Elster Reports First Quarter 2011 Results

ESSEN, Germany, May 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Elster Group SE (NYSE: ELT) today announced results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2011. First quarter 2011 highlights include:

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• First quarter revenues of $443.9 million, up 11.5 percent year-over-year (up 11.0 percent on a constant currency basis(1))
• First quarter adjusted EBITDA(2) of $62.2 million, adjusted EBITDA margin(2) of 14.0 percent
• First quarter GAAP earnings per ADS of $0.21
• Contracted future revenues(3) of more than $1,050 million at March 31, 2011

"The steady growth we saw in the first quarter across our segments, and the sequential and year-over-year growth in Elster's contracted future revenues highlights the broad-based demand we are seeing for our metering products and Smart Grid solutions and positions the company very well to take advantage of the numerous potential growth opportunities in our sector," said Simon Beresford-Wylie, chief executive officer of Elster.

Elster's first quarter 2011 (1Q 2011) revenues were $443.9 million, up $45.7 million, or 11.5 percent, over the first quarter 2010 (1Q 2010), and up 11.0 percent on a constant currency basis. Strong gas segment performance was supported by solid growth in the electricity and water segments.

Elster recorded adjusted EBITDA of $62.2 million in 1Q 2011, up 8.2 percent compared to 1Q 2010. 1Q 2011 GAAP net income attributable to Elster Group SE was $23.9 million, or $0.21 per ADS. Non-GAAP net income(4), which excludes the amortization of purchase price allocation (PPA) after income taxes, was $30.0 million in 1Q 2011. This compares with $5.2 million in 1Q 2010.

Gross margin for 1Q 2011 was 33.0 percent compared to 29.4 percent in 1Q 2010. A more favorable overall product and geographic sales mix contributed to the increase in gross margin. Additionally, 1Q 2010 was negatively affected by an inventory write-down related to the termination of business with a distributor in the electricity segment.

Total operating expenses increased by $10.5 million, or 11.0 percent to $105.8 million in 1Q 2011, up from $95.3 million in 1Q 2010. Higher sales volumes and rising investment in marketing, particularly for Elster's Smart Offerings(5), accounted for the increase in selling expenses. Elster's continuous investment in Smart Offerings also drove the increased year-over-year research and development expenses. The increase in general and administrative expenses resulted mainly from the now fully established new corporate structure as a public company, which was only at a nascent stage last year.

Elster Segment Results

Gas

Gas revenues in 1Q 2011 of $255.7 million reflect a 17.2 percent increase versus 1Q 2010, and segment profit of $64.8 million grew 25.1 percent compared to 1Q 2010. 1Q 2011 segment profit margin(6) increased from 23.7 percent to 25.3 percent year-over-year.

Gas segment revenue and profitability in 1Q 2011 reflects an improved global economic environment and buoyant markets. Revenues were significantly higher in most major markets, highlighted by particular strength in Western Europe and, to a lesser extent, North America. Continued strong performance from the gas utilization product portfolio also contributed to the results. Favorable overall product mix drove improved gas segment profit in spite of increased research and development investments in new products.

Electricity

Electricity revenues in 1Q 2011 of $99.4 million reflect an increase of 9.7 percent versus 1Q 2010. Segment profit of $3.7 million declined 40.3 percent compared to 1Q 2010. 1Q 2011 segment profit margin declined from 6.8 percent to 3.7 percent year-over-year.

1Q 2011 electricity segment revenues reflect strong growth in markets across Europe, which offset modest weakness in North America. Electricity segment profitability was impacted primarily by the continued investment in the Smart Offerings-focused sales force and by continued investment in new products, particularly in Europe and North America.

Water

Water revenues in 1Q 2011 of $96.4 million reflect a 2.6 percent increase versus 1Q 2010, and water segment profit of $7.2 million declined 15.3 percent compared to 1Q 2010. 1Q 2010 water segment profit margin declined from 9.0 percent to 7.5 percent year-over-year.

1Q 2011 water segment revenues were driven by considerable growth in Western Europe and Oceania, which were offset by weaker revenues in selected North America markets. Product and geographic mix impacted 1Q 2011 water segment profitability, as Elster also continued to invest in the development of new products.

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. 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.
4. A reconciliation of Non-GAAP net income to GAAP net income is available at the end of this press release.
5. Elster defines Smart Offerings as automated meter reading, or AMR, advanced metering infrastructure, or AMI, and Smart Grid solutions and individual products, components and services for use therein.
6. Segment profit margin is segment profit as a percentage of segment revenues.

Conference Call and Webcast

Company management will webcast a conference call at 8:00 a.m. ET on Friday, May 6, 2011 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 +1-612-234-9960 and using confirmation number 201986.

Webcast and telephone replays of the conference call will be available approximately two hours after the completion of the call through Friday, May 20, 2011. 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 201986.

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.

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Elster may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Forms 20-F and 6-K, in its offering prospectuses, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by Administrative Board members, managing directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Elster's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements and include generally any information that relates to expectations for revenue or earnings per ADS or other performance measures. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "expects," "intends," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "thinks," "estimates," "seeks," "predicts," "views," "potential" and similar expressions. These statements are based on current plans, estimates, assumptions and projections, and therefore readers should not place undue reliance on them. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Elster undertakes no obligation to publicly update any of them in light of new information or future events.

Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Elster cautions you that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained 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 10, 2011 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; instability and volatility in the worldwide financial markets; 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; 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 recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan; Elster's ability to raise capital to refinance its indebtedness; Elster's ability to manage its outsourcing arrangements; or other factors.

SOURCE Elster Group SE

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