Press Release Details

Donaldson Company, Inc. (NYSE: DCI) announced its financial results for its fiscal 2011 first quarter. Summarized financial results are as follows (dollars in millions, except per share data):

"I am very pleased with our first quarter performance which delivered an all-time EPS record of $0.68," said Bill Cook, Chairman, President and CEO. "Our sales were up 25 percent from last year and also grew 4 percent sequentially from the previous quarter. Our sales growth, combined with our operating margin of 13.9 percent, generated a 42 percent increase in operating income and a 55 percent increase in EPS. Our sales have now improved sequentially in each of the past six quarters."

"Sales in our Engine Products' segment increased 33 percent over the prior year as new equipment build rates accelerated at our OEM Customers. Our Aftermarket Products' sales remained at record levels due to our continued market share gains and better equipment utilization rates in the field."

"Within our Industrial Products' segment, sales increased 15 percent due to the continued improvement of dust collection sales within Industrial Filtration Solutions Products and continued strong sales within Special Applications."

"Sales improved in all of our regions as local currency sales increased 32 percent in the Americas, 29 percent in Europe, and 16 percent in Asia."

"We expect a continued strengthening of our business conditions and some benefit from the weaker US$ resulting in our new projection of full year revenues of approximately $2.2 billion. With a projected record operating margin performance of between 12.8 and 13.8 percent, we now forecast our full year EPS to be a new record between $2.54 and $2.74."

Financial Statement Discussion

The impact of foreign currency translation decreased sales by $3.7 million, or 0.9 percent compared to the same period last year. The impact of foreign currency translation on net earnings was not material.

Gross margin was 35.0 percent, compared to 34.7 percent in last year's first quarter. The increase in this year's first quarter gross margin was the result of improved fixed cost absorption and our ongoing Continuous Improvement initiatives, partially offset by increases in our purchased raw material costs and a less favorable sales mix. In addition, last year's first quarter gross margin included restructuring charges of $0.8 million.

Operating expenses for the quarter were $113.6 million, up 18.4 percent from $96.0 million last year. As a percent of sales, operating expenses decreased to 21.2 percent from 22.4 percent last year. Included in the current quarter's operating expenses were restructuring charges of $0.7 million. Last year's first quarter operating expenses included $0.5 million of restructuring charges.

The effective tax rate for the quarter was 26.2 percent, compared to a prior year rate of 30.9 percent. The decrease was primarily due to favorable settlements of foreign tax audits.

As part of our ongoing share repurchase program, we repurchased 150,000 shares, or 0.2 percent of our outstanding shares, for $6.5 million.

FY11 Outlook

We expect a continued recovery in many of our end markets in FY11, with higher growth rates in the emerging economies.

• We are planning our total FY11 sales to be approximately $2.2 billion. For the full year FY11 versus FY10, we now expect foreign currency translation to increase sales by 2 percent based on the Euro at US$1.38 and 82 Yen to the US$.
• Our full year operating margin is forecasted to be 12.8 to 13.8 percent. Our annual stock option expense is estimated to be between $7.5 and $8.5 million, with 70 percent of that incurred in the second quarter.
• Our full year FY11 tax rate is projected to be between 27 and 30 percent.
• Our full year FY11 EPS is expected to be between $2.54 and $2.74.
• Cash generated by operating activities is projected to be between $250 and $280 million in FY11. Capital spending is estimated to be between $70 and $80 million.

Engine Products: We expect full year sales to increase 19 to 24 percent, including the impact of foreign currency translation.

• We anticipate sales to our construction, agricultural, and mining equipment OEM Customers to remain strong as their production rates continue to increase.
• We are forecasting lower sales for our Aerospace and Defense Products due to the decreases in U.S. government spending for major programs.
• In our On-Road Products' business, we believe that build rates for heavy- and medium-duty trucks at our OEM Customers will continue improving.
• Sales of our Aftermarket Products are expected to remain strong based on current utilization rates for both heavy trucks and off-road equipment. We also expect to continue benefitting as our distribution networks expand in emerging economies and from the increasing number of systems installed in the field with PowerCore® and our other proprietary filtration systems.

Industrial Products: We forecast full year FY11 sales to increase 10 to 15 percent, including the impact of foreign currency translation.

• Our Industrial Filtration Solutions' sales are projected to increase 13 to 18 percent as the demand for new filtration equipment continues to improve as general industrial capital spending increases.
• We anticipate our Gas Turbine Products' sales to be up approximately 5 percent due to strength in the oil and gas markets.
• Special Applications Products' sales are forecasted to increase 9 to 14 percent as the end markets for our various specialty filtration products are expected to continue growing.

About Donaldson Company

Donaldson is a leading worldwide provider of filtration systems that improve people's lives, enhance our Customers' equipment performance, and protect our environment. We are a technology-driven Company committed to satisfying our Customers' needs for filtration solutions through innovative research and development, application expertise, and global presence. Our employees contribute to the Company's success by supporting our Customers at our more than 100 sales, manufacturing, and distribution locations around the world.

Donaldson is a member of the S&P MidCap 400 and Russell 1000 indices, and our shares trade on the NYSE under the symbol DCI. Additional information is available at www.donaldson.com.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES REFORM ACT OF 1995

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 forecasts, plans, and projections relating to our business and financial performance and global economic conditions, which involve uncertainties that could materially impact results.

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, our Customers' financial condition, the potential for some Customers to increase their reliance on their own filtration capabilities, currency fluctuations, commodity prices, political factors, the Company's international operations, highly competitive markets, governmental laws and regulations, including the impact of various economic stimulus and financial reform measures, the implementation of our new information technology systems, potential global events resulting in market instability including financial bailouts of sovereign nations, political changes, military and terrorist activities, health outbreaks, and other factors included in our Annual and Quarterly Reports. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.

Although free cash flow, EBITDA, net sales excluding foreign currency translation, net earnings excluding foreign currency translation, net earnings excluding restructuring charges and net earnings per share assuming dilution excluding restructuring charges 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. Both net sales and net earnings excluding foreign currency translation provide a comparable measure for understanding the operating results of the company's foreign entities excluding the impact of foreign exchange. Both net earnings excluding restructuring charges and earnings per share excluding restructuring charges provide a comparable measure for understanding the results of the Company as compared to prior periods. 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.

Donaldson Company, Inc.
Rich Sheffer, 952-887-3753