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EX-10.1 - EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT - WESTELL TECHNOLOGIES INCdex101.htm

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 Third Quarter Highlights

 

   

Fiscal third quarter revenue of $48.3 million was up 13% compared with the same quarter of the prior year.

 

   

Fiscal third quarter net income was $2.9 million, compared with $2.7 million in the same quarter of the prior year.

 

   

Earnings per share were $0.04 per share for each of the current and prior-year quarters.

 

   

Cash and short-term investments increased by $16.4 million during the quarter, to $86.4 million.

Westell Technologies Reports $0.04 EPS

AURORA, IL, January 19, 2011 – 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 third quarter ended December 31, 2010. Total revenue for the quarter was $48.3 million, up 13% from $42.8 million in the fiscal third quarter of the prior year. Net income during the quarter was $2.9 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, compared to net income of $2.7 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, in the same quarter of the prior year. Total cash and short-term investments were $86.4 million at December 31, 2010, up $16.4 million during the quarter.


“I am pleased to report that we produced year-over-year increases in consolidated revenue, earnings and cash flow, despite the expected seasonal slowdown in our Outside Plant business,” said Chairman and CEO Rick Gilbert. “All three business units contributed positive net income. In particular, Customer Networking Solutions delivered significant software revenue which boosted margins and profit.”

Fiscal Third Quarter Division and Consolidated Results

The Customer Networking Solutions (CNS) division reported revenue of $26.2 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2011, up 28% compared to $20.5 million in the same quarter of the prior year. Continuing recent trends, VersaLink gateway product revenue increased in the current quarter while revenue from modems decreased, compared to the same quarter of the prior year. UltraLine Series3 revenues of $4.5 million in the quarter included the recognition of $1.1 million of revenue related to software projects. UltraLine Series3 revenues were approximately $3.8 million in the prior-year quarter. CNS gross profit benefited from the software revenue and increased by $1.2 million, with gross margin increasing to 18.1%, compared with 17.4% in the prior-year quarter. Operating expenses were $4.1 million, essentially in line with the prior-year quarter, in spite of higher spending on the company’s HomeCloudTM initiative. As a result, CNS operating income improved to approximately $0.7 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2011, up $1.3 million, compared with an operating loss of $0.6 million in the same quarter of the prior year.

Revenue in the Outside Plant Systems (OSP) division was $11.8 million in the quarter, down 5% compared to $12.4 million in the same quarter of the prior year. Demand for OSP products was reduced in the latest quarter by tight customer management of year-end inventory and by an influx of refurbished equipment in the marketplace. Fiscal 2011 third quarter gross profit was $5.1 million, compared to $5.6 million in the same quarter of the prior year. Gross margins were 43.2%, compared with 44.8% in the prior-year quarter. Operating expenses increased $0.7 million versus the prior-year quarter, reflecting an increased focus on marketing and development of new Ethernet-based products for the cellular backhaul market. Resulting operating income for OSP in the quarter was $2.1 million, down $1.1 million compared with operating income of $3.2 million in the same quarter of the prior year.

Conference Plus (CP) revenue was up 5% to $10.3 million in the quarter, compared to $9.9 million in the same quarter of the prior year. Gross profit increased by $0.4 million on higher gross margins, and operating expenses were $0.4 million higher than in the same quarter of the prior year. Operating income therefore was unchanged from the same quarter of the prior year at $1.0 million.


On a consolidated basis, fiscal third quarter revenue of $48.3 million was up 13%, or $5.5 million, compared with $42.8 million in the same quarter of the prior year. Gross profit increased $1.1 million, and gross margins were 30.7%, compared with 32.2% in the same quarter of the prior year. Operating expenses for the quarter were up $0.1 million compared with the prior-year quarter. These expenses reflect increased spending on the HomeCloud and Ethernet initiatives. Unallocated expenses for the prior-year quarter included $0.7 million of expense to correct an understatement of stock-based compensation. Income tax expense in the current period was $26,000, compared to an income tax benefit of $0.7 million in the same quarter of the prior year. Reflecting all of the above factors, net income was $2.9 million in the current quarter versus $2.7 million in the same quarter of the prior year.

Cash and short-term investments increased $16.4 million during the quarter. The increase was driven primarily by an increase in accounts payable as a result of timing and terms for inventory purchases. A large portion of this payables increase is expected to be temporary.

