As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 1, 2005

Registration No. 333-129577

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1

TO

Form S-4

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

General Cable Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

General Cable Corporation

4 Tesseneer Drive

Highland Heights, Kentucky 41076

(859) 572-8000

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

Robert J. Siverd

Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

General Cable Corporation

4 Tesseneer Drive

Highland Heights, Kentucky 41076

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Copies to:

          Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale of the securities to the public: As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

          If the securities being registered on this Form are being offered in connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with General Instruction G, check the following box.     o

          If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.     o

          If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.     o

     The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

CONVERSION OFFER PROSPECTUS

General Cable Corporation

Offer to Pay a Cash Premium

Upon the Conversion of

General Cable Corporation’s

5.75% Series A Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock

(CUSIP Nos. 369300207 and 369300306)

into General Cable Corporation Common Stock

          We are offering to pay a cash premium to holders of our 5.75% Series A Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock who elect to convert their shares of Series A preferred stock into shares of our common stock, $0.01 par value per share, in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions described in this conversion offer prospectus and the accompanying letter of transmittal. As of November 29, 2005, 2,069,907 shares of Series A preferred stock were outstanding.

          Each share of Series A preferred stock is currently convertible into 4.998 shares of common stock, which is equivalent to a conversion price of approximately $10.004 per share, subject to potential adjustments. Holders who surrender their shares of Series A preferred stock for conversion on or before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on December 9, 2005 will receive, subject to adjustment, the following consideration for each share of Series A preferred stock surrendered:

This offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on Friday, December 9, 2005, unless extended or earlier terminated.

          The cash premium will be $7.88 per share of Series A preferred stock, subject to adjustment as provided in this conversion offer prospectus. This premium is in addition to the shares of common stock you would otherwise be entitled to receive upon conversion of the Series A preferred stock. We are not required to issue fractional shares of common stock upon conversion of the Series A preferred stock. Instead, we will pay a cash adjustment for such fractional shares based upon the market price of the common stock on the second business day before the settlement date of the conversion. If all shares of Series A preferred stock are converted in the conversion offer, we would be required to issue a total of 10,345,395 shares of common stock, assuming a conversion price of $10.004 per share.

          The Series A preferred stock is not listed on any national securities exchange and there is no established trading market for these shares. However, a substantial majority of the shares of Series A preferred stock are traded over-the-counter, and the remainder of these shares are traded on the PORTAL^SM system of The NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “BGC.” As of November 29, 2005, the average of the closing bid and asked price of the Series A preferred stock on the over-the-counter market was $94.38 per share. As of that date, the closing price of the common stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $17.28 per share. The shares of common stock to be issued in this conversion offer have been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange.

          Conversion of the Series A preferred stock and an investment in the common stock involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 8 for a discussion of issues that you should consider with respect to this conversion offer.

          You must make your own decision whether to convert any shares of Series A preferred stock in this conversion offer, and, if so, the number of shares of Series A preferred stock to convert. Neither General Cable Corporation, the conversion agent, the information agent, the dealer manager nor any other person is making any recommendation as to whether you should convert your shares of Series A preferred stock in the conversion offer.

          Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this conversion offer prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The dealer manager for the conversion offer is:

Merrill Lynch & Co.

The date of this conversion offer prospectus is December 1, 2005

TABLE OF CONTENTS

          As used in this conversion offer prospectus, except where the context otherwise requires or as otherwise indicated, “General Cable Corporation”, “General Cable,” the “company,” “we,” “our,” and “us” refer to General Cable Corporation and its subsidiaries. We refer to our 5.75% Series A Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock as “Series A preferred stock.”

          This conversion offer prospectus incorporates important business and financial information about us that is not included in or delivered with this conversion offer prospectus. Information incorporated by reference is available without charge to holders of our Series A preferred stock upon written or oral request to us at General Cable Corporation, 4 Tesseneer Drive, Highland Heights, Kentucky 41076-9753, Attention: Chief Financial Officer, or by telephone at (859) 572-8000. To obtain timely delivery, holders of Series A preferred stock must request the information no later than five business days before the date they must make their investment decision, or December 9, 2005, the present expiration date of the conversion offer, and deliver proper instructions prior to the expiration date of the conversion offer.

          You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this conversion offer prospectus. We have not, and each of the dealer manager, the information agent and the conversion agent has not, authorized any other person to provide you with different or additional information. If anyone provides you with different or additional information, you should not rely on it. We are not making an offer to convert these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or conversion is not permitted. You should assume that the information in this conversion offer prospectus is accurate as of the date appearing on the front cover of this conversion offer prospectus only. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

          This conversion offer prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein include forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are those that predict or describe future events or trends and that do not relate solely to historical matters. You can generally identify forward-looking statements as statements containing the words “believe,” “expect,” “will,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “project,” “plan,” “assume,” “seek to” or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. We commonly use forward-looking statements throughout this conversion offer prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein regarding the following subjects:

          Actual results may differ materially from those statements as a result of factors, risks and uncertainties over many of which we have no control. These factors include, without limitation:

          You should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements because the matters they describe are subject to risks, uncertainties and other unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond our control. Our forward-looking statements are based on the information currently available to us and are applicable only as of the date on the cover of this conversion offer prospectus or, in the case of forward-looking statements incorporated by reference, as of the date of the filing that includes the statement. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is impossible for us to predict these matters or how they may affect us. Over time, our actual results, performance or achievements will likely differ from the anticipated results, performance or achievements that are expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements, and such difference might be significant and materially adverse to our stockholders. Such factors include, without limitation, the following:

															Nine Fiscal Months Ended
			Years Ended December 31,
															October 1,				September 30,
			2002				2003				2004				2004				2005
															(unaudited)				(unaudited)
Statement of Operations Data: (in millions, except per share data)
Net sales:
	Energy		$	516.0			$	560.2			$	705.7			$	520.4			$	622.2
	Industrial & specialty			499.4				542.4				734.3				561.6				650.7
	Communications			438.5				435.8				530.7				403.4				490.4
Total net sales				1,453.9				1,538.4				1,970.7				1,485.4				1,763.3
Cost of sales				1,287.3				1,365.0				1,756.0				1,326.0				1,564.7
Gross profit				166.6				173.4				214.7				159.4				198.6
Selling, general and administrative expenses				150.9				127.7				158.2				115.9				129.1
Operating income				15.7				45.7				56.5				43.5				69.5
Other income (expense)				—				1.5				(1.2	)			(0.9	)			—
Interest expense, net				(42.6	)			(43.1	)			(35.9	)			(27.3	)			(28.9	)
Other financial costs				(1.1	)			(6.0	)			—				—				—
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes				(28.0	)			(1.9	)			19.4				15.3				40.6
Income tax benefit (provision)				9.9				(2.9	)			18.1				(4.6	)			(15.6	)
Income (loss) from continuing operations				(18.1	)			(4.8	)			37.5				10.7				25.0
Income (loss) on disposal of discontinued operations				(5.9	)			—				0.4				—				—
Net income (loss)			$	(24.0	)		$	(4.8	)		$	37.9			$	10.7			$	25.0
Less: Series A preferred stock dividends				—				(0.6	)			(6.0	)			(4.5	)			(4.5	)
Net income (loss) applicable to common shareholders			$	(24.0	)		$	(5.4	)		$	31.9			$	6.2			$	20.5
Earnings (loss) of continuing operations per common share			$	(0.55	)		$	(0.16	)		$	0.81			$	0.16			$	0.52
Earnings (loss) of continuing operations per common share — assuming dilution			$	(0.55	)		$	(0.16	)		$	0.75			$	0.16			$	0.49
Earnings (loss) of discontinued operations per common share			$	(0.18	)		$	—			$	0.01			$	—			$	—
Earnings (loss) of discontinued operations per common share — assuming dilution			$	(0.18	)		$	—			$	0.01			$	—			$	—
Earnings (loss) per common share			$	(0.73	)		$	(0.16	)		$	0.82			$	0.16			$	0.52
Earnings (loss) per common share — assuming dilution			$	(0.73	)		$	(0.16	)		$	0.75			$	0.16			$	0.49
Weighted average shares outstanding				33.0				33.6				39.0				39.2				39.5
Weighted average shares outstanding — assuming dilution				33.0				33.6				50.3				39.9				50.9
Dividends per common share			$	0.15			$	—			$	—			$	—			$	—

		December 31,
														September 30,
		2002				2003				2004				2005
														(unaudited)
Balance Sheet Data: (in millions, except per share data)
Cash and cash equivalents		$	29.1			$	25.1			$	36.4			$	51.3
Working capital(1)		$	150.8			$	236.6			$	298.0			$	300.5
Property, plant and equipment, net		$	323.3			$	333.3			$	356.0			$	328.1
Total assets		$	973.3			$	1,049.5			$	1,220.8			$	1,266.9
Total debt(2)		$	451.9			$	340.4			$	374.9			$	352.3
Net debt(2)(3)		$	422.8			$	315.3			$	338.5			$	301.0
Shareholders’ equity		$	60.9			$	240.1			$	301.4			$	305.1
Book value per share			—				—				—			$	7.69

														Nine Fiscal Months Ended
		Year Ended December 31,
														October 1,				September 30,
		2002				2003				2004				2004				2005
														(unaudited)				(unaudited)
Other Financial Data: (in millions, except ratio and metals data)
Cash flows of operating activities		$	57.3			$	(14.5	)		$	12.5			$	20.7			$	74.9
Cash flows of investing activities		$	(30.0	)		$	(19.7	)		$	(36.3	)		$	(24.2	)		$	(29.2	)
Cash flows of financing activities		$	(16.2	)		$	27.2			$	28.8			$	8.0			$	(25.2	)
Depreciation and amortization		$	30.6			$	33.4			$	35.4			$	27.3			$	43.6
Capital expenditures		$	(31.4	)		$	(19.1	)		$	(37.0	)		$	(24.1	)		$	(25.7	)
Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred dividends(4)			—				—				1.2	x			1.2	x			1.8	x
Average daily COMEX price per pound of copper cathode		$	0.72			$	0.81			$	1.29			$	1.25			$	1.57
Average daily selling price per pound of aluminum rod		$	0.65			$	0.69			$	0.85			$	0.83			$	0.90

(1)	Working capital means current assets less current liabilities.
(2)	Excludes off-balance sheet borrowings of $48.5 million as of December 31, 2002 under our former accounts receivable asset-backed securitization facility. We terminated this facility in November 2003. Also excludes $1.0 million of off-balance sheet debt related to the sale of accounts receivable by one of our international operations as of September 30, 2005.
(3)	Net debt means our total debt less cash and cash equivalents.
(4)	For purposes of calculating the ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred dividends, earnings consist of income from continuing operations before income taxes and fixed charges. Fixed charges include: (i) interest expense, whether expensed or capitalized; (ii) amortization of debt issuance cost; (iii) the portion of rental expense representative of the interest factor; and (iv) the amount of pretax earnings required to cover preferred stock dividends and any accretion in the carrying value of the preferred stock. For the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2003, earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges by $27.6 million and $2.1 million, respectively.

The company		General Cable Corporation
The Series A preferred stock		5.75% Series A Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock, $50.00 liquidation preference per share
The conversion offer		Upon the conversion to common stock of a share of outstanding Series A preferred stock in the conversion offer, we are offering to pay to the holder thereof conversion consideration comprised of a cash premium plus accrued but unpaid dividends payable in cash, as more fully discussed below, on terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, including, without limitation, the financing conditions and the general conditions.
Purposes of the conversion offer		The purposes of the conversion offer are to induce the conversion to common stock of any and all of the outstanding shares of Series A preferred stock to reduce our ongoing fixed dividend obligations, and to improve the trading liquidity of our common stock by increasing the number of outstanding shares of common stock available for trading.
Conversion		Each share of Series A preferred stock will be convertible into 4.998 shares of common stock, less any fractional shares, subject to adjustment in accordance with the terms of the Series A preferred stock. We are not required to issue fractional shares of common stock upon conversion of the Series A preferred stock. Instead, we will pay a cash adjustment for such fractional shares based upon the market price of the common stock on the second business day before the settlement date.
Expiration date		Friday, December 9, 2005, unless extended or earlier terminated by us. For example, we may extend the expiration date of this conversion offer so that the expiration date occurs upon or shortly after the satisfaction of the conditions to the conversion offer.
Conversion consideration		$7.88 in cash per share of Series A preferred stock converted into common stock in the conversion offer, subject to adjustment as provided herein, plus an amount in cash equal to the accrued but unpaid and accumulated dividends on each share of Series A preferred stock from and after November 24, 2005, the last dividend payment date prior to the expiration date, up to, but not including, the settlement date.
Settlement date		The settlement date in respect of any shares of Series A preferred stock validly surrendered for conversion prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date is expected to occur promptly following the expiration date.
How to surrender shares of Series A preferred stock		See “The Conversion Offer — Procedures for Surrendering Shares of Series A Preferred Stock in the Conversion Offer” and the attached letter of transmittal. For further information, you may call the conversion agent at the telephone number

		set forth on the back cover of this conversion offer prospectus, or consult your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance.
Withdrawal and revocation rights		Shares of Series A preferred stock surrendered for conversion may be validly withdrawn at any time up until 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date. In addition, surrendered shares of Series A preferred stock may be validly withdrawn after the expiration date if the shares of Series A preferred stock have not been accepted for conversion after the expiration of 40 business days from November 9, 2005. If the conversion offer is terminated, the shares of Series A preferred stock surrendered in the conversion offer will be promptly returned to the surrendering holders.
Conditions precedent to the conversion offer		Our obligation to pay the conversion consideration and shares of common stock in respect of shares of Series A preferred stock validly surrendered for conversion pursuant to the conversion offer is contingent upon the satisfaction of certain conditions. See “The Conversion Offer — Conditions to the Conversion Offer.”
Material U.S. federal tax considerations		For a discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations of this conversion offer, see “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.”
Use of proceeds		We will not receive any cash proceeds from the surrender of Series A preferred stock in the conversion offer.
Brokerage commissions		No brokerage commissions are payable by the holders of shares of Series A preferred stock to the dealer manager, the information agent, the conversion agent or us.
Dealer manager		Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated is the dealer manager for the conversion offer. Merrill Lynch’s address and telephone number are included on the back cover of this conversion offer prospectus.
Information agent		D.F. King & Co., Inc. is the information agent for the conversion offer. Its address and telephone number are included on the back cover of this conversion offer prospectus.
Conversion agent		Mellon Investor Services LLC is the conversion agent for the conversion offer. Its address and telephone number are included on the back cover of this conversion offer prospectus.
Regulatory approvals		We are not aware of any other material regulatory approvals necessary to complete the conversion offer, other than the obligation to have the registration statement of which this conversion offer prospectus forms a part declared effective by the SEC, to file a Schedule TO with the SEC and to otherwise comply with applicable securities laws.
No appraisal rights		Holders of shares of Series A preferred stock have no appraisal rights in connection with the conversion offer.

