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Exhibit 99.1

LOGO

News Release: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For additional information, contact:

Investors / Trade / Media

Brian Cooper

Chief Financial Officer

Westell Technologies, Inc.

630.375.4740

BCooper@westell.com

Westell Technologies Fiscal 2011 Second Quarter Highlights

 

   

Fiscal second quarter net income increased 65%, to $4.8 million, compared with $2.9 million in the same quarter of the prior year.

 

   

Earnings per share were $0.07 per share for the quarter, compared with $0.04 per share in the same quarter of the prior year.

 

   

Fiscal second quarter revenue of $51.1 million was up 8% compared with the same quarter of the prior year.

 

   

Outside Plant Systems division operating profit for the quarter rose 45% on a 24% increase in revenue, compared with the prior year.

 

   

The Customer Networking Solutions division generated positive operating income.

 

   

Cash and cash equivalents increased by $8.3 million during the quarter, to $70.1 million.

 

Westell Technologies Reports Earnings Up 65%

AURORA, IL, October 20, 2010 – Westell Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: WSTL), a leading provider of broadband products, outside plant telecommunications equipment and conferencing services, today announced results for its fiscal 2011 second quarter ended September 30, 2010. Total revenue for the


quarter was $51.1 million, up 8% from $47.4 million in the fiscal second quarter of the prior year. Net income during the quarter was $4.8 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, compared to net income of $2.9 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, in the same quarter of the prior year. This is an increase of $1.9 million, or 65%. Total cash and cash equivalents were $70.1 million at September 30, 2010, up $8.3 million during the quarter.

“We are very pleased to be reporting increases in revenues and earnings, along with very strong cash flow,” said Chairman and CEO Rick Gilbert. “This demonstrates excellent execution and progress across the entire company.”

Fiscal Second Quarter Division and Consolidated Results

The Customer Networking Solutions (CNS) division reported revenue of $24.6 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2011, up 2% compared to $24.0 million in the same quarter of the prior year. VersaLink gateway product revenue increased in the current quarter compared to the same quarter of the prior year, on broad and robust customer demand, while revenue from modems decreased. UltraLine Series3 revenues of $5.6 million in the quarter were approximately the same as in the prior-year quarter. There were no material software-project revenues during the fiscal second quarter of 2011. CNS gross profit decreased by $0.2 million, with gross margin decreasing to 16.3%, compared with 17.5% in the prior-year quarter. Operating expenses dropped by $0.6 million, compared with the prior-year quarter. This decrease occurred in spite of increased investment in the HomeCloud initiative. As a result, the CNS results improved to operating income of $0.2 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2011, compared with an operating loss of $0.2 million in the same quarter of the prior year.

Revenue in the Outside Plant Systems (OSP) division was $16.1 million in the quarter, up 24% compared to $13.0 million in the same quarter of the prior year. OSP revenue continues to benefit from strong demand for its products that service the market for backhaul of cellular traffic. Fiscal 2011 second quarter gross profit increased by $1.8 million, or 34%, as a result of increased sales. Gross margins were 45.5%, compared with 42.0% in the prior-year quarter. Operating expenses increased $0.5 million, reflecting both increased activity and OSP’s ongoing development of new Ethernet-based products for the cellular backhaul market. The resulting operating income for OSP was $4.3 million, up $1.3 million versus the same quarter of the prior year.


 

Conference Plus (CP) revenue was up slightly to $10.4 million in the quarter, compared to $10.3 million in the same quarter of the prior year. Gross profit increased by $0.2 million on better gross margins, and operating expenses were $0.1 million higher. Operating income of $1.1 million therefore improved by $0.1 million, versus the same quarter of the prior year.

On a consolidated basis, fiscal second quarter revenue of $51.1 million was up 8%, or $3.7 million, compared with $47.4 million in the same quarter of the prior year. Gross profit increased $1.9 million, and gross margins were 32.3%, compared with 30.8% in the same quarter of the prior year. Operating expenses were essentially unchanged at $11.5 million. The gross profit improvement therefore translated to a $1.9 million increase in consolidated net income, which was $4.8 million, compared with $2.9 million in the same quarter of the prior year.