Conference Call Information

Management will address financial and business results during Westell’s fiscal third quarter 2011 earnings conference call on Thursday, January 20, at 9:30 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 January 20, 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 January 20, by dialing ConferencePlus at 1-888-206-4073 no later than 9:15 AM, Eastern Time and using confirmation number 28624109. 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 fourth quarter results are released. The replay of the conference can be accessed by dialing 1-888-843-7419 or 1-630-652-3042 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, customer product selection decisions, 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 December 31,     Nine Months ended December 31,  
     2010     2009     2010     2009  

Revenue

   $ 48,267      $ 42,796      $ 140,593      $ 143,662   

Gross profit

     14,833        13,771        46,926        43,550   

Gross margin

     30.7     32.2     33.4     30.3

Operating expenses:

        

Sales & marketing

     4,599        3,996        13,758        13,392   

Research & development

     3,611        3,202        10,613        10,279   

General & administrative

     3,467        4,345 (1)      10,065        11,697 (1) 

Restructuring

     —          —          —          609 (2) 

Intangibles amortization

     165        161        491        478   
                                

Total operating expenses

     11,842        11,704        34,927        36,455   
                                

Operating income

     2,991        2,067        11,999        7,095   

Other income

     (26     (4     (1     67   

Interest (expense)

     (2     —          (5     (4
                                

Income before taxes

     2,963        2,063        11,993        7,158   
                                

Income taxes

     (26     673 (3)      309        443 (3) 
                                

Net income

   $ 2,937      $ 2,736      $ 12,302      $ 7,601   
                                

Net income per common share:

        

Basic

   $ 0.04      $ 0.04      $ 0.18      $ 0.11   

Diluted

   $ 0.04      $ 0.04      $ 0.18      $ 0.11   

Average number of common shares outstanding:

        

Basic

     68,280        67,912        67,616        68,214   

Diluted

     70,282        68,551        69,014        68,778   

 

(1) Includes a non-cash charge of $730,000 to correct errors in stock-based compensation expense related to prior fiscal years.
(2) 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.
(3) The Company recorded a $767,000 income tax benefit derived from a refund of alternative minimum tax credits.


Westell Technologies, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Dec. 31
2010
     March 31,
2010
 

Assets:

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 85,691       $ 61,315   

Short-term investments

     735         —     

Accounts receivable, net

     21,737         17,683   

Inventories

     20,813         21,258   

Prepaids and other current assets

     4,650         4,276   
                 

Total current assets

     133,626         104,532   

Property and equipment, net

     3,517         4,665   

Goodwill

     2,178         2,162   

Intangibles, net

     3,603         4,063   

Deferred income taxes and other assets

     6,107         6,412   
                 

Total assets

   $ 149,031       $ 121,834   
                 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity:

     

Accounts payable

   $ 28,147       $ 15,195   

Accrued liabilities

     9,278         9,203   

Deferred revenue

     325         860   
                 

Total current liabilities

     37,750         25,258   

Deferred revenue, long-term

     151         174   

Other long-term liabilities

     7,866         8,671   
                 

Total liabilities

     45,767         34,103   

Total stockholders’ equity

     103,264         87,731   
                 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 149,031       $ 121,834   
                 


Westell Technologies, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Nine Months ended Dec. 31,  
     2010     2009  

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net income

   $ 12,302      $ 7,601   

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

    

Depreciation and amortization

     2,067        2,942   

Stock-based compensation

     889        1,355   

Restructuring

     —          609   

Other, net

     (17     (182

Changes in assets and liabilities:

    

Accounts receivable

     (4,040     3,195   

Inventory

     476        2,014   

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     12,738        (5,726

Deferred revenue

     (558     (1,575

Prepaid and other current assets

     (375     3,916   

Other

     81        (60
                

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     23,563        14,089   
                

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Purchases of property and equipment

     (485     (800

Purchases of short-term investments

     (735     —     
                

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

     (1,220     (800
                

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Borrowing (repayment) of debt and leases payable

     —          (42

Proceeds from stock options exercised

     2,591        —     

Payment for subsidiary options tendered

     (36     —     

Purchase of treasury stock

     (555     (1,430
                

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

     2,000        (1,472
                

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

     33        198   
                

Net increase in cash

     24,376        12,015   

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     61,315        46,058   
                

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 85,691      $ 58,073   
                


Westell Technologies, Inc.