Further information		If you have questions regarding the conversion offer, please contact the dealer manager, Merrill Lynch & Co. You may call Merrill Lynch toll-free at (888) 654-8637 or collect at (212) 449-4914. If you have questions regarding the procedures for converting your shares of Series A preferred stock in the conversion offer, please contact Mellon Investor Services LLC, the conversion agent, toll-free at (800) 685-4258. If you require additional conversion offer materials, please contact D.F. King & Co., Inc., the information agent, at (212) 269-5550. You may also write to any of these entities at one of their respective addresses set forth on the back cover of this conversion offer prospectus.

RISK FACTORS

          You should consider carefully each of the following risks and all of the other information set forth in this conversion offer prospectus before deciding whether to surrender shares of Series A preferred stock for conversion in the conversion offer. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones facing our company. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial may also adversely affect our business. If any of the following risks and uncertainties develop into actual events, those events could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Risks Related to the Conversion Offer

Upon consummation of the conversion offer, holders who surrender their Series A preferred stock for common stock will lose their rights under the Series A preferred stock, including, without limitation, their right to future preferred stock dividend payments and their right to receive a liquidation preference in connection with any liquidation or winding up of General Cable.

          If you surrender your shares of Series A preferred stock for conversion into our common stock pursuant to the conversion offer, you will be giving up all of your rights as a holder of Series A preferred stock, including, without limitation, your right to future payments of dividends with respect to the Series A preferred stock. You will also cease to be eligible to receive a preferential payment in the event of a liquidation or winding up of our business. The common stock that you may receive in the conversion offer will not provide you with the same degree of protection which holders of our Series A preferred stock may have. If we were to file for bankruptcy, preferred stockholders would generally be entitled to be paid a liquidation preference prior to holders of our common stock. As a holder of our common stock, however, your investment will be subject to the rights of any series of preferred stock we may issue in the future, as well as all claims of creditors against us and the other risks and liabilities affecting our operations.

You may have difficulty selling the Series A preferred stock that you do not convert.

          The Series A preferred stock is not listed on any national securities exchange and there is no established trading market for these shares. A substantial majority of the shares of Series A preferred stock are traded over-the-counter, and the remainder of these shares are traded on the PORTAL^SM system of The NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. However, we cannot assure you that an efficient or liquid trading market exists or will be able to be maintained in order for you to be able to sell your shares of Series A preferred stock at any time or from time to time. Also, if a large number of shares of Series A preferred stock are converted into common stock in the conversion offer, then it may be more difficult for you to sell your unconverted shares of Series A preferred stock.

          Future trading prices of the Series A preferred stock may depend on many factors, including, among other things, the price of our common stock, prevailing dividend rates, our operating results and the market for similar securities. We also cannot assure you that you will be able to sell your Series A preferred stock at a particular time or that the prices that you receive if and when you sell will be favorable.

          If you do not convert your shares of Series A preferred stock into common stock pursuant to this conversion offer, then you will continue to be subject to the restrictions on the transfer of your Series A preferred stock. Those transfer restrictions are described in the terms governing the Series A preferred stock and in the legend contained on the Series A preferred stock, and arose because we originally issued the Series A preferred stock under exemptions from, and in transactions not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

          We are no longer obligated to maintain an effective registration statement that would permit you under the Securities Act to resell your shares of Series A preferred stock. Thus, it may now be harder for you to sell your Series A preferred stock under the Securities Act and each resale will need to qualify for a valid exemption from registration.

Our ability to pay dividends on our preferred stock and our common stock is limited.

          We do not expect to pay cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. Payment of dividends on our common stock and Series A preferred stock will depend on the earnings and cash flows of our business and that of subsidiaries, and on our subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends or to advance or repay funds to us. Before declaring any dividend, our board of directors will consider factors that ordinarily affect dividend policy, such as earnings, cash flow, estimates of future earnings and cash flow, business conditions, regulatory factors, our financial condition and other matters within its discretion, as well as contractual restrictions on our ability to pay dividends. We may not be able to pay dividends in the future or, if paid, we cannot assure you that the dividends will be in the same amount or with the same frequency as in the past.

          Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, we may pay dividends, in cash or otherwise, only if we have surplus in an amount at least equal to the amount of the relevant dividend payment. Any payment of cash dividends will depend upon our financial condition, capital requirements, earnings and other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors. Further, our senior secured credit facility and the indenture governing our senior notes restrict our ability to pay cash dividends. The indenture permits us to pay cash dividends on our preferred stock through November 24, 2005, so long as no default exists under the indenture, and thereafter only if we meet certain financial conditions. Our senior secured credit facility permits us to pay cash dividends on our preferred stock at any time only if no default exists thereunder and if we meet certain financial conditions, and prohibits us from paying dividends on our common stock. In addition, the certificate of designations for our Series A preferred stock prohibits us from the payment of any cash dividends on our common stock if we are not current on dividend payments with respect to our Series A preferred stock. Agreements governing future indebtedness will likely contain restrictions on our ability to pay cash dividends.

Our board of directors has not made a recommendation as to whether you should convert your shares of Series A preferred stock into common stock in the conversion offer, and we have not obtained a third-party determination that the conversion offer is fair to holders of our Series A preferred stock.

          Our board of directors has not made, and will not make, any recommendation as to whether holders of Series A preferred stock should convert their Series A preferred stock into common stock pursuant to the conversion offer. We have not retained and do not intend to retain any unaffiliated representative to act solely on behalf of the holders of the Series A preferred stock for purposes of negotiating the terms of this conversion offer, or preparing a report or making any recommendation concerning the fairness of this conversion offer.

The market price and value of our common stock may fluctuate, and reductions in the price of our common stock could make the Series A preferred stock a less attractive investment.

          We are offering to pay a cash premium to holders that convert their outstanding shares of Series A preferred stock into shares of our common stock. The market price of our common stock may fluctuate widely in the future. If the market price of our common stock declines, the value of the shares of the common stock you would receive upon conversion of your shares of Series A preferred stock will decline. The trading value of our common stock could fluctuate depending upon any number of specific or general factors, many of which are beyond our control. See “— Risks Related to Our Business” and “— Risks Related to Our Capital Stock” below.

We may redeem shares of Series A preferred stock at our option, on or after November 24, 2008.

          We may redeem all or a portion of the Series A preferred stock, at our option, on or after November 24, 2008 at redemption prices per share as described in “Description of Our Series A Preferred Stock — Optional Redemption” plus all accrued and unpaid or accumulated dividends thereon. We must provide the holders of the Series A preferred stock with at least 30, but no more than 60, days’ notice of our intention to redeem any shares of Series A preferred stock. The market price of the common stock into which the shares of Series A preferred stock are convertible may decline significantly between the expiration date of this conversion offer and the date of any redemption of our Series A preferred stock.

Future sales of shares of our common stock may depress its market price.

          Sales of substantial numbers of additional shares of common stock or any shares of our preferred stock, including up to 10,345,395 shares of common stock underlying the Series A preferred stock being registered as part of the conversion offer and sales of shares that may be issued in connection with future acquisitions, or the perception that such sales could occur, may have a harmful effect on prevailing market prices for our common stock and our ability to raise additional capital in the financial markets at a time and price favorable to us. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we have authority to issue 75 million shares of common stock. As of November 29, 2005, there were approximately 39.7 million shares of common stock outstanding, approximately 3.1 million shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of currently outstanding stock options and approximately 10.35 million shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of our Series A preferred stock. Each share of Series A preferred stock is currently convertible into 4.998 shares of our common stock. The number of shares of our common stock to be issued in the conversion offer is based on the conversion price of the Series A preferred stock, which is currently $10.004 per share, subject to adjustment. All of the shares of our common stock to be issued in the conversion offer to holders who are not our affiliates will be freely tradable.

The market price for our common stock has been and continues to be volatile.

          The market price for our common stock could fluctuate due to various factors. These factors include:

          In addition, the stock markets have, in recent years, experienced significant price fluctuations. These fluctuations often have been unrelated to the operating performance of the specific companies whose stock is traded. Market fluctuations, as well as economic conditions, have adversely affected, and may continue to adversely affect, the market price of our common stock. Fluctuations in the price of our common stock will affect the value of any outstanding preferred stock.

Risks Related to Our Business

Our substantial debt could adversely affect our business.

          We have a significant amount of debt. As of September 30, 2005, we had $352.3 million of debt outstanding, $67.3 million of which was secured indebtedness, and had $184.2 million of additional borrowing capacity available under our senior secured credit facility. As of September 30, 2005, we had

$285.0 million in senior notes outstanding. We intend to borrow under our senior secured credit facility substantially all of the cash needed to pay the conversion consideration to holders of Series A preferred stock and the costs and expenses of the conversion offer. If all outstanding shares of Series A preferred stock are converted pursuant to the conversion offer, our debt outstanding as of September 30, 2005 would be $369.9 million on a pro forma basis, of which $84.9 million would be secured indebtedness. In addition, subject to the terms of the senior secured credit facility and the indenture governing our senior notes, we may also incur additional indebtedness, including secured debt, in the future.

          The degree to which we are leveraged could have important adverse consequences to us. For example, it could:

          In addition, our ability to generate cash flow from operations sufficient to make scheduled payments on our debt as they become due will depend on our future performance, our ability to successfully implement our business strategy and our ability to obtain other financing. Our indebtedness could also adversely affect our financial position and make it more difficult for us to fulfill our obligations under the Series A preferred stock.

The agreements that govern our senior secured credit facility and our senior notes contain various covenants that limit our discretion in the operation of our business.

          The agreements and instruments that govern our senior secured credit facility and our senior notes contain various restrictive covenants that, among other things, require us to comply with or maintain certain financial tests and ratios and restrict our ability to:

          Our ability to comply with these covenants is subject to various risks and uncertainties. In addition, events beyond our control could affect our ability to comply with and maintain the financial tests and ratios required by our senior indebtedness. Any failure by us to comply with and maintain all applicable financial tests and ratios and to comply with all applicable covenants could result in an event of default with respect to, the acceleration of the maturity of, and the termination of the commitments to

make further extension of credit under, a substantial portion of our debt. Even if we are able to comply with all applicable covenants, the restrictions on our ability to operate our business in our sole discretion could harm our business by, among other things, limiting our ability to take advantage of financing, mergers, acquisitions and other corporate opportunities.

If we fail to meet our payment or other obligations under our senior secured credit facility, the lenders under our senior secured credit facility could foreclose on, and acquire control of, substantially all of our assets.

          In connection with the incurrence of indebtedness under our senior secured credit facility, the lenders under that facility have received a pledge of all of the capital stock of our existing domestic subsidiaries and any future domestic subsidiaries. Additionally, these lenders have a lien on substantially all of our domestic assets, including our existing and future accounts receivables, cash, general intangibles, investment property and real property. As a result of these pledges and liens, if we fail to meet our payment or other obligations under our senior secured credit facility, the lenders under the credit agreement would be entitled to foreclose on substantially all of our assets and liquidate these assets. Under those circumstances, we may not have sufficient funds to pay any liquidation preference or dividends on the Series A preferred stock, if and when such amounts become due and payable. As a result, you may lose a portion of or the entire value of your investment in the Series A preferred stock.

As of December 31, 2004, we had material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures, which could result in material misstatements in our financial statements and could negatively affect our stock price.

          In connection with the preparation of our 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as of December 31, 2004, we concluded that control deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004 constituted material weaknesses within the meaning of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s Auditing Standard No. 2, An Audit of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting Performed in Conjunction with an Audit of Financial Statements. As we disclosed in our amended 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K that we filed with the SEC on April 29, 2005, we identified the following material weaknesses:

          Although we have identified and implemented remediation plans to address the material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, control weaknesses will not be considered remediated until new internal controls over financial reporting are fully operational for a period of time and are tested, and we and our independent registered public accounting firm conclude that these controls are operating effectively. This process is expected to be completed by December 31, 2005. Any failure to remediate our reported material weaknesses as expected could cause an increased risk of errors or fraud related to our financial statements, which could result in material misstatements in our financial statements. Any such failure also could adversely affect the results of our annual evaluation of our internal control over financial reporting and our independent registered public accounting firm’s annual attestation reports regarding the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. Such weaknesses have caused material weaknesses in our disclosure controls and procedures, which have rendered such controls and procedures ineffective. Inadequate internal control over financial reporting or ineffective disclosure controls and procedures could cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, which could have a negative effect on the trading price of our stock.

Our net sales, net income and growth depend largely on the economic strength of the geographic markets that we serve, and if these markets become weaker we could suffer decreased sales and net income.

          Many of our customers use our products as components in their own products or in projects undertaken for their customers. Our ability to sell our products is largely dependent on general economic conditions, including how much our customers and end-users spend on information technology, new construction and building, maintaining or reconfiguring their communications network, industrial manufacturing assets and power transmission and distribution infrastructures. Over the past few years, many companies significantly reduced their capital equipment and information technology budgets, and construction activity that necessitates the building or modification of communication networks and power transmission and distribution infrastructures slowed considerably as a result of a weakening of the U.S. and foreign economies. As a result, our net sales and financial results declined significantly in recent years. Beginning in 2004, we have seen an improvement in these markets; however, if they were to weaken, we could suffer decreased sales and net income.

The markets for our products are highly competitive, and if we fail to invest in product development, productivity improvements and customer service and support, the sale of our products could be adversely affected.

          The markets for copper, aluminum and fiber optic wire and cable products are highly competitive, and some of our competitors may have greater financial resources than us. We compete with at least one major competitor with respect to each of our business segments. Many of our products are made to common specifications and therefore may be fungible with competitors’ products. Accordingly, we are subject to competition in many markets on the basis of price, delivery time, customer service and our ability to meet specific customer needs.