“With Outside Plant leading the way, all three of our divisions produced increases in both revenues and operating profits this quarter, compared with the prior-year quarter,” said Chairman and CEO Rick Gilbert. “This is another outstanding quarter for Westell.”

Conference Call Information

Management will address financial and business results during Westell’s fiscal second quarter 2011 earnings conference call on Thursday, October 21, at 9:00 AM Eastern Time. Conference Plus, Inc. (ConferencePlus®), a Westell subsidiary, will manage Westell’s earnings conference call using its EventManager™ Service.

Participants can register for the Westell conference by going to the URL:

http://www.conferenceplus.com/westell.

With EventManager, participants can quickly register online in advance of the conference through a customizable web page that can be used to gather multiple pieces of information from each participant, as specified by the event arranger. After registering, participants receive dial-in numbers, a passcode, and a personal identification number (PIN) that is used to uniquely identify their presence and automatically join them into the audio conference. If a participant experiences any technical difficulties after joining the conference call on October 21, he or she can press *0 for support.

If a participant does not wish to register, he or she can participate in the call on October 21, by dialing ConferencePlus at 1-888-206-4073 no later than 8:45 AM, Eastern Time and using confirmation number 28061243. International participants may dial 1-847-413-9014. Westell’s press release on earnings and related information that may be discussed on the earnings conference will be posted on the Investor Relations’ section of Westell’s website, http://www.westell.com. An archive of the entire conference will be available on Westell’s website or via Digital Audio Replay following the conclusion of the conference until the fiscal third quarter results are released. The replay of the conference can be accessed by dialing 1-888-843-8996 or 1-630-652-3044 and entering 7702527#.


 

About Westell

Westell Technologies, Inc., headquartered in Aurora, Illinois, is a holding company for Westell, Inc. and Conference Plus, Inc. Westell, Inc. designs, distributes, markets and services a broad range of broadband customer-premises equipment, digital transmission, remote monitoring, power distribution and demarcation products used by telephone companies and other telecommunications service providers. Conference Plus, Inc. is a leading global provider of audio, web, video and IP conferencing services. Additional information can be obtained by visiting http://www.westell.com and http://www.conferenceplus.com.

“Safe Harbor” statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:

Certain statements contained herein that are not historical facts or that contain the words “believe”, “expect”, “intend”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “may”, “will”, “plan”, “should”, or derivatives thereof and other words of similar meaning are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, product demand and market acceptance risks, need for financing, a further economic weakness in the United States economy and telecommunications market, the impact of competitive products or technologies, competitive pricing pressures, product cost increases, component supply shortages, new product development, excess and obsolete inventory, commercialization and technological delays or difficulties (including delays or difficulties in developing, producing, testing and selling new products and technologies), the effect of Westell’s accounting policies, the need for additional capital, the effect of economic conditions and trade, legal, social and economic risks (such as import, licensing and trade restrictions), retention of key personnel and other risks more fully described in the Company’s SEC filings, including the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010 under the section entitled Risk Factors. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements to reflect current events or circumstances after the date hereof, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, or otherwise.

Financial Tables to Follow:


 

Westell Technologies, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations

(Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months ended September 30,     Six Months ended September 30,  
     2010     2009     2010     2009  

Revenue

   $ 51,068      $ 47,353      $ 92,326      $ 100,866   

Gross profit

     16,478        14,572        32,093        29,779   

Gross margin

     32.3     30.8     34.8     29.5

Operating expenses:

        

Sales & marketing

     4,671        4,458        9,159        9,396   

Research & development

     3,464        3,390        7,002        7,077   

General & administrative

     3,249        3,580        6,598        7,352   

Restructuring

     —          —          —          609  (1) 