Segment Statement of Operations

(Amounts in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three months ended December 31, 2010  
     CNS     OSP     CP     Unallocated     Total  

Revenue

   $ 26,168      $ 11,768      $ 10,331      $ —        $ 48,267   

Gross profit

     4,744        5,087        5,002        —          14,833   

Gross margin

     18.1     43.2     48.4       30.7

Operating expenses:

          

Sales & marketing

     1,292        1,413        1,894        —          4,599   

Research & development

     2,005        945        661        —          3,611   

General & administrative

     803        452        1,463        749        3,467   

Restructuring

     —          —          —          —          —     

Intangibles amortization

     2        135        28        —          165   
                                        

Operating expenses (1)

     4,102        2,945        4,046        749        11,842   
                                        

Operating income (loss)

     642        2,142        956        (749     2,991   

Other income

     —          —          —          (26     (26

Interest (expense)

     —          —          —          (2     (2

Income taxes

     —          —          —          (26     (26
                                        

Net income (loss)

   $ 642      $ 2,142      $ 956      $ (803   $ 2,937   
                                        
     Three months ended December 31, 2009  
     CNS     OSP     CP     Unallocated     Total  

Revenue

   $ 20,512      $ 12,407      $ 9,877      $ —        $ 42,796   

Gross profit

     3,566        5,563        4,642        —          13,771   

Gross margin

     17.4     44.8     47.0       32.2

Operating expenses:

          

Sales & marketing

     1,284        1,128        1,584        —          3,996   

Research & development

     2,099        557        546        —          3,202   

General & administrative

     821        464        1,518        1,542 (2)      4,345   

Restructuring

     —          —          —          —          —     

Intangibles amortization

     —          133        28        —          161   
                                        

Operating expenses (3)

     4,204        2,282        3,676        1,542        11,704   
                                        

Operating income (loss)

     (638     3,281        966        (1,542     2,067   

Other income

     —          —          —          (4     (4

Interest (expense)

     —          —          —            —     

Income taxes

     —          —          —          673        673   
                                        

Net income (loss)

   $ (638   $ 3,281      $ 966      $ (873   $ 2,736   
                                        

 

(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 a non-cash charge of $730,000 to correct errors in stock-based compensation expense related to prior fiscal years.
(3) 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)

 

     Nine months ended December 31, 2010  
     CNS     OSP     CP     Unallocated     Total  

Revenue

   $ 65,788      $ 43,609      $ 31,196      $ —        $ 140,593   

Gross profit

     12,343        19,324        15,259        —          46,926   

Gross margin

     18.8     44.3     48.9       33.4

Operating expenses:

          

Sales & marketing

     3,871        4,363        5,524        —          13,758   

Research & development

     5,881        2,847        1,885        —          10,613   

General & administrative

     2,231        1,545        4,260        2,029        10,065   

Restructuring

     —          —          —          —          —     

Intangibles amortization

     4        403        84        —          491   
                                        

Operating expenses (1)

     11,987        9,158        11,753        2,029        34,927   
                                        

Operating income (loss)

     356        10,166        3,506        (2,029     11,999   

Other income

     —          —          —          (1     (1

Interest (expense)

     —          —          —          (5     (5

Income taxes

     —          —          —          309        309   
                                        

Net income (loss)

   $ 356      $ 10,166      $ 3,506      $ (1,726   $ 12,302   
                                        
     Nine months ended December 31, 2009  
     CNS     OSP     CP     Unallocated     Total  

Revenue

   $ 73,138      $ 39,232      $ 31,292      $ —        $ 143,662   

Gross profit

     11,519        17,038        14,993        —          43,550   

Gross margin

     15.7     43.4     47.9       30.3

Operating expenses:

          

Sales & marketing

     4,193        3,659        5,540        —          13,392   

Research & development

     6,865        1,745        1,669        —          10,279   

General & administrative

     2,482        1,532        4,628        3,055 (2)      11,697   

Restructuring

     414        46        149          609   

Intangibles amortization

     —          394        84        —          478   
                                        

Operating expenses (3)

     13,954        7,376        12,070        3,055        36,455   
                                        

Operating income (loss)

     (2,435     9,662        2,923        (3,055     7,095   

Other income

     —          —          —          67        67   

Interest (expense)

     —          —          —          (4     (4

Income taxes

     —          —          —          443        443   
                                        

Net income (loss)

   $ (2,435   $ 9,662      $ 2,923      $ (2,549   $ 7,601   
                                        

 

(1) Includes $0.4 million , $0.6 million and $1.1 million of depreciation and amortization expense in the CNS, OSP and CP segments, respectively.
(2) Includes a non-cash charge of $730,000 to correct errors in stock-based compensation expense related to prior fiscal years.
(3) Includes $1.0 million, $0.8 million and $1.1 million of depreciation and amortization expense in the CNS, OSP and CP segments, respectively.