News Release

• Sales Grow 5% for Q4 and 9.2% for Full-Year Fiscal 2012
• Q4 GAAP Operating Income Up 19.1% and Non-GAAP Q4 Operating Income Increases 16.5%
• Q4 GAAP EPS from Continuing Ops Increases 22.1% and Q4 Non-GAAP EPS from Continuing Ops Grows 12.1%
• Reports Net Cash Position for First Time in Company History

SALEM, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 28, 2012-- Standex International Corporation (NYSE:SXI) today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended June 30, 2012.

Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2012 Results from Continuing Operations

• Net sales increased 5.0% to $169.8 million from $161.7 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011.
• Income from operations was $18.5 million compared with $15.5 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011. Operating income for the fourth quarter of 2012 included, pre-tax, $0.2 million of restructuring charges and $0.5 million of acquisition-related expenses. The fourth quarter of 2011 included, pre-tax, $0.4 million of restructuring charges and $0.6 million in acquisition-related expenses. Excluding these items from both periods, the Company reported non-GAAP fourth-quarter fiscal 2012 operating income of $19.2 million compared with $16.5 million in the year-earlier quarter, an increase of 16.5%.
• Net income from continuing operations was $13.5 million, or $1.05 per diluted share, including, after tax, $0.2 million of restructuring charges, $0.3 million of acquisition-related expenses and $0.8 million in non-recurring tax benefits. This compares with fourth quarter 2011 net income from continuing operations of $10.9 million, or $0.86 per diluted share, which includes, after tax, $0.2 million of restructuring charges and $0.4 million in acquisition-related expenses. Excluding the aforementioned items from both periods, non-GAAP net income from continuing operations increased 13.9% to $13.2 million, or $1.02 per diluted share, from $11.5 million, or $0.91 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011.
• EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization) was $22.1 million compared with $19.1 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011. Excluding the previously mentioned items from both periods, EBITDA increased 13.4% to $22.8 million from $20.1 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011.
• Net working capital (defined as accounts receivable plus inventories less accounts payable) was $110.4 million at the end of the fourth quarter of 2012, compared with $102.0 million a year earlier. Working capital turns were 6.2 for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, compared with 6.3 turns in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011.
• For the first time in history, the Company had a net cash position (defined as short-term debt plus long-term debt less cash) of $4.7 million at June 30, 2012. This compares to net debt of $21.1 million at March 31, 2012.

A reconciliation of net income, earnings per share and net income from continuing operations from reported GAAP amounts to non-GAAP amounts is included later in this release.

Management Comments

“Our strong fourth quarter financial results closed out a year of solid performance for Standex,” said President and CEO Roger Fix. “Four of our five groups reported year-over-year sales growth for the quarter, resulting in organic growth of 6.5%, partially offset by 1.5% negative foreign exchange. We continued to leverage sales growth into strong earnings performance as all five groups increased the bottom line, growing non-GAAP operating income by 16.5% and non-GAAP EPS from continuing operations by 12.1% to $1.02 per diluted share – a quarterly record for the company.”

“We exited the year in the strongest financial condition that the company has ever been in,” said Fix. “During the fiscal year we generated $3.40/ share of free cash flow, excluding a $6 million voluntary contribution to the US defined benefit pension plan, and finished the year in a net cash position of $4.7 million. This is the first time in the company’s history that we have been in a net cash position. For the year, sales were up 9.2% with organic growth of 6.9% and all five groups increasing sales year over year. As a result, we increased our full-year non-GAAP net income from continuing operations by 14.8% to $43.4 million, or $3.39 per diluted share – another company record.”

Segment Review

Food Service Equipment Group sales increased 3.9% year-over-year, with operating income increasing 11.2%.

“Growth at Refrigerated Solutions was driven by continued strong demand from quick service restaurant chains,” said Fix. “We also continue to be successful in the dollar store segment where we are growing our market share and customer base. The response to our rack refrigeration offering has been very exciting, and the product is generating strong interest from consultants, large drugstores and large chains. In addition, our value line of upright cabinets and under counter refrigeration products has been very well received by the dealer market and has grown aggressively since its introduction three years ago. We are also pleased with our bottom-line performance at Refrigeration Solutions and expect continued improvement.¹”

“At Cooking Solutions, we are still seeing soft demand from the retail grocery segment in the UK as well as lower sales to several US-based quick service chain customers,” said Fix. “We are focused on broadening our penetration of the chain segment, as this strategy has been successful on the refrigeration side of the business. On the bottom line, volume deleveraging, product mix and higher warranty costs affected margins. We are aggressively implementing cost reduction and other initiatives to improve profitability at Cooking Solutions.

“On the positive side, our custom merchandising businesses reported strong sales in the fourth quarter, and we expect that trend will continue¹. In addition, we are pleased with the market reaction to our new Giorik Steambox combination steam and convection ovens since we announced our exclusive distributor relationship with Giorik in April.”

Engraving Group sales increased 13.5% year-over-year, with 48.0% growth in operating income.

“Continued demand at our North America, China and Europe Mold-Tech operations from new automotive platforms resulted in strong sales and operating income growth,” continued Fix. “We believe that the roll engraving and machinery businesses have now stabilized and we are beginning to see more quotation activity¹. We continue to make progress with our emerging economy strategy, which is focused on Asia Pacific, China and South America. The relocation of our Brazilian engraving operation is underway and we have additional investments planned for Asia in fiscal 2013. Based on expected OEM car launch plans and the negative effect of foreign currency, we do not expect that automotive platform sales for mold texturizing in fiscal 2013 will be at the same record level of sales that we achieved in fiscal 2012.¹ However, current OEM plans for future car launches would indicate that fiscal 2014 will be another record year.¹”

Engineering Technologies Group sales decreased 5.7% year-over-year, with a 2.9% increase in operating income.

