EX-99.1 2 escopressrelease3feb2011.htm ESCO PRESS RELEASE escopressrelease3feb2011.htm Exhibit 99.1

NEWS FROM                ESCO TECHNOLOGIES
 
 
 For more information contact:      
 Kate Lowrey                   For media inquiries:
 Director, Investor Relations     David P. Garino
ESCO Technologies Inc.
    (314) 982-0551
(314) 213-7277
   
 
                                                                                                                        

ESCO ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER RESULTS


ST. LOUIS, February 3, 2011 – ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE: ESE) today reported its operating results for the first quarter ended December 31, 2010.
 
First Quarter 2011 Highlights
 
·  
Net sales were $160 million, an increase of $47 million, or 42 percent, over Q1 2010 net sales of $113 million;
·  
Utility Solutions Group (USG) net sales were $92 million, an increase of $31 million, or 51 percent over Q1 2010, as Aclara net sales increased $28 million, or 76 percent;
·  
Filtration net sales increased $11 million, or 46 percent over Q1 2010, with Crissair, acquired on July 31, contributing $6 million;
·  
Test net sales increased $5 million, or 19 percent over Q1 2010;
·  
EPS was $0.40 per share, up significantly over Q1 2010 EPS of $0.02 per share;
·  
Net cash provided by operating activities increased to $19 million, compared to $5 million in Q1 2010.
·  
Entered orders were $186 million, an increase of $48 million, or 35 percent, over Q1 2010 entered orders of $138 million, resulting in a book-to-bill ratio of 1.2x and firm order backlog of $387 million at December 31, 2010;
·  
Aclara orders were $77 million, including: $30 million of COOP orders; $23 million of international electric orders (includes $20.5 million from CFE in Mexico); $7 million of PG&E gas AMI orders, bringing total PG&E gas project orders to 4.6 million units worth $258 million; and $4 million of water AMI orders for the City of Toronto;
·  
Test segment orders were $48 million and included: a $7 million order for an anechoic test chamber in South America that will be used to test telecommunications satellites; and a $5 million order in Turkey for a chamber that will be used to identify electro-magnetic interference for a variety of large motorized vehicles.
 
Chairman’s Commentary
 
Vic Richey, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We continue to focus on sales growth and executing our operating plan, and during the first quarter, we again demonstrated our success. I am extremely pleased to announce the best first fiscal quarter operating results in our history.
“First quarter sales increased $47 million over the prior year as all three operating segments showed meaningful growth. The largest increase was in USG and was driven by Aclara’s strong COOP deliveries and higher international sales.
“EBIT increased more than $14 million in the first quarter, reflecting exceptional operating performance across the company, which in turn drove EBIT margins higher in all three segments.
“Coming off our record level of entered orders in fiscal 2010, the $186 million in orders we received in Q1 to start the year in such a strong fashion is quite satisfying. The increase in our backlog was driven by the significant orders received in Test and USG, both domestically and internationally.
“I’m extremely satisfied with our start for fiscal 2011 as we exceeded our internal operating goals. Our Utility Solutions Group continues its solid performance, and our ongoing investments in new products and advanced technologies continue to solidify our market position in the fast-growing Smart Grid area. As I’ve noted before, we are fully committed to expanding our product offering and related solutions and being recognized as a leading provider of next generation technologies for the Smart Grid.”
 
Business Outlook
 
Statements contained in the preceding and following paragraphs are based on current expectations. Statements that are not strictly historical are considered forward-looking, and actual results may differ materially.
 
Dividend Payment
 
The next quarterly cash dividend of $0.08 per share will be paid on April 20 to stockholders of record on April 6.
 
Fiscal Year 2011
 
Consistent with the Outlook communicated in the November 11, 2010, earnings release, Management’s expectations for fiscal year 2011 include the following assumptions and comparisons with fiscal year 2010:
·  
Sales are expected to increase approximately 10 to 15 percent, in spite of PG&E’s Gas AMI revenues decreasing approximately $30 million in 2011 as the contract winds down;
·  
Incremental investments included in SG&A within the USG segment are expected to be approximately $10 million higher than in 2010. These additional expenditures are related to the development of several new Smart Grid applications, global market expansion initiatives, and pre-deployment costs expected to be incurred in advance of the Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) AMI project;
·  
USG EBIT margins are expected to decrease due to the incremental investments noted above. However, Filtration and Test segment EBIT margins are expected to increase;
·  
EPS is expected to grow approximately 10 to 15 percent in 2011 in spite of the significant incremental investments being made throughout the USG segment;
·  
The 2011 effective tax rate is expected to be approximately 36 percent;
·  
Aclara is expected to sign the definitive agreement for the SoCalGas AMI project during fiscal 2011. Only a small amount of SoCalGas revenue is projected during 2011 as the project is expected to ramp up during the second half of the fiscal year; and
·  
On a quarterly basis, Management expects 2011 revenues and EPS to be second half weighted, but not as severely as during 2010.
 
Chairman’s Commentary – 2011
 
Mr. Richey concluded, “I remain optimistic about our sales and EPS outlook for 2011, as well as our significant growth prospects over the next three years. We have a sizeable amount of specific, identifiable growth opportunities that should manifest themselves into orders and sales over that time frame. The significant amount of remaining 2011 sales expected from current backlog provides reasonable visibility into our near-term sales and profit outlook. On the international growth front, our new business opportunities, including the potential expansion of several current deployments over the next few years, remain very exciting.
    “We expect our long-term growth projections will be led by the largest AMI gas project in North America, supplemented by our international AMI opportunities in Mexico, South America and Asia, and complemented by our expected domestic growth across all three operating segments.
“Our COOP, Gas and Water AMI business opportunities remain very strong, and our market-leading position at Doble should allow us to migrate our domestic success to our targeted international opportunities.
“I remain very optimistic about our current business prospects, including our new product roadmap in USG where we are investing heavily in 2011. I believe this significant investment will pay us back over the next couple of years with meaningful growth opportunities, both domestically and internationally.
“Our commitment remains the same − to achieve our long-term goal of increasing shareholder value.”
 
Annual Meeting Report
 
At today’s annual meeting, shareholders elected three members to its Board of Directors to new terms; L.W. Solley, J.D. Woods, and G.E. Muenster. Each of these members was elected to serve until the Company’s 2014 annual meeting.
Also at the annual meeting, shareholders approved (by non-binding vote) the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as described in the Company’s proxy statement.
In addition, a majority of shares were voted in favor of conducting advisory votes on executive compensation on an annual basis. In accordance with the results of this vote, the Board of Directors determined to implement an annual advisory vote on executive compensation.
Shareholders also ratified the appointment, by the Audit and Finance Committee of the Board, of KPMG LLP as the company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the 2011 fiscal year.

Conference Call
 
The Company will host a conference call today, February 3, at 4 p.m. Central Time, to discuss the Company’s first quarter fiscal 2011 operating results. A live audio webcast will be available on the Company’s web site at www.escotechnologies.com. Please access the web site at least 15 minutes prior to the call to register, download and install any necessary audio software. A replay of the conference call will be available for seven days on the Company’s web site noted above or by phone (dial 1-888-203-1112 and enter the pass code 4089992).
 
Forward-Looking Statements
 
Statements in this press release regarding the amount and timing of the Company’s expected 2011 and beyond revenues, EBIT margins, EPS, sales, incremental investments, pre-deployment costs, the Company’s 2011 effective tax rate, the likelihood, timing and revenue associated with the anticipated SoCalGas AMI contract, growth opportunities in the future, success in capturing international and domestic AMI opportunities, development and success of new products and technologies, the long-term success of the Company, and any other statements which are not strictly historical are “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the federal securities laws. Investors are cautioned that such statements are only predictions and speak only as of the date of this release, and the Company undertakes no duty to update. The Company’s actual results in the future may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties that exist in the Company’s operations and business environment including, but not limited to: the risk factors described in Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2010; the success of negotiations between SoCalGas and the Company; changes in requirements of SoCalGas; SoCalGas’ ability to successfully negotiate appropriate terms and conditions with other subcontractors and project participants; financial constraints impacting SoCalGas; the receipt of necessary regulatory approvals pertaining to the SoCalGas project; the success of the Company’s competitors; changes in Federal or State energy laws; the Company’s successful performance of its AMI contracts; site readiness issues with Test segment customers; weakening of economic conditions in served markets; changes in customer demands or customer insolvencies; competition; intellectual property rights; technical difficulties; unforeseen charges impacting corporate operating expenses; the performance of the Company’s international operations; material changes in the costs and availability of certain raw materials including steel and copper; worldwide availability of electronic components; delivery delays or defaults by customers; termination for convenience of customer contracts; timing and magnitude of future contract awards; containment of engineering and development costs; performance issues with key customers, suppliers and subcontractors; labor disputes; changes in laws and regulations including but not limited to changes in accounting standards and taxation requirements; costs relating to environmental matters; uncertainty of disputes in litigation or arbitration; and the Company’s successful execution of internal operating plans.
ESCO, headquartered in St. Louis, is a proven supplier of special purpose utility solutions for electric, gas, and water utilities, including hardware and software to support advanced metering applications and fully automated intelligent instrumentation. In addition, the Company provides engineered filtration products to the aviation, space, and process markets worldwide and is the industry leader in RF shielding and EMC test products. Further information regarding ESCO and its subsidiaries is available on the Company’s web site at www.escotechnologies.com.

- tables attached -




 
 

 


ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
             
   
Three Months
Ended
December 31, 2010
   
Three Months
Ended
December 31, 2009
 
             
Net Sales
  $ 159,936       112,705  
Cost and Expenses:
               
Cost of sales
    97,483       67,436  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    43,645       39,208  
Amortization of intangible assets
    2,853       2,884  
Interest expense
    774       1,482  
Other (income) expenses, net
    (618 )     1,023  
Total costs and expenses
    144,137       112,033  
                 
Earnings before income taxes
    15,799       672  
Income taxes
    4,986       236  
                 
Net earnings
  $ 10,813       436  
                 
Earnings per share:
               
Basic
               
Net earnings
  $ 0.41       0.02  
                 
Diluted
               
Net earnings
  $ 0.40       0.02  
                 
Average common shares O/S:
               
Basic
    26,540       26,423  
Diluted
    26,816       26,709  

 
 

 



ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Business Segment Information
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)
       
             
   
Three Months Ended
December 31,
       
   
2010
         
2009
       
                         
Net Sales
                       
Utility Solutions Group
  $ 92,189             61,224        
Test
    32,004             26,986        
Filtration
    35,743             24,495        
Totals
  $ 159,936             112,705        
                             
EBIT
                           
Utility Solutions Group
  $ 15,355             4,570        
Test
    1,909             700        
Filtration
    5,475             2,358        
Corporate
    (6,166 )  (1)           (5,474 )  (2)      
Consolidated EBIT
    16,573               2,154          
Less: Interest expense
    (774 )             (1,482 )        
Earnings before income taxes
  $ 15,799               672          
                                 

Note:Depreciation and amortization expense was $5.5 million and $5.6 million for the quarters ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
 
(1)  Includes $1.1 million of amortization of acquired intangible assets.
(2)  Includes $1.2 million of amortization of acquired intangible assets.

 
 

 




ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)
 
             
   
December 31, 2010
   
September 30, 2010
 
             
Assets
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 29,848       26,508  
Accounts receivable, net
    131,664       141,098  
Costs and estimated earnings on long-term
   contracts
     8,070        12,743  
Inventories
    88,382       83,034  
Current portion of deferred tax assets
    15,655       15,809  
Other current assets
    12,482       17,169  
Total current assets
    286,101       296,361  
                 
Property, plant and equipment, net
    72,457       72,563  
Goodwill
    355,717       355,656  
Intangible assets, net
    229,402       229,736  
Other assets
    18,943       19,975  
    $ 962,620       974,291  
                 
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
               
Short-term borrowings and current maturities
   of long-term debt
  $  51,533        50,000  
Accounts payable
    39,406       59,088  
Current portion of deferred revenue
    26,758       21,907  
Other current liabilities
    60,637       55,985  
Total current liabilities
    178,334       186,980  
Deferred tax liabilities
    79,900       79,388  
Other liabilities
    45,280       47,941  
Long-term debt
    94,000       104,000  
Shareholders’ equity
    565,106       555,982  
    $ 962,620       974,291  

 
 

 



ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)
 
       
   
Three Months Ended
December 31, 2010
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
     
Net earnings
  $ 10,813  
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash
  provided by operating activities:
       
Depreciation and amortization
    5,537  
Stock compensation expense
    1,232  
Changes in current assets and liabilities
    (1,262 )
Effect of deferred taxes
    666  
Change in deferred revenue and costs, net
    4,427  
Pension contributions
    (3,400 )
Other
    1,127  
Net cash provided by operating activities
    19,140  
         
Cash flows from investing activities:
       
Additions to capitalized software
    (2,668 )
Capital expenditures
    (2,661 )
Net cash used by investing activities
    (5,329 )
         
Cash flows from financing activities:
       
Proceeds from long-term debt
    9,533  
Principal payments on long-term debt
    (18,000 )
Dividends paid
    (2,122 )
Other
    462  
Net cash used by financing activities
    (10,127 )
         
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
    (344 )
         
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
    3,340  
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
    26,508  
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
  $ 29,848  




 
 

 


ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Other Selected Financial Data
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)
 
                         
 
Backlog And Entered Orders – Q1 FY 2011
 
Utility Solutions
   
Test
   
Filtration
   
Total
 
Beginning Backlog – 10/1/10
  $ 153,478       74,333       132,835       360,646  
Entered Orders
    101,987       48,388       35,435       185,810  
Sales
    (92,189 )     (32,004 )     (35,743 )     (159,936 )
Ending Backlog – 12/31/10
  $ 163,276       90,717       132,527       386,520  




 

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