The Information Technology 100
91
CommScope
It's a wired world, and that's just the way CommScope likes it. The maker of high-performance cable products scored last year by wiring up data, voice, and video networks for some serious corporate giants. Cable company Comcast and tech maven Sun Microsystems signed up for the company's high-bandwidth coaxial and fiber-optic products, some of which can carry cable TV, phone, and Internet service through one pipe. Buoyed by such deals -- plus the $263 million acquisition of Avaya's connectivity business -- profits at the Hickory, N.C. company returned to the black last year, after a $70.6 million loss the year before. But CommScope faces stiff competition from sturdy rivals such as Corning. The challenge now for Chief Executive Frank Drendel is to keep those big-ticket clients rolling in.
Company Info
| STOCK INFO | CTV |
| Revenues* | $1.2 BILLION
|
| Revenue Growth | 80.7%
|
| Return on Equity | 21.5%
|
| Total Return | -1.9%
|
| Profits* | $97.7 MILLION
|
| Industry | COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT
|
| CORPORATE WEB SITE
|
All figures are for the most recent available 12 months.
* Latest available data for the 12-month period ended Dec. 31, Jan. 31, Feb. 29, Mar. 31, or Apr. 30. For companies that do not report quarterly, the most recent annual data were used.
Data provided by Standard & Poor's Compustat, BusinessWeek
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Company Snapshot
CommScope Inc. engages in the design, manufacture, and marketing of cable and connectivity solutions for communications networks worldwide. The company provides structured cabling systems for business enterprise applications under the SYSTIMAX Solutions and Uniprise Solutions brand names. A structured cabling system consists of various components, including transmission media (cable), circuit administration hardware, connectors, jacks, plugs, adapters, transmission electronics, electrical protection devices, wireless access devices, and support hardware. It manufacture and markets broadband coaxial cables, and other electronic and fiber optic cable products for cable television, telephony, Internet access, wireless communications, and other broadband services. In addition, CommScope also manufacture other broadband coaxial cables, fiber optic cables, and twisted pair cables that are used for various wireless applications, including Third Generation Wireless, Personal Communications Systems, Global System for Mobile Communications, Universal Mobile Telecommunications Systems, Cellular, Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service, Local Multipoint Distribution System, land mobile radio, paging, automotive, and in-building wireless applications. The company distributes its products directly and through distributors to end users and original equipment manufacturers. CommScope was incorporated in 1997 and is headquartered in Hickory, N.C.
No. of Employees
4,300
Data provided by 
Frank M. Drendel
Bio
Frank M. Drendel has been Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Commscope Inc. since July 28, 1997 and Chief Executive Officer of CommScope NC (a subsidiary of Commscope Inc.) since 1976. Mr. Drendel served as President and Chairman of CommScope NC from 1986 to 1997. Prior to that time, Mr. Drendel has held various positions with CommScope NC since 1971. He has been a Director of Nextel Communications Inc. since August 1997 and serves as Chairman of Compensation Committee and Member of Compensation, Audit, Corporate Governance & Nominating Committee. He also serves as a Director of C-SPAN and the National Cable Television Association. He serves as a Director of Commscope Inc. and is a Chairman of Executive Committee. He served as a Director of General Instrument Corporation since July 25, 1997 and served as a Director of the Distributing Company from 1992 until 1997. He was a Director of General Instrument Corporation of Delaware, a subsidiary of the Distributing Company, and its predecessors from 1987 to 1992. Mr. Drendel was also recently inducted into the Cable Television Hall of Fame.
AGE: 60
Titles
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Total Compensation*
$ 1.2 MILLION
Total Value of Options**
$ 6.7 MILLION
Degrees Held
NA
* Latest available fiscal year
** The sum of the net value of options exercised and held in the latest available fiscal year
Key Executives
Frank M. Drendel, Brian D. Garrett, Jearld L. Leonhardt, Randall W. Crenshaw, Marvin S. Edwards, Jr., William R. Gooden, Edward A. Hally, James R. Hughes, Christopher A. Story, Frank B. Wyatt, II
Board Members
Frank M. Drendel, Duncan M. Faircloth, Boyd L. George, George N. Hutton, Jr., Katsuhiko Okubo, Richard C. Smith, June E. Travis, James N. Whitson
