NORTHBROOK, Ill., Jul 20, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- IDEX Corporation (NYSE: IEX) today announced second quarter 2009 results.

New orders in the quarter totaled $319 million, down 21 percent compared to the prior-year period. Sales in the quarter totaled $336 million, 15 percent lower than the prior-year period.

Adjusted operating margin was 14.9 percent, down 320 basis points from the prior-year period, primarily due to lower volume. Second quarter reported operating income of $47 million was 35 percent lower than the prior-year period and included the impact of charges related to restructuring ($3.3M). Reported operating margin of 13.9 percent reflected a 420 basis point decline versus the prior-year period.

Excluding the 3 cents per share impact of restructuring-related charges, diluted earnings per share was 37 cents, a decline of 17 cents, or 31 percent, from the second quarter of the previous year. Reported net income of $28 million decreased 38 percent versus the second quarter of the previous year. Reported diluted earnings per share of 34 cents declined 20 cents, or 37 percent, from the second quarter of the previous year.

Second Quarter 2009 Results

• Orders decreased 21 percent compared to the prior year (+5 percent acquisitions, -22 organic and -4 percent foreign currency translation).
• Sales decreased 15 percent compared to the prior year (+6 percent acquisitions, -17 organic and -4 percent foreign currency translation).
• Net income was $28 million, or 38 percent lower than the prior year. Excluding restructuring-related charges, net income was $30 million, or 33 percent lower than the prior year.
• Diluted EPS of 34 cents was 20 cents, or 37 percent, lower than the prior year. Excluding restructuring-related charges, diluted EPS of 37 cents was 17 cents, or 31 percent, lower than the prior year.
• EBITDA of $61 million was 18 percent of sales and covered interest expense by 14 times.
• Free cash flow of $50 million includes the estimated annual $6M contribution to pension plans and represents 180 percent of net income.

"We are pleased with our second quarter results given the current market environment. Our team is focused on growing market share during the downturn and we continue to find new opportunities to reinvest in the business. At the same time, we are proving that our operating model enables us to both flex our cost structure and continue to generate cash. Operating margin of 15 percent and free cash generation at 180 percent of net income are both respectable achievements for the quarter.

We expect that energy, water, and select health and science end markets will modestly improve in the second half of 2009; however we also expect that industrial process and dispensing end markets will remain challenged for the balance of the year.

Given the current conditions and assuming no economic recovery in the second half, we expect third quarter EPS in the range of 33 to 37 cents on a fully diluted basis. For the full year, we project organic revenue to decline approximately 15 percent resulting in adjusted diluted EPS of $1.35 to $1.45."

Lawrence D. Kingsley

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Business Highlights (excluding restructuring-related charges)

Fluid & Metering Technologies

• Sales in the second quarter of $157 million reflected a 12 percent decline compared to the second quarter of 2008 (+11 percent acquisitions, -20 percent organic and -3 percent foreign currency translation).
• Operating margin of 15.4 percent represented a 320 basis point decline compared with the second quarter of 2008. Excluding the impact of acquisitions, operating margin was 17.2 percent, a 140 basis point decline compared with the prior-year period due to lower sales.

Health & Science Technologies

• Sales in the second quarter of $74 million reflected a 15 percent decline compared to the second quarter of 2008 (+5 percent acquisitions, -18 percent organic and -2 percent foreign currency translation). The organic decline was primarily due to significant market softness in the non-core HST businesses.
• Operating margin of 15.7 percent reflected a 250 basis point decline compared with the second quarter of 2008. Excluding the impact of the Semrock acquisition, operating margin was 14.9 percent, a 330 basis point decline compared with the prior-year period due to lower sales.

Dispensing Equipment

• Sales of $46 million in the second quarter reflected a 19 percent decline compared with the second quarter of 2008 (-13 percent organic and -6 percent foreign currency translation), as a result of continued deterioration in capital spending for both the North American and European markets.
• Operating margin of 21.9 percent reflected a 330 basis point decline compared with the second quarter of 2008 due to lower volumes in Europe.

Fire & Safety/Diversified Products

• Sales in the second quarter of $62 million reflected a 20 percent decline compared with the second quarter of 2008 (-14 percent organic and -6 percent foreign currency translation).
• Operating margin of 22.1 percent represented a 230 basis point decline compared with the second quarter of 2008 on lower volumes and unfavorable product mix within the segment.

For the second quarter of 2009, Fluid & Metering Technologies contributed 46 percent of sales and 41 percent of operating income; Health & Science Technologies accounted for 22 percent of sales and 19 percent of operating income; Dispensing Equipment accounted for 14 percent of sales and 17 percent of operating income; and Fire & Safety/Diversified Products represented 18 percent of sales and 23 percent of operating income.

Conference Call to be Broadcast over the Internet

IDEX will broadcast its second quarter earnings conference call over the Internet on Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. CT. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Larry Kingsley and Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Dominic Romeo will discuss the company's recent financial performance and respond to questions from the financial analyst community. IDEX invites interested investors to listen to the call and view the accompanying slide presentation, which will be carried live on its website at www.idexcorp.com. Those who wish to participate should log on several minutes before the discussion begins. After clicking on the presentation icon, investors should follow the instructions to ensure their systems are set up to hear the event and view the presentation slides, or download the correct applications at no charge. Investors will also be able to hear a replay of the call by dialing 888.203.1112 (or 719.457.0820 for international participants) using the ID # 6940348.

A Note on EBITDA and Free Cash Flow

EBITDA means earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, while free cash flow means cash flow from operating activities less capital expenditures plus the excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures as internal operating metrics and for enterprise valuation purposes. Management believes these measures are useful as analytical indicators of leverage capacity and debt servicing ability, and uses them to measure financial performance as well as for planning purposes. However, they should not be considered as alternatives to net income, cash flow from operating activities or any other items calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP, or as an indicator of operating performance. The definitions of EBITDA and free cash flow used here may differ from those used by other companies.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements may relate to, among other things, capital expenditures, cost reductions, cash flow, and operating improvements and are indicated by words or phrases such as "anticipate," "estimate," "plans," "expects," "projects," "should," "will," "management believes," "the company believes," "the company intends," and similar words or phrases. These statements are subject to inherent uncertainties and risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated at the date of this news release. The risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: economic and political consequences resulting from terrorist attacks and wars; levels of industrial activity and economic conditions in the U.S. and other countries around the world; pricing pressures and other competitive factors, and levels of capital spending in certain industries - all of which could have a material impact on order rates and IDEX's results, particularly in light of the low levels of order backlogs it typically maintains; its ability to make acquisitions and to integrate and operate acquired businesses on a profitable basis; the relationship of the U.S. dollar to other currencies and its impact on pricing and cost competitiveness; political and economic conditions in foreign countries in which the company operates; interest rates; capacity utilization and the effect this has on costs; labor markets; market conditions and material costs; and developments with respect to contingencies, such as litigation and environmental matters. The forward-looking statements included here are only made as of the date of this news release, and management undertakes no obligation to publicly update them to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. Investors are cautioned not to rely unduly on forward-looking statements when evaluating the information presented here.

About IDEX

IDEX Corporation is an applied solutions company specializing in fluid and metering technologies, health and science technologies, dispensing equipment, and fire, safety and other diversified products built to its customers' exacting specifications. Its products are sold in niche markets to a wide range of industries throughout the world. IDEX shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange and Chicago Stock Exchange under the symbol "IEX".

For further information on IDEX Corporation and its business units, visit the company's Web site at www.idexcorp.com.

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SOURCE: IDEX Corporation

IDEX Corporation
Investor Contact:
Heath Mitts
Vice President - Corporate Finance
(847) 498-7070

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