“Engineering Technologies’ year-over-year sales decline was due to a difficult comparison with the year-ago quarter as a result of the project-based nature of the business,” said Fix. “In the fourth-quarter of 2011, we recorded exceptionally high levels of revenue in the aerospace and navy nuclear markets. This was partially offset by higher sales from the oil and gas market in fiscal 2012 as a result of our Metal Spinners acquisition. At our legacy Spincraft business, demand in the land-based turbine market is steady but we are not seeing a significant rebound from the current low sales level. We continue to be encouraged by the long-term opportunities for this group across several markets.¹”

The Electronics Products Group reported 11.5% year-over-year sales growth, with operating income increasing 34.8%.

“Our double-digit sales increase in the fourth quarter was the result of the success of our new product launches as well as improvements in the reed switch market,” said Fix. “We are launching a series of new customer programs throughout calendar 2013 that should contribute to sales and earnings for the quarters and years to come.¹ Looking at the bottom line, we capitalized on our prior cost reduction initiatives and continued to demonstrate strong operating leverage on increased sales. After the close of the fourth quarter, we established a global presence for the group with the acquisition of Meder Electronic, which is highly complementary with Standex Electronics in terms of geography, products and industry coverage. We are enthusiastic about the synergistic fit and the growth prospects for the combined business.¹”

The Hydraulics Products Group reported 19.9% year-over-year sales growth, with operating income increasing 74.4%.

“We continue to increase our penetration in the North American market for dump trailer systems and we are seeing good growth from the roll off refuse market where we have made share gains,” said Fix. “We also reported solid growth from our China facility where we manufacture telescopic and rod cylinders for export to all of our major geographic markets. This facility is contributing to both sales and profit growth, and we are expanding that operation to capitalize on additional opportunities.¹ On the bottom line, we leveraged our low cost structure to achieve a double-digit increase in operating income.”

Business Outlook

“As we enter fiscal 2013, we plan to build upon our financial and operational successes of the past year,¹” said Fix. “Our organic and acquisition growth initiatives have been working well as evidenced by the 9.2% overall top line growth rate we recorded in fiscal 2012. We also are making good progress expanding each of our segments internationally and plan to advance this strategy further in fiscal 2013.¹ In addition, we have a strong balance sheet to support our M&A strategy.”

“As we advance our strategy in 2013, we expect to face a few headwinds including a soft European economy, negative year over year foreign exchange comparisons, and increased expense associated with our legacy defined benefit pension plan in the US.¹ At the same time, our organic and acquisitive initiatives position us well to offset the effect that these factors may have on our results.¹ In addition, we plan to take advantage of our streamlined cost structure and focus on productivity to generate solid operating leverage and strong profitability,¹” concluded Fix.

Conference Call Details

Standex will host a conference call for investors today, August 28, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. ET. On the call, Roger Fix, president and CEO, and Thomas DeByle, CFO, will review the Company’s financial results and business and operating highlights. Investors interested in listening to the webcast should log on to the “Investor Relations” section of Standex’s website, located at www.standex.com. The Company's slide show accompanying the webcast audio also can be accessed via its website. To listen to the playback, please dial (888) 286-8010 in the U.S. or (617) 801-6888 internationally; the passcode is 35307963. The replay also can be accessed in the “Investor Relations” section of the Company’s website, located at www.standex.com.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

EBITDA, which is "Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization," non-GAAP income from operations, non-GAAP net income from continuing operations and free cash flow are non-GAAP financial measures and are intended to serve as a complement to results provided in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Standex believes that such information provides an additional measurement and consistent historical comparison of the Company's performance. A reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures is available in this news release.

About Standex

Standex International Corporation is a multi-industry manufacturer in five broad business segments: Food Service Equipment Group, Engineering Technologies Group, Engraving Group, Electronics Products Group, and Hydraulics Products Group with operations in the United States, Europe, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Turkey, South Africa, India and China. For additional information, visit the Company's website at www.standex.com.

¹ Safe Harbor Language

Statements in this news release include, or may be based upon, management's current expectations, estimates and/or projections about Standex's markets and industries. These statements are forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may materially differ from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ are the impact of implementation of government regulations and programs affecting our businesses, unforeseen legal judgments, fines or settlements, uncertainty in conditions in the financial and banking markets, general domestic and international economy including more specifically increases in raw material costs, the ability to substitute less expensive alternative raw materials, the heavy construction vehicle market, the ability to continue to successfully implement productivity improvements, increase market share, access new markets, introduce new products, enhance our presence in strategic channels, the successful expansion and automation of manufacturing capabilities and diversification efforts in emerging markets, the ability to continue to achieve cost savings through lean manufacturing, cost reduction activities, and low cost sourcing, effective completion of plant consolidations, successful completion and integration of acquisitions and the other factors discussed in the Annual Report of Standex on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2011, which is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and any subsequent periodic reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent management's estimates only as of the day made and should not be relied upon as representing management's estimates as of any subsequent date. While the Company may elect to update forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company and management specifically disclaim any obligation to do so, even if management's estimates change.

Source: Standex International Corporation

Standex International Corporation
Thomas DeByle, 603-893-9701
CFO
InvestorRelations@Standex.com