Westell Technologies Reports Fiscal Third Quarter Results
AURORA, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Westell Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:WSTL):
Westell Technologies 3rd Quarter Highlights
-- Net loss for the third quarter was $2.5 million or ($0.04) per
share.
-- Received orders for Verizon FiOS Multi-Dwelling Unit contract
to supply customers with the UltraLine Series3 product.
-- Received Innovations Award in the Home Networking category at
the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) for the
UltraLine Series3 product.
-- Retained the investment bank of Raymond James to explore the
strategic alternatives for ConferencePlus.
Westell Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:WSTL), a leading provider of broadband products, gateways and conferencing services, today announced consolidated revenue for the fiscal third quarter ended December 31, 2007 of $44.4 million and a net loss of $2.5 million or $0.04 per share. The above results are inclusive of $457,000 of expense from Contineo Systems, the software development company that Westell has a 40% equity investment in. In addition, net loss for the fiscal third quarter includes a pre-tax expense of $521,000 in consulting costs related to the implementation of the outsourcing plan.
Customer Networking Equipment (CNE) revenue of $17.9 million for the fiscal third quarter compares to $32.2 million in the fiscal second quarter due primarily to the transitioning of providing modems under the BellSouth nine-state agreement, which concluded in October, to the new AT&T 22-state contract. Third quarter Outside Plant Systems (OSP), formerly called Network Service Access (NSA), equipment revenue declined to $13.5 million from $15.1 million in the fiscal second quarter. Conferencing Services revenue remained flat at $13.0 million quarter over quarter.
Other Activity
-- Westell has received authority from its Board of Directors to
begin exploring the strategic alternatives for ConferencePlus
Inc., the services segment of the business. Management has
retained the investment bank of Raymond James to assist them
throughout this process.
-- The Company received orders for Verizon's FiOS contract that
represents a growth opportunity within Verizon's rollout of
video services to large Multi-Dwelling Unit apartment
complexes and high-rise buildings.
-- The UltraLine(TM) Series3 residential gateway has been named
an International CES Innovations 2008 Design and Engineering
Award honoree by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA).
Outlook
"We are pleased with the overall progress we have made towards the repositioning of our marketing strategy and remain confident in our overall growth objectives. We anticipate revenue will improve during the first half of fiscal 2009, as orders from the new 22-state AT&T contract and volume from Verizon FiOS are expected to commence in that timeframe," said Thomas Mader, Westell Chief Executive Officer. "We believe that the successful execution of our outsourcing strategy, along with our continuing efforts to develop innovative products, has positioned the company for long-term success. We are particularly pleased with the market traction of our UltraLine Series3 product portfolio with its WireSpeed(TM) routing performance for converged voice, data and video services over multiple media types such as Ethernet, coax and power line. The UltraLine Series3 is the perfect product for IPTV triple-play services. The recent selection for the Verizon FiOS network as well as an Innovations Award at CES are validation of our investments in this high-performance portfolio."
For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008, Westell expects revenue to be in a range of $43 to $45 million. Westell expects EPS to be in a range of $0.03 to $0.04 loss per share.
Conference Call Information
Conference Plus, Inc. (ConferencePlus), a Westell subsidiary, will manage Westell's third quarter fiscal 2008 earnings conference call on Thursday, January 24, 9:30 AM ET using its EventManager(TM) 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 on January 24, simply press *0 for support.
If you do not wish to register, you can participate in the call on January 24 by dialing ConferencePlus at 1-877-875-0056 no later than 9:15 AM, Eastern Time and using confirmation number 20396307#. International participants may dial 1-847-585-4340. The Company's earnings press release and any related earnings information to be discussed on the earnings conference will be posted on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at http://www.westell.com. An archive of the entire conference will be available on Westell's website or via Digital Audio Replay one hour following the conclusion of the conference. The replay of the conference can be accessed by dialing 1-888-843-8996 or 1-630-652-3044 and entering 9947382#.
About Westell
Westell Technologies, Inc., headquartered in Aurora, Illinois, is a holding company for Westell, Inc. and ConferencePlus, Inc. Westell, Inc. designs and develops broadband telecommunications access products. ConferencePlus, Inc. is a collaborative Application Service Provider that manages and hosts voice, video, IP applications and back-office services. Additional information can be obtained by visiting Westell's Web site at www.westell.com.
About ConferencePlus
ConferencePlus, a Westell Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:WSTL) subsidiary, is a leading global provider of audio, web, video and IP conferencing services. ConferencePlus is dedicated to providing high quality, innovative conferencing solutions to its domestic and international clients and telecommunications resellers. ConferencePlus is recognized for outstanding customer service and support to help clients meet their business objectives. The company is headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois with an international headquarters in Dublin, Ireland. Additional information can be obtained by visiting the ConferencePlus web site at www.conferenceplus.com.