Intangibles amortization

     163        160        326        317   
                                

Total operating expenses

     11,547        11,588        23,085        24,751   
                                

Operating income

     4,931        2,984        9,008        5,028   

Other income

     (28     (20     25        71   

Interest (expense)

     (2     (2     (3     (4
                                

Income before taxes

     4,901        2,962        9,030        5,095   
                                

Income taxes

     (138     (75     335        (230
                                

Net income

   $ 4,763      $ 2,887      $ 9,365      $ 4,865   
                                

Net income per common share:

        

Basic

   $ 0.07      $ 0.04      $ 0.14      $ 0.07   

Diluted

   $ 0.07      $ 0.04      $ 0.14      $ 0.07   

Average number of common shares outstanding:

        

Basic

     67,202        68,374        67,285        68,365   

Diluted

     68,487        69,069        68,321        68,858   

 

(1) The Company terminated approximately 50 employees primarily in the CNS and ConferencePlus segments as a cost reduction action in the first quarter of fiscal 2010.


 

Westell Technologies, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Sept. 30,      March 31,  
     2010      2010  

Assets:

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 70,075       $ 61,315   

Accounts receivable, net

     24,789         17,683   

Inventories

     17,690         21,258   

Prepaids and other current assets

     3,899         4,276   
                 

Total current assets

     116,453         104,532   

Property and equipment, net

     3,878         4,665   

Goodwill

     2,151         2,162   

Intangibles, net

     3,713         4,063   

Deferred income taxes and other assets

     6,137         6,412   
                 

Total assets

   $ 132,332       $ 121,834   
                 

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:

     

Accounts payable

   $ 17,359       $ 15,195   

Accrued liabilities

     8,184         9,203   

Deferred revenue

     1,160         860   
                 

Total current liabilities

     26,703         25,258   

Deferred revenue, long-term

     137         174   

Other long-term liabilities

     7,847         8,671   
                 

Total liabilities

     34,687         34,103   

Total stockholders' equity

     97,645         87,731   
                 

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

   $ 132,332       $ 121,834   
                 


 

Westell Technologies, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Six Months ended Sept. 30,  
     2010     2009  

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net income

   $ 9,365      $ 4,865   

Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     1,427        1,967   

Stock-based compensation

     580        287   

Restructuring

     —          609   

Other, net

     (8     (175

Changes in assets and liabilities:

    

Accounts receivable

     (7,100     2,329   

Inventory

     3,551        2,650   

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     848        (5,528

Deferred revenue

     263        (1,698

Prepaid and other current assets

     376        2,515   

Other

     48        650   
                

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     9,350        8,471   
                

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Purchases of property and equipment

     (359     (769
                

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

     (359     (769
                

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Borrowing (repayment) of debt and leases payable

     —          (29

Proceeds from stock options exercised

     314        —     

Purchase of treasury stock

     (555     —     
                

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

     (241     (29
                

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

     10        205   
                

Net increase in cash

     8,760        7,878   

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     61,315        46,058   
                

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 70,075      $ 53,936   
                


Westell Technologies, Inc.

Segment Statement of Operations

(Amounts in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three months ended September 30, 2010  
     CNS     OSP     CP     Unallocated     Total  

Revenue

   $ 24,598      $ 16,117      $ 10,353      $ —        $ 51,068   

Gross profit

     4,009        7,326        5,143        —          16,478   

Gross margin

     16.3     45.5     49.7       32.3

Operating expenses:

          

Sales & marketing

     1,267        1,509        1,895        —          4,671   

Research & development

     1,902        921        641        —          3,464   

General & administrative

     688        455        1,438        668        3,249   

Restructuring

     —          —          —          —          —     

Intangibles amortization

     1        134        28        —          163   
                                        

Operating expenses (1)

     3,858        3,019        4,002        668        11,547   
                                        

Operating income (loss)

     151        4,307        1,141        (668     4,931   

Other income

     —          —          —          (28     (28

Interest (expense)

     —          —          —          (2     (2

Income taxes

     —          —          —          (138     (138
                                        

Net income (loss)