          We believe our competitors will continue to improve the design and performance of their products and to introduce new products with competitive price and performance characteristics. We expect that we will be required to continue to invest in product development, productivity improvements and customer service and support in order to compete in our markets. Furthermore, an increase in imports of products competitive with our products could adversely affect our sales.

Our business is subject to the economic and political risks of maintaining facilities and selling products in foreign countries.

          During the nine fiscal months ended September 30, 2005, approximately 33% of our sales and approximately 37% of our assets were in markets outside North America. Our operations outside North

America generated approximately $48.4 million of our cash flows from operations and the North American operations generated $26.5 million of cash flows from operations during this period. Our financial results may be adversely affected by significant fluctuations in the value of the U.S. dollar against foreign currencies or by the enactment of exchange controls or foreign governmental or regulatory restrictions on the transfer of funds. In addition, negative tax consequences relating to repatriating certain foreign currencies, particularly cash generated by our operations in Spain, may adversely affect our cash flows. Furthermore, our foreign operations are subject to risks inherent in maintaining operations abroad, such as economic and political destabilization, international conflicts, restrictive actions by foreign governments, nationalizations, changes in regulatory requirements, the difficulty of effectively managing diverse global operations and adverse foreign tax laws.

Changes in industry standards and regulatory requirements may adversely affect our business.

          As a manufacturer and distributor of wire and cable products, we are subject to a number of industry standard-setting authorities, such as Underwriters Laboratories, the Telecommunications Industry Association, the Electronics Industries Association and the Canadian Standards Association. In addition, many of our products are subject to the requirements of federal, state and local or foreign regulatory authorities. Changes in the standards and requirements imposed by such authorities could have an adverse effect on us. In the event we are unable to meet any such standards when adopted, our business could be adversely affected.

          In addition, changes in the legislative environment could affect the growth and other aspects of important markets served by us. In September 2005, President George W. Bush signed into law the Energy Policy Act of 2005. This law was enacted to establish a comprehensive, long-range national energy policy. Among other things, it provides tax credits and other incentives for the production of traditional sources of energy, as well as alternative energy sources, such as wind, wave, tidal and geothermal power generation systems. Although we are studying the impact that this legislation may have on us and our financial results, we cannot presently predict what this impact will be. We also cannot predict the impact that changes in laws or industry standards that may be adopted in the future could have on our financial results, cash flows or financial position.

Advancing technologies, such as fiber optic and wireless technologies, may make some of our products less competitive.

          Technological developments could have a material adverse effect on our business. For example, a significant decrease in the cost and complexity of installation of fiber optic systems or an increase in the cost of copper-based systems could make fiber optic systems superior on a price performance basis to copper systems and may have a material adverse effect on our business. While we do manufacture and sell fiber optic cables, any erosion of our sales of copper cables due to increased market demand for fiber optic cables would most likely not be offset by an increase in sales of our fiber optic cables.

          Also, advancing wireless technologies, as they relate to network and communications systems, may represent an alternative to certain copper cables we manufacture and reduce customer demand for premise wiring. Traditional telephone companies are facing increasing competition within their respective territories from, among others, voice over Internet protocol, or “VoIP,” providers and wireless carriers. Wireless communications depend heavily on a fiber optic backbone and do not depend as much on copper-based systems. An increase in the acceptance and use of VoIP and wireless technology, or the introduction of new wireless or fiber-optic based technologies, may have a material adverse effect on our marketability and profitability. If wireless technology were to significantly erode the markets for copper-based systems, our sales of copper premise cables could face downward pressure.

Volatility in the price of copper and other raw materials, as well as fuel and energy, could adversely affect our businesses.

          The costs of copper and aluminum, the most significant raw materials we use, have been subject to considerable volatility over the years. Volatility in the price of copper, aluminum, polyethylene, petrochemicals, and other raw materials, as well as fuel, natural gas and energy, will in turn lead to significant fluctuations in our cost of sales. Additionally, sharp increases in the price of copper can also reduce demand if customers decide to defer their purchases of copper wire and cable products or seek to purchase substitute products. Moreover, we do not engage in activities to hedge the underlying value of our copper and aluminum inventory. Although we attempt to reflect copper and other raw material price changes in the selling price of our products, there is no assurance that we can do so successfully or at all in the future.

Interruptions of supplies from our key suppliers may affect our results of operations and financial performance.

          Interruptions of supplies from our key suppliers, including as a result of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, could disrupt production or impact our ability to increase production and sales. During 2003, our copper rod mill plant produced approximately 62% of the copper rod used in our North American operations, and two suppliers provided an aggregate of approximately 68% of our North American copper purchases. During the second quarter of 2004, the Company’s rod mill facility ceased operations. All copper rod used in our North American operations is now externally sourced; our largest supplier of copper rod accounted for approximately 68% of our North American purchases in the first nine fiscal months of 2005. Any unanticipated problems with our copper rod suppliers could have a material adverse effect on our business. Additionally, we use a limited number of sources for most of the other raw materials that we do not produce. We do not have long-term or volume purchase agreements with most of our suppliers, and may have limited options in the short-term for alternative supply if these suppliers fail to continue the supply of material or components for any reason, including their business failure, inability to obtain raw materials or financial difficulties. Moreover, identifying and accessing alternative sources may increase our costs.

Failure to negotiate extensions of our labor agreements as they expire may result in a disruption of our operations.

          As of September 30, 2005, approximately 61% of our employees were represented by various labor unions. During the five calendar years ended December 31, 2004, we have experienced only two strikes, which were settled on satisfactory terms. On March 31, 2005, union workers at our Lincoln, Rhode Island manufacturing facility commenced a labor strike. We negotiated a new four-year agreement with the local union, which agreement was ratified by the local union’s members on April 2, 2005. This strike did not have a significant impact on our financial results for the first fiscal quarter of 2005.

          We are parties to labor agreements with unions that represent employees at many of our operational facilities. Labor agreements expired at three facilities in 2005 and were successfully renegotiated. Labor agreements are to expire at three facilities in 2006. We cannot predict what issues may be raised by the collective bargaining units representing our employees and, if raised, whether negotiations concerning such issues will be successfully concluded. A protracted work stoppage could result in a disruption of our operations which could adversely affect our ability to deliver certain products and our financial results.

Our inability to continue to achieve productivity improvements may result in increased costs.

          Part of our business strategy is to increase our profitability by lowering costs through improving our processes and productivity. In the event we are unable to continue to implement measures improving our manufacturing techniques and processes, we may not achieve desired efficiency or productivity levels and our manufacturing costs may increase. In addition, productivity increases are related in part to factory

utilization rates. Our decreased utilization rates over the past few years have adversely impacted productivity. However, we have experienced an increase in utilization rates in 2005.

We are substantially dependent upon distributors and retailers for non-exclusive sales of our products and they could cease purchasing our products at any time.

          During 2004 and the first nine fiscal months of 2005, approximately 38% of our domestic net sales were made to independent distributors and three of our ten largest customers were distributors. Distributors accounted for a substantial portion of sales of our communications products and industrial & specialty products. During 2004 and the first nine fiscal months of 2005, approximately 13% and 12%, respectively, of our domestic net sales were to retailers, and the two largest retailers, The Home Depot and AutoZone, accounted for approximately 2.7% and 2.3%, respectively, of our net sales in 2004 and 4.5% and 3.2%, respectively, of our net sales for the first nine fiscal months of 2005.

          These distributors and retailers are not contractually obligated to carry our product lines exclusively or for any period of time. Therefore, these distributors and retailers may purchase products that compete with our products or cease purchasing our products at any time. The loss of one or more large distributors or retailers could have a material adverse effect on our ability to bring our products to end users and on our results of operations. Moreover, a downturn in the business of one or more large distributors or retailers could adversely affect our sales and could create significant credit exposure.

We face pricing pressures in each of our markets that could adversely affect our results of operations and financial performance.

          We face pricing pressures in each of our markets as a result of significant competition or over-capacity, and price levels for most of our products declined over the past few years. While we will work toward reducing our costs to respond to the pricing pressures that may continue, we may not be able to achieve proportionate reductions in costs. As a result of overcapacity and economic and industry downturn in the communications and industrial markets in particular, pricing pressures increased in 2002 and 2003, and continued into 2004. While we generally have been successful in raising prices to recover increased raw material costs, pricing pressures continued into 2005, and are expected for the foreseeable future. Further declines in prices, without offsetting cost reductions, would adversely affect our financial results.

If either of our uncommitted accounts payable or accounts receivable financing arrangements for our European operations is cancelled, our liquidity will be negatively impacted.

          Our European operations participate in arrangements with several European financial institutions that provide extended accounts payable terms to us. In general, the arrangements provide for accounts payable terms of up to 180 days. As of September 30, 2005, the arrangements had a maximum availability limit of the equivalent of approximately $139 million, of which approximately $107 million was drawn. We do not have firm commitments from these European financial institutions requiring them to continue to extend credit and they may decline to advance additional funding. We also have an approximate $40 million Euro-denominated uncommitted facility in Europe, which allows us to sell at a discount, with limited recourse, a portion of our accounts receivable to a financial institution. As of September 30, 2005, this accounts receivable facility was not drawn upon. We do not have a firm commitment from this institution to purchase our accounts receivable. Should the availability under these arrangements be reduced or terminated, we would be required to negotiate longer payment terms with our suppliers or repay the outstanding obligations with our suppliers under these arrangements over 180 days and seek alternative financing arrangements which could increase our interest expense. We cannot assure you that such longer payment terms or alternate financing will be available on favorable terms or at all. Failure to obtain alternative financing arrangements in such case would negatively impact our liquidity.

          In addition, in order to avoid an event of default under our senior secured credit facility, we must maintain foreign credit lines of at least the equivalent of $80.0 million during those periods when our

average excess available funds under our senior secured credit facility is less than $100.0 million for a period of three consecutive months.

We may be required to take additional charges in connection with plant closures and certain charges to our earnings in future periods in connection with our inventory accounting practices.

          During 2004, we closed two industrial manufacturing locations, refocused operations at another industrial manufacturing location and ceased operations at our copper rod mill. We incurred net charges of $7.4 million ($4.7 million of which were cash) in 2004 related to these activities which are now complete. We continuously evaluate our ability to more efficiently utilize existing manufacturing capacity which may require additional future charges.

          In June 2005, we decided to close one of our manufacturing plants located in Bonham, Texas. At that time, we also decided to close our fiber optic military and premise cable manufacturing plant located in Dayville, Connecticut, and we recently relocated production from this plant to our recently acquired facility in Franklin, Massachusetts, which currently produces copper as well as some fiber optic communications products. The total cost of these closures is currently estimated to be approximately $26.5 million. Total costs recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 with respect to these closures were $19.6 million.

          As a result of volatile copper prices, the replacement cost of our copper inventory exceeded its historic LIFO cost by approximately $38 million and $13 million at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, and by approximately $65.0 million at September 30, 2005. If we were not able to recover the LIFO value of our inventory at a profit in some future period when replacement costs were lower than the LIFO value of the inventory, we would be required to take a charge to recognize on our income statement all or a portion of the higher LIFO value of the inventory. During 2002 and 2003, we recorded a $2.5 million and a $0.5 million charge, respectively, for the liquidation of LIFO inventory in North America as we significantly reduced our inventory levels. During 2004, we increased inventory quantities and therefore there was not a liquidation of LIFO inventory impact in this period. During the nine fiscal months ended September 30, 2005, we reduced our copper inventory quantities in North America and we do not expect to replace these inventories by year end, which resulted in a $2.4 million gain since LIFO inventory quantities were reduced in a period when replacement costs where higher than the LIFO value of the inventory. If LIFO inventory quantities are reduced in a future period when replacement costs exceed the LIFO value of the inventory, we would experience an increase in reported earnings. Conversely, if LIFO inventory quantities are reduced in a future period when replacement costs are lower than the LIFO value of the inventory, we would experience a decline in reported earnings.

We are subject to certain asbestos litigation and unexpected judgments or settlements could have a material adverse effect on our financial results.

          There are approximately 9,700 pending non-maritime asbestos cases involving our subsidiaries. The majority of these cases involve plaintiffs alleging exposure to asbestos-containing cable manufactured by our predecessors. In addition to our subsidiaries, numerous other wire and cable manufacturers have been named as defendants in these cases. Our subsidiaries have also been named, along with numerous other product manufacturers, as defendants in approximately 33,260 suits in which plaintiffs alleged that they suffered an asbestos-related injury while working in the maritime industry. These cases are referred to as MARDOC cases and are currently managed under the supervision of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. On May 1, 1996, the District Court ordered that all pending MARDOC cases be administratively dismissed without prejudice and the cases cannot be reinstated, except in certain circumstances involving specific proof of injury. We cannot assure you that any judgments or settlements of the pending non-maritime and/or MARDOC asbestos cases or any cases which may be filed in the future will not have a material adverse effect on our financial results, cash flows or financial position. Moreover, certain of our insurers may be financially unstable and in the event one or more of these insurers enter into insurance liquidation proceedings, we will be required to pay a larger portion of the costs incurred in connection with these cases.

Environmental liabilities could potentially adversely impact us and our affiliates.

          We are subject to federal, state, local and foreign environmental protection laws and regulations governing our operations and the use, handling, disposal and remediation of hazardous substances currently or formerly used by us and our affiliates. A risk of environmental liability is inherent in our and our affiliates’ current and former manufacturing activities in the event of a release or discharge of a hazardous substance generated by us or our affiliates. Under certain environmental laws, we could be held jointly and severally responsible for the remediation of any hazardous substance contamination at our facilities and at third party waste disposal sites and could also be held liable for any consequences arising out of human exposure to such substances or other environmental damage. We and our affiliates have been named as potentially responsible parties in proceedings that involve environmental remediation. There can be no assurance that the costs of complying with environmental, health and safety laws and requirements in our current operations or the liabilities arising from past releases of, or exposure to, hazardous substances, will not result in future expenditures by us that could materially and adversely affect our financial results, cash flows or financial condition.

Growth through acquisition has been a significant part of our strategy and we may not be able to successfully identify, finance or integrate acquisitions.