"Safe Harbor" statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act 1995:
Certain statements contained herein that are not historical facts or that contain the words "believe", "expect", "intend", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "should", or derivatives thereof and other words of similar meanings 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, an economic downturn in the U.S. economy and telecom market, the impact of competitive products or technologies, competitive pricing pressures, 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) and other risks more fully described in the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007 under the section 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.
Financial Results
(Dollars in thousands except per share amounts)
Three Months ended Nine Months ended
December 31, December 31,
2007 2006 2007 2006
-------- -------- -------- --------
Revenues
OSP (formerly NSA) $13,472 $14,216 $42,874 $43,515
CNE 17,895 37,452 81,187 121,733
Services 13,029 11,594 39,602 35,189
-------- -------- -------- --------
Total revenues 44,396 63,262 163,663 200,437
-------- -------- -------- --------
Gross profit
Equipment 8,447 (1) 15,237 30,667 (1) 48,967
Services 6,187 5,602 19,096 17,344
-------- -------- -------- --------
Total gross profit 14,634 20,839 49,763 66,311
-------- -------- -------- --------
Gross margin
Equipment 26.9%(1) 29.5% 24.7%(1) 29.6%
Services 47.5% 48.3% 48.2% 49.3%
-------- -------- -------- --------
Total gross margin 33.0% 32.9% 30.4% 33.1%
-------- -------- -------- --------
Operating expenses
Sales & marketing 6,414 8,178 18,415 (2) 22,635
Expense to revenue 14.4% 12.9% 11.3% 11.3%
General &
administrative 6,227 (3) 3,934 17,196 (3) 13,092
Expense to revenue 14.0% 6.2% 10.5% 6.5%
Research &
development 5,694 6,250 16,998 18,199
Expense to revenue 12.8% 9.9% 10.4% 9.1%
Restructuring 176 (4) - 4,319 (4) -
Expense to revenue 0.4% 0.0% 2.6% 0.0%
Intangibles
amortization 461 415 1,374 1,245
Expense to revenue 1.0% 0.7% 0.8% 0.6%
-------- -------- -------- --------
Total operating
expenses 18,972 (5) 18,777 58,302 (5) 55,171
-------- -------- -------- --------
Expense to revenue 42.7% 29.7% 35.6% 27.5%
Operating income (loss) (4,338) 2,062 (8,539) 11,140
Other income 886 871 2,816 2,311
Interest expense (7) (2) (9) (4)
-------- -------- -------- --------
Income (loss) before minority
interest and taxes (3,459) 2,931 (5,732) 13,447
-------- -------- -------- --------
Income tax expense
(benefit) (994) 1,053 (1,794) 5,174
Minority interest 37 41 148 151
-------- -------- -------- --------
Net income (loss) $(2,502) $1,837 $(4,086) $8,122
======== ======== ======== ========
Income (loss) per common
share:
Basic $(0.04) $0.03 $(0.06) $0.12
Diluted $(0.04) $0.03 $(0.06) $0.11
Average number of common
shares outstanding:
Basic 70,436 69,970 70,289 70,447
Diluted 70,436 71,001 70,289 71,125
Footnotes:
(1) Accelerated depreciation in the amount of $92,000 and $1.2 million
were recorded on manufacturing equipment in the three and nine
months periods, respectively.
(2) The Company recorded a $3.3 million gain relating to a vendor
settlement and $600,000 in associated expenses for a net gain of
$2.7 million.
(3) The Company recorded $521,000 and $1.6 million of consulting costs
related to the implementation of the outsourcing strategy in the
three and nine months periods, respectively.
(4) Reorganization costs are for severance and related costs resulting
from the outsourcing strategy.
(5) Includes $457,000 in operating expenses related to the investment
and consolidation of Contineo Systems.
Westell Technologies, Inc.
Financial Results (continued)
(Dollars in thousands)
December 31, March 31,
2007 2007
------------ ------------
Cash and short term investments 70,017 72,167
Accounts receivable 16,956 25,700
Inventory 23,115 18,604
Total current assets 121,198 124,585
Goodwill and intangibles 19,661 20,383
Total assets 204,136 207,350
Total current liabilities 30,771 36,154
Total liabilities and minority interest 38,370 40,011
Shareholders' equity 165,766 167,339
Days sales outstanding 34 39
Source: Westell Technologies Inc.
Released January 23, 2008