   $ 151      $ 4,307      $ 1,141      $ (836   $ 4,763   
                                        
     Three months ended September 30, 2009  
     CNS     OSP     CP     Unallocated     Total  

Revenue

   $ 24,002      $ 13,049      $ 10,302        —        $ 47,353   

Gross profit

     4,189        5,481        4,902        —          14,572   

Gross margin

     17.5     42.0     47.6       30.8

Operating expenses:

          

Sales & marketing

     1,357        1,255        1,846        —          4,458   

Research & development

     2,238        598        554        —          3,390   

General & administrative

     842        533        1,453        752        3,580   

Restructuring

     —          —          —          —          —     

Intangibles amortization

     —          132        28        —          160   
                                        

Operating expenses (2)

     4,437        2,518        3,881        752        11,588   
                                        

Operating income (loss)

     (248     2,963        1,021        (752     2,984   

Other income

     —          —          —          (20     (20

Interest (expense)

     —          —          —          (2     (2

Income taxes

     —          —          —          (75     (75
                                        

Net income (loss)

   $ (248   $ 2,963      $ 1,021      $ (849   $ 2,887   
                                        

 

(1) Includes $0.1 million, $0.2 million and $0.4 million of depreciation and amortization expense in the CNS, OSP and CP segments, respectively.
(2) Includes $0.3 million, $0.3 million and $0.4 million of depreciation and amortization expense in the CNS, OSP and CP segments, respectively.


 

Westell Technologies, Inc.

Segment Statement of Operations

(Amounts in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Six months ended September 30, 2010  
     CNS     OSP     CP     Unallocated     Total  

Revenue

   $ 39,620      $ 31,841      $ 20,865      $ —        $ 92,326   

Gross profit

     7,599        14,237        10,257        —          32,093   

Gross margin

     19.2     44.7     49.2       34.8

Operating expenses:

          

Sales & marketing

     2,579        2,950        3,630        —          9,159   

Research & development

     3,876        1,902        1,224        —          7,002   

General & administrative

     1,428        1,093        2,797        1,280        6,598   

Restructuring

     —          —          —          —          —     

Intangibles amortization

     2        268        56        —          326   
                                        

Operating expenses (1)

     7,885        6,213        7,707        1,280        23,085   
                                        

Operating income (loss)

     (286     8,024        2,550        (1,280     9,008   

Other income

     —          —          —          25        25   

Interest (expense)

     —          —          —          (3     (3

Income taxes

     —          —          —          335        335   
                                        

Net income (loss)

   $ (286   $ 8,024      $ 2,550      $ (923   $ 9,365   
                                        
     Six months ended September 30, 2009  
     CNS     OSP     CP     Unallocated     Total  

Revenue

   $ 52,626      $ 26,825      $ 21,415        —        $ 100,866   

Gross profit

     7,953        11,475        10,351        —          29,779   

Gross margin

     15.1     42.8     48.3       29.5

Operating expenses:

          

Sales & marketing

     2,909        2,531        3,956        —          9,396   

Research & development

     4,766        1,188        1,123        —          7,077   

General & administrative

     1,661        1,068        3,110        1,513        7,352   

Restructuring

     414        46        149        —          609   

Intangibles amortization

     —          261        56        —          317   
                                        

Operating expenses (2)

     9,750        5,094        8,394        1,513        24,751   
                                        

Operating income (loss)

     (1,797     6,381        1,957        (1,513     5,028   

Other income

     —          —          —          71        71   

Interest (expense)

     —          —          —          (4     (4

Income taxes

     —          —          —          (230     (230
                                        

Net income (loss)

   $ (1,797   $ 6,381      $ 1,957      $ (1,676   $ 4,865   
                                        

 

(1) Includes $0.3 million , $0.4 million and $0.7 million of depreciation and amortization expense in the CNS, OSP and CP segments, respectively.
(2) Includes $0.7 million, $0.5 million and $0.7 million of depreciation and amortization expense in the CNS, OSP and CP segments, respectively.