NEWS RELEASE

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- SPX FLOW, Inc. (NYSE: FLOW) today reported results for the quarter ended September 29, 2018 and revised its 2018 full year guidance.

"Through the first nine months of 2018, we have taken positive steps on our journey to transform SPX FLOW into a high performing operating enterprise. Notably, we developed orders consistent with our product line strategy, securing high-single digit order growth in our highest value product lines while maintaining discipline and selectivity in areas of our portfolio where we are focused on enhancing performance. Over time, we expect this strategy to result in a higher margin profile across the enterprise and a more consistent level of operating performance," said Marc Michael, President and Chief Executive Officer.

"Looking at Q3, revenue grew 8% driven primarily by the timing of large project execution in our Food and Beverage segment. Operating margins were 10.5%, up 290 points year-over-year, predominantly due to lower SG&A expenses including reduced incentive compensation. We generated $25 million of free cash flow and net leverage was reduced to 2.4x."

"Material cost inflation across our business during the third quarter exceeded the targeted surcharges and price increases we implemented earlier in the year to offset inflation and, as a result, we are not realizing the net price benefit anticipated in our previous full year guidance. We are implementing additional pricing actions in the fourth quarter."

"Q3 orders were $500 million, down modestly versus the prior year due to a decline in Food and Beverage system orders, largely offset by high-single digit growth in our highest value product lines and a $15 million order for midstream pipeline valves in North America where demand and order activity remains healthy. Overall gross margins in Q3 orders were below our guidance assumptions."

"We have revised our full year guidance to reflect our Q3 results, a lower level of price realization and the continued execution of lower margin projects in our Q4 backlog. We are now expecting organic revenue growth of 4% to 5% and EPS between $2.21 and $2.34 per share. EBITDA is expected to be between $232 and $240 million, including $8 million of foreign currency losses. And free cash flow is expected to be in the range of $90 to $100 million, approximately 100% conversion of net income."

"While I am pleased with the progress we are making on our growth strategy, there is opportunity for a higher level of performance going forward as we continue our operational transformation. Our focus on growing our highest value product lines is strengthening the future return profile of our business and the entire organization is motivated to improve operational performance, increase customer satisfaction and deliver shareholder returns," concluded Michael.

Third Quarter 2018 Consolidated Results

Note: The commentary below is compared to the prior year period.

• Backlog increased 5.7% with growth across all three segments, including double-digit growth in Industrial backlog. Organically, backlog increased by 7.2%, and foreign currency translation impacted backlog by (1.5)%.
   
• Orders declined (2.4)% driven by a reduction in large and medium-size system orders in the Food and Beverage segment. Partially offsetting this decline was an increase in OE pipeline valve orders and in Industrial and Food and Beverage component orders. Additionally, aftermarket orders across the enterprise grew high-single-digits with growth in each segment. Organically, orders declined by (0.8)%, and foreign currency translation impacted orders by (1.6)%.
   
• Revenues grew 8.0%, and included organic growth in both OE and aftermarket value streams in all three segments. Organic revenue* increased by 7.6%, foreign currency translation impacted revenue by (1.5)% and the adoption of the ASC 606 revenue recognition standard benefited revenue by 1.9%.
   
• Operating income was $55.8 million, or 10.5% of revenues, an increase of $18.3 million, or 290 points. The increase in income and margin was driven by a decrease in incentive compensation expense, the revenue growth described above and savings from cost reduction initiatives. Additionally, the company recorded $0.2 million of special charges, as compared to $2.3 million in the prior year period.
   
• Other income (expense) was ($2.8) million as compared to $0.6 million in the prior year period primarily driven by foreign currency losses as the U.S. dollar strengthened against foreign currencies.
   
• Diluted earnings per share were $0.77, up 157% from the prior year and included:
  • A net tax benefit of $0.07 per share as compared to the company's guidance primarily related to the refinement of our accounting with regard to transition tax included in the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and benefits from filing prior year tax returns versus previous expectations.
     
• EBITDA* increased by $14.7 million, or 27.7%, to $67.8 million primarily driven by the increase in operating income noted above.
   
• Free cash flow* generation was $24.5 million and included $4.9 million of capital expenditures and $1.6 million of restructuring payments.

Third Quarter 2018 Results by Segment

Food and Beverage

Note: The commentary below is compared to the prior year period.

• Backlog increased 2.4% driven primarily by an increase in component and aftermarket orders. Organically, backlog increased by 4.0% and foreign currency translation impacted backlog by (1.6)%.
   
• Orders declined (16.2)% due to fewer large system orders as compared to the prior period which contained a dry dairy processing order valued at $28 million. Partially offsetting the decline was an increase in component and aftermarket orders. Organically, orders declined (14.4)%, and foreign currency translation impacted orders by (1.8)%.
   
• Revenues grew 10.4% driven by growth in systems, aftermarket and components revenue. Organic revenue* increased by 7.3%, the adoption of the ASC 606 revenue recognition standard benefited revenue by 5.1% and foreign currency translation impacted revenue by (2.0)%.
   
• The increase in segment income and margin was primarily driven by a decrease in incentive compensation expense and the revenue growth noted above.

Power and Energy

Note: The commentary below is compared to the prior year period.

• Backlog increased 5.1% driven primarily by a higher level of OE valve and pump orders in North American midstream oil applications. Organically, backlog increased by 5.9%, and foreign currency translation impacted backlog by (0.8)%.
   
• Orders increased by 4.3% driven primarily by increased demand for oil pipeline valves in the North American midstream oil applications along with an uptick in aftermarket activity for upstream pumps. Organically, orders increased by 5.1%, and foreign currency translation impacted orders by (0.8)%.
   
• Revenues increased 4.0% driven primarily by a higher level of OE pump shipments into North American midstream oil applications and modest aftermarket growth. Partially offsetting this growth was a decrease in OE valve shipments. Organic revenue* increased by 7.0%, the adoption of the ASC 606 revenue recognition standard impacted revenue by (2.2)% and foreign currency translation impacted revenue by (0.8)%.
   
• The decrease in segment income and margin was due primarily to a lower margin revenue mix and increased costs on oil and gas related projects, which were partially offset by a reduction of incentive compensation expense and savings from cost reduction initiatives.

Industrial

Note: The commentary below is compared to the prior year period.

• Backlog increased 12.0% with the growth concentrated in the mixer, pump and hydraulic tools product lines and, to a lesser extent, in dehydration equipment. Organically, backlog increased by 14.9%, and foreign currency translation impacted backlog by (2.9)%.
   
• Orders grew 6.6% led by growth across the mixer and dehydration product lines and, to a lesser extent, hydraulic tools and pumps. Partially offsetting this growth was a decline in orders for heat exchangers. Organically, orders increased by 8.7%, and foreign currency translation impacted orders by (2.1)%.
   
• Revenues grew 8.7% driven by increased shipments of mixers, dehydration equipment, and pumps. Organic revenue* increased by 8.6%, the adoption of the ASC 606 revenue recognition standard benefited revenue by 2.0% and foreign currency translation impacted revenue by (1.9)%.
   
• The segment income growth and margin expansion was driven primarily by the organic growth described above and, to a lesser extent, a reduction in incentive compensation expense.

OTHER ITEMS

Debt Repayment:   On October 31, 2018, the company intends to prepay $30 million on its term loan, reducing the outstanding balance to $175 million.

Form 10- Q:  The company expects to file its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 29, 2018 with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 30, 2018. This news release should be read in conjunction with that filing, which will be available on the company's website at www.spxflow.com, in the Investor Relations section.

About SPX FLOW, Inc.:  Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, SPX FLOW, Inc. (NYSE: FLOW) innovates with customers to help feed and enhance the world by designing, delivering and servicing high value solutions at the heart of growing and sustaining our diverse communities. The company's product offering is concentrated in rotating, actuating and hydraulic technologies, as well as automated process systems, into food and beverage, industrial and power and energy markets. SPX FLOW has approximately $2 billion in annual revenues with operations in more than 30 countries and sales in more than 150 countries. To learn more about SPX FLOW, please visit www.spxflow.com.

*Non-GAAP measure. See attached schedules for reconciliation from most comparable GAAP measure. Management believes these Non-GAAP metrics are commonly used financial measures for investors to evaluate our operating performance for the periods presented, and when read in conjunction with our condensed consolidated financial statements, present a useful tool to evaluate our ongoing operations and provide investors with metrics they can use to evaluate our management of the business from period to period. In addition, these are some of the factors we use in internal evaluations of the overall performance of our business.

Management acknowledges that there are many items that impact a company's reported results and the adjustments reflected in these Non-GAAP measures are not intended to present all items that may have impacted these results. In addition, these Non-GAAP measures are not necessarily comparable to similarly-titled measures used by other companies.

(1)     Organic revenue growth (decline) is calculated on a constant currency basis and excludes the net impact related to the adoption of the ASC 606 revenue recognition standard.

Note: Net leverage is as defined by the company's credit facility.

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are subject to the safe harbor created thereby. Please read these results in conjunction with the company's documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. These filings identify important risk factors and other uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from these statements. The words "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "target," "project," "believe" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Although the company believes that the expectations reflected in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.  These statements are only predictions. Actual events or results may differ materially because of market conditions or other factors, and forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a prediction of actual results.  All the forward-looking statements in this press release are qualified in their entirety by reference to the factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the 2017 Form 10-K and in any other documents filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission that describe risks and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements. These risk factors may not be exhaustive. Further, the company operates in a continually changing business environment and cannot predict new risk factors that may arise as a result of these changes.  In addition, estimates of future operating results are based on the company's current complement of businesses, which is subject to change. Statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release, and SPX FLOW disclaims any responsibility to update or revise such statements.

Investor and Media Contact:
Ryan Taylor, Vice President, Communications and Investor Relations
Phone: 704-752-4486
Email: investor@spxflow.com

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SOURCE SPX FLOW, Inc.