Colfax Names Board Member Clay Kiefaber President and Chief Executive Officer, Succeeding John Young
January 11 2010 - 7:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
Company Reaffirms 2009 Earnings and Sales Guidance RICHMOND, Va.,
Jan. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Colfax Corporation (NYSE: CFX), a
global leader in fluid-handling solutions for critical
applications, today announced that Clay H. Kiefaber has been named
President and Chief Executive Officer effective today, succeeding
John A. Young in these positions. Kiefaber spent nearly 20 years in
increasingly senior executive positions at Masco Corporation and
has served on the Colfax Board of Directors since the Company's IPO
in 2008. Young, who has been with Colfax since 1995 and has served
as President and CEO since 2000, has also resigned from the Colfax
Board and is expected to remain an advisor to the Company.
Kiefaber, 54, has extensive experience in strategic planning, lean
manufacturing, business integration, and leadership development
across several industries. Most recently, he was a Group President
at Masco, where he was responsible for a $2.8 billion group of
architectural coatings, windows, and spa business units. Under his
direction, the group's operating income and cash flow increased
significantly. Prior to becoming a Group President at Masco,
Kiefaber was Group Vice President of Masco Builder Cabinet Group.
He previously spent 14 years in increasingly senior positions in
Masco's Merillat Industries subsidiary, where, as President, he
achieved record revenues, industry-leading margins, developed the
leading brand in the industry, and won awards for manufacturing
excellence. Mitchell P. Rales, Chairman of the Board of Directors
of Colfax, said, "I have known Clay Kiefaber for over 20 years, and
he is an extremely talented and proven leader with a superb track
record. He is also passionate about the same core values that
Colfax embraces and is committed to driving the Colfax Business
System throughout the organization. We are fortunate he has agreed
to lead the Company in the next phase of its growth. As a member of
our Board, Clay already has a deep understanding of our businesses,
and under his direction Colfax will continue to pursue both organic
growth initiatives and strategic acquisitions. The Board and I look
forward to working with him in his new role as we continue to
position Colfax to take full advantage of its many opportunities."
Rales added, "On behalf of the Board, I want to acknowledge the
many contributions John Young has made over the years and the major
role he has played in the Company's growth since its inception. We
thank him for his dedicated service and wish him continued success
in his future endeavors." Young said, "I am very proud of where
Colfax is today and what we have accomplished over the last 14
years. I look forward to pursuing other professional opportunities
with the confidence that Colfax will enjoy continued success for
many years to come." Kiefaber said, "Colfax has a tremendous
product portfolio, industry-leading application expertise, a strong
balance sheet, and is well positioned for long-term growth. I look
forward to working closely with the Board and leadership team as we
work hard to build Colfax into a world-class company in the years
ahead." Kiefaber holds an M.B.A. degree from the University of
Colorado and a B.A. degree from Miami University. Outlook Colfax
also reaffirmed its previous 2009 guidance of adjusted earnings per
share of $0.88 to $0.94 and organic sales decline of 8% to 10%. See
below for a discussion of these non-GAAP financial measures.
Conference Call and Webcast Colfax will host a conference call to
discuss this announcement today at 9:00 a.m. ET. The call will be
open to the public through (877) 218-1796 or (706) 679-2386 by
entering the following conference ID: 49440740. The call will also
be available via webcast at Colfax's website:
http://www.colfaxcorp.com/ under the "Investor Relations" section.
The audio of this call will be archived on the website later today
and will be available for 30 days. Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Colfax has provided in this press release estimated adjusted
earnings per share and organic sales growth (decline) for 2009 that
have not been prepared in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted earnings
per share exclude actual and estimated restructuring and other
related charges, asbestos coverage litigation expenses and asbestos
liability and defense costs. Organic sales growth (decline)
excludes the impact of acquisitions and foreign exchange rate
fluctuations. These non-GAAP financial measures assist Colfax in
comparing its operating performance on a consistent basis because,
among other things, it removes the impact of changes in our capital
structure and asset base, non-recurring items such as legacy
asbestos issues and items outside the control of its operating
management team. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be
considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, financial
information calculated in accordance with GAAP. Investors are
encouraged to review the reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to
their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. A
reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures presented above
to the comparable GAAP measures have been provided in the financial
tables included in this press release. About Colfax Corporation
Colfax Corporation is a global leader in critical fluid-handling
products and technologies. Through its global operating
subsidiaries, Colfax manufactures positive displacement industrial
pumps and valves used in oil & gas, power generation,
commercial marine, global naval and general industrial markets.
Colfax's operating subsidiaries supply products under the
well-known brands Allweiler, Fairmount Automation, Houttuin, Imo,
LSC, Portland Valve, Tushaco, Warren and Zenith. Colfax is traded
on the NYSE under the ticker "CFX." Additional information about
Colfax is available at http://www.colfaxcorp.com/. Cautionary Note
Concerning Forward-Looking Statements This press release may
contain forward-looking statements, including forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements
include, but are not limited to, statements concerning Colfax's
plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements
that are not historical or current facts. Forward-looking
statements are based on Colfax's current expectations and involve
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking
statements. Factors that could cause Colfax's results to differ
materially from current expectations include, but are not limited
to factors detailed in Colfax's reports filed with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission as well as its Annual Report on
Form 10-K under the caption "Risk Factors". In addition, these
statements are based on a number of assumptions that are subject to
change. This press release speaks only as of this date. Colfax
disclaims any duty to update the information herein. The term
"Colfax" in reference to the activities described in this press
release may mean one or more of Colfax's global operating
subsidiaries and/or their internal business divisions and does not
necessarily indicate activities engaged in by Colfax Corporation.
Colfax Corporation Reconciliation of Estimated 2009 Net Income Per
Share to Adjusted Net Income Per Share Amounts in Dollars
(unaudited) EPS Range --------- Estimated net income per share
-fully diluted $0.46 $0.52 Restructuring and other related charges
incurred as of October 2, 2009 0.17 0.17 Estimated fourth quarter
restructuring and other related charges (1) 0.06 0.06 Asbestos
coverage litigation 0.19 0.19 Asbestos liability and defense costs
(2) 0.00 0.00 ---- ---- Estimated adjusted net income per share -
fully diluted $0.88 $0.94 ===== ===== (1) Represents estimated
costs related to restructuring and other related charges
implemented through November 3, 2009. Additional costs for actions
implemented subsequent to this date through December 31, 2009 are
expected to range from $.05 and $.07 per share. (2) Updated as of
November 16, 2009, the filing date of our Form 10- Q for the period
ended October 2, 2009, to include the impact of the favorable court
ruling on October 14, 2009 net of the revaluation of the Company's
15-year estimate for asbestos-related liabilities. Colfax
Corporation Sales Change (amounts in millions) (unaudited) Sales
Range ----------- $ % $ % --- --- --- --- For the year ended
December 31, 2008 $605 $605 Components of change: Existing
businesses - estimated (59) -10% (49) -8% Acquisitions - estimated
1 0% 1 0% Foreign currency translation -estimated (32) -5% (32) -5%
--- --- --- --- Total - estimated (90) -15% (80) -13% --- --- ---
--- Estimated for the year ended December 31, 2009 $515 $525 ====
==== DATASOURCE: Colfax Corporation CONTACT: Mitzi Reynolds, Colfax
Corporation, +1-804-327-5689, Web Site: http://www.colfaxcorp.com/
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