          Growth through acquisition has been, and is expected to continue to be, a significant part of our strategy. For example, in November 2005 we announced that we had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Silec, the wire and cable manufacturing business of SAFRAN SA, a diverse, global high-technology company based in Paris, France. We regularly evaluate possible acquisition candidates. We cannot assure you that we will be successful in identifying, financing and closing acquisitions at favorable prices and terms. Potential acquisitions may require us to issue additional shares of stock or obtain additional or new financing, and such financing may not be available on terms acceptable to us, or at all. The issuance of our common or preferred shares may dilute the value of shares held by our equityholders. Further, we cannot assure you that we will be successful in integrating any such acquisitions that are completed. Integration of any such acquisitions may require substantial management, financial and other resources and may pose risks with respect to production, customer service and market share of existing operations. In addition, we may acquire businesses that are subject to technological or competitive risks, and we may not be able to realize the benefits expected from such acquisitions.

Terrorist attacks and other attacks or acts of war may adversely affect the markets in which we operate and our profitability.

          The attacks of September 11, 2001 and subsequent events, including the military action in Iraq, have caused and may continue to cause instability in our markets and have led and may continue to lead to, further armed hostilities or further acts of terrorism worldwide, which could cause further disruption in our markets. Acts of terrorism may impact any or all of our facilities and operations, or those of our customers or suppliers and may further limit or delay purchasing decisions of our customers. Depending on their magnitude, acts of terrorism or war could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial results, cash flows and financial position.

          We carry insurance coverage on our facilities of types and in amounts that we believe are in line with coverage customarily obtained by owners of similar properties. We continue to monitor the state of the insurance market in general and the scope and cost of coverage for acts of terrorism in particular, but we cannot anticipate what coverage will be available on commercially reasonable terms in future policy years. Currently, we do not carry terrorism insurance coverage. If we experience a loss that is uninsured or that exceeds policy limits, we could lose the capital invested in the damaged facilities, as well as the anticipated future net sales from those facilities. Depending on the specific circumstances of each affected facility, it is possible that we could be liable for indebtedness or other obligations related to the facility. Any such loss could materially and adversely affect our business, financial results, cash flows and financial position.

If we fail to retain our key employees, our business may be harmed.

          Our success has been largely dependent on the skills, experience and efforts of our key employees, and the loss of the services of any of our executive officers or other key employees could have an adverse effect on us. The loss of our key employees who have intimate knowledge of our manufacturing process could lead to increased competition to the extent that those employees are hired by a competitor and are able to recreate our manufacturing process. Our future success will also depend in part upon our continuing ability to attract and retain highly qualified personnel, who are in great demand.

Declining returns in the investment portfolio of our defined benefit plans could increase the volatility in our pension expense and require us to increase cash contributions to the plans.

          Pension expense for the defined benefit pension plans sponsored by us is determined based upon a number of actuarial assumptions, including an expected long-term rate of return on assets and discount rate. During the fourth quarter of 2002, as a result of declining returns in the investment portfolio of our defined benefit pension plans, we were required to record a minimum pension liability equal to the underfunded status of our plans. As of December 31, 2003, the defined benefit plans were underfunded by approximately $39.9 million based on the actuarial methods and assumptions utilized for purposes of the applicable accounting rules and interpretations. During 2004, investment performance improved and as a result, the defined benefit plans were underfunded by approximately $33.0 million at December 31, 2004. We have experienced volatility in our pension expense and an increase in our cash contributions to our defined benefit pension plan. Pension expense for our defined benefit plans decreased from $8.4 million in 2003 to $5.5 million in 2004 and our required cash contributions increased to $13.0 million in 2004 from $6.1 million in 2003. In 2005, pension expense for our defined benefit plans is expected to decrease approximately $0.7 million from 2004, primarily due to improved investment performance during 2004 in the market value of assets held and cash contributions are expected to decrease by $2.2 million. In the event that actual results differ from the actuarial assumptions, the funded status of our defined benefit plans may change and any such deficiency could result in additional charges to equity and an increase in future pension expense and cash contributions.

An ownership change could result in a limitation of the use of our net operating losses.

          As of December 31, 2004, we had net operating loss, or NOL, carryforwards of approximately $202 million available to reduce taxable income in future years. Specifically, we generated NOL carryforwards of approximately $148 million between 2000 and 2004. These NOL carryforwards will not begin to expire until 2020. We also have other NOL carryforwards that are subject to an annual limitation under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code. These Section 382 limited NOL carryforwards expire in varying amounts from 2006 to 2009. The total Section 382 limited NOL carryforwards that may be utilized prior to expiration is estimated at approximately $54 million.

          Our ability to utilize our NOL carryforwards may be further limited by Section 382 if we undergo an ownership change as a result of the sale of our stock by holders of our equity securities or as a result of subsequent changes in the ownership of our outstanding stock. We would undergo an ownership change if, among other things, the stockholders, or group of stockholders, who own or have owned, directly or indirectly, 5% or more of the value of our stock or are otherwise treated as 5% stockholders under Section 382 and the regulations promulgated thereunder increase their aggregate percentage ownership of our stock by more than 50% over the lowest percentage of our stock owned by these stockholders at any time during the testing period, which is generally the three-year period preceding the potential ownership change. In the event of an ownership change, Section 382 imposes an annual limitation on the amount of post-ownership change taxable income a corporation may offset with pre-ownership change NOL carryforwards and certain recognized built-in losses. The limitation imposed by Section 382 for any post-change year would be determined by multiplying the value of our stock immediately before the ownership change (subject to certain adjustments) by the applicable long-term tax-exempt rate in effect at the time of the ownership change. By way of example, the long-term tax-exempt rate is 4.24% as of November 2005. Any unused annual limitation may be carried over to later years, and the limitation may under

certain circumstances be increased by built-in gains which may be present in assets held by us at the time of the ownership change that are recognized in the five-year period after the ownership change.

          Based upon our review of the aggregate change in percentage ownership during the current testing period and subject to any unanticipated increases in ownership by our “five percent shareholders” (as described above) with respect to our outstanding stock, we do not believe that we will experience a change in ownership as a result of the conversion offer. However, such a determination is complex and there can be no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service could not successfully challenge our conclusion. In addition, there are circumstances beyond our control, such as the purchase of our stock by investors who are existing 5% shareholders or become 5% shareholders as a result of such purchase, which could result in an ownership change with respect to our stock. Even if the conversion offer does not cause an ownership change to occur, our November 2003 stock issuances used a large portion of our available 50% ownership shift limitation, and we may not be able to engage in significant transactions, including making significant issuances of our stock, that would create a further shift in ownership within the meaning of Section 382 within the subsequent three-year period without triggering an ownership change. Thus, while it is our general intention to maximize utilization of our NOL carryforwards by avoiding the triggering of an ownership change, there can be no assurance that our future actions or future actions by our stockholders will not result in the occurrence of an ownership change, which will result in limitations in our utilization of the NOL and negatively affect cash flows.

If we are required to classify our Series A preferred stock as debt in the future, our balance sheet will be adversely affected.

          Upon issuance, our Series A preferred stock was classified as equity on our balance sheet in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 150, “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity,” or SFAS 150, since our Series A preferred stock contains a substantive conversion feature. Under SFAS 150, our Series A preferred stock will remain classified as equity until and unless it becomes certain that the conversion feature will not be exercised by the holders. If it were to become certain that the holders of our Series A preferred stock will not exercise their conversion rights, we would be required to reclassify our Series A preferred stock as a liability on our balance sheet. Additionally, in adopting SFAS 150, the Financial Accounting Standards Board indicated that it is considering changes to the accounting treatment for certain instruments with both liability and equity characteristics. As a result, we cannot assume that our Series A preferred stock will continue to be classified as equity in future periods or that any series of preferred stock that we may issue in the future would qualify to be classified as equity on our balance sheet. However, any such reclassification of our Series A preferred stock would not, in any material respect, affect our compliance with the indenture governing our senior notes or our senior secured credit facility.

Risks Related to Our Capital Stock

          In addition to the risks discussed above in “— Risks Related to the Conversion Offer” and “— Risks Related to Our Business,” the following risks, among others, are important to an investment in our capital stock:

Our Series A preferred stock ranks junior to all of our liabilities as well as the liabilities of our subsidiaries.

          The ranking of our Series A preferred stock with respect to the payment of dividends and upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up may prevent us from paying cash dividends. Our Series A preferred stock ranks junior in right of payment to all of our existing and future liabilities, including our obligations under our senior secured credit facility and our senior notes. In the event that we do not have sufficient funds to pay both our debt service and accrued dividends on our Series A preferred stock, we will first limit or stop paying such dividends to holders of Series A preferred stock until all amounts due on our liabilities are paid.

          In the event of our bankruptcy, liquidation or winding-up, our assets will be available to pay the liquidation preference of and accrued dividends on, our Series A preferred stock only after all our indebtedness and other liabilities have been paid. In addition, our Series A preferred stock effectively ranks junior to all existing and future liabilities of our subsidiaries and the capital stock (other than common stock) of our subsidiaries held by third parties. The rights of holders of our Series A preferred stock to participate in the assets of our subsidiaries upon any liquidation or reorganization of any subsidiary ranks junior to the prior claims of that subsidiary’s creditors and equity holders. As of September 30, 2005, we had total consolidated liabilities of $961.8 million. In the event of our bankruptcy, liquidation or winding-up, there may not be sufficient assets remaining to pay amounts due on any or all shares of our preferred stock then outstanding.

We may not be able to pay the purchase price of our Series A preferred stock upon a change of control if the holders exercise their right to require us to purchase such securities.

          If we undergo a change of control, subject to limited exceptions, we will be required to offer to purchase our Series A preferred stock at a purchase price equal to 100% of the then liquidation preference, plus accrued, unpaid and accumulated dividends. Under certain circumstances, we will have the option to pay for those shares either in cash or in shares of our common stock valued at a discount of 5% from the market price of our common stock.

          Under the terms of our senior secured credit facility, however, we are prohibited from paying the purchase price of our Series A preferred stock in cash. To permit us to do so, we would need to amend our senior secured credit facility with the consent of the lenders under that facility. Our future credit facilities and other existing and future indebtedness may contain similar restrictions.

Issuances of additional series of preferred stock could adversely affect holders of our common stock.

          Our board of directors is authorized to issue additional series of preferred stock without any action on the part of our stockholders. Our board of directors also has the power, without stockholder approval, to set the terms of any such series of preferred stock that may be issued, including voting rights, conversion rights, dividend rights, preferences over our common stock with respect to dividends or if we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our business and other terms. If we issue preferred stock in the future that has preference over our common stock with respect to the payment of dividends or upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, or if we issue preferred stock with voting rights that dilute the voting power of our common stock, the rights of holders of our common stock or the market price of our common stock could be adversely affected.

Provisions in our constituent documents could make it more difficult to acquire our company.

          Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws contain provisions that may discourage, delay or prevent a third party from acquiring us, even if doing so would be beneficial to our stockholders. Under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, only our board of directors may call special meetings of stockholders, and stockholders must comply with advance notice requirements for nominating candidates for election to our board of directors or for proposing matters that can be acted upon by stockholders at stockholder meetings. Directors may be removed by stockholders only for cause and only by the effective vote of at least 66²/3% of the voting power of all shares of capital stock then entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class. Additionally, agreements with certain of our executive officers may have the effect of making a change of control more expensive and, therefore, less attractive.

          Pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our board of directors may by resolution establish one or more series of preferred stock, having such number of shares, designation, relative voting rights, dividend rates, conversion rights, liquidation or other rights, preferences and limitations as may be fixed by our board of directors without any further stockholder approval. Such rights,

preferences, privileges and limitations as may be established could have the further effect of impeding or discouraging the acquisition of control of our company.

Holders of our preferred stock have no rights as common stockholders until they acquire our common stock.

          Until preferred stockholders acquire shares of our common stock upon conversion of our preferred stock, they will have no rights with respect to our common stock, including voting rights (except as required by applicable state law or our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, and as described under “Description of Our Series A Preferred Stock — Voting Rights”), rights to respond to tender offers and rights to receive any dividends or other distributions on our common stock. Upon conversion, they will be entitled to exercise the rights of a holder of common stock only as to matters for which the record date occurs after the conversion date.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE CONVERSION OFFER

          These answers to questions that you may have as a holder of shares of our Series A preferred stock are highlights of selected information included elsewhere or incorporated by reference in this conversion offer prospectus. To fully understand the conversion offer and the other considerations that may be important to your decision about whether to participate in it, you should carefully read this conversion offer prospectus in its entirety, including the section entitled “Risk Factors,” as well as the information incorporated by reference in this conversion offer prospectus. See “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.” For further information about us, see the section of this conversion offer prospectus entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Why are you making the conversion offer?

          We are making the conversion offer to reduce our ongoing fixed dividend obligations and to improve the trading liquidity of our common stock. The conversion offer allows current holders of shares of Series A preferred stock to receive a cash premium, discussed below, in addition to the number of shares of common stock that they would otherwise receive upon conversion of the Series A preferred stock.

How many shares of Series A preferred stock are being sought in the conversion offer?

          We are offering to convert all outstanding shares of the Series A preferred stock into our common stock. As of November 29, 2005, 2,069,907 shares of Series A preferred stock were outstanding.

What will I receive in the conversion offer if I surrender my shares of Series A preferred stock for conversion and they are accepted?

          For each share of Series A preferred stock you validly surrender as part of the conversion offer and we accept for conversion, you will receive:

In this conversion offer prospectus, we refer to the aggregate of the cash payments described above as the “conversion consideration.” We are not required to issue fractional shares of common stock upon conversion of the Series A preferred stock in the conversion offer. Instead, we will pay a cash adjustment for all fractional shares based upon the market price of the common stock on the second business day before the settlement date of the conversion.

          Your right to receive the above consideration in the conversion offer is subject to all of the conditions set forth in this conversion offer prospectus and the related letter of transmittal.

When will I receive the conversion consideration for surrendering my shares of Series A preferred stock pursuant to the conversion offer?

          Assuming that we have not previously elected to terminate the conversion offer, shares of Series A preferred stock validly surrendered for conversion in accordance with the procedures described in this conversion offer prospectus and the letter of transmittal before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date will, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the conversion offer, including all conditions thereto, be accepted for conversion and payment of the conversion consideration, and payments

will be made on the settlement date. The settlement date will occur promptly after the expiration date, and we expect that the settlement date will occur within three business days after the expiration date. If the conversion offer is not completed, no such conversion will occur, no payments will be made and we will return your shares of Series A preferred stock. We must waive or satisfy all conditions to the conversion offer on or prior to the expiration date to accept any shares of Series A preferred stock for conversion in the conversion offer.

How does the consideration I will receive if I convert my shares of Series A preferred stock in the conversion offer compare to the payments I would receive on the shares of Series A preferred stock if I do not convert now?

          If you do not surrender shares of Series A preferred stock pursuant to the conversion offer, you will receive, when, as and if declared by our board of directors, dividend payments at an annual rate of 5.75% of the liquidation preference per share, accruing from the beginning of each relevant dividend period. Dividend payments are made quarterly in arrears on February 24, May 24, August 24 and November 24 of each year through November 24, 2013 or until such earlier time as they are converted into common stock or redeemed by us. See “Description of Our Series A Preferred Stock — Dividends.” You will also continue to have the right to convert your shares of Series A preferred stock into common stock in accordance with their terms, subject to our right, on or after November 24, 2008, to redeem all or any portion of the Series A preferred stock at 100% of the then liquidation preference per share, plus accrued, unpaid and accumulated dividends thereon. If you do not surrender your shares of Series A preferred stock in the conversion offer, you will not be entitled to receive any conversion consideration as part of the conversion offer.

          If, however, you participate in the conversion offer, for each share of Series A preferred stock converted pursuant to such offer, you will receive the number of shares of common stock and the cash conversion consideration described above in “— What will I receive in the conversion offer if I surrender my shares of Series A preferred stock for conversion and they are accepted?”

How will you finance payment of the cash portion of the conversion consideration?

          Assuming full participation, we estimate that we will need approximately $17.6 million in cash to complete the conversion offer, including the payment of the cash portion of the conversion consideration and all estimated fees and expenses incurred in connection with the conversion offer. We currently intend to pay the cash needed to complete the conversion offer with amounts borrowed under our senior secured credit facility.

What other rights will I lose if I convert my shares of Series A preferred stock in the conversion offer?

          If you validly surrender your shares of Series A preferred stock and we accept them for conversion, you would lose the rights of a holder of Series A preferred stock, which are described in “Comparison of Rights Between the Series A Preferred Stock and Our Common Stock.” For example, you would lose the right to receive quarterly dividends, when, if and as declared by the board of directors. You would also lose the right to receive, out of our assets available for distribution to our stockholders and before any distribution is made to the holders of stock ranking junior to the Series A preferred stock (including common stock), a liquidation preference in the amount of $50.00 per share of Series A preferred stock, plus accumulated and unpaid dividends, upon our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, winding up or dissolution.

Will I be entitled to receive any dividend that may be paid on the Series A preferred stock on the November 24, 2005 dividend payment date if I surrender my Series A preferred stock in the conversion offer prior to November 24th?

          Yes, assuming you held your shares of Series A preferred stock as of October 31, 2005, the record date for the November 24, 2005 dividend. Because the conversion offer will remain open until

December 9, 2005, if you validly surrender your shares of Series A preferred stock in the conversion offer prior to November 24, 2005 and we accept them for conversion, you will still retain the right to receive a cash payment of the dividend on the Series A preferred stock that we declared and will pay with respect to the November 24, 2005 dividend payment date.

May I convert only a portion of the shares of Series A preferred stock that I hold?

          Yes. You do not have to convert all of your shares of Series A preferred stock to participate in the conversion offer.

If the conversion offer is consummated and I do not participate in the conversion offer or I do not convert all of my shares of Series A preferred stock in the conversion offer, how will my rights and obligations under my remaining outstanding shares of Series A preferred stock be affected?

          The terms of your shares of Series A preferred stock, if any, that remain outstanding after the consummation of the conversion offer will not change as a result of the conversion offer.

What do you intend to do with the shares of Series A preferred stock that are converted in the conversion offer?

          Shares of Series A preferred stock accepted for conversion by us in the conversion offer will be retired and cancelled.

Are you making a recommendation regarding whether I should participate in the conversion offer?

          We are not making any recommendation regarding whether you should convert or refrain from converting your shares of Series A preferred stock in the conversion offer. Accordingly, you must make your own determination as to whether to convert your shares of Series A preferred stock in the conversion offer and, if so, the number of shares of Series A preferred stock to convert. Before making your decision, we urge you to carefully read this conversion offer prospectus in its entirety, including the information set forth in the section of this conversion offer prospectus entitled “Risk Factors,” and the other documents incorporated by reference in this conversion offer prospectus.

Will the common stock to be issued in the conversion offer be freely tradable?

          Yes. The shares of our common stock to be issued in the conversion offer have been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “BGC.” Generally, the common stock you receive in the conversion offer will be freely tradable, unless you are considered an “affiliate” of ours, as that term is defined in the Securities Act. For more information regarding the market for our common stock, see the section of this conversion offer prospectus entitled “Market for Our Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock.”

What are the conditions to the conversion offer?

          The conversion offer is conditioned upon:

          The conversion offer is not conditioned upon any minimum number of shares of Series A preferred stock being surrendered for conversion. We may waive certain conditions of this conversion offer. If any of the conditions are not satisfied or waived, we will not complete the conversion offer. For more information regarding the conditions to the conversion offer, see the section of this conversion offer prospectus entitled “The Conversion Offer — Conditions to the Conversion Offer.”

How will fluctuations in the trading price of our common stock affect the consideration offered to holders of shares of Series A preferred stock?

          Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “BGC.” The last reported sale price of our common stock on November 29, 2005 was $17.28 per share. At present, each share of Series A preferred stock is immediately convertible into 4.998 shares of our common stock, which is equivalent to a conversion price of $10.004 per share.

          We are offering to convert each share of Series A preferred stock into 4.998 shares of common stock, subject to adjustment and less fractional shares, plus a cash premium payment of $7.88 per share. If the market price of our common stock declines, the then market value of the fixed portion of the shares of common stock you will receive in the conversion of your shares of Series A preferred stock will also decline. However, neither the number of shares of common stock nor the cash payment you would receive in the conversion offer will vary based on the trading price of our common stock. The trading price of our common stock could fluctuate depending upon any number of factors, including those specific to us and those that influence the trading prices of equity securities generally. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to the Conversion Offer — The market price and value of our common stock may fluctuate, and reductions in the price of our common stock could make the Series A preferred stock a less attractive investment.”

When does the conversion offer expire?

          The conversion offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on Friday, December 9, 2005, unless extended or earlier terminated by us.

Under what circumstances can the conversion offer be extended, amended or terminated?

          We reserve the right to extend the conversion offer for any reason at all. We also expressly reserve the right, at any time or from time to time, to amend the terms of the conversion offer in any respect prior to the expiration date of the conversion offer. Further, we may be required by law to extend the conversion offer if we make a material change in the terms of the conversion offer or in the information contained in this conversion offer prospectus or waive a material condition to the conversion offer. During any extension of the conversion offer, shares of Series A preferred stock that were previously surrendered for conversion and not validly withdrawn will remain subject to the conversion offer. We reserve the right, in our sole and absolute discretion, to terminate the conversion offer, at any time prior to the expiration date of the conversion offer if any condition to the conversion offer is not met, other than the financing conditions (which have already been satisfied) and the requirement that the registration statement of which this conversion offer prospectus forms a part is declared effective by the SEC. If the conversion offer is terminated, no shares of Series A preferred stock will be accepted for conversion and any shares of Series A preferred stock that have been surrendered for conversion will be returned to the holder promptly after the termination. For more information regarding our right to extend, amend or terminate the conversion offer, see the section of this conversion offer prospectus entitled “The Conversion Offer — Expiration Date and Amendments.”

How will I be notified if the conversion offer is extended, amended or terminated?

          If the conversion offer is extended, amended or terminated, we will promptly make a public announcement by issuing a press release, with the announcement in the case of an extension to be issued no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the first business day after the previously scheduled expiration date of the conversion offer. For more information regarding notification of extensions, amendments or the termination of the conversion offer, see the section of this conversion offer prospectus entitled “The Conversion Offer — Expiration Date and Amendments.”

What risks should I consider in deciding whether or not to convert my Series A preferred stock?

          In deciding whether to participate in the conversion offer, you should carefully consider the discussion of risks and uncertainties affecting our business, the Series A preferred stock and our common stock that are described in the section of this conversion offer prospectus entitled “Risk Factors,” and the documents incorporated by reference in this conversion offer prospectus.

What are the material U.S. federal income tax considerations of my participating in the conversion offer?

          Blank Rome LLP, our legal counsel, has provided a legal opinion concerning the tax treatment of the conversion offer for U.S. federal income tax purposes. For more details, please see the section of this conversion offer prospectus entitled “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.” You should consult your own tax advisor for a full understanding of the tax considerations of participating in the conversion offer.

How will the conversion offer affect the trading market for the shares of Series A preferred stock that are not exchanged?

          The Series A preferred stock is not listed on any national securities exchange and there is no established trading market for these shares. A substantial majority of the shares of Series A preferred stock are traded over-the-counter, and the remainder of these shares are traded on the PORTAL system of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. If a sufficiently large number of shares of Series A preferred stock do not remain outstanding after the conversion offer, the trading market for the remaining outstanding shares of Series A preferred stock may become even less liquid and more sporadic, and market prices may fluctuate significantly depending on the volume of trading in shares of Series A preferred stock. In such an event, your ability to sell your shares of Series A preferred stock not surrendered in the conversion offer may be impaired. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to the Conversion Offer — You may have difficulty selling the Series A preferred stock that you do not convert.”

Are your financial condition and results of operations relevant to my decision to convert my shares as part of the conversion offer?

          Yes. The price of our common stock and the Series A preferred stock are closely linked to our financial condition and results of operations. For information about the accounting treatment of the conversion offer, see the section of this conversion offer prospectus entitled “The Conversion Offer — Accounting Treatment.”

Will you receive any cash proceeds from the conversion offer?

          No. We will not receive any cash proceeds from the conversion offer.

How do I convert my shares of Series A preferred stock in the conversion offer?

          If you beneficially own shares of Series A preferred stock that are held in the name of a broker or other nominee and wish to convert such shares of Series A preferred stock, you should promptly instruct your broker or other nominee to convert on your behalf. To convert shares of Series A preferred stock, Mellon Investor Services LLC, the conversion agent, must receive, prior to the expiration date of the conversion offer:

          For more information regarding the procedures for converting your shares of Series A preferred stock, see the section of this conversion offer prospectus entitled “The Conversion Offer — Procedures for Converting Shares of Series A Preferred Stock in the Conversion Offer.”

What happens if some or all of my shares of Series A preferred stock are not accepted for conversion?

          If we decide for any reason not to accept some or all of your shares of Series A preferred stock, the shares of Series A preferred stock not accepted by us will be returned to you, at our expense, promptly after the expiration or termination of the conversion offer by book entry transfer into the conversion agent’s account at DTC. DTC will credit any validly withdrawn or unaccepted shares of Series A preferred stock to your account at DTC. For more information, see the section of this conversion offer prospectus entitled “The Conversion Offer — Withdrawal Rights.”

Until when may I withdraw shares of Series A preferred stock previously surrendered for conversion?

          If not previously returned, you may withdraw shares of Series A preferred stock that were previously surrendered for conversion at any time until the conversion offer has expired. In addition, you may withdraw any shares of Series A preferred stock that you surrender that are not accepted for conversion by us after the expiration of 40 business days from November 9, 2005, if such shares have not been previously returned to you. For more information, see the section of this conversion offer prospectus entitled “The Conversion Offer — Withdrawal Rights.”

How do I withdraw shares of Series A preferred stock previously surrendered for conversion?

          To withdraw shares of Series A preferred stock previously surrendered for conversion, you must either give written notice of withdrawal which must be received by the conversion agent on or before the expiration date, or, in the case of book-entry transfer, you must comply with the appropriate procedures of DTC’s automated tender offer program. For more information regarding the procedures for withdrawing these shares, see the section of this conversion offer prospectus entitled “The Conversion Offer — Withdrawal Rights.”

Will I have to pay any fees or commissions if I convert my shares of Series A preferred stock in this conversion offer?

          If your shares of Series A preferred stock are held through a broker or other nominee who surrenders the Series A preferred stock on your behalf (other than those surrendered through the dealer manager), your broker may charge you a commission for doing so. You should consult with your broker or nominee to determine whether any charges will apply. Otherwise, you will not be required to pay any fees or commissions to us, the dealer manager, the conversion agent or the information agent in connection with the conversion offer.

With whom may I talk if I have questions about the conversion offer?

          If you have questions regarding the conversion offer, please contact the dealer manager, Merrill Lynch & Co. You may call Merrill Lynch toll-free at (888) 654-8637 or collect at (212) 449-4914. If you have questions regarding the procedures for converting your shares of Series A preferred stock in the conversion offer, please contact Mellon Investor Services LLC, the conversion agent, toll-free at (800) 685-4258. If you require additional conversion offer materials, please contact D.F. King & Co., Inc., the information agent, at (212) 269-5550. You may also write to any of these entities at one of their respective addresses set forth on the back cover of this conversion offer prospectus.

THE CONVERSION OFFER

Purpose and Effect

          The purposes of the conversion offer are to induce the conversion to common stock of any and all of the outstanding shares of Series A preferred stock to reduce our ongoing fixed dividend obligations and to improve the trading liquidity of our common stock by increasing the number of outstanding shares of common stock available for trading. The conversion offer allows current holders of shares of our Series A preferred stock to convert such shares into the right to receive a cash premium payment of $7.88 per share, subject to adjustment, plus accrued, unpaid and accumulated dividends thereupon, in addition to the shares of common stock that they would receive upon conversion of the Series A preferred stock. Any shares of Series A preferred stock that are converted in the conversion offer will be cancelled and retired.

Terms of the Conversion Offer

          Pursuant to the terms of the conversion offer, including the terms or conditions of any extension or amendment of the conversion offer, we will accept for conversion, and promptly convert pursuant to the terms of the Series A preferred stock and will pay the conversion consideration described below in respect of, all shares of Series A preferred stock validly surrendered for conversion pursuant to the conversion offer and not validly withdrawn (or, if withdrawn, validly re-surrendered after such withdrawal). We will make this payment by depositing with the conversion agent the conversion consideration in immediately available funds promptly after the expiration date. The conversion agent will act as agent for converting holders for the purpose of receiving payment from us and transmitting such payment to the converting holders. Under no circumstances will interest be paid on the conversion consideration in the event of any delay on behalf of the conversion agent in making payment.

