Exhibit
99.1
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FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
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Contact:
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William
C. McCartney
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Chief
Financial Officer
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Telephone:
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(978)
688-1811
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Fax:
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(978)
688-2976
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WATTS
WATER TECHNOLOGIES REPORTS PRELIMINARY FIRST QUARTER 2008 RESULTS
North Andover, MA…April 16,
2008. Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: WTS) today
announced preliminary results for the first quarter ended March 30,
2008. Sales for the first quarter are expected to be approximately
$344 million, a decrease of approximately $2.0 million, or 0.6%, compared to the
first quarter of 2007. Net income for the first quarter of 2008 is expected to
range between $13.0 million and $14.0 million, or between $0.35 and $0.38 per
diluted share, compared to net income of $20.0 million, or $0.51 per diluted
share, for the first quarter of 2007.
Patrick
S. O’Keefe, Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Entering the quarter, we
expressed concern that 2008 would be a challenging year with downward pressure
from the domestic residential markets, slowing growth in the commercial space
and a general slowing of the European economy. Estimated organic
sales, net of estimated currency effects, decreased approximately 6.0% in North
America, decreased approximately 6.6% in Europe and decreased approximately
25.0% in China during the first quarter of 2008 compared to 2007. Our
China segment also experienced reduced operating profits due to a plant
relocation, severe weather and other operating issues. Further, our estimated
worldwide effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2008 is expected to be
approximately 7.0% higher as compared to 2007 due to a favorable one-time
adjustment in 2007 resulting from a change in Italian tax law. In
response, we are continuing with the restructuring and lean manufacturing
initiatives previously announced, and we are diligently reviewing our cost
structure to ensure our costs are aligned with the present economic
environment.
“The
Company emphasizes that the foregoing results are preliminary and are subject to
adjustment upon final closing of its first quarter financial
results. While Watts does not regularly issue quarterly guidance, we
strive for transparency with our investors and believe this announcement is in
keeping with that principal.”
Watts Water Technologies, Inc. expects
to release its final results for the first quarter of 2008 on Tuesday, April 29,
2008. The Company will hold a live web cast of its conference call to
discuss first quarter results that same day, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. This
press release and the live web cast can be accessed by visiting the Investor
Relations section of the Company's website at www.wattswater.com. Following the
web cast, an archived version of the call will be available at the same address
until April 29, 2009.
Watts Water Technologies, Inc. is a
world leader in the manufacture of innovative products to control the
efficiency, safety, and quality of water within residential, commercial, and
institutional applications. Its expertise in a wide variety of water
technologies enables it to be a comprehensive supplier to the water
industry.
This
Press Release includes statements that are not historical facts and are
considered forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking
statements reflect Watts Water Technologies’ current views about future results
of operations and other forward-looking information. In some cases
you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as “anticipate,”
“believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “should,” “will” and
“would” or similar words. You should not rely on forward-looking statements
because Watts’ actual results may differ materially from those indicated by
these forward-looking statements as a result of a number of important
factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, the
following: shortages in and pricing of raw materials and supplies
including recent price increases by suppliers of raw materials and the Company’s
ability to pass these costs on to customers, loss of market share through
competition, introduction of competing products by other companies, pressure on
prices from competitors, suppliers, and/or customers, changes in variable
interest rates on Company borrowings, identification and disclosure of material
weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, failure to expand
our markets through acquisitions, failure or delay in developing new products,
lack of acceptance of new products, failure to manufacture products that meet
required performance and safety standards, foreign exchange rate fluctuations,
cyclicality of industries, such as plumbing and heating wholesalers and home
improvement retailers, in which the Company markets certain of its products,
economic factors, such as the levels of housing starts and remodeling, affecting
the markets where the Company’s products are sold, manufactured, or marketed,
environmental compliance costs, product liability risks, the results and timing
of the Company’s manufacturing restructuring plan, changes in the status of
current litigation, including the James Jones case, and other risks and
uncertainties discussed under the heading “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in the Watts
Water Technologies, Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2007 filed with the Securities Exchange Commission and other reports Watts
files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Watts does not intend to, and undertakes no duty to,
update the information contained in this Press Release, except as required by
law.