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Following is a discussion of first quarter results for each of the segments.
Architecture & Software Architecture & Software first quarter sales were $577.9 million, an increase of 9 percent compared to $529.0 million in the first quarter of 2007. Foreign currency translation added 5 percentage points to the growth rate. Segment operating earnings were $148.5 million compared to $147.3 million in the first quarter of 2007. Architecture & Software segment operating margin was 25.7 percent in the first quarter of 2008 compared to 27.8 percent in 2007.
Control Products & Solutions Control Products & Solutions first quarter sales were $754.0 million, an increase of 22 percent compared to sales of $617.3 million in the first quarter of 2007. Acquisitions and foreign currency translation each added 6 percentage points to the growth rate. Segment operating earnings were $109.0 million compared to $79.7 million in the first quarter of 2007. Control Products & Solutions segment operating margin was 14.5 percent in the first quarter of 2008 compared to 12.9 percent in 2007.
General Corporate – Net First quarter general corporate net expense was $14.2 million compared to $19.0 million in the first quarter of 2007. General corporate net expense benefited from a $6 million gain on the sale of the remaining Baldor shares received from the divestiture of Power Systems.
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Income Taxes The effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2008 was 28.5 percent. The effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2007 was 30.0 percent. For 2008, the Company expects the full year tax rate to be in a range of 28 to 29 percent, subject to quarterly variability.
Share Repurchase and Debt During the quarter, the Company repurchased 1.4 million shares at a cost of $96.0 million. The Company had $930.3 million available at December 31, 2007 under its existing $1.0 billion share repurchase authorization. In December 2007 the Company issued debt with an aggregate principal of $500 million. The net proceeds from the offering were used to repay our 6.15% notes due January 15, 2008 and for general corporate purposes.
Conference Call A conference call to discuss our financial results will take place at 8:30 A.M. Eastern Time on January 23. The call will be webcast and accessible via the Rockwell Automation website (www.rockwellautomation.com).
This news release contains statements (including certain projections and business trends) that are “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “project”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “will”, “intend” and other similar expressions may identify forward- looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, including but not limited to: |