Flowserve Announces New Capital Structure Strategy

This capital structure strategy will include returning additional capital more quickly to shareholders through a new $1 billion stock repurchase program approved by the board. Highlights of the strategy include:

• Long-term target gross leverage ratio of 1.0x-2.0x total debt to EBITDA through the business cycle, versus current gross leverage ratio of 0.7x
• An expanded stock repurchase program of $1 billion, including approximately $233 million remaining under the company s most recent share repurchase authorization

Mark Blinn, president and chief executive officer, said, "Over the last three years, we have demonstrated our ability to generate substantial free cash flow during a historically difficult period of our business cycle. With our global energy infrastructure markets showing signs of increased demand and vitality, and as we continue to see significant benefits from implementing our One Flowserve strategy, we are now in a position to further refine our capital structure strategy."

Mike Taff, senior vice president and chief financial officer, said, "This new capital structure strategy involves prudently increasing our leverage to drive cash utilization efficiency and return increased capital to shareholders, while still maintaining a strong balance sheet to fund future growth. We believe this new capital structure strategy will provide us ample flexibility to allocate cash in ways that drive attractive returns for our shareholders, which include stock repurchases, dividends, disciplined capital investments and value-creating, bolt-on acquisitions that represent a compelling strategic fit."

Taff added, "We believe this $1 billion repurchase program will be a very attractive investment for the company that will create increased shareholder value."

Execution of this share repurchase program is planned to begin immediately. The amount and timing of the planned repurchases will be determined by the company based on its evaluation of the company s financial condition, business opportunities and market conditions at the time. The repurchases may be effected through various methods, including open market repurchases (including those effected through Rule 10b5-1 plans to allow longer periods of repurchase opportunity).

The company said the new share repurchase program includes amounts incremental to its previously announced policy of annually returning 40% to 50% of running two-year average net earnings to shareholders, which the company intends to maintain after attaining the announced target leverage ratio.