Itron Issues 3Q Results

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Oct 31, 2009 (Close-Up Media via COMTEX) -- ITRI | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Itron, a technology provider to the energy and water industries, reported financial results for the three month period ended September 30.

"As we expected, third quarter results reflect continued softness in the market," said Malcolm Unsworth, president and CEO. "We are still being negatively affected by the economy, foreign currency exchange rates and lower order volumes as our customers await stimulus fund award announcements. On the positive side, we have now shipped more than 400,000 OpenWay units, our AMI deployments are gaining momentum and stimulus awards have been announced. We are confident and excited about the opportunities for growth next year."

In a release dated October 28, the company stated::

- Revenues of $408 million for the third quarter and $1.21 billion for the first nine months of 2009 were 16 percent and 18 percent lower than respective 2008 revenues of $485 million and $1.48 billion.

- Gross margins of 31.7 percent for the third quarter and 32.4 percent for the first nine months of 2009 were lower than 2008 gross margins of 33.6 percent and 34 percent.

- Operating expenses of $120 million for the third quarter and $362 million for the first nine months of 2009 were lower than 2008 third quarter and year-to-date operating expenses of $138 million and $413 million.

- Operating expenses were $7 million for the third quarter and $23 million in the first nine months of 2009 compared with $11 million and $31 million in the respective periods of 2008. The decrease in 2009 is due to reductions in compensation expenses and consulting fees related to financial integration and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance.

- Net interest expense of $20 million in the third quarter and $52 million in the first nine months of 2009 compared with $19 million and $71 million in the same periods of 2008. Amortization of debt placement fees, which is included in net interest expense, of $4.0 million in the third quarter and $6.2 million in the first nine months of 2009 compared with $1.7 million and $7.5 million in the same periods in 2008. Amortization of debt placement fees varies ratably depending on the amount of debt repayments in each period. During the last twelve months, we reduced our debt by approximately $360 million.

- Other expense was $4.5 million in the third quarter and $9.4 million in the first nine months of 2009 compared with $281,000 and $1.9 million in the same periods of 2008. Other expense for both periods in 2009 includes foreign exchange losses caused by fluctuations in exchange rates driven by material purchases and associated product sales in differing currencies. Year-to-date 2009 expense includes legal and advisory fees associated with an amendment to our senior debt agreement which was completed in the second quarter.

- We had a tax benefit of $15.1 million in the third quarter and $37.5 million in the first nine months of 2009 compared with a tax expense of $377,000 in the third quarter and a tax benefit of $1.3 million in the first nine months of 2008. The 2009 tax benefits are primarily due to pre-tax losses, the benefit for claiming foreign taxes as credits rather than deductions and expected lower income in higher tax jurisdictions.

- Our GAAP net loss and diluted EPS for the third quarter and first nine months of 2009 was $3.0 million, or 7 cents per share, and $7.4 million, or 19 cents per share. This compares with net income of $5.6 million, or 15 cents per share and $17.6 million, or 50 cents per share, in the same periods in 2008. The net loss in 2009 was due to lower revenue, contraction of gross margins and foreign exchange losses.

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