[WESTELL LOGO] Westell News Release News Release: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For Additional Information, contact: SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT & CFO: TRADE/BUSINESS PRESS: NICHOLAS C. HINDMAN, SR. KEN TRANTOWSKI WESTELL TECHNOLOGIES INC. KGT COMMUNICATIONS GROUP 630.375.4136 630.469.8765 NHIND@WESTELL.COM kennethg_trantowski@msn.com --------------------------- WESTELL TECHNOLOGIES REPORTS 4TH QUARTER AND FISCAL 2005 RESULTS AURORA, IL, MAY 12, 2005 - -Westell Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: WSTL), a leading provider of broadband access solutions and conferencing services, today announced the results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year 2005, ending March 31, 2005. Total revenues for the quarter increased 26% to $78.2 million from $62.1 million in the fourth quarter of last fiscal year. Total revenues for fiscal year 2005 increased 15% to $ 270.3 million from $235.7 million for fiscal 2004. Van Cullens, Westell's President and CEO, commented, " Revenues for the quarter exceeded our expectations primarily due to the successful net subscriber adds our customers achieved through their strong promotional activity. While we continue to expect a healthy order flow from our customers, we do anticipate orders to return to more normalized levels going forward." Westell reported net income for the fourth quarter of $28.4 million, or $0.40 per diluted share, which includes a net tax benefit of $20.1 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, from the release of deferred tax valuation allowance. During the same period last year, the Company recorded net income of $19.6 million, or $0.28 per diluted share including a tax benefit of $12.9 million. Net income for the year was $39.7 million, or $0.56 per diluted share, including the net tax benefit of $12.8 million, compared to net income of $34.9 million or $0.49 per diluted in the prior fiscal year including the tax benefit of $12.9 million. Excluding the tax benefit, non-GAAP net income in the fourth quarter increased 26% to $ 8.3 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, compared to $6.5 million, or $0.09 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of last year. Non-GAAP net income, excluding the tax benefit for the year was $26.9 million, or $0.38 per diluted share, compared with $21.8 million, or $0.31 per diluted share for last year. A reconciliation of non-GAAP results to GAAP results is provided as part of this press release. "We accomplished our Fiscal 2005 goals of growth in revenue, increased profitability and product diversification," Cullens said. "We also introduced a number of new products including VersaLink(TM), our wireless gateway platform, which has become the most successful product launch in Company history." "Westell generated cash from operating activities of over $20 million for the fiscal year," said Nicholas Hindman, Westell Senior Vice President and CFO. "Our balance sheet significantly improved and our near debt-free position provides us great flexibility to take advantage of any strategic partnering opportunities should they arise." OUTLOOK - ------- "In Fiscal 2006 we expect to see significant market activity in the areas of VoIP, video applications, home networking and wireline-wireless convergence", Cullens continued. "We believe that our VersaLink(TM), UltraLine(TM) and TriLink(TM) product families are well positioned to help our customers meet such demands in an effective and timely manner. We also anticipate Verizon One(TM), and derivative products, to enter the market in a meaningful way over the next few quarters," Cullens concluded. Westell provided guidance for the first fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2005. The Company expects revenue to be in a range of $73 to $76 million. Westell expects non-GAAP net income per diluted share in a range of $0.10 to $0.12 (excluding a provision for income tax expense in a range of $2.7 million to $3.3 million) and net income per diluted share in a range of $0.06 to $0.07 on a GAAP basis including the provision for tax expense. RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP TO GAAP RESULTS AND GAAP OUTLOOK - ----------------------------------------------------------- The Company provides non-GAAP operating results as a supplement to its GAAP financial results. The Company's non-GAAP results exclude the income benefit from the release of valuation allowance from the Company's statements of operations. The Company believes its non-GAAP operating results provide help in understanding its operating performance. A detailed calculation of non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP net income per share is included in the attached statement of operations, which also includes equivalent GAAP net income and GAAP net income per share. CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION - --------------------------- Westell will host its earnings call on Friday May 13th, at 9:30AM Eastern Time for analysts, shareholders, investors, and the public. The live earnings call will be available to the public. Participants can join for the voice portion of the call by following the instructions below. Participants must separately register for the call. To participate in the voice portion: 1. All participants must pre-register by dialing 1-888-690-4420 International 1-402-220-3749. 2. Leave your name and the company whom you represent. 3. To participate in the call on the 13th, please dial ConferencePlus at 1-800-446-1671 no later than 9:15 AM, Eastern Time and ask for the "Westell Technologies Analyst Call". International participants may dial 847-413-3362. The Company's earnings press release and any related earnings information to be discussed on the earnings call will be posted on the Investor Relations section of the Company's web site at http://www.westell.com. Digital Audio Replay of this call will be available one hour following the conclusion of the call by dialing 1-888-843-8996 or 630-652-3044 and entering 11575841#. ABOUT WESTELL - ------------- Westell Technologies, Inc., headquartered in Aurora, Illinois, is a holding company for Westell, Inc. and ConferencePlus, Inc. Westell, Inc. manufactures 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 - News) 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 including, without limitation, statements containing the words "believe," "on track, " "anticipate," "focus," "should," "committed" "expect," "estimate", "await," "continue," "intend," "may," "will," "should," and similar expressions are forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These risks include, but are not limited to, product demand and market acceptance risks, need for financing, the economic downturn in the U.S. economy and telecom market, the impact of competitive products or technologies, competitive pricing pressures, product development, excess and obsolete inventory due to new product development, 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 Westell's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2004 under the section "Risk Factors". Westell undertakes no obligation to release publicly the result of any revisions to these forward looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Financial Tables to Follow: WESTELL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. FINANCIAL RESULTS (CONTINUED) (Dollars in thousands) MAR. 31, DEC. 31, 2005 2004 --------- --------- Cash and Short term Investments 26,960 21,659 Receivables 30,167 28,477 Inventory 26,419 28,083 Total current assets 91,492 85,380 Goodwill and intangibles 13,883 13,930 Total assets 180,090 148,461 Total current liabilities 35,812 39,130 Total liabilities and minority 40,432 43,107 interest Shareholders' Equity 139,657 105,354 Days Sales Outstanding 35 34