EX-99.1 2 dex991.htm PRESS RELEASE Press release

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Esterline Corporation

500 108th Avenue NE

Suite 1500

Bellevue, WA 98004

 

Tel: 425-453-9400

Fax: 425-453-2916

www.esterline.com

NYSE symbol: ESL

  News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Contact:   Brian Keogh   
  425/453-9400   

ESTERLINE REPORTS RECORD FOURTH QUARTER RESULTS

Income from continuing operations $41.4 million, or $1.38 per share, on $404.4 million sales

BELLEVUE, Wash., December 11, 2008 – Esterline Corporation (NYSE: ESL www.esterline.com), a leading specialty manufacturer serving aerospace/defense markets, today reported fiscal 2008 fourth quarter and full-year results for the period ended October 31, 2008. Net income from continuing operations for the quarter was a record $41.4 million, or $1.38 per diluted share, on sales of $404.4 million. For the same period last year, income from continuing operations was $20.5 million, or $.76 per diluted share, on sales of $355.7 million. (Continuing operations exclude results from Esterline’s Muirhead Aerospace subsidiary, divested on November 3, 2008.)

For the full year ended October 31, 2008, Esterline reported net earnings from continuing operations of $113.5 million, or $3.80 per diluted share, on sales of $1.48 billion, compared with net earnings from continuing operations of $87.8 million, or $3.34 per diluted share, on $1.21 billion in sales in 2007. Full year 2007 results included an after-tax gain of $26.2 million, or $1.00 per diluted share, due to an insurance recovery.

Robert W. Cremin, Esterline CEO, said, “…with strong organic growth we recorded another solid year, benefiting from improved performance across the board in each of our three operating segments.” Cremin said that top-line organic growth was 14% and 17% respectively for the fourth quarter and full year, when compared to same-period 2007 results. He pointed out that fourth quarter earnings were bolstered by the recently strengthening U.S. dollar. Noting that aerospace pricing is primarily denominated in U.S. dollars, Cremin said that with “…nearly half of our manufacturing operations outside the U.S.—most notably in Canada, France and the U.K.—the headwind we faced for most of the year has shifted in our favor.”

-more-


Page 2 of 4 — Esterline Reports Record Fourth Quarter Results

Fourth quarter 2008 research, development and engineering (R&D) expense totaled $18.7 million, or 4.6% of sales, compared with $19.9 million, or 5.6% of sales, in the same quarter a year ago. Full-year 2008 R&D totaled $86.8 million, or 5.9% of sales, compared with $66.9 million, or 5.5% of sales, last year. Cremin noted that the recent downward trend reflects “…a return to more normalized R&D investment following several years of successful efforts to secure Tier 1 positions on a number of major programs that will fly for decades to come.” He added that, “…for the hundreds of active aircraft platforms flying today, our total dollar content per aircraft is growing steadily due to our constant technology advancements, new products and market share gains.”

Cremin also noted the company’s cash generating capability, pointing out that Esterline retired approximately $64 million in term loans and other debt during the year.

Backlog at fiscal year end was $1.1 billion, ahead of last year by nearly 14%. Orders received in the fourth quarter totaled $469.4 million—up 31% on both a year-over-year and sequential basis. Cremin said he was optimistic about the company’s prospects, and estimated full-year 2009 earnings per share from continuing operations to be in the range of $3.70 to $3.90.

Cremin said, “…our core strategy positions us to perform well no matter where we are in a cycle.” He pointed to Esterline’s diverse product mix, balanced global market position, and underlying entrepreneurial culture as “…key underpinnings of achieving success during difficult market conditions.”

 

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to future events or our future financial performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “should” or “will,” or the negative of such terms, or other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements are only predictions based on the current intent and expectations of the management of Esterline, are not guarantees of future performance or actions, and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and may cause Esterline’s or its industry’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Esterline’s actual results and the timing and outcome of events may differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements due to risks detailed in Esterline’s public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.  


Page 3 of 4 — Esterline Reports Record Fourth Quarter Results

ESTERLINE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

Consolidated Statement of Operations (unaudited)

In thousands, except per share amounts

 

      Three months ended     Fiscal year ended  
     Oct 31,
2008
    Oct 26,
2007
    Oct 31,
2008
    Oct 26,
2007
 

Segment Sales

        

Avionics & Controls

   $ 173,459     $ 151,611     $ 611,467     $ 461,990  

Sensors & Systems

     89,987       84,363       384,180       316,485  

Advanced Materials

     140,904       119,721       487,525       428,558  
                                

Net Sales

     404,350       355,695       1,483,172       1,207,033  

Cost of Sales

     263,989       242,595       992,853       833,977  
                                
     140,361       113,100       490,319       373,056  

Expenses

        

Selling, general and administrative

     61,200       58,594       239,282       199,825  

Research, development and engineering

     18,660       19,883       86,798       66,891  
                                

Total Expenses

     79,860       78,477       326,080       266,716  

Other

        

Other expense

     —         —         86       24  

Insurance recovery

     —         (153 )     —         (37,467 )
                                

Total Other

     —         (153 )     86       (37,443 )
                                

Operating Earnings From Continuing

        

Operations

     60,501       34,776       164,153       143,783  

Interest income

     (1,077 )     (1,209 )     (4,374 )     (3,095 )

Interest expense

     7,405       10,257       29,922       35,300  

Gain on derivative financial instrument

     —         —         (1,850 )     —    

Loss on extinguishment of debt

     —         1,100       —         1,100  
                                

Other Expense, Net

     6,328       10,148       23,698       33,305  
                                

Income From Continuing Operations

        

Before Income Taxes

     54,173       24,628       140,455       110,478  

Income Tax Expense

     12,582       4,123       26,563       22,563  
                                

Income From Continuing Operations

        

Before Minority Interest

     41,591       20,505       113,892       87,915  

Minority Interest

     (154 )     (36 )     (383 )     (153 )
                                

Income From Continuing Operations

     41,437       20,469       113,509       87,762  

Income From Discontinued Operations,

        

Net of Tax

     2,445       419       7,024       4,522  
                                

Net Earnings

   $ 43,882     $ 20,888     $ 120,533     $ 92,284  
                                

Earnings Per Share – Basic:

        

Continuing Operations

   $ 1.40     $ .77     $ 3.85     $ 3.40  

Discontinued Operations

     .08       .02       .23       .17  
                                

Earnings Per Share – Basic

   $ 1.48     $ .79     $ 4.08     $ 3.57  
                                

Earnings Per Share – Diluted:

        

Continuing Operations

   $ 1.38     $ .76     $ 3.80     $ 3.34  

Discontinued Operations

     .08       .02       .23       .18  
                                

Earnings Per Share – Diluted

   $ 1.46     $ .78     $ 4.03     $ 3.52  
                                

Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding – Basic

     29,635       26,484       29,507       25,824  

Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding – Diluted

     29,955       26,940       29,908       26,252  


Page 4 of 4 — Esterline Reports Record Fourth Quarter Results

Consolidated Balance Sheet (unaudited)

In thousands

 

      Oct 31,
2008
   Oct 26,
2007

Assets

     

Current Assets

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 160,645    $ 147,069

Accounts receivable, net

     297,506      262,087

Inventories

     261,973      258,176

Income tax refundable

     5,567      11,580

Deferred income tax benefits

     30,463      37,830

Prepaid expenses

     13,040      13,256

Other current assets

     897      —  
             

Total Current Assets

     770,091      729,998

Property, Plant and Equipment, Net

     204,462      217,421

Other Non-Current Assets

     

Goodwill

     576,861      656,865

Intangibles, net

     290,440      365,317

Debt issuance costs, net

     7,587      9,192

Deferred income tax benefits

     50,040      43,670

Other assets

     9,601      27,843
             
   $ 1,909,082    $ 2,050,306
             

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

     

Current Liabilities

     

Accounts payable

   $ 89,807    $ 90,257

Accrued liabilities

     210,422      187,596

Credit facilities

     5,171      8,634

Current maturities of long-term debt

     8,388      12,166

Federal and foreign income taxes

     4,442      11,247
             

Total Current Liabilities

     318,230      309,900

Long-Term Liabilities

     

Long-term debt, net of current maturities

     388,248      455,002

Deferred income taxes

     87,699      123,758

Other liabilities

     85,767      36,852

Commitments and Contingencies

     —        —  

Minority Interest

     2,797      2,968

Shareholders’ Equity

     1,026,341      1,121,826
             
   $ 1,909,082    $ 2,050,306