Xyratex Ltd Announces Results for the First Quarter Fiscal Year 2006

Q1 Revenues $190.5 Million, Up 33.7% Year Over Year

Xyratex Ltd Announces Results for the First Quarter Fiscal Year 2006

HAVANT, United Kingdom, March 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Xyratex Ltd (NASDAQ: XRTX) , a leading provider of modular enterprise class data storage subsystems and storage process technology, today announced results for the first fiscal quarter ended February 28, 2006. Revenues for the first quarter were $190.5 million, an increase of 33.7% compared to revenues of $142.5 million for the same period last year.

For the first quarter, GAAP net income was $6.4 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, compared to GAAP net income of $9.4 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, in the same period last year. Non-GAAP net income from continuing operations declined 14.7% to $8.3 million, or a diluted earnings per share of $0.28, compared to non-GAAP net income of $9.9 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, in the same quarter a year ago. A reconciliation between net income on a GAAP basis and net income on a non-GAAP basis is provided in a table immediately following the "Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows", below.

Gross profit margin in the first quarter was 19.7%, compared to 20.8% in the same period last year, primarily due to business segment mix and customer mix, particularly related to an increased proportion of Storage and Network Systems revenues and an increased proportion of sales to our largest customer within our Storage and Network Systems business.

Revenues from sales of our Storage and Network Systems products were $128.8 million as compared to $88.8 million in the same quarter a year ago, an increase of 45%. Gross profit margin in the Storage and Network Systems business was 15.1% as compared to 15.9% a year ago. Revenues from sales of our Storage Infrastructure products were $61.7 million as compared to $53.7 million in the same quarter a year ago, an increase of 14.9%. Gross profit margin in the Storage Infrastructure business was 29.4% as compared to 28.9% a year ago.

"With strong demand for our products, our first quarter results demonstrate our continued progress in executing our strategic plan, as we continue to grow our portfolio of offerings and build on a solid customer base," said Steve Barber, CEO of Xyratex. "After a very strong fiscal 2005, we enter 2006 with continued momentum in the markets that our two business segments serve and we feel we are well positioned to capitalize on the positive industry dynamics that are creating significant demand for our storage products."

  Business Highlights

  *  We were the first storage subsystem manufacturer to qualify and
     integrate Seagate's 146GB Cheetah 15K.4, 4Gb/sec Fibre Channel (FC),
     disc drives.

  *  We demonstrated the F5402E, a 4G FC-SAS/SATA solution that utilizes
     reliable and backward compatible Fibre Channel connectivity together
     with high-performing SAS drives and low-cost SATA drives in a single
     expandable solution at CeBIT. This new solution also features
     StorView(TM), Xyratex's latest system configuration and management
     software.

  *  We secured new design wins with Terrascale Technologies, Disk Array and
     System Design, Inc., Storage Engine, Globalstor and Nimbus Data
     Systems, as well as with a number of other Tier 2 and Tier 3 customers.

  *  We shipped our first seven module precision disc cleaning system with
     additional sonic and cascade scrubbing capabilities, aimed at meeting
     the increased requirements of media cleanliness driven by increasing
     areal density and reduced fly heights in disc drive design.

  Business Outlook

The following statements are based on current expectations. These statements are forward-looking, and actual results may differ materially. These statements do not include the potential impact of any future acquisitions or divestitures.

  *  Revenue in the second quarter of 2006 is projected to be in the range
     $268 to $283 million.
  *  Fully diluted earnings per share is anticipated to be between $0.80 and
     $0.90 on a GAAP basis in the second quarter. On a non-GAAP basis, fully
     diluted earnings per share is anticipated to be between $0.83 and
     $0.93. Non-GAAP earnings per share excludes non-cash equity
     compensation, amortization of intangible assets, certain non-recurring
     benefits and related taxation expense.

  Conference Call/Webcast Information

Xyratex quarterly results conference call will be broadcast live via the internet at http://www.xyratex.com/investors on Wednesday, March 22, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time/5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. You can also access the conference call by dialing +1 (888) 396-2386 in the United States and +1 (617) 847-8712 outside of the United States, passcode 25537395. The press release will be posted to the company web site http://www.xyratex.com/.

A replay will be available through March 29, 2006 following the live call by dialing +1 (888) 286-8010 in the United States and +1 (617) 801-6888 outside the United States, replay code 30510771.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or our future financial performance, including our projected revenue and fully diluted earnings per share data (on a GAAP and non-GAAP basis) for the second quarter. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include our inability to compete successfully in the competitive and rapidly changing marketplace in which we operate, failure to retain key employees, cancellation or delay of projects and adverse general economic conditions in the United States and internationally. These risks and other factors include those listed under "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in our Annual Report on Form 20-F as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (File No. 000-50799). In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "expects," "intends," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential," "continue," or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements.

