Westell Technologies Reports $2.7 Million Profit for the Fiscal Fourth Quarter and $10.3 Million Profit for Fiscal Year 2010
Westell Technologies Fiscal 2010 Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2010 Highlights
-- Fiscal fourth quarter and full year consolidated revenue of $37.8
million and $181.5 million, compared with $56.0 million and $185.9
million, respectively, in the prior year periods.
-- Fiscal fourth quarter and full year net income of $2.7 million and $10.3
million - improvements of $4.7 million and $26.9 million, respectively,
compared with the prior year periods.
-- Gross margin improved to 37.4% in the quarter and 31.8% in the year,
compared with 22.9% in the prior-year quarter and 27.5% in the prior
year.
-- Cash and cash equivalents increased by $3.2 million during the quarter
and $15.3 million during the year, to $61.3 million.
AURORA, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Westell Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: WSTL), a leading provider of broadband products, outside plant telecommunications equipment and conferencing services, today announced results for its fiscal fourth quarter and year ended March 31, 2010. Total revenue for the quarter was $37.8 million, down 32% from $56.0 million in the fiscal fourth quarter of the prior year. Net income during the quarter was $2.7 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $1.9 million, or a loss of $0.03 per diluted share, in the same quarter of the prior year.
Total revenue for the 2010 fiscal year was $181.5 million, down 2% from $185.9 million in the prior year. Net income during the year was $10.3 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $16.6 million, or a loss of $0.24 per diluted share, in the prior year. Total cash and cash equivalents were $61.3 million at March 31, 2010, up $15.3 million during the year. Share repurchases during the fiscal year totaled approximately 1.25 million shares at a cost of $1.4 million.
"We are very proud of the dramatic turnaround in our results for the year," said Chairman and CEO Rick Gilbert. "Westell has now delivered solid, steady profitability and cash flow for four consecutive quarters during a very difficult economic environment. Looking forward, our objective is to maintain our profit momentum while investing selectively in growth opportunities."
Fiscal Fourth Quarter Segment and Consolidated Results
The Customer Networking Solutions (CNS) segment reported revenue of $14.1 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010, down 54% compared to $30.9 million in the same quarter of the prior year, reflecting soft marketplace demand, customer inventory rebalancing, and market share impacts. The largest impact on revenue came from lower sales of the Company's UltraLine Series3 gateway product, which were $0.5 million in the quarter, compared with $14.6 million in the same quarter of the prior year. In spite of the significantly lower revenue, CNS gross profit increased by $0.1 million, and operating expenses dropped by $2.3 million, compared with the prior-year quarter. As a result, the CNS operating loss declined to $1.7 million for the quarter, an improvement of $2.4 million compared with the same quarter in the prior year.
Revenue in the OSPlant Systems (OSP) segment was $13.3 million in the quarter, down 8% compared to $14.4 million in the same quarter of the prior year, also reflecting soft demand and customer inventory rebalancing. Gross profit increased $0.5 million as a result of a more profitable product mix, and operating expenses declined $0.6 million, to produce operating income for OSP of $3.5 million, up $1.1 million versus the prior-year quarter.
ConferencePlus (CP) revenue was $10.4 million in the quarter, down 2% compared to $10.6 million in the same quarter of the prior year. Gross profit increased by $0.7 million and operating expenses were $0.6 million lower, resulting in operating income of $1.6 million, up $1.3 million versus the prior-year quarter.
On a consolidated basis, revenue was $18.2 million lower for the 2010 fiscal fourth quarter than in the prior-year quarter. However, gross profit increased $1.3 million, compared with the prior-year quarter, based on higher gross margins in all three segments. Consolidated gross margins were 37.4%, compared with 22.9% in the same quarter of the prior year. Operating expenses declined $3.7 million, compared with the prior year's quarter. The higher gross profit and lower expenses drove a $4.7 million improvement in net income compared with the prior year's quarter.
Fiscal Year 2010 Segment and Consolidated Results
The CNS segment reported revenue of $87.2 million in fiscal year 2010, up 4% compared to $84.2 million in fiscal year 2009. Gross profit increased $6.2 million for the year, while operating expenses were cut by $10.4 million, producing an operating loss of $4.1 million - a net improvement of $16.6 million for the year.
