Exhibit 99.1

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	For more information, contact:
Thursday, May 21, 2015	Brad Pogalz                (952) 887-3753
	Jim Shaw                     (952) 887-3816

 

 

 

DONALDSON REPORTS THIRD QUARTER 2015 EARNINGS

Third quarter adjusted EPS of 36 cents was in line with guidance

 

 

MINNEAPOLIS (May 21, 2015) — Donaldson Company, Inc. (NYSE: DCI) today reported third quarter 2015 net earnings of $46.4 million, or 33 cents per share, which includes restructuring charges of $5.2 million, or 3 cents per share. Foreign currency translation negatively impacted third quarter net earnings by $2.0 million, or 3.0 percent. Adjusted earnings per share¹ were 36 cents in third quarter, compared with 46 cents in the third quarter of 2014. The tables attached to this press release provide a reconciliation of non-GAAP to GAAP measures.

 

“Our third quarter results, and our full-year sales and earnings forecast, are in line with the guidance provided earlier this month, which reflects a slowdown of the Aftermarket business combined with continued pressure from Off-Road end markets and the strong U.S. dollar,” said Tod Carpenter, Donaldson’s CEO.

 

“Our Engine Aftermarket sales, in local currencies, increased 2 percent in third quarter, a modest pace compared with the 7 percent increase during the first half of fiscal 2015. Additionally, our first-fit Off-Road end markets remained challenged, with our local-currency sales declining at a pace consistent with year-to-date trends. In China, the pace of decline in our year-over-year sales accelerated in third quarter, with particular pressure on both Aftermarket and Off-Road Products.”

 

“Although the end-market pressures we saw are reflective of our Customers’ orders, we are taking further actions to improve our performance until business conditions rebound. Over the past several weeks, we identified additional restructuring initiatives that we expect will provide a similar level of annual savings as those we completed during our third quarter.”

 

“While we continue to aggressively manage our expenses and margins, we are also investing for future sales growth. For example, we added new distribution capabilities in Latin America, where we have achieved local-currency sales growth of roughly 17 percent year-to-date. We are also accelerating our expansion of liquid filtration in Europe with an additional investment in our new Poland facility. These investments, and others across the Company, are critical elements of how we will deliver our Strategic Growth Plans.”

 

 

 

 

¹ Beginning with its fiscal 2015 second quarter, Donaldson began reporting adjusted operating margin and adjusted diluted earnings per share (“adjusted EPS”) measures, which are non-GAAP financial measures that exclude the impact of certain matters not related to the Company’s ongoing operations, including restructuring charges and expenses related to pension settlements. See the “Restructuring Charges and Other Adjusting Items” section of this release for more information.

 

 

Donaldson Company Inc.

May 21, 2015

Page 2

 

 

Financial Statement Discussion

 

Third quarter 2015 net sales decreased 9.0 percent versus the prior year, reflecting sales declines in Engine Products and Industrial Products segments of 8.5 percent and 10.0 percent, respectively.

 

Excluding the impact of foreign currency translation, third quarter sales declined 1.9 percent compared with the prior year, reflecting local-currency sales declines of 1.3 percent in Engine Products and 2.9 percent in Industrial Products.

 

Compared with last year, the impact of foreign currency translation reduced third quarter sales by approximately $44.4 million, or 7.1 percent, and year-to-date sales by approximately $83.0 million, or 4.6 percent. The table below outlines the year-over-year percentage change for each business segment, with and without the impact of foreign currency translation.

 

		Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
		April 30, 2015								April 30, 2015
		Reported % Change				Constant Currency % Change				Reported % Change				Constant Currency % Change
Engine Products segment:
Off-Road Products			(24	)%			(17	)%			(21	)%			(17	)%
On-Road Products			6				12				8				14
Aftermarket Products			(6	)			2				1				5
Aerospace and Defense Products			1				7				(2	)			2
Total Engine Products segment			(9	)%			(1	)%			(4	)%			1	%
Industrial Products segment:
Industrial Filtration Solutions Products			(11	)%			(2	)%			(5	)%			1	%
Gas Turbine Products			(15	)			(11	)			19				23
Special Applications Products			(2	)			3				(1	)			3
Total Industrial Products segment			(10	)%			(3	)%			0	%			5	%
Total Company			(9	)%			(2	)%			(2	)%			2	%

 

 

 

 

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Donaldson Company Inc.

May 21, 2015

Page 3

 

 

Third quarter operating margin of 11.4 percent compares with 14.9 percent last year. Excluding the 0.9 percentage point impact from restructuring, adjusted operating margin was 12.3 percent.

 

Third quarter gross margin was 33.8 percent, or 2.0 percentage points below the prior-year rate of 35.8 percent. The decrease was driven primarily by lower fixed-cost absorption and restructuring actions, which decreased gross margin by 1.5 percentage points and 0.4 percentage points, respectively. Donaldson’s Continuous Improvement initiatives partially offset other gross margin pressures.

 

As a percent of sales, third quarter operating expenses increased 1.5 percentage points to 22.4 percent from 20.9 percent last year, primarily driven by lack of leverage on lower sales combined with a 0.5 percentage point increase due to restructuring actions.

 

Fiscal 2015 year-to-date operating margin was 11.9 percent, which includes 0.6 percentage points related to restructuring charges and the lump-sum pension settlement recorded in second quarter. Year-to-date adjusted operating margin was 12.5 percent and 14.3 percent for fiscal 2015 and 2014, respectively.

 

Donaldson’s third quarter effective income tax rate increased to 29.4 percent from 28.5 percent last year, primarily due to discrete tax benefits recorded in the third quarter of the prior year. Year-to-date, the effective tax rate was 28.0 percent, compared to 27.9 percent in the prior year.

 

Capital Returned to Shareholders

 

During third quarter 2015, Donaldson repurchased 717 thousand shares of its common stock at an average price of $37.61 for a total of $27.0 million.

 

Year-to-date, the Company has repurchased 5.1 million shares, or 3.6 percent of the total diluted outstanding shares, at an average price of $39.42 for a total of $201.2 million.

 

Donaldson paid dividends of $22.5 million in third quarter and $68.2 million year-to-date, an increase from last year of 11.3 percent and 14.4 percent, respectively.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Donaldson Company Inc.

May 21, 2015

Page 4

 

 

Fiscal 2015 Outlook

 

Consistent with the guidance provided on May 1, Donaldson expects full-year sales to be approximately $2.35 billion, and adjusted EPS to be in the range of $1.53 to $1.59.

 

• The Company expects full-year sales to decline by approximately 5 percent compared with last year, which includes a fourth quarter decrease of 10 percent to 12 percent.

-

In local currencies, full-year sales are expected to increase approximately 1 percent from 2014.

 

-

The forecast is based on the euro at US$1.12 and 119 yen to the US$.

 

• Adjusted operating margin for fiscal 2015 is expected to be in the range of 12.7 percent to 12.9 percent, reflecting year-to-date results combined with an expected operating margin in fourth quarter of 13.5 percent and 14.1 percent.

• Full-year effective tax rate is expected to be between 27 percent and 29 percent.

• Adjusted full-year diluted EPS guidance of $1.53 to $1.59 reflects year-to-date performance combined with fourth quarter adjusted EPS of 38 cents to 44 cents.

• Excluding the impact from future restructuring actions, fourth quarter and full-year GAAP diluted EPS are expected to be lower than adjusted EPS by approximately 1 cent and 6 cents, respectively, driven by:

-

Pre-tax restructuring charges of approximately $8.0 million, or 4 cents per share, including an expected charge of $2.2 million in fourth quarter, and

 

-

A pre-tax charge in second quarter of $3.9 million, or 2 cents per share, resulting from a U.S. pension settlement.

 

• Donaldson expects to repurchase at least 4 percent of its outstanding shares in fiscal 2015.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Donaldson Company Inc.

May 21, 2015

Page 5

 

 

Engine Products: Fiscal 2015 sales in U.S. dollars are expected to decline 6 percent to 7 percent. In local currency, sales are expected to decrease 1 percent to 2 percent, reflecting:

 

• Continued lower rates of sales growth in both the OEM and independent distribution channels for Engine Aftermarket,

• Mixed demand by end market and geography from continued weakening in equipment build rates by Off-Road OEM first-fit Customers.

• Strong performance in the On-Road OEM business, reflecting the Customers’ expectation for increased production of heavy- and medium-duty trucks.

Industrial Products: Full-year 2015 sales in U.S. dollars are expected to decline 1 percent to 2 percent. In local currency, sales are expected to increase 4 percent to 5 percent.

 

• Industrial Filtration Solutions’ sales are expected to decline in the mid-single-digit percent range, reflecting the impact of ongoing currency translation headwinds and softer first-fit equipment demand, partially offset by continued strong sales of replacement filters.

• Gas Turbine sales are expected to increase 15 percent to 20 percent, which includes the benefit from the acquisition of Northern Technical in September 2014.

• Special Applications’ sales are expected to be slightly down as lower membrane sales and currency headwinds offset improved demand for semiconductor and venting products.

Restructuring Charges and Other Adjusting Items

 

Donaldson has proactively taken restructuring actions aimed at aligning its global operating and manufacturing cost structure with current and projected Customer and end-market demand. In fiscal 2015, restructuring actions included rebalancing and reducing the current salaried and production workforce globally. Fiscal 2015 pre-tax restructuring charges were $5.2 million in third quarter and $5.8 million year-to-date, which compares with fiscal 2014 charges of $0.2 million and $2.4 million, respectively.

 

In second quarter 2015, the Company recorded a $3.9 million charge related to a lump-sum settlement of its U.S. pension plan.

 

 

 

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Donaldson Company Inc.

May 21, 2015

Page 6

 

 

Miscellaneous

 

Donaldson will webcast its third quarter earnings conference call at 9:00 a.m. CT today. To participate, go to IR.Donaldson.com and click on the webcast icon. The webcast replay will be available beginning at noon today through 12:00 p.m. CT June 11, 2015, and a telephone replay of the call will be available beginning at noon today through 12:00 p.m. CT May 28, 2015. The audio replay number is (888) 203-1112 (access code: 9351557).

 

The Company desires to take advantage of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”) and is making this cautionary statement in connection with such safe harbor legislation. This announcement contains forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, forecasts, plans, trends, and projections relating to our business and financial performance and global economic conditions, which involve uncertainties that could materially impact results. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. These statements do not guarantee future performance.

 

The Company wishes to caution investors that any forward-looking statements are subject to uncertainties and other risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements, including but not limited to risks associated with: world economic factors and the ongoing economic uncertainty, the reduced demand for hard disk drive products with the increased use of flash memory, currency fluctuations, commodity prices, political factors, the Company’s international operations, highly competitive markets, governmental laws and regulations, including the impact of the various economic stimulus and financial reform measures, the implementation of our new information technology systems, information security and data breaches, potential global events resulting in market instability including financial bailouts and defaults of sovereign nations, military and terrorist activities, including political unrest in the Middle East and Ukraine, health outbreaks, natural disasters, and all of the other risk factors included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.

 

About Donaldson Company

 

Founded 100 years ago, Donaldson (NYSE: DCI) is a global leader in the filtration industry. The Company’s innovative filtration technologies improve people’s lives, enhance Customers’ equipment performance, and protect the environment. More than 12,500 employees support Customers at 140 sales, manufacturing, and distribution locations. For more information, visit www.Donaldson.com.

 

 

 

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Donaldson Company Inc.

May 21, 2015

Page 7

 

 

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED EARNINGS

DONALDSON COMPANY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Thousands of dollars, except share and per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

		Three Months Ended April 30								Nine Months Ended April 30
		2015				2014				2015				2014
Net sales		$	568,013			$	624,234			$	1,761,467			$	1,805,240
Cost of sales			376,040				400,773				1,154,967				1,165,737
Gross profit			191,973				223,461				606,500				639,503
Operating expenses			126,984				130,727				396,313				382,914
Operating income			64,989				92,734				210,187				256,589
Other income, net			(4,647	)			(3,822	)			(11,785	)			(10,249	)
Interest expense			3,914				2,374				11,156				6,987
Earnings before income taxes			65,722				94,182				210,816				259,851
Income taxes			19,350				26,846				58,967				72,583
Net earnings		$	46,372			$	67,336			$	151,849			$	187,268
Weighted average shares outstanding			137,246,854				145,310,710				138,272,093				146,543,727
Diluted shares outstanding			138,787,914				147,339,425				140,012,046				148,608,748
Net earnings per share		$	0.34			$	0.46			$	1.10			$	1.28
Net earnings per share assuming dilution		$	0.33			$	0.46			$	1.08			$	1.26
Dividends paid per share		$	0.165			$	0.140			$	0.495			$	0.410

 

 

 

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Donaldson Company Inc.

May 21, 2015

Page 8

 

 

DONALDSON COMPANY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Thousands of dollars)

(Unaudited)

 

		April 30				July 31
		2015				2014
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents		$	222,338			$	296,418
Short-term investments			28,062				127,201
Accounts receivable, net			422,801				474,157
Inventories, net			285,678				253,351
Prepaids and other current assets			93,823				74,150
Total current assets			1,052,702				1,225,277
Other assets and deferred taxes			324,319				265,469
Property, plant, and equipment, net			468,811				451,665
Total assets		$	1,845,832			$	1,942,411
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Trade accounts payable		$	187,060			$	216,603
Employee compensation and other liabilities			168,600				205,936
Short-term borrowings			286,440				185,303
Current maturity long-term debt			1,841				1,738
Total current liabilities			643,941				609,580
Long-term debt			265,192				243,726
Other long-term liabilities			89,173				86,622
Total liabilities			998,306				939,928
Equity			847,526				1,002,483
Total liabilities and equity		$	1,845,832			$	1,942,411

 

 

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Donaldson Company Inc.

May 21, 2015

Page 9

 

 

DONALDSON COMPANY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Thousands of dollars)

(Unaudited)

 

		Nine Months Ended
		April 30
		2015				2014
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net earnings		$	151,849			$	187,268
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			55,455				50,245
Changes in operating assets and liabilities			(60,653	)			(5,764	)
Tax benefit of equity plans			(6,473	)			(8,119	)
Stock compensation plan expense			9,238				9,474
Loss on sale of business			—				905
Other, net			11,951				(3,903	)
Net cash provided by operating activities			161,367				230,106
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Net expenditures on property and equipment			(72,601	)			(66,046	)
Net change in short-term investments			87,474				(47,685	)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired			(96,651	)			—
Net cash used in investing activities			(81,778	)			(113,731	)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Purchase of treasury stock			(201,167	)			(165,871	)
Net change in debt and short-term borrowings			122,163				98,107
Dividends paid			(68,242	)			(59,675	)
Tax benefit of equity plans			6,473				8,119
Exercise of stock options			10,457				13,035
Net cash used in financing activities			(130,316	)			(106,285	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash			(23,353	)			3,994
Increase (decrease)  in cash and cash equivalents			(74,080	)			14,084
Cash and cash equivalents – beginning of year			296,418				224,138
Cash and cash equivalents – end of period		$	222,338			$	238,222

 

 

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Donaldson Company Inc.

May 21, 2015

Page 10

 

 

SEGMENT DETAIL

(Thousands of dollars)

(Unaudited)

 

		Engine Products				Industrial Products				Corporate & Unallocated				Total Company
3 Months Ended April 30, 2015:
Net sales		$	368,046			$	199,967				—			$	568,013
Earnings before income taxes			47,760				23,183				(5,221	)			65,722
3 Months Ended April 30, 2014:
Net sales		$	402,157			$	222,077				—			$	624,234
Earnings before income taxes			61,432				32,507				243				94,182
9 Months Ended April 30, 2015:
Net sales		$	1,115,875			$	645,592				—			$	1,761,467
Earnings before income taxes			142,356				88,272				(19,812	)			210,816
9 Months Ended April 30, 2014:
Net sales		$	1,160,948			$	644,292				—			$	1,805,240
Earnings before income taxes			170,799				91,682				(2,630	)			259,851

 

 

NET SALES BY PRODUCT

(Thousands of dollars)

(Unaudited)

 

		Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
		April 30								April 30
		2015				2014				2015				2014
Engine Products segment:
Off-Road Products		$	67,204			$	88,791			$	204,461			$	260,302
On-Road Products			35,000				33,081				103,475				95,398
Aftermarket Products			241,039				255,818				733,154				729,052
Aerospace and Defense Products			24,803				24,467				74,785				76,196
Total Engine Products segment		$	368,046			$	402,157			$	1,115,875			$	1,160,948
Industrial Products segment:
Industrial Filtration Solutions Products		$	122,383			$	137,364			$	383,104			$	401,642
Gas Turbine Products			35,763				42,005				130,716				110,106
Special Applications Products			41,821				42,708				131,772				132,544
Total Industrial Products segment		$	199,967			$	222,077			$	645,592			$	644,292
Total Company		$	568,013			$	624,234			$	1,761,467			$	1,805,240

 

 

 

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Donaldson Company Inc.

May 21, 2015

Page 11

 

 

RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

(Thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

		Three Months Ended April 30								Nine Months Ended April 30
		2015				2014				2015				2014
Net cash provided by operating activities		$	75,958			$	78,501			$	161,367			$	230,106
Net capital expenditures			(21,632	)			(23,198	)			(72,601	)			(66,046	)
Free cash flow		$	54,326			$	55,303			$	88,766			$	164,060
Net earnings		$	46,372			$	67,336			$	151,849			$	187,268
Income taxes			19,350				26,846				58,967				72,583
Interest expense			3,914				2,374				11,156				6,987
Depreciation and amortization			18,056				17,078				55,455				50,245
EBITDA		$	87,692			$	113,634			$	277,427			$	317,083
Operating income		$	64,989			$	92,734			$	210,187			$	256,589
Restructuring charges			5,154	(a)			202	(c)			5,835	(a)			2,434	(d)
Pension lump sum settlement charge			—	(b)			—				3,906	(b)			—
Adjusted Operating Income		$	70,143			$	92,936			$	219,928			$	259,023
Net earnings		$	46,372			$	67,336			$	151,849			$	187,268
Restructuring charges, net of tax			3,521	(a)			160	(c)			3,943	(a)			2,021	(d)
Pension lump sum settlement charge, net of tax			—	(b)			—				2,422	(b)			—
Tax audit settlement			—				—	(e)			—				(6,392	) (e)
Adjusted Net Earnings		$	49,893			$	67,496			$	158,214			$	182,897
Diluted EPS		$	0.33			$	0.46			$	1.08			$	1.26
Restructuring charges per share, net of tax			0.03	(a)			—	(c)			0.03	(a)			0.01	(d)
Pension lump sum settlement charge, net of tax			—	(b)			—				0.02	(b)			—
Tax audit settlement			—				—	(e)			—				(0.04	) (e)
Adjusted Diluted EPS		$	0.36			$	0.46			$	1.13			$	1.23

 

 

 

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Donaldson Company Inc.

May 21, 2015

Page 12

 

 

(a) Current year restructuring charges include actions related to rebalancing and reducing the current workforce and accrued severance, project management fees, warehousing costs, moving expenses, and supplies and equipment associated with the closing of our Grinnell, Iowa, facility.

 

(b) The pension lump sum settlement charge relates to the Company’s offer to settle liabilities with certain vested participants in our U.S. pension plans.

 

(c) The prior year quarter restructuring charges primarily include severance costs associated with a reduction in workforce in our Wuxi, China, facility due to decreased Customer demand.

 

(d) The prior year restructuring charges include severance costs associated with a reduction in workforce in our Wuxi, China, and Dulmen, Germany, facilities due to decreases in Customer demand and expenses associated with the sale of our Flensburg, Germany, facility in the first quarter of Fiscal 2014.

 

(e) The prior year tax audit settlement relates to favorable settlement of an audit in the prior year quarter.

 

Although free cash flow, EBITDA, adjusted operating income, adjusted net earnings, and adjusted diluted EPS are not measures of financial performance under GAAP, the Company believes they are useful in understanding its financial results. Free cash flow is a commonly used measure of a company’s ability to generate cash in excess of its operating needs. EBITDA is a commonly used measure of operating earnings less non-cash expenses. We evaluate our results of operations both on an as reported and a constant currency basis. The constant currency presentation, which is a non-GAAP measure, excludes the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. We believe providing constant currency information provides valuable supplemental information regarding our results of operations, consistent with how we evaluate our performance. We calculate constant currency percentages by converting our current period local currency financial results using the prior period exchanges rates and compared these adjusted amounts to our prior period reports results. A shortcoming of these financial measures is that they do not reflect the company’s actual results under GAAP. Management does not intend these items to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the related GAAP measures.