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 SECOND QUARTER 2008 RESULTS
North Andover, MA…July 17,
2008. Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: WTS) today
announced preliminary results for the second quarter ended June 29,
2008. Sales for the second quarter are expected to be approximately
$389.0 million, an increase of approximately $38.6 million, or 11.0%, compared
to the second quarter of 2007. This sales increase is comprised of approximately
2% organic growth, 6% currency effects and 3% from acquisitions. Estimated
income from continuing operations for the second quarter of 2008 is expected to
range between $19.0 million and $20.0 million, or between $0.52 and $0.54 per
diluted share, compared to income from continuing operations of $17.7 million,
or $0.45 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2007.
Patrick
S. O’Keefe, Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Based on preliminary results,
organic sales, net of currency effects and acquisitions, increased 2.0% in North
America, increased 4.4% in Europe and decreased 20.2% in China during the second
quarter of 2008 compared to the second quarter of 2007. The European
sales increase was driven predominately by increased volume of systems sold into
the energy conservation marketplace. Overall, operating income
increased in the second quarter of 2008 from operating leverage realized in
Europe through better capacity utilization as a result of our restructuring
initiatives and positive product mix in North America. Our China segment
continued to experience reduced operating income due to disruptions from both a
plant relocation and a labor dispute as discussed during our first quarter
conference call. The increase in operating income was offset primarily by a
reduction in interest income due to the lower interest rate environment as
compared to the second quarter of 2007. Further, a one-time Italian
tax law change and the finalization of certain statutory tax audits are expected
to contribute approximately $0.03 per share to income from continuing operations
in the second quarter of 2008 as compared to the second quarter of
2007. Foreign currency movements and our share buyback program
had estimated positive effects of $0.05 per share and $0.03 per share,
respectively, on income from continuing operations in the second quarter of
2008. The Blucher Metals acquisition, which was finalized on May 30, 2008, is
expected to have a $0.01 per share dilutive effect on income from continuing
operations during the second quarter.
“The Company emphasizes that the
foregoing results are preliminary and are subject to adjustment upon final
closing of its second quarter financial results. While Watts does not regularly issue preliminary
results, we strive for transparency with our investors and believe this
announcement is in keeping with that principle.”
Watts Water Technologies, Inc. expects
to release its final results for the second quarter of 2008 on Tuesday, July 29,
2008. The Company will hold a live web cast of its conference call to
discuss second 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 July 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 considered forward-looking within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including
statements relating to Watts’ expected sales, income from continuing operations
and income from continuing operations per share for the second quarter of 2008,
as well as expected per share effects of Italian tax law and certain statutory
tax audits, foreign currency movements, Watts’ stock buyback program and the
Blucher Metals acquisition on the second quarter 2008 results. 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: review of the Company’s results by its independent registered public
accounting firm, further review by the Company’s management and Audit Committee,
unexpected accounting issues, 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.