Revenue in the OSP segment was $52.5 million in fiscal year 2010, down 7% compared to $56.5 million in fiscal year 2009. Gross profit was $0.2 million higher, and operating expenses were $4.1 million lower, raising operating profit by $4.4 million, to $13.1 million for the year.
ConferencePlus revenue was $41.7 million in fiscal year 2010, down 8% compared to $45.2 million in fiscal year 2009. Gross profit of $20.3 million was essentially unchanged between periods, and reduced operating expenses drove a $3.8 million improvement in operating income, to $4.5 million for the year.
On a consolidated basis, annual revenue was lower by $4.4 million, or 2%, compared with fiscal year 2009. Gross profit for the year increased $6.5 million, compared to fiscal year 2009, as a result of improved gross margins in all segments. Margins generally benefited from shifts towards higher margin products as well as lower product and service costs. Operating expenses improved by $20.1 million for the year, reflecting significantly lower personnel-related expenses, following restructuring actions, together with tight controls on spending. These were the main contributors to a dramatic $26.9 million improvement in net income for the year, to $10.3 million, compared with a net loss of $16.6 million in the prior year.
Conference Call Information
Management will address financial and business results during Westell's fourth quarter fiscal 2010 earnings conference call on Wednesday, May 19, at 9:30 AM Eastern Time. Conference Plus, Inc. (ConferencePlus(TM)), a Westell subsidiary, will manage Westell's earnings conference call 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 call on May 19, 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 May 19, by dialing ConferencePlus at 1-888-206-4065 no later than 9:15 AM, Eastern Time and using confirmation number 26929334. International participants may dial 1-630-827-5974. 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 first 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 7703344.
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, economic weakness in the United States economy and telecommunications market, the impact of competitive products or technologies, competitive pricing pressures, product cost increases, 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, 2009 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 Twelve Months ended March 31,
March 31,
2010 2009 2010 2009
Revenue $ 37,823 $ 55,983 $ 181,485 $ 185,916
Gross profit 14,139 12,845 (1) 57,689 51,174 (1)
Gross margin 37.4 % 22.9 % 31.8 % 27.5 %
Operating
expenses:
Sales & 4,595 5,862 17,987 24,153
marketing
Research & 3,329 4,564 13,608 19,854
development
General & 3,398 4,264 15,095 (2) 20,036
administrative
Restructuring - - 609 (3) 752 (4)
Intangibles 163 479 641 1,882
amortization
Goodwill - - - 1,381 (5)
impairment
Total
operating 11,485 15,169 47,940 68,058
expenses
Operating income 2,654 (2,324 ) (7) 9,749 (16,884 ) (6)
(loss)
Other income (42 ) 40 25 662
(expense)
Interest (expense) (1 ) (11 ) (5 ) (15 )
Income (loss)
before minority 2,611 (2,295 ) 9,769 (16,237 )
interest and taxes
Income taxes 115 (59 ) 558 (7) (77 )
Minority interest - - - (74 )
Income (loss) from
continuing 2,726 (2,354 ) 10,327 (16,388 )
operations
Income (loss) from
discontinued - 412 - (206 )
operations net of
tax (8)
Net income (loss) $ 2,726 $ (1,942 ) $ 10,327 $ (16,594 )
Net income (loss)
per common share:
Basic $ 0.04 $ (0.03 ) $ 0.15 $ (0.24 )
Diluted $ 0.04 $ (0.03 ) $ 0.15 $ (0.24 )
Average number of
common shares
outstanding:
Basic 67,308 68,492 67,987 69,740
Diluted 67,963 68,492 68,573 69,740
(1) Includes a $700,000 loss contingency for a contractual dispute in the three
and twelve month periods ended March 31, 2009.
Includes a non-cash charge of $730,000 to correct errors in stock-based
(2) compensation expense related to prior fiscal years recorded in the quarter
ended December 31, 2009.
The Company terminated approximately 50 employees primarily in the Customer
(3) Networking Solutions (CNS) and ConferencePlus (CP) segments as a cost
reduction action in the first quarter of fiscal 2010.
(4) Restructuring costs are for severance and related costs resulting from the
actions taken to align costs in all segments of the Company.
(5) Impairment of goodwill related to the January 2007 acquisition of NoranTel,
Inc. which is part of the Outside Plant Systems (OSP) operating segment.
Includes a non-cash charge of $925,000 for a correction in the Company's
(6) lease accounting policy from prior years of which $148,000 impacted cost of
goods sold and $777,000 impacted operating expenses in the three and twelve
month periods ended March 31, 2009.
(7) The Company recorded a $767,000 income tax benefit derived from a refund of
alternative minimum tax credits in the quarter ended December 31, 2009.
(8) The Company discontinued the operations of its Westell Limited entity
located in the United Kingdom in the first quarter of fiscal 2009.
Westell Technologies, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
(Dollars in thousands)
(unaudited)
March 31, March 31,
2010 2009
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 61,315 $ 46,058
Accounts receivable, net 17,683 20,827
Inventories 21,258 20,178
Prepaids and other current assets 4,276 7,487
Total current assets 104,532 94,550
Property and equipment, net 4,665 6,895
Goodwill 2,162 2,009
Intangibles, net 4,063 4,333
Deferred income taxes and other assets 6,412 7,777
Total assets $ 121,834 $ 115,564
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:
Accounts payable $ 15,195 $ 17,883
Accrued liabilities 9,203 9,489
Deferred revenue 860 2,119
Total current liabilities 25,258 29,491
Deferred revenue, long-term 174 546
Other long-term liabilities 8,671 9,079
Total liabilities 34,103 39,116
Total stockholders' equity 87,731 76,448
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 121,834 $ 115,564
Westell Technologies, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
Twelve Months ended March 31,
2010 2009
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss) $ 10,327 $ (16,594 )
Reconciliation of net income (loss) to net cash
provided
by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 3,793 5,821
Goodwill and intangible impairment - 1,381
Stock-based compensation 1,529 2,192
Restructuring 609 966
Deferred taxes (200 ) -
Other, net (141 ) 245
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable 3,349 (1,780 )
Inventory (812 ) (2,587 )
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (3,582 ) (1,452 )
Deferred revenue and deferred costs (1,630 ) 2,377
Prepaid and other current assets 3,449 (4,545 )
Other long-term assets 815 (728 )
Net cash provided by (used in) operating 17,506 (14,704 )
activities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment (948 ) (2,381 )
Proceeds from the sale of equipment - 90
Sale of investments - 2,602
Acquisition of minority interest - (3,650 )
Net cash (used in) provided by investing (948 ) (3,339 )
activities
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowing (repayment) of debt (43 ) 121
Proceeds from stock options exercised 4 121
Purchase of treasury stock (1,429 ) (1,634 )
Net cash (used in) provided by financing (1,468 ) (1,392 )
activities
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash 167 (254 )
Net increase (decrease) in cash 15,257 (19,689 )
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 46,058 65,747
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 61,315 $ 46,058
Westell Technologies, Inc.
Segment Statement of Operations
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)
Three months ended March 31, 2010
CNS OSP CP Unallocated Total
Revenue $ 14,110 $ 13,284 $ 10,429 $ - $ 37,823
Gross profit 2,829 6,004 5,306 - 14,139
Gross margin 20.0 % 45.2 % 50.9 % 37.4 %
Operating expenses:
Sales & 1,579 1,339 1,677 - 4,595
marketing
Research & 2,159 594 576 - 3,329
development
General & 762 466 1,447 723 3,398
administrative
Restructuring - - - - -
Intangibles 1 134 28 - 163
amortization
Goodwill - - - - -
impairment
Operating expenses 4,501 2,533 3,728 723 11,485
(1)
Operating income (1,672 ) 3,471 1,578 (723 ) 2,654
(loss)
Other income (loss) - - - (42 ) (42 )
Interest (expense) - - - (1 ) (1 )
Income taxes - - - 115 115
Net income (loss) $ (1,672 ) $ 3,471 $ 1,578 $ (651 ) $ 2,726
Three months ended March 31, 2009
CNS OSP CP Unallocated Total
Revenue $ 30,941 $ 14,398 $ 10,644 $ - $ 55,983
Gross profit 2,725 5,552 4,568 - 12,845
Gross margin 8.8 % 38.6 % 42.9 % 22.9 %
Operating expenses:
Sales & 2,422 1,437 2,003 - 5,862
marketing
Research & 3,352 665 547 - 4,564
development
General & 1,004 593 1,710 957 4,264
administrative
Restructuring - - - - -
Intangibles - 454 25 - 479
amortization
Goodwill - - - - -
impairment
Operating expenses 6,778 3,149 4,285 957 15,169
(2)
Operating income (4,053 ) 2,403 283 (957 ) (2,324 )
(loss)
Other income (loss) - - - 40 40
Interest (expense) - - - (11 ) (11 )
Income taxes - - - (59 ) (59 )
Minority interest - - - - -
Discontinued - - - 412 412
operations
Net income (loss) $ (4,053 ) $ 2,403 $ 283 $ (575 ) $ (1,942 )
(1) Includes $262,000, $226,000 and $363,000 of depreciation and amortization
expense in the CNS, OSP and CP segments, respectively.
(2) Includes $410,000, $584,000 and $404,000 of depreciation and amortization
expense in the CNS, OSP and CP segments, respectively.
Westell Technologies, Inc.
Segment Statement of Operations
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)
Twelve months ended March 31, 2010
CNS OSP CP Unallocated Total
Revenue $ 87,248 $ 52,516 $ 41,721 - $ 181,485
Gross profit 14,348 23,042 20,299 - 57,689
Gross margin 16.4 % 43.9 % 48.7 % 31.8 %
Operating expenses:
Sales & 5,772 4,998 7,217 - 17,987
marketing
Research & 9,024 2,339 2,245 - 13,608
development
General & 3,244 1,998 6,075 3,778 15,095
administrative
Restructuring 414 46 149 - 609
Intangibles 1 528 112 - 641
amortization
Goodwill - - - - -
impairment
Operating expenses 18,455 9,909 15,798 3,778 47,940
(1)
Operating income (4,107 ) 13,133 4,501 (3,778 ) 9,749
(loss)
Other income (loss) - - - 25 25
Interest (expense) - - - (5 ) (5 )
Income taxes - - - 558 558
Net income (loss) $ (4,107 ) $ 13,133 $ 4,501 $ (3,200 ) $ 10,327
Twelve months ended March 31, 2009
CNS OSP CP Unallocated Total
Revenue $ 84,207 $ 56,506 $ 45,203 $ - $ 185,916
Gross profit 8,142 22,808 20,224 - 51,174
Gross margin 9.7 % 40.4 % 44.7 % 27.5 %
Operating expenses:
Sales & 9,464 5,468 9,221 - 24,153
marketing
Research & 15,029 2,604 2,221 - 19,854
development
General & 3,977 2,558 7,885 5,616 20,036
administrative
Restructuring 363 220 169 - 752
Intangibles - 1,823 59 - 1,882
amortization
Goodwill - 1,381 - - 1,381
impairment
Operating expenses 28,833 14,054 (3) 19,555 5,616 68,058
(2)
Operating income (20,691 ) 8,754 669 (5,616 ) (16,884 )
(loss)
Other income (loss) - - - 662 662
Interest (expense) - - - (15 ) (15 )
Income taxes - - - (77 ) (77 )
Minority interest - - - (74 ) (74 )
Discontinued - - - (206 ) (206 )
operations
Net income (loss) $ (20,691 ) $ 8,754 $ 669 $ (5,326 ) $ (16,594 )
(1) Includes $1.3 million, $1.0 million and $1.5 million of depreciation and
amortization expense in the CNS, OSP and CP segments, respectively.
(2) Includes $1.7 million, $2.4 million and $1.7 million of depreciation and
amortization expense in the CNS, OSP and CP segments, respectively.
(3) Includes $1.4 million of goodwill impairment related to the NoranTel entity.
Source: Westell Technologies, Inc.
Released May 18, 2010