About Xyratex

Xyratex is a leading provider of enterprise class data storage subsystems and network technology. The company designs and manufactures enabling technology that provides OEM and disk drive manufacturer customers with data storage products to support high-performance storage and data communication networks. Xyratex has over 20 years of experience in research and development relating to disk drives, storage systems and high-speed communication protocols.

Founded in 1994 in a management buy-out from IBM, and with its headquarters in the UK, Xyratex has an established global base with R&D and operational facilities in Europe, the United States and South East Asia. For more information, visit http://www.xyratex.com/.

                                 XYRATEX LTD
          UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

                                                    Three Months Ended,
                                               February 28,     February 28,
                                                    2006             2005
                                            (US dollars in thousands, except
                                                    per share amounts)

  Revenues:
    Storage and Network Systems                  $128,830          $88,831
    Storage Infrastructure                         61,687           53,692
  Total revenues                                  190,517          142,523

  Cost of revenues                                152,948          112,840
  Gross profit:
    Storage and Network Systems                    19,511           14,169
    Storage Infrastructure                         18,166           15,514
    Equity compensation                              (108)              --
  Total gross profit                               37,569           29,683
  Operating expenses:
     Research and development                      16,462           10,562
     Selling, general and administrative           12,868            8,595
     Amortization of intangible assets              1,185              398
       Total operating expenses                    30,515           19,555
  Operating income                                  7,054           10,128
  Interest income, net                                205              349
  Income before income taxes                        7,259           10,477
  Provision for income taxes                          822            1,034
  Net income                                        6,437            9,443

  Net earnings per share:
    Basic                                           $0.23            $0.34
    Diluted                                         $0.22            $0.33

  Weighted average common shares
   (in thousands), used in
    computing net earnings per share:
    Basic                                          28,509           28,121
    Diluted                                        29,172           28,900



                                 XYRATEX LTD
               UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS


                                             February 28,      November 30,
                                                 2006              2005
                                               (US dollars and amounts in
                                                        thousands)

  ASSETS
  Current assets:
    Cash and cash equivalents                    $41,426           $41,240
    Accounts receivable, net                      87,805            82,449
    Inventories                                   97,317            71,543
    Prepaid expenses                               3,042             2,244
    Deferred income taxes                          7,570             6,480
    Other current assets                           3,325             3,236
      Total current assets                       240,485           207,192
    Property, plant and equipment, net            29,035            25,643
    Intangible assets, net                        50,397            50,904
    Deferred income taxes                         15,818            17,551
      Total assets                              $335,735          $301,290

  LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
  Current liabilities:
    Accounts payable                            $104,888           $79,927
    Acquisition note payable                       3,000             3,000
    Short-term borrowings                          4,000             4,000
    Employee compensation and benefits
     payable                                       9,271            13,620
    Deferred revenue                              22,540            16,434
    Income taxes payable                             324               421
    Other accrued liabilities                     14,017            15,506
      Total current liabilities                  158,040           132,908
    Long-term debt                                 6,000             7,000
      Total liabilities                          164,040           139,908

  Shareholders' equity
    Common shares of Xyratex Ltd (in
     thousands), par value $0.01 per
     share 70,000 authorized, 28,625 and
     28,437 issued and outstanding                   286               284
    Additional paid-in capital                   337,052           333,886
    Accumulated other comprehensive
     loss                                           (648)           (1,356)
    Accumulated deficit                         (164,995)         (171,432)
      Total shareholders' equity                 171,695           161,382
      Total liabilities and
       shareholders' equity                     $335,735          $301,290



                                 XYRATEX LTD
          UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS


                                                    Three Months Ended
                                              February 28,      February 28,
                                                  2006              2005
                                                 (US dollars in thousands)
  Cash flows from operating activities:
  Net income from continuing operations           $6,437            $9,443
  Adjustments to reconcile net income
   to net cash used in operating activities:
  Depreciation                                     1,998             1,588
  Amortization of intangible assets                1,185               398
  Non-cash equity compensation                     1,369               190
  Bonus paid by trust                                 --               144
  Changes in assets and liabilities,
   net of impact of acquisitions and
   divestitures
    Accounts receivable                           (5,356)          (29,353)
    Inventories                                  (25,774)           (7,726)
    Prepaid expenses and other current
     assets                                         (887)             (117)
    Accounts payable                              24,961            22,122
    Employee compensation and benefits
     payable                                      (4,349)           (2,734)
    Deferred revenue                               6,106             2,580
    Income taxes payable                             (97)             (167)
    Deferred income taxes                            790             2,464
    Amount payable to related party                   --               137
    Other accrued liabilities                        407            (1,234)
      Net cash provided by (used in) operating
       activities                                  6,790            (2,265)

  Cash flows from investing activities:
    Investments in property, plant and
     equipment                                    (5,390)           (2,168)
    Acquisition of business, net of
     cash received                                (2,013)             (253)
      Net cash used in investing
       activities                                 (7,403)           (2,421)

  Cash flows from financing activities:
    Net payments of long-term
     borrowings                                   (1,000)           (1,000)
    Payment of acquisition note payable               --            (2,000)
    Proceeds from issuance of shares               1,799               631
      Net cash provided by (used in)
       financing activities                          799            (2,369)
  Change in cash and cash equivalents                186            (7,055)
  Cash and cash equivalents at
   beginning of period                            41,240            63,495
  Cash and cash equivalents at end of
   period                                        $41,426           $56,440



                                 XYRATEX LTD
    UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF GAAP NET INCOME TO NON-GAAP NET INCOME

                                                Three Months Ended
                                           GAAP      Non-GAAP     Non-GAAP
                                      February 28,  Adjustment  February 28,
                                           2006         (a)          2006

                                       (US dollars in thousands, except per
                                                   share amounts)
  Revenues:
    Storage and Network Systems           $128,830                 $128,830
    Storage Infrastructure                  61,687                   61,687
  Total revenues                           190,517                  190,517

  Cost of revenues                         152,948       (108)      152,840
  Gross profit:
    Storage and Network Systems             19,511                   19,511
    Storage Infrastructure                  18,166                   18,166
    Equity compensation                       (108)       108            --
  Total gross profit                        37,569                   37,677
  Operating expenses:
     Research and development               16,462       (285)       16,177
     Selling, general and
      administrative                        12,868       (976)       11,892
     Amortization of intangible assets       1,185     (1,185)           --
      Total operating expenses              30,515                   28,069
  Operating income                           7,054                    9,608
  Interest income, net                         205                      205
  Income before income taxes                 7,259                    9,813
  Provision for income taxes                   822        698         1,520
  Net income                                 6,437                    8,293

  Net earnings per share:
    Basic                                    $0.23                    $0.29
    Diluted                                  $0.22                    $0.28

  Weighted average common shares (in
   thousands), used in
    computing net earnings per share:
    Basic                                   28,509                   28,509
    Diluted                                 29,172        254        29,426



                                 XYRATEX LTD
  UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF GAAP NET INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS TO
                             NON-GAAP NET INCOME

                                                Three Months Ended
                                           GAAP      Non-GAAP     Non-GAAP
                                      February 28,  Adjustment  February 28,
                                           2005         (a)          2005

                                       (US dollars in thousands, except per
                                                  share amounts)
  Revenues:
    Storage and Network Systems         $88,831                     $88,831
    Storage Infrastructure               53,692                      53,692
  Total revenues                        142,523                     142,523

  Cost of revenues                      112,840                     112,840
  Gross profit:
    Storage and Network Systems          14,169                      14,169
    Storage Infrastructure               15,514                      15,514
  Total gross profit                     29,683                      29,683
  Operating expenses:
     Research and development            10,562                      10,562
     Selling, general and
      administrative                      8,595          (190)        8,405
     Amortization of intangible assets      398          (398)           --
      Total operating expenses           19,555                      18,967
  Operating income                       10,128                      10,716
  Interest income, net                      349                         349
  Income before income taxes             10,477                      11,065
  Provision for income taxes              1,034           119         1,153
  Net income                              9,443                       9,912

  Net earnings per share:
    Basic                                 $0.34                       $0.35
    Diluted                               $0.33                       $0.34

  Weighted average common shares (in
   thousands), used in
    computing net earnings per share:
    Basic                                28,121                      28,121
    Diluted                              28,900                      28,900

  (a) Non-GAAP Adjustment for the three month periods ended February 28,
      2006 and February 28, 2005 includes non-cash amortization of
      intangible assets and non-cash equity compensation expense, together
      with the related tax effects.

      We believe these Non-GAAP measures are useful to investors because
      they provide an alternative method of measuring the operating
      performance of our business by excluding certain expenses, gains and
      losses which we believe are not indicative of our core operating
      results.
Website: http://www.xyratex.com/investors
Website: http://www.xyratex.com/



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