C&D News

C&D Technologies Returns to Profitability - Earnings Per Share $0.02 in First Quarter

BLUE BELL, Pa., June 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- C&D Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: CHP), a leading North American producer and marketer of electrical power storage and conversion systems used in telecommunications, uninterrupted power supply systems, utility and other high reliability applications, today announced financial results for the fiscal 2009 first quarter ended April 30, 2008.

Results for the quarter and all comparative financial data included herein reflects the presentation of the Power Electronics Division ("PED") and Motive Power Division ("Motive") as discontinued operations. With these changes C&D's continuing operations are now solely comprised of results from the Standby Power Division.

For the quarter, the Company reported net income of $577,000 or $0.02 per diluted share, compared to net income of $4.1 million or $0.13 per diluted share in the prior year's first quarter. Results in the prior year's first quarter included a gain of $15.2 million, $10.2 million net of minority interest, on the sale of the Company's former Shanghai, China plant, and a loss from discontinued operations of $5.2 million or $0.11 per diluted share. There was no impact from non-recurring items or discontinued operations in this year's first quarter.

First quarter revenues were $93.8 million, up 21% compared to $77.5 million in the prior year's first quarter. Unit volume was up approximately 4% versus the prior year quarter, with the balance of revenue growth due to pricing. Volume growth continues to be driven by fundamental trends in enterprise data center construction, telecommunications networking and consistent strength in the utility market.

Dr. Jeffrey A. Graves, President and CEO said, "First quarter results indicate the inherent value of our business, which has been obscured over the past two years due to a combination of spiraling raw material costs and losses generated by our former Power Electronics and Motive Power divisions. With the impact of lead costs having been effectively normalized this quarter, and with roll through of cost reductions and elimination of loss making businesses, we have seen the Company return to profitability, in line with our objectives. This is an important milestone in our mission and the entire C&D team is to be commended for their hard work and determination, in making this possible."

In the first quarter the Company's gross profit rose more than 30 percent to $13.7 million, or 15 percent of revenues, up from 8 percent sequentially and from 13 percent in the first quarter of fiscal 2008. This improvement was driven by two factors: (1) the catch up of pricing to lead costs, which had lagged substantially throughout last year as lead prices on the LME rapidly increased; and (2) the benefits from cost reduction programs. General and administrative expenses were up $1.1 million on an absolute basis, but fell to 10.3 percent of revenues from 11.0 percent of revenues in the first quarter of 2008. Interest expense in the first quarter was $2.3 million, compared to $2.2 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2008, largely due to higher levels of borrowings on the company's credit facility in China.

Dr. Graves continued, "Our goal remains to generate $15 million of cost reductions in fiscal 2009 through a combination of sourcing, manufacturing, design, and operational effectiveness initiatives. In the first quarter, we estimate that we achieved approximately $2.5 million toward this goal. Prior to this quarter, our cost reduction efforts were necessary to keep pace with spiraling raw material costs. Now that our underlying operations are profitable, and pricing has caught up with lead costs, we expect to see ongoing cost reduction successes directly enhance our bottom line performance. We remain confident in our ability to deliver the remaining $12.5 million of committed cost savings this year."

Dr. Graves concluded, "While the competitive environment remains challenging, our end markets at this time remain resilient. Moreover, we believe that pricing is generally holding and that we are maintaining share in the markets where we compete, namely telecommunications, uninterrupted power supply systems and the utility markets comprising both power generation and transmission infrastructure. These are the largest markets for Standby Power products and we remain the largest provider to these markets in North America, with a steady, and in many cases, a growing market share. Our strong brand, leading North American market share, loyal customers, low-cost manufacturing platform and reputation for innovation and product quality has enabled us to emerge from a challenging time in the company's history with a strong business model and clear path to enhanced profitability."

Conference call:

C&D management will host a conference call to discuss these financial results on June 6, 2008 at 10 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. Those parties interested in participating in the conference call via telephone should dial 706-679-4521 and enter conference ID number 50496283. A telephone replay of the conference call will begin immediately following the call and will be available through June 20, 2008 at midnight Eastern Daylight Time. To access the rebroadcast, please dial 800-642-1687 (706-645-9291 for international callers) and enter code 50496283. A webcast of the conference call will also be available at http://www.cdtechno.com.

About C&D Technologies:

C&D Technologies, Inc. provides solutions and services for the switchgear and control (utility), telecommunications, and uninterruptible power supply (UPS), as well as emerging markets such as solar power. C&D Technologies engineers, manufactures, sells and services fully integrated reserve power systems for regulating and monitoring power flow and providing backup power in the event of primary power loss until the primary source can be restored. C&D Technologies' unique ability to offer complete systems, designed and produced to high technical standards, sets it apart from its competition. C&D Technologies is headquartered in Blue Bell, PA. For more information about C&D Technologies, visit http://www.cdtechno.com.

Forward-looking Statements:

This press release may contain forward-looking statements (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), which are based on management's current expectations and are subject to uncertainties and changes in circumstances. Words and expressions reflecting something other than historical fact are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. Factors that appear with the forward- looking statements, or in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings (including without limitation the company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2008, or the quarterly and current reports filed on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K thereafter), could cause the company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made herein.


                   C&D TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                   (Dollars in thousands, except par value)
                                 (UNAUDITED)

                                                       Three months ended
                                                            April 30,
                                                       2008           2007

    NET SALES                                        $93,776        $77,479
    COST OF SALES                                     80,084         67,056
    GROSS PROFIT                                      13,692         10,423

    OPERATING EXPENSES:
    Selling, general and administrative expenses       9,655          8,532
    Research and development expenses                  1,691          1,531
    Gain on sale of Shanghai, China plant                  -        (15,162)
    OPERATING INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS        2,346         15,522
    Interest expense, net                              2,266          2,177
    Other (income), net                                 (373)          (631)
    INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE
     INCOME TAXES AND MINORITY INTEREST                  453         13,976
    Income tax provision from continuing operations      134             94
    INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE
     MINORITY INTEREST                                   319         13,882
    Minority interest                                   (258)         4,528
    NET INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS                577          9,354
    LOSS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS BEFORE
     INCOME TAXES                                          -         (3,108)
    Income tax provision from discontinued operations      -          2,116
    LOSS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS                      -         (5,224)
    NET INCOME                                         $ 577         $4,130

    Income per share:
    Basic:
    Net income from continuing operations              $0.02          $0.36
    Net loss from discontinued operations                 $-         $(0.20)
    Net income                                         $0.02          $0.16

    Diluted:
    Net income from continuing operations              $0.02          $0.24
    Net loss from discontinued operations                 $-         $(0.11)
    Net income                                         $0.02          $0.13



                   C&D TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                         CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                   (Dollars in thousands, except par value)
                                 (UNAUDITED)

                                                      April 30,    January 31,
                                                         2008           2008
    ASSETS
    Current assets:
      Cash and cash equivalents                         $6,274        $ 6,536
      Restricted cash                                    1,740          4,383
      Accounts receivable, less allowance for
       doubtful accounts of $1,200 and $1,148           63,523         62,946
      Inventories                                       79,495         85,832
      Prepaid taxes                                        838            800
      Other current assets                                 993            835
      Assets held for sale                                 450            450
        Total current assets                           153,313        161,782

    Property, plant and equipment, net                  80,894         79,782
    Deferred income taxes                                   32             32
    Intangible and other assets, net                    15,841         16,091
    Goodwill                                            59,920         59,870
        TOTAL ASSETS                                 $ 310,000       $317,557

    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
    Current liabilities:
      Short-term debt                                   $5,724        $ 5,568
      Accounts payable                                  41,564         51,382
      Accrued liabilities                               16,191         15,593
      Other current liabilities                          7,712          9,767
        Total current liabilities                       71,191         82,310

    Deferred income taxes                               10,147         10,020
    Long-term debt                                     124,556        124,133
    Other liabilities                                   19,769         20,568
        Total liabilities                              225,663        237,031

    Minority interest                                   11,492         11,418

    Stockholders' equity:
      Common stock, $.01 par value, 75,000,000
       shares authorized; 29,081,110 and
       29,081,110 shares issued, respectively              291            291
      Additional paid-in capital                        75,108         74,995
      Treasury stock, at cost, 3,414,633 and
       3,414,633 shares, respectively                  (47,243)       (47,243)
      Accumulated other comprehensive income           (21,223)       (24,270)
      Retained earnings                                 65,912         65,335
        Total stockholders' equity                      72,845         69,108
        TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS'
         EQUITY                                       $310,000       $317,557



                   C&D TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                   (Dollars in thousands, except par value)
                                 (UNAUDITED)

                                                        Three months ended
                                                             April 30,
                                                        2008           2007
    Cash flows from operating activities:
      Net income                                        $577         $4,130
      Net loss from discontinued operations                -         (5,224)
      Net income from continuing operations              577          9,354
      Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
       cash provided by (used in) operating
       activities:
      Minority interest                                 (258)         4,528
      Share-based compensation                           113            110
      Depreciation and amortization                    3,011          2,864
      Amortization of debt acquisition costs             424            386
      Deferred income taxes                              127          1,351
      Loss (gain) on disposal of assets                    6        (15,203)
      Changes in assets and liabilities:
        Accounts receivable                             (334)        (4,519)
        Inventories                                    6,547           (419)
        Other current assets                            (152)          (306)
        Accounts payable                              (9,164)        (2,451)
        Accrued liabilities                              519            959
        Income taxes payable                             (10)           615
        Other current liabilities                     (1,955)          (339)
        Other liabilities                               (701)         1,663
        Funds provided to discontinued operations          -         (2,216)
        Other long-term assets                           (15)           143
        Other, net                                     1,879         (3,762)
          Net cash provided by (used in) continuing
           operating activities                          614         (7,242)
          Net cash provided by discontinued
           operating activities                            -          1,082
          Net cash provided by (used in)
           operating activities                          614         (6,160)
    Cash flows from investing activities:
      Acquisition of property, plant and equipment    (3,599)        (1,549)
      Proceeds from disposal of property, plant
       and equipment                                       -          1,893
      Decrease in restricted cash                      2,643              -
        Net cash provided by (used in) continuing
         investing activities                           (956)           344
        Net cash provided by discontinued
         investing activities                              -             39
        Net cash provided by (used in) investing
         activities                                     (956)           383
    Cash flows from financing activities:
      Repayment of debt                                  (21)             -
      Proceeds from new borrowings                         -          7,597
      (Decrease) increase in book overdrafts              58           (313)
      Financing cost of long term debt                     -           (781)
      Purchase of treasury stock                           -             (2)
        Net cash provided by continuing financing
         activities                                       37          6,501
        Net cash provided by discontinued financing
         activities                                        -             78
        Net cash provided by financing activities         37          6,579
    Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and
     cash equivalents                                     43             24
    Decrease in cash and cash equivalents from
     continuing operations                              (262)          (373)
    Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period     6,536          5,968
    Cash and cash equivalents, end of period         $ 6,274        $ 5,595

SOURCE C&D Technologies, Inc.

06/05/2008 /CONTACT: Shareholders, Ian J. Harvie of C&D, +1-215-619-7835; or Joseph Crivelli of Gregory FCA for C&D, +1-610-642-8253

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