          For each share of Series A preferred stock you validly surrender as part of the conversion offer and we accept for conversion, you will receive:

          We are not required to issue fractional shares of common stock upon conversion of the Series A preferred stock in the conversion offer. Instead, we will pay a cash adjustment for all fractional shares based upon the market price of the common stock on the second business day before the settlement date of the conversion.

          For example, assuming that a holder owns 100 shares of Series A preferred stock and all of the holder’s shares are accepted for conversion in the conversion offer at the present conversion ratio of 4.998, the holder would be entitled to receive 499.8 shares of common stock, which is equal to 100 shares of Series A preferred stock multiplied by the conversion ratio of 4.998. However, the fractional shares would be paid in cash rather than stock. If the closing price of a share of our common stock on the second business day prior to the conversion offer settlement date is $17.28, the holder would receive 499 shares of common stock plus, as payment for the fractional shares, $13.82 in cash ($17.28 per share on the determination date multiplied by 0.8 of a share of common stock).

          Assuming that all of the 2,069,907 outstanding shares of Series A preferred stock are converted into common stock pursuant to the conversion offer, we estimate that the total amount of cash needed to complete the conversion offer, including the payment of all related fees and expenses, will be approximately $17.6 million. We will need to borrow substantially all of this cash under our senior secured credit facility. See “— Conditions to the Conversion Offer — Financing Conditions.” We currently have no alternative plan of conducting the conversion offer if we are unable to borrow under our senior secured credit facility the cash necessary to complete it. Other than such repayments of principal or interest as may be required pursuant to the terms of the senior secured credit facility, we have no present plans or arrangements to finance or repay any amounts borrowed in connection with the conversion offer.

          Subject to Rule 14e-1(c) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, we reserve the right in our sole discretion and at any time to delay acceptance for conversion of, or payment of conversion consideration in respect of, shares of Series A preferred stock for such time as may be needed to obtain any required governmental regulatory approvals. See “— Conditions to the Conversion Offer.” In all cases, the conversion agent will make payment to holders of Series A preferred stock or beneficial owners of the conversion consideration for such shares surrendered for conversion pursuant to the conversion offer only after the conversion agent has received, prior to the expiration date:

          For purposes of this conversion offer, shares of Series A preferred stock surrendered for conversion will only be deemed to have been accepted for conversion and payment of conversion consideration if, as and when we give proper notice of such acceptance to the conversion agent.

          Converting holders will not be obligated to pay brokerage fees or commissions to the dealer manager, the information agent, the conversion agent or us. Converting holders will not be required to pay transfer taxes on the payment of the conversion consideration, except as provided in the letter of transmittal.

Expiration Date and Amendments

          The conversion offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on Friday, December 9, 2005, unless we, in our sole discretion, extend the conversion offer, in which case the term “expiration date” means the latest date and time to which we extend the conversion offer. In any event, the conversion offer will be open for at least 20 full business days.

          We also may extend the conversion offer or amend or terminate the conversion offer if any of the conditions described below under “— Conditions to the Conversion Offer” have not been satisfied or waived prior to the expiration date by giving proper notice to the conversion agent of the delay, extension, amendment or termination. Further, we reserve the right, in our sole discretion and at any time, to amend the terms of the conversion offer in any manner permitted or not prohibited by applicable law. We will notify you as promptly as practicable of any extension, amendment or termination in accordance with applicable law. We will also file an amendment to the registration statement of which this conversion offer prospectus is a part with respect to any fundamental change in the conversion offer.

          If we determine to extend the conversion offer, then we will notify the conversion agent of any extension by oral or written notice and give each registered holder notice of the extension by means of a press release or other public announcement before 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next business day after the previously scheduled expiration date. During any extension, all shares of Series A preferred stock previously surrendered for conversion will remain subject to the conversion offer and may be accepted for conversion by us, except that surrendered shares may be validly withdrawn after the expiration date if the shares of Series A preferred stock have not been accepted for conversion after the expiration of 40 business days from November 9, 2005. Any shares of Series A preferred stock not accepted for conversion for any reason will be returned without expense to the surrendering holder promptly after the expiration or termination of the conversion offer.

Procedures for Surrendering Shares of Series A Preferred Stock for Conversion

          The submission of shares of Series A preferred stock for conversion as described below and our acceptance of such shares will constitute a binding agreement between the converting holder and us upon the terms and conditions described in this conversion offer prospectus and in the accompanying letter of transmittal. Except as described below, a converting holder who wishes to submit shares of Series A preferred stock for conversion in response to the conversion offer must deliver the shares, together with a properly completed and duly executed letter of transmittal, including all other documents required by the letter of transmittal, to the conversion agent at the address listed on the back cover page of this conversion offer prospectus prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on Friday, December 9, 2005. All shares not converted in response to the conversion offer will be returned to the submitting holder at our expense as promptly as practicable following the expiration date.

          THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF SHARES, LETTERS OF TRANSMITTAL AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS IS AT THE ELECTION AND RISK OF THE HOLDER. IF DELIVERY IS BY MAIL, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT REGISTERED MAIL, PROPERLY INSURED, WITH RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, BE USED. INSTEAD OF DELIVERY BY MAIL, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE HOLDER USE AN OVERNIGHT OR HAND DELIVERY SERVICE. IN ALL CASES, SUFFICIENT TIME SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ASSURE TIMELY DELIVERY.

          There are no guaranteed delivery procedures in connection with this conversion offer.

          Any financial institution that is a participant in DTC may make book-entry delivery of the shares of Series A preferred stock by causing DTC to transfer such shares into the conversion agent’s account in accordance with that facility’s procedures for the transfer. In connection with a book-entry transfer, a letter of transmittal need not be transmitted to the conversion agent, as long as the book-entry transfer procedure is complied with prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date and an agent’s message (as defined below) is received by the conversion agent prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date. The term “agent’s message” means a message, transmitted by DTC to, and received by, the conversion agent, which states that (1) DTC has received an express acknowledgement from the participant in DTC submitting shares of Series A preferred stock for conversion, (2) the participant has received and agrees to be bound by the terms of the letter of transmittal and (3) we may enforce the agreement against the participant.

          Each signature on a letter of transmittal or a notice of withdrawal, as the case may be, must be guaranteed, unless the shares surrendered for conversion with that letter of transmittal are submitted (1) by a registered holder of the shares who has not completed either the box entitled “Special Conversion Instructions” or the box entitled “Special Delivery Instructions” in the letter of transmittal, or

(2) for the account of a financial institution (including most commercial banks, savings and loan associations and brokerage houses) that is a participant in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program, the New York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Guarantee Program or the Stock Exchange Medallion Program, each known as an eligible institution. In the event that a signature on a letter of transmittal or a notice of withdrawal, as the case may be, is required to be guaranteed, the guarantee must be by an eligible institution. If the letter of transmittal is signed by a person other than the registered holder of the shares, the shares surrendered for conversion must either (1) be endorsed by the registered holder, with the signature guaranteed by an eligible institution, or (2) be accompanied by a stock power, in satisfactory form as determined by us in our sole discretion, duly executed by the registered holder, with the signature guaranteed by an eligible institution. The term “registered holder” as used in this paragraph with respect to the shares of Series A preferred stock means any person in whose name such shares are registered on the books of the transfer agent and registrar for the shares.

          If any letter of transmittal, endorsement, stock power, power of attorney or any other document required by the letter of transmittal is signed by a trustee, executor, corporation or other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, the signatory should so indicate when signing, and, unless waived by us, submit proper evidence of the person’s authority to so act, which evidence must be satisfactory to us in our sole discretion.

          Any beneficial owner of the shares of Series A preferred stock whose shares are registered in the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee and who wishes to submit shares for conversion in the conversion offer should contact the broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee promptly and instruct it to have the registered holder submit such shares for conversion on the beneficial owner’s behalf. Beneficial owners should be aware that the transfer of registered ownership may take considerable time.

          To prevent U.S. federal income tax backup withholding, each converting holder of Series A preferred stock that is a U.S. person generally must provide the conversion agent with the holder’s correct taxpayer identification number and certify that the holder is not subject to U.S. federal income tax backup withholding by completing the Form W-9 provided with the letter of transmittal. Each converting holder of shares that is not a U.S. person generally must provide the conversion agent with an applicable Form W-8, certifying that the holder is not a U.S. person and is not subject to U.S. federal income tax backup withholding. For a discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to backup withholding, see “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.”

          We will determine all questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of receipt) and acceptance of any shares of Series A preferred stock surrendered for conversion pursuant to any of the procedures described above in our sole discretion, and this determination will be final and binding. We reserve the absolute right to reject any and all surrenders of any shares that we determine not to be in proper form or if our acceptance for conversion of, or payment of conversion consideration in respect of, such shares may, in our opinion or the opinion of our counsel, be unlawful. We also reserve the absolute right, in our sole discretion, to waive any of the conditions of the conversion offer or any defect or irregularity in any surrender with respect to any holder’s shares, whether or not similar defects or irregularities are waived in the case of other holders. Our interpretation of the terms and conditions of the conversion offer and the documents delivered in connection therewith will be final and binding. Neither we, nor the conversion agent, the dealer manager, the information agent, nor any other person, will be under any duty to give notification of any defects or irregularities in surrenders or will incur any liability for failure to give any such notification. If we waive our right to reject a defective surrender, the holder will be entitled to the conversion consideration.

Withdrawal Rights

          You may withdraw your submission of shares of Series A preferred stock for conversion at any time before the conversion offer expires. In addition, you may withdraw any previously surrendered shares of Series A preferred stock that are not accepted for conversion by us after the expiration of 40 business days from November 9, 2005, if such shares have not been previously returned to you.

          For a withdrawal to be effective, the conversion agent must receive a written or facsimile notice of withdrawal at its address listed on the back cover of this conversion offer prospectus. A facsimile transmission notice of withdrawal that is received prior to receipt of a surrender of shares sent by mail and postmarked prior to the date of the facsimile transmission of withdrawal will be treated as a withdrawn surrender. The notice of withdrawal must:

          If you have delivered or otherwise identified to the conversion agent the certificates for shares of Series A preferred stock, then, before the release of these certificates, you must also submit the serial numbers of the particular certificates to be withdrawn and a signed notice of withdrawal with the signatures guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution, unless the holder is an eligible guarantor institution.

          We will determine in our sole discretion all questions as to the validity, form and eligibility, including time of receipt, of notices of withdrawal. Our determination will be final and binding on all parties. Any shares so withdrawn will be deemed not to have been validly surrendered for purposes of the conversion offer. We will return any shares that have been surrendered but that are not converted for any reason to the holder, without cost, promptly after withdrawal, rejection of surrender or termination of the conversion offer. In the case of shares surrendered by book-entry transfer into the conversion agent’s account at DTC, the shares will be credited to an account maintained with DTC for the shares. You may re-surrender properly withdrawn shares by following one of the procedures described under “— Procedures for Surrendering Shares of Series A Preferred Stock for Conversion” at any time on or before the expiration date.

Conditions to the Conversion Offer

          Notwithstanding any other provision of the conversion offer, our obligation to accept shares of Series A preferred stock surrendered for conversion and to pay the related conversion consideration, are subject to and conditioned upon our ability to obtain an amendment to our existing senior secured credit facility to permit us to effect the conversion offer. This amendment was required to complete the conversion offer because the terms of our senior secured credit facility prohibited us from paying cash upon the conversion of our Series A preferred stock. On November 23, 2005, we amended the terms of our senior secured credit facility to permit us to effect the conversion offer and to borrow sufficient funds to pay the cash portion of the conversion consideration and the costs and expenses of this conversion offer, and thus we have satisfied this financing condition.

          Our obligation to accept shares of Series A preferred stock surrendered for conversion and to pay the related conversion consideration was also conditioned upon our ability to borrow, before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date, on terms and conditions satisfactory to us, sufficient funds under this facility to pay the cash portion of the conversion consideration and the costs and expenses of this conversion offer. As a result of obtaining the amendment to our senior secured credit facility described above, this condition has also been satisfied.

          Notwithstanding any other term of the conversion offer, we will not be required to accept for conversion or to convert shares of Series A preferred stock if we have not obtained all governmental regulatory approvals required to consummate the conversion offer. In addition to the other conditions described above, we will not be required to complete the conversion offer if:

          The conditions described in this section are for our sole benefit and we may assert them prior to the expiration date regardless of the circumstances giving rise to any condition. Subject to applicable law, we may waive these conditions in our discretion in whole or in part prior to the expiration date, except as to the financing conditions and the requirement that the registration statement be declared effective by the SEC, which conditions we will not waive. If we waive any waivable conditions, the waiver will apply to all holders of Series A preferred stock who submit their shares for conversion in the conversion offer and we will continue the conversion offer for at least five business days after the waiver. If we fail at any time to exercise any of the above rights, the failure will not be deemed a waiver of those rights, and those rights will be deemed ongoing rights which may be asserted at any time and from time to time.

          We will not accept for conversion any shares of Series A preferred stock surrendered, and will not issue common stock in conversion for any surrendered shares of Series A preferred stock, if at that time a stop order is threatened or in effect with respect to the registration statement of which this conversion offer prospectus forms a part.

          For conditions that are based upon the occurrence of an event, we will determine whether the event has in fact occurred. For conditions that require a legal conclusion or analysis, we may seek and rely upon the advice of our legal counsel to determine whether that condition has been satisfied. For conditions that are subject to our sole discretion or judgment, our management or board of directors (or a committee thereof) will make a good faith determination as to whether the condition is satisfied based upon an assessment of the facts, circumstances and other information known by us at the time the decision is to be made, and we may, but are not obligated to, seek the advice, approval or consent of any other person. At present, we have not made a decision as to what circumstances would lead us to waive any condition and any such waiver would depend on all of the facts and circumstances prevailing at the time of the waiver. Any determination made by us concerning the events described in this section will be final and binding upon all affected persons.

Resales of Common Stock Received Pursuant to the Conversion Offer

          Assuming that the registration statement of which this conversion offer prospectus forms a part is declared effective by the SEC, common stock received by holders of Series A preferred stock pursuant to this conversion offer may be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred without further registration under the Securities Act and without delivery of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act if the holder is not our “affiliate” within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(1) under the Securities Act. Any holder who is our affiliate at the time of the conversion must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resales, unless such sale or transfer is made pursuant to an exemption from such requirements and the requirements under applicable state securities laws.

