Insituform Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq Global Select Market: INSU) today announced a reorganization of its European business unit to position it for profitable growth. This reorganization includes exiting low-return geographies, combining operations and realigning responsibilities and functions in the European headquarters office, located in Paris, France. The Company expects to realize approximately $3.0 million (USD) in annual cost savings from these efforts.
"We expect that these changes will have a significant positive impact on our European operation. They will allow us to increase our focus on the areas that we believe have the greatest growth potential and reduce the risk in countries that have historically been poorer performing operations. We expect our European operating expenses to decrease significantly by 2012 and will leverage the geographic proximity of our operations to minimize logistical costs," said J. Joseph Burgess, Insituform's President and Chief Executive Officer.
The reorganization plan includes the elimination of approximately 35 positions throughout Europe. The efforts and experience of the employees who are leaving Insituform have been and remain valued.
As part of the reorganization, Insituform also acquired the 25% minority interest in its CIPP tube manufacturing operation in the United Kingdom, which had been owned by Per Aarsleff, a Danish company. Insituform and Per Aarsleff also agreed upon new regulations and guidelines for their 20-year joint venture in Germany ("IRT"), which should ensure cooperation between the partners going forward and lead to improved profitability.
Under the new European organizational structure, Europe will be divided into four regions plus the IRT organization. In addition, Insituform will exit the trenchless contracting markets in Belgium, Romania, Poland and Austria as part of the reorganization. Alex Buehler, Insituform's Vice President – Europe, noted that "this realignment provides the opportunity to achieve significant cost synergies between the European countries and to expand Insituform's third-party tube sales through its 100% owned UK manufacturing company. It also allows us to concentrate our resources in geographies where Insituform can realize the desired return on its investment."
The Company will record pre-tax charges of approximately $4.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2009 related to the reorganization and position eliminations. These are one-time non-recurring expenses.
Separately, Insituform announced its decision to close the Corrpro paint team business, which business painted U.S. Navy ships. This business was non-core to Insituform's other business operations and only accounted for approximately $0.8 million in revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. In connection with this closure, Insituform will record a one-time charge of approximately $0.5 million during the fourth quarter of 2009.
The costs associated with the European restructuring and the closure of the paint business are excluded from the Company's previously provided guidance for the year ending December 31, 2009.
About Insituform
Insituform Technologies, Inc. is a leading worldwide provider of proprietary technologies and services for rehabilitating sewer, water, energy and mining piping systems and the corrosion protection of industrial pipelines. More information about the Company can be found on its internet site at www.insituform.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for forward-looking statements. The Company makes forward-looking statements in this news release that represent the Company's beliefs or expectations about future events or financial performance. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to the Company and on management's beliefs, assumptions, estimates or projections and are not guarantees of future events or results. When used in this document, the words "anticipate," "estimate," "believe," "plan," "intend," "may," "will" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. Such statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those referred to in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 2, 2009, and in our subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events may not occur. In addition, our actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, estimated, suggested or projected. Except as required by law, we do not assume a duty to update forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Investors should, however, review additional disclosures made by the Company from time to time in its periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Please use caution and do not place reliance on forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements made by the Company in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements.
Insituform®, Corrpro®and the Insituform® logo are the registered trademarks of Insituform Technologies, Inc. and/or its affiliates.
Contacts:
Insituform Technologies, Inc.
David F. Morris, 636-530-8000
Senior
Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer