought on by continued low oil prices and a downturn in natural gas prices will impact the Company's ability to maintain these high levels of performance beyond year end. The dollar value of projects available in the market is significantly below last year's levels and the Company's backlog is being similarly eroded. Competition for available projects has become more intense and future margins will likely be diminished. Cost reduction measures will be undertaken as appropriate to meet these conditions. In the longer term, demand for the Company's services will continue to depend largely upon prices for oil and gas, which are difficult to predict. At some point however, it is expected that these prices should recover as supplies are reduced and the Company's customers are forced to replace them. LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES Historically the Company has funded its business activities through funds generated from operations and borrowings under its bank credit facility. Net cash provided by operations was $13.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 1998 with working capital increasing to $21.1 million. Net cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 1998 was $14.6 million, of which $5.9 million related to the purchase of Southport and $8.7 million related to capital expenditures made during the period. Approximately 65% of the Company's capital expenditures were for the purchase of three new Manitowoc cranes which replaced three cranes previously rented. The remaining 35% of the Company's capital expenditures were for improvements to its production facilities and for equipment designed to increase the capacity of its facilities and the productivity of its labor force. Net cash used in financing activities was $2.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 1998. The Company received $288,000 from the proceeds of exercised stock options and made $2.6 million net payments on the Company's Bank Credit Facility. The Company's Bank Credit Facility currently provides for a revolving line of credit (the "Revolver") of up to $20.0 million which bears interest equal to, at the Company's option, the prime lending rate established by Citibank, N.A. or LIBOR plus 1 1/2 %. The Revolver matures December 31, 2000 and is secured by a mortgage on the Company's real estate, equipment and fixtures. At September 30, 1998 the Company had no outstanding borrowings under the credit facility. Capital expenditures for the remaining three months of 1998 are estimated to be approximately $8.2 million, including the purchase of two additional new Manitowoc crawler cranes (which will replace two rental cranes), improvements to the west yard fabrication area and various other fabrication equipment purchases and facility expansions. On November 6, 1998 the Company acquired for $1.15 million the property that it's wholly-owned subsidiary, Southport,Inc., is located on. The Company also has an agreement to purchase, for approximately $750,000, property which is adjacent to its east yard and across the Navigation Canal from its west yard. Management believes that its available funds, cash generated by operating activities and funds available under the Revolver will be sufficient to fund these capital expenditures and its working capital needs. However, the Company may expand its operations through future acquisitions that may require additional equity or debt financing. YEAR 2000 ISSUES The Problem. Year 2000 issues result from the past practice in the computer industry of using two digits rather than four when coding the year portion of a date. This practice can create breakdowns or erroneous results when computers and processors embedded in other equipment perform operations involving dates later than December 31, 1999. The Company's State of Readiness. The Company has assessed the Year 2000 compliance of its information technology systems and has purchased software and hardware that it believes will be adequate to upgrade all of these systems to Year 2000 compliance. The Company has also surveyed its significant non-information technology equipment for Year 2000 issues. While the Company uses several such items of equipment that are significant to its operations (such as automated welding and cutting equipment) none of the automated functions of this equipment are date sensitive and the Company believes that none of the equipment will require replacement or modification for Year 2000 compliance. The Company does not have any significant suppliers or customers whose information technology systems directly interface with that of the Company. Nevertheless, as part of its assessment of its state of readiness, the Company is surveying its suppliers and customers for Year 2000 compliance. To date, the Company has received replies from approximately 71% of the suppliers that it has contacted, all of which (with insignificant exceptions) have indicated that they have taken appropriate steps to achieve Year 2000 compliance or have plans to do so. The Company has only recently begun its survey of customers and does not yet have a significant response. Costs. Because the Company's information technology systems have been regularly upgraded and replaced as part of the Company's ongoing efforts to maintain high-grade technology and because the Company is not heavily dependent on non-information technology equipment that is date sensitive, the Company's Year 2000 compliance costs are expected to be relatively low. Recently the Company has incurred $77,000 to purchase software and hardware to upgrade its information technology systems and management does not believe that significant additional costs will be required for Year 2000 compliance. There can be no guarantee, however, that actual costs will not exceed that amount. Risks. While the Company believes that it has taken reasonable steps to assess its internal systems and prepare them for Year 2000 issues, if those steps prove inadequate the Company's ability to estimate and bid on new jobs and its financial and other daily business procedures could be interrupted or delayed, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's operations. Because the Company's survey of its suppliers and customers is not complete, the Company is not in a position to evaluate the risk of their non-compliance. It is possible that the operations of the Company could be adversely affected to a material extent by the non- compliance of significant suppliers or customers. Contingency Plan. While the Company intends to continue to monitor Year 2000 issues, it does not currently have a contingency plan for dealing with the possibility that its current systems may prove inadequate, nor does the Company currently intend to develop such a plan. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Statements under "Year 2000 Issues" as to the Company's beliefs and expectations, statements in the last paragraph under "Results of Operations" and other statements in this report and the exhibits hereto that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, the timing and extent of changes in the prices of crude oil and natural gas, the timing of new projects and the Company's ability to obtain them, competitive factors in the heavy marine fabrication industry, the accuracy of the Company's assessment of its exposure to Year 2000 issues and the adequacy of the steps it has taken to address those issues. Changes in these factors could result in changes in the Company's performance and could cause the actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. PART II. OTHER INFORMATION ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION On October 22, 1998 the Company announced its 1998 third quarter earnings and related matters. The press release making this announcement is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1. ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K (a) Exhibits. 10.1 Seventh Amended and Restated Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement among the Company and First National Bank of Commerce and Whitney National Bank, dated August 21, 1998 (the "Bank Credit Facility"). 27.1 Financial Data Schedule. 99.1 Press release issued by the Company on October 22, 1998 announcing its 1998 third quarter earnings and related matters. (b) The Company filed no reports on Form 8-K during the quarter for which this report is filed. SIGNATURES 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. GULF ISLAND FABRICATION, INC. /s/ Joseph P. Gallagher, III By:______________________________ Joseph P. Gallagher, III Vice President - Finance, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary (Principal Financial Officer and Duly Authorized Officer) DATE: NOVEMBER 12, 1998 GULF ISLAND FABRICATION, INC. EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit Number DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT 10.1 Seventh Amended and Restated Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement among the Company and First National Bank of Commerce and Whitney National Bank, dated August 21, 1998 (the "Bank Credit Facility"). 27.1 Financial Data Schedule. 99.1 Press release issued by the Company on October 22, 1998 announcing its 1998 third quarter earnings and related matters.