Consequences of Failure to Convert Series A Preferred Stock in the Conversion Offer

          Holders who desire to convert their shares of Series A preferred stock into common stock in the conversion offer should allow sufficient time to ensure timely delivery. Neither we nor the conversion agent is under any duty to give notification of defects or irregularities with respect to the requests for conversion.

          Shares of Series A preferred stock that are not converted or are submitted for conversion but not accepted will, following the consummation of the conversion offer, continue to be subject to the provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation regarding the transfer and exchange of the shares of Series A preferred stock and the existing restrictions on transfer set forth in the legend on the shares of Series A preferred stock and in the offering memorandum, dated November 24, 2003, relating to the issuance of such shares. In general, shares of Series A preferred stock, unless registered under the Securities Act, may not be offered or sold except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. We are presently obligated to keep a registration statement under the Securities Act effective with respect to resales of the Series A preferred stock and shares of common stock underlying such stock. However, we are only required to keep such registration statement effective until the earlier of November 24, 2005 or the date on which all shares of Series A preferred stock and the common stock underlying such shares have been sold under such registration statement, and there is no guarantee that we will keep this registration statement effective either before or after such time.

          Shares of Series A preferred stock that are not converted in the conversion offer will remain outstanding and continue to accrue dividends and will be entitled to the rights and benefits their holders have under the certificate of designations relating to the shares of Series A preferred stock. Holders of the Series A preferred stock that remain outstanding after consummation of the conversion offer will vote together as a single class for purposes of determining whether holders of the requisite percentage of the class have taken certain actions or exercised certain rights under the certificate of designations.

Accounting Treatment

          We are offering to pay a cash premium to holders of our Series A preferred stock who elect to convert their shares of Series A preferred stock into shares of our common stock in the conversion offer. The difference between the fair value of the consideration transferred to holders of the Series A preferred stock that convert their shares in the conversion offer and the fair value of common stock issuable pursuant to the original conversion terms, will be subtracted from net income to arrive at net income available to common shareholders and will affect the calculation of earnings per common share in the current period. The fees and expenses we incur in connection with the conversion offer will be recorded as a reduction of shareholders’ equity.

Appraisal Rights

          None of our stockholders will have any appraisal rights with respect to the conversion offer.

MARKET FOR OUR COMMON STOCK AND SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK

          Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “BGC.” Our Series A preferred stock is not traded or quoted on an established trading market, although a substantial majority of the shares of Series A preferred stock are traded over-the-counter, with the remainder of these shares being traded on the PORTAL^SM system of The NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. The following table sets forth the high and low sales price on the New York Stock Exchange and dividends declared per share of our common stock and the high and low bid prices on the over-the-counter market and dividends declared for the Series A preferred stock during the periods shown. The over-the-counter quotations reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, mark-down or commission and may not represent actual transactions.

          On November 29, 2005, the closing sale price of our common stock, as reported by the New York Stock Exchange, was $17.28 per share. On that date, there were approximately 2,188 holders of record of our common stock. We believe that as of October 17, 2005, there were approximately 14,711 beneficial owners of our common stock.

          On November 29, 2005, the average of the closing bid and asked price of the Series A preferred stock on the over-the-counter market was $94.38 per share. DTC is the sole holder of record of the Series A preferred stock. As of November 29, 2005, we believe there were approximately 130 beneficial owners of our Series A preferred stock.

          We paid a $0.05 per share dividend on our common stock each quarter beginning in the fourth quarter of 1997 and through the third quarter of 2002. In October 2002, as a result of an amendment to our then existing credit facility, our board of directors suspended the payment of the quarterly cash dividends on our common stock. The future payment of dividends on our common stock is subject to the discretion of our board of directors, restrictions under our outstanding Series A preferred stock, restrictions under our senior secured credit facility and the indenture governing our senior notes and the requirements of Delaware General Corporation Law and will depend upon general business conditions, our financial performance and other factors our board of directors may consider relevant. We do not expect to pay cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future.

COMPARISON OF RIGHTS BETWEEN THE SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK AND

OUR COMMON STOCK

          The following describes the material differences between the rights of holders of the shares of Series A preferred stock and holders of shares of our common stock. While we believe that the description covers the material differences between the shares of Series A preferred stock and our common stock, this summary may not contain all of the information that is important to you. You should carefully read this entire conversion offer prospectus and the other documents we refer to and that are incorporated herein by reference for a more complete understanding of the differences between being a holder of shares of Series A preferred stock and a holder of shares of our common stock.

Governing Document

          As a holder of Series A preferred stock, your rights currently are set forth in, and you may enforce your rights under, the Delaware General Corporation Law and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws, including the certificate of designations with respect to the Series A preferred stock. After completion of the conversion offer, holders of Series A preferred stock who receive shares of our common stock in the conversion offer will have their rights set forth in, and may enforce their rights under, the Delaware General Corporation Law and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws.

Dividends

          Holders of Series A preferred stock are entitled to receive, when, and if declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for payment, cumulative quarterly dividends, as described in the section of this conversion offer prospectus entitled “Description of Our Series A Preferred Stock — Dividends.” Holders of shares of our common stock are entitled to receive ratable dividends as declared by our board of directors from time to time at its sole discretion, out of funds legally available for such purpose.

Liquidation Preference

          In the event of our winding-up or dissolution, each holder of Series A preferred stock is entitled to receive and be paid out of our assets available for distribution to our stockholders, before any payment or distribution is made to holders of junior stock, including our common stock, a liquidation preference in the amount of $50.00 per share of Series A preferred stock, plus accumulated and unpaid dividends. In addition, the Series A preferred stock ranks senior to the common stock with respect to the payment of any dividends. Dividend payments to holders of common stock, if declared by our board of directors, will not be made until all required dividend payments are made to the holders of our outstanding preferred stock, including the Series A preferred stock.

Ranking

          In any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our company, our common stock would rank junior to all outstanding preferred stock, including the Series A preferred stock. As a result, holders of our common stock will not be entitled to receive any payment or other distribution of assets upon the liquidation or dissolution until after our obligations to our debt holders and holders of Series A preferred stock have been satisfied.

Conversion Rights

          Each share of Series A preferred stock is convertible at the holder’s option at any time into 4.998 shares of common stock, subject to certain adjustments as described under “Description of Our Series A Preferred Stock — Conversion Rights — Adjustments to the Conversion Price.” Holders of our shares of common stock have no conversion rights.

Mandatory Conversion

          If fewer than 103,500 shares of the Series A preferred stock remain outstanding, we may, on or after November 24, 2008, cause all of such stock to be automatically converted upon the terms described under “Description of Our Series A Preferred Stock — Conversion at Our Option.”

Redemption

          We may not redeem any shares of the Series A preferred stock at any time before November 24, 2008. We will be obligated to redeem all outstanding shares of Series A preferred stock on November 24, 2013. The prices, terms and conditions of redemption are described under “Description of Our Series A Preferred Stock — Optional Redemption” and “Description of Our Series A Preferred Stock — Mandatory Redemption.” Holders of our shares of common stock have no redemption rights.

Listing

          The Series A preferred stock was first issued on November 24, 2003 and is not listed or traded on an established trading market, although a substantial majority of the shares of Series A preferred stock are traded over-the-counter, with the remainder of these shares being traded on the PORTAL system of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Our common stock is listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “BGC.”

Voting Rights

          Holders of our Series A preferred stock are not entitled to vote on any matters except as required by law and as described under “Description of Our Series A Preferred Stock — Voting Rights.” Holders of shares of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders, other than matters solely affecting any series of preference securities.

USE OF PROCEEDS

          We will not receive any cash proceeds from the conversion offer.

CAPITALIZATION

          The following table sets forth our capitalization as of September 30, 2005:

          This table should be read in conjunction with “Selected Historical Financial Information” appearing elsewhere in this conversion offer prospectus and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our financial statements, including all related notes, incorporated by reference in this conversion offer prospectus. See “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.”

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED DIVIDENDS

          The following table sets forth our consolidated ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred dividends for each of the periods indicated. The ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred dividends is the same as the ratio of earnings to fixed charges in the years ended December 31, 2000, 2001 and 2002 as we did not have any preferred stock outstanding in those periods.

          For purposes of calculating the ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred dividends, earnings consist of pretax income from continuing operations before income taxes and combined fixed charges and preferred dividends. Combined fixed charges and preferred dividends include:

SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION

          The selected historical financial information for the years ended and as of December 31, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 were derived from our audited consolidated financial statements. The selected historical financial information for the nine fiscal months ended October 1, 2004 and September 30, 2005 and as of September 30, 2005 were derived from unaudited consolidated financial statements which, in the opinion of our management, include all normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the unaudited interim periods. The following selected historical financial information should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto that are incorporated by reference in this conversion offer prospectus to our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, for the year ended December 31, 2004 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2005.

          The unaudited pro forma financial information for the nine fiscal months ended and as of September 30, 2005 has been prepared to illustrate the estimated effect of the conversion on our unaudited financial information. The unaudited pro forma statement of operations data and balance sheet data set forth below give pro forma effect to the following transactions as if each had occurred as of January 1, 2005 and September 30, 2005, respectively:

          We have included the aggregate cash conversion consideration of $16.6 million in our unaudited pro forma statement of operations data set forth below. The interest expense on the additional borrowings under our senior secured credit facility has been computed using our actual borrowing rate on that facility for the nine fiscal months ended September 30, 2005, and the income tax effect of such additional borrowings has been computed at our estimated effective tax rate. Furthermore, the historical payment of dividends on our Series A preferred stock for the nine fiscal months ended September 30, 2005 has been eliminated in the pro forma financial information.

          The pro forma financial information below does not purport to be indicative of our results of operations or financial condition that would have actually been obtained had such transactions been completed as of the assumed date and for the period presented, or which may be obtained in the future. The pro forma adjustments described above are based upon available information and we have made certain assumptions that our management believes are reasonable. This pro forma financial information should be read together with our condensed consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto and the section of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2005 entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” each of which has been incorporated by reference into this conversion offer prospectus. See “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.”

          In August 2000, we sold certain businesses acquired from BICC plc consisting primarily of the operations in the United Kingdom, Italy and Africa and a joint venture interest in Malaysia to Pirelli Cavi e Sistemi S.p.A. The financial data presented below contain those operations sold to Pirelli during 2000 up through the date of sale.

          In September 2000, we acquired Telmag S.A. de C.V., a Mexico-based manufacturer of telecommunications cables. The financial data presented below include the results of operations of this business after the closing date.

          In March 2001, we sold our Pyrotenax business unit to Raychem HTS Canada, Inc. The results of operations of this business are included in the financial data presented below for the periods prior to the closing date.

          In September 2001, we announced our decision to exit the consumer cordsets business. In October 2001, we sold substantially all of the manufacturing assets and inventory of our building wire business to Southwire Company. The results of operations of these businesses are included in the financial data presented below for the periods prior to the closing date. Beginning in the third quarter of 2001, we have reported the building wire and cordsets segment as discontinued operations for financial reporting purposes. Administrative expenses formerly allocated to this segment are now reported in the continuing operations segments. Prior periods have been restated to reflect this change.

DESCRIPTION OF OUR SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK

          The following section is a summary of the material provisions of the certificate of designations and does not restate the certificate of designations in its entirety. We urge you to read the certificate of designations with respect to our Series A preferred stock because it, and not this description, defines the rights as holders of the Series A preferred stock. Copies of the certificate of designations are available as set forth under “Where You Can Find More Information.”

          As used in this description, references to “we,” “us,” “our” or “General Cable” mean General Cable Corporation and do not include any current or future subsidiary of General Cable Corporation.

General

          Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes the issuance of up to 25,000,000 shares of preferred stock without the approval of the holders of our common stock, in one or more series, from time to time, with each such series to have such designation, powers, preferences and rights as may be determined by our board of directors. The Series A preferred stock constitutes a series of these shares of preferred stock.

          The Series A preferred stock constitutes a single series consisting of 2,070,000 shares, of which 2,069,907 shares are outstanding as of November 29, 2005. The holders of the Series A preferred stock have no preemptive rights. The shares of Series A preferred stock were validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

Ranking

          The Series A preferred stock ranks, with respect to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, winding-up or dissolution:

          Without the consent of the holders of at least two-thirds of the shares of Series A preferred stock outstanding, we will not be entitled to issue shares of or increase the authorized number of shares of any class or series of capital stock that ranks senior to the Series A preferred stock with respect to the payment of dividends and distributions upon liquidation, winding-up or dissolution, including, without limitation, any class or series of capital stock, other than parity stock or junior stock, that pays cumulative dividends.

          Except as set forth in the preceding paragraph, we may, without the consent of the holders of the shares of Series A preferred stock, authorize, create (by way of reclassification or otherwise) or issue parity or junior stock or any obligation or security convertible or exchangeable into, or evidencing a right to purchase, shares of any class or series of parity or junior stock.

          The terms “junior stock,” “parity stock” and “senior stock” include warrants, rights, calls or options exercisable for or convertible into that type of stock.

Dividends

          The holders of Series A preferred stock are entitled to receive dividends at the rate of 5.75% per annum on the liquidation preference per share of Series A preferred stock. The rights of the holders of Series A preferred stock to receive dividend payments is subject to the rights of any holders of senior stock and parity stock.

          The dividend rate will increase under the circumstances described below under “— Unpaid Dividends” and “— Registration Rights.” All references to dividends or to a dividend rate shall be deemed to reflect such increase if such increase is applicable.

          Holders of Series A preferred stock will not have any right to receive dividends that we may declare on our common stock. The right to receive dividends declared on our common stock will be realized only after conversion of such holder’s shares of Series A preferred stock into shares of our common stock.

          Dividends are payable in arrears on February 24, May 24, August 24 and November 24 of each year. If any of those dates is not a business day, then dividends will be payable on the next succeeding business day. Dividends will accrue from the last dividend payment date. Dividends will be payable to holders of record as they appear in our stock records at the close of business on January 31, April 30, July 31 and October 31 of each year. Dividends payable on the Series A preferred stock for any period other than a full quarterly period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

          We are obligated to pay a dividend on the Series A preferred stock only when, as and if our board of directors or an authorized committee of our board of directors declares the dividend payable and we have assets that legally can be used to pay the dividend.

