DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., Jan. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Dover (NYSE: DOV) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2013.  In addition, the Company is providing pro forma unaudited financial data for Dover, excluding Knowles and related spin-off costs, for the full year ended December 31, 2013.  The planned spin-off of Knowles remains on track and is expected to be finalized before the end of the first quarter 2014.

Dover Results (including Knowles)

Revenue for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2013 was $2.2 billion, an increase of 10% over the prior year period. The revenue increase was driven by organic growth of 5% and a 5% increase from acquisitions. Earnings from continuing operations were $210.8 million, or $1.22 diluted earnings per share ("EPS"), compared to $208.2 million, or $1.16 EPS, in the prior year period, representing increases of 1% and 5%, respectively. EPS from continuing operations includes Knowles spin-off costs of $0.09 EPS and discrete tax benefits of $0.03 recognized in the current quarter. Excluding these items and a $0.07 EPS tax benefit recognized in the prior year period, adjusted EPS from continuing operations for the fourth quarter of 2013 was $1.28, reflecting an increase of 17% over an adjusted EPS of $1.09 in the prior year period.

Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2013, was $8.7 billion, an increase of 8% over the prior year, reflecting organic growth of 3% and a 5% increase from acquisitions. Earnings from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2013, were $965.8 million, or $5.57 EPS, compared to $833.1 million, or $4.53 EPS in the prior year period, representing increases of 16% and 23%, respectively.  EPS from continuing operations for the year includes Knowles spin-off costs of $0.17 EPS, discrete tax benefits of $0.44 EPS, and other one-time gains of $0.02 compared to $0.09 EPS of discrete tax benefits in the prior year. Excluding these items, adjusted EPS from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2013 was $5.28, an increase of 19% over an adjusted EPS of $4.44 in the prior year.

Commenting on the fourth quarter results, Dover's President and Chief Executive Officer, Robert A. Livingston, said, "I am very pleased with our fourth quarter results as we achieved solid organic growth in all segments.  Our broad-based order and shipment activity was particularly strong at our businesses serving the refrigeration and food equipment, fast moving consumer goods, fluids, drilling and downstream energy markets. In the consumer electronics market, our strong position with a key OEM allowed us to grow nicely despite continuing headwinds at two other customers.  Additionally, we closed on several acquisitions in the quarter, notably in the fluids and downstream energy spaces, and raised €300 million in the debt market.  These actions have positioned us well as we move into 2014."

"For the year, we generated over $940 million in free cash flow. We continued to make significant internal and acquisition investments in our key growth spaces, increased the dividend for the 58^th consecutive year, and progressed as planned on our $1 billion share repurchase program."

Net earnings for the fourth quarter of 2013 were $194.0 million or $1.13 EPS, including a loss from discontinued operations of $16.8 million, or $0.10 EPS, compared to net earnings of $159.9 million, or $0.89 EPS, for the same period of 2012, which included a loss from discontinued operations of $48.4 million, or $0.27 EPS. Reflected within discontinued operations were impairment charges of $14.0 million, or $0.08 EPS, in 2013 and $51.9 million, or $0.29 EPS, in 2012, connected with the anticipated sale of our electronic test and assembly businesses.

Net earnings for the year ended December 31, 2013 were $1.0 billion, or $5.78 EPS, including net earnings from discontinued operations of $37.3 million, or $0.22 EPS, compared to net earnings of $811.1 million, or $4.41 EPS, for the same period of 2012, which included a net loss from discontinued operations of $22.0 million or $0.12 EPS. Reflected within discontinued operations were impairment charges connected with the anticipated sale of our electronic test and assembly businesses of $32.7 million, net of tax, or $0.19 EPS in 2013, and $51.9 million, net of tax, or $0.28 EPS in 2012, and discrete tax benefits of $54.8 million, or $0.32 EPS in 2013.

Dover Results (excluding Knowles) Pro Forma

In connection with the spin-off, certain pro forma unaudited financial data is being provided for Dover, excluding Knowles and related spin-off costs, for the year ending December 31, 2013.  Effective with the anticipated first quarter spin-off, it is expected that Knowles will be accounted for as a discontinued operation in the Company's financial statements.

Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2013 was $7.5 billion, an increase of 8% over the prior year. Earnings from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2013, were $832 million, or $4.79 EPS, increases of 21% and 28% over the prior year, respectively.  Adjusted EPS from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2013 was $4.31, representing an increase of 18% over an adjusted prior year period.

Dover Outlook (excluding Knowles) Pro Forma

Mr. Livingston continued, "We are very excited about the strength and positioning of Dover.  Our markets are improving and our team is executing at a high level, as evidenced by our second half growth rates.  Accordingly, we expect the strong performance we saw in the fast moving consumer goods and refrigeration markets to continue into 2014.  We also expect the solid market conditions for our fluids and downstream energy businesses to carryover from the fourth quarter.  Finally, within Energy we anticipate improved North American markets for our drilling and artificial lift businesses, along with continued geographic expansion. In all, excluding Knowles, we expect full year organic growth of 3% to 4% complemented by acquisition growth of 2%, resulting in revenue growth of 5% to 6%.  The benefits of our lean and productivity initiatives, leverage on volume, and a lower share count from our ongoing repurchase program will drive solid EPS growth.  As a result, we anticipate full year diluted EPS from continuing operations to be in the range of $4.60 - $4.80 on a pro forma basis excluding Knowles and related spin-off costs. At the mid-point, our guidance represents a 9% increase."

Dover will host a webcast of its fourth quarter 2013 conference call at 10:00 A.M. Eastern Time (9:00 A.M. Central Time) on Thursday, January 30, 2014. The webcast can be accessed on the Dover website at www.dovercorporation.com. The conference call will also be made available for replay on the website. Additional information on Dover's fourth quarter results and its operating segments can also be found on the Company's website.

About Dover:

Dover is a diversified global manufacturer with annual revenues approaching $8 billion.  For over 50 years, Dover has been delivering outstanding products and services that reflect its market leadership and commitment to operational and technical excellence. The Company's entrepreneurial business model encourages, promotes and fosters deep customer engagement which has led to Dover's well-established and valued reputation for providing superior customer service and industry-leading product innovation. Dover focuses on innovative equipment and components, specialty systems and support services through its four major operating segments: Communication Technologies, Energy, Engineered Systems and Printing & Identification. Headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois, Dover is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under "DOV." Additional information is available on our website at www.dovercorporation.com.

Forward-Looking Statement:

This press release contains "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements relate to, among other things, 2014 revenue growth and earnings per share, expected performance following the completion of the planned spin-off of Knowles, anticipated market conditions and our positioning, expected contributions from acquisitions, as well as productivity initiatives, leverage on increased sales and share repurchase activities, operating and strategic plans, cash flows, industries in which Dover businesses operate and the U.S. and global economies.  The forward-looking statements in this release may be indicated by words or phrases such as "anticipate," "expect," "believe," "indicate," "suggests," "will," "plans," "supports," "projects," "should," "would," "could," "forecast" and "management is of the opinion," or the use of the future tense. Forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations, including, but not limited to, the state of the worldwide economy and sovereign credit; political events; the impact of natural disasters and their effect on global supply chains and energy markets; current economic conditions and uncertainties in the credit and capital markets; instability in countries where we conduct business; our ability to expand into new geographic markets and to anticipate and meet customer demands for new products; increased competition and pricing pressures in our markets; the impact of the proposed spin-off and our ability to consummate it as anticipated; the terms and timing of the sale of any business in discontinued operations; the impact of loss of a single-source manufacturing facility; changes in customer demand or loss of a significant customer; the relative mix of products and services which impacts margins and operating efficiencies; short-term capacity constraints; increases in the cost of raw materials; domestic and foreign governmental and public policy changes including environmental regulations, conflict minerals disclosure requirements, and tax policies (including domestic and international export subsidy programs, R&E credits and other similar programs); protection and validity of patent and other intellectual property rights; our ability to identify and successfully consummate value-adding acquisition opportunities;  our ability to achieve expected savings from integration, synergy and other cost-control initiatives; unforeseen developments in contingencies such as litigation; international economic conditions including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; possible future terrorist threats and their effect on the worldwide economy; and a downgrade in our credit ratings. It also contains unaudited pro forma financial information for Dover excluding Knowles, which is not necessarily indicative of Dover's operating results for any future period. We refer you to the documents we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, such as our 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 our actual results to differ materially from our current expectations and from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required by law.