DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., Oct. 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Dover (NYSE: DOV) announced today that for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017, revenue was $2.0 billion, an increase of 17% from the prior year. The increase in the quarter was driven by organic growth of 9%, acquisition growth of 10% and a favorable impact from foreign exchange ("FX") of 1%, partially offset by a 3% impact from dispositions. Net earnings were $178.9 million, an increase of 38% as compared to $130.1 million for the prior year period. Diluted net earnings per share ("EPS") for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017, were $1.14, compared to $0.83 EPS in the prior year period, representing an increase of 37%. EPS for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017 included disposition and Wellsite separation related costs of $0.02. Excluding these costs, adjusted EPS for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017 was $1.16, an increase of 40% over the comparable prior year period. EPS for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017, and September 30, 2016, include restructuring costs of $0.02 EPS and $0.04 EPS, respectively.

Dover's President and Chief Executive Officer, Robert A. Livingston, said, "Our third quarter performance reflected continued strength in our global markets. We posted broad-based organic growth in the quarter, which included particularly strong growth at our digital printing, waste handling, bearings & compression and pumps platforms. Additionally, we are very pleased with the strong performance of our businesses comprising Wellsite, which remains on track to be separated in early 2018. In all, our revenue growth and margin improvement were largely in line with our expectations.

"We continue to make strides in simplifying our portfolio. Along with our planned Wellsite separation, we recently signed an agreement to sell the consumer and industrial winch business of Warn for $250 million. This deal marks another step in streamlining our business and focusing on our core growth platforms. The Warn sale is expected to close in the fourth quarter, subject to closing conditions.

"With regard to guidance, we are reaffirming our full year EPS forecast. Our EPS guidance of $4.23 to $4.33 is based on full year revenue growth of 14% to 15% versus our prior forecast of 12% to 14%. Within this guidance, organic growth of 6% to 7%, acquisition growth of 10%, and a negative 2% impact from dispositions all remain largely unchanged. Our revenue forecast includes a neutral impact from FX for the year."

Full year guidance for 2017 does not include the anticipated fourth quarter gain for the Warn sale or any fourth quarter costs related to the Wellsite separation. The gain and incremental separation costs will be reported in EPS upon completion of the Warn disposition, and as costs are incurred for the Wellsite separation.

Dover will host a webcast of its third quarter 2017 conference call at 10:00 A.M. Eastern Time (9:00 A.M. Central Time) on Thursday, October 19, 2017. The webcast can be accessed on the Dover website at dovercorporation.com. The conference call will also be made available for replay on the website. Additional information on Dover's third quarter results and its operating segments can be found on the Company's website.

About the Wellsite Separation:

Dover has previously announced it is exploring strategic alternatives for the separation of its upstream energy businesses within its Energy segment, collectively, the "Wellsite" business. The Company is considering options which may include a tax-free spin-off, sale or other strategic combination. Dover's Wellsite business, which includes Dover Artificial Lift, Dover Energy Automation, and US Synthetic ("USS"), operate in some of the most attractive segments of the oil & gas drilling and production industry. Dover expects to complete its assessment of strategic separation alternatives by the end of the year and will provide additional information once we have decided on a specific transaction or have otherwise determined that further disclosure is required or appropriate.

About Dover:

Dover is a diversified global manufacturer with annual revenue exceeding $7 billion. We deliver innovative equipment and components, specialty systems, consumable supplies, software and digital solutions, and support services through four operating segments: Engineered Systems, Fluids, Refrigeration & Food Equipment and Energy. Dover combines global scale with operational agility to lead the markets we serve. Recognized for our entrepreneurial approach for over 60 years, our team of 29,000 employees takes an ownership mindset, collaborating with customers to redefine what's possible. Headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois, Dover trades on the New York Stock Exchange under "DOV." Additional information is available at dovercorporation.com.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Such statements concern future events and may be indicated by words or phrases such as "may," "anticipates," "expects," "believes," "suggests," "will," "plans," "should," "would," "could," and "forecast," or the use of the future tense and similar words or phrases. Forward-looking statements address matters that are uncertain, including, by way of example only: the potential separation of the Wellsite business, including any potential spin-off, sale or other strategic transaction, operating and strategic plans, future sales, earnings, cash flows, margins, organic growth, growth from acquisitions, restructuring charges, cost structure, capital expenditures, capital allocation, capital structure, dividends, cash flows, exchange rates, tax rates, interest rates, interest expense, changes in operations and trends in industries in which our businesses operate, anticipated market conditions and our positioning, global economies, and operating improvements. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous important risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, some of which are beyond Dover's control. These factors could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations and include, but are not limited to, uncertainties as to the structure and timing of any Wellsite separation transaction and whether it will be completed, the possibility that closing conditions for a Wellsite separation transaction may not be satisfied or waived, the impact of the strategic review and any separation transaction on Dover and the Wellsite business on a standalone basis if the separation is completed, and whether the strategic benefits of separation can be achieved, economic conditions generally and changes in economic conditions globally and in the markets and industries served by our businesses, including oil and gas activity and U.S. industrials activity; conditions and events affecting domestic and global financial and capital markets; oil and natural gas demand, production growth, and prices; changes in exploration and production spending by our customers and changes in the level of oil and natural gas exploration and development; changes in customer demand and capital spending; risks related to our international operations and the ability of our businesses to expand into new geographic markets; the impact of interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; increased competition and pricing pressures; the impact of loss of a significant customer, or loss or non-renewal of significant contracts; the ability of our businesses to adapt to technological developments; the ability of our businesses to develop and launch new products, timing of such launches and risks relating to market acceptance by customers; the relative mix of products and services which impacts margins and operating efficiencies; the impact of loss of a single-source manufacturing facility; short-term capacity constraints; domestic and foreign governmental and public policy changes or developments, including import/export laws and sanctions, tax policies, environmental regulations and conflict minerals disclosure requirements; increases in the cost of raw materials; our ability to identify and successfully consummate value-adding acquisition opportunities or planned divestitures, and to realize anticipated earnings and synergies from acquired businesses and joint ventures; our ability to achieve expected savings from integration and other cost-control initiatives, such as lean and productivity programs as well as efforts to reduce sourcing input costs; the impact of legal compliance risks and litigation, including product recalls; indemnification obligations related to acquired or divested businesses; cybersecurity and privacy risks; protection and validity of patent and other intellectual property rights; goodwill or intangible asset impairment charges; a downgrade in our credit ratings which, among other matters, could make obtaining financing more difficult and costly; and work stoppages, union and works council campaigns and other labor disputes which could impact our productivity. Dover refers you to the documents that it files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, such as its reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K, for a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties that could cause its actual results to differ materially from its current expectations and from the forward-looking statements contained herein. Dover undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required by law.