          Dividends are payable, at our option, in cash, in shares of our common stock or any combination thereof. In order to pay dividends in shares of our common stock, we must deliver to the transfer agent for the Series A preferred stock a number of shares of our common stock that, when sold by the transfer agent on the holders’ behalf, will result in net cash proceeds to be distributed to the holders of the Series A preferred stock in an amount equal to the cash dividends otherwise payable. To pay dividends in this manner, we must provide the transfer agent with a registration statement permitting the immediate sale of the shares of common stock in the public market. We cannot assure you that we will be able to timely file, cause to be declared effective or keep effective any such registration statement. In addition, in order to pay dividends in shares of our common stock, we may need to obtain the approval of our stockholders under the rules of The New York Stock Exchange. We will use all commercially reasonable efforts to obtain such approval if we determine that such approval is necessary. We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain such approval from our stockholders.

          Our senior secured credit facility and the indenture governing our senior notes limit our ability to pay cash dividends on shares of the Series A preferred stock. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to the Conversion Offer — Our ability to pay dividends on our preferred stock and our common stock is limited.” If we are unable to pay dividends in cash on a dividend payment date because such payment is not then permitted by our credit facilities, the indenture with respect to our senior notes or any other agreement, or such payment would be contrary to applicable law or our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or amended and restated by-laws, then we will use our reasonable best efforts to file and cause to be declared effective the registration statement required to permit us to pay dividends in shares of our common stock.

          If we pay dividends in shares of our common stock by delivering them to the transfer agent, those shares will be owned beneficially by the holders of the Series A preferred stock upon delivery to the transfer agent, and the transfer agent will hold those shares and the net cash proceeds from the sale of those shares for the exclusive benefit of the holders.

          Dividends on the Series A preferred stock will be cumulative. This means that if our board of directors or an authorized committee of our board of directors fails to declare a dividend to be payable on a dividend payment date, the dividend will accumulate on that dividend payment date until declared and paid or will be forfeited upon conversion (except under the circumstances described under “— Conversion Rights — General”).

          If we do not pay dividends in full on the Series A preferred stock on more than six dividend payment dates, whether or not consecutive, the per annum dividend rate will be deemed to have increased by 2% on the date following the sixth such dividend payment date. Once all accrued and unpaid or accumulated dividends have been paid in full, the dividend rate will return to the rate in effect before such increase. If, following any such payment in full, we again do not pay dividends in full on any dividend payment date, the per annum dividend rate will be deemed to have increased by 2% on the date following the last dividend payment date through which all accrued and unpaid or accumulated dividends have been paid in full and will return to the rate in effect before such increase only after all accrued and unpaid or accumulated dividends through the latest dividend payment date have been paid in full.

          Except as set forth in the preceding paragraph, we are not obligated to pay holders of the Series A preferred stock any interest or sum of money in lieu of interest on any dividend not paid on a dividend payment date or any other late payment. We are also not obligated to pay holders of the Series A preferred stock any dividend in excess of the full dividends on the Series A preferred stock that are payable as described above.

          If our board of directors or an authorized committee of our board of directors does not declare a dividend for any dividend payment date, the board of directors or an authorized committee of our board of directors may declare and pay the dividend on any subsequent date, whether or not a dividend payment date. The persons entitled to receive the dividend in such case will be holders of the Series A preferred stock as they appear on our stock register on a date selected by the board of directors or an authorized committee of our board of directors. That date must not (a) precede the date our board of directors or an authorized committee of our board of directors declares the dividend payable and (b) be more than 60 days prior to that dividend payment date.

          If we do not pay a dividend on a dividend payment date, then, until all accumulated dividends have been declared and paid or declared and set apart for payment:

Optional Redemption

          We may not redeem any shares of Series A preferred stock at any time before November 24, 2008. At any time or from time to time thereafter, we will have the option to redeem all or any outstanding shares of Series A preferred stock, out of funds legally available for such payment, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, in cash at the redemption prices specified below, plus an amount in cash equal to all accrued and unpaid or accumulated dividends from, and including, the immediately preceding dividend payment date to, but excluding, the redemption date, during the 12-month period commencing on November 24 of each of the years set forth below:

          In the event of a partial redemption of the Series A preferred stock, the shares to be redeemed will be selected on a pro rata basis, except that we may redeem all shares of Series A preferred stock held

by any holder of fewer than 10 shares (or all shares of Series A preferred stock owned by any holder who would hold fewer than 10 shares as a result of such redemption), as determined by us.

          Our senior secured credit facility prohibits us from redeeming the Series A preferred stock at our option so long as that facility is outstanding. The indenture for our senior notes limits our ability to redeem the Series A preferred stock, and future debt agreements may also contain restrictions or prohibitions.

Mandatory Redemption

          We will be obligated to redeem all outstanding shares of Series A preferred stock on November 24, 2013, out of funds legally available for such payment, at a redemption price equal to the liquidation preference thereof, plus all accrued and unpaid or accumulated dividends.

          We may, at our option, elect to pay the redemption price in cash or in shares of our common stock at a discount of 5% from the market price of our common stock (i.e., valued at 95% of the market price of our common stock), or any combination thereof. We may pay such redemption price, whether in cash or in shares of our common stock, only if we have funds legally available for such payment and may pay such redemption price in shares of our common stock only if such shares are eligible for immediate sale in the public market either (i) by non-affiliates of ours absent a registration statement or (ii) pursuant to a registration statement that has become effective.

          We will be required to give notice to all holders and beneficial owners as required by applicable law, on a date not less than 10 business days prior to the redemption date stating among other things:

          We will notify the holders of the Series A preferred stock upon the determination of the actual number of shares of our common stock deliverable upon any redemption of the Series A preferred stock no later than two business days prior to the redemption date.

          Our right to redeem Series A preferred stock with shares of common stock is subject to our satisfying various conditions, including:

          If such conditions are not satisfied with respect to a holder prior to the close of business on any redemption date, we will be required to pay the redemption price of such holder’s shares of Series A preferred stock entirely in cash. We may not change the form or components or percentages of components of consideration to be paid for the shares of Series A preferred stock once we have given any

notice that we are required to give to holders of the Series A preferred stock, except as described in the first sentence of this paragraph.

          The “market price” of our common stock means the average of the sale prices of our common stock for the five trading day period ending on the third business day prior to the redemption date (if the third business day prior to the redemption date is a trading day or, if not, then on the last trading day prior to the third business day), appropriately adjusted to take into account the occurrence, during the period commencing on the first of the trading days during the five trading day period and ending on the redemption date, of any event that would result in an adjustment to the conversion price of the Series A preferred stock, as described below under “— Conversion Rights — Adjustments to the Conversion Price.”

          The sale price of our common stock on any trading day means the closing sale price per share (or if no closing sale price is reported, the average of the bid and ask prices or, if more than one in either case, the average of the average bid and the average asked prices) on that trading day as reported in composite transactions for the principal U.S. securities exchange on which our common stock is traded or, if our common stock is not listed on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange, as reported by The NASDAQ National Market.

          A trading day means each day on which the securities exchange or quotation system that is used to determine the sale price is open for trading or quotation.

          Because the market price of our common stock is determined prior to the redemption date, holders of the Series A preferred stock bear the market risk with respect to the value of our common stock to be received from the date the market price is determined to the redemption date. We may pay the redemption price or any portion of the redemption price in shares of our common stock only if the information necessary to calculate the market price is publicly available.

          Payment of the redemption price for shares of Series A preferred stock is conditioned upon book-entry transfer of the Series A preferred stock or physical delivery of certificates representing the Series A preferred stock, together with necessary endorsements, to the transfer agent at any time after delivery of the redemption notice. Payment of the redemption price for the Series A preferred stock will be made promptly following the later of the redemption date and the time of book-entry transfer of or physical delivery of the Series A preferred stock.

          If DTC and the transfer agent hold money or securities sufficient to pay the redemption price of Series A preferred stock on the redemption date for shares delivered for redemption in accordance with the terms of the certificate of designations, then the dividends will cease to accrue. At such time, all rights as a holder of shares of Series A preferred stock shall terminate, other than the right to receive the redemption price upon delivery of certificates representing the Series A preferred stock.

Liquidation Preference

          Upon our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, each holder of shares of Series A preferred stock will be entitled to payment, out of our assets legally available for distribution, of an amount equal to the liquidation preference per share of Series A preferred stock held by that holder, plus an amount equal to all accrued and unpaid and accumulated dividends on those shares to but excluding the date of liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, before any distribution is made on any junior stock, including our common stock. After payment in full of the liquidation preference and the amount equal to all accrued and unpaid and accumulated dividends to which holders of shares of Series A preferred stock are entitled, the holders will not be entitled to any further participation in any distribution of our assets. If, upon our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, the amounts payable with respect to shares of Series A preferred stock and all other parity stock are not paid in full, the holders of shares of Series A preferred stock and the holders of the parity stock will share equally and

ratably in any distribution of our assets in proportion to the full liquidation preference and the amount equal to all accrued and unpaid and accumulated dividends to which each such holder is entitled.

          Neither the voluntary sale, conveyance, exchange or transfer, for cash, shares of stock, securities or other consideration, of all or substantially all of our property or assets nor our consolidation, merger or amalgamation with or into any other entity or the consolidation, merger or amalgamation of any other entity with or into us will be deemed to be our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up.

Conversion Rights

          Each share of Series A preferred stock is convertible at any time at the option of the holder, unless previously redeemed or repurchased, into fully paid and nonassessable shares of our common stock at a current conversion price of $10.004 per share, adjusted as provided under “— Adjustments to the Conversion Price.” The number of shares of common stock deliverable upon conversion of a share of Series A preferred stock, commonly referred to as the “conversion rate,” is currently 4.998, which represents the liquidation preference divided by the current conversion price. The conversion rate will be adjusted as a result of any adjustment to the conversion price.

          A holder of shares of Series A preferred stock may convert any or all of those shares by surrendering to us at our principal office or at the office of the transfer agent, as may be designated by our board of directors, the certificate or certificates for those shares of Series A preferred stock accompanied by a written notice stating that the holder elects to convert all or a specified whole number of those shares in accordance with the provisions of the certificate of designations and specifying the name or names in which the holder wishes the certificate or certificates for shares of common stock to be issued. In case the notice specifies a name or names other than that of the holder, the notice must be accompanied by payment of all transfer taxes payable upon the issuance of shares of common stock in that name or names. Other than those taxes, we will pay any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer taxes that may be payable in respect of any issuance or delivery of shares of common stock upon conversion of shares of the Series A preferred stock. As promptly as practicable after the surrender of that certificate or certificates and the receipt of the notice relating to the conversion and payment of all required transfer taxes, if any, or the demonstration to our satisfaction that those taxes have been paid, we will deliver or cause to be delivered (a) certificates representing the number of validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable full shares of our common stock to which the holder, or the holder’s transferee, of shares of Series A preferred stock being converted will be entitled and (b) if less than the full number of shares of Series A preferred stock evidenced by the surrendered certificate or certificates is being converted, a new certificate or certificates, of like tenor, for the number of shares evidenced by the surrendered certificate or certificates less the number of shares being converted. This conversion will be deemed to have been made at the close of business on the date of giving the notice and of surrendering the certificate or certificates representing the shares of Series A preferred stock to be converted so that the rights of the holder thereof as to the shares being converted will cease except for the right to receive shares of common stock and accrued and unpaid dividends with respect to the shares of Series A preferred stock being converted, and the person entitled to receive the shares of common stock will be treated for all purposes as having become the record holder of those shares of common stock at that time.

          If a holder of shares of Series A preferred stock exercises conversion rights (other than in connection with this conversion offer), upon delivery of the shares for conversion, those shares will cease to accrue dividends as of the end of the day immediately preceding the date of conversion. Except as set forth in the last sentence of this paragraph, holders of shares of Series A preferred stock who convert their shares into common stock (other than in connection with this conversion offer) will not be entitled to, nor will the conversion price or conversion rate be adjusted for, any accrued and unpaid or accumulated dividends. As a result of the foregoing, shares of Series A preferred stock surrendered for conversion during the period between the close of business on any dividend record date and the opening of business

on the corresponding dividend payment date (other than in connection with this conversion offer) must be accompanied by payment of an amount equal to the dividend declared and payable on such shares on such dividend payment date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a holder of shares of Series A preferred stock whose shares are converted after we have given a notice of redemption will continue to be entitled to receive all accrued and unpaid and accumulated dividends, and those dividends will be payable by us as and when, those dividends are paid to any holders or, if none, on the date which would have been the next succeeding dividend payment date had there been any holders or at a later time when we believe we have adequate available capital under applicable law to make such a payment.

          Notwithstanding the foregoing, any holder of shares of Series A preferred stock who validly surrendered such shares for conversion in the conversion offer (where such shares were held by such holder as of October 31, 2005) will retain the right to receive a cash payment of the dividend on the shares of Series A preferred stock we declared and will pay with respect to the November 24, 2005 dividend payment date.

          In case any shares of Series A preferred stock are to be redeemed, the right to convert those shares of Series A preferred stock will terminate at the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the date fixed for redemption unless we default in the payment of the redemption price of those shares.

          We will at all times reserve and keep available, free from preemptive rights, for issuance upon the conversion of shares of Series A preferred stock a number of our authorized but unissued shares of common stock that will from time to time be sufficient to permit the conversion of all outstanding shares of Series A preferred stock. Before the delivery of any securities that we will be obligated to deliver upon conversion of the Series A preferred stock, we will comply with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations which require action to be taken by us. All shares of common stock delivered upon conversion of the Series A preferred stock will upon delivery be duly and validly issued and fully paid and nonassessable, free of all liens and charges and not subject to any preemptive rights.

          If fewer than 103,500 shares of Series A preferred stock remain outstanding, we may, at any time on or after November 24, 2008, at our option, cause all, but not less than all, of such Series A preferred stock to be automatically converted into that number of shares of common stock equal to the liquidation preference thereof plus all accrued and unpaid or accumulated dividends divided by the lesser of (i) the conversion price and (ii) the market price of our common stock. We will notify each of the holders of the Series A preferred stock by mail of such a conversion pursuant to this paragraph. Such notice shall specify the date of such conversion pursuant to this paragraph, which will not be less than 30 days nor more than 60 days after the date of such notice.

          The conversion price is subject to adjustment from time to time as follows: