Elster Reports 2012 First Quarter Results

ESSEN, Germany, May 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Elster Group SE (NYSE: ELT) today announced results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012. First quarter 2012 highlights include:

• Revenues $446.7 million, up 0.6 percent year-over-year (up 3.3 percent on a constant currency basis[1])
• Adjusted EBITDA[2] $63.1 million, adjusted EBITDA margin[2] 14.1 percent
• Non-GAAP earnings per ADS $0.24[3]
• Cash flows from operating activities $50.1 million, free cash flow[4] $36.8 million
• Order intake $589.0 million during 1Q 2012, up 15.3 percent year-over-year
• Order backlog $623.9 million, up 19.4 percent year-over-year
• Contracted future revenues[5] $1.12 billion, up 6.3 percent year-over-year

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"The first quarter of 2012 was another pleasing quarter for Elster with the operational growth we anticipated at the Group level, continued high-margin contributions from our gas business, electricity results in-line with our expectations and a nice revenue bounce-back with substantially improved profitability in water," said Simon Beresford-Wylie, chief executive officer of Elster.

"Our significant increase in backlog and continued momentum in the EU and in new growth markets, including Brazil, reinforce the confidence we have in our overall expectations for Elster's business in 2012," Beresford-Wylie added.

Elster's first quarter 2012 (1Q 2012) revenues were $446.7 million, up $2.8 million, or 0.6 percent, over the first quarter 2011 (1Q 2011), and up 3.3 percent on a constant currency basis. Growth in our water and gas segments outweighed weaker performance in the electricity segment.

Elster recorded adjusted EBITDA of $63.1 million in 1Q 2012, up 1.4 percent compared to 1Q 2011. Adjusted EBITDA margin of 14.1 percent was in line with prior year results. 1Q 2012 non-GAAP net income attributable to Elster Group SE[3] was $27.1 million, or $0.24 per ADS compared to $29.0 million, or $0.26 per ADS, in 1Q 2011. The decrease is impacted by the level of unrealized gains on interest rate swap agreements of $6.4 million in 1Q 2011 compared to unrealized gains of $1.4 million in 1Q 2012.

1Q 2012 gross margin, net of charges related to the reinvestment program (see Operational Excellence Program Update below for details), was 32.4 percent compared to 33.0 percent in 1Q 2011. The decrease was attributable to less favorable product mix in our gas segment and to reduced volumes in our electricity segment.

Total operating expenses, net of charges related to the reinvestment program, decreased by $2.2 million, or 2.1 percent, to $103.6 million in 1Q 2012, down from $105.8 million in 1Q 2011. The decrease was driven by a reduction in both general and administrative expenses and research and development investment.

Elster Segment Results

Gas

Gas revenues in 1Q 2012 of $258.5 million reflect a 1.1 percent increase versus 1Q 2011. On a constant currency basis, revenues increased by 4.0 percent. Segment profit of $63.3 million was 2.3 percent lower compared to 1Q 2011 as segment profit margin[6] decreased to 24.5 percent from 25.3 percent year-over-year.

The increase in gas segment revenues was driven by improved demand across the commercial, industrial and residential sectors for the gas utilization product portfolio and solid metering demand across geographies. Both North America and international metering markets contributed to the growth on a constant currency basis. The segment profit decrease mainly was attributable to product mix and currency effects.

Electricity

1Q 2012 electricity revenues were $95.9 million, a decrease of 3.5 percent versus 1Q 2011. On a constant currency basis, revenues declined by $1.4 million, or 1.3 percent. Segment profit of $2.3 million declined 37.8 percent compared to 1Q 2011. Segment profit margin declined to 2.4 percent from 3.7 percent year-over-year.

Solid Latin America and Middle East and North Africa performance was offset by slight decreases in Oceania and Europe. North America produced flat results compared to 1Q 2011, as several small- and mid-sized projects, which began in late 2011 and early 2012, have not yet generated significant revenues. 1Q 2012 electricity profitability primarily was impacted by lower sales volume.

Water

Water revenues in 1Q 2012 of $97.8 million reflect a 1.5 percent increase versus 1Q 2011. On a constant currency basis, water revenues grew by 4.1 percent. Water segment profit of $8.4 million increased by 16.7 percent compared to 1Q 2011. Water segment profit margin increased to 8.6 percent from 7.5 percent year-over-year.

The increase in water segment revenues was attributable to ongoing projects in Oceania, solid Latin American results, and a slight improvement in the North American, Middle Eastern and North African markets. This was offset slightly by weakness in specific Western European markets, as utility investments for residential Smart Meter products slowed. The segment profit increase was attributable to higher revenues, favorable product mix, cost controls, and reduced raw materials pricing pressure.

Operational Excellence Program Update

In 1Q 2012, Elster's Administrative Board authorized a reinvestment program with planned actions that include consolidating operations and sites, mainly in North America and Europe, relocating certain product-lines to other existing Elster operations, increasing the mix of production in low-cost countries and improving the financial performance of our water business. The planned consolidation of operations includes the closure of four major facilities and a reduction in the number of our small- and mid-sized facilities. In addition, the program includes the consolidation of some administrative functions, particularly across finance, procurement and human resources. The program commenced in the first quarter of 2012 and is expected to continue through 2014. As previously announced, Elster estimates the total cost for the program to be in the range of $40 million to $60 million. The majority of the estimated cost is severance charges in the water and gas segments.

A summary of the reinvestment program cost by segment for the three months ended March 31, 2012 is as follows:

The charges for the reinvestment program are recognized in the following captions of the statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2012:

[1] Constant currency rates: Calculated by translating the results from entities that have functional currencies other than U.S. dollars into dollars using the exchange rates of the prior year.

[2] A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, to net income is available at the end of this press release. Adjusted EBITDA margin is consolidated adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of consolidated revenue.

[3] A reconciliation of non-GAAP net income attributable to Elster Group SE to net income is available at the end of this press release.

[4] A reconciliation of free cash flow, a non-GAAP measure, to cash flows from operating activities is available at the end of this press release.

[5] Elster defines contracted future revenues as total order backlog plus additional contract revenues under awarded contracts with an initial value of $500,000 or more. Additional contract revenues represent contracted deliverables for which orders have not yet been placed. Elster cannot predict how many purchase orders ultimately will be placed under these awarded contracts.

[6] Segment profit margin is segment profit as a percentage of segment revenues.

Figures presented in this press release in tabular format may not add up to the total or percentages presented due to rounding.

Conference Call and Webcast

Company management will webcast a conference call at 8:00 a.m. ET on Friday, May 4, 2012 on the company's website. To access the live webcast, please log on to the investors section of the company's website at http://investors.elster.com. Analysts and institutional investors may participate in the conference call by dialing +1-612-332-0342 and using confirmation number 245536.

Webcast and telephone replays of the conference call will be available approximately two hours after the completion of the call through Friday, May 18, 2012. Domestic callers can access the replay by dialing +1-800-475-6701, and international callers can access the replay by dialing +1-320-365-3844 and using confirmation number 245536.

About Elster

Elster (NYSE: ELT) is one of the world's largest electricity, gas and water measurement and control providers. Its offerings include distribution monitoring and control, advanced smart metering, demand response, networking and software solutions, and numerous related communications and services - key components for enabling consumer choice, operational efficiency and conservation. Its products and solutions are widely used by utilities in the traditional and emerging Smart Grid markets.

Elster has one of the most extensive installed revenue measurement bases in the world, with more than 200 million metering devices deployed over the course of the last 10 years. It sells its products and services in more than 130 countries across electricity, gas, water and multi-utility applications for residential, commercial and industrial, and transmission and distribution applications. For more information about Elster, please visit www.elster.com and follow us on Twitter at www.elster.com/twitter. 

Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and therefore readers should not place undue reliance on them. Elster cautions you that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond Elster's control, including those described in the sections "Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" of the Annual Report on Form 20-F dated March 2, 2012 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include: negative worldwide economic conditions and ongoing instability and volatility in the worldwide financial markets, including the effects on Elster's utility customers and prospective customers, which may move more deliberately, delaying or postponing projects, as well as the effects on Elster's ability to raise capital to refinance its indebtedness; growth expectations for Elster's industry; the extent of the revenues Elster derives from sales to the utility industry; the transition to more advanced technology in the industry, including increasing competition from industries Elster previously viewed as distinct from Elster's; Elster's ability to develop new products and technologies and the extent of the revenues Elster derives from Smart Grid technology; possible changes in current and proposed legislation, regulations and governmental policies, including with respect to radio frequency licensing and certification requirements; success in implementing Elster's reinvestment program; the fluctuations of Elster's operating results due to the effect of exchange rates; volatility in the prices for, and availability of, components, raw materials and energy used in Elster's businesses, including as a result of disruptions to the supply chain resulting from the earthquake and tsunami in Japan earlier in 2011 and the flooding in Thailand in fall 2011; Elster's ability to manage its outsourcing arrangements; strategic actions, including acquisitions, joint ventures and dispositions; or other factors.

SOURCE Elster Group SE

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