• Fourth quarter sales of $283 million, up 9.7%; full year sales up 13.7% to $1,169 million
• Fourth quarter diluted EPS from Continuing Operations of $0.43, up 87%; full year diluted EPS from Continuing Operations up 71% to $1.64
• Successful divestiture of the Barnes Distribution Europe businesses in fourth quarter
• 2012 EPS from Continuing Operations guidance of $1.78 to $1.93 per diluted share

BRISTOL, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 17, 2012-- Barnes Group Inc. (NYSE: B), a diversified global manufacturer and logistics services company, today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2011. Fourth quarter 2011 sales totaled $283.3 million, up 9.7% from $258.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2010. Income from continuing operations was $23.8 million or $0.43 per diluted share, up 86% from the fourth quarter of 2010.

During the fourth quarter of 2011, Barnes Group completed the sale of its Barnes Distribution Europe (BDE) businesses which were comprised of the Company's European KENT, Toolcom and BD France distribution businesses and reported within the Company's Logistics and Manufacturing Services segment. The financial results of BDE, including the loss on sale for the periods presented, have been segregated and treated as discontinued operations for reporting purposes. For the year, the loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, was $26.9 million, or ($0.48) per diluted share. The loss on sale of $26.1 million includes a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $16.8 million.

For the full year 2011, Barnes Group generated sales of $1,169 million, up 13.7%. Income from continuing operations was $91.6 million, or $1.64 per diluted share, compared to $54.0 million, or $0.96 per diluted share in 2010.

“Barnes Group’s fourth quarter results cap a strong year of performance for our Company,” said Gregory F. Milzcik, Barnes Group Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer. “We generated solid organic growth with meaningful margin flow-through leading to an expansion in operating margins to 10.9%, up 250 basis points for the year. Coupled with our continuing focus on profitable growth and improved productivity, we delivered a 70% increase in income from continuing operations for 2011. In addition, we exit 2011 having achieved strong fourth quarter earnings per share from continuing operations, and a healthy backlog of $582 million, up 21% from 2010.”

Logistics and Manufacturing Services

• Fourth quarter 2011 sales were $122.0 million, up 10% from $110.7 million in the same period last year. The increase in sales was driven by strong organic sales growth in our aerospace aftermarket business. Foreign exchange had a minimal impact on fourth quarter 2011 sales.
• Operating profit of $15.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2011 was up 65% compared to prior year period of $9.5 million. Operating profit benefited from the impact of higher sales and additional productivity improvements, partially offset by higher management fees related to our aerospace aftermarket Revenue Sharing Programs (RSPs) and increased employee related costs.
• Full year 2011 sales were $492.9 million, up 11% from $443.9 million in 2010. The increase was primarily due to strong organic sales growth in our aerospace aftermarket and North American Distribution businesses. Foreign exchange positively impacted sales by $3.2 million in 2011.
• Full year 2011 operating profit increased 65% to $64.8 million from 2010 primarily due to the profit impact of higher sales volumes. Also contributing to the increase in operating profit were productivity improvements, including the favorable impact of a lower cost structure in the North American Distribution business. Segment operating profit increases were partially offset by higher employee related costs and management fees related to RSPs.

Precision Components

• Fourth quarter 2011 sales were $163.6 million, up 9% from $149.5 million in the same period last year. Organic sales growth of $13.7 million was driven by the segment’s aerospace OEM business and the North American and European industrial manufacturing businesses which benefited from improved industrial and transportation end-markets. Foreign exchange positively affected the quarter’s sales by approximately $0.4 million.
• Operating profit was $13.2 million in the fourth quarter, up 28% from the same period last year. Operating profit benefited from higher sales levels combined with productivity gains and lean initiatives. These improvements were partially offset by added costs for new product introductions and the outsourcing of certain manufacturing processes, as well as higher employee related costs.
• Full year 2011 sales were $687.5 million, up 15% from $595.9 million in 2010. The 2011 organic sales growth of $74.9 million was primarily driven by the industrial manufacturing businesses based in North America and Europe reflecting improvements in the transportation and aerospace end-markets. The impact of foreign exchange increased sales by approximately $16.7 million in 2011.
• Full year 2011 operating profit was up 33% to $62.8 million compared to $47.3 million in 2010. Operating profit improved primarily due to the benefit from higher sales levels combined with productivity improvements and lean initiatives. These improvements in operating profit were partially offset by higher costs associated with investments in new product introductions and outsourcing of certain manufacturing processes.

Additional Information

• Interest expense in 2011 decreased $9.7 million from 2010 to $10.3 million as a result of lower average interest rates and lower debt discount amortization related to the 3.75% Convertible Notes. The lower average interest rates reflect the significant shift to a higher percentage of variable rate debt due to the retirement of the 7.80% Notes and the redemption of the 3.75% Convertible Notes, which were funded with the variable rate credit facility, and the expiration of the interest rate swap agreements.
• Other expense was $0.4 million in 2011 compared to $2.6 million in 2010, consisting primarily of foreign exchange transaction losses of $0.2 million in 2011 which decreased from $1.7 million in 2010.
• The Company’s 2011 effective tax rate from continuing operations was 21.7%, compared to 15.4% in 2010. The rate increase was primarily driven by a shift in earnings to higher-tax jurisdictions and the incremental tax effect of the repatriation of a portion of current year foreign earnings to U.S. The company repatriated $17.5 million and $7.5 million in 2011 and 2010, respectively.

2012 Outlook

“During 2011, we experienced improving conditions across our end-markets and generated a double-digit increase in both orders and backlog. We expect our positive momentum to continue into 2012, especially with the strength in the global commercial aerospace industry. Further, with the sale of BDE, a greater level of management’s attention can be directed toward expanding our operations both organically and through acquisitions, bringing new products and processes to market and growing our geographic reach,” added Milzcik.

Barnes Group Inc. expects 2012 revenue to grow 6% to 9% from 2011 and forecasts operating margins of approximately 12%. Earnings from continuing operations per diluted share are forecasted to be in the range of $1.78 to $1.93, up 9% to 18% from 2011.

“Our improved financial performance and generally favorable end-markets will allow us to invest further in our businesses. For 2012, we expect capital expenditures to increase to a range of $45 to $50 million and cash conversion of greater than 90%,” said Christopher J. Stephens, Jr., Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer, Barnes Group Inc.

Conference Call

Barnes Group Inc. will conduct a conference call with investors to discuss fourth quarter and full year 2011 results at 8:30 a.m. EST today, February 17, 2012. A webcast of the live call and an archived replay will be available on the Barnes Group investor relations link at www.BGInc.com. The conference is also available by direct dial at (888) 679-8035 in the U.S. or (617) 213-4848 outside of the U.S. (request the Barnes Group Earnings Call), Participant Code: 31082129.

In addition, the call will be recorded and available for playback beginning at 12:00 p.m. (EST) on Friday, February 17, 2012 by dialing (617) 801-6888, Passcode: 17248138.

About Barnes Group

Founded in 1857, Barnes Group Inc. (NYSE:B) is an international aerospace and industrial components manufacturer and logistics services company serving a wide range of end markets and customers. The products and services provided by Barnes Group are critical components for far-reaching applications that provide transportation, communication, manufacturing and technology to the world. Barnes Group’s approximately 4,400 dedicated employees, at more than 50 locations worldwide, are committed to achieving consistent and sustainable profitable growth. For more information, visit www.BGInc.com. Barnes Group, the Critical Components People.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain certain forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are made based upon management's good faith expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effect upon the Company and can be identified by the use of words such as "anticipated," "believe," "expect," "plans," "strategy," "estimate," "project," and other words of similar meaning in connection with a discussion of future operating or financial performance. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties described in our periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, include, among others, uncertainties arising from the current or worsening disruptions in financial markets; future financial performance of the industries or customers that we serve; changes in market demand for our products and services; integration of acquired businesses; restructuring costs or savings; the impact of the acquisition of the BDE businesses by Berner SE and any other future strategic actions, including acquisitions, joint ventures, divestitures, restructurings, or strategic business realignments, and our ability to achieve the financial and operational targets set in connection with any such actions; introduction or development of new products or transfer of work; changes in raw material or product prices and availability; foreign currency exposure; our dependence upon revenues and earnings from a small number of significant customers; a major loss of customers; the outcome of pending and future claims or litigation or governmental, regulatory proceedings, investigations, inquiries, and audits; uninsured claims and litigation; outcome of contingencies; future repurchases of common stock; future levels of indebtedness; and numerous other matters of global, regional or national scale, including those of a political, economic, business, competitive, environmental, regulatory and public health nature. The Company assumes no obligation to update our forward-looking statements.

(1) The Company defines free cash flow as net cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures. The Company believes that the free cash flow metric is useful to investors and management as a measure of cash generated by business operations that can be used to invest in future growth, pay dividends, repurchase stock and reduce debt. This metric can also be used to evaluate the Company's ability to generate cash flow from business operations and the impact that this cash flow has on the Company's liquidity.

Source: Barnes Group Inc.

Barnes Group Inc.
William Pitts, 860-583-7070
Director, Planning and Investor Relations